Wrong again. I had extremely severe acne but I cleared my skin before I came to this board and I've never kept pictures of myself, especially not when covered in acne. I could maybe take pictures of my scars for you if you'd like. But I had dermabrasion done several years ago after I figured out with no help from my dermatologist that the worst of my acne, the cysts, were a reaction to citrus, so the scars aren't as deep as they would have been.

And I didn't come up with anything of this myself either. I've posted links to massive amounts of research that support what I say. Where is yours? I don't understand going into a thread packed with research and criticizing it while offering up nothing yourself. I've looked into the genes that affect acne and posted a great deal of information about them. Have you?

This thread is as well organized as possible in this forum and the bulk of what you need is in the first two pages. The rest is people thanking me and asking questions, occasional posts by me about new info that later gets incorporated into the first few organized pages, plus the occasional troll.

I've judged no one except trolls that post nonsense. I've gone to a great deal of effort to help people. But our entire society is following an inferior diet and lifestyle which is why it is such a sickly, drugged up society filled with people going bankrupt from medical bills and children developing diseases that shouldn't occur until old age. People with acne are no more sickly than clear skinned people. It's just that clear skinned people don't get the symptom of acne. I've clearly said that hundreds of times.

The fact that I am almost 50 is not a plus except perhaps in comparison to a 13 year old. People of all ages have acne. We have people here in their 60s. And as I already told you, my acne returns if my diet worsens. I haven't grown out of it. Yes, diet and lifestyle changes aren't going to make puberty suddenly come to a stop. But it could make it better. Anthropologists studying people with natural lifestyles and diets observed that they don't go through such extreme traumatic changes. Puberty should be a more gradual process. And it shouldn't begin at age 10 like is happening here and now.

And I don't need to be reminded that every one is different. That would be why I've post tons of information about issues that can affect acne that have absolutely nothing to do with me and my acne. But absolutely everyone's acne is affected by diet and lifestyle. It isn't possible for it not to. And that applies to just about every other health condition as well.

Here's a good article for you to read to correct your faulty understanding of genetics: http://discovermagazine.com/2006/nov/cover And unless your doctor is a recent grad from a school that acquired updated textbooks from this century, your doctor also likely as a faulty understanding of genetics and the impact of diet, lifestyle and other environmental factors.

And btw, this board is filled with people that went to dermatologists for years and took all kinds of their prescribed drugs, yet were not helped at all. I did it for about 15 years before giving up on them.

I would like to know what I can do to clear up naturally and I really hope I am a good candidate.

I am supposed to get on a low-dose of Accutane on Monday, but I would be willing to postpone it for an alternative method that would yield the same results.

I'm already eating organic, no gluten, diary, sugar, coffee and I mostly cook. I used to exercise, but I stopped last month because my skin gets flushed when I run and my acne becomes more obvious (I don't wear makeup when I run).

I have a bunch of supplements that I've researched as well as teas, but I have used them only for a couple of weeks.

I got on a specific birth control (sprintec for 1 month, then switched to BeYaz; total:2 months and still counting) to clear up my skin and I am on doxy 40mg/day. I use tazorac gel at night and aczone during the day. Unfortunately, my skin has only gotten worse.

I also use a gentle foaming wash as well as a glycolic acid (low %, i don't feel any stinging) foaming wash in the AM and the PM.

Any advice?

Wow, I had no idea I'd be confronted in such a way just for having a different opinion.

Can you help me clear up without meds?

Confronted how? You came here and criticized me with nothing to back it up and without having bothered to read anything.

I suppose no.

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

To answer the last question. Maybe. So, you are still following this diet you say helped you greatly yet giving all the credit to accutane. Well, you better keep it up because the impact of accutane is likely temporary.

 

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

To answer the last question. Maybe. So, you are still following this diet you say helped you greatly yet giving all the credit to accutane. Well, you better keep it up because the impact of accutane is likely temporary.

Still following the diet, yes. Yet in the past 2 years of being on it, it eradicated most of my acne problems, but not all.

I still continued to get one or two cysts a month, which was a huge improvement in comparison to what I'd been used to. But sometimes those cysts gave me scars, which of course I didn't want.

What I want to know is why exactly I had to resort to Accutane after making all those changes to my diet (even though the diet changes were a fantastic help)?

Why could I still not seem to get rid of my persistent moderate cystic acne?

