Acne.org Products
Well, I've decided to quit Evening Primrose Oil... didn't see much of a difference in my hair, anyway, but it cleared up my hormonal acne. 
There's this theory going around that it's the lack of moisture in our skin and scalp that is causing the hair follicles to pop out. I've been getting dry skin and dandruff because of it, and when the dandruff flakes off, off comes the hair! So I've been taking a glucosamine supplement with hyaluronic acid. I read online somewhere that you have to take it with a lot of water since it works by drawing in moisture, so I have a big 32 oz jug of water that I take it with. Sometimes I take it with even more water.
Also, to combat the dandruff and scalp buildup (I used to get it really bad, ugh!) I do apple cider vinegar rinses. I use about 1/4 cup in about 32 oz black tea. The apple cider vinegar kills the bacteria and fungi on your scalp and gets rid of the dandruff. The black tea has caffeine to stimulate hair growth. Once a week, I'll leave this on my hair for an hour to really let it penetrate the scalp. I've had a lot less shedding since I started these! It sounds silly, but try it for a week and see how it goes!
Normal shampoos are too harsh for hair like ours. I use a sulfate-free shampoo and dilute it 1:1 with honey. The honey moisturizes the scalp, and no, it is not sticky when mixed with shampoo!
I try not to touch my scalp that much. I've tried cowashing, castor oil, coconut oil, and aloe vera on my scalp-- all hailed online as anti-shedding hair-growing miracle workers, and they actually doubled my shedding. The aloe vera thing was just last week so my hair is very thin now.
As for things that didn't work for me: Melatonin, Magnesium, Taurine, MSM, Vitamin C, and Saw Palmetto all increase DHEA. Personally, I'd try to steer clear of most supplements. I'm trying to rework my focus from hormones to detox, since I want my hormones to rebalance naturally. I've got some herbal detox teas I'd like to try.
Also, I follow a low carb diet; PCOS people typically have problems with insulin resistance. I make most of what I eat protein-- low oxalate, of course. Stay away from gluten and sugars. I recently added dairy back in and don't think it's been doing me any favors.
Ok thank you very much. I do have dandruff problems that I've had since before Accutane. Accutane pretty much just made it worse. And the day that my scalp was most on fire and flaking (day 11 of Accutane aka when I quit) was when the hair shed started. So perphaps you are correct. I think the dandruff is caused by my high male hormones however, especially since I've had it as long as I can remember. After the Accutane, I tried using my steroid shampoo and an old Stieprox shampoo I had before the Accutane and those have seemed to help. I also tried hemp oil and coconut oil. I don't think those made the dandruff any worse, I think they actually calmed my scalp down, at least temporarily. I have a Dr. Brommer's natural shamppo as well, although I've been hesitating to use it. I don't know why my eyebrows would be falling out tho....I don't have any itchiness or flaking in those. I think the taurine has been helping me so far. It has helped my digestion. How did you know those supplements were affecting you negatively? Have you been getting your hormones retested regularly? I know I've had this high hormone problem before I took Accutane due to other symptoms I've had for a couple of years that I'll spare the details of. But have you known you had PCOS before you took Accutane or are you afraid that Accutane gave you PCOS?? I was unsure from your postings.
Oh, also, if the EPO was helping your hormonal acne, why did you decide to quit it??
Well, I'm losing my eyebrows and eyelashes as well. But those are flaky and dandruffy as well... well, at least my eyebrows.
I think I had PCOS before Tane, but tane definitely made it worse.
Dr. Bronner's has a pH way too high for hair-- go for something more pH balanced or else your scalp will hate you. The vinegar will help to bring your shampoo to a more suitable pH-- hair does best around 5.5.
Taurine used to work for me (increasing hair growth and stopping hormonal acne) but then all of a sudden it stopped working. I read online that it may contribute to high DHEAs. I wonder if it messed with my hormones at all-- I have low estrogen and read this could lower it. So it could have made my acne worse in the long run.
