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when you talk about Linoleic Acid Deficiency, is it possible to take it in supplement form as well as topically? Grapeseed Oil tends to clog me as Ive tried it many times. I also have Seborrheic Dermatitis on the sides of my face which is generally aggrevated by any oils and I also suffer from Rosacea pretty much on my nose and cheeks. My skin has so many areas that need to be treated differently its hard to find one thing that works for all. My chin clogs with tiny hard solidified sebum that I have to pry out of my skin daily. This started about two years ago and I cannot figure out why or what contributed to the change. Ive tried dietary changes for almost two years now, good supplements, probiotics by the handfuls, no processed foods, water only and no water during meals. Digestive enzymes to help digest my food as I now have tested positive for many food intolerances (ALCAT Testing). I have tried restoring gut flora by repairing my gut with Glutamine and Florastore and something called Cytoflora. Nothing has worked. My skin is in a constant state of inflammation that I chase around trying to cover with concealer. It never works. The worst areas are the sides of my face toward my inner cheeks and down toward jaw. There not pimples just flat red patches that will fllare red and then die down in a few days but will always stay pink and need to be covered. Eventually they will flare up again. Ive been told they are not rosacea related because of their location and are not pimples so they do not repsond to sal acid or ahas' or even harsher things like ziana gel. Ive tried over the counter holistic rosacea treatment called Prosacea which has 1% sulfur in it. This does nothing either. Ive tried a 1% steroid that will minimize the redness but I wont continue with it and only try for it day or two. What am I missing? I am also dry and flakey but oily at the same time. I have researched with for two years and am obsessed with finding the answer because derms are useless but I cannot achieve my goals. My quality of life has completley changed and really dont know what to do anymore. I have lost over 40lbs on my 5'9 frame and cannot afford to lose anymore. Im look terrible.
My stomach is also a disaster. It seems to be okay in the morning and I have regular bowel movements but by the time I eat dinner (which is lean protein, meats, veggies, fish and some brown rice or quinoa) it is a churnning gurgling mess. It makes load noises when finally sit down to watch a little TV so many thats why I hear it more. What can I try?
Well, you want to focus on your digestive issues. Nothing is really going to work until that's better. Have you tried consuming healing foods like aloe vera, cactus/cactus pear and other slimy foods? The plant mucin helps restore your mucin linings. And made bone broths to for sources of easily digested nutrients that heal.
And maybe you don't want to eat much for dinner? I eat most of my calories earlier in the day and tend to have a green smoothie and/or broth or veggie soup at night.
Have you tried massaging the oil in the areas with clogged pores to unclog them? That's how I manage blackheads.
I used to drink 8oz of aloe vera juice throughout the day but since I did ALCAT intolerance testing back in March, I stopped as I tested severe for aloe vera. It did help with my stomach a lot. I dont drink green smoothies but have tried them in the past but wasnt consistent, Maybe its time to try again.
I eat often but small. My dinner is relatively normal amount and its early in the evening (5-5:30) and then a cup of green tea around 9pm and my cheat of a gluten free almond cookie. Its what I look forward to all day!! I cannot give it up entirely as I feel one cookie a day is not causing my problems when my entire diet is pretty healthy and clean. I have also tried Tumeric to reduce inflammation but didnt really see results. And yes I have tried many oils...Jojoba, Grapeseed, Hemp and Seabuckthorn to name a few all applied liberally and sparingly to the areas and boy did it create more of a mess. It added to my many clogs and they all needed to be extracted only to come back again. I cant get them to stay away. Jojoba was the absolute worst for my chin area. I do apply one drop to a wet face on my nose and center cheeks where my pores are larger and do get stuck with hard sebum but this has lessened it. I dont know why it doesnt work the same for my chin pores. Maybe because they are smaller. I even did a stint last year with low dose accutane of 20mg once a week. I did it for 13 weeks and it didnt help at all and sent my seborrheic dermatitis into a tail spin. I also must mention, I had some blood work done as Im BHRT hormone cream for menopause and my DHEA levels were out of whack as well as my thryoid #'s were low. Dr just started me on Armour thyroid meds this past week. Regular dose is 60mg a day but hes starting me slow at 30mg. Not sure but have gotten some red bumps on my face since.
