How I cleared my skin

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Find what works for you.
Things you can try:
-Fix a hormone imbalance
-Clean your face more often
-Clean your face less often
-Try a different skin routine using different products
-Avoid touching your face and change your pillowcase every night
-Use the oil cleansing method
-Cut out dairy/try eating healthier
-Use acne bacteria-killing cleansers (like benzoyl peroxide)
-Test prescriptions from your dermatologist
-Use accutane WITH CAUTION IF DOCTOR APPROVED
-Lessen stress and anxiety
-Try an AHA or BHA exfoliator
-Moisturize your skin more often
-DO NOT use harsh scrubs or acids like lemon juice
The struggle is real, but there are ways to get it under control. Good luck!!
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[@gellichan09]

Totally agree with you when people give you unsolicited advice on acne. Especially the ones that say just wash your face 🙄 most people with acne are the ones who clean their face the most and the ones who has a complicated skin care routine because they want to do everything to get rid of the acne. The last thing you wanna say to a person with a lot of acne is to just wash their face 🙄🙄

[@miiahaapasalmi4496]

Oh yeah, I knew people like that who'd always had perfect skin and basically only used makeup remover wipes at night as their 'skincare routine'. When I talked to them about clearing my acne by medication, they'd act so shocked that I would do that and suggest trying to find a good face cleanser instead of doing something so extreme... Like do you really think I haven't tried all the cleansers years ago? haha I'd rather trust someone with bad skin on skincare advice than someone with flawless skin. More likely to be knowledgeable on the topic!

[@lannarox123]

I had a friend who had bad acne. The acne could have been less terrible if she actually washed her face twice a day, showered regularly and/or if she took Acutane or birth control for it. She had no right to complain. She could have corrected it easily just by being more hygienic, using the right skin care products and/or by getting on the right medication for her acne. So, the advice to wash your face more, or to be more hygienic, does apply to certain people with bad acne, but not all.

[@tadashihatsudai]

Yeah, face washing one of the most useless advice because most people likely have tried that already before exploring other options like birth control and accutane.

[@olivest509]

LJR 87 I cured my acne by being less "hygienic", as you put it. Face washing is not some magical cure for acne, and in my case, it was the sole cause of my acne. And you can't know for a fact that her acne would have gotten better if she just washed her face. Your one-size-fits-all mentality is clouding your judgement.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

That's what makes me embarrassed to have acne, the stigma that I am dirty. Because the glands produce more oils they are more likely to be clogged. The constant irritation on face sucks

[@cinnastyle3260]

"Wash your face in the morning and in the night!" "Wash your face only once a day!" "Rub olive oil on your face!" "No! Wipe your face with this harsh astringent that smells like pure alcohol!" "Exfoliate every day!" "Exfoliate no more than three times a week!" I've literally heard that and then some growing up, I also have hormonal acne, I get small cysts on my jawline but got it's gotten immensely better compared to my teen years. It DOES get better when I eat healthier and work out more because healthy lifestyle choices affect your hormones, of course, but staying on track isn't always the easiest...How regular my cycle becomes is always directly corralated to how bad both my acne and my depression get lol. I'm on an antidepressant now so hopefully I'll get back on track to maintaining my physical health better, it's all a connected cycle of cause and effect for me lol.

[@SM-fn9fg]

You're so brave. Thanks for sharing!

[@chasey1978]

Yeah it depends on the person. I usually only wash at night because if I do it twice a day my face gets super dried out and I get flaky skin around my chin and eyebrows. Staying away from fried food helps too. But when its really bad you usually need prescription creams to help.

[@ashesashes8968]

I feel this on a personal level. I've had a lot of the same problems. Just keep fighting the good fight, stay as healthy as you can when you can, and drink water.

[@saragarofano9727]

Get that happy meds gurl

[@cheesecakelasagna]

@@TheLaughingarmy This! not all skin react the same, and we all have different baseline lifestyle. So we can either drastically change said lifestyle or adapt to where our body is telling us what is working and not.

[@RachelandJunAdventures]

YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ASKING Sorry I don't have a one-fix-for-all magical routine because THAT DOESN'T EXIST Find what works for you!

[@gsilveroak]

Rachel & Jun's Adventures! Agreed! Not everything works for everyone. I follow exfoliate, moisturize, and sunscreen, with glycolic acid peels in between. Adult acne is a real pain. Glad you have a system that works for you!

[@strawberrymochibunny]

Rachel & Jun's Adventures! I’m gonna find one that exists then

[@yiwen0415._.]

Rachel & Jun's Adventures! I'm a big fan, keep hardworking 👍👍👍👍

[@yiwen0415._.]

Rachel & Jun's Adventures! Although I can't support you at the patreon page but I would do anything to support you 👍👍

[@strawberrymochibunny]

Low Yi wen ur a big fan but not as big as me

[@anikee9269]

Birth control was the only thing that helped with my acne and I am SO glad I am able to finally walk around without makeup. Birth control cleared my skin COMPLETELY, not only my face but also my arms, back, shoulders and my cleavage are smooth. Still people bash me because "Why take birth control if you're not even wanting to have sex" or "hormones can damage you're body" or "this is too extreme, just wash your face!" Like no. Stop it.

[@jellybean1528]

Anikee Same!!! in my case it even helped with my period, for me this pills are a blessing

[@xkisix]

@Gimmeyourdonuts yeah but is it really helping if u have to take those forever? Also birth control can be really dangerous tho

[@pine-a6866]

Birth control can solve a number of problems but you shouldn't take it on and off because you'll have a much higher risk of getting thrombosis. It's normal to have bad skin after stopping birth control because it's a huge hormone shift but you definitely should wait more than just 4 months to let your body adjust and see if your skin gets better once your hormones are in balance again.

[@seaottar25]

I had really bad acne, it was terrible and always left bad scarring. I put on really full coverage and cakey makeup to cover it because I felt disgusting. At 17 I got diagnosed with PCOS and discovered cysts on my ovaries after not having my period for 5 months and suffering bad cramping when I did get my period, I was prescribed birth control and my skin cleared up. I legit don’t give a shit when people judge birth control, they don’t know how bad it is for you and just judge a 17 year old taking birth control. Advice is nice if it’s wanted, if it is not wanted, back the fuck off.

[@TomboCreations]

@@seaottar25 Have you found a way to get rid of the scars for acne? I have so many bad scarrings on my chest/boobs because of acne and scar removal creams do nothing for me. Definately doesn't help that the scars are not new scars which theoretically would be easier to get rid of.

[@Jennifer83881]

BTW, oily skin is a bitter-sweet blessing. I am nearing 40 yrs and have younger looking skin because the natural moisturizer (oil).

[@morriganravenmist5539]

I'm 42 I don't look my age

[@jamer2010]

I don't have oily skin. I've never had a problem with acne, even as a teen. I still look like I'm a teen, even though I'm almost 30.

[@xanzusx]

Not at all, as said above I have really oily skin and still have lots of wrinkles and so dry that it makes me look 10 years older. I hate my skin

[@CrazyDeeDee]

It has to be said that it doesn't matter how oily your skin is, you will still have lots of wrinkles if you smoke cigarettes..

[@hmaroni9572]

Yes this is true

[@HardRocker47]

"My body just had too much man juice in it.." Rachel 2018

[@ximenam.2170]

Oh god

[@App.pple.0]

Thank you for emphasizing that there are different causes for people's acne! I meet so many people with nice skin or skin that has cleared from awful breakouts who give such awful advice..I have a friend who kept insisting that the process of taking off my makeup in the evening is what was causing mine (she would sleep in hers and never washed her face but had zero pores and smooth skin). But LAWDY if I even think of wearing my makeup for more than 10 hours BOOM hello new pimples! I'm only 20 and acne has only become a problem for me over the past 3 years, so I'm still learning what works for me and what doesn't. Birth control, I've found, doesn't have an effect on me besides making me very depressed. But I've recently changed my diet to cut out almost all dairy and that has helped quite a bit. Now if only I could get rid of this last 30% of acne..

[@naritruwireve1381]

I _hate_ when people act like they know everything about skin. One of my friends was like "Maybe you have acne cause you don't drink enough soup." and I didn't even know what to say because I've never heard something so ridiculous XD. My sister's always like "It's because you never tie your hair into a pony tail." and I understand that oily hair can be a factor, but she said it like that's the _only_ reason why I have acne. What about all the guys with short hair who have acne;-;

[@tadashihatsudai]

Juicy Pear I think that the whole hair thing is kinda bullshit sometimes because I tend to keep my bangs down and I never have problems with acne on my forehead. It's usually around my chin and cheek area, no where near the bangs at all.

[@ah5721]

I had the same issues. Dairy and liquid foundation makes me break out badly with acne. I stopped with both and now my face is pretty smooth except we're my kid constantly touches me with grubby little fingers

[@maggpiprime954]

@@naritruwireve1381 "More soup!" I wonder what her rationale was..? Did she have specific soup in mind, or would any soup do? Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan? Nut and peanut free? Low sodium, low fat? Powdered, canned or homemade? Hot soup? Cold soup? Could it be applied topically in extreme cases? I have a lot of questions for this friend of yours, including whether her grandma never taught her to "think before you speak!" Soup... (shakes head in wonder)

[@naritruwireve1381]

maggPi Prime She didn't go into any specifics. She just said, word for word, "You don't drink enough soup." and I was mentally face palming wondering where she gets her info from. I have dumb friends and I'll admit I'm dumb as well, but not in the same way lol

[@marachime]

I hate unsolicited advice. I get the same thing with anxiety. It's frustrating because I know people mean well, but they're just making me unhappy.

[@seaottar25]

Marachime I get what you mean, when they ask ‘are you ok?’ I start to think ‘am I okay? Is this okay?’ Like, their opinion on what’s okay is probably different from mine and what I am Rn is not really okay but it’s better than what it could be. I get anxious about how to answer such a question, they always just ask that. I would much rather them ask ‘are you happy?’

[@Katemphill]

This is the best "how I've cleared my skin video" that I have ever watched. I have hormonal acne as well and went through all the same annoyances that you went through. At one point you just start listening to everyone and wondering why just drinking water or washing your face isn't working for you. Love this! ❤❤❤

[@mpGreen03]

I'm 22 and since teenage years started my acne never once went away, I really miss my skin that I used to have as a child :(

[@ItMightZoomIn-Chi_35563O]

I'm not 22 yet, but yea I also miss having my skin that I had as a child. I could just dive into mud and it would be fine, but now I ever have to be careful about which part of my face towel I use when cleaning.

[@mpGreen03]

@@ItMightZoomIn-Chi_35563O Yeah... and constantly change pillows, dry season is hell, all of skin hygiene products cost a lot, vitamins don't help, drinking a lot of water doesn't help. Ugh At least we're not alone in this struggle x.x

[@tevrarain4275]

I didn't figure my skin out until I was 27ish. (I'm 29 now and already forgot when I started spirono) And it took trying all the same things Rachel did, but my acutane was more successful. You just have to keep seeing your dermatologist and trying new things until you figure out what works for you.

[@tammi6771]

I like how honest you were in this video. Many people will tell you what works for them as if it will work for everyone. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll have to figure out what the causes are. Maybe I too have too much man juice lol

[@hongryyy3303]

I think what you were watching were advertising videos.

[@shoyrushoyru]

some people are honestly telling you what worked for them and arent aware of the idea that not everything works the same for everyone. i wouldnt consider it being dishonest. in their own way they are trying to help you too, because you have to try it before you know if it works or not

[@tammi6771]

My comment was poorly worded. I wasn't trying to suggest they were being dishonest, just that they fail to acknowledge that not everything works for everyone. Like you said they may not realize that. I know they are being helpful and that you need to try it to see if it works. I was just appreciating the fact Rachel acknowledged this upfront and offered many other suggestions she has heard. She also mentioned you need to try different things to find out what works

[@camilleonz558]

My boyfriend has very oily skin and no acne. I will never understand but shows that everyone is different

[@Iyashikei-t4u]

My skin is weird. My face is pretty oily and I used to have lots of acne there but the rest of my body is so dry I have eczema all over. Such a pain to take care of both.

[@Xemantha]

Worst combination ever!

[@m3lsavage]

holy sauron same.....

[@milamihaylova6757]

It's the exact same for me :(

[@TaraShulerAuthor]

Same :(

[@i.5502]

I have that same thing

[@Zinervawyrm]

Everyone: Oh boy! I bet Rachel is gonna share some ancient Japanese secret to clear skin that Jun told her about! Bet it's going to be something like bathing in soy milk. Rachel: Doctor, birth control, and some other medicine.

[@OliverHatched]

Wish I could take birth control again. I stopped taking it a year ago, and I've been getting quite a lot of acne for a 25 year old. But birth control also worsens my mental health. And since I'm psychologically disabled, it's kind of a no brainer that I'll deal with the acne instead of even worse depression. Unfortunately. ;-; Rachel said it a zillion times, but remember to weigh your pros and cons, everyone!

[@TheNaev]

Definitely weigh pros and cons! Sorry is such a struggle for you, I really feel for you, picking the less of two evils. Depression on birth control, but having nice skin or no depression and no birth control causing acne could equal depression too. Hard choices sometimes!

[@insanityblob]

Ugh I'm in this boat too. Hormonal birth control fixed my skin and horrible pms, but made my depression and anxiety so much worse that it just wasn't worth it in the end. But maybe trying spironolactone without the birth control could be worth looking into...

