African American cycters with hair/skin/weight problems

Fattastic · 08-06-2009, 12:17 AM

Ok, I am having problems! Now my hair seems to be doing OK as long as I don't touch it too much, and pack it with all kinds of strenthing aids. Right now though it's all about my skin and weight.

My skin is horrible! I'm 40 so my skins turn over isn't happening too much. I do facial scrubs and use Palmer skin bleach on it, which gives my skin in general a nice glow, but it isn't doing anything for my dark marks on my skin.

I think what I'm going to do is get some Retin-A so that my skins top layer can peel off and to stop new pimples and marks from forming.

My weight. What can I say? I've been trying to lose weight all of my life. The only time I lost weight was when my husband cheated on me. I dropped 34 pounds without trying. I was smoking about a freaking pack a day then too, and I didn't smoke before that! Stress and cigarettes can make you look great. However I felt the worst I have ever in my whole life.

Are any of you ladies having these problems?

Is Metformin doing anything for any of these problems?

Holler back, PLEASE?

Tina Castle · 08-06-2009, 04:06 AM

Sometimes I use Nadinola's skin discoloration cream to combat the dark patches under my bottom lip on my face.

My hair has always been frizzy (of course), but with lots and lots of dandruff. Gross stuff when I'm combing it out. It's like I can't go two days without washing it before it eeks out on me. When I was younger it wasn't like this at all.

My weight has steadily gone back to where I was earlier this year. Disappointing, but I'm going to keep fighting to get it off.

Oh yes I picked up a smoking habit and that had me eating less and less a day, but it only made my asthma worse so it's not the best diet plan.

I'm not on Metformin, but I hear it works wonders.

mat301998 · 08-07-2009, 12:04 AM

Wow! Your experience was too similar to someone I know. Strange how the body reacts to infidelity. Hope you've taken time to heal and move into another chapter in your life.

I'm using oil of olay products on my face and neck and whatever else I want on the rest of my body. I'm having weight issues too. I do what I can --exercise and eat healthy when it works out, and when it doesn't I don't worry or beat myself up about it.

I'm having problems with my hair....what do you use to strengthen your hair. I have used a relaxer for years, but the last two months it hasn't taken as well. I've dealt breakage and excessive dandruff for a long time. Years ago, my relaxers would last 6 to 8 weeks, now by the 4th week I need a new one. Anyone with suggestions?

Acajou73 · 08-07-2009, 02:57 PM

I have all of the problems you mentioned and a few others thrown in for good measure.

I doubt you mean facial hair, but in case that was included in the hair part, then I have it in spades. It has gotten worse since I have gotten pregnant. Metformin had slowed down the growth, but pregnancy has it growing faster than ever. I did have a problem with brittle hair, but pregnancy has made my hair grow thicker faster and I haven't had the bad dandruff in a long time.

Skin, I have very oily skin. Nothing seems to help it...i've tried using special soaps, moisturizer, but nothing seems to work.

Weight problems...yet another thing that PCOS so generously gave to me. I, at one point, weighed 370 and i'm only 5'4". But, I managed to get down to 330lbs (I had had my 3rd miscarriage and went from about 290 to 370 in a matter of months). Anyway, I decided, and I credit met for a good portion of this, that I was going to get under 200 lbs by May. I made it from 330 starting in August 1, 2008 to 249 by march 1. I had been weighing myself about once a month. Anyway, before I got the chance to weigh myself again, I found out that I was pregnant. So, now I weigh 270 (i'm constipated rather badly...I think actually weight is about 264 or so). Ironically, I wasn't going to try to get pregnant again until I reached 199lbs. I wasn't even sure that I could get pregnant because my last pregnancy was over 4 years ago. Anyway, I highly recommend met for curing or at least controlling many of the PCOS problems.

KatCarney · 08-07-2009, 03:53 PM

Each of the issues you've asked about has different treatments (even though some overlap). To make things easier, we have individual forums to keep all the info in one place...

