[AaronMusicLA]

Hello i Am going to try and shorten this into a short story.

I am Aaron,15 i used to be a normal person i had normal skin i went to school and all that. Then when i hit sort of high school i got bullied and left school stupidly and got homeschooled now i feel it would be good for me to join school again but during the corse of my leaving highschool i became ugly now you all probably think im being stupid and just have some acne but no i have a whole face of it i just went to the doctors and im now on oxytetracycline so great acne done its going to be gone but yes oh yes i have worse things. I have dark circles under my eyes they are so bad they dont look like normal peoples dark circles from lack of sleep the hang and look old i look like an old person they look extremly bad like im ill or something i have acne scars all over my face and my skin just looks so old and lifeless its so hard to explain i cant even think of words i have never ever ever seen any teenager with skin like mine ever! I always look at all people my age who walk past me as i havnt talked to a teeager in years i cant im too ugly. But anyway when ever i see people my age they are so pretty omg i want to cry even though some people have acne no one has skin like mine i look ill like im unhealthy.

[Podcaster]

Clearasil.

[InkingTheSky]

(Original post by Podcaster)
Clearasil.

Clearasil works wonders.

Also, a lot of the people you see and think they probably have lovely skin are likely to be wearing make up - be they male or female. Be proud of the fact that you are natural.

And I can guarantee that whilst you may feel ugly, to some people you are very attractive. I know this because it's how I felt for years.

Don't kill yourself. If you need someone to talk to, I'm always up for a chat.

[2ndClass]

Clearasil is a bunch of ****.

Use a vitamin C serum for the dark circles. For the old/lifeless skin, begin a programme of glycolic acid peels and get vitamin e oil from a health shop if you have them where you live. Drink a lot of water too.

Your body is going through alot of hormonal changes, if the oxytetracycline has steroids in it, STOP immediatley. Topical steroids cause atrophy and will only exacerbate your lifeless skin. Use Azelaic acid, it's natural and doesn't contain harmful chemicals.

[*Darcie*]

Go back to your doctor, tell him/her how you are feeling.

I know it is easy to say but I am sure you are nowhere near as unattractive to others as you are feeling.

[Harry Callahan]

Drink plenty of water, preferably boiled - but let it cool down before you drink it, obviously. It's the best thing going for your skin.

[tammie123]

For the spots you could use clearasil like everyone above mentioned, and for the scars you could use bio oil. Hope this helps!

[Honeyx]

just remember its not forever and your skin will get better, its just about finding the right treatment for you. Roaccutane was a miracle drug for me. I was given it when I was 14/15 and years later I still don't get more than the occasional spot after suffering from pretty bad acne.

Bio-oil massaged into the face, although pricey can help reduce scarring and maybe spending a bit more on a good facewash would help. I use neutrogenas range atm and it helps keep my skin clear (the one with the 2%salicyclic acid in it) and its a cheaper alternative to the clinique stuff I used to use.

Just be patient and make sure you use your medication exactly as the DR tells you for as long as they tell you. If you feel nothing is working, have your Dr refer you to a dermatologist and insist if they don't!

If it is making you feel really down, tell your Dr so they can help you. I know its easier said than done but don't let anyone make you feel bad about your skin, you are only 15 and as I said before, with the right treatment your acne can be cleared...it just takes time finding what works for you as everyone's different.

Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water and try to eat as healthily as you can. Another thing that may help is taking a multivitamin for skin, hair, nails...there are lots of varieties in boots!

I hope you can start feeling more confident soon, just remember you won't have this forever

[l.west191]

You're 16, it's normal at your age, your hormones are all over the place.

The antibiotics might work, they might not, you have to give them at least 3 months. If they don't work, try another kind of antibiotics. Oxytetracycline is a FANTASTIC antibiotic for acne, but it doesn't work for everyone. They're oral antibiotics, there are no topical steroids involved in them. There are lots of other ones you can try as well if you find that after AT LEAST three months, they haven't worked.

The tablets a dermatologist prescribe are for severe cases of acne and is HORRIBLE.

Ask your GP for Retin-A gel or Zineryt, both are topical creams for acne, to coincide with the antibiotics.

Wash your face twice a day, but only with a simple, non-chemical soap and warm water, you DON'T need anything more than that. Clearasil and all those other ones aren't as great as they make out, and aren't really worth the money you spend on them. They treat the symptoms not the cause and as soon as you stop using them, the spots will reappear.

Don't wash more than twice a day, you'll over-stimulate the sebum glands in your face which will in turn produce more oil, which will in turn block more of your pores, causing the spots you're trying so hard to get rid of.

It's a myth that it's the dirty teenagers get spots, in fact, it tends to be the overly clean ones because we wash too much -.-

However, my dermatologist has always maintained that diet does NOT affect your skin as much as some people would have you believe. He always told me to eat and drink whatever I wanted as long as I had a healthy and balanced diet.

I'm 21 now, I was diagnosed with acne vulgaris (pizza face) and acne rosacea (excess redness) when I was 12. Unfortunately for me, it seems I am stuck with it for the foreseeable future, but it is a LOT better than it was when I was younger. I no longer have a complete pizza face and don't feel the need to always hide my face in public.

Some people get lucky and never get acne, the majority of teenagers don't though, almost everyone goes through it at one point.

I know how hard it is to deal with, I'm here to talk if you need to, any time. There is loads more I could tell you, it just takes a long time to type (and I have a broken wrist atm) but I will add more if you want anymore advice.