[@NivionScribble]

Same here. Birth control also made my whole system reject food so I had to stop. Washing my face with oats helped and still helps a lot with my skin outbreaks. Don't lose hope!

[@KiranSingh-hw6px]

Sarah Acree I

[@AevynneLulzTiem]

You should check out the skincareaddiction subreddit, it's really helpful for finding routines based on your skin type and stuff. Might help!!

[@smritidhar8198]

I actually take Spironolactone! It's a very common androgen blocker prescribed to women who suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and is often used alongside birth control. Any Soul Cysters here?

[@loredanavasilescu5634]

Are you sure you're taking SPIRONOLACTONE and not another medicine? I'm pretty sure it's a diuretic used in heart failure and other water retaining diseases

[@hazele19]

My dermatologist prescribed Spironolactone to me as well. It's not well known for treating acne. The pharmacist was reluctant to give me my prescription at 1st but then looked it up on the computer and saw that it can be used for acne.

[@JustThatLauren]

@@loredanavasilescu5634 yes. That is the one. It is also for polycystic ovarian syndrome.

[@BettaChristina]

@@loredanavasilescu5634 I think it's weird also. My mother as livercirroses and is taking this medicine for years now. I wonder if this is safe for a healthy person...

[@ala4935]

Betta A.C. someone with a chronic condition like polycystic ovarian syndrome isn’t “a healthy person” in the way you’re implying. it’s a medical condition and they’re prescribed medication to treat it.

[@ameliea4508]

Skin and hair on fleek girl! You are glowing

[@picabowinn]

Rachel you are so naturally beautiful it kills me, I always feel like I have to do a full face of make up and fancy hairstyle just to even feel normal going out.

[@ColoredMud]

After years of trial and error, I found rose hip oil, when I first started using I had almost nothing, since I ran out I got acni again, but I just purchased more so we'll see if this works again. :)

[@5GcE]

Irish Rose Yes it’s true. What has helped me fade scars even more is pomegranate seed oil. Both of these oils smell so yummy too. ☺️

[@ColoredMud]

Irish Rose Yeah! Rose hip oil just cleared up my skin really well in general, and it absorbs in your skin really fast which is really nice. :)

[@Zoidbergirl]

Rosehip oil breaks out my hormonal acne LIKE HELL, so its true what Rachel said. Everyone is different. :C

[@ColoredMud]

Zoidbergirl Yeah, not everything works for everyone, I had to go through quite a few oils before I found rose hip, I hope you can find a solution to suite your needs. :)

[@Nasuada15]

I'd like to try rose hip. What brand do you use?

[@kelleyernst5483]

I did Spironolactone before birth control and it was amazing... it is a life changing experience to feel comfortable in my skin

[@emhx]

Rachel, thank you for making those of us with severe acne feel normal and have hope! When you said the part about people offering their wisdom on how to cure acne, I related with you so much there. Everyone is suddenly an expert when you bring it up!! Lovre you guys, can't wait to see ya soon!

[@glassedplanets]

I also had horrific, no-smooth-skin-on-my-face acne into my early/mid-20s and spironolactone (also 100mg!) is also the only thing that helped me!! It's so validating to hear other people talking about going through the same thing, especially when so much acne advice is geared for teens and people love to pretend people past the age of, like, 17 can get acne still. This was such an awesome comprehensive video and I really appreciate how you reinforced that everyone's different. :')

[@rvsalka]

I have acne on my jawline and I used to have it on my cheeks, like down the cheekbones. Thought it was hormonal but it also didn't seem like it, like it didn't get worse near my periods or anything. Took me some time to realize that stress is also a hormone and make the damn correlation of stress + usually not enough good sleep caused by stress makes me break out like crazy. Trying to do some big changes in terms of that now but as long as I'm doing uni I'm going to be hella stressed, so not much hope here. Aloe vera gel and face oils, particularly rose oil is nice, made my skin stronger and makes acne scars heal much better.

[@zizou9996]

I have the same kind of acne . Tea tree oil saved me ! I add a few drops to my moisturizer every night and my skin became better ever since . I also try to get enough sleep and I exercise regularly to control my anxiety and this already helps a lot .

[@crestflames492]

Exactly the same thing for me (except the cheekbone thing) I never had bad acne until this year (I’m 21) and it’s still not crazy bad, but i was having trouble with cystic zits on my chin and jawline. Exfoliating helped a bit, but I finally went to a dermatologist and she told me to use clearasil to wash my face and epiduo at night and it cleared everything up, I’m so thankful

[@loading1345]

Hello! Which rosehip oil do you use?

[@Bterrier1000]

This whole videos makes me so happy, I JUST started taking Spironolactone after having dealt with cystic acne for 3 years now and I was very worried about it not working. Thank you for this video.

[@ManjaMog]

Thank you for being so honest about your skin and how everyone really has to figure out what works for themselves. I also have had hormone related acne, and it took me a really long time to figure out what works for me. Partly because I felt like my doctor wouldn't take me seriously if I said that acne was really affecting my self-esteem. I am now on a hormone control prescription too and it has made the biggest difference for me. It just takes time, patience and perseverence to figure out what works, but if its for your long term happiness, then its worth it.

[@TheCatWrangler]

holy shit this is my exact issue!! I'm in my early 30's, and am female, and the way you described you skin is the exact same mine has been, and it hasn't gotten better. I never knew about this drug, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Rachel!!!!! I am going to the dermatologist soon and will ask about this and do research. thank you for making this video!!!

[@ruthlessrays9761]

I was literally watching a skin care routine video just right before i got this notification!! Anyway, you always look great Rachel 😊

[@guacamolly_]

I have been diagnosed with PCOS and also take Spironolactone for cystic acne! It has helped better than anything I've tried. Thank you so much Rachel for this video! This is the most realistic and concise video I have found about acne.

[@IiHikarii]

I just love you guys. Your videos are so nice and calming no matter the subject.

[@hitva]

Thank you Rachel!! I liked when you said that people give you unsolicited advise. That’s so true!!!

[@jhangelgurl]

I have more man juice too 😭 I was diagnosed with PCOS and birth control is a life saver!

[@Tiarys]

*high-five* Man-juice sisters!.....in retrospect, that doesn't sound quite right XD But yeah, PCOS can be hell without birth control!! And sometimes even the RIGHT birth control [for me, it's yaz]

[@Kristen242008]

I have PCOS too!

[@LavaHeadNexusNerd]

i had undiagnosed pcos throughout high school and just started getting treated at 19, birth control made me feel like a new person!

[@LavaHeadNexusNerd]

also just as like a side note, does anyone with pcos have go-to facial hair removing tricks?

