Increase in Testosterone = Breaking Out?

[Mehdi]

I was just about to post something similar but then found this thread so I will just say it in here.

I'm 19 and never had acne through my early teens. I was grossly underweight and ate very little and my skin was clear 90% of the time. Now when I started looking into weights and eat more my skin takes a drastic turn for the worse. WTF?

I now have more products then a super model, have been taking zinc for about 2 months and nothing will keep it in control. I even took drastic measures by stopping going to the gym and stopping eating lots of foods. In the end, I lost all my gains and my skin didn't improve that dramatically.

Am I helpless?

Can be your diet, check the tips I gave above.

[darshan]

glad im not the only one with this problem.

Hi medhi if you dont eat cheese or drink milk how do you get your recommended daily calcium - through supplements?

I'm going to look into buyng zinc and eat more veggies. Note, Before i started the AD my diet was clean as! yes i still had skin problems.

i really fink it is the milk and cheese.

[Warren]

I wish it was that simple...

I can tell you in my prime teens while my skin was clear I ate like shit, including milk, cheese and all the rest of it. Then I start putting stress on my body and eating lots more and my skin deteriorates. I went 2 months without stepping into a gym, no dairy, I even went a week without eating gluten, and it seems like the lifting and eating I did really screwed my skin up because it didn't improve that much.

Now I just continue eating and drinking dairy, eating lots and hitting the gym harder than ever because I feel helpless.

[Mehdi]

glad im not the only one with this problem.

Hi medhi if you dont eat cheese or drink milk how do you get your recommended daily calcium - through supplements?

I'm going to look into buyng zinc and eat more veggies. Note, Before i started the AD my diet was clean as! yes i still had skin problems.

i really fink it is the milk and cheese.

The calcium story is overrated, you'll rarely have calcium deficiency if you eat whole foods.

[bigwhat62]

excessive soda drinking can reduce the calcium and density in your bones. specifically soda with phosphuric acid. but if your eating clean, whole foods like mehdi mentioned, you should be good. take a daily multi vitamin, plenty of water and don't worry about calcium.

[Seth]

I was just about to post something similar but then found this thread so I will just say it in here.

I'm 19 and never had acne through my early teens. I was grossly underweight and ate very little and my skin was clear 90% of the time. Now when I started looking into weights and eat more my skin takes a drastic turn for the worse. WTF?

I now have more products then a super model, have been taking zinc for about 2 months and nothing will keep it in control. I even took drastic measures by stopping going to the gym and stopping eating lots of foods. In the end, I lost all my gains and my skin didn't improve that dramatically.

Am I helpless?

Totally in the same boat. Just about twenty and never had a big problem with acne. But I now that I'm lifting and eating differently, BAM! Outbreaks on my face like a mofo. I'm thinking about cutting out the dairy first (beside whey protein). But the dairy I eat is usually just a slice or two of cheese a day. I also eat sandwiches quite often unfortunately (too much carbs). Maybe I have a gluten allergy. I'll try your suggestions Mehdi. Because it really sucks to have your confidence boosted by looking good from working out and cut down a bit by acne.

[wrenchhands]

The king of GOMAD says no dairy?

Mind is thusly blown!

[Shoke]

my intake on all foods listed is less or the same as ever. i take one a day multivitamin for men that does have extra zinc. i narrowed it down to testosterone, i will give it some time cause it seems the worst of it has passes.

How much mg of zinc? anything below 30mg is wasted money.

I used to have some 50mg zinc supplements, but was worried that it might be overkill since the recommended daily requirement is like 15mg or something.....excess zinc intake is toxic

[samyG]

I know viatmin A helps with acne but too much can be very toxic and cause hair loss. If anything, go to a dermatologist. Ask questions and listen to their opinions. The dermatologist will more than likely try and prescribe something to you but if you can handle/afford the given prescriptions, go for it.

[Shoke]

get plenty of sleep....back during my undergraduate years I used to sleep late and stuff because of excess partying and cramming for exams....bad for skin

[Gringo]

Yep, usually when i go partying or something (and sleep late), the next day my skin is like shit. Take showers frequently also (at least daily).

[cheeky]

I know this post is a bit old, but I thought I'd add some input here.

In my personal experience, I would say that increased testosterone definitely causes acne.

I go for testosterone shots once a month (hormone replacement therapy) and about 1 and 1/2 weeks after the shots, my skin starts going haywire on my chest and back. I get loads of little red spots on my back and chest for about a week to a week and half, and then towards the last week or so of the month they totally disappear again as the testosterone wears off.

I NEVER had these spots before and they come like clockwork after the shots - so I definitely attribute them to the increased testosterone. Sometimes the skin on my face is affected a little, but mainly chest and back.

Over the last two months, I have started taking fish oil (Omega 3 and 6) after reading about it on the site. It might be too early to make any correlation yet, but it does SEEM like the skin is not breaking out as much. During the non-breakout periods, my skin is looking great - I just need to see how my next breakout period goes (about a weeks time) and will post feedback!

[mkdirfoo]

Cheeky,

Would you mind saying why you are getting testosterone supplementation.

I ask because I was just tested and my results were on the low end of the spectrum and I am interested in doing the same. Thanks

[cheeky]

@mkdirfoo

For exactly the same reason - my testosterone levels were on the low side and my doctor prescribed hormone replacement therapy via a monthly shot of Sustanon. Now my levels are in the average to upper range.

I really recommend it if you are on the lower side as it makes a noticeable improvement to your quality of life and general well being. It also keeps you focussed at gym which is a plus.

[sean]

Everybody's acne is different. I know for a fact that mine is exacerbated by heavy lifting and increased testosterone. Diet does not affect it at all. At one point I literally ate nothing but salmon and lettuce for two weeks - no less acne. I can eat junk food 24/7 while not lifting and my acne clears right up. If you figure out what affects your acne, you will be better able to control it.