I think I ruined my skin with OCM
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Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:42 pm

Hi everyone,
I posted about this before but my skin has been getting worse. About 3 months ago I started OCM with a mix of Jojoba & Castor oil (70:30 ratio). I was only doing this cleansing 2x a week. My skin looked and felt lovely at first,but I started breaking out. First I got huge, deeply rooted boils here & there and then a few weeks later my skin errupted with white heads.I stopped doing OCM 2 weeks ago and I am still breaking out like crazy. I stop treated acne witn Tea Tree Oil and that seems to have left red blemishes all over. Lately I have only used aspirin masks to exfoliate and Spectro Jel to clean my face.

Right now I have breakouts on my forehead, neck and cheeks... not to mention that I have 2 scars on my face from the boils that have healed up. I also have red blemishes everywhere.

I don't know what to do anymore. Some pimples/blemishes have been there for over a month now and seem like they are never going to heal. Any help/advice is appreciated. My
skin was never this bad to begin with... I regret ever trying the OCM. I am embarassed and have never used so much makeup.

Additional info:
- YES I washed off all the oil, please do not tell me this is the cause I was extremely vigilant with this
-I used high quality organic/cold pressed oils and transfered then to a clean pump bottle to avoid contamination
-I am on my early 20s and I have fair skin. It used to be combo with hormonal breakouts.

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 12:26 am

This does not sound like a normal acne breakout, but more like a bacterial infection, esp. the boils. Have you seen a doctor about this?

In any case it would be a good idea if you stepped up your intake of vit. C to help your skin deal with the infection.

Also be careful with your make up, it could very well be that something like your concealer is off or contaminated and you just keep on re-infecting your skin every time you apply it.

Good luck, I hope it'll clear up soon!

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:03 am

Better see doctor first.

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:52 am

Mavala,

I purged for 3 months solid...and it was bad. Really bad, much like you describe. I OCM'd every night...and about the 3 month mark...it started to calm down...and now...great.

Jojoba is total crap for my skin. Can't use it. It could be the oil...it's a liquid wax at room temp, not a true oil. Works well for some and not for others.

I used, EVOO, grapeseed oil, castor oil...and for a while, hemp seed oil...they work for me. I don't use a toner after OCM, when I first started with OCM, I did. A 2% salicylic acid toner, DIY..easy and no bogus fillers and fragrances. That helped to keep the pimples from becoming infected.

I never broke out like that before, it was bad bad bad....but now, OCM is for me. Much more gentle on the skin.

Everyone is different though... look at the oils you are using...that could be the culprit as well.

Are you using a microfibre cloth along with your OCM?

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:55 pm

DragoN echoes sentiments I've read from others who experience purging.

Mavala, I do not use makeup usually, but I might use mineral powder once in a while if my sunblock looks too "greasy". On days I have powder on, I apply the oil and wipe it off with a dry tissue or cotton pad FIRST...to remove the top layer of dirt and makeup before using a warm cloth on the skin which may cause the dirt/makeup to get into pores either from melting or just due to the added moisture. I wonder if this first step mightn't be something that could work for you.

I do also do plain water washes...so that's another thing you could try. It's easy for me to trust this method because I usually don't have anything on my face. On days I don't do OCM, I just stand under the shower spray and use a clean face cloth and rub it on my face to clean. My face always feels clean afterward...and I don't do anything more but go to bed with a bare face.

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 2:19 pm

^^ Good suggestions! I also don't start ocm without taking my makeup off first. And washing a makeup-free face with just plain water is something I think a lot more people could probably get away with than do.

Mavala, what did you wash the oil off with? After OCM I feel like my skin is somewhat vulnerable after all the turmoil, and that if I used even a gentle cleanser, it'd be too irritating, nevermind the risk of throwing off the ph. That's part of why I only steam and wipe off (gently) with a warm microfibre cloth.

Sorry to hear you've been having such a tough time with it.

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:17 pm

I don't know why your skin is continuing to get worse even though you've stopped using OCM. Also I've never been able to understand why something that is used as a cleanser and is only on the skin for such a short amount of time and then washed off can cause these types of reactions (except if it's an allergic reaction). But then, there's nothing much about skin care that makes much sense - and we all seem to react differently to everything.

I've been battling my own issues lately - I had a terrible reaction to a cream and my lips started burning and came up in ulcers. I went to the doctor and he gave me two lots of cream to use but everything that I put on burnt like hell. For a week I was in agony and it was very difficult to eat. So whilst rummaging in the medicine cabinet for something else to try I came across some Zinc cream. I applied it thickly to my lips and the next morning I was on the road to recovery. Since then, I've been slapping on the Zinc to every irritated spot on my face and body - with miraculous results.

