Hope Heals: Skin-care help is available

By Mallory Stiles             
Editor in Chief

Recently, I had a friend text and ask me for skin-care advice. It felt amazing because about a year and a half ago, I had incredibly awful cystic acne.

I didn’t really want to dedicate a whole column to my years of struggle, or memorialize them in any way. Recently, however, I was talking to a wonderful girl and just couldn’t help but notice her acne. I realized I have been blessed and should probably spread the word.

She was really bubbly but I couldn’t help but wonder if she would be even more confident with better skin. However, someone once said, “If someone can’t fix it in five minutes, don’t say anything.”

It stuck.

So here I am, writing a column to give my readers the exact same advice that I gave to my friend via text, see my doctor!

There is a serious stigma surrounding acne because of the general misunderstanding that acne is ONLY caused by poor hygiene.

While that is certainly one way acne can come about, there are also a million other factors including, but not limited to, diet, stress levels, hormones and genetic dispositions.

At the peak of my acne, I just couldn’t take it anymore and researched some micro needling, willing to take any pain, and pay any amount necessary, to clear my skin.

I found Aesthetics Medical Spa, located at 1568 Lake Lansing Road in Lansing, and booked an appointment for the next day. The girl on the phone said she was actually an esthetician (a licensed skin care professional) and could see me herself.

She said her name was Emily and I just thought she sounded so sweet, so I opted to book with her. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

It took a lot, and I do mean A LOT, to get me here but my complexion is finally crystal clear and the improvement seems to be permanent.

Occasionally, I will have a small break out and drive at 90 mph to the clinic, but Emily and the amazing team at Aesthetics Med Spa are always there to help.

There are more options out there than you realize and, even though a long career with acne can make you feel more hopeless than most can understand, you owe it to yourself to give the Med Spa a try!