18 replies to this topic

[Rjavi10]

I always see people on these forums talking about how changes in their diet can have a dramatic effect on the severity of their acne. Why is it then that most dermatologists (mine included) agree that your diet has no effect on your acne? Are they lying to us? Also I used to have SEVERE cystic acne all over my face and I am 95% clear now, have been since the start of this year and I made no changes whatsoever in my diet. I got it under control with OTC topicals, not with changing what I eat. Does what we eat really impact our acne?

[arqa22]

dermatologists are not some gods that know everything about health/medicine. they know what they are being told in medicine school.
think about it, can some make money on you by selling you a good diet?
and then ask yourself, can someone make money on you by selling you 563 products?
i guess you understand why....

yes diet is THE main cause of acne.
heres a list of acne-trigger foods.

dairy
gluten
nuts
eggs
soy
corn
critic acid [rare]

for me, dairy+gluten+nuts break me out. 2-3 days after i eat those, i get those deep red painful cyst under my skin.

topicals may help, but they help only as long as you use them. once you stop using them acne comes back....
are you going to use topicals for the rest of your life? i dont think so.

the second cause of acne is hormones, but it is MUCH more rare then most people assume.
hormonal acne=excessive DHT.
how to lower DHT? [wich btw also causes baldness in males]
less ejaculation.... sad but true.
eating soy [wich ironically may cause you to break out if you are sensitive to it instead of clearing you up by lowering DHT].
saw palmetto also lower DHT
green/black tea

just google "DHT foods"

Edited by arqa22, 22 May 2012 - 11:56 PM.

[zoomzoom]

Quote

Why is it then that most dermatologists (mine included) agree that your diet has no effect on your acne?

Some dermatologists may have gotten their degrees in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s and not bothered to stay up to date with recent medical research. It is becoming an established scientific fact that diet plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acne.

Here are links to just a few scientific studies that indicate a dietary link to acne (in particular dairy and high-glycemic foods):



"A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients: a randomized controlled trial" 2007
http://www.ajcn.org/.../86/1/107.short

"Evidence for Acne-Promoting Effects of Milk and Other Insulinotropic Dairy Products" 2011
http://content.karge...roduktNr=254518


"Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load: New Evidence for a Link with Acne" 2009
http://www.jacn.org/...nt_1/450S.short

[Callum.]

Basically, yes. You can cite as many studies as you want but the stories of many acne sufferers is enough to convince me. I myself get greasy skin and zits after going through periods of eating bad foods.

[Tunnelvisionary]

I feel it's more accurate to say that diet doesn't CAUSE acne, but it aggravates and can help create the conditions in which acne is the result. Knowing the discrepancy helps us to avoid thinking that there is something inherently wrong with a food, when it is actually mostly our ability to process it. That being said, easy to digest foods that are really nutrient dense should be the majority of what you eat anyway.

Lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and chronically high levels of stress can also create the conditions that cause it.

[AutonomousOne1980]

are they lying to us?

yes.if they claim to know something, they couldnt possibly know,then that is intellectually irresponsible. they should simply say, they dont know. and to apply this lesson to the claim that all dermatologists "say" this, i have little idea what dermotoligists say or believe outside of the ones i have spoken to or the claims other people make on this site regarding their own derms.

the truth lies in your own observations and experiances.

Edited by AutonomousOne1980, 23 May 2012 - 10:51 AM.

[alternativista]

Rjavi10, on 22 May 2012 - 11:05 PM, said:

I always see people on these forums talking about how changes in their diet can have a dramatic effect on the severity of their acne. Why is it then that most dermatologists (mine included) agree that your diet has no effect on your acne? A

they are ignorant like most of our conventional medical establishment. They only have a vague idea that a healthy diet is good, but believe what they are taught which is everyone needs drugs and surgeries to be healthy.

And diet has several direct correlations to acne.

AutonomousOne1980, on 23 May 2012 - 10:50 AM, said:

are they lying to us?

yes.if they claim to know something, they couldnt possibly know,then that is intellectually irresponsible. they should simply say, they dont know. and to apply this lesson to the claim that all dermatologists "say" this, i have little idea what dermotoligists say or believe outside of the ones i have spoken to or the claims other people make on this site regarding their own derms.

the truth lies in your own observations and experiances.

Well, I would say they are irresponsible. We can find all these studies and papers on the many ways that various nutrients and postprandial dietary affects, not to mention lifestyle habits, affect acne. Why aren't they reading those studies?

[Callum.]

Oh and another thing, if they admitted diet affected acne they'd lose money. They wouldn't be able to prescribe products or offer treatment. Some of them were trained to believe that it doesn't effect acne, others know but don't want to admit it to patients.

