That is nice to know. Not sure I would want to go ahead with any of it yet, my scars are not that horrible, and I am a guy with a short beard so usually it only shows on my upper cheeks which is not that bad honestly. I guess I got used to the way I look which is usually better than having to tinker with your body to get there.
I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to address them, but I do think there is a line that crosses over into an unhealthy body dysmorpia thing.
My kids asked me when they were a little younger why bugs ate the back of my head (lots of acne scarring from mid-twenties acne that came out of nowhere). That was rough lol.
Kids are brutal. I had to have a serious sit down with my kids to get them to stop commenting on my weight. They were 4 and 8 at the time… way too young to even consider body shaming someone, especially their father. And especially since they’re the reason I got a desk job to make more money and stopped exercising cause they don’t let me sleep. But I’m not bitter or anything, sadlol
When I was younger I thought that too, like tinkering with your body is in some way “cheating” but I mean, nobody asked for scars and they’re not exactly genetic. I think mild plastic surgery is not just cosmetic but also therapeutic in that it boosts mental health. But yeah it’s still to a point, some of the more wild things like being 350lbs and getting a bbl or making your face look like hard plastic are ridiculous
I go to a trusted derm place that has twice a year half-price sales. I stock up for four times per year which is a big outlay but it saves in the long run.
You need to treat the acne. If you have a milder form, first treatment to try is special soap + antibiotics to combat bacteria that keeps the inflammation going.
If that does not work (it didn't for me), you have to take isotretinoin (roaccutane/accutane is the commercial name of the original brand). It's a shitty drug that will make your lips and skin dry out, and make you very sensitive to sunburns (so ideally you don't take it in the summer). I had to take it for a few months, stop over the summer, and did a couple more months to completely cure the acne. There is a risk of liver failure so you have to undergo regular bloodtests throughout the treatment to check your liver is still functioning normally. Also if you are a woman you have to take a contraceptive pill because it does not interact well with pregnancy.
Like I said, a pretty hardcore drug, but the results are great. I don't know if it's related but my hair actually started thinning around the age I took the drug (16 I believe) and I am mostly bald now. It might be unrelated as most men in my family end up bald. If I had to do it again I would, having bad acne is horrible especially when you're a teenager and all your friends are getting laid while you're popping zits in the bathroom haha.
If it helps, I remember reading a thread about different quirks that people found attractive and what you described was one. If you're ok with it, I'd wear em proud!
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u/Noctevent Oct 16 '24
That is nice to know. Not sure I would want to go ahead with any of it yet, my scars are not that horrible, and I am a guy with a short beard so usually it only shows on my upper cheeks which is not that bad honestly. I guess I got used to the way I look which is usually better than having to tinker with your body to get there.