I had acne as a teenager. Big surprise. Most teenagers get acne. I didn't really start breaking out until I was about 16, and at that point, my mom ordered me Proactiv. It worked wonderfully! My face was super-clear, and I had not an acne-worry in the world. I used Proactiv for more than 10 years because "if it's not broke, don't fix it."
After I had my child I started taking the birth control pill, because I wasn't too keen on popping out more babies anytime soon. I took the pill for about a year, and then stopped. I wasn't try to conceive, and I was still using other methods of birth control, but I didn't want to deal with the hassle of the pill. Shortly after stopping the pill, my face began to break out - BAD. I wish I had pictures to show you just how awful it was, but at that time I was so self-conscious about the acne that I allowed no pictures to be taken of me at all! The acne was primarily located on my cheeks and jawline. The jawline was the most concentrated area. My face was in constant pain. More than once I was positive that I had a tooth or gum abscess because the pain in my jaw was so excruciating! I remember telling my dentist once about my "tooth" pain only to find out (by x-ray) that the cause was not dental. I spent hours trying multiple products, remedies, and supplements to help the acne and the horrible scarring it was leaving on my face! I spent literally hundreds of dollars on more products than any one person should ever try.
Little did I know that the reason for my acne could be related to the birth control pill. I stayed off the pill for two full years and suffered from this horrible, cystic acne the entire time! When my doctor put me back on the pill, the acne improved drastically in a matter of months. I was told that the acne would subside after I had been off the pill long enough for my body to adjust. Well, that never happened. In the two years I was off the pill, my body never adjusted.
Now that I've had time to reflect, I have been able to do some research about PCOS, the birth control pill, and how the two react to one another. Many women have reported that their PCOS symptoms have improved with the birth control pill, but after stopping the pill, the symptoms have returned with a vengeance! Ah-ha! Some women are lucky, though. They can start the pill and stop the pill, and never really suffer any repercussions. I wish I had known all this going in, because honestly, I would have never even started the pill. I would have found another method of birth control from the beginning. Because my body will never adjust now, I am pretty much stuck taking the pill indefinitely. I wish I had it to do over, and I wish someone would have warned me. If you don't absolutely have to take the pill, please don't start!
Now, let me just share with you a list of things I tried for my cystic acne. This is not a complete list; I am sure I am forgetting some, but it is everything I can remember using. If only I could have that time (and that money) back!
SensiClear System
KlearAction System
Clearasil
Oxy Pads
Mama Lotion
M2 Skin System
Proactiv (Original)
Proactiv (Sensitive)
Avon Clearskin System
Avon Clearskin Professional System
AcneFree Kit (Original)
AcneFree Kit (Sensitive)
AcneFree Kit (Severe)
AcneFree (Terminator 10)
Equate Acne System
Clean & Clear Advantage
Yes to Tomatoes Acne Kit
Nature's Cure Papaya Skin Care System
Nature's Cure 2-Part Acne Treatment (Tablets for Females)
Nature's Cure 2-Part Acne Treatment (Tablets for Males)
Burt's Bees Acne Targeted Spot Treatment
Murad Vitamin C Products
Mario Badescu (Special Cleansing Lotion C)
Mario Badescu (Buffering Lotion)
Mario Badescu (Ance Facial Cleanser)
Mario Badescu (Drying Lotion)
Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Wash
Neutrogena Acne Therapy System
Mejier-Brand Acne System
Thylox Sulfur Soap
Desert Essence Cleanser
Prid Drawing Salve
African Black Soap
2% Pyrithione Zinc
Hydrocortisone Cream
Diaper Rash Ointment
Preparation H
BioOil
Noxzema
Biotin Supplements
Tea Tree Oil
Lemon Juice
Egg Whites
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil
Aspirin (crushed with water and applied topically)
Toothpaste
Baking Soda
Apple Cider Vinegar
White Distilled Vinegar
Diluted Bleach
Witch Hazel
Chlorinated Water
Rubbing Alcohol
Hydrogen Peroxide
Aloe Vera
Rose Water
Tea, Black (applied topically)
Tea, Green (applied topically and taken internally)
Sunlight Exposure/Tanning
