Sarnon

Thanks for all of the useful research info. Needless to say I'm overwhelmed, which isn't surprising since I'm 38 years old and still fighting acne. So do you think a supplement rich in linoleic acid such as borage seed oil might be helpful?

First of all, I want to thank you for taking the time to share your experiences (and success) with us. I have a question regarding the glycemic load of sweet potatoes, which is the vegetable you recommend the most. I've known for some time that if I maintain a low glycemic load diet, my skin looks a lot better. Existing blemishes heal faster and sebum production is reduced. Numerous studies have confirmed that a low GL diet (which essentially means eliminating sugar and reducing carbs) is very beneficial for reducing acne. Your regimen syncs well with the concept of a low GL diet, except for the sweet potatoes as well as the bread you consume without worry.

So why is it that the natural sugars from the sweet potato aren't a problem? You're of course correct that the sweet potato is quite a bad-ass, nutrient dense vegetable, but it does have sugar (7 grams in a medium potato). Do you think the natural sugars aren't of much concern?

I'm 38 and have suffered from mild acne for 20 years. I know that there's a link between diet and acne for the genetically inferior, such as myself. For me I know that eating low GL helps a lot. Your regimen of introducing juicing makes so much sense, but the addition of veggies such as the sweet potato contradicts some of what I thought I understood about the affect of blood sugar and acne. I'm definitely not trying to troll here, but why is it that natural sugars are OK?

OK, time for another update, and I'm afraid to say, that I'm likely going to stop usage.  I haven't experienced any of the typical side effects, but instead developed one that likely produced the most pain I've experienced in my 37 years on this planet.  I awoke yesterday with gout (google it if you're curious) on my left big toe.  The pain was truly amazing and totally debilitating.  By yesterday evening I could barely walk into the store to get Aleve and some apple cider vinegar.  Thankfully, the pain has subsided today.

Now, gout is an extremely unlikely side effect for Spiro, but I had to mention it.  In fact, gout isn't even listed as an actual side effect but rather gout sufferers may not be good candidates for Spiro according to the info I've read.  Diuretics, of which Spiro is one, are also listed as possible contributors to gout.  Now, this was my first (and hopefully last) gout attack, so I certainly didn't think that Spiro would be a problem for me or else I never would have started.  I'm likely to stop Spiro altogether because even reducing the dose makes me fear that I'll experience another day of complete agony.

Did Spiro cause the gout?  It's more likely that for some reason, I am predisposed to gout (despite being pretty healthy and average weight), and that Spiro exacerbated a condition for which I'm predisposed.  Nonetheless, when you have a night during which you think cutting off your big toe might be a good idea, you clearly want to eliminate anything that might have caused such exquisite pain.

The Spiro seemed to be working but it was too soon to know for sure.  Back to the drawing board.  Isn't it amazing and frustrating just now many products and treatments are available for acne?  I really think I'll spend my whole life trying them out only to end up in a casket with pimples on my face.  Sorry to be a downer.

OK, wanted to give an update.  Over the last week, I've increased my dose to 100 Mg/day.  Because I read that spiro absorption can improve when taken with food, I take 50 with breakfast and 50 with dinner.  I've had a couple of bigger pimples on forehead and nose, which I foolishly picked, so I'm waiting for them to heal.  Sebum production continues to be decreased, and no other side effects have been observed.

I hear you regarding gradually upping the dose and stopping once things look good.  As of today, I'm sitting at 75 mg. Sebum production seems to have decreased slightly, but I can't say for sure.  No inflamed pimples have appeared in the last couple of days, so that's a good thing.  As for side effects, libido seems to have decreased somewhat which is quite OK by me.