purebred
Guest
hey folks, just wanted to fill you all in on my current situation. my intentions of creating this thread in essence was partially for feedback and even to directly or indirectly help anyone out there. i would also highly appreciate any support out there. i'm not necessarily very upset about my acne, but rather, i'm actually quite optimistic my situation will better. i'm a very proactive individual but i'm only human so i can get down at times like any other normal person! view this as a log/review if you will and if it helps too! Note: phrases in italics are taken from a personalized quiz i took on acne.org. i recommend for you all to take it if you have the time. Acne advice - Get free personalized advice to clear your skin
My Acne History
in the past, i suffered from extensive nodulocystic lesions, inflammatory papules and pustules and open and closed comedones involving the face, chest, and back. my acne was severe and highly treatment-resistant which basically means i had tried many different other forms of treatment prior to engaging in isotretinoin therapy (aka Accutane). prior acne tx (treatment) included: minocycling, benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin combination gel, tazorotene cream as well as OTC formulations such as ProActive--all of which offered little to no improvement.
My Isotretinoin Therapy
i was enrolled in Ipledge and started @ 20mg daily. prednisone was also initiated @ 20mg and since i experienced difficulty in controlling outbreaks, prednisone dosing ranged from a high of 40mg daily - 5mg daily. my isotretinoin treatment was steadily increased to 40mg daily. my cumulative dose was 11.1 gm over an 11 month period. by 3 months of tx there was significant improvement of inflammatory lesions on the chest and back. by 7 months of tx, inflammatory nodulocysitc lesions began to clear on my face. clindamycin 1% gel was also added for "spot" treatment. to this day, i still have the occasional active papules and pustules.
that's my acne history in a nutshell. i seem to go through phases in which my face will be clear and look great/vibrant for a month, sometimes months at a time, and "out of the blue" i'll start noticing my acne acting up again. however, i have done my best to take careful notes of to what cause these reactions. one thing is for sure: when i don't get my rest i notice and instant change virtually overnight. a recipe for disaster is continuously neglecting my sleep requirements.
i also notice when i start lifting and taking whey (particularly ON's 100% Natural Whey), this worsens my condition and the effects are noticeable within days. i've also noticed my climate tends to take a toll on my condition. interestingly enough, there's speculation that people who live in hotter and more humid climates have more incidence of acne and more severe cases. This may be due to the skin slightly swelling in these hot temperatures, thus making it easier for follicle walls to stick together, causing a plug and an ensuing pimple. Any disruption to the skin may cause follicle wall breaks as well, which can lead to inflammation. Steam rooms, saunas, long hot showers, and facial steamers approximate this type of hot and/or humid environment. i love long hot showers so I'm going to start limiting my time i spent in the shower and try to keep the water temp. at a moderate level.
the quiz results also revealed something interesting. it asked if i had recently increased your caloric intake and the obvious response was "yes". anyone that doesn't significantly increase their caloric intake while being on the 5x5 program I'm on is setting themselves up for failure. here's a link to my lifting layout for you curious ones: http://anabolicminds.com/forum/training-forum/118299-running-out-steam.html#post1832071. Increased calories can result in increased androgens (male hormones) and a hormonal cascade that ensues. This can theoretically increase skin oil, perpetuate clogged pores, and increase inflammation. Sometimes when people try to "bulk up" they seem to experience an acne flare up.
i was also, thinking of starting up a stim sometime soon and as we know, stims typically contain caffeine. well, guess what? Our bodies can read a caffeine buzz as increased stress, and since stress can aggravate acne symptoms in some people, avoiding caffeine is probably a good idea. on another note, i had always heard that excessive iodine intake can aggravate acne and even cause it. looks like a multi is out of the question as many do contain iodine. can anyone recommend a quality multi that does not contain iodine or kelp? my mom had acne and acne and genetics seem to be strongly linked so this just adds on to the fact:gay: don't worry Mom, i still love ya!
