Acne.org Products
Short guide to acne free skin in a few days via supplementation and following dietary guidelines:
1. take borage oil (starflower oil), about 2-3g/day
2. take highly absorbable multivit & min, vit c & dry vit e
3. eat foods with vit & min content
4. avoid sat. fats, trans fats, hydro fats, veg. fats, monosat. fats & sugar
5. take small amount of fish oil (about 1/4 of the borage oil taken)
6. avoid animal milk, meat & eggs
7. mix high glycemic foods with low glycemic foods
---------------
8. add zinc and magnesium supplements.
9. test for candida, if positive kill candida via threelac and low/no sugar diet
The basic aim is to increase anti-inflammatories and lower pro-inflammatories on a hormonal and cellular level.
I wrote a book on the whole matter. PM me for more info.
when you started taking the primrose oil did you stop eating junk food and start eating healthy?
yes, good point.
remember that this is all theory anyways there are no studys that directly prove that this actually works to eliminate any acne.
dont get mad if it doesnt work.
the only difference is there is alot of related evidence, unlike lets say taking apple cider vinegar where there is very little real evidence that it would help your acne.
Ok all you expertsI have a question. I've been taking borage oil for a couple of years with really no results. I take about 2000 mg a day. I've taken it (months at a time) with fish oil, salmon oil, c, zinc, ALA, E, uhhhh I can't remember it all. I would like to try EPO instead, BUT, I've read that epileptics should not take it. The best I can figure out is because the GLA reduces the threshold for seizures. Wouldn't borage oil do the same? My borage oil label has no warning, so I'm confused.
no results at all?
where you balancing your omega 3 to 6 at a 1:1 ratio?
Ok all you experts
no results at all?
were you balancing your omega 3 to 6 at a 1:1 ratio?
gla taken in very high amounts will be reconverted back into arachidonic acid which =bad.
and therefore your intake should only temporarily be high to replace a supposed deficiency, then after a certain amount of time which i coundnt really say how long, you need to reduce your gla supplementation. off the top of my head i would assume 4-8 weeks
and continue to take your fish oil at a 1-4:1, omega 6-3.
its all about a balanced ratio and not having any more then the other because they all compete and interact with each other.
Ok all you experts
no results at all?
were you balancing your omega 3 to 6 at a 1:1 ratio?
gla taken in very high amounts will be reconverted back into arachidonic acid which =bad.
and therefore your intake should only temporarily be high to replace a supposed deficiency, then after a certain amount of time which i coundnt really say how long, you need to reduce your gla supplementation. off the top of my head i would assume 4-8 weeks
and continue to take your fish oil at a 1-4:1, omega 6-3.
its all about a balanced ratio and not having any more then the other because they all compete and interact with each other.
Umm, no 
Or if I was, it was coincidentally. Would I do that by taking, for example, 1000 mg fish oil to 1000 mg borage oil? Or do I need to look into standardized supplements and balance 1000 mg EPA/DHA with 1000 mg GLA? And thank you very much for answering!
Ok all you experts
no results at all?
were you balancing your omega 3 to 6 at a 1:1 ratio?
gla taken in very high amounts will be reconverted back into arachidonic acid which =bad.
and therefore your intake should only temporarily be high to replace a supposed deficiency, then after a certain amount of time which i coundnt really say how long, you need to reduce your gla supplementation. off the top of my head i would assume 4-8 weeks
and continue to take your fish oil at a 1-4:1, omega 6-3.
its all about a balanced ratio and not having any more then the other because they all compete and interact with each other.
Umm, no
analyze your diet and the types of foods you eat, then look them up here http://www.nutritiondata.com/
they will list the omega 6 to 3 ratios in the bottom left hand corner. from there you can average out how many grams of omega 6 you generally get in a day, then to achieve a 1:1 ratio match that with fish oil.
so 5 grams of omega 6 would be matched with 5 grams of fish oil.
the borage oil will increase your gla levels in your body and inhibit aa, but i really dont think you should be taking so much gla unless you are really old. as we get older our the conversion of gla is weaker. but for us younger people it is good to correct a defieciency so we can get up levels up to where they need to be.
what this diagram displays is how omega 6s balance with omega 3s. in the center of the diagram it lists the enzymes that the fats on the corresponding sides compete for. for example the omega 3 fatty acid alpha linoliec acid competes for the same enzyme as omega 6 fatty acid linoleic acid, so the more ala you have the less chance la will have to make gla and so forth.
this is why i tend to believe that taking a high epa fish oil would be a more potent acne fighting strategy(if this even works) because epa is a direct competitor of arachidonic acid, which is responsible for the synthesis of ltb4 and pge2 which can lead to stimulation of the sebaceous glands.
