9/30/26

Hey everyone, sorry it’s taken me a bit to post. Just been going through a few things. Dealing with the ex, my children, work, job, and my health. It tends to get exhausting. Speaking of a few of those things, I am now up to like 34 clients. Woohoo. I am non-stop all day long. When I get home at night, I just crash. The ex…won’t go into any details…but he’s already getting remarried in less than 10 days from now.

Now my health…welp, that’s a story right now. Apparently I am doubly blessed, and I didn’t realize it or connect the dots.

I was born with a port wine stain on my face. Doctors said they thought I would have brain damage and wouldn’t live very long. All thru school, I would be made fun of. Kids would always ask me why I had the continent of Africa on my face. Going out in public is still bad. I get pointed at and talked about. Many adults ask me, “What’s wrong with your face?” My acne has always been bad and painful. This leads me into my discovery #1. Lucky me…..port wine stains can and do cause nodes or masses in my case.

What is a port wine stain, you ask? A port wine stain is a permanent flat, red, pink, or purple birthmark caused by abnormal dilated capillaries under the skin. They usually appear at birth and occur mostly on the face, neck, and scalp. Over time, the stain may darken, thicken, and become raised or bumpy. (nodes) In some cases, a nodular overgrowth/mass can occur.

On to discovery #2!!! All my life, like I said earlier, I have had bad acne. Just thought it was part of growing up. They would be painful and scar. Since being diagnosed with Endo…. I have been getting these VERY large, very painful cysts on my face. They bleed like you wouldn’t believe, and they are huge. So I’ve been doing some research.

Apparently it’s called Hormonal Cystic Acne.

Endo can cause inflamed cysts under the skin and can be hard to treat. Cystic acne occurs when cysts form deep beneath the skin due to hormone changes. The cyst can last for a very long time before they approach the skin’s surface. They also can lead to scarring.

Cystic acne is caused by changes in the hormone levels. It often gets worse during the 2 weeks before a cycle. Because endo is connected to the hormone cycle, the condition can be associated with cystic breakouts.

Approximately 1% of women with Endo experience these. (YAY ME) Conversely, having cystic acne when younger (teenager) is linked to having Endo later in life. (wish I knew this then)

What causes the cysts? Hormones like estrogen regulate the production of sebum, a waxy, oily substance produced in the face. When the body’s hormone levels are abnormal or uncontrolled, sebum production can drastically increase. Excess sebum is associated with cystic acne.

Also, certain medications can cause the acne because one of the major side effects is increased oil production. There are a few things you can do to help manage. Find a good dermatologist who specializes in cystic acne. Refine your cleansing routine. Be mindful of your makeup. Don’t pick or purposely bust the cysts. And rethink your medicines.

So back to my story. These damn things just keep popping up. They are huge and just sooo damn painful. When they bleed, they bleed for days. I struggle every day to leave the house, go to work, or be out in public. I am constantly putting a hot compress on them. Yes, I get several at a time. So yay me…. I guess I’m double blessed. Does anyone else have this problem, or am I just the unlucky 1%?