The ABC Homeopathy Forum
Adult Acne
Hi there. I think i need some help - or maybe someone to say 'hang in there - it'll work'!Im a 32 yr old female. Very rarely had spots as a teen. As i got into my 20s my skin got worse but nothing too drastic - just the odd breakout. 2 years ago I had an awful breakout that that moved up to my cheeks - (I always just get outbreaks around my mouth/nose). I went on antibiotics. This cleared it for a few months but then another breakout...antibiotics etc...
So now I have turned to homeopathy. I was advised to take Pulsatilla 30 and Evening Primrose Oil. I was told that if it got worse on the 3rd day it was a good thing. I was delighted on the 3rd day that it did get much worse. But that was almost 30 days ago and I now have the worse acne of my life - hot, throbbing, painful. How long will this last?? is this supposed to happen?
It started bad on the left of my face and then moved into right. I think it may be calming a bit now on the left - but this could be wishful thinking.
I hope someone out there has gone through this?!....
ck2211 on 2011-09-21
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
Ok it appears you have side effects from the Pulsatilla. This is most likely because it was the wrong remedy for you.
I am happy to take on your case and suggest a more appropriate remedy, but you will need to give a full case here. If you are willing to do that, I will post my intake form. After that I will probably have more questions for you.
It is necessary in homoeopathy to establish the total health picture of the patient to get a curative medicine.
GUIDELINES FOR GIVING HOMOEOPATHIC CASE INFORMATION
It is important to describe all your problems in as much detail as you are able. One word answers and short sentences are not particularly helpful. Discuss each problem one at a time, providing (as a minimum level of detail) the following information.
1. What exactly happens?
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in your life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?
Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF YOUR HEALTH BY PROVIDING ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE, EVEN IF NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ONE, AND EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER IT OF LESS IMPORTANCE.
You should address each problem separately using the above 7 questions as a guide. Do not put all your complaints into each of the 7 questions. Discuss one problem at a time. If you have, for example, a headache with nausea, do each component separately too (what makes the head pain worse or better, what makes the nausea worse or better).
As well as this, please describe any traumatic incidents that have taken place in your life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on you mentally, emotionally or physically.
Discuss the way that you manage or deal with your problems, or any problems that occur in your life.
Discuss any patterns you have noticed in your behavior especially concerning your disease.
Discuss any part of your life where you feel stuck or unable to change and grow, especially where this occurred around the beginning of your disease, or as the disease evolved.
Describe your childhood and the kind of environment you grew up in, with reference to your relationships with your family, your school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.
If your earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:
1. The specific foods that you crave (not just like) or hate
2. The specific drinks that you crave or hate
3. What your sleep is like
4. How the weather and the temperature affects you
5. What kinds of things in the environment you are particularly sensitive to
6. What your general level of energy is like
7. What your level of sexual energy or desire is like
8. Describe your menstrual cycle
9. Also give these details
a) Body type and build
b) Skin colour and texture
c) Areas of the body tends to perspire on
d) Odour of sweat, body, stool, flatus, urine
e) Colour of stool, urine, sweat
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs.
David Kempson
Professional Classical Homoeopath
I am happy to take on your case and suggest a more appropriate remedy, but you will need to give a full case here. If you are willing to do that, I will post my intake form. After that I will probably have more questions for you.
It is necessary in homoeopathy to establish the total health picture of the patient to get a curative medicine.
GUIDELINES FOR GIVING HOMOEOPATHIC CASE INFORMATION
It is important to describe all your problems in as much detail as you are able. One word answers and short sentences are not particularly helpful. Discuss each problem one at a time, providing (as a minimum level of detail) the following information.
1. What exactly happens?
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in your life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?
Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF YOUR HEALTH BY PROVIDING ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE, EVEN IF NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ONE, AND EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER IT OF LESS IMPORTANCE.
You should address each problem separately using the above 7 questions as a guide. Do not put all your complaints into each of the 7 questions. Discuss one problem at a time. If you have, for example, a headache with nausea, do each component separately too (what makes the head pain worse or better, what makes the nausea worse or better).
As well as this, please describe any traumatic incidents that have taken place in your life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on you mentally, emotionally or physically.
Discuss the way that you manage or deal with your problems, or any problems that occur in your life.
Discuss any patterns you have noticed in your behavior especially concerning your disease.
Discuss any part of your life where you feel stuck or unable to change and grow, especially where this occurred around the beginning of your disease, or as the disease evolved.
Describe your childhood and the kind of environment you grew up in, with reference to your relationships with your family, your school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.
If your earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:
1. The specific foods that you crave (not just like) or hate
2. The specific drinks that you crave or hate
3. What your sleep is like
4. How the weather and the temperature affects you
5. What kinds of things in the environment you are particularly sensitive to
6. What your general level of energy is like
7. What your level of sexual energy or desire is like
8. Describe your menstrual cycle
9. Also give these details
a) Body type and build
b) Skin colour and texture
c) Areas of the body tends to perspire on
d) Odour of sweat, body, stool, flatus, urine
e) Colour of stool, urine, sweat
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs.
