Fat Related Acne

I was told that fat holds hormones, so it was possible that I'd break out while I was losing weight and the hormones got released back into my body. Well did that ever turn out to be freakin' true. I don't have great skin anyway, and my cystic acne has flared back up.

Has anyone else had this issue? How did you cope and how long did it last?

 

Low zinc can cause spots. When are you due to get blood work done? I take my zinc away from my other vites and take 200mg.

Hmm, I didn't know that!  Interesting.  I'm due in about three weeks for my first post-surgery draw.  I'll keep an eye out for that!

The first two months I lost 50 lbs.  So I was on a hormonal raging roller coaster.  I knew what was happening (doesn't make it any less nerve wracking) - so I went easy on myself and did things to keep me safe from going tilt as tons of hormones were released from my fat cells.

I did a lot of face washing with acne cleansers, and I started using Hibiclens.  it's not an astringent-it's a surgical cleanser.  No alcohol in it.  It's expensive.  That stuff will kill the bacteria for sure.  I did this at night before bed because the cleanser is red and I did not want a red hue to my face for the day.

I also did not eat a lot of fats in those early months.  This helped my skin to dry out - which helped the cyst acne.  I've always had really oily skin.  But the dried out skin tends to cause black heads, hence the need for the exfoliating acne scrub.  And it seemed that losing weight quickly made me shed a lot more skin cells than normal - I was scrubbing my face more often. 

Then I learned about chemical peeling from another DSer who talked about how it was the only thing that controlled his acne.  I followed his advise, did research on the internet, and bought the peel solution.  I did a 20% solution peel about once a month, and it really did cut the acne to nothing.  It seemed the peel helped shed the skin cells and get them off my face before they caused clogged pores.  And my skin doesn't have that dried, tough leather look - it looks young, hydrated, healthy.  I like the look and the peeling, once you get the hang of it, isn't that hard.  It takes me 15 minutes to do.  Dying my hair is harder and takes longer.

This summer I won't lay out in the sun at all because of the chemical peels.  And I do wear SPF50 mixed with some udder butter lotion to wear on my face for a week after a peel.

Thanks very much for your reply.  It's nice to know I'm not the only one with this issue!  My skin has always been an oil bomb as well.  I have mild PCOS which has always made my skin difficult, but I haven't had cysts in awhile.  It's pretty obnoxious now.

​What brand of chem peel did you use?

I bought it off the internet.  It's called Skin Obsession.  And it's a 30% Glycolic Acid Peel.  Do not do any other type of peel.  Those other types are for experts.  I was told the Glycolic Acid peel is safe for a beginner like me.

If you do a 20% solution, you can do it every 2 weeks.  A 30% once a month.  They will tell you in the instructions how often you can do it.

I watched a couple of Youtube videos on how to do it.  I bought a small fan brush, but have not used it.  I put the peel on a cotton ball and apply it to my face. 

If you want to try it, make sure you do your research on it and watch someone do one (on Youtube).  It stings when you put the acid on, which can be kinda scary.  Fanning your face takes care of the burn - it's not a terrible pain or anything.  A pan of water with baking soda is used at the end to neutralize the acid immediately.  Still, going into it educated will give you the best results.

I like that the black heads pop up or disappear in a week.  I have these deep, hard white heads on my cheeks.  They are deeper than milia.  But they don't ever come to the surface, nor do they go away.  So peeling seems to be the most effective way to deal with them.  I have upped by Zinc and Vit A also.

Good luck with the skin issue.  I hate battling hormones, acne, balancing vitamins, looking at what vits can help - Aaahhhh!

Thanks again for the recommendation!  Since my skin is inflamed, I'll probably go with the 20% at first to see how well I tolerate it.

I think you have a good point about the inflamed skin and the 20% solution. 

When you do the peel, you will be instructed to wipe your face down with rubbing alcohol.  Then you paint  the chemical peel on.  So it is a pretty stringent process.

I had one big, deep pimple when I did my peel.  I was a bit concerned - the last thing I needed was for this to swell and become a weepy mess.  But the pimple was gone in 2 days.  Now all the blackheads are loosened and coming out

Yes, Ive never had a serious acne problem, "even when I was young", but I would get a pimple, or black heads here or there, and still can now that Im older.  Whats different is that since the surgery, and its happened three different times, I will wake up and have like multi pimples that have erupted over night.  They come on fast, and even if they are big they are gone within three days.  I definatly noticed, and have been wondering if it had to do with the surgery.  Im on vitalady, so I know Im taking zinc.  Great question btw......

I take a multivitamin in my regimen, which I'm sure has some zinc in it, but I think I'm going to supplement it individually and see if that helps.