Skin care
"How I Cured My Cystic Acne"
What do you do when you've been struggling with cystic acne for years? You find a way to make it go away. Read on to see how one reader finally figured out a cure
My first appointment: "Claire, you're lazy." When Shamban sees my face, the doc is brutally honest. "You only use a cleanser? You're being lazy with your skin." OK. She didn't say those words exactly, but that's what she was intimating. I can feel my face turning red -- which probably makes my acne look even worse. And I'm fighting back some tears. I feel like an ugly, hormonal teenager again. What's wrong with me? Why am I still dealing with this problem? But she's right. By only using cleanser, I have been lazy with my skin.
Shamban tells me that my acne is primarily hormonal. It's "red and active" with indented scars beneath the fresh acne. Usually oral acne medication combined with birth control helps keep hormonal acne under control, Shamban says. But when I tell her I've already tried that combo and hate the idea of needing an Rx, the doctor puts me on an extensive four-step treatment plan, which includes everything from topical creams to laser treatments.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Phase 1: Oral + Topical = Acne-Be-Gone
Shamban tells me that my acne is primarily hormonal. It's "red and active" with indented scars beneath the fresh acne. Usually oral acne medication combined with birth control helps keep hormonal acne under control, Shamban says. But when I tell her I've already tried that combo and hate the idea of needing an Rx, the doctor puts me on an extensive four-step treatment plan, which includes everything from topical creams to laser treatments.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Phase 1: Oral + Topical = Acne-Be-Gone
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