14 replies to this topic

[Ella12]

I've had acne since I was 11, and I'm now 23. My dermatologist had me try every cleansing, moisturizing, and topical ointment products in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as a couple of oral antibiotics. I've also tried nearly every over-the-counter pharmacy product on the market, including Proactive. I haven't gotten much of a relief from my mild-to-moderate acne, and my treatments left with horribly dry and irritated skin, as well as stomach ulcers (thanks, doxycyclene).

My most recent chemical-based regimen consisted of CeraVe cleanser, CeraVe moisturizer, and the Clearasil Ultra ointment (benzoyl peroxide), and I'm also on the pill for hormone balance. And it worked really well, but I became SOOO dependent on my regimen. The benzoyl peroxide dried my skin so excessively that the sebum production went way out of control, and regardless of how thoroughly I moisturized with CeraVe to prevent flaking and tightness, my skin apparently didn't recognize this lotion as valid moisture. Also, I was still quite dependent on my makeup and its blemish-concealing properties. And I was growing tired of all of the chemicals I was putting on my skin every single day.

Early last month, I decided to stop wearing makeup in favor of a more natural me...despite my acne. And while I was at it, I thought I'd also ditch all of my other chemical products (except toothpaste--I'm afraid to go natural with mouth hygiene). The natural alternative I chose for my face--after a great deal of research--was Kiss My Face olive oil soap to cleanse and jojoba oil with tea tree to moisturize, disinfect, and control sebum production. I braced myself for that initial purge and looked forward to clear, natural skin.

It's been about three weeks, and rather than an initial purge, I've merely seen a gradual increase in my blemish count. Although the tea tree helps to heal existing pimples, it works much more slowly than the benzoyl peroxide did, and it doesn't do much to prevent new breakouts. So I went to my local natural market today and purchased some new products.

For the next several days, I'll be cleansing twice daily with a mixture of rose water and a little bit of pure vegetable glycerin, moisturizing twice daily and as needed with that same formula, and spot treating the larger blemishes with my jojoba and tea tree solution. I started my new regimen about an hour and a half ago--my formula cleansed my skin very gently, seems to be moisturizing fairly well, and made my skin tingle a bit (hopefully that means it's working! ) I might see about adding a drop or two of lavender oil and/or tea tree oil to my formula for extra acne-fighting properties.

Hopefully the dryness will subside, the sebum production will continue to stay regulated (the jojoba oil really helped with the latter), and my breakouts will start to heal. Although I'm skeptical, I'm also hopeful. We'll see what happens.

By the way, rose water smells AMAZING.

--Ella

Edited by Ella12, 10 March 2011 - 01:13 AM.

[Ella12]

Okay, first full day of my new regimen. I added a couple drops of lavender oil to my rose water / glycerin formula. Boy, that is potent stuff. Got it a few weeks ago and avoided using it when I realized how overwhelming the scent is, but it's not bad when you add it to rose water.

Another thing I must mention..."vegetarian" is not necessarily synonymous with "healthy diet." Although I avoid greasy foods and excess sugar, as well as all products derived from dead animals (for ethical and health reasons), I wasn't getting enough fruits and vegetables in my diet until somewhat recently. My holistic approach to treating my acne--and achieving great health in general--will include an improvement in my diet. This means cutting back on processed foods and emphasizing grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, as well as increasing my water intake and drinking freshly brewed green tea daily. (Yay for good health! )

Due to ethical concerns about the animal industry as a whole, I would really like to transition into veganism. I already avoid milk, yogurt, and ice cream due to lactose intolerance, but because cheese does not make me ill, I eat it daily to help with my calorie count (I'm slightly below the healthy weight limit for my gender and height) and to ensure that I get enough of the essential nutrients that are present in higher quantities in animals than in plants. But here's the thing...if dairy is one of acne triggers, I shouldn't be eating cheese. It might not be a bad idea to try out a vegan diet for my health, even though my health is what has made me hesitant about embracing a vegan diet up until this point. I probably won't avoid dairy and eggs that are minor ingredients in certain items (like baked goods)--at least not right now. But if dairy is a trigger, then I'll probably transition into true veganism eventually--which will reassure me that I am indeed making ethical dietary choices.

