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Natural Vitamin A
Most of you will know about Accutane, Isotretinoin, or any of the other names given to the synthetic drug prescribed for severe acne sufferers. However, if you have not researched it or taken it yourself you may not be aware that this drug is simply a synthetic (manufactured), pre-formed vitamin A replacement.
Most of you will also know that synthetic drugs and vitamins more often than not have a negative side-effect on the human body that comes with the benefits. Accutane is no different. Now, yes, Accutane is a proven treatment for acne and I don't doubt that it works but the fact that a prescription is needed to purchase it and a liability waver must be signed is proof enough that it is dangerous. Prescription acne treatments in general have are similarly unsafe, and medical supervision and advice is always required for these treatments. That is not to say that they will all cause you harm, because they won't. But if a safer, natural and equally effective alternative is available then isn't that always the better option?
Vitamin A has been proven to maintain healthy eyes and skin. This is the primary reason for the development of isotretinoin, the active chemical form of vitamin A used in Accutane. However, the natural forms, or more specifically the carotene forms of it (e.g. beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, etc), found in dietary sources are not toxic. In this way, the natural alternative (or some of you might call it the "home remedy") is far superior.
Organic, natural Vitamin A supplements are available from most chemists and health stores and are easily purchased over the counter. The bonus of this is that you can purchase 100 Vitamin A or beta-carotene capsules in a small bottle for less than $10. However, supplements, while massively safer than Accutane, still have a smaller risk of Vitamin A toxicity if taken in excess. Therefore, for the highest benefit, you should review the dietary sources listed below for an increased intake without danger and compare it to the risk of toxicity based on the suggestions below.
Generally, vitamin A capsules will contain approximately 5000IU (international units). For the majority of sufferers, this will be a sufficient acne treatment and they will notice results almost immediately. At this level of intake there is almost zero risk for the first 12 months of use, which should not even be required. For more severe cases or in cases where other medications are in use (e.g. anti-inflammatory medicines) which can increase the severity of acne, 2-3 of these capsules may be needed each day. Preferably, no more than 10-15 000IU, depending on weight and body mass, should be taken daily as recommended on the label and throughout available research sources. This should not be an issue as 15000 IU should show dramatic results for mild acne sufferers and at least some improvement in even the most severe sufferer.
That said, a study was done recently which indicated that beta-carotene supplements help to prevent cognitive decline (the decrease in mental capabilities).
As mentioned previously though, the dietary forms of vitamin A and beta-carotene have no risk whatsoever! Therefore, I would suggest considering adding a large amount of the below items to your diet, rather than taking Accutane, or even supplements. Now that's not to say that other vegetables should be disregarded, as they all have benefits to your pH balance, but all of the below sources are also high in beta-carotene / vitamin A content and since it is a dietary source there is no risk of toxicity.
- sweet potatoes
- carrots
- goji berries
- cantaloupe melon
- mango
- apricots
- spinach
- kale
- chard
- turnip greens
- dandelion greens
- beet greens
- mustard greens
- collard greens
- watercress
- cilantro
- fresh thyme
- broccoli
- parsley
- romaine lettuce
- ivy gourd
- rose hips
- winter squash
- pumpkin
- cassava
92 comments
acne girl says:
Are these foods more effective when eaten raw? I like eating these foods but most of them I eat cooked!
January 21st, 2008 at 6:22 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi acne girl,
Yes, these foods, like other vegetables, are more effective when eaten raw. The reason is that when plants are fresh they store maximum nutrients. If you leave them unfrozen too long or if you cook them the process causes a loss of these nutrients. Some ways of cooking cause less nutrient loss than others but in general, time, heat and water all have a negative effect.
I have found a page you may want to look at if you require more detailed information on nutrient loss in vegetables:
Hope it helps.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
help please says:
hi, i've been reading a lot of your suggestions and i think i'm definitely going to try eating these foods and taking vitamin a. i do not have terrible acne, i did for a period about 6 months ago, it lasted a few months, finally cleared up, and it has come back moderately bad. i am just healing from a break out now, nothing new is developing, i just have many red marks, specifically in the area above/between my eyebrows. i was wondering if vitamin a and these foods can help keep my acne away because it seems i have tried everything, yet i don't want to resort to anything like accutane (i also have prom in a month and a half, and right now i feel quite ugly..) i found that when my acne had gone away, i felt much more confident and as a result, happier. i think it may sound self-absorbed, but these past few days i can only focus on the red spots and my self confidence has completely plummeted.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Reader,
I completely understand what you mean. It's difficult not to focus on acne when it is on your own skin, but remember that other people never see it as badly as you see it yourself.
In terms of vitamin A, I use it myself to balance with the anti-inflammatory medication (which increases the severity of acne) and the vitamin A does a great job of keeping the acne away, and it's definitely much safer than using Accutane.
Now the thing is that the recommended dosage is usually not enough to make a huge difference unless you only have very light acne. In my experience, you will probably need around 10,000 – 15,000IU to see quick and effective results. Depending on your height and weight, even 20,000IU is OK but only take these quantities for a short period (e.g. 1-2 months) as extended use at this level, while still not nearly as severe as Accutane, is still considered to be slightly dangerous. I recommend using this possibly for 2-3 weeks until your acne goes down a bit and then sticking to 10,000IU for maintenance until your prom. After that, see how you go on the recommended 5,000IU and the healthy foods.
If you keep to a green diet like you mentioned, I believe this should be enough. Remember not to cut out other foods altogether because you do need a balanced diet to be healthy but, in particular, don't eat any chocolates, sweets or cakes in the few weeks before your prom because it will usually lead to a break out a day or so later, which can take a while to heal.
Give this a try for now and see how you go to start with. Let me know if you have any issues and I'll see what I can do to help you out.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:34 am
help please says:
thank you for the help so far,
the only thing that is bothering me is the fear that i'll get another break out, but this has subsided with the hopes of taking vitamin a, and the scabs that i have. i know you're not supposed to pick, so i have no even tied a bandana around my forehead to keep my hands off, but it is the scabs that i am self conscious of, for i do not have any new pimples and scabs are so difficult to conceal. as of now, i'm using gel from the aloe vera plant, and i find this helps to heal them more quickly, but it still looks horrible in the mean time. if i continue with the aloe and keep my hands off, do you know how quickly they can be mostly healed? and is there anyway i can make them heal faster?
i am three days away from my summer vacation and i find that i'm not even very happy because i am completely preoccupied with what is on my face..
May 13th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Scabs are an annoying part of acne. The thing is that if you do pick them they will come back worse and larger than before. This sucks I know and it means that there isn't much that you can do about them.
What you can do, though, is use something that dries the skin. What this does is prevent any additional oil and bacteria from making the scab or pimple worse and it dries the "scab" so that it will come off naturally without you having to pick it.
Generally, the time when it's ok for the scab to come off is usually when it comes off without effort, resistance, or pain. If there is even the slightest discomfort or difficulty of removing the scab then it is not ready to come off.
Now there are a few options that can do this and you will need to find something you are comfortable with. You may want to use salt (himalayan crystal salt is the best but any bar form should do) or you might be willing to use a benzoyl peroxide repairing lotion, like the small bottle from proactiv.
Either way, drying the skin is usually the best way to have the scab fall off naturally. Once it comes off, switch to a healing lotion (like the aloe you already use) and it should be ok.
Scabs in general, depending on severity, will take 2-3 days to heal and come off. I would make sure that you wait this long before doing anything otherwise you will probably have to deal with it for another week, with the pimple coming back and then another scab. So just keep restraining yourself for the time being and I think in a few days you will see them come off.
There will still be some red marks but these will fade with time and are far less visible and far less irritating.
May 14th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
help please says:
hi again, this will probably be my last post:
two days ago i was literally ashamed to go out in public because of my face. as soon as i stumbled upon this site i immediately started the 3-day vegetable cleanse and started taking vitamin a along with a few other vitamins to regenerate my skin. just like you said, it's day three and i see dramatic results in my skin. just about all my scabs came off today and i have maybe only two left that will go away tomorrow or the next day. i have been feeling so desperate lately and i did not know the solution could be this simple. thank you so much, my morale and confidence has now started to improve again along with my skin improvements.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Anita says:
George, they say that Vitamin A over 8000IU can be dangerous if a woman is pregnant or thinking about being pregnant; not that I am, but should females perhaps stick to smaller doses of 5000IU, or does it leave the body quickly enough to justify taking the higher dose for a smaller amount of time?
June 14th, 2008 at 5:05 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Anita,
If you are thinking about being pregnant I would talk to a medical professional first. The thing is, if you ask in relation to Accutane then that will be an indication. If they are willing to give you a prescription for Accutane then taking a little over 8,000IU for a short period should be fine, as Accutane is simply a very strong synthetic form of Vitamin A.
But I think that if you are looking to get pregnant you should definitely get advice from a medical professional or at least a nutritionist before proceeding.
Taking vitamin A, at least in its natural form, doesn't do much damage and if you give it enough time you will be fine. It just depends on how long you can take it for and how much time you will have to monitor the effects.
In general, taking 5,000-10,000IU won't do much to you anyway and the way that I see it, if you are lacking in vitamin A then taking that much will only account for the deficiency.
Then again, if you are worried or want to be safe just start at the 5,000IU or take beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is organic form vitamin A which is far weaker and has zero negative effects at any level on consumption. Vitamin A is more effective but like I said, if you are concerned just start with something small and see how you go from there.
Either way, even if the results aren't major you should see some effects in a short period of time.
If you find out anything further regarding vitamin A and pregnancy be sure to come back and let us know. It would be interesting to hear about that.
Thanks and regards,
June 16th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
JoAnne says:
My son has suffered with severe acne and we have tried every medication and wash and nothing has helped. The Dr has suggested accutane and of course there are concerns. He is type 1 diabetic also. 6ft 135 pounds what is a safe and quick dosage for him and what kind of anti-inflammatory. He is currently on a anti-biotic perscribed by the Dr but this is his 3rd one. Nothing has worked and I would like to give this a try.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Vitamins for Acne says:
Vitamin A can cause some problems, in some cases you might be better off without it. There are other vitamins that help to treat acne.
Vitamin A is in charge of the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin is made of.
It strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and reduces the sebum production, that's why deficiency in vitamin A may cause acne.
Another main factor for acne is stress and anxiety. In order to relieve you can take Vitamin B.
Vitamin C is in charge of hundreds metabolic functions in the body. Among those metabolic functions you can find the growth and repair of the tissue.
And last but not least, Vitamin E, which enhances healing and tissue repair.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
nicole endel says:
i have for the last year developed moderate to severe acne on my chin and forhead after my second child i am 25 ive just recently seen acutane be sucessful for my sister and have been considering it since every product i try fails if i do the vitimine supplement instead with the results be permanant as they have been for my sister or will i have to use them permanantly
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:02 am
Sophie says:
I was wondering if the effects will be permanent, like accutane, or will I need a lifelong meaintenance? My acne is not too bad but very persistent. I've had it for 14 years since i was 13. Thanks!
August 4th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Immer says:
I read there are natural vitamin A in the form of pills. Is it save to take?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:10 am
Kirsty says:
Hi, it is safe to use Zyporex whilst pregnant?
August 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Victoria says:
I took my first dose of Accutane, and I got very dizzy, and threw up… My doctor now says I cant take it. Is taking Vitamin A going to make me fill sick also, or is that Safe, if so, how many IU's should I take? is that depending on my size, or frame?
My Doctor said I had Cystic or Nodular Acne, but it looks more like Blisters, fluid filled, and they are very, very tender to the touch… they hurt so bad. I never saw acne like this… they sometimes get so fluid filled they leak ( not pop )… clear fluid, not pus. Any idea whats going on, or What i should do? I'm affraid to treat this like acne, when I get the feeling it might not be.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Alex says:
hey George I was wondering if I could cod liver oil (rich in Vit A and omega 3, two important acne fighters)
since beta carotane, found in veggies, has transform to vitamin A when needed, many acne sufferers have a weakened liver so the chances are that the liver has a hard time transforming beta carotane to vitamin A. The vitamin A found in cod liver oil is the pure form so I will give it a try
September 4th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
sickofacne says:
Will taking vitamin A help adult acne and acne caused by taking medications (i'm on equetro and cymbalta). My acne continues to worsen and it is really starting to affect my life. Also- will vitamin A help heal past scarring?
September 14th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Just another guy with acne says:
Hey there! So, i have mild acne, but ocasionally i get the out breaks that make me want to say inside and not even see my friends. For example, the ones between the eyes un the forehead, ewww. So, i just bought a Vit. A supplement today, and each pill has 8,000IU. I was wondering if i should take just 1 pill a day, or maybe one in the mornign and one at night. Any suggestion on how many and what time of the day to take them? I weigh 185 pounds, male, and im in very good shape.
September 24th, 2008 at 2:46 am
George Cleanthous says:
HI Guy,
Start out with just the one per day (I prefer on an empty stomach but usually with a meal is recommended) and you should see a slight improvement, especially if you are already in shape. If the improvement is not significant enough after the first 1-2 weeks, increase the dosage to 2 per day, and then again after 2 weeks to 3. At this dosage there is still very little risk to you so long as you do not stay on this level for 6 months or more. And depending on the severity of your breakout, 2 per day should show you a significant improvement.
From what you described (i.e. breakouts centrally located around a small region of skin) 2-3 per day will be more than enough to give you the results you are after.
In very severe cases, which generally include acne in all regions of the face plus body and back acne, you won't see sufficient results unless you are taking over 50,000IU, at which point you are closer to the strength of Accutane anyway and should probably see your doctor if you still want to take this course of treatment.
September 24th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Mike says:
Hey im a little skeptical about taking beta carotene 25,000 IU my acne is pretty bad I was taking this other supplement which caused it. I take Zinc now and I want to take the beta carotene but im worried about side effects and such…is it safe?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Mike,
I wouldn't worry about beta carotene. There is virtually no risk as it is a naturally occurring nutrient. If you are going to be taking vitamin A, then it should be taken cautiously but for beta carotene, it is safe.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Jenny says:
Hey everyone,
I have struggled with breaking out since I entered college. I would have periods of having totally clear beautiful skin, to periods of drastic, embarassing moderate to severe painful acne. I have just graduated and the problem of acne seems to be getting worse. I have tried everything from cremes to antibiotics. My doctor placed me on birth control first before considering accutane to see if it is a hormonal problem. However, that can take 4 months to see if it's effective. Therefore I saw a homeopathist MD who prescribed me 100,000IU a day with a meal for 3 months. It has been one month and my breakouts have gotten slightly worse, such as the effects described with accutane. I am no longer getting painful breakouts though so that's a plus. Has anyone else taken such a high dose for a period of time? I know it's not exactly safe, but high doses such as this are supposed to be similar to taking accutane. Therefore if you don't want to deal with monthly doctor visits, money, and blood draws, maybe you could try what I am trying. Hope it helps!
November 14th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
acne sufferer says:
Hi..I am suffering from mild acne and have just bought vitamin a supplements(8,000IU).. Yesterday, I consumed 2 and felt sick all day today.. I really want my acne to clear up because my confidence has gone..Do you think that if I keep on taking them my body will get used to them and I can keep on taking them??
Please help me..
November 18th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Albert says:
So i have been hearing a lot of the only real solution to acne is internally. I know a complete diet change would be best for maintaining, but what supplement would be the next best thing. I plan to do a cleansing of my body and begin to use Acnexus as a scrub and Proactiv repair lotion. I was considering organic apple cider vinegar as an astringent and/or himalayan crystal salt. My question is how much help would a supplement like Biodermazen be in maintaining the internals clean? And what would you recommend as a supplement?
November 18th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Katrice says:
Very good post, thanks!
December 21st, 2008 at 10:06 am
nancy says:
I used to have acne all over my cheeks along with swelling and a bad itch that would never stopped. my doctor put me on roaccutane 2 times already and i did see improvement (along with a few side effects like dry everything) but due to money issues, i couldn't and still can't continue taking it.
I bought vitamin A (14 000 IU) and I've been taking one capsule a day for the past 2 weeks, along with the proactiv system, but i'm not seeing any improvement whatsoever. and my cheeks are starting to itch again (very mildly this time)
i'm 25, 143lbs and I was wondering what would be a good dosage for me?
January 29th, 2009 at 5:57 am
George Cleanthous says:
Try doubling the dosage and see how you go for a week or 2. Roaccutane dosages are far higher than that but you shouldn't take a vitamin A dosage too high without consulting your doctor, because it would be just like taking roaccutane again, and has the same risks.
If you double your dosage (2 capsules per day) you should see some improvement, even if it is only slightly..
Are you on any other medication?
January 29th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
nancy says:
I'm taking another multi vitamin which has 2500 IU of Vit A. but nothing else besides that.
I'm gonna try with doubling the dosage and see what happens. thanks
January 29th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
guywithacne says:
hey george i went out and bought some vitamin A today and i was wondering how much i should take cuz in addition to my face i have it pretty bad on my back and chest and arms. My dermatoligist said i have acne rosacea he told me about accutane but i found it kinda dangerous although ive had like 3 friends that had bad acne but got rid of it with accutane but i still dont want accutane, will vitamin A still help? also im 6 foot and bout 180 lbs, what would you recommend as a safe dosage for me to take without being too much?
February 17th, 2009 at 12:36 am
guywithacne says:
Also i have been using skintactix on my face, and benzoyl peroxide 10% wash on my chest, back, and arms. with decent results for my face but i still have breakouts, and the benzoyl peroxide has moderate results but still a lot of acne is still there.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Stuart says:
Absolutely, these foods, like other vegetables, are more effective when eaten in raw form. It is safe to use these alternative resources.
Supplements from Foods
February 18th, 2009 at 9:08 am
BootoAcne says:
Hi All,
So Im 24 and had nearly perfect skin until I was about 18 or 19. After taking everything you could think of I went on a low dose of accutane (3 pills per week) and while it worked more slowly it was 100% effective and I loved it! However, a few months after I stopped taking it, it started to come back…eventually I went on Round 2 of accutane and the same thing happened…it helped then when I stopped accutane, my acne came back. Now I have awful acne, and while I would LOVE to take Accutane again, Im doing laser hair removal and I can't do both. Do you think vitamin A would help and do you think I would still be able to do laser hair removal while on it. Also, just curious, what are your qualifications…are you a dermatologist? And if you think Vit A would help if you could recommend a dose I would really appreciate it. Im 5'6 and 125 lbs.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Gothacne ex acne sufferrer says:
May 5th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Paul says:
I went through a period where I ate ultra healthy to try to help my face and body acne.
I totally cut out dairy and high fat meats. I also ate tons of vegetables. It really didn't help my acne cysts (the severe form of acne).
The accutane side effects sucked, but it was the only thing that worked on my body acne.
May 13th, 2009 at 2:41 am
Laura L says:
How long will it take before my skin starts feeling dry? I plan taking 20,000 IU of Vitamin A!
May 21st, 2009 at 9:27 pm
paul says:
well i took vitamin A and beta carotene combined,i've taken them for over a month and the combined total of international units is over 200,000 and i've got no where so far and i've started getting side affects so i'm very disappointed in my results.
May 30th, 2009 at 4:01 am
George Cleanthous says:
hi Paul,
200,000 IU is an extremely large, toxic dosage. If you are taking that amount daily I would recommend to stop immediately, then see your medical practitioner to go on Accutane itself.
Accutane includes a dosage of 100,000 – 200,000 IU but your doctor will be able to monitor and assist you.
Generally speaking, as long as someone is not pregnant or planning to become pregnant, they can take up to 60,000 IU for a long period without seeing any side-effects, but once you get up to and above the 100,000 mark it is better to take the pharmaceutical-grade accutane, which is designed specifically for acne and developed under medical supervision.
As a note, vitamin A works best with a healthy diet so try to keep the raw vegetable intake as high as possible. This will still not guarantee clear skin but it will increase the effectiveness of the vitamin A supplements.
I hope this helps.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:59 am
oily skin says:
George,i have light acne problem…but my face very oily..how much doses of vitamin A to keep me from oily skin??? oily skin is making me very ugly and dull..im planning to take 10000IU of vitamin A everyday. is that dangerous???
i had acne treatment with accutane before for six months, the acne had gone during the period, but after i stopped taking accutane, the acne has come back, but just mild cases. what im worrying now is my oily face, it makes me look like very dull and greasy..can i use vitamin A supplement to reduce sebum production???
thank you.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:15 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi oily skin,
The dosage of Vitamin A I would recommend varies from case to case. In particular, as I am not aware of your name I am unsure if you are male or female. If you are female and planning to have children any time soon I would recommend sticking to the maximum 5,000IU.
If you are male or are not planning to have children soon then 10,000IU should be fine on an ongoing basis. It is always best to start small and you can increase slowly if required to 15,000 or 20,000IU.
As a note, once you start to reach 50,000-60,000IU the chance of the dosage becoming toxic will increase the longer you stay on that dosage so it would be best to make some changes to your diet to compliment the vitamin A supplements. That way you could most likely stick to the 10,000IU.
Another alternative to oily skin is to use an externally applied acne treatment, such as a benzoyl peroxide or salt based product (e.g. Proactiv, Himalayan Crystal Salt, etc) as these kinds of products tend to dry the skin, which should limit your skin's sebum production.
Importantly, more often than not it will require a combination of methods to completely clear up any one person's skin, so you may even consider combining a healthier diet with vitamin A supplements to improve your immune system, and crystal salt reduce sebum production, for example.
Let me know how you go.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:54 am
Mickey says:
I am mid 30s and my acne is worse than my teenage years. My acne now is nothing that I've ever experienced until now: clear fluid, leaves a larger scab that looks almost like a burn, and usually scars. I used accutane as a teenager and it worked awesome. My dermatologist wants me to try it again. I've read the disclosures and researched the effects and it's really scary. So, I have 2 questions: (1) Will Vitamin A help with my type of acne? (2) What dosage would you suggest if I wanted to use both Vitamin A and Vitamin B? Any help would be greatly appreciated : )
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
help me plz says:
hi George! I have acne problm since i was 13 but now i got rid of it at the age of 16.For the treatment my dermatologist prescribed me vitamin A capsule in a day and tretinoin cream,i follow up the treatment for 12 months,during the treatment my skin become too dry but my face is clear from acne now n i stop taking the capsules but now my whole body's skin colour becomes too dull n my hairs are also falling.I'm really worried plz tell me how to bring back my skin at the save side n also tell m how to get rid of hair falling and improve my skin colour and my skin is too oily telol me something about that also.
thank you.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Evan says:
Hey george ive been looking at a lot of alternative methods to fight acne. i tried everything including tretinoin or retin-a and my initial breakout was the worst ive ever had and it was way to harsh on my skin.. I know accutane gives you an initial breakout also but i was wondering if taking a natural vitamin a supplement will do the same because they're so similar..?
October 4th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
averybusywife says:
Hello George,
I had a horrible acne problem as a teenager and I took accutane successfully with out knowing how dangerous it really was. Now I have noticed that my daughter who has started her monthly cycles also now like me has bad breakouts. I do not want her to take accutane because of the side affects. How much vitamin a is safe for her to take she weighs 110lbs. and how often should she take it. I appreciate your help!
October 16th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Tobby says:
I would be very cautious with taking Vitamin A The RDI is 2500 Ui
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:13 am
dave says:
I began to have acne when I started college. It started small and got worse and worse over time. I waited to see a doctor and tried various over the counter washes. Because of my procrastination, my face will be forever scared. Finally I went to a dermatologist and got on acutane. after an initial breakout (my doc told me this would happen) i completely cleared up. About 8 months after my miricle I began to break out again. I went on it again and same thing is happening now. I was paying close to $1,000 every month between pills 2 40mg pils daily, doc visits, and blood tests. I was making more money then. I am going to try and a vitamin A regime of ~75,000 UI daily for the next 4 months. I expect to see similar results with a fraction of the price tag. It is important to take a break from time to allow the build up of vitamin A to come down to a less toxic level. Keep in mind reader I have gone through the acutane treatment two times under a doctors supervision and never had even the slightest bad symtoms (except dry skin). My sister had a very bad reaction to the drug. I would tell anyone who has successfully gone through the acutane program to skip it next time around, but it is important to go throug the proper steps at least once under doctor supervision to know what your reaction might be. Good luck everyone.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:21 am
Peter says:
i read your article when my derm told me to take accutane. i was always nervous about taking accutane and after i read your article i was convinced to give vitamin A a shot.
Its been 2.5 weeks now and i havent seen 'dramatic' results.. ive been taking 5000 IU / day and i have moderate acne which has been getting worse for over 2 years now..
will it be safe to take 10,000 IU / day? and for how long should i be taking the vitamin A so i wont get toxic problems from it..
please reply asap
February 25th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
john says:
Vitamin A is extremely dangerous. I repeat, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. It is fat soluble, which means that it will stay in your system for years. You only need a tiny amount of vitamin A, nothing near 4000 IU or 8000 IU or worse, the cod liver oil. Like many of you, i started drinking cod liver oil and taking vitamin A pills. I got really bad red rash on my face, severely dry skin, hair loss, and now i sunburn from being in the sun in ten seconds. Wtf? I also was temporarily psychotic, depressed. At one point i slept through each day for a week. For some reason i never put 2 and 2 together, because i wanted clear skin. For a few pimples? cmon.
Beta carotene is ok, but even that you should probably limit that to once a week. i went crazy and started chewing it many times a day. This was before i started on vitamin A.
You might wonder why i started with vitamin A in the first place. I have really bad dry skin which exacerbates in the winter. I never moisturized it , and that would make the oil glands produce more pimples. Well this is one aspect of acne, you need to moisturize or your oil glands will be overactive.
The best way to deal with acne, if youre gonna do something natural. is to eat sweet potatoes for a few days, and see if you see a reaction. But even beta carotene pills i would be careful. I hope these side effects i have are not permanent. Thats all folks :)
March 22nd, 2010 at 5:56 am
anshul says:
hey i started taking isotroin 20 few weeks back..now i am facing some peeling in my skin..is it natural..??? and one thing more that by mistake i took protein supplements having high content of vitamin a…so will there be any side effect during the course of isotroin??? plzz help..
March 30th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
On the way says:
Hey i just bought a bunch of vitamins after doing alot of research. Everything i have been reading says that acne can be cuased from defeciencys in Vitamins: A, b-1, b-6, b-12, C, and Omega 3. So, i went out and got all of those vitmains. I was wondering if anyone knows if its alright to take all of the vitmains or how much to take. If u have any advice it would be much appreciated, thank you
April 17th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
me says:
Vitamins are safe. Vitamin A "extremelydangerous"?? If your body doesn't need it or can't use it then it excretes it out, or is that incorrect? Don't take 17 capsules a day, but vitamins in regular doses, even several a day won't harm you.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:35 am
KS says:
Hi George,
I am 26 yr Male and have been suffering from Acen on my face. 7-8 months back I consulted to Dr and he gave me Isotrine-20 twice a day. I completed the cource for almost 3-4 months, but later on I felt of Gynecomestia. And I had to under go surgery. But my problem of acen is still persist and m having very oily skin as well.
Plz help….
May 8th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi me,
Vitamins in excessive doses can definitely cause issues and you should always read the warning labels to see if any specific warnings apply to you (e.g. if you're pregnant), but you are correct in that vitamins are generally safe when taken in moderation. I know many people that take multiple vitamins a day without any issues. Just don't OVER do it…
May 31st, 2010 at 2:08 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi KS,
Sorry to hear about your problems. I myself was acne free for a while and then fell ill and the acne returned, both due to the immune system being occupied elsewhere as well as side-effects from medication.
What I found MOST helpful was switching to a majority raw-vegetable diet and taking vitamin A supplements. An average healthy diet will include at least 50% raw vegetables, and some cooked. If you have another health condition at the same time I would suggest switching to an 80% raw vegetable diet and balance the remainder of your food intake.
For example, only eat meat 2-3 times a week, make sure you eat foods that are high in fiber and nutritional value, etc. I would also stop eating red meat for a while and see how that works. White meat (e.g. fish, poultry, etc) should be fine for the most part but red meat is not always the best option when you're ill.
In any case, if you keep a high ratio of raw vegetables in your diet (e.g. visually 80% of your plate) I think you will see some very good improvements, if not completely clear skin.
Let me know how it goes.
May 31st, 2010 at 2:15 am
Chris says:
I'm a 20 year old male and I weigh 150 pounds. I've been on accutane 3 times now. The first time my acne went into remission for a year, the second time it worked for 3 months, and this time it's been 2.5 months and the acne is slowly returning. It is moderate now, and I think it might have returned quicker this time because I was on a significantly lower dose of accutane this past time.
