Acne destroying my dream

fatkidzorz · 03-08-2007, 03:42 AM

Within these last two months i can sadly say i've lost 15 lbs, find myself home more than the gym, and have no motivation as a bodybuilder. My acne has gotten the best of me, and I feel as if my dream as a bodybuilder is dying.
I'm on accutane currently and my face clears up when im on it, but everytime i hop back in the gym i accumulate pimples overnight, and it's just not worth it. I felt as if i had good potential as a lifter, but being on my second accutane treatment and seeing no good results, I'm about to give up for awhile.

the thing that confuses me is the only supplements i take EVER are

n02
creatine
whey

in addition to accutane i take, 3g of b-5 a day, and additional zinc.

looks like i have to wait some years until i start to lift heavy again.

iWillShowU · 03-08-2007, 03:47 AM

also try fish oil.

Hurc · 03-08-2007, 06:25 AM

From what you have given as information you either are having an allergic type reaction to one of your suplements that gets sweated out (unlikely) or the act of your face sweating is breaking you out (more likely)

What is your post workout skin care routine? During and Right after working out your pores are WIDE open to tons of crap that can cause a breakout. Everything from a bad soap selection to wiping your face with dirty hands between sets can set of the chain of events to break you out.

Any info on "after workout" routine could help in solving the issue.

I don't know a lot about accutane, but is there a possibility that a supplement is "blocking" it?

Meowler · 03-08-2007, 06:50 AM

I'm not too sure what your situation with the acne could be but PLEASE don't stop lifting because of your acne!!! It's not worth it. Who cares about a few pimples when you are huge! Keep hitting the weights and try to figure out what the problem is. It has to be something with your supps or something you are taking because just going to the gym wouldnt cause you to break out like that unless you aren't washing your face or something. Anyway please don't stop lifting because of this.

aquanutz · 03-08-2007, 10:15 AM

I hear ya, when I was your age (22 now) I had horrible acne and was on accutane also, albeit a small dose. I was fine when I was on it but when I got off my acne hit me haaaaard so I would go back to the doctor and demand more. What I would do post workout if I were you:

-Shower (duh)
-Get some sort of face Scrub (I actually use this girly one (St. Ives I believe) that my gf has in our shower... it's amazing and it takes all the **** off your face that accumulates during the day)
-Use a very light moisturizer

Also, just to note, I am off accutane now but I still do have breakouts, although they are VERY rare because I use this face cream called Tazorac that my doctor prescribed to me. I suggest you look into that. It will dry the crap out of your face (hence the moisturizer after the shower) becuase it's a lot like Retin-A (I think it actually has that in it). Anyhow, keep on lifting man, you should wanna be a ripped kid with acne and not a fat, lazy kid with acne....

Keep on keeping on.

kbdub · 03-08-2007, 10:16 AM

first, how long have you been on accutane? you know with accutane your acne gets much worse before it gets better. maybe your still in that phase. stay with it becasue in 6 mos your skin will be perfect. i didnt wash my face for half a year after i went off of accutane in high school and i didnt have a single zit in forever. i may get one or two zits once a month now...and i do nothing to my skin.

i'm guessing that lifting makes you sweat and your pores are much more prone to becoming clogged while on accutane. thats prob why youre seeing an increase in zits. go buy some of those noxzema of oxy clean face scrub pads and rub your body down after you workout if you cannot get straight into the shower to wash the sweat oil and dead skin off.

kbdub · 03-08-2007, 10:22 AM

as far as what to get on after accutane...try benzaclin. its a topical cream that will not dry the crap out of your skin. i was involved in a clinical trial for it at Ball State University. stuff is great. its a mix of clindamyocin and benozyl peroxide. benozyl dries your skin out by itself, but with the clindzmyocin mixed in it doesnt nearly as much

you can always be like diddy and use proactive...stuff works great and its cheaper than goin do the dermo doc

zspturbo · 03-08-2007, 11:20 AM

I never had major acne problems when I was younger but plenty of my friends did. from what I hear, proactiv 'aint no joke. I also reccomend st. ives apricot scrub immedietly after your workouts, followed by a cold wash to close up those pores.

d_k · 03-08-2007, 12:17 PM

My acne got better when I stoppedmessing with so much stuff on my face and just started using a cetaphil facial cleanser twice a day.... As for you, one thing popping out at me is all the extra crap you're taking while on accutane, since its your second cycle you should now how weak/fragile it makes your skin... You shouldn't be using anythign extra or harsh on your face while on it. Why are you taking B5 during accutane??? Accutane is already messing with your pores/cell exfoliation rate on your face and I'm guessing that the B5 ( it increases cellular exfoliation even further ) might be giving you the trouble.

