Best Acne Care For Me

From acne to contact dermatitis, my skin has been through a lot, to say the least. As an 18-year-old heading off to college, there is nothing I want more than to feel confident “in my own skin.” Having lackluster skin is bad, but experimenting like I did with countless products and home remedies can make skin issues worsen even more. Hopefully, others can read my story and avoid deep acne scars and know the importance of self-love as the best acne care for me.

 I started to notice my imperfect skin right around the time when everyone sees flaws in themselves; middle school. From having too small of boobs to having a few minor pimples, I was incredibly insecure. Instead of scheduling a dermatologist appointment (WHICH IS WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD DO), I scoured the internet for home remedies and treatments. Coconut oil, toothpaste, eye drops, and crushed up aspirin were a few ingredients I tested and ended up with worse skin than before. When the home remedies proved to be detrimental, I took to the shelves of CVS Pharmacy, where I could buy cheap “acne solving” products, which resulted in my skin breaking out even more, and becoming extremely dry. I was overworking my skin with over-the-counter chemicals, causing it to become red and irritated. My skin was not healing and my insecurities remained stronger than ever.

 During high school, I finally booked a trip to the dermatologist and thankfully my skin finally started to clear up. My pimples diminished and I was starting to really love my complexion. It wasn’t until my junior year, when the coconut oil craze began on the internet, that my skin hit rock bottom. The stresses of this daunting academic year didn’t help my skin, nor did the comedogenic coconut oil I thought was moisturizing and promoting growth to my skin. Instead of nourishing my skin, the coconut oil was clogging my pores, and counteracting my holy grail dermatologist medication. My skin wasn’t only bad but twice as terrible as before.

My skin was so red and bumpy, my mom allowed me to get a chemical peel during my senior year. I felt so sad that my acne and imperfections were getting in the way with “the best year of my life.” I wanted to be able to look back at my senior pictures and be happy with who I was and the great experiences I had. So I underwent the procedure to take off the top, not-so-great layer of skin and suffered peeling for around 10 days. At the end of the peel, my bumps were finally gone! However, redness and pitting scars still remained. Today, I am still dealing with hyperpigmentation and acne scars, which is why I am interested in using Banish products.

My advice to anyone with imperfections is to visit the dermatologist and let time heal the skin. Don’t go to the internet seeking a “miracle home remedy” because they usually do more harm than good. See a professional, and love yourself, because acne too shall pass. That is the best acne care I can recommend for those who suffer like me.