I'm currently looking for an alternative to accutane because I don't know if it is safe to go on a fourth time. What dosage would you recommend for this vitamin A treatment, keeping in mind the acne now is moderate.
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Jessie says:
Hi, I'm a 14 year old girl with severe acne that I've had for a little over 2 & 1/2 years now. In one of the comments it said Vitamin(s) B, C, and E also help treat acne along with vitamin A. I was just wondering if it's okay to take all of these vitamins, how much of them I should take and the risks of taking them. Also right now I'm taking the One-A-Day Teen Advantage complete multivitamin for her. So I just want to know which I should take, the multivitamin or the single vitamins or both?(and how much)
July 30th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Jessie says:
Also I'd like to add to my earlier comment, I weigh 96.5 pounds and I'm '5'6″(that's an estimate).
July 30th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Charlie says:
Hello George,
I'm 15 years old healthy male athlete entering my sophomore year in high school, and I am 5′ 8″ 125 lbs. I have had moderate acne since I was 13 on my face and back, although I do get my fair share of cystic acne breakouts. I have tried multiple cremes, gels, washes, (Benzoyl Peroxide 10% wash, Diffren, Clindamycin, and of course Pro-Active) but never any dermatologist prescribed pills. I keep up to date on my acne treatment research trying to come to a conclusion on the best way to keep my skin at bay, yet I know a visit to a dermatologist would make things a whole lot easier but making the appointment and getting myself there is not in my power (Plus I've come to find its sort of fun to try to handle and research these things on your own at this age). I have self-concluded that using a vitamin A or beta-carotene supplement with a good veggie-filled balanced diet while still applying a benzoyl peroxide gel daily would all around be the most efficient approach towards defeating my acne. My brother had pretty severe acne and he took accutane at age 18 about 3 months ago and has been acne free since. I've decided for multiple reasons, mostly pertaining to my over all happiness and well-being and seeing my brothers experience, that accutane, not only being too harsh for my acne condition, but in my view way to toxic and dangerous for any human to consume (Let alone to be prescribed to) that accutane is not my solution. I was wondering, George, if you could inform me on the dosage requirements for my height and weight for the supplement, the actual vitamin package name, and any other hints or tid-bits you think I should be aware of (but I'll continue to do my research). I really appreciate all that you're doing.
Thank you,
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:09 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Charlie,
Most vitamin A supplements should be fairly similar (at least you would think so) but the specific package that I ended up sticking to is the Natures Own. It might be from New Zealand or Australia but you can probably order it online if you want that particular brand.
In any case, start of small with the dosage and see how you go. Start with the label-recommended 5,000IU and see how that goes. 10,000-15,000IU is usually enough to see some changes in moderate acne, and it always works better with lots of vegetables in your diet to help.
FYI – Accutane is roughly equivalent to 200,000-300,000IU and Vitamin A toxicity can occur at doses of far less than that when taken over a long period of time. As a caution, the bottle does only recommend a maximum of 5,000IU and I am not a doctor or a pharmacist. I can only make suggestions based on my own experience and those of others. Just be careful and make sure you read the warnings.
August 15th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Jesse,
I haven't come across any issues with taking multiple vitamins at the same time but there have been recent news articles suggesting that some multivitamin supplements may not be good for you. I am not sure of the validity of these claims and I have never experienced anything but positive results myself, but peoples' bodies react differently. And I do know that doctors say to stop taking multivitamins 2 weeks before you go in for a procedure because of the effects of combining some of the content with anaesthetic.
I would only stick to one option or the other. If you are going to take the multivitamin, then it should have all the others included anyway. If you are taking the single vitamins then probably best to avoid the multivitamin.
I prefer just taking the vitamins that I specifically need for my body, that I'm not getting enough of in my diet. What you might also want to consider is a megafood drink. This is usually a powder than you can mix with water to get the same vitamin intake as a multivitamin, but with greater absorption in the body and without the negatives suggested to be in multivitamins.
An nice tasting example is Vital Greens (vitalgreens.com.au) but there are many different ones you can use. Just have a look at a local health food or work out shop. It's usually sold in the same stores as the body building supplements.
Let me know how you go :)
August 15th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
the1 says:
wow, dramatic results from 10-15,000 IUs ???
are you nuts, this post is completely subjective, anyone that has researched using Vitamin A as a substitute for accutane is aware that doses required to acne sufferers range from 300-500,000 (YES, thats right!)
Can't believe i just read half of that non-sense
August 26th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi the1,
You're certainly entitled to your opinion but I have done research and I wrote this article based on the experiences I have had with the many sufferers I have dealt ith.
The mild sufferers I have spoken to HAVE seen dramatic improvements with just 10,000 to 15,000IU of vitamin A supplements.
Sure, the severe sufferers need more but even they can see improvements with natural vitamin A instead of Accutane. Toxicity occurs at upwards of 60.000IU used over a long period of time so they can certainly use up to 50,000IU to get results, but this article was written with the larger majority of sufferers in mind.
In any case, you certainly cannot argue with trying this treatment first before resorting to 10 times the strength with Accutane, now can you…
September 8th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
question... says:
how long does it take to see any kind of results after taking vitamin A? & also is there a difference between vitamin A & vitamin A from fish liver oil? this was the only kind that i found in the vitamin store and i just wanted to know if its better/worse.
thanks in advance! ;)
September 20th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Acne suffer says:
Hi George, I have had EXTREMELY bad back acne, for the past 3 years. It's really hard to go to the beach and I can't wear any tank tops. I am on a biochemical homeopathic called "acunol", but I haven't noticed any difference. I have tried every kind of acne cleanser systems and I still suffer. Im 17yrs and I weigh 115…How much Vitamin A should I take each day? and when should I start to see improvement? A response would be fantastic!!!!!! Thanks soooo much :) I cry all the time from having this awful bacteria.
September 22nd, 2010 at 12:54 pm
boats says:
i am a 26 year old female, who has always had light to medium acne
i have found in the last year or so that it has become a lot worse
specifically in the lower cheek, jawline and above my mouth area *sides of it as well
i have been taking 10000 units of vit a everyday for awhile (at least a month)
and have not really seen or noticed an improvement
tomorrow i will start taking 20000 units and see if that will help
im just wondering how long i should wait for some improvement or to increase to 30000 units
ps i am not on birth control i am reluctant to use it for acne treatment although my acne so ive been told is typically hormonal
October 8th, 2010 at 12:37 am
james says:
Just wondering if it would be just as effective iin taking megadoses of beta carotene since its safe vs vita a?Or maybe try 50,000 iu for 3-6 months then go to 5000 iu and supplement the rest with beta carotene?I am 6ft 200lbs,and not much of a vegetable eater myself.
November 28th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Natasha says:
I took accutane for 6 months and it dried my skin out and it would crack and bleed. My acne never got any better. That was 7 years ago. My acne seems to be getting worse. On my back, arms, and face. I don't have a lot but it seems like on my back I have around 15 at a time and on my forehead always 3 or so, and 1 or 2 on my cheeks etc. The quantity isn't the problem, it's the quality of them. I wake up with a new one and it's huge like it's been there for weeks, it gets so big and in such a short amount of time. It hurts like theres pus in there. I always try to clean my face with alcohol, and when I try to pop it it just has watery pus come out. I barely touch it and it gets bigger. and then when it scabs it hurts like theres pus in there wanting to come out so i try again and the same so it's just a continuous cycle. 1 lasts about 2-3 weeks. And on top of that, I'm a girl and it seems like when it's that time of the month, I break out even more on top of which I already have. I'm 5'5", 125 how much Vit. A dose IU so I need for serious fast results, and what dose of Vit B Riboflavin.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Natasha,
Thanks for sharing your story.
Firstly, I know it is difficult but you must force yourself not to pop them. In fact, you should try not even touching them. That should help minimize the length of time for each pimple and will also help prevent the spread of acne on your skin.
Additionally, you should try to find face wash that is alcohol-free. Most of the time, alcoholic chemicals will dry the skin unnaturally and that can often aggravate your acne.
In reference to "that time of the month", hormones definitely play a factor in the outbreak of acne as they can further intensify the already over-active sebaceous glands in the skin on the affected parts of your body. I am not sure of your age, but sometimes the hormone activity in your body can reduce over time naturally.
Regardless of that factor, vitamin A can certainly help reduce your acne symptoms but if you want truly fast results then your best bet is to try a 3-day raw vegetable fast. What that means is that for 3 days you should only eat raw, uncooked, green vegetables (eg. cucumber, celery, etc). If you are like me, that may not be enough to satisfy your diet, so you can also add moderate amounts of avocados, apples or even tomatoes, but make sure that you try and stick to the three main principles; raw, green, plants.
That on its own should show great results but you can, of course, combine that with vitamin A supplements. With that it is always best to start small. I would initially try just the recommended 5,000IU per day (usually in 1 cap) and see how that goes. With your body mass, I don't believe that you should require any more than that. Obviously, if you can combine that with the above diet then results should be extremely good, and as fast as possible. If you need to, you can try doubling that dosage for a period of time and see how that goes but generally speaking that should only be for a short period of time.
Importantly, you should never take Vitamin A supplements if pregnant or planning to be pregnant as it can cause birth defects.
Please let me know how you go.
February 4th, 2011 at 5:54 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi James,
To start, vitamin A supplements should never replace a healthy diet. The only way you can effectively treat acne on an ongoing basis without risks to your health is to maintain a pH-balanced diet.
