264 replies to this topic

[MrsZit]

I pretty much have the same story as the last two posters as well. I started birth control (ortho tricycline) when I was 17. I had perfect skin before starting it. I switched to yasmin when I was 21. At age 23 I decided to give my body a break from the pill and stopped for about 4 months. My skin was fine, I'd get a pimple about once a month (right before my period), but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. Started Yasmin again and continued to get a pimple once a month (which was a new thing, but again, nothing I couldn't cover up). I started using proactive to maintain these monthly blemishes and it did the trick. September '08 my insurance company decided they didn't want to pay for yasmin so I had to start taking Ocella (the generic brand). In Nov '08 I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and by March '09 I decided it would be best for my stomach/body to get off bc all together. Ocella was horrible for me, it made me gain weight, it made me feel bloated all the time (which is something you don't need on top of Crohn's disease) and uncomfortable, among many other things.

At first my skin was a little greasy, but it gave it a nice shine and it looked really good. I figured I was I was good to go since I had clear skin as a teenager. Then, in July, my skin started to break out a little, but nothing too horrible. In mid July my husband and I moved and all hell broke loose. Suddenly I was getting horrible break outs on my cheeks, chin, chest, and back. Proactive stopped working so I started using clenziderm, which dried my skin up like crazy, but didn't get rid of the pimples. Now, in November '09, my skin is still awful and I finally sucked it up and went to the dermatologist for the first time in my life. I can't take many oral medications because of the crohn's disease (my derm will only prescribe as a last ditch effort) and vitamins aren't really allowed (I need to be able to chew them because of crohn's), so my derm prescribed Triaz and Aczone about 3 weeks ago. I also got two cortisone shots, another first for me, in two cystic pimples. I asked her to dilute it from 5cc to 1cc because I didn't want to get that dreaded indentation. It worked wonders on the cyst between my eyes (with no indentation), but the one on my cheek hasn't gone down in size at all.

I'm still breaking out a little bit, but the meds are starting to work. My skin is smooth when you run your hands over it (I missed that feeling), I just have red marks on my cheeks from the old pimples (which I'm hoping will fade sooner rather than later!). I went back on yasmin last wednesday and this past wednesday (one week exactly) decided it was a bad idea and stopped abruptly. I'd rather not go through this again in a year or two when my husband and I decide to start trying for kids, better to let my hormones regulate themselves.

I'd def ask your derms about Triaz (it's a cleansing pad with BP). It's expensive, but worth it if it's going to fix your face and self esteem! And the aczone is a topical cream that does not dry your face out at all (probably because it doesn't have bp in it). Granted its only been three weeks so I can't swear by these meds, but i've seen a huge change in three weeks which is more than I can say I saw from the proactive, clenziderm, and many over the counter products I tried.

Good luck ladies!

[cattela]

Hi ladies,

I too have experienced exactly the same problem while coming off BCP a couple of years ago on a "Health Kick" after a couple of months I had SEROIUS acne on my chest and back and my face. I am about to go off it again to try for a baby. I do have one solution which worked for me and is safe to use while trying for a baby:

I used a menopausual herbal supplement (e.g Promensil or similar, google it) make sure it has RED CLOVER in it and follow according to instructions. Red clover is used to help purify the blood and treat acne and the other ingredients in the supplement help to steady the raging hormones. Going off the pill I guess is similar to going through menopause with hormones all over the place, even the symptoms can be the same. I eventually went back on the pill for contraceptive purposes, but it definately worked. I know it sounds crazy and you're probably worried what people will think when they find it in your medicine cabinet! But please try it.

Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in warm water every morning is a life saver for smaller breakouts! And a must have as part of every regime. Sothys is the best skincare I have used. Low dairy and lots of water and regular exercise (especially if your depressed!).

I also need to say, anyone with hormonal acne as a recurrent problem needs to start seeing and ENDOCRINOLOGIST not a dermo or your family doctor. Endos specialise in this stuff and provide the right advice. I have a thyroid condition and will need to see mine before I start trying anyway, I will get a general upshot from him to share anyway in regards to this god-awful problem.

