24 replies to this topic

[i_ckone]

So i've had oily skin(especially on my nose) for around 4 years now i am 24. i used to have moderate/severe acne to the extent that i thought about killing myself more than one time . anyway after tons of oral medicine and topical gel like differin and BHA, my skin is now way better than before in terms of acne, but the huge pores and Sebaceous filaments (i will call it blackheads afterwards although its not right) on my nose and sebum problems are still very serious. i still use BHA twice everyday, i gotta say it helps me a lot in preventing and healing acne. now i start to try some supplements since the only way to reduce skin oil and blackheads is from inside. actually blackheads on my nose are the results of too much excreted oil(right?).

anyway i started vitamin b5 about 3 weeks ago. i took 2.4g/d for the first week, 5.6g/d for the next 9 days and than up to 10g/d since 3 days ago. now i dont have any obvious reduction in oil production. pretty depressed but i will keep going 10g/d for some weeks. and i also take wyeth vitamin a - zinc. it has 15mg zinc in one pill which i guess is kinda low.
any suggestions?

Edited by i_ckone, 25 July 2011 - 08:33 AM.

[i_ckone]

yesterday night when i applied BHA i felt my skin softer which only happens after i take fish oil, but i didnt take any supplements other than b5 and a-zinc. so i guess its the result of b5. its the first positive improvement b5 did to my skin, hope its a good sign.

[mastershadow]

Good stuff, keep us posted!

[i_ckone]

The sebaceous filaments are very likely completely due to your topicals. I didn't get sebaceous filaments (or oily skin) until I started using skincare products that were drying my skin out. I went 3 weeks without washing my face (at all, even water) in the summer, and when I exfoliated, the sebaceous filaments were gone for a good 2-3 months before coming back while I was experimenting with ways to wash my face. So I'd assume that if you keep your skin less dried out and dehydrated, the issues will minimize. So, maybe start with using BHA only ONCE a day instead of twice.

thanks for sharing your experience. but if i kept not washing my face for more than 2 days i think it would be covered with a layer of oil and it definitely would bring about acne. wouldnt it happen to you when you didnt wash your face for 3 weeks?
but i will try to use BHA once a day and see how it is going.

[i_ckone]

No, I actually cleared up relatively nicely during that three week period. And using just water now, once a day, my acne is getting better.

I don't know why people assume that oiliness = acne. It can contribute, yes, but it's not really a cause of acne. And you are exfoliating pretty much twice a day now along wtih using products that are just plain drying. So no wonder your sebaceous filaments are noticeable. I think it would be worth trying to minimize product use - do you really see yourself following this routine (or one just like it) into your late adult years?

yeah every time i thought about following this routine for the rest of my adult life i felt really really depressed.

why i use BHA every day? because it really help me PREVENT cystic acne by extracting early pimples and other stuff that might developing to cystic. and it also normalize the skin exfoliating process (exfoliating defect is another reason causing acne) so there is no clogged pores. anyway i really recommend it to people who suffer from abnormal skin exfoliating and clogged pores. and i dont think i can totally stop using BHA UNTIL i find a substitute for it or i stop getting clogged pores. sucks. or do you have any solution to abnormal skin exfoliating without BHA?

oiliness of course is only one reason contributing to acne, but as far as sebaceous filaments, i think oiliness is pretty much the only(or most critical) reason. am i right? that's why i take vitamin b5. when i am not oily i guess sebaceous filaments will be removed too.

[bryan]

...oiliness is just a regular side-effect of dehydrated skin.

Why do you believe that?

[i_ckone]

Because that is what I believe, from personal experience and from countless experiences of other individuals.
I really could care less about your tirelessly annoying quest to make everyone think that their reasoning is completely wrong and that yours is the only right and accurate way of thinking. Considering the immensely large amount of anecdotal evidence that agrees with my statement, I feel more than comfortable stating what I wrote above despite the fact that anecdotal information is generally not suitable to be used as scientific evidence. Seeing as the majority of people who report having oilier skin when using products that cause their skin to feel tight and dried out say that it goes down once they start moisturizing intensely or stop using those harsh products and no longer suffer from tightness, well that makes me completely confident in saying what I said in my above post.

thanks for your replies and why do you seem a little bit angry? have a nice day

[i_ckone]

this is the 9th day since i up the dose to 10g/d. i saw reduction of oil production from 5th day and i report it today because i want to make sure of it. now its around 60% oil production of before. i feel lucky for b5 really having effect on me, and it seems that 6g/d is not enough for me since i have taken 6g/d for 10 days and got nothing significant.

