Hey Zepp! I've recently went off birth control too, I reacted badly to it and found out that one of the ingredient was promoting acne. I started to get inflamed cysts on my clear skin (3 over night and consistently since) , mood swings, over thinking, getting upset easily and weight gain. The cons did not weigh out with the pros so I new I had to stop taking it because it literally turned me into a complete bitch

As an Asian I had to incorporate our Eastern treatments in, tackling it from within. Adult acne are due to hormonal issues so I figured I will be better of treating the source of my acne. I went out to get some of those Chinese Herbal Medication that are specifically chosen by my doctor (not those over the counter stuff that could be dangerous), I've also incorporated the Western medical side with Tretinoin aka Retin A to bring out all the existing clogged pores that are still in my skin. But I recommend Vitex for you, you can do some further research on that. I heard it helps a lot for women who are going off BC.

Yes you are right! Changing your diet can largely your acne in a good way with healthy food. I noticed that prior to my cystic breakouts I was eating terribly; pizzas and soda every week. In contrast to my healthy lifestyle with moderate exercise and a clean diet, I had very nice skin with no breakouts or whatsoever.

Sorry that was long, I'm very interested in your log and may incorporate it into my routine too if it turns out well for you. Good luck!

Week One Update!

If I have learned anything this week, it is the power of vitamens and supplements! They can really have such a huge influence on skin- good and bad. A few weeks ago I got serious about taking a whole slew of vitamins and also drinking a protein shake every morning which had lots of nutrients. That's when I actually noticed cysts forming- they were very rare for me before that. I decided a few days ago to stop with the other supplements and protein shakes and just stick to the Pantothenic Acid B5 and L-Carnitin, and every few days I will take a Zinc. My skin rouintine has stayed the same- washing with a mild cleanser morning and evening and using the B3 Niacinamide serum.

I've been doing well with the no-very low carbs and following the routine. I cut out sugar a month ago, which was the hard part. After that not eating carbs is mostly a matter of convenience and effort. I do not crave them but avoiding them makes social events difficult, but of course it's not impossible.

After a few days into the routine my active breakouts started to heal. I had a few deep bumps that had started to form when I started drinking the protein shakes. After 5 days into the routine they came to head and now are healing- I think in a few days they will be gone. Other than these two healing cysts (which came to head and started to heal remarkably quickly!) THIS IS THE BEST MY SKIN HAS LOOKED IN YEARS. My pores are smaller, my skin is smooth and supple. It's definitely less greasy. Even my red marks from previous breakouts have lightened. I think it may be the niacinamide serum, because it's supposed to be anti-aging as well, and my skin definitely looks younger. To be honest this is the very first time I made a change to my skin care routine and actually noticed a difference this quickly. I don't have any side effects from the B5 yet. Maybe it's because it's still the first week, or maybe it's because I'm taking a lower dose.

I've read that week two is an "initial breakout" week when one takes B5 supplements. I'm hoping that this won't happen to me, but we'll see. I'm still in "wait and see" mode, and my skin sometimes has clear weeks followed by yet more breakouts, so I'm still only cautiously optimistic. However it definitely seems to be going in the right direction, and this routine/diet is not difficult to follow. It's annoying when I go to resturants, but definitely doable. I could follow this for the next 6 months until my wedding.

Day 11 Update

I've been continuing the routine and diet, although now I am eating some low glycemic carbs, but not a lot. Definitely far less than before I started the routine. There are two oily patches on the sides of my chin that have been the locations of my cysts and most of my breakouts, and in the last couple of days they are looking oily again, and I've noticed some blackheads. I was able to stop some upcoming problems with active AHA use, but I am really hoping to get to the point where I don't need to be so vigilent.

I've read on other peoples logs that after starting B5 the oiliness comes and goes until week 3, where everything gets really dry. So part of me wants to just wait it out and see. On the other hand, I am taking a low dose. I've decided to up the dose to 3g and see if that makes a difference. If I am still oily next week I will add a late night dose and make it 4 g a day.

Summary: Oily patches returned, but still 5 days without a breakout

Week Two Update

Well, I'm dissapointed. I'm still having small breakouts, which I'm controlling with vigilant AHA use, but I still need makeup to cover them up. I would say my skin is now how it was before the protein shakes and big vitamin routine. I don't have any cysts but I don't have the clear non-greasy skin I had on birth control.

I've decided to up the dose of B5 to 8g a day. This is a lot. If this doesn't work I don't know what I will do... I am taking Cystein in addition to reduce the chance of losing hair.

