Acne Problems
Hi! (I posted a similar message earlier, but I have some additonal questions to
ask this time)
I am a 23-year old boy and I have been suffering from severe acne for the past 5
years. I have consulted a number of specialists and used nearly all kinds of
medication, but it has shown no sign of relief. Nowadays, I am using an ointment
called ‘Airol’ for more than a fortnight. However, the condition does not seem
to have bettered; infact it has sort of worsened as I see some new white colored
pimples on my face everyday. This has been happening for very long and I dont
know how to cure them. I also try to wash my face with Neutrogena (normal
formula) soap once daily. Using Neutrogena and Airol or using either of them
causes white flakes to form on my face and it roughens my face a lot. I dont
think that the soap as well as the ointment suits my skin a great deal.
I have researched a bit and found that accutane is also used as a treatment for
acne. However, its side effects have scared me off and I am afraid to use it (in
the near future at least). So, using accutane is out of the question at the
moment. On a bit more research, I found that benzoyl peroxide and salycic acid
(I dont know if I’ve spelled them right) are also used for acne. Neutrogena has
some products which have these chemicals. Can anyone let me know if anyone of
you have found the Neutrogena products effective?
Recently, a friend of mine told me to apply lemon juice on my face twice a day.
It helped him, so I am using that too. Any comments?
There is one more thing: how do I tell my skin and hair types? That is, how do I
know if my skin is oily, dry or normal?
Please help me on the above-cited matters.
Thanks a lot. Best wishes.
Mark.
February 9th, 2005 at 6:42 pm
Mark,
Reconsider. I did accutane a couple of years ago after terrible cycstic-type
acne. I tried years of everything and was at the bottom of my rope. I’m 42
now, completely clear skin, and I don’t regret any of it. I just wished I had
accutane during my younger years! The only side effect I went through which was
a
pain in the butt was dry lips. I went through a lot of vaseline!
–judy
February 10th, 2005 at 2:05 am
Hi Mark …
<<… new white colored pimples on my face everyday. This has been happening
for very long and I dont know how to cure them. I also try to wash my face
with Neutrogena (normal formula) soap once daily. Using Neutrogena and Airol or
using either of them causes white flakes to form on my face and it roughens my
face a lot. I dont think that the soap as well as the ointment suits my skin a
great deal. >>
White-colored pimples are whiteheads, containing the matter of a pimple minus
the oil that could assist its self-clearing. Your products are either
clogging your pores or are overly drying, which will contribute to your pores
becoming clogged by their own matter … as seen by the white flakes, you’re at
least overly drying your skin. Possibly a strong detergent-type surfactent
cleanser …
<<Recently, a friend of mine told me to apply lemon juice on my face twice a
day. It helped him, so I am using that too. Any comments?>>
Alpha Hydroxy Acids are great, but only in the right strengths. I’m very
concerned with the 2.0 pH of lemon juice, as that is way too strong (and a
definite sensitizer for already sensitive skin). If you wish to use lemon juice
as
an exfoliant, I’d recommend you dilute it with at least an equal part of
water, apply, then re-rinse after 5 or 10 minutes. Be advised that AHAs can
photosensitize, and advise to wear sunscreen is mandated by law to be on all AHA
products. On your other question, salicylic acid is the only Beta Hydroxy Acid,
a wonderfully effective exfoliant AND the only one of the acids that also gets
inside the pores. Takes just a tad longer to clear than benzoyl peroxide,
but is less drying to skin, as well. I highly recommend trying a gently
formulated product containing it that is not advertised to dry your skin.
<<how do I tell my skin and hair types? That is, how do I know if my skin is
oily, dry or normal?>>
After cleansing your face in the morning with something neutral (grind up a
few oats, make a paste with water, cleanse, and rinse … about as neutral and
thorough as you can get without overly drying or adding to oiliness), and
leaving alone after rinsing, oily skin typically feels slick to the touch by
early- to mid-afternoon, overly oily skin will feel that way sooner. Normal
skin
feels okay … kind of balanced in the production of oils (you CAN feel
slickness by next morning, depending … but it’s not as severe as oily). Dry
skin
tends to look scaly, remain "non-slick" or dry/coarse to the touch, and/or be a
bit itchy when in an arid environment … and excessively dry skin makes no
mistake that it’s parched.
