Hello all,
I recently made a review on Jojoba oil and whilst writing I thought I would continue a sort-of blog as I've learnt so much from others that I feel a duty to give back and hopefully, this will help somebody.
Ok, this is going to be long. I've put a summary at the bottom. I decided to give a long explanation as that way perhaps more people can relate to different bits of details.
I'm 23, male & have cystic (inflamed) acne. I have had very mild acne since 16 (1-2 every month) but since I came back from Uni 2 years ago, my face has exploded (1-4 cystic spots every week, coupled with acne marks makes unpleasant viewing). I tried Proactiv about a year ago and it cleared me up in 1.5 months and was naturally over the moon and become overconfident. I didn't like being dependent on a 3 step programme everyday for the rest of my life so I decided to switch to a more mild cleanser. And that's when it happened, my acne became much worse and more persistent - which I have seen with a lot of other people using Proactiv.
In September 2013 I became depressed and went to a dermatologist who put me on antibiotics (minocycline I think), I didn't notice much difference and after 8 weeks, I decided to quit. I didn't want to become dependent on antibiotics everyday and didn't feel comfortable taking them.
In November 2013 I then started BP and the regimen, however this made my face extremely red and whilst I got no new spots, my skin was extremely dry and my acne marks just would not go away (I heard BP slows down the healing process). The worst thing about the BP is it stimulated my oil glands to work overtime, because my face was so dry after a week I noticed about 5 hours after applying, my forehead especially was secreting a large amount of oil. This made me panic and I knew would just start a battle on my face of oil production vs BP and decided enough was enough and this was not the best approach.
I kept researching online and in December 2013 I found Jojoba oil (briefly it has anti-inflammatory, anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties whilst containing essential fatty acids and Vit E), since this was natural and chemical-free I thought this would be the best option long term. I firstly used it as a moisturizer but it just sat on my skin and made my face feel really greasy. I left it for 6 hours and it still didn't absorb.. so I was about to throw this product away and went to wash it off. I noticed that when I washed it away, my skin was left feeling soft and had that 'glow' i had been reading about. I researched further and saw that people used this as a cleanser.. and herein starts the real story.
HOW I APPLIED IT
In the shower, I washed my hair with shampoo first (trying not to get too much water on my face) so that the steam and heat from the water would open my pores. Once my skin was damp, I then took about 2-3 drops of oil into my palm and used my index finger to dip into the oil and place on my face, massaging in a circular motion. Once all the oil was on my face I would massage for about a minute and let it rest for 30 seconds before washing it off with the shower water. It will feel like its not coming off your skin but this is normal, don't try and scape it off. Once you finish, just gently pat your face with a towel and let the rest of the oil sink in.
DURATION
I had a lot of acne marks more than active cysts at this point so I was looking to see any improvement with the hyper-pigmentation. However, this didn't really help. I honestly believe time is the best remedy. Having said that, I didn't get any new acne and my skin-tone had evened out after 3 weeks. In week 4 though I noticed I had some clogged pores, but they weren't cystic - they were under the skin. At this point I nearly quit as I heard it was clogging for some people and thought my face might explode. BUT I continued and by week 8 SOME of the clogged pores came to a head (very small dot like cysts that went away with minimal marks remaining). However I still have 1 remaining clogged pore still but because it is not inflamed or red, it isn't visible and I'm confident it will come through eventually.
OILINESS
After 12 weeks, my skin became 85% clear but I had one major problem. Since using BP, my face was producing excess oil. I heard Jojoba would regulate that but it didn't in this timeframe. I showered at 7am and by 3pm my face was quite shiny. I decided that I would stop the Jojoba to see if my oil would decrease. A week after I stopped I noticed a considerable reduction in oiliness so I left it off for another week. However last month (March 2014) I developed 3 large inflamed cysts on my left cheek (I NEVER had this whilst using Jojoba oil) and I'm still recovering from the marks. I decided to go back to Jojoba but cut it down to 1 drop for my entire face. I did this for 3 weeks but the oiliness was roughly the same as using 2-3 drops.