Also do not go on roaccutane if you are going to be trying for a baby, it will be harmful for the baby.

Goodluck to everyone because this really sucks!

[actionwoman]

I'll be 41 in one month and have been on BCPs since I was 16. For a few years in the 90s I was using the sponge but other than that, not too many breaks. I've always had acne and went on Yasmin to improve it (back in 2004 I think). I think it did help with the acne initially, but now I'm thinking of going off of it because I have zero libido.

My acne has lately been horrible - big chin and forehead pimples along with blackheads on my jawline and nose. I can't imagine it being any worse than it is now but after reading about your experiences - I'm a little hesitant! I can't believe I'm still getting pimples at my age, but both of my parents still occasionally get pimples and they're in their 60s! I went on a course of Accutane in my 20s which seemed to help for a couple of years but it all came back.

I'll definitely look into Vitex and I have krill oil capsules with primrose oil that I don't take regularly but will start doing so. I'm glad I found this thread (sort of!).

[majormiles]

please please someone reply to what im about to say!

iv had very similar problems to everyone else!i went of the pill (been on since 15 i am now 19) about a year ago cus i was getting really bad anxiety.i felt much better in myself when i came off it but then i broke out really bad after 3 months so i went back on it.now im off it again cus i cudnt stand the anxiety.


my question is, has anyones acne cleared up by literally just waiting it out so to speak????

how long should it take for the hormonal imbalance to...balance?!

i didnt have acne before and now i have it

thanks to anyone who responds

[hope2help]