some recommendations i will be taking into deep consideration and applying. these may also help some of you out there:
recently, i had begun to feel so down and out about my acne that i almost quit lifting. i created a link between my acne worsening and my recent decision to begin lifting again since the my acne began at about the same time i started lifting again). well, i slept on it, allowed my mind to clear, my good reasoning and will come forth and influence my decision-making, read up a bit and i've decided i'm going to continue with my training. i've given up training two times in the past b/c of how down i began to feel but this time i made it clear to myself i wasn't going to let myself be overcome by this or any other obstacle. i'm going to stick to my goal to get bigger and stronger and i'm dedicated to doing so. unfortunately, at the moment i don't have a gym membership or much gym equipment to work with. i'm thankful to have a friend who lives in my neighborhood and grateful to him for letting me workout with him several times a week. all we have to work with is a barbell, a few DB's. i guess if i ever want to squat i can always just utilize the Steinborn Lift, right? LOL
i would like to share with you all a bit of information i came across today that influenced me into making my decision to stick with my training but to also make some adjustments to it: if your exercise schedule is overly demanding and you have inadequate rest for your body to recover. In that case, too much exercise can actually create physical stress. It's important to maintain a balance. for those of you who are familiar with the routine i was previously on, it was an extremely demanding and taxing regimen. i think it's best if i take a lay-off from hardcore training and stick with the effective bodyweight exercises for now: push-ups, pull-ups/chin-ups, burpees, prone bridges, reverse crunches, etc.
i'm looking into joining a gym but i'm also waiting on a possible hospital job opening coming through for me. if this is the case, i will have access to the gym and the equipment in this gym suits my needs then awesome. otherwise, i'll be going with a local gym that offers a year's membership for $206 or 6 months for $125. either way, they're not bad offers but hey...nothing beats free!:fest06:
for my next routine, i'll be looking into push/pull/legs. it's probably significantly less taxing than my 5x5 routine but yet, effective for muscle-building and strength-building as well.
well, that about wraps things up for now! i appreciate you folks that stick with me and support me! although i'm a very conservative person when it comes to dishing out advice and what not, i will do my best to help anyone who feels i might be able to do so and welcome all advice, suggestions, corrections, jokes, etc.:wavey: i'll be checking in periodically to keep you all updated on my progress and any other relevant things that may occur along the way. (sorry for writing so damn much too)
have a good one y'all!
My Acne History
in the past, i suffered from extensive nodulocystic lesions, inflammatory papules and pustules and open and closed comedones involving the face, chest, and back. my acne was severe and highly treatment-resistant which basically means i had tried many different other forms of treatment prior to engaging in isotretinoin therapy (aka Accutane). prior acne tx (treatment) included: minocycling, benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin combination gel, tazorotene cream as well as OTC formulations such as ProActive--all of which offered little to no improvement.
My Isotretinoin Therapy
i was enrolled in Ipledge and started @ 20mg daily. prednisone was also initiated @ 20mg and since i experienced difficulty in controlling outbreaks, prednisone dosing ranged from a high of 40mg daily - 5mg daily. my isotretinoin treatment was steadily increased to 40mg daily. my cumulative dose was 11.1 gm over an 11 month period. by 3 months of tx there was significant improvement of inflammatory lesions on the chest and back. by 7 months of tx, inflammatory nodulocysitc lesions began to clear on my face. clindamycin 1% gel was also added for "spot" treatment. to this day, i still have the occasional active papules and pustules.
that's my acne history in a nutshell. i seem to go through phases in which my face will be clear and look great/vibrant for a month, sometimes months at a time, and "out of the blue" i'll start noticing my acne acting up again. however, i have done my best to take careful notes of to what cause these reactions. one thing is for sure: when i don't get my rest i notice and instant change virtually overnight. a recipe for disaster is continuously neglecting my sleep requirements.
i also notice when i start lifting and taking whey (particularly ON's 100% Natural Whey), this worsens my condition and the effects are noticeable within days. i've also noticed my climate tends to take a toll on my condition. interestingly enough, there's speculation that people who live in hotter and more humid climates have more incidence of acne and more severe cases. This may be due to the skin slightly swelling in these hot temperatures, thus making it easier for follicle walls to stick together, causing a plug and an ensuing pimple. Any disruption to the skin may cause follicle wall breaks as well, which can lead to inflammation. Steam rooms, saunas, long hot showers, and facial steamers approximate this type of hot and/or humid environment. i love long hot showers so I'm going to start limiting my time i spent in the shower and try to keep the water temp. at a moderate level.
