Karen Jessett
|
I was born in 1975, in Nairobi, Kenya. I had an
amazing childhood full of interesting experiences —
camping amongst lions, zebra, wildebeest and gazelle
on the African plain; spending holidays at the coast,
playing in the clear, warm sea on white, palm-fringed
beaches; having Christmas drinks outside on the veranda;
and learning to swim in the Indian Ocean. In 1983, my
family moved back to England.
I didn’t particularly like England, or school
— I was already being bullied for being different
from the local children. At the age of eleven, I started
to get acne. It wasn’t severe then, and I coped
because it was seen as ‘normal’ for a girl
my age to get a few spots.
I have had acne, at different rates of severity, for
over sixteen years now. I sought medical help at around
the age of fourteen because the psychological effects
were becoming too much. I was bullied at school, both
by pupils ("zitty-Milleni", "monkey face")
and teachers, who told me off for wearing too much make-up
(I did this in an attempt to cover my skin). I was prescribed
topical antibiotic lotions, which were messy and impractical,
so they tried me on antibiotic tablets and the contraceptive
pill because the doctors said it would "help balance
my hormones". I also used over-the-counter remedies
from the chemist, which only dried my skin out and made
it worse. The spots would go for a while, then come
back even worse than before so I'd get put on ever increasing
doses of antibiotics and have to live with the side
effects. I have since found out that the side effects
of antibiotics (a sluggish digestive system and Candida)
can in themselves aggravate acne: a catch 22 situation.
I was never referred to a dermatologist or dietician
who may have been able to help during my teenage years.
Each time I asked, I was told I’d probably grow
out of it by the time I was eighteen years old.
Into my twenties, I still rarely stayed over at friend's
houses because I didn't want people to see me with no
make up. If I did stay over, I frequently kept my make
up on, which only exacerbated my skin problems. It got
in the way of relationships, even if boyfriends didn't
realise my acne was the cause of my insecurities. During
times when the actual spots went away, scars remained;
so it would seem as though I had clearer skin (with
a lot of help from make up) to others, who would have
little sympathy if I mentioned my insecurities. I also
tried to hide the fact I took antibiotics for it —
even that was embarrassing to me.
At the age of twenty-two, I went to a different doctor.
I desperately wanted to get rid of my acne, which had
now become severe even though I was now taking antibiotics
at a dose four times that which is prescribed for tonsillitis.
The doctor examined my face and admitted my skin was
terrible. He suggested I be referred to a dermatologist
who could prescribe Roaccutane, or similar. This he
said would deal with the problem once and for all, but
warned me of the serious side effects that could occur.
This was the catalyst for me —I definitely didn’t
want to take drugs that were that strong. I knew there
must be a better, healthier way.
I decided to come off the antibiotics and started to
look into my diet and lifestyle with reference to skin
problems. I read as many books as I could on the subject
of nutrition and skin health. I ate more fruit and vegetables,
reduced my intake of red meat, dairy and refined carbohydrates,
used natural products on my skin, took up exercise again
and consciously made the effort to de-stress every day.
Within a couple of months, my acne was visibly better.
I've turned my diet and lifestyle around, and in doing
so; my skin is now clear 99% of the time.
I understand the frustration, insecurities and embarrassment
of living with acne, so I wanted to pass on to others
some of the information I've found that has helped me
achieve clear skin. That’s why I wrote Clear
Skin. I know it works for me because I live by it,
and I also know it works for others because I receive
so many positive testimonials.
I hope that the information on this web site will help
you cope better with your acne and get you on the road
to clear skin. If you've found that by changing your
diet and lifestyle, your skin is now clearer, I'd love
to hear your story. Get
in touch.
Much love,
Karen Jessett |
