My 15+ Year Acne & Health Journey (the short version)

I was about 12 years old when I developed acne, I was given multiple different topical gels, creams, along with antibiotics, the birth control pill and even offered Accutane (although I never went on Accutane/Isotretinoin).

I spent over 10+ years on the birth control pill (I tried Dianette and Yasmin) which kept my skin 'under control' for the most part but I always had some active acne along with scarring and inflammation on my face.

When I was age 25 (over 6 years ago), I decided to come off the birth control pill.

All hell broke loose on my skin and I felt unbelievably frustrated.

I had spent years drinking coffee to help me feel better, drinking alcohol to numb myself, eating a pretty terrible diet - but thinking that because I was slim and that my body looked good, that I was healthy. (That is a HUGE myth).

I didn't understand why I had skin issues, and tried everything under the sun to get rid of the acne.

A few years later was when everything started to change.

I had a sort of quarter-life crisis at around 25, I was working in a corporate office job that felt completely out of alignment. I dreaded going to work most of the time. I was in chronic stress mode, acne flaring up most of the time, experiencing anxiety and depression. I even got put on anti-depressants.

I knew until I took steps to change my situation, that I'd continue to be depressed and have chronic health problems.

With hindsight, I can see I wasn't living my life purpose and that's one of the reasons I had became unhappy and unfulfilled. I can also see that my poor gut health was playing a huge part in both my mental (brain) health and my skin health.

Whilst working full time, I started studying Clinical Hypnotherapy.

After a year, I became ready to make my career change - it was the best decision I'd ever made. I ended up starting a small local Hypnotherapy business, and then after another few years (to keep a long story short) I continued my studies (whilst travelling in New Zealand with my Fiance) and took the Nutrition and Health Coaching course at IIN, the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, as once again it felt like the next, aligned step in following my Dharma.

Throughout this whole time, I was still experiencing Chronic Acne. I had issues going on with my gut and things just didn't feel right.

Thank goodness that I found Integrative nutrition and started studying, I finally began making progress in my healing journey. This was also around the time when I created my Healing with Meg Instagram page (which has evolved over time). I had found an outlet and community to share my skin journey with, and from the moment I shared my first foundation free photo showing my Acne - my healing began.

For the first time, I decided my new years intention was self acceptance. From my training in Clinical Hypnotherapy, I was fully aware of the mind-body connection and the spiritual and emotional aspects of disease (dis-ease in the body).

I had been rejecting myself for so long, that the idea of self acceptance seemed slightly out of bounds, but it also felt like a relief. As though I could make friends with myself again.

It was from there that I really learnt what it took to heal myself (physically and emotionally).

To this day, I'm still healing my scars and I'm still getting myself in to optimal health but I've truly came on leaps and bounds from where I was.

Thank you for reading my story so far, there's a lot more nuance to it than what I've included here.

Find me on Instagram @healingwithmeg to follow along my journey and to help heal your skin holistically.

By Mehgan Weatherley