I just got my hormones tested about a month back, so the DHEA figure is recent. The supplements listed-- I read online that they could raise DHEA, so I quit them just to be safe and wound up feeling a lot better. It's just a chance you should take.
And the EPO? Anti-androgen. I have a theory that my DHT could actually be too low (too low of something can actually mimic the side effects of a high amount of something because the body is a troll like that), so I'm quitting it to see what happens. I'm the human guinea pig for science.
I've been researching detoxifying herbs like burdock that can help your liver to remove excess circulating hormones from your body. I think that could help my liver to better deal with my excess testosterone without having to restrain it. That way it can just be excreted. I bought some detox tea with a lot of herbs today, so we'll see how it goes. I'll keep you guys updated.
For those who are still suffering from acne even after the dreaded accutane like me even though my acne
is more on the mild side , I never had severe acne funny thing yet the doc insisted on me taking this crap anyways
, I found this. But I wonder is it safe for us to take , a lot of the
people who took this herbal product were previously ON accutane and it didn't seem to harm them , interesting find I must say.
http://www.acne.org/diamond-dietary-supplement-with-antioxidants-reviews/538/page1.html
Z24 some input would be appreciated lol...
Here is the list of ingredients in it , it does have beta-carotene so my guess is Z24 would be against it.
http://www.herpanacine.net/ but it is said to be wonderful for hormonal acne hmmm....
@ sbowlchica or anyone else:
I took Accutane about three months ago for only 11 days. I stopped immediately because of the changes in my hair - changes in hair texture and increased hair shed. My hair texture improved rapidly after stopping, but my hair shed continues to this day, three months after stopping. I have been taking supplements to help such as vit B12 and biotin almost immediately after I quit Accutane. I recently have been experimenting with other things such as Taurine, TUDCA, vit D3, and fish oils. I mainly addressed this to sbowlchica because I have almost the exact same DHEAS levels as you - last time I was tested about a month ago it was 443. My testerone was slightly high as well, although I get regular periods, so I am unsure that I have PCOS - still waiting for results to come in next week from a hormone "restest" with a different doctor. I have recently noticed eyebrow shed and possibly eyelash shed. I was just wondering what supplements you avoided due to your high hormone levels and what ones you noticed helped with your hair.
Thanks,
Emily
did they check your thyroid?? Just asking due to the eyelash and eyebrow hairloss and hormonal issues but a regular period! How about your iron levels? Just a thought!
For those who are still suffering from acne even after the dreaded accutane like me even though my acne
is more on the mild side , I never had severe acne funny thing yet the doc insisted on me taking this crap anyways
Z24 some input would be appreciated lol...
Here is the list of ingredients in it , it does have beta-carotene so my guess is Z24 would be against it.
http://www.herpanacine.net/ but it is said to be wonderful for hormonal acne hmmm....
Good sir, please consider the following: Joke making 101: All the best jokes are self-evident.
What your black-Earth heart really desires is some clearetto. Its a compendium of all your favourites; you should be able to recommend that for a week or two, before anyone cottons on.
http://www.acne.org/clearetto-acne-supplement-reviews/1931/page1.html
On lycopene, and your childish mocking of my experience with beta-carotene: It's related to vitamin A, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene. See the highlighted below Gladys:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16503715
Update on prostate cancer chemoprevention.
Source
Department of Pharmacy, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio 44307, USA. [email protected]
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men. Its high rate of occurrence and long lead time to clinically significant disease make prostate cancer an ideal disease for pharmacologic or nutritional chemoprevention.
METHODS:
To identify the various chemoprevention strategies for prostate cancer, a MEDLINE search (from 1967-2005) and bibliographic search of the English-language literature were conducted.
RESULTS:
Epidemiologic and retrospective studies have assessed the effect of carotenoids (e.g., lycopene), vitamins, selenium, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the rate of occurrence of prostate cancer. The few published prospective trials evaluated prostate cancer as a secondary end point. Lycopene (as beta-carotene) and selenium supplementation have been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer in nested case-control studies, but only in subgroups of men with low baseline plasma lycopene (or beta-carotene) and selenium levels respectively. The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial prospectively evaluated finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, as chemoprevention. The results showed a 25% relative risk reduction in prostate cancer, albeit at an increased risk of invasive tumors.
