The Evil of Acne and Scarring

[You]

I have reeeeeally bad acne. I know a lot of people do. I personally, now wash my face frequently (not scrubbing), and use medication for it.

I'd like to know any personal advice people can give me regarding acne (as well as acne scarring from the many many many zits I always pop), as well as personal experiences from those who suffer similarly.

[Stevedave]

Hello Tyciol

I have recently been suffering spots and do not know why. Anyway, there is a plant that can help with scarring. Its called Aloe Vera. Helps with all kinds of skin stuff. I am sure you will find it on the web

[You]

My mom used some of that on me once... forget what for... sun burn I think. Not sure how well it would work for acne... heck people say a lot of stuff works that doesn't.

[cheezerman]

http://curezone.com/dis/1.asp?C0=23

I don't have Acne, however everything I have ever done from that site has worked beyond all expectations.

I hope this helps you.

[You]

I'm surprised that site doesn't mention using a zapper, as it's obviously Hulda Clark's stuff. Look, I want something to do where I don't need to constantly cleanse my bowels or watch my diet.

[cheezerman]

Look, I want something to do where I don't need to constantly cleanse my bowels or watch my diet.

You're probably never going to find a cure then.  Diet is everything.

[neutrino]

Yes, I also had terrible acne until I cleaned up my diet. I eat about 3/4 of my food raw, & keep sugar to a minimum. You might find http://www.acne-advice.com/ useful if you're motivated to make these changes.

[You]

I've read in a lot of places that diet doesn't even matter. I don't mind watching it to a degree, but honestly, cutting out all processed food is more hassle than it's worth, since nearly everything is, and those that aren't are probably infected with something else even worse (and far better proven).

[cheezerman]

I'll tell you a little story.

See, I used to work at an Ice Cream shop.  I sold the most disgusting, sugar and fat loaded creations to people.  A large ice cream with all the fixins would run about 1500 calories or more, and about 60-80 grams of fat.  Not to mention all the trans-fatty acids, sugars, and preservitaves.

We had a group of people we called the regulars.  These people would come in and get a large ice cream 3 days a week or more.  

EVERY SINGLE regular had horrible acne.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  Not all were fat, but all had crappy diets, and all had acne.

Now this proves nothing, but it's interesting to say the least.

[You]

I don't eat ice cream ALL the time... often there's no ice cream in the house after all. Then it's tea and popsickles...(sicles?)

[Physcon]

well i guess i should add my input on this subject

I also used to have fairly bad acne.  Thankfully i am now about 80 to 90 percent improved since ive been doing energy work.  I guess ive been improving for about 2 years now.. its kindof been slow.  Slow but steady at least.  Actually i strongly believe that the cause of all or nearly all my acne is from negative emotions.  I know that when i get more depressed/upset/down/etc my acne will be worse.  I know for sure that feeling depressed is definitely not good for energy levels and therefore definitely not good for your health.  

But anyway, have you been doing any NEW?  I know that when i first started doing NEW it really helped me alot.  Another thing you might want to try, and something i just recently learned about is EFT . Also, i found this exercise recently which i really like http://www.ascendpress.org/articles/earth-mother/LGsupport.html Scroll down to where it says RUNNING THE KUNDAHLINI.  I have absolutely no idea if any of the info on that site is correct or not, but i have found at least that article to be useful to me.

I have noticed that any acne i do get now will go away much quicker than before.  I have much less of it and far fewer zits actually require any popping, most are just little bumps that last a day or two that i hardly notice.  Another thing ive noticed about my skin is that it is a lot softer now.

Well anyway, i would just suggest doing energy work.  Energy/chi/whatever is definitely directly related to our health. Oh and if your wondering im 17

[You]

Yes, but I haven't actually started getting any energy or unblocking things, right now having sensitivity issues and trying the introductory exercises.

Have you found acne improves as a side effect of having better (and more) energy, or do you need to do focused work on acne areas to consciously heal them?

[Physcon]

Yes, the improvement has been mainly a side effect of having better or more energy.  Although, i would say that having the intent to heal the acne has played a major role when doing energy work.

[You]

I like sugar. Is brown sugar better than white?

[Kelly]

Hi Tyciol,

There is a cream that you can get from chemists (over the counter) called Benzac AC. It's pretty good but don't use too much, it's very strong.

It comes in 2.5%, 5% and 10%. I would start on 5% - don't use 10% it's too much.

Hope this helps.

[Gub]

Hi Tyciol,

There is a cream that you can get from chemists (over the counter) called Benzac AC. It's pretty good but don't use too much, it's very strong.

It comes in 2.5%, 5% and 10%. I would start on 5% - don't use 10% it's too much.