Hope that helps.
- Katie
February 10th, 2005 at 11:04 pm
Hope this helps to answer your questions on accutane.
Heather
Medication Guide
Accutane Capsules
(isotretinoin)
Read this Medication Guide every time you get a prescription or a
refill for Accutane (ACK-u-tane). There may be new information. This
information does not take the place of talking with your prescriber
(doctor or other health care provider).
What is the most important information I should know about Accutane?
Accutane is used to treat a type of severe acne (nodular acne) that
has not been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics.
However, Accutane can cause serious side effects. Before starting
Accutane, discuss with your prescriber how bad your acne is, the
possible benefits of Accutane, and its possible side effects, to
decide if Accutane is right for you. Your prescriber will ask you to
read and sign a form or forms indicating you understand some of the
serious risks of Accutane.
Possible serious side effects of taking Accutane include birth
defects and mental disorders.
1. Birth defects. Accutane can cause birth defects (deformed babies)
if taken by a pregnant woman. It can also cause miscarriage (losing
the baby before birth), premature (early) birth, or death of the
baby. Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant while you are taking Accutane. Do not get pregnant for 1
month after you stop taking Accutane. Also, if you get pregnant
while taking Accutane, stop taking it right away and call your
prescriber.
All females should read the section in this Medication Guide "What
are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?"
2. Mental problems and suicide. Some patients, while taking Accutane
or soon after stopping Accutane, have become depressed or developed
other serious mental problems. Symptoms of these problems include
sad, "anxious" or empty mood, irritability, anger, loss of pleasure
or interest in social or sports activities, sleeping too much or too
little, changes in weight or appetite, school or work performance
going down, or trouble concentrating. Some patients taking Accutane
have had thoughts about hurting themselves or putting an end to
their own lives (suicidal thoughts). Some people tried to end their
own lives. And some people have ended their own lives. There were
reports that some of these people did not appear depressed. No one
knows if Accutane caused these behaviors or if they would have
happened even if the person did not take Accutane.
All patients should read the section in this Medication Guide "What
are the signs of mental problems?"
For other possible serious side effects of Accutane, see "What are
the possible side effects of Accutane?" in this Medication Guide.
What are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?
You must not become pregnant while taking Accutane, or for 1 month
after you stop taking Accutane. Accutane can cause severe birth
defects in babies of women who take it while they are pregnant, even
if they take Accutane for only a short time. There is an extremely
high risk that your baby will be deformed or will die if you are
pregnant while taking Accutane. Taking Accutane also increases the
chance of miscarriage and premature births.
Female patients will not get their first prescription for Accutane
unless there is proof they have had 2 negative pregnancy tests. The
first test must be done when your prescriber decides to prescribe
Accutane. The second pregnancy test must be done during the first 5
days of the menstrual period right before starting Accutane therapy,
or as instructed by your prescriber. Each month of treatment, you
must have a negative result from a urine or serum pregnancy test.
Female patients cannot get another prescription for Accutane unless
there is proof that they have had a negative pregnancy test.
A yellow self-adhesive Accutane Qualification Sticker on your
prescription indicates to the pharmacist that you are qualified by
your prescriber to get Accutane.
While you are taking Accutane, you must use effective birth control.
You must use 2 separate effective forms of birth control at the same
time for at least 1 month before starting Accutane, while you take
it, and for 1 month after you stop taking it. You can either discuss
effective birth control methods with your prescriber or go for a
free visit to discuss birth control with another physician or family
planning expert. Your prescriber can arrange this free visit, which
will be paid for by the manufacturer.
You must use 2 separate forms of effective birth control because any
method, including birth control pills and sterilization, can fail.
There are only 2 reasons you would not need to use 2 separate
methods of effective birth control:
You have had your womb removed by surgery (a hysterectomy).
You are absolutely certain you will not have genital-to-genital
sexual contact with a male before, during, and for 1 month after
Accutane treatment.
If you have sex at any time without using 2 forms of effective birth
control, get pregnant, or miss your period, stop using Accutane and
call your prescriber right away.
All patients should read the rest of this Medication Guide.
What are the signs of mental problems?