 

 

 

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

 

 

To answer the last question. Maybe. So, you are still following this diet you say helped you greatly yet giving all the credit to accutane. Well, you better keep it up because the impact of accutane is likely temporary.

Still following the diet, yes. Yet in the past 2 years of being on it, it eradicated most of my acne problems, but not all.

I still continued to get one or two cysts a month, which was a huge improvement in comparison to what I'd been used to. But sometimes those cysts gave me scars, which of course I didn't want.

What I want to know is why exactly I had to resort to Accutane after making all those changes to my diet (even though the diet changes were a fantastic help)?

Why could I still not seem to get rid of my persistent moderate cystic acne?

Back when I tried accutane I looked it up in the physicians desk reference and it said that how accutane worked wasn't fully understood. And I'll bet you it still says that. The end result is shrunken sebaceous glands and altered sebum composition and cell proliferation.

Accutane is a variation of vitamin A, but a form and amount of vitamin A you shouldn't have in your body. Your skin should make the form of retinoids in the skin. Likely we problem skin prone people have an impaired ability to do that. Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents. So basically you are orally taking a big dose of something in order to have a small amount in your skin.

Here's a link to a page I found in which someone is gathering information about how accutane works and what else it's impacting besides your acne. Like impairing thyroid hormone, vitamin d and other hormone production. Perhaps that accutane I took is why I am now slightly hypothyroid.

 

 

 

 

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

To answer the last question. Maybe. So, you are still following this diet you say helped you greatly yet giving all the credit to accutane. Well, you better keep it up because the impact of accutane is likely temporary.

Still following the diet, yes. Yet in the past 2 years of being on it, it eradicated most of my acne problems, but not all.

I still continued to get one or two cysts a month, which was a huge improvement in comparison to what I'd been used to. But sometimes those cysts gave me scars, which of course I didn't want.

What I want to know is why exactly I had to resort to Accutane after making all those changes to my diet (even though the diet changes were a fantastic help)?

Why could I still not seem to get rid of my persistent moderate cystic acne?

Back when I tried accutane I looked it up in the physicians desk reference and it said that how accutane worked wasn't fully understood. And I'll bet you it still says that. The end result is shrunken sebaceous glands and altered sebum composition and cell proliferation.

Accutane is a variation of vitamin A, but a form and amount of vitamin A you shouldn't have in your body. Your skin should make the form of retinoids in the skin. Likely we problem skin prone people have an impaired ability to do that. Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents. So basically you are orally taking a big dose of something in order to have a small amount in your skin.

Here's a link to a page I found in which someone is gathering information about how accutane works and what else it's impacting besides your acne. Like impairing thyroid hormone, vitamin d and other hormone production. Perhaps that accutane I took is why I am now slightly hypothyroid.

Ok, I'm sorry for being a little mean. I'll read every single post you've made because I have some faith in your methods and I have to wait 3 weeks before I get on accutane. I'm also done with my summer class, so guess what I'll be doing (Saturday nights included).

 

 

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

 

To answer the last question. Maybe. So, you are still following this diet you say helped you greatly yet giving all the credit to accutane. Well, you better keep it up because the impact of accutane is likely temporary.

Still following the diet, yes. Yet in the past 2 years of being on it, it eradicated most of my acne problems, but not all.

I still continued to get one or two cysts a month, which was a huge improvement in comparison to what I'd been used to. But sometimes those cysts gave me scars, which of course I didn't want.

What I want to know is why exactly I had to resort to Accutane after making all those changes to my diet (even though the diet changes were a fantastic help)?

Why could I still not seem to get rid of my persistent moderate cystic acne?

Back when I tried accutane I looked it up in the physicians desk reference and it said that how accutane worked wasn't fully understood. And I'll bet you it still says that. The end result is shrunken sebaceous glands and altered sebum composition and cell proliferation.

 

Accutane is a variation of vitamin A, but a form and amount of vitamin A you shouldn't have in your body. Your skin should make the form of retinoids in the skin. Likely we problem skin prone people have an impaired ability to do that. Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents. So basically you are orally taking a big dose of something in order to have a small amount in your skin.

 

 

Here's a link to a page I found in which someone is gathering information about how accutane works and what else it's impacting besides your acne. Like impairing thyroid hormone, vitamin d and other hormone production. Perhaps that accutane I took is why I am now slightly hypothyroid.

