An Australian You-Tuber who suffered from severe acne for 15 years, has revealed how she finally cleared her crippling condition.
Jess Bunty had accepted acne as her ‘fate’ before finding a way to cure it.
‘It’s very frustrating. My skin is permanently scarred because I’ve been through so many cycles,’ Jess admitted before starting a new treatment – Accutane – that has seen her skin transform.
Jess, a vegan, said it was ‘a really, really big deal’ to go on the medication.
Previously she stated publicly she would ‘never go on it’ as she was fearful of the side effects and the fact the it contains gelatin.
But after six weeks she saw a noticeable difference in her skin which left her ‘shocked’.
‘I didn’t expect my skin to respond this quickly. Maybe I’ll get another purge in a month or so, I dunno! But for now, I’m happy. Super chuffed!’ Jess wrote on Instagram.
But for those wanting to try alternative solutions first, Jess shared her tips.
‘There is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to getting rid of acne,’ the blogger told New Idea.
‘For some, it could be as straightforward as using a simple skincare routine and a bit of benzoyl peroxide to zap rogue spots each night.
‘But for others, taking more drastic action with medication could be the only way forward.
‘What I would suggest is start with the easy stuff first – a simple skincare routine, good diet, exercise and plenty of water each day. How basic!
‘It’s old-school, but it definitely works for some. If you need to stretch beyond basic, then try using all-natural skincare and mechanical services such as blue light therapy.
‘If you’ve tried and tried, and you’re exhausting your options, then try medication (with doctor supervision of course). The Pill, Spironolactone and Isotretinoin are known to help stop acne, but they come with risks, so weigh up your options and go with what you feel comfortable with.’
Here are Jess’s top five tips for acne-prone skin
Avoid products with alcohol as an ingredient
‘Alcohol tends to dry the skin out, which might seem great in the short-term, but causes the skin to over-produce oil to make up for lost time,’ Jess said. ‘The end result is oily, unmanageable skin!’
Avoid picking at pimples
‘I know, it’s hard to resist!’ Jess advised. ‘But picking and squeezing can cause bigger problems, such as scarring and spreading the bacteria further through the skin. Leave spots alone the best you can, and they will flatten out within a week.’
Use a basic, stripped-back routine
‘A gentle cleanser, oil-free moisturiser and spot treatment sounds super boring, but our skin doesn’t need a 10 product program,’ Jess said. ‘There’s no need to get complicated with our routines.’
Use the same products for at least a month to see their benefits
‘We all love trying out the latest skincare, especially if it promises miracles. But it takes our skin at least 2-4 weeks to get used to a product, so constantly switching things in and out can cause breakouts, flaky skin and even more problems,’ she explained.
Check your diet
‘We are all different, and while your bestie might be able to down blocks of chocolate on the reg without a spot in sight, that spoonful of sugar in your daily tea might be kicking your skin right off,’ Jess said.
‘Dairy, oils and sugar could be feeding your acne, so try eliminating them for a few months to see if there’s a change in your skin. Embrace alternatives and think of your skin health’