Tell your prescriber if, to the best of your knowledge, you or
someone in your family has ever had any mental illness, including
depression, suicidal behavior, or psychosis. Psychosis means a loss
of contact with reality, such as hearing voices or seeing things
that are not there. Also, tell your prescriber if you take medicines
for any of these problems.
Stop using Accutane and tell your provider right away if you:
• Start to feel sad or have crying spells
• Lose interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Sleep too much or have trouble sleeping
• Become more irritable than usual
• Have a change in your appetite or body weight
• Have trouble concentrating
• Withdraw from your friends or family
• Feel like you have no energy
• Have feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
• Start having thoughts about hurting yourself or taking your own
life (suicidal thoughts)
What is Accutane?
Accutane is used to treat the most severe form of acne (nodular
acne) that cannot be cleared up by any other acne treatments,
including antibiotics. In severe nodular acne, many red, swollen,
tender lumps form in the skin. These can be the size of pencil
erasers or larger. If untreated, nodular acne can lead to permanent
scars. However, because Accutane can have serious side effects, you
should talk with your prescriber about all of the possible
treatments for your acne, and whether Accutane’s possible benefits
outweigh its possible risks.
Who should not take Accutane?
· Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant,
or become pregnant during Accutane treatment. Accutane causes severe
birth defects. All females should read the section "What are the
important warnings for females taking Accutane?" for more
information and warnings about Accutane and pregnancy.
· Do not take Accutane unless you completely understand its possible
risks and are willing to follow all of the instructions in this
Medication Guide.
Tell your prescriber if you or someone in your family has had any
kind of mental problems, asthma, liver disease, diabetes, heart
disease, osteoporosis (bone loss), weak bones, anorexia nervosa (an
eating disorder where people eat too little), or any other important
health problems. Tell your prescriber about any food or drug
allergies you have had in the past. These problems do not
necessarily mean you cannot take Accutane, but your prescriber needs
this information to discuss if Accutane is right for you.
How should I take Accutane?
· You will get no more than a 30-day supply of Accutane at a time,
to be sure you check in with your prescriber each month to discuss
side effects.
· Your prescription should have a special yellow self-adhesive
sticker attached to it. The sticker is YELLOW. If your prescription
does not have this yellow self-adhesive sticker, call your
prescriber. The pharmacy should not fill your prescription unless it
has the yellow self-adhesive sticker.
· The amount of Accutane you take has been specially chosen for you
and may change during treatment.
· You will take Accutane 2 times a day with a meal, unless your
prescriber tells you otherwise. Swallow your Accutane capsules with
a full glass of liquid. This will help prevent the medication inside
the capsule from irritating the lining of your esophagus (connection
between mouth and stomach). For the same reason, do not chew or suck
on the capsule.
· If you miss a dose, just skip that dose. Do not take 2 doses the
next time.
· You should return to your prescriber as directed to make sure you
don’t have signs of serious side effects. Because some of Accutane’s
serious side effects show up in blood tests, some of these visits
may involve blood tests (monthly visits for female patients should
always include a urine or serum pregnancy test).
What should I avoid while taking Accutane?
· Do not get pregnant while taking Accutane. See "What is the most
important information I should know about Accutane?" and "What are
the important warnings for females taking Accutane?"
· Do not breast feed while taking Accutane and for 1 month after
stopping Accutane. We do not know if Accutane can pass through your
milk and harm the baby.
· Do not give blood while you take Accutane and for 1 month after
stopping Accutane. If someone who is pregnant gets your donated
blood, her baby may be exposed to Accutane and may be born with
birth defects.
· Do not take vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A in high doses has
many of the same side effects as Accutane. Taking both together may
increase your chance of getting side effects.
· Do not have cosmetic procedures to smooth your skin, including
waxing, dermabrasion, or laser procedures, while you are using
Accutane and for at least 6 months after you stop. Accutane can
increase your chance of scarring from these procedures. Check with
your prescriber for advice about when you can have cosmetic
procedures.
· Avoid sunlight and ultraviolet lights as much as possible. Tanning
machines use ultraviolet lights. Accutane may make your skin more
sensitive to light.
· Do not use birth control pills that do not contain estrogen
("minipills"). They may not work while you take Accutane. Ask your
prescriber or pharmacist if you are not sure what type you are using.
