People with acne or on Ro-accutane, what do you tell people when they insist that...?

First, I would not discuss your skin with anyone. If anyone comments without being invited to, politely state that you don't enjoy discussing this issue. If pressed, you could say that you are taking a variety of measures to heal your skin, and simply refuse to discuss it further. Be firm on this point. Do NOT answer any of their specific questions, ie..."Have you tried X?" You can reply, "Thank you for your concern/efforts to help, and I appreciate your sympathy, however I'm not going to talk about this any further."

If you DO want to talk to a specific person about it, feel free to unleash and say what's really on your mind. How many years you've struggled, what it feels like to have dozens of people offer you unsolicited advice about your skin...reminding you of the painful fact that your skin isn't what you want it to be...and how it can make you feel. Ask the person how it would make them feel, and ask them to consider holding back on advice in the future. Reminding people to be compassionate can often be the best defense.

While I haven't struggled with acne in the way you have, I have had other serious medical issues, some visible and some not, which also seem to bring out the worst butt-in-ski tendancies in members of the general public, as well as friends and family. What I've shared with you here are some of my tactics which frequently work. What absolutely doesn't work is engaging someone by actually answering their SPECIFIC questions. I've had to retrain myself, by literally practicing in my head, to respond to uncomfortable questions/situations in different ways. It's not easy, but it feels a whole lot better than leaving myself open to comments and advice from even the most well-meaning people.

Actually, stress can add to acne problems and the jury is somewhat disagreed on the effects of diet but that doesn't mean its not a contributing factor. There are many different causes and so maybe you should try opening your mind a little and maybe taking the advice from these people even if you think they're wrong. I know it's frustrating and it's probably pissed you off that I've said this. I don't know what you've tried to help with your acne and I don't know how bad it is so I can't judge. I just think if you've suffered with it for so long that you should maybe know that it has different causes and triggers. Try telling these people that you understand they have a basic understanding of your problem, and thank them for the advice, but politely add that they should realise that everyone is different and what might be the cause of one persons acne problem is not the same for another and what might help one person might even make another person worse. Failing that you could just ignore them and not allow them to get you worked up, lifes too short to worry about what stupid people have to say!

I was lucky and had a dermatologist that prescribed it to me when I was in high school. I have not had any major problems with my skin since then. Stress and diet are not the only contributors to acne, it can hereditary. It has been over 10 years since I have taken the accutan and the only I ever have to deal with is minor blacks heads and the occassional (like twice a year) zit. When people try to tell you about acne just let them know that you are under the care of a dermatologist and you will are going to follow the orders of your doctor.

You just have to tell the that you have tried and been to several doctors and have tried everything n the market and still no results, so my dermatologist prescribed Retin-A and its the only ting that has Helped, and that you know how powerful and harmful it is but your condition needs. make yourself sound as smart as possible and use words hey wont understand and thy should leave u alone if not just ask/tell them to stop its your skin and you can do with it as you please. try the first one first but sometimes you just have 2 be rude. hope it helps.

Tell them that their remedies don't seem to be working on their severly disfigured face so why would they work on acne ;) (btw good luck with the roaccutane, my friend just went on it and had absolutely amazing results)

You tell them straight up its a medical problem.

you tell them the truth