Hope this helps.

this sounds like a 'benzoyl peroxide' product. it is the only stuff that actually kills P-acnes the bacteria that causes acne. Its the main ingredient to many consumer acne creams..

its very drying to the skin and to be most effective, ignore the instructions and apply alot of it...all over the effected area. make sure to rub it in well, until its completed soaked into the skin...then apply a decent moisteriser..this must be the kind that isnt made from parafin...and gentle to the face.

diet is not a huge factor in acne, it is not the cause. Everyone has p-acnes on thier skin..so it is generally considered that its the over production of sebum that causes acne (givin the p-acnes the right enviroment to cause acne)...a treatment course of 'accutain' can help to reduce the oil glands that produce sebum...this is a very hardcore treatment and is not without risks...you have to be looked over by a doctor during the treatment...but the cure is permanent. Another similar treatment, (similar because it treats the sebum overproduction) not well known is taking vitimin B5 in large doses. This treatment is generally not accepted by the medical community but that dosnt mean its not valid. Check this site for more info on B5: http://www.freewebs.com/krg/b5.html

[sarah]

Tyciol,

I like sugar. Is brown sugar better than white?

Not really.  Brown sugar is made by coloring white sugar, mostly by adding molasses which increases the sweetness.  The only type of sugar-like substance I have seen that is beneficial (and ok for diabetics) is xylitol.  Some info can be found at http://www.xylitol.org/

Don't know about your inclinations for energy work, but EFT is a really good thing to check out, and as its developer says "use it on everything."

The main and most detailed EFT site is http://www.emofree.com  Do a search on what your interest is.  They have an easy to follow format.  Basically, you're tapping on energy points and letting go of the specific problem.  A chart for the points to be tapped can be found at  http://www.tapintoheaven.com/2eft/eftcharten.shtml

I've been studying it for awhile so if you have questions, feel free to ask.

This is a very resourceful group with lots of helpful people.  I am sure that we can come up with something that you will feel is good and do-able.  Keep us up to date, k?

[You]

Sure, you too. I'll check it out in time... *adds favourite*

[TheDarkApprentice]

I had really really bad acne for 4 years and it has just only recently been going away in March.

How did it go away??? A product called accutane. It' suppose to be the best acne product out there but it has a lot of side effects and many bad possible ones. With me....the only problem i really had was reeally bad dry lips and my lips and skin around it peeling. Which was almost as bad as acne...but nothing to to bad. I stopped taking the accutane around July as you are suppose to only take it for a 6th month cycle and then you will be fine.

I will admit that it improved my skin greatly although i still have a lot of scars and a few pimpils now and then. But it is getting a bit better. I also started doing energy work in July and found that that has helped out a little bit. It would probaly benefit me more if i did NEW every day but i need to work on it.

Anyone know any techniques to help rid of acne scaring??

[You]

I don't like side effects, I'm not taking any acne pills that cause me nose bleeds, that's just sort of... pathetic.

As for scientific ways of getting rid of the acne scarring, the only thing I've read about is laser dermabrasion where they burn off the top layers of skin with the scarring to remove the tissue, and then let it heal. It doesn't get rid of really deep scarring though.

This is expensive, and it takes a lot of recovery time, and often several treatments, which is why I want to take the easy road, with things like NEW.

[neutrino]

I had acne as a teenager, & took accutane when I was 18. I dried out my oily skin, but didn't get rid of most of the pimples. And my skin went back to how it was before when I stopped taking it, and didn't begin to clear properly until I was about 23. I think it was due to a combination of just growing out of it (apparently most severe cases tend to clear in the early-mid 20s), and also  improving my diet (that was a factor, as I still get breakouts now if I eat more than a  bit of junk food, although not to the same extent as before).
But I wouldn't touch accutane or other drugs now. Accutane has a ridiculously long list of potential side effects - nose bleeds are the least worrying of them!

Some acne scars will fade naturally over time - it might be worth waiting a few years after the spots clear, to see which scars don't fade, or you could end up having unnecessary work done. I never had the deep pitted scars (which are more problematic to remove), but I did have a lot of smooth red ones, which have all faded now (about 6 years later). There is a site called www.acne.org, which has a message board - maybe there is more info on scar treatment there? Also, topical  products containing silicon (such as Silicol Skin) are good for general scarring, so I guess they might help with  acne scars too.

[Stevedave]

I have just found a very easy fix to my own acne. Water! drink loads of it on a daily basis. For the past 8 days, I have been drinking about 5 litres a day and have had no new zits come up. All the old ones have vanished. Can't believe that I never thought of this before. After every meal, I down about a pint just to help the food move through the body.

This is the best solution I have found since they started 8 months ago and its easy. Just means I go to the lav quite a lot.

[Naiad780]

I did not read through all the replies, so sorry for any repeats.  I used to work for an alternative health practitioner who introduced me to a Chinese herbal medicine called Margarite Acne pills (I've also seen it spelled Marguerite).  They work amazingly well, although you have to take a bunch of them.  You can order them online.  The one I used was from Golden Flower Herbs, I think.

Sugar is Satan when it comes to skin.  No joke!  Eat as little as possible.

Drinking water is extremely important.  Try to always have a bottle of water or herbal tea with you.

Finally, I use an odd cleansing method for my face that involves castor and olive oils.  It sounds bizarre but it works so well.  PM me if you want details.

[You]

I'd prefer 'disease' in place of 'Satan' since I like Satan

Maybe I should post a pic of my face on these boards some time, I'd freak everyone out.