: J Mol Med. 2006 Jan;84(1):75-87. Epub 2005 Dec 31.Links
Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of leukotriene B4 and prostaglandin E2 are active in sebaceous glands.
Department of Dermatology, Charite Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Fabeckstrasse 60-62, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
The expression of enzymes involved in leukotriene and prostaglandin signalling pathways, of interleukins 6 and 8 and of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in sebaceous glands of acne-involved facial skin was compared with those of non-involved skin of acne patients and of healthy individuals. Moreover, 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene A(4) hydrolase were expressed at mRNA and protein levels in vivo and in SZ95 sebocytes in vitro (leukotriene A(4) hydrolase > 5-lipoxygenase), while 15-lipoxygenase-1 was only detected in cultured sebocytes. Cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 were also present. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors were constitutively expressed. Enhanced 5-lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase 2 and interleukin 6 expression was detected in acne-involved facial skin. Arachidonic acid stimulated leukotriene B(4) and interleukin 6 release as well as prostaglandin E(2) biosynthesis in SZ95 sebocytes, induced abundant increase in neutral lipids and down-regulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha, but not receptor-gamma1 mRNA levels, which were the predominant peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor isotypes in SZ95 sebocytes. In conclusion, human sebocytes possess the enzyme machinery for functional leukotriene and prostaglandin pathways. A comprehensive link between inflammation and sebaceous lipid synthesis is provided.
How much Primrose oil do you need to take?
Is 25 mg enough to make a noticeable difference as opposed to taking nothing?
I found a multi-vitamin that contains 25 mg Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
Do I need to take an additonal supplement as well?
This stuff is rather confusing to me.
my previously held belief that efas change the composition of sebum and make it less coagulant and less prone to comedos is confirmed. well kinda.
: Pediatr Res. 2000 Mar;47(3):414-7. Links
Novel pathway of metabolism of alpha-linolenic acid in the guinea pig.Fu Z, Sinclair AJ.
Department of Food Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays an important role in the nervous system. The capacity of the infant to use the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) as a substrate for neural DHA has been the subject of much debate recently. In this study, we explored the metabolic fate of an oral dose of 14C-labeled ALA in guinea pigs fed a defined diet for 3 wk from weaning. Of the 14C-labeled ALA administered, more than 46% was associated with the skin and fur lipids, mostly in the FFA fraction, and less than 0.1% was in brain lipids. About 39% of the label was not recovered in the body lipids and was assumed to be expired as CO2 or unabsorbed. The fur and skin were almost equally labeled; however, because of the very low mass of ALA in the fur, the specific activity of the fur was very high. These data identify a new route of metabolism of ALA in this species, presumably through the sebaceous glands onto fur. If this pathway exists in other species, including humans, it may account for the poor efficiency of conversion of ALA to DHA, because dietary ALA would not be available for anabolic pathways such as DHA synthesis. The relevance of these data to infants is that ALA may play an important hitherto unidentified role in the skin related to barrier function or epidermal integrity. This calls for more research into the importance of ALA as an essential fatty acid in its own right in human infants.
wow!!
Hautarzt. 2006 Nov;57(11):999-1004. Links
[The significance of diet and associated factors in psoriasis.][Article in German]
Wolters M.
Abteilung Ernahrungsphysiologie und Humanernahrung, Institut fur Lebensmittelwissenschaft, Zentrum Angewandte Chemie, Universitat Hannover, Wunstorfer Strasse 14, 30453 , Hannover, maike.wolters@lw.uni-hannover.de.
Psoriasis is a T cell mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation and reduced differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. In severe cases, the disease can result in an insufficient nutritional status which may even be promoted by nutrient-drug interactions. Both the general diet and single food components have been suggested to play a role in etiology and pathogenesis of psoriasis. Fasting periods, vegetarian diets, and diets rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil have all been associated with improvement in some studies. The most likely explanation is the reduced amounts of arachidonic acid and the increased eicosapentaenoic acid intake resulting in a modulated eicosanoid profile. However, only one of four controlled studies showed a benefit of omega-3 fatty acids compared to placebo. Some psoriasis patients are gluten-sensitive and may benefit from a gluten free diet. The active form of vitamin D exhibits anti-proliferative and immunoregulatory effects and has been shown to be useful in the treatment of psoriasis.
wow again
J Lipid Res. 2006 May;47(5):921-30. Epub 2006 Feb 7. Links
Photoprotective and anti-skin-aging effects of eicosapentaenoic acid in human skin in vivo.Kim HH, Cho S, Lee S, Kim KH, Cho KH, Eun HC, Chung JH.