Like I said last night, I'm skeptical. But it would be so amazing not having to rely on makeup to feel good about myself. Wish me luck!

Edited by Ella12, 10 March 2011 - 03:06 PM.

[Ella12]

I bet the soap was the culprit, which might have been why the TTO took longer to heal blemishes. Olive oil breaks a lot of people out, and that soap is full of it!

My only gripe with your routine is the cotton cloth. I did this for weeks, and I broke out more. How does the glycerin feel in the morning? I'd definitely recommend making a small weekly pre-mixed batch, about 1:8 for glycerin to rose water, simply because glycerin on its own (or with less dilution with water) can be sticky. Then tinker with it as needed.

Personally, I'd recommend maybe just toning with rosewater alone in the morning, and using your moisturizing concoction after that. Then in the PM, wash your face with your hands, rubbing thoroughly for a few minutes with warm water (if showering at night, then rub your face for a few minutes under the shower head, see if you feel any dead skin come off. If so, keep rubbing until it stops coming off), and do the rest of your routine.

Best of luck Remember not to make TOO many changes all at once, makes it hard to pinpoint what is or is not helping!

Thanks for your thoughts! Yes, I think the olive oil soap was a HUGE mistake. I'm planning on doing another Burt's Bees facial tonight (LOVE that stuff!!), so hopefully that'll help clear any remaining residue from my pores. We'll see. Do you think jojoba may have been a trigger, as well? I know it works for a lot of people, but many can't tolerate the wax esters.

I've been using a cotton cloth to help exfoliate, but when I was in the shower this morning and massaged a mild water and baking soda solution over my face (that's what I use to cleanse my hair/scalp. Water and apple cider vinegar to condition. Amazing stuff), it removed a lot of the dry skin that's been lingering for a while. So a cloth is probably unnecessary...I'll take your advice.

My face feels okay in the morning, but the rosewater/glycerin/lavender solution doesn't help with oil control like the jojoba did. Once my skin is no longer so dry, maybe I'll have less sebum production. But yeah, that's why I cleanse both in the morning and at night. Regarding the temptation to try too many things at once, that's something I've definitely taken into consideration. I'm so sick of acne plaguing my now-makeup-free face, though, that I'm hesitant to be too patient while waiting for my skin to clear. Know what I mean? You're right, though--it would be helpful to pinpoint the specific triggers so as to avoid them in the future.

Updates to come

[Ella12]

New update...

Looks like my jojoba with tea tree may be coming back into the picture sooner than expected. I admit that I'm being impatient, but my acne is getting even worse now that I've discontinued the olive oil soap and jojoba. Haven't bothered to count the papules and pustules (much more of the former than the latter--I'd rather have the latter because that means they're HEALING) on my face right now because it's so incredibly depressing, but I'd say I have close to 50. Granted, many of them are pretty tiny, but they are red and they are numerous. The healing process is SOOO slow without benzoyl peroxide. Not permanently ruling the BP out, of course, but I'd like to avoid it if possible.

Ashley's idea of once-a-day cleansing sounds promising in the long run. I'll definitely consider it.

If things don't start looking up, I might just have to incorporate makeup into my daily routine again. Not excited about this, either.

Sigh.

[Ella12]

I tried a homemade oatmeal scrub--just oatmeal and a little warm water--about 45 min ago. The exfoliation seems to have been minimal, but I think that's because I ground the oatmeal with my fingers before I mixed it with the water. Next time I try it, I'll use the whole oats because that should give me more bulk to scrub with. But anyway, it's very gentle--MUCH more so than the baking soda idea I had.

I think I'll try this once a day for a while instead of my twice-weekly Burt's Bees facial -- if it's effective, it'll be a great money-saver! Burt's Bees is wonderful, but very expensive.

Too bad to hear about your issues already It could just be that your skin is having an IB to changing routines. That or you are breaking out newly from one of the new ingredients - I'd guess it's the glycerin, as it can be problematic.

Yeah, there could be any number of things going on. The only reason for the glycerin is to help my skin retain moisture. But oatmeal is supposed to help with moisturization in addition to exfoliation, so maybe I won't need the glycerin much longer.

--Haha!! I get such a kick out of the smiley faces.

[Ella12]

Acne Update: Papules and pustules are shrinking.

--------------------

I've tried oats, but I BURNED from them! Weird, I know. I even had a burn reaction from oat WATER (the water from soaked oats applied wtih a cotton ball).

Oatmeal does make a great cleanser, though. You could try it as a mask as well. When it dries, it gets a bit rougher so it might be more exfoliating then, as you can scrub while you rinse!

Hopefully you can get it as minimal as possible in terms of how much you use, and just use easy-to-access things. I mean, imagine if that Burt's Bees stuff was discontinued!

Minimal is one of my goals for a successful natural regimen. And honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they did discontinue the Burt's Bees mask. You can't find it anywhere in stores--at least not any that I've been to. I had to order it from the website.

Your skin's reaction to the oatmeal seems quite strange indeed! The whole grain oats are probably much better for exfoliation than instant oats or colloidal oatmeal would be, due to the extra bulk associated with the whole grain. On the other hand, I read that colloidal oatmeal is especially good for purifying skin AND serving as a moisturizer/humectant. It would be really awesome if I could stop using the glycerin.

--------------------

Further updates coming soon!

Edited by Ella12, 14 March 2011 - 07:23 AM.

[Ella12]

When it gets overwhelming, taking a break from the things that remind you of it is probably the best idea. Gives you time to unwind and recharge. Feel free to post comments here when you come back -- of course, if things don't really start improving for me in the next couple of months, I might need a break too. Dwelling on negative things starts making me cynical after a while, and cynicism isn't my style.

Haven't noticed much of a change in the size or number of papules since my last update, and I still have some dryness and flaking if I don't tone/moisturize within a couple of minutes after cleansing, but I can tell that the overall quality of my skin is improving. My face is no longer drying/flaking immediately after cleansing. No more of that "squeaky clean" feeling I got when I was using the olive oil soap, which probably means that my acid barrier is rebuilding itself. And excluding the still-numerous (but now smaller) papules, my face is pretty smooth.

Eating mostly whole foods, increasing my water intake, trying to drink at least two cups of green tea per day, and planning on getting back into daily yoga starting this weekend.

Edited by Ella12, 16 March 2011 - 01:36 PM.

[Ella12]

As I mentioned yesterday, the overall quality of my skin is definitely improving. My biggest concern right now--and it has been my biggest concern for some time--is that my forehead is incredibly broken out in small papules. They are small, but they are numerous. What's weird is that I almost NEVER got forehead breakouts when I was on my DKR-like regimen. Then shortly after I started the olive oil soap and jojoba oil with tea tree, the breakouts began. And they merely progressed. Now that I've switched to a gentler regimen, I've gotten a lot of my other blemishes under control to the point of reduced inflammation and even healing. I'm still getting some clogged pores that are beginning to feel inflamed, but it's nothing compared to my forehead. And I just can't leave my forehead alone--I almost always avoid the inflamed papules and pustules, but there are so many plugs-of-sorts emerging from my pores (and from healing blemishes) that I just have to get them out so I can clean and treat the pores. Which is causing MORE inflammation. Which will probably cause more papules. Awesome.

So tomorrow, I am officially leaving my face alone, aside from my usual cleansing and toning. I'll also be drinking three cups of green tea throughout the day tomorrow, rather than just two, and I'll continue to nourish my body with whole, healthy foods. Daily yoga is also about to become a habit of mine again, starting Saturday morning. Operation Clarity must and will continue.

[Ella12]

Was able to exfoliate my face this morning after getting out of the shower--just water and gentle massaging, and it worked really well. Skin is super soft, but still quite oily. The blemishes on my forehead are continuing to heal, but it's a slow process. A papule is forming just to the right of my right nostril, in the crevice. But I've been super stressed this week and picking at the clogged pores a little too much. As I said last night, no more of that.

I'm also trying to do some of my own research into androgenic activity and how to effectively regulate it. My endocrinologist said that my male hormone count is normal and that it's the receptors that are causing the issues. Apparently this not a problem unheard of in women. But even though I know I'm not alone, it still feels like I am. Sigh.

[Sima]

Best of luck to you! The all natural remedy sounds really cool, actually. I took Accutane for 6 months and just finished up on March 15th. I tried several other things with my dermatologist but she finally put me on the tane as a last resort type of thing. Also, I think I have too much testosterone. I grow hair really easily. The hair on my head is really thick and lush, which I am definitely proud of. However, the hair on my legs and underarms is constantly coming in. I have to shave constantly. I think the amount of testosterone and androgens that I have is excessive. I am currently still taking birth control pills to regulate my hormone imbalance. I am really curious about the androgens and its receptors, though. I wonder what my derm will have to say about it when I have my appointment mid-April. Looks like I'll have to compile another list!

Edited by Sima, 19 March 2011 - 12:29 AM.

[Ella12]

I've been doing quite a bit of research over the last week or so, and here are some things that I already knew about and my research affirmed them:

1. Everyone is different.

Just because we are members of the same species, doesn't mean we are physiologically identical. One's unique genetic makeup makes that individual different from EVERYONE else in the world in a complex way. What resolves acne for one individual is not necessarily going to be effective for another. Also, what is required for good health is sometimes relative. Even though studies show that healthy diets and frequent exercise are practically rules for achieving maximum health, I may have sensitivities to certain healthy foods that other acne sufferers don't have, so I'd have to avoid those foods -- and vice-versa. Some people can run five miles a day, while others might have to stick with brisk walking because of muscular or skeletal issues. And that's perfectly fine.

2. Our bodies are highly intelligent.

Evolution is a pretty amazing process. We are essentially pre-programmed to function correctly. Thanks to modern science, when something goes awry, there is almost always a solution to the problem. We also know how to prevent countless problems before they're triggered. And how is this possible? We supply the body with what it needs, and the body works to restore itself. There are always some exceptions to the rule, depending on potential combinations of unique factors, but generally speaking, the body does what it is supposed to do.

3. The body is always striving to maintain homeostasis.

Homeostasis is essentially a balance. When an organism has everything it needs to function correctly -- both internally and externally speaking -- it will always be striving for that balance. When something is slightly off, the organism's physiology allows the body to respond to the imbalance and correct the problem. For instance, what happens when the surrounding temperature is too hot? We sweat. As the sweat evaporates off of our skin, it produces a cooling effect. When the temperature is too cold, we involuntarily shiver, as movement helps the body to generate heat. Now, provided our systems are in general working order, we'll all sweat or shiver if our surroundings are too hot or too cold (respectively). But genetic factors determine the temperature our bodies must reach before the reaction begins. It's not like water always freezing at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There's no one temperature that stimulates sweating or shivering in everyone.

We all require a different approach to finding homeostasis, which I think is key here. My last post had to do with the endocrine system, so I'll use hormonal acne as an example. People whose DNA easily allows for well-balanced hormones will not easily acquire hormone-related acne, so they probably won't have to be as diligent about maintaining the vitality of their skin. But I, on the other hand, have a genetic pre-disposition towards androgen receptor hypersensitivity. This doesn't mean that I'm doomed to suffer acne for the rest of my life; rather, it means I have to work harder at getting my hormone levels under control so the acne can disappear.

People whose hormones are naturally balanced won't have to take medication to correct associated problems, and the things they eat probably won't have much of an effect on their skin's appearance--at least as far as acne is concerned. But my physiology requires that I be more proactive in maintaining good health if I want to see an improvement in my skin.

----

So in short, taking all of the above into consideration, here's what I'm going to do.

1. I'm going to keep eating a balanced, healthy diet that is composed primarily of whole, plant-based foods. They are power foods that promote a biochemical balance, which is what we all need for optimum function. And as long as balance is my goal, I shouldn't have to worry about what plant foods have what activity on the endocrine system. I'll still drink green tea for its incredible health benefits (and it does have anti-androgenic effects, according to research). Cheese intake will be limited for a while, so that I can observe whether dairy is a trigger food for me. I will also continue taking my daily multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplement for that extra boost. I might try a gluten-free diet if I don't see much acne-related improvement over the next few months, but I'm not going to worry about that right now.

2. I will continue to drink lots of water.

3. I'll get a healthy amount of sleep every night. Working on this.

4. Yoga will be part of my daily routine -- exercise and relaxation. Still haven't gotten back into this yet, but I will! Tomorrow morning, first thing!

5. I'll try to spend some extra time outside every day. Fresh air and healthy sunshine.

6. I'll work on my procrastination habit to keep my stress level down.

7. No more worrying. Or at least as little of it as possible.

If I strive for overall health, I think everything will fall into place. Like I said, I'll need to be diligent to make up for my tendency towards hormonal imbalance. But if great health is my focus, think about how many benefits this lifestyle will provide!! This is fun. I love good health.

Best of luck to you! The all natural remedy sounds really cool, actually. I took Accutane for 6 months and just finished up on March 15th. I tried several other things with my dermatologist but she finally put me on the tane as a last resort type of thing. Also, I think I have too much testosterone. I grow hair really easily. The hair on my head is really thick and lush, which I am definitely proud of. However, the hair on my legs and underarms is constantly coming in. I have to shave constantly. I think the amount of testosterone and androgens that I have is excessive. I am currently still taking birth control pills to regulate my hormone imbalance. I am really curious about the androgens and its receptors, though. I wonder what my derm will have to say about it when I have my appointment mid-April. Looks like I'll have to compile another list!

Yeah, having an idea of how your individual endocrine system works can tell you a LOT about what you observe in your appearance. Feel free to let me know how everything goes! Also, how did you do with Accutane? Side effects, etc.? I know it helps a lot of people, but it's a pretty potent drug.

Edited by Ella12, 19 March 2011 - 05:33 PM.

[Sima]

Yeah, having an idea of how your individual endocrine system works can tell you a LOT about what you observe in your appearance. Feel free to let me know how everything goes! Also, how did you do with Accutane? Side effects, etc.? I know it helps a lot of people, but it's a pretty potent drug.

Accutane is definitely a miracle worker. I feel like I am endorsing the product, but it did wonders for my skin. My pores are completely clear which is why I currently do not have any active breakouts and have not had any active acne for quite some time. I developed a mild case of eczema on the backs of my hands. My hands were very dry, blotchy, and extremely red. It was painful to put fragrance-free lotion on them because the lotion would seep through the open wound on my hands. My lips were very dry. My skin was consistently flaky. My lips and skin continue to be pretty dry but it gets better as each day passes. Accutane slows the healing process so I tried to be careful to not mess with active acne. It worsens hyperpigmentation. I am going to start using glycolic acid to fade the red marks and make them appear less prominent. I will keep you updated, thanks!

[Ella12]

Accutane is definitely a miracle worker. I feel like I am endorsing the product, but it did wonders for my skin. My pores are completely clear which is why I currently do not have any active breakouts and have not had any active acne for quite some time. I developed a mild case of eczema on the backs of my hands. My hands were very dry, blotchy, and extremely red. It was painful to put fragrance-free lotion on them because the lotion would seep through the open wound on my hands. My lips were very dry. My skin was consistently flaky. My lips and skin continue to be pretty dry but it gets better as each day passes. Accutane slows the healing process so I tried to be careful to not mess with active acne. It worsens hyperpigmentation. I am going to start using glycolic acid to fade the red marks and make them appear less prominent. I will keep you updated, thanks!

My brother was on Accutane for a few months, and he had those same side effects. But I guess it's worth it in the end if you can feel great about your clear skin. Accutane is something I don't think I'd ever try, but I'm really happy to hear about people getting the results they want after a round or two of the treatment.

----

My blemishes still look like they're healing, but boy, is it ever a slow process. More updates to come!