It will get better, you just have to give it time

[AaronMusicLA]

i dont know what to do im still so confused i use imperial leather soap to wash my face as iv tried all the acne washes they made my skin worse

[2ndClass]

(Original post by l.west191)
You're 16, it's normal at your age, your hormones are all over the place.

The antibiotics might work, they might not, you have to give them at least 3 months. If they don't work, try another kind of antibiotics. Oxytetracycline is a FANTASTIC antibiotic for acne, but it doesn't work for everyone. They're oral antibiotics, there are no topical steroids involved in them. There are lots of other ones you can try as well if you find that after AT LEAST three months, they haven't worked.

The tablets a dermatologist prescribe are for severe cases of acne and is HORRIBLE.

Ask your GP for Retin-A gel or Zineryt, both are topical creams for acne, to coincide with the antibiotics.

Wash your face twice a day, but only with a simple, non-chemical soap and warm water, you DON'T need anything more than that. Clearasil and all those other ones aren't as great as they make out, and aren't really worth the money you spend on them. They treat the symptoms not the cause and as soon as you stop using them, the spots will reappear.

Don't wash more than twice a day, you'll over-stimulate the sebum glands in your face which will in turn produce more oil, which will in turn block more of your pores, causing the spots you're trying so hard to get rid of.

It's a myth that it's the dirty teenagers get spots, in fact, it tends to be the overly clean ones because we wash too much -.-

However, my dermatologist has always maintained that diet does NOT affect your skin as much as some people would have you believe. He always told me to eat and drink whatever I wanted as long as I had a healthy and balanced diet.

I'm 21 now, I was diagnosed with acne vulgaris (pizza face) and acne rosacea (excess redness) when I was 12. Unfortunately for me, it seems I am stuck with it for the foreseeable future, but it is a LOT better than it was when I was younger. I no longer have a complete pizza face and don't feel the need to always hide my face in public.

Some people get lucky and never get acne, the majority of teenagers don't though, almost everyone goes through it at one point.

I know how hard it is to deal with, I'm here to talk if you need to, any time. There is loads more I could tell you, it just takes a long time to type (and I have a broken wrist atm) but I will add more if you want anymore advice.

It will get better, you just have to give it time

good post, do you know where you can get non chemical soap?

[Honeyx]

(Original post by AaronMusicLA)
i dont know what to do im still so confused i use imperial leather soap to wash my face as iv tried all the acne washes they made my skin worse

Use something soap free for sensitive skin. If clearasil etc makes your skin worse try tea tree stuff or simple baby soap to not aggravate your skin.

[SnoochToTheBooch]

you could live to be 100 man, do you really think you will feel as bad as you do now for that whole time?

[FunkeyMunkey]

Honestly, take multivitamin tablets. Its all internal, if your not taking enough vitamins that might be the reason!! Also just in general eat healthily. Also go into somewhere like Holland and Barrett and buy natural honey soap or vitamin E soap. Clearasil and all that jazz won't work. And please don't kill yourself. Believe me even if it takes a while your skin will get better. Go to a nutritionist too if everything else doesn't work. You're only young it'll get better. As for the acne itself I'm not an expert on it just keep going to the doctor, unfortunately it can be frustrating to look for something that works but try to be patient.
Also, shower in colder water, its known to be much better for the skin. Don't rub your skin too hard with a towel or sponge or anything either...thats all I can think of in terms of advice. Hope it helps.

[FunkeyMunkey]

(Original post by 2ndClass)
good post, do you know where you can get non chemical soap?

search into ebay 'natural soap' or you can get it in holland and barret, neal's yard remedies, whole food stores. Basically you can get it in any store where they sell a lot of 'natural' stuff

[2ndClass]

(Original post by FunkeyMunkey)
search into ebay 'natural soap' or you can get it in holland and barret, neal's yard remedies, whole food stores. Basically you can get it in any store where they sell a lot of 'natural' stuff

Thanks

[AaronMusicLA]

hmmmm i take a multi vitamin atm btw i dont drink milk as iv been told its bad for you so i take vitamins for vitamin c obviously it has all the others too and i take omega 3 i dont have the best diet all the time

[AaronMusicLA]

Also im obessed with water i love it its all i drink i never have fizzy drinks im obsessed with dental health

[*Darcie*]

(Original post by FunkeyMunkey)
Honestly, take multivitamin tablets. Its all internal, if your not taking enough vitamins that might be the reason!! Also just in general eat healthily. Also go into somewhere like Holland and Barrett and buy natural honey soap or vitamin E soap. Clearasil and all that jazz won't work. And please don't kill yourself. Believe me even if it takes a while your skin will get better. Go to a nutritionist too if everything else doesn't work. You're only young it'll get better. As for the acne itself I'm not an expert on it just keep going to the doctor, unfortunately it can be frustrating to look for something that works but try to be patient.
Also, shower in colder water, its known to be much better for the skin. Don't rub your skin too hard with a towel or sponge or anything either...thats all I can think of in terms of advice. Hope it helps.

Taking vitamins will have no effect.

[Honeyx]

Please do go and talk to your GP about this so they can get you the help you need to feel more confident. Counselling could be so beneficial for e.g

Your acne will get better don't let it control your life...I understand how horrible it is but its temporary. You are still so young and practically everyone I know has had a problem with acne in some form or another.

Is there anyone you can talk to family/ friends etc who could help you feel a bit better?