In reference to the vitamin A, I would recommend starting smaller and see how you go. Exceeding the daily dosage of a supplement should always be a last resort. Obviously, with your body mass it may take 10,000-15,000IU before you see results but best to try small and see how that goes, then increase incrementally every few weeks until you find a level that works for you. Once you find that level, try and stick to it for a few months, then drop back down to the recommended 5,000IU like you mentioned.
If you find that a level that was working for you previously is no longer working for you, that is likely an indication that a new or changed activity (eg. medication or a weaker diet) is increasing the acne symptoms in your body. Try to be consistent when changing the dosage so that you can effectively see the difference.
Importantly, while vitamin A is FAR, FAR safer than Accutane, which doctors regularly prescribe for up to 6 months, you should still be careful when taking higher than usual dosages for a prolonged period of time.
Please come back and let us know the results you experience.
February 4th, 2011 at 6:05 am
rb says:
Hey George
I've been on accutane for about 4yrs now (off and on)on a rather low dosage (20mg 2 times per week) I would still get bumps once in while. I am fed up of the accutane now and would like to try the vitamin A. I've stopped about 2 months now and the bumps are coming back faster than ever. I'm 33 yrs and 220 lbs (male). What dosage do u recommend 4 me?
February 20th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Web Design says:
George, I am really very impressed by you and your initiative to help many who are just unknown to you. Specially for that Anita, because I am also planning to have a baby now so wanted some good adviser to work on. Thanks George.
March 11th, 2011 at 6:05 am
chris says:
Dear george,
Your saying that taking enough vitamin a will essentially produce the same effects as accutane would?
March 17th, 2011 at 3:05 am
George Cleanthous says:
In theory, yes. But you would need to take A LOT of vitamin A. While toxicity can sometimes occur at dosages around 60,000IU, Accutane is generally 100,000-200,000IU so to get the exact same dosage you would need to take at least 20 vitamin A supplement capsules/tablets (generally 5,000IU each).
That would obviously be excessive and if you are going to take that much then you should go to your doctor and just get Accutane anyway.
April 1st, 2011 at 12:35 am
40andstillsuffering says:
I'm female and going to be 40 this year and have suffered from moderate hormonal acne since late high school. Last year, went on 20 weeks of accutane (lowest dose was all I could tolerate) in Oct 2010 and once finished, my skin looked FABULOUS. I knew it was not a mistake-best summer ever with little to no makeup needed!!
Side effects during treatment for me were fatigue, joint pain, and toward the end and after – moderate hair loss (which came back). Now, almost a year after completing it, I am getting acne again. I contacted my derm to make an appointment for review…but with all the lawsuits on TV ads, etc….I'm concerned about going on it again.
I'm afraid a second dose of accutane won't do the trick for GOOD, and am afraid of side effects. Do you know if the people who get IBD have trouble while on the drug? Is toleration while on it a good indicator of future trouble?
Do you see Vitamin A as a good alternative for women/hormonal acne? Is it something that has to be taken forever? How much would be a good start for me? No more children planned – I have an IUD. Is there any particular brand of VItamin A that is purer or better than others?
April 2nd, 2011 at 11:53 am
stephanie says:
I read most of this, no one has asked about applying vitamin A casules direcly onto skin. I bought 10,000 UI yesterday and put it on my face, today the pimple area (which I've picked to sh*t) scabbed up and it came off (not gone, but healing!). I haven't seen any rash and the skin around the scabs is still soft. I'm suprised no one has said this already. Yes aloe( from the actual plant) and vitamin E capsules are good for the skin healing process. You know that Bio Oil stuff, main ingredients are, you guessed it, A and E among other unnatural things(the more natural, the better)… My only questions would be…1) what would be the best UI for direct application to skin 2) will my skin turn orange (Jamieson capsule- vitamin A- 3,000 mcg..palmitate) if this works, I'd suggest once daily at bed time to avoid looking like you baithed in a grease trap :p thanks for the help!
April 26th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for the information, that's definitely an idea worth pursuing. Please let us know how you progress.
In reference to the dosage, the recommended dosage for Vitamin A only really applies to internal consumption. If applying to the skin then I would suspect that the UI used is somewhat unimportant, especially if it is simply an ingredient within another product. Yes, the skin does absorb a certain amount of the products we apply to it, but at a far less efficient rate and it also avoids the digestion system altogether (which is largely the source for distributing nutrients around the body).
I would suggest to use your own judgement. You obviously don't want to apply too much so that the skin can't breathe and not so often that your skin is constantly covered. Just apply it like you would any skin cream, smoothly and evenly, and see how you go. Start at once per day to see how your skin reacts, then move up to 2-3 times per day as soon as you feel comfortable to.
Make sure you also read the product's warnings and instructions, but I don't think there will be any issues unless you go overboard.
Again, please let us know your results.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Jesse says:
I take Vitamin A but from fish [Atlantic Cod] liver oil, 10,000IU. Is this the same and as effective? Please e-mail me
May 4th, 2011 at 5:22 am
Jp says:
Hi George, I'm a 19 year old male who's 6'5″ and 159lbs. I read your article and having suffered from acne for almost 4 years now, I've decided to pick up Vitamin A. My acne is at the point where I have a dead skin patch on the left cheek and a few spots on my forehead, but the cystic acne left after I took Solodyn and topical ointments for over a year and a half. I bought some Vitamin A tablets from GNC today that have a dosage of 10,000IU, at my height and weight, is this an okay starting dose? They didn't have 5,000IU at all. Also, will it take long to notice results?
May 11th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
banjo DALLAS TX says:
Ight so let me be 100% with mainly the people that replied and the author of this post! Id like to start of by saying THANKS 1,000,000 IU's lol but seriously guys an girls thank you all. See I too have taking acutance with an amazing success rate out of this world. The only thing for me was the LIPS thing but that was it. I finished back in 2005 for 2yrs it was all good. But then it came back like crazy for 4 yrs straight. Not so much on my face so this is why I have dealt with it otherwise. For me its mostly Backane. I should say WAS backane! Anyways let me tell you details about myself.
weight: 245lbs big boy all muscle though lol seriously I'm swole
100,000 IUs a DAY
dry form Vitamin A (and its just the Vitamin shoppe brand)
I am currently on day 28
I have no blackheads on my face not one thing, but as i said before this wasn't really my target area.. idk if that helps?
I have no acne on my back no blisters no cists just mild scaring from the past 4 yrs. This is the first time since high school that my back has been clear/ very smooth.
Like the skin you get is just like being on Acutane minus the Fing Derm visit fees blood BS and MEDS…
The only side effects I had were again the lips so I keep Chap Stick not bad though. Also a change in mood both positive an negative depends on your libido. Differnet drunk feeling. Also NEVER drink on this , if you do decide to do it you could have Xs in your eyes lol…..
Second was the first 2 days I had mild head aces but not crazy crazy so i continued.
Third SIDE EFFECT was extreme confidence booster, happy with life feeling…. like in high school. BOTTOMLINE.
So now that I have spilled the beans I hope that my post has helped at least one other person, like a few of you have helped me and didn't know it….
Another thing is I am a huge Drinker yes even in high school too.
So I asked my derm during high school if I could drink maybe enjoy the skin a lil lol he said yeah just not to much a week.
Not an alcoholic but I can drink 17 beers an still drive lol
Just to let you know my toxicity. Before I started this I didn't have a drink for a Month, I don't smoke tobacco I do the 420 bug though.
Again I am writing this to help other people that have the same things going on in there life as I did. Maybe just maybe my post could be some help.
THANK you all you have save my 420 fund a tremendous amount of $$ and Gas lol GOODLUCK to everyone on your acne killing journey
May 15th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
JOsh says:
Hey George,
I have moderate acne, alot of scarring, and I was hoping Vit A could help me. I have capsules 8000 IU and was wondering if I should jsut pop 2 at a time or split it up morning and night. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
May 17th, 2011 at 4:36 am
hello says:
Taking a low dose of Vitamin A is not a effective treatment for acne. To get any results you need to take the equivalent of around 150,000-200,000IU a day. I would also like to point out that at that dose Vitamin A is EXTREMELY toxic. While Accutane has numerous side effects, at a equivalent dose of around100,000-200,000IU, it is alot LESS toxic then vitamin A.
June 9th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Max says:
Natural vitamin can really replace pills? Although I am selling Accutane in my country, I would like to inform my readers about a safer and more natural method. In the 90's were popular bowel cleansing (and generally the body) from the slag as a panacea. Allegedly the cause of acne has been the removal of residues through the skin (not through the intestines).
Perhaps this makes sense? Because vitamin A is absorbed in the intestine.
June 14th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi 'hello',
Agreed that that dosage of Vitamin A is toxic, but I've made it clear if you are going to go ANYWHERE near that dosage then you should be on Accutane. Vitamin A supplements, though, does in fact treat acne. Again, I make it clear that for severe cases it may only be a minor improvement but it definitely helps, especially for those with mild-to-moderate acne.
Let me re-emphasise this again: Vitamin A is an excellent alternative for those not willing to risk the side-effects of Accutane. And when you take into account that liver failure, increased risk of lung cancer, renal failure and other serious issues can occur at dosages as low as 1,500IU/kg of body weight per day, it is a much safer alternative. As mentioned, low dosages will help treat acne to a degree (no matter how small or big) without the massively increased risks involved with Accutane consumption.
As a general rule, if you stick to a maximum 500IU/kg of body weight per day the risks are far lower and the results are noticeable.
Once again, though, for those that don't read everything – no vitamin A or other retinoid supplement like Accutane should be taken if you are pregnant or planning to be pregnant. Those with liver or renal gland issues should also stay away.
Hope that clears things up.
June 16th, 2011 at 1:14 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Josh,
Splitting it up does allow a more moderate and consistent delivery of vitamin A to the system, giving the body more time to process it. Over the long term, I believe that would be the better option.
