Blackheads, Red Skin...

[Davylp25]

Anyone got any tips?

After 100% raw for almost 3 years, I'm still plagued with the issues of red skin from old acne marks, and blackheads.

I have tried oil cleansing method, I take tons of MSM, Vit C wholefood powder, even took an expensive Silica liquid thing from DW's site, Put on nightly coconut oil, or olive oil, or NOTHING at all to let it just breath... Tried Lemon on the nose, extracting with metal tools for blackheads, but still after all this time, I still got these issues. Ugh. I do infrared Saunas nightly, Cold/ Hot showers after, Jog everyday, Dry brush, drink tons of water, tried all types of herbs for a long time for skin issues, specific blends for lymphatics, liver, kidney, lungs, blood blood blood... 3 LARGE green smoothies a day, as well as superfoods etc in them to make sure im covered in all areas, I have done 6 colon cleanses during the raw years, 12 liver flushes, fasted for 30 days, colonics, eat all types of foods specifically targeted for skin issues, burdock root, tumeric root, watercress, radish's, etc all good for skin. I read in David Wolfes book that Durian helps cleanse the blood, and it soo powerfull, so I ordered 10 pounds of durian, ate 3 a day... nothing.... Still I have redness on my skin from old acne marks that won't leave, and these friggin blackheads...

I usually try something for 1 month and Im always back at the drawing board. The major portion of my meals are now green smoothies, So, Im just trying to be patient, but 3 years? And I havent been a bad raw student, I HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING ONE.

WHATS THE HOLD UP? WHENS THIS NICE SKIN COMING>?

[Coconutcutie]

Anyone got any tips?

After 100% raw for almost 3 years, I'm still plagued with the issues of red skin from old acne marks, and blackheads.

I have tried oil cleansing method, I take tons of MSM, Vit C wholefood powder, even took an expensive Silica liquid thing from DW's site, Put on nightly coconut oil, or olive oil, or NOTHING at all to let it just breath... Tried Lemon on the nose, extracting with metal tools for blackheads, but still after all this time, I still got these issues. Ugh. I do infrared Saunas nightly, Cold/ Hot showers after, Jog everyday, Dry brush, drink tons of water, tried all types of herbs for a long time for skin issues, specific blends for lymphatics, liver, kidney, lungs, blood blood blood... 3 LARGE green smoothies a day, as well as superfoods etc in them to make sure im covered in all areas, I have done 6 colon cleanses during the raw years, 12 liver flushes, fasted for 30 days, colonics, eat all types of foods specifically targeted for skin issues, burdock root, tumeric root, watercress, radish's, etc all good for skin. I read in David Wolfes book that Durian helps cleanse the blood, and it soo powerfull, so I ordered 10 pounds of durian, ate 3 a day... nothing.... Still I have redness on my skin from old acne marks that won't leave, and these friggin blackheads...

I usually try something for 1 month and Im always back at the drawing board. The major portion of my meals are now green smoothies, So, Im just trying to be patient, but 3 years? And I havent been a bad raw student, I HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING ONE.

WHATS THE HOLD UP? WHENS THIS NICE SKIN COMING>?

I can completely relate...my skin is always a mess no matter what I do "right". I've tried everything that you have and came close to buying the infrared sauna to boot...also Oil Cleansing worked great for me for a week but then made my skin much worse in the long run and I have the scars to prove it...I've only been raw for about two months now, so not quite as long as you have....

My whole life since the age of 14 or so has been dedicated to health. I have spent so much money on alternative therapies, chelation, supplements of all kinds, tried all kinds of diet modification (i.e. low carb, organic, low-glycemic) and here I am loving being raw but not seeing anything but more of the same bad skin.

I've been tested for food allergies and subsequently haven't eaten gluten. dairy, or eggs for years. I also must avoid pineapple, bananas and asparagus. However, lately I feel like everything I eat, yes EVERYTHING causes an allergic reaction for me....my throat itches and I get nauseous after eating anything and everything...sometimes it seems to pass but most of the time I am reacting to something. I'm sure that this has something to do with my skin problems...

