I miraculously cleared up last year for about a month, and my skin got so clear that my pores were even no longer visible. I was taking a few things at the time, but in hindsight, I attributed it to taking about 10,000 IU of VITAMIN D and around 180mcg of K2 everyday. The acne came back when I stopped taking everything. I tried going back on VIT D and K2 over this last summer, and not only did my skin not improve, but I started having a lot of problems getting deep sleep. I'd wake up at 5 in the morning and not be able to get back to bed. I thought that maybe I had used up a lot of magnesium from all the D and developed a deficiency. I tried taking different magnesium supplements, but all of them gave me stomach aches, bloating, diarrhea, and weirdly enough, I'd sometimes go days without being able to go #2. I stopped taking everything and haven't tried again since. I think if I can figure out a way to up my magnesium levels, the k2 and d might do the job(if they were indeed the reason my skin cleared up) again. I'm going to try eating a lot of magnesium-rich foods every day and taking epsom salt foot baths and see if I can raise them without oral supplements.

Tran, it would be interesting to see if anyone else would get your results if they took the same supplements as you. Could you give us a rundown of what brands you're taking of all of those vitamins and minerals?

Hello again everyone,

 

I live in australia not sure if you can get these.

I will write down everything I take. (I'm basically deficient in everything) which is why I got so sick.

 

-Healthy care Australia vitamin D3 1000iu

-Natures own Magnesium Chelate 500mg

-Natures own vitamin C 500mg

-Blackmores Bio Zinc complex

-Natures own Mega B complex

-Healthy care Australia wild krill oil 1000mg

-Life extension Super K from iHerb.com

-Swisse Inner Balance 100 Billion probiotics

 

I also juice 2-3 times a week where I use a combination of diff fruit and vege's. Drink it straight away because you don't want the nutrients to oxidise.

 

Bidgood:

 

I suggest you try taking a B complex for a few weeks first before starting magnesium, because apparently B6 can help your body absorb more magnesium. The amount of B6 in your body determines the amount of magnesium to be absorbed. So the more B6 the better I think. I only take one a day though.

Maybe that might help with the #2 issue? I also find that by breaking up my dose of magnesium helps too, like one in the morning and then another mid morning, another midday and so on.

So much better than taking it all in one hit. They all went exploding out the other end (sorry)

Stick to magnesium chelate. Less laxative effect than any other form of magnesium. Epsom baths are a good idea. Magnesium is also a hormone regulator! And yes your sleep problems is a sign of magnesium deficiency.

 

I'm loving it at the moment. My smooth skin. No enlarged pores. White heads that Roaccutane failed to destroy have now started to surface by itself. I just flick it off with my nail!

It's spring/summer now in Australia, and I'd used to dread the summer months. I would whinge to my friends that they can probably fry an egg on my face with the amount of oil it produces. Now my makeup stays the same all day with no blotting papers or touch ups needed.

im definitely going to try your routine. I was on 40mg a day accutane for about 3 months...it seems the accutane plateaued on removing the acne lesions on my face, no more whiteheads coming to the surface. the side effects were pretty bad too and i figured upping the dose for the remaining lesions would be dumb when i could just get a topical to do it. i then decided i needed to find another solution to my oily skin because the accutane would only keep it back while on the drug, i realized any permanent affect it would have on my sebum production could also do permanent damage to things like my eyes where i noticed my eyes were becoming really dry and irritated to wearing contacts.

i'm not sure if im deficient in d3 but i sure as hell know my acne is mild.....i'd say its because until the accutane, i had super oily skin for years and the acne i ever got was just an old zit finally reaching the surface...i never had a face without an active lesion breaking through.

the idea that acne is genetic may very well be true in my case but there is also the though that since i only experienced oily skin upon puberity and only started getting acne a couple years after that, i just have a hormonal imbalance and from what i have read...vitamin d is more than a vitamin....but a hormone.

has the cure been at walgreens my whole life?

the idea that some forms of acne such as mild acne induced by oily skin due to an imbalance of nutrients is not that far-fetched.....

Hey guys,

I was wondering if this might work on light-to-moderately oily skin. I've got a bit of a combination skin going on, parts of it more oily than others, the majority of which being my forehead, nose, below my eyes, and mouth/chin area (basically where a lot of blackheads crop up). I've been on Minocycline for about 4 years throughout high school, along with Retin-A 0.05% Retin-A works pretty good, but burns my skin so I have to stop using it.

I read this topic and after researching the vitamin more, I decided to give it a go today. I took 10,000 IU (Two 5,000 IU soft gels) after dinner (which I read was a way to absorb the vitamin 50% better). I read that when you get Vitamin D3 from the sun, 15 minutes of unprotected exposure before applying sunblock translates to 20,000+ IUs. So toxicity I'm not too worried about, but if it should work for me I've got a doctors appointment in a couple weeks so I'll mention it to him then and see what he thinks of it. I also took 8,000 IUs of Vitamin A because I read several articles saying they worked pretty good together, but I'm more worried about Vitamin A toxicity than D3 because of liver damage (especially since prolonged usage of Minocycline can easily cause liver damage in itself) so I may go to getting my A from food sources instead of supplementing on that one. I eat a good amount of Vitamin A heavy foods anyways.

