UPDATE 3 June 2011

Just a quick update to say that I'm giving home skin needling a rest for 2-4 weeks. I did an intense session recently and don't want to disrupt the collagen formation. My skin felt super sensitive too last time. However, I might do a 30% glycolic acid peel at a spa soon. I'll let you know how it goes...

Cheers,

AS

Also, here's a great educational video on skin needling:

Please note they show 1.5mm professional needling excerpts (however, I'm using the safer smaller at home size of 0.75mm)

I also saw this posted here on the forum which was promising:

Cheers,

AS

See http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...20151234AAX1hJa

BP and all the other harsh chemically-based acne products are just not worth the longterm health of your skin. I speak from experience.

Instead, address the root cause of your acne: that is, it's suffering from toxicity -- both caused through environmental toxins & internal excess hormones.

The solution: To overhaul your lifestyle -- longterm. i.e. DETOX

Go organic, nutrient complete, mostly raw vegan (NB just do this wisely so you don't miss out on ANY nutrients like B12, Omega-3, Iodine, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, complete Protein)...so, cut out all meat & diary, take some key supplements, exercise gently often/ daily, love yourself and only use natural & gentle topicals.

Cheers,

AS

I live with health freaks, eat nothing but organic food, and am required to take multivitamins every day. I am very healthy and exercise often. Yet, I still have acne and have had acne. Please don't cite a woman from Yahoo Answers who obviously was ridiculously harsh on her skin as your only example of skin care products' effect on the skin. Modern medicine is available and has been proven more effective when natural remedies or lifestlyle changes fail (as they often do). I don't believe that if everyone became vegan then nobody would have acne, not to mention this is illogical for many reasons.

Hi TamaDrummer,

Do you still eat meat and/or dairy? If so, please stop doing it and see what happens over 1-2 months. Instead, try going mostly raw vegan, alkaline PH diet and use a natural antibiotic like sea-salt washes and crystal alum i.e.: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Tips-healthy-acne-fre-t295915.html

For more severe conglobata type case suggestions see here: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...t&p=3092069

The fact is, meat, dairy and eggs are loaded with hormones, pesticide, antibiotics and other serious toxins etc. And the western diet is saturated with these acne/ disease causing toxins (like artificial preservatives, chemicals, colorings, allergy causing additives etc).

Indeed, in most places where they eat a plant based, organic diet, they don't get acne. This is a purely western diet/ industrialised age phenomenon. And moreover, if you don't get acne, you might get cancer, arthiris, heart disease etc. See http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...t&p=3092345 &

Just Google the Rave diet (which is vegan) and see how many billionaire moguls have started to eat vegan because they want to live healthy & long lives. They know it's the key to longevity, good skin and great longterm health.

So, I'm not just posting this for kicks. I've suffered moderate/ severe acne for a heck of a long time. And I want others to know the dangers of a toxic diet, toxic acne treatments longterm etc. Basically, I know that when I stopped being in denial about a good, natural, organic mostly raw diet being central to clear skin, that's when my skin cleared. I also stopped the acne bacteria/ fungal infections by using sea-salt washes (potent antibiotic, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory) , crystal alum sticks (stops bacteria and fungus growth) and fresh lime juice (antiseptic and collagen boosting with vitamin c). But these were just used short term as they're too dying longterm. I now use glycolic acid 10% strength and water only (spring water), eat a healthy mostly raw vegan diet and exercise. My skin is clear. I'm now addressing the severe BP damage/ acne topical damage & rolling acne scarring with skin needling. (NOTE: If it wasn't for the BP damage, my skin would be waaaay better now even though it's acne free).

This is the reality. Research it yourself. Hope it helps you sooner rather than later.

Cheers,

AS

3 topics merged. If you have information to share or questions to ask, please only start one thread about them. Thanks!

Quote & Resources:

Dr Fuhrman

"We routinely hear that asthma, acne, allergies, arthritis, herpes, reflux esophagitis, irritable bowel syndrome and many more have nothing to do with diet. This is simply not true. Doctors are trained as experts in prescribing and monitoring the risks and effectiveness of medications. They typically have little or no expertise in using nutrition as their primary modality of treatment. They are biased in favor of their own method of treatment (drugs) and do not have broad experience or training in motivating patients and utilizing nutritional and lifestyle interventions".

http://www.drfuhrman.com/disease/Other.aspx

http://www.drmcdougall.com/index.html

http://www.ravediet.com/links.html

http://www.ravediet.com/

http://www.vegsource.com/

http://www.drmcdougall.com/med_allergic.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/

Knowledge is power!!

These articles might interest people:

It's by James Schreiber called: "How to get skin that glows - Natural beauty secrets for a Hollywood face"

**Source http://www.naturalnews.com/032594_natural_beauty_skin.html

And also,

"How your skin health reflects the health of your large intestine (and other holistic principles of wellness)" by Mike Adams

**Source

http://www.naturalnews.com/021914_large_in...kin_health.html

Lastly

"The top five nutrients for healthy skin" by Mike Adam

**Source

http://www.naturalnews.com/021773_healthy_...e_products.html

Cheers,

AS

NEW SKIN NEEDLING STUDY:

Since I'm skin needling, I found this new study really promising...

http://www.cosderm.com/PDF/024040177.pdf

I haven't heard of this procedure being mainstream yet, it's called Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) combined with skin needling (for acne scarring treatment). The researchers say the results are even better than needling alone or with vitamin serums. I also have read somewhere else on this website and elsewhere that for really deep scarring, tattoo needling works best (I think using water too). I haven't heard of any spas or dermatologists using tattoo needles. Has anyone here used a tattoo needle for skin needling?

hey aquasea, i've been following your advise and my skin has significantly improved giving up flouride toothpaste has given me the most improvement, However I am still left with some mild acne on my chin which I think could be cleared by giving up tap water like you said (since its contains flouride like toothpaste) but I can't get a filter or anything like that because my parents said no, so wouldyou reccommend bottled water? and which brands,would evian be okay?