David Kempson
Professional Classical Homoeopath
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Thank you David, i'll do my best to give detail:
1. What exactly happens? I get a collection of white head spots on (my) left of face around mouth and chin area - sometimes this moves up to my left cheek. i have black heads on my nose down to mouth area around the chin. Throughout the year I may get an odd spot here of there usually around period time. In the past two years i notice the bad outbreak happening in September - I am a teacher and resume work at this time. However I do not feel particularly stressed.
But the acne then causes me stress and low self esteem
I am generally healthy - I have never had to take medication for anything other than antibiotics for acne.
Traumatic incidents- the only one I can think of is that I was inappropriately touched by an extended family member when I was 12 /13
Discuss any part of your life where you feel stuck or unable to change and grow - I enjoy my work but I feel stuck in a town that I dont want to live. This could by why I get acne in September - i am coming back to that town after travelling for the summer months.
Describe your childhood and the kind of environment you grew up in, with reference to your relationships with your family, your school -
Other than the incident mentioned above - I grew up in an amazingly loving family and had a very happy upbringing and school life. The only negative I can think of is that I was the youngest and maybe took on burdens of older siblings as I am a good listener.
1. The specific foods that you crave (not just like) or hate. I crave chocolate and sugar mainly before menstruation. I do not crave fatty foods - like fresh fruit /veg. Not a big fan of red meat and do not eat it often. Only food I hate is goats cheese!
2. The specific drinks that you crave or hate. Coffee
3. What your sleep is like. Good sleeper - 11pm to 730 - rarely wake in night
4. How the weather and the temperature affects you. Nothing negative - love all climates.
5. What kinds of things in the environment you are particularly sensitive to. cant think of any
6. What your general level of energy is like. Generally good - i have good motivation in work and have a good social life with friends. i have lots of energy when being creative
7. What your level of sexual energy or desire is like. Normal I think. I do not have a partner - in fact I have never had a long term relationship. I would like to meet someone but I do lead a very full life- i have lots of male and female friends.
8. Always 2 or 3 days early. Regular flow last 4-5 days
9. Also give these details
a) Strong bones and build always carrying extra weight 5'8 size UK16
b) Freckled skin that tans but pale in winter. Sometimes dry
c) Under arms
d) mild sweat odor. not sure about rest!!
e) Colour of stool - brown to dark at times - often floating, urine - yellow, sweat - none
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs. No reactions
1. What exactly happens? I get a collection of white head spots on (my) left of face around mouth and chin area - sometimes this moves up to my left cheek. i have black heads on my nose down to mouth area around the chin. Throughout the year I may get an odd spot here of there usually around period time. In the past two years i notice the bad outbreak happening in September - I am a teacher and resume work at this time. However I do not feel particularly stressed.
But the acne then causes me stress and low self esteem
I am generally healthy - I have never had to take medication for anything other than antibiotics for acne.
Traumatic incidents- the only one I can think of is that I was inappropriately touched by an extended family member when I was 12 /13
Discuss any part of your life where you feel stuck or unable to change and grow - I enjoy my work but I feel stuck in a town that I dont want to live. This could by why I get acne in September - i am coming back to that town after travelling for the summer months.
Describe your childhood and the kind of environment you grew up in, with reference to your relationships with your family, your school -
Other than the incident mentioned above - I grew up in an amazingly loving family and had a very happy upbringing and school life. The only negative I can think of is that I was the youngest and maybe took on burdens of older siblings as I am a good listener.
1. The specific foods that you crave (not just like) or hate. I crave chocolate and sugar mainly before menstruation. I do not crave fatty foods - like fresh fruit /veg. Not a big fan of red meat and do not eat it often. Only food I hate is goats cheese!
2. The specific drinks that you crave or hate. Coffee
3. What your sleep is like. Good sleeper - 11pm to 730 - rarely wake in night
4. How the weather and the temperature affects you. Nothing negative - love all climates.
5. What kinds of things in the environment you are particularly sensitive to. cant think of any
6. What your general level of energy is like. Generally good - i have good motivation in work and have a good social life with friends. i have lots of energy when being creative
7. What your level of sexual energy or desire is like. Normal I think. I do not have a partner - in fact I have never had a long term relationship. I would like to meet someone but I do lead a very full life- i have lots of male and female friends.
8. Always 2 or 3 days early. Regular flow last 4-5 days
9. Also give these details
a) Strong bones and build always carrying extra weight 5'8 size UK16
b) Freckled skin that tans but pale in winter. Sometimes dry
c) Under arms
d) mild sweat odor. not sure about rest!!
e) Colour of stool - brown to dark at times - often floating, urine - yellow, sweat - none
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs. No reactions
ck2211 last decade
Ok that is a very brief case. I could not prescribe on that.
What was the experience of that traumatic event? Where or what was the trauma for you? How did you react, how has it affected you?
Describe the experience of being stuck in a town you don't want to live in.
Describe more on 'taking on the burdens of older siblings'.
Are you really not sensitive to anything in the environment - weather, noise, smells, people - nothing? Sensitive is something you notice that others don't, or causes some kind of discomfort.
What issue do you have with not having a long-term partner? What has been your experience of romantic relationships?