For weight issues, see the stickies at the top of the Diet & Exercise forum. Lots of good info there: http://www.soulcysters.net/diet-exercise/

For Metformin, see this link: http://www.soulcysters.net/metformin...i-take-281499/

Ask any questions in the Metformin forum: http://www.soulcysters.net/metformin/?daysprune=-1

For skin issues, check out the Skin Forum: http://www.soulcysters.net/skin-problems/?daysprune=-1

For hair issues see here: http://www.soulcysters.net/hair-loss.../?daysprune=-1

Fattastic · 08-07-2009, 10:41 PM

Hi mat301998...

Go to: http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/

This place has EVERYTHING for hair, skin, LIFE!

For my hair I take phyto hair pills and rotate through a bunch of stuff at any given time. I have the most gental hair dresser. I only go to him and no one else. NO ONE ELSE. I believe he uses Affirm Perm on my thin hair. When I flat iron I use Vonte' Silk Radiance Spray on my hair. Piece by piece I will spray this magical stuff on my hair. I would not have any hair without it because my hair is paper. My wonderful hair dresser told me about it, bless him! His name is Ronnie at Simply Raw in Los Angeles.

If your hair needs to be permed sooner, perhaps your hair is just growing faster?

Fattastic · 08-07-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatCarney

Each of the issues you've asked about has different treatments (even though some overlap). To make things easier, we have individual forums to keep all the info in one place...

For weight issues, see the stickies at the top of the Diet & Exercise forum. Lots of good info there: http://www.soulcysters.net/diet-exercise/

For Metformin, see this link: http://www.soulcysters.net/metformin...i-take-281499/

Ask any questions in the Metformin forum: http://www.soulcysters.net/metformin/?daysprune=-1

For skin issues, check out the Skin Forum: http://www.soulcysters.net/skin-problems/?daysprune=-1

For hair issues see here: http://www.soulcysters.net/hair-loss.../?daysprune=-1

Thank you Katcartney.

Fattastic · 08-07-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajou73

I have all of the problems you mentioned and a few others thrown in for good measure.

I doubt you mean facial hair, but in case that was included in the hair part, then I have it in spades. It has gotten worse since I have gotten pregnant. Metformin had slowed down the growth, but pregnancy has it growing faster than ever. I did have a problem with brittle hair, but pregnancy has made my hair grow thicker faster and I haven't had the bad dandruff in a long time.

Skin, I have very oily skin. Nothing seems to help it...i've tried using special soaps, moisturizer, but nothing seems to work.

Weight problems...yet another thing that PCOS so generously gave to me. I, at one point, weighed 370 and i'm only 5'4". But, I managed to get down to 330lbs (I had had my 3rd miscarriage and went from about 290 to 370 in a matter of months). Anyway, I decided, and I credit met for a good portion of this, that I was going to get under 200 lbs by May. I made it from 330 starting in August 1, 2008 to 249 by march 1. I had been weighing myself about once a month. Anyway, before I got the chance to weigh myself again, I found out that I was pregnant. So, now I weigh 270 (i'm constipated rather badly...I think actually weight is about 264 or so). Ironically, I wasn't going to try to get pregnant again until I reached 199lbs. I wasn't even sure that I could get pregnant because my last pregnancy was over 4 years ago. Anyway, I highly recommend met for curing or at least controlling many of the PCOS problems.

I don't have much of a problem with hair on the face. I have thin hair that breaks off easily and bad skin. Weight is also another on going problem. I'm going to read more about what to expect on the Metformin.

I need prayer.

LOL. For real!

Tina Castle · 08-08-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mat301998

Wow! Your experience was too similar to someone I know. Strange how the body reacts to infidelity. Hope you've taken time to heal and move into another chapter in your life.

I'm using oil of olay products on my face and neck and whatever else I want on the rest of my body. I'm having weight issues too. I do what I can --exercise and eat healthy when it works out, and when it doesn't I don't worry or beat myself up about it.