Zinc supplementation seems to have reduced my oil production a little bit, and it may be helping to heal those scars a little faster. MSM seems to be helping the scars as well. Of course, as soon as one bump(or 5) heals, more crop up...the last time that my skin was clear for more than 10 minutes was 8 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child.

Over the past month or so I have also developed eczema in patches on my face (yes, I eat a lot of EFA's and have for many years) and also have dealt with a sun allergy that occassionally leaves a bumpy rash. So now I have cystic acne, rosacea, eczema, and polymorphous light eruption...

I am breaking out in cysts on my butt and my back and arms break out as well...what a nightmare! Hope that we find our answer soon :(

[Theogirl]

Whoa, sounds tough. My only suggestion is for blackheads - a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Suggested to me by a cosmetology student at a beauty school. Soak a cotton ball and then apply to face and let sit. blackheads will slide out easier. Also, the hydrogen peroxide sort of bleaches them.
The same hydrogen peroxide/baking soda mix is doing wonders for my keloid scar!

[Clare]

OK, nobody get mad, because I am not in favor of using doctors except as a last resort...what about a dermatologist? I finally went to one and was given an antiinflammatory niacin-based vitamin blend called "Nicomide" and also a prescription for retin-A micro. The latter took some getting used to, but it is helping to even out my skin and prevents any breakouts. Also helps skin repair old sun damage and fine lines.

As far as Nicomide, it is an overpriced prescription vitamin that can be replaced by a high potency B vitamin.

Good luck! btw my great-aunt has been raw for over 30 years and is 100% organic, too. She happens to have extremely large pores and some blackheads. I don't believe that she even tries to cleanse her skin, though...doesn't seem to care about stuff like that. I sure do though and sadly those pores run in the family :-)

[Coconutcutie]

Clare, I would never get mad because you suggest seeing a dermatologist. I appreciate that you took the time to respond thoughtfully. The problem is, when I do see them, here are the options that I am given:

1- Accutane, which I can't take because I have already had a toxic reaction to an antibiotic which has caused liver damage. This prevents me from taking another drug with a clear toxic profile.

2- Topicals....I have tried all types of Retin A products, Differin, and even a rosacea med called Finacea...all turned my face into a piece of raw meat

3-Antibiotics, which are not a permanent solution and I have already had a severe reaction to

4-Hormones (i.e. the pill, spironolactone) I have adverse effects to these as well

I just wish there were more permanent, non-toxic solutions to skin problems. Raw is my last hope for a miracle on this front, and I'm holding out hope....I think. I have tried OTC Nicotinic acid as you have mentioned and I had limited results. Maybe I should try it again and see how it goes

Theogirl, Thanks for the tip! I have never heard that one before. I will try that on a small patch on my nose and see how that works for me.

I'm holding out hope that Fraxel laser, IPL, and possibly skin grafting surgery will eventually improve my appearance...Until then, I have to keep on keeping on...

[RawSinger]

Acne scars might diminish if you apply a little bit of Vitamin E oil to your face nightly. I know this is good for scars.

It was exhausting just reading your post, Davylp25 :p so I'm going to suggest trying Proactiv Solution if no other natural remedies work for you. The active acne-fighting ingredient is a pretty low concentration. Proactiv worked for me. The only reason I'm not using it now is because I'm trying the oil cleansing method. If this does not work, I'm probably going to go back to Proactiv. If you don't want to try Proactiv or maybe before you try Proactiv, you could try tea tree oil?? Some dilution of it, as I know it can be a little harsh to apply it directly.

[Clare]

I agree that Proactiv is worth a shot. It's benzoyl peroxide - I don't believe that's toxic at all, though i'm sure it's in a base of this and that...

Coconutcutie - did you give the RetinA a fair chance? I went through the "meat" stage for weeks which the doc prepared me for. It was super red and rough patches appeared. I read that those patches represent damaged areas repairing themselves...it was very embarassing. Women I hardly knew were asking me if I needed a dermatologist and what was wrong with me. Then I would cry in my car :-( anyway, it definitely gets worse but I made it through and I'm so happy I stuck it out...