*****************************************************************

3. Drink a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice mixed with a glass of warm mineral/ spring water first thing in the morning. (Alkalizes & purifies body).

Thanks for the great tips. I was just wondering how could lemon juice alkalize our bodies since it is acidic, its ph is about 2? I've been drinking it as well as the apple cider vinegar(its pH is 3) but now I'm confused. Do you know what the pH of our stomachs should be?My biology teacher said stomach acid's pH is 1 Now I'm even more confused...

How can I get rid of a cyst?

I've got one that I thought was just a dark scar from a previous one and then noticed in the last few days it rising up and now there's a bit of mound on my cheek!

I've gotten rid of zits before with glycolic acid spot treatment but because this is a cyst and its so huge I don't know if it would work.

Do they ever just go away on their own?

I'm eating a clean only raw diet and being very strict about it, do you think that would be enough to heal it? Or should I try and bring it do the surface with glycolic?

I've been using retin-a so my skin is very sensitive too right now.

Hi Shay Roberts,

Sorry I missed your post !!

You can google what brand comparison charts. Please buy alkaline spring water i.e. PH over 7 without fluoride or and minimal chlorine. However, please note plastic bottles are a problem too. So, try buying glass bottled water if you can (or sometimes) or try buying a cask of spring water that doesn't contain bisphenol. See http://www.naturalnews.com/031651_BPA_chemicals.html

However, long term it might be good get a proper water filter (that takes out all nasty chemicals. Here are some websites to start with:

http://www.cleanairpurewater.com/best_bottled_water.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1495189/

And yes, Evian would be fine. However, with the Fukushima disaster, I'd try and buy water from the southern hemisphere now, as Evian is from France in the Northern hemisphere Figi would be good or a NZ or Australian brand spring water.

Also, you might like to try a very low food grade .3% (i.e one that can be used as a mouthwash too, please ask your chemist for help in choosing the right concentration!!!) concentration of peroxide on your chin acne. This is mild and works really well. See http://www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au/2010/...rogen-peroxide/

Also, lavender oil used very sparingly and only directly on each whitehead also helps clear spots.

Lastly, this website is useful for health news updates:

www.naturalnews.com

Hope this helps

AS

Hi Flying High,

Good question. The fact is that lemon juice does cause the body to alkalize:

Source: http://nh1.ccone.com/

"Foods are generally categorized as acid or alkaline based on the residue they leave in the human body after they have been metabolized. Often there are fad diets that recommend people eat either all acid or all alkaline foods to solve one disease or another. In reality, it is probably healthier to strive for a balanced middle ground of alkaline and acidic foods. A variety of health problems can occur when the body is either too alkaline or acidic. When the body fluids become too acidic, a condition called acidosis develops. Conversely, when the body fluids become too alkaline, alkalosis results.

Foods are determined to have either an alkaline or acid forming potential based on their pH values. (The word pH comes from the chemistry formula for calculating the concentration of hydrogen ions present in a substance. pH refers to the "power of Hydrogen.") A pH of 7 is neutral. Foods with an alkaline ash have pH values above 7. Foods with an acid ash have pH values below 7. Pure water has a neutral pH of 7.

In general most grains, dairy products, meats, seeds, legumes and nuts tend to have an acid ash. Most fruits and vegetables tend to have an alkaline ash. Cooked foods tend to be more alkaline than raw foods. Many holistic practitioners believe that modern Western diets generally are too acidic for good health due to a lack of fruits and vegetables. They often stress the importance of modifying one's diet to achieve a better acid-base balance.

However, it is generally not a good idea to assume your diet is too acidic just because that is a common problem in the general population. There are many factors that can influence the human body's pH levels. People who drink a lot of mineral water, take mineral supplements or eat highly a lot of alkaline foods such as dandelion greens or potatoes, may have an alkaline levels that are too high. Many holistic health practitioners recommended that people buy a special type of pH paper that can be used to test pH levels based on urine or saliva samples.

Foods such as orange juice and lemon juice are acidic in their natural state but turn alkaline after they have been metabolized in the body. As such, for dietetic purposes they are usually considered to be alkaline forming foods despite being acidic prior to consumption. Most fruits are alkaline except a few that include cranberries, plums and prunes. These fruits are classified as acidic because they contain acids the body can't metabolize".

As for apple cider vinegar, some people with low stomach acid report this is a therapeutic modality. And it also alkalizes in the body. But I personally wouldn't recommend any vinegar consumption for acne prone people but instead steer them towards fresh natural lemon or lime juice. This is because commercial vinegar (including apple cider) often contain added chemicals that cause acne. However, if you feel this therapy helps your skin, then use it. But if you see no improvement or a flair up of acne when you use it, switch to lemon/ lime juice.

As for gastric acid/ stomach acid see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_acid . It has a PH of 1-2.

Cheers

AS

Hi DC Girl,

I hope your cyst has subsided. I'm sorry I missed your post too. And yes, cysts can subside on their own.

How you should address your cyst depends on the size of the cyst, skin condition, your natural healing & skin history.

For example, if you've had success with extraction via a dermatologist, then try that again. If not, try an alternative treatment.

Personally, I think you should quit using the Retin-A. You are probably far too sensitive for it. Instead, keep eating healthily and following the regime as recommended on the first page. Try also applying hydrogen peroxide .3% on your cyst every night and morning and exercise for 30minutes to 45 minutes daily for a week or two daily so you sweat out the toxins (then shower using sea-salt for 1-2 weeks). This should invigorate your body to self-heal and expel its accumulation of excess hormones & toxins naturally. Also, get 7.5 - 8 hours of adequate sleep between 10 pm - 7am, get 1 hour of direct daily sunlight. Meditate everyday and say positive affirmations. And learn to breath deeply and relax. This should totally help you.

Some additional tips are:

A) Drink a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice each morning with warm spring water. (Alkaline and detoxes the body) and then take a tablespoon of cold pressed organic flaxseed oil for omega-3.

