I have noticed a large amount of posts pertaining to vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), with usually the same questions asked over and over agian. Therefore I have decided to make a thread with hopefully all the information someone would need to go on the supplement.

Dosage
First off, the thing that irks most people is the very high dosage that is needed of B5. In Dr. Lit-Hung Leung's study the dosage that was mainly used is 10 grams. This is ideally how much you should take to get the best results. However, do not begin taking 10 grams right away. Your body needs to get used to the high intake of B5.

Since you will be taking 10 grams a day, it is best to buy Vitamin B5 in capsules that are 500mg each. 1000mg (milligrams) is equal to 1g (gram). Therefore, 2 pills is 1 gram.

-For the first 3 days, you will want to take a dosage of 5 grams a day. This is a total of 10 pills a day. It is good to have it spread out throughout the day, so it might be good to take 5 pills in the morning, and 5 pills at night.
-When the 3 days are up, you will be moving up the full 10 gram dosage. This will mean 20 pills a day. Again, you will want to have a steady supply of B5 throughout the day, so taking it in intervals is important. You will be taking 5 pills, 4 times a day. It is very key to be as consistent as you can.
-Keep taking the vitamin B5 for 3 months. I saw results after the 1st week, some people see first results after 2 weeks. After 3 months you should hopefully have clear skin. Make sure you take the b5 consistenly and EVERY DAY for 3 months. (Note: Some people have an initial breakout. This can be caused from pre-existing pimples that are just pushing through. But keep with it, it WILL help you.)
-After your acne has finally cleared up, you will still want to continue taking B5, but not in such high doses. Maybe drop down to 5 grams a day. If you get more acne, increase your dosage immediately, and then adjust to a dosage where you do not break out. Overtime you can keep decreasing.
-Another point I would like to mention is to make sure you take vitamin B complex vitamins. Taking this much vitamin b5 might cause a deficiency in the other b vitamins. I just take 1 pill of the complex twice a day.

Possible Side Effects
The good thing about B5 is that it doesn't really have many side effects. Here is what most people have reported:

-Stomach irritation
-Mild or severe diarrhea
-Frequent bathroom visits
-Hairloss (rare) Some cases on message boards have reported hair loss but it isn't something I would worry about, and it definetly shouldn't keep you from taking B5.
-Increased appetite (I seem to always be hungry, I am eating lots more than I ever have before)
-Chapped lips

Personally, I had some stomach grumbling for the first few days. I went poop frequently, and farted a lot. But this pretty much went away after 5 days. It is VERY GOOD to take your B5 with food. This will minimize diarrhea or stomach troubles.

B5 is water-soluble, so it is impossible to overdose on it. It is very, very safe. I read that it might not be the best idea to take it while pregnant or breast feeding.

How it works
Basically what the high doses of B5 do is create high amounts of Coenzyme-A. People with acne are lacking in the metabolism of fats. This is because they do not have enough Coenzyme-A in the body. The fats do not break down, but get deposited in your sebaceous (oil) glands and get secreted as sebum (oil). The p.acne bacteria feeds off of this sebum, and creates acne.

With all of this extra Coenzyme-A, all these fats can be broken down, and you do not have oily skin. Since you have a minimal amount of oil on your skin, no acne is produced (Hurray). Accutane also minimizes oil production, but it does so by shrinking your oil glands. The pantothenic acid doesn't need to shrink your oil glands, because it causes there to not be oil there in the first place. An extra bonus from pantothenic acid (B5) is that is makes your pores smaller. This results in making your skin smooth and good looking.

Where to get it
This is a department that some people have trouble in. You probably won't find it in super markets, or stores like CVS. You will need to find it in shops that are specialized in drugs or vitamins. This means stores like GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, etc. I personally get it from a local Vitamin Shoppe. Many times it will not be under the name B5, but Pantothenic Acid. Here is a Vitamin Shoppe link of what their brand looks like. You can order it on their site if you want too. Note how it has 500mg capsules, and there are 300 of them. Make sure you buy a lot because they get used up quickly. Many people do not like the price, but it's worth it to get rid of your acne. So KEEP AT IT, clear skin is just around the corner.

I will probably update/edit this post where I see fit, or if I get asked to. Feel free to add any/all useful info.

Useful Links
http://www.clearskin.net/viewtopic.php?t=1907
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3f978/B5.html
http://b5foracne.vze.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/krg/b5.html
http://www.b5supplements.com/General-B5-Qu...ne-Prevent.html
http://gmuntz.tripod.com/b5.html

This thread is under construction.

Previously titled Fish Oil Capsules, we've learned quite a bit since we've made this thread. Especially the effects and benefits of other oils in our diet. Also due to some mis-information, I've decided to re-make this thread. Keep checking back and I will have updated this thread as soon as possible. As you can imagine it takes a lot to write it up compiling everything we've learned.

It will be a separate page where you can navigate all the information in a concise order and will have pages setup for categories of information and research on particular nutrients/oils. Then of course a clear regimen and what it exactly does. It will only have information, no ads, no products, no links.

It will be like a thread, but with side pages for better organization.

So bare with me and I will have it ready after I work out a few kinks in the regimen.

Thank you!

Here are some links to clinical studies on the diet - hormones - acne connection.

Many thanks to Rubbish for passing these along, complete with descriptions, and for suggesting that we create a pinned topic.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18496812 Low GL diet increased SHBG and increased IGF-1 and reduced free androgens and thus acne and sebum.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17448569 Similar to above.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17616769 Low GL diet and markers.

