Post by skar on Apr 24, 2004 13:07:04 GMT -5
I never knew so many people had this problem. It's actually a bit comforting.
As a teen I had porcelain doll skin(people would compliement) - a beautiful complextion. I actually thought that I could have been a skin model for a face product or a dermatologist . But boy did things turn out differently! I am now 25 and my skin is at its worse (and has been for a few years now).
I've read some articles online and I sure can relate.
I started off squeezing my nose and all this white stuff started coming out of the pores- I was quite fascinated, and it was actually fun to do- at the time.
I started to wash my face from once a day to maybe 3,4,5 times. Thinking if I could dry out the pimple it would be better! Wrong! I created an oily face from a peaches and cream complexion. My skin would eventually clear up and then again I'd get a few pimples and thought that I had acne. I saw dermatologists and they said "Stop picking!" and prescribed a cream or an oral pill. I said , "okay". But again would find myself sitting on top of the bathroom counter, as close to the mirror as possible. I swear any closer , and I'd be inside the mirror!
It wasn't until I started University that my skin started to get more flare-ups. My family would laugh at me when I said I have pimples! They would say"where?" They thought it was all in my head. But I said, "I squeeze them that why you don't see it." My skin was still pretty clear with occasinal breakouts. But it seemed that as soon as one or a few pimples would clear up, I'd get another one! So annoying!
Well, I then thought if I take the pill (ortho- maybe it would help. But of, course you need to wait a few weeks to see results right? Well, it may have helped a bit, but I would still break out around the "time of the month" but my problem was - I had to squeeze!!
I really made a huge mistake when I dug at a teeny tiny dot on my nose. I created a huge scab, which leaded to a scar. I even ended up getting laser surgery on it! It still gets red and you can see the surface hole becasue of me - not being able to leave it alone. It still gets red when I get warm- b/c of the blood vessels. My dermatologist said she couldn't help me anymore- basically. So I suffer with that still and its been about (6years).
I then though that - I learned my lesson- "Never pick!"
But still that didn't stop me. I sit here at the age of 25 and realize I need help. I need to change my routines, my bad habits. I now have scabs and oozing infections that I have created from a simple whitehead or blackhead. I've tried may things like - Visine to get the red out; ointments, home remedies, toothpaste, honey,emu oil, anythign and evertything. (visine -only works for small spots and, have gotten face peels, spend hundreds(thousands) of dollars on products.
They say keep it simple. So I tried to wash with a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil, and what not. But its so embarassing. I avoid family, friends, and have got into many arguments because I have lied to my boyfriend about the real reason I am cancelling plans! - I need help! Its ruining my life. I do have a strong faith, but when you call in sick to work b/c you don't want your co-workers or students to look at you, and your family is telling you how "aweful and how you need help". I know I need to do something...and stop doing other things...(like picking and looking in mirrors for hours!) Please help !
As a teen I had porcelain doll skin(people would compliement) - a beautiful complextion. I actually thought that I could have been a skin model for a face product or a dermatologist . But boy did things turn out differently! I am now 25 and my skin is at its worse (and has been for a few years now).
I've read some articles online and I sure can relate.
I started off squeezing my nose and all this white stuff started coming out of the pores- I was quite fascinated, and it was actually fun to do- at the time.
I started to wash my face from once a day to maybe 3,4,5 times. Thinking if I could dry out the pimple it would be better! Wrong! I created an oily face from a peaches and cream complexion. My skin would eventually clear up and then again I'd get a few pimples and thought that I had acne. I saw dermatologists and they said "Stop picking!" and prescribed a cream or an oral pill. I said , "okay". But again would find myself sitting on top of the bathroom counter, as close to the mirror as possible. I swear any closer , and I'd be inside the mirror!
It wasn't until I started University that my skin started to get more flare-ups. My family would laugh at me when I said I have pimples! They would say"where?" They thought it was all in my head. But I said, "I squeeze them that why you don't see it." My skin was still pretty clear with occasinal breakouts. But it seemed that as soon as one or a few pimples would clear up, I'd get another one! So annoying!
Well, I then thought if I take the pill (ortho- maybe it would help. But of, course you need to wait a few weeks to see results right? Well, it may have helped a bit, but I would still break out around the "time of the month" but my problem was - I had to squeeze!!
I really made a huge mistake when I dug at a teeny tiny dot on my nose. I created a huge scab, which leaded to a scar. I even ended up getting laser surgery on it! It still gets red and you can see the surface hole becasue of me - not being able to leave it alone. It still gets red when I get warm- b/c of the blood vessels. My dermatologist said she couldn't help me anymore- basically. So I suffer with that still and its been about (6years).
I then though that - I learned my lesson- "Never pick!"
But still that didn't stop me. I sit here at the age of 25 and realize I need help. I need to change my routines, my bad habits. I now have scabs and oozing infections that I have created from a simple whitehead or blackhead. I've tried may things like - Visine to get the red out; ointments, home remedies, toothpaste, honey,emu oil, anythign and evertything. (visine -only works for small spots and, have gotten face peels, spend hundreds(thousands) of dollars on products.
They say keep it simple. So I tried to wash with a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil, and what not. But its so embarassing. I avoid family, friends, and have got into many arguments because I have lied to my boyfriend about the real reason I am cancelling plans! - I need help! Its ruining my life. I do have a strong faith, but when you call in sick to work b/c you don't want your co-workers or students to look at you, and your family is telling you how "aweful and how you need help". I know I need to do something...and stop doing other things...(like picking and looking in mirrors for hours!) Please help !
They are supposed to be THERE for you and support you when you need it, and that does NOT mean laughing at you. How would they like it if they had this terrible problem?They wouldn't think it was funny then, when summer came around and they couldn't wear swimsuits or sleeveless shirts.
. I was then unable to pick my skin on that side of my face, which turned out looking better that ever! I am still having problems sometimes not to touch my face. I have tried laser therapy (with Levulan) for pimples: it did not work for me. I then bought the Zeno machine, which works quite well on diminishing the inflammation of the pimples, without having to touch them.