24 replies to this topic

[CentralTexasBoy]

As a nearly 40-year-old father, despair and frustration are REALLY setting in. My acne would be considered mild on this board, but to me it's much worse, and it's a source of stress that is preventing me from 100% enjoying the gifts I've been given in life (including a wonderful wife and three great kids).

Two months ago I stopped taking minocycline (took it on and off for 6 years). I also began a 28-day yeast-free diet (along with yeast-killing Nystatin and pro-biotics) to kill off candida which had accumulated in my body during my years of antibiotics. I have not had dairy in over 2 months. The only bread I've had is organic whole wheat (Rudi's), and I don't eat much of it. I've had VERY little processed sugar of any kind for 2 months. For the past 2 months I've probably eaten more fruits and vegetables than I did in the entire prior two years combined. I use natural soap (Cleopatra's Choice) once a day. I use SA occasionally. I jog 4-5 days a week which also helps me get 20-30 minutes of sun each day.

Things seemed to be improving. Last Wednesday I actually felt confident that I had gotten over the hump. I could see very few under-the-skin bumps and my skin felt smoother/cleaner. And then boom. Over the weekend I was bombarded with a bunch of new "friends". This latest breakout has opened the door for confusion, doubt, and despair.

The pimples are now all the same. While few in number (3 or 4 at a time), they are deeper and bigger than they used to be before I began taking minocyline in 2002. They rarely come to a head. They are also painful. They always appear in the same general area. It's as if the years of antibiotics gave birth to a new super-breed of acne.

I am to the point where I no longer think diet plays a significant role (for me at least).

I am to the point where I feel like I have absolutely no control over the cause.

I am to the point where I feel like my local dermatologists have no clue (all they want to do is prescribe antiobiotics).

I am to the point where I feel like the only thing I can do is pray to God that I'm going to outgrow this soon.

I've read a lot about hormonal acne (androgens, etc), but it always seems to pertain to women. Can men also have hormonal acne at this age? If so, what can be done?

I feel like I am a statistical anomoly. I don't see a single other man in my neighborhood with acne. There are a few women with mild acne and of course teenagers with normal teenage acne, but no men. I am the one.

If there are any other men my age with this problem, I would really like to hear your story.

Thanks...

[Chocobot]

I'm almost 27, and it's the same really; nothing in particular seems to work. It's quite irrational.

The only thing I can recommend is to use BP each morning or each evening (if it dries your face too much use only once a day, probably in the evening so it won't matter).

Get some good nights of sleep too.

That's all that ever worked for me. But I never stick to it even though I should, because I'm never sure it's really working.

[Nightsdisguise]

Suggestion-Recommendation:
stop eating fruit (except lemons and limes) and organic bread.

instead eat or keep eating:
meats, fish, vegetables (except carrots, beets), butter, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil

You may have a yeast infection because of the antibiotics you were on. message me if you want to know more about this.


The body has an incredible system for healing without the use of harsh chemicals and prescriptions.
Never give up on trying to better your health.

[onelittleone]

hi texasboy im in texas myself down on the coast.im a 39 male also been fitting ance sence latter part of high school and its controlled a big part of my life ive changed my diet and tryed everything under the sun to try and help me with this but my ance would always come back now that im almost 40 i told myself this is anuff and went to a different derm that told me about accutane so ive been on it now 5 months and been clear for 3months with a 7 month course i hope and pray that my ance doesent come back and my kids dont have to go through the pain and suffering that there dad did
i just wanted to say hi and let you know your not alone in this fight
the best of luck to you

[CentralTexasBoy]

hi texasboy im in texas myself down on the coast.im a 39 male also been fitting ance sence latter part of high school and its controlled a big part of my life ive changed my diet and tryed everything under the sun to try and help me with this but my ance would always come back now that im almost 40 i told myself this is anuff and went to a different derm that told me about accutane so ive been on it now 5 months and been clear for 3months with a 7 month course i hope and pray that my ance doesent come back and my kids dont have to go through the pain and suffering that there dad did
i just wanted to say hi and let you know your not alone in this fight
the best of luck to you

Thanks. How would you classify your condition before you got on accutane? Mild? Moderate? What kind of dosage did your derm put you on?

Can't help but think that eventually we're going to get old enough to where our body doesn't naturally produce enough sebum to generate acne. Hopefully the accutane course is enough to keep it "at bay" until it just naturally goes away.

And you are absolutely right -- the biggest thing for me is that I don't want any of my kids to have to go through it.

[onelittleone]

hay again.. i have mild ance its not that bad but bad anuff to drive me crazy.my derm started me out at 80mgs a day 40x's 2 but it was to much my fingers got really swollen & sore so he droped it to 20mgs a day and added two more months to my course.i like it i think its the best thing i ever did accutane has totally given my life back. if you have any more questions just ask
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU

[alternativista]

Almost all acne is hormone related. And diet affects your hormones. You said you saw some improvement with your diet changes?

