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Dr. Jaliman follow-up interview
March 25th, 2010
Dr. Debra Jaliman contacted me recently wishing to speak with me regarding new acne treatments that have been released over the past few years. She is passionate about acne. It was a great conversation. You can read the full interview here. Some of the standouts:
Dapsone: This is a new topical anti-inflammatory which can be used alone or with other topicals, like benzoyl peroxide. It seems to have few side effects, and from what Dr. Jaliman has seen, her patients do not get worse before they get better. However, she did say Dapsone can take 12-14 weeks to start producing results. She claims about 80% of her patients are satisfied with its efficacy.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can cause hormonal irregularities that can lead to skin issues. Dr. Jaliman says this may be more common than we realize. If you or someone you love has menstrual irregularities and/or excess hair growth (hirsuitism), it may be a good idea to get checked out.
Dr. Jaliman also offered an invitation to anyone to email her with questions. I thought that was quite generous. If you have any questions for her, feel free to email her at debrajal@yahoo.com.
Posted in Interviews | 1 Comment #187;
A Regimen iPhone APP. Great idea or waste of time?
March 22nd, 2010
Hey you guys. I #8217;ve been tossing around the idea of making a Regimen iPhone app so people can time the Regimen steps, read the Regimen instructions on their iPhones, or even do the regimen in real time right with me.
Do you think you would use this? Or do you think people who don #8217;t already know of Acne.org would find it helpful?
Ultimately, I #8217;m looking to at least make an iPhone-friendly version of Acne.org. But an app in particular? Thumbs up? Thumbs down?
P.S. I #8217;ll try to include other smartphones other than the iPhone in any final decisions.
Posted in The rest | 33 Comments #187;
Product updates
March 15th, 2010
Spot treatment: We #8217;re on sample 5 at this point. I #8217;m liking how it #8217;s working, but we #8217;re having a tough time getting it to not ball up once applied. Hopefully I #8217;ll have sample 6 sometime soon. Pluggin #8217; away #8230;
New, improved non-SPF moisturizer: I #8217;m in love. And so were the first 30 people who trialed it, well, except for perhaps one of them. But that #8217;s a pretty good success rate. So, I am currently doing a second round of testing to really be certain this is going to be our new moisturizer. So far, zero people have said it stings at all, and no one has said it turns them red either, so both problems with the current moisturizer seem to be fixed. I also love the way it feels. So it #8217;s looking good.
SPF: Now that the new moisturizer is underway, I #8217;m going to start adding in SPF and seeing what I can come up with. There #8217;s no way this will be ready for the summer, so Oil of Olay Complete for Sensitive Skin (once they change back to their original formula in April) looks like our summer friend again this year. I also wear hats, which is my preference. Hats are a physical sunblock with no extra ingredients going on the skin.
Cheers!
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Posted in The rest | 13 Comments #187;
An interesting article in the Journal of the German Society of Dermatology links a transcription factor in the nucleus of our cells (FoxO1) to acne formation. Warning: technical material.
March 10th, 2010
A February, 2010 article in the JDDG (Journal of the German Society of Dermatology) entitled #8220;FoxO1 - the key for the pathogenesis and therapy of acne? #8221; came across my desk recently. For those of you out there who are medical researchers or just into this stuff, if you want to look into this with me, it would be cool to see if we agree with the author #8217;s hypothesis.
Basically, what the author, Bodo Melnik, proposes is that lowered levels of Fox01 (a nuclear transcription factor) leads to all of the processes we see in acne formation: the androgen/acne connection, cell wall overgrowth, increased sebum, higher levels of acne bacteria, and ensuing inflammation. He proposes that environmental factors which upregulate Fox01, such as diet, retinoids, and antibiotics, may all work to a degree because of this Fox01 stimulation.
We know that acne has a genetic component, so it #8217;s worthwhile to look at gene expression when attempting to gauge what causes acne, and how it might be treated. If in fact Fox01 turns out to be a key factor in acne pathogenesis, perhaps Fox01 therapy could be around the corner. It #8217;s interesting to think about. I hope to see more study in this area.
