I have very bad acne and all the porducts I use never seem to work longer then a week. Now I want to try the natrual approach. I've read couple things saying that taking zinc is really good for your skin and can help clear up acne. Has anyone tried using it? Does anyone know of any vitamins that might help?
I have recently started taking Zinc, about 2 weeks ago and have yet to see any results. My acne is worse but I read it can take usually around 12 weeks for results to show. I will update with any noticeable improvements (if I get any!).
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Walking & Low Carbing to 146lbs - nearly there!
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have u tried evening primrose oil - it might be worth a try as lots of people seem to have found it useful?! also vitamin E is supposed to be good for healthy skin, i'd say carry on with the zinc though as its supposed to be good for your skin as well.
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If anyone can let me know what success you have with what doses of EPO and Vitamin E that would be really useful to me. I have been taking over 5000mg a day but no changes to my acne. If anything it is worse. I am also taking Vitamin E and that hasn't made any difference either. Thanks. x
__________________ Age: 26
DX: May 2004
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Walking & Low Carbing to 146lbs - nearly there!
July 07 : 167lbs
Sept 07: 153lbs
Nov 07: 147lbs
May 08: 144lbs
July 08: 140lbs
I took zinc tablets a few years ago for my cystic acne, and it had absolutely no effect.
The ONLY thing that has helped my acne is CHROMIUM supplements! It is even better than antibiotics! I still swear by it even though I am taking Metformin now.
Chromium helps your body's sugar metabolism. The bottle says: chromium picolinate - GTF - trivalent (chromium lll) One tablet is 125 mcg, I take one a day, but I have heard that some people take more.
The chromium helped right away, I never had a "bad reaction" at first.
Hope this helps!
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I know evening primrose works really well with some people, but I tried it and it made my skin soooo much worse. I was gutted. I took zinc for a while too, can't remember the dose, but it did improve my skin slightly.
But the only thing that has really made a difference is agnus castus vitex - 1000mg capsule first thing in the morning, and my acne has almost completely cleared. And my skin really was quite bad.
But really, the annoying thing is, it's a case of trial and error! What works for one person can make someone else worse.
Good luck in your misson to get your skin cleared, I'm sure you'll find something that suits you.
I've tried zinc repeatedly in the past for both hidradenitis suppurativa and acne in doses up to 150mgs a day for months at time to no effect at all. I did recently read somewhere (sorry, I really have to start writing this stuff down!) that the "gluconate" form of zinc is the only one that is effective for acne. Not sure how true this is as I've sworn off zinc for now, except for what's in my multi. My tummy just can't handle the stuff.
I was having great success with Saw Palmetto berries, but recently the zits are back with a vengence. I also just switched brands from Target's generic "Origin's" brand to GNC's, so I'm thinking GNC might not be the best place to buy saw palmetto berries. The price is double, to add insult to injury.
Evening Primrose Oil does seem to be drying out my oily skin a bit at least. I've only been taking it a week and only at 2000mgs a day, so it's probably too early to tell much on that one.
I use a toner twice a day made of a half and half mixture of apple cider vinegar and distilled water with two aspirins (per 8 oz.) added for salicylic acid (well, aspirin is actually a close chemical relative). This helps a lot and helps my scars look less red and smoother. Cheap too! I've used this with success for a couple years now.
My skin is in such a state ladies and I'm not really happy about it Yes, it's just before AF, but it hasn't been this bad since I can remember. Truth be told, it had been doing so well in the past year that I had gotten a bit spoiled and to see the whole right side of my face (only the right, WTH?) going nuts is more than a bit depressing. And of course this will bring even more lovely scars to add to my collection. I just picked up Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Defense Lotion as I've heard great things about it. I'll keep you posted on that.
__________________ Me (33)/Michael (3o) Together for almost nine long, happy years!
First PCOS dx: 1989 Supplements: One A Day Weight Smart, B Complex, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (B5), B12, Saw Palmetto, Vit C, Vit D3, NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chromium Piconolate, Cinnamon, Magnesium, EPO, Zinc Gluconate, Green Tea Diet: "Modified" Zone plan
"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her" -Anon.
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Since you're trying the natural route, have you tried vitamin B-5 yet? Forgive me if you have and have posted about it as my memory is very poor right now. I've never tried it personally, but I've read about people having great success with it on the internet. If you do an internet search on b-5 and acne you should be able to learn all about it, as you do have to take a very high dose and take other vitamins/minerals with it to make sure you don't get out of whack.