Sorry. I didn't get the link you meant to include. Do you mind sending it again?

Here's a link from the Physician's Desk Reference website discussing isotretinoin. Specifically, Claravis, which I took for about 4 months of my 6 month course; http://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/claravis?druglabelid=1651&id=1239

It says here that it's mechanism of action is "... not established. Suspected to inhibit sebaceous gland function and keratinization".

This is what you meant when you stated that the way Accutane works isn't fully understood? Interesting...

On another note, I wanted to include a quote from one of your responses to me in this thread; "Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents".

I'm a once-a-day face washer who uses a hypoallergenic cleanser. Is this part of my problem?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

 

To answer the last question. Maybe. So, you are still following this diet you say helped you greatly yet giving all the credit to accutane. Well, you better keep it up because the impact of accutane is likely temporary.

Still following the diet, yes. Yet in the past 2 years of being on it, it eradicated most of my acne problems, but not all.

I still continued to get one or two cysts a month, which was a huge improvement in comparison to what I'd been used to. But sometimes those cysts gave me scars, which of course I didn't want.

What I want to know is why exactly I had to resort to Accutane after making all those changes to my diet (even though the diet changes were a fantastic help)?

Why could I still not seem to get rid of my persistent moderate cystic acne?

Back when I tried accutane I looked it up in the physicians desk reference and it said that how accutane worked wasn't fully understood. And I'll bet you it still says that. The end result is shrunken sebaceous glands and altered sebum composition and cell proliferation.

Accutane is a variation of vitamin A, but a form and amount of vitamin A you shouldn't have in your body. Your skin should make the form of retinoids in the skin. Likely we problem skin prone people have an impaired ability to do that. Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents. So basically you are orally taking a big dose of something in order to have a small amount in your skin.

Here's a link to a page I found in which someone is gathering information about how accutane works and what else it's impacting besides your acne. Like impairing thyroid hormone, vitamin d and other hormone production. Perhaps that accutane I took is why I am now slightly hypothyroid.

Sorry. I didn't get the link you meant to include. Do you mind sending it again?

Here's a link from the Physician's Desk Reference website discussing isotretinoin. Specifically, Claravis, which I took for about 4 months of my 6 month course; http://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/claravis?druglabelid=1651&id=1239

It says here that it's mechanism of action is "... not established. Suspected to inhibit sebaceous gland function and keratinization".

This is what you meant when you stated that the way Accutane works isn't fully understood? Interesting...

On another note, I wanted to include a quote from one of your responses to me in this thread; "Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents".

I'm a once-a-day face washer who uses a hypoallergenic cleanser. Is this part of my problem?

Here's the link. http://max001.proboards.com

 

 

 

 

 

Question; why does Accutane sometimes "cure" or get rid of cystic acne, even after someone goes through the process of eliminating acne-causing foods and ingredients from their diet?

The reason I ask is because it seems I am in this boat.

I followed many, if not most of the recommendations on this particular thread, a few other threads on these forums, and some websites I researched before taking Accutane. I did not follow every single tip or recommendation I came across online, though (like juicing, or fasting). I must be honest.

The diet changes I made helped greatly. To this day, I don't eat oranges, consume little dairy, and eat foods containing gluten only once or twice a month. All of that worked and still continues to work for me.

Most of the extreme oiliness I experienced (which contributed to my acne) went away 2 years ago, and yet I still continued to get persistent moderate cystic acne. I acquired new scars on occasion, albeit not at the rate I previously did in my mid-twenties.

After trying nearly everything else to compeletly get rid of my acne in the past 2 years, I finally caved and took Accutane. Now, my skin is clear. Still quite red and uneven in many places, but there are no active acne lesions.

Why is it that changing my diet didn't do what Accutane did? Is it something I did wrong when trying to make changes to what I eat and drink?

To answer the last question. Maybe. So, you are still following this diet you say helped you greatly yet giving all the credit to accutane. Well, you better keep it up because the impact of accutane is likely temporary.

Still following the diet, yes. Yet in the past 2 years of being on it, it eradicated most of my acne problems, but not all.

I still continued to get one or two cysts a month, which was a huge improvement in comparison to what I'd been used to. But sometimes those cysts gave me scars, which of course I didn't want.