I noticed in your regimen you use aloe vera mixed with niancinamide and a moisturizer with linoleic acid. Can you tell me what moisturizer you use? I have tried aloe mixed with niacinamide many times and have not seen it help with my red seborrhea patches for some reason.
I used to drink 8oz of aloe vera juice throughout the day but since I did ALCAT intolerance testing back in March, I stopped as I tested severe for aloe vera. It did help with my stomach a lot. I dont drink green smoothies but have tried them in the past but wasnt consistent, Maybe its time to try again.
I eat often but small. My dinner is relatively normal amount and its early in the evening (5-5:30) and then a cup of green tea around 9pm and my cheat of a gluten free almond cookie. Its what I look forward to all day!! I cannot give it up entirely as I feel one cookie a day is not causing my problems when my entire diet is pretty healthy and clean. I have also tried Tumeric to reduce inflammation but didnt really see results. And yes I have tried many oils...Jojoba, Grapeseed, Hemp and Seabuckthorn to name a few all applied liberally and sparingly to the areas and boy did it create more of a mess. It added to my many clogs and they all needed to be extracted only to come back again. I cant get them to stay away. Jojoba was the absolute worst for my chin area. I do apply one drop to a wet face on my nose and center cheeks where my pores are larger and do get stuck with hard sebum but this has lessened it. I dont know why it doesnt work the same for my chin pores. Maybe because they are smaller. I even did a stint last year with low dose accutane of 20mg once a week. I did it for 13 weeks and it didnt help at all and sent my seborrheic dermatitis into a tail spin. I also must mention, I had some blood work done as Im BHRT hormone cream for menopause and my DHEA levels were out of whack as well as my thryoid #'s were low. Dr just started me on Armour thyroid meds this past week. Regular dose is 60mg a day but hes starting me slow at 30mg. Not sure but have gotten some red bumps on my face since.
I noticed in your regimen you use aloe vera mixed with niancinamide and a moisturizer with linoleic acid. Can you tell me what moisturizer you use? I have tried aloe mixed with niacinamide many times and have not seen it help with my red seborrhea patches for some reason.
The aloe niacinimide blend with a little oil is my moisurizer. Olay and Paula begun all have products that contain it. Have you tried glycerin for your dry patches. I get a vegetable glycerin when I order my vitamins. It's not much more expensive than the petroleum based stuff you get at drug stores.
what oil are you mixing your aloe and niacinamide with...hemp? Ive never tried Olay but have used Paula's products before and shame on her for putting some really bad ingredients in her products. SLS in alot of her cleansers and almond oil in her BHA's. Not good. Ive often wondered why every time I try her BHA's whether its 1% or 2% i break out massively and it makes my clogs worse. I need to find out why I break out. I the area on my jawline gets weird red hive like bumps occasionally before my period so Im figuring thats hormonal. I am on bioidentical hormone cream so Im kind of surprised that Im breaking out. I have tested intolerant to many foods thru ALCAT testing but removed them from my diet now for 6 months and initially saw improvement but not so much anymore. I have tons of blood work done and I know my FSH levels were high, estrogen low and I believe my DHEA was also low.. My dr said my thyroid was borderline low as well. I have not seen any improvement with diet restrictions and changes after 18 months so im not sure how to proceed and what to do or eat..Its very frustrating after all this time that nothing has panned out. Any thoughts alternativista?