Please let me know how you go.
June 16th, 2011 at 1:16 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi banjo DALLAS TX,
Thanks for the post, it is always great to hear real world examples.
If I could make one recommendation now it would be to slowly decrease your daily dosage by 5,000-10,000IU per day each week. Ideally you should be on the lowest possible dosage that still has the same effect.
I think you will find that the higher dosage was great to help you clear up faster and now you can slowly decrease the dosage to minimise the side-effects that can occur with prolonged use. It should also be mentioned that doses at around 1800IU/lb body weight over time can cause liver issues, and while you are only at around a quarter of that now, alcohol consumption should also be taken into account.
In any case, after a while you should be able to come off it altogether and still have clear skin, but for now just see how low you can get while still maintaining the clear skin.
Thanks again for the great addition.
June 16th, 2011 at 1:24 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Jp,
The 10,000IU per day should be fine. Toxicity really only begins to occur at around 5-10 times that dosage over a prolonged period of time.
Start with that and see how you go. The difference can sometimes be seen within a week but it can also take a couple of weeks or a month for it to be noticeable. You may even need to try 2-3 per day for the first few weeks to get faster results and then go back down after 1-2 months.
I also just replied to some other comments with recently found specific numbers on toxic dosages per lb/kg of body weight if you're curious.
Let me know how you go.
June 16th, 2011 at 1:29 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Jesse,
Cod liver oil is a great supplement overall because it also has add vitamin D and omega-3, which are really good for joints and general health.
If the amount of Vitamin A, specifically, is 10,000IU then it should have a similar effect and at the very least should be taken into account as part of your daily dosage. It would depend on the style of supplement and how it is absorbed by the body.
Hope that helps.
June 16th, 2011 at 1:33 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi RB,
My non-medical recommendation would be to start with 20,000IU per day and see how it goes. You should see some improvement over the first few weeks.
If needed, you can increase slowly until around 50,000IU per day but I generally do not recommend any higher than that. That's based on a rough estimate of 500IU/kg (or 225IU/lb) of body weight per day.
Thanks for the question.
June 16th, 2011 at 1:40 am
sana says:
hello,actully i just want to ask that is vitamin A and E is good for my skin….i already use creams which my doctor prescribed me…but i want more clear skin so thats y i am asking….please response to my queries….i'll be waiting for your response….regards sana sen
October 18th, 2012 at 6:21 am
Jami says:
I was told to take 50,000 IU of Vitamin A for 3 months then stop to help with my acne. I am a 27 year old female. I researched a bit and I don't feel this is safe AT ALL… I would love to hear your feed back.
October 21st, 2012 at 2:27 am
mitch says:
I have used accutane 3 times now,at lowered doses each time. I tend to have decent skin, but monthly, as I refer to it, I get my "man-period", where I break out and my confidence tumbles. I feel, since off accutane, my skin scars have reappeared or got worse after break outs.
Im no longer covered by medical insurance and started taking a 10 000 x 2 vit a, daily, supplement. because of my severe pizza face acne in the past, i want to take a dosr that will provide me with quick,.clean, clear, safe results that give me thst airbrushed skin. Thoughts on dosage?!
Male, 25, serious skin issues in past, 3x accutane user, oily skin.
December 24th, 2012 at 8:13 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Mitch,
I'm not a doctor so I cannot say exactly what will work for your body and, generally speaking, anything above the recommended maximum dosage cannot really be considered "safe". That said, I know people that have used 40,000-50,000IU per day without issue. Some even as high as 80,000IU for a short period of time, but that gets close to danger level for the liver if maintained for a prolonged period.
If you drink much alcohol, take other meds or many other vitamins then the dosage you can take without risking liver toxicity is lower.
What I usually suggest is that you gradually increase the dosage by 5,000IU every couple of weeks until you see a notable difference, and hopefully that will not be too high. And if find yourself near 80,000IU then thats close to taking low dosage Accutane (which is around 100,000IU) so be careful and get regular blood tests to monitor liver function.
Hope that helps.
February 11th, 2013 at 5:56 am


text:
December 2015
Prayer for the month
Eternal God, who in Christ have shared our time and space,
and who have made this most holy and blessed season
to shine with the brightness of your one true light;
bring us who have seen the revelation of that light on earth
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory,
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
(Based on the collect for Christmas night..)
• December 2015 CONCORD Parish Magazine is available to download.
• Christmas Services :
Christmas Eve -
Christmas Day -
10:30am Christmas Morning Worship and Carols.
• Sunday services will continue as normal as possible during the period of interregnum (no parish priest) i.e. Sunday 8:00am, 10:30am & 6:30pm; Thursday communion 10:00am. Please support these services, if you aren't there neither will they be!
• From December the church contact details remain the usual Rectory number; but there will be an answerphone so do not expect a response for a few days.
• "The Father Christmas Diaries" by Greg Forster -
• Sunday 20th December at 3:00pm -
•Don't forget to "Drop in" between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm'ish… St.Wilfrid's church is open most Sunday afternoons from 2.00 pm until Dusk, for prayer, visiting, enquiries, ancestor hunting, &c.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I'm not a huge salad lover, but I have grown to enjoy salads, especially if they include fruit. This is my all-time favorite salad recipe. It's delicious any time of year and is quick and easy to put together.
Cranberry Pear Salad Recipe
Salad Ingredients
1 large head of lettuce
2 medium pears or 1 large Asian Pear
1 cup of dried cranberries
4 to 6 oz of crumbled blue cheese
3 oz of real bacon bits
Dressing Ingredients
Poppy seed dressing
Balsamic vinaigrette dressing
Directions for Salad:
1. Chop lettuce head up into smaller pieces
2. Add cranberries, blue cheese, and bacon bits (I left bacon bits on the side because my one friend is a vegetarian)
3. Peal and cut pear into cubed pieces (I used an Asian pear and it was so sweet!)
4. Toss pear in lemon juice to keep pieces from turning brown and add them to the top of the salad
Note: Do not toss salad or all of the ingredients will fall to the bottom
Directions for dressing:
1. Combine 70% poppy seed dressing and 30% balsamic vinaigrette in a bowl or dressing container
2. Mix well by shaking or stirring with a spoon
The original recipe can be found at Espresso and Cream.


text:
A unique built home, with original and high qualities.
The ground floor boasts a more than ample split-level living space, which gives access both to the modern , functional kitchen and to the well maintained and charming garden.
The first floor follows a split-level desing contoured around the living room, featuring four bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of which is en-suite.
The uppermost floor has two attic rooms which are ideal for teenagers.
The basement has enough space for two cars, a laundry room and a service room and a guest room with bathroom included.
The house is located in a singular residential area, which contains three different kind of houses, on a big green area with twenty four hours security.
Availability to be agreed. The exposed information is offered by third parties, merely for information and it is supposed to be correct. Our company does not guarantee its veracity. The offer is submitted to errors, price changes, omission and/or withdrawn of the market without previous notice. The expenses of Contract and Fees of the Agency run at the expense of the tenant, other particular conditions as duration, deposit, guarantees, consumptions or community expenses if present, they will be specified in separate document.


text:
The guest bedrooms (112 rooms with a max of 219 guests)
Over just 5 floors offering comfortable modern rooms with
air-conditioning, TV, Telephone and room safe for hire. All rooms have a
balcony where you can see the world go by day and night or enjoy a view
of the pool. (Note: Single rooms are OK here)
Facilities Summary & Location
Street - Calle Lepanto 18.
Buffet Breakfast / Large lounge Bar
Terrace with public snack bar
Pool and Sun Terrace
24 hour reception
Check in from 1400 Check Out at noon
Nearest Beach 200m
Alicante Airport Transfers
55kms - 45 Minutes by Taxi
|Perla Quality B&B Hotel - Seconds from late bars and beach!
GOOD REVIEWS - Perfect location for groups & Stags / Hens
The Perla is a favourite with Benidorm regulars who want a location
just a minute from all the late night bars and cabaret venues and close
to the beach. A well run modern 2 star Hotel which offers B&B only to
a young and lively crowd. Ideally suited to people who prefer to stay
out late and lay in late with a trip to the beach in the afternoon. For
those who prefer to relax at the Hotel there is a nice pool area and sun
deck with a cafe bar for snacks during the day.
Because this Hotel is only 2 star many pass it by however it is a well
kept secret!! Staff are friendly and look after guests well and keep the
place very clean. All in all a good budget choice with clean towels daily
plus a good hearty breakfast. Very good reviews. BOOK NOW!
|If closed in Winter may we suggest the Marina Hotel opposite
|Perfect Hotel for
Summer Clubbing
The November Fiestas
Ideal for Groups of Friends
Just Seconds From
" The Square "
and Café Benidorm


text:
Learning the Smoke Screen behind Smoking ECigs
To some, replacing a habit with a new one is not exactly an improvement. In some cases, that could turn for the worse. Kicking an addictive habit with something that is equally addictive can be sort of awkward at the very least. That is, as long as there is some catch and a good reason to switch to something else.
This is the story behind the smoke screen that is being peddled as more and more smokers are now getting into the bandwagon created by the rise of electronic cigarettes. More smokers are now experimenting with e-cigarettes and they have been successful at times. Now, some employees are no longer getting into the rigors of having to smoke at designated places. They can do their thing right in front of their desks. They claim they are not smoking, but vaping. This, however, has been causing some people to be a bit nervous as we all know, we know nothing much about vapes.
The possibility that electronic cigarettes are just screening the health problems are some of the hazy and unanswered questions that have been left hanging for quite some time.
