Essential Fatty Acid Flare Ups - Help
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: Essential Fatty Acid Flare Ups - Help | |
| Hi All,
I have tried many EFA over the last 10 years and each have caused a flare up to my rosacea and seb derm that put me on antibiotics and steriod creams until it got out of my system. I have tired Oil of oregano, Udo's Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, DHA Omega 3, and Seabuckthorn oil each in capsules and oil form. I have such dry skin and notice an immediate benefit for about 1 day and then the flare up takes off spreading to new areas of my face, scalp and eyes. I also have a bad reaction to eggs, dairy and wheat. Does anyone have an opinion on why or what I can do to help with this? I have tried digestive enzymes but thy make little difference. I'm also on a cocktail of vitamins which help but I think the reaction I have to EFAs especially might shed some light on what is going on with my skin. Has anyone had this reaction or does anyone have an opinion on what is going on? |
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Joined: 07 Jan 2008
| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: | |
| I have come to the conclusion I just can't take any of that natual stuff! I can handle a multi-vitamin, but that's all. I only take that if I haven't eaten well. I try to eat a lot of vitamin-rich food so I can get it naturally.
I tried an Omega-3 supplement with fish oil, borage oil, and flax oil. It did horrible things to my skin! I learned her (from J-Mill) that if you have allergies you might not be able to handle those kinds of supplements. Not too sure why, though. Stinks, too, because they have so many benefits. Sorry, not much help, but I have had reactions to supplements, too. I have environmental allergies, but no known food allergies. I'm waiting for the results of blood testing, though, but my skin tests were negative. Good luck! ~J |
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Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Michelle,
Have you been tested by an allergist? I would recommend getting this done because that way you know what to avoid. Stay away from any supplements that make you worse or cause you to have a bad reaction. It seems as if with all of us there is no one clear cut thing going on and it may necessitate a multidisciplinary approach for maximum treatment and results. Welcome to the Forum and good luck! Best wishes, Melissa |
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Joined: 28 Aug 2006
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:49 am Post subject: | |
| My advice....don't take those things anymore! I went around the block for several years attempting to take these types of supplements and it always w/o fail made my rosacea go nuts! I know they are supposed to help with inflammation but for some reason they have the opposite effect on me...and now you and several others on this group.
Look at it this way....it will save you money....and you have less things to swallow everyday!  _________________ Dx 1998 No meds Used low-dose accutane successfully |
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:53 am Post subject: | |
| This is interesting - I've been taking fish oils and starflower oil for months, for general health rather than rosacea. Haven't noticed them causing flushing, but then they've done nothing whatsoever to help with my dry skin/eyes/ to prevent my rosacea flaring up. I think I might give up for a while too and see if it helps!
Kristina |
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: Essential Fatty Acid Flare Ups - Help | |||
See an allergist and get food tested. I can not tolerate dairy, eggs, or wheat. There are plenty alternatives regarding foods that do not contain those ingredients at your local health food stores and websites. |
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Joined: 17 Feb 2008
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: | |
| Thank you for your replies. I could go to an allergist...how could a person be allergic to essential fatty acids though?
