so I would say, ditch dairy try that for a month and see what happens

also, garden of wisdom mandelic for the blackheads on the nose, works great

head and shoulders shampoo only, if you can live without conditioner do so

not a taz cream fan, there are things in there that can break you out, if your skin can stand it, use the gel that really helps with the oil too

proactive is BP, if that didn't work, try SA, get a 2% gel and use it every day after using a mild BP cleanser...and work a SA peel in weekly, easy to do a 20% a few minutes before you pop in the shower

Thanks!

I really don't eat/drink dairy, other than a bowl of cereal or a bagel on the weekends. Also a little cheese during the week, but not enough to merit this level of problem.

Where to get the Garden of Wisdom stuff? Does it also work on the forehead and upper cheeks below eyes?

I use the Head and Shoulders Men's 2-in-1, but that doesn't seem to help. However, T/Sal from Nutrogena seems to dry things out temporarily, but not a cure. I got a prescrption shapmpoo for the foliculitis, but it's not really effective.

What over-the-counter brand of SA gel, BP cleanser, and SA peel would you suggest?

Regards,

Stefan

so I would say, ditch dairy try that for a month and see what happens

also, garden of wisdom mandelic for the blackheads on the nose, works great

head and shoulders shampoo only, if you can live without conditioner do so

not a taz cream fan, there are things in there that can break you out, if your skin can stand it, use the gel that really helps with the oil too

proactive is BP, if that didn't work, try SA, get a 2% gel and use it every day after using a mild BP cleanser...and work a SA peel in weekly, easy to do a 20% a few minutes before you pop in the shower

GOW mandelic acid, online gardenofwisdom.com I think...great for blackheads...

try alba acnedote lotion, got it off Amazon, 2% SA...not too bad of a price and it will NOT bleach everything you own! how nice is that!

and I also get my 20% SA peel off Amazon, and use that once a week, stings a bit, follow directions and don't go too crazy the first time

on the back try an AHA daily, that works for me, I use (off Amazon of course) the alpha hydrox enhanced lotion 10% glycolic, but Dan's has good reviews too on this site

if you are already dairy free, then try the other trigger, gluten, yep it's hard but really skip it for 30 days, no cheating, and see what happens....

good luck, don't give up, hit it on two or three fronts, constant barrage...as I've said before, this is war!

Thanks again! I've been fighting this for 30 years, so giving up isn't in my vocabulary. I need to find a way to win the war rather than survive the ongoing battles. )

Do you have any store-bought (drug or health store) recommendations? I leave for a business trip next week and need something more immediate than Amazon can deliver. )

My occasional back acne isn't as much of an issue as my face, which is very much as disaster right now.

As for gluten, I also don't go crazy on that during the week and I've been tested for allergy. Stress and DNA are my likely triggers. (

Regards,

Stefan

GOW mandelic acid, online gardenofwisdom.com I think...great for blackheads...

try alba acnedote lotion, got it off Amazon, 2% SA...not too bad of a price and it will NOT bleach everything you own! how nice is that!

and I also get my 20% SA peel off Amazon, and use that once a week, stings a bit, follow directions and don't go too crazy the first time

on the back try an AHA daily, that works for me, I use (off Amazon of course) the alpha hydrox enhanced lotion 10% glycolic, but Dan's has good reviews too on this site

if you are already dairy free, then try the other trigger, gluten, yep it's hard but really skip it for 30 days, no cheating, and see what happens....

good luck, don't give up, hit it on two or three fronts, constant barrage...as I've said before, this is war!

your symtoms are very similar to mine.

I've been trying probiotics as well but every time I start up again I get new acne a few days later and not sure if it's related to food or stress.

33 male. scalp acne, back acne, forehead acne, and sometimes chest / stomach.

Mostly the cystic type. my cheeks are typically fine, forehead and scalp is the killer.

I'm not very good with my diet, eat out a lot and try different foods. I don't want this to run my life but at the same time of sick of it. I was acne free from 20 until 31 and then boom constant breakouts. Most of the research I do relates to women with adult acne. I did minocycline as well, don't want to brave accutane as I hear bad long term things.

I'll keep you posted if I learn more. I wish I would have symptoms other than acne so I could address the root cause.

as for the products I mentioned go to any drugstore and look at the acne section- read the labels for the SA products- most are BP these days, sadly- so you really have to read the labels to see what they have

but salicylic acid does work well for some, worth a try

that mandelic you have to buy on line

Look into low dose accutane and see how you feel. Since you have suffered for so long don't think there is any other option than accutane.

re: low dose accutane.

How long do you typically take that for? Same duration as normal dosage?

Hi All:

I bought a bunch of Alba's Acnedote SA products yesterday (wash, astringent, lotion, spot treatment, micro-peel), which prompted my wife to do some research online. After considerable digging, she found a site that listed my exact acne and other symptoms, indicating that I may have a zinc dificiency. I'm going to try Puritan's Pride Zinc for Acne and see how that goes.

The Alba products seemed to have a positive effect one day in (less redness, new acne).

Regards,

Stefan

Ive tried so many products, pills, creams, lotions, scrubs.... microdermabrasion, IPL, laser, nbothing has helped me and cause I have squeezed my blackheads, my nose is covered in huge ugly pores...

Ive eaten healthy and cut out bread, dairy, gone gluten free, but its not helped much..less zits but still loads of whiteheads and blackheads.

Its tough

Hang in there guys.

I've always had IBS which comes and goes to varying degress. I am starting to think that it is tied to my acne.

Planning to see my family doctor and potentially asked to be referred to a gastroenterologist.

Carioca, fingers crossed that the SA in the Alba products does the trick for you (plus there are a lot of other things in there that will also help, it's not cheap but I really do like the Alba line)- and the zinc is a great one to try if you haven't....keep us posted!

