My Sensitive Skin Journey: Timeline of Healing my Skin

Childhood: Where It All Began

Since I was a baby, my skin has always been a challenge. I dealt with eczema, recurring staph infections, and constant inflammation. It was painful, confusing, and relentless. I remember scratching my skin until it bled and waking up with red, irritated patches that never really went away.

My mom tried everything, and luckily she understood sensitive skin because she had dealt with her own issues. But no matter what we did, nothing gave me long-term relief. My skin was always in crisis mode.

Puberty: Acne Enters the Chat

When puberty hit, the skin issues intensified. I developed cystic acne—deep, painful breakouts that never seemed to go away. My mom and brother also struggled with acne, so at least I wasn’t alone. But my skin reacted much more severely than theirs.

At 14, I started seeing dermatologists. That’s when I entered the world of prescription creams, antibiotics, chemical peels, and eventually Accutane. My skin cleared up for a while, and I was hopeful. But deep down, something still didn’t feel right.

Early 20s

In 2018, I completed my first round of Accutane. My skin was glowing. But by 2019, it came back with a vengeance. I had gotten too comfortable—I wore makeup every day, used whatever products I wanted, and acted like I no longer had sensitive skin.

Big mistake.

My skin started reacting in ways I’d never experienced. It was painful, itchy, inflamed, and full of little bumps. But this wasn’t the cystic acne I knew. It felt different, and I kept telling doctors that. I knew something deeper was going on.

Still, I was given more topicals and antibiotics. Nothing worked. No one explained what was really happening.

Around that time, I discovered a blog called Simple Skincare Science—a personal, science-backed skincare resource that would eventually change everything for me. I found it in 2019, and while it didn’t fully click back then, it planted seeds. It was the first time I saw someone breaking down why certain things work (or don’t) for sensitive, acne-prone skin. Still, at the time, I was overwhelmed and wanted quick answers. I wasn’t ready to slow down and really understand.

Last Round of Accutane & My Wakeup Call

In 2020, after crying daily over my skin and feeling hopeless, I went back on Accutane. I was desperate for the quick fix. And once again, it worked. My skin cleared up and looked flawless.

But then, like clockwork, in 2021, the bumps came back. This time, it wasn’t just my face—my scalp broke out too, and I started losing a lot of hair very quickly.

At one of my lowest points, I visited a dermatologist about the hair loss and inflammation spreading to my scalp. Her advice? "Just put the clobetasol all over your scalp. You’ve got a lot of inflammation going on that you need to figure out." That moment hit me hard. She was right—it was inflammation—but she had no tools to help me figure out the root of it. That’s when I knew it was completely up to me.

Ya’ll, I was stresssssed okay!

Healing My Body from the Inside Out 

At that moment, I realized I couldn’t rely on dermatologists alone. While I’m grateful for the ones who listened and tried to help, they weren’t giving me the why. They were offering short-term fixes, not long-term understanding.

That’s when I took my health into my own hands.

I started researching everything:

• Fungal acne and how it’s different from bacterial acne

• How inflammation affects the body and skin

• Gut health, stress, diet, sleep, and their role in skin health

• Ingredients, formulations, and how to read labels

• Environmental triggers like water quality and air pollution

I completely changed my lifestyle. I simplified my routine. I experimented. I journaled. I listened to my body. I started understanding the relationship between what I eat, how I feel, and what shows up on my skin.

What I’ve Learned and Want to Share With Anyone Going Through This

Five years later, I finally feel like I understand my skin. Not perfectly—but deeply.

I now know that what I was experiencing wasn’t “just acne.” It was fungal, and it was a symptom of internal imbalance—triggered by stress, inflammation, diet, poor barrier health, and more. The tools I needed weren’t in a prescription pad—they were in how I lived, what I put in and on my body, and how I supported my overall health.

That’s why I started Sensitive Skin Club—to share what I’ve learned, help others make sense of their skin, and create a space where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

If you’ve ever felt like your skin was a mystery no one could solve, this is for you. You’re not alone. And I’m here to help however I can.