Treating Acne during a steroid cycle (Effectively)
This is a topic that often comes up a lot. Being an acne sufferer for almost 7 years now, I have done a lot of extensive research which I would like to share with you all. I see of lot of people (many moderators and senior members) giving ill advice to users regarding acne treatment, such as washing your face with soap, and tanning beds, so maybe this should help some. The primary objective of treating and preventing acne is 1) To reduce the amount of bacteria that causes acne on the surface of the skin, 2) To reduce and control the sebum produced by your oil glands. By achieving both objectives you are decreasing the chances of clogging your pores and causing an inflammation, which later one will result in pimples.
OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS
Benzoyl Peroxide: This is the god father of all acne treatments. It is very effective and available over the counter as well as prescription forms. It comes in 2.5%, 5% and 10% strength. I personally would stay away from the 10%, especially if you have sensitive skin. Indeed studies have proven that a 2.5% BP strength work just as well, as the 10% strength without the peeling, irritation and dryness that often comes with it. It is very effective in drying out existing pimples and preventing future breakouts. It is also anti septic and very effective in killing out bacteria. BP also has anti inflammatory action over the skin. If you have mild acne (aka Acne Vulgaris) I would try this first and see where it goes. DO NOT SUN TAN OR USE TANNING BEDS WHILE ON BP. Exposure to UV lights along with BP use caused cancer in laboratory animals.
Salicylic acid: I personally do not like salicylic acid, but some people claim success with it. It is found over the counter in 2 forms: 1) Acne wash containing salicylic acid 2% - 0.5 %. 2) Leave on lotions, toners and pads containing SA 2% or 0.5%. It is very irritating and not recommended for those with sensitive skin. It is usually helpful as an on the spot treatment, since it can rapidly get rid of that red mark left by a pimple.
Tea Tree Oil: This is for those who can not tolerate BP or SA use. TT oil has a natural antibacterial effect on the skin as well as a mild drying effect as well. It is effective for those who can not tolerate the irritation and dryness when using Benzoyl peroxide problems.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
Retinoids: It comes in several different brands with several different additives. Differin (adapaleno gel close relative of retinoids), Retin A, Retin A micro, Tazorac, Vitamin A gel etc etc, are just the prime examples. My personal favorite is retin-A micro, since it is more gentle than Retin-A and tends to cause less peeling and dryness than others. It reduces the process on the skin causing keratinization, and therefore diminishes new acne lesions on the skin. It also causes the external area of the epidermis to peel, which long term can prove effective to get rid of blotches and red marks. Many bodybuilders are under the impression that they only need to use Retinoids once the cycle begins. This is a mistake. It takes 2-4 weeks for retinoids to start effectively reducing the process of keratinization (to kick in). Plan out your retinoid use 2-4 weeks b4 you start your cycle if you want to avoid acne. Retinoids may also be used on the back as well on the chest.
Oral and Topical Antibiotics: They reduce the number of bacteria and also have anti inflammatory action. The 2 topical AB are: Clindamycin (not my favorite) Erythromycin (terrific in my opinion). My personal fav is a cream called Benzamycin, which is a combination of BP and Erythromycin. It reduces the bacteria by 99% after only 48 hours of use (2 days). Benzamycin is stronger than retinoids and is recommended for the treatment of moderate acne, a more severe form of acne. It is extremely drying, and reduces the amount of sebum produced by the skin rather quickly. Oral antibiotics are Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Cotrimoxasole. They are very effective in clearing up acne quickly without the side effects of Accutane. The only problem is that a high percentage of users report that the clearing effects of their oral antibiotic fades over time. That is because the bacteria in the skin may become resistant and stop responding to the medication. Long term use of orals can also cause an yellowing of the teeth.
Accutane: Everyone heard about this one. It is the atomic bomb for the acne treatment. Some claim it to be an acne cure. Indeed, Accutane is so effective in treating acne it is the only approved drug to treat cystic acne (the most severe type of acne) and acne resistant to other treatments. Its main component is isotretinoin, which derivates from vitamin A. It works by reducing (dramatically) the amount of sebum produces by the oil glands. It actually shrinks the oil glands and such effect may be permanent for some people. It also inhibits the process of keratinization. Effective dosages for males are 80 120 mg a day. Females usually need lower dosages. It takes 2-4 weeks for the sebum to be reduced and 3-5 months for your acne to clear up. Acne is taken by courses that last anywhere from 4-6 months, depending on your derm. There are several problems with Accutane that you must be aware of b4 you decide to take it. 1) It is extremely expensive: An one month supply of Accutane, 60 tabs of 40 mg each costs between 400-600 US$ in the US. Some insurances may not cover it. 2) Many derms are reluctant to prescribe it: The FDA has recently stepped up restrictions to Accutane use due to its potential serious side effects. Users are required to sign into a national registry. You are also required to sign a consent form stating you understand the potential risks of Accutane therapy. This is just a big headache for derms, especially considering the risk of lawsuits, for that reason most derms wont prescribe it unless your acne is really bad. 3) YOU MUST DO MONTHLY BLOOD TESTS: In 25% of users Accutane caused a dramatic and dangerous elevation of triglyceride levels, 15% developed a reduction in the HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and 7% developed an increase in total cholesterol. If Accutane is not discontinued or steps are taking to address such problems, hepatitis may develop as well as signs of liver inflammation in 15% of users. You can address those problem easily by: Taking large amounts of Omega 3 Fish Oils 5000 mg a day (to control your trigs), Milk Thistle (for the liver) and niacin (Vitamin B-3 500 mg a day) to control your cholesterol. Once you are done with your 4-6 month accutane course, it is wise to do a maintance regime, usually by taking 3 caps of 40 mg every week, in order to keep you clear for a longer time.
THINGS THAT DO NOT WORK FOR ACNE:
SUN TANNING AND TANNING BEDS: I recently got into a very heated and ugly argument with one of the moderators in another board over that subject. There seems to be a wide spread myth among bodybuilders that tanning seems to keep their acne under control. Let me tell you one thing: THIS IS NOT WISE!! While tanning may temporarily help dry up oiliness and give skin a more even appearance, it's not worth the short-term benefit. Unprotected tanning leads to premature aging and increases your risk for skin cancer. Plus, most acne treatments WILL make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and UV rays. UV rays also help worsen the process of keratinization of the skin with is one of the main causes of acne.
Washing your skin with soap and anti bacterial soaps: Bad Idea! First, by using anti bacterial agents you are increasing your chances of developing new strains of bacteria that are resistant to the anti bacterial agent. Second, those soaps are extremely drying to the skin. Drying up the skin through frequent washing is NOT the way to go. It may actually worsen acne long term, because your oil glands end up producing more sebum to compensate for the dry epidermis.
Avoid oily and fatty foods: There is absolutely no research to date that has shown an association between increased fat consumption and increased number of breakouts. As far as I know, the only element that can worsen acne is iodine.
One more thing: Always use a moisturizer. Acne treatments will usually dry up your skin and you always want to keep a balance of moisture and dryness.
Hope this helps some of you folks! :hello:
