18 replies to this topic

[Adam15]

Week 1 & 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5

Hello all, today i'm starting a log with Vitamin A and D.

So... let's begin!

Week 1

Day 1:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 IU @ 1400Hrs

Vitamin D:

• 5,850 IU @ 1400Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Supplements arrived around 10am. Today i'm taking all in one go at 1400hrs. I'm currently using a Tea Tree and Peppermint facial wash and no moisturiser, as I have oily skin - I'll keep you posted how this changes.

End of day 1, now I may just be imagining this - but my skin does seem slightly less oily already.

Day 2:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 30,000 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 30,000 IU @ 1630Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 2100Hrs

Total = 120,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,425 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 3,425 IU @ 1630Hrs
• 4,850 IU @ 2100Hrs

Total = 10,700 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Taken half of vitamins at 10am with glass of milk. Skin seems slightly drier, but not sure, it's usually quite dry in mornings anyway.

Took rest of vitamins at 16:30. No more changes so far.

Just [1700Hrs] had a bath, the usual routine, which is: Bit of Sanex Dermo Protector in the bath, wash face gently with the bath water, followed by rest of body. After that wash hair with Head & Shoulders for men. Finally, wash chest, shoulders and face with Superdrug Tea Tree & Peppermint. Leave it on for about 2minutes before washing off with clean warm (not hot, not cold) water from shower head. Oh and then pat (not rub!) dry with towel.

Noticed that my face is still quite dry now [1900Hrs] (2hours later), still feeling that 'tight' feeling, usually it would be more oily and tightness completely gone by now.

Been having a breakout anyway, so i've gone to a higher initial dose - don't really care if I have an initial breakout now; since i'm having one anyway! Had another 60,000 IU A; and 4,850 IU D with some full cream milk and a ham and cheese roll. Putting it to 120,000 IU A and 10,700 IU D for today. Going to continue on this dose tomorrow.

Also get paid tomorrow, so going to buy some Zinc, Magnesium and Calcium tablets + B-complex.

Day 3:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 1400Hrs

Vitamin D:

• 10,700 IU @ 1400Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Woke up pretty late today, so took all the vitamins in one go at 1400hrs with glass of milk and a sandwich. Still breaking out, especially on my chest and back, lots of little whiteheads. I guess it's working then - the increased skin renewal bringing everything to the top at the same time >.<. Pity it has to look so bad!

My face isn't too bad - but that hasn't been my focus for a while now. Just a few little whiteheads there today, few more than usual but again I guess that's down to the increased renewal. Skin isn't 'dry' but it's definitely not so oily - it's just a little glossy, rather than visibly greasy.

Had bath at 1800hrs, just using Tea Tree & Peppermint wash on my nose now. Dries me out too much if I use it like I was. Nose was sooo soft after bath today, I had to really resist touching it xD! I'm curious to whether the breakout on my chest and back is P.Folliculitis or not, H&S didn't seem to make any difference to spots there when I used it for a few weeks a while ago. Some nodules on back though so I doubt it's PF, just the initial breakout I guess.

As I said above, just using TT+P on my nose. It's getting hard to balance the moisture of my face now. T-zone is usually a little bit oily now - but no where near what it was. However cheeks are getting pretty dry, a little oily still, but the oily-flakey way! Btw - cheaper than sebutape - push your mobile phone to your cheek and then look at screen for dots!

Day 4:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 1300Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 1730Hrs

Total = 180,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 10,700 IU @ 1300Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Woke up, face isn't very visibly oily, but it never really is in the mornings. Tis my birthday today! So i'm pretty happy - that's got to help ! Took both vitamins at 1300hrs, might take some more later; but i'm planning to stay under 200,000 IU for at least this first week. I'm real tired though, so i'm going back to bed! I'm allowed to be lazy today, lol!

Been real tired most of the day, i'm hoping it's just a small B-vitamin or mineral deficiency, as that'll be cured when I start taking those supplements next week . Visibly my face has a few more pimples than normal, but they're only tiny ones and there isn't many. Usually i'd have 1-2 active ones on my face, now it's about 3, but as I said they're really tiny. Overall I think my face looks better due to the reduction in oil. Everywhere else is worse though, my neck is broken out pretty bad - and the tea tree doesn't seem to have much effect on tiny pimples - only the bigger ones. But it has to get worse before it gets better, huh!