[takenimpulse]

No doubt about it for me. I've been at it since last September and I'm still learning along the way. I believe my correlation has to do with food sensitivities and a leaky gut.

[tritonxiv]

Diet can have a dramatic effect on acne for some people. It is not the ultimate cause.

Edited by tritonxiv, 23 May 2012 - 07:10 PM.

[foreigneez]

You also have to keep in mind that if a doctor or dermatologist or whatnot goes forth and DOES say that diet causes acne, they could be found guilty of malpractice, since it's not commonplace to give that kind of advice yet. Same thing goes for masturbation. Everyone says it's good for you, but I'm a firm believer that it causes tons of problems that aren't limited to acne.

We'll get there though. No worries.

When you say you "have it under control," what do you mean exactly? Do you still get the occasional breakout? I got it under control by altering my diet just a teeny bit, and now I experience no breakouts. I can still eat and drink all the milk products I like, I just can't go for that big piece of birthday cake this Sunday. :c Happy Birthday to me, haha.

[arqa22]

Tunnelvisionary, on 23 May 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

I feel it's more accurate to say that diet doesn't CAUSE acne, but it aggravates and can help create the conditions in which acne is the result. Knowing the discrepancy helps us to avoid thinking that there is something inherently wrong with a food, when it is actually mostly our ability to process it. That being said, easy to digest foods that are really nutrient dense should be the majority of what you eat anyway.

Lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and chronically high levels of stress can also create the conditions that cause it.

diet does CAUSE acne.it doesnt aggravate acne.
if i avoid my food triggers i have 0% acne. theres nothing to "aggravate".
once i eat dairy+gluten+nuts i breakout. diet is the CAUSE of acne.

[alternativista]

foreigneez, on 23 May 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

You also have to keep in mind that if a doctor or dermatologist or whatnot goes forth and DOES say that diet causes acne, they could be found guilty of malpractice, since it's not commonplace to give that kind of advice yet.

Actually several doctors do tell people about the diet and acne connection. Just not your run of the mill, mediocre doctors.
Here's a list of several, mostly mainstream doctors: http://www.acne.org/...30#entry2817730 That list includes an extremely important and famous cardiologist, Dr Oz, a few major dermatologists, and fitness trainer Jillian Michaels who wrote a book on hormones and metabolism.

And to add to my previous comments on their ignorance and bad education. I would say it's very irresponsible of them not to be reading their journals and keeping up with studies, most of which aren't new but go back decades.

And I would question the intelligence of any doctor that doesn't recognize the simple and obvious fat that it isn't possible for diet to not affect acne or any other health condition. It is ridiculous to think otherwise.

Edited by alternativista, Yesterday, 08:51 AM.

[Tunnelvisionary]

arqa22, on 24 May 2012 - 07:36 AM, said:

Tunnelvisionary, on 23 May 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

I feel it's more accurate to say that diet doesn't CAUSE acne, but it aggravates and can help create the conditions in which acne is the result. Knowing the discrepancy helps us to avoid thinking that there is something inherently wrong with a food, when it is actually mostly our ability to process it. That being said, easy to digest foods that are really nutrient dense should be the majority of what you eat anyway.

Lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and chronically high levels of stress can also create the conditions that cause it.

diet does CAUSE acne.it doesnt aggravate acne.
if i avoid my food triggers i have 0% acne. theres nothing to "aggravate".
once i eat dairy+gluten+nuts i breakout. diet is the CAUSE of acne.

That just means you have issues actually processing the foods. The problem is not inherent within the food itself, the problem is with the person. If those foods were inherently a problem, eating those foods at any point on your life would give you acne. Instead, it likely caused acne only later in life, when the conditions were set up in your body that made it so digesting these foods is inadequate.

Of course, if a person has an actual allergy (where even touching the offending substance causes a reaction) the problem for that person is the food.

Edited by Tunnelvisionary, Yesterday, 11:04 AM.

[AutonomousOne1980]

Tunnelvisionary, on 24 May 2012 - 11:03 AM, said:

arqa22, on 24 May 2012 - 07:36 AM, said:

Tunnelvisionary, on 23 May 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

I feel it's more accurate to say that diet doesn't CAUSE acne, but it aggravates and can help create the conditions in which acne is the result. Knowing the discrepancy helps us to avoid thinking that there is something inherently wrong with a food, when it is actually mostly our ability to process it. That being said, easy to digest foods that are really nutrient dense should be the majority of what you eat anyway.

Lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and chronically high levels of stress can also create the conditions that cause it.

diet does CAUSE acne.it doesnt aggravate acne.
if i avoid my food triggers i have 0% acne. theres nothing to "aggravate".
once i eat dairy+gluten+nuts i breakout. diet is the CAUSE of acne.

