Hello and welcome to the community for Adult Acne on HealthUnlocked!
My adult acne started when I was about 21 years old. I got put on a lots of different types of short-term antibiotics, before becoming resistant to them. I spent a small fortune on different cleansers, masks, exfoliators and creams, tried lots of different types of long-term antibiotics and experimented with fad diets. I found people with perfect skin advising me to "just drink more water!" the most frustrating of all!
I made several trips to the GP, many who didn’t take acne as a “serious” problem and sent me on my way with another antibiotic (that I’d often already used). Eventually, when I was 26 and fed up of not getting anywhere, I made the really big decision to start isotretionin (Roaccutane) treatment. During the 8 months I was on this medication that I experienced some of the well documented side effects of the drug, including cracked, chapped and very fragile skin, extreme muscle and joint pain and vivid nightmares. Thankfully, I experienced none of the mental health conditions associated with the drug.
I’m now at the end of my treatment and my acne has completely gone. I wanted to share the things I learnt, so that people can deal with their acne more effectively. Research shows that acne in adult years is increasing in prevalence and the cause for this is unknown.
Whilst I understand that acne is not a life-threatening condition, it affects people’s confidence, self esteem and mental health. Acne itself is not as serious as other diseases, but I believe its effects on these areas can cause serious issues.
I hope this community helps you on your journey to living an acne-free life.
It would be great to hear from you all! Please introduce yourself, share your experiences and questions. We will do our best to help!
Best wishes