What I want to know is why exactly I had to resort to Accutane after making all those changes to my diet (even though the diet changes were a fantastic help)?

Why could I still not seem to get rid of my persistent moderate cystic acne?

Back when I tried accutane I looked it up in the physicians desk reference and it said that how accutane worked wasn't fully understood. And I'll bet you it still says that. The end result is shrunken sebaceous glands and altered sebum composition and cell proliferation.

Accutane is a variation of vitamin A, but a form and amount of vitamin A you shouldn't have in your body. Your skin should make the form of retinoids in the skin. Likely we problem skin prone people have an impaired ability to do that. Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents. So basically you are orally taking a big dose of something in order to have a small amount in your skin.

Here's a link to a page I found in which someone is gathering information about how accutane works and what else it's impacting besides your acne. Like impairing thyroid hormone, vitamin d and other hormone production. Perhaps that accutane I took is why I am now slightly hypothyroid.

Sorry. I didn't get the link you meant to include. Do you mind sending it again?

Here's a link from the Physician's Desk Reference website discussing isotretinoin. Specifically, Claravis, which I took for about 4 months of my 6 month course; http://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/claravis?druglabelid=1651&id=1239

It says here that it's mechanism of action is "... not established. Suspected to inhibit sebaceous gland function and keratinization".

This is what you meant when you stated that the way Accutane works isn't fully understood? Interesting...

On another note, I wanted to include a quote from one of your responses to me in this thread; "Yet our skin probably would manage it if we weren't always preventing it from doing so with soap and emulsifying agents".

I'm a once-a-day face washer who uses a hypoallergenic cleanser. Is this part of my problem?

Here's the link. http://max001.proboards.com

Thank you!

Does anyone have a good link on the oil cleansing method? Im thinking of not using any products on my face for the next couple of weeks as an experiment in addition to my diet and supplements. I might also quit my antibiotics and birth control to see what would happen.

My concern is that the oil cleansing method would make the skin oily, clog my pores and not kill the bacteria on the surface.

Thanks

Does anyone have a good link on the oil cleansing method? Im thinking of not using any products on my face for the next couple of weeks as an experiment in addition to my diet and supplements. I might also quit my antibiotics and birth control to see what would happen.

My concern is that the oil cleansing method would make the skin oily, clog my pores and not kill the bacteria on the surface.

Thanks

Choose the right oil. I recommend safflower oil. It is high in the linoleic acid that is a major component of sebum that works and that acne and other problem prone skin is deficient in. Mix in a little castor oil or not. Too much can be drying or irritating.

GetmetheResults, I use jojoba and tea tree oil mixed, about 2/3 jojoba to 1/3 tea tree. I just feel like I need the antibacterial/antifungal effectiveness of the tea tree oil in there. I think it's partially a paranoia though.

I've been using the oil cleansing method (OCM) since about January with jojoba and tea tree. I have not had a break out from these oils, just my normal hormonal breakouts.

I switched to Cetaphil for a few days last week and did not like the way it felt at all, so I went back to oil cleansing. I am using Dan's BP during the day and the AHA at night, so I don't know what it would be like with just OCM and nothing else.

I am sorry I don't actually have a link like I just noticed you asked for. The issue with picking an oil is that I think it really has to be a process of trial and error. I knew one person who swore that coconut oil cleared him up. It made me break out (it was organic, cold pressed).

Jojoba is actually listed on many sites as mildly comedogenic, yet it does not break me out. I haven't had time to invest in trying to figure all of that out though I've read plenty of others' theories. Like a lot of things, I think it comes down to: wow, human bodies are complicated!

You can use any number of websites to check comedogenicity. Just Google "comedogenic check"

I don't know if that helps. Acne is so sucky. I am sorry we're all even here dealing with it in the first place! Hang in there!

GetmetheResults, I use jojoba and tea tree oil mixed, about 2/3 jojoba to 1/3 tea tree. I just feel like I need the antibacterial/antifungal effectiveness of the tea tree oil in there. I think it's partially a paranoia though.

I've been using the oil cleansing method (OCM) since about January with jojoba and tea tree. I have not had a break out from these oils, just my normal hormonal breakouts.

I switched to Cetaphil for a few days last week and did not like the way it felt at all, so I went back to oil cleansing. I am using Dan's BP during the day and the AHA at night, so I don't know what it would be like with just OCM and nothing else.

