Acne.org Products
I have long history with adult acne. I developed severe acne very suddenly in my early 20's after taking an emergency contraceptive pill. I tried absolutely everything for nearly 10 years. Antibiotics, all the topicals, accutane, spiro, diet changes, birth control pills, supplements... with no real relief. My acne always remained although it sometimes fluctuated to worse or for better. 5 years ago I got a copper IUD. Now looking back that was also when my acne started to slowly go away and for the last 3ish years I haven't had to think about it. My skin has remained clear apart from the occasional break out. I have also been using tretinoin just to maintain my skin and get the additional anti aging benefit. I have somethimes taken a few months break from it with no effect to skin so I know my acne was caused by something internal and that something hat suddenly shifted back to balance. I always thought it was just due to time since I had reached my thirties.
Little did I know what was coming. The IUD caused heavy bleeding and I had developed Iron deficinecy anemia durin the years of having it. Since nothing really worked to cut down the bleeding I decided to remove the IUD last august. About a month after that I got a horrific break out. My face filled up within days and th texture of my skin had completely changed. I was still using the tretinoin but it had literally no effect on the break outs. I went to see a derm and got antbiotics. My skin has since not improved, but instead the acne has just gotten progressively worse. It's such a flash back to 10 years ago and I am now having panic attacks since I know nothing will work for this and I had just gotten my confidence and will of life back after being so desperate for so long.
I started to think is it possible that my acne could be due to copper deficiency or can there be other factors related to copper IUD removal that could cause this? Or is it just a crazy coincidence.. I event went to get a blood test to check my blood test and it was barely in the scale being in the low end. My derm didn't seem to think anything about it tho. I did stumble into a study saying that they found a link between acne and low copper levels but that has been the only source that with any mention about it. I incorporated a copper supplement that I have been taking for about a month but so far my skin has only gotten worse.
If anyone has any input I would love to hear it. How long should it be expected to see any results if it is in fact due to the copper? My derm basically said there is nothin she can do for me at this point so I am absolutely devastated
A few things:
- I have never heard of copper and acne being related. That doesn't mean they aren't but it seems like a stretch. Plus, you've been supplementing with no success. My guess is it's a coincidence. Or...the copper IUDs have no hormones, but does having an IUD affect hormones in other ways? You might want to good that just to be sure.
- Antibiotics never did anything for me either. Watch out for them, and always heavily question any doctor who prescribes them. And never take them longer than 3 months.
- If I were you I'd get on the regimen to get cleared back up. Who knows what's causing your breakouts but you may as well clear it up while you try to find a root cause.
- Did your doc check your hormone levels? It's always good to check them and see what's up. But again, be careful with that. Messing with hormones is a big deal.
If you were my friend I'd say get yourself cleared up on the regimen, and then see what you can do to get to the root of stuff, like maybe hormones, or maybe low carb diet, intermittent fasting, what have you. Make sure to take the quiz on this site to get the full low down.
Thanks for replying. Here is the study I found about acne and copper levels but like I said, it's the only one I have found.
What comes to antibiotics I really didn't want to go on it again but did so out of desperation. The doctor basically told me there is nothing that be done since I had a bad reaction to most acne drugs.
I tried the regime too for couple of years but it never got me cleared. For me the results were not worth of dealing with all the bleached fabrics, especially since my acne has spread all over my chest, shoulders and back again.
I did check my hormones back in the day as well. Everything expect DHEA came back normal and nothing was done to the elevated levels. So I'm not sure what could be done there and the doctors don't like prescribing those tests for "nothing"..
As I said I did try variety of diets during my acne and those did nothing. While I was clear I could eat anything without breaking out so I really don't think diet is to blame in this case since my acne came back very suddenly and I didn't change anything about the way I eat.
Did you follow The Regimen precisely? That's the only way it works.
Also, yeah DHEA might be really involved in acne. Might be worth another look at that.