12 replies to this topic

[jen0489x]

So currently my diet is free of gluten (8 months) dairy (6 months) soy (4 months) and meat (11 years). 90% of the time, I eat very cleanly. I mainly eat salads, fresh pressed vegetable and fruit juices, quiona, brown rice, some hummus and avocados, occasional lentils and sometimes home-made baked sweet potato fries. This diet is overcoming one that previously primarily consisted of pasta and cheap .90 sauce full of high fructose corn syrups and sugars. While my acne has seem some improvements when eliminating something from my diet, it always comes back full-force. I've also tried removing citrus for three full months, and did not see any improvement so I decided it may not be an issue for my skin. I eat very limited nuts and seeds, very rarely, and also tried removing them for 2 months in an attempt to ensure that they were not the root cause of my horrid skin issues. Alas, here I am not, with five cystic pimples on my face, at my wits end. My life is consumed by acne. Every single time I put something in my mouth, I'm stressed over what it may do to my skin. All I drink is water (at least 70oz/day) and fresh pressed organic juices. I wash my pillow cases everyday, and brush my teeth with a toothpaste free of flouride, as I've seen those could also be acne-causing issues. I've taken dandelion root, milk thistle, chia seeds, and every other herb that has been said to clear acne. I take an elixir of pure ginger because of it's anti-inflammatory properties everyday as I read that can help inflicted skin. I also drink a smoothie everyday consisting of berries, kale, chlorophyll, wheatgrass and Vitamineral Green, purely for skin benefits. I feel like I've done everything. I wash my face everyday, but with all-natural cleanser, and am sure to not cleanse too much as to not strip my skin of it's natural healthy oils. I do not touch my face, and my hair is most of the time away from my skin. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?!!? What am I doing wrong? I want to scream, my whole life has been completely revolved around this, and everything I've tried has failed. My diet is so limited now, and I'm always unhappy about the state of my face. Can anyone offer any advice? Something I'm doing wrong, something I've overlooked?

[corgisoulpower]

I remember seeing your posts a while ago. Welcome back! (Although you may not be that keen on being back...)

I feel like skin healing is especially hard for vegans because of the lack of animal products. The more content I read/watch pertaining to a paleolithic diet, Weston A. Price-related, GAPS the more the consumption of animals fed their natural diet and have had lots of sunshine throughout their lives (which in my vegetarian years I didn't know existed, not that it would've mattered to me then) makes so much sense to me. Obviously, it doesn't make sense to you otherwise you wouldn't be doing what feels good for you! And I respect you for that.

You're on a couple of prescriptions, no? Perhaps you ought to consider getting your hormone/mineral levels checked, maybe a food intolerance test done to see what you could specifically be doing to get better results. And maybe just a teeeeensy bit of cod liver oil? Definitely pro-biotics, if you came off anti-biotics.

Also exercise, circadian cycle, and stress-level play into acne. Look into some yoga, biking, meditation, creative outlets if you could use a more calm frame of mind.

[limpbizkitfan]

Why would you want to avoid meat? And brown rice can be a problem, so can the sweet potatoe fries since they are really starchy and starch=acne. Ther has to be something wrong w/ your diet if your still breaking out. Oh and hummus is from beans which are also starchy and cause acne, not to mention all the salt they prob put in it.

[bobbi364]

In my most humble opinion DHT/testosterone is the main cause of acne, sure other triggers can exist but no where near the effect DHT has on acne.

Edited by bobbi364, 17 January 2012 - 08:13 PM.

[alternativista]

Starch doesn't = acne. And all types of starch are not created equal. Sweet potatoes and beans are high in resistant starch which helps maintain stable blood sugar.


OP, what is your acne like? Is it only the cysts? Do you have other health issues? How is your sleep?

And remember, that stress is also a factor in acne.

Edited by alternativista, 17 January 2012 - 08:56 PM.

[vapor1]

Eat more healthy fats and protein (MEAT)

[k3tchup]

your body needs fats to burn fats, your body also carves fat more over sugar. im not one for diets but i think just eating healthier in general is better than completely avoiding foods. Only avoid gluten and stuff if you notice u have an allergy or severe response from it. also gluten sometimes is made when you eating certain foods and then drink water... so ya. I dont know... eat differently, find out what type of acne you have and how it occurs and how it is for you, and get a regiment going. for me its my skin doesnt properly exfloliate causing loads of problems, took me years to figure this out.


