326 replies to this topic

[alternativista]

I don't think its one issue. I think doctors cannot find the reason since it is a number of issues. For starters, our genetic make up, pollutants, toxins, foreign agents in the air we breathe, things like global warming effecting the environment as well as animals, preservatives in foods, low immune system, low white blood sells, and the stomach issue like TS mentioned in the op beyond a ton of more variables most of which is outside our control.

Yes, of course, it is a variety of factors that culminate in the symptom of acne. Some being worse in one individual than in others. Which is why I am always arguing with everyone that comes here to tell us we all have weak livers, we all have damage digestive tracts, we all have weak immune systems, etc. Or that any one factor is the 'most important.' It isn't the most important when you don't have a problem with it, but a major problem with something else.

[zchmrkenhoff]

I've just finished reading this entire thread, and I find many of moonbase's premises and advisements intriguing, however I feel that it rests too heavily on the notion that acne is caused by we being "broken" due to a damaged digestive track, and while that was true for moonbase in particular, I feel many other people are simply going on blind faith in assuming this to be the case for them, causing the "the single factor responsible for acne is THIS" problem. I'm definitely aiming to eat way healthier, revolving around a core of (skinless, boneless) chicken breast in addition to fruit and vegetables, with perhaps seafood. My current maxim is to simply eat what the words "hunter-gatherer" imply. Though I don't know about this massive emphasis on fruit. I feel like for the hunter-gatherers the core of their diet would be the hunted meat, with fruits & vegetables being the snacking items that would carry them through the rest of the day. Obviously (or perhaps from my own confession) I know next to nothing about nutrition in the way some of you do, with Omega 3s and everything, and can bring reason alone to the table. I certainly feel that I would benefit from having more bowel movements, but the notion that I am damaged? Broken? I will accept that I'm running less efficiently than I ought to be, would that I had from evolving out of infancy consumed a diet of fruits, vegetables, and non red-meats alone. I accept that if I continued eating a Western diet I would probably persist with acne, and develop diabetes & cancer later on. I suppose I more-so believe for myself that my problems are caused from having been consuming what was bad for me; I feel it is sufficient to replace that with what is good for me, without having to consume excess amounts of it 4 times a day.

[mrjarjarbinks77]

I don't think its one issue. I think doctors cannot find the reason since it is a number of issues. For starters, our genetic make up, pollutants, toxins, foreign agents in the air we breathe, things like global warming effecting the environment as well as animals, preservatives in foods, low immune system, low white blood sells, and the stomach issue like TS mentioned in the op beyond a ton of more variables most of which is outside our control.

Yes, of course, it is a variety of factors that culminate in the symptom of acne. Some being worse in one individual than in others. Which is why I am always arguing with everyone that comes here to tell us we all have weak livers, we all have damage digestive tracts, we all have weak immune systems, etc. Or that any one factor is the 'most important.' It isn't the most important when you don't have a problem with it, but a major problem with something else.

They mean well though. Keep that in mind. They mean no harm. They can only post from their own experience level and what seems to have had the biggest pull in their health. Someone sent me a message about a juicer and I am going to take that advice. I am doing hot yoga, I am working out, eating healthy, and planning to fix the damage down through accutane. The problem with not taking it is if I am caught with a cystic pimple or nodular pimple. They leave damage. Since going on accutane, I am completely clear, and I couldn't be happier. I don't think about acne or freak out about sweating. My diet is awesome. My abs are showing definition. I feel amazing. I keep watching my hair line and may look into rogaine in case it causes damage.

[alternativista]

I don't think its one issue. I think doctors cannot find the reason since it is a number of issues. For starters, our genetic make up, pollutants, toxins, foreign agents in the air we breathe, things like global warming effecting the environment as well as animals, preservatives in foods, low immune system, low white blood sells, and the stomach issue like TS mentioned in the op beyond a ton of more variables most of which is outside our control.

Yes, of course, it is a variety of factors that culminate in the symptom of acne. Some being worse in one individual than in others. Which is why I am always arguing with everyone that comes here to tell us we all have weak livers, we all have damage digestive tracts, we all have weak immune systems, etc. Or that any one factor is the 'most important.' It isn't the most important when you don't have a problem with it, but a major problem with something else.

They mean well though. Keep that in mind. They mean no harm. They can only post from their own experience level and what seems to have had the biggest pull in their health. Someone sent me a message about a juicer and I am going to take that advice. I am doing hot yoga, I am working out, eating healthy, and planning to fix the damage down through accutane. The problem with not taking it is if I am caught with a cystic pimple or nodular pimple. They leave damage. Since going on accutane, I am completely clear, and I couldn't be happier. I don't think about acne or freak out about sweating. My diet is awesome. My abs are showing definition. I feel amazing. I keep watching my hair line and may look into rogaine in case it causes damage.

