Why hadn’t my dermatologists told me this? May 2016 The first time I heard “if it’s anywhere that you could grow facial hair, it’s hormone related” I was stunned. I had never realized how peculiar it was that I had never had a single breakout on my forehead – they were always all along my cheeks and jawline. I remember reading about PCOS and feeling like someone had stolen and published my own personal diary. I read the book and it was, quite literally, life changing.
#ACNE SUCCESS STORY CODE#
In 2012, I was sitting at the Thanksgiving Day table at my grandmother’s house when my cousin began talking about her own period issues and this “life changing” book called Woman Code by Alisa Vitti. I still did not understand the connection between my absent periods and my acne and was viewing them as two isolated symptoms. When I was 18, my period had not come in two years (yes, you read that right) and I had horrible acne.
#ACNE SUCCESS STORY SKIN#
I spent years listening to “it’s not that bad” and “everyone breaks out.” I heard lots of, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I never would have guessed your skin was that bad because you are so good at doing your makeup!” Thanks. I had women with naturally gorgeous skin trying to give me advice and a high school boyfriend sending me DIY treatments from Google. I had every infuriating and discouraging conversation that acne-sufferers know all too well. I always tell people “If it’s on the shelf at Walmart or Target, I have tried it.” I tried everything that I could get my hands on for my acne. I didn’t know much about my body or health but I have always been a little skeptical of non-crucial medications, so I politely declined each time. They told me that if I didn’t have regular periods by age 18, I could come back. They all said the same thing: “It’s normal for this age, take _.” Birth control, antibiotics, accutane, the list goes on and on. I also started seeing dermatologists for acne. I went to several OB/GYN visits between ages 15-17. When it went, it was usually for 6-12 months at a time.Īt 15 I started seeing doctors for my absent periods. I was 13 when I got my first period and, while it came for the first few months, it wasn’t long before it was gone again. My hormonal roller coaster started right at the beginning of puberty. How I went from years of cystic acne to finally feeling free in my own skin. Guest post about PCOS and acne by Marianna Constable, Tea Tree & Lemons