Unfortunately with acne, age is just a number.
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You wake up in the morning and go to the bathroom to do your morning routine and suddenly you see a huge zit on your face. “I’m in my late twenties, why am I still getting this?”, you think to yourself. Suddenly, that’s all you focus on.
Here’s the catch: Imagine getting a lot, all at the same time. Growing one day after another. Annoying, right?
Last February 2019 was the onset of my Adult Acne. Growing up, I experienced minimal to no acne problems but even if I only had one pimple growing at a time, it would concern me. Imagine the frustration I felt when several pimples showed up on my cheek All. At. The Same. Time. It’s a bit of an exaggeration and yeah, there are bigger problems in the world but at that time it was all I could focus on. I had the spotlight effect that I’m sure many of you can relate to.
The “spotlight effect” is when you think others see your newly-formed zit just as much as you do when in reality, nobody even notices it … unless you let them.
As much as we’d like to deny it, our complexion greatly impacts our self-esteem and how we think others see us.
It was an absolute downer, at least for me. It took a toll on my self-esteem. As a skin care professional, I began to question my credibility and constantly asked myself, “How could people trust my advice if my skin told a different story?” I was my own worst critic (aren’t we all?)
But I didn’t let it get the best of me. I snapped out of self-wallowing and saw this as an opportunity to do a case study on myself.
I went on a complete mind, body and diet detox but before doing so, I consulted a local dermatologist here in San Diego in hopes of getting more insight about my skin. He said that my acne was caused by hormonal imbalances. He prescribed two medications right away: Clindamycin solution to be applied topically as a toner and then a Tretinoin cream afterwards. However, I’ve already tried that before and it caused extreme dryness in my skin, plus Clindamycin had alcohol in it. TMI but I am not on any birth control method, so he also prescribed me to take birth control pills (BCP) since he wanted me to take Spironolactone, an androgen-inhibitor in the female body. Though this is an acclaimed medication for acne, this “feminizes” a sperm so it can cause complications just in case I were to get pregnant in the middle of the process, and that’s why he suggested that I take BCP.
Bla bla bla, long story short: I didn’t follow his advice.
I didn’t want to depend on BCP and Spinorolactone to fix my skin. I wanted to treat myself as naturally and holistically as I possibly can and in that process I got to listen to my body more. This also made me a better skincare professional because indeed, experience is the best teacher.
And so the road to skin clarity began.
Yes, It could be a slow process but it has less risks and overall long term benefits. Especially now that we are in this unpredictable global crisis, extreme emotional and physical stress can manifest not only on our skin but on our health as well.
Our skin tells the story about our own health. So aside from re-evaluating the products you use, re-evaluate your diet, your sleeping habits, how you feel and how much you eat and what you eat especially when you’re about to get your period.
Re-evaluate how you take care and how much you listen to your body.
For those who are currently dealing with a sudden onset of Adult Acne, know you are not alone. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed at first but at some point, you have to do something about it.
After all, this is just a phase. Ultimately, the solution lies in being comfortable in your own skin.
I segregated this extensive guide into two parts:
PART 1: “My Adult Acne Experience: 4 Reasons Why You’re Breaking Out”
PART 2: “My Adult Acne Experience: The Game Plan – A Holistic Approach”
If you would like me to help and guide you personally with YOUR skin journey or if you have any other skin concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me. I hold online consultations and we can talk about a treatment plan that works for YOU.
With love,
Kathlyn Sanga, LE
Disclaimer: I’m not saying don’t go on birth control or spironolactone, but if you are like me who wants to treat your skin as naturally as you possibly can, stick around and read through this.