Like the other posters, I would recommend seeking some professional advice. But give the Zinc a try. Apply a thick glob on all offending lesions at night. In the morning apply a thinner layer so you can apply your sunscreen and makeup on top.

Here's some information on using Zinc as a cure for acne.

http://www.healthyskinworld.net/acne-zinc-oxide.php

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:21 pm

Mavala - I forgot to suggest also try taking a Zinc supplement (I take one everday). And also you might want to also try using a High Frequency Wand like the DermaWand or Palacia HF Device - they're great for killing skin bacteria and treating breakouts.

Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:38 pm

I would like to thank everybody for the help and advice!
The couple of weeks have really been horrible for my skin, but today it is a lot better. I started my period yesterday and my skin was really at it's worst point and I was afraid that it would never be the same again. Like I said, I have always gotten hormonal breakouts but I think this was the final true "purge" my skin needed to do. I am happy to report back that my break outs have gone down a lot- especially considering it has only been a day. The bumps have all subsided and some of the whiteheads have turned into pimples which are healing quickly. My blemishes also seem to be fading. My skin isn't perfect, not even close, but I am just glad that it is looking better and not worse. When I read that OCM makes your skin purge, I had no idea how bad of a purge it would be!

DragoN- I have no idea how you ever could have gone through 3 months of this! I think I needed something other than Jojoba Oil. My skin seems to love avocado oil, I used to moisturize my face with it all the time before ever using OCM. Maybe I could try OCM with a mixture of Avocado and Castor oil... that is if I ever find the courage to try it again!

To the other ladies- I always take my make off when I get home and did the OCM hours later before going to bed. I didn't not use the washcloth steaming method to get the oils off, I would just cleaned my face with Spectro Jel after massaging the oils in. Maybe that did not help...

I eat very healthy, drink plenty of water, exercise daily and I take multivitamins, so I am not sure how much additional supplements will help me. It never hurts to try though, so I will definitely keep that in mind.

It is weird, despite the agony of having horrible skin for all these weeks, I feel like it got rid of a lot dirt. A true purge!

If anything else changes I will update Smile

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:52 pm

Quote:

Maybe I could try OCM with a mixture of Avocado and Castor oil... that is if I ever find the courage to try it again!

I hope you will...also read through this site:
theoilcleansingmethod.com

Quote:

I didn't not use the washcloth steaming method to get the oils off, I would just cleaned my face with Spectro Jel after massaging the oils in. Maybe that did not help...

Bingo...I think that is possibly the problem.

I truly love OCM, nothing is better at gently cleaning my face and keeping the pimples and blackheads off. However, stating that, using the hot water steaming cloth...did dry my skin out...so I switched to an emulsified version of OCM...and much better. Some days I use a cloth, but most often, not. Just rinse the OCM mix off my face and that's it. Then apply my serums. Beddie byes.

My purging was utterly horrific and gross beyond words...I had pimples and cysts in places I had NEVER had them...but 3 months later and no looking back to anything but OCM for my face.

Zinc Oxide, marvelous stuff.

free skin care · Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:53 am

If you're over your boils that is a good thing as they are a staph infection - but the body is pretty good at healing itself Wink

Funny that some of you have mentioned zinc - I dug out my tube of straight zinc cream the other day as I had a milia come up under my eye really large, so weird I've never had this happen before but I put the zinc cream on it as zinc is anti-inflammatory and it has been working a treat - the swelling went down overnight and now it's almost healed.

I love avocado oil - good stuff, my skin just drinks it up - but here's the interesting part, if I have a zit it actually stings the zit for a couple minutes when I first apply it yet it does not sting any other part of my face Surprised

lol

PMS is a funny thing as my skin goes absolutely whacko about 1.5 weeks before my period which is due to the change in the skins pH levels the skin actually prefers a slightly acidic pH and PMS causes pH levels to drop - which I'm sure most of you already know Wink

free skin care · Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:24 am

IMO it's absolutely essential to use a wash cloth to remove all the oil after OCM. I rinse the cloth out several times in fresh water to make sure my face is squeaky clean. It also helps to use a non-alcohol toner.

Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:19 am

I love avocado oil. Sometimes I will put someo n a pimple and it will drink it up and flake off the next day. My skin has also becomes noticeably plumper when I use it nightly. I found this organic cold pressed avocado oil at a health food store and it works wonders!