· Talk with your doctor if you plan to take other drugs or herbal
products. This is especially important for patients using birth
control pills and other hormonal types of birth control because the
birth control may not work as effectively if you are taking certain
drugs or herbal products. You should not take the herbal supplement
St. John’s Wort because this herbal supplement may make birth
control pills not work as effectively.
· Talk with your doctor if you are currently taking an oral or
injected corticosteroid or anticonvulsant (seizure) medication prior
to using Accutane. These drugs may weaken your bones.
· Do not share Accutane with other people. It can cause birth
defects and other serious health problems.
· Do not take Accutane with antibiotics unless you talk to your
prescriber. For some antibiotics, you may have to stop taking
Accutane until the antibiotic treatment is finished. Use of both
drugs together can increase the chances of getting increased
pressure in the brain.
What are the possible side effects of Accutane?
Accutane has possible serious side effects
· Accutane can cause birth defects, premature births, and death in
babies whose mothers took Accutane while they were pregnant.
See "What is the most important information I should know about
Accutane?" and "What are the important warnings for females taking
Accutane?"
· Serious mental health problems. See "What is the most important
information I should know about Accutane?"
· Serious brain problems. Accutane can increase the pressure in your
brain. This can lead to permanent loss of sight, or in rare cases,
death. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away if
you get any of these signs of increased brain pressure: bad
headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Also, some
patients taking Accutane have had seizures (convulsions) or stroke.
· Abdomen (stomach area) problems. Certain symptoms may mean that
your internal organs are being damaged. These organs include the
liver, pancreas, bowel (intestines), and esophagus (connection
between mouth and stomach). If your organs are damaged, they may not
get better even after you stop taking Accutane. Stop taking Accutane
and call your prescriber if you get severe stomach, chest or bowel
pain, trouble swallowing or painful swallowing, new or worsening
heartburn, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, yellowing of your skin or
eyes, or dark urine.
· Bone and muscle problems. Accutane may affect bones, muscles, and
ligaments and cause pain in your joints or muscles. Tell your
prescriber if you plan vigorous physical activity during treatment
with Accutane. Tell your prescriber if you develop pain,
particularly back pain or joint pain. There are reports that some
patients have had stunted growth after taking Accutane for acne as
directed. There are also some reports of broken bones or reduced
healing of broken bones after taking Accutane for acne as directed.
No one knows if taking Accutane for acne will affect your bones. If
you have a broken bone, tell your provider that you are taking
Accutane. Muscle weakness with or without pain can be a sign of
serious muscle damage. If this happens, stop taking Accutane and
call your prescriber right away.
· Hearing problems. Some people taking Accutane have developed
hearing problems. It is possible that hearing loss can be permanent.
Stop using Accutane and call your prescriber if your hearing gets
worse or if you have ringing in your ears.
· Vision problems. While taking Accutane you may develop a sudden
inability to see in the dark, so driving at night can be dangerous.
This condition usually clears up after you stop taking Accutane, but
it may be permanent. Other serious eye effects can occur. Stop
taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away if you have any
problems with your vision or dryness of the eyes that is painful or
constant.
· Lipid (fats and cholesterol in blood) problems. Many people taking
Accutane develop high levels of cholesterol and other fats in their
blood. This can be a serious problem. Return to your prescriber for
blood tests to check your lipids and to get any needed treatment.
These problems generally go away when Accutane treatment is finished.
· Allergic reactions. In some people, Accutane can cause serious
allergic reactions. Stop taking Accutane and get emergency care
right away if you develop hives, a swollen face or mouth, or have
trouble breathing. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber if
you develop a fever, rash, or red patches or bruises on your legs.
· Signs of other possibly serious problems. Accutane may cause other
problems. Tell your prescriber if you have trouble breathing
(shortness of breath), are fainting, are very thirsty or urinate a
lot, feel weak, have leg swelling, convulsions, slurred speech,
problems moving, or any other serious or unusual problems. Frequent
urination and thirst can be signs of blood sugar problems.
Serious permanent problems do not happen often. However, because the
symptoms listed above may be signs of serious problems, if you get
these symptoms, stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber. If
not treated, they could lead to serious health problems. Even if
these problems are treated, they may not clear up after you stop
taking Accutane.
