6 replies to this topic

[blah83]

This is a really long story but maybe someone can advise me. I would be eternally grateful if you had any advice.

This is what's been going on since I was a teenager: During PMS I get cystic acne. (I can't remember if it was during PMS when I was a teenager but in recent years I've noticed that it is.) I'm 28 now. It's usually only on my forehead or on the skin between my eyes and ears (side of my head there). Recently I've gotten a couple on my cheeks which worries me because my cheeks are mostly scar-free.

I also have dysmenorrhea, meaning lots of pain during the first 2 days of my period. When I was a teenager it was worse and I couldn't go to school really. I felt nausea and severe cramps. It's somewhat better now. I don't think I have PCOS because I don't have any other symptoms. My period is weird because it happens every 3 weeks instead of every 4 weeks. I don't know if that's normal. Also, birth control didn't work for my acne. I tried Yaz, and Desogen.

The big issue is that the cystic acne almost always scars. I used to really pick at it so I have scars on my forehead. Now even when I don't pick at it, it caves in when it goes away, so I get an atrophic scar whether I pick the acne or not.

I want to try the Aleve for PMS acne. I used to be on prescription Naproxen Sodium (550mg) as a teen but never took it before my period, just during the painful days. Someone also mentioned Evening Primrose Oil and Flaxseed oil on that same thread but then I read reviews and some people have "purging" with Flaxseed oil. I can't afford any purging at all, because as you can guess, I will end up with scars from it.

I never knew what "jawline acne" was until I tried Saw Palmetto last year because my hormones are obviously involved in my acne. The Saw Palmetto gave me jawline acne for the first time. It stopped after I stopped taking it though this month I noticed I had a couple again, I don't know why.

I am sensitive to dairy products, so I have to learn to avoid them. Even though the cystic acne occurs during PMS I notice that if I eat dairy beforehand, it's so much worse. Chocolate and sugar in general is bad too. I'm wondering if it's because of sugar and dairy or because of the ph of these foods is very acidic? Right now I'm living abroad in S. Korea and I'm eating a lot of acidic foods (kimchi, rice and egg) and my face doesn't look so great. When I first got here I was super stressed and ate a lot of sugary snacks, and my face looked terrible. So stress/sugar/dairy/PMS is all working together. I think I'm allergic to corn too, that doesn't give me cystic acne, but tiny red blotches.

Another big problem is that I'm a vegetarian. So...I'm starving here because I can't easily find good vegetarian foods, especially not ones that are healthy for my skin. As far as protein goes, I'm sensitive to dairy, eggs are bad for your skin because of the iodine, and tofu is supposed to mess up your hormones. I'm not sure what vegetarian protein I can eat! But I had this PMS acne long before I became a vegetarian so that's not the cause.

So...my question is, is Evening Primrose Oil going to give me any side effects, like Saw Palmetto? Is it known for doing that to some people? I can't afford to have an Evening Primrose Oil "purge" or "initial breakout" because of scarring. I will try the Aleve. Nothing topical seems to make too much of a difference.

Needless to say, at 28, I'm fed up. I don't want to try Accutane for many reasons. I need to try something though.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[kidego]

If you are lactose Intolerant then you must avoid it. Acne will be the least of your problems if you continue consuming it. My wife is Lactose Intolerant (and still consuming) and now has Liver & Kidney problems. She has yet to "connect the dots". Doctors don't know how to tests for Food Allergies so they dismiss the idea.

[imissyourkisses]

Sorry I can't help much but I am on the same boat! Vegetarian with pms acne, except mine is on my cheeks and leaves scars too!! Tried all the same stuff you tried. Nothing helped.

[Victoria Truong]

I used to have acne before but it mostly gone and this is my natural skincare routine that i used to treat my acne and blemishes I hope this may help ../../..//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png
Morning + Night
1. Cleasing methods
Morning + night - honey and apple cider vinegar
Night - scrub ( honey+brown sugar+olive oil or grape seeds oil ) must be very gently when scrub your face, I do 3times per week
2. Toning (mixing apple cider vinegar + green tea ) you can also apply apple cider vinegar direct to the pimple at night and leave it til you wake up
3. Apply Aloe Vera Gel to the whole face that will help to calm your redness and dry the acne
4. Apply Tea Tree oil to the acne
6. Moisturize with oils (mixing these oils together and apply to your face included : jojoba oil + rose hip oil + emu oil ) 2-3 drops only

Its not as quick as other acne treatment products but if you're patient and follow these steps it will work, I'm not sure if it will work for you but it did work really well for me, I'm using this skincare routine for about 2 months and now my skin is very clear and glowing, likes most of the products out there when first time you using this it may break out a little bit but after 2-3 weeks it will stop and work really well.

1. don't eat red meats
2. Eat more veggies + fruits (1/2kg fruits per day)
3. Sleep early ( a cup of milk + 1/2 spoon of raw honey) will help you sleep well
4. Exercise

Good luck

Edited by Victoria Truong, 11 January 2012 - 01:02 AM.

[blah83]

Thank you guys for your responses. I really appreciate the suggestions. I have tried aloe vera gel and I like it a lot, very soothing. I use tea tree oil only for open (picked) acne because it doesn't do much for cysts. I think I will try the suggestion about exercise and more sleep.

So...I thought that dairy and sugar were definitely playing a part here. I have not been eating any dairy or foods with sugar added since last Saturday. My skin does look slightly better. It's lost that pasty, vampirish, slightly flaky appearance that it had before.

In some unfortunate vegetarian news, Korea broke me. I have been eating fried chicken, after 5 years of no meat. What's really unfortunate is that fried chicken is the worst thing to be eating and it may be causing inflammation.

My cysts are healing, I'm not sure if this is just because my period is over, or because I started taking a multivitamin, or because of the dairy and sugar I cut out. I'm worried because these past few days I've been eating a lot of fruit (super sweet Korean grapes) and white rice. I see/feel a new sore spot on my forehead, which is frightening me so bad. I really hope my problem is not Candida because there's no way I'm messing with that diet.

I'm going to try the Aleve thing next month. Still too afraid to mess with evening primrose oil after what the saw palmetto did. Oh, and I'm also drinking turmeric in water every other day or so. (I'm desperate and trying everything!)

I think it's either food allergies or hormones. Those are the only possible explanations. But what more can I cut out of my diet? Rice? I'm in Korea! lol Anyway...thank you again for your suggestions.

Edited by blah83, 12 January 2012 - 03:17 AM.

[Neeks]

Believe it or not I'm in a very similar situation!!! My acne is completely hormonal, I'm sure of it. I had it under control for a while but quit the use of my birth control and 4 months later a face full of uncontrolable acne and my period has stopped. Reading you're story was crazy because I am also a vegetarian working abroad here in Seoul south Korea!!!! Finding food I's so difficult if you don't want to eat sugary snacks all day. Anyways I'm trying out flaxseed oil and hoping for the best. I'm unfortunately leaving Korea this weekend though as I was here to model and my skin is preventing that. I have a whole list of things at home im going to start.
. Flaxseed oil
. Hormone balance pills from whole foods
. A liver cleanse
. And turmeric as well
I do recommend juicing fruits and veg maybe 2 a day at fist ..right now it's not helping much but when my hormones were more balanced it kept me completely clear! Was the best thing I ever did for my skin hands down!

[Luisa]

If you have PMS break outs then vitamin b6 might be what you need. Specifically pyridoxal-5-phosphate 50mg. I'm using a supplement from now brands called p-5-p, it has all needs to be absorbed well.
Your cycle is shorter so you might be an even better candidate for it. In my case it has helped but it takes time to see results, at least two cycles you will have to wait.
Google it, vitamin b6 is been used to improve PMS symptoms a lot. But really do try to get p-5-p instead of pyrodoxine the cheaper and more common form.