Hi,
I had been on BCPs for 7.5 years, and I started taking them because of my moderate-severe, chronic acne. I came off of them back in June and it is now December and my face is doing pretty well. I am amazed because I just knew it would explode into breakouts. Here is what I did and it worked for me...
While taking the BCPs, I went and got some colonics done (I had 6 total) and because they are a bit expensive, I began taking liquid bentonite clay (1 tbs) mixed with Konsyl psyllium fiber (1 tbs) daily mixed with 8 oz water to make a "shake," and this will keep the colon clean. VERY IMPORTANT for clear skin!!!! Sorry to be graphic here but don't be freaked out by rubbery, rope-like substances that you eliminate. This is the stuff that everyone is obliviously walking around with stuck to their colon walls! Some people cannot afford colonics (and I can understand why!) so I believe that one-two shakes per day and taking enough psyllium fiber or dietary fiber to equal at least 70% daily fiber with plenty of water will do the job just as well.
Secondly, I am doing liver flushes (google Dr. Hulda Clark Liver Flush and you will get directions for this but I didn't do any of the parasite parts nor take the herb she recommended to help you sleep). I did 2 while still on BCPs (during the reminder pill week) but don't do them while on your period or just before you start your period either as it increases the chances of feeling ill. I am not sure how many it will take for me, but I just get better and better! I just did my 10th and I still need more but my face is looking better and better! Oh, and PLEASE take about 2 tbs. of bentonite clay in water 30 min before you drink your final bedtime dose and drink another 2 tbs in glass of water if you wake up. This soaks up the toxins your liver has pumped out, and helps with any nausea. Keep ground ginger handy and drink in water if you still need a little more help with nausea. If you hate the olive oil/grapefruit juice mixture, you can change it up with lemon or orange juice in a cold pressed oil (this really is the best type of oil) such as coconut oil, sesame oil...etc. Just google to make sure your choice of oil is safe in large doses because taking 1/2 cup of castor oil would be a bad choice! Also, eating a non-fat diet of just fruits and veggies the day before the flush and only juice on the day of gave me a very good flush without nausea. This allowed more bile to build up, eliminating more stones. I've read somewhere that a low-fat diet a week ahead of the flush is great, but I've never tried this. I know now how important it is to not eat anything impure the night or perhaps the day before the flush because I became very nauseated when I did this! Make sure also not to cleanse if you are ill or are still recovering from being ill. Space the liver flushes at least 2 weeks apart from each other.
I am a believer in getting nutrition from whole foods....they are just superior to any type of man-made vitamins you can find. I have started taking chlorella powder and bee pollen and not only do I notice my complexion being a little more radiant and smoother, I just plain feel better!!! These two superfoods contain EVERY single identifiable nutrient the body needs to survive and thrive and even contain substances that defy chemical analysis. It will fill all your nutritional gaps. Body chemistry is so complicated that taking one mega dose of some manufactured vitamin could throw things off balance and cause other deficiencies and your body cannot even fully utilize these either. Spirulina is another great supplement but I'm not taking that right now.
Lastly, avoid these when at all possible: hydrogenated oils, MSG, artificial sweetners....etc.
I really do avoid these "evil" foods, but I also eat foods that are not so innocent at times --no one's perfect; however, I try to make them real foods....like eating real cheese and not the processed junk. The only things I drink are water, real juices, and unsweet tea...except if adding stevia or other natural sweeteners.
I also try to limit refined sugars and am slowly trying to limit gluten foods too. It's just common sense: God DID NOT make our bodies to eat this CRAP!!!! Food today is getting worse and worse. If it doesn't show up on your face, oh, it will one day with some kind of health problem and hopefully nothing major if you are lucky but that is not likely.
If you have acne scars, both marks and actual impressions, the Skin Culture Peel is supposed to be comparable to dermabrasion. I bought the 4000 and it has done very well although I've had to do it several times (5). Since it is pricey, I scraped it off and put it back into the jar and used it again...and it worked! LOL It burns too but you can get a fan to blow on your face and that helps with the discomfort and the other con is that it's inconvenient but not for too too long. Also, when I reused it, I found out I could wear it for only 3 nights and increase the time to 5 hours a night and my face peeled just as good and faster. You are not supposed to peel the flaking skin, but I always slathered my face with the cream they give you on the last night before bed and then steamed my face in the morning over a pot of simmering water for about 30 min, with the cream still on face, then gently peeled it off in front of a mirror. Sometimes there were some stubborn tidbits and I just let them loosen up more. It sounds tedious but it's so worth it! I was sick of the scars and some were impressions and this has really helped. Much safter, cheaper, and faster than dermabrasion for sure.
I seldomly exercise or do meditation like I should, but my face is getting better all the time but these are excellent for your entire being and reducing stress. Aerobic exercise is great; Rebounding (jumping on a mini trampoline) is good and I really recommend this. Only 10 min a day...google "rebounding" and read up on it. I NEED to do these more myself but I get lazy, lol. God Bless.
And if anyone is needing birth control, there are two gadgets I came across called Lady-Comp and the Pearly. It is non-hormonal and gauges fertility/infertility by taking your temp every morning. They are expensive but they sell refurbished ones for less. It sounds really cool though and is supposed to have the same reliability as the pill, but I haven't ever used it. Imho women who get on the pill to help with acne end up with worse acne after stopping because while the pill is suppressing the culprit acne hormones, the build up of hormones in the liver from months or years of taking the pill is added to it. So when the pill is taken away and suppression is gone, all these hormones (naturally + from the pill or just from the pill) circulating in the blood causes the explosion of problems. Please cleanse your colon and liver! I am changing my setting so people can email me if they need help or have other questions about the cleanses. Since I've already done 10 myself, I can perhaps offer a little advice and answer some questions. : ) I'm also still learning! I am still working on external facial care and will update about it later. Thanks for reading.

Edited by hope2help, 14 May 2010 - 06:48 PM.

[Miya]

Hi I have a question. Where do you buy the bentonite and psyllium??

[hope2help]

Hi I have a question. Where do you buy the bentonite and psyllium??