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Clinical Research Institutes, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University, Korea.
Skin aging can be attributed to photoaging (extrinsic) and chronological (intrinsic) aging. Photoaging and intrinsic aging are induced by damage to human skin attributable to repeated exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and to the passage of time, respectively. In our previous report, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was found to inhibit UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in human dermal fibroblasts. Therefore, we investigated the effects of EPA on UV-induced skin damage and intrinsic aging by applying EPA topically to young and aged human skin, respectively. By immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting, we found that topical application of EPA reduced UV-induced epidermal thickening and inhibited collagen decrease induced by UV light. It was also found that EPA attenuated UV-induced MMP-1 and MMP-9 expression by inhibiting UV-induced c-Jun phosphorylation, which is closely related to UV-induced activator protein-1 activation, and by inhibiting JNK and p38 activation. EPA also inhibited UV-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression without altering COX-1 expression. Moreover, it was found that EPA increased collagen and elastic fibers (tropoelastin and fibrillin-1) expression by increasing transformin growth factor-beta expression in aged human skin. Together, these results demonstrate that topical EPA has potential as an anti-skin-aging agent.
Some fellas in this thread need to stop spreading these anti-saturated/animal fat rumors in this thread. There's absolutely no credible scientific proof that they are bad for you, especially in regards to heart/cardiovascular function. On the contrary, there are many studies which show the opposite.
If you find some references/proof i will gladly shut up. I dare you!
I've seen a massive improvement in my acne since i started consuming more saturated fats (and cutting down on carbs). And since there's no proof of its dangers, i highly recommend everyone to eat more sat. fats!
The problem for those who don't eat saturated fats is that they risk a too high intake of omega-6, because that sort of people usually resort to vegetable oils, of which the majority are bad (too high in omega-6), except olive oil, coconut oil and rapeseed oil.
There are tons of studies done regarding saturated fats and health issues. Here are a couple of good sites though:
[Link Removed]
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=532
QuoteI've seen a massive improvement in my acne since i started consuming more saturated fats (and cutting down on carbs).
Maybe your acne improved because you cut down on carbs rather than because you increased saturated fats...
So, I spoke too soon. I had a very bad breakout over the past few days....all over my chin and jawline. I look like a mess. I'm wondering if I should stop the EPO and just take the borage oil and lecithin, and replace the flaxseed oil with fish oil that has high epa and dha. Anyone have any suggestions? It's been a long battle with acne and I'm tired. 
someoneintheuk said:There are tons of studies done regarding saturated fats and health issues. Here are a couple of good sites though:
[Link Removed]
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=532
QuoteI've seen a massive improvement in my acne since i started consuming more saturated fats (and cutting down on carbs).Maybe your acne improved because you cut down on carbs rather than because you increased saturated fats...
You're right, there have been plenty of studies regarding saturated fats and health issues. NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THE LINK THOUGH. Except those that include margarine saturated fats (chemically modified) which we all know are bad.
Those sites you linked to are journastic articles and of no relevance. Link to studies.
There have been plenty of studies which show the positive health effects of saturated fats, however.
There's a ton of arciles i could link but i recommend you start with Gary Taubes revolutationary article in New York Times
[Link Removed]
These sites about the cholesterol myths are important too
Sunnygirl said:So, I spoke too soon. I had a very bad breakout over the past few days....all over my chin and jawline. I look like a mess. I'm wondering if I should stop the EPO and just take the borage oil and lecithin, and replace the flaxseed oil with fish oil that has high epa and dha. Anyone have any suggestions? It's been a long battle with acne and I'm tired.
I would suggest focusing on a high epa fish oil.
flaxseed oil has linoleic acid(omega 6) which is our enemy and oleic acid (omega 9) which i think is either neutral or bad, oleic acid i heard was found in comedone plugs but i didnt get that info from a particularly reliable source so my opinion isnt yet solidified but i think its bad.
ok i used this to analyze epo and it aint good iherb.com [Link Removed]
EPO would probably do some good for the short term maybe 1-3 weeks, but its gonna do more harm then good because of all the linoleic acid(omega 6) it contains, this is the main omega 6 fatty acid from which all other omega 6 is manufactured from.