DragoN: Have you had any scarring from the cysts or breakouts? I have 2 minor scars on my forehead now... I picked one boil and I think that caused the scarring, but I made sure to leave the other alone and it still scarred.

I have been reading a lot about OCM and it looks like it is common for people to break out in boils and cysts. Does anyone know why this happens?

free skin care · Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:03 am

Mavala,

I had one on my cheek that took a long long time to fade...but otherwise, no. I was really strict about NOT picking...because it invariably makes it worse. i.e. the cheek one. I was not happy with myself after that. It became HUGE and angry red and took 2 weeks to get lost.

The worst were the cysts along the jaw line...hideous and huge...and when I was pretty much "done" with this whacko idea of OCM, it all started clearing up. I haven't looked back and have not had anything even close to my previous break outs, not even before my MC. No skin oilies of the T-zone which was always a dead give away of MC on the way.

It seems the skin goes bonkers because for years and years we are stripping the skin of oils..so what does the skin do? It produces more oil. OCM...all of a sudden, and the skin is still producing oil and *oops*...too much. Then the chaos of resetting the whole thing sets in. Not a scientific explanation and there isn't any study on it either that I have come across. But does seem to work that way.

OCM has been great for me...but the purging nearly did me in. I am very happy I roughed it through though. I think most people give up on it too soon. Everyone is different though, and I gave myself 3 months...and if it didn't calm down...I was done with it.

Quote:

I was only doing this cleansing 2x a week. My skin looked and felt lovely at first,but I started breaking out. First I got huge, deeply rooted boils here & there and then a few weeks later my skin errupted with white heads.I stopped doing OCM 2 weeks ago and I am still breaking out like crazy.

I OCM'd every night from day one...and the first week twice a day, morning and night. Total over kill...but ok..then, only at night...every night. Till now...every night..only OCM, but I do use an emulsified one which makes it much easier to rinse the oils.

That worked for *me*, it was horrible and hellish and so butt ugly...but it worked in the bitter end. I love OCM.

I am blemish and pimple free, no blackheads and ....blah blah blah...no need for RetinA to control my break outs anymore. Haven't used it for going on 6 weeks...and only one little zit. Pretty good.

free skin care · Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:02 am

I've only been using avocado oil for about 1 month, and yes I too am using a cold pressed organic one - tbh I only purchased as it was on sale lol then I came home and looked up its uses for skin. My skin loved it! just drank it in and the funny stinging zit sensation made me think it was doing something impressive! lol Laughing

I think I had a mini purge from it though as I had a bit of a breakout on my nose and chin. I dont use OCM - yet Wink

I may get around to doing it but in the meantime I just use Osmosis Skincare and play around with a lot of oils for my dry skin using variations of sea buckthorn, sesame seed, macadamia, rosehip, vitamin E oil, emu oil - my skin loves oils!

mavala wrote:

I love avocado oil. Sometimes I will put someo n a pimple and it will drink it up and flake off the next day. My skin has also becomes noticeably plumper when I use it nightly. I found this organic cold pressed avocado oil at a health food store and it works wonders!

So DragoN you have been doing OCM for a while and previously it sounds like you had breakout prone skin but now it has resolved? if so that is awesome! I'm definitely a big believer in our skin needing oils and generally people way over-clean and over-strip their skin, especially people with acne or breakouts - and this only exacerbates their problems - the skin responds by producing even more oil and sebum.

Do you exfoliate? I dont think I could skip exfoliating - my skin seems to need it...

free skin care · Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:44 am

exfoliate? What method and how offen?

Glamcat wrote:

I've only been using avocado oil for about 1 month, and yes I too am using a cold pressed organic one - tbh I only purchased as it was on sale lol then I came home and looked up its uses for skin. My skin loved it! just drank it in and the funny stinging zit sensation made me think it was doing something impressive! lol Laughing

I think I had a mini purge from it though as I had a bit of a breakout on my nose and chin. I dont use OCM - yet Wink

I may get around to doing it but in the meantime I just use Osmosis Skincare and play around with a lot of oils for my dry skin using variations of sea buckthorn, sesame seed, macadamia, rosehip, vitamin E oil, emu oil - my skin loves oils!

mavala wrote:

I love avocado oil. Sometimes I will put someo n a pimple and it will drink it up and flake off the next day. My skin has also becomes noticeably plumper when I use it nightly. I found this organic cold pressed avocado oil at a health food store and it works wonders!

