I've suffered with acne since I was 14. It fluctuates from mild and at a few points in my life it was very severe (pustules + cystic acne everywhere). Currently, it stays mild because I eat a low carb diet (definitely works for me). However, I just moved to another state for school, so being that I don't know anyone yet, I figured I'd give this abstinence thing a try. At this point in my life, I've reasoned that my acne is hormonal. Since masturbation keeps androgen levels in flux, I figure that by stopping sexual activity this would keep them at equilibrium (sorry for the lingo, I'm a biologist). Since starting, I've had one of the worst cystic breakouts (at most, 5 at a time around the nose/upperlip & under chin area) since I stopped accutane 3 years ago and went on a low carb diet (had me >90% clear with no cystic acne). I was just wondering if anyone else had experience with the long term effects of abstinence on acne? I know that when you take accutane, it gets worse before it gets better. I'm just wondering if a similar phenomenon is taking place.