In theory, using an oil with linoleic acid in to change the lipid profile of your skin seems like a great idea. i was combining this with oil cleansing (castor oil, hemp seed oil, tamanu oil mix). in theory it would dissolve all of the oil plugs i have, then change my lipid profile so that they dont get blocked again.
i originally spent about 2 months using hemp seed oil both as a cleanse, and a little applied topically. nothing changed, and i think i may have even gotten a few more white heads.
i then chose to do the OCM with castor oil added. this seemed to help slightly after about a week, but no major difference, and now ive gotten more whiteheads and blackheads. also some of the hiteheads have become inflamed and turned into spots. its driving me insane. i had such high hopes for both of these things as they both seem scientifically sound, but if anything they've made my skin worse.
my current situation is lots of whiteheads on my chin, especially at the corners of my mouth. there are alot of whiteheads on my forehead (which never used to be there). i also have many whiteheads on my cheeks and a few on my nose. i have some blackheads on my nose, and more on my cheeks, but its hard to say wether these are whiteheads that have turned into blackheads, or just new blackheads. i also get infected hairs in my beard, and have spots on my scalp aswell.
i do exercise 5 times a week, and have a very good diet. im so annoyed that nothing is working for this, as i beleive that if i got rid of the pore clogging problem, my acne would be pretty much gone.
my pores block very easily and i don't know why. im pretty sure accutane would clear up my problem, but i dont want to take it since it stunts growth for many. is there any way i can reduce the production of sebum, or down regulate the PPAR?
i've also read the thread you recommend:
http://www.acne.org/...98#entry3239798
you say estrogen/ androgens play a role in acne in guys. i'm 18 so i'm fairly sure this is one of the causes. would taking an aromatase inhibitor help this? possibly like the male version of the pill?
Just want to report that ingesting the safflower oil seems to be doing more for my dog than applying it topically. His skin and fur stopped feeling so dry kind of suddenly. I'm not sure it can all be attributed to the oil though. I'm currently working on the theory that he's allergic to chicken as much of what I'd been doing to try to make him better involved supplementing his food with chicken and gelatin rich chicken broth. Which sucks, because I was consuming the broth too for the nutrients and I hate beef and other broths. I love chicken.
i've also read the thread you recommend:
http://www.acne.org/...98#entry3239798
you say estrogen/ androgens play a role in acne in guys. i'm 18 so i'm fairly sure this is one of the causes. would taking an aromatase inhibitor help this? possibly like the male version of the pill?
Well, one of the things linoleic acid does in sebum is act as an inhibitor. Green tea is another source. HAve you tried it topically? Also, beta sitosterol which is the active ingredient in saw palmetto. It's in all plant oils. There's a ton in avocados and pumpkin seeds.
Just want to report that ingesting the safflower oil seems to be doing more for my dog than applying it topically. His skin and fur stopped feeling so dry kind of suddenly. I'm not sure it can all be attributed to the oil though. I'm currently working on the theory that he's allergic to chicken as much of what I'd been doing to try to make him better involved supplementing his food with chicken and gelatin rich chicken broth. Which sucks, because I was consuming the broth too for the nutrients and I hate beef and other broths. I love chicken.
i've also read the thread you recommend:
http://www.acne.org/...98#entry3239798
you say estrogen/ androgens play a role in acne in guys. i'm 18 so i'm fairly sure this is one of the causes. would taking an aromatase inhibitor help this? possibly like the male version of the pill?
Well, one of the things linoleic acid does in sebum is act as an inhibitor. Green tea is another source. HAve you tried it topically? Also, beta sitosterol which is the active ingredient in saw palmetto. It's in all plant oils. There's a ton in avocados and pumpkin seeds.
i can't really try an AI topically since it comes in pill form.
does estrogen cause acne more thn testosterone in guys?
if this is the case, taking an aromatase inhibitor and possibly resveratrol would be very beneficial.
Just want to report that ingesting the safflower oil seems to be doing more for my dog than applying it topically. His skin and fur stopped feeling so dry kind of suddenly. I'm not sure it can all be attributed to the oil though. I'm currently working on the theory that he's allergic to chicken as much of what I'd been doing to try to make him better involved supplementing his food with chicken and gelatin rich chicken broth. Which sucks, because I was consuming the broth too for the nutrients and I hate beef and other broths. I love chicken.
i've also read the thread you recommend:
http://www.acne.org/...98#entry3239798
you say estrogen/ androgens play a role in acne in guys. i'm 18 so i'm fairly sure this is one of the causes. would taking an aromatase inhibitor help this? possibly like the male version of the pill?
