9 replies to this topic

[chelslaw]

any ideas how long after changing your diet (removing gluten, and 90% dairy from your diet) will you see results?

i also dont consume caffeine (other than in a green tea) or much alcohol (maybe 2 drinks a week)

Here is my story:
this is the first time ive posted here even though ive been reading posts here for almost a year now

my forehead, nose, cheeks, upperlip are all clear. maybe an occasional small whitehead. my chin? its a mess at times.

i would call it mild (maybe 5-6 zits) but they are persistent and inflamed. My chin is rarely clear.

i get one cyst a month. maybe im using the wrong term. i know cysts are 5mm- this is smalled. but its like a tiny pea is stuck under my skin and its red and inflamed.

i do what wynne says and ice, take ibuprofen and dont touch it. i do use tea tree oil on it twice daily (as i do with the rest of my pimples) i have benzaclin cream from the dr (antibiotic BP) for spot treatment and i do use that too.

i cannot figure out why i get these inflamed zits, only on my chin, and keep on getting a "cyst" (or nodule maybe i should call it) every month.

• ive been very low dairy for about 4 weeks
  
• andalmost no gluten at all for 2 weeks (and plan to keep going forever and only consume gluten 1 day a week)
  
• i drink nothing but water and green/white teas
  
• no caffeine other than in green tea
  
• 1-2 alcohol drinks a week
  
• i do get stressed often but am working on that with exercise and yoga
  
• exercise 3-4 times a week (training for a triathlon)
  
• take omega 3 (2 daily) vitamin d (3 daily) calcium/magnesium/zinc, folic acid, b12,6,9 and acedopihilis
  
• i spot conceal my pimples maybe 2 or 3 times a week for a couple of hours when i go out (i work from home) so no makeup otherwise
  
• all my products are paraben free (hair, makeup, skincare, soaps)
  
• i wash my face in the AM and PM with origins cleanser (which has absolutely nothing in it- havent had luck with medicated cleanser)
  
• i use a paraben free, frangrance free, oil free lotion with spf twice daily
  
• spot treat with the benzaclin and tea tree oil

Any ideas? This has been going on for a couple of years now. Maybe 3. I had bad skin as an early teen, then it cleared up for about 4 years, then in my early 20s this started again. My skin is better in the summertime too.

[alternativista]

We can't tell you that. It's individual. In fact, those 2 might not produce any noticeable results if you aren't intolerant to them, don't have a damaged digestive tract and if you are eating something else to which you are intolerant, not eating enough anti-inflammatory foods, not getting certain nutrients, or still consuming high GI meals/drinks/snacks, etc. And then there's the stress. And what about sleep?

[poppinpoprocks]

this seriously sounds exactly like me,the entire upper half of my face is basically clear and the only place i really breakout out is on both sides of my chin like the center of my chin is completely clear but the right and left jawline chin or cheekish area(whatever u call it) are the only places i ever get a real breakout EVER.

i only drink water and green tea
take multivitamins,live probiotics and omegas
limit sugars and dairy(as my dad is lacotose intolerant) and the rest of my diet is full of fruits and vegtables
im on bc(been on it for yrs) and started 75mgs of spiro(low dose) 6months ago

spiro completely stopped all headaches and huge cysts but i still breakout around that area and hope to see the full effects of spiro working within a yrs time
and for diet i have honestly done so many dairy and wheat experimentations its crazy but even when i did that i still would have really good skin at ceratin times ofthe month and crap skin during the rest so i honestly have no idea anymore ive now decieded that its a hormonal issue lol

do u breakout on a schedule or anything?? or do u know for sure your acne is directly contributed to dairy and gluten?

[Chestercool]

most people start seeing results within the first month, if your acne is the same after cutting dairy and gluten, cut off soy aswell. Also, high GI meals could be keeping those inflammed zits persistant. Every body is different, finding a diet which works for you takes some time, its about experimenting with your body. Do you supplement with probiotics?

[chelslaw]

Chestercool- It could be higher GI stuff- i do enjoy sweets but only one sweet a day (for dessert) which i dont think is that much? I dont know. I take acidophilus daily which is a probiotic I believe. I dont think I consume much with soy in it besides soy sauce..


