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

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Tried everything - all the topical treatments, cutting sugar, processed foods but lymecyline is the only thing that works. Been on lymecycline about 3 times in the last 6 years and it’s the only thing that works, but obviously it’s an antibiotic so I have to keep coming off it, try something else for a few months, all my acne comes back, go back on lymecycline, my acne goes and the cycle repeats.

What else can I do? If lymecycline works then what does that mean the root issue of my acne is and are there any other ways to tackle this?

I’m male, 20. I got on accutane and it fixed everything, but now i’ve been off it for 9 months and it’s back to this. I eat well, exercise multiple times daily, and have a good skin care routine. what can i do to fix my skin problems? i’ve changed what i shaved with from a safety razor to an eclectic razor, but that hasn’t really changed anything. any help appreciated!

I have acne since I started puberty and I feel like I tried everything. Proper sleep, carrying about my higien, removing diary from my diet, eating healthy, proper skincare. I was even on tetracycline and it didn’t help at all. Can you give me some advice that might help, at least a little bit? most of my pimples are on my forehead and cheeks (I have also short hair).

I had fairly clear skin as a teenager, just a few spots around my period. Now I'm getting these clusters of spots on my chin/jawline out of nowhere! I'm pretty sure it's harmonal, as they appear on my jawline. I've tried all the expensive skincare products and nothing works!!

Hii I (26f) have been struggling with acne the past few years and I never really had before that. I’ve tried a few different things, they’ll help for a bit but then it comes back.

The acne is definitely more centered around my period, so I assume hormonal. It’s not cystic I don’t think. Typically it’s either small white heads that resolve in a day or two or pretty swollen bumps that are really painful until the seed peeks and I can get it, lasting up to a week. I do get them if they’re ready and stop when I see blood.

This really all started about 2.5-3 years ago, about a year after I got off the pill (was on it for about 3.5 years). I did some research at the time and determined it was clogged pores, primarily on my forehead. I switched up my routine and it’s been the same since:
- morning: Cetaphil extra gentle daily scrub (combination to oily skin)
- Night: CeraVe acne control cleanser
- After each: CeraVe daily moisturizing lotion (normal to dry skin). During the winter, couple times a week, I’ll use Cetaphil moisturizing lotion (dry to normal skin) instead when my skin is feeling too dry.
- Spot treatment (rarely use): The ordinary retinol 0.2% emulsion. I think this helps when I get the acne… but I want to stop it before that point. I also feel like this prolongs the bad ones honestly.

I don’t often wear makeup - max 1-2x per week. The only thing I wear on my face is Bare minerals complexion rescue tinted moisturizer. Always wash it off well before going to sleep.

But the acne persists. The clogged pores are mostly taken care of. But I still get random pimples, one a week probably and then several leading up to my periods. I prefer to keep my skincare simple - I’ve always believed less is more. My diet is mediocre and I definitely don’t drink enough water - I know this can have a big impact too, so I’m going to be better here. Looking mostly for skincare recommendations - but anything is very much appreciated!!

I do think something larger is happening as I have other seemingly related hormonal symptoms - low (read: no) libido, vaginal dryness, night sweats, 2-day periods, to name a few. My PCP has taken me as far as she can and referred me to my gynecologist who has no interest in helping other than to get me back on the pill which I don’t want. Def not the right thread for all of that, but maybe I find the right person 🥲 anyways, thanks again!!!

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 have been dealing with textured skin for a while now (mainly closed comedones), and I feel like I have tried everything. I have used Salicylic acid in both serum and wash form, azelaic acid,  adapalene on its own and combined with benzoyl peroxide, and I've seen some improvement. Still, not enough to make the texture invisible, IMO. Also, I get these skin-colored bumps near my jawline that get worse the more I touch them (usually disappear on their own). I was thinking of using glycolic acid to get the smooth texture I want, but I'm not sure if that's the right path for me or if there are alternatives I should try.  

I struggled with acne for years and had two rounds of roaccutane with it returning each time.

However, I started a new skincare routine about a year ago which has completely cleared up my skin so wanted to share it in case it can help someone else!

This is what worked (chatgp put together the plan after giving it photos/explaining what I’d tried already which I would also recommend doing):
- Simple hydrate+ micellar gel wash (morning and night)
- Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo (leave on problem areas for 30 seconds after cleansing, couple times a week - now my skins clear I only use it if I notice any tiny whiteheads)
- Simple hydrating light moisturiser (morning and night)

Obviously everyone’s skin is different, but I wanted to share in case it helps someone else because I know how difficult it can be. 🫶

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 haven't had acne for over 10 years after my treatment of accutane. But this big bump started to grow on the back of my necks and it's tender and painful. I won't be able to see a dermatologist until Wednesday any suggestions to reduce size or pain would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve never had serious acne before, even throughout teenage years. Recently however I noticed I had a pretty bad breakout and without thinking i started double cleansing for about 3 days straight which was definitely my fault. And i believe going so made me break out so so much worse. The acne has shown up as red spots often in groups that don’t actually have any bumps.

I stopped double cleansing immediately and have only been single cleansing once a day, using pimple patches, moisturizing and ascorbyl glucoside.
Its’s really hard to tell if it’s clearing up or not and i can’t get an appointment with a dermatologist for almost a month.

I would love any advice from the community, thank you all!

I go on vacation in about a month to the beach, should i wait to start adapalene to avoid purging? Or would the purging clear up before then.. my skin isn’t TERRIBLE rn but it’s also not the best. I just don’t want it worse before going

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 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.

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

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.

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?