That just means you have issues actually processing the foods. The problem is not inherent within the food itself, the problem is with the person. If those foods were inherently a problem, eating those foods at any point on your life would give you acne. Instead, it likely caused acne only later in life, when the conditions were set up in your body that made it so digesting these foods is inadequate.

Of course, if a person has an actual allergy (where even touching the offending substance causes a reaction) the problem for that person is the food.

we have destroyed our gut bacteria with processed food with no fiber to support their growth and let in pathogens that create toxins when we eat foods now.

meat=no fiber
white bread/flour(cookies, cakes, donuts, snacks)=no fiber
soda=no fiber

when candy bars and soda and fast food hamburgers are flavor enhanced and designed by corporations to give the most instantaneous taste satisfaction, the choice between fresh fruit, whole grains and veggies are replaced with these foods, slowly rearranging the bacteria that was established when we were born and during breast feeding as an infant. read the works of denis burkitt, elie metchnikoff, and now thomas j borody. it is possble that almost all diseases of modern man is due to this process, its a fiber/bacteria relationship.

borodys fecal transplant has seemed to cure ulcerative colitis, constipation, c. difficile colitis, multiple sclerosis,and crohns disease, these are some of the most severe examples of a dysbiotic state. obesity seems to be related to a dysbiotic state as well and so does diabetes. acnes has also been generally associated with intestinal complaints like constipation.

Edited by AutonomousOne1980, Yesterday, 11:25 AM.

[Rjavi10]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. It seems like their may be a link between diet and acne, but I have personally not found it. I do still get a few zits from time to time, but I am pretty clear overall. It would be impossible for me to find which of the foods I ate caused the breakout, since I eat so much (I am trying to bulk up a bit)

[arqa22]

Tunnelvisionary, on 24 May 2012 - 11:03 AM, said:

arqa22, on 24 May 2012 - 07:36 AM, said:

Tunnelvisionary, on 23 May 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

I feel it's more accurate to say that diet doesn't CAUSE acne, but it aggravates and can help create the conditions in which acne is the result. Knowing the discrepancy helps us to avoid thinking that there is something inherently wrong with a food, when it is actually mostly our ability to process it. That being said, easy to digest foods that are really nutrient dense should be the majority of what you eat anyway.

Lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and chronically high levels of stress can also create the conditions that cause it.

diet does CAUSE acne.it doesnt aggravate acne.
if i avoid my food triggers i have 0% acne. theres nothing to "aggravate".
once i eat dairy+gluten+nuts i breakout. diet is the CAUSE of acne.

That just means you have issues actually processing the foods. The problem is not inherent within the food itself, the problem is with the person. If those foods were inherently a problem, eating those foods at any point on your life would give you acne. Instead, it likely caused acne only later in life, when the conditions were set up in your body that made it so digesting these foods is inadequate.

Of course, if a person has an actual allergy (where even touching the offending substance causes a reaction) the problem for that person is the food.

true

[foreigneez]

alternativista, on 24 May 2012 - 08:49 AM, said:

foreigneez, on 23 May 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

You also have to keep in mind that if a doctor or dermatologist or whatnot goes forth and DOES say that diet causes acne, they could be found guilty of malpractice, since it's not commonplace to give that kind of advice yet.

Actually several doctors do tell people about the diet and acne connection. Just not your run of the mill, mediocre doctors.
Here's a list of several, mostly mainstream doctors: http://www.acne.org/...30#entry2817730 That list includes an extremely important and famous cardiologist, Dr Oz, a few major dermatologists, and fitness trainer Jillian Michaels who wrote a book on hormones and metabolism.

Huh. I never realized. I had heard Doctor Oz mentioned it, but figured he got a free pass since he's so famous. Never knew about Jillian. Thanks for sharing.

[alternativista]

foreigneez, on 24 May 2012 - 11:47 PM, said:

alternativista, on 24 May 2012 - 08:49 AM, said:

foreigneez, on 23 May 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

You also have to keep in mind that if a doctor or dermatologist or whatnot goes forth and DOES say that diet causes acne, they could be found guilty of malpractice, since it's not commonplace to give that kind of advice yet.

Actually several doctors do tell people about the diet and acne connection. Just not your run of the mill, mediocre doctors.
Here's a list of several, mostly mainstream doctors: http://www.acne.org/...30#entry2817730 That list includes an extremely important and famous cardiologist, Dr Oz, a few major dermatologists, and fitness trainer Jillian Michaels who wrote a book on hormones and metabolism.

Huh. I never realized. I had heard Doctor Oz mentioned it, but figured he got a free pass since he's so famous. Never knew about Jillian. Thanks for sharing.

Just to clarify, Oz wasn't the cardiologist I was referring to, but the creator of the South Beach diet which has been shown to clear skin.