For years I have suffered from some mild to moderate acne. Mostly on my face, but on my chest and back sometimes too. Just small, red irritations, really, but I need for it to be over.

I am 23, female about 5'4 and 125 pounds. I live in a northern US state where I don't get a lot of sun for a lot of months. When I do go out in the summer I was always sure to wear heavy sunblock, because I thought the sun was bad, bad, bad.

The more I read into this the more I am realizing that I need to stop using commercial, chemical face washes and resort to natural method, especially since I've used o many washes and topicals and the only result was to be clear for long enough to see how fantastic it is and then have it all come back and break my spirit.

This time I am going to use my diet and supplementation, because I am realizing that there is nothing some chemical solution applied to my skin can really do, I need a long term and healthful solution.

It seems to me that most acne is caused by internal problems. The more I read, the more I feel this should have been obvious to me, but there are sooo many myths out there about acne, it is horrible. The number of people suffering is just totally unacceptable, whether it is a vanity issue or not, but now I realize it is more than just that.

Daily since the sixth of January I have been taking the following supplements:

Cod Liver Oil (not sure if that counts as a supplement, but it is part of my list)


1 TBSP in the morning


Zinc monomethionine It has 30mg of zinc and 300mcg of copper. I take 1 tablet in the morning and have recently been taking another tablet in the evening. (so 2 tablets total).

Vitamin A 8,000iu. 1 softgel In the morning

Super B-complex contains:
vitamin C 150mg
thiamin 100mg
riboflavin 20mg
niacin 25mg
vitamin b6 2mg
folic acid 400mcg
vitamin b12 15mcg
biotin 30mcg
pantothenic acid 5.5mg
I take 1 tablet in the morning.



Ionic magnesium citrate magnesium 325mg (Serving size is 2 rounded teaspoons) but I only take 1 teaspoon before bed (mixed in water) due to it loosening bowels.


My most recent supplement purchase is
D3 5,000iu I have just added this supplement for the first time yesterday and took it midday, with some whole milk. I plan to take it every day at this time, but will try to eat something fatty with it.


For the morning supplements I eat a bowl of oats and honey before taking them.
My question is if anyone knows if this combination is okay. I also am wondering if I am taking the supplements at the best times for absorption or if I should change what I eat to better absorb. Are any of them working against each other?

Thanks a lot!

I meant 1 Tspn of CLO, but for some reason I cannot figure out how to edit this post.

Kendrin, at the bottom of any of your posts, you should see an "edit" button. Click that, edit, then save. The edit button is within the block of text that you've written.

__________________
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- Jim
"The most powerful force ever known on this planet is human cooperation � a force for construction and destruction.� (Jonathan Haidt)

Yes, thank you. It is not there, though. It was on my second post, but not on the first.

The admin has the 'edit option' set to only be available for a short window of time for members.

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Ok. Thanks.
Well, I am supposing nobody must have an answer to this original post, which was what I was really hoping for.

That's a difficult one to answer, because everyone is different. I find that coconut oil internally and externally is all I need. I even use coconut oil as deodorant in the winter.

I understand. Thank you.
Coconut oil as a deodorant?? And do you mean you use it both internally and externally for skin conditions or for overall health?
If you would care to share more, I would love to read it.

Coconut oil is antibacterial, so it makes a nice deodorant. It absorbs well into the skin. I'm a guy over 60. I use it on my face, because I don't want a greasy lotion on my face.

It is also antiviral as well as anti-fungal. Many people eat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil for the fungus, Candida Albicans.

It has a high smoke value for cooking, so it is sturdy for things like stir fry.

You just can't go wrong with coconut oil daily. Make sure it is unrefined, so the antimicrobial properties are still intact. It should say virgin and either cold pressed or expeller. You can find it in many groceries, health food stores, or online at your favorite supplement vendor. You can find a ton of more info by searching this site.

Well, you seem pretty set on using supplements & with a few exceptions (such as fish oil, wintertime D3, whey protein), I'm not big on pumpin' iscolated supplements into the body, so I generally skip over posts like this now.

You're correct in that acne should be controlled internally as hormonal imbalances, your immune systems' ability to fight bacteria & lack of probiotic bacteria are apparently responsible for a good portion of outbreaks. Sunscreen, containing certain ingredients & too much Vit B will also cause outbreaks.

Cod oil excellent for acne and contrary to what others will chime in now that I'm typing this lol, I'd cut the vit D3 to 1000-2000iu, unless you have had bloodwork & are proven to be deficient.

Do you drink ample daily water (5 cups or so?)

Does your diet include sugary snacks, simple carbs?

I hope I am not just talking your head right off, but I get kind of into this stuff...

