Acne Stories

I remember the first day I got my period… I was 15, and even though I got it later than all of my friends, I was super excited to now “be a woman.”  I marked it down on my calendar, and calculated when my next one would be, and marked that on my calender too.  However, a month later, I did not get my period… two months later, still no period… it was six months until I got my period again.  My mother took me to the obgyn and they assured her that I was fine and that some girls get their period late and just are not regular.

Two year later, after going back and forth to the dermatologist for 9 months with little to no results from Differin, Azelex, Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, Benzaclin, Erythromycin, Retin-A or Tazorac… Finally, my dermatologist said that I could either go on Accutane, which would have many negative effects… or I could try Ortho Tri-Cyclen.  My mother was horrified about the idea of her “little” girl taking birth control pills, but I wanted to try everything before considering Accutane.

A few months after going on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, my skin was clear!  I had the occasional pimple, but my skin had not been this acne-free in years.  Eventually I went off to college, and saw another dermatologist to get a refill of my Ortho Tri-Cyclen.  It was only then that I got tested and found out that all of my acne and irregular periods was caused by PCOS, Polycystic Ovaries.  How could all of the other doctors have neglected to check for this?  Please, if any of this sounds like what you have, insist that your doctor tests you for PCOS!

Now, I take Glucophage for my PCOS and do a variety of home remedy acne treatments like aspirin masks and dermabrasion with eggs… and not only is my skin clear, but my PCOS is much improved!