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I use the Solaray brand. They have a few different kinds but I use the one that is just 50mg zinc chelate. It has pumpkin in it too.
Thanks, I'll try it when I ran out of opti-zinc. Does 50mg cause any stomach issues for you? Right now I'm taking 15-30mg and sometimes I get stomach cramps.
Ok, quick skin update. Is there an improvement or not, be honest. I'm left with lots of red marks, some rolling scars, and smaller indentations. I also have a few zits from using sunscreen everyday.
I always take my vitamins after eating, and I've never had a problem with my stomach.
It looks like your face has a lot less active marks on it. The redness has definitely improved!
I ran out of the opti-zinc I was using up today, so I'm going to try a different form now. You said Zinc Picolinate is the most easily absorbed form (I also noticed that many on this forum are taking this type), but you are taking zinc chelate? Would you say that works better than the picolinate? I was mainly taking opti-zinc because it also contained copper, to prevent copper deficiency from taking zinc.
I was also thinking of adding calcium d-glucarate. I did some research, and it supposedly helps regulate hormones by assisting the liver in properly flushing out excess hormones and toxins.
I read in your signature that you are on ortho tri-cyclen lo - would you say that is the main thing that's keeping you clear? I heard from some people that it really helps with acne, but I don't know anyone who got totally clear from it because it's more mild than other BCP.
I always take my vitamins after eating, and I've never had a problem with my stomach.
It looks like your face has a lot less active marks on it. The redness has definitely improved!
I ran out of the opti-zinc I was using up today, so I'm going to try a different form now. You said Zinc Picolinate is the most easily absorbed form (I also noticed that many on this forum are taking this type), but you are taking zinc chelate? Would you say that works better than the picolinate? I was mainly taking opti-zinc because it also contained copper, to prevent copper deficiency from taking zinc.
I was also thinking of adding calcium d-glucarate. I did some research, and it supposedly helps regulate hormones by assisting the liver in properly flushing out excess hormones and toxins.
I read in your signature that you are on ortho tri-cyclen lo - would you say that is the main thing that's keeping you clear? I heard from some people that it really helps with acne, but I don't know anyone who got totally clear from it because it's more mild than other BCP.
I've actually never tried Zinc Picolinate. I just recently ran out of Zinc and have not repurchased, but when I do I am going to try it and I will let you know what I think.
I started Ortho not for acne reason, but for some other health issues I was having, and did not notice a big difference in my skin from it.
I would try swapping the simple products for nivea lotion if you haven't tried it which you can use as a cleanser and a moisturiser, me and my work mate both broke out while using simple products.Ive just had a break out 3weeks ago after suddenly becoming allergic to No7 cleanse and sooth which i've had clear skin using for a couple of years on and off, all of a sudden my skin flares up when i use it (looked alot like your skin on the photos). Also the best soap i've found for my hyper allergic skin is Tesco everyday value soap, morrisons do a version of it too which is also great and its dirt cheap.My skin is calming down now i've changed to nivea it took me a week to realise what was causing the acne as the No7 cleanser was the last thing i suspected seeing as though i'd just purchased a couple of new products the week before. Last week i was dabbing t tree oil on the spots which was aggrevating them so I stopped using that a few days ago. So now i'm just washing twice a day with my value soap. taking my makeup off with nivea and dabbing sudocrem on my (40) red marks, it seems to be calming down alot. I can't use even diluted apple cider vinegar at the minute it seems to be keeping my red marks from healing so im gonna lay off it until the marks have healed properly. Think I've been over treating my problem and need to stick to the sudocrem for a bit.
Wow, this is an old post, sorry I didn't reply to it sooner. You are right about overtreating - I'm trying to simplify my routine as much as possible. i think I began reacting to my boscia cleanser, which I have been using for years! I used it last night and this morning after a while (I was switching between Image gentle cleanser & a clinical cleanser) and my face felt itchy all day. Unfortunately, we don't have Tesco in the us, maybe I'll try morrosons.
My signature was taking up too much space, so I'm posting my regimen here. These are the things that are currently keeping the chaos at bay. This time around, my acne has been more stubborn and unresponsive than EVER, and it has ravished my face. Not sure if it will ever get back to "normal" after this battle, but I will keep trying.