(Mann's studies are cited by Cordain in his interview with Dan. These studies have resulted in dermatologists re-evaluating diet's role in acne.)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14527633 A non-Mann study on Insulin Resistance showing important hormonal markers with acne.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15202836 Importance of binding proteins yet again in acne.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11334899 Again.



NOTE: I am closing this thread to keep it clutter-free. If you would like to pin more links to other clinical studies relating to the diet-acne connection, please PM me (or one of the other moderators) to have a new post added to this topic.

Links to other recipe discussions and websites. There's been hundreds of threads and they are always too hard to find. In fact, I can't find the threads I had in mind right now. So the links I've posted here aren't necessarily to the best threads. They are just the best of what I find when I search.

Please add to the existing threads. Or, if none exist that suit your topic, start a new thread. Make it a good one and it'll get added here too.

Acne.org threads:

Breakfast foods

Gluten Free Recipe books

Gluten-Free Times

Holiday Meal recipes

Acne Free Recipes

Green Smoothies

Simple Ideas for Chicken

Healthy food ideas

Veggies

More fruits and veggies

Salad Ideas

Dessert ideas and recipes

Offsite:

whfoods.org, where all the recipes prepare foods in the best way possible to preserve nutrients. Which, in the case of veggies, mostly means steaming or what they call healthy saute (in water) and topping them with what they call Mediterranean dressing (olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, S & P).

Eric Ripert's 'Get Toasted' blog
Famous French chef posts recipes using a toaster oven. Fast, easy, healthy, simple, but with the little extra touches a French chef would add. Broiled fruit is really good desert substitute. Or breakfast. I used nectarines. I tried mangos, but didn't like it. Mangos have an aftertaste that got worse with cooking.

Healthy Recipes (links to recipes posted by Danny, plus a few other suggestions)

Allrecipes.com - gluten free

healingnaturallybybee.com Anti-candida recipes and info

To All,

I've grown tired of the cynical debates, enjoyed the positive discussions, loved the research, heard the questions, sympathized with the confusion, felt the pain, and finally decided to compile a Resource Guide.

I hope that for those of you with questions, especially the Newbies, you will look to this guide as one of your references.

Now first of all, this is a guide dealing with the development of acne, how diet can play a role, and how leaky gut syndrome (intestinal hyperpermeability) may be at the base of it.

This is NOT a guide discussing or debating "healthy" or why there "isn't enough supportive evidence" to make this a valid form of treatment!

This guide will provide information, tips, support, options, and other resources and tools necessary in order to make following an individualized Acne Diet and/or healing your Leaky Gut a less confusing, HEALTHY, and fun transition.

Furthermore, aside from a few key threads, this will be a predominantly focused on solutions . Answers to what foods to eat, what diets to follow, what tests to take, gut healing regimens etc. There will also be a links section for anyone searching for more in-depth information on this board or elsewhere.

Of course I would greatly appreciate it if any of you (especially you cleansing & healing gurus) that are currently following a specific diet or holistic regimen, that has not been mentioned yet, to chime in and share the following:

Dos & Don’ts of the Diet
(Brief History of the diet)
Customized Diet Regimen
Gut Healing Regimen
Personal Testimony
Etc

As a forewarning, negative comments and arguments about these methods may be edited or removed! This is a positive energy and supportive thread, A Safe Haven, and ALL are welcome to participate if keeping the above in mind. This thread will deal in the possibilities and capabilities of a new improved lifestyle instead of continually focusing on the cants.

I acknowledge that there are different levels of "healthy", but for reasons of sanity and affordablity this thread will be focused on a certain level of healthy in regards to obtaining the proper amount of nutrition & variety while keeping in mind an individual’s diet. Please be aware when speaking of your own diet or holistic regimen that you don’t downplay what works for someone else.

Finally, I’ve come to realize that one of the biggest obstacles regarding an improved lifestyle is that a percentage of us have no clue what’s sold in the produce isle! No clue as to how to pick produce, let alone how to properly prepare them and cook them. No clue just how many different kinds of food exist in the world in comparison to what their current diet consists of. Nor do people FULLY realize that when one door closes several more open. Hopefully this thread will awaken more of you to just how much more you really DO have as a result!


Peace & Love!

Ive been holding out on making this post for a while, because I wanted to be sure.

As some of you may have read, from my many posts on the subject I have been relying on accutane to keep my skin clear for the last 2.5-3years. First with two normal courses and up till recently micro dosing with less than 5mg/day. Before that Ive been dealing with acne since about 9th grade of high school and I have let it wreak havoc on my life in so many ways.

Ive been frantically looking for an alternative to my accutane addiction for a long time, which is why I check this board multiple times a day (very bad habit). Ive tried the gamut of suppliments from DIM to PGX and nothing has helped, I even tried the coffee enemas LOL! I know that I should probably be on a highly restrictive diet, Ive known this for a long time, but I simply don't have the discipline and love my food too much. I don't like the idea of having to revolve my life and diet around acne, even though I still do in a lot of ways. I even had a food allergy test done, because I thought that if I had doctor telling me not to eat the stuff I know I shouldn't it would be easier, but yeah, that worked for all of two weeks.