[@anidanielle]

Hey there fellow PCOS sufferers! That's what this video made me think of too. Thankfully I only get acne the week before my period (even on birth control). But I'm 29 and tired of acne. For the excess facial hair, I know there's a cream you can get from a doctor but I don't remember the name. You can't use it while pregnant or breastfeeding, though, so I haven't tried it. I just shave my upper lip and pluck my chin every few days. Thankfully my husband is very understanding!

[@sarahk8498]

My story is so similar to yours! I also have PCOS, and ended up on the same combination of meds to help. I kept nodding along as you explained.

[@Rab-km7my]

You're so pretty!! 😍

[@spartangurl91]

I'm happy that I'm not the only person to go through this, even tho I have a condition that causes me to have breakouts and hair growth, I find finding what works for you and your health is better for you.

[@kimkoya3882]

Literally right before i was about to fall asleep i get this notification...guess I’m not going to bed yet

[@standingfortruth4043]

Anime Movies here where i live is 13:49

[@Knyaspers]

the skincareaddiction subreddit is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn about their acne and get tips and stories from other people!

[@Jess-yk5hi]

I love this video, very honest! And I thought I'd share my lengthy success story with handling acne naturally for anyone who's interested. Full disclosure, my solution is not a super easy one, but it's this or horrible acne! After going off birth control in 2012 (I was 22), I got acne. I tried to control it with the all the usual suspects. You name it, I tried it. I struggled with my skin for 2+ years, then decided to give up and go back on birth control. My acne problem exploded. I'm talking severe acne, hundreds of painful pimples and cysts on my face at a time. Tried a different birth control - didn't fix it. A round of powerful antibiotics didn't fix it. Stopping birth control again didn't fix it. After about 4-5 months (after I quit BC) of uncontrollable acne I was depressed, I wouldn't leave my house, I couldn't touch my face because the pain was so bad it would take my breath away. I tried medications, medical topicals, natural and chemical topicals. Every thing I could find. I even tried doing nothing and only washing my face with water. Nothing worked and my doctor was pushing accutane after all the other stuff we'd tried. I was ready to do it (but did not.) There's a history of depression in my family so accutane was especially dangerous, but I can't really explain the desperation that having bad acne gives you. I was so miserable I didn't care about health risks. My mother begged me to try one last thing first, so in 2015 I agreed to try a more holistic approach and started the candida diet (google it!) It eliminates sugar from your diet, kills yeast and other bacterial and fungal problems (that rely on sugar to survive and thrive), and aids your metabolism. I didn't think it would solve anything, I was very doubtful and only agreed so my family would leave me alone and let me try accutane. Instead my severe acne cleared up completely in UNDER a month. It was like magic after years of painful acne. I changed nothing else, I didn't exercise more or try different topical stuff or change soap. When I'm on the diet, my skin is clear. I can even skip washing my face for a couple of days, or use makeup that used to always break me out, and still not have any breakouts. But, without fail, whenever I start eating sugar heavy foods again, within less than 24 hours I'll have incredibly oily skin, and by the end of 48 hours I'll start getting some little pimples. I've been on this diet for almost 3 years, it's the only thing I do to control my acne now. The longer I'm off it (and eating foods that contain sugar and gluten and dairy, etc) the worse my acne will get, and within days of starting the diet again I stop getting new breakouts. I can also add back foods slowly to see what works and what doesn't work, but anything sugar heavy causes me problems almost immediately. It's a scientific fact that sugar wreaks havoc and affects your body's hormones, causing imbalances. So if sugar causes hormonal imbalances, and hormone imbalances can cause acne, then eliminating sugar is an obvious way to destroy that cause of acne. I'm not trying to point you to a website or sell you something, you can google candida diet and find tons of helpful sites as you see fit. One thing though, the candida diet is very strict, and it's crucial you stick to it and don't cheat at all for at least the first 30 days. It's hard, because you're probably going to be combating your body's addiction to sugar. The first few days, the cravings are insane, then it mellows out. By the end of it, foods I used to LOVE like bread and wheat pasta had no appeal at all. The most difficult thing about the diet is just the limitations to what food you can eat, but if you've tried everything under the sun to cure your acne and haven't approached it from a diet angle yet - try this. One month. It takes will power, but it gives me flawless skin, among other benefits. Other benefits of note: my periods are so much easier when I'm on this diet. PMS virtually disappears, I stopped getting cramps and my symptoms of endometriosis disappeared. Unrelated to those things, I also stopped getting headaches (I used to get frequent sinus headaches.) Even my shoulder pain goes away on this diet, and the repetitive stress pain in my wrist from my job (I sew and cut a lot). Eliminating sugar also commonly results in healthy weight loss, you don't have to control your portions or starve yourself, only change the type of food you're consuming. I wasn't overweight, I was on the middle high end of average for my height at 145lbs, but within two months I was stable at 135 which is where I feel (and look, in my opinion) best. *Diet is obviously not the only cause of acne, I would never suggest that, but for me cutting bad foods out was the only thing that had any positive effect at all. Sorry for the huge book of a post, I just really wish I had had someone tell me to try this years before I actually did. I have so many acne scars and damaged areas of my skin, and if I'd tried this diet sooner they could've been avoided. Thanks for reading and good luck, guys. :)

[@Athlynne]

I'm sorry you had to go through so much. I was lucky, never had any major skin problems. You look amazing, by the way!

[@flyby501]

I was on a lot of creams at well, I was on even acutane, I was practically shedding skin from my face. It was disgusting. It wasnt until I started drinking a whole bunch of loose leaf tea (nothing added) water, and cut down on sugar, that did the trick and it stopped being so severe. As simple as it sounds. I knew another friend who would put toothpaste on her pimples and they would recede. Acne is a weird thing.

[@xanzusx]

Yeah, it's a whole different story for each. In my case I had HUGE pores and black dots, tried everything:clay, facial masks, exfoliation, vaporization. Nothing was useful, but really rough alcohol based tonics were my lifesavers, even if people don't recommend them.

[@Cinderthebeaver]

I had mild active acne but after not going outside, I started not washing my face and using my creams. I had gotten lots of little bumps (cystic?) and after applying my creams again for a month or 2, the little bumps are gone. But my skin has way more large acne and dark spots. I’ve switched to Curology to see with it. My next option is exercise and apple vinegar. I would be worried to go outside/school but masks cover majorly.

[@rbvp45]

Like drinking black tea? Or how do you prepare it?

[@brokfan4eva]

I didn't know about the correlation between hormonal acne and spironolactone. Both of my pharmacology classes only touch on what is FDA approved things that each medication treats in the US, so thank you Rachel! I've learned a new thing that I can pass on to my coworkers ^_^ I'm glad it did help your skin out!

[@alexishopkins526]

Sounds weird but after I had my first kid my acne calmed down greatly. I still get acne but it is much better. My hormones just changed I guess. Hormones are a biznich.