I'm just wondering two things:

• Do you think it would work on skin that isn't like an oil slick, but more moderately oily, primarily in the T-Zone?
• Are there any vitamins/minerals/amino acids that work in conjunction with Vitamin D3 that I could take too?

I'm a realist who doesn't expect a miracle, BUT I'm looking forward to see if there are any results. Even if there are none in a month, I'll still take one pill a day for the multitude of other health benefits that comes from D3 (but in a smaller dosage).

You can't get D3 toxicity from the sun because the D you are getting is vitamin D sulfate, meaning your body will flush whatever it doesn't need through your urine just like vit C.

If you do decide to supplement on D3, I strongly suggest to take 4 or 6 magnesium chelate 500mg (equals to 100mg elemental magnesium) a day just to balance it out. Magnesium is the 2nd most abundant mineral in your body, so yes it is very important!

So if you ever feel tired or lethargic while on D3 it's a sign of magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is very hard to absorb because it is a laxative, and if you take too much, you may get the runs.

Took my gut a little getting used to but I now take 10 a day, I started of with 6 a day. It may seem like that's an awful lot to take but the bioavailability is only 60% of the elemental magnesium (I think) maybe even less.

Magnesium is best to take on an empty stomach. Early morning and before bed time.

I was on Roaccutane 20mg for a year and it was my third round in 6 years. This time I did notice my eyes getting sensitive, sore and very red. Every time I go off the drug my skin would be all oily again. Especially in my t-zone.

I'm glad I have found a natural cure now and I'm wishing all people out there best of luck. Acne isn't fun

I miraculously cleared up last year for about a month, and my skin got so clear that my pores were even no longer visible. I was taking a few things at the time, but in hindsight, I attributed it to taking about 10,000 IU of VITAMIN D and around 180mcg of K2 everyday. The acne came back when I stopped taking everything. I tried going back on VIT D and K2 over this last summer, and not only did my skin not improve, but I started having a lot of problems getting deep sleep. I'd wake up at 5 in the morning and not be able to get back to bed. I thought that maybe I had used up a lot of magnesium from all the D and developed a deficiency. I tried taking different magnesium supplements, but all of them gave me stomach aches, bloating, diarrhea, and weirdly enough, I'd sometimes go days without being able to go #2. I stopped taking everything and haven't tried again since. I think if I can figure out a way to up my magnesium levels, the k2 and d might do the job(if they were indeed the reason my skin cleared up) again. I'm going to try eating a lot of magnesium-rich foods every day and taking epsom salt foot baths and see if I can raise them without oral supplements.

Tran, it would be interesting to see if anyone else would get your results if they took the same supplements as you. Could you give us a rundown of what brands you're taking of all of those vitamins and minerals?

You can get magnesium and other trace minerals by adding some liquid ionic magnesium to your filtered water. Trace Minerals Research brand Mega-Mag is a great and super affordable option. I have always struggled with getting enough magnesium, and, like you, all of the other popular supplements tore my stomach up. I add a squirt of this to every glass of reverse osmosis water I drink and have noticed a big difference without any side effects. Good luck!

I registered today just to tell my story that I feel compelled to share with others.

After 22 years of suffering from extremely oily skin and acne I have finally found what I believe is my own personal cure. It's been a very long road to get here and I still can't quite believe it, but Vitamin D supplements have COMPLETELY eliminated my super oily skin and acne. I'm not talking a little bit here, not a 50% or even 90% reduction. I'm talking 100%. I still can't get over it having suffered for so long.

 

I know some of you aren't going to believe what I just said or what I am about to explain. I would have my doubts too if I were reading this just a few months ago, but I am 100% telling the truth of my own personal experience. So here I go...

 

I am a male, now in my late 30's and have suffered with excessively oily skin (way way way too much sebum) and severe acne since puberty around 14yo. I have taken EVERYTHING over the years. This gets said a lot around here by 16-18 year old acne sufferers, and I can certainly sympathize, but trust me when I say I have had over 20 years of experience trying EVERYTHING from prescription meds to over the counter topicals to various supplements. I have tried every systemic and topical antibiotic prescription known for acne. I have tried every topical retinoid. I have been on 3 courses of Accutane. I have been on doctor prescribed very high doses of Vitamin A (a safe aqueous form) after my 1st course of accutane when my acne flared back up after treatment. I have tried and used many of the over the counter washes, scrubs, masks with BP, salicylic acid, tee tree, etc. over the years. Fed up with prescription meds that never fully worked (or in the case of Accutane worked only while on them), over the last few years I have also tried various supplements, including fish oil, cod liver oil, B5, vitamin B multivitamins, antioxidant multivitamins, borage oil, and others.

 

About 4 weeks ago I began supplementing with Vitamin D3 1000IU. Why? Well a year ago I got a blood test done showing my Vitamin D level was low. It was a 19 which is considered quite deficient (normal I think is 50-70; reference values have been upped recently). At the time my doctor prescribed Vitamin D over a 3 month period but at the time I saw no results so stopped after 2 months (this was to try resolving fatigue not acne anyway). But this winter I started reading up on Vitamin D again as my fatigue was increasing again and came to find out that the Vitamin D that is prescribed via a pharmacy is of the D2 form which some studies have now shown is ineffective in vivo. So I decided to start taking over the counter Vitamin D (in the D3 form), like I said about 4 weeks ago. Again, the intent was to possibly help with fatigue and perhaps immune support, not necessarily help with my oily skin or acne. But to my amazement, about one week in I began to see significant reduction in sebum on my skin. By week two my skin had become COMPLETELY normalized. I can't even believe I am saying that after so many years of super oily skin. The only medication capable of doing that for me is Accutane (isotretinoin). Nothing else could reduce or control sebum production for me. Not prescriptions or supplements of any kind, even B5. Remember I'm a male, so there is no other option other than Accutane for us males like BC or Spiro to try and normalize hormones/oily skin.

