Skin issues/breakouts

Guys, I need help!
Before I turned 18, my skin was pretty chill—just the occasional tiny breakout here and there.
But once I hit 18, acne started flaring up all over my cheeks. Following my doctor's advice regarding my PCOS, I spent six months on Yasmin, which actually helped quite a bit. However, exactly six months after finishing my last pack, everything came crashing back. Within just two weeks, it was worse than ever—now I’ve got painful breakouts all over my chin too, and they seriously hurt. So, I went back to the doctor, and he switched me to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. I’ve been on it for two months now (starting my third pack in a week), but I honestly don't see any improvement—if anything, it might even be getting worse. On top of that, I finished a 15-day course of doxycycline, and I’m currently using an acne emulsion during the day and Skinoren at night.
I really don't know what I'm going to do if things don't turn around after this third pack!
I’m losing the motivation to even try covering this up with foundation every morning. Every time I remember how clear my skin used to be, I just want to cry... it’s honestly taking such a toll on me.
helpppp

So, I’m currently on my fourth pack of Yasmin, and honestly? It’s the exact same story as before—if anything, it’s actually getting worse because now I’m dealing with these deep, painful cystic breakouts. I was told I’d see some real improvement after three months, but here we are. Even though I’m taking them for other reasons entirely, I can't ignore how much my skin has taken a hit lately.🙄

Have any of you ladies actually tried going strictly vegetarian—like, for at least six months?

I know, I know, it’s a massive undertaking and honestly sounds like a nightmare to stick to, but I really think it's worth a shot—mostly because, in my experience, no amount of herbal supplements or synthetic skin creams are going to do much if your diet is a mess.

It’s practically a guarantee that your acne will clear up by about 80%.

Stomach ulcers? Or maybe Heliobacter pylori?

I'm with you on the diet thing—you really should try changing up what you eat. Acne can definitely be triggered by greasy, spicy food or too much sugar, though it’s not a guarantee... but honestly, it's worth a shot.

Are you insane? Giving up good food just because of some breakouts 🤣
Just take Accutane and be done with it... 🙏

Honestly, just start drinking a ton of herbal teas—think peppermint, chamomile, cranberry, nettle, maybe some yarrow or raspberry leaf. It’s all about flushing out your system and tackling that inflammation from the inside out. Apparently, yarrow and raspberry leaf are also great for ovarian health, too. For me personally, the tea thing was a total game changer. My skin was an absolute disaster starting back in middle school, and even now at 21, nothing really moved the needle until I started the tea routine. Just a heads-up though: you have to be super consistent. It took me a solid three months before I actually started seeing a difference in the mirror.

Yasmin worked wonders for my skin (it was actually quite a while ago, so I can't recall exactly how long it took to see a difference), but whenever I tried taking a break—say after a year—my skin would get oily again and the breakouts would just come crawling back. So, I'm still on Yasmin; my doctor says it’s perfectly fine as long as I’m not dealing with any side effects. I guess it really just comes down to how your body reacts to it.
That said, as long as the underlying cause is still there, you have to go after the root of the problem. Treating just the symptoms feels pretty superficial and temporary to me. I do think herbal remedies or teas can be helpful, like someone else mentioned here, but you have to stay consistent with them.

Go to a pharmacy and ask for a clindamycin topical solution. It looks just like any basic rubbing alcohol—smells the same too, and honestly, if you get it anywhere near your mouth and happen to taste it, it’s absolutely revolting 🤣 but it works wonders...

That's what actual pharmacists carry, and I've been using it since I was a teenager. I've never had a single issue, and I don't need any of those overpriced "Clean & Clear" or "Clearasil" gimmicks and other commercialized crap...

Keep taking the Ortho Tri-Cyclen; you'll definitely start seeing those improvements soon.