The epic anti-scar trial: introduction

 I am starting my blog back up and running in order to document my upcoming four-month trial.
I have decided to take a serious effort to improve the texture of my skin, and document it.  So what specifically am I trying to alter? I am trying to get rid of my hyper-pigmentation and scars.

First, some background:


How did I originally get the hyper-pigmentation and why do I continue to develop it?

I want to be sure that there are not misconceptions that I have this skin problem because I do not take good care of my skin or my body. When I was 15 I was prescribed the drug Acutane for seven months.  Turns out this was a very bad decision. The drug left me with a screwed up digestive system, and hyper-pigmented skin.  One of the side-effects is increased chances of "abnormal pigmentation of the skin" (as they put it). Due to Acutane's side-effects and my spectacular cellular memory, the scars have remained...and duplicated. It is interesting how easily I get new pigmentation. Stressed? New scar. Ate too much sugar? New scar. The only thing that does not cause new pigmentation to form are topical products.

What have I already done to get rid of the hyper-pigmentation?
In list form(used all of these topically for more than 3 months, usually used more than one in any given week/day):

•  vitamin E
• fresh aloe vera
• extra virgin olive oil
• clinique brightening serum
• glycolic acid 10%
• straight lemons
• manuka honey 20+ umf
• apple cider vinegar
• mud masks
• manuka oil
• jojoba oil with lavender oil
• straight lavender oil
• vitamin C serum
• bio oil
• four laser treatments

 I initially developed the scars in High School.  Even though I greatly researched what I could do for my skin, I was new to the field of "self- prescribed dermatology". Plus I was in a foreign country where I could not read anything in the drug store so I stuck with topically using Vitamin E, extra virgin olive oil and aloe for several years.  For topical scars this skin regimen would have worked wonderfully, but as it turns out my scars reach down to the dermis, so unfortunately the only effect it had was making my skin super moisturized. Then towards the end of High School I got really sick and tired of the scars, so I did more research. I saved up $1,000 by the end of my Senior year. As soon as I got back to the US I used that money on laser treatments. I spent $700 on those treatments. Turns out, the derm who gave me the treatment did not provide me with the after care info I needed. Without the proper aftercare my skin did not improve as I had hopped. After four treatments and spending $700 I got pissed off and spent the other $300 on a tv. It has been a year since then, and I have been taking a very basic approach to my scars. Over the last twelve months I have been using Glycolic 10% solution three nights a week, frequently using fresh aloe and wearing Spf on a daily basis. I even got a lightening night treatment but forgot to use it for about four months after I bought it....woops.

Why take such initiative to change my skin now?
1) I am sick and tired of wearing make up
2) I am turning twenty soon

1- Makeup should be fun. When I am self-conscious, and want to cover half my face in foundation, makeup is no longer enjoyable. In fact I currently find makeup very stressful. I dislike shopping for it. I dislike putting it on. I dislike not knowing what I am doing with said foundation.  So you might be thinking: why don't you just be confident and not wear makeup if you hate it so much? Well I admit, I have a construct with makeup.  It is a love-hate relationship. I do not like putting it on, buying it or even sometimes wearing it. But I do enjoy that I am more confident with it on, and I feel like I can show off my true beauty(not just my uneven skin).  One main thing I want to accomplish with this trial is to alter my skin enough that I feel more 'normal' without foundation on. I want to feel great with just lotion on(and of course I want makeup become fun again :] ).

2-  I associate my hyper-pigmentation with my teenage years. I am an adult now, and I will be considered to be even more so when I am twenty. I do not want my 'teenage skin' to also become 'my troubled twenties skin'.  I feel like a victim of circumstance in regards to these scars, I want to leave them behind me and move on. I do not want anything to hold me back, and sadly these scars are a hindrance on daily life.

In the next post I will share the tools I will use in the trial. 

Stay tuned! :)