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bm , 06 Apr 2010

8 days!

I'm at 8 days now... And my skin looks great! There is still redness, but no real scar tissue, and the red patches are being covered really easily by my make up. I usually take the boys to school before I do my make up, but today I did it and didn't feel shy about my face! So I got myself a pair of sandals to congratulate myself. I'm still getting the urge to mess with the odd whitehead that pops up (especially when they are really on the surface of my skin), but most of the time I leave them alone completely, and if I can't stand it, I wash my face gently but repeatedly until the few cells holding them in get knocked off, though I know this isn't the best thing to do, it beats getting my grubby fingers on them, and if I start picking them, I don't know if I will stop again! And of course, a huge CONGRATULATIONS to wildflower on her 40 days!!
8 Answers
vicstic
April 06, 2010
Well done (and to wildflower also)! Ive reached that point many times before and it is a great feeling but it hasnt stopped me from repeating the process. My face still has a fresh session upon it and I am determined after joining this site and finally confiding in freinds and family, I can kick the habit!! The thing which will stop me the most is that I'm getting away with it now while im young and still have plenty of collagen in my skin but I noticed with my last episode my skin took longer to heal and scars took longer to fade. Areas are becoming resillient and very bad texture. This needs to be my last.
wildflower
April 06, 2010

In reply to by vicstic

thank you, vicstic! and yes, you can kick the habit. if you've managed a string of days without picking you can manage to repeat the process. every string is good. and yes, the earlier and younger to succeed with it, the better. i was getting more and more frightened at how long sores were taking to heal, esp on my legs. with finding all kinds of information on how to take better care of my skin and finding this site and being able to share experiences, it all came together and i realized it was time to get serious. it's great to know there are a number of us doing it at the same time and hopefully more will join us.
bm
April 06, 2010

In reply to by vicstic

I know exactly what you mean, vicstic. I have myself made it to about 18 days before, and then I gave in. I'm only 22, but I am mature for my age, and I realise that right now my skin will heal much better and more quickly than it will in another few years' time. We CAN do it (wildflower is living proof!) and I am so pleased that we have this forum to share our frustrations, successes and tips with each other, it makes it a lot easier, for me at least!
vicstic
April 06, 2010

In reply to by bm

Too true, so lets do it now. I am not making the commitment that I will never pick or squeeze again as some spots obviously need it, but 99% of the time they don't and I ruin my face. Im talking about out of control sessions of front of the mirror which need to stop- so many events and times in my life its ruined- Ive ruined.This site is helping me so much already and its encouraging me to talk to others in my life as well.
wildflower
April 06, 2010

In reply to by vicstic

why not put a commitment of sorts into the achievements topic i just created to help keep you motivated? and add a comment now and again on how you're doing? i hesitated to put mine in there right off the bat because it might give others the feeling that they have to be way down the road before they do which is not my hope with the topic. i would post later on as someone who has managed to get further along as proof that it is possible but thought that a place where people just starting out with a commitment would encourage others to begin one. know what i mean? sort of like the 40 day commitment topic but without the 40 part - leaving that up to individuals. making it open ended. like a drop-in challenge of sorts. what do you think?
wildflower
April 06, 2010

In reply to by bm

awesome !! great job too!! hopefully others will join in and it will become a topic full of hopes and efforts and even if there are setbacks it will highlight people on a path to a better place. thumbs up to ya !!! :):):)
wildflower
April 06, 2010
8 days !!! ... a huge congratulation to you !! that's absolutely wonderful! i'm so happy for you. it's really great that you feel ok to go out without makeup now too. you definitely deserve those sandals! i understand completely about how you feel seeing the whiteheads, but easy does it with that wash cloth :) hopefully you'll gradually look less closely and critically and just let your skin be what it will be. with proper care, proper diet, good hydrating and moisturizing it is sure to be great. we just have to see how great by giving it time to heal. it's great that there's a few of us that are making progress. hopefully we will inspire more to join us in our determination to experience the exhilaration of managing to not pick. and many thx for my congrats :)

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