#8: Adult Acne Is Exhausting—and No, Water Doesn’t Fix It, Becky
By Sarah Wexler
Sometimes I look in the mirror and think–Is anyone else my age struggling with this?
Acne is something I’ve struggled with since middle school. So, we’re going on about 10 years now. No, it’s not a fatal illness. But it is something that impacts my confidence and self-esteem every single day.
And sometimes, it it’s something I feel incredibly alone in.
When I had acne in middle school and high school, it was definitely annoying and emotional taxing. I even remember fixing up and putting on more makeup before going to dance class because I wanted to look perfect, even while exercising. But the sense of embarrassment and shame was nothing like it is now.
If You Know, You Know
I look around, and most of my friends seem to have outgrown their acne. Sure, they’ll get the occasional pimple, but nothing like the incessant battlefield that is my skin. My breakouts aren’t minor inconveniences—they’re part of my identity at this point. And it’s exhausting.
What’s even more frustrating is the invisibility of this struggle. Most people probably wake up, get dressed, and head out the door without giving their skin a second thought. I, on the other hand, wake up and immediately check my face in my phone camera. My first mood for the day often depends on whether I’m breaking out badly or not. It sounds dramatic, I know—but if you’ve been there, you know it’s not.
And honestly, the mental and emotional side of acne isn’t talked about enough. Sure, the symptoms are physical and visible—but there’s a whole other layer that’s unseen and internal. Acne makes you feel ugly, dirty, and just… gross. Even when you know logically that’s not true, it’s hard to shake that feeling.
Yes, I’ve Tried It
Before anyone tries to say, “Have you tried [insert product or trend]?”—yes. I’ve tried. I’ve been going to the dermatologist for years. I’ve cycled through topicals, cleansers, harsh prescriptions, and pills, and I’ve basically thrown the entire bathroom cabinet at my face. And still—NOTHING seems to really help. Meanwhile, I watch people with clear, glowy skin who barely wash their face and say things like, “Oh, I just drink water!” Becky, you’re not helping.
It’s frustrating in a way that only those who live it truly understand.
Makeup—My Comfort and My Crutch
I guess one silver lining is that this decade-long acne journey led me to one of my favorite things: makeup. I genuinely love doing my makeup and trying new products—it brings me joy. I love using my face as a canvas for colors, shimmer, and sparkles. It’s become a creative outlet, a way to express myself, and something that makes me feel good.
But I also don’t want to feel like I have to wear it every day. I want to feel comfortable in my bare skin—a feeling that is completely foreign to me.
It’s not even like makeup completely covers up the problem. Sure, the redness goes away after some layers of foundation but I look in the mirror and despite all of that, my skin is textured. Makeup makes me feel even worse sometimes.
Not to mention, the whole “no-makeup makeup look” is so trendy right now. I’m not someone who cares too deeply about trends, but I won’t lie—it would be nice to have that effortless, clean-girl aesthetic sometimes. The dewy skin, the minimal routine, the glowing confidence. I want that TOO. UGHHHHH
My Two Cents
This ten-year-long struggle is taking a toll. I’m twenty-two years old, applying to full-time jobs and finishing my second college degree. I should be worrying about interviews and career goals—not hormonal breakouts. It almost feels like my body is on a different timeline than the rest of my life.
So if you’re reading this and you also feel alone in your skin struggles—don’t. You’re definitely not the only one.
One thing I remind myself—something that helps with any insecurity—is this: you’re noticing it way more than anyone else.
Seriously. So often, a family member or friend will tell me something they’re insecure about, and my honest response is, “I never even noticed that.” And I mean it.
Our insecurities feel huge to us because we’re so close to them. We examine them in photos, replay them in our heads, and build entire narratives around them. But most people are not zooming in on your face the way you are. If you think everyone in the room is staring at your skin, your hair, your weight, your outfit—they’re most likely too busy thinking about their own insecurity.
Also, friendly reminder: social media is fake.
Being completely transparent, I do not post a photo of myself without clearing my skin first. So before you go comparing yourself to an influencer’s perfect, glass-skin, clean-girl selfie—just know it’s 99.9% touched up in some way.
Our skin is the biggest organ in our body. So I’m learning to take care of it the way I take care of the rest of my unseen organs—even on the days it feels like my enemy. I am doing the best I can with it, for now. I do the routine that my dermatologist gives me.
It’s not perfect yet, but we’re getting there.
Your breakouts do not define your beauty. You do.
This Week’s Song: Hampstead by Ariana Grande
(Absolutely nothing to do with this week’s topic, but I’m obsessed right now lol).
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