4 replies to this topic

[mlk87]

Well here is my story... I'm 25 year old woman, I've seen a dermatologist since I was 12 when I started having acne, but I was born with acne on my face. My skin has improved over the years and I take a birth control pill and my face stays relatively clear from using benzaclin and tazorac. About 3 months ago I started taking a probiotic and my skin cleared up completely (thought I had found a natural cure!) I also cut back on dairy and grains but supplemented with soy and coconut products. By the 2nd month I noticed my pores were looking extremely clogged, then tiny bumps started forming under the skin, closed comedones in areas I have never broken out at (cheek area surrounding my nose and chin) so I tried everything to exfoliate... strong glycolic acid, clarisonic, BHA, steam, biore porestrips, baking soda... nothing was having much of an effect on any of it. Continued to worsen over the holidays and I got 1 cyst on my chin that I had my dermatologist inject. I picked up some evening primrose oil supplement to take daily after reading this may help my skin... well the following week my left cheek extending from my ear down to my chin erupted in these tiny little bumps, barely visible, but they itch terribly and don't look like any acne I've ever had before, more of a rash and I developed near 10 cysts under my chin/jawline in a matter of days so I went back to my dermatologist who never has an answer for anything and simply injected the cysts with cortisone and put me on doxycycline for a month and told me to continue using what I am and to go back in 6 weeks. The cysts are pretty much gone but the tiny bumps are still persisting but I've only been on the antibiotic about a week. I have had the standard food panel allergy testing done, all clear but I've always gotten sick from dairy since I was little so I believe I have a casein intolerance. I haven't had my hormones checked probably since I was 19. I'm wondering if this is from a food interolance, possibly the soy, dairy over the holidays or if the EPO exacerbated the prolem, or hormones. As a sidenote, I believe my acne is caused by something internal, NO one in my family has acne besides me, also, I only have acne on my face. Frustrated! Not sure where to start now.

Edited by mlk87, 18 January 2013 - 07:59 AM.

[cvd]

This is an interesting problem! I'd say something you are eating is adding to your inflammation. I'm allergic to coconut...and it's touted as a cure-all...oh well. When my skin gets itchy and is also breaking out that's a sure sign I'm eating something I'm allergic to. Over the holidays there is a tendency to eat rich foods, etc. Did you eat more sugary foods? Perhaps some dairy?

I'd say it might not be a good idea to try to get rid of these comodomes externally by using harsh products, especially if this is something new. It'd be better to continue with your usual routine and wait it out. Your hormones may have gotten whacked out for awhile (not unusual with holiday stress) and/or the food issues. Just try to eat simply and drink lots of water to help the body flush out.

My derm says that winter is hard on everyone's skin and people who never break out do so this time of year. So those of us with acne usually get flare-ups (lucky us). He says just keep on doing the usual routine and be patient. You are on the best things for resistent acne.

The only thing you might want to add is monthly microdermabrasions. My derm prescribed this to help my skin absorb the topicals better and it really made a difference.

[melmel87]

This is an interesting problem! I'd say something you are eating is adding to your inflammation. I'm allergic to coconut...and it's touted as a cure-all...oh well. When my skin gets itchy and is also breaking out that's a sure sign I'm eating something I'm allergic to. Over the holidays there is a tendency to eat rich foods, etc. Did you eat more sugary foods? Perhaps some dairy?

I'd say it might not be a good idea to try to get rid of these comodomes externally by using harsh products, especially if this is something new. It'd be better to continue with your usual routine and wait it out. Your hormones may have gotten whacked out for awhile (not unusual with holiday stress) and/or the food issues. Just try to eat simply and drink lots of water to help the body flush out.

My derm says that winter is hard on everyone's skin and people who never break out do so this time of year. So those of us with acne usually get flare-ups (lucky us). He says just keep on doing the usual routine and be patient. You are on the best things for resistent acne.

The only thing you might want to add is monthly microdermabrasions. My derm prescribed this to help my skin absorb the topicals better and it really made a difference.

 

I think I figured out what it was, I had switched all my dairy over to soy products... soy milk, yogurt, coffee creamer, guess it was overkill.

[drewfish01]

may i ask what antibiotic you took that worked?

[cvd]

I love soy but my friend is very allergic to it. Yes - it may be a problem for you! Hope that was your solution!