I’m finally taking a HUGE step out of my comfort zone and revealing my Acne story. 🙈 If you’ve ever struggled with hormonal acne and feel like you’ve tried just about everything under the sun… I’ve been there!! But before you give up and give in to your adult acne, read this to discover my #1 solution to my adult hormonal acne! My hope is to shed some light on something you haven’t thought of or tried yet.
My Adult Hormonal Acne story
How it started
Soon after I turned 30, I started having acne issues. It seemed to be what is classified as your typical hormonal acne… cystic, under the skin, almost never come to a head, flares up around menstrual cycle, and primarily on chin. Like in the pictures above.
But over the course of the next 2 years, it continued to get worse. It was constant, no longer a few spots of acne, but instead a full face of blemishes! On my forehead, cheeks, chin and jawline.
So is it really hormonal??
Investigation
I wasn’t willing to go on birth control or try Accutane due to the side effects, but I did try other topical prescription medications. Unfortunately they didn’t help.
So… I had my basic hormone levels tested and everything came back normal. Yay! They’re normal! But also, Crap! What in the world is causing this acne?! And more importantly, how can I get rid of it!?
I even took a food sensitivity test and only had 1 mild sensitivity… to chicken. (Kinda strange 😆 but I highly doubted the chicken was causing my acne. Lol.)
Ok… on to elimination diet. Even though I wasn’t showing any “sensitivities” to these foods, a lot of research indicates that these are inflammatory foods and it was worth seeing if it made any difference. **Note: I realize seeing results from these changes aren’t immediate. I knew in order to have a fair observation, I had to do be consistent and do it for weeks/months (not days) to see if there were any changes.
So, I cut out dairy for over a year. Did I feel less bloated? Sure! Did it make any affect on my acne situation? None whatsoever.
I also significantly reduced my gluten intake and cut out corn for several months. Again, no difference in my skin.
Now at this point I was having a really hard time with my self confidence. I’m a makeup artist, so I can cover it up really well, but I also felt like a walking hypocrite… I felt like a makeup artist with terrible skin was like bad advertising!
I am naturally hard on myself and I really hit a big time low.
See below for a couple pics I took when my acne was at its worst.
Thinking outside the box
So after a lot of tears, frustration and anger, I decided to keep looking for alternative methods of treating acne. Low and behold I came across Acupuncture as an option. Little did I know that this would be the #1 solution in my adult hormonal acne journey.
So I was referred to a local business: Acupuncture Center for Balance & Healing. I called and asked if acupuncture truly is an option for treating acne. After listening to what they had to say, I made an appointment for a consultation.
The consultation was a little over an hour where I was asked SO many questions. From water intake & diet, to bowl movements, to sleeping environment, and more. She looked at my tongue and did some muscle testing. Then after she walked me through the process and what to expect, I laid down for my first treatment.
She explained that based on where my acne was located, it indicated which meridian points were “blocked” and where inflammation was settling in (aka acne). We were going to work on balancing my liver, respiratory and digestion.
So she put 3 needles in each of my lower legs/feet, four in each arm and one in the center of my forehead. I also got these tiny bandaids with micro needles in them placed on a meridian point in each of my ears that I was to lightly massage throughout the day to help relieve stress.
commitment
I was instructed to stop eating spicy foods (for the time being) and eat more cooling foods (cucumber, leafy greens, apples, grapefruit, watermelon, strawberries, green tea, etc.)
I had to go in for treatments 2 times a week for about 2 months, then we reduced it to 1 time a week for a month, then down to 2 times a month.
With acupuncture sessions costing between $50-$80 on average, it IS an investment. But I was at the point where I felt if there was a chance it could help make a difference, I had to give it a try!
I started in October of 2019 and continued to go up until March of 2020 (when everything shut down due to COVID-19).
Other Changes
At the same time of starting acupuncture, I adjusted my skin care products and routine. I went very basic!!
I began using:
- a medicated face wash that my dermatologist recommended. You can get it at your local pharmacy or Ulta.
- a vitamin C serum
- a hyaluronic acid
- a topical acne treatment
- an ice roller to reduce inflammation
- pimple patches for ones that did pop- this absorbs discharge and reduces the size!
Once my skin started healing, I started incorporating a few more products, one at a time. I would try each one for about a week before introducing another one.
Now that I wasn’t going to acupuncture, my skin care routine was super important to me.
Progress Pictures
Raw & unfiltered.
Skincare Routine
I am so happy with my current AM & PM skin care routines! Take a look at what I’m currently using every day. I believe the key is consistency!!
AM Routine
- I wash my face with this cleanser.
- Then I use this niacinamide toner which is great for brightening and evening skin tone.
- I spot treat with this acne treatment.
- Next I use this discoloration correcting serum to help fade the acne scars/marks.
- I’ll use these gel under eye patches if I need a little extra help.
- If I don’t use the eye patches I will use this eye gel to help brighten.
- Next I mist my face with water using this mister and then apply hyaluronic acid. Applying to damp skin helps the skin absorb, hydrate and plump!
- Then I will apply this roseship oil to my neck and chest.
- Once the serums have absorbed, I will apply this moisturizer. It’s SO good and great for any skin type.
- Lastly I apply this mattifying sunscreen. Don’t skip this step!
PM Routine
- I use this cleansing balm to remove my eye makeup.
- Then I wash my whole face with this cleanser.
- Next I use this niacinamide toner which is great for brightening and evening skin tone.
- I alternate using a prescription retinol from my dermatologist and this overnight exfoliating treatment. In fact, I do the overnight treatment only 2-3 times a week. Never use both at the same time.
- Next I use this discoloration correcting serum to help fade the acne scars/marks.
- I apply this retinol & hyaluronic eye stick.
- Next I mist my face with water using this mister and then apply hyaluronic acid. Applying to damp skin helps the skin absorb, hydrate and plump!
- Then I will apply this roseship oil to my neck and chest.
- Once the serums have absorbed, I will apply this moisturizer. It’s SO good and great for any skin type.
- Lastly I apply this overnight lip mask for the most hydrating lip treatment!!
Wrap up
There you have it! My adult hormonal acne journey in a nut shell. If you are struggling, I hope you walk away from this with new hope. Knowing that you aren’t alone and that it WILL get better.
Your worth isn’t in your appearance.
I know that not everyone will have the same journey, but maybe some of these can work for you. And if you’ve been through this, I’d love to hear what worked for you so let me know in the comments!!
XOXO - YOUR FRIEND
lindsey rae
Be sure to also check out my post on Natural Everyday Makeup.
And if you haven’t already, come say HI over on the Gram and on TikTok! 👋🏻
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