Posted in Research | No Comments #187;
Massage and acne
March 5th, 2010
I got a massage last week and it got me thinking about massage and acne. I did a little research. Here are my thoughts:
Benefits of massage:
Reduced stress: I was a puddle of relaxation after my massage #8211;completely content. We all know that mental stress and acne can be related. Massage has been shown to calm the adrenal gland (which is activated during times of stress), a sure fire way to bring that stress under control. This is especially effective for women who make so much of their testosterone in the adrenal gland. Keeping testosterone in check helps control acne as well.
Increased lymphatic system functioning: Every one of our cells is bathed in a clear-ish fluid called lymph, which is filtered in the lymph nodes. This system helps with our immune system and our body #8217;s constant fight against bacteria. Massage can help keep the lymphatic system moving and the lymph nodes filtering properly.
Increased circulation, deeper breathing (better oxygen consumption), better digestion, better sleep: These are among the other benefits of massage. Physical stress is also associated with acne, so anything that can reduce physical stress on the body should help keep us more clear.
Risks of massage:
Skin irritation: Inflammatory acne, the kind most of us get that creates red lesions that usually come to a head, responds poorly to irritation. This is why it is so important to keep the acne-prone areas of your skin relatively untouched when treating inflammatory acne. Massage obviously includes lots of touch. Depending on how sensitive your skin is to irritation, massage can potentially disrupt the delicate balance in the pores, which can cause temporary pore damage and ensuing inflammation (a zit). This is why I avoid facial massage when getting massaged. Since body acne is becoming less of an issue at this point in my life, my back tends to be able to handle massage fairly well without breaking out too much. Another potential irritant during massage is the pillow on which you rest your face. I much prefer getting a massage on a professional massage table. These tables have specially designed facial cushions which help reduce irritation you might get from having your face smooshed into a regular pillow for an hour or so during your massage.
Massage oil: Many oils are comedogenic (clog pores). I always take along some jojoba oil when I get a massage. If you make an appointment for a massage, you may want to either ask if the masseuse/massueur has some jojoba oil around, and if not, take some with you. Jojoba oil makes for a perfect massage oil.
Bottom line: Massage has many benefits and helps get the body into a natural balance. It can reduce stress which can help reduce acne symptoms. However, this must be balanced against the potential irritation the actual massage can engender. I would personally avoid massage if I had active body acne. For those of us with only light body acne, I think massage can still be a great part of life. To ensure that I don #8217;t break out after a massage, I #8217;ll take a shower and treat my upper back with benzoyl peroxide and AHA. I may treat the area for a few days afterward as well.
Posted in The rest | No Comments #187;
Would you guys want auto-ship as an option if it were done right?
March 1st, 2010
I #8217;ve never offered automatic shipments because I thought it might be perceived as pushy, and Acne.org has never been about pushing product. But I frequently get requests to set up an auto-ship program from people who would prefer to not have to log in and reorder regularly. I #8217;ve been thinking through how it might work and I #8217;m thinking we could offer the best of both worlds. What do you guys think of the following scenario?:
What if we set up an auto-ship option, but it would be purely optional? People who want to log in and reorder can always do so, and nothing would change for them.
Also, what if the auto-shipments were fully customizable and super easily cancelled, a la Netflix? That way if you did choose auto-shipments you could always change what you wanted to receive and how often you wanted to receive it on the fly. And, if and when you wanted to cancel, it would be as easy as clicking #8220;Cancel #8221; one time.
Anyway, as always, I wanted to get your weigh in before I moved forward #8230;
Posted in Regimen products | 26 Comments #187;
Gut/acne connection? Results from my gut bacteria tests are in. The verdict: Negative
February 26th, 2010
I mentioned a while ago about the interesting trial in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology in which they studied people with rosacea. They noticed a high prevalence of intestinal bacteria overgrowth in about half of the rosacea patients and effectively cured most of them by administering a strong intestinal antibiotic called rifaximin #8211;exciting news to say the least. I immediately got highly interested in this potential link between the gut and skin. However, I looked around and there have not been any studies like this done on acne patients.
So, I decided to guinea pig myself. Acne and rosacea are not the same disease, but they have similarities, and I figured it couldn #8217;t hurt to get checked myself for intestinal bacteria overgrowth. I went to multiple doctors and finally found one who would refer me to the right GI (gastrointestinal) specialist who agreed to administer gut bacteria tests on me. The first test was a stool test called the Stool H. Pylori Antigen test. Yeah, gross. And the second was a three hour breath test called a Lactulose Hydrogen Breath Test. Both came out negative.
