depo
I just recently got the depo shot…biggest mistake for me! I
already had very minor body acne (chest and upper back) but now it’s
terrible and overwelming. I’ve always had a very very very clear
face and now I have minor acne on my face - I’m just glad it’s not
worse.
Anyone have any suggestions…besides waiting the remaining 2.5
months until the shot wears off? lol
thanks
November 19th, 2004 at 2:20 pm
Hi … sounds like whitehead and small-bump type on the face and worse on
chest and back? Start the oats, milk, & sugar blend (in the archives) …
the back is the hard one, though … get a great back brush and real, pure
castille soap (with only olive oil or olive, castor, and maybe jojoba as the
oils … ingredients should also say sodium hydroxide and water or water
substitute … this is very gentle and conditioning to skin, but will not
clog pores) from a health-food store or place where natural products are
sold. Good, true castille soap is white and hard … the green ones are
cheaper / not as nice to use (but still okay for your skin). Avoid tendency
to go for the dial or other stripping-type soaps, or the acne can worsen. IF
you can’t stand the castile, write me privately and we can get you hooked up
with a decent soapmaker in your area.
You’re obviously also at the age when skin care must change with changing
skin … during this hormone-h#ll time, it may also fluctuate types on you
daily, weekly, quarterly (it’s a blast, trust me). Here are a few
health-product store options for you … Thayer’s Witch Hazel blends have no
alcohol, but are blended with aloe and other essential hydrosols for various
skin types. Buy one of each you think you may need, and use as a toner …
along with a drop of jojoba mixed in your palm with about 1 - 3 tsp. of the
witch hazel. Jojoba is not only reputed for being "oil-production
balancing," it’s also reputed for helping to dissolve matter in our pores so
they can clear because it’s very similar to our own natural sebum (most
people would agree, but there are some for whom this oil does not work as
well).
Your hormones will drop hard as this depo wears off, then may even out better
in the next 3-mo. cycle … hang on, dear. I think this one is so hard on
skin because it has a more-male-type hormone balance ???
My face has been a constant struggle of additional minor acne and stubborn
exfoliation problems for between 5 + 10 years (in spite of it getting thinner
as I age <). I’d had a D&C at the end of ‘98, then my doc tried to talk me
into that depo deal - for 3 years in a row. After each time, I reminded him
of my family cancer history and OWN personal high-risk medical facts [anxiety
= PMS Serious Risk, smoke (very bad for skin and whole body, I know)], then
he’d agree … and still push it at the next year’s appointment !!! Finally,
with serious problems suddenly surfacing between July and October of 2001, I
decided to shop doctors for one who’d listen …
I was then diagnosed with hyperplasia by a "witch" doctor (who had no time
for any type of patient that wasn’t a total puppet in her hands). Not only
did she end up "insisting" I go on birth control pills (which I refused and
finally found a great doctor), she refused to discuss other options. After I
finally found a really great doctor and did have the surgery in April of ‘02,
it was discovered I’d also had fibroids and adenomyosis (making for a very
sluggish system).
I went through some awful hot flashes for the most part, still have my
sometimes-active ovaries, but overall my skin isn’t "as" difficult. I
learned during those hot flashes that there is topically applied natural
progesterone cream available. As it’s obvious this area is no fun and
probably responsible for skin (and maybe other) system upsets, there’s much
more information about hormones at <A
HREF="www.hormonejungle.com">www.hormonejungle.com</A> … much to learn,
more breakthrough hormone options almost available to the public. Above all,
don’t take my "advice" on hormones … but don’t blindly take whatever the
doctors are pushing, either. Search all your hormone options and consult
with your doctors as well as your natural-source advisors (some good options
there, some also pretty scary).
Good luck, and let us know how it goes with you. - Katie
November 22nd, 2004 at 2:31 pm
Jen, you do have unique skin
It appears that why the oats didn’t work for
you is their scrubbing action (even without our scrubbing … it’s why they
do work for me, I think). In many cases, scrubbing irritates the acne.
Also, it seems that the alternating of products maintains some of the
softness needed for your "success" (a relative word with acne, I know).
Hmmm … wondering ….. if needing a 4-day cycle for the whole routine,
you’ve obviously put alot of thought and care into this and have also learned
much about your skin in the process. I am concerned that if you were to drop
any part of that cycle you’d end up too oily or too dry and with worse acne,
but also that it’s very complicated to remember what part of the 8-step cycle
you’re on … no wonder you have to try so hard to keep it up, it’s a
"balancing" act of extremes that most of us couldn’t follow. Do you mask
with anything?
I’m thinking oats are still a gentler, more balanced, non-stripping cleansing
system - but not the ground oats in your case - I can refer you to a trusted
source for hydrolized oats (in the form of a clear liquid) and other natural,
gentle, no-scrub, effective ingredients and we can discuss how this might be
used (and shouldn’t be used) … if you’re interested, write me privately.
I’ll be glad to brainstorm a single-day regimen with you.
- Katie
November 23rd, 2004 at 9:27 pm
Good luck, Kathryn (same name, same spelling … you’re alright). Perhaps
trying a low-strength type that varies its delivery throughout the cycle may
help with that nausea ??? If it happens again and is not tolerable, though,
what about the vitamin route that so many have success with?
- Katie
November 25th, 2004 at 7:06 pm
no crap! i was/am on ortho tri right now and its cleared my skin… but
during the first week of pills every cycle i get really nauseated…
i heard allese is supposed to clear acne and not be as sicky…. im going to
check it out with my gyno next week.
November 28th, 2004 at 4:13 am
Good luck, Kathryn (same name, same spelling … you’re alright). Perhaps
trying a low-strength type that varies its delivery throughout the cycle may
help with that nausea ??? If it happens again and is not tolerable, though,
what about the vitamin route that so many have success with?
- Katie
Amanda J. Thurber