SO what Ive been doing lately is eating a regular diet, with way too many grains and large portions (not proud of this) drinking sugary alcohol drinks on weekends and getting some pretty irregular sleep (I'm a senior in architecture, give me a break). Now its been over a month since my last 10mg pill and normally by this time my Oil would be back, my nose would be prickled by huge blackheads and a couple cysts would be forming about a centimeter under my lip. But low and behold, I am staying clear. My skin is not oily, my blackheads are just a little worse then when I'm on tane (which is still pretty bad, but I can deal) and I have had no sign of a cyst. I still get the odd blemish, but nothing worth dwelling over, which doesn't take much for me.

How did I do it? Well I'm not a hundred percent sure, I'm not even sure if its safe to say I did it yet, but I will tell you what I'm doing.

The most important ingredient I believe is Resveratrol. I am taking the same dose, from the same company as the poster at the end of this thread and after two weeks of doing this I noticed my skin getting better. I really think this is the silverbullet, I'm not 100 percent sure why, but I'd recomend reading the wiki page on it as it supposedly has the ability to drastically lower the insulin response from food, which as we all seem to think has a great deal to do with acne. Besides this there are a great many other supposed health benefits so even if it doesn't help your skin it might help you in other ways.

I buy the 50% pills from mega resveratrol and take 4 a day, just like the other poster. This ends up being 2 grams of t-resveratrol and a little over a dollar a day. Don't try and take less than this, I did and it didn't work. I really recommend reading through the thread I linked to and I honestly want to kiss the kid who posted about his experience. I thought he was a shill at first and that his story was to be too good to be true, because that's how everything is when your dealing with acne. It really makes me want to cry just entertaining the idea that Ive come across a long term solution that doesn't require a drastic lifestyle change.

Another thing Ive been doing that I don't think has had as great of an impact as the resveratrol, although I can't be sure as I started the two at practically the same time, is water therapy. Even if this isn't helping my skin, it seems to just make my days better and makes me feel more healthy in general. It is supposed to aid in digestion, so that might be why.
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Water-Therapy-t213671.html

Anyway, I hope that this can help some of you and I'm sorry about the bloated description but, hey, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY BIG DEAL TO ME. Hopefully my stay here is coming to an end and I can forget about this acne shit and this addictive and I hate to say poisonous, (albeit occasionally enlightening) website forever.

I used to frequent this site a few years ago. I have been able to do very well with my skin and wanted to leave you guys with a few habits that I've tested over many years. You will probably notice some of these across other people's post.

I am an adult in a career, so you will notice that these are lifestyle changes not products that you use. Some of these do cost money, but the benefits go well beyond skin. You will probably add years to your life and have twice as much energy as normal.

Habit #1

Juicing

This is a great thing to do for your skin. Go buy a juicer, which unfortunately will cost you a lot. I originally bought a cheap juicer by Jack LaLanne. I now use the more expensive Breville model because it gets more juice out (costs around $300 compared to $100 Jack LaLanne juicer)

This absolutely gives you energy and you will notice within weeks your skin will start to clear. Read up on juicing, try to do a glass and use these ingredients:

Kale Apple Grapefruit Spinach Celery Carrots Beet Ginger Peppermint Brocoli Swiss Chard...\

These are just ideas, there are many more fruits and vegetables to use. Try the book the 150 healthiest foods, read it in the bookstore or buy it. In there you can find some good ideas for the best fruits and vegetables.


Juicing is a must
Edit: I will concede that blending these foods will also benefit those who are on tighter budget. The point is that it has to be done daily.

Habit #2

Healthy Oil Intake

Take a good amount of Flax Oil and Fish Oil everyday. Don't take capsules, buy the bottles instead. I use Now brand because it has high quality and is economical. I take about 6 grams Omega 3 with flax and 3 grams of fish oil. I weigh 200 lbs so I may take more than a smaller person.

Habit #3

Working out pretty hard

I say "pretty hard" because you don't have to kill yourself. You should be able to talk while do cardio (run, elliptical, or whatever). 30-45 minutes. 5 to 7 days a week. 45 minutes if you want to be great. Be consistent.

Working out 5 days a week is a must

TRUST ME

Thost 3 habits alone are huge. I see people wondering what pills to take and what soaps to use and they don't have these three building blocks. They have it backwards. Make your body strong and it will be able to take care of itself.

I say it again because it is so crucial... don't go looking for products and soaps etc if you are not doing the first three habits (and the other 4 habits! Clean water, clean diet, etc) These habits are crucial and what the heck you use on your skin other than a mild quality soap is not as important as you think. The mistake most people make is they look for what to put on the skin rather than how to keep their body and environment clear skin conducive.

Habit #4

Great diet

You don't have to eat perfect always. Instead shoot for 80-90% of the time. The first three habits will all be for naught if you eat at McDonalds and Burger King most of the time.

What is a good diet? Although most people argue on this, there are some SIMPLE basic principles to follow that almost everyone agrees on.

Eat all 3 macromolecules (fats, carbs, proteins)

What are healthy carbs?

Carbs that have fiber digest slower and turn to blood sugar slower. Therefore they will be better for you. Look for 100% whole grains, vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, brown rice is ok but not great. Think fiber and slower digesting to get a great carb.

What isn't a great carb? anything that is high glycemic and quickly digesting. In other words, sodas, breads that are not 100% whole grain, pasta's, candy, fruit drinks, etc.

What are healthy proteins?

I have tried vegetarian and couldn't get it done. Meat isn't that bad, try fish/chicken/lean proteins. Whey is good too, shoot for lactose free if you can or limited lactose.

Which brings up dairy, I would avoid dairy unless you are 1000% sure that it doesn't negatively affect you. If you aren't sure, go without dairy for a few months and see how you feel (allergies, sinus, digestion, etc)

What are healthy fats?

Primrose, Flax, Fish Oil, Olive oil, fats from nuts like almonds and walnuts which are monosaturated and omega 3 respectively.


Good meals ideas: Chicken salad with walnuts/carrots/peppers etc (get creative with vegatables)
Turkey avocado sandwich, steel cut oats and eggs whites with almonds, etc.

Just grab a healthy option out of each category (try energyfirst.com for a good health book for 19.99 or try to read books like YOU: on a diet. by Dr. Oz. Or do some searching on the internet, don't go overboard on diet, the two books I just mentioned are good strong places to start.

Habit #5

Exfoliate

I think the best way to exfoliate is apple cider vinegar. I use it every night (small amount) with a cotton ball. You may want to try something else, but this is cheap (a $1 bottle lasts months) and natural. Avoid chemical products that have a bunch of junk in them. Try a baby's hair brush to dry skin brush your face.

Habit #6

Clean Water

This is #6 but it is still very crucial, don't put this one off. Wash your skin only with clean water. Water from the tap is filled with chlorine and junk to kill all the bacteria. Guess what, that stuff destroys your skin. Buy a shower filter like the Aquasauna filter, it is only $60 for 6 months of filtered water. I guess you could buy clean distilled water from the store but a filter will end up being cheaper, plus you need warm water to wash and store water won't be warm.

Habit #7

Clean hygiene

Make sure you shower before you go to sleep and wash your body well, your body has oils which will get all over your sheets. So use new sheets every 3 to 4 days, the higher the thread count the better. If you have cheap sheets then they can absorb less oil which means more oil on your face from your sheets. 100 -200 thread count are usually cheap and 600 or higher usually means better, again just make sure you get a good brand with a decently high thread count.

Wash your face a few times a day, some people may need 3 but 2 will work for most. Use a basic mild soap and don't change soaps often. I've used the same soap for 3 years, Cetaphil from normal to oily skin.

Make sure also for women that you avoid make up (or try to use powdered makeup). Natural make up tends to be better as it lacks a lot of chemicals. Don't equate natural with good though. Some natural products are horrible. Bare minerals seemed like a quality product, just be smart and don't slather anything on your face, use little and be gentle.

That is it

Well, and sleep 7-8 hours everyday. Try to go to sleep at a good time. If I could recommend a good book, "Success Is not an Accident". It will teach you basics on how to achieve goals and become an excellent person. It is only $10 and probably will be some of the best money you ever spend besides the money on the juicer. The juicing is so crucial. Ask anyone who juices regularly, they will tell you that it is one of the most beneficial habits in their life. This is everyone who juices! Give it a try people.

Also try to avoid a bunch of junk products on your face. Retin A, Differin, Benzoyl Peroxide (or just limit benzoyl) etc. These products do attack bacteria but also irritate the hell out of your skin. It is like hunting a rabbit with a cannon ball launcher. You kill the rabbit but you can't eat your hunt because you blew it to smithereens.

Favorite product:

Zeno works well, it is a pricey little device that heats your skin in the problem area effectively killing the bacteria underneath the skin without irritating it. This can be pricey but is much better than buying topical after topical and destroying your skin. Zeno isn't a must but is a nice addition.

You might be thinking, wow, this is complicated and costs a lot.

The juicing does cost a bit, $300 to start and probably 20 bucks a week to keep it going but its well worth it. It will help you earn more money and be a more effective person. Everything else doesn't cost that much. Remember each habit is a category, so if you excel in each area then you will be great and have great skin.

I realize I didn't lay everything out in a specific step by step so you may have to do some reading and homework, but follow these guidelines and I promise you that you will have huge improvements in your skin. Try adding 1 or 2 habits a month, or try to add 4 or 5. Just get to a point where you are doing all of these eventually.

Just curious as to how everyone typically breathes.

Typically I find myself breathing through my mouth. Perhaps by exhaling so fast, I deprive myself of sufficient amounts of oxygen.

im currently taking two 260mg capsules of cod liver oil at night
the bottle it says take 1 3 times daily.
i was wondering if i could take all three at one time?
or do i need to spread them out?

Hey guys i'm just wondering if its safe to take whey protein supplement while on accutane? it also has this amino acid glutamine in it if that helps .

Okay I am starting a log because I am lazy when it comes to sticking to a three month plan of using a new acne product. I am 21 years old male and have had acne since I was about 15. I had mild acne fora while then started to become more mild-moderate when I turned 18 or 19. Sadly I am a late bloomer and I tnink my acne will not go away for at least another 1-2 years on its own. Here is my current supps:

NOW Pantothenic Acid: 5 500 mg pills X 4 daily.
NOW B-100 Complex X 1 a day (between the doses of b5)
NOW Zinc Picolinate 50 mg X1 daily
NOW Ultra Omega-3 Fish Oil 1 Gram X3 daily
NOW Biotin 5 mg X 1 daily (Taken with b-100)

I wash my face twice daily with Cetaphil antibacerial soap.

I apply neutrogena healthy skin lotion at night.

I started 10 grams of b5 on 12/16/08 and I will be trying to update my results on a daily basis.

A while back I was reading posts by Mrs. Jenkins on the org. She ate a high-fat diet (optimal diet) to clear her acne. She avoided red meats, sugars (including fruits) and milk products and it kept her clear. Whole wheat gave her cystic acne, so did red meat. Everything she wrote about seemed spot-on in regards to acne. She spoke a lot of too little carbs causing dry skin. I have been clear for a while now (diet of veg and meat), but I had a piece of fruit today and my face and hands became very dry. I notice the same thing when drinking tea. I would like to add more carbs in the diet, but it is very hard to eat enough veggies to cause oil production. Any advice would be welcomed.

