As women, we can deal with an array of skin woes, from acne breakouts in our teenager years, to monthly hormonal pimples, to eczema from our childhood to adulthood, and other chronic skin conditions that can be hard to treat. If you’re dealing with a difficult skin condition, know that you’re not alone. Here, three beautyheaven members kindly share their difficult skin stories.
RELATED: 8 of the best cleansers for acne prone skin
RELATED: How long do blind pimples last?
I suffer from eczema and have all my life
“I get it [eczema] all over my body, in my eye sockets, in my ear canals etc etc. about 10 years ago when it was especially bad I was in Parramatta visiting my mum at work and a stranger came up to me and started asking me about it. The next day mum came past my house after work with a small (5-10ml) pot of cream that the stranger had given her telling me I had to use it. Within a day I had a visible difference and after a week I was completely clear. The cream is MooGoo and I am never without it. I still get flare-ups occasionally but it has literally changed my life.
When I was 2 it was especially bad and I ended up scratching so much I ended up with an orange-sized pigmentation scar on my neck that was a very dark brown (think mud). People would come up to me on the street and call me dirty, ask me why I didn’t wash myself, call me all kinds of names. I tried every kind of cream and nothing helped fade it. When I was 24
I decided to get it lasered and after 10 treatments it’s lighter than it was, it looks like sun coloured pigmentation now, but I’ve not had a single comment since.” -2663anne
From the time I was a teen I would get break-outs
“From the time I was a teen I would get break-outs but not what I would consider acne. When I was in my early 30s I decided to try the oil cleansing method. My oil of choice was olive oil. Much different to using an oil cleanser to remove makeup, which I use today and always follow with a regular cleanser. Within a couple of days I started breaking out more than normal. I assumed my skin was purging until it continued to get worse and I had developed painful cystic acne. I promptly stopped using the olive oil on my face. The acne took months to clear and over 10 years later I still have the scars, not that I need anything to remind me. It took a toll on my self-esteem, I could barely look at myself in the mirror. Of course, I tried to cover with makeup, but this sometimes made me look worse. Was it the olive oil or a coincidental hormonal episode? I can’t say for sure, but I never tried the method again. Thankfully now I only get the odd hormonal pimple from time to time.” –IndieAna
I had terrible acne as a teenager
“I went to my GP one day about something else not acne related and she was concerned about my skin and gave me a referral to a dermatologist. I tried so many different things topical creams, Ella Bache beauty treatments. Nothing really helped and I felt very self-conscious about my skin, eventually, thankfully it cleared on its own. Now many years later I often have people compliment me on how nice my skin looks which makes me feel amazing.” -Hayley644
Flick through our gallery for products to help treat acne and eczema.
Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pimple Cream
This cream works to clear skin just four hours. Specially formulated with acceladerm technology that works on application, this cream works to clear the skin in just fours.
Member review: “Like most pimple creams, it’s most effective if applied as soon as you realise there’s a pimple starting to form. I usually notice a nascent pimple when I cleanse at night. That’s when I apply Clearasil, & by morning it’s usually gone. I spent YEARS applying pimple creams incorrectly: my late Aunty worked at a cosmetics counter & she said that the instruction “apply to affected AREA” means your whole chin, or entire left side of forehead. I’d always applied just a spot of cream to my zit & wondered why nothing ever happened!” -misfortune8
Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion
Part of Clinique’s Anti-blemish skin care program, this clarifying toner works to remove dead surface cells and reduce excess oil that can lead to pimples.
Member review: “I first tried this product after having it recommended to me after I suddenly had the skin of a teenager again (I quit smoking) my skin was trying to eject all the junk that it it had got into it. At this point I felt like nothing was working, and my high stress job was not making my skin happier. It worked! I use it with the three step program, very simple morning and night process, it’s not too harsh on my skin, which is great because I have sensitive skin that gets irritated quite easily.”
Dermal Therapy™ Eczema & Psoriasis Cream
A topical cream that’s free sulphates, parabens, synthetic ingredients, nut oils and artificial colours and fragrances that helps relieve dry skin, dermatitis, urticaria, eczema and psoriasis.
Member review: “I’ve had pompholyx eczema since I was a kid. I’ve tried dozens of creams and this is literally the only one that’s ever helped. It stops the itching almost immediately and the skin heals two or three times faster than it would normally. The only downside is I don’t like the strong scent, but that’s a small price to pay for a miracle cream that stops me literally scratching my skin off in my sleep.” -Beka
DermaVeen Sensitive Relief Eczema Lotion
Formulated to relieve mild eczema, this lotion aims to alleviate itch and irritation but also rehydrate the skin.
Member review: “I apply an amount about the size of a ten cent coin and I don’t rub it all the way in but leave it so it has a white film still visible. I then put on pajama pants. It has made such a difference with my skin. My legs are hydrated and not dry and the itchiness and irritation has disappeared. I really like this cream and will continue to use it. The texture of the cream is slightly oaty and gel like. There is also a very mild oat smell to the cream but it is subtle and does not hang around for long.” -JBowen
