acne

[Hawk]

Hmmm. I've never heard that hot showers are bad for the hair. Maybe that's why I'm getting thin up top. haha.

[Gutterpump]

If you want to try accutane, get yourself some Liver Longer or Ursodiol to keep the liver safe. Also, if you pick up Liv52 (the hard coated caps directly from India and not the local gel cap stuff) this was proven to lower liver enzymes.

[Gutterpump]

SO a while ago I did hdrol, and dermacrine, during which I had my face clear up incredibly.

This is really interesting to me, since hdrol is slightly androgenic and dermacrine is definitely androgenic. The only thing I can think of, is overall your DHT was lowered on cycle, and the repetitive usage of the prohormones, taken daily, caused a steady balance of hormones in your system... and that's a good reason why your acne may have been held at bay.

Epistane had cleared me up completely in the past before. Weird how that is. I am/was on TRT as well, but once starting it, got cleared up fairly quickly.

[Outstanding]

Hmmm. I've never heard that hot showers are bad for the hair. Maybe that's why I'm getting thin up top. haha.

I just know it is advocated on hair literature for men, even right on the Minoxidil information to stop the progression of male pattern baldness when using a hair regrowth treatment. Ever since I read that, I won't let hot shower water touch my hair, haha

[StangBanger]

i would shy away from the accutane.. especially now they are finding it causes so many intestinal issues (crohns for one)...

B5 for the win!

[middleageguy]

Ok you might not be interested, might think I’m full of crap, but when I was a teenager I took zinc & beta carotene for Fighting Acne. (Cystic Acne)
When I started using M-DROL (superdrol) the first cycle I started breaking out. So I picked up some zinc & beta carotene and it cleared it up.
So about two weeks prior to my current M-DROL (superdrol) cycle I started taking zinc & beta carotene again to get it in my system prior to the cycle.
It works for me, that is all I care about. A''ll I can say is give it a try, what do you have to loose, possibly the Acne!!

You will need to experiment as to what dosage you will need if it will work for you as it does me.


http://www.acnemiracle.com/files/report3.html

An excerpt from the above link on zinc & beta carotene for Fighting Acne.

Zinc:

Zinc helps regulate your skin's oil glands. It promotes fast healing and is said to boost your immune system. Zinc is needed for the absorption of Vitamin A. Zinc will also keep your EFA from becoming oxidized within the body. If you're looking for better looking skin that heals faster, than you need to supplement with Zinc.

When taking Zinc, be sure to take only Zinc Monothionine (OptiZinc) or Zinc Picolinate. These two forms are your best chance for proper absorption within the body. Zinc can become toxic so be sure to keep your dosage under 100mg per day. The only time you could (safely) take more than 100mg per day is if you had an extremely active lifestyle with lots of exercise and sweating (sports, training, etc.)

Take only the forms of Zinc listed above. Take between 50 and 90mg per day. Remember, no more than 100mg per day unless you have a very active lifestyle. Take it with food for best results.


Vitamin A:

The most important free radical scavenger you can take. It is also very important for healthy skin. Many of today's so-called "wonder drugs" are derived from Vita- min A. It helps with new cell growth and repair. It is also an excellent antioxidant.

Vitamin A helps the kidneys fight infection and protects against cancer formation. It is so important that your body cannot utilize the protein it takes in with having Vitamin A present in your system.

You will never get enough Vitamin A from diet alone, so you must start supplementing it right away. Vitamin A can become very toxic to your body at high dosages, so approach with caution and be sure you're keeping an eye on the amount of I.U. you take in daily.

A safe Vitamin A dosage would be around 25,000 (or lower) I.U. per day. It's been documented that the best way to supplement Vitamin A is by taking carotenes, such as the popular beta-carotene. I take a mixture of straight Vitamin A (from fish oils and green vegetables) and a beta-carotene supplement. The beta-carotene is converted into Vitamin A within the body.

Beta-carotene is non toxic but it will turn your skin orange if you take in too much on a continual basis (sometimes you'll even turn yellowish). Again, be sure to stick with a natural supplement. The synthetic supplements are like putting rocks into your body. They will not be absorbed or used, only treated as toxins.