Well, one of the things linoleic acid does in sebum is act as an inhibitor. Green tea is another source. HAve you tried it topically? Also, beta sitosterol which is the active ingredient in saw palmetto. It's in all plant oils. There's a ton in avocados and pumpkin seeds.
i can't really try an AI topically since it comes in pill form.
does estrogen cause acne more thn testosterone in guys?
if this is the case, taking an aromatase inhibitor and possibly resveratrol would be very beneficial.
If you are talking about a prescription drug that alters your hormones, then no, I can't recommend that unless you have some serious hormone related issue. And acne isn't serious.
If you are male and believe you suffer from excess estrogen, then the only thing I can tell you is to do things like lose excess body fat and avoid phyto-estrogens.
Just want to report that ingesting the safflower oil seems to be doing more for my dog than applying it topically. His skin and fur stopped feeling so dry kind of suddenly. I'm not sure it can all be attributed to the oil though. I'm currently working on the theory that he's allergic to chicken as much of what I'd been doing to try to make him better involved supplementing his food with chicken and gelatin rich chicken broth. Which sucks, because I was consuming the broth too for the nutrients and I hate beef and other broths. I love chicken.
i've also read the thread you recommend:
http://www.acne.org/...98#entry3239798
you say estrogen/ androgens play a role in acne in guys. i'm 18 so i'm fairly sure this is one of the causes. would taking an aromatase inhibitor help this? possibly like the male version of the pill?
Well, one of the things linoleic acid does in sebum is act as an inhibitor. Green tea is another source. HAve you tried it topically? Also, beta sitosterol which is the active ingredient in saw palmetto. It's in all plant oils. There's a ton in avocados and pumpkin seeds.
i can't really try an AI topically since it comes in pill form.
does estrogen cause acne more thn testosterone in guys?
if this is the case, taking an aromatase inhibitor and possibly resveratrol would be very beneficial.
If you are talking about a prescription drug that alters your hormones, then no, I can't recommend that unless you have some serious hormone related issue. And acne isn't serious.
If you are male and believe you suffer from excess estrogen, then the only thing I can tell you is to do things like lose excess body fat and avoid phyto-estrogens.
many aromatase inhibitors are available OTC.
i'm currently at 15% bodyfat.
i don't think i have excess estrogen, but would even normal amounts possibly cause acne? or would lowering estrogen make it worse?
does anyone know if you can slice open Borage Oil pills(high in GLA -assuming GLA is same thing as linoleic acid?) and smear the liquid topically on face instead of buying grapeseed oil?
trying to keep the $$ costs down and i think this might be cheaper?
oh and i hereby give Alternativista lady the Nobel Prize for this breakthrough--smart and beautiful
In theory, using an oil with linoleic acid in to change the lipid profile of your skin seems like a great idea. i was combining this with oil cleansing (castor oil, hemp seed oil, tamanu oil mix). in theory it would dissolve all of the oil plugs i have, then change my lipid profile so that they dont get blocked again.
i originally spent about 2 months using hemp seed oil both as a cleanse, and a little applied topically. nothing changed, and i think i may have even gotten a few more white heads.
i then chose to do the OCM with castor oil added. this seemed to help slightly after about a week, but no major difference, and now ive gotten more whiteheads and blackheads. also some of the hiteheads have become inflamed and turned into spots. its driving me insane. i had such high hopes for both of these things as they both seem scientifically sound, but if anything they've made my skin worse.
my current situation is lots of whiteheads on my chin, especially at the corners of my mouth. there are alot of whiteheads on my forehead (which never used to be there). i also have many whiteheads on my cheeks and a few on my nose. i have some blackheads on my nose, and more on my cheeks, but its hard to say wether these are whiteheads that have turned into blackheads, or just new blackheads. i also get infected hairs in my beard, and have spots on my scalp aswell.
i do exercise 5 times a week, and have a very good diet. im so annoyed that nothing is working for this, as i beleive that if i got rid of the pore clogging problem, my acne would be pretty much gone.
my pores block very easily and i don't know why. im pretty sure accutane would clear up my problem, but i dont want to take it since it stunts growth for many. is there any way i can reduce the production of sebum, or down regulate the PPAR?