My opinion now on epo is that it actually may be the worst thing for your acne. as a ratio of la/gla its 7.4:1 thats way too much la just to get a little gla.
Borage oil on the other hand iherb.com [Link Removed]
is way better then epo as far as a source for gla. As a ratio of la/gla its 1.2:1
Fish oil has no omega 6 at all, plus it has epa and dha, epa is going to be the most potent acne inhibitor as it creates anti inflammatory eicosanoids
and competes with arachidonic acid, which is one of the main reasons why you would supplement with gla, gla also produces some anti inflammatory eicosanoids as well.
Also it is important that you reach a ratio of o6/o3 of 1:1 and by taking flax and epo you were no where near that ratio.
so match your omega 6 intake in grams with omega 3 in equal or greater amounts to reach 1:1 and also take a borage oil (not too much) for maybe two to four weeks or so or however long it would take to cure a defieciency, which right now i do not think you have so you specifically could actually skip the borage oil.
good luck.
Can someone educate me on one thing.
Borage oil and EPO is very high in Omega 6
[Link Removed]
So why is that we need more omega 6's, when the problem lie's in that we aren't getting enough omega 3's to get closer to the 1:1 ratio which also reduces inflamation/sebum production and it's viscosity?
It doesn't make sense to me.
QuoteThose sites you linked to are journastic articles and of no relevance. Link to studies.
I disagree, it has relevance. [Link Removed] is a summation of a scientific study called a press release. Just in case you didn't read it, here it is again. 
"Before you bite into that burger or devour that doughnut, first chew on this: New research shows that just one meal high in saturated fat can affect the body's ability to protect itself against some of the underlying causes of heart disease and stroke.
The research, conducted at The Heart Research Institute in Sydney, Australia, appears in the Aug. 15, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
According to the study, even a single meal high in saturated fat can reduce the ability of the body's "good" cholesterol, or high-density lipoproteins (HDL), to protect the inner lining of the arteries from inflammatory agents that promote the formation of artery-clogging plaques. A single high-fat meal also can affect the ability of the arteries to expand in order to carry adequate blood to tissues and organs.
On the other hand, according to the research, eating a meal high in polyunsaturated fat, a healthier form of fat, can increase the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL, helping to protect the inner lining of the arteries, called the endothelium, from plaque buildup.
"The take-home, public-health message is this: It's further evidence to support the need to aggressively reduce the amount of saturated fat consumed in the diet," said researcher Stephen J. Nicholls, MB, BS, PhD, now a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "This study helps to explain the mechanisms by which saturated fat supports the formation of plaques in the arterial wall, and we know these plaques are the major cause of heart attack and stroke."
Saturated fats are found in both animal and plant products, and typically are solid at room temperature. Examples include butter, lard and palm oil. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend that people limit their intake of saturated fat to no more than 7 percent of their total daily calories. Polyunsaturated fats, on the other hand, come mainly from plants and are liquid at room temperature. Examples include sunflower and corn oil.
For the study, Dr. Nicholls and his colleagues recruited 14 healthy volunteers and supplied them with two meals, eaten one month apart. The volunteers, ranging in age from 18 to 40, were examined and had blood drawn before eating (following an overnight fast), three hours after eating and again six hours after eating their supplied meals. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew which meal was eaten during which visit.
The meals were identical, except that one was high in saturated fat (coconut oil), while the other was high in polyunsaturated fat (safflower oil). Each meal consisted of a slice of carrot cake and a milkshake. All meals were specially prepared so that each participant consumed 1 gram of fat per kilogram of body weight ‚œ or 1 gram of fat for every 2.2 pounds. (For a 150-pound person, that's nearly the fat equivalent of eating a double cheeseburger, a large order of french fries and a large milkshake at one meal.)
In examining the volunteers, Dr. Nicholls and his colleagues found that after three hours, the saturated fat meal had reduced the ability of the endothelium to expand the arteries in order to increase blood flow. The researchers determined this by using a blood pressure cuff to restrict blood flow and then monitoring the body's response. The polyunsaturated meal also reduced this ability slightly, but the results were not statistically significant.
After six hours, researchers found the meal high in saturated fat had diminished the protective qualities of HDL, allowing more inflammatory agents to accumulate in the arteries than had been present before the volunteers ate. The polyunsaturated meal, however, seemed to boost the anti-inflammatory abilities of the body's good cholesterol, with the researchers finding fewer inflammatory agents in the arteries than before the volunteers ate.
