A WOMAN has shared her horrific experience with sudden adult acne, saying it left her skin looking like “buttered Ryvita”.
Katie Morgan first developed acne in 2022, after years of having clear skin.
Jam Press/Katie MorganKatie Morgan first developed acne in 2022 after years of having clear skin[/caption]
Jam Press/Katie MorganShe said it was so severe, it left her skin looking like buttered Ryvita[/caption]
Jam Press/Katie MorganAfter feeling embarrassed to face her clients as an aesthetic practitioner, Katie decided to try a micro-needling treatment – this is her skin five days afterwards[/caption]
The “cystic” breakouts were so severe she didn’t want to go out in public for months.
They also left her in a lot of pain and her skin felt so sore she wasn’t able to use make-up – when she did, it would only worsen the symptoms.
To make matters worse, she felt extremely self-conscious, especially given her job as an aesthetic practitioner, working on skin health.
“I had horrendous breakouts that were so deep and sore,” the 36-year-old, from Essex, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“I was so self-conscious when I didn’t wear make-up, but when I did it would make them worse, and my skin looked like buttered Ryvita.
“It made it stand out more and I was always very, very aware of the acne.
“It was very cystic and it really hurt!
“It was awful!”
Although extremely common in people under the age of 30, the NHS reports that adult acne only appears in approximately 3 per cent of adults.
Suffering from large spots, oily skin and sore patches, Katie felt unable to work as she felt clients may judge her skills based on her appearance.
Due to Covid restrictions, she was sometimes able to hide her face with a mask – until restrictions were lifted.
She said: “My own skin was covered in aggressive acne and I know I wouldn’t go to someone with bad skin for treatment.
“Having a horrendous beard of acne made me feel like I wasn’t worthy of doing the job.
“It knocked my confidence personally and professionally.
“I didn’t feel like I was good enough to be in the skin industry, as standards are higher than ever, and I didn’t feel like I fit in when I had terrible skin myself.
“I couldn’t look at my clients in the eye, as having a face full of angry, adult acne made me really self-conscious.”
After three months, Katie had enough.
What can I do if I have acne?
Acne can develop on your face, as well as your back and chest.
The NHS outlined a few self-help techniques that could help you manage it:
Do not wash affected areas of skin more than twice a day, as frequent washing can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse
Wash the affected area with a mild soap or cleanser and lukewarm water – very hot or cold water can make acne worse
Do not try to “clean out” blackheads or squeeze spots, as this can make them worse and cause permanent scarring
Avoid make-up, skincare and sun-care products that are oil-based, sometimes labelled “comedogenic” – use water-based non-comedogenic products, as they’re less likely to block your pores
Completely remove make-up before going to bed
If dry skin is a problem, use a fragrance-free water-based moisturiser
Regular exercise cannot improve your acne, but it can boost your mood and improve your self-esteem – shower as soon as possible once you finish exercising, as sweat can irritate your acne
Wash your hair regularly and try to avoid letting your hair fall across your face
You can buy creams, lotions or gels to treat acne in pharmacies, if your condition is mild.
See a GP if it’s more severe, speak to GP.
She contacted the managing director of Bossface Cosmeceuticals – Ashley Wady – for advice, who recommended SQT bio-micro-needling treatment.
The treatment uses spongilla spicules, a freshwater sponge with over three million microscopic needles, to massage the skin for five minutes.
And Katie says the results were miraculous.
Thought the micro-needling left her with redness and caused her skin to peel, the aesthetic practitioner claimed her skin had made an incredible transformation within seven days, returning to its former glory.
She added: “I went from having unsightly, painful acne to having flawless, glowing skin.
“It honestly felt like a miracle and I was genuinely transformed in seven days, both physically with my skin cleared up, but also mentally… it boosted how I felt about myself.”
Katie’s confidence in her skin and her practice returned.
“My confidence returned and I was able to look my clients in the eye again without feeling like they were judging my skin and looking at me with worse skin than them.
“I was so blown away by the result, that I then decided to train with SQT and offer it to others, who like me, had their lives and confidence affected by acne.
“It changed my life.”
Jam Press/Katie MorganKatie’s skin started clearing up within a few days[/caption]
Jam Press/Katie MorganBy day eight, most traces of Katie’s acne were gone[/caption]
Katie then decided to train with SQT and offer it to othersJam Press/Katie Morgan Read More