CONCLUSION:
Data regarding lycopene, vitamin E, and selenium as chemoprevention for prostate cancer appear promising. Prospective trials such as the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) will clarify the role of these agents in prostate cancer prevention. The role of NSAIDs is unclear, and the long-term toxicity associated with NSAIDs may limit their usefulness. Although finasteride has decreased overall prostate cancer occurrence, the risk of invasive tumors may outweigh the benefit of this agent. The continuing Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial may help define a role for the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in cancer chemoprevention. At this time, nothing has been proven effective as chemoprevention against clinically significant prostate cancer.
So, I had a little extra time in the kitchen this afternoon, and, I thought I would work my fingers to the bone a little more; so, I whipped up these tasty orderves. Bon appetite!
Finasteride upregulates expression of androgen receptor in hyperplastic prostate and LNCaP cells: implications for chemoprevention of prostate cancer. Although finasteride is recognized for its role as a chemopreventive agent for prostate cancer, higher grades of malignancy have been reported. It is questioned whether blocking of testosterone conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by finasteride in prostate tissue will change expression of androgen receptor (AR).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21557276
Steroid 5-reductase converts a number of steroids with a C3 ketone group and a C4C5 double bond (4; androgens, progestins and glucocorticoids) to their 5-reduced metabolites. Two isoforms of 5-reductase are found and type 1 is predominant in neural tissues. The enzyme activity of 5-reductase is found widely in the CNS and is high in white matter regions.
Just curious, but could taking about 20 20mg accutane pills cause permanent damage?
Yes any amount changes your body functions permanently , of course more is worse , if you like playing Russian roulette with your body then swallow the pill.
So, I had a little extra time in the kitchen this afternoon, and, I thought I would work my fingers to the bone a little more; so, I whipped up these tasty orderves. Bon appetite!
Finasteride upregulates expression of androgen receptor in hyperplastic prostate and LNCaP cells: implications for chemoprevention of prostate cancer. Although finasteride is recognized for its role as a chemopreventive agent for prostate cancer, higher grades of malignancy have been reported. It is questioned whether blocking of testosterone conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by finasteride in prostate tissue will change expression of androgen receptor (AR).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21557276
>>Steroid 5-reductase converts a number of steroids with a C3 ketone group and a C4C5 double bond (4; androgens, progestins and glucocorticoids) to their 5-reduced metabolites. Two isoforms of 5-reductase are found and type 1 is predominant in neural tissues. The enzyme activity of 5-reductase is found widely in the CNS and is high in white matter regions.
Z24 , you serve up tasty treats , I must say . (=
Can anyone give a brief list of core supplements that are proven to work for us peeps? I know what works for me...but i kind of want to decrease my supplement load as much as possible since i think my body struggles to even absorb them. ones that i know for a fact that have worked for me are:
HA -epicly mobile joints if i drink enough water with it
Salmon oil - insulation, increased temperature regulation, some joint relief
Glutamine - muscle mass
*Biotin---i believe it makes my nails stronger..but hard do say if it's directly the biotin.
glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen--not as good as HA.
Garlic - decreases dehydration, balances blood sugar
Oil of Oregano/MMS - kills pathogens, bacterial infections and increases oxygenation in the body
*gluten free has alleviated any psychological symptoms...do not get brain fog, better digestion, and better energy overall.
I have not noticed a difference with supplementing with anything else.
What has definitely worked for you all in the way of symptom management/relief?
As you've found sdro123, going gluten-free is helpful. Sugar and dairy-free, if you can swing it is also equally beneficial. The Gerson Therapy juice, cooked veggie and coffee enema diet has been touted to cure late-stage cancers even by essentially re-setting the bodies natural immunity and baseline healthful state. Either way, I have felt much better enjoying a diet of seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and then a moderate portion of regular foods (minus the gluten). Other than that, I have found that basic, high quality vitamins and minerals are essential. In addition...