So DragoN you have been doing OCM for a while and previously it sounds like you had breakout prone skin but now it has resolved? if so that is awesome! I'm definitely a big believer in our skin needing oils and generally people way over-clean and over-strip their skin, especially people with acne or breakouts - and this only exacerbates their problems - the skin responds by producing even more oil and sebum.

Do you exfoliate? I dont think I could skip exfoliating - my skin seems to need it...

free skin care · Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:48 am

I had the same thing happen to me. Its currently winter in Australia and my skin always gets real dry during the first few weeks of this season but for some reason this year it was worse than ever, severely dehydrated with little lines popping up everywhere.

Only difference is instead of washing the oil off like it should have been, I kept it on because my skin felt so darn soft the next morning. One week later huge blemishes started coming up.

It was a nightmare but eventually the blemishes died down with a bit of High Frequency.

free skin care · Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:22 pm

I just wanted to chime in here.

About five years ago I was OCMing, and I didn't know that I was using Castor Oil that had gone rancid. I suddenly went from having clear, healthy skin to having major perioral dermatitis (that looked like whiteheads and zits all along my chin and cheeks). I didn;t know what it was but had numerous facials and did whatever I could to get the 'zits' to go away. In the end it was diagnosed as a bacterial infection (from the castor oil) and I had to be on doxycycline for two whole weeks (not fun). After taking that arduous course of antibiotics, my skin cleared up for real , but not before I suffered for about 4 months with angry skin!

The clincher for me was having every whitehead extracted only to find when I got home from the facialist they were already on their way back--in the same place. That--and a friend staying with me who I convinced to use my OCM concoction suffered the very same consequences! Thank god she forgave me...

--avalange

free skin care · Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:37 pm

avalange wrote:

I just wanted to chime in here.

About five years ago I was OCMing, and I didn't know that I was using Castor Oil that had gone rancid. I suddenly went from having clear, healthy skin to having major perioral dermatitis (that looked like whiteheads and zits all along my chin and cheeks). I didn;t know what it was but had numerous facials and did whatever I could to get the 'zits' to go away. In the end it was diagnosed as a bacterial infection (from the castor oil) and I had to be on doxycycline for two whole weeks (not fun). After taking that arduous course of antibiotics, my skin cleared up for real , but not before I suffered for about 4 months with angry skin!

The clincher for me was having every whitehead extracted only to find when I got home from the facialist they were already on their way back--in the same place. That--and a friend staying with me who I convinced to use my OCM concoction suffered the very same consequences! Thank god she forgave me...

--avalange

I'm a Facialist so should have known better but the skin was just so soft and blemishes aren't an issue with me. I used olive oil, wont be doing that again Razz

free skin care · Sat Sep 10, 2011 11:47 pm

Glamcat

Quote:

So DragoN you have been doing OCM for a while and previously it sounds like you had breakout prone skin but now it has resolved? if so that is awesome! I'm definitely a big believer in our skin needing oils and generally people way over-clean and over-strip their skin, especially people with acne or breakouts - and this only exacerbates their problems - the skin responds by producing even more oil and sebum.

Correct...clear skin. Not stripped and healthy, boring and normal.

I don't break out anymore at all. Maybe 1 around MC...and small. Nothing horrid.Before..was another story.

However, I cannot attribute 100% of the success to OCM alone, it's part 1. of my regime, part 2. SeaVage formula, a DIY better than Prevage formula with B3/NAG and my Kinerase knock off, jacked up with B3 and NAG. I do sometimes use a microfiber cloth to exfoliate, gently. Other wise, once a month a 10% white willow bark extract mask. DIY.

Sunscreen is a DIY ZnO formula.

All DIY goodies that worked better than anything else, barring RetinA, and even then RetinA did not keep the MC uglies away.

Avalange, sorry you had such a horrible experience, using something rancid, will most definitely not help matters...

Echoecho...I used to go to a Spa, get facials and all that...but 2 days later...break out city. Fancy high end Swiss products, that did nothing for my skin, extractions that even when I told the lady, my skin is sensitive...left welts.

I don't use anything but OCM on my face. *My* skin used to be quite oily by the middle of the day or sooner...it doesn't do that anymore. It's clear and healthy ...now.

And ...doesn't cost me an arm and a leg in products that don't work or are full of fillers, fluff, fragrances and preservatives I have no need of.

