43 replies to this topic

[cjb]

Acne as an adult is not normal. It is a clue that something is out of whack with your body. There is a myriad of things that could be causing it. I recommend seeing a good naturopath. Look at ANY other symptoms (digestive, menstrual, lack of energy, etc), and get TESTS done! Depending on other symptoms, it could be; thyroid, PCOS or other reproductive disorders, digestive disorders, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, food sensitivities/allergies.

I had a stool test and a blood test done (among other things). I found out I had an overgrowth of klebsiella in my digestive system (a bad bacteria) and that I was extremely anemic. I had been a vegetarian/vegan for ten years. I added meat, eggs and fish back into my diet. Then I read than klebsiella feeds on STARCH. I started keeping a food diary and noticed that when I ate grains, I got stomach pains. Grains had been a HUGE part of my diet as a vegetarian. I started to limit grains, and presto, stopped breaking out. I haven't even eliminated them completely. I don't make a fuss if someone is serving me or if I'm on vacation, but for the most part, I eat meat, fish, eggs, raw dairy, vegetable, nuts/seeds and fruits. I've been doing this for almost a month now with no breakouts.

Keep in mind that this diet may work for me, but might not necessarily be what works for you. For example, dairy is a trigger for many people. It's so worth finding out if there is an underlying cause and addressing that, because it just might help! Also, be patient, because it can be like solving a mystery, and might take some time. I've been seeing the naturopath since November, and we have investigated quite a few potential causes.


Good luck.

[Tap]

Naturopathic doctors are quacks. It was probably a coincidence that your acne stopped with a change in your diet. You had an infection in your gastrointestinal system causing the stomach pains, but probably not causing your acne.

[JBHK]

I am all for trying natural ways to cure acne or any ailment, but only if they work. I have found that it is very difficult to get good, consistent, uncomplicated advice about how to eliminate acne naturally. If you look on the web and the diet/holistic forum it seems that just about everything gives you acne for the unfortunate minority who are predisposed to it. I spent a significant amount of time and money to see nutritionists and take various tests, and still didn't see any results. That said, it is probably a good idea for people to try things themselves.

[cjb]

Naturopathic doctors are quacks. It was probably a coincidence that your acne stopped with a change in your diet. You had an infection in your gastrointestinal system causing the stomach pains, but probably not causing your acne.

Yep, I have acne for over two years and as soon as I quit eating grains, it goes away. It figures that someone would attack. I love how someone who thinks they can diagnose what's wrong with me based on one internet post refers to the naturopath as the 'quack.' It baffles me that people are so resistant to methods that don't involve drugs and topicals that must be applied for the rest of your life. In addition to the acne stopping in its tracks, the keratosis pilaris on the back of my arms has DISAPPEARED. So have the bumps on my upper back (not sure if those were kp or acne, but either way, they're gone). Also, the first period I had after giving up grains went WAY easier than it has for years. I get wicked cramps and have to go home from work every month without fail, and this past period was the first time I could stay at work. Is that a coincidence too?


JBHK-
Believe me, I understand where you're coming from. I've been trying various natural methods for a couple years now. The reason why the advice is so inconsistent with regards to acne is because there are so many potential causes of acne. That's why my advice is to keep searching for the cause.
What type of tests did you have done? I'm just curious.

[Tap]

Cjb,

Congrats. I hope eating grains also prevents other diseases that may occur as you age since it appears to be the cure all for your ailments as of now.

Naturopathic doctors are quacks because anyone can become one, just as long as you have money. Its admission standards are as competitive as sending a your teenage child to a private highschool.

[Adam82]

Naturopathic doctors are quacks. It was probably a coincidence that your acne stopped with a change in your diet. You had an infection in your gastrointestinal system causing the stomach pains, but probably not causing your acne.

I agree. Total coincidence. That's like all those accutane people that get clear. Obviously, they just grow out of their acne at the exact time they take accutane but they falsely believe it's this magic pill doing all the work. Total Placebo on both accounts.

[Tap]

That's like all those accutane people that get clear. Obviously, they just grow out of their acne at the exact time they take accutane but they falsely believe it's this magic pill doing all the work. Total Placebo on both accounts.

