I Tried Everything for My Acne—Here’s What Helped

If you’ve ever stood in front of a mirror wondering what the hell your skin is doing, just know I’ve been there too. Acne has been a part of my life for what feels like forever. Not just the occasional pimple before an event, but real, persistent, confidence crushing breakouts. Whiteheads, cysts, jawline eruptions, you name it. This isn’t some “I use one product and my skin transform overnight” kind of story. Nope. This is the slow, messy, painfully honest journey of someone who tried everything and finally found what work.

So if you’re tired of wasting money, stressing over your skin, and wondering if clear skin is even possible here’s what I’ve learn from trying it all.

When I Thought More = Better (It Wasn’t)

Let me guess you’ve bought every acne treatments, face wash, scrub, serum, and spot treatment under the sun? Yeah, me too. I went through a phase where I had, like, eight products in rotation and still broke out. Honestly, my skin was just confuse and pissed off. Stripping it with harsh stuff? Not the move. I was basically drying it out and making the acne worse. If I could go back, I’d tell myself: keep it simple, chill out, and give stuff time to work.

The Lightbulb Moment: Not All Acne Is the Same

The truth that change everything for me: acne isn’t one-size-fits-all. What work for someone else didn’t work for me and that’s because different types of acne need different solutions. Once I stop treating every breakout the same, everything start to click.

• Hormonal acne (hi, jawline zits before your period)
• Cystic acne (those deep, painful ones that never come to a head)
• Whiteheads/blackheads (clog pores, texture, etc.)

Once I figure out what kind I was dealing with mostly hormonal and cystic — it made a HUGE difference in how I treat it.

Seeing a Derm = Game Changer

I use to treat all my breakouts the same throw on a random spot treatment and pray it work. Spoiler: it didn’t. For years, I kept piling on drugstore solutions and following TikTok hacks, thinking acne was just acne. But here’s what no one tells you: not all breakouts are create equal, and treating them like they are is where so many of us go wrong.

• Hormonal acne? That’s the frustrating jawline flare-up you get like clockwork before your period. No scrub will fix it, it’s internal and needs a totally different approach.
• Cystic acne? These are those painful, under the skin monsters that feel like they’re pulsing with their own heartbeat. They don’t pop, they don’t fade fast and they definitely don’t respond to over the counter treatments.
• Blackheads and whiteheads? These are all about clog pores, skin texture and buildup more about skincare maintenance and the right exfoliation strategy than harsh drying treatments.

What Helped My Skin (for Real)

Let’s be real clearing my skin wasn’t a magical overnight glow up. It took months of testing, patience and figuring out what my skin actually need. Here’s the exact combo that finally made a difference

Tretinoin (Yep, the Retinoid Everyone Talks About)

This one was a game-changer but not instantly. The purge was brutal and I almost gave up. But once I push through, it seriously help fade scars, smooth out my texture and cut down on breakouts big time. Worth every flaky week.

Salicylic Acid (The Pore Patrol MVP)

This one’s a staple in my routine now. I use a gentle salicylic acid cleanser a few times a week to keep pores unclog and future breakouts at bay. It’s like a reset button for my skin without over stripping it.

Benzoyl Peroxide (For When a Spot Pops Up)

If a pimple starts brewing, benzoyl peroxide is my go to. I dab it on as a spot treatment and it helps calm things down before they turn into full blown monsters. It’s strong, but it works.

Spironolactone (The Internal Fix)

Topicals alone didn’t cut it especially for the deep, hormonal breakouts along my jawline. Once I start spironolactone (under a derm’s care) things began to shift. Within a few months, those painful cysts weren’t showing up nearly as often.

Things I Tried That Didn’t Work for Me

Let’s be honest skincare is personal and not every “holy grail” product or treatment lives up to the hype. These were some popular picks that totally miss the mark for me

Tea tree oil – Everyone swears by it but my skin said absolutely not. Red, burning, irritate. Never again.

Accutane – I thought about it, but my acne wasn’t quite at that level. Plus, the potential side effects made me hesitate.

Pricey facials – Love the spa vibes, but honestly? The glow didn’t last and it didn’t move the needle on my breakouts.

Small Lifestyle Tweaks That Helped More Than I Expected

Honestly, I use to roll my eyes at “small changes make a big difference” but wow, they kind of do. These subtle shifts end up being way more impactful than I expect

• Started changing my pillowcases regularly (bacteria build up is real)
• Tried really hard not to mess with my face harder than it sounds
• Strip my skincare routine down to the essentials: cleanse, treat, hydrate, protect
• Cut back (painfully) on dairy and sugar RIP to late night cheese snacks

My Go-To Routine Right Now

• Morning
• Gentle Cleanser
• Niacinamide serum
• Lightweight Moisturizer
• SPF (every. single. day.)

• Night
• Cleanser
• Tretinoin (every other night)
• Moisturizer sandwich (before + after tretinoin to protect skin barrier)

That’s literally it. No 10-step stuff, no trendy products just a routine that works for me.

The Mental Toll of Acne Is Real

No one talks enough about this. Acne can seriously mess with your confidence. Man, I use to straight up panic at the thought of leaving my house don’t even get me start on selfies. I’d pile on layer after layer of makeup, thinking it’d hide everything, but honestly? It usually just made me look like a cake with anxiety issues.

• But hey, here’s the deal: your skin isn’t the boss of you. Seriously. Bad skin day? So what. You’re still awesome, still hot, still deserve to strut around like you own the place.
• Healing’s messy. Some days your skin’s a jerk; some days it’s chill. Either way, you gotta cut yourself some slack. No one’s perfect and that’s kind of the point.

Final Thoughts

Real talk: acne sucks. It’s like your skin’s throwing a tantrum for no reason. And yeah, it can feel super isolating—but you’re not alone. Everyone’s skin goes rogue sometimes. Whether you’re trying facials, spot treatments, retinoids, oral meds, or laser sessions, acne treatment is all about finding what works for you. No one-size-fits-all fix here.

Clear skin isn’t a straight line. Mine still flares up now and then, but overall? It’s the best it’s ever been. What change most? Patience, consistency, and letting go of perfection. You’ll get there—maybe not overnight, but absolutely in time. Hang in there, you got this.