I couldn't bring myself to share a before picture, but I've had acne for 15 years. I kept waiting for it to go away, and it never did. It was manageable, but always there.

Then, after going off birth control in January, my skin really went crazy. I looked like I was 13 again, and I hated it. As one of the youngest people in my office, it was particularly hard to go to work during a bad breakout. I felt like my acne made me look like a teenager.

I was too scared for years to go to a dermatologist - as odd as it may sound, the idea of a doctor looking at my face and saying "Yup, that's acne" (or worse: "Oh honey, you need help") was too much. I was scared it would shatter my self esteem.

When I finally braced myself and went in for an appointment, it was nothing like that! The doctor was incredibly kind, understanding and clinical about my concerns. She prescribed azelaic acid gel and a topical antibiotic.

MAN what a world of difference. I have some scarring that's clearing up (and in the mean time, easily covered by makeup) and for the first time since I was 13 I have NOT. ONE. PIMPLE.

So happy!!