I'm having problems with my hair....what do you use to strengthen your hair. I have used a relaxer for years, but the last two months it hasn't taken as well. I've dealt breakage and excessive dandruff for a long time. Years ago, my relaxers would last 6 to 8 weeks, now by the 4th week I need a new one. Anyone with suggestions?

I'm having that same issue when it comes to hair relaxers. I could go three months before I really needed another one, but this last time my hair was screaming for another in less that 8 weeks. What brand of relaxer do you use? I use Optimum Care regular.

I don't know about you, but I can't stand the dandruff. I'm using Tea Tree Oil I bought from the hair store to combat it. I have a weave in now, but where it's cornrowed I have to apply the oil and this other anti-itch hair solution to my scalp.

Back in 2008 my hair went completely flat and was breaking off. It suddenly bounced back on it's own at the beginning of 2009. I don't know what made it so brittle, but I'm guessing my hormones were completely out of whack (as usual). I was super stressed about our home going into forclosure so that could've been it.

mat301998 · 08-09-2009, 12:06 PM

Thanks to all for your responses. My hair may in fact be growing faster that usual, but it's breaking off really bad. I've used my stylist for several years now and she noted the breakage about a year ago--right before my diagnosis with PCOS. She doesn't know about my Dx, but will this week! I don't know what relaxer she used the last two times, and the previous name escapes me now. I have used Pantene shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer and oil sheen for relaxed hair--I used to get some things from my stylist, but just haven't in a while.

In Septemer when diagosed, I did a little research ad only remember that I'd have additional challenges with weigthloss. I don't remember or didn't encounter the host of other issues wth PCOS. I found this site July 2009 and vey happy I did. I am finding that several things I have been dealing with are associated with PCOS.

I am thankful for the website addy and the mention of some meds and products to consider. Stumbling upon this site has been a blessing. Peace to you all!

reneej · 08-14-2009, 12:37 AM

I too have the problem with hair breakage. At first, I related it to stress or being overprocessed. Now I'm certain its because of the PCOS. As for my skin, I use CeraVe along with Ambi's fading cream and Oil of Olay for moisture. I have been trying the microderm treatments and have noticed some spots lighten since then. I'm also using met which I really haven't experienced the benefit of weight loss from. I agree, this website is great! Keep me updated with which products have been successful for you.

sindlye5 · 08-14-2009, 02:54 AM

The only problem i have had with Metformin is really bad loose stools.....I have however with the help of changing my diet and eating no sugar since Feb 1 lost about 50 lbs now.

Acajou73 · 08-14-2009, 08:58 AM

You could switch to glucophage XR (extended release). I have heard that helps with the bowel problems. I have been on met for about 7 years and it was just about 2 years ago that I wasnt as badly affected by loose stools as I had been. Now that i'm pregnant again, I have the opposite problem.
congratulations on the weight loss.
How much more do you have to go? My plan was to get under 200. I got close (started at 330 last August and got to 249 by February) then I got pregnant and stopped losing. I'm now 270 (problems with constipation has a lot to do with that). I'm 5'4" so, sitll huge though i've lost almost 100lbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sindlye5

The only problem i have had with Metformin is really bad loose stools.....I have however with the help of changing my diet and eating no sugar since Feb 1 lost about 50 lbs now.

sindlye5 · 08-15-2009, 01:58 AM

I tried the XR too but the only thing it helped cure for me was the nausea not bowel issues....however since i have to take 750mg three times a day i couldnt take it anymore b/c you cant cut the XR tablets in half.

Acajou73 · 08-15-2009, 11:13 AM

You're on the same dosage as i am now. Unfortunately, it takes time for your body to get used to the pills. If you stay away from greasy and high carb foods, that should help a bit with the bowel problems (at least it helped me although they were still loose, just not as).

Quote:

Originally Posted by sindlye5

I tried the XR too but the only thing it helped cure for me was the nausea not bowel issues....however since i have to take 750mg three times a day i couldnt take it anymore b/c you cant cut the XR tablets in half.