new member /chronic acne sufferer currently doing homeopathy for it

Hello, I am new to this forum, but have been using homeopathic remedies for a few months (since last November of 2010, after seeing a homeopathic doctor who helped a friend).

I am here hoping to get some feedback as to whether or not I am on the right path or if I may need to try a different remedy or just be patient with what I am on. I know I should not expect an over-night cure, especially since I have had my problem for so long and may have made it worse with the use of anti-biotics in the past. But any advice on what to expect out of homeopathy and if what I am doing sounds good for me, how results come about , what type of time frame to see results in, when to keep going, when to switch remedies, etc., would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

Here are my answers to the questions...

1. main suffering==

I am 40, female, and have had acne since the day I hit puberty and have not had a clear day since. I have seen worse, so I am not a 'severe' case, but I am moderate with ups and downs from seeming to be under control/getting better to being too embarrassed to walk out the door. As a teen I would get the large painful cysts under the skin but now only get them on occasion. I have blackheads all over but mostly visible (without getting close up) and worse on nose and chin. I get the little tiny whiteheads with a pink base around them, I get the larger pustule pimples which will lead to a flat red spot and then a brown spot until it finally fades (but takes a long time to fade), I have a lot of bumps that are just bumps under the skin, and they just sit there forever as little bumps that never come up and out nor go away. If you cast a light to create a shadow on my skin, it is a pebbly surface with only a few smooth spots. I am oily (which keeps me from having wrinkles), but I get dry around my eyes so I have to keep moisture around the eyes. My pores are huge! I break out under my jaw,on my neck, chest, shoulders, upper arms and back as well. There is a problem area on my forehead as well as jawline, and the rest of the face gets it's fair share of outbreaks. The majority of the little bumps that just hang out underneath the skin looking bumpy are on my forehead, though some are also on cheeks. Break outs can be anywhere, alone or in groups, little dots to bigger dots.


2. What other physical sufferings do you have in your body?

PMS can be very bad. Have always had cramps with it (legs, back, stomach). Sometimes a migraine headache happens. No noticeable breast tenderness. On rare occasion I will have diarrhea with it or vomit. Usually I have a day of depression where everything is doom and gloom, but I wake up fine the next day. Sometimes the depression lasts longer, and sometimes it is not so bad. Relief comes with hot baths, heating pads, sleep, and a lot of ibuprophren.

3. What mental sufferings / feelings do you have associated with your physical sufferings?

I get upset about my skin. It's kind of the only thing in my life I really get down about. I am tired of the battle to control it and having to cover up, wear make up or feel 'diseased' from it. I know I shouldn't let it get me down, but it does. I let it kill my confidence and it makes me feel like there is something wrong with me. Most people stop having it with age, but I wonder if I will be a 90 year old with acne. I want to date, but I feel like a 40 year old with acne problems is not very attractive even though I do not ever judge other people who have acne or disfigurements of any kind. So I am really only judging myself and feel like I, myself alone, will be unattractive to men. What I mean is I don't find other people with acne to be unattractive, just me. I shouldn't focus on it, but I do. I can look at other people and not even notice their acne nor think anything negative about it, but on me i see it and feel it in a negative way. In the past when I dated, I felt generally pretty/sexy regardless of my breakouts, but I would dread the moment that a guy would see me without make up or what he would think if I got a really bad break out. But they never seemed to mind, so it is all in my own head, but it seems to be the one thing I think a guy will not like about me. Only one guy has pointed out my acne in a way that made me feel bad about it (but he was a jerk and was the last guy I dated and it was a bad break up that dragged on longer than it should've, and I broke out worse and stayed worse for a long time). Also, I freelance work in the beauty industry, so I often find it hard to sell myself as an expert in my field when I am badly broken out. After I broke up with that guy in 2009, my skin broke out much worse than it was before I met him, some days it was so inflamed I wouldn't leave the house. so I have not worked much in the last year because of my break outs keeping me from even looking for work, and I am running out of money and starting to wonder if I should change careers. I feel like I am over him, so it is time for my skin to get over it, too. I just really want to do things without feeling like I need make up or like there is something toxic in me/ wrong with my system.

4. What exactly do you feel when you are at your worst?

At my worse, I feel no confidence and saddened by my skin and how I let it hold me back. When I am having good skin days with few problems, I feel so much happier and more out-going. It is heartbreaking to constantly go back and forth, wondering if I can ever get it under control. Aside from skin... Sometimes I think about all the things I want to do, but I can't seem to get up and do them. At my worse, I feel unmotivated and get sad that I have not accomplished what I want and I wonder if I will. I have a lot of good in my life and a lot to be grateful for, but at my worse I feel I am not living up to my potential and wonder why I hold myself back.