Taken 60,000 IU retinol at 1730Hrs. Putting it up to 180,000 / 10,700 IU Retinol / Cholecalciferol. No symptoms have arrisen yet, lips are still moist etc.

Here is what has popped up on my chest, lots of tiny red dots! PF or Acne I wonder?
 pforacne.jpg   40.56K   132 downloads
I've had a few of these before, but now since starting the Vitamin A & D lots more have popped up - I wonder if it is due to this, from the increased epidermal turnover. Or, I wonder if it's due to using Tea Tree + Peppermint wash on my chest - an anti-bacterial, thus letting the P.Folliculitis flourish? Of course it's early yet, so will have to see how it turns out!

Alcohol is quite an interesting drug! Got totally smaaaaaashed! Let's see how this goes. Got a date tomorrow for a belated bday drink ^^. I hope i'm pretty clear tomorrow since it's first time i'll be meeting this beautiful girl . Gnite acne.org community xx.

^^^
Don't remember typing that, lol!

Day 5:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 1600Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 2100Hrs

Total = 180,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 10,700 IU @ 1600Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well, my skin looked pretty bad when I woke up; a few big whiteheads on my neck - punishment for partying, but it was worth it! After a relaxing bath and a few hours it's looking much better.

Skin was a bit more oily today than past few days - i'm guessing due to drinking so much, and the alcohols competing for the saturated fats! Face is still pretty clear, neck is proving troublesome as always and body continuing to be a nightmare .

Found cure to skin remaining tight for so long, a tiny bit of moisturiser just on the line where skin changes from ehm... 'face skin' to 'around eyes skin'. If only all my skin was like the 'around eyes skin' so soft and even . Does it even have pores?

Day 6:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 0800Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 1800Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 2300Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 2,850 IU @ 0800Hrs
• 2,850 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 850 IU @ 1800Hrs
• 850 IU @ 2300Hrs

Total = 10,250 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Having to to exfoliate every day now or I get visible dead flakey skin! No side effects yet.

Day 7:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 120,000 IU @ 1600Hrs
• 120,000 IU @ 2200Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 5,700 IU @ 1600Hrs
• 3,700 IU @ 2200Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Nothing special happening yet. Skin perhaps isn't so oily as expected, but it's not exceptionally dry either - and not experiencing any dry lips yet.

Day 8:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 0400Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 0930Hrs
• 120,000 IU @ 2000Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 5,700 @ 0400Hrs
• 850 IU @ 0930Hrs
• 5,700 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Skin quite oily today - mind you I missed a bath - only had one yesterday morning, and just now this morning. Face quite itchy too - no signs of any irritation or anything, just itchy! Hard to resist touching it.

Expecting dry skin to come soon, as i'm up to 300,000 IU / day now for past 3 days inc. today. It's kinda hard getting the saturated fats intake without binging on rubbish, so suggestions for meals much appreciated! At the moment i'm going crazy on the full english breakfasts, and pizzas when i'm feeling peckish . Such a devil! Surprising how little saturated fats is in a three-cheese pizza though, 82% of daily saturates RDA in a whole one. I was expecting over the RDA by a crazy amount! It was very nice though, so i'm not gonna complain. Bacon sarnies are very much on the menu as well - fried in lard haha. Funnily though with all this rubbish (tasty rubbish might I add) i'm not breaking out any more than usual .

Day 9:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0420Hrs
• 120,000 @ 0930Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1700Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0420Hrs
• 3,700 @ 0930Hrs
• 5,700 @ 1700Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1200Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1200Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Been strangely hungry a lot more than usual the last two days. Skin so far is 'meh' no dryness yet. Definitely been oilier these past two days, and exfoliating with baking soda is a must (or exfoliating any how, but baking soda seems least irritating way).

