ARTWORK: Maddy Brown
It’s not uncommon to be told “don’t pop your pimples” or “don’t touch your face, it will only make it worse.” However, when the urge is uncontrollable, and the anxiety burns too hot; a small spot can become your worst nightmare. To me, my acne felt like a mask. When I had this mask on, I wouldn’t recognise myself in the mirror. I was disgusted and horrified with what I was seeing. I couldn’t remove the mask – it was welded on with lumps, bumps and cysts rooted deep into my skin. Like a blind pimple, not everyone could see it, but I could feel it.
LOUISA RITCHENS EDITED BY ELIZABETH WALKER
In 2019, I asked a doctor based in Canberra if there was anything they could do for my skin. I was prescribed a doxycycline-based pill, and instructed to take one a day – and after six months I saw no results. Frustrated, I went to my family doctor in Sydney, who promptly informed me I had been given the wrong dose.
blind pimple
26.
Turns out, I should have been taking two a day. What a waste of time! My first year at college had been crippled; and thanks to the misguided dosage of doxycycline, my acne got worse. I was starting to see swelling and scarring. I didn’t trust GPs to decide what was best for my skin. After a referral and another two months of waiting, I finally got to see a dermatologist. It’s important to note that I had heard of Accutane before I got prescribed it. I had also heard just about every other so-called “miracle cure” for acne. Toothpaste, tea tree oil, hot towels, witch-hazel, castoroil, moisturisers that dry you out, moisturisers that make you oily, micro-beads, harsh exfoliants, gentle scrubs - I tried it all. I knew everything about the latest trends in skincare, toner, hydration, oils and serum. Nothing worked. No matter what I did, the mask had a mind of its own.