The Konsyl fiber supplement can be purchased at Wal-Mart. You might decide to use Metamucil because it is cheaper. I use Great Plains liquid bentonite clay...you can probably find this at your local health food store. Pretty much any brand you use will get the job done, and I bought what was the least expensive. If you cannot find a health food store, perhaps you can find it online.

If you plan to do the liver flushes, just make sure you have a clean colon first. The stones that come out when the liver is flushed can become stuck in the colon and the toxins reabsorbed. I didn't want to make my above post too long, but I should explain also how important the liver flushing is for clear skin. The liver is what clears excess hormones and toxins out of the body. When a person has acne, body has to find another route (out of the skin's pores) to eliminate the toxins and excess hormones because the colon, liver, (and kidneys) are plugged up with fecal matter, stones, hormones, toxins, etc. and cannot function properly. Keeping the colon clean also takes stress off the liver where it can work better.

If gas/bloating occur to start with, it's normal. Just decrease the amount of each if needed and work up to the full dosage. Your body will eventually adjust. My dosage is just for maintenance and I usually just use the fiber.
Good luck!

Edited by hope2help, 10 May 2010 - 08:20 PM.

[sadiee]

I wish I would have done some research before getting off the pill. I was 18 when I first started BC & not for acne. I've always had mild breakouts, but that all changed when I was 20 (22 now), I stopped taking birth control. My skin broke out worse than ever. I couldn't even leave the house. My skin became extremely oily all over (even my hair.) It was awful. I made an appointment w/the dermatologist- no antibotics worked so he suggested I get back on BC incase I got on accutane (It was that bad). This was in Jan. '09, I got perscribed Yaz & was on it until Aug. '09. My skin improved (along w/Bactrim), but I decided I didn't want to be on BC forever or have to reexperience the skin side effects all over again. This time before getting off BC, I made an appointment w/my dermatologist to get some antiobotics before stopping the pill. He perscribed me Bactrim, which I took for two weeks before getting off Yaz. I allowed the Bactrim to get in my system so when I quit the pill my skin wouldn't hopefully breakout or be as bad. I'm so glad I did that b/c my skin did not experience the getting off BC side effects this time around. Yes, my skin & hair are still super oily, but I hardly have any breakouts. I've started using the OCM. It's only been a few days, but I hope this gets my excessive oil under control. I regret ever starting BCP. The after effects are NOT worth it. My suggestion to anyone out there thinking of getting off BC is to go to the dermatologist first and get some meds in your system before stopping. It makes a world of a difference.

[MB04]

Hello everyone,

Been reading all your stories and mine is pretty much like yours!
I started the Diane 35 pill when I was 17 because of bad acne all over my face. The acne cleared up within about 3 months. Since then my skin has always been really good, maybe a pimple now and then but nothing to worry about. I tried stopping the pill 2 times for a period of 4 to 6 months when I was about 28 and 32 but acne came back so I quickly started with the Diane 35 again.

Mid June 09 I really wanted to stop the pill again. I felt that maybe it was the pill that had been making me so extremely tired since about the age of 18 or 19 yrs old. I am 36 now! I have a Thyroid problem (overactive) since 6 years so thought that this was the only reason making me so extremely tired (up to the point of it being difficult having a full time job). When I thought back of my past I realized that I just became even more tired since my thyroid problem but that I had been always been extremely tired since I was about 18 or so.

So I wanted to stop the pill again to try out if it would give me more energy. I couldn't believe I had never though about this before! I had now been on the Diane 35 pill for 18 years!!!
So I stopped the pill Mid June 09. Nothing happened for the first few months, no change in weight, no skin changes, no mood changes, nothing, only my hair became greasy a lot quicker then before! Then in August 09 I started getting small spots on my chest and my back. in Oct 09 I started getting so much more energy, I hadn't felt this since long long time. But also the spots became worse and started going up to my neck and begin Nov. they started coming back in my face. I was terrified and starting taking Bardane tablets (cleaning the blood) but nothing helped. Finally the acne got bad enough for me and my hair was so greasy all the time that I had to wash it every day so I went back on the Diane 35 pill beginning Dec 09.