Untrue. Accutane is a proven drug backed up by scientific research and prescribed by a qualified physician. Grains to stop acne, keratosis pilaris, stomach cramps, and bumps on the back is not scientifically proven in any medical journal, but I suppose dogma for a naturopathic doctor who is not even a qualified physician to practice medicine in the US. I hope you can see the logic there and why the above quote is simply false.

[JBHK]

JBHK-
Believe me, I understand where you're coming from. I've been trying various natural methods for a couple years now. The reason why the advice is so inconsistent with regards to acne is because there are so many potential causes of acne. That's why my advice is to keep searching for the cause.
What type of tests did you have done? I'm just curious.

I took tests for food intolerance; one that tests to see the balance of good to bad bacteria in your gut; hormone levels; parasites - there may have been more, but cant recall now. I'd say the average price was around GBP150 a go, but I cant quite recall that either now.
The hormone / parasite one came back normal, but my conventional doc said that sometimes with acne sufferers the problem is an abnormal reaction to normal levels of hormones. I had multiple food intolerances and an imbalance of bacteria so I gave up the relevant foods for about 6 months and took some probiotics. Unfortunately after 6 months I gave up because I still had bad acne and it was starting to scar I couldn't wait around for another 6 months searching for the cause.

I kind of understand where Tap is coming from. I saw a couple of nutritionists. Only one claimed to be able to treat acne. The others spent more time identifying the things they thought were wrong with my diet and then said that maybe changing those things would result in an improvement in my skin. When it didn't they had nothing further to offer, but at least it was an honest approach. The third nutritionist was either incapable or unwilling to answer my acne specific questions properly so I ditched him and went on Accutane.
The truth is that alternative medicine is not as regulated as conventional medicine and there is no way of identifing those people with talent from the quacks. There are alot of people who are willing to take alot of money from you without delivering any results. Of course, they will take you that it will take months to see a significant difference. In the meantime they are raking it in. Sad but true.

[beentheredonethat]

Let's see, why do i have acne as an adult, hmmm.... My mom still has it. My dad still has it. Half my mom's siblings have it. All my dad's siblings have it. All my cousins on my dad's side have it. Half the cousins on my mom's side have it. I'm going to go with genetics, thanks.

[cjb]

Let's see, why do i have acne as an adult, hmmm.... My mom still has it. My dad still has it. Half my mom's siblings have it. All my dad's siblings have it. All my cousins on my dad's side have it. Half the cousins on my mom's side have it. I'm going to go with genetics, thanks.

If that makes you happy, go right ahead. No need to snap at ME about it.

As I stated in my first post, there are TONS of reasons why someone could have acne. If you've found the cause of yours, good for you. That's all I'm advocating, because once you know the cause, you can make intelligent decisions about treating it.


Tap,
If mocking me, my diet, my health, and my choice regarding drs. is fulfilling to you, then go right ahead wasting your time.


BTW, over a month on a limited grain diet and still no acne. If anyone has any intelligent responses, that'd be great.

[beentheredonethat]

I'm not snapping at you, i'm responding to your topic. If you don't want responses, don't post topics. If you only want responses that agree with your assertions then go preach it to the choir in the diet/holistic forum.

[rudeboy]

glad to hear it works for you... i think it's an individual thing and not something that needs to be argued about (not saying you are doing that..), wish i knew what triggered the (minor, adult) acne i have.


c'mon people... give others some respect.

[shanuea]

hmmm.. I think im probably the same. Though I cant be sure. I didnt eat grains or dairy for several months. Strictly meat, fish, vegetables, fruit. Though at times my acne wasnt so bad, it never stopped completely.

I have been to a few different natropaths, one of them said acne had nothing to do with what we eat. Another advocated the blood type diet ("eat right 4 your type") And the other advocated a strictly vegetarian diet

Currently my daily diet looks like this (with some variation):

eggs & bbeans, porridge
Roast beef salad wrap x 2
Chicken salad wrap
Fruit, nuts & yoghurt
Fish/or/beef and veg

Im considering dropping the wheat wraps.
Is it just processed wheat found in bread etc that triggers acne for you? or do you avoid oats and even rice as well?

interesting topic

[Tap]

I have been to a few different natropaths, one of them said acne had nothing to do with what we eat. Another advocated the blood type diet ("eat right 4 your type") And the other advocated a strictly vegetarian diet

I think that pretty much sums up the validity of naturopaths as healthcare professionals.

