Having Acne is like…
It all begins with an idea.
I don’t know where to start . This might be the most frustrating thing about my life- my skin, my face. It literally wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t the first thing I see every time I look in the mirror. I try to be confident in spite of my redness and pus and texture and dark spots.
I consider myself a skincare enthusiast, especially since continuing my education by becoming licensed in aesthetics. What’s hilarious is I thought this would help me get my acne under control. When I mean under control, I mean gone. I am only two months into this profession so I guess I should have more patience with myself. I guess I should be thankful because my skin is not as out of control as it was at the start of the year. Nonetheless, clearly I am not.
The journey to clear skin is supposed to be a long one, BUT HOW MUCH LONGER? Your girl is 26 and my collagen production is only depleting more and more each day. Your collagen levels begin to decrease around age 25 and you can create more collagen by using topicals with Vitamin C, peptides, and Vitamin A. All of which I use and I still can’t manage to make enough for this skin to be happy. I find that managing skin is so much more than consistency. Managing acne takes the toll on the mind.
My acne makes me feel like I am not doing enough. It makes me feel like no products will ever work for me. It makes me feel like I can’t enjoy foods that I love. It makes me feel singled out & alone. My acne makes me feel like hiding. My acne makes me feel unattractive and not so confident. I am regular, I invest in my skincare, wear my sunscreen, and I can still wake up with new painful neighbors that pop up wherever they please.
Imagine making concessions to prevent something and it still happens. How exhausting. My skin is literally the one thing I invest the most time into each day. Having to wear masks is not making my sensitive cheeks any happier. Mask acne is real AF. Imagine trying to protect yourself from a virus and your body still makes you pay. My acne is my nemesis constantly plotting to take over my life. I sometimes feel trapped in my skin. Unable to truly share myself with the world because I am worried about what they think when they look at my skin. Having acne is like training for the championship and still losing.