More and more workplaces have been adept in changing their smoking policies. Some are no longer allowing vaping in front of desks. They have this mentality left over from the days of tobacco and fear that electronic cigarettes are at par or worse than tobacco. This mentality has discounted the facts that are surrounding the nature of vapes. We may not know much about these new devices, but quite frankly we should not be ignorant.
There are more and more jurisdiction that have been banning the devices. The incessant lobby of anti-vaping groups have paid handsome dividends. Now, there are less places where vaping can be done, which is a far departure from the times of old where practically vapers can get their nicotine anywhere they please.
And this has been a dampener. Instead of making vapes more pervasive as a means of tobacco control there is a drive to prevent the rise of vapes from happening. It seems that the minds of the people behind tobacco control are in reverse. They are thinking backward and not forward, which can be a harmful thing.
Things are getting worse for vapers. Chicago and New York are feeding other cities crazy ideas on how to stop vaping. Companies have now new policies that have included vapes in their smoking bans. Starbucks do not allow vaping 25 feet away from its stores. CVS do not allow vaping in corporate campuses as they have a zero-tolerance policy on anything that involves nicotine. Mc Donald's stores may allow vaping, but the corporate headquarters and sites owned by the main company disallows smoking and vaping.
The rapid rise of electronic cigarettes caused some people to accelerate their move to have these devices banned. The FDA says that electronic cigarettes are better than tobacco. The World Health Organization think so too. But, the lack of scientific evidence on the long-term health impact remains a mystery. Applying the precautionary principle, some folks are calling for a momentary ban or a provisional approval of vapes and confined in certain places. This is enforced, of course, until the smoke clears on the pressing issues and questions about the true nature of vapes.
At best the available data are mixed. Some studies say that vapes are good, some say they are not. Some say the devices can help smokers quit, while other data say they are unable to do so. The mixed bag of results only makes the whole situation, at best described to be, confusing. And it is also confusing the smokers because they are able to buy the products almost anywhere. This availability provides a sense of understanding that they are safe. But, in reality we are far from sure.
Some say electronic cigarettes are just an avenue for people that smoked before to be back into smoking. What it is not considered is the fact that electronic cigarettes do not have the same characteristics and kick that ordinary cigarettes have. It is a way to quit because it is no different from the nicotine patches and gums that are allowed to be smoking-cessation tools. They are just better because they are able to address one central thing about the addiction, which is the experience of smoking without getting much of the chemicals that can make smoking deadly.


text:
Winner of the 2015 Scribe Award for Best Original Speculative Novel
Get Out of Hell Free! When murdered sinners fail to show up in Hell, it's up to Salim Ghadafar, an atheist warrior forced to solve problems for the goddess of death, to track down the missing souls. In order to do so, Salim will need to descend into the anarchic city of Kaer Maga, following a trail that ranges from Hell's iron cities to the gates of Heaven itself. Along the way, he'll be aided by a host of otherworldly creatures, a streetwise teenager, and two warriors of the mysterious Iridian Fold. But when the missing souls are the scum of the earth, and the victims devils themselves, can anyone really be trusted?
Click here to read an illustrated sample chapter on Tor.com.
What people are saying about the novel:
"Salim is a complex man whose strict beliefs and the way he philosophizes, argues, discusses, and learns from others kept me reading chapter after chapter... Sutter's descriptions of magical effects had me squirming, and his fight scenes left me tense."
-- Fanboy Comics
"It would be hard to express quite how much I enjoyed this book (and the previous Death's Heretic)... a truly great story..."
-- Black Gate
"The Redemption Engine is every bit the sequel to Death's Heretic we were looking forward to and more... If you read only one fantasy novel this year – do yourself a favor and be sure to crack the spine of The Redemption Engine. You will not regret it!"
-- I Blame the Dice
"I have rarely read a book with each setting so completely fleshed out: thoroughly gorgeous descriptions and thoroughly problematized conflicts... Kaer Maga is many things, but homogenous and predictable are not among them... If you love exploring detailed settings with diverse characters, philosophical quandaries, and sorcerous battles, check out The Redemption Engine."
-- Fantasy Book Critic
Click here to see more reviews.
Ranked #3 on Barnes & Noble's list of the Best Fantasy of 2011
Finalist for the Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel
2013 Origins Award Nominee: Best Game-Related Publication
Nobody cheats death! A warrior haunted by his past, Salim Ghadafar serves as a problem-solver for a church he hates, bound by the goddess of death to hunt down those who would rob her of her due. Such is the case in the desert nation of Thuvia, where a powerful merchant on the verge of achieving eternal youth via a magical elixir is mysteriously murdered, his soul kidnapped somewhere along its path to the afterlife. The only clue is a magical ransom note, offering to trade the merchant's successful resurrection for his dose of the fabled potion. But who would have the power to steal a soul from the boneyard of Death herself? Enter Salim, whose keen mind and contacts throughout the multiverse should make solving this mystery a cinch. There's only one problem: The investigation is being financed by Neila Anvanory, the dead merchant's stubborn and aristocratic daughter. And she wants to go with him.
Along with his uninvited passenger, Salim must unravel a web of intrigue that will lead them far from the blistering sands of Thuvia on a grand tour of the Outer Planes, where devils and angels rub shoulders with fey lords and mechanical men, and nothing is as it seems...
Click here to download a sample chapter.
What people are saying about the novel:
"A classic noir transposed to a
fantasy setting, though not in the Jim Butcher sense... a unique, fascinating, engaging, and interesting fantasy work."
-- Lou Anders, Hugo Award-winning SF editor
"What a great yarn! It grabbed me at the outset and raced along, all of
the characters coming alive but the action never flagging. Action, mystery,
planar splendors and dangers, really memorable characters -- this one has it
-- Ed Greenwood, New York Times best-selling author of Elminster Must Die
"A stellar first novel"
-- Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble
"A fantastic book"
-- Slice of SciFi
"Strange and colorful lands, engaging characters, mystery and action --
Sutter delivers. Watch this guy. "
-- Howard Andrew Jones, author of The Desert of Souls
Click here to see more reviews.


text: On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 4:35 PM, George Kiagiadakis <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote: > On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 3:39 PM, Brendon Higgins <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote: >> Hi list, >> >> I think I've found a reason why plasma-netbook doesn't autostart. >> /usr/share/autostart/plasma-netbook.desktop doesn't exist. The equivalent, >> plasma-desktop.desktop, does exist (in the plasma-desktop package). >> Presumably, this is why plasma-desktop will autostart, whereas plasma-netbook >> won't. >> >> Now I don't know if plasma-netbook.desktop ought to exist given upstream >> sources, or not. A quick search in KDE sources doesn't find anything, yet >> apparently there is such a file in Ubuntu (Lucid). :-S >> >> I guess the Ubuntu file could be distro custom. I should file a bug with KDE, >> perhaps? >> >> Peace, >> Brendon > > I'm turning this email into a bug report, since this seems to be a > packaging problem. > > The relevant kubuntu patch seems to be this one [1] and it seems it > has been removed from the 4.5 beta packages, with a changelog message > indicating it has been fixed upstream, although I see no > plasma-netbook.desktop in their plasma-netbook.install file. > > I don't fully understand though how this is going to work when one has > both plasma-desktop and plasma-netbook installed... are they both > going to be autostarted? Also, why does plasma-netbook autostart when > plasma-desktop is installed and a "netbook" form factor is selected in > systemsettings? (I had tried that once) > > [1]. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kubuntu-members/kdebase-workspace/ubuntu/annotate/340/debian/patches/kubuntu_102_plasma_netbook_no_autostart.diff > Hi, I tested this on my system and I noticed that both plasma-desktop and plasma-netbook can autostart without having any plasma-*.desktop file in /usr/share/autostart. I wonder how this happens and why it doesn't work on your system, Brendon. Scott, do you know any more details about how this is handled? I am still not convinced about why this patch solves the problem. Best regards, George


text:
Top Places to Work | Winchester Hospital
The caring community
Keeping in touch with employees helps this organization thrive in a tough market
(Michele McDonald/Globe Staff Photo)
By Maggie Jackson Globe correspondent / November 9, 2008
Text size – +
WINCHESTER - Anne Lang, head of human resources at Winchester Hospital, pulls out a simple, black box and flips it open. Inside is a small but telling stack of reasons why this 229-bed community hospital is the state's top place to work. (Full article: 876 words)
This article is available in our archives:
Globe Subscribers
Purchase an electronic copy of the full article. Learn More
- $9.95 1 month archives pass
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- $74.95 1 year archives pass


text:
Author has written 1 story for Naruto.
Howdy, folks. This will be the home for my current work of fanfiction, Naruto: Iron Soul. I've written fanfiction for a small handful of fandoms under a different pen name, but that was a very long time ago. I didn't really intend to get back into it, then the idea for Iron Soul struck me like the proverbial ton of bricks. I started outlining the plot out in my head when I should have been trying to sleep. It was very annoying.
Now that I've actually started to write the story, it's been flowing easily and I'm having fun. It's like when I first started writing fanfiction twelve plus years ago, except my spelling and grammar is probably a bit better.
Until adding Iron Soul to this author profile, it was used as an easy gathering point for the stories and authors I've been following. Most of the stories are of greater than average length, very high quality, or both. Some lack in quality, but make up for it with quantity or a unique or interesting premise.
I was puttering around looking for an online picture of a particular piece of artwork depicting the partial armor of a Rifts RPG Cyber Knight to stick up here to give everyone an idea of what Naruto's armor in Iron Soul looks like when I stumbled across the image in now sitting next to these words. It fits in rather well with the vision I have for Naruto's full armored form.