B) Try placing 5% niacinamide gel on your cyst if the hydrogen peroxide doesn't work: See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7657446?dopt=Abstract ; http://gmuntz.tripod.com/niacinamide.html; http://www.acnemiracle.com/home.html

C) Take 1 tablet of 140mg to 280 mg per day of milk-thistle dosage; it's a potent liver regenerating herb and liver detox herb. See http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm ; http://www.herbalremediesworld.com/milk-th...e-benefits.html

D) You can also try edible clay drinking formula from the health food store or 1 daily activated charcoal tablet (for 1-2 weeks) as a short-term but extra potent detox remedy.

Lastly, please note eating dairy or meat can cause acne/ cysts. And drinking sodas are bad too. Try instead drinking daily or weekly freshly made vegetable juices that cleanse the liver like beetroot/apple/carrot juice. Or spinach salad leaves/ cucumber/ carrot and alfalfa sprouts juice etc.

Cheers,

AS

UPDATE:

I've rolled my skin with the dermaroller with vitamin c etc (please see front page for protocol) about 10 times spaced out between 1.5 or 2 weeks in the space of about 3 months. I see a great improvement in the severely damaged areas of my forehead (where I slathered the toxic benzoyl peroxide). My skin condition is very much improved. However, I have to be careful not to roll on healthy skin tissue, I've noticed that where I've rolled over healthy skin on my right cheek, it left a few prick marks. However, they should heal.

Also, I don't use all my skin care vitamin infused pharmaceuticals every day, only when I skin roll. I also find that when I apply my mineral liquid makeup, it is very healing too, especially when I add vitamin e. It's a great skin protective barrier.

However, the red pigmentation on my cheeks have not subsided yet. Although my face is acne free and the scarring (from benzoyl peroxide) is very much improved, without makeup, my skin still has a few noticeable red pigmentation areas (i.e. but I can hide the red pigmentation with make-up). This is what benzoyl peroxide does to your skin long-term!! So, be warned, stay away from benzoyl peroxide and acne products with chemicals in them!!!

I am hoping that by just leaving my skin alone, the red pigmentation will naturally self-heal in 6-12 months. And I'm sure it will.

In the meantime, I'll keep skin rolling. I'd say there is a 60% improvement in my severely damaged forehead skin.

Peace

Here is a great website with great tips including 10 uses for .3% hydrogen peroxide:

http://www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au/2010/...rogen-peroxide/

Here's the article:

*************************************

"If I were to tell you that for almost next to nothing you could whiten your teeth, lighten your hair, clean your house, get rid of blackheads and stop a cold in its tracks, you would be pretty excited wouldn‚„t you? Well, get ready to change your undergarments because the information I‚„m about to share with you is that exciting. Sitting alongside apple cider vinegar in our cupboard of clever home remedies is hydrogen peroxide, an all-natural, safe, environmentally friendly and super cheap solution. Hydrogen Peroxide is simply water with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2) and breaks down into oxygen and water. H2O2 is produced by both animal and plant cells and is formed naturally in the environment by sunlight acting on water. What‚„s with the chemistry lesson, you say? Well turns out there may have actually been a few reasons to listen up during science. Here are 10 uses for hydrogen peroxide ‚¦

1. As a mouthwash and teeth whitener:

A tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in a cup of water can be used as a mouthwash. Swish for up to 60 seconds once a day; but don‚„t swallow and be sure to rinse your mouth out afterwards. This can also help whiten teeth. You can also dip your toothbrush in 3% hydrogen peroxide and brush your teeth with it. Dipping your toothbrush in the stuff will also help to kill bacteria on the brush.

2. To whiten your washing:

Add a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your load of whites in place of harsh chemical bleach. You can also remove stains from clothing by blotting stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide, and then rinse promptly with cold water to avoid bleaching of the fabric. Remove yellowing from fabric by filling a sink with cold water and 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.

3. As a household cleaner:

Apply the 3% solution to a rag to clean bench tops and cutting boards and help kill salmonella and other bacteria. Half fill a spray bottle with 3% solution and then top it up with water for use as a bathroom and toilet disinfectant and cleaner. Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with two parts water in a spray bottle and use on areas affected by mould. You can try a neat 3% solution for areas like bathroom tiling, but be careful on the strength in relation to painted items as it may bleach them.

4. To lighten your hair:

This is a little trick I discovered after being told I could no longer have my hair coloured at the hairdresser. I tried everything ‚œ lemon juice, chamomile tea, sitting in the sun ‚œ but the only thing that has worked is combing 3% hydrogen peroxide through my hair after I‚„ve washed it. It went through a bit of an orange stage, but it has gradually taken on a natural blonde hue. Just be sure to condition your hair often so that it doesn‚„t dry out too much.

5. To combat colds and flues:

Fill the cap of a bottle of hydrogen peroxide with the liquid, lie down on your side, and pour it into one ear. After a few seconds, the liquid will bubble. Lay with the peroxide fizzing for 5 or 10 minutes, and then shake the peroxide out. Repeat on the other ear. You should experience results within 12-14 hours.

6. To clean wounds:

Use 3% hydrogen peroxide to sterilise cuts and abrasions. The solution will start to fizz, but this is normal apparently.

7. To clear up pimples and blackheads:

This is another discovery I‚„ve made recently. After almost surrendering to the idea that I will forever have black crap blocking the pores on my nose and chin I decided to wipe my face over with 3% hydrogen peroxide. After repeating the process for a couple of days the most amazing thing started to happen. My blackheads have started to disappear. Take that useless painful pore strips! To help clear up pimples and blackheads, use a clean cotton ball to generously dab hydrogen peroxide onto skin. Do this twice a day, every day.

8. To grow better houseplants:

Mix up an ounce of hydrogen peroxide into a cup of water and spray the solution on to your houseplants. It will help them to grow greener and more lush.

