Acne, Sensitivity, and Redness: My First Struggles (Part 1)

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1. My First Pimple
2. Bad Genes?
3. When the Insecurity Began

My First Pimple

I was 14 years old when I got my first period (being extremely skinny led to a “late” period), and I could feel everything changing in my body, including my skin. My skin became oilier, especially in the T-zone. My nose and forehead were always shiny all day long. I even started to notice blackheads on my nose, forehead, and chin before acne reared its head. I despised those little black spots on my fair, pale skin. At the time, I was very insecure about having fair skin, often getting called a ghost or being mistaken for a sick person. Every little imperfection, like redness, blackheads, pimples, and scars, stood out on my face, further intensifying my insecurities.

Not long after I noticed the blackheads, my first pimple made its appearance. During my teenage years, my acne was primarily confined to my forehead. However, my entire forehead, from temple to temple, even the area between my eyebrows, was covered in pimples. Unfortunately, I still have the scars from that time, but that’s a topic for another article. If I were to describe the pimples I had, they were generally big with whiteheads, a type known as pustule acne. My pores in the T-zone changed and appeared larger.

Even though I hadn’t consulted a dermatologist to confirm the severity of my acne, I considered it to be moderate. Despite my forehead being covered in pimples, I wasn’t overly concerned. After all, isn’t it normal for teenagers to go through a phase with acne? In my opinion, my acne wasn’t severe enough to warrant seeing a doctor or taking strong medications. It would have been nice not to have any pimples at all, but I had made peace with my skin.

Bad Genes?

However, I couldn’t help but notice that all my female classmates seemed to have perfect skin. I often wondered, “Why do they all have perfect skin?” My initial thought was, “Good genes!” But I couldn’t help but question whether they were all truly blessed with great genes. Later, in my early twenties, I discovered that many of them were using birth control. The one usually used for acne is an estrogen-progestogen birth control. It contains both estrogen and progesterone, which regulate the levels of androgens in your body, subsequently reducing sebum production and, thus, acne.

But what about me? Did I have bad genes? I began to question my genetic makeup and tried to determine whom I resembled. At the time, I was searching for answers to help me come to terms with my skin condition. I even asked my parents if they had ever experienced acne. However, neither of them had a single pimple or blackhead. What about their siblings? Did they have acne?

On my dad’s side, there are three brothers, and none of them had acne. On my mom’s side, there were five brothers and sisters, and only one of them had acne. She had really severe acne from her teenage years until her mid-thirties. Back then, there was no awareness of adult acne, and unfortunately, I can still see some of the damage on her skin. Moreover, during that time, going to a doctor for mere pimples on the face was uncommon.

There it was, my answer. I had my aunt’s genes, what luck! I thought there was nothing I could do about it, and I had to accept my fate, hoping that not too much damage would be left on my skin. I also have five siblings. Two sisters and two brothers. Out of the three sisters, two, including me, had acne during their teenage years and into adulthood. Only one of us had adult acne alone. Her skin and hair were drier compared to mine, and she began experiencing adult acne at around 22 years old. As for my two brothers, they only had acne during their teenage years, which naturally disappeared by the time they reached 19 to 20 years old.

I find it essential to understand our background to better comprehend our skin and take better care of it. Through this blog, I aim to provide you with all the information you need to visualize my background and gain a better understanding of my skincare journey. Many factors can influence the state of your skin, such as your geographical location, pollution, dietary habits, lifestyle, stress, and physical activity.

The skin is often regarded as the largest and most mysterious organ of all. Many factors influence how we treat and care for our skin, impacting its beauty and health.

When the Insecurity Began

At 18 years old, I began to feel insecure about my skin. Although my acne was still present on my forehead, it wasn’t as severe as in previous years. But paradoxically, I felt even more insecure. I had just started university, and in those first days, I could immediately tell that acne on people’s faces wasn’t as prominent as it had been in high school. Nobody at my university seemed to have acne; not a single person. I felt alone.

It was the first time I wished I had flawless, glass-like skin, and I started applying heavy makeup to conceal my pimples and blackheads. I was passive at that age, not doing any research, avoiding dermatologist visits, and just accepting my skin, hoping my acne would naturally vanish. I waited five long years before scheduling my first dermatologist appointment. I suppose I had this mindset of not going to the doctor for mere pimples as well. Unfortunately, this way of thinking resulted in scars left on my skin.

What prompted my first dermatologist appointment? What caused me to change my mind? What happened at 23 years old that made me seek medical treatment?

Before delving into that subject, it’s essential to understand what acne is and the differences between acne and adult acne. Stay tuned for my next article on “acne” !

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Thank you for reading!

See you soon, Beautifully Moi!