"In putting this all together," Dr. Nicholls said, "we have a difference between the two meals regarding a number of factors that influence the early stages of plaque formation. We have a situation where consumption of a single meal containing a high level of saturated fat is associated with impairment of vascular reactivity and impairment of a normal protective property of HDL. In contrast, consumption of a meal high in polyunsaturated fat results in HDL that is more protective.
"It is a small study," he concluded, "but I think the findings have broad implication because diet and exercise are the cornerstones of all strategies for preventing heart disease."
Robert Vogel, MD, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center, did not participate in the research, but agrees it provides "one more nail in the coffin" against eating diets high in saturated fat.
"This study helps to flesh out just why we shouldn't eat too much saturated fat," Dr. Vogel said. "Traditionally, we think of unhealthy foods as raising cholesterol or raising blood pressure, but this demonstrates that depending on what you eat, you can actually change the effect of HDL ‚œ typically thought of as 'good' cholesterol ‚œ from protective to detrimental. This opens up new insights and avenues for research."
QuoteYou're right, there have been plenty of studies regarding saturated fats and health issues. NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THE LINK THOUGH. Except those that include margarine saturated fats (chemically modified) which we all know are bad.
Notice that the saturated fat tested was coconut oil, and not trans fat or any other chemically modified fat:
"The meals were identical, except that one was high in saturated fat (coconut oil), while the other was high in polyunsaturated fat (safflower oil)."
"After six hours, researchers found the meal high in saturated fat had diminished the protective qualities of HDL, allowing more inflammatory agents to accumulate in the arteries than had been present before the volunteers ate. The polyunsaturated meal, however, seemed to boost the anti-inflammatory abilities of the body's good cholesterol, with the researchers finding fewer inflammatory agents in the arteries than before the volunteers ate. "
QuoteThere have been plenty of studies which show the positive health effects of saturated fats, however.
There's a ton of arciles i could link but i recommend you start with Gary Taubes revolutationary article in New York Times
[Link Removed]
QuoteThose sites you linked to are journastic articles and of no relevance. Link to studies.
So now you give me a link to an article written in the New York Times...
.....please.
Then you give me a link that is basically a page designed to sell a book:
[Link Removed]
Please, I really want the book that is going to tell me how all the tests about saturated fats being bad for health is a lie...please i will pay hundreds for that book and the knowledge that allows me to eat animal fats and other saturated fats without any health repercussions...
[note:- that was sarcasm]
I think I might write a book about how you can eat all the junk food and crap that you want, and that by avoiding vegetables you will cure your acne...I bet you that would sell more than a book that tells you to eat healthily to cure acne!
"The Cholesterol Myths" has shock value that plays on the fact that people want to believe that saturated fats are fine for health. That is why someone would buy it. The only reason. Fantasy.
xxndnromeoxx said:Can someone educate me on one thing.
Borage oil and EPO is very high in Omega 6
[Link Removed]
So why is that we need more omega 6's, when the problem lie's in that we aren't getting enough omega 3's to get closer to the 1:1 ratio which also reduces inflamation/sebum production and it's viscosity?
It doesn't make sense to me.
Most people get too much omega 6 but its in the form of Linoleic Acid (LA). Evening Primrose and borage are to provide you gamma-linolenic acid (GLA); they contain 10% and 20% GLA, respectively. without getting into too many details, GLA is generally anti-inflammatory and good for acne sufferers while LA can be pro-inflammatory bad for acne.
anony12 said:xxndnromeoxx said:Can someone educate me on one thing.
Borage oil and EPO is very high in Omega 6
[Link Removed]
So why is that we need more omega 6's, when the problem lie's in that we aren't getting enough omega 3's to get closer to the 1:1 ratio which also reduces inflamation/sebum production and it's viscosity?
It doesn't make sense to me.
Most people get too much omega 6 but its in the form of Linoleic Acid (LA). Evening Primrose and borage are to provide you gamma-linolenic acid (GLA); they contain 10% and 20% GLA, respectively. without getting into too many details, GLA is generally anti-inflammatory and good for acne sufferers while LA can be pro-inflammatory bad for acne.
Very nice! Thank you, makes complete sense.
Also, which foods generally contains Linoleic Acids? I want to avoid it, and perhaps try that first, since fish oil seems to be working well. If it doesn't warrant pure success for myself, I will add some Borage oil since the gla content is much higher (20%)
What results have you seen with GLA's? Was it similar to fish oil where you'd get less oil production and less thick sebum?