Have you never had a disease in your life apart from bad skin?
What was the experience of that traumatic event? Where or what was the trauma for you? How did you react, how has it affected you?
Describe the experience of being stuck in a town you don't want to live in.
Describe more on 'taking on the burdens of older siblings'.
Are you really not sensitive to anything in the environment - weather, noise, smells, people - nothing? Sensitive is something you notice that others don't, or causes some kind of discomfort.
What issue do you have with not having a long-term partner? What has been your experience of romantic relationships?
Have you never had a disease in your life apart from bad skin?
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Hmmm no real meat there for me either.
Ok try this. Tell me about how you feel about the acne, how it affects you, how you manage it, what impact it has on you. What comes up around acne for you - meditate on the acne, tell me anything that bubbles up from your subconscious.
Describe the physical sensation of the skin, where the acne is, any pain or sensation at all.
What dreams do you have? Any that reoccur, or any images or symbols that occures frequently?
Ok try this. Tell me about how you feel about the acne, how it affects you, how you manage it, what impact it has on you. What comes up around acne for you - meditate on the acne, tell me anything that bubbles up from your subconscious.
Describe the physical sensation of the skin, where the acne is, any pain or sensation at all.
What dreams do you have? Any that reoccur, or any images or symbols that occures frequently?
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Well. The acne is so different now on the pulsatilla than my usual outbreak. I now have about 45 spots small and large some cystic some whiteheads. It is painful, hot and dry. Obviously it is making me feel self conscious and desperate to find a solution. Before I went on pulsatilla a bad outbreak for me would be about 4-8 spots mainly around my mouth. When this happened it was more of an inconvenience - I would feel a bit self conscious - but nothing major - I'm just frustrated that I still get spots at my age.
My dreams are don't reoccur - usually pleasant and are about travel, being with friends,day to day stuff. I notice on a full moon they get more interesting- like last week I was swimming with a killer whale!
My dreams are don't reoccur - usually pleasant and are about travel, being with friends,day to day stuff. I notice on a full moon they get more interesting- like last week I was swimming with a killer whale!
ck2211 last decade
That is an interesting dream - describe it for me, everything in it you can remember, feelings, sensations, anything.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Just posting an update. I went back into the person who suggested pulsatilla. He has suggested I go off that and do a Flora essence detox. Through talking to him he thinks that it may be linked to bad digestion I had about 3 years ago. I have not started detox yet because he said it may also cause a flair up. I was hoping for one weekend without spots but alas they are bad as ever even after a week off pulsatilla. They are changing all the time- going higher on my cheeks now and are very itchy. I am wondering now is it some kind of allergy. I have never had skin like this- I am so desperate and frustrated- my heart goes out to anyone who has had to deal with this long term.
I have been using fresh aloe Vera at night for the past 3 nights which is helping with the irritation. I'm sad to say the natural route my not work for me and will have to get antibiotics if this lasts much longer
I have been using fresh aloe Vera at night for the past 3 nights which is helping with the irritation. I'm sad to say the natural route my not work for me and will have to get antibiotics if this lasts much longer
ck2211 last decade
There isn't much of a case here - there are very few symptoms, so few clues to what remedy might correct this.
The Pulsatilla cannot still be doing this, as our medicines have a short duration of effect. It has stirred into life something within you - which is what I have been trying to perceive.
You seem in good health. No problems in your life. Almost nothing seems to affect you adversely. All the clues that lead us to a remedy, seem absent - which means that I have probably missed the question that would unlock your case for me.
Desperate, low self-esteem, self-conscious - these are probably the strongest expressions you use. I need more on them. Some way of accessing the state that has sprung up in response to the Pulsatilla.
I also need to know what pain the Acne causes - what specific pain.
How hot is the acne?
What I have from you is:
Dry hot eruptions
Crave sweets before menses (fairly common symptom for women)
Mild aversion to red meat
Strong aversion to goat's cheese (not a symptom currently seen in our literature)
Floating stool (may be normal if fiber in diet is high)
Unfortunately these symptoms don't lead anywhere specific.
See if you can give more on the particular emotional reactions you are having. It is often the case that the mental and emotional changes in the patient weight our choice of remedy.
The Pulsatilla cannot still be doing this, as our medicines have a short duration of effect. It has stirred into life something within you - which is what I have been trying to perceive.
You seem in good health. No problems in your life. Almost nothing seems to affect you adversely. All the clues that lead us to a remedy, seem absent - which means that I have probably missed the question that would unlock your case for me.
Desperate, low self-esteem, self-conscious - these are probably the strongest expressions you use. I need more on them. Some way of accessing the state that has sprung up in response to the Pulsatilla.
I also need to know what pain the Acne causes - what specific pain.
How hot is the acne?
What I have from you is:
Dry hot eruptions
Crave sweets before menses (fairly common symptom for women)
Mild aversion to red meat
Strong aversion to goat's cheese (not a symptom currently seen in our literature)
Floating stool (may be normal if fiber in diet is high)
Unfortunately these symptoms don't lead anywhere specific.
See if you can give more on the particular emotional reactions you are having. It is often the case that the mental and emotional changes in the patient weight our choice of remedy.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
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