Try not to get too discouraged hon. It took me until I was in my thirties to start to get my skin really sorted out, and it isn't just age as I come from a family where people still get get acne in their 70s! It just takes persistance.
Hope you find something soon!
Dana
__________________ Me (33)/Michael (3o) Together for almost nine long, happy years!
First PCOS dx: 1989 Supplements: One A Day Weight Smart, B Complex, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (B5), B12, Saw Palmetto, Vit C, Vit D3, NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chromium Piconolate, Cinnamon, Magnesium, EPO, Zinc Gluconate, Green Tea Diet: "Modified" Zone plan
"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her" -Anon.
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Zinc may not be helping on the outside, but it sure is on the inside. In my job at a pizza parlor I sometimes get small burns and cuts. Before taking zinc, the wound would heal very slowly. After taking 50 mgs of zinc everyday for about 2 months, they healed VERY fast. After a week there is only a small mark, and after a month the scar is gone completely. So even though I haven't noticed any outward changes from zinc, I still take it!
Zinc also helps your immune system. I don't feel as under the weather as often.
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I just picked up Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Defense Lotion as I've heard great things about it. I'll keep you posted on that.
Well, I did promise to keep you updated, plus I'm a wee bit excited to be honest. It's not often I find an acne product that does what it is supposed to do.
It's not exactly natural, but check out my review of Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Lotion in the sticky thread above entitled "Acne Treatments Cysters Have Tried". This stuff is GREAT!!!
Something else I've been trying is a Vitamin C serum. The brand I use I "Dr. Varon's", but there's a lot of different brands out there, especially if you don't mind paying $100 an ounce (mine was $19 ). The original reason I bought it was to further protect my fair skin from cancer (Vitamin C is a great anti-oxidant, as we all know), but I was surprised to find that it is further drying out my oily skin and evening out my ruddy skintone. Red marks from past breakouts are disappearing even faster. You can even make your own Vitamin C serum with vit C powder and water (lasts only a day) or vit C powder and various other ingredients (such as glycerine), which lasts about a week. Sadly this stuff isn't very stable.
Keep up the good fight Cysters!
Dana
__________________ Me (33)/Michael (3o) Together for almost nine long, happy years!
First PCOS dx: 1989 Supplements: One A Day Weight Smart, B Complex, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (B5), B12, Saw Palmetto, Vit C, Vit D3, NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chromium Piconolate, Cinnamon, Magnesium, EPO, Zinc Gluconate, Green Tea Diet: "Modified" Zone plan
"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her" -Anon.
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I am taking zinc so far my acne has gotten worse. I will keep taking it and see if there is an improvement.
Angie
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So it appears that zinc gluconate is the type to try for acne. A few weeks back I looked at zinc in the pharmacy, thinking of giving it a try again, but it did not come in the gluconate form. I don't remember the form, just that it wasn't gluconate.
What DOES contain zinc gluconate that is easy to obtain? Cold-Eeze (sp?) lozenges, of all things. I saw them mentioned over and over in my search and that's the form of zinc they contain. I have no idea how much though, or if this product is available outside of the US. Plus, from what I hear they taste horrid!
Hope that is of use to someone!
Dana
__________________ Me (33)/Michael (3o) Together for almost nine long, happy years!
First PCOS dx: 1989 Supplements: One A Day Weight Smart, B Complex, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (B5), B12, Saw Palmetto, Vit C, Vit D3, NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chromium Piconolate, Cinnamon, Magnesium, EPO, Zinc Gluconate, Green Tea Diet: "Modified" Zone plan
"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her" -Anon.
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I have taken Zinc daily for years, it doesn't do anything for acne, but it does help with hair loss I have only just discovered I may have PCOS - I am being treated for rosacea, goddamn doctors how can they miss all those symptoms?
does anyone take zinc? 
Yes, it's just before AF, but it hasn't been this bad since I can remember. Truth be told, it had been doing so well in the past year that I had gotten a bit spoiled and to see the whole right side of my face (only the right, WTH?) going nuts is more than a bit depressing. And of course this will bring even more lovely scars to add to my collection. I just picked up Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Defense Lotion as I've heard great things about it. I'll keep you posted on that.
I will persevere for a while longer. x
). The original reason I bought it was to further protect my fair skin from cancer (Vitamin C is a great anti-oxidant, as we all know), but I was surprised to find that it is further drying out my oily skin and evening out my ruddy skintone. Red marks from past breakouts are disappearing even faster. You can even make your own Vitamin C serum with vit C powder and water (lasts only a day) or vit C powder and various other ingredients (such as glycerine), which lasts about a week. Sadly this stuff isn't very stable. 
