Dear Acne, You’re Not Winning

Image Courtesy: Byrdie

I remember sitting in my high school math class when one of my friends turned to me. As she’s reaching for her radiant, poreless, untouched skin, she points toward her chin. There was a tiny, clogged pore- it wouldn’t even pass for a pimple. She had the look of utter disbelief and was on the verge of tears. “Oh my gosh look at my acne!” she says, as I sit there with five more of what she has, and worse. Now I’m overthinking not only how bad I look with more of them, but what the actual definition of acne is. Do I classify it as having said “acne”? Acne? Really? Or is acne only when I have it on every inch of my face? No? I give up.

I remember when I got my first pimple, or acne, some may say, I thought the more I picked at it, the faster it would disappear. When I experienced my first bout of multiple pimples, I thought the harder I exfoliated my face, the smoother and clearer my skin would be. When I had my first encounter with cystic acne, that’s when I felt as hopeless as my friend in math class. My skin would constantly fluctuate, from multiple unpoppable bumps to cystic blood blisters. I knew it was time to dive into my own research on why my acne was multiplying because I was tired of waking up to a depressed version of myself, hiding in the shadows because of something that was out of my control.

Image Courtesy: Vogue India

I held myself to the highest standard of skin care, constantly trying and tossing products, never daring to miss a step. But of course, a spoke gets thrown in our wheels, and that’s life. Take a deep breath. At the end of the day, the release of normal hormones, like stress, anxiety, and sadness, are all drastic changes to the body that also trigger mood swings and cravings. More specifically, I learned that our cortisol and adrenaline levels are sensitive to things like low blood sugar, not eating, lack of sleep, an intense workout, and discombobulates the correct amount that's supposed to be pumped. This prompts the skin to become inflamed and allow stress breakouts- mine was along my jawline and cheekbones, which are hormone-related areas. Trust me, you can drink all the chlorophyll you want and spend all the money in the world on skincare, taking all the right steps that Jennifer Lopez uses to keep her youthful, flawless glow, but know that it runs deeper than the surface. Now a veteran, I have dealt with the battle of acne for as long as I can remember. If I was there to guide myself through the battle, I would tell my younger self to not let it win. It’s nearly impossible to avoid the things that can negatively affect your skin. Life is not only too short to avoid indulging in things like sugar, the sun, fragrances, and makeup. More importantly, you can’t escape your hormones, babe. Since breakouts start from within, heal yourself from the inside out, and do yourself the favor of focusing on your mental health and immunity. Taking vitamins, incorporating healthy fats, omega 3’s, and antioxidant-rich foods fight your battle with acne.

Image Courtesy: Vogue

I get it. Your angst toward your acne is valid and completely justified. Coping with acne isn’t easy, but I’m here to tell you to never punish yourself for your breakouts by not going out, or not inviting in your cravings, because either way, it’s a process of life. Above all, the skin beneath your blemishes wins because no matter what, you are radiating beauty from within.

Strike Out,

Writer: Racquel Gluckstern

Editors: Breanna Tang & Lexi Fernandez

Tallahassee