My acne started around 13 years ago. I began praying to God, asking him to clear my skin, around high school. I presume God's answer was one of two below:
1) "No."
2) "Wait."
Here I am 13 years later, battling acne still. I really don't know how I survived spiritually or mentally with this skin condition for these past 13 years, but I did. I have moderate to severe acne, not the occasional pimple here and there that normal people get, but skin covered in pimples, face, back and chest.
Acne has definitely been one of the biggest factors that have affected my relationship with God, unfortunately. Naturally, I like to be positive and optimistic, even when times get rough. I love life in general and I love the idea of enjoying life to the fullest. But acne definitely limits my life. For example, I love exercising, but sweating and heat exacerbates my acne.
Today, I just feel spiritually tired. I've tried many medications for acne, topical and oral, some giving me anxiety, mood swings and heartburn. I've tried changing my diet hoping that cutting out gluten, sugar, or dairy would magically make my clear. All this did was make me super paranoid about what I put in my mouth to the point where I was losing weight (healthy foods don't have much calories -_-).
I know I shouldn't base my faith on external circumstance. I know this so well, which is why I am so spiritually exhausted. I have put so much faith into God, patiently waiting for the last 13 years. But I really can't see myself continuing. I don't understand how God is watching above, watching me suffer physically and mentally because of my acne. I believe that God is the healer and His Word confirms this, but why is there no healing occurring in my life? I don't want to be separated from God or have my relationship with God go downhill. I really don't. I cherish it so much, which is why I'm posting this here on this forum, with my last ounce of hope, because I don't want acne to be the cause.
I ask for you, my brothers/sisters in Christ, for words of encouragement and I ask for communal prayer, so that healing can truly begin in my life both physically and spiritually.
I can help you. I struggled for 12 years with acne. My face is clear for the most part now. I also suffered from bad scars and hyperpigmentation. I am so glad I saw your post.
I struggled with blackheads that would turn to cysts under the skin. Here's what I did. I started getting facials with extractions from an asethetician. Not a dermatologist because dermatologist charge a ton of money to put you on drugs that ruin your liver and in my case didn't work.
That was only one part of it though. I got facials with blackhead extractions and I customized my skincare routine with products that worked for my skin. So there are a few acne bacteria killing main ingredients in topicals that work for people. Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, retinoic acid(retin-a) are the main ones I know of. Your acne bacteria may be resistant to some topicals and topical strengths. Sulfur at 10% concentration worked the best for me. I got it at Walmart in the ethnic section. I used this to dry out zits when I had massive breakouts. Benzoyl peroxide at 10% worked okay for me as well but only certain brands probably due to fillers and purity, etc.
Anyway you want to find a good topical.
So now you have your monthly facials with blackhead extractions, a good topical to use as a part of a daily routine. Then you want to find a good toner, cleanser, and moisturizer. My aesthetician advised i use witch hazel with two aspirin (salicylic acid) and a tablespoon of sea salt(kills bacteria). I didn't like that. Didn't work for me. I started using apple cider vinegar and it works great for me. As my cleanser I use activated charcoal soap because it draws out app the impurities. I use this brand from Giovanni that I get at sprouts. Alternatively you could order 100% charcoal soap from an Etsy store, I've done it and it's great. Okay so as a moisturizer I use kiss my face lotion or St. I've. I just avoid Shea butter (not supposed to cause acne but for me it does). I also avoid argan oil hate it breaks me out immediately.
Okay so here's what we have: - get monthly blackhead/zit popping extractions from a salon with a trained aesthetician, get a good routine... wash with a good cleanser charcoal or one with acne medication, tone your face (clean and clear with salicylic acid 2.5% also worked well for me if you don't like vinegar), moisture with something not greasy (unless you find an oil that works well and doesn't break you out for me that's coconut oil), spot treat zits with your topical.
You should see improvement not right away because it gets worse before better but keep at it and in a few months you'll start to clear up. I'll be honest it took me a year to start really really getting clear but my acne was bad and I had tons of blackheads.
I'll give you five more tips.
Exfoliate exfoliate exfoliate!
My aesthetician gave me a rough gauze pad. She said before I wash my face exfoliate my skin with the gauze. Don't try this on inflamed zits just on blackheads. Anyway gauze or a wash cloth is way better than scrubs.
As a spot treatment try peppermint essential oil or tea tree oil dries it up instantly will sting some but it works.
Clarisonic spin brushes work! Again I wouldn't use them on inflamed acne and you have to be really gentle when you use it. Also keep it clean or it could break you out.
Skin peels! Ask your aesthetician about salicylic acid peels or glycolic peels. They are usually low strength and help with zits and scarring. If you need something stronger TCAs are good too but be careful.
Last tip, if you struggle with scarring and hyperpigmentation after you can get rid of pitted scars with micro dermabrasion or microneedling. A dermatologist or trained aesthetician should do this and these are the main things I recommend seeing them for. If you just struggle with hyperpigmentation, ie dark marks then lemon essential oil is your best friend. Do not touch hydroquinone. It has caused cancer in rats. It never worked for me. Lemon oil starts fading scars the second you put it on. Literally I noticed my dark marks lifting instantly. Several lemon oil treatments the marks were gone for me. I'm talking a week tops.
With essential oils be careful! Do your research.
All this stuff I'm telling you has worked for me. I'm not a Dr. Or dermatologist and I'm not pretending to be so always ask your Dr. If you are unsure of anything.
Don't let acne ruin your happiness it's not impossible. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions about my skincare routine.
I want to add a few more things. Hormones play a big picture so do things like gut dysbiosis and diet. I'm glad you looked into that. Don't worry so so much about everything you eat. It just try to eat whole foods with tons of vegetables. And you're right, sugar is the devil. Avoid it as much as possible.
I highly suggest reading wellness Mama's blog about hormones, your acne could be hormonal as well. I've know people who've used birth control to balance hormonal breakouts but I've not tried that.
Anyway last but not least your gut bacteria and dysbiosis. I highly recommend fermented foods like kefir and sauerkraut. Please research dysbiosis and probiotics very beneficial.
I could go on but yeah lol it would take forever.