CelticBhoy · 03-08-2007, 12:20 PM

I use to get a lot of bad breakouts. The problem I have with dermatologists is it's simply trial and error.

"Try this. Hmm, your face is extremely dry, but oily else where."

"Okay, how about this one. Let's try this..."

Personally, it was a waste. I don't know how bad you get them or if this will even be useful, but what about facials? They've worked wonders for me and with the proper facial cleanser and moisturizers, my face has really improved.

NYC Fitness · 03-08-2007, 12:35 PM

As a kid I too has a lot of facial acne and tried every cream until I got to Accutane. For me it worked miracle, but keep in mind it is a very powerful drug (hence monthly blood tests), and does effect the chemistry of your body from the inside out. Having pimples is no reason to stop working out, you must give the Accutane the full 6 months to work. STOP TAKING THE SUPPLEMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE NO2. The BSN nitric oxcide, is extremely powerful and also effects the chemistry of your body as well as the transport of nutrients, and chemical in your blood stream. I personally would stop taking all of your supplements, but especially the NO2. Read the forums on workout supplements on all the negative aspects NO2 has had.

ingrid.rondona · 03-08-2007, 12:49 PM

did u try proctiv solution is good, now i now the creatine or some suplement can give u acne is depent of the person ,, so try stop take creatin y then u can find is it the problem or no.. ... anyway keep u workout and try glutamine is gonna help u with u muscles
see ya

fatkidzorz · 03-08-2007, 01:20 PM

yeah im almost into month 3 with accutane. In the past my acne treatment has included:
accutane/ "on second dose now"
benzycline
mynocycline
proactive.

About 6 years of treatment and the only thing i see that has helped is accutane in the past, but the acne came back. It's just weird though, my mental state of mind is telling me the creatine is doing it, but even when i cycle off i have the same issue. After a workout i do shower, and do use moisterizers. A majority of my acne comes around the mouth so the first thing i thought of was an allergy of some sort. I switched to a non flouride/sls toothpaste, cut the dairy foods, and stop taking supplements, and even calorie intake and it seems to help a little. But the way my metabolism is, if I even attempt to do this i lose the pounds.

fatkidzorz · 03-08-2007, 01:25 PM

and about the supplements, as i mentioned above it is HARD to get the pounds without supplements, I can honestly admit that from experimenting with my body.

I would stick to whey and heavy/high calorie shakes, but im afraid of dairy products, hense the whey.

Would u recommend maybe a soy based shake?
any ideas?

NYC Fitness · 03-08-2007, 01:33 PM

How much experimenting have you done at only 19 years old? My only other suggestions are maybe you touch your face with your hands, the type of soap you use (i use ivory, no other BS in it), the way you shave your face. As far as moisterizers, most have a lot of crap that will cause more breakouts. I recommend Moisturel, many doctors I have gone to her in the NYC area have recommnended it.

sm34459 · 03-08-2007, 01:37 PM

If I were you I would stop using n02 esp if it has a lot of caffeine. I know before when I was young I would drink alot of soda and get pimples, I stopped with soda and so did my pimples

SuicideGripMe · 03-08-2007, 01:44 PM

Whats more important, not having pimples, or not pushing your body and mind to the limits? Choice is yours pup

jay. · 03-08-2007, 02:53 PM

i'm a little embarassed to say this but, i used Proactiv. after a month of Proactiv...i was all cleared up. i guess you can read up on the ingredients and what not, but whatever is in it...it works. really well.

good luck.

fatkidzorz · 03-08-2007, 02:59 PM

in response to pushing it to the limit, i just think pimples are nasty as hell, and i think any girl would prefer clear skin over bulging biceps o_O

we'll see what happens,

MB13 · 03-08-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatkidzorz

in response to pushing it to the limit, i just think pimples are nasty as hell, and i think any girl would prefer clear skin over bulging biceps o_O

we'll see what happens,

I'm confused.. I thought you said that your dream was bodybuilding though???

Serpens Aeon · 03-08-2007, 04:14 PM

You can't have your cake and eat it too. Sounds like you might have to choose between the iron and your skin.

gollybegully · 03-08-2007, 05:29 PM

stop crying about it. Ive had acne for years and i just dont give a **** anymore. I hardly even wash my face before I go to sleep if Im tired. Ive notice my acne goes through cycles of outburst and then it just fixes itself for a few days. Theyre just going to resolve themselves when you get into your later 20's.