NOTE - 7/6/2012: I've been doing some revision to the story today. There have been a lot of readers unhappy with my use of Teacher instead of Sensei and a few other particular habits I've picked up, such as capitalizing certain words and totally ignoring Japanese suffixes. You can't please everyone, but I didn't mind making some changes.
NOTE - 11/1/2012: Howdy, folks. I'm just dropping in to let everyone know I've not abandoned Iron Soul and fully intend to finish it. As I've told several readers in PMs, I've had an extremely hectic semester. It's been very writing intensive and I just don't have the mental energy to do work that isn't required for school. Thank you all for your interest and concern!


text: Hey everyone,Yesterday I crash my motorbike into a traffic island and during the crash my right testicle sustained impact from the fuel tank. Within the first hour it felt no different to normal/mild impact. However since then I have had dull aching pain, and fairly sharp pain if pressure is applied. The left testicle is normal but the right has become slightly larger, and also harder. I have no problems urinating. When I assess it myself, the pain mainly comes from the top and bottom of the teste (which are slightly harder), not so much the front. The discomfort continues up into my belly on the right hand side but I assume this is normal.I was hoping that I would recover well overnight but it feels very much the same. Would anyone please be able to help diagnose my problem so I know if it is rupture, torsion, dislocation, or just a normal recovery to high impact. I dont want to a pay a doctor to tell me it is totally fine, but I also don't want to leave a serious injury untreated. Any help will be greatly appreciated!LucasReply Follow This Thread Stop Following This Thread Flag this Discussion


text:
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text:
Here's a great gift idea for your favorite gadgeteer. It's a coffee table book titled Gadget Nation by Steve Greenberg aka "The Innovation Insider". Steve travels the country looking for innovative products and reports on them through various television programs such as NBC's Today Show, CBS's Early Show, ABC's World News This Morning and World News Now, Fox & Friends, and others. Gadget Nation is a 244 page book that highlights over 100 interesting and wacky products. The book is available now through Barnes & Noble for $14.36
1 thought on "Gadget Nation – Coffee Table Book for Gadgeteers"
Trouble is, it's obsolete in 2 weeks!


text:
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Re: No Rebuttal
October 7 2011 at 11:30 PM
Tim (
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No Rebuttal
You prove I'm wrong ICE.
You dumb ass.
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A true christain
- Iceman on Oct 8, 2011, 4:51 PM
Re: A true christain
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text:
Discussion in 'General Gallery' started by drdan, Aug 5, 2004.
Just a soft, evening pic of Pikes Peak from about 25 miles out.
I also got a lightning pic. It only took me about 50 tries. I was standing with the shutter release partly pressed to keep the focus and trying to press it fast enough when I saw lightning. There were very interesting clouds tonight but this pic is pretty unremarkable except for the lightning. A few minutes later the storm caught me. Driving through a heavy thunderstorm the sun started peeking between the clouds and the mountains. It was still a hazy ball, bright to look at but not blinding. There were numerous bolts of lighning going across it and on either side of it. A very bizzare sight and I was riding on a busy highway in a downpour. Oh well, even if Icould have pulled over, I doubt I could have captured that.
I like the lightening Dan! I never cought it!
that lightning pic is fab, what strikes me is that the overall scene is almost serene, and the lightning adds a power display to it. I love the way you've captured in the side of the frame, it gives the viewer a chance to absorb the entire scene. The subtle foreground lighting is excellent as well! That last shot is a bargain for only 50 tries!
The first one is calming to look at. The third, well, I'm just jealous !!! I like the composition of the picture. Nicely done on both of them.
i'm with vonnagy on this one awesome shot. the three horizontal stripes are a cool graphical effect too. maybe crop it a little tighter vertically to go rule-of-thirds-y?
so you were using a fast shutterspeed? i tried that one time and got a lot of nothing, then i came on here and heard lots of people talking about doing it with slow shutterspeeds... probably easier :roll:
The lightning pic makes a better desktop background than I would have thought. It's calming and uncluttered. The only problem I have with it is that the look of the rain makes me sleepy for some reason. If anyone wants the high resolution version, I'll be glad to email it (if it will email, it's 837KB)
Very nice Dan.
Lightning has eluded me so far this summer. The few bouts we've had have all been behind clouds, so lots of light, no visible bolts. Drat! :lol
Both of these are really nice. I think the first one needs a little crop off the bright sky at the top to help emphasize the richness of the foreground, but very beautiful. The second one is just about as perfect as it gets.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
The Best Business VOIP Providers of Year 2017
RingCentral and Nextiva are 2 reliable VOIP providers in the industry today. Both of them provide VOIP plan and packages that suit your needs, as a professional or as a business. You will be having the exact same telephone function plus all the other advance features like web conferencing, video call, toll free numbers, internet faxing and more, except that you pay a much lesser price.
Check out the best VOIP provider and request for a free demo now.
What You Should Expect From A Good VOIP Provider
If you have been considering making the switch from a regular landline toll free number to a VoIP system for your business, there are lots of great reasons to do so. One of those reasons is all the great features included in a VoIP business telephone plan. The following categories include some of the features most popular with today's business owners.
PBX Service in the Cloud
When you opt for a modern VoIP phone system, perhaps one of the best features included is a cloud-based PBX (Private Branch Exchange) service. This is the type of service you normally only find in big corporate offices but with VoIP, it's affordable enough for even a one- or two-person operation – and it's really easy to set up and manage from anywhere. Your PBX system uses an automated receptionist to route calls, although you can also incorporate a user directory which allows callers to search for the staff member they want by name or extension number. On-hold music and extensions for employees located in the office as well as remotely are also available.
Incoming Call Management
How do you want your toll free phone system to function? With a VoIP system, there are so many ways to customize incoming calls that you simply pick and choose the rules, alerts and behavior that work best with your business. Most VoIP service includes standard features for call management, such as call forwarding, message alerts and notification for missed calls. But you can also enjoy features like call recording, status screens (are you available, on hold or busy?), call flipping (which moves your call from an office phone to your smartphone), virtual call parking (which holds your call in the cloud until you pick it up from any connected phone) and even an intercom and paging system.
Mobile Phone Interface
Perhaps the best feature in the modern world of business VoIP is the ability to use the system with a smartphone. Most VoIP providers have apps for both iPhones and Android devices, which allow employees to use the same toll free phone number as your business when they are out of the office. They have access to all the same features for incoming and outgoing phone calls (things like faxing, call conferencing and even video meetings) while being able to manage the entire system via web app.
Business SMS
A big advantage of using a mobile phone as part of your VoIP system is that you can send text messages from your business phone number, also referred to as SMS (Short Message Service). This is a great way to encourage employees to stay in touch with customers without using personal mobile phone plan data rates. Phone numbers and URLs in received text messages can be accessed with a single click and you can even join a conference call via text notification.
Software Integration
Depending on the type of software you use for scheduling, email and CRM, it is likely that your VoIP system is compatible. This makes all your business communications streamlined, accessible and updated in real time while aiding in management of the sales force. Stay in touch and stay on top of who's doing what, where and when, instantly.
Getting Ready to Switch to VoIP
If you have decided to make the switch to VoIP, that is a great decision! But you need to be ready to handle the different requirements of VoIP. Here is a short guide to making sure you have all the necessary systems in place before the switchover occurs.
Phone Equipment
You will need to consider what type of phones your employees will be using. In the office, you can supply digital IP or Wi-Fi phones. These are different than a regular handset because they connect to your network to access the internet connection. You could also choose to connect a soft phone to the computer at each workstation and use this with a USB headset. If you don't want to make the investment in new phones, then opting for analog adapters that allow your regular handset to connect to the router is the best choice. Then again, many employees prefer using their cell phones; with a mobile app provided by your VoIP provider, personal smartphones can be integrated into your business telephone system.
For a business using VoIP for their toll free number phone system, the router is an important piece of equipment. It is the go-between that delivers internet service from your internet connection to your computers and corporate network. Your router must be compatible with VoIP and handle the number of phones in your business. It also needs to bridge to the modem. If your router is an inexpensive model, you may need to upgrade; check with the VoIP provider you choose to find out which models they recommend.
Be sure to set the Quality of Service (QoS) setting on your router to prioritize telephone calls over other internet traffic. This way network congestion when your employees are doing work online won't affect call quality due to insufficient bandwidth.
Because your toll free calls will now be coming in via an internet connection, it's important that bandwidth – the amount of data which is sent/received over a given time period – is maximized. A quick online test will tell you how many kbps (kilobits per second) your internet connection is currently handling. Normally, this speed tends to be about 5,000 kbps download speed and 600 kbps when uploading data. This means that you will have to limit the amount of phone calls at one time in order to get the best quality – anywhere from 6 to 18 concurrent calls, depending on whether your VoIP provider is using full quality or compressed codec (an algorithm used in data transmission).
Dedicated Internet Connection
For best results, supply a dedicated connection just for the VoIP phone system equipment. Remember that the uploading speed is always less than the download speed. Your internet connection uses more bandwidth for uploading data, such as common when employees are online. If calls are coming in over the same network, it is likely callers will have trouble hearing you because too much bandwidth is dedicated to other internet tasks.
Switchover to VoIP Checklist
1) Determine if your VoIP provider is providing full quality or compressed codec.
2) Check with your ISP to see if there are certain times of the day when bandwidth drops.
3) Find out if your current router is compatible with VoIP service.
4) Change QoS settings on your router to prioritize phone calls.
5) Set up a dedicated internet connection just for VoIP, if possible.
6) Purchase compatible phones.
Setting up your business network for best success with a VoIP system isn't difficult, but it is important to take all the steps necessary to ensure the best call quality. If you find getting ready for VoIP is difficult, do utilize the FREE demo from the VoIP providers. Schedule your demo and ask the experts to set it up for you from the start.