5. When did it all start? Can you connect it to any past event or disease?

Started at puberty and has continued. Gets worse around my period. I was not breast fed, and I tend to think that may be a connection. I recently started using ph balance papers and notice I am worse when I am more acidic, so I try hard to get more alkaline. Got worse (the worse it has been in years) after the bad relationship break-up in 2009 and did not get better even when I was finally over the relationship. I have changed my diet in the last 2 years to whole foods, raw foods, antioxidant foods, anti-candida foods, and less processed foods, and for a while that seemed to help a lot, but then I will get bad again. up and down, up and down.

6. Which time of the day you are worst? == Hard to tell if there is a worse time of day

7. What are the things which aggravate your suffering and which are those which ameliorate the same?

I cannot pick or scratch at them because I will get marks and make a mess. So even if they are ready to 'pop,' I have to keep my hands off my face. I notice little bumps more after a shower. I'm not sure if weather affects my outbreaks or not. In extreme heat I sweat more and get oilier which isn't fun. A little bit of sun seems fine. Stress and the time of the month seem to make it worse. It feels nice to put vitamin E oil, aloe vera or olive oil on it to sooth it. Epsom salt baths seemed to help my back acne. Sometimes they hurt more or seem more inflamed than other times, but I don't know exactly what causes that.


8. Do your think your sufferings have relation to any external stimuli (like, change of place) or any internal biological changes in the body, like, menses (in females)?

Yes, I think menses causes extra break outs. I change pillow cases regularly, use water filters, stay away from irritating ingredients in products. I worked out of town for 6 months once and my skin was better during that time. I have gone without make up or barely use any, but I still break out. yoga seems to help.

9. When do you feel better, during hot weather or cold weather, humid or dry weather?
I like luke-warm weather. Pants, sandals, tank tops and a light sweater is my preferred wardrobe. I don't like either extreme of hot or cold. I would take dry over humid because humid makes me feel extra sticky and gooey. I do get chilly easily, so i prefer to be warm, and I like being warm. I like fresh air. I like breezes but not winds.

10. Describe your general mental set up?
I am overall content/mild/calm. I would call myself very happy if I had better skin. I don't worry about much at all (never worry about money even when I am not working). I am quiet, but I open up more in comfortable situations with people I am close to. I am usually shy at first, though I click with some people more than others. I care about what is happening in the world, and if I were independently wealthy, I would be a volunteer/ humanitarian. I am not easily offended, not a huge social butterfly but not a recluse. I enjoy being social with friends/family and am fine with solitude and have plenty to keep myself busy with if I am alone (and I do not mind being alone), lots of hobbies that I enjoy. Not moody and only seem to get depressed once a month with pms. Sometimes I wish I was more of a go-getter and would take more action, though. I'm pretty mellow. Sometimes relationship break-ups hit me hard, but I write it out and once I am over it, I am fine and have learned from it.

- How do you feel before or during a thunderstorm?
I don't mind them

- Do you like being consoled during your tough times?
Yes. I will write in a journal, and I like to discuss things with people I trust. I generally tend to believe that everything will be ok, but it is nice to be consoled and to have others tell me it will all be ok.

- Are you sensitive to external stimuli like smell, noise, light etc?

I have a very good sense of smell. If I am around a building being tarred, I will feel a sore throat. Some smells bother me, and others pick me up and make me feel good. Extreme noise bothers me, but muffled noise does not. I love sunlight and tend to feel more tired and withdrawn in the winter with less sunlight hours.

- Do you have any typical habit or gesture like nail biting, causeless
Weeping, talking to one self etc?

Used to nail-bite a lot when I was young, but not so much anymore. Now i tend to just 'gnaw' my nails with my teeth sometimes, but no biting. I run my hands through my hair a lot, I pick at my chapped lips which are always chapped if I don't drink a lot of water, lately I notice I get weepy more easily than I ever have before when I see something emotional on tv/movies or talk about emotional things. I sometimes catch myself biting the inside of my mouth. If I wear a ring, I may fidget with it.

- How do you feel about your friends, family, your children and especially your husband / wife?

I have a handful of good, close friends whom I like a lot. Sometimes I feel I would like a few more, but I am happy with what I have. I am very close to my family and get along well with them. I am single right now and have been for a while, no children. I would like to date again and am ready for relationship, just need to build up my confidence and forget about or control my skin.

