Acne Scars (Warning: Graphic Content!)

[Goblinsa]

Good evening everyone!

I have pretty severe acne scarring as you can see (my sincere apologies for the pictures, though I must say it looks even worse in fluorescent light, and angled sunlight).

Did 4 sessions of fractional laser treatment by this reputable dermatologist that was recommended to me by my GP, and I guess what I have now is considered an improvement to what it was before.

I have come to accept it and am basically comfortable in my own skin (for the most part). I also work mainly with computers so never really felt the need to wear makeup on a daily basis.

I dress well (am slightly addicted to clothes ), exercise daily, and am generally pretty well groomed when it comes to nails, hair etc so I wouldn't call myself a slob.

Last week however, I got into a massive argument with my (now ex) DP who thinks it's repulsive when I leave the house like that! Would you really be disgusted if you see something like that whilst out? I am a grown arse woman and just spent the entire week staring at my face and feeling like I should now do something with it.

Does anyone have any primer/foundation to recommend? The ones I used to try just made it look worse, especially in angled lighting. 🙁

P.S. Sorry about the length of this post!

No, I would not be disgusted. Your XP is a dick. If you don't want to cover up, don't.

Any acne scarring wouldn't even register for me.

If it came up in conversation I'd just feel sad that you ever felt uncomfortable. You are way more than a few scars. Your actual skin tone looks excellent.

Your ex DP is an ex for a reason. They've just been aiming for things that they know you are sensitive about. I GENUINELY would not give it a second thought.

Your xp is an ass and he was just proving that one last time. I have acne scarring and I don't think about it and expect others not to allow that to be the main focus of their attention.

You could try some sort of acid cleanser. They rave about it on MN it's called Paula's choice I think

I think it was cruel of your ex to say what he did. Disgusting in fact. So pleased you had the balls to give him the chop

Agreed - your skin tone is lovely, and I genuinely would not take any notice of the scarring, no more so than I take notice of people wearing glasses or people with moles on their face (I have several!), for example. I'm sorry your horrible ex said that. It's not true at all.

I honestly would not notice.

Do you really go around noticing other people's skin all day? I don't.

I did once when I was thinking about my pores. I came to the conclusion that my massive, unsightly dreadful pores were entirely normal. Ditto dark circles. I also noticed that a lot of women wear terrible makeup. Beyond that, not much.

I've now gone back to acknowledging people as people not skin and it's much better

What a bellend. I am very conscious of my skin and so I tend to look at others when out and I wouldn't notice your skin. Especially if you are well put together outfit wise.
Keep being confident, that's the best thing anyone can wear.

His attitude is way more disgusting than a few little scars. I wouldn't even notice them.

Thanks everyone. I'm just feeling particularly angry at myself because I had gotten to a point where I could look in the mirror ready to leave the house and not even think about it, whereas this morning I could almost feel myself regressing back to my Uni days where I couldn't do sport (because sweat!) and had to go into the bathroom hourly to make sure my foundation is fine.

I have acne scars too and it is awful for self-esteem. I can only imagine your twat of an ex deliberately chose the thing you feel self-conscious about to needle you. Because honestly, your skin looks wonderfully radiant!

Your skin does not look that bad and I find it sad there was the graphic content warning on the subject line.
You have nothing to feel bad about, your skin looks nice actually! Yes some scarring but not a big deal at all!

Honestly, I think you generally perceive things like this on yourself worse than you would if it was anyone else IYSWIM. I genuinely don't think this would even register if I met you. Your skin is really even toned, I'm very jealous!

I agree, it's definitely not graphic content. Things like your ex said can really cut you up though. When I had active acne (and didn't cover it) my sister said she didn't know how I left the house without makeup At least you know your ex was just being malicious as he is an ex. I bet people can't even really see your scarring unless they stand an inch away from your face and stare at your skin.

He sounds like a catch😑

I don't think I would notice to be honest. And I feel sad that you feel bad about it because there's really no need.

We always think others are taking far more notice of us than they really are. Like when you have a zit, you think it's flashing like a red light, but in reality, most people wouldn't even spot it. (Spot it, geddit?!) Life's too blinkin' short.

The only thing that's repulsive is your ex-DP, glad you got rid!

Very sad that you think there's any reason at all to put any kind of warning for these photos. Tonnes of people have acne scarring and IMO yours is fairly mild though I appreciate you may not feel like that.

You have lovely cheekbones and lovely radiant skin.
I had cystic acne too at uni (until roaccutane, thank the heavens!) and my scarring is similar, probably a bit worse than yours.

I went through a phase after uni of researching various options to reduce the scarring, but didn't end up doing anything. I don't think about it now at all, and if anyone else does then they never let on so it has zero impact on my life. Hope you don't let a malicious comment impact your self consciousness, you have nothing to worry about.

If you wore concealer I would be more likely to notice and wonder what you are hiding. As it is it's totally fine. Not unnoticeable but totally unremarkable.

I am so shocked you felt the need to warn people about graphic images? There are no graphic imagines - just pictures of love dewy and rosy cheeks that don't need to be covered.

It's sounds as though your ex dp has discovered a weak spot for you (which is all in your head and not your skin) and is using it to hurt you. What a vile man he is

What a nobber he is! That was a low blow designed to hurt you.

If I met you, honestly I might notice, but that's because I have scarring too and it makes me feel more 'normal' when I see others do, so I kind of look for it. When I mention my insecurities about my skin to my DH he looks at me like because he just doesn't see it.

Your ex is an absolute cunt and I'm sure you know his comment was about hurting you and nothing to do with your face.

I have had a couple of scars on my face. What helped me was a series of self-administered treatments with a Derminator (see owndoc website, it's a really powerful mechanical micro needling device), Retin-A (Tretinoin) and cosmetically using a pale concealer very carefully applied on the scar shadow (brings the depression forward, visually).

But from your photos you look great and it makes me angry that anyone could be so horrible to say this to you. There is nothing repulsive about you whatsoever (and for the record, I am not repulsive either )..so if you decide to take further action, please don't be influenced by what he's said because he's lying to you

He is a dick.

There is nothing repulsive about your skin.

You don't need products to make yourself more acceptable. You need to retrain your head so you don't accept such abuse in the first instance.

One of my favourite phrases I read on this site is ... just because someone hands you a bag of shit, doesn't mean you have to take it.

Your ex was speaking shit. If he dares try it again, give it to him both barrels.

I wouldn't even notice the scars. You have lovely luminous skin
I have acne and acne scars - it destroys confidence
Don't let him bring you down

You have nice skin. I wouldn't really notice the scarring unless I was really really close and even then it wouldn't bother me - I'd thibknof it in the same way as noticing someone has freckles or pink cheeks or something. It's not unattractive at all and I'm so glad you got rid of that dickhead.