[@RachelandJunAdventures]

I've actually heard a lot of people say various women issues sometimes get fixed after your first pregnancy, so I don't think it's weird at all! Assumedly the only time I'll ever go off birth control is if we want kids... so it would be great if this happens for me, too! haha

[@lightningmoon8842]

Rachel & Jun's Adventures! Are you two planing to have kids in the future?

[@alexishopkins526]

Rachel & Jun's Adventures! If y'all make that decision then I hope it helps! I also have much less painful periods now. Also a big perk haha. Same thing happened to my mother and grandmother. So it may be genetic. Either way, hope your acne backs off without assistance of medication but I'm glad you found something that works!

[@naritruwireve1381]

My mom said her period cramps had calmed down a lot after having kids, as well. Though, she also said she lost a lot of hair. She has obvious bald spots and really thin hair

[@sarahcrossen550]

Rachel & Jun's Adventures! Just a heads up that when my dermatologist went to prescribe spiro (I have the same acne problems you do), they changed their mind when they learned my husband and I were trying to conceive. Apparently you have to be off spiro for like 6 months to avoid risk of birth defects... Just something to consider if you ever plan on having children.

[@ae31860]

So glad you found a solution that works for you! I wish your GP back in the day would've suggested seeing an endocrinologist to help you. Maybe you could've found resolution sooner!

[@sarasthoughts]

Birth control saved my life 🙏🏻

[@naomimoran5564]

sarasthoughts yep same here. I skipped it last month because I kept forgetting to take it and boom, hello cystic acne again.

[@naomimoran5564]

Yeah, You don't get pregnant just by skipping your pill for a month lol Particularly not if you're only on birth control for hormonal acne :/

[@Kelsey-xr8fg]

It almost ruined mine because it gave me horrible anxiety. (Went to the hospital for panic attacks twice) Not worth it for clear skin.

[@TwiliteKiler]

i use birth control in order to control my metabolism. before birth control, i would have hypoglycemic crashes often after just skipping one meal... which isn't ideal for real life. i don't recommend skipping meals but sometimes it just happens so i feel like i have a lot more control of my life now. more than that, i can actually exercise now (instead of having to structure the exercising specific times after eating specific things or again, crash). hormones can be terrible.

[@LadyEclairMinecraft]

Warning for people, I didn't get acne before and birth control actually gave me acne. I took it for 1 month and it gave me horrible cramps, acne, and a cycle every other week. After about 4 months of not taking the pill, it slowly went away.

[@varsharam8941]

Hey beautiful lady... It looks so difficult for you to talk about this ,and still you seem totally truthful.You actually working to get rid of a problem.. with Jun by your side all is possible... God bless you both.

[@crystalhyuga5679]

I really appreciate this. We seem to have the same problems and symptoms so I think I’m going to ask my dr about this.

[@deborahlovel6337]

Rachel, I'm glad you persisted until you found what works for YOU. Both my daughter and I have taken spironolactone. It has done wonders for her skin. Good for you for finding a liveable routine. Love from Anchorage, Alaska!

[@boojie151]

I've been on spironolactone for over two months now. I'm seeing pretty good results. The only thing I was warned about was that you absolutely need to make sure you do not get pregnant. Since it can cause disfigurement etc to a fetus. Also, when tested in way higher dosages on rats I guess they ended up developing tumors. This hasn't developed in humans but the tests are inconclusive as to whether or not it's a carcinogen. Also, I ended up having to pee a lot more lol. But I guess it's good motivation to stay hydrated.

[@samanthascarcella526]

Brooke did your skin purge at all? I’ve seen some people say that it made their skin purge. I’m about to start it and I’m curious if it’s more normal to purge or not to purge.

[@boojie151]

It sort of did but not to the extreme I've seen with people on Acutane. It's definitely a slow burn and can take a few months to kick in. After the second month I did notice the deeper pimples stopped occurring and it was more so the smaller superficial ones. Now I only get the occasional pimple around my period but no where near as intense.

[@Skull_Goddess]

Well it is a diuretic, so if it made you pee then that's an early sign that your body is responding to the specific dosage you're on.

[@aimilau8801]

I have just asked my dermatologist about Spironolactone and she says it is an option for me! I'm feeling really hopeful, I just hope this works for me! Thank you Rachel for raising awareness of this medication!

[@unturnthisstone]

I've found that eating fewer carbohydrates has helped me. I once saw article that described acne as being like a diabetes of the skin - it's triggered by the amount of sugars in the blood. I'm 50 now - my skin looks young but the threat of acne has never gone away. Thanks for your videos Rachel - you're such a lovely lady.

[@MrsBrit1]

Same. Getting rid of carbs makes my skin so much happier! I'm in my late 30s. Keto is my body's favorite.

[@nida8516]

I think everyone should watch this video! Thanks Rachel!

[@Ragnarok043]

no potassium, that's bananas!

[@gosiamalaczek]

Its just good to see you back Rachel^_^ we're missing you guys a lot!!!

[@enn7541]

I watched some of your videos, and I was like, "Oh, her skin is so perfect! No pimps or sorts. But, I saw this... I'm happy, cause you've shared what you experience with acne. This boost my mood. Love lots. 😘

[@kla9689]

Very helpful! And thank you for expressing the "not one fits all" several times throughout the video, so true! love your non egotistical videos!!

[@sayakonohana3291]

True. Thanks appreciate the honest opinion. ☺

[@missy838]

I’ve never had bad acne but daily face washes oddly enough did give me a little acne. Here and there. I love how you address there not being a one size fix all solution!!

[@f4erie_]

HELLO! LOVE YOU GUYS!

[@blubbb5880]

You look very pretty and natural in this video!

[@___Laura]

I had no idea that there was a difference between sebaceous filaments and black heads. Actually I didn't even know about the former. What moisturiser do you use which hydrates but does not make oily? I know it might not be perfect for me but I am interested because I have dehydrated oily skin with clogged pores.

[@RachelandJunAdventures]

I use two moisturizers after I shower--a "wet" one and then a "creamy" one on top of that, just because my skin is super dry too. I use a Hada Labo lotion (any of them): hadalabousa.com/home/ and then CeraVe PM facial moisturizing lotion.

[@___Laura]

Ah then we basically do the same thing already! :) I use the regular Hada Labo lotion and use Decubal Vitaal, a creamier moisturiser with niacinamide (which fades scars) afterwards. Btw, did you know that you should be careful using hyaluronic acid in dry climates/when you're in aircon a lot? Hardly any website tells you about this, but when the relative humidity is too low where you are, then HA will start pulling moisture out of your skin. Also thanks for replying, hardly any youtubers communicate with their subscribers like you and Jun do. Most hardly reply to comments, and if they do it's usually a very minimal reply to some comment that is easy to reply to, not a real answer to a question that takes time to reply to.