Over exfoliated a bit I think this morning, felt a bit sensitive for a while (peppermint amplified the sensation). Went a bit red but a few hours later it was completely fine. I *think* the issue is that i'm using Baking Powder and not Soda (I put it in an unlabeled pot aggeeees ago and just started using it again recently, don't remember which it was), so it has some Tartaric acid in it as well as the Bi-carb. But it seems ok - saves me using ACV to neutralise! Though when i've used all which i've got i'll be using Bi-carb + ACV. Going to try the egg white and lemon mask in evenings too.

Started on the B-Complex and Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc today. I'm not gonna type out all those things included in them! So just click them for a link to the label.


Day 10:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0700Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1630Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1815Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0700Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1630Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1815Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Neck is breaking out *majorly*. Never had an issue with it before, really. Hopefully it'll clear up soon. Seems something i've started doing recently (most likely the vitamins but it could be something else i'm overlooking) is breaking me out in places I don't normally break out, and quite severely. I'll reserve judgement till when the A starts poisoning me! (dryness).

Mentally i'm really happy and full of energy lately, which is nice. I can tell when i'm full of energy even if i'm not mentally feeling it, from how I tap my foot all the time ! My short term memory seems improved too (I have to use it at work, so changes are noticable ). All-in-all since starting this regimen the outcome is positive so far, imo. Even if the breakout on neck is annoying as hell - since can't really treat with anything since the neck skin is so sensitive - it'd just break out more! I guess just waiting it out is best.

Oh and before I forget, I started Dead Sea Salt today. In my bath that is. Not every one of course, but in my morning one today, and I plan to do it say... twice a week. Right now it's only 250G / bath, but i'm probably going to buy some in larger quantities (using Edom 250G packets atm) and put 500g to 1kg in - most likely nearer to the 500g, since our bath is quite small.

Day 11:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0700Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1100Hrs
• 120,000 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0700Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1100Hrs
• 4,700 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Work today - 7:30 -> 5pm - what a drag! Working in a hot shop, getting sweaty/oily and not being able to do anything about it, urgh! I most definitely enjoy my relaxing bath after work, oh yes . After my bath today skin was flakey, that never usually happens - i'm usually only flaky after a bath in the mornings. Another thing i've noticed - my nose is getting flakey - the entrance to nostrils that is. Lips aren't getting flakey yet and skin is still pretty oily as per norm.

Going out tonight so alcohol gonna be fighting those vitamins for the fat to dissolve in , so I expect a little set-back from that, but I refuse to let any thing stop me from having a fun saturday night so meh to it! Maybe y'all will get another drunken message haha.

On note of the Dead Sea Salt bathes; i'm really liking them. Placebo or otherwise, but I really do feel quite relaxed and just generally good after lazing about in the bath for 30mins with not a care in the world - whilst genuinely having faith in them - so no one have me think otherwise or they might stop working, lol!

Day 12:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0530Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1845Hrs
• 120,000 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0530Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1845Hrs
• 4,700 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0530Hrs
• 1x @ 1845Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0530Hrs
• 1x @ 1845Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Lips bit dried out today, not sure if it's alcohol or the vitamin A causing it. Nothing else notable has happened. Bit of a sore throat, don't know if it's due to a cold coming on or the vitamins - it's probably the latter, since high dose vitamin A reportedly makes you pretty much immune to colds for the duration.

Day 13:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0945Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1700Hrs
• 60,000 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0945Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1700Hrs
• 2,850 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0945Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0945Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well, I woke up and went to pee. Flourescent pee, wahey! B-Vitamins are fun. Lips today were quite dry and flakey, lots of dead skin i been biting at all day. Cannibalism, rwaaagh! Face was pretty flakey too (but not dry), nothing a bit of bicarb in the morning didn't solve . Sore throat turned out to be a cold for sure - I got runny nose today. Well, that sucks - Vitamin A is meant to make me immune!! Random-internet-blog-1001312342345 lied to me!!! Oh well... let's just hope it makes the duration really short... or something nice at least. I hate colds.

