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Kali KushnerAmerican woman with cystic acne
Country:
 USA |
Biography of Kali Kushner
Kali Kushner, a 22-year-old student from Cincinnati, Ohio, struggled with cystic acne throughout her teenage years. Despite trying various treatments available in the market, she found that most of them only worsened the spread of her acne. It was her dermatologist who recommended the oral medication Accutane, and within three months, Kali finally saw noticeable improvements in her skin. She shared her journey on Instagram, where she documented her progress with before and after photos. Although Kali initially did not plan to make her account public, she now has around 22,000 followers who find her story inspiring.
However, due to the adverse side effects such as excessive skin dryness, Kali has discontinued the use of Accutane. Nevertheless, she emphasizes that this medication "transformed her skin" and subsequent acne flare-ups have become insignificant. Accutane, also known as Roaccutane in many countries, is a well-known acne treatment drug. Kali's severe inflammatory acne started when she was 19, and skincare products and dietary changes had no impact on her condition. She sought help from a dermatologist in hopes of finding a solution. "I spent a lot of money on products that didn't work," she recalls.
Kali tried multiple types of medication with minimal results, leading her to explore various skincare methods. She experimented with natural oils to clear her skin but was unsuccessful. She even tried abstaining from any skincare regimen, setting aside all cosmetics, pore cleansers, and lotions. However, her skin condition only worsened. Kali's last hope was Accutane, which she initially avoided due to knowing its serious potential side effects.
After starting the treatment, she immediately experienced dryness in her skin and eyes, as well as back pain. "Your whole body feels dehydrated," Kali recalls. But after three months, she noticed that her skin had significantly improved. Accutane is a popular prescription-only acne medication known for its strong side effects. This oral medication, containing retinol, reduces the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Consequently, patients often experience excessive dryness and irritation when taking Accutane for an extended period.
Kali initially created an Instagram account to track the effectiveness of her "radical" treatment approach. However, she decided to make her results public after her sister asked to see her before and after photos. Other social media users also requested that she share her story. Today, Kali receives daily messages from people seeking advice and commenting on her battle with acne. She wants her story to be perceived not only as a tale of a woman who took Accutane but as someone who has realized that external beauty is not the most important aspect of life. "Your skin doesn't say anything about you," Kali stated. "So many people correlate confidence with physical beauty, but I never saw those two things together."
Sharing her story with others helped Kali accept the uniqueness of her skin and significantly improve her emotional well-being. "Confidence is striving and achieving the goals I set for myself," she says. However, self-esteem was not always inherent in Kali. A few years ago, she would rarely go a day without makeup, sometimes even wearing it to bed to hide her cystic acne from her spouse. "I was so dependent on makeup that I couldn't even go for a walk without it," Kali confesses. But now, she has set a new record for herself, going almost six months without covering her skin with any substances.
Although Kali still experiences skin problems due to discontinuing Accutane, she remains satisfied with the progress she has made. She also discovered that avoiding dairy products and certain types of sugars led to several positive results. "I simply try to take care of my body as a whole," Kali says. Cystic acne is characterized by large, red, and painful breakouts that penetrate deep into the skin. While it can be managed with treatment, some individuals struggle with the condition for years due to their skin's peculiarities. Acne can flare up all over the face and leave scars behind. Squeezing or popping pimples is not recommended as it can lead to infection and the spread of the disease to other areas of the face. Medical treatments, lotions, and natural remedies are used to address acne. Accutane is a common medication typically prescribed for severe cases of acne. However, it has adverse effects on the skin, including dryness.