And youre not kidding anybody when u say that youre gonna stop lifting cause it gives u acne....why dont u go find an emo thread somewhere?

ElMariachi · 03-08-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatkidzorz

Within these last two months i can sadly say i've lost 15 lbs, find myself home more than the gym, and have no motivation as a bodybuilder. My acne has gotten the best of me, and I feel as if my dream as a bodybuilder is dying.
I'm on accutane currently and my face clears up when im on it, but everytime i hop back in the gym i accumulate pimples overnight, and it's just not worth it. I felt as if i had good potential as a lifter, but being on my second accutane treatment and seeing no good results, I'm about to give up for awhile.

the thing that confuses me is the only supplements i take EVER are

n02
creatine
whey

in addition to accutane i take, 3g of b-5 a day, and additional zinc.

looks like i have to wait some years until i start to lift heavy again.

Whats your diet like? How much do you sleep? How much water do you drink regularly? If you're on a second course of Accutane and still having so many problems, then there are other factors that I feel you should look at. How many dermatologists have you seen? Do you supplement with EFA's, which I've seen to be essential in helping to improve existing acne conditions.

Also, in many cases, fish oil will not supply the necessary EFA's to lead to drastic skin improvement. I've always favored flaxseed oil, perhaps Barleans or Spectrum, in conjunction with fish oil.

Let me know some of your ianswers and maybe there will be something that has been overlooked, which is not at all uncommon.

EricDebellis · 03-08-2007, 06:03 PM

rubbing alcohol worked for my back and chest. it's the most intense stuff i could get my hands on. and don't drink tap water is has iodine in it that clogs pores and buy vitmans that don't have iodine in them. and DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE! ever.

Kegs835 · 03-08-2007, 07:16 PM

what is your diet like? it seems like an overplayed primative myth, but ive suffered from acne for 6 1/2 years, ive been on accutane twice, as well as every other drug, and ive read and can give first hand experience with diet altering my face.

its not the stuff like chocolate and greasy foods you have to worry about... its sugar. where sugar is, bacteria is as well. its been studied that diets high in refined carbs increased the rate at which blemishes occur. the reason behind this is that when your blood sugar rises, your body produces the hormones that clog your pores, causing that inflammation. many countries are known for not having many refined sugars in their diet, and those countries are low rates of acne.

its not the cure, but it will help. eat more omega 3's if you can, they help with skin and prevent infections. incrased fiber is good as well. it, as we know, helps things move through our systems. when things slow down, they have a better chance of being reabsorbed.

keep battling man. i think i speak for a lot of us on this board who were on accutane in saying that yo uare a solider. i wasnt lifting when on accutane, but i cant imagine its a treat. i remember when i was playing baseball my joints were killing me non-stop.

act1 · 03-09-2007, 08:13 AM

Hope you don't stop your lifting because of the acne.
You already had some great results with your bodybuilding, and I would hope that the acne will pass in time.
Aside from medication, my doctor has always told me that the most important thing in treating acne is to keep your face clean, and your hands away from your face. Period.
Elementary, but......
Good luck!!

Kegs835 · 03-09-2007, 10:23 AM

also, dont wash your face TOO much. i remember when i first started to get bad acne back in the 7th grade, i would wash my face literally like 6 times a day. all that happened was my face freaked out and started producing more oil to compensate. morning,post workout, night should do just fine... especially if you are on accutane.

Defiant1 · 03-09-2007, 10:33 AM

Why don't you go to "Super Fresh" or "Giant"?

Ohhhhhh.....

You said "AcNe".....

perkins2099 · 03-09-2007, 10:34 AM

Read this site.

I've been on Accutane for way to long... I'm starting to phase it out in addition to some of the techniques used here.. so far so good. Read up on it like you would at bb.com on bicep curls :P

www.acne.org

sleeper123 · 03-09-2007, 10:50 AM

Definately look into food allergies. The bacteria in milk can even cause you to break out. Drink at least a gallon of water a day. When I have a break from the gym for a couple of months, I clear up completely but when I start working out again, I break out. I think it is a fluxuation in my hormone levels. When you work out, your testosterone levels will slowly increase and if your body is sensitive to the natural increase in hormones, it may cause you to break out. I will be 37 this May and still have breakouts.
Sleeper123