9. To oxygenate your body:

Rub 3% hydrogen peroxide onto your skin to deliver oxygen through your pores and into your system. This is a great way to speed up detoxification and promote the elimination of toxins through your skin. You can also add 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your bathwater for a detoxifying bath.

10. As part of your cancer therapy:

Cancer cells thrive in an environment that is deprived of oxygen. So, to help eradicate signs of cancer it is important to alkalise and oxygenate your blood. Using hydrogen peroxide is a great way to do this. You can rub it on your skin (as above), have it infused into your system through an IV or you can drink it (when diluted). On the first day, put one drop of 35% hydrogen peroxide into about 150ml of pure water, and drink it about 20 minutes before each meal. Do this for three days, and then raise the amount to two drops for three days, and so on until you reach five or six drops. Some extremely ill people take as many as 20 drops per day for a limited time. While the benefits of ozone therapy are impressive, do not commence the therapy on your own without first clearing it with a health professional. Find an integrative or naturopath doctor that you trust and that has experience administering ozone.

Warning: Hydrogen peroxide is available in many strengths, but for most household uses you will generally always use the 3% solution. Some commercially available ‚Å“food grade‚ hydrogen peroxide is 35% pure. This stuff is highly corrosive and can be toxic or fatal if ingested. If you do buy the 35% solution, you can dilute it by carefully adding the hydrogen peroxide to distilled water."

Cheers,

AS

Here's a great post by DollyJoon about the importance of exercise in achieving acne free skin:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...t&p=3143904

Cheers,

AS

PS I also noticed this in wikipedia re cortisol:

********

Factors generally reducing cortisol levels

Magnesium supplementation decreases serum cortisol levels after aerobic exercise,[58][59] but not after resistance training.[60]

Omega 3 fatty acids have a dose-dependent effect [61] in slightly reducing cortisol release influenced by mental stress,[62] suppressing the synthesis of interleukin-1 and -6 and enhancing the synthesis of interleukin-2; the former promotes higher CRH release. Omega 6 fatty acids, on the other hand, have an inverse effect on interleukin synthesis.[citation needed]

Music therapy can reduce cortisol levels in certain situations.[63]

Massage therapy can reduce cortisol.[64]

Laughing, and the experience of humour, can lower cortisol levels.[65]

Crying can reduce cortisol levels. William H. Frey II, a biochemist at the University of Minnesota, proposed that people feel "better" after crying, due to the elimination of hormones associated with stress, specifically adrenocorticotropic hormone.[66] This, paired with increased mucosal secretion during crying, could lead to a theory that crying is a mechanism developed in humans to dispose of this stress hormone when levels grow too high.

Soy-derived phosphatidylserine interacts with cortisol; the correct dose, however, is unclear.[67][68]

Vitamin C may slightly blunt cortisol release in response to mental stressors.[69]

Black tea may hasten recovery from a high-cortisol condition.[70][71]

Regular dancing to argentine tango has been shown to lead to significant decreases in salivary cortisol concentrations.[72]

Factors generally increasing cortisol levels

Caffeine may increase cortisol levels.[73]

Sleep deprivation.[74]

Intense (high VO2 max) or prolonged physical exercise stimulates cortisol release to increase gluconeogenesis and maintain blood glucose.[75] Proper nutrition[76] and high-level conditioning[77] can help stabilize cortisol release.

The Val/Val variation of the BDNF gene in men, and the Val/Met variation in women, are associated with increased salivary cortisol in a stressful situation.[78]

Hypoestrogenism and melatonin supplementation increase cortisol levels in postmenopausal women.[79]

Burnout is associated with higher cortisol levels.[80]

Severe trauma or stressful events can elevate cortisol levels in the blood for prolonged periods.[81]

Subcutaneous adipose tissue regenerates cortisol from cortisone.[82]

Anorexia nervosa may be associated with increased cortisol levels.[83]

The serotonin receptor gene 5HTR2C is associated with increased cortisol production in men.[84]

Some formulations of combined oral contraceptive pills increase cortisol levels in young women who perform whole-body-resistance exercise training.[85]

Commuting increases cortisol levels relative to the length of the trip, its predictability and the amount of effort involved.[86]

Stimuli associated with sexual intercourse can increase cortisol levels.[87]

*************

Hi aquasea,

I've been following this post for the last week or so, and i'm really interested in trying your personal regime of using the Crystal deoderant stick and Sea Salts along with Macadamia nut oil.

Since there's so much information in your posts, i think i tend to get a little confused as to the best way to apply and maintain this regimen. I remember in one of your posts you said that you wash your face only with water...how do you get your makeup off? Do you use a makeup remover before showering, or at least before applying the Crystal stick? Also, where do you purchase your sea salt? Is dead sea salt different?

At the moment i'm using AHA 10% on my face and chest/back, and have been using it about 2 weeks now. I got the regime from Dan's Chest and Back Acne system, and have decided to use it on my face as well. Right now i'm not seeing a huge change, but i think i need to be more religious with doing it twice a day. Anyway, I was wondering what your opinion was on AHA? I know you're against using BP, as am i. I read some posts about using AHA 10% as it's less irritating...but i'm not sure of the long term side effects. I know when i first started using it, i got so dry around my mouth and my neck/collarbone, but that has since disappeared.

If you would be able to help me out with some key points to your regimen (which products/duration of use, etc) I would really appreciate it.

Hi Amandajay !

I'm so sorry for the late reply!! I haven't been visiting this forum for a while...

To answer your question:

1. BASIC PROTOCOL:

A) First 1-3 weeks: You INITIALLY need to wash your skin with sea salt gently (SHORT-TERM as it dries out your skin. (IF YOU NEED TO TAKE OFF MAKE-UP, TRY MASSAGING YOUR SKIN WITH A LITTLE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL or ORGANIC COCONUT OIL AND THEN WASH IT OFF WITH WATER DILUTED WITH SEA-SALT. IF YOU FIND THIS TOO OILY FOR YOUR SKIN AFTER A WEEK OF TRYING THIS METHOD, USE A MILD PH NEUTRAL GENTLE NATURAL ORGANIC VEGETABLE/ HERBAL SKIN CLEANSER FROM THE HEALTH FOOD STORE).

