16 replies to this topic

[cotten]

Hi All,

I just wanted to come back and let you guys know what FINALLY worked for me.

Brief background:

Came off the pill at 22 - had severe jawline and cheek and chin acne within 6 months. Tried various vitamins, saw palmetto, fish oil etc.

Ate a vegetarian diet (very healthy or so I thought) low on sugar etc for a while then a gluten free diet.

Went on Spiro which helped but gave me too many side effects.

Was about to go on accutane when I thought I would give the Paleo diet a try (even though it seemed very drastic) I did the 30 day trial full on and within THREE days, my skin was smooth and soft. Over the next three months I really loosened the diet up, eat cheese everyday, dark chocolate and beans sometimes, but otherwise I stick to the diet at least 85% of the time.

And my skin is perfect. My cycle has also gone from 35-40 days to 29 and I no longer have cramps. My hair is actually growning in curly and thick which is such a change from my straight fine hair.

I try to exercise regularily as well, but I would say diet is everything when it comes to acne. I would urge everyone with acne, but specifically WOMEN who have hormonal acne to try this diet. I thought it would be very hard to follow but it isn't. I eat out with my friends, and 'cheat' whenever I do - I had tacos last night, but mostly I eat Veggies, Fruits and meat.

My typical day is:

Eggs and fruit
Big Salad with nuts, salmon, chicken or fruit and goat cheese
Stirfry without noodles or rice/oven roasted meat and veggies

It is actually easy to stick to, and I feel like the longer you are on it the more you can cheat. I had sushi, pad thai and tacos this week :)

I've also lost 10 pounds and look fabulous. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend at least trying this diet. Trust me I've literally tried everything including a liver flush (ewwww) medication, EVERY vitamin and herb, fish oil, bcp, spiro, and all those things mask what your body is trying to tell you and that is that you weren't really meant to eat grains/ not so many carbs.

Please, please try it! You will notice results very quickly! And honestly, if you were at the point I was you will try ANYTHING and stick to ANYTHING to be done with acne for ever. I couldn't be happier.

I will try to post pix when I get a new camera, but just to give you an idea I would get at least 2 bad cysts per month and several smaller zits, now I get maybe 2 small small zits per month and my hormones are balanced!

Good Luck Everyone!

[Sweetsleep]

Hi All,

I just wanted to come back and let you guys know what FINALLY worked for me.

Brief background:

Came off the pill at 22 - had severe jawline and cheek and chin acne within 6 months. Tried various vitamins, saw palmetto, fish oil etc.

Ate a vegetarian diet (very healthy or so I thought) low on sugar etc for a while then a gluten free diet.

Went on Spiro which helped but gave me too many side effects.

Was about to go on accutane when I thought I would give the Paleo diet a try (even though it seemed very drastic) I did the 30 day trial full on and within THREE days, my skin was smooth and soft. Over the next three months I really loosened the diet up, eat cheese everyday, dark chocolate and beans sometimes, but otherwise I stick to the diet at least 85% of the time.

And my skin is perfect. My cycle has also gone from 35-40 days to 29 and I no longer have cramps. My hair is actually growning in curly and thick which is such a change from my straight fine hair.

I try to exercise regularily as well, but I would say diet is everything when it comes to acne. I would urge everyone with acne, but specifically WOMEN who have hormonal acne to try this diet. I thought it would be very hard to follow but it isn't. I eat out with my friends, and 'cheat' whenever I do - I had tacos last night, but mostly I eat Veggies, Fruits and meat.

My typical day is:

Eggs and fruit
Big Salad with nuts, salmon, chicken or fruit and goat cheese
Stirfry without noodles or rice/oven roasted meat and veggies

It is actually easy to stick to, and I feel like the longer you are on it the more you can cheat. I had sushi, pad thai and tacos this week

I've also lost 10 pounds and look fabulous. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend at least trying this diet. Trust me I've literally tried everything including a liver flush (ewwww) medication, EVERY vitamin and herb, fish oil, bcp, spiro, and all those things mask what your body is trying to tell you and that is that you weren't really meant to eat grains/ not so many carbs.

Please, please try it! You will notice results very quickly! And honestly, if you were at the point I was you will try ANYTHING and stick to ANYTHING to be done with acne for ever. I couldn't be happier.

I will try to post pix when I get a new camera, but just to give you an idea I would get at least 2 bad cysts per month and several smaller zits, now I get maybe 2 small small zits per month and my hormones are balanced!

Good Luck Everyone!

Hmm this is a very interesting post.
It sounds like you are eating stuff similar to what I am eating but I may have some things in my diet that you don't. I will read up some more on the paleo diet and maybe try it since I have hormonal acne which started up after I got off birth control pills (about 24 years old). I used to get 3-5 bad cysts a month and several smaller ones. I am on Dan's regimen for 5 weeks and it's helping somewhat.
Dietary restrictions are too difficult for me to follow and every time I try to control acne through diet, I end up breaking it somehow. The only thing I have managed to get rid of is coffee. Cheese is too difficult to drop.