I have read a lot on acne forums that people get clear from taking the supplements I have been taking. I've been taking them for about a month now and feel they could possibly be helping, but it's hard to say.. and I think these things take time.
I keep a list so I know exactly how much I am taking and that I don't forget to take them each day.
I can't exactly cut the D3 down because it is in soft-gels that are 5,000ui in each one. I'm not that concerned because after the bottle is empty I will probably stop taking them. (From what I have read, toxicity is unlikely within the amount of time I would be taking them, however I cannot give any sources to where I read this, so your feedback is welcome).
I have NOT had blood-work, however, because I am on state insurance and don't think it would be covered and cannot afford it. I haven't looked into it, though, I suppose I just assume it is expensive without proper insurance.
Given the fact that I live in a northern place and almost avoid the sun at every chance I get I also assume I am deficient, which I understand is self diagnosis, but I guess I'm willing to risk it given that I will be done with the D3 within the next month or two.
I have also read up on the symptoms of toxicity, so I am keeping an eye on if my body is having any strange feelings. Please, feel free to tell me if you think my logic is dangerous- I have no reason to fight with anybody's suggestions.

I try to drink as much water as I can fit in, but sometimes I don't drink enough. I DO put lemons in my water (I read lemons naturally detoxify as well as alkalize). I have cut out caffeine, and soda... in fact, if I do drink it is usually water or green tea.
I still tend to drink a few glasses of red wine each evening and am not sure if it is having a negative impact on my skin or not. I cannot see any correlation. I am just not ready to give it up unless I am positive. (It's the one crutch I have left).
I usually do avoid sugar due to not being a fan and have tried to really cut down on processed foods.

Upon waking I will have oatmeal (natural oats) with water and 100% honey. I try to fit in a spinach and romaine salad each day with olive oil and apple cider vinegar as a dressing. I also put flax seeds in the salad. I usually try to have a grapefruit each day as well.
I have really tried to make it a point to add more green and raw foods into my diet, but sometimes it is tough. My boyfriend is NOT into eating healthy at all, so I do have that distraction.

Most days I do crave something of more substance, so I will have to figure out how to do that, because I tend to crave bread and such. I have gone out looking for this "Nature's Own" bread someone suggested to me but could only find something that seemed similar. No preservative yada, yada. However, most postings on this forum have be convinced bread isn't very good for you. I also feel that most acne forums also say bread is bad. Not sure how to fill that hole.

Woooofta. I hope some of that makes sense and doesn't just sound like a bunch of rambling.

If you've always had some type of little outbreak I can't help wonder if your body is not happy with dairy. Dairy is one of the top food allergens and can cause pimple outbreaks. It can also wreak havoc on the hormonal system as conventional dairy is pumped with estrogen to facilitate quick and ample production of milk. My daughter would get dairy induced pimples on her rump of all places. The average person would shrug their shoulders at the thought of eliminating dairy from their diet.

I've actually wondered about that and have stayed away from dairy the past few days and don't notice any new outbreaks... you could be on to something. It is just a bummer, because I really do like most dairy products.
Do you think if I try to find hormone-free milk that it will make any difference?

Maybe. You could be allergic to casein which is a protein. In that case organic milk will make no difference. I would eliminate all dairy for at least 3 weeks and see how your body and skin responds. Then add it back with the organic form. Or be bold and start your new eating program without dairy. It's possible even though you probably can't imagine it now since you love it and possibly are addicted to it.

There's things to consider on forums such as is anyone offering a discount code to a vitamin supplier? Do you feel your body chemistry is the same as theirs?
The point being, everyone's body chemistry is different so what works for some, may not work for you. They may be doing other things in conjunction with the supplements that is making all the difference, such as stress management, etc. In this case, supplements should be low on your priority list. Put your energy into consuming antioxidents from foods to prevent skin inflammation, rather than relying on iscolated vits. Moisturizers with vit E and C (ascorbyl palmitate) to apply to dry skin could be helpful.
Concentrate on ways to make your colon healthy.. that's the root. Start by adding a probiotic for your gut, such as Kefir daily. A half cup in the morning & a half cup in the evening to promote digestive health. It contains bifidobacterium lactis & Lactobacillus acidophilus, which help fight acne bacteria. I use a brand called EVOLVE & can only drink the blueberry because the rest all taste

My suggestion would be to buy bottle of D3 1000ui & take the 5000ui maybe every 3rd or 4th day in place of the 1000ui. D3 is a hormone.

Great! Just remember.. water is very important to help rid the body of toxins. The only other way the body has to get rid of toxins is through the lungs (exercise) and sweating.
Water hydrates the skin which allows bacteria (and oil) to come to the surface, which makes it easy to remove. Underhydrated skin is tight & traps the oil & bacteria below the surface..

Fantastic! I have oatmeal with honey in the morning too Add a tsp of expeller pressed, organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil (jfh's suggestion) to that & that's another way to combat internal bacteria. I use the brand Spectrum because I'm able to buy it off my grocery store shelf.
The best way to keep track of what causes some of your outbreaks is by keeping a daily journal of everything you eat. And documenting your menstrual cycle to log hormonal fluctuations & your emotional state (the dollar store usually has those big square desk calendars) is helpful as it shows when you're more apt to be suffering from stress.
Mommysunshine has brought up a great point regarding dairy products, although there's claims that diet doesn't play a huge roll in acne. I believe she's right.
Sugar is your enemy. Your immune system takes a beating everytime you eat something starchy or sugary. You want your immune systems strong to fight acne bacteria instead of attacking the sugar

Yah, i can relate... I'm a breadaholic myself. Can't keep it in the house. But on occasion, I'll buy an all grain bread from the deli.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the worst) how would you rate the amount of stress you're under?