Hey jordeyy,
If i had to take a shot in the dark as to why OCM didn't work for you, i would say it's because of the oils you are using. Especially castor oil. It is so incredibly thick and sticky, that i really feel like it blocks off your pores. I've tried so many different oils while oil cleansing, and the single greatest one that i've found is Rose Hip Seed Oil. It's pricey, but for a reason. It's loaded with good stuff (just search rose hip seed oil skin) and is considered a 'dry' oil because it's so thin and absorbs so quickly and thoroughly.
I'm using it now and no other oil i've tried absorbs this quickly, or was this rich in vitamins and beneficial fatty acids. Even when i was using grape seed oil, my skin would start to get a bit irritated after a few days use. But i haven't experienced any of these negative effects with Rose Hip Seed Oil.
Also the oil cleansing method is so efficient at cleaning your skin, that i feel like you're left with no oil at all. Which is why it's a good idea after you've steamed to add a touch of fresh oil back to your skin. And again, omit any use of Castor oil as it is so incredibly thick that i feel like it does much more harm than good. Oils are so different from each other, and in my experience using various oils, rose hip seed oil has proven that without a doubt. There's different qualities of various oils too, so you have to make sure it's a reputable brand
i'm going to add here that i have been using hemp oil for about a month or two but not consistently. It has always helped greatly, it would probably range from using it twice a day to once every two days as I felt the need for it. It was great for my acne and helped so much. After reading this info, I am going to give this method a go. But with more consistency. I will try applying it twice a day indefinitely and report back. I usually splash on some water, and then apply the oil all over my face and massage for a while. The brand I use is Nutiva Hemp Oil. Thank you for all the wonderful information alterntavista. YOU are a godsend. Wish me luck!
In theory, using an oil with linoleic acid in to change the lipid profile of your skin seems like a great idea. i was combining this with oil cleansing (castor oil, hemp seed oil, tamanu oil mix). in theory it would dissolve all of the oil plugs i have, then change my lipid profile so that they dont get blocked again.
i originally spent about 2 months using hemp seed oil both as a cleanse, and a little applied topically. nothing changed, and i think i may have even gotten a few more white heads.
i then chose to do the OCM with castor oil added. this seemed to help slightly after about a week, but no major difference, and now ive gotten more whiteheads and blackheads. also some of the hiteheads have become inflamed and turned into spots. its driving me insane. i had such high hopes for both of these things as they both seem scientifically sound, but if anything they've made my skin worse.
my current situation is lots of whiteheads on my chin, especially at the corners of my mouth. there are alot of whiteheads on my forehead (which never used to be there). i also have many whiteheads on my cheeks and a few on my nose. i have some blackheads on my nose, and more on my cheeks, but its hard to say wether these are whiteheads that have turned into blackheads, or just new blackheads. i also get infected hairs in my beard, and have spots on my scalp aswell.
i do exercise 5 times a week, and have a very good diet. im so annoyed that nothing is working for this, as i beleive that if i got rid of the pore clogging problem, my acne would be pretty much gone.
my pores block very easily and i don't know why. im pretty sure accutane would clear up my problem, but i dont want to take it since it stunts growth for many. is there any way i can reduce the production of sebum, or down regulate the PPAR?
Hey jordeyy,
If i had to take a shot in the dark as to why OCM didn't work for you, i would say it's because of the oils you are using. Especially castor oil. It is so incredibly thick and sticky, that i really feel like it blocks off your pores. I've tried so many different oils while oil cleansing, and the single greatest one that i've found is Rose Hip Seed Oil. It's pricey, but for a reason. It's loaded with good stuff (just search rose hip seed oil skin) and is considered a 'dry' oil because it's so thin and absorbs so quickly and thoroughly.