B) Long- termlime juice directly on your skin morning and night only AFTER applying a gentle natural moisturizer like organic cold pressed coconut oil, macadamia oil, extra virgin olive oil or hyaluronic acid serum (if you have very oily skin). You can apply 100% vitamin e under & around your eyes nightly to COMPLETELY prevent wrinkles.

2. OTHER IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS:

C) For individual spots, I either use 100% organic lavender oil or lemon juice or very low strength hydrogen peroxide i.e. beautician grade 3% or 6% strength.

D) Ensure you're eating healthy (preferably organic & dairy free, as well as no meat or minimal meat and then only organic meat); lots of green leafy, colorful vegetables, legumes, mixed raw nuts & seeds etc (continental parsley salads, pumpkin, bell peppers, cos lettuce, shallots, lentils, peas, quinoa, fresh garlic, red onion, alfalfa sprouts, carrots etc) and fruits (kiwi fruit, apples, berries/ strawberries etc).

E) Stay away from fluoride toothpaste, use herbal...use an organic mouthwash like a drop of 100% organic oregano oil in water. Stay away from drinking tap water, drink purified water instead...and look for bottles without BPA (or use glass bottles).

F) Exercise gently daily, sleep well (get to bed by 10pm - your body heals greatly between 10pm-1am) & sleep in a darkened room (wear an eye mask if needed); get plenty of vitamin D directly from the sun without sunscreen (just don't burn!) i.e. 1/2 hour to 1 hour; drink a fresh weekly juice or daily juice i.e. beetroot/ carrot/ apple/ ginger; squeeze a lemon wedge in purified water first thing in the morning DAILY for a powerful detox...great skin cleanser.

G) A general vitamin & mineral supplementation is beneficial. I find "Nature's Way" Mega B complex with all B vitamins, zinc & folate & magnesium does wonders for my skin. I also take one general daily women's multivitamin by Cenovis. And lastly, on rare occasions, if I feel 'blahhhhh', unwell or need an extra skin boost, I take "Nature's Way" 'Garlic + Vitamin C + Horseradish".

H) Don't drink sodas; don't drink coffee or caffeinated teas etc, don't eat processed foods, nor fried food, takeaway, junk food etc; stay away from vinegar or processed sauces...use lemon juice instead; Also, try not to have canned foods or plastic wrapped foods/ drinks.

I) Use lots of healing spices & fresh herbs in your foods like turmeric & mint etc..try eating mostly raw organic wholefoods

J) DON'T USE A MICROWAVE: COOK MINIMALLY...INSTEAD TRY TO EAT MOSTLY A FULLY COMPLETE NUTRITIOUS RAW ORGANIC VEGAN DIET (OR AT LEAST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE i.e. 40-70% of the time)

K) Make sure you're getting daily optimal iodine doses in your diet (i.e, 150 mcg per day ..PLEASE RESEARCH THIS YOURSELF!!!) ...either through sea vegetables like Nori sheets or supplementation i.e. general daily multivitamin/ mineral, kelp tablet or iodinized sea salt/ bread. This is important for women of childbearing age and vegans especially).

L) Have a spoonful or two of cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil per day for omega-3.

M) Stay positive BE HAPPY!!! Learn to relax and enjoy life. Get spiritually centered whether through community activities, volunteering, walking through a garden, yoga, praying, going on spiritual retreat, reading inspiring books/ magazines at the library/ bookstore, listening to white noise CDs like rainfall, waves, rainforest birds, streams et

N) DON'T OVER WASH OR SHOWER!!! Have several days per week where you go make-up free and don't wash your face or shower. Let your skin naturally recover, heal and breathe.

O) If you have stubborn acne, look into drinking an EDIBLE clay for a week or two (talk to a naturopath or buy it from the health food store), have a clay bath (i.e. sacred clay) or apply a clay mask every week. This is a very powerful, healing yet natural detox.

At the moment, I'm just gently washing my face with extra virgin olive oil (yes that's right! It's very healing to my skin) and adding lime juice over it every morning and night. I can wear makeup straight over it. And I only use a sea salt wash once every one or two months. The lime juice makes your skin glow, smell great, keeps it clean & acne free. It also makes your skin taut, hides fine lines and helps make it look dewy & healthy!

I'm also alternating between skin-needling (I bought it from www.clearskincare.com.au) with vitamin c serum & using a 35% strength glycolic acid peel I bought from ebay for about $40 (unbuffered beautician grade) to improve the damage I've caused through BP. I skin needle or do a peel twice a month. Later, I intend to do this once every 2-3 months (or less) once the skin damage is corrected. However, only use this if you have moderate to severe skin damage. It's not wise to use it if you're addressing acne only or if you're under 30-35 years. *So, I'd stay clear of any AHA products if you can. It's for mature skin only or very damaged skin. Sounds to me YOU DON'T NEED AHA PRODUCTS. Like all peels, it can cause dermal damage after excessive use/ misuse.

Natural remedies are always the best way to go for long-term healthy & clear skin!!

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

AS

PS Skin update in case anybody is interested: So far, my skin is vastly improved. However, my diet is pretty clean too. Basically, if I eat well and exercise I won't break out. I believe my acne is derived from a leaky gut syndrome & sensitivity to food & environmental toxins...so as long as I eat healthy, my skin is 98% acne free (NB the glycolic acid peels make me break out a little...but it clears after 2-3 days post peel...otherwise, my skin would be 100% clear). I'm now just addressing red pigmentation & severe asphyxiated/ skin damage from BP on my forehead. My severely BP damaged forehead has now improved by 80% through regular home skin needling & 35% unbuffered glycolic peels (NOTE: I leave ample time between peels and needling to ensure the skin can rebuild itself...I also take a month break every so often)!!! However, to date with make-up, my skin looks great. I hope to be able to go make-up free within 6-12months.

