I have suffered with acne since my teens and have been prescribed anti-biotics over the years. I am 27,female, still on anti-biotics and suffering breakouts of acne.

Please can you offer me any advice or remedies?

Many Thanks

Dear Nicky,

probably the first thing to do is think about reducing and then stopping the antibiotics. Apart from the fact they are obviously not working, there are a range of very serious health problems that can arise from long term a/b use. There is little point in flooding your whole body with drugs to try and affect just the skin.

Acne is a deep seated physical problem tied into your constitution. My experience is that on a good remedy, acne will slowly start to become less frequent and less serious, till one day it stops appearing altogether. However, there is no easy "acne remedy", as the case needs to be taken fully and other symptoms, including emotional ones, must be taken into account.

I have found that without internal homoeopathic treatment, treating the skin topically often makes it worse.



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David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

Nicky,

I have found acne to be tied to the liver function. Herbs can help to cleanse the liver, but a homeopathic remedy would be best.

There are two excellent homeopaths from the UK on this BB: Anna and Ricky. Perhaps you could arrange to be treated by one of them personally.

Best of luck to you! ( In the meantime, DO STOP THE ANTIBIOTICS! And start taking acidophillis to help undo some of the damage caused by them.)

Hi,

Could you describe the acne for us? For instance, where on your face (and body)is it? Is it painful? Itching? Better for warmth? Cold? Bathing? Does it ooze? What color? Small or large pimples? What color are they? Do they leave scars? Is there a discoloration of your skin? Is there an areola about the pimple? Are they associated with your menses? Do the pimples come to a head? Is your complexion oily or dry? Is there any symmetry to the location of the pimples? Is there any special feeling that they have, such as full or bursting? Do they burn?

Are there any other physical or mental symptoms besides acne that are problematic for you?

Thank you,

Snoopy

[This message has been edited by Snoopy (edited 24 January 2001).]

Thanks for all the encouraging responses so far. In answer to your questions, Snoopy -

The acne is only on my face around the chin and upper lip area with occasional small spots on my forehead and nose.

On my chin they are mainly hard lumps under the skin which take about 1-2 days to come to a head. Before they come to a head they throb, feel 'heavy' and painful and sometimes itchy. They have and are still leaving scars. I haven't noticed any difference with temperatures, food types or around my menses. My complexion is oily.

My upper lip area seems to mainly be small white heads which do also itch occasionally.

However, I always have breakouts when I am stressed.

Another long term problem that I have is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I have also recently discovered that I have kidney stones.

Hope this is all the info you need to help me out. Look forward to your reply.

Thanks.

I tried to post last night but basically gave up since the server seemed so slow.

What I wanted to say is to give you some hope I had a patient with acne that in the past had only ever stopped (only to return at a later date)with that horrid drug Roaccutane. 2 months after being given her constitutional remedy her face was clear. I think the remedy may have been repeated once in that 2 months. I still see this patient at the gym some 2 years later and her face is still clear.

What I am trying to say is that you need to find a professional classical homeopath who will take a full case history and prescribe a remedy which suits you as an individual rather than just prescribing for the acne. There are hundreds of remedies for acne but only one will be suitable for you and that can only be chosen by prescribing for the totality of your symptoms, the mental and emotional as well as the physical.

You are in the UK from your profile but you don't say where, so I suggest that you go to your Yellow pages and find the Society of Homeopaths box and choose someone from there, or find someone from recommendaton. Please make sure that they prescribe by the one remedy at a time,minimum dose way. Ask when you phone if you like.
All the best, Ricky.

Dear Nicky,

Could you give me the low-down on the irritable bowel syndrome--your symptoms, how long you've had it, what makes it better or worse, your worst time of day, etc. Describe the pains you have including which side they're on; what's striking or individual about this condition (the common symptoms aren't much help in homeopathy. You can't say, "I have pain and diarrhea"--practically every remedy has these. But, if you were to say, "My pains move around from place to place; and if I stretch back I feel better" then we can immediately come up with a remedy! Or, if you were to say, "I can't lie on my left side. I can't stoop. I can't tolerate the slightest pressure. My stools are whitish and like clay", again, that kind of info would lead us right to a remedy.) Similarly, tell us about the kidney stones, and any strong mental/emotional symptoms that may be bothering you.

Thank you very much,

Snoopy

If to do this by internet a full case is needed Snoopy, not just the IBS and spots. Head to toe etc.

If to consult a homoeopath in the UK, don't rely just on The Society of Homoeopaths advert - take a recommendation from a knoweldgeable local person as to who is competent. Or say where in the UK you are and Ricky or I might know someone to recommend.

Thanks for all the responses. I am finishing my antibiotics and have been to see a homeopath just recently.

I live in Worcester and I got her name from the Register of Homeopaths and by word of mouth. So I'll see how it goes, but please feel free to recommend others in the area.

Snoopy, as for the IBS I have had it since around 18/19 yrs old. The symptoms are bloating, very occasional diarrohea, very sharp pains which shoot around my lower stomach when I need to use the toilet. There is no pattern to when I get the symptoms, no particular food that triggers it off although if I snack on food all day rather than eat 3 meals the symptoms are more likely to appear and it can be any time of day or night.

As for the kidney stones, I have three small ones (not sure which side) which were found when I had an x-ray for reoccurring water infections (no longer get these now after an operation).

I consider myself to be a highly emotional person, not very confident and can get quite irritable for no reason (not just around my menses).

Look forward to more advice. Thanks.

In my experience IBS responds very well to homeopathic treatment which is based on the emotional and mental symptoms as well as the physical. If you've had a full case history taken this will have been done. Do let us know how you get on.