LITHIUM OROTATE...Recently, I have stumbled upon this little "miracle" substance. Related to both Sodium and Potassium, Lithium is essential for our bodies to function well. It has been long-utilized in the treatment of Alcoholism, ADHD, and bipolar depression. The form of Lithium used by most doctors, available by prescription is a Carbonate version. Lithium Carbonate frequently causes liver and kidney damage, hypothyroid problems, weight gain and a host of other side effects because it must be prescribed in high doses to be effective (generally 600-1200 mg). There is a much more bioavailable form of lithium, however called Lithium Orotate that can be effective at doses of only 5-10 mg and is available "over-the-counter". Lithium Orotate protects and helps to rebuild the prefrontal cortex region of the brain, which has been shown to be damaged by Accutane. This, in addition to its ability to increase available serotonin, and probably many other benefits as well is what prompted me to try this supplement. It can cause a slowing of thyroid function, even at such low doses, though. So please read up on it...but no other supplement has done so much in such a short time toward making me feel like my old self again, mentally speaking. My anxiety and depression seem to be in complete remission. Taking it at night before going to sleep not only helps me to sleep soundly through the night (far better than 5-HTP and without the sometimes unpleasantly intense dreams), but it ensures that the Lithium Orotate won't cause fatigue the next day while still offering me its anti-depressant, anti-anxiety benefits. I love this stuff. It cost me about $20 for 200 pills. One a day seems to be sufficient to feel calm and "normal" again. In order to help counter the thyroid-slowing effects, I take...
IODINE...After reading that many of my symptoms indicated a thyroid imbalance, I tried liquid iodine in a natural form such as liquid kelp extract. This helped me to feel calmer, more energized and gets rid of a lot of the achy fibromyalgia-type symptoms. I noticed that there is an aggravated intensity reflected in the eyes of many post-Accutane patients. Iodine helps to make my eyes kinder and calmer. This is probably related to more effective thyroid functioning. I have read that taking Selenium, which is available as a part of most multi-minerals or in higher dosage on its own protects the thyroid from possible damage from too much iodine in cases of Hashimotos Thyroiditis. Seeing as the damage to our thyroids from Accutane could be tied to an auto-immune problem, I recommend taking Selenium in addition to the iodine. The recommended dose for a day seems to work well for me. In fact, Iodine helps to increase thyroid function and helps to alleviate any slowing I see from the use of Lithium Orotate.
N-A-G (N-AcetylGlucosamine)...This is a more bioavailable version of Glucosamine and is essential for the formation of Hyaluronic acid in the human body, and although expensive, it is heralded as an effective treatment for joint, mucosal lining, connective tissue health. It has been used to treat colitis and crohns, as well as arthritis and joint problems. It has improved my joint pain. Apparently, Shitake mushrooms are a good source of this, so I will probable try to start eating more of those because they are food source and tasty - a good vegetarian substitute for bacon.
*moi*
however Ive read people having reactions from being on it for 10 days or so...some people cannot tolerate even the smallest amount. Russian Roulette is a good analogy, some people take big amounts and (seemingly) have little lasting effects and some people, like myself, take a low-dose and go absolutely psychotic. Or lose their hair, or whatever the individual case may be. You just dont know.
Are you having symptoms of damage, you havent said...?
Wow this thread is huge...
Did anyone here get problems from taking something like the following dosage:
20 mg of accutane 3 times a week for a 7-8 weeks?
On 5/20/2013 at 10:31 AM, sdro123 said:Chiron,
Thank you so much for your feedback! very helpful and validating. I was taking liquid iodine a while back, and it helped smooth my skin and help with stiffness most definitely. also helped the bulging eyes [Edited image out] After taking it for a while i did notice a more pronounced peak in anxiety. perhaps i was taking too much?? how much do you take? I will try it again for sure since it is a LEGAL pain reliever. It did help induce sleep somewhat as well. I feared i was going to get that weird reaction to the iodine that some people can get. I could have been taking too much however....