EXCITING UPDATE 1 February 2012.

I have been using an unbuffered 35% glycolic peel I got on ebay for about $40 over three or four months. At home, I placed it on my face around 10 minutes each go. This is the maximum length of time you should do it apparently. However, I read somewhere else recently, that you should neautralize the acid with bi-card soda when your face starts to turn lightly pink. Well, I have done the home peel 10 times for 10 minutes over 3 months and my skin has NEVER turned pink. It's also never really stung only tingled. I was considering going a higher strength but my bad experience with 30% TCA made me stick with the 35% glycolic acid strength. (NOTE: TCA 30% burned a dent in my forehead which I'm repairing with home skin needling! ...so away from this stuff or see a professional and use ONLY low strength 10% TCA).BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!

Anyway, yesterday, I did something I haven't done before. On Monday, I skin needled my face. Then on Tuesday I applied a little 6% strength hydrogen peroxide on my forehead to calm it down. I then washed it off. After another two hours, I decided to apply the glycolic acid 35% peel to my forehead only. NORMALLY YOU SHOULDN'T DO THIS, AS YOUR SKIN NEEDS AT LEAST A 4 DAYS TO A WEEK TO RECOVER FROM SKIN NEEDLING. However, I wanted to amp up the glycolic acid peel effectiveness as I wasn't turning pink after 10 minutes. So, I placed it only my forehead yesterday, and for the first time it STUNG instantly!!! The glycolic acid made my skin feel hot and within 15-20 seconds I was quite uncomfortable as it bordered on painful...but then as I looked in the mirror, I noticed my forehead was turning pink!!! THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER. So I tried to hold out as long as possible and I'm guessing I held out for 45 seconds to a minute only. However, what I saw post yesterday's peel was amazing!!! For the first time the bumpy skin and tiny 'bubbles' underneath my skin on my forehead DISAPPEARED !!! THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE FOR ME !!!! This morning, the bumps have disappeared, and it looks as though I have a little sun burn and my skin has slightly darkened and will peel. I can't wait to see the results after the top layer has shed!!! So, until then, I would say that my forehead has smoothed to 90% !!! I won't need laser after all!!! It seems I had ALOT of dead skin and skin damage on my forehead, that's why it took 10 peels x 10 minute over 3 months to finally get my skin to go pink & show a vast improvement of 90%!!!

I hope this information helps others.

PS Please don't use glycolic acid peels, other peels or AHA's if you have light acne or minimal skin damage, This is heavy duty stuff and will ruin your skin if your problems are minor or moderate. I have read that some people can suffer from lifelong rosacea as a result of having a peel. So please only use it if you have very damaged skin. And only then start with 10% glycolic acid and then if required, work your way up to 20% glycolic acid unbuffered if you're under 30. However, only people over 30 should use 35% glycolic acid (and in most extreme cases, above that amount, but not above 40 or 50% at most), Speak to a dermatologist for information and research extensively before attempting this at home or with a professional. Glycolic acid peels when performed a few times per year can be beneficial, but over using this treatment can damage your skin too. So research widely and use common sense.

I posted this elsewhere. I hope this is useful to others reading this also:

Re Achieving healthy skin post acne: You need to be patient. It will take between 6 months to 24 months to start achieving healthy looking skin. To help you maximise your healing, keep as faithful as possible to a Candida Diet (to eliminate yeast, sugar & gluten just google this) and a diabetic diet (similar to the Candida diet). You should also stay away from anything which makes your body acidic. You need to make it alkaline. Here are some general tips:

1. Try cleansing your skin with extra virgin olive oil or organic cold pressed coconut oil etc at least once a day...either rinse with water or leave on for half an hour then rinse.

2. Try applying lime juice morning and night to your skin after using the Oil Cleansing Method above. It makes it heal and glow.

3. Scrub the skin gently once a week or month with cinnamon and nutmeg (just add honey and lime juice). This makes a nice natural antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal scrub.

4. If you have a break out use lavender oil on the spot. For a bigger breakout, wash with sea salt and water for a week and then return to using Oil Cleansing Method.

5. Depending on your skin, use Hyaluronic Acid serum to moisturize daily (if your skin is very oily) or just dab a little extra virgin olive oil beneath the lime juice at night. Don't wash your face in the morning. In fact, go a few days without washing and make-up as over washing dries out your skin and makes it acne prone and dull.

5. Eat less than half a tea spoon of cinnamon after a big meal, to help stabilize your blood sugar (as sugar spikes in the blood can cause acne).

6. Drink liver cleansing fresh juices daily like beetroot, carrot, apple and ginger or green juices with parsley, cucumber, alfalfa and spinach lettuce etc.

7. Exercise gently every day for 20 minutes or 1 hour.

8. Sleep in a cool and dark room. Get natural sunlight without sunblock for at least 1/2 hr to 1 hour per day. Just don't get sunburn.

9. Eats lots of healthy oils with omega 3 like cold pressed flaxseed oil or walnut oil. Also, be generous with extra virgin olive oil. Just don't cook it.

10. Stay away from processed foods, fried foods and sauces. Eat mostly natural, raw, unprocessed, organic wholefoods that are grown on trees like legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

11. Drink a wedge of lemon juice in purified water first thing the morning.

12.Add fresh lemon juice to all foods instead of vinegar and sauces.

13. Stay away from sugars, sweets, junk food, takeaway, sodas, alcohol, teas or coffee.

14. You can drink herbal tea that's caffeine free like spearmint & chamomile etc.

15. Try taking a non-dairy refrigerated quality probiotic per day.

16. Eat lots of veggies & fruit like sweet potato, asparagus, cos lettuce, tomato, red/ green/ yellow bell peppers, herbs (parsley, mint), carrots, avocado, kiwi fruit, berries, apple etc

17. Eat a handful of mixed nuts and seeds daily.

18. If you choose to eat meat (which I don't recommend at all), stick with organic, grass fed meats, or better still, Turkey, Salmon and Tuna etc.

