so tired of looks/acne

I've had acne since i was 13. I'm 18 now. I just keep getting it and during this year, I've genuinely seen no improvement. Its the only thing i think about, everything i do is because of my acne. I've altered my diet, do exercise 3 times a week. I barely get stressed nowadays especially as exams are over. I do get hormonal acne but i get it around my chin so i do goo easy on myself but I'm frustrated by the acne on my cheeks. I've basically done the most important things for trying to get rid of acne for the past year but it's not getting better. I started tretinoin 1 year and a half ago so i expected to get clear skin but i just haven't. I've used benzo in the past but that hasn't worked either. The last dermatologist I've spoken to about my skincare was about in January and they said my products were fine and i should keep using them.
I'm extremely annoyed because everyone around me is has no acne and everyone on the internet just say the same things over and over again - nothing i've never heard about. My acne isn't terrible like I have to go on accutane but its still not great. I suffer from pustules and papules on my chin and cheeks. I would say that at the moment, I have about 13 acitve spots that are red and just 3 other spots that arent red but I can feel them on my face. I dont know what to do anymore

You say you have shifted your diet but how?

Hi,
I appreciate what you are going thru - acne can cause a lot of distress and can be refractory to treatment. As you might know, the comedones of acne can get infected, so cleanliness and hygiene are things you will have tried initially.
One quite successful form of therapy, esp if the lesions are pustular as you suggest, is tetracycline or if necessary, the more potent analogue minocycline [an antibiotic that works by inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis]. When you were 13 or so, your doctor would not have prescribed this drug, as it often leads to stains on growing teeth and can have adverse effects on growing bones, too.
I would suggest you ask the expert opinion of your dermatologist regarding this option, now that you are not a growing child.
Acne is more common in boys cos androgens are one factor in its aetiology, but if you happen to be a girl, it can be more debilitating for you; I know it is not easy, but be positive and do not give up hope - the response to the tetracyclines can be a dramatic improvement: also, some people simply "grow out of it" eventually.
Any experts on TSR? @Jpw1097 @Hippocrates @realitycheck : Thanks!
Best,
M.

I've had acne since i was 13. I'm 18 now. I just keep getting it and during this year, I've genuinely seen no improvement. Its the only thing i think about, everything i do is because of my acne. I've altered my diet, do exercise 3 times a week. I barely get stressed nowadays especially as exams are over. I do get hormonal acne but i get it around my chin so i do goo easy on myself but I'm frustrated by the acne on my cheeks. I've basically done the most important things for trying to get rid of acne for the past year but it's not getting better. I started tretinoin 1 year and a half ago so i expected to get clear skin but i just haven't. I've used benzo in the past but that hasn't worked either. The last dermatologist I've spoken to about my skincare was about in January and they said my products were fine and i should keep using them.
I'm extremely annoyed because everyone around me is has no acne and everyone on the internet just say the same things over and over again - nothing i've never heard about. My acne isn't terrible like I have to go on accutane but its still not great. I suffer from pustules and papules on my chin and cheeks. I would say that at the moment, I have about 13 acitve spots that are red and just 3 other spots that arent red but I can feel them on my face. I dont know what to do anymore

I would recommend using a silk pillow case for sleeping, as it prevents any hair products that you may be using in your hair to be transferred onto your face/esp cheeks. Also you should ask your doctor to prescribe you Epiduo acne treatment, I have been using that and it has really had a huge impact on my acne and redness too! If none of these still work I’d say you can try accutane, I’ve only heard about it off social media and other peoples experiences. But I’m not entirely sure as if comes with a lot of side effects.
Also, I SO recommend you to have 2L of water a day. Water is when suffering from acne is so essential as it detoxifies your body and cleanses itself out.
Hope it helps and your acne gets better

epidou was my first ever treatment but then it eventually stopped working. I moved onto duac but that burnt and ruined my skin so i moved onto tret. Theres no harm in me buying a silk pillow case so i might as well, thank you

Before, I didn't rlly care about my diet and I wouldn't keep an eye on the types of nutrients I was getting, the amount of sugar. I just basically didn't care about having a balanced diet. But now i found out that sugar like chocolate or sweets can make my acne worse so I only eat them on special occasions. In the past I never ate alot of fruits and vegetables and my parents would have to force them down my throat. But now I naturally do like most fruit and i always keep my fruit bowl full and I've been eating more salads or leafy greens like kale or spinach. The only types of vegatables I dont eat is aubergine, tomato and mushrooms because I hate the texture. I do try but I literally cannot swallow them. Then for drinks, I've always been good at having healthy drinks, was never a fan of fizzy stuff. I always either drink water or green/spearmint tea. I also found out about probiotic foods because i'm not sure if my gut needs healing so kimchi, kefir, kombucha and yogurt is eaten alot. I don't eat alot
It doesn't sound like alot but considering how bad my diet was before, I would have expect my skin to be much better with all of this. But the only link between diet and acne I can see is if I eat too much sugar/sweets but none of the other vitamins are making a noticeable difference. Maybe its just me. If you have any advice I would be grateful.

Any luck?

hey, by any chance do you have difficulty digesting lactose? For some people, consuming too much causes problems leading to acne

I've had acne since i was 13. I'm 18 now. I just keep getting it and during this year, I've genuinely seen no improvement. Its the only thing i think about, everything i do is because of my acne. I've altered my diet, do exercise 3 times a week. I barely get stressed nowadays especially as exams are over. I do get hormonal acne but i get it around my chin so i do goo easy on myself but I'm frustrated by the acne on my cheeks. I've basically done the most important things for trying to get rid of acne for the past year but it's not getting better. I started tretinoin 1 year and a half ago so i expected to get clear skin but i just haven't. I've used benzo in the past but that hasn't worked either. The last dermatologist I've spoken to about my skincare was about in January and they said my products were fine and i should keep using them.
I'm extremely annoyed because everyone around me is has no acne and everyone on the internet just say the same things over and over again - nothing i've never heard about. My acne isn't terrible like I have to go on accutane but its still not great. I suffer from pustules and papules on my chin and cheeks. I would say that at the moment, I have about 13 acitve spots that are red and just 3 other spots that arent red but I can feel them on my face. I dont know what to do anymore

I've had acne since i was 13. I'm 18 now. I just keep getting it and during this year, I've genuinely seen no improvement. Its the only thing i think about, everything i do is because of my acne. I've altered my diet, do exercise 3 times a week. I barely get stressed nowadays especially as exams are over. I do get hormonal acne but i get it around my chin so i do goo easy on myself but I'm frustrated by the acne on my cheeks. I've basically done the most important things for trying to get rid of acne for the past year but it's not getting better. I started tretinoin 1 year and a half ago so i expected to get clear skin but i just haven't. I've used benzo in the past but that hasn't worked either. The last dermatologist I've spoken to about my skincare was about in January and they said my products were fine and i should keep using them.
I'm extremely annoyed because everyone around me is has no acne and everyone on the internet just say the same things over and over again - nothing i've never heard about. My acne isn't terrible like I have to go on accutane but its still not great. I suffer from pustules and papules on my chin and cheeks. I would say that at the moment, I have about 13 acitve spots that are red and just 3 other spots that arent red but I can feel them on my face. I dont know what to do anymore