Help...?

I have three sebaceous cysts that aren't visible but I want gone. It's not just that, I can't control my acne (I am black) and my acne left scars which used to be severe but are better with Retin-A. The problem is that since I can't control the acne, I keep getting new scars so my face never fully heals. It tends to be very inflammatory and no OTC products work (I've tried everything and every amount of salcylic acid and benzoyl peroxide you could imagine) more acne scars keep being made. My dermatologist said to just keep using Retin-A, but i need to get rid of the acne and she doesn't understand how bad the acne is. What's wrong with my skin...? Why doesn't anything work on it for the acne? help is appreciated.

[choccy]

My bf had severe acne that scarred. He was advised to remove all dairy products from his diet for a month. it cleared up .. lactose intolerance apparently. Don't know if this helps. good luck

[MiscE]

Thanks, the scarring is only low to moderate now. I'm going to have to find a way to deal with the inflammatory acne though. If anyone has experience with getting rid of their acne, and they have the inflammatory type, I would appreciate their input.

[allmymarbles]

Just the other day I learned a couple of things that may be of interest to you. I was showing my doctor some cysts on my arm and he said they were the result of lack of iodine. Just by chance the last couple of years I have been taking iodine to treat insomnia. He asked if I had the cysts before or after I started taking iodine. I said before.

Like you I had cystic acne and it scarred, so I certainly sympathize. You might try taking a couple drops of an iodine called Lugol's solution per week (let's say one on Monday and one on Thursday). Also use iodized salt like Morton's. This is an extremely mild treatment and won't hurt you. Hopefully it might stop the cysts from forming. When I saw a plastic surgeon some years ago he said I could pierce the tiny cysts with a clean needle to keep them from growing bigger.

As to the scarring. I learned quite by accident that vitamin B5 reduces scar tissue. I was taking 500 mg of B5 a day to control chronic bronchitis and noticed after six months that the long scar on my hand had become invisible to the naked eye. When I felt along the path of the scar I could feel about 1/2 inch of it. It had been 2.5 inches long. Research told me that B5 was important to wound healing and the lessening of scar tissue. My scar was 30 years old! There are no side effects to taking B5.

Hope some of this will help you.

[MiscE]

Alright, I'll take that into consideration. Thank you.

[allmymarbles]

About the iodine, 2 drops is correct is you are a lightweight. A larger person would take three or even four.