11 replies to this topic

[x_ShAy]

First of all I want to thank everyone that spends time here sharing and sympathizing with other acne sufferers. I'm on here quite often, though I haven't actually signed on in a few years, and I really appreciate all the ideas and incredible eagerness some of you have to help out.

Since then, I've tried several more things to clear myself up (including an excruciatingly painful chemical peel), but my skin is the worst its ever been. EVER.

I've been avoiding this log for years because I'm about to embark on the diet that seems to be working for several people which also happens to be one of the most strict. I've never been an unhealthy eater; I haven't had white bread in years and I have done the gluten free diet and dairy free diet and sugar free diet and apple fast with no results (I've been resisting taking them all away together, which after reading logs for several hours, I found was probably the reason none worked).

Because these diets haven't worked for me in the past, I tried to convince myself that diet wasn't affecting acne. I decided a few days back to put it to the test and just eat the things that I'm afraid of. So I've had sugary cereals with Bailey's Irish cream for breakfast, pasta, and cookies..and OMG my skin freaked out! Not in anything cystic, but in these weird bumps that look inflated. So voila there was my proof that at least it has some effect on my skin. (this may not surprise those that swear by holistic methods, but its incredibly frustrating when you don't know wth is going on with your body).

I'm just going to try this diet now that I have a summer to spare before college. Acne has pretty much controlled my life until today and I'm so sick of it. I want to live and be free, and I've finally decided that a free life is worth giving up some momentary pleasures ( really gonna miss toast ): )

I did take some "before" photos, which I will post sometime when it's not 3am. I just had to post it while I had the will before I just put it off again tomorrow.

I'm also doing tca peels still, I mean I didnt get any results from the first one, but i'm hoping another layer will have some positive effect on my redmarks.

I'll be starting with a short water fast (I really dont feel like eating anyways after all the junk I just ate), and just begin avoiding all gluten, dairy, and sugar.

Right now I just have rice, fish, tomatoes and eggs to work with. Not much but its a healthy start..
Oh and I'm also gonna say from the beginning that I have PCOS, rosacea and chronic flakiness (not from the peel, its been a few years) with chronic oiliness (oil slick after 1 hour). I KNOW my acne is hormonal, so my hope is that this diet will regulate my hormones which will regulate the acne.

p.s If anyone reading this is successfully maintaining this diet, please guide me in the right direction if there is something I happen to be doing wrong.

Edited by x_ShAy, 16 July 2011 - 12:42 PM.

[TexMurphy01]

Yo, what up?

Anyway, after that wonderful introduction, let me say, firstly, welcome to the dietary logs section and, secondly, I wish you all the best.

I started on a strict as bitches diet (check out my log, it's on here too, might help), and I think I kept it up without breaks for... between six and eight weeks. Did it do me good? Yes sir, it did. I still got some acne, but the diet seemed to get me reduced by about 75 - 80% based on the pictures I have from the worst times.

I got really particular about it. I wrote down in my log all the things I was eating and the supplements I was taking. I also took a picture of my face every day (same lighting conditions) so as to have some concrete evidence which I could combine with my diet log. I still keep these things going, but I'm not quite as strict. The pictures are one every two or three days now, although I still write down everything I eat (that started on the 14th March and it's just become something I do when I eat - you get used to it).

Fortunately for me I always liked fish and steamed veg, so that was (and still is) my most common meal by far. I'd have fruit for dessert, but not too much. I also had the morning super smoothie (still do). In terms of supplements, I tried a load, but the ones I stick with are fish oil, zinc and garlic. I also drink plenty of water and green tea.

As for the face routine, that is wash with lukewarm water once per day. Yeah, that's right, hard core baby!

However, if you do read my log, you'll find that I've discovered what may be an even better treatment. What is it? Exercise. I came here to write another log entry on the subject actually, so I guess you'll have to wait for my conclusions until I've written them. Don't get me wrong, exercise might not be what works for you, but it's looking pretty okay for me (my diet has relaxed somewhat, but not completely).

