 |
| Photo by NotMikeMotzki |
This post is dedicated to my fight against acne during my teenage years. I am now in my twenties and I can proudly say that I've won the war.
Now let's take a little step back in time, when I was about 14 years old.
Puberty hit me hard.
For obvious reasons, I do not have any photos of my polka-dotted face to show you...
Episode 1: scouts
Some spots started to appear on my forehead, then on my temples. I was so annoyed that I began to pop them. With my bare, germ-filled hands. I kept on going on that way.
I was obviously worried, as every teenager would have been. My father used to tell me that it was usual for my age to have some spots here and there, my mother would buy me all sorts of soaps and lotions, hoping that they would just go away.
Episode 2: first attacks
So basically, 1st period of acne was mostly on the forehead.
Then it moved. On the cheeks.
It went on that way for a few months. Spots would disappear but then appear elsewhere.
Episode 3: retaliation
It had gotten to the point that I needed to see a dermatologist...or "dermatologist".
It was the time when I was staying in the Philippines, waiting for the French winter to pass. So my parents decided to bring me to this derma-clinic, where we had been told that the only way to cure it would be to have a "pimple popping" session (and about 300 euros worth of medication).
So I've had like 3 of those session. Definitely not the best experience, as pricking pimples on my face was very painful and everytime I got out of the clinic, my face was resembling a sunburnt tomato.
I used to say it was for my own good, even though I had been prescribed tons of creams and ointments in additionnal (against inflammations and scarring). I can still remember this anti-scarring cream the woman gave to me, that was supposed to protect me. She specifically told me to STAY AWAY FROM SUNLIGHT. So I had to spend my snorkeling holidays in Bohol trying to avoid direct contact with the sun. I was upset and pale.
Episode 4: first victory
No matter how painful the sessions were, after a few months, my acne was gone.
Episode 5: what doesn't kill you makes you...
Stronger. A year after, my acne came back. Worse. I would pop zits again and again, wash my face twice a day... I was starting to wonder if it would ever go away. I'd decided to see a real dermatologist in a hospital. It never helped, as she was selling the mediation she was prescribing me.
I took my father's advice to go back to the derma-clinic, had 4 to 5 sessions of facial care and zit-popping. NOTHING WOULD DO. I felt the need to cover my face up with foundation and spent my evenings watching youtube tutorials about covering acne up.
Episode 6: waking up
One day I remembered a family friend mentionning the pill for acne. So the next torture session, I'd decided to talk about it. She briefly looked at me.
"Oh yes, you may use the pill. Diane 35, but it has a lot of side effects", she said.
She needn't say it twice, the moment I was out of there, I headed straight to the nearest pharmacy.
In the Philippines, it was quite easy for me to buy Diane 35, no prescription needed.
Episode 7: have I found a cure?
After 4 months of auto-medication (something I would definitely NOT advise you to do). My face seemed a whole lot better. The unfortunate part wouldn't be the weight I had gained during the process but the mood swings. I was constantly hungry and subject to emotional outbursts. To me, everything was fine as long as I had no more of the horrible spots on my face.
I'd chosen not to take the pill anymore. It went on for a year and a half, until it came back again (circa 2012).
"I shall finish you up once and for all" I said before swallowing the first pill of the pack.
To be continued...