To each their own and what works best for them.

free skin care · Sun Sep 11, 2011 12:00 am

DragoN wrote:

Echoecho...I used to go to a Spa, get facials and all that...but 2 days later...break out city. Fancy high end Swiss products, that did nothing for my skin, extractions that even when I told the lady, my skin is sensitive...left welts.

I hate doing extractions many people have the same reaction, mine just gets very dry and irritated. I wont do extractions unless it's with this real nifty tool that has a needle on one end and a little metal loop on the other, it decreases the chances of irritation greatly. You can purchase them off eBay and do your own professional extractions and the tool only costs $1.00

free skin care · Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:13 am

I agree with you on that also but it depends on the spa. The difference between a good facial and an average facial is based on what products are being used (after all apart from the person giving a facial the products are doing the rest of the work). Just because a product is made in Paris it dosent mean the product is any better. I use products that are based on a good solid ingredient lists. I do get the customers that are like 'is it made in Paris'? Razz

I also have to give them information on how to read an ingredient list properly Rolling Eyes

but that's all part of an add on skin care consultation which allows for better results thus allowing for more profits Smile

Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:46 pm

ok i know this post is from years ago but its the only one i can find on ocm damage. I tried ocm with olive/castor oil...i used crappy non cold pressed castor oil in the laxative isle (i didnt know any better) and didnt read enough about it.

Someone please suggest something to me, what helped you recover? I've been to 6 derm visits, cortisone injections, doxycycline, minocyclin, bactrim, and topicals, NOTHINGS WORKING. i'm still breaking out in huge painful cysts 4 months later, im embarassed to even leave the house, and its caused tons of scarring. I'm so depressed over this.

My last resort is going for a facial to an esthetician...has anyone done this? she said its going to be painful and shes going to lance out every pore which might make things more inflamed.

Someone please help! what healed you from this nightmare???!!!

free skin care · Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:38 pm

curlyqqq wrote:

ok i know this post is from years ago but its the only one i can find on ocm damage. I tried ocm with olive/castor oil...i used crappy non cold pressed castor oil in the laxative isle (i didnt know any better) and didnt read enough about it.

Someone please suggest something to me, what helped you recover? I've been to 6 derm visits, cortisone injections, doxycycline, minocyclin, bactrim, and topicals, NOTHINGS WORKING. i'm still breaking out in huge painful cysts 4 months later, im embarassed to even leave the house, and its caused tons of scarring. I'm so depressed over this.

My last resort is going for a facial to an esthetician...has anyone done this? she said its going to be painful and shes going to lance out every pore which might make things more inflamed.

Someone please help! what healed you from this nightmare???!!!

Hi! So sorry, you are going through this. One thing I wanted to mention to you is that castor oil I see in the laxative section at my pharmacy and grocery store is cold pressed. The only solvent extracted castor oil around here is used in machine shops and you can't even buy it from a pharmacy. It is possible that your oil was cold pressed, but it's also possible that things are different in the place where you live. I don't know and at this point it doesn't matter.
I had a somewhat similar reaction to yours even though I was using cold pressed oil, except mine wasn't as severe as what you describe.
Once I realized that OCM wasn't for me, I started washing my face with a Olay foaming face wash for sensitive skin. It cleans my face very well, removes sunscreen and occasional makeup and it doesn't dry out my face. I also started using a Clarisonic brush.
At night after cleansing I use a vit C serum, followed by salicylic acid 1%. In the morning after cleansing I used antioxidant serum followed by benzoyl peroxyde 2.5%, followed by sunscreen. This has cleared my skin completely of all acne and cysts. I still have some whiteheads and blackheads though. So that's that. Pretty simple and it works for me very well.
I am prone to getting acne and cysts, so I am using these products every day.

What kind of topicals have you tried? Have you considered Retin A?

Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:22 am

my derm prescribed me acanya? its a mix of clindamycin/bp 2.5%, made my skin too tight and dry and flaky which is what the castor oil did in the first place. So then we tried clyndamicin phosphate 1%, i only used it for a week which isnt long enough to tell, but it was making all my cysts and blackheads turn into white heads so i took myself off that.

Now i'm back to my store brand 10% bp, occasionally applying an oil free moisturizer.

I'm still on minocycline antobiotic, week 3 and no results yet.

This has been absolute hell and i just want to leave my house without being ashamed.

im really considering getting an extraction facial because i really massaged OCM deep into my pores, i think there is still so much excess deep in there that needs a professional to clear it out pore by pore. At this point I dont know what to do, i feel like my face will never clear. (i had rather clear skin before ocm) i totally regret this!

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