[x_ShAy]

Thanks for sharing your results so far, TexMurphy01, that really gives me some encouragement. I think you're right about the exercise, there was this one time when I had to walk for 3 miles in Florida 38C weather, and even though I was drenched in sweat under makeup, my face looked radiant the next day.

I do get SOME exercise weekly, but I have been tremendously discouraged lately. I think I'll add exercise to this log as well, I mean, if my face doesnt particularly benefit, I would hope that my body will.

I've been taking zinc and chromium with olive oil and a b complex (I saw the regimen somewhere here actually) for a few months, with no results. I stopped a few days ago, but I still take olive oil because its cheap and healthy.

Oh, I also began Milk Thistle recently. I'm not sure if it does anything for acne, but with the alcohol I've been drinking recently, I don't even get dizzy if I've had milk thistle. I also feel less uncomfortable after eating alot. I'm hoping that if I'm ever inclined to cheat a bit on my diet, this should make it somewhat easier on my liver, right? I like to think so, but I'll never be sure. I hope I don't ever cheat, at least not until I'm clear enough to note the specific effects it has on my face.

I'll be back on later to post some pictures. And I'm going off to exercise right now. I also haven't had food today, just water. So I begin.

[x_ShAy]

Day 1

I began my day today with two hand picked mangoes. Then I had a spinach/tomato/lemon/sea salt salad with baked fish, and later on I had a bit of lentils cooked with onion and garlic. Before my last meal I took some milk thistle. Pretty simple right? I had the urge to just give it up since I've had no results with any diet I've ever tried..ever..but then I remembered this log and its really motivating me. (I would hate to admit I'm a quitter)

As for my face, it still looks like crap. I'm posting a picture like I promised. It looks like a lot of redmarks but they are in fact raised like pimples (it's difficult to catch on camera). Most of the time they turn into whiteheads, or else they linger for a while then disappear. The texture of my skin is scaly and bumpy. I cannot touch it without becoming depressed. I havent had any cysts since the tca peel, just bumps and whiteheads and scales *sighs*

I wont even bother to count how many active pimples I have, last time I checked I had about 60 small whiteheads.

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Of course, its too early for any improvement. But I never lose hope in a miracle ):

[x_ShAy]

Day 2

I felt extremely weak today and didn't exercise at all
I'm a bit afraid of the effect this will have on my body, as I'm already 98lbs. I think I'm gonna try to up the fat dosage and begin with at least moderate exercise.
Today I had a mango for breakfast, then steamed broccoli and baked fish for lunch. I don't know if it's unhealthy to eat so little, but the rest of the food in my house is the type I'm supposed to stay away from. I live with my family, who are unsupportive of any type of change to the grocery list, but I've gotten away with it though since I'm the one who cooks in the house.

My face is still terrible, of course. I'm honestly a bit scared, it has never been so bad. Not so much the acne, which has always been there(starting very mildy at age 8, severe at age 11) but the creepy red bumps and unnatural scaly texture. There is no part of my face that feels like skin, except the area around my eyes. It's obviously much more than acne, I just wish I knew wth it was or what else to try to make it go away

I'm honestly exited to do another tca peel. While the skin is hardening, it's the only time I can touch my face and feel like a normal person with skin that doesn't shed or hurt.

I think I'll start posting my results weekly. My diet is going to remain pretty much the same, and I think I can get away with eating so little for the next 2 months as I'm home and not burning much calories, just cooking delicious, tempting, flavorful food for other people all day

I'm also going to start taking omega 3s, and a few weeks into the diet start incorporation more supplements.

I'll post a picture every week and log any results.
Wish me luck!

[TexMurphy01]

Do you find these peels work? I'm hesitant to say you shouldn't because I really don't know, but I'll say that I wouldn't. That said, I know desperation can lead you to do all kinds of things (it did for me).

I say get out there and work yourself until you're sweating your ass off. At the very least you should be out of breath. If you can't work out that hard, join a club or something. Assimilation into a group will make you work out harder.

I know you know this, and I know these diets can be really strict, but starving yourself isn't going to help anything. If you need to, get yourself some of that coconut oil - fatty (but 'good fat') and tastes good, man.