Current regimen:
Diet, Herbs, Supplements:
Digestive enzymes & probiotcs
l-glutathione (works well short term to get rid of inflammation), vitamin C, zinc, magnesium
Gluten free diet & avoiding dairy, corn & sugar ---> Modified to low histamine diet, which includes sweet potatoes every day (lots of nutrients)
Ginger and roiboos tea, sometimes oolong tea, plenty of spring or filtered water
Topicals (homeopathic, organic, etc):
Calamine lotion (topically, a few nights a week)
Aloe vera (1-2 nights a week), Sulfur mask (once a month), honey mask (every other night, sometimes I add yogurt and lemon)
MSM cream & see cosmetics below
Wash your face with spring water, not tap water
Treatments:
Acupuncture (every 3-4 weeks)
High frequency facial (whenever I can afford it)
Quick update.
I had to discontinue the progesterone cream after persistent side effects. I was getting a numbing/ tingling sensation in the areas I was applying it. Even when I decreased the dosage below the minimum recommended amount I was still getting this reaction. I contacted the manufacturer and they recommended stopping it for a while. So now I will keep taking magnesium to hopefully help raise my progesterone more naturally.
I have also added probiotics back into my diet, as per the recommendation of the allergist I saw, and began to take enzymes to help with allergies. Too soon to tell if these are working.
I will start taking l-glutathione again on and off to help with liver detoxification. It helped me a lot last time, and I'm hoping it will calm down inflammation.
Skincare routine:
- Image The Max cleanser
- Mineral fusion enzyme scrub
- Skinceuticals hydrating B5 serum with hyaluronic acid
- Mineral fusion toner
- Image Daily Defense Matte Moisturizer (highly recommend as a sunscreen)
- Lumene Vitamin C+ daily protective cream SPF 15 (only on hyperpigmentation, too rich to apply all over)
- Yogurt and/or honey mask (2-3 times/ week)
- Aloe vera gel (2 nights/ week)
Makeup (I don't use all of these every time, usually just mineral foundation):
- Primer & sunscreen: Cover FX SPF30 primer
- Meow cosmetics oily skin primer
- Meow cosmetics pampered puss mineral foundation
- Lily lolo mineral foundation
- Meow cosmetics foundation finishing powder
- Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation
- Smashbox Healthy FX foundation (now I use very rarely because the formula changed)
Skin update! I have been on a low histamine diet for almost a week now. For the past month, I have been taking a higher dose of probiotics and also added digestive enzymes in addition to the usual vitamins. I think I'm finally on the right track. The plan is to boost my immune system and digestive track, and then hopefully it will be easier to repair any liver damage and hormonal imbalances. My instinct was telling me not to take antibiotics, not to take birth control, and definitely not to take accutane. I am glad I didn't cave because I would have made my digestive issues worse. The allergist I went to confirmed my histamine reactions and high IgE level ( =production of more antibodies as a defense mechanism against allergens/ histamine triggers), and possible digestive issues/ IBS.
Right now, enzymes are key in my gut healing. Enzymes are big in the cosmetics industry too, and I started using mineral fusion (As natural as it gets) products that contain enzymes for cell repair and skin renewal. I don't want to use anything harsh like retin-A, but hopefully the enzymes and MSM cream will restore some collagen into my distressed skin. Any suggestions for other natural retin-A substitutes for scars? Rosehip oil?
So far so good. I wanted to compare side by side a photo I took yesterday with a photo from hell breaking loose back in March.
THEN: (possibly too much detoxing on my skin plus hormonal breakouts) NOW: (the clearer pic is the now one, they got mixed up when I posted them)
Skin is still doing well! I have texture issues, scarring, hyperpigmentation/melasma, and some healing cysts, but at this point I'll take what I can get.
The diet is a bit challenging at this stage, but nothing I can't handle. Went out last night and had a beer and a few bites of cake and was fine. I took digestive enzymes beforehand.
Skin is still doing well! I have texture issues, scarring, hyperpigmentation/melasma, and some healing cysts, but at this point I'll take what I can get.
