Throughout middle school and into the start of my freshman year, acne plagued me daily. I made excuses for an extremely normal part of adolescence, but it took a while to come to terms with my acne. Learning how to help my own skin and acknowledging acne as a normal part of teenage life truly allowed me to accept my insecurities.

When I was younger, my family’s constant remarks about the giant bumps on my face made it difficult to feel confident in myself. As a middle schooler, I could not wear heavy makeup because of parent limitations, furthering the shame of being unable to conceal those painful pimples that covered my forehead.

My acne did not show signs of improvement, so an annual checkup with my doctor led me to a recommended local dermatologist, and I was overjoyed. I was prescribed tretinoin and clindamycin cream to be used daily. This was different from the well-meaning but repetitive suggestions of various face washes, none of which had worked.

I have heard “Just wash your face and drink more water!” hundreds of times, but it is not that simple. Many fail to recognize that different types of skins are more acne-prone than others. Instead, this is what I have learned: washing your pillowcases and having a consistent face care routine is essential to eliminate acne.

Before learning what worked for me, I had tried everything from the latest trendy skincare products to toothpaste on skin. PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash is a popular suggestion for those with acne because of its active benzoyl peroxide ingredient, but I personally do not recommend it to those with sensitive skin since it can cause irritation. On the other hand, I advise researching the importance of double cleansing and sunscreen. Having oily, acne-prone skin, I often use a Softymo Speedy oil cleanser along with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.

Contrary to popular belief, acne medication will not immediately clear up one’s face. People often forget the next bothersome step of being prescribed with acne treatments: the purging that follows afterwards. When the skin purges, it is adjusting to the active ingredients in the treatment and getting rid of all the unwanted gunk underneath the skin. It may appear like you are breaking out but it will gradually go away after a month. I found that patience is key when dealing with acne.

After five months of consistently using tretinoin at night and clindamycin cream in the morning, I saw progress that my skin was getting better. Acne scars are inevitable and despite two years of using consistent skincare with prescribed creams, mine are still visible.

Lately, those around me have pointed out the severity of my acne during freshman year and the improvements with my skin since then. Being a junior with a busy workload, I can confidently say stress contributes to acne as it disrupts hormonal balance.

I have noticed my acne tends to worsen whenever late nights become common due to academic pressure. Pimples, however, should not be a major concern, considering it is common for a majority of high schoolers. Acne, something many are insecure about, is a part of being a teenager and should not be shameful. Pimples will come and go.

Focusing on sleep, a consistent skin care routine and researching different skin types to find what products work are all key to treating acne as a high schooler. I had struggled with acne for years and feared for its comeback, but I have accepted it as a normal part of life. Clear skin is difficult to work toward, but I like to remind myself that nobody’s skin is perfect.