Lessons From Having Acne for 20 Years

Teen Vogue
Updated

When you have acne, it seems like everyone has advice for you. Try this cream, avoid stress (good luck with that one), eat this. Walking out the door with a breakout means someone always has something to say. I’ve had acne since I was 14, so I’ve heard it all. But the majority of that well-meaning advice only made me frustrated or defeated by my pimples.

I’ve come a long way in caring for my skin since those first zits emerged, so I’ve put together the wisdom I’ve learned in my two decades of dealing with acne — the stuff I wish all those articles and adults had taught me while I was struggling with my skin. Your road to a clear complexion is going to be a bumpy (pun intended) one, but hopefully these tips will make it a little easier to navigate.

There is nothing wrong with you.

While you might have heard it a zillion times, it’s worth repeating: You are not the cause of your breakouts. Acne one of the most common skin conditions, and it doesn’t discriminate by age, sex, or skin color.

There is no such thing as a miracle acne cream.

Whenever I read or heard from someone that “such and such” product helped clear up their acne, I immediately jumped on it. And when it inevitably didn’t work for me, I was crushed. It’s important to realize that everyone’s skin — and acne — is different. What works for a celeb or your friend might not work for you. So don’t get discouraged. It’s important to try things, but if you find yourself blowing money on acne treatment after acne treatment, it’s time to put down your wallet and pick up the phone to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.

Don’t be scared to go to a pro.

The truth is that for many of us, no amount of face masking is going to make our acne go away. Seeing a professional not only gives you a clue of what’s going on, but also access to treatments and things like antibiotics that have a better chance of getting rid of those zits — or, at least, making your breakouts more manageable.

Be wary of “cures.”

Acne can make you pretty desperate. So desperate you’ll even consider putting hemorrhoid cream on your face. Which I hope it goes without saying that you should not do. Ever. So when someone tells you they cured their acne by quitting dairy, or that if you just switched to organic skin care you’d be pimple free, take it with a grain of salt.

I once had Kate Bosworth tell me in an interview that she took evening primrose oil supplements every morning because she said it gave her better skin. I went out and bought an economy size bottle and saw zero difference. I gave up cheese for a month when a friend told me being dairy-free had changed her skin. All I got for my trouble was barely contained rage whenever I saw someone eating a cheeseburger. You really do not want to cross a woman denied of cheddar.

Stop picking.

Seriously, quit it. While it might feel satisfying in the moment, your skin is going to pay for it down the road. As you get older, your skin takes longer to heal. I still have scars and permanent red marks from pimples I popped years ago.

Don’t miss out on life because of your skin.

I cancelled dates, made excuses not to go to the mall with my friends, hid from any camera that was even remotely pointed in my direction, and faked being sick when I had breakouts so I wouldn’t have to show my face. I learned the best way to arrange my hair, and how to discreetly put my hands on my face to hide my pimples when someone was talking to me. I spent so much time embarrassed by my skin that I didn’t get to do a lot of fun things — I was too worried about what everyone thought of me. Talking to people from high school and college now, I can tell you there are literally zero people who even remember me having acne. So I was hard on myself for nothing. Remember this the next time you feel like hiding under the covers until your pimples disappear.

Share your story.

But the most important thing that having acne over half my life has taught me is this: Acne is a beast, but you don’t have to fight it alone. Talking about it is what will help remove the stigma and the shame that surrounds it. So share your stories, ask questions, and listen to what others have to say. You’ve got too much to accomplish and too much to enjoy to let pimples stand in your way.

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