The diet is a bit challenging at this stage, but nothing I can't handle. Went out last night and had a beer and a few bites of cake and was fine. I took digestive enzymes beforehand.
Glad to hear!!!
Every time I stray from my regimen, I break out in the same places. Ugh. It seems that my sensitivities are getting worse. I finally found a good doctor in my new city and she had me tested for metal toxicity, prediabetes (yikes!), and deficiencies (B12, D, and iron). She agrees with me that my PCOS has been the easy target for doctors to just prescribe birth control, and based on the photos I showed her of my flare ups the acne seems like an allergic reaction because it's too inflammed. I'm continuing with the leaky gut diet and supplements until I get the test results back. I was worried about the numbness in my arms and legs, that's why I went to see this doctor, and it seems to correlate to those 3 conditions I mentioned, 2 of which (toxocity & deficiencies) also include acne as a symptom. The plot thickens....
PS. I added a supplement with yeast- free selenium and vitamin E to help with the healing, and am also sprinkling NutraFlora powder onto a meal each day for fiber and to ease my digestion. According to this doctor, I'm on the right track! She told me to keep up the probiotics and digestive enzymes, along with this very boring diet until my lab results. I can do this......
I wish I could find an oil free/"dry" vitamin D supplement to add as well because my skin feels better when I get some sun, and it's been raining every day recently so no sun. Might try the red light sauna next week to see if that helps.
Every time I stray from my regimen, I break out in the same places. Ugh. It seems that my sensitivities are getting worse. I finally found a good doctor in my new city and she had me tested for metal toxicity, prediabetes (yikes!), and deficiencies (B12, D, and iron). She agrees with me that my PCOS has been the easy target for doctors to just prescribe birth control, and based on the photos I showed her of my flare ups the acne seems like an allergic reaction because it's too inflammed. I'm continuing with the leaky gut diet and supplements until I get the test results back. I was worried about the numbness in my arms and legs, that's why I went to see this doctor, and it seems to correlate to those 3 conditions I mentioned, 2 of which (toxocity & deficiencies) also include acne as a symptom. The plot thickens....
PS. I added a supplement with yeast- free selenium and vitamin E to help with the healing, and am also sprinkling NutraFlora powder onto a meal each day for fiber and to ease my digestion. According to this doctor, I'm on the right track! She told me to keep up the probiotics and digestive enzymes, along with this very boring diet until my lab results. I can do this......
I wish I could find an oil free/"dry" vitamin D supplement to add as well because my skin feels better when I get some sun, and it's been raining every day recently so no sun. Might try the red light sauna next week to see if that helps.
hey girl! so i went to the doctor, and just like you mentioned here, she immediately said birth control! in my head i thought "noooo" but i just listened to what she had to say and she ended up giving me 4 months worth of beyaz, which i was supposed to start today, but im not going to.
i also gave up the raw diet cause it was so bland and not filling. now im doing paleo and im actually enjoying everything i eat! eggs, chicken, beef, fruit, veggies, etc. the food is actually satisfying that i dont crave bread or grains or processed junk. my skin seems to be liking it too.
i hope things get figured out for you
im realizing doctors arent for me. id love to find one that believes in diet and holistic healing, i need to do my research.
i have an ultrasound appointment on the 31st. so thats a step in the right direction i think. hehe sorry for rambling.
i hope youre doing alright!<3
Every time I stray from my regimen, I break out in the same places. Ugh. It seems that my sensitivities are getting worse. I finally found a good doctor in my new city and she had me tested for metal toxicity, prediabetes (yikes!), and deficiencies (B12, D, and iron). She agrees with me that my PCOS has been the easy target for doctors to just prescribe birth control, and based on the photos I showed her of my flare ups the acne seems like an allergic reaction because it's too inflammed. I'm continuing with the leaky gut diet and supplements until I get the test results back. I was worried about the numbness in my arms and legs, that's why I went to see this doctor, and it seems to correlate to those 3 conditions I mentioned, 2 of which (toxocity & deficiencies) also include acne as a symptom. The plot thickens....
PS. I added a supplement with yeast- free selenium and vitamin E to help with the healing, and am also sprinkling NutraFlora powder onto a meal each day for fiber and to ease my digestion. According to this doctor, I'm on the right track! She told me to keep up the probiotics and digestive enzymes, along with this very boring diet until my lab results. I can do this......