Oh and I should mention how my pimples are getting on, seeing how this is a blog about that, shouldn't I! Well... neck is clearing up on left side, right side still a little crazy but I think it's withdrawing (DIE DIE DIE! helped?). Face is pretty much nearly clear as normal, few whiteheads and hyperpigmentation on my cheeks plus a few red marks where I erm... 'nailed' tiny whiteheads too vigorously (no, i'll never give that up!). I've stopped biting my nails though. They're getting long (eek!).

Chest is so-so, I don't know if it's getting better or not. The tiny red spots have definitely reduced, but overall I think there's not much improvement, maybe i'll take a photo somewhen and let you all decide.

Back is muchos crazy, as always! Well, to be honest I think it's mostly red marks opposed to lots of actives. I've got a few little scars on my shoulders and back from when I had it at it's worst, I don't think any of what I get now leaves scars, but if they did I wouldn't really notice anyway! My dad still has some scars from when he had backne in his teens-early twenties. And he's 76 (next week)! I'm hoping the combination of the vitamins and the dead sea salt will send the backne fleeing for the hills, we shall see . I don't care if it doesn't though, it's not like it affects my life much. Chest and neck are highest priority .

Day 14:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1100Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1500Hrs
• 60,000 @ 1845Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1100Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1500Hrs
• 2,850 @ 1845Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1100Hrs
• 1x @ 1500Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1100Hrs
• 1x @ 1500Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well, it's now the two week mark! Has flown by. Cold is manifesting itself a little more, nothing serious (it's only a cold!) but still annoying. Drinking lots of orange juice to try and scare it away, hopefully it'll work.

So my skin is kinda well... normal now. My face that is - it's evenly 'oiled' - no oily shiny tzone, yay. Lips getting drier it seems, not as bad (flake wise) as on monday though - but they were exposed to the elements that day with my job.

Nostrils a little flakey today, seems to build-up flakes of dead skin every few days. Note to self: exfoliate nostrils each day! The entrance to them that is, I don't fancy bicarb up my nose.

Inflammation on my neck is dying down, but I put this down to me not poking and prodding it. There's a new spot on left side, but otherwise that side is pretty much clear now. I'm going to keep up this willpower until it is totally gone! Besides, with no work midweek I can stay in and not worry about whiteheads. This convenience helps for my back too!

So... my back then. Well, I haven't looked at it much today really! Yesterday I went crazy and clawed at all the big white heads. Not smart! I could feel afterward as I was having a bath that i'd created a lot of inflammation from doing that... It was a mountain range! Fortunately this morning it felt smooth with just a few bumps. So i'm going to resist doing anything to it. The only real problem area seems to be the backs of the shoulders, the rest is minor in comparison. There is a cyst right smack bang in the middle of my back though, luckily it's dead-on in the middle, if it was to the sides a little i'm sure it'd hurt when I move my shoulder blades. I'm not touching it, it doesn't exist (repeats to self.. "it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist")! Really, I don't notice my back at all apart from when I have a bath, so i'm going to refrain from looking in the mirror when I do - then i'll get a nice surprise (or I better do) when I look in a month or something.

I'm gonna start posting in a new post, since i've run out of smilies for this one!! Say, a week/post, with links to them in this first one.

[AlexGF]

I would say use nothing but water for your chest
seriously if you want to see progress.

[Adam15]

Will give it a try and see how it goes . Probably better than panicking and throwing every conceivable chemical at it!

[AlexGF]

dude is your vitamin A pure retinol? if not I would be concerned.. retinol is the animal form of vitamin A and is safer than the synthetic ones
I wish you good luck with your regime and I hope you're not messing up your liver lol!

[Adam15]

Mostly retinol in fish liver oil, but they have small amount of retinyl palmitate (ester of vitamin-a) added as well.

[Adam15]

Day 15:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1015Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1630Hrs
• 60,000 @ 2300Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1015Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1630Hrs
• 2,850 @ 2300Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1015Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1015Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Over the two week mark now! Lips were really dry when I woke up, i'm guessing the cold doesn't help with this! Neck has flared up a bit again, not sure what's causing that! Face is really clear at the moment though. Zero actives as far as I could tell. Chest is clearing up too, just a few actives, but it seems like no new ones appearing.

