Bye, zitface

Growing up, acne has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. Fresh faces never rang a bell. It was the tiny bumps and lumps of pre-teen years, exciting at first and then progressively distressing, that sprouted here and there for about a decade. As terrible as it gets, its dominion advanced.

For years, I dwelled on the singular myth that “with time it gets better”. Spoiler alert: it gets worse or it keeps clinging onto you endlessly. Turning 20, I realised it is high time that some form of intervention is needed ASAP.

Getting to know your skin is a piece of work on its own. There are defined categories: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin. But it does not end there. The trial and error basis of testing what works on your skin and yet, for how long is exhausting. Trying out recommendations with no luck is a big bummer. Over the years, switching from one remedy to another, from one “vanishing” cream to another, nothing seemed to bring permanent change. A temporary relief – that is all it would be. A week’s break in the routine and my face would go back to square one.

I suffered from what is known as “moderate acne” which is all the more reason to pay no attention. A basic understanding on how pimples develop was my guide on how to tackle them. These are, in essence, tiny balls of infection caused by excessive oil secretion. Propionibacterium acnes, the residing culprit, thus, called for an antibacterial agent. Think of salicylic acid facewashes and tea tree oil solutions – total game changers. Controlling sebum production did the trick. Dunking my face in minus degrees water or ice facials, even during winters, resisted the oiliness. However, acne, in reality, stems from various aspects. I decided to pinpoint these down. Exams, dehydration, staying up late, and too much sugar made it to the list. I will admit the latter two were miles far from guessing.

My daily grind changed. There were occasional relapses. Better sleep routine, more water, less sugar, and strategic preparation to eliminate exam stress were some of the sacrifices made. Bringing this many changes at a time took its toll however. For a while, nothing seemed to work out. Thus, it was one step at a time. A gradual shift to a new groove. With a couple of prescription drugs and new-found skin care products, it was finally time.

What worked for me may not work for someone else. But the point is that if it affects your self-esteem, it should be gone for good. It may take a while, but every bit of it is worth it.

Hiya’s spirit animal is Hermione Granger. Tell her yours at hiyaislam.11@gmail.com