Accutane has less serious possible side effects
The common less serious side effects of Accutane are dry skin,
chapped lips, dry eyes, and dry nose that may lead to nosebleeds.
People who wear contact lenses may have trouble wearing them while
taking Accutane and after therapy. Sometimes, people’s acne may get
worse for a while. They should continue taking Accutane unless told
to stop by their prescriber.
These are not all of Accutane’s possible side effects. Your
prescriber or pharmacist can give you more detailed information that
is written for health care professionals.
This Medication Guide is only a summary of some important
information about Accutane. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for
purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. If you have
any concerns or questions about Accutane, ask your prescriber. Do
not use Accutane for a condition for which it was not prescribed.
Active Ingredient: Isotretinoin.
Inactive Ingredients: beeswax, butylated hydroxyanisole, edetate
disodium, hydrogenated soybean oil flakes, hydrogenated vegetable
oil, and soybean oil. Gelatin capsules contain glycerin and parabens
(methyl and propyl), with the following dye systems: 10 mg — iron
oxide (red) and titanium dioxide; 20 mg — FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Blue
No. 1, and titanium dioxide; 40 mg — FD&C Yellow No. 6, D&C Yellow
No. 10, and titanium dioxide.
———————————————————————
———–
February 11th, 2005 at 9:23 am
I would be very wary of using accutane. Use of accutane caused
severe birth defects in my last pregnancy which resulted in the
death of my child.
My advice would be to look for another solution.
Angie
February 12th, 2005 at 8:34 am
> have found that Cetaphil’s gentle cleansing bar for sensitive skin
> works the best for me
I use Cetaphil liquid soap and moisturizer. Took me a while to get used to
the soap because it was so smooth and creamy that it didn’t feel as if it was
cleaning my face! The moisturizer was something I had to get used to also
because it would make my face feel slimy, but after while, I would get to feel
when
my skin needed that moisture. I was obviously neglecting my skin in that
regard. In the shower, however, I use either Ivory or Dove (for sensitive skin).
–judy
February 12th, 2005 at 6:53 pm
> What is Accutane n where is it available?
> Pls help
>
You must see a dermatologist for this treatment. And, the dermatologist has
to recommend it. Mine was a 3 month treatment of taking 1-2 pills a day (can’t
remember). The pills will really suck the moisture out of you, so you must
drink a lot of water and moisturize like crazy! My skin got worse before it got
better. When it was in the worse stage, I panicked. But, the doctor encouraged
me to hang on and he was right. I hung in there and it all worked out in the
long run.
My dermatologist recommended the treatment because I had tried everything
else. To be on Accutane, though, I HAD to be on the birth control pill (no other
way) because the medicine could cause severe problems in a baby born to a
woman taking accutane. Men obviously don’t have to worry about that!
There’s no better way than to do your own research on it. Talk to your
doctors, research the internet. Good luck in whatever you choose.
–judy
February 13th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
Angie,
I am very sorry to hear about the death of your child. Were you on the
accutane when you got pregnant or after? The doctors told me that while I was
certainly not to get pregnant during the use of Accutane, it would be okay to
get
pregnant sometime after the treatment. Because of a hormonal disorder, I was
unable to get pregnant anyway. Your story makes me wonder.
–judy
February 13th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Judy,
I learned after I had taken accutane that it can remain in your
system for at a period of time after you stop taking it and everyone
seems to have their own opinion of how long after stopping it that
it remains in your system:
The manufacturer now says up to six months
Some doctors say up to three years
My pediatrcian said up to seven years
Makes you wonder what the truth is. In my case, I became pregnant
about three months after stopping accutane and at that time there
was nothing said about side effects after you stopped taking the
drug.
Angie
February 14th, 2005 at 9:33 am
Judy,
I tried the liquid cleanser but it was too "slick" and didn’t remove
my makeup easily.
Katrina
February 14th, 2005 at 10:26 pm
Angie,
That’s just plain terrible. I knew it remained in your system for a period of
time, but my doc (without remembering exactly) indicated that it wasn’t a
long period of time. I gave it a good year though–a period of time I thought
would have been safe. I was unaware of all the different opinions. It does make
you wonder about who is telling the truth.