 

After taking Vitamin D for 4 weeks now my skin is tighter, smoother, looks normal, and I haven't had a new pimple of any kind surface in 2 weeks which for me is nothing short of a miracle. Most amazingly is my oily skin is completely gone and hence why I'm confident this is going to work long term for me. In fact the results, both sebum and acne elimination, are just as good if not better than Accutane (Accutane can be super drying in normal doses and can affect wound healing).

 

I was going to wait 3-6 months to tell my story because I know there will be naysayers that say 4 weeks isn't long enough to judge long term efficiency, or maybe this is just an anomaly, or something like that. But after 22 years I have more than enough experience with my oily skin and acne to know that this is a fundamental change in my skin that I have never seen before (other than again with Accutane usage). So I just couldn't wait that long to post. I felt compelled to do so today in the hopes that my experience might help some others right now, not months from now.

 

So anyway, completely amazed by this result I have experienced with Vit D I have been doing quite a bit of research online about it and the more I research the more things make sense of how this is affecting my skin. Vitamin D is actually a hormone and was mislabeled a long time ago as a vitamin because at the time researches didn't realize the body (skin) can actually produce vitamin D. In a strict sense, vitamins must be supplied by diet, while hormones are produced in the body. Now, we all know acne is a result of what is most likely an imbalance of hormones in the body. This is why it is very rare for pre-pubescents to have acne, their pubertal hormones haven't kicked in yet which is when most acne first appears.

 

"Vitamin" D, being a HORMONE needed in vital bodily functions, can be one of those hormones that is deficient. Vitamin D is produced via UV light action on the skin. In fact, it is produced in the oily cells (sebocytes) in the skin. Interesting but slight gross side note - I read somewhere that dogs and cats actually get their Vitamin D intake from licking the sebum on their face and hair follicles where the vitamin D is created (their skin cannot directly absorb the vitamin D through the skin). Apparently (and luckily for most humans) human skin can directly absorb vitamin D on the skin .

 

So I've been pondering, perhaps very oily skin (and associated acne) is a negative feedback of low vitamin D levels in the body. With lower and lower Vitamin D in the body, the skin produces more and more sebum in efforts to create more Vitamin D to bring the body in balance. Perhaps those like myself who have consistently super oily skin have an impairment in the ability to create or absorb Vitamin D in the skin. (I don't really see a reduction in oil during the summer when I get a fair amount of sun). For me, perhaps the only way to increase my vitamin D levels is not through sun exposure but through supplementation. There are very few sources of foods with sufficient levels of vitamin D so the only way to get it in sufficient amounts is through vitamin supplements.

 

In my research I also found out that Vitamin D will bind to some of the same skin cell receptors as certain forms of Retinoic Acid (one of the metabolites of Accutane). I believe this is likely why Accutane works in a similar fashion (normalizes sebum production) by binding to the same Vitamin D and related receptors in the skin. Now this is my own hypothesis here, but perhaps when those receptors have vitamin D or retinoic acid bound to them, they in essence tell the skin they have enough Vitamin D and not to produce any more sebum. Perhaps Accutane works by substituting for and mimicking Vitamin D in the skin . This could possibly explain some of the side affects of Accutane like bone and joint pain which can be a symptom of Vitamin D deficiency (accutane thereby exacerbating the Vit D deficiency). I could go on about this but this is getting a bit tangential to the subject.

 

Anyways, I am completely beside myself that Vitamin D has worked better than anything else out there, and that I have suffered with acne for so long due to what appears to be a simple Vit D deficiency. I really implore others to try this too. It is cheap and easy to do with no side effects. The amount I am taking is 1000IU and is considered a relatively low and completely safe dose. I am not going to state this is the cure for everyone as I am a case study of one right now (although I have read here and on other websites others having great results with Vit D as well). But if you have very oily skin, especially into adulthood, I would give vitamin D3 a try.

 

Not that I think it matters, but in light of full disclosure, I am taking "Natures Made" Vitamin D(3) 1000IU tablets once a day. I don't think the brand will matter so much, just make sure it is Vitamin D3 and not D2. I am also taking Safeway brand Vitamin C 500mg tablets at the same time (this is your generic ascorbic acid Vit C). Note these are run of the mill vitamin brands, not anything special. It's possible the Vitamin C is adding a synergistic affect to the Vit D; I really don't know. But I do know Vitamin C alone hasn't done squat for me over the years that I have taken it so Vitamin C alone isn't causing the amazing results I'm seeing. (I am taking Vitamin C for immune support). These are the only two supplements I am currently taking. I have dropped all topicals other than washing my face in the morning and night and have just begun moisturizing at night with Aloe Vera Gel.

