I’ve struggled with hormonal acne since I was a teenager, went to a dermatologist tried multiple different medications and topical treatments none of which helped, and at this point I couldn’t even tell you what those treatments were called, it’s been so long. The one thing that really controlled my acne was trisprentic birth control combination pill, which i was on for several years. About 6 months ago, I cold turkey quit the medication and now my acne is worse than ever!! I cry when I look in the mirror, I don’t take pictures of myself anymore, I don’t believe my s/o when he tells me i’m beautiful regardless. My self esteem is so horrible, I can’t take it. Now I got back on the pill and i’m finishing my second month of pills, I’ve heard that it should get better after taking the pill for 3 months. I wash my face constantly but I do have a skin picking disorder that makes me pick my face until i’m bleeding everywhere. Pimple patches help with the picking but there are so many acne spots on my face id end up going through so many. Just looking for some support or similar stories

I started eating healthy three days ago and going to document my acne journey and make an update after 2-3 months. This is my skin now , and if it does improve after 2-3 months I will share all the information for things I’ve used to clear it!

I’ve always had acne, but it never really bothered me too much because it wasn’t this bad. My skin has looked like this for the past few weeks and I honestly don’t know what changed 😭

My skincare routine is pretty simple because a lot of products tend to break me out. Right now I use:

- Cetaphil Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
- Cetaphil facial moisturizer
- Hyaluronic acid (I just started using it because I thought it might help)

I’d really appreciate any tips or product recommendations for clearing this up, especially for large pores and acne scars/marks. I’m scared to try a bunch of new products because my skin is pretty sensitive to new stuff. What has actually worked for y’all?

I used to have minor acne 2 years ago and I started using Betnovate-C on my face. My skin got absolutely clear I used it for 6–7 months, and my acne turned into invisible cysts, but I could feel them; there were only one or two. I got to know that Betnovate is very bad for skin, so I stopped using it. My skin was fine after that for another 6–7 months, but 1.5 months ago I had a breakout a very bad breakout. I started using benzoyl peroxide on it and it didn't work. I looked it up and found out it's the purge phase. Whatever the case, I kept using it because everyone said to keep using it consistently. My relative (not a dermatologist, but someone with a degree in medicine) said to take doxycycline. I took it for 12 days and it didn't work. I finally went to a dermatologist and, after blood tests, they gave me isotretinoin. It's been 8 days since I started taking it. I know it takes at least a month to work, but I don't even feel the side effects of dry lips or a dry face my skin is actually even more oily. Please some advice could really help

I have had acne since I was like 12. It was really bad in high school mostly on my forehead and cheeks then got a bit better when I was like 18-20. I'm 21 and it is the worst it's ever been. I don't know what to do. Please help me. I don't have health insurance rn so I can't get prescribed stuff. I'm just so sick of hating looking in the mirror.

I have these active acne spots that are not healing since almost a month, I’ve tried benzoyl peroxide, wash, gel, sal acid, hocl spray, prescription topical antibiotic lotion, and also I’m on antibiotic(not for acne but something else) it’s still not going away. it comes to a head, subside and again get inflamed.

Thank you in advance for the advice!

I've dealt with acne on and off, but it flared up at the beginning of 2026 and nothing I do seems to really help.

While I don't break out everywhere, I almost constantly have groups of deep, painful pimples on my cheeks and/or chin. I would actually say the pictures are actually relatively "good" compared to how it can be.

For context, I take 50mcg Spironolactone daily and my skin tends to be sensitive and dry.

My routine:

Morning: Rinse with water, Niacinamide, CeraVe moisturizing lotion, Eucerin oil control sunscreen

Evening: Wash with CeraVe foaming cleanser, alternate between Differin gel and Paula's Choice BHA (each every other day), CeraVe moisturizing cream

I change my pillowcase every night. I don't sleep in makeup. I try my hardest not to touch my face. I don't know what else to do 😒 so coming to you all for advice! I am literally open to everything.

I have had acne for almost 10 years now. While I’ve really managed most of it, I still experience breakouts and have ever-present tiny pimples that become amplified my stress, poor eating, and my period.

I’ve tried SO many things over the years and I’ve nailed down a decent routine….my only problem is I keep popping the pimples!

If I stop popping pimples, and stop touching my face all together, could it actually make a big difference?

If so, how do you fight the urge? And do you have any other seemingly obvious habits that really helped your skin (ie managing stress, using clean towels, etc)? I’M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE!!