–judy
February 15th, 2005 at 8:45 am
Katrina,
I can understand that. Make-up wasn’t an issue for me, though, because I’m
allergic to the stuff. But, on the few occasions I did use cover-up, I washed it
off with plain Ivory. Afterwards, I would put on the moisturizer so I
wouldn’t dry up my skin. As far as eye make-up, I use vaseline, which works
great for
me.
–judy
February 15th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
> Make-up wasn’t an issue for me, though, because I’m allergic to the stuff.
Judy, have you tried the mineral type cosmetics? Canary Cosmetics and
Mineral Secrets seem to have slightly different compositions, but all claim to
be
wonderful for sensitive, even post-laser-surgery skin ???
- Katie
February 16th, 2005 at 2:27 am
> I was unaware of all the different opinions. It does make you wonder about
> who is telling the truth.
Sadly, there’s a lot they just don’t know in spite of all the extensive
testing, etc.
Even my bad experience switching from one med to another 10 years ago shows,
however, that more is learned over time than was originally known …
apparently, my bad reaction to the new one was more a reaction of the old one
not
having been gradually reduced first. I was experiencing a drug interaction.
The
doctors learned over the years that it was necessary to gradually reduce the
one causing the bad interactions before starting another. Docs have to depend
upon the sales rep from the drug company to present it, the sales rep has a
vested interest in selling it and, though it MAY be in the fine-printed
material, wasn’t pointed out to a busy doctor ???
Even pharmacists are finding they must provide more disclosure.
I’m so sorry about your baby.
- Katie
February 16th, 2005 at 1:07 pm
Judy,
Personally I don’t think even the doctors really know for sure.
Seems like they prescribe stuff without really nothing all the side
effects of the medications. I don’t know, maybe it’s really the
FDA’s fault for approving products without thoroughly testing them
first.
Angie
February 16th, 2005 at 11:25 pm
Katie,
Where do you purchase Canary Cosmetics and Mineral secrets? Do you
use either one of them?
Katrina
February 17th, 2005 at 9:44 am
Katie,
If you don’t mind my asking, what were the two products you were
using and what was the reaction? As the people using these products,
perhaps we’re the best ones to know what reactions to expect.
I hope the drug interaction did no lasting damage.
Thanks for caring,
Angie
February 17th, 2005 at 7:42 pm
Angie, it was in no way related to acne. Actually, my post-partum depression
after 2nd child hadn’t "lifted." It was very severe and, after 18 months, I
knew I needed help (I’d always been able to pull myself out of it before, and
had really tried). The first antidepressant was zoloft. Like many others, it
helped a bit, then platued, so he put me on wellbutrin. Wellbutrin got the
blame. My brother-in-law is a pharmacist, and I learned that they didn’t know
then like they do today that making that common sequential move from zoloft to
wellbutrin requires weaning and building to avoid the interactions I
experienced. I call it my "psycho" week and remember staying in my chair so
no-one
would get hurt LOL/Not really so funny : /
Thank God, I do not need antidepressants anymore … but really did for a
little while to give those hormones the boost they weren’t producing on their
own.
- Katie
February 18th, 2005 at 6:00 am
Hi Katrina …
I haven’t tried either yet (laid off since January). I found them online …
try canarycosmetics.com and mineralsecrets.com
- Katie
February 18th, 2005 at 7:15 pm
No…I haven’t even heard of them. Where are they found?
–judy
February 19th, 2005 at 5:33 am
Katrina,
I experienced the EXACT same thing except I went from Paxil to Wellbutrin.
Paxil was prescribed for post-partum depression as well. Since the Paxil caused
sexual dysfunction, my family doctor switched me to Wellbutrin. He told me to
just stop the Paxil and start the Wellbutrin. It took a total of 2 days before
I was so paranoid that I couldn’t sleep. One night I did fall asleep and had
the worst nightmare of my life about my little boy. I woke up and immediately
picked him up from his bed to sleep near me in my bed because I was so afraid
(my husband was out of town during this time, of course!). The next day I had
to have a friend come and take my son for the day while I made an emergency
visit to my family doctor’s office for help–when I called and heard my
emotional breakdown over the phone, they told me to come in right away. My
doctor
thought the problem was the Wellbutrin but wasn’t sure. To be on the safe side,
he
put me back on the Paxil. I started feeling better within 1/2 day. When I
went to a psychiatrist for help, he told me that it wasn’t the Wellbutrin at
all;
it was the way he took me off the Paxil cold turkey. He rolled his eyes over
the ignorance of the family doctor and explained that Paxil requires a long
weaning process, which I undertook under his supervision…it lasted 2 months.