40% reduction of oil production i believe is not enough for me since i am extremely oily on my nose. i will keep it up 10g/d and hope the reduction will continue.

by the way, skin really get softer than before and that's another benefit of b5.

[bryan]

Because that is what I believe, from personal experience and from countless experiences of other individuals.

I once did a test of my own, in which I measured my sebum output scientifically with Sebutape Skin Indicators, both during periods of not washing at all (my skin was its normally moist level), and during periods of washing vigorously several times a day with Ivory soap (it made my skin so dry and irritated, it was actually painful!), and yet there was no difference in sebum output at all, as measured directly by the Sebutape!! How do you explain that?

And how do you explain the study of elderly people done by dermatologists who found no correlation at all between the level of moisture in those people's skin and the level of sebum they produce?

Have you ever considered that maybe people who post on sites like this aren't terribly accurate in what they report, and don't even know how to test these ideas in any meaningful, scientific way?

[Maximus Decimus Merideous]

Because that is what I believe, from personal experience and from countless experiences of other individuals.

I once did a test of my own, in which I measured my sebum output scientifically with Sebutape Skin Indicators, both during periods of not washing at all (my skin was its normally moist level), and during periods of washing vigorously several times a day with Ivory soap (it made my skin so dry and irritated, it was actually painful!), and yet there was no difference in sebum output at all, as measured directly by the Sebutape!! How do you explain that?

And how do you explain the study of elderly people done by dermatologists who found no correlation at all between the level of moisture in those people's skin and the level of sebum they produce?

Have you ever considered that maybe people who post on sites like this aren't terribly accurate in what they report, and don't even know how to test these ideas in any meaningful, scientific way?

Owned

[tim12]

Hey i_ckone,

I'm going to make some personal observations based on my experiences, so take them for that and do your research as well if any of it intrigues you

Many people have had success with supplements, but it's important to look at all the options out there. I haven't come across anyone on here who has had success with B5 alone, and taking it in high amounts can lead to hair loss. 2 grams is the "norm", if you will as far as safe amounts. You could also be producing a lot of oil because your skin is trying to compensate for being overly treated with topicals that are stripping, washing too much, etc. One of the best ways to remedy this is to find a moisturizer that doesn't break you out, and always apply it after cleansing. Eventually, your skin will start to normalize it's oil production.

As far as self medicating, it's important to look into side effects, and realize that not all of the possible side effects will be realized. Now with some clinical, peer reviewed studies that I have read, EPA (an omega 3 fat) and GLA (an omega 6 fat) are both known improve the quality of one's sebum, decrease the amounts of active lesions. Of course many mainstream doctors do not advise taking supplements, but there is a lot of empirical evidence out there that it is effective, and it's much easier to prevent a disease than it is to treat it. There are of course doctors who believe in supplementation/dietary changes (or at least possess a curiosity of it), hence the peer reviewed studies, and shows like The Doctors and Dr. Oz.

In short, I hope the best for you in finding what works for you!

[bryan]

I really could care less about your tests.

I think what you really meant to say is that you couldn't care less. I see your grammar and word usage are about as impressive as your interest in science!

You are an extremely annoying poster every time you try to one-up someone who posts something based on personal experience. Hell, the majority of things on this website are based on personal experience shared with others. And a lot of people on this website have noticed that the less they mess with their skin, and the less tight/dehydrated their skin is, the less oily it feels and looks.

So, really, keep trying to one-up people who are posting their own observations and their own methods as to how to remedy whatever ailment they have noticed.

I will keep posting the science of what doctors and researchers have said about the physiology of human sebaceous glands. Better get used to it.

[bryan]

You could also be producing a lot of oil because your skin is trying to compensate for being overly treated with topicals that are stripping, washing too much, etc. One of the best ways to remedy this is to find a moisturizer that doesn't break you out, and always apply it after cleansing. Eventually, your skin will start to normalize it's oil production.

Your skin doesn't use the production of sebum to "compensate" or "normalize" anything. That's been thoroughly tested and discredited in a number of studies done over the years by doctors. Of course, that doesn't stop posters on sites like this from continuing to make such fanciful claims.

[{DC}]

Based on ashleys logic shouldnt people with dry skin also have over active sebaceous glands?