 

I'm hoping others will try this as perhaps this might be the solution for them as well. I'd be more than happy to answer anyone's questions.

Thank you for this valuable information. I have a very oil skin and i started with supplement of 5000 IU per day vitamin D 3. My skin is so much better. I have suffered for more than 40 years with a very oil skin and acne. After 3 months using the vitamin D, my skin looks perfect, no more acne and no more oil skin. My skin looks bright and smooth. This is a miracle for me! So Thank you again.

I just started taking Vitamin D today. I have several embarresing area's of Acne right now. In the Summer I rarely have any Issues. I work outside and get massive amounts of Sunlight. In the Winter I'm inside all day. I'm sure now after reading about this that the Sun is playing a massive role for me. Last year we went to mexico and I had several areas of acne, within 3 day's in that climate it was improving, by the end of the trip with all that sun it had all cleared up. I'm going to be doing 5000 iu a day and see how that works. I already take Calcium and Vitamin C supplements.

Having just read most of this topic, I really, really wish people would pay more attention when typing out the amount of iu's or mg's they are taking. So many people type an 0 too much or too little or get the maths wrong.

I'm glad people are willing to share their information but it's annoying when one time they say it's 10,000mg you need to take, the other time it's 1000mg.

I didn't have acne really until I was about 16 years old. Playing sports had really and effect on me and my hormones got outrageous, and started acne bad. I have tried everything up to accutane. I am now on my second dose because my face got bad again after the summer I'll say in October November. I've been searching for cures all my life, and now I saw this I got uplifted because I never had acne before. I still have low self-esteem sometimes, but I keep pushing. But after accutane, should I start taking vitamin d3 My face will get oily and hormones will start to imbalance. So could I start taking 5,000iu a day to keep my skin looking great because I think this will be the only cure for me. I am 19 now and I do not want to.take a single dose of accutane anymore.

Hello, I thought I would share my experience.

It it only been 5 days that I am taking vitamin D3, but already can see difference on my face.

But let me introduce myself first. My story is pretty much the same as all acne sufferers.

I have acne since the age 16. I had antibiotics which helped for few months. Went on pills- felt horrible, switched to Dianaette- felt even worse, but kept taking it, because of my skin. It didn't clear my face 100%, still had break outs, but much less. After couple of years I stopped as I felt really bad- crying all day and had lots of emotional roller coasters. My acne- of course- came back. I am 26 now, have lots of red pimples, old pimples, new ones coming out. My face looks horrible!! I hate it sooooo much!! Can't bear make up, make them even worse. I tried everything, nothing works. I mean everything: clean and clear stuff, Clinique products, tea tree oil, homeo remedies, benzol peroxide etc. etc. I just gave up, but thanks God I read this blog )

I started to take vitamin D3 5 days ago and my face has changed a lot. I a mean a Lot!!

Even my boyfriend commented and said I look much better and my skin looks much healthier. ) Don't get me wrong, I still have scars and red spots, but they are Not that RED, much lighter and my skin is healing beautifully. I am soooo happy ) and no new pimples since Saturday ) (today is Monday)

I wish someone was told me this earlier.

I also take Vitamin A,E, C and zink too. I know it is crazy, but they actually help me )

Thank you for sharing your experience, it is really helped me a LOT!! Thanks )

I'm trying the vitamin D supplements too. 4000IU a day or so and sitting for 30 minutes in the sun whenever I get a chance (very difficult on west coast of Canada).

The only pill that ever suppressed my acne was doxycycline. Wheat and bacteria infections in cuts seemed to lead to breakouts.

I've been taking it for 10 days now. Skin on hands looks way healthier. No miracles on my face yet, but will see what happens. I've heard it can take months.

it's honestly better, cheaper, and safer to get your vitamins from food. It should just be organic food, because non-organic foods often don't have their usual nutrition value, and may make your problems worse anyway.

Taking supplements can be dangerous. They can mess with your bones, joints, and other things if you take high amounts for a long or even short amount of time.

Hey there,

I had to make an account just now to let people know that your post has provided me with a miracle! I have been prescribed antibiotics, all sorts of creams and birth control pills over the years to help with my acne and severely oily skin. The next step would have been accutane to mainly target towards completely clear skin, but most importantly a reduction of oil secretion!! but the doctors decided my acne wasn't severe enough and my oily skin was not big enough of a problem to receive such a heavy and risky treatment. I also tried all sorts of mattifying and deeply hydrating lotions and what not to tackle the issue but none of that worked.

I thought my skin was severely dehydrated, causing my oil glands to overproduce to compensate for the lack of moisture in my skin but no masks or lotions which claimed they were deeply hydrating worked. I also thought it could have been an imbalance in hormones triggering the oiliness as my spots appeared around my jaw area which indicated they were most likely hormonal.

My oily skin tormented me. It would make me feel dirty when I was out having just freshly cleaned my face. It would weigh me down and almost make me feel all sloppy and slimy because I could just feel it heavily coating my skin. I definitely had to blot my face with tissue paper every few hours or so.