Back felt really terrible in bath, hoping it's having it's initial breakout - as it didn't get worse when everything else did. So hopefully that'll start clearing up like the rest (minus neck) soon.

Taken second 120,000/4,700 dose at 1630hrs with a big omelet (was very tasty ), had look in mirror, skin looks bit more oily than past few days - but it has been warmer in the house today. My lips aren't very dry at the moment either. I did take first dose without something sizable though, just with my breakfast (wheatabix with whole milk) Noticed there is a few very tiny actives on face but otherwise it's really good . Face is most definitely improved, no doubts there - mainly due to reduction in oil - it really improves the look . The question is whether neck is going to stop faffing around and clear up for me!

End of the day.. skin really oily today, don't know why! Perhaps didn't eat enough fats *shrug*. Hopefully turns out better tomorrow!

Day 16:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0930Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1615Hrs
• 60,000 @ 1800Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0930Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1615Hrs
• 2,850 @ 1800Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0930Hrs
• 1x @ 1615Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0930Hrs
• 1x @ 1615Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Cold almost gone today, so that was pretty quick! Only got it on sunday. Was few little white heads on face today, few under nose. Since using bicarb each day in the mornings, i've little-to-none blackheads on my face at all .

Neck is still seething away, I think it's improving though, no new inflammed spots as far as I can tell, just some whiteheads. The current inflammed ones seem to be making some slow healing progress.

Chest - wow! It's clearest it's been in a long time. Just one or two inflammed spots and the rest is not very noticable at all! Just using water on this like AlexGF recommended. Water from the bath that is, which has little bit of sanex dermo protector in it, then rinsed with clean water from shower head after i've washed my hair (currently H&S for men w/ zinc pyrithione - i've always used this, haven't started using it for acne/pf).

Back is still worst area for me, not sure if it's improving, need some more time to tell . I'm hoping my skin stays drier today than it did yesterday! Yesterday was quite a step-back in terms of how oily my skin has been.

End of the day... skin was pretty oily again! I think the cold must've affected ability to absorb vitamins or something temporarily, which sucks! *shouts at body to put focus on digestion again*. So, overall skin has deteriated a bit today. My shoulders are absolutely terrible, i'm tempted to just go to my doc and beg for tane, honestly. The way they look I could probably get it! I'm not sure chest has gotten much worse, but it was really on the way to looking great. Ah well! I'm gonna stay calm and head of to bed, no need stressing about it since it'll just get worse - I mean hey, the last few years i've not worried about acne have been the clearest - so mind set is important .

Day 17:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0940Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1630Hrs
• 60,000 @ 1800Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0940Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1630Hrs
• 2,850 @ 1800Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0940Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0950Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Wasn't really much change this day, I didn't update till now (morning of 28th!) so I can't remember exactly, but I still had cold and skin was being annoying and oily as hell! Grrr!

Day 18:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0700Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1000Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 360,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0700Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1000Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 14,100 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1000Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1000Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well, saturdays I am working in hot environment so I like to get 240,000 IU in the morning in attempt to keep my skin not very oily in the afternoon. It worked sort of, skin wasn't as bad as normal on a saturday afternoon, oil wise. My neck is driving me nuts, it's only visible part of me that is breaking out majorly! Hope it stops soon . Going to book a doctors appointment on monday - hoping to get referral to a derm. Shouldn't be too hard considering the state my neck and more importantly - back, is in. Since before I only went to doc for acne on my face, and that isn't very serious at all really. I'd class my back as moderate-severe, i'm not sure. My neck right now is "annoying to extremely-annoying" . Went to get my hair cut on friday, neck was still terrible but wasn't too inflammed at the time so I figured it was a good time. Looked bad but not as bad as I was expecting in the little mirror they show you back of hair cut with at the end, so meh .

I had a good night out and didn't drink too much. I danced away for a good 4 hours at least, jeez. Talk about a cardio work-out!! Drank 3 pints of water at end of night. I think for first time i'm watching my water intake for fear of hydrotoxicity as i'm still really thirsty! Anyway off to shower now - damn my skin is dry right now, usually it's not so.

