Hi,
I've had acne throughout my adolescent years and still have it to this day, however, I now have extremely painful cystic acne along my jawline and chin. i don't want to go back to BC because of the weight gain (even though it helped to clear up my skin).
I was wondering if anyone has seen improvements in their cystic/hormonal acne with alternatives to BC.
I've been using Clearetto (saw palmetto), but i still get breakouts, anyone tried it?
I tried clearetto for a month, with only mild results. The % of vitamin A is too high if you are taking multiple clearetto pills a day, and I think that was what gave me some spontaneous scarring. If your problem is not excess androgens, then it's not going to help you as much because the main ingredient is saw palmetto
I tried clearetto for a month, with only mild results. The % of vitamin A is too high if you are taking multiple clearetto pills a day, and I think that was what gave me some spontaneous scarring. If your problem is not excess androgens, then it's not going to help you as much because the main ingredient is saw palmetto
Thanks for your reply. I stopped taking it since I didn't see any results. I feel like I got more breakouts. Any tips on a more natural approach? I'm thinking of getting my hormones tested, or going to a naturopath. I really don't want to go back to birth control pills.
I tried clearetto for a month, with only mild results. The % of vitamin A is too high if you are taking multiple clearetto pills a day, and I think that was what gave me some spontaneous scarring. If your problem is not excess androgens, then it's not going to help you as much because the main ingredient is saw palmetto
Thanks for your reply. I stopped taking it since I didn't see any results. I feel like I got more breakouts. Any tips on a more natural approach? I'm thinking of getting my hormones tested, or going to a naturopath. I really don't want to go back to birth control pills.
My advice is to avoid birth control pills and any other synthetic hormonal treatments. They can really mess you up in the long run, and it's not worth it just to get clear skin temporarily (we all know what happens when you get off the hormones). Get your hormones checked and find out exactly what is causing the imbalance in the first place. If your hormones are in the normal range, then your acne might be caused by other factors (diet, allergies etc). I have had short term success with vitex, but I grew more facial hair...it helped my acne but it caused other issues, so be careful with the herbs. If you know what causes your imbalance, then you can find the right herbs to deal with it. I just had my hormones tested, and I will go back to my naturopath with the results so that she can give me some specific treatments. Sometimes naturopaths take too long to pinpoint the exact causes of acne, that's why it helps to get some lab tests done too. I also recommend trying acupuncture, it has really helped me deal with stress.
I recently tried Saw Palmetto for 2 weeks and ruined my skin. Severe Severe congestion everywhere. I'm actually starting Ocella birth control next week.
Few people have had success with Saw Palmetto, I don't recommend taking the chance of further damaging your skin. I hope you find a solution.
I had only been using saw palmetto, zinc and a sulfur topical for one week. The sulfur wasn't doing much on its own so I decided to use supplements as well. My closed comedones improved along with some deeper cystic pimples. My skin was still as oily as it ever was. I don't know if it was the saw p or zinc that help my skin.
I realized my leg hair was growing very slow compared to how it does normally. I'm one who has to shave everyday to look smooth. I didn't have to shave for 4 days because there was barely any stubble. Then I noticed the hair on top of my head looked and felt thinner and I freaked out and stopped the saw p. The top of my head also kinda hurts like the hair has been ripped out. You know the feeling when you pluck a hair from your head? That's how the top of my head feels.
Saw palmetto isn't for everyone. I took a risk and luckily I'm pretty observant to what my physical self does. Otherwise I could of further damaged myself taking saw palmetto.
I was taking;
160mg 2x aday of natures way standerdized saw palmetto
50mg of zinc in the morning
I'm now just taking the zinc along with Biotin. I'm going to try Stinging Nettle next.
Well I figured out why my hair thinned out. Saw palmetto encourages heathy hair growth. It caused old hair to fall out so newer more heathy hair can grow in its place. It's possible that the zinc I was taking caused it too. I guess zinc can make you anemic.
I'm going to continue to take the saw palmetto because it I think it can help my cystic acne along my jaw. I'm going to start taking stinging nettle today.
I feel kinda stupid for freaking out. I thought I researched saw palmetto enough to take it but, guess not. I had no idea it could make hair fall out and grown in thicker/healthier. Still think its weird it happen so suddenly. Most people who take it don't notice hair shed for a month or two. But hey, that's what anti androgens do and that's why they're used to treat androgenic alopecia.
hi,
heres my story, Ive had acne since I was 12, it was always mild but last year it got out of control, my skin was really oily and I had cysic breakouts along my jawline and chin...typical hormonal acne. I found that I have PCOS . My male hormones werent specifically high but some people are oversensitive to them. I took birth control in the past which caused weight gain (ortho-cyclen) this time around a specialist said to try yaz, I tried it and within 4 months my skin was clear. I also take an anti-DHT supplement, saw palmetto seems to agree with me as I have no issues with it. a.p. mentions zinc and biotin and nettle also, I take a supplements called Hairomega 3-in-1, it has all of these and more, it was formulated for hair loss but works for acne as well.
Yaz is one of the few birth controls which typically does not cause weight gain, I know several women who are overweight and actually lost weight on yaz. I asked the doctor if the risks were higher than any other bc pills ( stroke, blood clot ,etc) he said any bc pill has the same risks .
Im happy with yaz, its been 9 months and my skin is clear, I mean, so I dont have to wear make-up. me, the girl who wore make up since I was in 6th grade...! It isnt ideal, I wish I didnt have to take anything but diabetscs dont want to take insulin Im sure. Its a amtter of what you can live with.
ps All acne is hormonal, unless youre wearing oily foundation and not washing your face. Good luck I hope you find something which works for you.