I have now been back on the pill since 6 weeks and the acne is still there and I am a lot more moody and get on my nerves a lot quicker. This is not normal that the pill influences a woman's body so much so I have decided, I don't want this pill anymore, too much crap going into my body changing my moods etc that can't be good!!! I have now read lots about acne so I have taken the last pill today!

I have looked up how I can treat the problem from the inside so this is what I am going to take:
- Niacinamide (vit B3) tablets (550mg) as I read in another threat on this forum (you can find it under; adult acne) that this really really works against acne. I just took my first tablet. Mine is Niacinamide no flush but you can also get Niacin flush.
Besides that, I will be taking:
- zinc tablets which helps reduce the production of sebum in the oil glands.
- a B-complex as B vitamines are good for skin
- Omega 3, 6, 9 tablets
They also advise to take evening primrose oil as this stops the overproduction of oil and will apparently balance hormones.
I will also do a colon cleaning and a liver and gal cleaning as this is very important for a healthy body. I have not done a liver cleaning before but it's apparently the best thing you can do for your body so that you get rid of all toxins and gal stones. I will do that in 2 weeks to clean out toxins from the pill etc. I will also sign up at the sportschool for 6 months and take a sauna now and then.

I have found the below internetsite with a lot of very interesting information on it. You need more then 1 product to treat acne. This site explains which product could be used to prevent the different stages of acne.
I'll keep you posted on my developments and if I break out or not.

Hope my story isn't too long..
MB

Edited by MB04, 12 January 2010 - 12:27 PM.

[Dannie]

i also read vit B5 AND B6 balance hormones,

when im ready i will take those...it just sucks how pricey B5 is as u can only get them in health stores.

[hopkinsh]

I went of oral birth control in January 2009, opting instead at for a Mirena. I was 26 at this time and had only occasional acne. I began birth control at the age of 15 due to issues related to periods and mild acne. In the months after stopping birth control and placing the Mirena I had a lot of skin changes, body weight changes, etc but I knew that my hormones were trying to figure themselves out after ten years of endogenous replacements so I was trying to be patient.

Finally, this August, I lost patience. My body overall has evened out from the change but my acne continues to worsen. My acne is primarily on my jawline, upper neck, and in front of my ears with occasional pimples on the rest of my face. I tried a variety of washes and creams before beginning the Acne.org regimen mid-November. My acne has calmed down a bit but continues to flare cyclically indicating that there is certainly a hormonal component. Sigh.

I went to an alternative medicine practitioner for acupuncture to treat (unrelated) anxiety and he mentioned the possibility of estrogen dominance. To balance this, he suggested taking a high-dose of folic acid and DIM (herbal remedy). I haven't yet tried these as I was hoping that the regimen alone would clear things up. Has anyone heard of similar supplementations working?

I do not want to take accutane and I'd like to avoid antibiotics as much as possible. I am absolutely unwilling to remove the Mirena despite the fact that this one action may decrease my acne. I eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet; drink plenty of water; and minimize sugar and processed foods. I try to exercise regularly but often that fails.

I'm going to make an appointment to see my doctor soon to discuss other options, but am mostly curious if anyone has taken high-dose folic acid or DIM. Thanks for your time and input!

[Dannie]

it makes me so sad to think of what happens after getting off the pill

doctors should warn people of this.

there must be something we can do for the transition phase..
i read vit B5 AND B6 regulates hormones... and primerose.

