Vitamin A for Acne

Hey guys

I’m doing a little experiment with Vitamin A for acne.

There are people online who have said it was as effective for them as isotretinoin. There isn’t a huge following though. Mostly due to idiots trying to scare them I’m sure.

I will be taking 100,000 IU ed. This seems to be the smallest dose required for results. It also appears to be under the limit for chronic liver toxicity and way under acute.

The consensus seems to be that milk thistle is useless, so I guess I’ll just try to be aware of any liver toxicity symptoms, and hope for the best.

Any thoughts or criticisms would be appreciated. I’ll update once I see if it is effective.

Oh and if you are wondering why I don’t just use accutane, it’s because A) I’m curious to see if this works and B) I don’t feel like doing a money transfer lol.

Vitamin E for 'Eadaches… lol! sorry…

It just cropped up, i’ll go away…

Liv52 maybe?

I would be careful taking that much Vitamin A. You could get toxic side effects from it. The following information may help exlpain:

[quote]As vitamin A is fat-soluble, disposing of any excesses taken in through diet is much harder than with water-soluble vitamins B and C. As such, vitamin A toxicity can result. This can lead to nausea, jaundice, irritability, anorexia (not to be confused with anorexia nervosa, the eating disorder), vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, muscle and abdominal pain and weakness, drowsiness and altered mental status.

Acute toxicity generally occurs at doses of 25,000 IU/kg, with chronic toxicity occurring at 4,000 IU/kg daily for 6-15 months.[22] However, liver toxicities can occur at levels as low as 15,000 IU per day to 1.4 million IU per day, with an average daily toxic dose of 120,000 IU per day. In people with renal failure 4000 IU can cause substantial damage. Additionally excessive alcohol intake can increase toxicity. Children can reach toxic levels at 1500IU/kg of body weight.[23]

In chronic cases, hair loss, drying of the mucous membranes, fever, insomnia, fatigue, weight loss, bone fractures, anemia, and diarrhea can all be evident on top of the symptoms associated with less serious toxicity.[24]

It has been estimated that 75% of people may be ingesting more than the RDA for vitamin A on a regular basis in developed nations. Intake of twice the RDA of preformed vitamin A chronically may be associated with osteoporosis and hip fractures. High vitamin A intake has been associated with spontaneous bone fractures in animals. Cell culture studies have linked increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation with high vitamin A intakes. This interaction may occur because vitamins A and D may compete for the same receptor and then interact with parathyoid hormone which regulates calcium.[23]

Toxic effects of vitamin A have been shown to significantly affect developing fetuses. Therapeutic doses used for acne treatment have been shown to disrupt cephalic neural cell activity. The fetus is particularly sensitive to vitamin A toxicity during the period of organogenesis.[12]

These toxicities only occur with preformed (retinoid) vitamin A (such as from liver). The carotenoid forms (such as beta-carotene as found in carrots), give no such symptoms, but excessive dietary intake of beta-carotene can lead to carotenodermia, which causes orange-yellow discoloration of the skin.[25][26][27]

A study by Siri Forsmo et al. shows a correlation between low bone mineral density and too high intake of vitamin A.[28]

Researchers have succeeded in creating water-soluble forms of vitamin A, which they believed could reduce the potential for toxicity.[29] However, a 2003 study found that water-soluble vitamin A was approximately 10 times as toxic as fat-soluble vitamin.[30] A 2006 study found that children given water-soluble vitamin A and D, which are typically fat-soluble, suffer from asthma twice as much as a control group supplemented with the fat-soluble vitamins.[3[/quote]

Yup…that much vitamin A could possibly give you problems…remember…everyone reacts differently. Be careful…if you notice any ill effects …stop taking it.

[quote] JJ wrote:
Vitamin E for 'Eadaches… lol! sorry…

It just cropped up, i’ll go away…[/quote]

It’s actually Vitamin E for Erection.

Abort mission.

I have nausea and a headache, and it’s not going away.

Of course I have not seen an improvement in acne yet.

[quote]Thomas Gabriel wrote:
Abort mission.

I have nausea and a headache, and it’s not going away.

Of course I have not seen an improvement in acne yet. [/quote]

Definitely caused by the Vit A?

[quote]Makavali wrote:
Thomas Gabriel wrote:
Abort mission.

I have nausea and a headache, and it’s not going away.

Of course I have not seen an improvement in acne yet.

Definitely caused by the Vit A?[/quote]

Look at my first post in the thread in the quoted section the mentions the side effects. It lists both symptoms that he experienced only when he started using high dosages of Vitamin A.

True, but nausea and headaches are pretty general… you’re probably right though.

Now I’m just gonna stare at your avatar more.

I use 50,000IU per day. That seems to be my threshold for headaches. In combination with 10 grams of vitamin B5 per day it generally keeps my acne in check.

It doesn’t work for me with the stronger androgens like Masteron, although I am very sensitive to acne. I’ve already had two courses of Accutane thus far.

Good to know dopa.

50,0000 IU is my threshold too. I will continue on with it if it was effective for you at that dose.

Update:

My skin has become a lot less oily, and right now I am as clear as I’ve been in a long time. This stuff definitely works. Just not sure if it is a healthy alternative to accutane or not.

This is at 50,000 IU split AM/PM.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t thinking, and ended up drinking a bit too much at a birthday party. I got sick as hell, and two days later I am still nauseous. I skipped the vitamin A for now.

[quote]Thomas Gabriel wrote:
Update:

My skin has become a lot less oily, and right now I am as clear as I’ve been in a long time. This stuff definitely works. Just not sure if it is a healthy alternative to accutane or not.

This is at 50,000 IU split AM/PM.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t thinking, and ended up drinking a bit too much at a birthday party. I got sick as hell, and two days later I am still nauseous. I skipped the vitamin A for now. [/quote]

Great to know. I will make sure to stock up on load of A then for my cycle.

"Just not sure if it is a healthy alternative to accutane or not. "

In my opinion accutane is a poison, and although I have pretty severe acne I will never use it. Take a look at the side effects of accutane. The sensitivity to light, and loss of hair seems pretty freakin unnatural to me and they are both VERY common side effects, not just “possibilities”.

Just because it is an approved drug doesn’t mean it is good for you, and besides I hear acne comes back after using accutane anyway. For me proper diet has seemed to help the most. Check out Loren Cordain’s work. Very insightful in regards to acne, and well a lot of other general health issues as well.

What form was this Vit A in, just regular high dose tabs or what?

Interested in having a go…

I would think Accutane would be equivalent to 200,000-500,000IU per day of Vitamin A. The stuff is extremely toxic.

I learned my lesson. I would never opt for a third treatment. Some people may weather side effects better. I had some pretty bad psychiatric issues when on and afterwards.

[quote] JJ wrote:
What form was this Vit A in, just regular high dose tabs or what?

Interested in having a go… [/quote]

I use 10,000IU retinol gel caps. Don’t get beta-carotene.

Jesus… from accutane?

Retinol? Thanks.

yea if it really is a close sub for accutane it is a whole lot cheaper. someone post results lol