Day 19:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1500Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1800Hrs
• 60,000 @ 2200Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1500Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1800Hrs
• 2,850 @ 2200Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 1800Hrs
• 1x @ 2200Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 1800Hrs
• 1x @ 2200Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Haven't really done much eh.. analysis today. Lips have been dry but i'm sure that's half down to the alcohol from saturday night as much as the vitamins !

Day 20:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0945Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1730Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0945Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1730Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0945Hrs
• 1x @ 1515Hrs
• 1x @ 1730Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0945Hrs
• 1x @ 1515Hrs
• 1x @ 1730Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Today lips were really dry at work, not so much that they were cracking but had lots of flakey skin on them - was annoying! My cold is almost completely gone, really not noticing it unless I go somewhere really warm/cold.

Neckne seems to be on the retreat, left side is still best - it's almost entirely clear - right side is getting better it seems, so s'all good!

Chest is worse than it has been, but it just seems the small ones became big ones - no new ones.

Back is hard to tell on cos of red marks, but I think it's getting better. A lot of the bigger spots have dried out it seems and flaked away. Still bad of course, but better !

Got a headache at the moment - hardly ever get one, so i'm thinking it might be to do with the vitamins, but not sure.

Day 21:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 300,000 @ 0930Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 12,250 @ 0930Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0800Hrs
• 1x @ 1500Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0800Hrs
• 1x @ 1500Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Took all A&D at once this morning with an english breakfast, to see if it is indeed those giving me the headache. It's the 21st day today! The three weeks has gone by really fast. I hadn't been watching how many capsules I had left so I think I may run out of halibut oil before the next arrive in post (only got 2days worth left).

Well, it's noon now and no headache, so I don't think it was the vitamins , but we'll see.

Think headache was related to either B-Complex or the Calcium/Zinc/Magnesium since I got one after I took second lot of those for the day. Didn't take a third of those today.

Lip split twice today. First time it's happened since starting the vitamins, so I guess they're kicking in a bit more.

Hoping I can take a picture of chest soon showing some improvement . If there's enough interest perhaps you'll see my face too!

[Adam15]

Day 22:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 300,000 @ 1300Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 12,250 @ 1300Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1300Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1300Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Took all at once again today. A & D only that is! No problems with headaches today, so going to go back on three B-Complex + Zinc/Magnesium/Calcium today. My lips are a little sore where they split in two places yesterday, but they'll live! Back really seems to be drying up so i'm quite confident that it'll begin clearing soon . I'm gonna snap a pic of my neck before that clears up - i'll show left and right side since left used to be like right is now, and right used to be worse! Now, left is almost cleared up entirely .

Day 23:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 1500Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 180,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 1500Hrs
• 7,700 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 10,550 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs
• 1x @

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs
• 1x @

My day/progress/retardation:

Ran out of A today, my bad! Gonna pop by the Holland and Barrett near me tomorrow after work to grab some more till my order arrives. Lips aren't so bad right now, put some chapstick on 'em (cherry!).

Day 24:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0930Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1600Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0930Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1600Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0930Hrs
• 1x @ 1600Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0930Hrs
• 1x @ 1600Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Workin outside on fridays, so lips get a bit of a rough time - they just split in one place at the moment but they got really dry on friday! Skin otherwise is SO-SO!

Day 25:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 180,000 @ 0700Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 360,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 7,550 @ 0700Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 15,100 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well as I said last saturday, I hate saturdays because i'm working for so long on 'em! Feels like I undo all the hard work of keeping skin under control rest of the week!

Lips were oh-so-dry! It kept cracking in same place over and over - ouchies! Gonna have to moisturise them up!

Have gotten a few spots on neck, grr. One on the left side - it's still pretty much clear apart from that though. The right side is a lot better now - but i've two on the back now! Gawd - can never win, eh?!

Day 26:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 180,000 @ 1500Hrs
• 120,000 @ 2030Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 7,550 @ 1500Hrs
• 4,700 @ 2030Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 2030Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 2030Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well.. Sunday, my day of rest, lol! And what a crazy night it was indeed . Looking bad on a sunday is unavoidable so i'm not gonna complain about it .