UNTIL I discovered this post! I had read through all the comments and decided to purchase vitamin d3 in 5000iu. It's only been a bit over a week but I am so excited with the results that I have to post! First 3 days of taking it my skin became drastically dry and flaky. It made my skin look blotchy and skin was flaking off but I had read someone else's forum about their skin adjusting and getting used to the vitamin in a short time period. 4 days later things were getting better, my skin was less dry and I had learnt that my skin was already producing less oil which meant I could use more nourishing and hydrating skin care products which I was never able to before due to my excessive oilyness. Making this post on day 9 of taking the supplement, I can say that my oily skin has reduced by about 60%. I can wake up without feeling dragged down by the oil slick and Ive been going out without having to worry about how shiny my face looks. Previous acne marks are flaking off and fading drastically fast and bonus: most of my spots are shrinking and drying off also. It is AMAZING as I have tried so many products and solutions to treat oilyness and stubborn spots which were all useless. My mood has also improved dramatically in terms of anxiety, mild depression and irrational mood swings! I feel so happy and light, but that can also be because of the weather improving. Pathetic fallacy haha! I know that I'll only continue to see improvements in time. I'll definitely update a post in another week to fill you guys in.

I'm also taking a low dose of vitamin A as I read that it works very well with vitamin D for acne as some people were breaking out by just supplementing vitamin D? Is anyone just taking vitamin d3 on its own and been completely fine/noticed no negative side effects?

Thank you for reading my long post and I hope it's encouraged someone to give this a try at least, because it has definitely worked in my own experience! Good luck!

I registered today just to tell my story that I feel compelled to share with others.

After 22 years of suffering from extremely oily skin and acne I have finally found what I believe is my own personal cure. It's been a very long road to get here and I still can't quite believe it, but Vitamin D supplements have COMPLETELY eliminated my super oily skin and acne. I'm not talking a little bit here, not a 50% or even 90% reduction. I'm talking 100%. I still can't get over it having suffered for so long.

 

I know some of you aren't going to believe what I just said or what I am about to explain. I would have my doubts too if I were reading this just a few months ago, but I am 100% telling the truth of my own personal experience. So here I go...

 

I am a male, now in my late 30's and have suffered with excessively oily skin (way way way too much sebum) and severe acne since puberty around 14yo. I have taken EVERYTHING over the years. This gets said a lot around here by 16-18 year old acne sufferers, and I can certainly sympathize, but trust me when I say I have had over 20 years of experience trying EVERYTHING from prescription meds to over the counter topicals to various supplements. I have tried every systemic and topical antibiotic prescription known for acne. I have tried every topical retinoid. I have been on 3 courses of Accutane. I have been on doctor prescribed very high doses of Vitamin A (a safe aqueous form) after my 1st course of accutane when my acne flared back up after treatment. I have tried and used many of the over the counter washes, scrubs, masks with BP, salicylic acid, tee tree, etc. over the years. Fed up with prescription meds that never fully worked (or in the case of Accutane worked only while on them), over the last few years I have also tried various supplements, including fish oil, cod liver oil, B5, vitamin B multivitamins, antioxidant multivitamins, borage oil, and others.

 

About 4 weeks ago I began supplementing with Vitamin D3 1000IU. Why? Well a year ago I got a blood test done showing my Vitamin D level was low. It was a 19 which is considered quite deficient (normal I think is 50-70; reference values have been upped recently). At the time my doctor prescribed Vitamin D over a 3 month period but at the time I saw no results so stopped after 2 months (this was to try resolving fatigue not acne anyway). But this winter I started reading up on Vitamin D again as my fatigue was increasing again and came to find out that the Vitamin D that is prescribed via a pharmacy is of the D2 form which some studies have now shown is ineffective in vivo. So I decided to start taking over the counter Vitamin D (in the D3 form), like I said about 4 weeks ago. Again, the intent was to possibly help with fatigue and perhaps immune support, not necessarily help with my oily skin or acne. But to my amazement, about one week in I began to see significant reduction in sebum on my skin. By week two my skin had become COMPLETELY normalized. I can't even believe I am saying that after so many years of super oily skin. The only medication capable of doing that for me is Accutane (isotretinoin). Nothing else could reduce or control sebum production for me. Not prescriptions or supplements of any kind, even B5. Remember I'm a male, so there is no other option other than Accutane for us males like BC or Spiro to try and normalize hormones/oily skin.

 

After taking Vitamin D for 4 weeks now my skin is tighter, smoother, looks normal, and I haven't had a new pimple of any kind surface in 2 weeks which for me is nothing short of a miracle. Most amazingly is my oily skin is completely gone and hence why I'm confident this is going to work long term for me. In fact the results, both sebum and acne elimination, are just as good if not better than Accutane (Accutane can be super drying in normal doses and can affect wound healing).

 

I was going to wait 3-6 months to tell my story because I know there will be naysayers that say 4 weeks isn't long enough to judge long term efficiency, or maybe this is just an anomaly, or something like that. But after 22 years I have more than enough experience with my oily skin and acne to know that this is a fundamental change in my skin that I have never seen before (other than again with Accutane usage). So I just couldn't wait that long to post. I felt compelled to do so today in the hopes that my experience might help some others right now, not months from now.

 

So anyway, completely amazed by this result I have experienced with Vit D I have been doing quite a bit of research online about it and the more I research the more things make sense of how this is affecting my skin. Vitamin D is actually a hormone and was mislabeled a long time ago as a vitamin because at the time researches didn't realize the body (skin) can actually produce vitamin D. In a strict sense, vitamins must be supplied by diet, while hormones are produced in the body. Now, we all know acne is a result of what is most likely an imbalance of hormones in the body. This is why it is very rare for pre-pubescents to have acne, their pubertal hormones haven't kicked in yet which is when most acne first appears.

