I have terrible acne, scarring, blackheads, and uneven skin tone. My skin has been like this since I was in maybe 7th grade? I'm now almost 21. I've tried everything, even go to doctors once in awhile, but even the medicated acne creams I've gotten from them never work for long. I'm a vegetarian so never eat fast food, and my diet is not very unhealthy at all. I eat tons of veggies and basically only drink water. I am a very stressed person though and have severe anxiety and depression which I'm sure affects my skin.. but I can't go to a doctor for that. I just want to have normal skin. I hate that everywhere I go I have put on makeup. I would love to be able to go out camping or just laying out and not feel embarrassed going out without makeup, but I can't. And the more acne I get, the more stressed I get because I feel so ugly. Please help as dumb as this sounds my skin makes me even more depressed.

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Originally Posted by modernromance09

I am a very stressed person though and have severe anxiety and depression which i'm sure affects my skin..but i can't go to a doctor for that.

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Why not? If you get rid of the anxiety and depression, your skin will probably clear up.

My parents won't take me. I am still under their insurance.. so I don't know how I'd go on my own.

Why won't your parents take you?

Are you in school? High school?

I turn 21 in June and I attend a community college. They don't think I need to go I guess.

Then you march straight to your college's health services office and ask for help.

Do you take zinc as a supplement?

Do all colleges have that? Even a community college? And no I don't.

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Originally Posted by modernromance09

Do all colleges have that? Even a community college?

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There's a community college about five miles from me, and it has a student services office. Your being a student makes you eligible for help. Find out what they can do for you for psychological counseling.

If the college has a counseling certificate, you can possibly become a client for free for one of the psych students. Or if there is a four-year college or university in the area that has an undergrad or grad psych program, you could become a client for those in training. (A psych prof would oversee the counseling.)

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And no I don't.

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My son had a skin problem when he was in his late teens. His great aunt owned a health food store and recommended zinc22. He started with three a day, then added one a day until he was taking a total of six per day. Here is what he took --

Zinc Picolinate 22 mg Tablets Solgar Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs.

Well thank you for your advice. Unfortunately I have a very difficult time swallowing pills =/

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Originally Posted by modernromance09

Well thank you for your advice. Unfortunately i have a very difficult time swallowing pills =/

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Well, crush them (they are very small) or dissolve them in a spoonful of water and "drink" them.

Oh my goodness, this sounds like it could've been written by me :( I am in the Same position. I am 21, I have a very healthy diet, and I've tried everything from drinking tons of water to birth control pills to clindoxyl gel and proactive and EVERYTHING short of Accutane(which scares me -- a needle every month and I have a needle phobia)... I've had ugly, rough, oily, bumpy skin since elementary school and it's even on my back and chest.
I wear foundation every day but my skin is still freaking bumpy and gross and it shows. I'd also love to camp but same problem as you... I just don't know what to do :(
My only difference is that I have almost no anxiety.. the only thing in my life that causes worry is.. my skin.

If anyone has a suggestion it would mean the world to both of us I'm sure. It's so frustrating that nobody, not even dermatologists seem to have any answers.