Have you actually seen a doctor for the acne? If not, seem that’s would be a good place to start. And I don’t believe acne is contagious or transferable, I’ve never heard of it being so. Rest assured, she didn’t get it from you.

Yes Dlam you should see a dermatologist.
One thing my son sounds like you. He was very self conscious when he had acne going through puberty. He did have it bad.
One thing he did go lightly with and eliminate at times was dairy products (of course see your doctor to see if that's okay first)
You WILL get through it. My son thought he never would and he now is.

I had a high school boyfriend who hit a final puberty bursts around the age of 19 and 20, which included the development of some mild acne. So, first, acne is not contagious, per se, but in theory you can share bacteria from pimples perhaps. Kissing and rubbing cheeks and faces for extended periods is likely to spread some measure of all kinds of bacteria, but you don't "get" acne from someone else - especially not the deeper kind of official acne that goes beyond pimples alone. I was in your girlfriend's shoes then, my boyfriend's mild acne at the time was a mild turnoff, but when we broke up (after 5 years, from age 14-20) there was far more to that than his recent, mild acne, and I never even mentioned that to him. I recognized it as a stupid hangup I had, and one that wouldn't have mattered to me or had any effect if we didn't already have issues leading to our breakup.

I share my story with you to hopefully give some perspective for you, and hopefully help your self esteem some in remembering that your acne is something for you to address, but don't let anyone else judge you or make you feel like crap for it. As my very outgoing 40 something year old Spanish teacher once told our class, when I was 21; she had acne, and she had to tell her daughter "sorry kid, it's in your genes, if you're going to have acne there is nothing you can do about that but try to manage it as best you can. It is no fault of your own, it is just your genes."

That said, washing your face with a gentle cleanser every day is a good start. Find a moisturizer (yes! use lotion) that works for you because getting your skin TOO dry will make some acne or pimples worse! AVOID over the counter acne cleansers (Clearasil, etc). because these usually dry your skin out more and make it overreact by producing more oil (for oily pimples and acne mostly - again, there are different types of acne...) And it is good advice to also see a dermatologist as well for solid advice. I say this from my own experience and "things I wish I knew when I was a teenager"! I was a swimmer as well, so the chlorine dried out my skin, but I used Clearasil as a daily face wash, and never lotion - which I am convinced actually made it worse. I just had pimples though, and mostly on my nose and chin, not a serious case of acne, but it still would count. And, makeout sessions with my boyfriend would make them worse - for the hormones, or just bacteria sharing, or just,well, frankly, plenty of spit. He never got breakouts when I got them, but he was still a normal teen with pimples every once in a while - he did not "get" acne from me at all. ...Hopefully another anecdote to you help you feel better, as well.

Ok, well, I hope that helps you; in either case, I think I just prepared my advice to share with my kids when they get just a little older! ;) Good luck, and you can try to get a handle on your acne, but also be kind to yourself and remember that sometimes it just takes a little time to grow out of it. Keep good habits of face washing (but not too much!) and some say avoiding/minimizing your sugar intake will help clear up acne, too. Even with a miracle solution, it would still take a few weeks for everything to clear up.

Best of luck to you.

I had acne in college, and it made me very self conscience. In retrospect, it probably wasn't as bad as I thought (this isn't a comment on your condition), but dating when you are 21 takes confidence, and acne can negatively affect your confidence.

I agree with the others that seeing a dermatologist would be a good thing. They have the ability to do things that you can't do at home because of their expertise and access to drugs and instruments.

All I can say, is you will make it through this phase in your life. I thought my acne would ruin my life, but it didn't. Things worked out. Please see the doctor and it will help your self esteem. Now are the good times for you--independent of acne.

Sarah01, I was told that dairy products were bad for acne back in the day. Since that time, I've read that there isn't a correlation. A dermatologist can provide a definitive answer.

A small story from my youth. When I was teenager, my GP told me that I would outgrow my acne in my mid-twenties. I'm almost 60 and have good skin, but every once in a while a pimple appears. I always think back to that statement about my mid-twenties statement.

Yeah, pimples never totally go away, do they? I mean, as an adult they present more like simple clogged pores or ingrown hairs, but they are still there. I remember my "adopted college mom" telling me, when she was around 50, that she still gets pimples, and I, at a young 20 something, felt devastated at the future but also better about it - it is very normal. And you realize, at least I did, that most people are NOT really looking at you that closely. :)

There have been a lot of good replies here for you. I’d like to also add that teenagers and young adults are very hung up on appearances and tend to look at things from an immature view. That’s just how it is when you are young, we all went through it. It’s only after you get some experience in life and grow in maturity that your perspective begins to change. Again, that’s how it goes, always has, always will. It’s part of the human experience. That being said, you can change your perspective/view of yourself and understand that your own sense of self worth is not based on what others say, but based on how you want to see yourself. You do not have to accept the comments made and take them to heart. You can be real with yourself and choose to believe in you regardless of your acne. Believe it or not, it’s the confidence one has that truly attracts others. And even more so when you get older. So, deal with your acne the best you can and understand it is not what defines who you are, but the heart you have inside of you.

I had bad acne as a teen. My parents gave me the choice of seeing a dermatologist or an orthodontist. I chose the dermatologist. This was in the 70s. Regardless, my acne eventually went away. Yours will too. Look online for tips or see a dermatologist. I am just now remembering commercials for Proactive. Look into that.

mtd said it well! It's finding your confidence that will attract others!

Here's an article from the New York Times that I bumped into recently that made me think of this conversation and that might help (link at the bottom):


ASK WELL

Will Cutting Out Dairy Give Me Clear Skin?
Maybe, experts say, but the science is mixed.