I'm going to revert back to what works. I am interested in the thought that rosacea is a fungus/parasite. I have great luck with proucts that fight candida and vitamin C. The problem with this condition is that we all see to have it from a different cause. What works for one doesn't seem to necessarily work for another. Anyways, it is so helpful to receive feedback from you all as we all do suffer from the same condition in the end. Thanks...M |
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Joined: 28 Aug 2006
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: | |
I know what you mean....EFA's are essential and naturally found in fooods so how could we be allergic to them....we need them? But maybe it's something in the processing of these supplements or what I suspect in my case was I was taking them in what is termed a therapeutic dose...and I have autoimmune thyroid disease so maybe this caused my immune system to go more nuts! Just my theroy....  _________________ Dx 1998 No meds Used low-dose accutane successfully |
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Joined: 07 Jan 2008
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: | |||
I've heard that people with autoimmune diseases should avoid supplements. Something about the immune system already being in overdrive. When you add the supplements, it sends the system into further overdrive and causes the side effects you experience. Just what I heard! ~J |
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Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Location: BC
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: | |||
I have the same reactions that you have, but no autoimmune disease. I think that the issue must be in the processing as well. I tried using only brands in glass bottles because I know about the plastic off-gassing dangers but there was no difference in my reaction, gut or skin. Now I avoid anything that adversely affects me so my gut and skin stay calmer. Eating can be a challenge at times (I do cheat but suffer for it, sometimes more than others). I find that breakfast can be the greatest challenge. _________________ Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. – Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Joined: 28 Aug 2006
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject: | |||||
I messed this one up....my comment ended up in the quote box _________________ Dx 1998 No meds Used low-dose accutane successfully |
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Forum Moderator
Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Location: Dorset, UK
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject: | |
| I have often wondered if it could be a build up of the the vitamins found in oils such as vitamin A building up in the liver as i also appear to flush more when I take these types of supplements. | |
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:07 am Post subject: | |
| Thank you for your replies. This has helped me alot. I am going to stick to what is right for my body and try to support it that way. It's difficult with all the advice out there not to get hooked into trying things.
It must be something about the processing of EFAs because I can eat fish and olive oil based salad dressings. The theory about vitamins overloading our systems makes sense to me too. The best thing for my skin is sunlight. Does anyone else find this? After just 5 minutes of direct sunlight I am several shades paler. I even find that just getting in and out of the car going someplace makes a difference by the time I get there. I suppose this is a bit off topic and I should start a new thread...but you've all been so informative I thought I would ask. Michelle |
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Forum Moderator
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Location: Northwest USA
| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:59 am Post subject: | |
I too have a bad reaction to EFA's in supplement form. My skin breaks out and I have more redness. In fact, just several days ago I convinced myself that ground flax seed should be good for me. Took a heaping teaspoonful on my oatmeal for 3 mornings and this morning I have 5 teeny pustules...very tiny, almost like whiteheads and not noticable with makeup. But I think that's only cause I'm on meds that keep the inflammation to almost nothing. However, I could feel my skin acting up and it would've been much worse without the meds!!! So, of course, I stopped eating flax seed 
Like you, I can eat fish and olive oil with no problem. I read somewhere that researchers who are studying the aging process and illnesses usually associated with getting older (ie rosacea) say we should eat only the foods familiar to our great grandparents! That our bodies have become accustomed to those foods and therefore cause the least inflammation. This means organic eggs from local farms, etc. I also can't tolerate wheat or much dairy. Again these foods have been adulterated to be something much much different than our great grandparents ate. They drank whole milk from a local dairy and ate wheat that was more like spelt flour...much more protein. In fact, the wheat in use now was largly unknown in the early 1800's before industrialization. It's extremely interesting to me that the list of things that most rosaceans are sensitive too were not largly used or done by our great great grandparents. Here's some observations... Pre-industrial people (mid 1800's and earlier) generally avoided the sun by wearing hats and long clothing. Ate a rather plain diet of foods that were seasonally grown and available, organic local produce and meats, fresh caught fish, no suppliments, used herbs, did not drink milk after childhood, ate cheese sparingly (a luxury for most folks), ate sweets very sparingly (again, a luxury), had a slow pace of life that allowed for much personal reflection and time to relax, slept long hours during the winter, and surrounded themselves with family for comfort. If you go and read the tombstones of people from these eras, it is very interesting to note that if you lived past childhood, you often lived to your 70's and 80's...not too shabby for folks without all the conveniences and meds we have today!!! c _________________ Bactrim, Spironolactone, Metrogel 1%, Cetaphil Gentle Face Wash. |
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Joined: 28 Aug 2006
| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:13 am Post subject: | |
Funny story about flaxseed oil....I tried a blend years ago with mostly flaxseed....anyway, I took what this ND recommended....2TBS per day and within a week my skin was on fire and I felt horrible 
I stopped using it and a few years later I found out I had thyroid disease and flaxseed is a goitergen!  I had a lightblub moment....lots of these "good" for me things interfer with my thyroid gland which is bad for me No more yuky ucky flaxseed oil!_________________ Dx 1998 No meds Used low-dose accutane successfully |
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