Will do! I really appreciate your help and support!

Skin on Alba seems to be improving, but I'm not sure how long-term it will be. Zinc arrives today!

Regards,

Stefan

Carioca, fingers crossed that the SA in the Alba products does the trick for you (plus there are a lot of other things in there that will also help, it's not cheap but I really do like the Alba line)- and the zinc is a great one to try if you haven't....keep us posted!

hope it continues to help

what are you doing for your scalp acne?

Well, I've determined that I'm part Borg (and have found an approriate Avatar). My skin generally improves for a few days on new treatments, but then adapts with a vengeance. After a week on the Alba SA regimen, I had a few nice cysts emerge over the weekend and today. Not fair!!!

The Zinc arrives today (not Friday, as I had thought), so we'll see how that works. As for the scalp acne, the T/Sal gives fair results, but is no cure.

Regards,

Stefan

Hi All:

I'm a 43 y/o male and I've suffered with acne since age 13. Fortunately, I don't scar, but I'm in trade show sales and am constantly depressed about my appearance. Stress and DNA are the most likely root causes of my acne problems. I eat a fairly balanced diet, no food allergies, and exercise at least 3x/week. Given that I can't do much about stress or DNA, I need your help ASAP!

Symptoms:

Blackheads (mostly nose and forehead)

Whiteheads (under eyes, chin)

Cystic acne (honkers)

Scalp acne

Occasional back and body acne

Current Meds:

Tazorac Cream 1x/day (started 2x/day this week just to see if will make a difference)

Oil-control moisturizer

Anthony Oil-fix (from Ulta) - used occasionally when really oily.

Clinique spot cover

Was on omoxocillin and minocycline for years, but no longer effective

Tried topical antibiotics, but no effect

Tried over-the-counter products (pads, creams) but haven't found a great one

Tried Proactive (damn infomercials!)

Cleaning Regimen:

Deep exfoliator 2 - 3x/week (was using a rotary brush, but have gone back to hand application to lessen irritation)

Toner 1 - 2x/day (limited effect, but deep-cleans)

Non-foaming cleanser

I've tried pretty much everything but Accutane and the light therapies and am at wits end! I even stopped shaving to avoid ingrown hair cysts (foliculitis).

Most of my acne has a hard pip inside, which I guess causes an infection that produces pus. When I pop, there's usually a 2-stage burst, first with pus and then the pip. I really know the site is clear when blood comes out. Of course, I know that popping is bad, but it's the only small victory I can claim against the "bastards". Blackheads tend to be pips or long strings of semi-hard pus.

I'm open to suggestions from folks in my age bracket who may have had a similar experience and found a lasting solution!

Regards,

Stefan

I'm your age and have been battling since 16.

Acne is almost all hormonal. Elevated free testosterone that can become exacerbated by insulin.

Stress causes the release of both DHEA and cortisol. DHEA metabolizes to testosterone which stimulates sebum.

When you eat grains, sugar etc insulin is released and also stimulates sebum production.

You control insulin release by what you eat. Cut all grains, prepackaged foods, dairy. Eat organic fruits and vegetables with organic, grass fed meat and your you will see improvement.

If diet doesn't take care of it you must address the hormonal side.

Hi All:

I just returned from a week-long business trip to NYC and Chicago. The Alba SA products are no longer effective. I've been on the zinc for a couple of weeks, with no measurable improvement. Very depressed.

I'm firmly convinced that stress is my trigger, given that my diet does not regularly include many of the problem foods mentioned above.

What kind of specialist deals with hormone imbalances, as this is one area I haven't explored?

Thanks!

Regards,

Stefan

So a man walks into a party. The host greets him and says, "The invitation said +1. Why are you alone?"

"Oh," says the man as he turns his face to reveal a huge honker on his cheek. "Here's my PUS one. I couldn't get a date with this massive f*cking thing growing on my face."

Moral: Acne SUCKS!!!

Hi All:

I just returned from a week-long business trip to NYC and Chicago. The Alba SA products are no longer effective. I've been on the zinc for a couple of weeks, with no measurable improvement. Very depressed.

I'm firmly convinced that stress is my trigger, given that my diet does not regularly include many of the problem foods mentioned above.

What kind of specialist deals with hormone imbalances, as this is one area I haven't explored?

Thanks!

Regards,

Stefan

Have you looked into the relationship between DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and acne?

Guess what one of the things that increases DHT is...

Drumroll...

Stress.

Also, zinc can increase testosterone. If you eat a fairly balanced diet, you probably are not deficient in zinc.

Hi All:

I just returned from a week-long business trip to NYC and Chicago. The Alba SA products are no longer effective. I've been on the zinc for a couple of weeks, with no measurable improvement. Very depressed.

I'm firmly convinced that stress is my trigger, given that my diet does not regularly include many of the problem foods mentioned above.

What kind of specialist deals with hormone imbalances, as this is one area I haven't explored?

Thanks!

Regards,

Stefan

Have you looked into the relationship between DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and acne?

Guess what one of the things that increases DHT is...

Drumroll...

Stress.

Also, zinc can increase testosterone. If you eat a fairly balanced diet, you probably are not deficient in zinc.

Thanks! There isn't much else I can do about stress, so it looks like I may be doomed to acne for the duration. (

Stefan

you should take saw palmetto anyway at your age..

you should take saw palmetto anyway at your age..

For what?

prostate. i think both have the same culprit (au aceeasi cauza. esti roman?)

*ignore the bracket if it's foreign language

you should take saw palmetto anyway at your age..

For what?

Yes, the foregone conclusion of bringing up DHT and acne is that there are ways to prevent DHT besides lowering stress, such as taking saw palmetto.