[Beautiful Zombie]

I am in the same exact boat...I am 25 and have been on birth control since I was 15. I stopped it for the first time a year ago and broke out super bad. My dermo put me on accutane from October 2008 to April 2009. I was back on birth control while I was on the Accutane and my skin was really clear. Then, I stopped birth control again in July 2009 and I broke out about 3 months after that and my skin has continually gotten worse. My husband and I want to have a family and I cannot be back on birth control and Im def not doing accutane again. Im super sick of this acne, I am 25 and I should not be going through this!

here is a pick:

[Dannie]

damn thatsso horrible...i wonder why celebs dont go threw that
i remember reading how angelina jolie was on the pill for a lil while and then got off..her face was fine lol

[sadiee]

I've experienced the same thing once stopping BCP- horrible acne on my face, back, & chest. Hair loss, lil baby hairs on my face, etc. I've been dealing w/this problem for a year and a half now. I hardly leave the house & my face has started to scar from the nasty cystic acne. I'm at my wits end. I cannot take this anymore. I'm so depressed b/c of how awful my skin looks. If I would have known about these side effects from stopping BC, I would have never started them.

I'm taking probiotics & liquid chlorophyll (which I just started.) I wash my face w/Cetaphill twice a day. I've been using Lily of the desert 99% Aloe Vera gelly to help w/the redness. I've noticed some additional breakouts from using the aloe vera, but it really helps the pimple heal & go away a few days later.

I've been doing a lot of research online about acne after stopping birth control pills. I believe it is a hormal imbalance along w/ a candida infection. I've come across Symbiotics Colostrum Plus which helps fight candida. It also helps get your immune system back on track. It's gotten a lot of positive reviews too. I'm def. going to give this a try after I finish my probiotics.

I'm tired of suffering ... Good luck, everyone

[kp1013]

I actually am having a very similar problem, I signed up for acne.org because of acne after going off of birth control. I'm in the same boat as a lot of people it seems. The only difference is that my skin isn't oily at all. My skin is dry and extremely sensitive. I can't use the benzoyl peroxide and I'm scared of accutane because I heard it dries out skin. Any other options?

[MB04]

Hi,

Just an update on my situation. I have been off the Diane 35 pill now since 4 weeks. It seems that I have my energy back which is the main reason I wanted to stop the pill.
On the acne front I'm doing good so far.

I'm taking:
- 550mg capsules of Niacinamide a day (sometimes when I drink ,eat less healthy or feel some little spots coming up I take 2 a day for 2 days in a row)
- 1 tablet of Zinc Picolinate a day (sometimes 2 a day, same as with niacinamide)
- 1 B-complex tablet
- 1 vitamine C tablet
- 1 tablet of Omega 3, 6, 9 a day.
- 2 tablets of Vitamine B5 a day.

It sounds like a lot maybe but it's only a few pills really and my skin is good so far, it's better then 4 weeks ago while I've stopped the pill now so hopefully it stays that way. Also my skin feels very very soft now and very smooth.

I will do a full hormonal test next week and see what comes out of that.
I have also ordered an Australian Tea Tree soap as this is a good antibacterial soap,tea tree cream etc.
I have been using pure tea tree oil on any spots since 2 weeks and this works really well. I have also used it on my coldsores and this seems to work also.

I'll keep you updated in a month or so.

[Skytenshi]

Thanks, your update is very useful. I'm also on Diane and contemplating stopping the pill. I hope yours will be a success story that will encourage many on this board to follow in your footsteps.

Hi,

Just an update on my situation. I have been off the Diane 35 pill now since 4 weeks. It seems that I have my energy back which is the main reason I wanted to stop the pill.
On the acne front I'm doing good so far.

I'm taking:
- 550mg capsules of Niacinamide a day (sometimes when I drink ,eat less healthy or feel some little spots coming up I take 2 a day for 2 days in a row)
- 1 tablet of Zinc Picolinate a day (sometimes 2 a day, same as with niacinamide)
- 1 B-complex tablet
- 1 vitamine C tablet
- 1 tablet of Omega 3, 6, 9 a day.
- 2 tablets of Vitamine B5 a day.

It sounds like a lot maybe but it's only a few pills really and my skin is good so far, it's better then 4 weeks ago while I've stopped the pill now so hopefully it stays that way. Also my skin feels very very soft now and very smooth.

