I’m hesitant to check this off my list as something I’ve done. I’ve had acne for eight years. I started going to the dermatologist freshman year and tried a few things, which helped a bit but not completely. Sophomore year I went on Accutane, what my dermatologist called “the atom bomb of acne medicines.” It did the trick for about a year, but then it came back. Junior and senior year I went on and off different meds, and suddenly I was struck with some of the worst acne of my life—it burned and stung and looking at it made me burst into tears.
So, I went back on Accutane (which they are very reluctant to do these days because of birth defects). Plus birth control. Plus Tazorac. Plus Klarol. I’m nuking the shit out of my face. Now, for the first time in my life, I’m in love with my skin. I want to marry it. I’ve never seen it this way before—I mean, it’s been a disaster since the fifth grade, and now it’s clear and soft and I can put make-up on to make myself prettier instead of just covering up.
Still, it’s only been a month, so I can’t say that it’s gone forever. It’s tricked me before. But for now, I’m happy.