19. Stay away from dairy. But if you choose to eat dairy, stick to small quantities of cheeses. However, if you breakout eating cheeses, stop eating them.

20. For extra help, try taking psyllium husk fiber once a day (like metamucil) to keep you regular.

21. Also, look into doing a glycolic acid peel once a fortnight or month or every 6 months depending on your skin. Start at 10% unbuffered strength and then work up to 20% strength after 10 x 10% applications. You can use 35% strength in your 30s. NOTE: Leave the acid on your skin until it turns lightly pink and then neutralize BUT no longer than 10 minutes. Please see a beautician or dermatologist first time doing this. However, once you are confident your skin can handle this, you can do these at home yourself. You'll need witch hazel to prep your skin prior to the peel and then you'll need to neutralize the acid with Bicarbinated Soda.

22. If you need extra help, look into gentle home skin needling with vitamin c serum and copper serum. See www.clearskincare.com.au for a simple kit that's cost effective.

23. Use lots of spices & fresh herbs in your cooking like turmeric, ginger, mint, continental parsley etc

24. Eat superfoods like chlorella and spirulina, quinoa, berries, chia seeds etc.

25. Take a daily multivitamin (and possibly also a mega B complex vitamin with zinc, magnesium like "Nature's Way" Mega B).

26. You can eat non dairy dark chocolate 80-85% as a treat or popcorn with lemon juice, sea salt (and curry powder if you like spicy things).

27. Drink 6-8 glasses of purified spring alkaline (even ionized if you have an ionizer) water daily.

28. Get fresh air as often as possible. Walk in a local park or by the seashore.

29. Stay happy, positive & enjoy life! The less you stress about your skin the sooner your skin will recover.

30. Keep researching into new natural skincare products and health tips.

Hope this information is useful!

As

I posted this elsewhere but thought it useful to re-post here too.

The following things I have read on this board (and elsewhere) have been helpful to others:

A) Wild Yam

B) Saw Palmetto

C) Fungus/yeast treatment like: Nizarol & pyrithione zinc

D) Pure aloe vera juice to drink and as a topical

E) Spiralina and other superfoods.

F) Milkthistle

G) Abstaining from citrus fruits like oranges or lemons etc.

H) Refrigerated quality probiotics

I) Sulfur based healing remedies

J) Edible clay drinking detox (available from a health food store) & sacred clay masks

K) Niacinamide Nicomide gel

L) Don't use a microwave and try and stick to a mostly raw and organic diet

M) Certain topical oils like olive oil can promote fungal growth in susceptible people. So either use hyaluronic acid serum or another oil free moisturizer or try a little organic cold pressed coconut oil or another non-fungal growth promoting oil etc

Other useful websites:

http://www.drbaileys...dont-know-this/

http://www.drbaileys...acne-naturally/

http://www.drbaileys...-dermatologist/

http://www.chrisgibs...arch/label/Acne

Also, I read here that an individual went to a toxicologist and found that through the use of a "black light", their cysts showed they had a build up of plastic! They need to do an intense detox.

Update: July 2012:

Quick Summary of Key Recommendations for clear acne free & healthy skin:

A) Start on the inside:

Alkaline, organic, raw vegan diet, gluten free & wheat free, anti-candida

1. Go raw organic wholefood vegan (no dairy, no meat, no junk food, no or minimum processed food, no bread, no pasta)

2) Have a gluten free diet & anti-candida diet (no wheat, no oats, no rye, no barley, keep sugar to minimum)

3) Eat lots of fresh superfoods raw in fresh salads with fresh lemon juice & organic virgin olive oil (sea salt) like kale, red cabbage, carrots, beetroot, fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro/ coriander, mint etc, avocado, red oinion, cos lettuce etc and nuts/ lentils/ chickpeas etc

4) Eat brown rice, wild black rice or baked potatoes for your main meal with veggies or tempeh or lentil or chickpeas or white beans or mixed nuts etc (Also, you can either make or buy quality tahini & hummus too, and use ample spices & herbs like turmeric, cumin, mint etc )

5) Eat gluten free & wheat free breakfast like amaranth cereal or quinoa with fruits/ nuts and almond milk

6) Eat a handful or two of unsalted mixed nuts daily like brazil, walnut, peanut, almond pistascio etc (make sure you're not allergic to them)

7) Eat a handful or two of mixed seeds daily i.e. sunflower, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds etc

8) Have omega 3 in your diet daily via one or a combination of the following linseeds, 2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil, DHA seaweed derived supplements, chia seeds etc

9) Have a tablespoon of chlorophyl, chlorella or teaspoon of spirulina daily

10) ***Take a good vegan B complex vitamin or multivitamin which has B12 (or you can also use nutritional de-activated yeast daily which supplies B12 for vegans)

11) Take 1-3 tablespoons of 100% virgin organic coconut oil daily in a warm drink like organic cocoa with water or herbal tea like dandelion or chamomile or peppermint etc

12) Drink purified still mineral water only, stay away from toxic tap water

13) Eat lots of fruits & berries daily

14) Eat lots of veggies daily and try juicing daily with superjuices like beetroot/ carrot, apple

15) Eat lots of leafy greens daily like spinach, cos lettuce, flat leafed parsley, mint, cilantro/ coriander etc.

16) For extra boost, you can take a zinc supplement with betacaroteen.

17) Stay away from coffee, tea, soda etc...drink only pure mineral water, fresh juices or herbal teas/ organic cocoa with water etc or green/ whte tea on occasion...

18) You can eat organic, vegan dark chocolate 75-85% cocoa daily...it's packed with iron & magnesium..

19) Stay away from vinegars, processed tomato sauce etc

20) For savory treats, you can have popcorn with sea salt / and or lemon juice or a little curry powder.