Normally you do avoid all fruit during an anti-candida cleanse. Other than that I would not agree with the above poster that you need to avoid all fruit. But perhaps you are having too much high GI fruits? You want to keep your blood sugar stabile.

Also, consider if you are eating something you have an intolerance for and try avoiding things. The most common problematic foods are wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts, true nuts, eggs, nightshades, citrus, etc. for me it's citrus, which caused the severe cystic acne I used to have.

BTW, My father had acne until he died in a car accident in his late sixties, although at that point, it may not have been true acne but rosacea, which I also developed, or the same citrus allergy which I suspect my siblings who still have acne also have.

Also, antibiotics never helped me one bit either. And neither did 2 courses of accutane. Diet changes cleared me within 2 months.

See the Good Things for Acne link in my signature for information on how diet and healthy lifestyle impact hormones and other factors that lead to acne.

[CentralTexasBoy]

Almost all acne is hormone related. And diet affects your hormones. You said you saw some improvement with your diet changes?

Normally you do avoid all fruit during an anti-candida cleanse. Other than that I would not agree with the above poster that you need to avoid all fruit. But perhaps you are having too much high GI fruits? You want to keep your blood sugar stabile.

Also, consider if you are eating something you have an intolerance for and try avoiding things. The most common problematic foods are wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts, true nuts, eggs, nightshades, citrus, etc. for me it's citrus, which caused the severe cystic acne I used to have.

BTW, My father had acne until he died in a car accident in his late sixties, although at that point, it may not have been true acne but rosacea, which I also developed, or the same citrus allergy which I suspect my siblings who still have acne also have.

Also, antibiotics never helped me one bit either. And neither did 2 courses of accutane. Diet changes cleared me within 2 months.

See the Good Things for Acne link in my signature for information on how diet and healthy lifestyle impact hormones and other factors that lead to acne.

Yep there was no fruit for the first 14 days, and then after that I stuck to strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, with an occassional apple. I've given the diet two months, and overall things haven't changed. I still get the same good days and bad days. I used to drink a glass of milk every night, so I figured that giving that up alone might solve the problem. However, it's clear that it had zero impact.

Maybe I just haven't given it enough time. But at this point in my life, I'm not interested in any more experiments. I'm ready for something proven.

[alternativista]

Maybe I just haven't given it enough time. But at this point in my life, I'm not interested in any more experiments. I'm ready for something proven.

Sorry, but there is no one solution for everyone. You have to try things. There are tons of treatments, nutrients and diets proven to have some impact on some percentage of acne sufferers. That's all.

However, you can't go wrong with improving your diet. In addition to affecting acne, an anti-inflammatory blood sugar stabilizing diet will retard aging along with all kinds of health conditions and help you keep your hair.

And to be anti-inflammatory, you have to figure out any food intolerances or allergies you might have and avoid them. This will also help if what you have right now is actually rosacea, not acne.

[cave man]

As a nearly 40-year-old father, despair and frustration are REALLY setting in. My acne would be considered mild on this board, but to me it's much worse, and it's a source of stress that is preventing me from 100% enjoying the gifts I've been given in life (including a wonderful wife and three great kids).

Two months ago I stopped taking minocycline (took it on and off for 6 years). I also began a 28-day yeast-free diet (along with yeast-killing Nystatin and pro-biotics) to kill off candida which had accumulated in my body during my years of antibiotics. I have not had dairy in over 2 months. The only bread I've had is organic whole wheat (Rudi's), and I don't eat much of it. I've had VERY little processed sugar of any kind for 2 months. For the past 2 months I've probably eaten more fruits and vegetables than I did in the entire prior two years combined. I use natural soap (Cleopatra's Choice) once a day. I use SA occasionally. I jog 4-5 days a week which also helps me get 20-30 minutes of sun each day.

Things seemed to be improving. Last Wednesday I actually felt confident that I had gotten over the hump. I could see very few under-the-skin bumps and my skin felt smoother/cleaner. And then boom. Over the weekend I was bombarded with a bunch of new "friends". This latest breakout has opened the door for confusion, doubt, and despair.

The pimples are now all the same. While few in number (3 or 4 at a time), they are deeper and bigger than they used to be before I began taking minocyline in 2002. They rarely come to a head. They are also painful. They always appear in the same general area. It's as if the years of antibiotics gave birth to a new super-breed of acne.

I am to the point where I no longer think diet plays a significant role (for me at least).

I am to the point where I feel like I have absolutely no control over the cause.

I am to the point where I feel like my local dermatologists have no clue (all they want to do is prescribe antiobiotics).

I am to the point where I feel like the only thing I can do is pray to God that I'm going to outgrow this soon.