It's easy to believe when your skin is not so bad, and it's very hard to believe when your skin is terrible (I've had both quite often). Hit the exercise!

[x_ShAy]

Well, I took your advice, TexMurphy01, and I exercised until I was drenched in sweat (I haven't done that in so long!). I felt really good afterwards! I felt energetic enough to start on a project I've been putting off for several weeks now, and I don't feel as depressed as I have been for the past few weeks.

I'm quite surprised at how good I feel considering how I woke up today. My heart was beating ridiculously fast and I was weak and trembling. I haven't felt so sick in years, I could barely move my arm without feeling like my heart was bursting. It was really scary, I sure wasn't expecting a reaction like this to eating no carbs. Maybe it's some kind of candida die-off?
I later ate an apple and two eggs, and then I had yellow rice and a cucumber/tomato salad my mother made. After eating the rice I felt better. I felt a bit guilty, but at least it wasn't bread or pasta.

Oh and the exercise made me go to the bathroom, and I felt like my body rejuvenated afterwards. Thanks so much for the advice, TexMurphy01, I realized how much I'm lacking in real exercise, and how beneficial it is in so many ways. I feel so good.

In regards to your question, I think the TCA peel would work provided my skin would stop breaking out. I had about a week and a half of peeling, the new skin was very smooth, and the acid dissolved all of the white gunk visible in my pores. I was pretty exited that maybe I could achieve a nice texture with one or two more peels, but in the days after the peel, my body decided it would replace the raw skin with the same crap it was producing before, so I'm back where I began.

I want to do it again in the hopes that a second peel would do the trick(some people say you need several repetitions). I know chemicals are terrible for the skin and are just a temporary quick-fix, but I am desperate. I'm entering college so soon, and I would love to be able to smile at a stranger without feeling my face breaking at the sides of my mouth.

But back to positivity! I'm really exited about starting to exercise again. And my body's dramatic reactions today encouraged me in my belief that this diet should do SOMETHING to my skin. I feel as light as air

I'll post some pictures of my progress as soon as I see something noticeable.
Once again, wish me luck!

Edited by x_ShAy, 01 July 2011 - 08:53 PM.

[Randomstuffs261]

I dont know a whole lot about dieting buddy but it aint gonna stop me from wishin you good luck!

[James Small]

Hey, are you seeing any improvements??

[x_ShAy]

Week 1

Thanks for the encouragement, Randomstuffs261, I really appreciate it.

Well, it has been one week since I began my new diet with the quick water fast. After that day that I was shaking and tremendously weak, I started feeling better and have felt great since.
Basically, I have seen improvement in every area of my body except my face (figures -_-)
In one week, this is what has happened:

-I have virtually no body odor (and it used to be pretty strong for a girl). My breath doesn't smell, I haven't washed my hair in a few days and it STILL doesn't smell bad, and I've had a mild yeast infection for the past 7 years which is virtually gone.

-OMG I just looked at my tongue in the mirror right this minute and it looks actually HEALTHY! NO WHITE COATING! (I literally googled what a healthy tongue is supposed to look like)

-I have no more cravings for sugar.

-I'm a tiny little bit less oily, but I'm pretty sure the tea tree oil is responsible for that (which I began a few days ago)


Now, in the back of my mind I feel like I might have had a candida overgrowth (I have about 10 of the symptoms, according to the internet). But all of the candida diets say absolutely NO SUGAR, not even natural sugars, and I've been eating fruit for breakfast on most of the days (just mangos, maybe be a strawberry here and there)

I wish I could cut out the fruit, but if I did I'd be left eating one meal a day. It's down to only two already (yes, fresh vegs and fish are that scarce in my house). I had ruled out candida diets in the past because I had tried the whole "acne free in 3 days" program, which is basically a candida program, and I saw no results. But if I WAS killing candida now, how would that work if I'm still having little bits of natural sugars? I even had a few sips of pinot grigio this weekend which would be off limits on a candida diet.

