I’m 25 and have been suffering from acne since I was 15 and it wasn’t until recently- last year- that I found an acne treatment that actually worked. Clearogen’s three-step acne treatment set has worked wonders for my skin. Check out the science behind this amazing product: http://www.clearogen.com/the-science/.So I started thinking about what it took to get to this point and all the home remedies as well as expensive products I’ve tried over the years. Here are some of my biggest fails:
Toothpaste- I used to apply toothpaste to pimples because it would dry out the area and I thought that meant it was healing my blemish. Not so much. Toothpaste is meant for teeth, not skin. What I realized was actually going o was the toothpaste was burning my skin to some extent and causing irritation and redness.
Accutane- Now don’t get me wrong, this has worked for some people, just not me. It is a form of Vitamin A that reduces the amount of oil released by the oil glands. It is only prescribed in severe cases because there are so many negative side effects, like depression, dizziness, and dry, peeling and cracked skin.
Tanning- True, tan skin hides acne better than light skin and does dry out the skin, which may cause temporary clearing, but it does not eliminate acne and in fact can lead to even more serious skin problems like melanoma. I don’t know what I was thinking!
Popping zits- So tempting. My natural instinct is always to pop a zit because in my mind if I get rid of all that nasty stuff inside everything will be better. Well, while there have been times popping has helped some of my less severe spots clear up faster, I also am stuck with some scars due to my popping habit. Those are definitely harder to hide and get rid of than acne.
What it all comes down to is that for a long time I didn’t know that acne was caused by hormones, not dirty skin or eating too much chocolate (though those two things can definitely make acne worse). I tried all these surface level treatments looking for a magic cure. I’m so glad my dermatologist told me about Clearogen because it stops acne at the root of the cause by reducing DHT production (a derivative of the male hormone testosterone) and preventing excess oil production.
- Emma S. - Berkley, CA- guest blogger