And why do antiandrogens significantly slow sebum excretion and something like steroids increases it? Maybe sebaceous glands are under the direct control of androgens and not at all influenced by external factors?

You know how many people suffer from excessively oily skin? If it were as easy as to simply apply moisturizer, jojoba oil or not over wash your skin this section of the message boards wouldnt even exist!

Why do teenagers for the most part who at one time had their great prepubescent skin suddenly start getting greasy, oily and pimples? Did the these young kids entering into puberty suddenly for no reason at all start washing their faces too much hence the over active sebaceous glands?

No, androgens stimulate sebaceous glands. This is NOT up for discussion. One is entitled to their own opinion, but NOT their own facts.

So if we KNOW sebaceous glands are stimulated by androgens, what makes you think jojoba oil, moisturizer or not over washing your face is going to do to counter that?

Edited by {DC}, 16 March 2011 - 09:56 AM.

[razorguy]

Check out this article: http://www.livestrong.com/article/195927-a...-herb-for-acne/

It is short but does an excellent job of explaining what DC just said. I actually just found out about the whole anti-androgen thing yesterday and am going to pick up some Saw Palmetto today.

I had a similar reaction to B5 as you did. I saw a slight oil reduction but never anything major. So if you want to continue taking it then feel free as some have good luck with it, and I'll report back about the Saw Palmetto.

[skin-matters]

hey now,

Can you guys relax a bit and show some maturity, especially on the forums.

Reasoning and rationalizing things are good way of coming up with ideas to battle oily skin, and if we were all the same then there would be one cure for all. ALSO there wouldn't be so much debate, everyone would be dealing with it in the same way, and that people would not be having theories, but everyone's body makeup IS different and people react to different things in different ways.

It's stressful enough for myself, suffering which i feel like in silence over the years having extremely but more so constant and i mean 24/7 oily skin, I personally really want a break from it, i can't keep doing it anymore, feeling horrible every minute of the day, i can't stand it. Throw ideas around but don't be so condescending and mean to one another!

In my situation I am seriously thinking about going on accutane - and trying to deal with it how I have in the last too-long 13 years, it's been way too much. I want to go on accutane as soon as possible!

Otherwise that's all, be nice peoples!

[i_ckone]

Check out this article: http://www.livestrong.com/article/195927-a...-herb-for-acne/

It is short but does an excellent job of explaining what DC just said. I actually just found out about the whole anti-androgen thing yesterday and am going to pick up some Saw Palmetto today.

I had a similar reaction to B5 as you did. I saw a slight oil reduction but never anything major. So if you want to continue taking it then feel free as some have good luck with it, and I'll report back about the Saw Palmetto.

i read the article, it seems that Saw Palmetto is worth a try, im looking foward to your report!

[Gators_Fan]

I tried Saw Palmetto because the science behind it sounded perfect to combat acne. I didn't experience much help from taking it, but only took it for around a month. I believe it generally works better for women than men, but can work for either.

[i_ckone]

i have taken b5 in dose of 10g/d for 2 weeks. oil production is reduced around 50%. i wash my face at 7:30am and have a little oil on my nose(the most oily area on my face) at noon(my nose was usually very oily at noon before starting taking b5), but then oil increases and my nose is oily in the evening. that's the condition of my skin now.

i start to increase b5 dose to 12g/d from yesterday. i guess dose is important since i didnt get effect from 5.6g/d and got pretty good effect from 10g/d.

and i have followed some of ashley's suggestion as to only wash my face with water and not exfoliate too much. although some of her theories are controversial, the not irritating skin part is reasonable and remind me that my skin was not good at all during the past years when i used cleanser. and BHA is not very effective to sebaceous filaments.

so 5 days ago i started washing my face with only water and applying BHA for red marks spot treatment and not on nose. i will stick with it and we'll see.

Edited by i_ckone, 20 March 2011 - 01:59 AM.

[i_ckone]

i decrease b5 dose to 10g/d. now i am oil-free for half a day, starting to get oily after lunch, oily before i wash my face before sleep.

also as of today i add some other supplements. i take zinc gluconate 50mg*2, vitamin d 2000IU*2, vitamin A 10,000IU*1, wyeth vitamin A-Z pill*1 which has 4000IU vitamin A and 15mg zinc and other vitamins and minerals in it. so totally 115mg zinc and 14,000IU vitamin a.