Struggling with Severe Acne and Healthcare Providers

I've been repeatedly let down by my healthcare providers and feel I'm on my health journey alone. I have severe and persistent acne that has proved resistant to every medication dermatologists have thrown at me. Topical after topical, nothing helped. Courses of antibiotics, didn't help. I decided I wanted to try to heal my body internally and went on a gluten-free diary-free and low-sugar diet. Within 6 months my face was completely clear, but as the months went on my skin began to decline and return to it's previous state. Desperate for relief, I decided to go on accutane which is one of my biggest regrets ever. Within a week every inch of my skin was blowing up with painful cystic pimples and all I was being told was that it was just a purge that will go away. I was put on steroids to calm the inflammation but it only helped for a week. After two months the active pain and horrible scarring forming on my face was too much for me to deal with and I stopped the medication. To this day every dermatologist tells me I made a mistake stopping it but they don't know how bad it really was and it's mental impacts (I also experienced drastic weight loss and I'm already underweight). I'm now immersed in understanding the gut-skin axis and learning how I can heal my body from within once and for all. I've been on a Paleo diet + supplements for a year but that unfortunately hasn't helped me at all. I recently got my results back from a stool sample analysis and found I have a huge bacterial dysbiosis in my gut. Based on these results, I just switched to a carnivore diet to try to kill off the overgrowth of a certain bacteria genus. I'm hoping I can one day wake up without throbbing and swelling all over my face and alleviate the severe phobia I have of being in public spaces. Some days I'm even too scared to go out and take out the trash if the sun's out. If you've read this far I appreciate your time and would love to hear your story as well :)

Dealing with Cystic Acne: Tips and Tricks

What’s the best why to deal with cystic acne? I have like 1-3 all in a very unfortunate location and its kind really uncomfy. They’d been there for like a month or more.

Struggling with Acne and Rosacea After 20+ Years

As a teen I had bad acne. After 20+ years with almost none, it returned in the form of acne and probably rosacea around the age of 43, during a stressful life moment (divorce/job issues). 4 years later and despite dietary changes, various types of creams, treatments, and medications, nothing seems to help. Maybe someone here can? :)

Need advice on skin cysts

Has anyone here experienced a cyst in their skin? I was told this lump on outside of my ear felt like a cyst at urgent care. He told me it wasn’t concerning but to follow up with a dermatologist. I saw online that heating the area helps. Wondered if anyone knew of other ideas that can cause this to go away. Scheduled a follow up incase nothing works either way but hoping it’s not necessary

Looking for advice on Accutane and other acne treatments

Any one here been on Accutane? I’m currently on Sprionolactone/Tretinoin combo for the second time to help with my cystic acne, which I’ve dealt with for many years. The first time I went on this combo four years ago (when I was 18 or 19), my skin got much worse initially, then cleared up completely. I’d never seen my skin looking so healthy since I started dealing with acne in middle school (cue biggg boost in my self esteem). I stopped taking the pill when I studied abroad, and within 6 months all my cystic acne came back. I’m now on it for the second time and it’s working slowly, but I worry that if I was to go off it again everything would come again. The spiro pill makes me incredibly dizzy and I don’t want to be on it forever. I’ve heard accutane is really the only permanent solution for people with persistent, prolonged acne. What were your experiences with accutane? Did it work for you? Is it worth it? Are there other solutions I should try before I try accutane?

Natural ways to combat hormonal acne?

Anyone have any natural ways to combat hormonal acne? I quit birth control and Spironolactone due to bad side effects.

Considering Accutane for Hormonal and Cystic Acne

Hi! I’ve been struggling with hormonal and cystic acne for 16 years now, oof. I’m 27 now. Spironalactone, winlevi, and aklief help a lot, antibiotics don’t. However, I’m considering accutane because I don’t want to take Spiro forever. I tried going off it and it wrecked my face so I’m back on it again. Has anyone taken accutane? How bad were the side effects?

Constant Labia Acne: Any Solutions?

Hi so every now and then I would get acne on my labia ever since I was in my 20s. I’m now in my early 30s. I am not sexually active, haven’t been for a few years, nor do I use toys. this past year especially it has been constant and many. I don’t shave so I am not causing any irritation and I regularly clean myself with natural herbal soap. I’m not athletic so there’s no concern of causing irritation either by that. Any idea why I’m getting it and how to stop it? They’re not little top layer zits either.

Struggling with Acne and Self-Image

Does anyone else deal with a low self imagine because of acne? I’ve had it for a few years and it’s hasn’t gone away no matter how hard I try. Any tips to get over that and not let it make you feel bad?

Struggling with Hormonal Cystic Acne

i have struggled with hormonal cystic acne for 5-6 years now and the only things to help is aldactone at the max dose possible… any ither recs?

Looking for Successful Hormonal Acne Treatments

For those who deal with hormonal acne, what has been the most successful treatment for you? I have had acne for all of my teen and adult life. For the past year or so, I’ve been getting bad cystic acne under my jaw and in my neck, usually deep in the skin, and it stays there for months. I have tried topical treatments, like different and clindamycin, different skincare products, like face washes, exfoliates, and am currently taking spironolactone. But nothing seems to be working. I also avoid sugar and dairy. Any insights?

Starting Accutane in 5 Weeks: Any Advice?

Have any of you tried accutane? I’m getting on it in 5 weeks!

Need help with sudden acne breakout

Hello, i’ve just turned 18 in September 2021 and I never really had bad acne until around my 18th birthday, but now I break out all over my face, has anyone found anything that works for them?

Dealing with Severe Cystic Acne for Over a Year

Been dealing with severe cystic acne for over a year now 😩 Anyone have any tips or information or even story or just want to relate all is welcome🤗

Dealing with Acne in Wrestling

Niche problem here, but I've got kinda bad acne all over my body. forehead, cheeks, arms and the worst is on my back. I love wrestling and I was in training but wrestling requires me to be shirtless and the thought of others seeing my bacne scares me.

Starting Accutane, Need Tips!

Hey so i’m starting Accutane this week does anyone have any tips i’m extremely nervous bc of my other conditions and I don’t know how i’m going to do on it!

Finding Motivation and Confidence with Acne

hey I'm new here and I wanted to ask you guys an important question. how do you guys find motivation when you're depressed and any tips on how to feel confident and attractive with acne?

Need help with acne treatment while on testosterone

I'm on testosterone so I'm going through puberty (yay!) So I have super bad acne. Like no space uncovered acne... I've tried clearcil, witch hazel, benzodioxide, pan oil, salicylic acid and tretinal. Any suggestions?????

Struggling with Acne: Need Help!

I have been struggling with acne for a very long time now. I have tried so many treatment options. ( I am anti-accutane). My dermatologist actually gave up on trying to treat my acne. He said “I am done treating you I don’t know how to help you so I’m giving up”. Someone please help me come up with some things to try.