I wish I could find an oil free/"dry" vitamin D supplement to add as well because my skin feels better when I get some sun, and it's been raining every day recently so no sun. Might try the red light sauna next week to see if that helps.
hey girl! so i went to the doctor, and just like you mentioned here, she immediately said birth control! in my head i thought "noooo" but i just listened to what she had to say and she ended up giving me 4 months worth of beyaz, which i was supposed to start today, but im not going to.
i also gave up the raw diet cause it was so bland and not filling. now im doing paleo and im actually enjoying everything i eat! eggs, chicken, beef, fruit, veggies, etc. the food is actually satisfying that i dont crave bread or grains or processed junk. my skin seems to be liking it too.
i hope things get figured out for you
im realizing doctors arent for me. id love to find one that believes in diet and holistic healing, i need to do my research.
i have an ultrasound appointment on the 31st. so thats a step in the right direction i think. hehe sorry for rambling.
i hope youre doing alright!<3
Heyyy! I hope you are hanging in there. Any updates? Yes, finding a holistic doctor is key. They don't dismiss western remedies, but they don't push birth control, accutane, and antibiotics on you because they want to find the cause of the acne, not just suppress it. I got tested for heavy metal toxicity, vitamin D deficiency, iron & b12 deficiency (for anemia), and prediabetes. yikes. I'm getting the results back this week. My new doctor also wants to test some of the more minor hormones that most doctors don't usually test for. I read lots of patient ratings online before I settled on this one doctor, and my health insurance covers some of the expenses thankfully.
Haven't updated in weeks! I'm getting a high frequency facial and red/blue light treatment tomorrow...those seem to be more successful than any products. I had a reaction to a holistic facial I got last week, it was really a bit of a waste of $$ unfortunately. Some of the things the aesthetician used, like lavender oil and chamomile products, didn't agree with my skin and now it's worse than before the facial. The aesthetician told me that my jawline acne is not hormonal, it's folliculitis, so I did a test with tea tree oil to see if the acne would calm down and it did.
As for supplements, I'm still taking digestive enzymes with every meal, vitamin c some days, trying to follow a paleo diet, and taking prescription strength vitamin D2. I also take virastop to see if that would help with general immune system support.
As for products, I'm minimizing them as much as possible but still like mineral fusion. Avoiding makeup as much as possible.
I did a pretty good makeup job, if I do say so myself 
What I used:
- Cover FX SPF primer
- Revlon Age Defying Concealer
Physican's Formula yellow concealer for under the eyes (I have melasma, on top of all my other skin issues)
- Stila foundation (not thrilled about this one, a bit too heavy but I need the coverage)
- Meow cosmetics finishing powder on oily areas
- Boscia blotting papers throughout the day to help it stay on
I thought I'd post this since I spent so much time doing my makeup lol
EDIT: I took off my makeup and the magic is gone. Boooo!
I'm almost a month into my vitamin D2 regimen...time for a refill! Oil production has increased, but I'm not sure if it's because of the humid weather or something else. I started taking ViraStop once or twice a day to help prevent a cold I think I'm getting, and I'm hoping it helps with inflammation too.
I'm almost a month into my vitamin D2 regimen...time for a refill! Oil production has increased, but I'm not sure if it's because of the humid weather or something else. I started taking ViraStop once or twice a day to help prevent a cold I think I'm getting, and I'm hoping it helps with inflammation too.
hey girl! you look beautiful with and without makeup 
you did good!
im still playing the guessing game.
taking cinnamon pills after every meal clears me up almost overnight.
and keeps me from breaking out
so now i think i have insulin resistance.
they work like a dream!
but i know too much is bad so i bought alpha lipoic acid (ala) which i think i remember you take them too? right?
and q-absorb co-q10
and so far so good! 
i had an ultrasound done and the doctor called me but i missed the call
and when i call back she was gone for the day and they said she wont be back til september 3rd, and only she can tell me the results!
so thats a bit frustrating!
i just hope they arent bad.
k well!
i hope the facials are going well
wanted to see how you were!!!
keep fighting!