I've read a lot about hormonal acne (androgens, etc), but it always seems to pertain to women. Can men also have hormonal acne at this age? If so, what can be done?

I feel like I am a statistical anomoly. I don't see a single other man in my neighborhood with acne. There are a few women with mild acne and of course teenagers with normal teenage acne, but no men. I am the one.

If there are any other men my age with this problem, I would really like to hear your story.

Thanks...

Man, i hear ya. I am 36 and in the same boat. Just last week, after a bit of a build up, i had a breakout around the same bottom of my mouth/chin area which is sore as hell cystic (as most of it is these days) and i got so worked up about it that i took a week off work. I just could not face the public with it.To depressed about it. I, like you have it come and go, and every time it clears i think im over it. Ha!!. As if. I've seen a few derms over the years, ive had acne since my early teens, and they all want to prescribe antibiotics and not try and get to the root of the problem. Im thinking about seeing a naturopath soon about it. wether or not they can help i dont know. In the last few years ive been able to keep a handle on it whilst leading a fairly normal lifestyle of eating a bit of crap, more healthy foods though, drinkning alcohol, strong coffee with milk 2 - 3 times a day and all of a sudden, pretty much after a hangover it seemed to come back n bite. Lay of the grog? I love my beer, i even brew it myself..so? But ive gone a week without it so far. Just cant binge on it. at the moment im on doxycyclin and ethromycin gel and BP on my spots, + B5 250mg, Mega B complex, zinc 220mg, multi vitamin and evening primrose oil caps, 2 times a day. also wash with Sapoderm med soap and Nizoral 2% anti dandruff shampoo on my oily nose and forehead too. Its a sad thing to think i have worse acne than my 15 yr old son! fucking anoying!! So fingers crossed. Good to see im not alone. It seems to be worse in the cooler months though.

[greg09]

Hi,

I am 30 years old and have suffered with acne for years. I tried antibiotics in my teens for about a year but then couldn't be bothered as I didn't think they worked. I just tried to ignore my skin problem as it had died down to a not-that-bad level but at the start of the year I thought enough is enough and I decided to go my GP. He prescribed a lotion called Zineryt which I would put on my face in the morning and before I went to bed and several months later it has made a real difference. The only thing I suffer from now is a few blackheads with the very occasional spot!

Obviously no one can ever say 100% why their acne has cleared up but I believe that the Zineryt has played a major role in controlling my acne. People say that it eventually stops working but my GP (who is a sensible guy) says that if I continue to use it and kill the bacteria infection which is causing my spots then there is no reason why my acne should flare up again. Fingers crossed.

Good luck and try not to let it get you down, no one else ever cares about your skin anywhere near as much as you!

[Brandy]

Please consider giving Dan's regimen a try. http://www.acne.org/regimen.html
It really does work well.

http://www.acne.org/success.php

Hope that helps.

[konichiwa5]

I feel your pain, man. Please check out my other post. Hope this helps.

[princess_chunli]

Hi,

I agree that you should not be afraid to try new treatments. Many people respond to different regimens or modify existing regimen (see my version of Dan's regimen below) to see what works best for them. It is a process of trial and error so don't give up hope. I don't think any of us has stuck with any of the first treatments/regimens we tried...our skin reacts differently from other people's due to genetics, diet, exercise habits, climate where we live etc.

[Ol' Skool]

I feel your pain as well, my brother! I'm 40 now, just had my first child & everything else in my life is pretty great. After suffering with this for the last 25+ years, it just becomes so frustrating... almost maddening. I've tried damn near everything & am now seeing a homeopath... hopefully this will yield some results... I'd love to enjoy the rest of my years unencumbered by this affliction & the psychic damage it has done.

Namaste...

[StriderHien]

You should take a very good look at your Digestion. Poor digestion is a big cause of adult acne and hardly anyone knows about this.

Why do people erupt after eating certain foods? I used to break out days after eating certain meats, cheeses, eggs, etc. After a bunch of research I suspected I had low HCL. Without HCl your food sits in your stomach all day, ferments, and causes a whole range of problems due to released toxins.

I started taking HCL capsules with meals and noticed a huge improvement within only a couple days. I was shocked. Everything made sense to me now.

If you want to "test" and see if you have hypochloridia(low stomach acid production) take a simple test. In the middle of your meal take one capsule. If you have a bad burning sensation stop and take an antacid to neutralize the acid. That means you don't have the problem. If there is no burning, take 2 capsules on your next meal and evaluate. Still, if no burning, take 3 capsules your next meal. Continue this pattern until you feel a burning sensation. Then subtract one capsule and stick with that dose. If taking multiple capsules (for example 6) spread them out for max effectiveness. Never take them on an empty stomach.