Anyone tried this way of life?

I feel like its helping my acne, but i do need to start eating more greens.

Just wondering if anyone does this, and if it has helped them or not

Also, has any GIRL gone without wearing makeup and their acne got better?

I really want too, but I'm so embarressed of showing my real face to the world :/

Yep, no longer am i going to wash my face. I have had great success with the caveman diet in the past but my skin was still flakey/little dry at times..I think it was the water or something.

I'm now back on the diet and starting my new "regimen".

When i was clear, i NEVER washed my face (even with water!). It's time to make my skin normal again.

Let the healing begin!

For anyone who has done/doing a regimen where all they do is let water trickle down their face 1x a day from the shower....how long does the flakiness take to subside if you had problems with flakiness at all. I have found this so far to have eliminated my acne, but now struggling with flakey, dead skin.

Hi
I've never had severe acne but I've always had a number spots and blemishes all over my face and i always want to cover them up. But ive heard alot about foundations/concealers being bad for your skin (blocking pores, makin spots worse, producing spots)
Is this true?
Does anyone know of any brands that are good for this type of thing?
help?

In order to free yourself forever of acne, you must know that acne is NOT caused by bacteria alone, it is mainly an internal problem.

You need to clense your organs of toxins (kidneys, blood, bowel, liver, etc.).. In order to have youthful bright eyes, dark circle-free eyes (which is one sign of liver toxicity) and clear skin.
Detoxification is also key if you have severe acne and all around unhealthy.

Let me ask you something, what happens if you dont put oil or water in your car, it breaks down, right? Well your body acts the same way, if it doesnt have the essential tools to repair and protect itself, your organs will start breaking down, thus things get out of control and bad things like acne happens (and a short life span). For instance, we all produce a certain thing called prostaglandins, we have 30 different types of prostaglandins that help eliminate toxins and hormones from the body (EFA's and Fish Oils make these prostaglandins, more on this later..), if we only have a few of them your liver begins to stop filtering out toxins at an optimum level, creating problems. There are several reasons for why we get acne, dirty blood (from the bad foods we eat, things we drink and the things we breathe), certain organs like the liver and kidneys arent working 100%, our tube systems get clogged with mucus forming proteins, our bowels and colons arent clean, and a whole lot of other things we don't know.. I'm going to try to show you how to cleanse your body with raw foods and show you things that can help build your body so it can repair itself better than it already is, here is just a summary on what you need and don't need, ill explain more about foods as we go on:

Things you need:

Your body needs Essential Fatty Acids (primrose, borage and flaxseed oil **Google "Total EFA's**), Cod Liver Fish Oil (carlson's is a good brand), Sunlight (only if you eat veggies), Oxygen and Water, Vitamins (you can use supplements like Beta Carotene, Vitamin B-Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Selenium, Magnesium and ZINC) You need the proper balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 and 9 Fatty Acids, you need Lechithen found in egg yolks (specifically free range grass fed), you need FIBER (to clean your system of waste and toxins) , PROTEINS and CARBS from vegetables, fruits (1-2 peices of fruit a day is plenty, to much sugar will aggravate acne!) and berries and most of all you need FATS from expeller pressed coconut oil!

Things you don't need:

You need to cut back on protein (average american diet consumes way to much protein in one day, 1/4th of your intake should come from protein on average.. alittle goes a long way).
Reccomended Proteins: All Seed and Nuts (10 or so per serving), leafy greens, Vegetables, Fruits, Chicken and Turkey, Goat Kefir, raw egg yokes (free range grass fed, absolutely no egg whites should be consumed), Sprouts, sprouted whole grains and beans, lentils, starchy vegatables (potatos, yams, etc.),
(a good tip on eating organic chicken or turkey, only eat about half a fist size of meat and eat them with greens as they contain fiber and help break down the meat for proper digestion).
Bad Proteins: Red Meat, Mercury-Tainted Fish

You need absolutely no refined FATS (processed junk food, chocolate, you name it if it's in the grocery store and is processed with tons of fat and sugar you should avoid. Fried foods, foods fried in refined hydrogenated vegetable oils you should avoid, when these oils are heated they cause free radicals in your system and slowly destroy your organs, oil that is used for cooking will kill you slowly making you live a shorter life... avoid like the plague!)
Reccomended Fat/Oils: Extra Virgin Expeller-Pressed Coconut oil (by far the best saturated oil you can eat and cook with, tons of benefits i will list later), Extra Virgin Olive Oil, etc.. Oils that are not used for cooking include Fish Oils, Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Hemp Oil (all are great for overall health)

You need absolutely no refined carbs or grains (except you can have all the veggies, sprouts, whole sprouted grains, wheatgrass you want as these all have fiber-rich complex carbs you need). **raw honey and maple syrup and molases are ok refined carbs but only at the minimum**
Reccomended Carbs: Vegetables, Leafy Greens, Sprouts (like alfalfa), grasses (like wheat or barley grass), honey, starchy vegetables (potatos, yams, etc.)