Never heard of lithium oratate? very interesting though. I wonder if it works similarly to MMS?
Also, if i might ask, how severe are your symptoms and what dosage did you take of accutane?
thanks for your help!
Lithium Orotate is good , I posted a video about it a while back but I'll do it again along with other info , it is good for the mood and it's
the natural form of Lithium unlike the synthetic version which is very toxic , orotate forms of lithium are approximately 20 fold more
effective than toxic synthetic lithium , why does that not surprise me , anyways it made me sleepy when I took it so it would
be good to take before bed time , Plus one only needs one pill per day it's that potent .
I think it is better than 5-HTP I've been taking that for a bit and really haven't noticed anything . Here is some good info on Lithium
Orotate , Organic Apple Cider Vinegar I think I'll buy some of that sounds like it could benefit me.
[Edited video out]
[Edited link out]
As for better shampoos, look for anything that says sulfate-free on it. Read the ingredients on the back: if anything has the word "sulfate" in it, it's too harsh for your hair. Also try to avoid silicones, since they build up on your hair and can only be removed by sulfates. Any word that ends in "cone" is a silicone. Also cyclopentasiloxane.
If you have a Dierbergs in your area, there's a whole bunch of them there! I use Nature's Gate Awapuhi Volumizing Shampoo, diluted 1:1 with honey.
cannabis has induced: increased sex drive, much deeper sleep contrary to old findings from studies on cannabis, better breathing the day after, no joint pain for one day or two after smoking, and more stable mood...if taken in MODERATION....key word. If overdone, you may notice more manic episodes...not full blown for me, but more towards cyclothymia...laypeople's terms less severe bipolar symptoms..cyclothymia is like a less severe form of bipolar, less extreme swings. Anyways, can't say enough about this plant. I broke my vaporizer...very sad day so I had to go back to the bowl. not the same! smoke is no good, but the effects are well worth it.
As for lithium oratate....are we sure this is safe?? how long have you been taking it and where do you purchase it, what brand?? etc.
Yeah lithium orotate is safe , did you watch the video I posted? I think I'll buy some more it really did help with my "moodiness" I would say isotretinoin
is like PMS for men lol... If you buy some I would take one per day and see how it goes. Here is a link on where to buy it.
I always wondered why there are so many lawsuits against the drug manufacturer Roche , after reading 151 pages and from my input I know why now.
hmm...You know I always thought about taking Iodine, but I am not sure if it would do me any good as shortly after accutane the right side of my thyroid is almost completly gone and the other side there is quite a bit left. For thoose who know and read my story which was linked, you will know that I was in really bad shape after accutane to point I could barely walk for almost a year and that accutane caused Grave's disease and when it hit it hit hard and fast! Grave's is a lot harder to treat and control vs hasimotos or low thyroid!
Anyways I was just curious on anyone thoughts???? - Jen
what do you mean the one side of your thyroid is gone? Was it removed or did it disappear somehow?
hmm...You know I always thought about taking Iodine, but I am not sure if it would do me any good as shortly after accutane the right side of my thyroid is almost completly gone and the other side there is quite a bit left. For thoose who know and read my story which was linked, you will know that I was in really bad shape after accutane to point I could barely walk for almost a year and that accutane caused Grave's disease and when it hit it hit hard and fast! Grave's is a lot harder to treat and control vs hasimotos or low thyroid!
Anyways I was just curious on anyone thoughts???? - Jen
Too much Iodine might trigger/worsen autoimmune thyroiditis. Not sure about Graves', but many people with Hashimoto's don't tolerate Iodine supplementation or even Iodine in fish or dairy.
Iodine deficiency is unlikely. Interestingly there are people (google Dr. Brownstein) who advocate high-dose Iodine for thyroiditis and claim it's safe. If symptoms arise or worsen then that's surely just detox and the dose isn't high enough . At that point my bs detector ticked off. Yet I tried it and got diarrhea for days. Good thing was I needed less sleep.