PRESENT
So 3 weeks ago I decided again to come off Jojoba, and for 2 weeks it was great, my oiliness was reducing by the second week and had no new cysts - I finally thought I'd beaten acne! I decided to swap the Jojoba for ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) toner followed by Aloe Vera gel in the evenings instead of the morning. I heard ACV can balance oil production and remove acne marks (I had a few left on my left cheek). I diluted 50/50 with water and had no irritation... Then last Friday I developed one HUGE spot on my right cheek and 4 more large cysts on the right hand side of my face. I'm now back on Jojoba in the morning shower since Sunday and there is gradual reduction in the inflammation which I expect to clear by next week but will have more marks to deal with which will probably take another 2 months.
COMMENTS
I think Jojoba is great, it did what I wanted and cleared up my cystic acne. It takes a long time to be effective, 8 - 12 weeks to see the full benefit. However I have 2 (perhaps minor) issues with it: It causes some clogged pores (although not inflamed) which take forever to reach a head... It's not visible but you know its there which is frustrating. Secondly it didn't reduce my oil production (in fact my skin was more oily). Although, strangely enough even though my skin was oily I never broke out whilst on Jojoba. My theory is this is because that if my pores became blocked, they would be unclogged the next morning by Jojoba. I've heard it can take 6 months or more for skin oil to become regulated so maybe this is a premature criticism.
BLOCKED PORES AND NEW REGIMEN
Jojoba oil is NOT non-comedogenic (for those who hate double negatives, jojoba IS COMEDOGENIC). It has a rating of 2/5 on the comedogenic scale (0 being non-clogging and 5 being certain to clog pores) and so this is why people break out from it. I've now discovered a new oil.. Hemp Seed Oil which I am beginning this week which has a comedogenic rating of 0 (Yes - ZERO, it will not clog pores at all). I am replacing Jojoba with this and will use it for 12 weeks or more. I want to see if it is as effective whilst being able to control oil production and not cause clogged pores. I am going to keep you updated on this progress.
SUMMARY
PRO'S
- Clears cystic acne
- Reduces inflammation
- Makes skin 'glow'
- Prevents new breakouts
CON'S
- Can clog pores
- Did not reduce oiliness after 3 months use
- Requires 8 - 12 weeks to see significant improvement
- Does not fade acne marks/scars
If your skin is not suitable then I think you will know in a week. I had a small 'purging' phase but my face didn't explode, I just had small cysts come to a head. If after a week you are breaking out badly, I wouldn't continue using it - it is usually bad sign in my experience.
Having said that if you don't see anything/minor improvements then keep going. With any treatment I have to remind you as I've learned - persistence prevails. It will take time to see results. I don't think absorbing chemicals through our skin everyday is beneficial in the long term - it creates more toxins that your liver has to remove.
Best of luck friends, I know this is bullsh** that we shouldn't have to deal with but I guess there are worse things in the world. Hang in there... and you will eventually beat it!
I will keep updating perhaps week by week with comments on the Hemp Seed Oil. I hope you find this useful. Appreciate your feedback also as I'm keen to learn more/help if i can.
Hi guys,
Just a quick update. You know those spots I got after the ACV? Well I've been putting Lavender Oil on them and covering them with Aloe Vera Gel, and I kid you not - ALL of them are flattened and darkened after being inflamed and red! Ok it now means dealing with the marks, but I only had to pop 2 of them so the hopefully the other 3 will dissapear quicker
Hi,
Could you please update on how the hemp seed oil worked for you. I plan on using it the same way you described as a cleanser in the shower. I have used it a couple days as a moisturizer and I think it maybe trapped my own sebum and caused some pimples or is purging? I know it has a comedogenicity of 0 , but if I just washed with warm water and applied a heavy layer of hemp seed oil it might have trapped my own sebum?
Hi guys,
Sorry for not updating you, I got really busy at work and moving house that I couldn't deliver like I had planned. However I have now ceased all treatments. Before I go into that, I'll tell you about the Hemp.
I used it for about 5-6 weeks, the effects were the same/similar to jojoba. I didn't notice any clogged up pores whilst using this, it gave my skin the same glow as jojoba, calmed my current acne BUT did not reduce oiliness, which is a big problem for me.