 

"Vitamin" D, being a HORMONE needed in vital bodily functions, can be one of those hormones that is deficient. Vitamin D is produced via UV light action on the skin. In fact, it is produced in the oily cells (sebocytes) in the skin. Interesting but slight gross side note - I read somewhere that dogs and cats actually get their Vitamin D intake from licking the sebum on their face and hair follicles where the vitamin D is created (their skin cannot directly absorb the vitamin D through the skin). Apparently (and luckily for most humans) human skin can directly absorb vitamin D on the skin .

 

So I've been pondering, perhaps very oily skin (and associated acne) is a negative feedback of low vitamin D levels in the body. With lower and lower Vitamin D in the body, the skin produces more and more sebum in efforts to create more Vitamin D to bring the body in balance. Perhaps those like myself who have consistently super oily skin have an impairment in the ability to create or absorb Vitamin D in the skin. (I don't really see a reduction in oil during the summer when I get a fair amount of sun). For me, perhaps the only way to increase my vitamin D levels is not through sun exposure but through supplementation. There are very few sources of foods with sufficient levels of vitamin D so the only way to get it in sufficient amounts is through vitamin supplements.

 

In my research I also found out that Vitamin D will bind to some of the same skin cell receptors as certain forms of Retinoic Acid (one of the metabolites of Accutane). I believe this is likely why Accutane works in a similar fashion (normalizes sebum production) by binding to the same Vitamin D and related receptors in the skin. Now this is my own hypothesis here, but perhaps when those receptors have vitamin D or retinoic acid bound to them, they in essence tell the skin they have enough Vitamin D and not to produce any more sebum. Perhaps Accutane works by substituting for and mimicking Vitamin D in the skin . This could possibly explain some of the side affects of Accutane like bone and joint pain which can be a symptom of Vitamin D deficiency (accutane thereby exacerbating the Vit D deficiency). I could go on about this but this is getting a bit tangential to the subject.

 

Anyways, I am completely beside myself that Vitamin D has worked better than anything else out there, and that I have suffered with acne for so long due to what appears to be a simple Vit D deficiency. I really implore others to try this too. It is cheap and easy to do with no side effects. The amount I am taking is 1000IU and is considered a relatively low and completely safe dose. I am not going to state this is the cure for everyone as I am a case study of one right now (although I have read here and on other websites others having great results with Vit D as well). But if you have very oily skin, especially into adulthood, I would give vitamin D3 a try.

 

Not that I think it matters, but in light of full disclosure, I am taking "Natures Made" Vitamin D(3) 1000IU tablets once a day. I don't think the brand will matter so much, just make sure it is Vitamin D3 and not D2. I am also taking Safeway brand Vitamin C 500mg tablets at the same time (this is your generic ascorbic acid Vit C). Note these are run of the mill vitamin brands, not anything special. It's possible the Vitamin C is adding a synergistic affect to the Vit D; I really don't know. But I do know Vitamin C alone hasn't done squat for me over the years that I have taken it so Vitamin C alone isn't causing the amazing results I'm seeing. (I am taking Vitamin C for immune support). These are the only two supplements I am currently taking. I have dropped all topicals other than washing my face in the morning and night and have just begun moisturizing at night with Aloe Vera Gel.

 

I'm hoping others will try this as perhaps this might be the solution for them as well. I'd be more than happy to answer anyone's questions.

Hey all!

I as well felt compelled to share my story after reading this. I was a complete mess as I had a cystic acne breakout at 27 years old (female) that last 12 months, literally never stopped all along my jawline, mouth, chin. I tried EVERYTHING. Went to dermatologists, gynecologist, regular doctor, holistic, etc. They all threw topicals and spironolactone at me, but none of it helped. I was a wreck. Full of anxiety, crying every day and depressed. I had lost so much confidence and had a hard time looking people in the eye. It was deeply affecting both my professional and personal life.

Finally I went to a functional medicine ND (naturopathic doctor) and she did my blood work. Not surprising it came back with some interesting finds - most important being deficient in vitamins D and C and very low progesterone/high DHEA. I began taking 4000 IU a day of vitamin D liquid (Emulsi D from Design for Health), vitamin C supplement 2-3 times a day (excess is flushed from your system) and a morning shake (Paleocleanse by Designs for Health). I am amazed. My face stopped breaking out within 2 weeks of beginning this regime. I am now at the 4 week mark and it has stopped breaking out almost 100%. I have one pimple right now - where I used to have 20. I took a few days off of the Paleocleanse and didn't notice any flare up, so I attribute this change mostly to the D and C.

I did cut back carbs and dairy (not 100%, but significantly) and drink 2-3 cups of matcha powder green tea every day. However, I was doing both of these things prior to the C and D and they did not stop the acne. Regardless I like how I feel with this change so will continue.

I have my life back and am so grateful. Having a face full of acne was devastating and I hope that everyone out there dealing with this can find their solution. You are all so strong to push your way through this. I know it is a truly devastating disease and can take a huge toll on your confidence. People do not understand until they have it. I do believe everyone is unique and there is no magic wand you can wave, but my best advice would be to:

GET A BLOOD TEST.