Start with 50,000 I.U. per day of beta-carotene. You can work your way up to 125,000 I.U. per day for better results, but take it slow. Again, it is non-toxic, but if you don't need that much then don't waste it. Along with the beta-carotene you should take around 10,000 I.U. of straight Vitamin A. You can safely double this dosage if you're not seeing any results, but remember, beta carotene is the non-toxic supplement. Straight Vitamin A can become very toxic so keep the daily intake low. Take Vitamin A with food.

[Outstanding]

i would shy away from the accutane.. especially now they are finding it causes so many intestinal issues (crohns for one)...

B5 for the win!

I've used B5 for a few months now, and used it before a few years ago... I have seen absolute changes and improvements, but, it hasn't been able completely cure complexion issues by any means - even after months @ 10g/day. I buy by the kilo. I believe aside from the liver and severe skin-drying effects of Accutane, it is a solid short term solution.

Where has it been documented that Accutane causes that condition, and at what dosage/duration?

[MidwestBeast]

I took accutane back in high school when I was 15. The stuff worked like a charm and I very rarely see a zit pop up anymore. However, it was miserable stuff in terms of what it did to my skin being dried out like crazy. That was worth it to get rid of the acne, though.

What I'll say, though, is that in the winter, my skin still gets really dried out and on occasion (not annually, but every other winter or so), my palms and the insides of my fingers will break out in these little bumps (look like little blackheads). It happened for the first time when I was on accutane. Of all things, what the doctor prescribed for it was the same stuff they use for genital warts or herpes -- I don't remember which, I just remember going to the pharmacy and picking it up and then reading that as one of the uses on the side and feeling incredibly embarrassed.

So, accutane works wonders, but sides are definitely a possibility as well.

[Outstanding]

Midwest, true... I used Accutane once from one of my sources, and it was AMAZING, but I HAD to keep Chapstick with me at all times. The first week already had my skin feeling brittle, and I even started to get 'ashy' on my arms especially (white dry skin on my forearms). It worked though! I believe I did get a nosebleed or two.

Years later (maybe 6 years) down the road, I have a very slight issue every now and then with acne, but the breakouts are NO WHERE near what they were, ESPECIALLY if you consider I'm on cycle and sweating almost all day long from the cardio, training, clean and T3.

I have been doing 10g/day divided into 5g am and 5g pm of B5 powder in my protein shakes. I am looking for accutane again to have on hand after the cycle is over, THIS IS THE SINGLE WORST TIME FOR ME BY FAR (after cessation of the cycle/drugs).

I am going to use a mixture of ****'s Facial Cleanser, Cetephil Face Wash, and Blackhead Clearing Scrub

[DerickVonD]

Are you stressed out? I took accutane about 3 times my acne was so bad. Even after my last cycle on it I still got bad acne, but not as bad as before. I moved out recently and noticed since I moved out my acne greatly diminished and it has noting to do with diet, I eat about 3 times as much meat as before. When I lived with my grandmother I was so stressed out everyday. Now since I live with my step dad my stress is a lot less.

[StangBanger]

I've used B5 for a few months now, and used it before a few years ago... I have seen absolute changes and improvements, but, it hasn't been able completely cure complexion issues by any means - even after months @ 10g/day. I buy by the kilo. I believe aside from the liver and severe skin-drying effects of Accutane, it is a solid short term solution.

Where has it been documented that Accutane causes that condition, and at what dosage/duration?

sorry dont have a source other than there are commercials on tv all the time for lawyers saying Accutane has been linked to Crohns and they will sue on your behalf...

[Docmattic]

I have just had a bad breakout recently that seemed to get worse no matter what i did. I started using a cream called Benzac AC. Its a cream that contains 10% benzoyl peroxide (this is the main ingrediant in proactive which only contains 1.5%) and cost $10. Ive been putting it on twice a day for three days and the achne is nearly gone! its cheap and effective.

[Gutterpump]

Low dose accutane over extended periods (months) seems fairly safe and the way to go, if you keep your liver values protected and checked.

That 10% benzoyl peroxide is the only one I use. The thicker you apply it, the better. Even if it hardens a white crust overtop, it seems to work better that way. Any larger zits will immediately start to go down. If I'm at home working, etc, and I have some that are larger, I'll apply it very liberally and let it sit all day. I'll do the same at night and let it harder before I go to sleep, then wash it off in the morning. Works well.