Week 3 Update

I completely fell off the "low carb" wagon this week. I went the complete opposite way and was eating tons of candy and junk food the entire week, with very little nutritious food. At first I thought it didn't matter but after 6 days of junk eating I have 3 deep pimples. I don't know how long it will take for them to clear, and since it seems like it takes a few days for my eating to catch up with me, I probably will get more breakouts throughout this week. 🙁

The problem is I am naturally very thin, and exercise twice a week and am in good shape. I actually have been trying to gain weight, but that seems impossible while cutting carbs and junk food. I am going to go back to a no sugar/low glycemic diet but with more of a focus on eating as many vegetables as possible, and in general eating as healthy as possible, and just forget about gaining weight.

As for the supplements I have decided this week to go up to 10g a day. I haven't noticed any side effects from the B5. I am also going to start taking Magnesium as I'm sure I don't get enough and it's part of the coenzyme-A making process. I think my skin is less greasy, and I was really eating a TON of junk food and sugar last week, and my skin really isn't that bad, so I think the B5 has played a role.

I've also realized how often I touch and pick at my face. I touch it a lot. It's really a habit I need to break.

I am also going to go to the dermatologist today as see what they think. I'm not satisfied with the B5 yet and I want to see if there's anything topical or antibitoics that could help in the meantime.

5 Week Update

Well, my skin is pretty much the same. My breakouts are definitely related to sugar/carb insulin, but I'm having a really hard time following "no-sugar" diet, as I've been on vacation and stuff lately. But I can definitely see the connection. I was really hoping the B5 would be enough to offset the blood sugar changes. My skin isn't terrible, but it isn't clear either. I have one breakout now that has been on the cusp for about a week or two, and a few small things that are not that noticable.

I can definitely tell that my hair has become less greasy, especially in this last week. I only need to wash it every other day. This is a HUGE thing, because on BC, my hair was also less greasy. Since this has just started I'm hoping the B5 is just now kicking in. I think my skin is less greasy too, but it's not as obvious as my hair. I've read other people's experiences with b5 where results weren't apparent until 6-8 weeks, sometimes 12 weeks. Maybe I am one of those people. The hair thing is showing me that there ARE changes happening.

Also, my side effects aren't really so bad. I have some soft BMs but definitely not full blown diarrhea. I am actually losing less hair.

I've switched to the powder to save money, so now I am taking 6g in the morning and 4.5g in the evening. I dissolve the powder in a 1/4 cup of boiling water and then add ice cubes. It tastes bad but it's do-able. I hope to get the caratine and cystine in powder form as well as I am running out of the pills. I'm really hoping in the next month this becomes truly effective. I would LOVE to just be working on fading PIH for a few months before the wedding.

Edit: I did not go to the dermatologist, and I think I will wait another 2 weeks before I go. We'll see.

Week 6 Update

My skin is clear, even though I have not been following the low carb/no sugar diet. It's 100% clear, no little problems that I needed to treat with AHA or anything. The oily patches I had on the sides of my chin are gone. I am still not losing any hair. However, taking the B5 in bigger doses through the powder has been doing a number on my stomach. I might start capping the pills myself so I can take smaller doses throughout the day, instead of two large doses.

My skin has been clear before though (although not for more than a week) so next week's update will be an interesting one.

Week 7 Update -This week my skin was perfectly clear for almost 6 days- and then I developed a deep (golf ball size!) cyst on my chin. I gave up and went to the dermatologist. I really thought she would insist on topicals but she looked over what I was already doing and immediately said we needed to work from the inside out. She put me on Minocycline. I will stay on this for the 5 months until the wedding and then do a round of Accutane while on a different antibiotic.

Reasons- B5 wasn't working for me, and I want to have clear skin for months before the wedding so that my PIH clears up. Also, I couldn't continue to take the B5 while pregnant. It's just as much of a bandaid as anti-biotics in that it only works while you take it. The B5 was also expensive and a hassel.

I've been on the antibiotic for 9 days. The cyst reduced immediately and is now almost gone. I haven't had a new breakout in 8 days. I don't think I will have another. I only wish I had gone to the dermatologist sooner. They seem to take adult acne much more seriously than teenage acne. Hopefully the accutane will work for me! I'm so relieved to have this temporary solution for my wedding.

This is the end of my blog. B5 was not successful for me. Low carb helped but not enough. Thanks for reading! I hope this helps someone.