It was the same thing since I was 15. Wake up in the morning, look in the mirror hoping for clear skin, only to find several more disgusting blemishes all over my face that I would have to spend all morning trying to cover before leaving the house.
I tried everything from soaps and lotions to prescription medication from my doctor. Some helped, some made the problem worse, and I started to notice that my skin, whether it cleared or not, got extremely sensitive and would turn red at the drop of a hat. If I got emotional, my face was flushed. Too hot, too cold, same thing. I looked like I was embarrassed ALL the time. And it's embarrassing to look embarrassed when nothing is bothering you.
It wasn't until I was in my late twenties that I finally had a doctor who took me seriously. Mortified that I was still breaking out despite everything I'd tried, I asked my doctor for something new to give me clear skin. He looked closely, then again, and said, "That's not acne, you have rosacea".
Finally! A proper diagnosis. Turns out everything I'd been using on my face was fine when I was a teenager, but was not suitable for the real problem I had now. Rosacea.
Rosacea can look like acne, with the redness, bumps, pimples and pustules, (which is why it is often called adult acne) but there is a huge difference. Rosacea is actually a disorder of the blood vessels in the face and involves inflammation, and can also affect the eyes. If untreated, the facial flushing can occur more often and persists for longer periods of time, until finally the tiny blood vessels become visible permanently. The most severe cases can be disfiguring.
My doctor said that many things can trigger flushing, including excessive heat, spicy foods, hot beverages, alcohol, caffeine, humidity, and being too harsh with my skin. He suggested a gentle cleanser (I really like Spectrogel now) and prescribed a topical antibiotic gel which is specially formulated for the treatment of rosacea.
What a difference! I no longer use cleansers or pimple creams meant for teenagers, ever, and I am never without a backup tube of my prescription. I still blush when someone embarrasses me, but I don't have the facial flush that sneaks up on me for no reason and refuses to fade. I wear a lot less makeup, and I hardly have to spend any time covering up blemishes.
Don't be embarrassed. If your doctor dismisses your skin condition as a problem from your teenage years that you have to put up with, ask questions. It is worth it to finally get to the root of the problem, and when you start treating it correctly, you'll be amazed at the results!
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