<3
I'm almost a month into my vitamin D2 regimen...time for a refill! Oil production has increased, but I'm not sure if it's because of the humid weather or something else. I started taking ViraStop once or twice a day to help prevent a cold I think I'm getting, and I'm hoping it helps with inflammation too.
hey girl! you look beautiful with and without makeup
you did good!
im still playing the guessing game.
taking cinnamon pills after every meal clears me up almost overnight.
and keeps me from breaking out
so now i think i have insulin resistance.
they work like a dream!
but i know too much is bad so i bought alpha lipoic acid (ala) which i think i remember you take them too? right?
and q-absorb co-q10
and so far so good!
i had an ultrasound done and the doctor called me but i missed the call
and when i call back she was gone for the day and they said she wont be back til september 3rd, and only she can tell me the results!
so thats a bit frustrating!
i just hope they arent bad.
k well!
i hope the facials are going well
wanted to see how you were!!!
keep fighting!
<3
Hey! Thanks for the kind words! I still dread taking off my makeup at night...it's like a horror show lol. Do you have any tips on how to control oily skin? My foundation makes me more oily, and the weather is so humid that blotting papers and setting powder don't even help.
What cinnamon pills are you taking, and how many? Glad that's working for you, even if it is a quick fix. Did you get your insulin tested along with your hormones?
I hate it when doctors have you wait on test results....but if they were bad, they would have told you, so it's probably not too serious!
How is everything else? Are you feeling better about your skin in general? It seems like you found a good routine that works for you!!!
Stay strong!!! <3
I'm almost a month into my vitamin D2 regimen...time for a refill! Oil production has increased, but I'm not sure if it's because of the humid weather or something else. I started taking ViraStop once or twice a day to help prevent a cold I think I'm getting, and I'm hoping it helps with inflammation too.
hey girl! you look beautiful with and without makeup
you did good!
im still playing the guessing game.
taking cinnamon pills after every meal clears me up almost overnight.
and keeps me from breaking out
so now i think i have insulin resistance.
they work like a dream!
but i know too much is bad so i bought alpha lipoic acid (ala) which i think i remember you take them too? right?
and q-absorb co-q10
and so far so good!
i had an ultrasound done and the doctor called me but i missed the call
and when i call back she was gone for the day and they said she wont be back til september 3rd, and only she can tell me the results!
so thats a bit frustrating!
i just hope they arent bad.
k well!
i hope the facials are going well
wanted to see how you were!!!
keep fighting!
<3
Hey! Thanks for the kind words! I still dread taking off my makeup at night...it's like a horror show lol. Do you have any tips on how to control oily skin? My foundation makes me more oily, and the weather is so humid that blotting papers and setting powder don't even help.
What cinnamon pills are you taking, and how many? Glad that's working for you, even if it is a quick fix. Did you get your insulin tested along with your hormones?
I hate it when doctors have you wait on test results....but if they were bad, they would have told you, so it's probably not too serious!
How is everything else? Are you feeling better about your skin in general? It seems like you found a good routine that works for you!!!
Stay strong!!! <3
i feel like ive found a way to control my skin from breaking out like crazy
but its not cured yet.
and i dont really have super oily skin personally... but when i use this aloe vera spray that i got from Sprouts it really works at keeping me matte but not drying my skin out bad.
i take just regular cinnamon (with cassa 
) with any meal that i suspect will raise my blood sugar
so with fruit
and if i eat anything im not suppose to! like ice cream or fried food 
which ive been doing again.. ugh. lol
but the cinnamon helps
I'm almost a month into my vitamin D2 regimen...time for a refill! Oil production has increased, but I'm not sure if it's because of the humid weather or something else. I started taking ViraStop once or twice a day to help prevent a cold I think I'm getting, and I'm hoping it helps with inflammation too.
hey girl! you look beautiful with and without makeup
you did good!
im still playing the guessing game.
taking cinnamon pills after every meal clears me up almost overnight.
and keeps me from breaking out
so now i think i have insulin resistance.
they work like a dream!
but i know too much is bad so i bought alpha lipoic acid (ala) which i think i remember you take them too? right?
and q-absorb co-q10
and so far so good!
i had an ultrasound done and the doctor called me but i missed the call
and when i call back she was gone for the day and they said she wont be back til september 3rd, and only she can tell me the results!
so thats a bit frustrating!
i just hope they arent bad.
k well!
i hope the facials are going well
wanted to see how you were!!!
keep fighting!
