I feel like we've almost all been there at some point in our lives; whether it was from your teenage years when you were insecure enough already, your adult years or just every time you majorly stress out. That skin hell that we all face for a time in our lives - acne.
 |
| The difference make up can make. |
I don't think I've ever really opened up about my personal experiences with this because (especially when I was younger) I was deeply embarrassed by it. This horrible thing happening on my face that I tried so hard to hide, it was almost a taboo subject that no one was allowed to bring up. Unfortunately I've been battling it for as many years as I can remember and although it may not get easier to accept over time, you soon learn what is best for you and what triggers to avoid.
I'm going to do a couple of posts all about this subject, but for now I wanted to list my top five problems when your skin turns against you.
Problem 1
Acne is a major self esteem downer. The second I start to see those marks coming up all over my face, I would enjoy nothing more than hiding myself under a duvet until they're all gone again. Unfortunately your work and social life don't accept insecurities of the face as a genuine sick note, so you have to get on with it the best you can. This doesn't mean however that you can get away with the same confidence levels as you were before one spot became twenty cysts (well I can't anyway). You suddenly start to doubt everything and before you know it, you think that everyone is staring at you as you walk down the street, thinking 'thank god I don't have her face.'
Acne is a major self esteem downer. The second I start to see those marks coming up all over my face, I would enjoy nothing more than hiding myself under a duvet until they're all gone again. Unfortunately your work and social life don't accept insecurities of the face as a genuine sick note, so you have to get on with it the best you can. This doesn't mean however that you can get away with the same confidence levels as you were before one spot became twenty cysts (well I can't anyway). You suddenly start to doubt everything and before you know it, you think that everyone is staring at you as you walk down the street, thinking 'thank god I don't have her face.'
Problem 2
Over analysing your life situation and what remedy you have yet to try. If you're anything like me and your breakouts just appear as if magic, you then start to wonder why that breakout happened in the first place. Am I stressing out? Have I barely exercised the last two weeks? Is there far too much sugar in my diet? Is my make up just clogging up my face too much? Is my face wash too gentle on my skin? Is my face wash to harsh on my skin?
If there is a reason for acne that you have thought of, then I probably have as well by now. Every time I end up thinking not only why did it happen, but also what can I do to fix it. So suddenly I'm trying to hit the gym, eat healthy all the time and barely wear any make up when I can get away with feeling happy enough in myself to do so. There's far too much thinking involved with a breakout.
If there is a reason for acne that you have thought of, then I probably have as well by now. Every time I end up thinking not only why did it happen, but also what can I do to fix it. So suddenly I'm trying to hit the gym, eat healthy all the time and barely wear any make up when I can get away with feeling happy enough in myself to do so. There's far too much thinking involved with a breakout.
Problem 3
The third major problem that I have is feeling like I'm going round in circles. As soon as I get rid of a breakout and my face goes back to 'normal' again, I think this is great! Then give it another couple of months and it goes back to the old ways and starts all over again. It's a vicious cycle that makes you fed up and feel like you're in a facial horror version of Groundhog Day.
Problem 4
This ties in slightly to the above issue of going round in circles but of course every time that your breakout is over again and you don't have to deal with those massive bumps all over you, you do have to deal with the lovely scars that they have left behind. Sometimes even though a spot is only there for a few days and then vanishes again, it leaves behind it a red or dark bruise like mark that decides to stick around for closer to a month after. Of course this is a lot easier to cover with your make up if you're having a down day, but unfortunately just because those bumps aren't there doesn't mean you feel any prettier with scars.
This ties in slightly to the above issue of going round in circles but of course every time that your breakout is over again and you don't have to deal with those massive bumps all over you, you do have to deal with the lovely scars that they have left behind. Sometimes even though a spot is only there for a few days and then vanishes again, it leaves behind it a red or dark bruise like mark that decides to stick around for closer to a month after. Of course this is a lot easier to cover with your make up if you're having a down day, but unfortunately just because those bumps aren't there doesn't mean you feel any prettier with scars.
Problem 5
The last of this list of problems is the physical pain that you have to endure when you get a massive break out. If you're anything like me and you get the cysts that just build on top of one another, then you know the agony of dealing with the pain. Even whilst just sitting there with no make up on to aggravate it, you can feel them growing larger and larger before they will eventually disappear. When you wash your face and use anything on it, even the gentlest skin cleanser will make it feel like it's on fire.
And the worst part of this pain? It never lets you forget whats happening on your face. You are reminded every second that its getting worse before it gets better.
And the worst part of this pain? It never lets you forget whats happening on your face. You are reminded every second that its getting worse before it gets better.
Look out for the next in my skin hell series, where I will teach you my best ways of facing it.
Comments
Post a Comment