I am sorry I don't actually have a link like I just noticed you asked for. The issue with picking an oil is that I think it really has to be a process of trial and error. I knew one person who swore that coconut oil cleared him up. It made me break out (it was organic, cold pressed).

Jojoba is actually listed on many sites as mildly comedogenic, yet it does not break me out. I haven't had time to invest in trying to figure all of that out though I've read plenty of others' theories. Like a lot of things, I think it comes down to: wow, human bodies are complicated!

You can use any number of websites to check comedogenicity. Just Google "comedogenic check"

I don't know if that helps. Acne is so sucky. I am sorry we're all even here dealing with it in the first place! Hang in there!

Hey !

Thanks for the info! I've tried Jojoba oil when my skin got really dry last winter from overwashing my face to make things "better"... It was an emergency situation, so I didn't use it for too long and I'm glad it didn't break me out (at first.....2 months later I got the worst acne in my life and now I am trying to fix it). I've promised my dermatologist to not put anything else but my prescription meds on my face, so I'll try the OCM once I'm done with Accutane. My skin would definitely need the extra moisture by then.

I'm about to buy Safflower Oil from Natural Life, do you think it's a good brand? Supposedly it's organic and cold-pressed and I'm happy Walmart's online store has it. Also, what do you think about Jojoba and Castor oil? Should I get a bottle of them too and try an allergy test with all the 3 oils? What would you do with the oils that broke you out? I was thinking of using them on my hair or body, since I only cook with olive oil.

 

Does anyone have a good link on the oil cleansing method? Im thinking of not using any products on my face for the next couple of weeks as an experiment in addition to my diet and supplements. I might also quit my antibiotics and birth control to see what would happen.
My concern is that the oil cleansing method would make the skin oily, clog my pores and not kill the bacteria on the surface.
Thanks

Choose the right oil. I recommend safflower oil. It is high in the linoleic acid that is a major component of sebum that works and that acne and other problem prone skin is deficient in. Mix in a little castor oil or not. Too much can be drying or irritating.

I'm about to buy Safflower Oil from Natural Life, do you think it's a good brand? Supposedly it's organic and cold-pressed and I'm happy Walmart's online store has it. Also, what do you think about Jojoba and Castor oil? Should I get a bottle of them too and try an allergy test with all the 3 oils? What would you do with the oils that broke you out? I was thinking of using them on my hair or body, since I only cook with olive oil.

 

 

 

Does anyone have a good link on the oil cleansing method? Im thinking of not using any products on my face for the next couple of weeks as an experiment in addition to my diet and supplements. I might also quit my antibiotics and birth control to see what would happen.

My concern is that the oil cleansing method would make the skin oily, clog my pores and not kill the bacteria on the surface.

Thanks

 

Choose the right oil. I recommend safflower oil. It is high in the linoleic acid that is a major component of sebum that works and that acne and other problem prone skin is deficient in. Mix in a little castor oil or not. Too much can be drying or irritating.

If they don't put it in a dark bottle, it isn't a good brand. Do you have a whole foods near you?

I have Wegmans, which is like Whole Foods. I will try to get it there!

I have Wegmans, which is like Whole Foods. I will try to get it there!

I buy Napa Valley Naturals.

If safflower oil doesn't work for me, what other oils should I buy from napa? I know it's a trial and error process... I already bought more than a dozen wash clothes

 

I have Wegmans, which is like Whole Foods. I will try to get it there!

I buy Napa Valley Naturals.

If safflower oil doesn't work for me, what other oils should I buy from napa? I know it's a trial and error process... I already bought more than a dozen wash clothes

 

I have Wegmans, which is like Whole Foods. I will try to get it there!

I buy Napa Valley Naturals.

Grapeseed, but that tends to be a bit more comodogenic. Or hemp which is lower in linoleic acid, but also gas omega 3 EFAs that could be beneficial.

Would it be benefitial to put a drop of peppermint essential oil in the boiling water for the washcloth and a drop of green tea extract to rub together with the safflower oil in the beginning?

Peppermint is very irritating. I know St. Ives has a peppermint scrub that absolutely did bad things to my skin.

Would it be benefitial to put a drop of peppermint essential oil in the boiling water for the washcloth and a drop of green tea extract to rub together with the safflower oil in the beginning?