A 25-year-old personal trainer, told by a doctor that she had the “worst acne he’s ever seen,” has made a major recovery six months after a variety of treatments.
Keel said she tried everything from gluten-free and dairy-free diets, light therapy, chemical peels, and antibiotics. However, nothing worked.
She was later prescribed a type of medication called isotretinoin, and she said it improved her condition.
Keel said on Instagram, “I feel like me again and it’s the best feeling in the world. I still can’t quite believe that there is only six months between the first and the last photo.”
Elaborating further, “I rarely look back at photos of my skin at its worst because it’s like looking at a different person,” Keel said, adding that “I tried so hard to be strong and brave but it took so much of my energy. I was a shell of who I am now.”
“Cystic acne happens when this infection goes deep into your skin, creating a red, tender bump that’s full of pus. It may hurt or itch. If a cyst bursts, the infection can spread, causing more breakouts,” the website says. It added that teenagers often suffer from the condition.
Keel said that when she was in school, she was derided over her appearance.
“Complete strangers in the street have asked me what’s wrong with my skin. Even with my partner Charles, I sometimes lose my confidence when my skin is really bad,” she said in January 2019.
Meanwhile, as she was visiting doctors for her skin, Keel said one doctor told her that her skin was the worst he had ever seen.
“It was really hurtful coming from a medical professional; I was really disappointed,” she said, according to the Mail. “I thought you should be able to handle situations better or know that it’s going to affect someone’s mental health.”
The stress of having excessive acne led Keel to quit her job as a personal trainer.
“Working in the gym when my acne was getting worse, I think I was really conscious I wasn’t being a good role model,” she said. “I was so self-conscious, I didn’t want to teach classes anymore, I didn’t want to be in front of people all the time.”
As she worked at the gym, “I felt like people were judging me and thinking that I wasn’t living a healthy lifestyle,” she recalled.
“It was a vicious cycle, especially when you have the pressure of thinking you should look a certain way in the job role as well,” the Mail quoted Keel as saying.
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