It took me 6 capsules to get my slight burning sensation. I think I'm on the road to recovery. Eventually your stomach "learns" to produce more acid and eventually you can stop taking these pills. This can take from weeks to months. Also, good luck trying to explain this to a doctor; no doctor I talked to knows of a way to determine if one has low stomach acidity.
Also, if you have an ulcer do not take these pills.

I got horrible acne and horrible scars in college. I was ashamed and avoided all my friends. Its been 5 years now and I'm a lonely person. I've also lost my charm that made me so likable in high school. I hate what I have become but I don't want to lose hope. Good luck for you and I hope you find your answer

[akmalt]

littlewinded,

just wondering what is happening lately after your time taking accutane. Did it work for you or did your acne come back? I hope for your sake that it went away with no side effects. let me know...I too am older (34) and have acne that is driving me crazy...big time!!! thanks for your help!

jt

hi texasboy im in texas myself down on the coast.im a 39 male also been fitting ance sence latter part of high school and its controlled a big part of my life ive changed my diet and tryed everything under the sun to try and help me with this but my ance would always come back now that im almost 40 i told myself this is anuff and went to a different derm that told me about accutane so ive been on it now 5 months and been clear for 3months with a 7 month course i hope and pray that my ance doesent come back and my kids dont have to go through the pain and suffering that there dad did
i just wanted to say hi and let you know your not alone in this fight
the best of luck to you

[cvd]

Hi CentralTexasBoy

I can totally relate to what you're going through. I remember when my kids were teens and my skin was worse than theirs! Here's some things to think about or try...

You may have rosacea. Find a new derm who will consider this and try the correct tx

Keep trying (and trying and trying some more) - resistant adult acne has to be attacked on multiple fronts (lifestyle, diet, meds) over a long period of time

See an endocronologist (they look at everything to determine the causes)

Get allergy testing - underlying allergies may be adding to inflammation

Change your diet based on the allergy testing and anything else you think contributes

Lower stress - stress causes more androgens that cause more flare-ups (vicious cycle). Do daily meditation, yoga, etc. It really helps improve health in many ways but has to be done daily for best results.

Get the book - "Healing Adult Acne" by Dr Richard Fried. He addresses not only the physical but emotional aspects of dealing with adult acne. This book changed my whole perspective.

To properly treat this you'll most likely need a good perscription topical + internal medication (at least at first to calm things down). OTC topicals usually don't work for resistant adult acne and are too harsh. Dan's BP may work for you but I think deep resistant cystic acne doesn't usually respond to BP despite what ads say. I found it too harsh for my skin.

There are many perscription topicals that men like. Tretinoin cream is good, also Differin, etc. Tretinoin cream is very good because it normalizes how skin cells work. It takes a long time to work (6 months) but it's very effective.

Antibiotics are used to calm things down. I really like Bactrim. It immediately calms down cystic acne and you use it for about two weeks at a time. Minocycline didn't work for me either.

Don't give up - fight smarter and pull in the big guns (endocronologist, allergist, rosacea specialist, etc.). You're old eneough and deserve to have the specialists figure this out.

I sometime think that we older folks get stuck because we think we're just dealing with teenage acne. NOOOOO - this is different and it can ruin your life. Plus it may be the outward sign of other problems (insulin levels, allergies, etc.)

[jefferzzzz]

I guess everyone is different... I am 33 had acne all my life and diet made NO change whatsoever... I am now eating junk food and my face is clearer than it has ever been. I stayed away from fried foods and chocolate since i was 15 thinking it would help but it didn't. Now I eat whatever I want and just stay on my regimen and i'm clear.

The only thing I know is, that when I stop the regimen the acne comes back. I just have to stay vigilant and always do it twice daily.

[xgirl]

I'm female, but I can relate. I'm 35, and after 20 years of acne, I have had enough.

I have also had enough of harsh topicals (namely, BP) and walking around like a flaking lobster 24/7. About 6 weeks ago I decided to try something new. No more BP was the #1 thing, I can't stand the way it makes me itch, peel and burn. I started taking the Acnescript vitamin, along with a LOT other vitamins. I also started cleasing with a gentle cleanser and the clarisonic Mia. Not sure if you are interested in investing in the Mia, but I'm so glad I did personally. I don't have stellar health insurance, so seeing a derm is not an option. I save all $ for the kids' ability to go to the doc when needed. So, I did this on my own. Vitamins, gentle cleansing, no BP, LOTS and LOTS of green tea or skin detox tea (from Yogi), same diet (and I don't always eat great), still enjoy a beer or two or three now and then, still enjoy a cup of coffee now and then... And I'm almost clear!

I think for me it was vitamins and being gentle and NO PICKING. Things don't work on me topically-- I'm too sensitive. And my diet has never seemed to matter. For me it's hormonal.

My main recommendation would be trying AcneScript-- (google it)-- they have one for people who gets cysts. Maybe that one would work for you?

Good luck. I know how much this sucks