I think the turning point came around the 1st week of June when I read an article in the DailyMail which talked about how eating wheat (in particular, "Gluten") can lead to acne. Now I don't usually believe everything in the news but when you turn on your app and find acne in one of the headlines, you automatically become intrigued. I looked at my diet: Weetabix in the morning, sandwiches for lunch, and probably something containing wheat in the evening.
It seemed feasible to give this a try. I immediately cut all wheat out of my diet and whilst I did still get a few spots for the following few weeks, they were tiny. As in you would have to be right up close to my face to see them, and they sort of formed with a head so were easily popped and healed quickly (minimal/none inflammation).
After a week of stopping Gluten intake, I decided to give this the ultimate test and STOP using the Hemp. Last time I stopped cleansing my face, I had 3-4 super-zits, those which do not dissapear completely for 2-3 months due to the size and depth of the pimples, they create huge scars which as we know, takes forever to dissappear.
As I mentioned, I proceeded to get small spots but nothing major. I still had fairly oily skin though. The next thing I did was to cool the shower temperature down. Two things to note here: I have hard water, which is drying to skin and the heat from the water also dries the skin. Excess drying, leads to over-production of sebum. I therefore cooled the temperature and only let minimal water touch my face. Been doing this for two weeks, and my oiliness is definitely improving (AT LAST). I believe the excess drying, coupled with the oil from my face being stripped with the Hemp, was causing my excess oiliness.
Here are some things I would consider. What type of acne do you have? Like my face is usually generally clear, but then I get a breakout, but not a normal one - big ugly angry zits. My theory is this - How can your face be normal for a few days and then a monster zit appears? To me, it felt as if there was some kind of reaction to something. Take people with nut allergies, they are normal until they come in contact with a nut, and then they have this excessive reaction, because of the allergy.
I believe this is what happened to my skin. I'd ingest so much of something that I have a (moderate) allergy from, and the result is my body (unfortunately, my face) would freak. If your acne is spontaneous like mine, then I'd consider your diet - something I have dismissed for 2 years.
REMEMBER - we are all different. The trick is to read and learn, and then trial and error. Don't dismiss anything - this is risky I know, but it's the only way I've found out what has been causing me so much distress these past 2 years.
I currently have zero active spots (but still one clogged pore from Jojoba.. 6 months now guys...) and plenty of blemishes which are half faded.
I'll check back every now and then for any questions. But for now I'm with the school of thought that says acne is a sign from our body telling us that it can not tolerate something we are in contact with, or most likely ingesting.
Keep fighting, there is a salvation for us all trust me.
Hi,
Could you please update on how the hemp seed oil worked for you. I plan on using it the same way you described as a cleanser in the shower. I have used it a couple days as a moisturizer and I think it maybe trapped my own sebum and caused some pimples or is purging? I know it has a comedogenicity of 0 , but if I just washed with warm water and applied a heavy layer of hemp seed oil it might have trapped my own sebum?
Hey danny, I think this may be a sign (as pointed out in my previous post) that perhaps it is not the hemp causing the issue? Is it under the skin, or is it inflamed? Bare in mind though, I'm no specialist. I can't see the Hemp causing the pore to clog because it has a rating of 0 (not even 1) so its technically not possible. My money is on there being an alternative cause
i bought hemp seed oil (i use the nutiva one) and i only used it for a couple of days because i didn't see improvement at all and i'm a very impatience person.. because i really want to get rid of my acne forever.. right now it is in the worst stage ever.. i've been using jojoba oil and grape seed and rose hip oil and i do not even know which one of these oils are causing my horrible acne.. maybe i should go back to my hemp seed oil.........
I tried oil cleansing with hemp and jojoba oil but I was on retinin-a / tretinoin cream which ruined my face completely! I therefor have no idea how well the oils worked for my skin type but it helps with the crazy drying effects of tretinoin cream... I've been off tretinoin cream for a long time by my face still won't recover:/
On 10/22/2015 at 5:47 AM, TheeGrace said:I tried oil cleansing with hemp and jojoba oil but I was on retinin-a / tretinoin cream which ruined my face completely! I therefor have no idea how well the oils worked for my skin type but it helps with the crazy drying effects of tretinoin cream... I've been off tretinoin cream for a long time by my face still won't recover:/
I agree, tetinoin ruined my face as well. Caused me premature fine lines
Just my two cents but Hemp oil is not not comodeogenic either...I really do believe the test the scale was based on was an absolute bulshit, it was not tested on human skin as far as I'm aware, so you it's not wise to use it as a sole indicator...