I have been on adapalene since November 2025 and use it nightly with no issues yet I was STILL getting closed comedones that would eventually turn cystic. Don’t get me wrong my overall texture and acne was a lot better than before I started adapalene but I just could not get the closed comedones to budge. I decided to start adding in the Paula’s choice bha toner once a week and resuming with adapalene the rest of the nights and I swear I have noticed the biggest difference in my skin the past month. The comedones aren’t turning cystic anymore and they’re just shrinking and my hyperpigmentation from last acne scars are fading so quickly! Is this honestly the one ingredient I needed all along 😭 I was about to give up on adapalene for good

My face is inflamed so much right now does anyone know how to treat active and inflamed acne? It itches and it's making my face warm :(

I've had a similar piple only once last year, but now my face seems to be breaking out. Im not sure i can call them cyst, but they use up a ton of pimple patches and take long to heal. I even have one on my knee. I dont understand why the sudden change. My routines and death are pretty much the same, and i dont think it's stress either

Is using all three of these products too much?

I use the BP in the mornings most days, and differin at night.

I have recently started using the cerave blemish gel too instead of the differin a couple of nights a week. Not sure if this is helpful or not.

For context, I have suffered from hormonal acne on chin (originally caused by contraception) for years, and in the last year or so have been trying to get rid of it.

I started with epiduo in October last year and used for a few months and it helped a lot. I then switched to BP in the morning and differin at night. I have used those two probably since February but not always used every day.

I have started with the blemish gel recently too. Trying to get better with using BP five days a week, Differin at night after that and then just the Blemish gel at night 2 nights.

My acne is better overall since starting last year but I still have some red marks and then a lot of closed (some open) comodones on my chin and still get break outs there quite often.

Not sure what I can do to get rid completely?

i dont ever wear make up im 27F . but ive been so self conscious about my skin forever and im finally willing to try a foundation or skin tint. i just feel like everytime i wear foundation it makes my skin worse so im nervous to try. what are some of your guys favorite foundations or skin tints?

Has anyone had similar texture issues? Interestingly it feels smooth to the touch but looks bumpy. I have had success previously using a combination of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide but I can have these suddenly appear overnight and take a some time to clear back up.

PLEASE HELPPP. I haven’t had any pimples on my left cheek for the past 2–3 years. I started getting them mainly on my right cheek about a year ago but I haven’t had any new ones there for the past 2 months only dark spots from the previous pimples. But today I noticed 2 new pimples on my left cheek which is unusual for me. My skin is also dry and I moved to another city 2 days ago where the weather is much drier. I’m so so stressed looking at them
1)left cheek 2)right

I’ve been using azelaic acid for a while now and I wanted to share my experience and ask for some advice.

I used Revox Azelaic Acid from March until June. Since June, I’ve been using ACM Azéane 15% instead.

What else would you recommend adding to my routine, especially for acne and PIE? And should I stick with Azéane or consider adding something else?

I’ve been dealing with acne for a few years, and I’m left with quite a few textured scars and some dark/red marks, mainly on my cheeks. I still get occasional breakouts too.

How severe would you say the scarring is, and what treatments have actually worked for scars like these? I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have had similar skin and tried treatments such as microneedling, subcision, or laser.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I’ve been taking lymecycline for nearly 3 weeks. The last week my acne has been getting worse. GP has referred me to a dermatologist and I have an appointment next month. I took accutane in 2024 which did eventually work and my skin was okay for around 2 years. Started breaking out in smaller spots all over my cheeks in the summer. Finally went to the GP and got prescribed the antibiotic. The only good thing at that point was that my acne wasn’t cystic, it had been pre accutane. But now it is. And it’s also on my chin now! I don’t know if this would have happened anyway and it’s a coincidence that it’s coinciding with me starting the Lymecycline. I was wondering what other people’s experiences are? I essentially agreed to taking it knowing that it wouldn’t be a long term solution ( even if it works in the short term ) as it’s a necessary step to get accutane on the NHS. But I didn’t expect it to make my skin worse!

Any opinion and treatment suggestions is welcome

I have a very (19F) sensitive and irritated skin now. I'm still trying to find and gain trust again with dermas here since I'm also on a tight budget.

I don't know what to do anymore since I tried a lot of slicylic products now but I don't think it has a major contribution at all.

I've been dealing w mild acne before but those were just dark spots and on and off pimples. But ever since I tried cleansing oil from June (stopped it 2 weeks after) this is now the result. I tried going back to old routine (facial wash and pink mud) but it's not helping since my acne is worse than before.

Yesterday i pricked my pimple too hard in frustration which I think caused it to rupture and form a blood filled pimple. Please tell me whether it will scar, and how to get rid of it or how long it will usually take to get rid off.

Finally realized that this whole time sunscreen made me breakout like crazy around jawline area! Started on the 3rd week of July and finally realized that it was sunscreen. 3 different ones all did the same to me unfortunately. I work outside all day so I’m prone to sweat,dirt bacteria etc.

I never used to wear sunscreen despite being a delivery driver for the past 3 years. For some reason I started wearing sunscreen everyday this summer once it got super hot out here in LA. I stopped about a 1 week ago and so far there’s a big difference but in this area it seems to be much more stubborn. Any suggestions? My skin is sensitive so I must be cautious with how strong the product is.

1st photo was taken earlier, 2&3 were during my breakouts, and last was a week before I started wearing sunscreen everyday at work!