You need absolutely no white sugar or refined white flour (WHITE sugar and flour is found in everything, and also sugar substitutes/artificial sweeteners like aspartame or nutrisweet are deadly poison, avoid like the plague! If you follow my advice you will have all the sugar you need found in fruits, berries and sweet veggies like carrots. You need no white breads, if it's pasty it will clog your system like glue). **also white rice is very starchy and will clog up your system like glue** these are some of the main problem foods that cause oily greasy faces.

You need zero dairy products (any product that contains milk such as cheese, yogurt etc. have a protein in it called casein, this protein acts like a glue and when it enters your system it clogs up your lymphnodes and blood making things hard on your liver and causing problems like acne. Milk from cows and goat you should avoid, your body does not need excess mucus in your system making you unhealthy and sick. I do Reccomend Goat Kefir as its basically broken down protein that is safe to eat and has tons of enzymes cleaning your bowel system (Goat kefir can be found at Whole Foods). The magic of kefir is when you mix it with the EFA oils (essential fatty acid), the oils combine with the kefir and makes it easier to absorb cleaning out your liver system creating more prostaglandins that are vital for discarding built up hormones and toxins, this is one of the MAIN reasons why we have acne, there are many reasons why we have acne, toxic liver, dirty blood, dirty bowel system, kidneys, what we breathe, what we eat, what we drink... keep your system clean on the inside and you will see improvements on the outside.


Also.. stop using topicals, chemicals, cleansers, exfoliants, acids and chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide. These things eventually seep into your skin and do nothing about solving the real issue, they rob your face of natural oils, drying up your skin causing cracking, peeling, redness and irritation stealing the natural moisture from your skin giving you even more problems like overactive sebaceous glands. Bacteria will aggrivate acne but its not the main cause of acne, like i said above, it is mainly an internal problem.

Have a balance in essential fats/oils, fruits (like i said fruits have alot of sugar in them use in moderation, berries have less sugar in them you can eat more of them, citrus fruits rid the system of mucus you can have alot more of them) vegetables (you can have as many veggies and greens you want, there is no limit, except carrots they have loads of sugar) and other foods, water.. you will see a difference!


All the info i shared with you can be found came from an e-book called "Your Last Acne Solution" (acneyoda.com), there is a price for it but you can contact me personally and i will give it to you for free, just pm me. This book contains a WHOLE hell of lot more of important vital information and tips i might have forgotten to tell you, so read the book, read it again, and take notes!

-Adam

I have had mild acne since high school (I'm 22 now). But since becoming a vegetarian (still eating fish), I have had ridiculous moderate-severe acne on my jawline, neck, and edge of the face. I've never seen anything like this before. I'm taking a multivitamin intended for veg*ns with no change in acne appearance. Have no idea what is really causing this acne. Has anyone been in the same boat? PLEASE HELP me and others who have this problem. This is frustrating and stressful.

Here's to 10 years of acne gone!

I made this thread to help those who are suffering like I was in any way I can. And also, of course, to share what I did. Sorry it took so long to make it, in fact it took what, about 5 months? I just had to be sure it wasn't a fluke, or I grew out of it, and that I had it under complete control while testing everythin
ng. Testing takes quite a while . But now I can feel good and secure about making this thread now that it's over officially.


History:

I would like to thank all of acne.org for finally making this happen. Before coming to this site, I was a typical person who thought the idea of acne and diet was rather silly. I used to believe that the body process that dealt with acne had no relation to diet, especially because my parents never told me about it. You don't know what you don't read or see.

After coming here I began reading, slowly believing, still skeptical. I tried the whole "diet thing" and I realized that there were subtle correlations. First came with fish oil, that's when I knew, that acne was going to be over through DIET, but something was missing! So I kept trying various regimens but it all just felt too confusing because they were so different! I kept experimenting though, one thing after another. I would add in one vitamin, take one out, add a herb, experiment with different foods, stop eating certain foods, wondered about allergies, sensitivities. It even went on with topicals, and very strange things that I would rather not even mention lol! I tried near everything. Everything from Digestive enzymes to indian herbs to weird trends and th en some.

Nothing made sense anymore. I researched to no end, almost to the point where I could find evidence that everything caused acne and cured acne too. I got fed up. If I followed everything, I would be left with water and fiber! lol

In fact, acne got so bad at one point because of all the crazy things I was trying that it ended up becoming severe. I remember after starting Saw Palmetto, my acne got really bad. To the point that people were asking me what was wrong with me and they were scared and worried! That was the low point of my life. I even went to the doctor and was given some antibiotics. At that point I felt I gave up on life and it was my lowest point, ever. I felt/looked/and was horrible. I took it for a while but stopped because I knew I had to do this myself. So thankfully my prayers were answered!

So then I sat down and looked at it from a nutritional standpoint. I blocked all the noise. I focused on the basic aspects of what the body needs and what affects it the most. That's it! I knew that certain things affect only certain people so I left all that till the end. I just wanted to first be sure I got everything in my diet that I needed, and see where that took me. If I got better yet still had acne, I would then experiment by omitting certian foods. But it made no sense to start with the small things that MAY cause acne for SOME people. So I started with the basics of nutrition. Because I am human, not an accumulation of minor problems from every person!

I also needed something fast, efficient, cheap, and effective because I couldn't go to the groceries every 3rd day and I had a huge family so my fridge was always full, barely any room for any more food.


Regimen:

(I am no way saying this is the cure for acne, I am just stating what helped me and listing out what I did in case anyone wants to try! I am well aware everyone may have different causes for acne)

So with all the research, I ensured that I would get all my vitamins and minerals necessary in relation to the skin. I also knew some vitamins SHOULD be paired with others and some should NOT be taken together.