the quiz results also revealed something interesting. it asked if i had recently increased your caloric intake and the obvious response was "yes". anyone that doesn't significantly increase their caloric intake while being on the 5x5 program I'm on is setting themselves up for failure. here's a link to my lifting layout for you curious ones: http://anabolicminds.com/forum/training-forum/118299-running-out-steam.html#post1832071. Increased calories can result in increased androgens (male hormones) and a hormonal cascade that ensues. This can theoretically increase skin oil, perpetuate clogged pores, and increase inflammation. Sometimes when people try to "bulk up" they seem to experience an acne flare up.
i was also, thinking of starting up a stim sometime soon and as we know, stims typically contain caffeine. well, guess what? Our bodies can read a caffeine buzz as increased stress, and since stress can aggravate acne symptoms in some people, avoiding caffeine is probably a good idea. on another note, i had always heard that excessive iodine intake can aggravate acne and even cause it. looks like a multi is out of the question as many do contain iodine. can anyone recommend a quality multi that does not contain iodine or kelp? my mom had acne and acne and genetics seem to be strongly linked so this just adds on to the fact:gay: don't worry Mom, i still love ya!
some recommendations i will be taking into deep consideration and applying. these may also help some of you out there:
- Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to improve acne symptoms. Taking 25-50mg of zinc per day (zinc gluconate is preferable) may be beneficial. Do not take more than this! Too much zinc can be toxic. Also, be sure to take zinc with food. It can cause nausea on an empty stomach. Zinc is best for red, inflamed acne. If your acne is primarily non-inflamed (blackheads), zinc may be unnecessary. I continue taking my zinc daily as i have been doing and maintain my levels at around 30-45 mg.
- Omega-3s are important to reduce inflammation. i'm currently consuming 26g fish oil (Health From the Sea PFO)
- Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
- Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment
- Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
recently, i had begun to feel so down and out about my acne that i almost quit lifting. i created a link between my acne worsening and my recent decision to begin lifting again since the my acne began at about the same time i started lifting again). well, i slept on it, allowed my mind to clear, my good reasoning and will come forth and influence my decision-making, read up a bit and i've decided i'm going to continue with my training. i've given up training two times in the past b/c of how down i began to feel but this time i made it clear to myself i wasn't going to let myself be overcome by this or any other obstacle. i'm going to stick to my goal to get bigger and stronger and i'm dedicated to doing so. unfortunately, at the moment i don't have a gym membership or much gym equipment to work with. i'm thankful to have a friend who lives in my neighborhood and grateful to him for letting me workout with him several times a week. all we have to work with is a barbell, a few DB's. i guess if i ever want to squat i can always just utilize the Steinborn Lift, right? LOL
i would like to share with you all a bit of information i came across today that influenced me into making my decision to stick with my training but to also make some adjustments to it: if your exercise schedule is overly demanding and you have inadequate rest for your body to recover. In that case, too much exercise can actually create physical stress. It's important to maintain a balance. for those of you who are familiar with the routine i was previously on, it was an extremely demanding and taxing regimen. i think it's best if i take a lay-off from hardcore training and stick with the effective bodyweight exercises for now: push-ups, pull-ups/chin-ups, burpees, prone bridges, reverse crunches, etc.
i'm looking into joining a gym but i'm also waiting on a possible hospital job opening coming through for me. if this is the case, i will have access to the gym and the equipment in this gym suits my needs then awesome. otherwise, i'll be going with a local gym that offers a year's membership for $206 or 6 months for $125. either way, they're not bad offers but hey...nothing beats free!:fest06:
for my next routine, i'll be looking into push/pull/legs. it's probably significantly less taxing than my 5x5 routine but yet, effective for muscle-building and strength-building as well.
well, that about wraps things up for now! i appreciate you folks that stick with me and support me! although i'm a very conservative person when it comes to dishing out advice and what not, i will do my best to help anyone who feels i might be able to do so and welcome all advice, suggestions, corrections, jokes, etc.:wavey: i'll be checking in periodically to keep you all updated on my progress and any other relevant things that may occur along the way. (sorry for writing so damn much too)
have a good one y'all!