That was 4 years ago. After trying a few other antidepressants, I’m finally on
Wellbutrin, which ended up to work the best. Unfortunately for me, my usage
will be long term since I have an abundance of hormonal problems. But, I can
definitely relate to your use of the term "psycho" week. We can laugh now, but
it
sure wasn’t funny at the time; was it?
Glad to hear you no longer need them!
–judy
February 19th, 2005 at 11:36 pm
Katie,
Well, I’m glad to hear things are better now. I guess if stress and
hormones are the cause of acne, then we’ve both been there, done
that and should be doing better by now!
Angie
April 6th, 2005 at 12:15 pm
Hi Mini …
What is jojaba oil?
Jojoba is the "oil" expressed from a desert shrub - it’s makeup is more akin
to human sebum than other oils and, though we call it an "oil," it’s more a
liquid wax ester. I use natural (golden) rather than refined (clear), as I’m
one of the whole-product-when-possible people, and this one - called liquid gold
- is really nice.
… Is it really good for acne prone skin ?
YES. It helps balance by softening outer dead-cell surface, gets down into
pores and helps dissolve matter …
… cannot imagine using any oil on … really oily skin
Yes, it’s true … oil glands operate on a supply-demand basis, as do
lactating breasts. Some have too much. One of the reasons may be that your
products
were stripping your oils (thus calling for more oil to be produced). After a
little bit of this trick, the oil production should calm down a bit.
- Katie
April 7th, 2005 at 9:13 am
I just bought this oil but not sure how to use it. Do I just dab
this on my face as a moisturizer or use it as a cleanser to wipe off
dirt/make up? Could someone explain? Thanks a bunch!
April 9th, 2005 at 2:07 am
Oils can be used for many parts of our skincare. The application discussed
on this thread is applying the jojoba to acneic skin and letting it be for a
minute (or a few). For some, a rinsing off of the excess oil and dirt is all
that’s needed, for others, a cleansing is needed. For still others, like me, I
apply a little vinegar with the jojoba … this is a seriously strong form of
AHA but is the only acidic anything I use (I’m a fair-skinned caucasion). To
cleanse, I use either my oats mix or one of my dry-skin true soaps after the
oil (in spite of having a moderately oily skin area on my nose … still comes
really clean and is less oily when not stripped).
Whether or not one chooses to use the vinegar or another "active," I find
that my face comes out cleaner and clears better when using the jojoba to soften
and loosen the dirt, yet feels as if I’ve just put lotion on it. Cleansing
creams did that for women in the 60s, yet was heavy / greasy and clogged pores
(which this isn’t - this is skin friendly).
Toning is still nice on skin after stepping out of the shower, as long as
it’s a non-alcohol toner. Even the witch hazel with 14% alcohol by volume can
be
too drying to the surface skin that you’ve just softened with the oils …
perhaps not for "clear" normal to oily skins, but acneic skin needs help keeping
the dead-surface cells soft, moist, clean, and exfoliating. My favorites are
witch hazel hydrosol, rosewater, or aloe juice (note: aloe juice is drinking
kind and must be kept in fridge - use from a cheap spray bottle to avoid
contamination from your hands). These soak right in, hydrating your skin, and
are
also very refreshing.
Oils can also be used in place of a lotion. I’ve opted to minimize my
skincare to the basics, so I use a drop of my oil or oil mix of choice along
with a
heaping handful of my no-alcohol toner. It’s messy, but I prefer not putting
thickeners, fragrances, or essential oils on my skin. Should you prefer
essential oils and know how to use them, they can be properly incorporated into
an
oil mix.
- Katie
April 21st, 2005 at 3:11 am
Wow! It sounds as if you have done alot of research! Where do you
get the aloe juice? I’ve never heard of aloe juice for drinking. I
guess I don’t spend enough time in the health food store anymore.
Kara Hoover
April 24th, 2005 at 3:00 am
> Where do you get the aloe juice … for drinking
health-food stores, walmart …