I will do a full hormonal test next week and see what comes out of that.
I have also ordered an Australian Tea Tree soap as this is a good antibacterial soap,tea tree cream etc.
I have been using pure tea tree oil on any spots since 2 weeks and this works really well. I have also used it on my coldsores and this seems to work also.

I'll keep you updated in a month or so.

[Carrie03]

This is my first post here, but I been visiting frequently over the past months as my acne became awful after stopping birth control in August. Like many of you there was a "honeymoon" period during which my face was fine and I felt great. About the middle of November my face began to get these awful cystic bumps right below my earlobe. I have suffered from pimples since puberty, but I had never experienced these massive cysts before. I was determined to fight everything naturally (my mother has always been into alternative medicine) and believe me I tried just about everything! I did acupuncture, a liver cleanse, all kinds of vitamins, tea tree oil, jojoba oil, and at a low point I had a derm give me cortisone injections HUGE MISTAKE...I now have indentations there and I have NEVER scarred before! Hopefully they will fill in with time. Anyways, none of the things I tried really worked well and looking back on the experience I believe that I made some huge errors: I lacked consistency, patience, and my scope was too large. Doing everything at once randomly will not yield positive results. That said, I do think acne can be minimized naturally, but one has to be their own doctor/detective.

The reason I am posting today is because I vowed to come back here and post if I got to the point where my face was clear...I am ecstatic to say that my face is 90% clear and I am now trying to even out the tone and get rid of the red marks left behind. I am loving my skin again thanks to Dan's Regimen. I did not think it would work for me because my acne was so cystic and hormonal, but it did! I had tried Proactiv so I wondered how different Dan's approach could be since both use BP, but for some magical reason Dan's regimen has cleared my skin! That said it took 5-6 weeks until I saw promising results and I almost quit during weeks 1-3 when my face was not only pimply but red and flaky...it was REALLY bad, but it was a small price to pay to have clear skin now!!!

In addition to following Dan's regimen I also drastically altered my diet (see my signature below), although I was always a healthy eater. At times it is frustrating but I find it easier and easier as the weeks go by to stick to my diet! In addition, I did lose some weight quite effortlessly.

Here are some other tips that worked for me:
*Icing active acne in morning and evening after washing face but before applying BP. I take icecubes and rub them on the active acne areas for about 2-4 minutes. This helps the healing process and reduces the redness.
*Changing pillowcases
*Not touching my face in any way
*NO PICKING...this is VERY hard for me, but I have found that the BP makes my skin more sensitive and the slightest scratch of the skin will result in a red mark
*Using AHA every night....I saw a huge difference in the tone of my face...although I am not to perfect yet
*Jojoba oil massage everyday in the shower, someone posted this somewhere on this site and it is AWESOME for removing all the dead skin
*Being GENTLE with my skin!
*Thinking positive thoughts / affirmations as I gently rub BP and lotion on my face (a little nutty perhaps, but I find that nurturing your body is as much physical as it is mental, the mind is a powerful healer)
*Regular exercise - yoga, pilates, cardio

The only supplements I am taking currently are: grapefruit seed extract (for candida) , alpha lipoic acid (Dr. Perricone is a big fan of this one), Ester C, B complex

I am thinking about integrating a lemon juice/egg white mask into my regimen, but I going to wait until I have been on Dan's regimen for 3 months until I integrate anything new.

The good news is that Dan's regimen works for really bad, hormonal acne, the bad news is that my husband and I would like to try to get pregnant in the next year and my OB/GYN says no BP. I am looking into some alternatives...but if any of you used anything that worked during pregnancy I would love to hear about it.

I am sorry this post is so long, this board was my saving grace during my really, really low points when my face was so bad I didn't want to get out of bed! I hope that my post gives someone else out there reason to believe that they too can have clear skin!!!

[TMB]

Thank you for the post. This is so comforting to me - I'm trying to stick with the regimen after stopping the pill.