Have a doctor test you for all of your vitamins, minerals, hormone levels, etc. Then have them walk you through the results, one by one. You deserve this attention. (I have a whole other opinion on doctors and how some are incredible and many are the worst in terms of informing their patients.)

A bit more background:

I think my issue may have started when my mom had skin cancer - ever since then I avoided the sun. My deficiency must have progressed over the last few years as I noticed my skin getting slightly worse, then all of a sudden full blown, cystic adult acne. I had also moved from sunny California, to NYC.

About six months after the acne flare up (my skin was horrible) I decided to go off of birth control after being on it for 14 years because whatever, my skin was horrible anyway, and I wanted to get off of the artificial hormones. This also contributed to awful hormonal mood swings and anxiety and I did not have a period for 6 months or so. When I started taking the PaleoCleanse, D and C, I got it back. My anxiety has also substantially decreased. I really feel like a new person.

What I take:

PaleoCleanse powder in the morning - Designs for Health

Stellar C (vitamin C) - Designs for Health (1-3 pills a day)

Vitamin D (Emulsi D3 liquid under the tongue) - Designs for Health (2000 IU in the morning, 2000 IU at night)

Theramedix Super Strength Digestion enzymes (1 with every meal)

Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete (probiotic) (1 morning and night)

Geronova Research R-Plus (strong antioxidant) (1 morning)

Drink - Matcha green tea, lots of filtered water, still enjoy margaritas on the weekends

Topical - Exposed skin care (moisture lotion and clear pore serum) and Clearogen 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and Aveeno Ultra Calming lotion

I hope this information helps someone. For anyone who may have similar issues -- female, late twenties, birth control pill, absence of period, jawline/mouth cystic acne, adult acne, PCOS, severe anxiety, mood swings, depression, etc. -- please get a blood test. It may point you right to your solution.

Jessa

hello,

Reading your story and through posts that followed has really made me question if vitamin D is the simple answer I have always needed...?

Let me explain my skin.... I'm 22 years old and have suffered acne and oily skin since I was roughly 12-13? ... I have never had perfect skin .. even on a "good" day or week... I still don't leave my house without makeup on. (I know this doesn't help, and I buy clinique acne prone foundation ... So I do what I can)... however.... my skin can get bad at times. Very sensitive, always red after washing, and blotchy. I get a lot in the cheeks mostly, and side of my face. I do time to time also get cystic acne... which has flared up recently... which has fuelled me to make this profile and finally reach out. I am so embarrassed of my skin ... it has started to affect my love life... I dread moving in with someone and having them see me with no make up on.

They say not to pop or pick... but every time one starts to go away, two more are flaring up.. and after a day or two, they need to be popped. puss always comes shooting out (sorry for the graphic, but I'm assuming most of you are not grossed out by this given our common problem). I fear this cystic acne, for the obvious reason of more scarring. I have exhausted all remedies, pro active, supplements, health diet, topical gels and creams and cleansers and this and that... expensive ones too...as I do not care about the cost.

I have not tried accutane....my acne I would say is not bad enough for accutane .....but is certainly not a mild pimple or two.

advice? ... opinions? ... similar situation? someone help me.....

I have read reviews on the acne.org regimen.... in the works of ordering it now, including the AHA...hoping this is a another success story based on reviews... but of course as normal... I'm skeptical.

So I just read through this post and now that it's been 2.5 years, how has this regimen been? Did you stick with it?

I am 23yo Female and I've been suffering from oily, acne prone skin since I was 16. Ever since I thought it's because of my genes since my mom and dad have oily skin and they too suffered from acne during their teenage years.

I also think this might be hormonal.

I've tried almost everything too...changing my diet, different facial wash and toners, avoiding dairy (helped with cystic acne), avoiding sugar, oral isotretinoin(cured my back acne), antiobiotics, consulted almost all dermatologists in the city and have gone through A LOT of topical medications that they prescribed.

Skin is my #1 insecurity and there are times when I cannot look at myself in the mirror. I avoid lights that could emphasize my skin problems. I always think if I could ever experience having flawless skin or even just a decent looking skin free from acne and whiteheads.

As of now I have no active breakout but I have extremely oily skin, whiteheads all over my nose and cheeks and I have these small bumps that aren't red, they look like my skin but they're raised all over my U-Zone area. Are any of you guys suffering from this as well? They don't have a head which makes it hard to extract.

After reading this thread last night I bought vitamin D3 supplements in GNC the following day. I just took my first tablet this afternoon. I hope this will solve my skin issues.

This thread has inspired me to start taking vitamin D3 to combat my incredibly oily skin. And when I say "incredibly oily", I really do mean it...

I exhibit symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency such as extremely oily skin, acne-prone skin, and a sweaty scalp so I'm hoping that it works. So far, I have been taking vitamin D3 (5,000 IU/day) with vitamin A from fish liver oil (10,000 IU/day).

I take vitamin A because I heard that it works in conjunction with D3 to provide acne/oil benefits. Does anyone know if this is safe or should I just take vitamin D3 alone?