PoppinPopRock- you sound just like me. its not the centre of my chin its just the left and right side. Most of the time I have 1-2 regular zits on both sides and then I get a small nodule thing on the same side in the same area each month. I thought it was around the time when i get my period, and mostly it is the week before (PMS week yay lol) but it has come up at other times, and sometimes it misses a month (i love those months) but it takes a while to go away so it feels like its always there. I think its hormonal but there isnt much you can do to regulate your hormones. Ive taken birth control for over 10 years now...

Alternativista- what foods are anti-inflammatory? i want to eat more! i get a ton of sleep. 8-9 hours daily. im working on the stress relief. not constantly stressed but have my moments with work and deadlines. exercise helps alot. I dont know if im intolerant to either dairy or gluten, im just trying. How would I ever know? It elimination a good way to do it? How have you stayed clear for the past 3 years? Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone

[alternativista]

chelslaw, on 19 January 2012 - 08:46 PM, said:

Alternativista- what foods are anti-inflammatory? i want to eat more! i get a ton of sleep. 8-9 hours daily. im working on the stress relief. not constantly stressed but have my moments with work and deadlines. exercise helps alot. I dont know if im intolerant to either dairy or gluten, im just trying. How would I ever know? It elimination a good way to do it? How have you stayed clear for the past 3 years? Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone

Pretty much all plant foods, herbs, spices, teas that are not from seeds. And fish. Inflammatory foods are high Glycemic impacting foods like sugar, refined carbs. Also hydrogenated and trans fats. Avoiding them means avoiding most commercially prepared foods.

Is that sleep at night? And yes, elimination is a good way to determine food intolerances.

[chelslaw]

Yes I get 8-9 of sleep at night. I work from home so I can sleep in later than the average bear.

Okay, well I drink lots of tea and eat lots of fish and when you say plant foods do you mean veggies? If so I eat lots! I think I need to step up my dark leafy greens though.

Since the beginning of the year (when we bought our home) we havent eaten out once and have made our own dinners, so nothing commercially prepared (since im low dairy and no gluten right now there isnt much commercially prepared to eat and refuse to eat gluten free products- only things that are naturally free of gluten)

So I guess I just keep on with the low dairy and gluten and see how it goes over the next 3 or so week?

Should I test this for a month to 6 weeks before changing something? When I move onto something else, how do I convert? Just starting eating gluten again and stop citrus for instance?

What are other foods that could aggrevate acne? From what Ive read dairy and wheat are the big offenders, but caffeine and citrus could be good (i dont really consume a ton of either to be honest) but let me know

Thank you for your advice.

[dejaclairevoyant]

Here's the deal: you're gluten sensitive, or you're not. Gluten isn't good for anyone, but only gluten sensitive people get immediate reactions such as rashes or breakouts (although you can still be gluten sensitive and not react that way)

SO here's the thing: IF you are gluten sensitive, you have to remove all gluten. Once a week is not okay. Once a month is not okay. It takes removing all gluten, for months or even years sometimes to really heal.

[k3tchup]

why not drop the alcohol? unless your a red wine drinker you really dont see any benefits (except for the resveratrol content), Alcohol is a toxin to the body as is caffeine. Even though scientists claim is good for you[caffeine] and helps prevent so many possible diseases and health problems it for one dehydrates you (not good) depletes your magnesium level and a host of other vitamins. Alcohol is in the same boat.

I have an occasional drink of malibu rum, half glass maybe twice a month. however im seeing that i do not need it and do better without. after i finish the last of it off im not buying another bottle (750ml)


just saying. im sorry i dont do the gluten thing. best of luck on that.

Edited by k3tchup, 20 January 2012 - 09:14 PM.

[chelslaw]

dejaclairevoyant, on 20 January 2012 - 04:54 PM, said:

Here's the deal: you're gluten sensitive, or you're not. Gluten isn't good for anyone, but only gluten sensitive people get immediate reactions such as rashes or breakouts (although you can still be gluten sensitive and not react that way)

SO here's the thing: IF you are gluten sensitive, you have to remove all gluten. Once a week is not okay. Once a month is not okay. It takes removing all gluten, for months or even years sometimes to really heal.

After discussing with a friend who is a nutritionist, Ive learned that you could have a gluten sensitivity but have a certain tolerance thresh hold, so eating one meal with a gluten component a week could be fine for some, and not for others. So I'll see.

Already after 15 days I can see that my chin is clearing up, and my period was very light and much shorter than normal, so its doing something to my hormones for sure. I'm also down a couple lbs. I'm just going to keep at it and see how it goes.

I've also upped the amount of Vitamin D and Omega 3 I take.