Does the paleo diet mainly avoid breads? I know there are several threads about this so I will look it up. Thanks for sharing your experience

[alternativista]

Congratulations. Please add your story to this thread listing members who've cleared their skin via diet, health and lifestyle.

http://www.acne.org/...ea-t172158.html

[gMARIAs]

I eat a similar diet that has kept me clear for a month (that is, until I trialed Virastop)

I usually eat fruit or a green smoothie for breakfast and take most of my food, raw.

When I eat cooked stuff, it's usually steamed veggies, like broccoli and peppers, with lean meat, like fish or chicken. I don't eat any grains or cheese, including goat cheese (but that's mainly because I can't find it around here - I'd like to try it)

I took my last BCP on January 3rd. I'm still mildly worried about the side affects of quitting, but I'm hoping a good diet can balance my hormones back out and keep me clear. You said eating this way reduced your cramps? Because I just had my first real period since being off of the pill and I'd rather die before experiencing that pain ever again. Hopefully, with time, the cramps will lessen??

[venam]

Have been on paleo for like 6 months. I had a really, really bad case of cystic acne. Although I am not clear yet, I am much better and I am sure that with some more time I'll get completely clear. I would also recommend this to anyone with acne, although I understand that it is hard to keep for some. In reality it is easy to get used to and is a growing community so there are many, many recipes out there to help you get started.

[Edit: just in case, I am male, this will help both genders.]

Edited by venam, 11 February 2010 - 01:25 PM.

[Dotty1]

So, the Paleo diet takes you off gluten and grains?

Bascially it is fresh meat, fresh veggies and fresh fruit?

What about seeds/nuts?

[venam]

So, the Paleo diet takes you off gluten and grains?

Bascially it is fresh meat, fresh veggies and fresh fruit?

What about seeds/nuts?

Nuts are allowed in a paleo diet, although some might be allergic to them, so be careful if that is your case.

Everyone has a different rendition, but read this if you want to learn more:

http://www.marksdail...al-eating-plan/
http://www.marksdail...imal-blueprint/

[Dotty1]

I'm on that diet right now, except without meat. I'm the caveman with poor hunting skills. .

[Dotty1]

How long did it take you to notice a difference with your skin on Paleo Diet?
And how long until you were completely clear?

Edited by Dotty1, 11 February 2010 - 03:50 PM.

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

I was on this diet but it made me way too skinny. I am skinny to begin with. I also suffer from low blood sugar, so I can't do it....


I am on spiro now.

[Dotty1]

Can you eat avocados on the paleo diet? (nuts and avocados help keep your weight up)

[cotten]

Hi Dotty,

Yes you can eat avocados! They are my favorite food. And I eat nuts all the time... they say peanuts may aggravate acne, but I haven't found this to be the case for me. I believe that it has to do more with keeping your blood sugar steady than any allergy.

I recently read that following the south beach diet helped women clear their skin as well, as it is based on a low glycemic index diet as well.

I was on a low carb diet for 2 months before I started Paleo and within literally 5 days I noticed a difference. After 2 weeks I haven't gotten another cyst - which is amazing because i had been struggling for 3 years previously even with sprio! Now, 5 months in, I would say my skin is almost perfect, with a small zit here and there.

Cotten

[tigermike]

Congratulations cotten!

I too have been experimenting with a Paleo type diet since August 09.
It has dramatically helped my skin.

Unfortunately beer is not apart of this diet and that has been my only vice.
Too much gluten and yeast.

Time to start drinking whiskey instead or find some gluten-free beers.

[Dotty1]

Perhaps you two have a gluten sensitivity? Or to yeast if you can't drink beer.

[venam]

Perhaps you two have a gluten sensitivity? Or to yeast if you can't drink beer.

Is not only 1 thing. Anyone who is trying to pin down 1 thing as his/her cause for acne is in a fool's mission.

Edited by venam, 11 February 2010 - 09:26 PM.

[dancedd]

Perhaps you two have a gluten sensitivity? Or to yeast if you can't drink beer.

Is not only 1 thing. Anyone who is trying to pin down 1 thing as his/her cause for acne is in a fool's mission.

I agree with you. You can't simply eliminate X and get clear. You have to attack acne from multiple sources.

[Stallance]

I concur. I've figured out that it's not just Candida, or dairy intolerance, or whatever, that gives you acne. Equally that acne will rarely just 'go away' in a few days or even weeks. My bad skin at least didn't just happen overnight, it was a period of about 9 months from when I thought "oh, my chin is looking a little inflamed" to "shit, look at my skin." The latter will be five years this march. I'll be damned if I have to live with it after that. That's my target for major improvement. I'm using little bits from around this site, but primarily with the thoughts of Bob Mckee and Seppo Puusa. Approach your life healthily, and clear skin will eventually follow. Hard to believe when you don't see immediate results, but I'm confident that things will change for the better.