[dontknowaboutme]

Listen to Middleageguy above, Zinc is where it is at. Cleared me up, once I finally figured out what was doing it. I am afraid to go off of Zinc now so I just maintain a dosage of 15mg every other day or so. But I took 15 mg of Optizinc by Jarrow twice a day, which also includes copper so that your zinc:copper levels do not get thrown off. Optizinc is supposedly better absorbed and less likely to get blocked by other minerals than other forms of zinc. Zinc has an innate relationship with vitamin A, you can have good serum vitamin A levels supposedly; but, if you do not have enough zinc than you cannot properly utilize your vitamin A. Zinc also has other important mechanisms in terms of immunity and also digestive health.

[Outstanding]

Low dose accutane over extended periods (months) seems fairly safe and the way to go, if you keep your liver values protected and checked.

That 10% benzoyl peroxide is the only one I use. The thicker you apply it, the better. Even if it hardens a white crust overtop, it seems to work better that way. Any larger zits will immediately start to go down. If I'm at home working, etc, and I have some that are larger, I'll apply it very liberally and let it sit all day. I'll do the same at night and let it harder before I go to sleep, then wash it off in the morning. Works well.

Good advice... also, I believe water intake it overlooked in a lot of these scenarios where so many of us (myself included in various situations) look for an herb, drug, or steroid to work the magic for us. Medicine has it's place without a doubt, but keeping stress levels in check, attaining proper hydration, and getting out into the summer sun can work some great magic.

Also, Accutane is ridiculously hard to find online... I remember the good ole' days, haha.

[Gutterpump]

I wish I could find it online. There's only once place I know of and I don't like them much or the price.

I go to my dermatologist, he prescribes a high dose and then I just low dose it. That way I have a lot extra to last me. Well that's what I did last time when I started TRT. I've only taken it twice in my life. It's a pain getting labs monthly that way though. I kept on liver supps and I was always midrange so all was good. I respond really well to accutane. My Dr was surprised back then, especially because of the amount I was taking. They normally dose by weight, and even his high dose was on the low end for my weight.

[Docmattic]

Good advice... also, I believe water intake it overlooked in a lot of these scenarios where so many of us (myself included in various situations) look for an herb, drug, or steroid to work the magic for us. Medicine has it's place without a doubt, but keeping stress levels in check, attaining proper hydration, and getting out into the summer sun can work some great magic.

Also, Accutane is ridiculously hard to find online... I remember the good ole' days, haha.

You know what, im going to try get some more sun and drink more water. Maybee thats my problem.

[Mrodz]

When u get some sun make sure you dont have any scabs or dry sin patches because you'll get some spotting. I'm currently dealing with some acne and am thinking about b5 supplementation with L-carnitine. I've read it used as a topical as well, any input on that?

[Gutterpump]

Anyone in here ever get dermabrasion or some sort of treatment for old scars?

When I started TRT, I got some bad cystic stuff on my back, zapped it with accutane and it's never come back, but it's left it's mark, faded but there. I want to fully remove it. I figure it happens a lot in the steroid world. How effective is this procedure and typical cost? I won't use bleaching creams, it's summer and I want to tan.

btw, talking about just old red/dark pigmentation type marks, nothing raised or sunken.

[Outstanding]

Update: Ordered some of ****'s Need 2 Clear http://www.needtobuildmuscle.com/sto...anser-p80.html

Also, I was able to source bulk Accutane powder to make my own capsules/liquid for self medication. Minimum order from the lab was quite large, so, depending on shelf life, I'll be set for years.

Lastly, I will continue B5 treatment @ 10g/day, and also heard from a friend that Niacinimide works wonders when applied TOPICALLY to the site of breakouts across shoulders, chest, and even face. I don't know why B3 would be so efficacious against acne, but he swears by it and has experience using it recently to combat his cycle-induced body acne.

I wonder if B5 would work the same way when applied topically, perhaps with Phlogel which I believe is the most effective transdermal carrier on the market? I continue to wish and wish that **** would make their carrier available as a standalone!!