21) Do not fry and NEVER use a microwave. Buy a toaster oven if needed or bake in a regular stove.

22) Lightly steam food on occasion if required.23)

23) If you suffer from regular stomach compliants, take good quality peppermint tablets like mintec or take non-dairy probiotic tablets (otherwise, drink peppermint herbal tea often and eat lots of fresh mint in your salads).

B) External:

1.Wash your skin only with water, preferably purified water

2. Go for 2-3 days without washing your skin or even longer, this helps heal the skin and return the healthy PH level on the skin's mantle

3. Wash body with pure vegetable soap like sandelwood etc

4. Get a non-toxic, natural vegan shampoo & conditioner (use sea salt too every once in a while too to disinfect & re-mineralize your hair)

5. Use a herbal (fluoride free) toothpaste, brush your teeth morning and before bed...try cleaning inside of cheeks & tongue gently too.

6. Use a natural gentle mouthwash like a few drops of organic wild oregano oil or few drops of **food grade** 3% hydrogen peroxide

7. For moderate/ severe active acne, wash skin gently with sea salt and then apply to wet skin crystal alum (crystal deodorant). This will disinfect the skin, dry the oil, and help heal it. Once the acne is under control after 1-3 months, STOP USING SEASALT WASHES & CRYSTAL ALUM AS IT'S DRYING. YOU NEED TO BE GENTLE WITH YOUR SKIN. DRY SKIN CAUSES SCARRING. So, wash only with water/ purified water once your acne is under control and use LAVENDER OIL as a spot treatment only and only use water to wash your face. If you need a moisterizer, use hyaluronic acid for oily/ young skin or organic virgin 100% coconut oil for dry or more mature/ scarred skin.

8. For skin over 30-35 or severely skin damaged skin, use beautician grade 35% glycolic acid skin peels every 2 or 4 weeks for a few months and then once every year for maintenence. Neutralize with sodium bicarbonate. Note, this might make you break out the first few times but it will eventually stop. Add hyaluronic acid or vitamin c serum afterwoods (see clearskin website). (NOTE: If you have severest acne, please see a dermatologist for a low TCA grade peel i.e. 5%- 15% ....DO NOT go any higher or you could damage the skin...and don't do this at home....this TCA skin peel is highly corrosive and will damage the skin if applied too long or wrong!!!

9. Place pure vitamin e under eyes daily to minimize wrinkles. Or use 100% virgin organic coconut oil.

10. For acne scarring/ severe red marks, you can try skin rolling. Note this takes up to a year or two to get maxmum results, but it's sure worth it! It's also less risky than laser and builds-up the skin and minimizers wrinkles longterm. Do this hygienically at home (i.e. to clean your roller before and after use, just use use hot water in a clean glass with a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and whisk the roller in it for a few minutes before rinsing in clean water...then allow it to naturally dry on clean tissue paper before applying it to clean dry skin. You can store it in the refrigerator in a clean container). Use it twice weekly for 2 weeks or a month, and then stop for a month or two to heal the skin. Appy vitamin c serum or copper serum (if inflamed with red) after rolling.

11. Only use non-toxic, organic, vegan make-up if required.

12. Fresh lime juice applied directly to skin is exellent for tired or dull skin. It's also good for stopping acne breakouts. It will make your skin GLOW with HEALTH!!!

C) Exercise & Sunlight & Good Sleep:

1. Ensure you get regular yet gentle exercise daily for at least 15-45 minutes, like walking or swimming at the beach (stay away from chlorinated pools). Try and get into the fresh air often via a mountain walk, beach walk, park walk...breath deeply. You can also try yoga, dancing etc

2. Sleep in a well ventilated dark cool room. Make sure you get to bed before 9-10pm most nights and up before 7-9am. You should get between 7.5 to 10.5 hours per night. Let your body tell you what you need to feel great.

3. Get lots of direct sunlight DAILY for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour or more without getting burnt. Vitamin D is very important to health.

D) Detox:

For severe, stubborn acne, you need a major detox. Try one or a combination of these:

1. Clay bath (sacred or bentonite clay etc); clay mask or try edible clay from the health store in a drink for a week or two.

2. Activated charcoal tablets for a week or two.

3. Dandelion leaf & root tea.

4. Colloidal silver (non chemical derived & excellent quality). Take internally as directed for a few weeks and apply topically.

5. Milkthistle tablets as directed for a week or two.

5. Raw vegan super juicing 3 times per day until acne clears (i.e. beetroot/ carrot/ kale/ apple/ berries/ chlorophyll/ spinach/ spirulina) etc.

E) Maintain emotional & mental wellbeing & stability

- Get inspired, do a course or activities that help you love yourself and your life!

- Have fun! Watch a comedy or see a standup comedian. Laugh daily

- Get spiritual. Join a church, meditation group etc and get connected to good, kind & caring people.

- Move away or break toxic relationships or habits. Only invite people into your life that make you feel good and inspire you to be a better person.

- Be kind to yourself. If you fall down 7 times, then get up 8 times...

- Have time away to listen to your inner voice and be true to yourself & hopes & joys

- Keep life simple. Be grateful for simple pleasures.

- Be proactive & positive. Create goals...go for them! But be happy whatever the outcome...love life & the journey...

- It's okay to have days when you need to heal & be alone. Nurture yourself. Go to a bookstore and read soul-nurturing books in the park or beach or in bed..

- Listen to uplifting music often.

- DECLUTTER & THROW OUT JUNK. SIMPLIFY & ORGANISE YOUR SPACE. MAKE IT SACRED & HYGIENIC.

- Surround yourself with things you find beautiful and uplifting.

- Try organic gardening or even plant a simple herb garden.

- Take your mind off yourself. Adopt a shelter pet FOR LIFE (if you love animals & are kind & responsible)...you can also volunteer at a shelter or another community group.

- Love yourself. Love your life. Love others. Be happy NOW!!!