The search continues, but I find the gut/acne connection to be potentially an interesting area of research. If any of you have intestinal issues such as cramping, bloating, gas, etc. and get checked for intestinal bacteria overgrowth including what they call SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth) or H. pylori, please let me know. If you take rifaxamin for it, I #8217;d also love to know how your skin reacts afterward.
Posted in The rest | 8 Comments #187;
Product trial - Rotoshave razor
February 24th, 2010
I got an email from an acne.org member encouraging me to try this electric razor. It has a head which rotates extremely fast and the makers advertise that it cuts hair up to 270 times a second. It is a wet shaver that you use in the shower with shaving cream, or in my case, lather from Acne.org cleanser. I tried it for three days, hoping to give it a little time to get used to it and nail the technique. Unfortunately, it never worked well for me. No matter how hard I pressed it didn #8217;t provide anything near a close shave. I prefer a close shave. Otherwise I end up feeling kinda gross toward the end of the day. Also, it took a while to complete the shave #8211;quite a bit longer than with a 2-blade razor. It felt more irritating than a 2-blade as well. While it was not the most irritating electric I #8217;ve tried, it did still have the feel of an electric. In other words, horrendous. I am pretty much giving up on trialing electrics at this point. I #8217;ve tried probably a dozen of them and none have come even close to producing the low irritation and close shave of a 2-blade razor. Lastly, I got some obvious irritation on my neck, as electrics are wont to do. You can #8217;t see it well in the picture, but it was pretty gross lookin #8217; for a day or two.
Bottom line: When comparing the rotoshave to 2-blade razors, and the Gillette TracII in particular, it is no contest. The TracII wins hands down. Every electric razor I have ever tried is irritating. This one was no exception.
One potential use: For people with lots of pustules and very bumpy, irregular skin, who prefer a shave that is not very close, this shaver may be worth a try. Since it does not offer a close shave, it may be less likely to nick very bumpy skin with lots of active acne.
[Acne.org #8217;s guide to shaving]
Posted in Shaving | 1 Comment #187;
Quick tip: Irritation from napkins
February 19th, 2010
Someone emailed me recently to ask about napkins and if they were a potential source of irritation. We know that irritation of any kind—like picking at the skin, facemasks rubbing against the skin, and hats binding the skin of the forehead—can potentially aggravate acne. This is why it might seem like every time you get a cold you tend to break out on your nose in the immediate aftermath. You #8217;ve simply been irritating the skin around the nose with constant blowing.
Napkins, much like tissues, are an unavoidable part of life. We all get messy at times. So it #8217;s best to simply reduce the potential amount of irritation when using napkins. My best advice for when you get something on your face while you eat is to gently wipe it off with a napkin and then be done with it. Avoid wetting the napkin, and avoid washing your face during the day. Twice a day is the most you ever want to wash. Simply wipe up the spill and try to avoid rubbing too hard or for too long. An occasional spill, when cleaned gently, needn #8217;t lead to a breakout.
Posted in Irritation | 1 Comment #187;
Some love for International peeps :-)
February 10th, 2010
Hey you guys. We started the free shipping this week for U.S. only, because International shipping is usually too much for us to cover. But lots of you guys living around the world weren #8217;t feeling the love so we made it so you get $10 off shipping if you add a jojoba oil to your cart too.
Posted in Jojoba oil | 12 Comments #187;
laquo; Previous Entries
Categories Accutane (7)
Adult acne (3)
Alcohol (1)
Antibiotics (2)
B5 - pantothenic acid (1)
Back acne (1)
Birth control pills (1)
Body acne (3)
Cleansers (1)
Comedogenicity (2)
Daily video blog (125)
Dairy (1)
Diet (3)
Drugs (2)
Facebook (2)
Heat therapy (1)
Hyperpigmentation (2)
Interviews (2)
Intestinal therapies (1)
Irritation (4)
Jojoba oil (8)
Laser Therapy (1)
Light and lasers (3)
Light therapy (2)
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My meanderings (11)
Picking (1)
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10% Alpha hydroxy acid (23)
2.5% Benzoyl peroxide (11)
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Salicylic acid (23)
SPF (18)
Spot treatment (6)
Research (4)
Rosacea (2)
Scars (2)
Shaving (11)
Skin picking (3)
Spironolactone and cyproterone acetate (1)
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Stress (2)
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