Acne treatment finally started working for me last week, i think it was tuesday? anyway i was in my bathroom mirror all fogged up from the shower and my glasses were like steamed dumplings. im 32 and still getting zits like im 15 and failing algebra. that late night pizza run after bar trivia didnt help, grease city on my chin. who does that?? me. hi. heres what i figured out after way too many fails.
why my acne treatment thing started with me basically crying in target
back in 2023 i was all “coconut oil fixes everything” yeah no. my forehead turned into an oil slick. now im in this tiny bathroom that smells like fake plants and my bad decisions, putting on this curology stuff cuz my rx ran out and i freaked. first few days my face was peeling like i got a chemical burn at the beach. flakes in the sink while im brushing my teeth?? gross. but then like a week later the giant red lumps on my chin got smaller. maybe. or i was just hopeful.
acne treatment stuff that didnt make me hate life
The Ordinary salicylic acid is seven bucks and honestly did more than the fancy serums. i slap it on with these cotton pad things i wash in the sink (save the planet or whatever) while sitting on my crusty bathmat. it tingles and im like yes punish me. but DONT mix with retinol unless you wanna look like a lobster on a work call. learned that the hard way. eyes water. bad times.
- morning mess: cerave cleanser that doesnt strip, vitamin c that smells like dreamsicles, moisturizer thick like wall paste
- night mess: double cleanse cuz subway grime, salicylic, tretinoin that makes me greasy af
- snacks i lie about: hot cheetos at midnight “for science”
weird acne treatment tricks that kinda work for me
ice cube in a paper towel on a spot while i scroll twitter? yes. gua sha with this jade rock i got at 3am on amazon? face less puffy, feel bougie. cutting dairy was huge. i was chugging iced lattes like a fiend. switched to oat milk and my jawline stopped looking like the moon. then i had a milkshake thursday. oops.
food stuff i try for acne treatment (mostly)
- oat milk now, bye bye real milk
- spearmint tea cuz some reddit post said hormones
- dark chocolate only (im not a monster)
- had mozzarella sticks last night and im scared to look in the mirror
when i finally paid for real acne treatment
diy was a disaster so i went to this derm in williamsburg. she saw my search history and didnt laugh. gave me spironolactone and a light mask thing. first month my face purged like a volcano. looked rough. but now
the feelings part of acne treatment
some mornings skin is okay and im like adulting win! other days new zits pop up and im canceling plans, wearing scarves in summer. scars remind me of stress eating pizza in grad school or crying in target over concealer. i still check every reflective surface. help.
anyway acne treatment is messy
its not perfect. got a new spot right now while typing this in my nasty sweats. but routine + less dairy + not picking (trying) = more good days. you do you. take ugly pics. clear skin isnt everything but damn it feels good to not dodge cameras.
whats your acne treatment go-to? tell me below, i read comments while putting ice on my face at midnight.
Outbound Link: american academy of dermatology on spironolactone for acne