I'll be getting my blood tested later this month to see where my levels are. However, for the mean time, I'm almost certain that my oily skin is just a lack of vitamin D... My skin care routine and eating habits SHOULD be taking care of oily skin, but it's only gotten a little bit better. I'm still greasy all over my face after 35 min.

I'm also reading a lot of people on here seeing results in oil production as soon as a few days while others take a week.

It's been a week for me and I see no improvement in oil production... thoughts?

I'm on my 3rd day...no results yet...I'll keep you guys updated...i'm taking 1,800IU together with zinc and other vitamins

I started taking vitamin D3 1000 IU three days ago after finding this thread. I keep the majority of my acne away by using the 2.5% benzoyl peroxide acne.org method or a 10% benzoyl wash. I'm not satisfied with drowning it in benzoyl peroxide anymore because it's not fool proof and it leaves me with a dry face. I'd rather find a cure for it.

Benzoyl peroxide is the only thing that gives me satisfactory results because it does dry my face. Hopefully this supplement with decrease my oil production.

The majority of my acne used to be on my forehead but now I'm a little older and it hasn't stopped and it's travelled down to around my mouth, chin, cheeks, and the sides of my face. Mild to moderate acne. Dealing with PIH now and it makes it look worse. My acne is less severe and clear sometimes but it gets bad and annoying every month.

I've cut out dairy and coffee for now, and I try to keep my sugar intake low. I have no idea if it's hormonal, diet related, or genetic. I don't believe that it's a genetic thing because my parents never really suffered with it.

I do notice my skin gets way clearer after I've been out in the sun but I attributed that to my skin drying out due to "sun damage" and figured I'd prefer pimples over future wrinkles so I just continue to slather on the sunscreen. The sunscreen stresses me out though because I think it breaks me out but I haven't found a really good affordable one yet so I just deal.

I haven't had blood tests done but I figured I must be vitamin D deficient because my brother is and I'd say we get around the same amount of sun everyday here in Florida (who would've thought). I wear 50+ SPF sunscreen and cover up so it's just common sense that I must be deficient. Here's to hoping vitamin D is the cure!

On my 10th day...no improvement on my skin. I've tried almost everything! Ugh!!!

On my 10th day...no improvement on my skin. I've tried almost everything! Ugh!!!

How much are you taking? I've read that some people require higher doses. I'm in the same boat as you, though. Feels like I tried evrerything and nothing works. I'm giving high dose vitamin D a shot now since the lower doses didn't have muhc of an effect.

 

On my 10th day...no improvement on my skin. I've tried almost everything! Ugh!!!

How much are you taking? I've read that some people require higher doses. I'm in the same boat as you, though. Feels like I tried evrerything and nothing works. I'm giving high dose vitamin D a shot now since the lower doses didn't have muhc of an effect.

I was taking 1,800 but didn't see any improvements...now i just take 800iu for health sake. I'm running out of hope for my skin...my major problem is these tiny flesh colored bumps on my jawline...I think they're clogged pores but they don't have an opening.

i registered today to tell u guys that after suffering from oily skin for many years vitamin d3 has reduced my oiliness by about 90% on the face and about 70% on the nose and it hasn't been two weeks yet. i live in New delhi, india and we get plenty of sun and extremely hot weather and to reduce oiliness in such hot weather it is nothing short of miracle. tired of spending loads of money on cosmetics i decided to try something internally and i stumbled upon this forum started by sebumsucks and i thought why not try it..

And it worked, i started with 10000iu with k2 450 mcg and started seeing result within a week. i will continue on 10000iu for a month and then i'll reduce my dose. i did not get my levels checked but i believe i'm deficient becoz i don't go out in the sun, stay at home most of the time reason being, going out=oily skin=self consciousness = hate my life, i believe most people will agree with me, esp. the oily ones. also i hardly get acne becoz i drink tons of water thats it, not much to look into diet, my diet is extremely poor plus indian food is the worst food when it comes to being cooked with so much oil and all we put oil in everything, tons of it and i eat a lot of junk too.

like i said becoz my nose oil has redued by 70percent i'm still getting blackheads and millia on the nose but its improving. my problem area is the nose absolutely abhor it i have a lil bit of scarred pores becoz of it for which i.m going to try out the dermaroller. also the thing that has been helping me is the PETER THOMAS ROTH SALICYLIC WASH, this is the only thing i'm using now and when i go out in the morning i use a sunscreen ELTA MD UV SPF46. BOTH THESE PRODUCTS HAVE HELPED ME EVEN FURTHER

Well i owe my thanks to sebumsucks for this forum without u i woundn't have found the cure and would have been suffering for indefinite years, i got my oily skin from dad who now has sebacious hyperplasia ((had cysts earlier with minimum scariing, also i think oily skin tends to scar less)) owing to not caring for skin but i believe he too maybe deficient in vitd3

ps- its been 10 days and i'm starting to feel light headed when i take the tabs in the morning, do u think it could be because of deficiency in calcium,magnesium zinc? my diet is extremely poor and i have ordered natures bounty supplement. i hope it solves the prob for me. also guys stick to the supplements for a good two months no matter what dose u start at, everybodys body is different and the result may take some time to kick in, do not give up, i too thought of giving up within 5 days thinking it wouldn't help me but now i'm surprised and get your levels checked i haven't got mine but will get it checked at the end of the month.

is anyone STILL clear or have reduced oily from taking vitamin D?