[@cocomo111]

I had pretty bad acne during college. I’m not a dehydrated oil skin. My skin type is combo. Now, my skin is pretty clear with only a few acne popping up around my jaw line every once in a while. For me, I use essential oils. I know, sounds counter intuitive, but I like it. I can’t use any other moisturizer or face mask anymore because either they’re too “thick” or too drying for my face. For oily skin, hemp or argan oil is the best. They are 0 on the comedogenic. They will not clog your pores, at all. However, they do take a while to dry, as they are not “dry oils”. If you want oil that dry faster so as to not leave your skin shiny, grape seed or rosehip are alternatives. Their comedogenic scale is 1. I love grape seed oil. It dries so fast and leaves your skin soft and moisturized without feeling oily. However, it’s acidity is higher, so it’s shelf life is only 6 months, and that’s if you refrigerate it. The oils I listed are carried oils, but you can add essential oils and mix it for your own needs. Examples are tea tree, lavender, ylang ylang, etc. This is just my own experience though. thebestorganicskincare.com/a-list-of-non-comedogenic-facial-oils

[@___Laura]

Cocomo, while I know about the benefits of using non-comedogenic oils on acne prone skin, I can't say I've ever heard anything good (from reliable scientific sources) about using essential oils on any skin type. This is because they are irritants. So while tea tree oil is antibacterial, it also irritates the skin, causing inflammation. Have you truly had positive long term results with essential oils?

[@jessicajanowiak4199]

I use tee tree oil on my face at night at least once a week (sometimes every day when needed) during the winter and dry summer months, and I've never had any trouble with it. It's never irritated my skin. When my skin gets too dry, adding a moisturizer can burn, so the oil helps. But that's just what works for me, it may not work for others.

[@tonihacquard8657]

Im so happy you found a fix! Your skin looks amazing now!

[@volatilesky]

It's totally different for everyone. It took me years to find for me that it's largely diet-related. What I narrowed it down to for myself is dairy products (I assume the lecithin is the main issue in dairy), and food with excessive hydrogenated oils, as well as palm oil. Stress seems to be another one. But it's a long and frustrating process of elimination

[@tarynnago8205]

ik this is an old video but im glad you were able to clear up your skin! cystic acne is so painful >_< the antibiotics i used to take for it ruined my stomach

[@dogboywillis]

I'm 25 and on a high birth control, two medicines, 2 medical creams, and a medical wash and my acne is still horrible. I've also tried every other medicine under the sun since I was a teen. I just want to give up. I changed my diet and lifestyle. My mom is almost 50 and still gets acne. Im worried I'm just screwed genetically at this point.

[@adrip7558]

uncle stupid im so sorry. That seems really tough to have to get through. Keep fighting if you can though. It'll be worth it.

[@rinoaheartilly4769]

uncle stupid cut out dairy

[@ah5721]

My mom does too she still insist I should eat dairy but she still has acne. I stopped eating dairy when I noticed sensitivity to it, and meat only 3x a week. (Growth hormones in meat and dairy here in the USA is way high) Now don't get as much acne- just a spot here and there. I also rarely exfoliate only every other week once . It helps me 🤷

[@pleasantlydrifting6663]

Hey Rachel! I know that your intention was not to tell people to necessarily try spironolactone but after listening to your story I couldn't help but notice similarities in our situations. I also take a specific type of birth control pill to help shrink and prevent ovarian cysts(Marlissa), which I have struggled with for years now. I started getting adult acne when the cysts starting flaring up. I was never told about spironolactone as an option and no doctor or derm ever recommended it to me. I finally asked for a prescription and I'm 6 weeks in and the results are amazing. My face is finally free of hormonal acne. I don't have oil pooling up on my face anymore. my pores are starting to shrink and also my mild but embarrassing hirsutism is finally clearing up. I don't know if I would have ever figured it out if I didn't hear your story. Thank you for sharing, this has been such a huge help for me!

[@srijilamadhuri102]

Your nose looks different now. And it really suits you. You were beautiful back then too but now somehow it has made your face more structured. Love you Rachel ❤️ and the cats 💞

[@minnie6310]

GIRL I FEEL YOU. I've been struggling with acne for 10 years now.

[@o0Avalon0o]

UTTERLY FASCINATING! My bro still has oil & acne at 40, I wish I could help. Mine reduced after puberty & a non-related month of steroid pills/skin cream. I still can't wear make up for 8+ hours & must wash my pillow case weekly, but a plain apricot scrub & Vanicream (non-comodogenic moisturizer) takes out the stragglers. I went on the pill but got nearly every side-effect, including acne. Getting a low dose hormonal IUD solved that without the side effects. This clearly doesn't work for everyone but reading through people's journeys in the comments is interesting.

[@Bellerbob]

Rachel, I'm so glad you posted this! I have a similar hormone imbalance and am on the same two medications. It took my doctor forever to agree to perscribe spironolactone. It was really cool to see that someone I admire has similar struggles, and has come out on top. Cheers to you!

[@Mikalia_chan]

Just a question, but have you ever heard of PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome)? It can cause acne, and have higher amounts of testosterone. Not saying that's what it is just thought I'd throw it out there.

[@Mikalia_chan]

It's what I have.

[@Mikalia_chan]

You also can develop cysts on your ovaries from it.

[@EinaudiXD]

I was thinking the same thing. I have PCOS too and she is taking 2 out of 3 meds I already take.

[@Skull_Goddess]

That's what I have too. I've coupled the Spiro with my IUD in the attempts that getting rid of the extra testosterone will help with the hair loss on my head/ growth everywhere else.

[@thenoobyoutuber2490]

@@Skull_Goddess duuuudr same! My hair is all falling I'm going bald :'( its so saaaad. But I have dystrophy ovary or idk how to say it in english

[@potterfanatic8]

Thanks Rachel for this video. This is something which has been bugging me for years, and I am still trying to figure out what might help with my acne, I hope I do soon. Thanks again for speaking this out, not many people do.

[@TheRibottoStudios]

I feel like I'll NEVER find the right care routine cause my skin DRIER than a freaking crocodile. Edit-thanks for all the tips guys. I'll be sure to look into some of these.

[@HayleighM4y]

Yep.....It sucks.I look like a dotty mess XD

[@pianogirl4644]

TheMKatStudio have you looked at “the beautybreakdown” on KZbin? She does a lot of skin care videos for people with dry skin!