I'm posting a picture of my face, which is the same if not a little worse. I wont post another picture for another two weeks, because I'm doing a second TCA tomorrow. I don't know for how long I can get away with this diet (My family insists on being THAT against it, no matter if I prove to them its curing all the other crap thats wrong with my body), but I'll try. Even if it doesn't completely fix my face, I want to continue the diet for all the other positive results I'm seeing.

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So all in all I'm seeing wonderful results on my body, no results on my face (YET, I hope)

[hina2011]

I would say, dont do the TCA peel, it will just make you feel good for another month or may be two, and then back to square one. Plus, the thinning of the skin everytime you do a peel is like very bad for the skin, it removes the natural barrier of the skin. I am not trying to take away your happiness of a month or two, I am just trying to let you know that the happiness is not going to last long that I am pretty sure based on my own experience. I probably shouldnt say this here, but I am bound too say it since it has happened with me, peels are really really not good for the skin long term...

[x_ShAy]

Week 2 (& a half)

Okay well this has been an interesting week for me. I've been able to keep the diet until now so I'm still able to post results with some degree of hope. First of all, I want to remind you all that I had two problems I was battling with on my face: acne, and seborrheic dermatitis (which is rooted back to yeast so an anti-candida diet would make sense). Ever since I started using tea tree oil(anti-fungal?), the tiny bumps and scales have reduced considerably. Not perfect, but it definitely helps. I think the lack of sugar has also made the irritation decrease significantly (no more INFLATED red bumps, which I got to a terrible degree after that one sugar binge a few weeks back).

About the TCA peel, I had postponed it after two people recommended me against it (for the previous poster, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your advice and experience). But I decided to do a second one, not on my whole face, but in the large areas where I have scars and permanently enlarged pores. Even though the TCA didn't do anything for my acne, it did blur out the bright red lines around my mouth and cheek separating the messed up red skin from my naturally pale YELLOW skin. I got these lines from years of using bad products, and I hope that they don't come back, provided I don't use anymore harmful products, regardless of how many breakouts I have.

That said, The TCA peel worked to my advantage (: Just when I thought I had to stop the diet and go back to eating potatoes and bread from lack of anything else, I found I could barely open my mouth. So my family got a whole bunch of fruits and veggies so I could at least drink green smoothies, and have been on a diet of that for the past few days. I feel wonderful, and the new skin showing from the peeling appears yellowish and NOT red (unlike the last time). So I'm very exited, it seems the healthy diet is helping my skin heal better and preventing new breakouts on the new skin.

My chin is peeling at the moment, and since my cheeks are hardened, I look like I have no acne and only light scars. When I turned on my webcam to take a picture of the drink, I got a glimpse of my face and let myself think I'd be decent if my real skin was actually visible
*sighs*

I've stayed very positive the past few days (I've been home watching documentaries about people who have it so much worse, but their will is so much greater).
There's this one documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead in which two overweight men with this rash-like skin disease go on a juice fast for several weeks, then continue with the juices permanently to a lesser extent. Of course, they lost tons of weight but their skin condition cleared up and no more prescriptions for them. The body has this incredible ability to heal itself, and I hope that's what I'm doing as I continue with this diet. I am facing some obstacles, since I cannot really control what goes on the grocery list, but I've had the chance to continue until now, and I hope that once I can prove to my family the progress I am making, they will support me.

I won't post any new pictures since because of the peel, the progress may look misleading. I guess the diet's progress will come down to how much I break out once my new skin is showing. So far, on the skin already peeled, it's clear, and last time it took about 2-3 days for my skin to break out again. So I'll post back in about 2 weeks, which should be a few days after all of my cheeks have healed. I'm so exited!

I'm so glad I began this log. I felt like giving up so many times because of the frustration of changing my diet without offending my family (really doesn't help my father is a chef). BUT, I always thought about how embarrassed I'd be to get back on to tell everyone I was quitter, especially after so many people have taken the time to give me advice and encourage me. It means so much to me and I want to thank you all(:

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I took a picture of my smoothie because it looks so gross but it tastes like a good old sugary fruit smoothie (thanks Stevia).

Well, I'll be back. Wish me luck!(: