226 replies to this topic

[Packerfan785]

So no one has found information suggesting 4000 IU a day can be dangerous?

[jay7]

Yay, my first new post on acne.org for ages!

I was out with a friend the other night and he started arguing with someone about sunscreens being potentially bad for you if used all of the time. He said it doesn't let the body produce enough vitamin D....

Now I don't want to be controversial but I think he may be right. I first noticed my T-zone skin getting a little porey and icky a few years ago. I still get cysts too. Anyway, over the next few months I saw some dermatologists and a skin specialist in a reputable plastic surgeon's office and they all just looked at it and automatically said "Sun damage". I didn't even think to question it. We all know about wrinkles, moles, freckles and (God forbid) skin cancer from too much sun here in Australia where I've lived for 44 years. So I took their recommendations and started with a peel then eventually moved on to retin A and fraxel - all of which require you to keep the hell away from the sun. So I've kept out of the rays as much as possible and have been using 30+ sunscreen any time I've been outside. Bad thing is, the more treatments I had for my skin the worse it looked . All of the stuff I was doing to my poor face was just compounding my problems. I've been getting some pretty severe depression too.

But hang on a second, sun damage?! The rest of the skin on my face looked really great apart from the T-zone and I've been putting a tinted moisturiser SPF 15+ on my T-Zone alone for the last 20 years!!! If it's sun damage why does my unprotected area look so good and the protected area look bad?! It just don't add up!! And it's probably not hereditary either - I've got the worst skin out of anyone in my entire family. I realise the T-zone is the problem area for many reasons (sebaceous glands etc etc) but I got to thinking that maybe that area has been sun-starved for two whole decades?

I'm over a year post-fraxel and I've quit retin A so now I'm starting with a small amount of sun exposure each day to see what it does to my skin. No burn-inducing levels of course - just a few minutes here and there during the safer hours. All things in moderation. I already feel happier (maybe because of more vitamin D, or maybe it's the idea that this could actually work ).

To hell with dermatologists and their lasers and potions and "Don't get any sun or your skin or you'll get prematurely old, then shrivel up and die of cancer" garbage. I'm going back outside...

[Demorph]

i've been taking vitamin D3 for a week now and i haven't noticed any changes yet.
should i up the dosage?

[jksl]

how much does a vitamin D test cost?

[Stephen01]

What We RecommendIf you use suntan parlors once a week or if you live in Florida and sunbathe once a week, year-round, do nothing. However, if you have little UVB exposure, my advice is as follows: healthy children under the age of 2 years should take 1,000 IU per day—over the age of 2, 2,000 IU per day. Well adults and adolescents between 80–130 pounds should start with 3,000 IU per day while those over 130 pounds but less than 170 pounds should take 4,000 IU per day. Those over 170 pounds should receive 5,000 IU per day. Two months later have a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D blood test, either through ZRT or your doctor.
Start supplementing with the vitamin D before you have the blood test. Then adjust your dose so your 25(OH)D level is between 50–70 ng/ml, summer and winter. But remember, these are conservative dosage recommendations. Most people who avoid the sun—and virtually all dark-skinned people—will have to increase their dose once they find their blood level is still low, even after two months of the above dosage, especially in the winter. Some people may feel more comfortable ordering the blood test before they start adequate doses of vitamin D. We understand. Test as often as you feel the need to, just remember, no one can get toxic on the doses recommended above and some people will need even more.

http://www.vitamindc...deficient.shtml

[databased]

i've been taking vitamin D3 for a week now and i haven't noticed any changes yet.
should i up the dosage?

As you can see in this chart (from this study), a week is usually nowhere near long enough to have a new dose of Vitamin D reflected in your serum levels; depending on how deficient you are starting out and how large a dose you are taking, it could take multiple months. The Vitamin D Council therefore advises people to take a new dose for 2 months, then get a serum test (cost ~$65) to see if they need to adjust that dose up or down to achieve the desired levels.

Whether or not it will help your particular acne or not is questionable, but getting the serum test is a reasonable bet for general health because the implication these researchers are making is that below around 50ng/ml, your body is essentially "starved" for Vitamin D. The evidence implies your body burns every bit it gets somewhere below that level, and only starts storing reserves for sure somewhere above that level. But the only way to know your status is to get the blood test.

[Packerfan785]

If 4000 IU has only made a small difference and in the past I have seen being outdoors all day cure my acne, should I up the dose? Or should I wait a couple of weeks?

[shelob]

I've been taking Vitamin D3 for a few weeks now and I have really noticed a difference to my skin

I'm 29, and have suffered from acne for as long as i can remember (and i don't think it's hormonal).

I've just moved to a new city, have been having a terrible diet of white pasta and bread all the time, and have been around people who smoke constantly. I've also been drinking alcohol a lot. Usually these would make me erupt in spots, but now I'm getting hardly any!! I can't quite believe it. I'm taking 2 x 1,000IU D3 tablets per day.

THANK YOU to the person who started this thread and made me give this a try. The spots I am getting are really tiny in comparison to what I would usually get.

[Honnie]

Hi, I'm very new to this forum and found you by google search. I am 40 and have fought acne for more than half my life. Every topical, antibiotic, accutane x 2, contraceptives, etc. Some work for a period of time, others nothing. I'm in family practice and have more success with patients' acne than my own. I also had malignant melanoma (skin cancer) at 27. So I've been sunscreened and covered head to toe for years. I'm very fair complected and live in WI with long winters.

I recently asked for a vitamin D level. I have been taking 2000 to 4000 IU daily for several months - very safe (it may have cancer prevention effects as well). Normal level is 30 and above. I was 3, severely low. Treatment is prescription dosing of 50,000 IU x 10 doses. In 4 doses, I felt awesome already. Skin is cleared over a month! Anedotal, I know. But Vitamin D is safer than the hormones, accutane, everything else I've done. I would not recommend more than 4000IU without a blood level.

From sunlight, you need 15 minutes of sun to the face without sunscreen. It is felt that darker pigmented skin (particularly Asian decent) - melanin the skin pigment blocks sunlight (natural sunscreen) and northern residents (when will spring come?) have more difficulty.

Anyway, I was surprised to search acne and vitamin d and find so much information. This may be more helpful for adult acne where hormones are less issue.

Respectfully,
Another Packer Fan,
TMK

Hey doc,

I suspect I have a vitamin D deficiency (I live in Canada) and I was wondering what the symptoms of this deficiency are? I would like to get a vitamin D test from a doctor because I have a suspicion that this might be contributing to my SAD in the winter time. Do I simply ask the doctor for the test, will they willingly administer it? Also, is it covered by insurance, and if not, is it very expensive? Thanks!

[Zmffy]

Yes that was exactly my problem. Well not so much vitamin d as vitamin d and calcium. Vitamin d is needed to absorb calcium so it's both. I stopped drinking milk because that was supposed to cause acne (I was only getting maybe 1 pimple a week) and the lack of calcium and vitamin d made my acne so much worse. So about 2 weeks ago I started drinking rice milk (same nutrients as milk but without the hormones or fat), got a vitamin d supplement, a calcium/magnesium/zinc (zinc is also good for preventing acne), and started getting more sunshine, and BAM!, acne gone.

[atalanta]

Hi guys!

I haven't been back on the forum in months, so just wanted to pop in and give an update. So far, so clear: it's been about 9 months that I've been taking anywhere from 2000 to 4000IU of vitamin d per day. In that time I think I've gotten one or two significant spots, total. I also take advantage of sunshine where I can -- am pretty pale so it doesn't usually take much, but if you have darker skin maybe you want to try more IUs or more sunlight.

In the past 9 months I haven't changed location or diet or lifestyle significantly, so I'm really inclined to think it's the d. Especially since it doesn't seem to make a difference what I wash with or even how often... I've gone camping and hence days without washing, and no skin problems. My skin actually looks better than it ever has, and even the old red marks are almost entirely faded.

So, well... it seems to have worked! I'm going to keep getting some sun and taking the d. Hopefuly won't be back on the forums for a while...

Good luck to everyone!!

A

Ps. Oh, and I'm back to eating peanutbutter and milk and citrus and chocolate and all the old (delicious) suspects. Hooray!

Edited by atalanta, 07 September 2009 - 03:25 PM.

[ShirleyB]

Oh I'm so envy! Atalanta, did u notice any difference in your skin oiliness? Also, where were most of your acnes, on your cheeks, jawline, forehead, chin..etc? I've been taking 1400mg D3 for a month now and so far I've seen no differences...still breaking out like hell...*sigh*

[xboxfreak]

Vitamin D is measured in IU's not mg's.

I think 1400 IU is a pretty low dose.

I try to take 6000 IU during the summer and bump it up to 8,000 IU during winter. I don't get very much sun though.

[add123]

Jay7
You are right on the money...I don't think sunburns are good but the derms and their lasers are no better than the tobacco industry in my opinion..It's all about the money...

Melanoma has increased 50% in women but not men since these lasers hit the market in the 80's...Non melanoma skin cancer has tripled in women under 40...