I'm using it now and no other oil i've tried absorbs this quickly, or was this rich in vitamins and beneficial fatty acids. Even when i was using grape seed oil, my skin would start to get a bit irritated after a few days use. But i haven't experienced any of these negative effects with Rose Hip Seed Oil.
Also the oil cleansing method is so efficient at cleaning your skin, that i feel like you're left with no oil at all. Which is why it's a good idea after you've steamed to add a touch of fresh oil back to your skin. And again, omit any use of Castor oil as it is so incredibly thick that i feel like it does much more harm than good. Oils are so different from each other, and in my experience using various oils, rose hip seed oil has proven that without a doubt. There's different qualities of various oils too, so you have to make sure it's a reputable brand
i think oil in general was the problem. i tried hemp seed oil (0 in comedogenic and 0 in irritation) for a good 2 months, and did nothing for my many blocked pores, nothing for the inflamed acne i had, and nothing to prevent acne. i tried then cleansing with castor oil as it supposedly cleans pores the best, but in the week of cleansing i tried, i only felt about 4 plugs come out of my skin, still leaving me with probably 50+ (theres too many to count). so it didnt overcleanse my skin at all, infact it didnt do it well enough, i do agree though its too thick and probably blocked more pores and contributed to a few painfull inflamed under the skin spots. i've given up on oil cleansing it just doesnt work for me.
i've been taking resveratrol and chlorophyll and have been seeing some improvement, but i'll see how it goes
When applied to the face- should the oil be mixed with a carrier- or is it permeable enough on its own without the need for another?
They are both commonly used as carrier oils, so no. Just make sure you get a good brand from a place with high turnover and then store in the refridgerator.
These along with most grain and seed oils are very prone to going rancid. The average supermarket brand won't do. I use Napa Valley Organics sold at Whole Foods.
wow. thank you so much
alternativista this is amazing i just started using primrose oil on my face for 1 week and my acne has gone from a 6/10 to a 3/10 and my skin has not looked this good ever!!! thank you so much. your posts, hard work, and willingness to share this info with us is much appreciated! Thank you!
So, I was just reading something on this subject, don't remember what, but it included a list of GLA sources commonly used in supplements and it occurred to me that maybe the Zante Currants I often use in some cooking (as the cheapest and nearly lowest sugar dried fruit available at whole foods) were black currants, a source of GLA. So I wikipedia'd it and alas no, zante currants aren't currants but a tiny grape. Currants are not that common in the U.S. due to laws restricting them due to some blight a 100 years ago. But I then wikipedia'd Black currants and found this mention and link to a study:
In a human pilot study, ingestion of blackcurrant seed oil by mothers reduced atopic dermatitis in their breast-fed newborns.[23] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03540.x/abstract
So, I was just reading something on this subject, don't remember what, but it included a list of GLA sources commonly used in supplements and it occurred to me that maybe the Zante Currants I often use in some cooking (sweet substitutes) as the cheapest and nearly lowest sugar dried fruit available at whole foods, where black currants, a source of GLA. So I wikipedia'd it and alas no, zante currants aren't currants but a tiny grape. Currants are not that common in the U.S. due to laws restricting them due to some blight a 100 years ago. But I then wikipedia'd Black currants and found this mention and link to a study:
In a human pilot study, ingestion of blackcurrant seed oil by mothers reduced atopic dermatitis in their breast-fed newborns who were supplemented with the oil over two years.[23] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03540.x/abstract
So, I was just reading something on this subject, don't remember what, but it included a list of GLA sources commonly used in supplements and it occurred to me that maybe the Zante Currants I often use in some cooking (sweet substitutes) as the cheapest and nearly lowest sugar dried fruit available at whole foods, where black currants, a source of GLA. So I wikipedia'd it and alas no, zante currants aren't currants but a tiny grape. Currants are not that common in the U.S. due to laws restricting them due to some blight a 100 years ago. But I then wikipedia'd Black currants and found this mention and link to a study:
In a human pilot study, ingestion of blackcurrant seed oil by mothers reduced atopic dermatitis in their breast-fed newborns who were supplemented with the oil over two years.[23] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03540.x/abstract
Linoleic acid is a DHT blocker. Instead of taking supplements do you think cooking with grapeseed, sunflower and safflower oil will make any difference? Sunflower oil is of course high in vitamin E.