<3
Hey! Thanks for the kind words! I still dread taking off my makeup at night...it's like a horror show lol. Do you have any tips on how to control oily skin? My foundation makes me more oily, and the weather is so humid that blotting papers and setting powder don't even help.
What cinnamon pills are you taking, and how many? Glad that's working for you, even if it is a quick fix. Did you get your insulin tested along with your hormones?
I hate it when doctors have you wait on test results....but if they were bad, they would have told you, so it's probably not too serious!
How is everything else? Are you feeling better about your skin in general? It seems like you found a good routine that works for you!!!
Stay strong!!! <3
i feel like ive found a way to control my skin from breaking out like crazy
but its not cured yet.
and i dont really have super oily skin personally... but when i use this aloe vera spray that i got from Sprouts it really works at keeping me matte but not drying my skin out bad.
i take just regular cinnamon (with cassa
so with fruit
and if i eat anything im not suppose to! like ice cream or fried food
but the cinnamon helps
So glad you are seeing improvements! Have you heard back from your doctor yet?
Did you have any stomach pains when taking the cinnamon? Ugh, I have been eating some junk lately too....well, I now consider organic chips and nuts "junk" lol. But today I had sugar cravings for cake and pie and ice cream, and I haven't had those in months - since 2012 actually! I think it's because my new job has been so hectic that I was just too exhausted to say no to sweets.
Have you heard of inositol btw? It's supposed to help with PCOS and acne (and facial hair, which I have unfortunately). My doctor mentioned it because she didn't want to put me on any drugs like metmorfin, and it's also supposed to help with anxiety and insomnia. Some women on soulcysters have had success with it, and there was a clinical study on it too that showed its effectiveness over the course of 6 months.
I see that you like to use the holistic approach when it comes to your acne. I think that's wonderful!
Have you ever tried borage oil? (taken internally) I just bought some because I recently read a story about a girl who went to a holistic derm and he told her to take Borage Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Zinc. She said that it cleared her acne 8 weeks. =) I love my supplements and I recently starting taking these so I thought I would share.
Best of luck to you!
Hey Ghost! I haven't tried borage oil, is it working for you? What does it help with? I am using a vitamin e oil topically, but it's too early to tell if it's working. Unfortunately, every time I try to take zinc supplements I break out, no matter what brand it is, so I just try to get some zinc from different foods.
NOOOOOOOO - please do NOT apply vitamin E directly to the skin. If you have sensitive skin (which most of us acne.orgers do) it is a huge no no. It broke me out for months.
And inositol sounds like a miracle cure. Have you tried it??? Let me know if it works for you. It's supposed to help with overall cellular health.
I see that you like to use the holistic approach when it comes to your acne. I think that's wonderful!
Have you ever tried borage oil? (taken internally) I just bought some because I recently read a story about a girl who went to a holistic derm and he told her to take Borage Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Zinc. She said that it cleared her acne 8 weeks. =) I love my supplements and I recently starting taking these so I thought I would share.
Best of luck to you!
Hey Ghost! I haven't tried borage oil, is it working for you? What does it help with? I am using a vitamin e oil topically, but it's too early to tell if it's working. Unfortunately, every time I try to take zinc supplements I break out, no matter what brand it is, so I just try to get some zinc from different foods.
NOOOOOOOO - please do NOT apply vitamin E directly to the skin. If you have sensitive skin (which most of us acne.orgers do) it is a huge no no. It broke me out for months.
And inositol sounds like a miracle cure. Have you tried it??? Let me know if it works for you. It's supposed to help with overall cellular health.
Hey Steph! I agree about not applying vitamin E directly to the skin...it can be mixed with a moisturizer, but it's too oily by itself and can clog pores.
I'm trying inositol every night to help me sleep...I read some promising studies about its effects on hormonal acne and it has no reported side effects at the recommended dosage so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm taking prescription Vitamin D2, inositol powder, and folic acid. So far so good!