Every other type of cancer has declined 20% while skin and melanoma rise....

I have read studies that a large % of women are vit d defic....Sun Damage is not the cause...
The pharmaceutical and laser industry that is growing every year x300% is at fault and raking in the money at our expense....

Same as the tobacco industry but worse they are making docs and scientist a commodity of corporate greed and women are dying as a result not to mention the damage to the quality of live of so many....

[Crooked I]

Oh I'm so envy! Atalanta, did u notice any difference in your skin oiliness? Also, where were most of your acnes, on your cheeks, jawline, forehead, chin..etc? I've been taking 1400mg D3 for a month now and so far I've seen no differences...still breaking out like hell...*sigh*

1400iu I take it you mean? If it is, it isn't a lot really. The study we all refer back to when discussing vitamin D3 as an acne product mentions giving patients anything between 5000 - 14000IU per day. I try and take about 5 - 6000iu per day, along with 100mg of zinc.

[ShirleyB]

Oh I'm so envy! Atalanta, did u notice any difference in your skin oiliness? Also, where were most of your acnes, on your cheeks, jawline, forehead, chin..etc? I've been taking 1400mg D3 for a month now and so far I've seen no differences...still breaking out like hell...*sigh*

1400iu I take it you mean? If it is, it isn't a lot really. The study we all refer back to when discussing vitamin D3 as an acne product mentions giving patients anything between 5000 - 14000IU per day. I try and take about 5 - 6000iu per day, along with 100mg of zinc.

Oops, yeah I meant 1400IU. Did you get any results at 5-6000IU?

[Crooked I]

Oh I'm so envy! Atalanta, did u notice any difference in your skin oiliness? Also, where were most of your acnes, on your cheeks, jawline, forehead, chin..etc? I've been taking 1400mg D3 for a month now and so far I've seen no differences...still breaking out like hell...*sigh*

1400iu I take it you mean? If it is, it isn't a lot really. The study we all refer back to when discussing vitamin D3 as an acne product mentions giving patients anything between 5000 - 14000IU per day. I try and take about 5 - 6000iu per day, along with 100mg of zinc.

Oops, yeah I meant 1400IU. Did you get any results at 5-6000IU?

It's hard to tell, since I use BP as well I can't say what's having the greatest effect. My plan is to wean myself off the BP eventually, but for now I just don't know.

[atalanta]

ShirleyB: I'm taking about 4000IU/day, so you might be able to try more and see if that helps.

I think everyone's acne etiology is a bit different, so I don't want to claim D as the cure-all for everyone (for ex, my friend who grew up in Hawaii without sunscreen, and still had acne) but definitely still try it to at least rule out D deficiency as a cause!

Re. oiliness, I've actually always had really dry skin. But lately it's almost entirely normal (no tightness or cracking) so it could just be overall improved skin health, or the fact that I'm no longer putting potentially irritating topicals on it like BP.

So yeah: try upping your dosage, and let us know how it goes!

Edited by atalanta, 27 September 2009 - 02:40 PM.

[databased]

Melanoma has increased 50% in women but not men since these lasers hit the market in the 80's...Non melanoma skin cancer has tripled in women under 40...

Taking a look at actual data , I see that the rate of increased incidence of melanoma (women only) actually was cut in half in the period 1980-2006 compared to the period 1975-1980. For mortality (dying being somewhat more important than just being diagnosed), I see that the trendline actually went from positive in the period 1975-1988, to negative 1988-2006. This would be pretty much the exact opposite of what you're claiming, right?

Every other type of cancer has declined 20% while skin and melanoma rise....

Well, if you're going to tell a lie, make it a whopper! I leave it as an exercise for any reader who has the slightest doubt this is completely made-up fiction to look at the data.

Have you ever actually looked at any cancer stats database?

The Internet has given birth to the most gullible generation the planet has ever seen, nowhere moreso then in the area of "holistic" health.

IMHO.

[kazza]

Just a quick question ( and a side - line at that! ), Has anyone found an improvement in their mood since taking vit D3?

I'm taking it mainly to help with SAD ( Seasonal Effective Disorder ) so this will be my 1st winter, and the real test! What with my codliver oil and multi, aswell as the vit D itself, I'm getting approx 3000iu/day. Incidentally, no change to my skin.

Wondering if I should up my dosage for over the winter period ( we're coming into Autumn now and the clocks go back end of Oct, so going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark! Joy! ) but I'm worried about becoming toxic!

Hell, I might just buy a lightbox and have done but they're a couple hundred quid! ; (