For Chloe Landymore, severe acne was a constant source of anxiety, impacting her social life, self-esteem, and even leading to recurring nightmares about her own wedding day. The condition, which began at age 13, subjected her to bullying and relentless self-consciousness, compelling her to hide her face with makeup and hair.
Despite trying numerous treatments, including topical creams, gels, and oral medications like the contraceptive pill and two courses of isotretinoin, Landymore's skin remained severely affected. Isotretinoin, a potent drug also used in chemotherapy, caused significant side effects for her, including cracked lips and dry skin. Even after completing these treatments, her acne would inevitably return, leaving her disheartened.
"Acne moulded my personality, making me the sort of person who would do anything to escape being the centre of attention," Landymore shared. "I don’t know if I’m really an introvert, but that’s who I became."
Her boyfriend, Isaac, and his mother, Louise, a health writer, became instrumental in her search for a solution. After extensive research, Louise arranged a consultation with dermatologist Dr. Adam Friedmann, who specializes in persistent acne cases.
Dr. Friedmann proposed a novel approach: microdosing isotretinoin. Landymore was prescribed a daily dose of 10mg, a sixteenth of the amount she had previously taken, along with an antibiotic and a rosacea gel to manage inflammation and redness. Initially, the treatment showed no visible improvement for the first three months, leading Landymore to doubt its effectiveness.
"For the first three months nothing happened. I felt defeated, especially as I was having to pay for the cocktail of drugs (£160 for three months) out of my meagre earnings as a marketing executive for a sports company," she recalled.
However, at her four-month follow-up, Dr. Friedmann increased her isotretinoin dose to 20mg daily and switched her antibiotic to Trimethoprim. This adjustment marked a turning point. Gradually, new spots ceased to appear, and existing blemishes began to heal.
"Then gradually – very gradually – I noticed that new spots had stopped appearing and the old ones started healing. Was there finally light at the end of this tunnel?" Landymore said.
The true test came in March when Landymore was made redundant. In the past, such stress would have triggered a severe acne flare-up. This time, however, her skin remained clear. By May, she found herself in a supermarket without any makeup on, a feat unthinkable for years.
Dr. Friedmann has since adjusted her dosage, reducing the isotretinoin to 10mg daily and discontinuing the antibiotic and topical cream. The plan is to continue with this low-dose regimen until her upcoming wedding, with further gradual reductions if her skin remains clear. Today, at 26, Landymore expresses a profound sense of liberation.
"Today, aged 26, it’s incredibly liberating not to have to worry about my skin for the first time," she stated. "Now all my wedding fears are different ones: my hair and my dress – the sort of things any bride-to-be should be worrying about."
Her anxiety dreams have ceased, replaced by anticipation for her wedding day, where she plans to do her own makeup with a focus on a natural, dewy look. She credits her fiancé's mother with helping transform a source of dread into a cause for excitement.