A registered dietician would be better apt at making recommendations regarding diet.

[cjb]

I'm not snapping at you, i'm responding to your topic. If you don't want responses, don't post topics. If you only want responses that agree with your assertions then go preach it to the choir in the diet/holistic forum.

My assertion is simply that what I have done has helped me. I welcome any responses, except those that insult me by inferring that I'm making it all up.

[beentheredonethat]

I welcome any responses, except those that insult me by inferring that I'm making it all up.

Well i never did that and you certainly didn't welcome my post but whatever.

[elfgirl]

Back to the question at hand, Yes, I do, I ask every friggin day of my life why I have acne when others who don't eat right , smoke, drink, do all kinds of bad stuff to their skin such as not wash it or take care of it and they have clear skin! I also ask why I am the only one in my family who has it! And I have come to the conclusion that its just me.

[klvoe]

I have to agree partially - - my acne was worse before I had my tonsils out (I had recurring strep throat). However, they've been out since May and I still have break outs, but thankfully not as bad.

[darryl]

I agree. My story below

First of all I am not a doctor or vendor trying to sell a product. I developed “adult� acne when I was 18. I am now 46 and battled this for almost thirty years and finally see light at the end of a long tunnel. My goal here is to help others look at other alternatives if the conventional routes were not effective in treating acne.

For those of you who have tried all the traditional routes for clearing acne with over the counter treatments, topical and oral medications with no success, you may want to look at your digestive system. You could have an intestinal parasite, bacteria, Candida (yeast) infection and/or no healthy bacteria (probiotics). This is called dysbiosis. You can have this condition and not realize it. I did not have any signs of bowel or stomach problems that normally accompany parasites or bacteria. This will disrupt the normal digestion and allow foods to pass through the intestinal track and enter the blood stream. Then at some point you will become sensitive to that food or its components (phenolics). I suggest you find a medical doctor who practices holistic medicine. A traditional doctor will not perform some of these types of test or treatments. The main test is a digestive stool analysis. One stool kit example is from Great Smokies Lab. There are others.

While you are waiting for your doctor’s appointment and/or lab results, one way to determine if certain foods are causing break outs, try going on a food elimination diet (search internet). A good place to start is with the 8 most common food sensitivities which include milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, and shellfish. But, you could also be sensitive to other foods like fruits, vegetables, sugar, vitamins, minerals, etc. Try this for 1 to 3 weeks and see if this helps. Foods that you crave or eat the most of are the likely culprit. Once you have identified your safe diet, try introducing one food at a time back into your diet. Allow several days in between food groups to determine if you are sensitive to that food. Check your supplements as well. This takes time and patience.

Food sensitivities are not allergies in which you see an immediate reaction of some sort when the food is consumed. In my case, it was a delayed reaction of 12 to 36 hours depending on the amount of offending food consumed before a break out occurred. The body clears food in one of three ways, bowels, kidney and skin. So if the body can not properly breakdown the food and clear it via the bowels or kidneys, it does so through the skin.

If you do have dysbiosis, it must be treated in order for the digestive track to heal. After successful treatment you are still breaking out, then you may need to desensitize your system to these foods using NAET (search internet). I was very skeptical of this treatment at first but I tried it and it worked for me. Find a NAET specialist who has taken the advance classes, especially on phenolics. Phenolics are found in many common foods we eat on a daily basis. Common phenolics include quecertine, rutin, coumarin, cinnamic acid, gallic acid, malvin, and phenylanine. Search the internet for food sources. It may be better in treating the phenolics versus the individual foods.

My dysbiosis condition went on for so many years that I was sensitive to most foods, fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals, and phenolics. The only foods I could eat without breaking out was chicken and rice. I can now eat just about all foods except milk without breaking out.

Most of these costs are not covered by insurance, so be prepared to pay out of pocket. In the long run, you will be happy you did.

[seekingpeace]

starch is the one thing i've never tried to eliminate from my diet.

thanks for the info.