Here's your daily reminder in case you need it: Having acne is *totally* normal. Everyone gets them—even our fave celebs, models, and influencers. Maureen Wroblewitz is one good example of this.
The 25-year-old model and actress recently took to Instagram to share raw, unfiltered photos of herself during the worst of her acne breakouts, and penned an open letter documenting her experience with using birth control pills.
READ MORE: Getting *Sudden* Acne Breakouts? These 7 Reasons Might Be Behind Them
Maureen Wroblewitz Opens Up About Her Experience Dealing With Acne
The 25-year-old began by sharing that she never really had a problem with acne to begin with, even as a hormonal teenager. "l used to have the clearest skin. Even as a teenager, I’d get a pimple here and there, but my skin was mostly clear," she wrote.
However, because she experienced irregular periods at 18, wherein she'd bleed twice a month that would last eight days, she eventually turned to birth control pills. Although it helped in keeping her skin clear (as seen in the video she uploaded), she would also experience other side effects such as intense mood swings, and had to keep changing brands to find the one she was hiyang to.
She eventually decided to completely stop taking birth control pills by the time she turned 22, although her skin problems didn't end there. "A few months later, I started getting more and more breakouts but they were pretty manageable until I moved to LA. I started getting cystic acne [due to climate, food, and stress]," she reminisced.
READ MORE: Every Freakin' Possible Way To Get Rid Of Cystic Acne
She continued: "I felt so self-conscious about it, I didn’t want to leave the house without makeup. And even while wearing makeup I would hide my face with my hair, which of course made it worse."
Maureen shared that she spent a lot of money trying on different skincare products until she finally decided to sit down and research the products she was using for any pore-clogging ingredients. "I think I’m finally finding products that work for my acne-prone skin but I’m still not completely there yet. I get facials every month for maintenance too," she added.
"I just want to say that acne doesn’t define you! You’re beautiful no matter what. I hope this reaches those especially who need to hear this," she concluded.
Using Birth Control Pills For Treating Acne Breakouts
Aside from primarily preventing pregnancies, birth control pills (BCPs) also have a number of side effects which may include clearing up acne, due to the estrogen and progestin present in the pills. These two help regulate androgen levels, the prime suspect of excess sebum.
However, it's best to consult with your doctor and dermatologist before deciding to use BCPs as a way of treating your acne breakouts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, taking pills can increase the risk of blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.
Its other side effects may include headaches, tender breasts, mood swings, nausea, and weight gain, among many other things.
READ MORE: 10 Women Open Up About Their Experiences With Birth Control Pills
Maureen Wroblewitz Opening Up About Her Depression
Trigger Warning: suicide, depression
This isn't the first time Maureen wasn't afraid to get candid with her followers about the things she was going through in her personal life that we don't really get to see online.
Last 2023, she penned a post opening up about her experience with depression. "This girl that you see smiling and posing in front of the camera was thinking of the easiest ways to end her life just a few months prior. If it wasn’t for her little sister finding her in a vulnerable situation and telling her parents about it, I don’t know if I would be here today," she wrote.
She opened up about how the loss of her mom greatly impacted her mental health. "After losing my mom at the age of 11 and experiencing more of life’s difficulties soon after, I had slowly started losing faith in myself. I was fighting my inner demons alone because I chose to suffer in silence."
"I didn’t want to burden anyone with my problems but I also was too ashamed of them. I knew something was wrong but I wanted to hide that for as long as I could," she revealed.
Maureen shared that she started seeing a therapist around that time, and she was eventually inspired to share her story with her followers and supporters. "I now understand that the best way is to just do it, to speak my truth and people will listen, I believe that even if I get to help just one person by sharing my story, I have done something right. Depression is still a constant battle for me, but I am no longer afraid to ask for help."
If you feel that you need help and advice for yourself or anyone else, please contact The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline, a 24/7 confidential services hotline for psychiatric emergencies, suicidal thoughts, depression, and other issues at (02) 7989-8727 or (0917) 899-8727 (or 0917 899-USAP). You can also reach out to Hopeline, a 24/7 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention hotline in the Philippines, by calling (02) 8804-4673, (0917) 558-4673 (Globe), or (0918) 873-4673 (Smart). Here is a more complete list of hotlines you can reach out to for further assistance.
