Adult acne. Two words that should never go together.
I come from a long line of oily, well-meaning people, who just want to go through life without an inflamed face. Genetics have always been against me, but in my late twenties, I found a way to cheat fate. I’m not a doctor, but this is my personal story, and I hope you find it helpful.
I was the classic pimply teenager with T-zone issues that escalated to cystic acne in high school. I went on Accutane when I was 17, and experienced one glorious year of perfect skin (and my first boyfriend) before breakouts returned.
In my twenties, I tried everything from DIY microdermabrasion (huge mistake) to Proactiv to Retin-A. I remember coming home from one facial with scabs on my face that lasted for days. I lived for the moments when I had only a smattering of zits and no big cysts.
Finally, in my late twenties, I found an esthetician who changed my skin by explaining how certain ingredients work on acne-prone skin. For those of you in the Los Angeles area, her name is Jennifer Kramer, and she is founder and clinical director at Corrective Skincare LA. She offers customized treatments, and a thorough education on skincare.
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