[Ella12]

Decided to stop the rose water and lavender yesterday. My blemishes just haven't been healing well, so I figured I should stop using them -- they may be essential oils, but they're still oils. It could be that my skin is still adjusting, but if I were to find out three or four weeks from now that they were merely contributing to the acne, I'd be really upset at myself for not discontinuing them early on. So I'm further simplifying my regimen -- time to update the signature.

[Ella12]

Wow, it has been a long time since I last updated. So here's what's been going on.

Even though I stopped using the essential oils on my face, the vegetable glycerin was not helping, either. In fact, my acne was just getting worse. While searching through the Acne.org forums last week, I read that post about the acne-like fungal infection called pityrosporum folliculitis, and because I had quite a few bumps that resembled the descriptions I found, I made an appointment with my doctor. And the earliest time available was at 8:00 or so on April 13 -- even though it seemed really far away, I took it.

Then, while doing some of that research into malassezia furfur, the yeast that causes PF, I learned that this microbe feeds on something I had been using on my face. In fact, researchers will frequently feed this substance to malassezia in lab experiments. That substance is olive oil. Now, I stopped using the olive soap a few weeks ago, so fortunately my skin was probably in the process of clearing out any lingering residue at the time that I made this discovery. But because I was also suspicious of vegetable glycerin, I decided to look into some scientific studies. And, lo and behold, scientists often use glycerin to culture fungus in labs. If I had a fungal infection, it was quite possible that the glycerin was just making things worse.

So I had a breakdown-of-sorts last weekend, and in my frustration I decided to resume use of benzoyl peroxide. I was still having tightness and dryness issues with my skin at that point, even though I had been using only oatmeal and glycerin. I knew that if I went back to BP while I waited for my doctor's appointment, the dryness would greatly intensify with I didn't have a moisturizer. In one last effort to have as natural of a skincare regimen as possible, I decided to purchase some aloe vera plants after doing some research on its characteristics and uses. You can purchase aloe vera gel from drugstores and natural markets and such, but because it doesn't keep well, manufacturers almost always use preservatives that could potentially aggravate problem skin. Plus, you get the greatest botanical benefit when the plant is fresh, as you do when you consume fresh fruits and vegetables. Granted, I wouldn't be ingesting the aloe, but the gel, when freshly harvested, has an incredible amount of phytochemicals that can potentially improve the overall quality of one's skin when applied topically.

So a few days ago I started this new regimen: In the morning, I cleanse with oatmeal and rinse clean with a washcloth, and then I apply the aloe vera gel to my whole face. Because I've had some rather prominent papules/pustules this week, I've also been spot-treating with 10% benzoyl peroxide. Then I spot-conceal those areas with my BareMinerals foundation. Besides those few areas, I use no makeup on my face. Used to use it every single day -- a full face of foundation and powder, eye makeup, blush, lip gloss, etc. But as I've mentioned before, I decided I ought to start showing my true face and being proud of it. It's a challenge, but it's refreshing.

At night time, I repeat the oatmeal wash and aloe vera application, but I mix the aloe vera with a tiny bit of BP and apply it to my whole face. I put on extra aloe after that because the BP is so drying, and then I do some BP spot-treating for an extra boost. To preserve the aloe, I keep it frozen when I'm not using it.

I'm already seeing great results. The papules and pustules are shrinking and healing, the anti-inflammatory phytochemicals in the aloe are reducing the redness/inflammation, my skin tone is evening out, and I'm pretty happy. There's a decent chance that I don't have pityrosporum folliculitis after all -- I'll probably keep my appointment though, just in case. The only problem I'm encountering is considerable dryness and peeling from the BP, as I expected. The aloe isn't providing the kind of moisture I was hoping it would. So I'll be purchasing an ointment with 2.5% or 5% BP to apply to my whole face at night time, and I'll save the 10% for spot-treating.

As far as the other holistic methods of acne treatment (drinking lots of water and green tea, getting daily exercise and enough sleep, etc.), I'm falling short of my goals. I'll keep these things in my signature space to remind me of their importance.

Edited by Ella12, 08 April 2011 - 03:54 PM.