By Nicki
I am a work in progress and it's okay. - Nicki
I have struggled with acne since halfway through high school. At that age, I already wonder how I will win my battle against acne.
I have had hormonal imbalances, cystic acne, blackheads, everything. Acne just always seemed to win.
It went beyond the physical aspect and affected me mentally and emotionally. I would stay inside and avoid hanging out with friends. I was so caught up in the thought that people would stare at what’s on my face rather than to listen to me and see me as a whole. I would just stay in bed all day. It was depressing. But I learned that I should not allow acne to win and have control over me.
Statistics have shown that in the U.S., 85% of people have experienced acne at some point in their lives. 50 million people have acne of some kind. Of those 50 million, 15% have some form of acne bad enough that it results in scarring on the skin. Also, 95% of people will experience acne at some point in their lives.
There are 60 million people in the country who suffered from acne. This includes all types of acne. As of those 60 million people, 20% of those had severe acne which resulted in deep scarring. But on a positive note, 96% of acne sufferers believe there is a cure.
How I Beat My Acne
My acne subsided the first time when I got on birth control. It took years for my scars to diminish. This finally happened during the summer of 2016. My skin was the best it has ever been.
Then, I decided to be all-natural and not to use artificial hormones. Soon after, I started getting jawline acne again then, full-blown cystic acne. I want to say my acne was never severe but it was on the brink. Definitely, more aggressive acne. Even after treating my skin with natural products, still, acne wins.
Makeup would not cover it. I read online that your body is only flushing out hormones and it could take 3 months or so. After 9 months, I decided to go back on birth control because I could not handle it.
It was definitely important for me to get off of birth control because I am now aware of the fact that I may have PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. And this round of acne, I was not as hard on myself. It still sucked. It hurt.
I wanted clear skin but almost had I forgotten how it was like to have imperfections wherein people have to look when they speak to you.
When I started using birth control again, my skin started to clear up. I had to get rid of acne scars. The acne scars were red, deep, and the hyperpigmentation was bad.
I’ve been using BANISH for a year now. I love it! My skin’s texture has never felt so smooth. Even the hyperpigmentation has diminished.
My skin responded well to the Vitamin C serum (Banish Oil) and the Pumpkin Enzyme Masque. I know that Vitamins A and C are crucial in skincare.
I still struggle with few breakouts here and there. But, this whole experience has only made me appreciate everything. I have more and to not take things at face value, literally.
We are so much more than our skin. It’s so hard to tell someone that though. Easier said than done.
There are people who think that they are not "normal" when they do have imperfections such as acne. They use the power of makeup to conceal the traces of imperfection.
No one is perfect. Everyone is a work in progress. There is no such thing as perfect because that means you have stopped growing. It is important to grow and develop further.
Acne was a battle I meant to face.
BANISH has been nothing but kind to my skin. It’s not only the product I adore but as well as the media and how they present themselves. They talk about the emotional well-being behind the acne and what society places on us.
How I Beat Acne - My Story
Brandon's Acne Story
I remember waking up one morning and having my first three zits, right around my mouth at age 16. What was happening? Was I finally hitting puberty? Is this what they were talking about in health class when they said our bodies would start changing?
Little did I know that from this point forward, acne would play a huge role in my everyday feelings and affect the way I lived my day-to-day life. My sixteen-year-old self was only seeing a surface flaw and I had no idea that acne was going to change me. I was beginning an external & internal battle -- with acne.
The battle of acne was not just about how I looked or how people perceive me, like most people - it had an effect on my mental health and self-confidence, as well.
During the worst breakouts, I felt like I would never be able to be confident again or look at myself the way I did before I was plagued with cystic acne bumps all over my entire face.
It felt like acne took over my life.
I could no longer look anyone in the eye or do anything with confidence because I felt like nobody was seeing me for me; they were seeing my acne. This mindset took over my head for years and took a huge toll on my mental health and wellbeing.
What Products I've Tried For Acne
I felt like I had tried everything (besides Accutane) including solodyn, tazorac, differin. After being on an antibiotic and some very harsh topical creams for 4 years, I decided I was going to ween myself off of them and see what happens. I even went vegan which can sometimes have a huge impact on hormones, which in turn are linked to acne.
I would sit in my bedroom, afraid to face the world, and search for videos and products people were using. At this point, I was suffering from the leftover pits and scars from my severe acne. Although the acne was pretty much gone, I still was left with the aftermath - physically and emotionally.
How I Finally Beat Acne
I randomly came across Daisy’s Youtube channel in 2014, and immediately felt a connection because she went through the same thing as me. She talked about her struggle with acne and how it affected her self esteem. This was the first time I finally related to someone's story and I binge-watched all of her videos. I saw that she had started BANISH and immediately I made my first purchase - which honestly changed my life forever. The Banish Oil and Pumpkin Enzyme Masque were new staples in my skincare routine and I was using the Banisher every two weeks to heal my acne scars, and this is when I saw my skin changing for the better.
I can truly say that acne changed my life, but it was not in a bad way - as some people may think. Acne changed the way that I look at what beauty really means and the way that I look at life. After so many years, I can finally look in the mirror in the morning and not be ashamed of what I see. I still have some minor breakouts, hyperpigmentation & acne scars but my life is so much more than that. I have realized that life is more about the connections you make with people and the kindness you spread. Of course, you will come across people who might be superficial and judge you for your skin issues, but we’re all struggling with something.
It has been ten years since I got my first pimple and I can finally say that I figured out how to beat acne. I am not saying that I do not break out from time to time, because trust me I still get random breakouts, but I learned how to cope and to love myself even with acne. I learned that most of the battle surrounding acne is how acne is perceived. Through the years,
I viewed acne as ‘disgusting’ and that very mindset was one of the key factors in how acne affected me. I see now that acne is not gross or disgusting, it is very natural. Most people will suffer from acne at some point in their life. I know my skin will never be too society's standard of ‘perfect’ but with a positive mindset I’m working to change the way I view situations like these, and that is what truly matters.
One thing that I always remember: YOU are your own biggest critic.
And what this means to me is that we pick ourselves apart way more than anyone else will.
As you might be focusing on your acne, someone you talk to today might only remember your presence and your beautiful smile!
Banish’s mission to spread authenticity and skin positivity has a lot to do with how far I and my skin have come.
When I first started my battle with acne, acne was not ever shown in the media or on social platforms. Banish’s skin positivity movement has shaped and molded my mind and my own perceptions of beauty - and showing me that acne is nothing to be afraid of.
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