Let’s talk about my face!

A THREAD:

Early 2015, me and my friends did a photoshoot cause we were bored. And because it’s for my friend’s portfolio.

Look at that jawline! How I miss those days.

This photo was taken when I was traveling around Cambodia some time in March 2015. Back then it was very dusty there. I would wash my face morning, noon and night because the only transportation at that time were tuktuks which were very open.

Since I love traveling, I went to Cebu and Bohol around April 2015, got a tan, drank some tubâ and snapped this photo. Notice my sunburn from not wearing sun screen. Huwag tularan.

I travelled one last time in Palawan in May 2015. Everything changed when I went there.

I planned to stay there for a while. At that time the only mall familiar to me was Robinsons. Because of the laid back provincial life, I didn’t have my skincare products with me.

Two weeks in, I started getting acne on my face. It started with one pimple, then another popped out the next day, then another the next day, then another, then another.

This cycle lasted about three months on both my cheeks. Why is that?

Well, my mom told me “nag iinarte ka lang.” So we never went to have it checked.

I had to do alternative remedies for my face, like putting coconut oil (which my mom made), turmeric, ice, etc. Nothing worked.

Finally, when we went back to Manila, I finally convinced her to bring me to a dermatologist after getting told by her friends that it could be something more serious and not just “kaartehan.”

(Don’t hate my mom. I don’t. She just didn’t understand the gravity of the situation)

So we went to a dermatologist:

This dermatologist does consultations for FREE. That’s part of the reason why my mom agreed.

Honestly, since it was free I had doubts if I was ever going to get the breakouts fixed. Thinking the doctor wouldn’t spend time fixing it since it’s free

Also, because it’s free, everybody had to wait in line to have their skins checked. The line was probably around 10 meters or so.

At this time, I thought “either the doctor is good or the line is long because the consultations are free.”

After getting examined, the doctor told me that my breakout was due to the fact that I stopped using moisturizers.

FYI, I was 22 at that time, I’ve been using moisturizers since I was 18. I was told I shouldn’t have used moisturizers at that age. I was advised to stop.

I was prescribed some antibiotics good for two weeks to ease the inflammation; a face solution to dry out the acne; a face lotion to help soothe the acidity of the solution; and a face soap to help dry out the acne.

It was a lot. I had something for the day, noon and night.

I never missed a day. I had to check in with the doctor every two weeks. The doctor was there throughout my journey.

Little by little, the breakout started to subside.

(I don’t have a lot of photos during this time because I didn’t want my face to be seen.)

Around October 2015, I started to have photos of me taken again.

(For all the people who’s on a journey to having good skin, I recommend having your photos taken from afar angle angle lang)

Around December 2015, I snapped an up close photo of me.

To help hide the remnants and spots, I usually turn the contrast low and the exposure high. But you can still see it.

Most of my photos during this time were all from far away. Afraid for people to see the things on my face.

But like what I keep telling myself then, “we’ll get there.”

On February 2016, months after being told to stay away from the sun, everything was better than before.

On my mom’s birthday I finally got back to doing selfies and groufies.

Although there are still visible spots, it’s much lighter than it used to be.

Fast forward to today, I snapped this photo. #nofilter (angle angle lang)

After years of working with my doctor, whom I trust, I finally achieved a better looking skin.

It’s not as good as it was before the breakout. I still have scarring and I get pimples from time to time.

In spite of everything I’m thankful for this experience. (And thankful for my genes for the great scar healing!)

I got to learn that skin problems are not only for the “nag iinarte.” Sometimes it can be because of things we did or ate or because of some serious issue.

Aside from that, I learned that just because consultations are free, it doesn’t mean that doctors won’t get dedicate time and effort into getting their patients better.

They really are trying to help you. So be truthful about what you disclose.

Aside from the time and effort doctors put, you yourself have to dedicate the same time and effort to make yourself better.

There’s nothing wrong with alternative remedies. But if you really love yourself and your skin, there are a lot of free dermas out there. Go get it checked

Based on my photos, you don’t have to go under the knife nor have yourself injected with whatever to make your skin better. I didn’t.

There are a lot of materials online on how to take care of your skin. Just make sure it’s reliable.

I suggest you follow @theskinsensei he’s fun

I know it sounds cliche, but when you’re doing something like treating your skin, you have to TRUST THE PROCESS.

Trust the doctor. Trust yourself.

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE.

It’s grueling, I know. It took me more than six months to get better. You have to be patient. It’s not magic

Lastly, I want to say that if you’re going through this situation like I did, better days are coming.

It may feel like the end of the world - it’s depressing and your self-esteem will be on an all time low - but it’s all going to get better. Just take action.

And while you’re here reading this thread. Remember all lives, even #TransLivesMatter

Don’t forget about what happened today. Let all these issues be a reminder to us all in the coming election.