Photo Illustration by Aileen Son for The New York Times


By Knvul Sheikh
March 2, 2022
Q: Does cutting out dairy really help control acne?

With the rising popularity of plant-based milks and beauty bloggers insinuating that dairy-based foods and beverages like cheese, “gooey pasta” and “frothy cappuccinos” will worsen conditions such as acne, you might think you need to ditch dairy for the sake of clearer skin.

But while some evidence suggests that cutting back on certain dairy products may help clear up your acne, it may not be for the reasons you think. Here’s what we know.

What does the science suggest?
Nutrition research is inherently difficult to conduct, and few studies have examined the relationship between dairy and acne in general, so results are often conflicting, said Dr. Andrea Zaenglein, a pediatric dermatologist at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Experts can only hypothesize as to what the underlying connections may be, and so far the results of studies have been limited and mixed.

In one study of 225 teenagers published in 2016, for example, Dr. Zaenglein and her co-authors found that those who drank low-fat or skim milk were more likely to have acne than those who drank whole milk. In another study published in 2016 and performed on more than 1,000 adults, researchers concluded that whole milk (in addition to reduced-fat milk) was linked to the appearance of pimples.

When it comes to yogurt and cheese, there is no evidence that they can lead to more breakouts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Some dermatologists suggest that the amount of milk (rather than the type of milk) you consume may be most important in acne flare-ups. Others have hypothesized that the artificial and natural hormones present in milk could influence breakouts. And limited research has suggested that the whey protein found in milk might be linked to pimples in some people, based on case studies of athletes whose acne improved after cutting out whey supplements.

It may be the sugar and the carbs, not the milk
Still, the most popular theory of all when it comes to the relationship between food and acne has to do with a food’s glycemic index. Food that is rich in sugars and simple carbohydrates tends to rank higher on the glycemic index and is quickly digested by your body, causing blood glucose levels to spike. Regularly eating high G.I. foods like pizza, cookies and sweetened yogurts can force your body to increase its production of insulin and lead to a host of issues over time, including inflammation and acne, said Dr. Amy Kassouf, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. While many dairy products are low G.I. foods, consuming too much of them may also trigger the same pathway of inflammation in the body, exacerbating acne.

Studies have suggested that focusing on eating low glycemic foods, like many vegetables and fruits, beans and whole grains, not only helps stabilize insulin levels, but also leads to a reduction in acne.

“What this really tells us is that acne is a very complex inflammatory disorder,” Dr. Zaenglein said. “It’s incredibly difficult to say that one single factor makes a huge difference.”


What is actually proven to improve acne?
While more research is needed to determine whether going dairy-free can clear up your skin, there is no harm in taking a closer look at the impact your diet may be having. The A.A.D. recommends keeping a food diary and noting when certain foods or drinks seem to trigger a breakout or worsen existing zits. Then, they recommend experimenting with cutting out those foods or drinks to see if that helps.

If you think dairy products in particular are making your skin worse, start by eliminating those that have a high glycemic index, like ice cream, milk shakes and sugary yogurts. But make sure you’re still getting important nutrients, like protein and calcium, from other parts of your diet. “For many people, dairy is a primary source of protein and calcium in particular. So we have to be very cautious about saying dairy causes acne, because dairy may also be preventing osteoporosis and all sorts of things that are a little bit more directly correlated,” Dr. Zaenglein said.

Keep in mind that if you do see any skin changes as a result of cutting out certain foods from your diet, it won’t happen overnight. Based on what she’s seen in her own clinic, Dr. Kassouf said, “you have to commit to at least three months and maybe closer to six to really see a positive benefit.”

Still, keeping your skin acne-free may require more than a diet change, said Dr. ​​Hilary Baldwin, a dermatologist and medical director of the Acne Treatment & Research Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. “I have never had a patient come to me and say, ‘I gave up dairy and it made all the difference in the world.’”

People with mild acne may benefit from certain over-the-counter products containing the topical retinoid adapalene or the antimicrobial compound benzoyl peroxide, Dr. Baldwin said. But be wary of using too many harsh products, which could include astringents, toners and exfoliants, and products containing alcohol. These can irritate or dry out your skin or make your acne worse, she said.

In fact, according to the A.A.D., acne-friendly skin care is actually pretty simple: Wash your face twice a day (using gentle cleansers, avoiding harsh scrubbing and rinsing with lukewarm water), avoid touching your face, shampoo your hair when it gets oily and remember to remove makeup before going to bed.

However, people with moderate to severe acne may require prescription treatments, Dr. Baldwin said, including topical or oral antibiotics, prescription retinoids, creams that reduce oil production or inflammation, or oral contraceptives. A dermatologist may also recommend lesser-known treatments, like the blood pressure medication spironolactone, which can reduce oil production and acne.

Nutrition is just one of the many factors that may play a role in acne, Dr. Baldwin said. Your genetics, hormones, sleep quality and environment can also influence acne. And in the end, she added, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone.


https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/well/eat/dairy-acne.html?action=click&algo=bandit-all-surfaces_impression_cut_3_filter_new_arm_5_1&alpha=0.05&block=more_in_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=154826243&impression_id=923697f0-9eea-11ec-a391-21946955fb68&index=2&pgtype=Article&pool=more_in_pools%2Feat&region=footer&req_id=234317983&surface=eos-more-in&variant=0_bandit-all-surfaces_impression_cut_3_filter_new_arm_5_1

Go to a dermatologist and tell them that you need Acutane. My 2 boys used it. It clears your face completely in 6 months. That’s the time you have to take it. You’ll start seeing results in 2 months.