I tried both jojoba oil - massive break out and hemp oil - another massive break out. And i gave it good three to four months. I'm still recovering from that mistake.
I think the main problem is... Oil itself is not going to mouisturise your skin. Your skin needs water. DRINKING WATER. It can serve as a protective barrier and seal the mouisture in but it's not going to do much by itself if you're not drinking enough water, or using harsh cleansers or creams, no way.
If you apply oil on top of dry, dead skin, even the most lightweight oil will break you out because it will seal that dead layer of skin and trap dead skin cells and your skin oils underneath. Not a good idea at all.
Hemp oil might well be worth a try, but only if and when your skin is balanced, doesn't flake or feel tight, otherwise you're in for a world of trouble.
I don't believe in purges when using oils. They don't bring anything to the surface. If you're breaking out from oils it's either not the right type of oil for you or youre skin is in too fragile state to be sealed with an extra layer of oil on top.
On February 26, 2016 at 0:11 AM, Bowanda92 said:On October 22, 2015 at 8:47 AM, TheeGrace said:I tried oil cleansing with hemp and jojoba oil but I was on retinin-a / tretinoin cream which ruined my face completely! I therefor have no idea how well the oils worked for my skin type but it helps with the crazy drying effects of tretinoin cream... I've been off tretinoin cream for a long time by my face still won't recover:/
I agree, tetinoin ruined my face as well. Caused me premature fine lines
How long did it take for you to stop breaking out after being off tretinoin?
Not long, I stopped right away or at least a few days after, I just had to heal what was left over. It broke me out bad for months, then used epiduo and that did the same, come to find out it contained a type of retin A as well, stopped using it and I healed, I think breaking out in spots u didnt beore and also being red inflamed and painful may be irritation to something you used.
what is your current skin care routine?
In regards to the conversation regarding Gluten/Wheat intake here is my opinion.
Being a professional baker by trade, I'm oft exposed to wheat and it's products. For years I suffered with extremely oily skin, with severe GERD.
Most of my research related eating wheat products with these conditions and associate the two ailments of the same cause. Here's where it gets tricky. GLUTEN DOES NOT CAUSE ACNE. Never has and never will. Paleolithic diets contain a large variety of grains that consistent of the proteins responsible for making Gluten. Celiac is an exception to this statement as gluten does attack the immune system and is potentially life threatening to the suffer.
High Glycemic diets, do cause increased oil production and stress on the digestive system. The reason most people associate bread/wheat with acne is because the majority of bakeries use highly processed, high extraction flours which spike one's blood sugar dramatically. To make the situation worse mechanization requires firmer dough, resulting in flour being under hydrated and essentially raw once baked. THIS IS WHERE the problem lies.
I've done case studies with various friends, family member's and colleagues regarding this matter. The consensus is that high hydration breads(ciabatta, fougasse) and slow risen doughs (traditional sourdoughs where the flour is broken down by bacteria) did not contribute to acne breakouts. While generic white breads, pastas. and other borderline raw wheat products DID cause spots within 24-30 hours. The worst culprit we found however was sweetened yeast products as they're often under baked to prevent burning., and well sugar..
Anyways that's just my two cents and not scientific in any way. I also suffer from acne breakouts and have for many years, but have not noticed any difference in my complexion as a result of eating Sourdough bread products. If any of you have a chance google 'Sourdough Bread' and read up on the benefits of eating this product, it's quite remarkable!
Im about to blow your mind away that nobody can find it. world organic liquid chlorophyll yep and has to have that earth image in bottle. Sugar milk and everything breaks me out. You still need skincare but this drinking a spoon or gulp with a spoon of icecream (cause it taste ew)every day was a miracle juice to my hormonal acne and cystic acne and bumps. This thing cancels out anything toxic in your body that is trying to escape with your pores. For about two weeks you likely have green diarrhea but that is good, because it means its cleansing your body out of toxins. Please try it out and tell me how it works for you.