Day 27:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0940Hrs
• 180,000 @ 2045Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 6,700 @ 0940Hrs
• 5,550 @ 2045Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0940Hrs
• 1x @ 2045Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0940Hrs
• 1x @ 2045Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well I worked today till 7:30pm, but it's OK cos this job is outside and I really enjoy it . Working with one of my best friends so we have a laugh at the same time. I'm still paying for saturday night (and sunday morning!)'s antics! Worth it though lol!

Chapstick these days is a MUST! Without it, pain is guaranteed ^^.

Day 28:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 180,000 @ 1500Hrs
• 120,000 @ 2300Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 7,550 @ 1500Hrs
• 4,700 @ 2300Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 2300Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1500Hrs
• 1x @ 2300Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well.. It's been 4weeks now, wow! They've gone pretty darn quick . I'm all well and good, and my back is DEFINITELY (!!!, yay) improved. First time i've seen results from something since I started getting acne back when I was 11 (8 years ago!).

[Adam15]

Day 29:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1730Hrs
• 180,000 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1730Hrs
• 7,550 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1740Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1730Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Start of week 5, going quickly now . Not much change from yesterday.

Day 30:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0940Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1700Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0940Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1700Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0940Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0940Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Another day; another update! Nothing new, however! ...Or well, I got this big cyst'ish thing on my neck this morning, ah well. It'll be gone in a few days i'm sure .

Day 31:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 180,000 @ 0700Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1800Hrs

Total = 360,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 7,550 @ 0700Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1800Hrs

Total = 15,100 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1800Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1800Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Long day of work today, I hates it (as far as skin is concerned)! But it wasn't as bad as I was expecting (it was a pretty warm day, but it flew by). Not really much change from friday!

Day 32:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1030Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1030Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1030Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1030Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Big 'un on neck is down by loads, chest and back staying relatively the same, improving at a steady pace it seems! Face is clear as ever - just the usual very slowly fading hyperpigmentation and large pores!

Day 33:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0930Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0930Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1830Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0930Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0930Hrs
• 1x @ 1830Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Notin' atal' ter report!

Day 34:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1830Hrs
• 180,000 @ 2240Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1830Hrs
• 7,550 @ 2240Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1830Hrs
• 1x @ 2240Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1830Hrs
• 1x @ 2240Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Not muh change really, slowly improving but getting a breakout now and then, problem area is still neck!

Day 35:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1200Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1945Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1200Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1945Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1200Hrs
• 1x @ 1945Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1200Hrs
• 1x @ 1945Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Again not much change!

[Adam15]

Day 35:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1000Hrs
• 180,000 @ 1730Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1000Hrs
• 7,550 @ 1730Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1000Hrs
• 1x @ 1730Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1000Hrs
• 1x @ 1730Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Bit of a breakout today, mostly neck but few whiteheads on chin too. Nothing too bad .

[White Fox]

How are you doing?

Exciting to follow your progress and I hope that you haven't given up..? Accutane and Vitamin A regimens takes a lot of patience to go through.

[Adam15]

I'm still alive; and I haven't given up, lol! Just been lazy with updating. Since I last posted nothing has changed still same dose, though I ran out of Vitamin D for a short period in which my skin did flare up a bit - so I think Dingo is right in D being the most important .

[White Fox]

I'm still alive; and I haven't given up, lol! Just been lazy with updating. Since I last posted nothing has changed still same dose, though I ran out of Vitamin D for a short period in which my skin did flare up a bit - so I think Dingo is right in D being the most important .

So you are pretty much clear or what?

[acnejean]

umm "oing to book a doctors appointment on monday - hoping to get referral to a derm." so you haven't been doing monthly blood tests like one would with accutane when your vitamin a is so high? i realllllyyyy hope not.

[mr.antiacne]

Wow, those are high doses, are you still going with it?

[Adam15]

edit: Just to say clearly here at the top: My skin got very much clearer especially on my back (which is usually my worst area, and it got almost entirely clear (just red marks)), during the two months I took A and D. But the values are not safe. So now after a few months break I am trying much lower values of A and similar values of D.

Hey guys, sorry, I haven't frequented these forums for a long time. Life been pretty busy . I stopped taking both Vitamins somewhen in November.