11. What are your fears and do you dream of any situation repeatedly?

Nothing too major. Natural disasters scare me. Public speaking isn't my ideal situation even though I was a teacher for a while. I don't like creepy crawly creatures. I fear rejection over stupid things like my skin (which I know is nonsense). I must fear success or failure to some extent because I often get 'stuck' when i am about to do something new or to advance myself. I am a bit of a commitment phobic, but I have learned about that and take new approaches to things that may make me nervous.

Do you mean sleep dreams? I used to have repetitive dream subjects, but not so much any more. I have a lot of sexual dreams. I have a mix of really good, fun dreams and really boring, bad dreams. They are usually vivid dreams with color, smells tastes, feelings, etc. As far as daydreaming, I repetitively dream of being happy, loved and loving, acne free, successful, financially secure, able to travel and have a nice home.


12. What do you crave for in food items and what are your aversions?

I love chocolate and will eat the 100% pure cocoa. I will not eat fish. I do not know why. It is like a psychological block, and I will get grossed-out if I mistakingly eat fish. Otherwise there is nothing that I am strongly attracted to or repulsed by. I like herbs and salt. Can't handle overly spicey hot.

13. How is your thirst: Less, Normal or Excessive?
Normal

14. How is your hunger: Less, Normal or Excessive?
Normal. Maybe less because I don't eat too much. I like to eat little meals throughout the day and don't seem to need too much. When I first started changing my diet, it was hard to adjust and I was craving all kinds of things like pizza and sauces and sodas. But now I am good and I don't crave heavy, sugary,processed foods. I've been eating much healthier foods and seem fine with hunger satisfaction and cravings.

15. Is there any kind of food which your body can’t stand?

No allergies that I know of. I just won't eat fish. I used to get gassy and bloated a lot before I changed my diet. Not sure what foods caused it. I cut down on dairy and wheat a lot and that situation went away.

16. Is your sweat normal or less or more?
Normal. mostly on forehead/ upper body/ arm pits

17. How is your bowel movement and stool type?
normal, everyday, nothing seems out of the ordinary

18. How well do you sleep? Do you have a particular posture of sleeping?

I sleep well... usually I start on my side (either side, but more on the right) in the fetal position but may end up anywhere. Sometimes I have trouble falling asleep. Last couple of years I have been tired a lot with it being especially hard in the mornings to resist the temptation to go back to sleep even when I got plenty of hours. When I used to work a lot, I could only get about 5 hours a night. I get the full 8 now that I am not working as much, but i often still feel tired and it takes a while to really wake up. I can nap easily and enjoy a quick nap every now and then.

19. Do you think you are able to satisfy your sexual desires in general?
Yes! I would like a boyfriend ;)

20. Do you have any strange, peculiar or unusual symptom or feelings? How are you different from others?

I often feel kind of wise and old-soul-ish compared to others. i don't seem to have as many dramas as my friends or I take it in stride better. Sometimes I lack motivation, or my mind has all these ideas and things i want to do, but i have a hard time getting myself to actually do it.

21. What medications have been taken earlier by you to treat the diseases and do you have any particular symptom surfacing after the medication?

In the distant past I took tetracycline/minocycline (on it for a very long time, on and off), and it never really worked and made me get the hyper-pigmentation which looked like dirt on my face and took years to fade, accutane for 3 weeks at age 20 and off because of side effects of painful bowel movements and blurry vision. Huge cysts seemed better after the 3 weeks of it, but I could not stay on the drug. Used birth control ortho-tricycline on which I still broke out and had less sexual desire and gained weight and had brown hyper-pigmentation spots all over. A different birth control pill made acne worse and gave me depression. I have been off birth control pills for about 8 or 9 years now.

I have tried topical remedies of benzoyl peroxides, salacylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, differen, renova, retin-a, etc.... some seemed to get it under control but then later I would get bad again. Various 'natural' topicals like aloe vera, tea tree oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, etc.... some seemed to help a lot but later I would get bad again. Tried the blue and red light therapy which had mixed results. I felt like my face was getting darker, though, so I stopped. A dermatologist suggested lasers which scare me. He gave me a new cream (which name I forget) which made me red and raw. I went to acupuncture for about 6 months in 2009 to 2010 (when i was at my recent worse) which had me really change my diet and use digestive aids and probiotics. My skin improved greatly, but rebounded about 2 months later after I stopped going because of financial reasons (though it did not rebound to as bad as I was before I started it, so it and the diet change helped a lot).