This is what I did, and have been doing for the past 6 months now, with complete success

- Get 4 servings of extra virgin olive oil a day
- Take 1 serving of Twin Labs liquid cod liver oil a day.
- Take 1 serving of Carlson's liquid fish oil a day.
- Vitamins: B-complex, C, E
- Minerals: Zinc, Chromium, Calcium
- Omit Dairy! Way too many hormones
(links to purchasing location, prices, and images at the bottom of this post as well as serving size information)

This is the order I take it in, and found to work the best. Make sure it's taken this way! A lot of them synergetically.

Meal 1 (morning): 2 servings of Extra virgin olive oil in my meal
Post meal: Carlson's fish oil (1 serving)
Supplements: C, E, B, Calcium

Meal 2 (evening): 2 servings of extra virgin olive oil in my meal
Post meal: Twin Labs non-emulsified cod liver oil
Supplements: Zinc, Chromium

Notes:
- Be sure to keep the liquid cod liver oil and liquid fish oil in the fridge!
-Be sure to get a complete B complex like so
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp...&id=prod614
(This is the one I take, not sure if the time release matters)
-I buy all my vitamins from walgreens. I don't worry about chelated versions or any other fancy ones. These do just fine.
-When measuring liquids, use a measuring cup! The type that comes with your cold medicine. 1 tsp = 5 ml. 1 tablespoon = 15 ml. Or use a measuring spoon! (they come in teaspoon measurements and tablespoon as well). but DO NOT use the spoon in the drawer that you eat with! Because one teaspoon (that you eat with) does not equal 5 ml! It's almost half. It's important to be sure you are taking the appropriate amounts, so do it right!)
The medicine measuring cups look like this
http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/det...47/23114706.jpg

The spoons look like this
http://images.google.com/images?q=measurin...sa=N&tab=wi

Use either one

I eat more meals in a day, but I put meal 1 and 2 to show the two meals which I take all my supps/oils. You can also spread out the olive oil through the day. For instance, you can take 1 serving in the morning, 1 in the evening, and the rest with other meals you eat through the day. But just be sure to take the fish body oils with those specified vitamins linked to them and don't switch and mix and match to your liking. They are paired that way since some of them work synergetically.

So yeah that's basically it. There's tons and tons of research behind the reasoning to pair it like that and the research behind how each vitamin/mineral/oil actually works to regulate the processes of the skin (sebum, viscosity, dead skin, keratin, hormones, etc), but it's too much mumbo jumbo to write up. I'll post all the research in a separate link/thread and dump it all in there

Big thanks to everyone on acne.org that helped me along the way to understand, read, and research about the science of nutrition and how it all plays an integral role on the body! I learned everything I know now because of you guys.

If you want to see before/after pics just send me a PM, I would rather not post it on this thread but don't mind showing privately

In terms of what to actually eat, that is all going to be subjective since some people avoid certain things and not others.

And how do I know it was the diet? Because once I stray from my diet for a while or take something out, it begins to come back... so yes, I know. That's what took me so long to make this thread. I waited months because I needed to be 100% sure without a single doubt. Now I no longer stray from this regimen . And it's quite easy! Once when I wake up, and once when I go to bed, done!

FAQ/Research:

How much is a serving size?

For twin labs cod liver oil, a serving is 5 ml (one teaspoon). For carlson's fish oil it's 5 ml (one teaspoon). For the extra virgin olive oil, look on the back of the bottle which you purchase as each serving size is usually different. Usually it should be 15 ml (one tablespoon).

If you are not sure, look on the back of the bottle, it will tell you serving amount, and size.

Link to Purchase information, Supplement dosages, and Facial regimen!
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

Why Olive oil is really important and crucial
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

Chromium, Insulin, Dairy (IGF-1), sex hormones, and Acne connection
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

Retinol (Vitamin A) importance + zinc < emphasis on retinol
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

Zinc and hormone relation + Vitamin A (retinol) and other zinc benefits < Emphasis on zinc connection
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

Role of Vitamin E and Ance
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

Will this cause me to have an initial breakout? If not then why am I breaking out!
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

Why multivitamins don't cut it
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...t

**Edit: Update of the main points made in this thread so far **

This is working really well for me, and a few other people have posted about a similar product called PGX that's working well for them. Glucomanan is the key ingredient in PGX, and it's cheaper to buy it pure.


Here are some points on why I think it works, and some studies that have been done on it:

- Glucomannan reduces cholesterol levels by preventing the re-absorption of cholesterol from the gut. Cholesterol is what the body uses to produce hormones like androgens.

- Glucomannan prevents insulin spikes and improves insulin sensitivity. Insulin spikes cause increased IGF-1, Growth Hormone, and Androgens.

- Glucomannan thickens the lining of the intestines, reducing food sensitivities and inflammation. This is also an important part of healing leaky gut syndrome.

- Glucomannan fiber has been shown to heal eczema in rats when it was added to their diet.

- Soluble fiber like Glucomannan increases the acidity in the intestines due to the fermentation process, which inhibits conditions like candida and dysbiosis, and improves nutrient absorption.


Right now I get Glucomannan at http://konjacfoods.com in bulk since it's cheapest that way. At that site it's about $20 for a 500gram bag of glucomannan powder, plus $5 shipping.

