The adult acne I developed after 30 was nowhere near as severe as what you described, but the self-esteem issues and annoying comments from well-meaning friends and family were brutal. Eventually I found a dermatologist who was very receptive to my concerns and took a very simple and straightforward approach to treatment, which I really loved and which, after a lot of experimentation, really worked for me. My skin is mostly clear now and the occasional breakouts I do get are much more manageable.

In all the advice I received, though, no one bothered to mention that there really isn’t a single solution that works for everyone and so much treatment is experimental and can even exacerbate your symptoms. It’s all so frustrating. I hope you find something that works for you and at least reduces the painful outbreaks. Thank you for sharing this!