My skin has gotten worse again since then, and I thought back to when I was taking them and the compliments I had gotten at work. Just little things, but hey .

Started last week taking 10,000 IU Vitamin D and 25,000 IU Vitamin A. I believe jumping on the 300K IU Vit. A bandwagon was kinda dangerous and although I didn't experience anything bad, I decided not to risk it and stopped it completely.

I've read of doctors among others taking 25,000 IU Vitamin A / day for years with no problems, and after reading compilations such as http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/69/5/842 i've concluded 10,000 IU Vitamin D / day is safe as well. There have been no reported cases of Vitamin D toxicity under 40,000 IU / day. And a common view held by many doctors is 2,000 IU recommendation is 5 fold too low - full body sunlight exposure easily provides 10,000 IU.

Also, as Dingo said, he believes Vitamin D is the important one - not so much A. So i'll be taking these [everyone agree?] safe values for a few months, then perhaps a maintenance dose of half that.

Oh, and i've been taking Vitamin B Complex (2 tablets daily) and Magnesium, Zinc, Calcum (2 tablets daily) for months now also - to no affect, but vitamin d helps the absorbtion of those.

[databased]

Since the latest research points to retinoic acid rendering cells less able to use Vitamin D, I wonder which one is winning? Kinda like a little vitamin gladiator fight right in your own body! :-)

This is sort of like the folks who buy pills that contain copper and zinc combined, ignoring the evidence that the two compete in the intestine for absorption. I gotta buy me some vitamin pill maker stock -- this is a wonderful racket! :-)

but vitamin d helps the absorbtion of those.

D3 may help zinc at least make it to the bloodstream, but it's probably wasted if you don't have a full strength melatonin cycle to stimulate your cells to generate the enzymes that actually use the zinc.

[Adam15]

Interesting finds databased . According to that, I should be supplementing 6,000-7,000 IU D3 per day when i'm not in the sun, and zero Vitamin A. I'll give this a try. I'm a big geek so it's understandable I don't get much sun .

edit: The thread on Zinc and melatonin cycle is very, very interesting . My PC is in my bedroom, so at night there is always the LEDs from my router and speakers. It's never perfectly dark - I think i'll get a sleeping mask.

[deedee3003]

Wow, you are playing russian roulette with your body and your liver in particular. I am a registered nurse and I got an A in chemistry. You are taking way too much Vit A & Vit D. People have died from taking doses like the ones you have taken. Your acne is most likely due to your hormones being out of balance. Even Accutane is temporary. After 18 months-2 years after accutane, the acne will come back in people with hormonal acne. Nothing but time will make it go away. Your true friends will love you just the way you are. Cheer up, dolores

[Adam15]

Hehe, came across my own thread when searching google for whether accutane makes you thirsty enough for hydrotoxicity to be a threat. The only result!

I quit this dangerous regimen around 8 and a half months ago. And I can say: It's not worth it! I was driving one day and had really bad ache in my lower right of my belly. I quit the regimen there and then, it really was a wakeup call to the seriousness of it all.

So after waiting for over 6months for the Vitamin A to get out of my system, I got a derm appointment, and due to large nodules I occassionally get on my back which sometimes scar; plus the persistent moderate acne on my chest, back and neck (my face is pretty much entirely clear these days by itself, no topicals or anything), I've been put on Isotretinoin.

I made it clear I didn't want to be on anti-biotics long-term switching between all the various ones, I hate the idea of killing all good and bad bacteria non-discriminatly -- "But you'll happily take accutane?" I hear you cry... and well... yeah, I will!

I may make a log for Accutane, I may not. I've been on it for a week now, and the left side of my chest, neck and back have broken out terribly. Hoping for that to clear up soon:

- My lips don't seem that dry, but they're peeling and cracking anyway, so they obviously are!
- Got a headache right now, the first since I started, but I'm not sure if it's the tane or the wisdom tooth I have prying its way into position.
- Skin is a lot less oily. Takes a lot longer to get any shine what so ever after washing, and way less oily at the end of the day.