@vapor, your sig says vit d3 breaks you out? You too? ive noticed every time i took a vit d3 supp i broke out. I have only seen/heard of good results from it and couldnt find anything regarding possible breakouts from it.

Edited by k3tchup, 17 January 2012 - 09:21 PM.

[Chestercool]

seems that you've tried it all, how about eating meat again? humans brain has evolved by eating animal protein, its important for our overall health, at least once a day, not mentioning fish for example, contains omega-3, and beef, chicken, etc contains b12 and zinc. Do you exercise? its helps to reduce stress and balance blood sugar. Supplementation is important aswell, cod liver oil, fish oil, zinc gluconate, probiotics, milk thistle, multivitamin, etc.

In my own experience, i noticed the days i work out, i stay clearer. Also, i've been researching about uncommon allergens, not necessary food allergy. My acne came back after i found a kitty on the streets, i gave her to another person one week ago and i dont have new breakouts, of course, its too early to sing victory. In addition, some allergens such as dust can produce inflammation, and as you know acne is an inflammatory disease. I highly recommend you visit an allergologist, and make a full exam (blood sugar,parasites, digestion, etc). Hope you find your cure soon

[spectacled_owl]

Well I'm not seeing any animal products and therefore no B12. Not saying this is the reason for your acne, but it is important for your health. Try to incorporate some bone broths, eggs, fermented dairy and/or seafood into your diet. Maybe cut out the grains and legumes for a while too. Even if you are soaking them, they may still be irritating to an already irritated gut. If you cut the grains though, you really should be eating more animal prodcuts, sorry. It's tough to give diet advice to someone who doesn't eat meat when I think it is essential to a healthy diet. Also, what is your fat intake and sources like? All you listed is avocados. What about exercise? And stress is the enemy, try not to think too much about your acne. It's hard, but see if there's better ways ways you can focus your thoughts.

Edited by spectacled_owl, 18 January 2012 - 10:49 AM.

[AutonomousOne1980]

i have been debating the vegetarian argument for some time now. first off, meat smells and tastes appetizing when cooked properly, so that's a strong argument against going 100% vegetarian. and more importantly, in fish and chicken there is something called phophatidylserine, which i have some suspicians that it may eventually be regarded as essential to the human body. also, b12 is from animals and its role in the human body is already been established.

phophatidylserine, has been shown to reduce peoples responses to stress significantly, http://www.lef.org/m...cortisol_02.htm and improve symptoms of cognitive decline and aid sleep. there is only one plant food that has high amounts and that is white beans, other wise it is highly concentrated in tuna, mackerel,herring, liver, kidney,clams, chicken legs. with the exception of the fish that are contaminated with mercury these days, you may find that by eating some foods that contain this nutrient, will help your entire body run better, give it a shot sometime. clams, chicken legs, and white beans are the preffered sources.

Edited by AutonomousOne1980, 18 January 2012 - 07:59 PM.

[jen0489x]

Thank you for all of your helpful replies. I do take B12 sublingual pills daily. I had my B12 levels checked and they are at a perfectly normal level. Meat is not something that will be going back into my diet, but I have considered it. I have spiritual beliefs against it, although I do not mind at all if others endulge in meat. Eggs cause me bad stomach pain, as does dairy. They will most definitelty not be going back into my diet. Otherwise, besides acne, I am in perfect health. I used to have horrid chronic headaches, but once I incorporated more greens into my diet it completely stopped in it's tracks. I feel my acne is hormone based, as it was much better when I took spironolactone. I was almost always free of acne. However, because of worries of long term side effects from taking this, I decided to stop. I want to try to cure my acne naturally. without any pills. My acne is cystic, with a few clogged pores here and there. I do not typically get small pimples, only gigantic cystic pimples that usually are on my chin.

[dejaclairevoyant]

I also had spiritual beliefs against eating meat (was veg 3 years), but I can tell you honestly that it's a requirement for me. I had to go back to eating it and my health (and skin) are about ten million times better for it.

[chunkylard]

Do you eat seafood or at the very minimum take an omega-3 supplement? Are you getting enough SATURATED fat in your diet?
Avoiding organic grass-fed and pastured meat isn't doing you any favors. Meat is very nutrient-dense. But if you're morally against it, at least consider eating seafood, because if your morals are getting in the way of your health, you're putting the animal ahead of you which is what most vegetarians/vegans do.

Ex-vegetarian here too, eating fish again was one of the best choices I made for my health.