Can someone educate me on one thing.
Borage oil and EPO is very high in Omega 6
http://www.indexpharmaceuticals.com/lutein-omega6.html\
So why is that we need more omega 6's, when the problem lie's in that we aren't getting enough omega 3's to get closer to the 1:1 ratio which also reduces inflamation/sebum production and it's viscosity?
It doesn't make sense to me.
Most people get too much omega 6 but its in the form of Linoleic Acid (LA). Evening Primrose and borage are to provide you gamma-linolenic acid (GLA); they contain 10% and 20% GLA, respectively. without getting into too many details, GLA is generally anti-inflammatory and good for acne sufferers while LA can be pro-inflammatory bad for acne.
Very nice! Thank you, makes complete sense.
Also, which foods generally contains Linoleic Acids? I want to avoid it, and perhaps try that first, since fish oil seems to be working well. If it doesn't warrant pure success for myself, I will add some Borage oil since the gla content is much higher (20%)
What results have you seen with GLA's? Was it similar to fish oil where you'd get less oil production and less thick sebum?
well linoleic acid (LA) isn't always bad. afterall, it is an "essential" fatty acid. it depends on the person and what his/her body does with it. i learned much of this from reading the e-book written by someoneintheuk (who posted above).
the body has the ability to convert LA to GLA, or LA can be converted to arachidonic acid (AA) which is pro-inflammatory. for acne sufferers, the latter is probably happening more often. as far as i know, the only significant sources GLA are borage, blackcurrent, and evening primrose oils. so any food that is high in omega 6 is probably high in LA. borage contains 20-24% GLA and much of the rest is LA (and a little omega 9). so for borage or epo to be effective your body needs to be able to convert LA to GLA. so the foods to avoid are are those that inhibit the conversion of LA to GLA...red meat, dairy, eggs, heated vegetable oils, trans-fat.
as far as my results....my skin is probably the best it has been in years, although i'm not yet 100% clear. basically i'm following a regimen that is almost everything in bob mckee's post plus some other things. as far as efa's, i'm taking epo, borage, and fish oil.
anony12 said:xxndnromeoxx said:anony12 said:xxndnromeoxx said:Can someone educate me on one thing.
Borage oil and EPO is very high in Omega 6
[Link Removed]
So why is that we need more omega 6's, when the problem lie's in that we aren't getting enough omega 3's to get closer to the 1:1 ratio which also reduces inflamation/sebum production and it's viscosity?
It doesn't make sense to me.
Most people get too much omega 6 but its in the form of Linoleic Acid (LA). Evening Primrose and borage are to provide you gamma-linolenic acid (GLA); they contain 10% and 20% GLA, respectively. without getting into too many details, GLA is generally anti-inflammatory and good for acne sufferers while LA can be pro-inflammatory bad for acne.
Very nice! Thank you, makes complete sense.
Also, which foods generally contains Linoleic Acids? I want to avoid it, and perhaps try that first, since fish oil seems to be working well. If it doesn't warrant pure success for myself, I will add some Borage oil since the gla content is much higher (20%)
What results have you seen with GLA's? Was it similar to fish oil where you'd get less oil production and less thick sebum?
well linoleic acid (LA) isn't always bad. afterall, it is an "essential" fatty acid. it depends on the person and what his/her body does with it. i learned much of this from reading the e-book written by someoneintheuk (who posted above).
the body has the ability to convert LA to GLA, or LA can be converted to arachidonic acid (AA) which is pro-inflammatory. for acne sufferers, the latter is probably happening more often. as far as i know, the only significant sources GLA are borage, blackcurrent, and evening primrose oils. so any food that is high in omega 6 is probably high in LA. borage contains 20-24% GLA and much of the rest is LA (and a little omega 9). so for borage or epo to be effective your body needs to be able to convert LA to GLA. so the foods to avoid are are those that inhibit the conversion of LA to GLA...red meat, dairy, eggs, heated vegetable oils, trans-fat.
as far as my results....my skin is probably the best it has been in years, although i'm not yet 100% clear. basically i'm following a regimen that is almost everything in bob mckee's post plus some other things. as far as efa's, i'm taking epo, borage, and fish oil.
Very informative post, it clears up a lot of questions, thank you for taking the time to write that out! I'm also glad you've had success with this, and follow bob's regimen, there's so much truth to it and people need to listen. I'm happy for you