[@jacquidavis4022]

I know how you feel. I've got psoriasis on my face AND acne and for the longest time, I could not find a solution for both. Acne (topical) medication sets off my psoriasis, but too much moisturizer makes the acne come back with a vengeance. I used to have like a 15-step routine every day with specific moisturizers for specific situations (is it hot outside? Ok. Oil free moisturizer. Is it night time? Ok. Nighttime moisturizer. Etc.), but I've recently discovered micellar water and it is the A++++ bomb dot com. (so long as I keep up with my skin routine) Especially if you can find some "Ultra Hydrating for Dry Skin" micellar water. It cleans out dirt without stripping what little natural oil my face has, and then I spritz some rose water on after that, and that's it besides any sunscreen/facemask/whatever. The rose water acts as a toner to help even out my redness (from the psoriasis) as well as make my pores smaller (which helps with the acne). PLUS rose water is a natural astringent, so it kills any acne-causing bacteria (my cause for acne so far as I can tell) without any isopropyl alcohol in sight, which is great for me because anything with alcohol feels like pouring lemon juice over millions of tiny paper cuts on my face if I'm having a psoriasis flare-up. TL;DR: Micellar water and rose water have helped me a whole lot, maybe they'll help you, too. Also, oil-based cleansers like the Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil are also great for cleaning out dirt without stripping much-needed oil.

[@OlyaProhorova]

Have you tried oils? Hemp seed oil, jojoba, argan, tamanu are great for fighting dry skin, the trick is to combine it with a good hydrosol in order for your skin to absorb it all.

[@joyjoyoo]

Put one drop of rose water in your moisturizer and hydrate from within!

[@OddWorldNeko]

I'm glad to hear you've figured out your personal key to hormone management! I have pretty bad poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (where my body also makes too much man juice). I've been on Yaz for about 10 years with a couple short breaks. My doctor wanted to try to get me off because of the risk for blood clots, but my symptoms (hirsutism, very oily skin, acne, and irregular menstruation) were all agitated by the changes. The birth control itself does a pretty solid job of managing my symptoms but it was still pretty crazy during puberty. Thankfully things have settled down and I always come up clean during insulin and blood pressure checks. I get the very occasional light acne under my lips or along my forehead, but it's pretty rare (couple times a year). My biggest problem now though is weight gain. I'm actually quite lean when I'm off treatment because I build muscle mass easily (yay male hormones?). The pill makes it harder for me to build and maintain muscle, so it's really easy for me to get on the slippery slope of weight. I'm doing good at managing it right now (intermittent fasting has helped me pretty well), but it wasn't always this way.

[@Vasaloloa]

I'm on the Depo Provera shot. For the last six months, my face has broken out as well as my body. I've been on it for 2 years now and I was looking really good and then my health plummeted and so did my acne. Unfortunately I have to stop my birth control now due to being on blood thinners. And the whole reason I am on the depo is because I have endometriosis and I've had an ovarian cyst rupture so I'm so afraid to be taken off my Depo. I never want another cyst rupture or a period.

[@ah5721]

Steltzer Sketching I had the depo shot. It messed me up so bad . I was having the whole side effects:spotting, mood swings, insane hair growth (everywere) . It was awful

[@shaje42]

I was reallly lucky with depo shot I guess. I only had to stop because my doc was concerned about osteoporosis. Man, I miss not having periods....

[@georgehenson2412]

That old footage was so shocking to see! I always see Rachel as looking collected and beautiful, even when she's doing yardwork at her family's house. I'm glad you've found a solution that clears up the issue and makes you happy.

[@djcarameldeviljaycry4831]

Thank you very much for this video, very informative.

[@dookins2081]

I have hormonal acne too. Ive been on birth control since I was really young for hormonal issues. I also tried spironolactone along with my birth control, but at the time, it did nothing. It's a diuretic that has a cool side effect of blocking testosterone, but it's main use is actually as a blood thinner! It didn't do much for me, buuuuut using alcohol free witch hazel with aloe vera has ACTUALLY been giving me some pretty nice results! :) Also, I wanted to thank you Rachael. A long time ago you had replied to a comment of mine that was really personal. And you took the time to really answer, and try to teach me the value in loving myself. You're such a genuine person. And while I'm still having problems, I think about you. And how you don't want to waste time worrying about the shallow aspects of self. But how loving yourself, and loving life, is the real key to happiness and what's important. It's a year later or so, but... Thank you. Truly, thank you.

[@Kifudancer]

Thank you so much for this. I'm nearly 30 and I've also struggled with acne since puberty. I gathered that it was hormonal for me too, as I would notice a flare-up when my hormones changed at my time of month, so although I prefer to avoid taking medication if I can, the information about the oil and testosterone is great! I might be able to find something more natural that has a similar effect, maybe.

[@Tiarys]

If you're going to look for something with similar effect, definitely run it by a doctor first - spiro is a very simple medication, but it's also a potassium-sparing diuretic, which may require monitoring. If what you find that is 'more natural' does the same, you'll want to monitor your bloodwork for a while to be sure your heart will be ok. That said, you'll want to look for something that has anti-androgenic action, which means it blocks male hormone receptors [androgen receptors] in the body. That's the key to this medication helping with acne, etc.

[@Alisha21210]

I'm in the same boat as you. But I've been able to tone down the oil my face makes (doesn't stop the break outs from pms but it helped with my skin not feeling so gross). One of 2 things can cause the "excess" oil. 1 genetically your body just does it or 2 your skin is dry so it makes more oil to try fixing it. Thus... the only way to lower the amount your body makes is to try to moisturize your skin. Whether it's drinking more water or using some lotion/natural oil of some type. I get millia so I have to exfoliate to try preventing them but I don't like scrubbing my eyes so I have them there. I also use a Neutrogena spot treatment on any pimples or bumps that will become a pimple. It's made them "heal" faster which has been nice. (it dries out the area so it makes the layers of skin shed a little sooner)

[@nmjr547]

Your accent has changed! Thanks for sharing. I haven't heard about that prescription before. I appreciate you're encouraging people to do their thorough research and be patient.

[@tonii0502]

Can men have acne problems due to hormones too? My boyfriend have been looking for solution for his bad acne for years.

[@anna-lenam.4834]

Nechi since it's caused by an male hormon, obviously yes, men tend to have it worse 😶

[@gshengelaia2001]

I'm a man and I have a hormonal acne :((

[@gshengelaia2001]

Teen actually

[@LittleSparklingStars]

men on birth control lmao, that would be funny

[@ikathiggs13]

Danielle Spargo I suppose this is why lots of FtM transgender people get bad acne when they start testosterone? Interesting, really.

[@meloniejen5864]

The info on spacious filaments was very informative I didnt know there was a difference thanks!

[@miacarino1161]

Birth control is the only one that seemed to work for me. But recently in my country, it's actually been harder to get pills and will progressively get harder because our shitty government thought it was best to halt distribution of birth control by implementing a temporary restraining order :-----(

[@Leroset]

Ian Kyle Maturan People always want to stick their noses into women's business. Some people claim that birth control is a form of abortion (it isn't, it prevents pregnancy in the first place) so they want to block it. Others think that women shouldn't have access to it because it might make them more sexually active and they want to control women's sexuality (it doesn't, no study has ever proven that access to birth control increases promiscuity). They don't care that birth control is necessary for a lot of women's non-sexual health because it balances out hormones. They just want to control and hurt women, because they think that they know better than us and our doctors. But they don't.