My dosing generally follows this guide, taken with food:

Snack - 1/4tsp (1.25 grams)
Regular Meal - 1/2 tsp (2.5 grams)
Sugar/refined carb-heavy meal - 1 tsp (5 grams)

For every 1/4 tsp of glucomannan, I mix it with 1/4 cup (2 oz) of water and drink it down fast before it gels, right before my meal or as soon after it as possible. For instance 1 tsp would be mixed with 1 cup (8 oz) of water.

On this schedule, one bag lasts about 2 months.



**Original Post**

Glucomannan is a type of fiber, it's also used in asian cooking I think as a gelling agent. I was thinking of buying some capsules, and taking a capsule at the beginning of each meal. Glucomannan is the active ingredient in that PGX fiber a couple people on here are raving about, but you can buy it pure (2000mg/capsule vs 50mg in PGX) and I think it's actually cheaper that way. I found some by Natures Way 100 capsules for $13.

Does anyone know anything about glucomannan that I should know?

I went on a 3-day juice fast a while back that took away a lot of my weight. I have finally gained it back now and want to let you all know that you DO NOT have to eat acne-irritating foods to get muscle. Despite popular belief, you can build muscle without an intake of 500 grams of protein and 6,000 cals a day.

My diet is so basic and easily followed by anyone.

Diet (I am not including any of the water I drink because I basically am ALWAYS drinking water)

whey protein shakes (I do two-three of these a day) (one scoop, 30g of protein)
snack on a mixture of nuts nuts (pistachios, cranberries, almonds, granola, and cherries)
I eat a HUGE salad that has chicken breast mixed in (I'll post a pic)... I eat about two of these a day.
1 cup (not the measurement cup, but like a drink cup) of fruit per huge salad. Usually I have melons, pineapple, or peaches.

And that is it.

Also, this diet is only followed 4 days out of the week. Monday through Thursday.

On Friday through Sunday, I eat whatever I feel like.

I have seen a lot of references on this board to various supplements like flaxseed, fish oils, zinc, etc. I was just wondering what supplements you might recommend, and what function they might serve.

Also, do you know if you can get them in chewable form?

(skip to the bottom if you are not interested in the background info)

I have been through terrible acne, large cysts, pimples, pus, pain, red marks, everything. I had acne for over 3 years. I have tried all the useless carbon copy treatments, over the counter and Rx, with no avail.Someone of them worked temporary, but did not solve the underlying problem. This lead me to a final revelation that would mark the end of acne as I know it. I sat down and researched EVERYTHING about acne. I read EVERYTHING, articles, reports, clinical studies, textbooks, got opinions from doctors.
I applied my knowledge from the variety of sources and sat down and saught to answer the question: 'what causes acne' Yes, we all know oil, clogged pores, androgens, are the facts blah blah But this is not what we are concerned about, it is what doctors are. What we are interested in is unearthing how to STOP the PRECURSORS of acne. How do we FIX our skin from not being able to slough off dead skin cells?How do we STOP our body from producing these bad acne causing hormones? By answering these questions I crafted a solution, a working, logical, real solution, that had cleared me completely.

PROS: It works.

CONS: Can be Pricey.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE TREATMENT

Acne must be address ON ALL FRONTS, thats just how it has be to treated- This means internally and externally. This is my
treatment.



EXTERNAL: Clearing existing acne infected skin BY ADDRESSING THE 3 PROBLEMS


1. FIGHT DEAD SKIN CELLS/ CLOGGED PORES

- Use a Cleanser with AHA (to slough off dead skin cell and reveal newer skin) and Salysilic Acid 2.0% to kill off and existing bacteria and also aid in exfoliation.

- I used ZIRH CLEAN. http://www.zirh.com/product.aspx?f=6


2. FIGHT PIMPLES

-Use BP. BP introduces oxygen which acts as a catalyst to dissolve pimples. Simple as that. Dan is right about 2.5%, works good.

- I used 10% PANOXYL, you will obviously adjust % by the type sensitivity of your skin


3. STOP INFLAMMATION and IRRITATION

- MOISTURIZE with a PROPER moisturizer. Although the BP will treat the pimples, using a moisturizer effectively reduces inflammation and irritation from dryness and and exposure to bacteria and sunlight.

- I used ZIRH PROTECT. Great, light moisturizer, non visible non codomeogenic, and contains AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) to help exfoliate. Amazing product, smells good too. http://www.zirh.com/product.aspx?f=8

- You MUST use a good moisturizer. DO NOT SKIP THIS.IF you really think you can skip it then you will just find your self frustrated with slow healing, and new developing acne. IF you really hate the look try it at night first to get used to it, then you'll be hooked.

4. DO NOT POP
one thing to say about this. When I popped, I would notice more acne in the area. When I sucked it up and said 1-2 days of white caps is better than weeks more of acne in the same spot I noticed instant results. I do agree the caps look bad but when left along they dissapear while popping leaves a large red inflamed mark that eventually just spreads everywhere else.

Touching is fine, ONLY if you are using a 'good' moisturizer.



INTERNAL: Solve the 3 INTERNAL problems.



1. STOP HIGH OIL(SEBUM) PRODUCTION [ IMPORTANT]

- We must shut it down. Our acne prone bodies cannot do it on its on. you MUST use pantothenic acid, or (b5). I wont o into the science of how it works but It basically SHUTS DOWN oil production internally. High does are required for full effectivness but b5 is so safe, and its water soluble (you pee out extra).

- I take NOW Panthenic Acid. 4 simple 500mg pills, twice daily, its really not bad at all. You will also find, delightfully that b5 provides GREAT sleep, and increases energy during the day.

I have always been using b5 ( for 2 years to '