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My acne is moderate; I get a ton of tiny whiteheads on my forehead and cheeks, random pustules here and there (mostly on my chin), and blackheads on my nose and cheeks. Occasionally I get what appears to be a cyst on my chin, but those typically come to a head and go away with some BP. Unfortunately, it seems like everything scars now, leaving boxcar scars all over my face. Other than that, I think my skin is slowly improving with the changes I'm making; it just FEELS healthier than it did when I was slathering BP all over it.
~Current Topical Regimen (trying to keep it simple)~
Morning:
wash with Yes to Cucumbers cleanser for only about 10 seconds
wait 5-10 minutes, apply Aczone gel (once every few days)
moisturize with emu oil
MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield SPF 28 Zinc Oxide sunscreen
Evening:
wash with cleanser
.025 generic tretinoin cream gel
moisturize with emu oil
Supplements:
Lunch:
30mg zinc cheleate when I remember it
Dinner:
400 mg Magnesium Glycinate
5000 IU Vitamin D
100mcg Selenium
"Primal" foods I'm eating: ground turkey, ground beef, chicken thighs with skin, pork chops, lamb chops, bacon, occasional chicken or beef liver, eggs, canned wild salmon and sardines, collard greens, kale, swiss chard, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potato, yukon gold potato, zucchini, summer squash, onion, garlic, macadamia nuts, almond butter, shredded coconut, blueberries, raspberries, green apples, ghee, olive oil, occasional alcohol
For exercise, I walk as much as possible and sprint all-out for short periods when I feel like it, as well as lift heavy things at work.
My goal is to keep things under control and minimize scarring until I grow out of this. Here goes!
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Supps I've Tried:
Evening Primrose Oil: tried it twice, both times made me miss my period and it would resume only when I stopped taking the oil for a few days
Carlson's Cod Liver Oil capsules (1 per day gave me hive-like acne in weird spots)
Nature Made Vitamin E 400 IU (added 8/24): no effect
Nature Made Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc 3x daily (added 6/21): no effect
GNC Zinc 50 mg (added 6/21): made me break out along my jawline SO BADLY
Nature Made Vitamin C 1000 mg (for stress): switched to Quercetin + C
Swanson Full Spectrum Bitter Melon 500 mg 2x daily (added 6/30): did nothing and tasted gross
NOW Vitamin D 5000 IU (kept me healthy, did little for my skin)
Digestive Enzymes (did nothing)
Diets that have NOT helped my skin or digestive problems:
Most Recent Diet:
chicken, oatmeal, almonds, coconut, plain organic full-fat yogurt, spinach, brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, zucchini, onion, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, chickpeas, olive oil, kiwis, blueberries, raspberries, Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Odwalla bars, wine and beer and some junk on the weekends
Possible problems: chickpeas, Odwalla bars, oatmeal, not enough fat
~Hypoallergenic Diet (7 week test)~
Basic guidelines: hypoallergenic, low-fat and protein, high carb and fiber diet avoiding omega 3 foods to reverse possible GLA deficiency- no dairy, gluten, or added sugar
Breakfast:
hot buckwheat cereal with shredded coconut, almonds, and cacao nibs
Lunch:
garbanzo beans and brown rice with raw spinach, broccoli, and kim chi
Dinner:
baked turkey breast or chicken with steamed broccoli, zucchini, collards and kale, with garlic and pepper
Drinks:
spring water, occasional rum or wine
Snacks:
kiwi
I also add a few shakes of sea salt to meals.
Possible problems: fat too heavy on grains and beans, cacao nibs, not enough fat
--
Old diet: chicken, salmon, tuna, eggs, spinach, broccoli, green bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, steel cut oats, kiwis, strawberries, blueberries, brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chick peas, brown basmati rice, brown rice pasta, quinoa, sprouted whole wheat bread, Icelandic butter, occasional Thai food (love it!), coconut oil, cacao nibs, 85%+ dark chocolate, and a ton of chia seeds
Drinks: water, rooibos tea, hemp milk, coconut milk kefir, occasional rum, beer, wine or vodka
Low-GI, Anti-Inflammatory diet
No dairy
No added sugar
No gluten
Limited alcohol
~Typical day~
Breakfast:
organic steel cut oats with oat bran, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, raisins and dried cranberries (I eat this almost every morning)
Lunch:
eggs scrambled with frozen veggie mix (pea pods, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, carrots, mushrooms, soybeans) and spices (lemongrass, green tea, ginger, pepper) in coconut oil, sprinkle brewer's yeast on top
or
spinach and romaine salad with tuna, broccoli, green peppers, and chia seeds with olive oil and raw apple cider vinegar dressing, sprinkle brewer's yeast on top
Snack:
prunes, strawberries, cacao nibs, brazil nuts, sprouted wheat toast with Icelandic butter
Dinner:
baked salmon with wild rice and mixed veggies, seasoned with ginger and turmeric
or
baked chicken with wild rice and mixed veggies, seasoned with ginger, garlic and oregano and drizzled with olive oil
Possible problems: too many grains, butter, yeast, not enough fat...pretty good, though
Edited by QuirkyPixy, 06 December 2010 - 10:21 AM.
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