So, I was just reading something on this subject, don't remember what, but it included a list of GLA sources commonly used in supplements and it occurred to me that maybe the Zante Currants I often use in some cooking (sweet substitutes) as the cheapest and nearly lowest sugar dried fruit available at whole foods, where black currants, a source of GLA. So I wikipedia'd it and alas no, zante currants aren't currants but a tiny grape. Currants are not that common in the U.S. due to laws restricting them due to some blight a 100 years ago. But I then wikipedia'd Black currants and found this mention and link to a study:
In a human pilot study, ingestion of blackcurrant seed oil by mothers reduced atopic dermatitis in their breast-fed newborns who were supplemented with the oil over two years.[23] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03540.x/abstract
So, I was just reading something on this subject, don't remember what, but it included a list of GLA sources commonly used in supplements and it occurred to me that maybe the Zante Currants I often use in some cooking (sweet substitutes) as the cheapest and nearly lowest sugar dried fruit available at whole foods, where black currants, a source of GLA. So I wikipedia'd it and alas no, zante currants aren't currants but a tiny grape. Currants are not that common in the U.S. due to laws restricting them due to some blight a 100 years ago. But I then wikipedia'd Black currants and found this mention and link to a study:
In a human pilot study, ingestion of blackcurrant seed oil by mothers reduced atopic dermatitis in their breast-fed newborns who were supplemented with the oil over two years.[23] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03540.x/abstract
Linoleic acid is a DHT blocker. Instead of taking supplements do you think cooking with grapeseed, sunflower and safflower oil will make any difference? Sunflower oil is of course high in vitamin E.
I think you should use it topically.
Here's a list of oils and their percentage of linoleic acid: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Oils-Rich-in-Linoleic-Acid.aspx
Safflower oil 78% Grape seed oil 73% Poppyseed oil 70% Sunflower oil 68% Hemp oil 60%
coconut oil and olive oil are way down on the list. Jojoba doesn't appear probably because this list is for diet purposes.
Here's another list from a vendor of essential oils found when looking into avocado seed oil. Which alas, is low in linoleic acid, high in oleic acd. But has other good qualities so could be good in a mixture.
This link is to rosehip seed oil. Which has about 45% http://www.essentialoils.co.za/rosehip-analysis.htm
I dont know if these sources are in here already
Lipid Mediators in Acne
Monica Ottaviani, Emanuela Camera, and Mauro Picardo
Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2010/858176/ Full paper
http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2835893/
Sebaceous gland lipids
In experimental models, linoleic acid is preferentially transformed into two carbons precursors in the sebaceous gland by entering the -oxidation reaction at the acylside chain, which yields to acetyl-CoA. The latter product feeds the biosynthetic pathway leading to squalene and wax esters synthesis.9 It seems that -oxidation of linoleic acid is specific of sebocytes and that it is correlated with their differentiation. A diminished amount of linoleic acid has been proposed as a factor predisposing to comedones formation.10 Moreover, low level of linoleic acid also produces impairment of the epidermal barrier function, which might account for increased permeability of comedonal wall to inflammatory substances.11 Other lipids have been proposed as having involvement in the development of comedone lesions. In particular the attention has been pointed to the increase of other fatty acid and by-products of squalene peroxidation.1214
in vitro data showed that squalene peroxide beyond induction of HaCaT keratinocytes proliferation, led also to the upregulation and release of inflammatory mediators, which indicate a pro-inflammatory activity of by-products of squalene oxidation.19 The strategy that skin adopts to limit the potentially harmful effects of peroxidated squalene relies on the vitamin E supply to the skin surface.