[Davylp25]

:D :D :D Thanks all... But I tried pro-active many times in the past. As well as tea tree oil... Not a fan.

Just to clarify, Im not really breaking out bad, its just the left overs, and overall redness in certain areas from old acne, just doesnt go away. I mean I have tried soo many things, Str8 Acv, Essential Oils, eating huge aloe leaves in smoothies 2 times a day, digestive enzymes, water fasting... etc

Than i research and come up with solutions, trying zinc, calcium, etc,etc etc and yet still, ol marks and blackheads. I finally went to a spa to get a facial, and the women was really taken aback when I told her I was a raw foodist, because of my skin, I didnt even wanna tell her, just kinda slipped out... So... Shrugs.

[Coconutcutie]

To Clare and RawSinger:

I have tried Pro-Active in the past and yes, I gave retin-A a shot for a full year. The real deal is that I have rosacea, and neither products should be used for this type of sensitive skin condition. Rosacea skin just reacts with more irritation, broken capillaries, redness and also bumps until the irritating products are ceased. I didn't know this at the time and obviously neither did the prescribing doctor...more research emerges about rosacea on a daily basis it seems.

As far as Tea Tree Oil, it is my only ally right now.I remove eye makeup with sea buckthorn oil on a cotton pad, then I wash my face with plain tepid/almost cool water (I don't wear foundation/skin makeup). Then I dry my face and wet another cotton pad and squeeze out most of the water. To this I add a few drops of Tea Tree Oil and then I use it much like a toner, all over my face. I can't use too much or that's trouble too (irritation). I then use some Manuka Oil (New Zealand's tea tree alternative-more potent) and dab it on any emerging spots. This routine has been helping to keep new breakouts at bay and has also reduced some redness...I was even told yesterday that my skin is looking good...it's just frustrating because I do see old indented scars and redness, large pores on my cheeks and nose, and those lovely nose blackheads. Plus, I hate that I have to attack my skin rather aggressively or it all falls apart.

For sunscreen, the only safe one that works for me is Devita Daily Solar Protective 30...It is oil-free without offensive ingredients. It does utilize nanoparticles, but it's a small price to pay for an otherwise non-toxic, beneficial sunscreen that doesn't make me breakout even more. I would love to go without but I have been through too many sun issues (i.e. sun allergy) in the past few months to feel comfortable without it. I have tried Aubrey's goopy, greasy stuff as well as Badger and other natural brands and all of them actually made me break out within seconds of application...I literally felt my skin swelling up in spots as I rubbed them on and the swelling turned into huge cysts...no joke

I like the vitamin E oil tip, I just wish that I could find a vitamin E that isn't in a base of Soybean Oil...my skin hates soybean oil (and so do my insides).

I'm so difficult:mad: I wish things could be easier...I have found the best remedy for all of this is to just stay out of mirrors or squint when I have to use them so I can't see the horror of it all...

[RawSinger]

I'm sorry I could not be of more help. Skin issues suck.

Davyl: for deep scars, I would also reccomend microdermabrasion done by a professional. Or, there is this product called Youthful Essence by Susan Lucci which is an at-home microdermabrasion kit. It looks like a quality product.

I still don't know what to do about the blackheads myself. The only thing that ever really got rid of them for me was Proactiv but I know neither Davyl or Coconutcutie are a fan of it.

[Halo Aglow]

For blackheads, have you tried those Biore nose strips? I think they have some for other places on the face too. I use them, happy with the results. Too see the strip come off and look like a porcupine... its so gross yet very interesting!

[Davylp25]

Yep did the whole Biore strips, and had microdermabrasions done for about 6 months once every week... * shrugs*

[RawSinger]

I don't know...I don't think you mentioned getting facials. I know they squeeze the heck out of your skin (of course as a knowledgeable professional would) and they should get rid of the blackheads. I don't know what else to suggest.