Still taking a few supplements. Especially prebiotics (psyllium husks and inulin) have improved my digestion. I don't feel particularly different after gluten but plan to eat gluten-free nevertheless.
what do you mean the one side of your thyroid is gone? Was it removed or did it disappear somehow?
hmm...You know I always thought about taking Iodine, but I am not sure if it would do me any good as shortly after accutane the right side of my thyroid is almost completly gone and the other side there is quite a bit left. For thoose who know and read my story which was linked, you will know that I was in really bad shape after accutane to point I could barely walk for almost a year and that accutane caused Grave's disease and when it hit it hit hard and fast! Grave's is a lot harder to treat and control vs hasimotos or low thyroid!
Anyways I was just curious on anyone thoughts???? - Jen
I developed a huge goiter to the point I could not swallow and my heart rate was 190 and it kept attacking my eyes (luckily my eyes went back in, but left with some lazy eye) I tried natural treatments and standard medication (indocin, proprandol etc.) for Graves, however it was full force attacking my body to point I had a small amt of radiation iodine and I mean very small! In Hasimoto's people and take synthyroid to control thier goiter and some are lucky that synthyroid stops the body from attacking the thyroid in Hasimoto's, Grave's not soo much! It was all very strange I might say
On 5/21/2013 at 1:07 AM, oli girl said:hmm...You know I always thought about taking Iodine, but I am not sure if it would do me any good as shortly after accutane the right side of my thyroid is almost completly gone and the other side there is quite a bit left. For thoose who know and read my story which was linked, you will know that I was in really bad shape after accutane to point I could barely walk for almost a year and that accutane caused Grave's disease and when it hit it hit hard and fast! Grave's is a lot harder to treat and control vs hasimotos or low thyroid!
Anyways I was just curious on anyone thoughts???? - Jen
Jen~
I have read some accounts that lithium orotate is sometimes used to treat Graves and other hyper-thyroid issues, as one of the side effects of lithium is to slow thyroid function. Check it out: http://www.livestrong.com/article/206533-lithium-orotate-uses/ . Also for those with issues regarding Hahimotos: some clinical trials have indicated that taking Selenium in adequate amounts protects the thyroid from damage from excess iodine in those patients. Selenium and zinc are a good idea to protect against hair loss and the like in anyone.
On 5/20/2013 at 10:31 AM, sdro123 said:Chiron,
Thank you so much for your feedback! very helpful and validating. I was taking liquid iodine a while back, and it helped smooth my skin and help with stiffness most definitely. also helped the bulging eyes [Edited imageout] After taking it for a while i did notice a more pronounced peak in anxiety. perhaps i was taking too much?? how much do you take? I will try it again for sure since it is a LEGAL pain reliever. It did help induce sleep somewhat as well. I feared i was going to get that weird reaction to the iodine that some people can get. I could have been taking too much however....
Never heard of lithium oratate? very interesting though. I wonder if it works similarly to MMS?
Also, if i might ask, how severe are your symptoms and what dosage did you take of accutane?
thanks for your help!
Hi~
I take a liquid version of the iodine at the recommended dosage (3-4 drops per day). As far as Accutane, I was on a single 3 month course in the mid to late 90's . I am not sure the original dosage I was given although symptoms continue to linger. I like the promise that the lithium orotate works to protect and even possibly rebuild the pre-frontal cortex, as this has been studied in regards to Accutane where it was shown to reduce metabolism in that specific part of the brain to a significant degree. I like finding things such as the lithium because I have discovered that when my anxiety is reduced, the other effects of having taken 'tane don't SEEM quite so bad, i.e. I am not continually obsessing over other symptoms, nor am I acting in a way that creates new problems such as: if I am overly anxious I might have trouble sustaining relationships or holding down a job, thus creating new reasons to become even more anxious. I am hoping the Lithium Orotate will continue to work in my favor without too many detrimental effects. I'll continue to research it more thoroughly but for now I am enjoying and benefiting enormously.