Re: Acne,Rosacea...Please Help!!

Hey Chris...I know exactly how you feel! I'm a little younger than you but know what you mean. The thing is...all of these cleanses, changing the diet, drinking tons of water, etc. are so wonderful for the health. It does tend to show up in somewhat healthier skin, especially for people who just occasionally break out, this helps their type of skin so much that they think that was the problem all along, and that they're cured...because it does cure their Acne (the mild type). Oh brother!

The kind you and I suffer from is true acne, cystic acne, the type that begins with a malfunctioning oil gland way deep down in the pore (topicals can't get to this). The type that hurts, to touch AND to look at!! It is a combination of herreditary and how our hormones affect our oil glands. Period. I've been through enough with my skin over about a 15 year period, enough diets, cleanses, products, you name it. The only time in that period that I've had clear, oil-free, gorgeous skin was when I had been treated with....yes...the dreaded Accutane. I know, I know, it's toxic, etc. etc. But I can tell you this...it proves my point...you get rid of the oil problem...(that's what it does, it alters the shape of the oil gland so that it cannot produce that abnormal amount).....you get rid of the acne. The only problem is that the results are not permanent, the results lasted about 1 1/2 yrs, then it goes back to how it was before. (Our glands are subborn and will find a way to get back to their natural state).

So even though Accutane does work great, of course it is strong and not good for the body, I don't want to have to keep taking it. So I've been on a quest to find a way to have the same effect on my oil glands without taking it again. I know many on these board are anti-physician, and in many areas I am too....but there are some things that only a professional with a license can deal with successfully and I feel like we're lucky in this country to have access. So I've sought out a good dermatologist who offers laser treatments that target the oil gland. It's a bit on the expensive side, so I'm not going to be starting it for a couple of months, but I'm really looking forward to it. One of the lasers used you can look into is called the SmoothBeam, and the other brand is called elos. So if you want to go this route call around to the different derms. where you live and see what they offer. (Be wary of the ones that only offer that Blue light treatment thing...I didn't see results with this. You want an actual laser that gets the oil gland, that takes about 4 treatments, and results should last about a year or longer.)

In the meantime the other thing I've found that targets the oil problem, and I've actually seen some results with is that Clearskin B5. You have to take a lot of it, but I was surprised when I started seeing less oil and clearer skin. However if you try it, get the capsules! Don't get the powedered form it tastes horrible! Anyway if you enter that product in your search engine the site will come up. And no, I'm in no way affiliated with them! I'm just sharing with you and any one else interested in what my very stubborn, awful Acne has had some success with. My ultimate goal is no not have to injest ANY extra supplements, that's why I'm going to do the laser treatments later on.

Whew! That was a mouthful. A lot of people in these forums have taken their time and been very helpful to me, so I wanted to return the favor. I hope it helps you, and again, you are definately not alone.

Warmly,
Kitten