You get up one morning, try to calm down your unruly tresses with your fingers and if need be, even start combing your hair. Suddenly you steal a glance at the mirror. Ahhhhhhhhh.
“What happened?” The people in your house come over, running.
“I am fed up. I can’t take it anymore.”
“Just a moment back, you were sleeping cozily in your bed. What drove you to say something like that, the first thing in the morning?”
“Damn, another breakout on my face.”
“Come on, it’s just a little pimple. Don’t you worry; it will be gone before you even know it.”
And thus passed summer, monsoon and a winter as well. You are still grappling with the morning scare but your voice is muted, kept to just yourself.
Acne is known to cause low self-esteem and depression among patients. They cannot really be blamed because as they step out into the world, they are pestered by seeming well-wishers with a host of remedies and treatments, making them all the more conscious about how they do not seem to fit in with the crowd. But then why even think of fitting in? Stand tall, with your head firmly upon your shoulders, held high, for it is not the end of the world!
Yes, acne can surely be a dampener for those who suffer from it (the author of this post has had her bad days as well). But know that if the tried and tested, countless home remedies and other over-the-counter drugs haven’t helped yet, then you MUST go to a dermatologist, NOW!
People fear that dermatologists would prescribe costly chemical treatments and the like (which they do) but that is only optional. In fact, only when you visit them will you know the correct intensity of acne as well as the dosage of the medicines that would need to be taken. Never ever go for over-the-counter medicines as most of the acne –treatment drugs can play havoc with your body if not taken according to a doctor’s advice. For example, Isotroin is a recommended medicine to treat acne. But it is “not recommended for women who are pregnant or likely to get pregnant” as it can result in deformities in the child. Moreover, if there is a high dosage of it, it can lead to rectal bleeding and dangerous consequences. It also needs regular blood check-ups to find if it is disturbing your lipid profile.
Even after being drilled into your head, you often skip it. It is probably because you think that sunscreens are sticky, acne- instigating or just tiresome. Chances are that you haven’t found your right bet! (I say so because in my more than two decades of existence, I laid my hands over a seemingly proper sunscreen now, and that too because I dragged myself to the dermatologist before the neighbour planned to come up with a cure for acne! Phew! I am glad I ran.)
Go for non-comodogenic ( that don’t block the skin pores), water-resistant (if you sweat a lot) and one with an SPF of around 30 to 40 and compulsorily so, if you are undergoing acne treatment because the skin becomes more sensitive to sunrays during the course of the treatment which is taken care of by the sunscreen.
Feel like bursting that tiny pimple that looks ugly on a given day? Beware. That will make it spread like forest fire. That’s experience speaking. The ensuing pus and blood are simply not worth your while. So ignore and go smile at the world. If people ask you why you don’t do anything about it, tell them that they are too minuscule for you to be bothered about.
Picture credits: www.sagaopedia.com |
They are deceiving, most of the times. Be inspired by Jean Kilbourne’s award winning documentary here. It makes sense even though it was made in 1979. They are there to sell their products. While they may be talking sense, they might not always be cent percent true. Make learned choices and guided decisions. Just don’t go on an experimental tour, blindly.
What works for one may not necessarily work for the other. The sunscreen that suits my mom’s skin ends up giving rashes on my skin and vice versa. Carry the products that suit your skin and do not share make up items with your friends or relatives, especially the ones that make use of common brushes. It might not only be unsuitable for the other person but might as well end up in spreading one’s skin disorder to the other.
Sometimes, your beautician might not have complete knowledge about your skin type and skin disorder. She might suggest a cleanup, facial or the like. But before that, consult your dermatologist about it. While the beautician might have high-end tools to treat, you need to first know if they are the tools “you” require in the first place.
So the next time you walk out of the house, you know where to head to and how to head there. Ignore the world if it mocks you or politely decline products they might come up with. For, only your dermatologist would be the best guide in this case.You won’t be disappointed. Scars would eventually disappear. If they don’t, you would know to look beyond them by now.
Disclaimer: The above article is solely the author’s opinion. This article is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to his/her health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.