And much more. Including a section on diets affect on lipid composition. 40 studies cited.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2836431/
The relationship of diet and acne
Includes quite a bit about Vitamin D and A and their affects on Cell proliferation.
In keratinocytes, 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates growth and differentiation; for that reason vitamin D analogues have been developed for the treatment of psoriasis which is characterized as an aggressive hyperproliferative skin disease.
Then a bit about linoleic acid deficiency in acne sufferers and..
The exact fate of these essential nutrients in human sebaceous cells is not yet fully elucidated. An experimental study37 unveiled a unique metabolic fate of linoleic acid in sebaceous cells, which is preferentially beta-oxidized in contrast to the other predominant fatty acids, which are incorporated to the most prevalent sebaceous lipids. That rapid oxidation and degradation in sebaceous cells allows palmitic acid to be available as the sole substrate to the delta 6 desaturase of sebaceous cells, the predominant desaturase of human sebaceous cells.38 That enzyme normally catalyzes the synthesis of more omega-6 derivatives from linoleic acid, since it is the enzymes preferred substrate. There is also substantial evidence that linoleic acid is an essential structural component of skin ceramides, important for barrier function.
...the above [guinea pig] study revealed that these essential nutrients could enter from the diet, survive the digestive tract and reach the skins surface unaltered. A very recent nutritional study42 in two groups of women who were given flaxseed or borage oil for 12 weeks revealed that the daily ingestion of 2.2 g LA and linoleic acid or 2.2 g linoleic and -linolenic acid, respectively, demonstrated some skin benefits. Skin irritation, changes in skin reddening and blood flow were diminished in both groups,
minerals such as zinc, copper and iron, known to influence anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory enzymes, for example desaturases or lipoxygenases.
and then a section on Dairy. Over 40 studies cited with many on the metabolism of skin lipids, PPAR, etc.
And finally:
A new concept for acne therapy: a pilot study with zileuton, an oral 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2835912/ Zileuton is an antiinflammatory agent that affects lipid metabolism. It was mentioned in the info I pasted above. And is used as a treatment for asthma.
acne.org discussion thread: http://www.acne.org/...s/#entry3168178
i put evening primrose oil topically and it didn't really help my acne after 1 month but i know there are studies showing it to help such as the following one: http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/9692305
"A major pathogenic factor of acne is the disturbed keratinization of the follicular infundibulum. It has been hypothesized that a relative decrease in linoleic acid in the sebum could be responsible, in part, for this. The aim of the present study was objectively to evaluate the effects of topically applied linoleic acid on the size of microcomedones in patients with mild acne. The design was a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized cross-over study. Evaluations were performed by digital image analysis of cyanoacrylate follicular biopsies. There was a significant effect of topically applied linoleic acid on the size of follicular casts and microcomedones, an almost 25% reduction in their overall size being achieved over a 1-month treatment period. In contrast, no change was found at placebo-treated sites. It is concluded that topical linoleic acid might play a role as a comedolytic agent in acne-prone patients."
i would love to use linoleic acid in the future but evening primrose is so oily.
i have been taking vitamin d for 2 months and in the study were it cured acne for 50% of people and significantly helped it for 76% it took 3 months. I am unhappy to report that the only thing that seems to be working for me is drinking acv and applying zinc oxide topically but I for sure be applying some vitamin d to my skin in the future. heres my theory why people get acne in the winter. we are out in the sun during the summer and the vitamin d is directly manufactured on our skin! hence on our skin on our face!
i think that that taking it in pill form takes so long to work because it never is made in the skin!!! it takes month to make it to the skin layer! by getting that vitamin d directly on the face I beleive it will directly available to my skin cells and will simulate the idea of putting my face in the sun during the summer!.
now all that is left is for me to get some vitamin d and put it on topically i will do that right now.
btw i have noticed everyone at school who never has acne in the summer is getting some during the winter!! there has to... there has to be a connection!
wow! after reading that study you posted about the zuelo whatever it is called i looked at the wiki page for it! turns out it inhibits something that GLA inhibits as well! i will continue drinking the evening primrose oil! thanks!