[@miacarino1161]

Leroset Yes exactly. I'm from the Philippines and the subject of reproductive health is a highly politicised and controversial issue. A lot of things come into play such as the prevalence of corruption and the fact that we are a predominantly Catholic country. Some of the biggest arguments against contraception is that they can be abortifacient, and that it comes with a lot of health risks that are "alarming" enough to make people think that it is better to completely do away with them. Sadly, there isn't much logical discourse and so the women who need it most (such as those in marginalised communities) become even more so a victim of a system that presumes to tell them what should be done with their bodies. In my own personal experience, I have used contraceptive pills for about 3 years mainly because I had ovarian cysts and extremely painful menstrual cramps that made it hard for my life as a university student (the treatment of acne was just a very welcome bonus). While the restraining order is in effect, the pills currently in the market could be the last of what's available until their expiration this year or early 2019. Anyway, I hope I made some sense with this comment. It's a little hard to elaborate on such an issue in the wee hours of the morning without being too dragging.

[@miacarino1161]

Ian Kyle Maturan Philippines :)

[@nonononodont]

Mia Carino i hate how it still is so rampant over there, pag nagtake ka ng pills they automatically label you as malandi or whatever, hay, even with abortion even though it's better for a woman who is not ready to have children. :(

[@1000bazuru]

I think this is the only right way to go. Birth control is no lifestyle product! It is extremly dangerous and your body needs years to recover. There are documented deaths because of thromboses! Girls and women have to wake up :(

[@herasean5720]

This is the realest acne advice ive ever watched

[@humairahossain8350]

*"ITS A THING!!"*

[@Loumoyleart]

It's so great to see someone with the same skin as me!

[@sunnyflower2807]

2:29 KISAMAKE! X3 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@aubreymorgan9763]

I just like your videos. I never had an acne problem, I'm glad you found something that works for you. I also find it ironic that i'm on both those medications for a hormone problem.

[@sainte7406]

Oh my gosh! I take spironolactone as part of my hormone treatments (I'm a transgender woman), and it's so interesting to know that it helps with acne for other women, too!

[@Luiblonc]

I think your skin is super gorgeous! Thanks for sharing Rachel! :)

[@Tiarys]

Yaz and spironolactone [yaz being a derivative thereof] have seriously saved my skin. I have PCOS [where the eggs never finish the monthly maturation cycle and get 'stuck' in the ovary in their little maturation-fluid-sac ('cyst') for basically ever, making the ovaries angry], and have found that these two have not only saved my skin but are probably helping save my life by breaking it out of the weight-gain cycle it is in when un-treated. [adding the below for folks who might be interested in spironolactone, basically just confirming what Rachel said, with a bit more detail because I have this thing where I research stuff into oblivion if I have to take it] Spiro DOES act as a potassium-sparing diuretic, so a lot of doctors in the US want to closely monitor your bloodwork, esp at the beginning, to be sure you're ok, because potassium will mess with your heart in too high concentrations. But the great thing for PCOS is that spiro has anti-androgenic properties, which means it blocks androgen [basically, male hormone] receptors in the body. This means it can help with excess hair growth (esp on the face) for women, hormone related oil overproduction, and hormonal acne, as well as other symptoms of PCOS. So it's definitely something worth taking to a doctor about if you have these issues and/or PCOS.

[@Hildisen]

I'm happy to find someone the same as me, I am currently on accutane and it's helping :) I feel so happy because my hair doesn't get oily every single day now - small steps.

[@riun4623]

i also have these acnes. and my face is too oily lol😂

[@Andrea-hw7xf]

I have hormonal acne so I really appreciated this video. Not all the same things are going to work for me but spiro is a new thing to try

[@daphnethegamer]

I had bad acne and then I stopped eating dairy, that's when it stopped 🥳😅

[@abrahamjacob6919]

Dairy?

[@bookmouse770]

yeah, I think your diet can make things worse

[@pastries8393]

Abraham Jacob dairy is a big part of acne for some people. Milk, for example, has hormones that are injected to cows.

[@abrahamjacob6919]

Ohh... thanks

[@Liaswildlife]

Same worked for me. I had skin problem until my mid twenties, when I stopped consuming diary, because it caused stomachache. Feeling so much better now.

[@ctran1955]

Idk why this took me so long to watch but I’m so glad to see you talking candidly about your acne journey! I took accutane for a few months and ever since, my skin has been a blessing. I’m 25 and struggled with acne since maybe even 11? Years old. I also took spironolactone but it wasn’t enough for my skin and my dermatologist didn’t want me on birth control if I didn’t have to be. I’m thankful for my journey and extremely thankful I’m at where I am now. Thanks for sharing and letting other people feel less alone. I love hearing other peoples experiences because for many years I thought I was the only one in the world with bad skin.

[@NanetteNette]

10:55 "My body has too much man juice in it." LOL

[@MahMahito]

Thank you for sharing, Rachel!

[@kKhanMC]

So start taking birth control pills. Got it. I'm a guy.

[@kKhanMC]

@@SirMarcutiotheCat pretty sure it doesn't help. A friend of mine told me to use toothpaste. Gonna do that cause Tea Tree Oil is too expensive

[@iBMS22]

@@kKhanMC toothpaste can be really damaging to your skin please remember that the skin of your face is so delicate, people will tell u a lot of BS that can actually harm u even more so only listen to dermatologists

[@kKhanMC]

Gonna be honest. It works. Just don't leave it for too long. Let it dry and then wash it off

[@kathleendooley5716]

Lolololololololololololol!!!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂

[@izzykate1806]

Fardin Khan realise this is kind of an old comment but if you have a Body Shop store near you you might be able to get some samples of tea tree oil from them to see if it helps :)

[@goddessneptune]

Thank you for being so honest and talking about this! I had very bad acne growing up and tried everything (antibiotics including spironolactone), birth control, creams and all the over the counter stuff. NOTHING. It would also piss me off that because I was fat people just assumed I was eating chocolate and greasy food and that's why it was so bad and not going away. The combo of fatness, social anxiety, severe zits and always being "the new kid" did not help in making me confident in any ways whatsoever growing up. I eventually went on accutane, which I don't regret, but I do wonder if that's one of the reasons why my skin is now so bone dry and many of my joints make noises whenever I move. I mean it's not painful (except my neck and shoulders which is because of a different issue) but say I do something like yoga all you can hear is crack crack crack crack crack. Pretty embarassing lol but doctors say as I don't get pain from it not harmful. Glad you got it figured out as it can be a long journey!

[@lilsassymate]

"dO sPeCial RoUtiNe." 1:20

[@NUESTwithLOVE]

I was just like in to your situation too but nowadays it's got way better after changing products