Disclaimer: This is my story. Please consult a physician before taking any medication or using any prescription topical medication.Last fall, I made the devastating decision to stop taking my oral contraceptives. I had been taking them for so long that I did not realize that they may have been the reason my acne was manageable. I have suffered from acne since my early teens having oily skin with large pores. I stopped taking the pill in September and by early November, all hell had broken loose. Major cystic acne had erupted on my jawline and neck in shocking fashion. It was an anxiety-inducing nightmare. I am the skincare girl. I am the one all of my friends call when they have questions. I am the one that my Bellacara customers look to for guidance and here I am with volcanos on my face. It was devastating.We have so many great products for acne; however, hormonal acne is a beast that some of the best OTC topical treatments simply cannot penetrate. I tried Dr. Dennis Gross’s Acne Eliminating Gel. The gel helped to treat the existing pimples but did not really help to prevent. As I said, hormonal acne is a different beast. It was time to bring in the big guns. I called McLean Dermatology and made an appointment. I went in and met with Dr. Isabela Jones, who took a closer look and broke it to me - I needed prescription-strength topical medication as well as oral medication if I wanted to clear this mess up. In desperation, I told her to give me whatever she thought was best. She started me on spironolactone as well as a 30-day antibiotic since spironolactone takes a few months to make a difference. She also prescribed a 15% azelaic acid cream-gel as well as adapalene 0.3%. Adapalene is a vitamin A derivative (retinoid) that fights acne topically.It has been a bumpy ride (pun intended), but my skin is finally clearing up. As we all know, topical creams can be aggressive and wreak their own kind of havoc in the process of treating our concerns. Skin could become red, irritated, and start to peel, seeming to make the whole process that much more difficult. Luckily, we have a range of products I reached for that helped mitigate these pesky issues.Heavy moisturizing is a must. Adapalene can cause peeling and dryness, while azelaic acid can burn and lead to itchiness (the things we go through for beauty… ugh).I got into the habit of mixing the Dr. Dennis Gross Stress Repair Face Cream with the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. This concoction really helps to calm, moisturize, and soothe my angry skin. I top it off with the Kiehls’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate, which helps to calm and re-balance and is specially designed for blemish-prone skin.   I am still on my journey (all over again) to clear skin. Stop in and share your journey with me. I am in on most Saturday’s and would love to hear your story.With Much Love,Abby