Homeopathy got rid of my brother's friend's acne, but he did not have it since puberty, so it may have been easier for him to find a remedy. I decided to go see his doctor. I was put on Folliculinum one dose at night each night, Eugenia Jambosa one dose in day each day (can't remember if they were 12c or 15c), and Nat Mur 30c alone on Sundays only, two doses (or 10 pellets total). In 2 weeks, I seemed to stay the same and got a little worse with a lot of pustules showing up, so he added Hepar Sulph 15c 3 times/day and my skin improved greatly. It made me very hopeful. I had unfortunately picked at some of the pustules which made some scab-like spots, but the other pustules healed right up with the addition of Hepar Sulph, and I wasn't getting any new big ones. I could not get a hold of him over the holidays to see if I should continue with anything, so i stopped when the containers he gave me ran out.

About a month later I was breaking out again, though not the same big pustules. Got back in touch with him, and this time he put me on Folliculinum, Nat Mur and Sepia in the mornings each morning (in the form of the Cyclease pill which is 15c each), Hepar Sulph 15c one dose in the day each day, Arnica Montana any potency one dose at night each night, and Nat Mur 30c alone twice on Sundays. That is what I have been doing now for almost 2 months. He suggests this routine for 6 months. At first it seemed to be doing well, though I still got worse at my period. The bumps that were just sitting under the skin covering my forehead (and other places) have decreased greatly. The blackheads seemed to be gone and or/ going away completely. But in the last 2 weeks, the black heads have come back and bumps keep on showing up. In general, I am much better than when I first went to him last November. But each time I think I have made progress and it seems to be working, I get problems again. One side seems to get better, but the other side starts to have problems. One day is pretty clear and the next day has a break out. He suggested I add Silicea 15c three times a day for 2 weeks to the rest of the remedies, but I have not done it because I am nervous to add yet another remedy, and I am a little scared of Silicea from reading some posts on this forum (though it sounds like people were crushing their own rocks which I wouldn't be doing). I told him I would like to hold off another two weeks to see what happens before doing the Silicea and he said that was fine. It is hard for me to tell if I am making steady progress or if I am hitting walls.

The Remedy Finder tool on the site suggested Causticum for me. I am not sure if I just need to be patient and keep doing what I have been doing or if I should take a break or start something new.
He described me as a Nat Mur personality, but I do not really understand how that is determined.

I have not noticed any odd symptoms come up since taking these pills. I am tired in the mornings, but that was happening for a long time before I did homeopathy. for a little while it seemed my teeth hurt, but I have noticed some gum bleeding here and there long before homeopathy. I think I may have gained a little bit of weight, and I seem to have a couple new wrinkles (one that looks kind of like an indented, shallow scar), but that could be coincidence.

22. What major diseases are running in your family?

Brother has type 1 Diabetes, mother has type2. Heart attacks on fathers side (males). Overall healthy and long lives on my mom's side (well into their 90s). One great aunt had Parkinsons when she was very old. Mom has beautiful, smooth skin. Dad had acne and pock marks from it. Brothers both had bad acne. One still has moderate.

23. Describe, how do you look like?
(For Females)

Good-looking, slender/hourglass figure, 5'6', 128 lbs., long brown hair, green eyes, fair skin (I don't tan at all anymore and haven't in years), but not 'pale'-- just my legs are very white from never wearing shorts and not doing water sports/ pool activity. Ethnicity is euro-mix (German, Dutch, English), freckly skin/uneven skin tones/ some sun damaged-looking areas (arm skin and center of chest), very few wrinkles and I have not gone grey yet, overall youthful looking, have always had purplish color in eye socket area but overall healthy looking, pimples ;)

24. If your menstrual cycles are not normal, please describe the irregularities, like pains, moods, flow type, clots etc.

Normal cycle about every 28 days.
Cramps for sure and worse on first day, possible bad headache but usually just one day, light flow and only lasts about 3 or 4 days. May have one day of heavy flow, but generally it's light. When young it was more brownish with clots, but then it turned to a bright-to- dark red, loose flow like it is now. Usually depressed for one day. Best to just sleep through it if I am able to.

25. What major diseases have you had in your life and when. Please write them in a chronological manner.

Nothing too major. Chicken pox as a kid but I don't remember it too much and it wasn't too severe. As a teenager I had mono and felt under-the-weather for about two months.
I don't often get sick as far as flu and colds. Possible soar throats when seasons change. I think I had strep throat once. Used to get yeast infections a LOT... still do on occasion, but not as much as I used to. Have had bladder infections. Got Chlamydia a few years back, but I get pap smears and tests regularly and have not been sexually active in a while.



Hope my answers were not too long, but it did say to give detail. Thank you for you time and consideration!