Rogaine only slows hairloss by increasing flow of blood to the follicles. And propecia causes sexual dysfunction. If you get cysts or nodules, try determining your food intolerances. And eat a very anti-inflammatory diet which will reduce their size and duration making them much less likely to scar. I still get a cyst once in a while from my citrus intolerance. But they are now very small and heal very quickly. I only recognize them as cysts from the way I can feel them coming under the skin.

[endingnote]

Hello to all, i've just registered today so i could post on this thread.

My story: acne first appeared at age 13 along with some minor problems with an unbalanced gut although at the time i didn't noticed it much; my acne got worst has i tried different topical treaments until i reached age 15 and that's when i got to the level of severe cystic acne; i've struggled with it until age 18 applying more topicals and taking medication without much results, i've also noticed my gut was getting worse as i had more frequently bloating, gas and bad stools. Graduating from high school and still with severe cystic acne (face, back, shoulders and chest) the dermatologist decided it was time for accutane. Accutane cleared my acne, for a while, and left me scared (especially some deep pit scars at the chest - i hate those). But the worst part, it eliminated whatever was left of balance in my stomach. After that i suffered from abdominal pain, much more bloating and gas, diarrhea and constipation. Once again i resorted to the doctors for help to a "new" problem, but 3 years have passed, since i am 21 today and still with those problems. Also my acne has come back after accutane, although not as bad, and i was able to keep it to a mild-moderate level since i've cutted out dairy from my diet a year ago, that also helped a bit with my constipation and abdominal pain issues.

Recently: i lost all confidence and trust in the medical system, and was starting to feel hopeless until i found this very topic. It was an awake call. It all clicked for me. Everything you explained here i can truly relate to the story i mentioned above, my story.
I would like to ask the moderators not to close this topic since i've noticed that the author, moonbase, has been gone from the forum for a long time. Please, i truly believe this is one of the more important topics in your foruns, i think it also deserved to be pinned.
This, along with moonbase other topic "Gaps: All Disease Begins In The Gut..." have opened my eyes. I truly recommend everybody to take a look at the video in that topic.
Also, it made me research more into diet, i've picked different books on the subject (mainly reading Paleo and Primal books until now), and as i can tell my suposedly "healthy" diet has been wrong all these years!! I will continue to study and learn more about nutrition, i hope, but it is time for me to go from theory to practice! I intend to start, next week, the exact same diet as described here by moonbase. If it improves even a little my poor health i will be very happy. I don't have high expectations, maybe see a little results by christmas, but i really am excited to try this. I also intend to modify it as i learn and hopefully recover, i especially intend to add fermented foods to it. I've tried a few probiotic supplements in recent years without much result, so i'm also hoping that fermentation would work much better in restoring my gut flora.

If this proccess will work or not i cannot tell, but what i can tell is that i've never been this happy or excited for trying something! At least it devolved me my hope that was almost gone!
I'm only sad that moonbase is no longer around, since i really wanted to thank him for open a door for me into the world of nutrition!
Wherever you are moonbase, really, really THANK YOU!

[bobbi364]

Hello to all, i've just registered today so i could post on this thread.

My story: acne first appeared at age 13 along with some minor problems with an unbalanced gut although at the time i didn't noticed it much; my acne got worst has i tried different topical treaments until i reached age 15 and that's when i got to the level of severe cystic acne; i've struggled with it until age 18 applying more topicals and taking medication without much results, i've also noticed my gut was getting worse as i had more frequently bloating, gas and bad stools. Graduating from high school and still with severe cystic acne (face, back, shoulders and chest) the dermatologist decided it was time for accutane. Accutane cleared my acne, for a while, and left me scared (especially some deep pit scars at the chest - i hate those). But the worst part, it eliminated whatever was left of balance in my stomach. After that i suffered from abdominal pain, much more bloating and gas, diarrhea and constipation. Once again i resorted to the doctors for help to a "new" problem, but 3 years have passed, since i am 21 today and still with those problems. Also my acne has come back after accutane, although not as bad, and i was able to keep it to a mild-moderate level since i've cutted out dairy from my diet a year ago, that also helped a bit with my constipation and abdominal pain issues.

Recently: i lost all confidence and trust in the medical system, and was starting to feel hopeless until i found this very topic. It was an awake call. It all clicked for me. Everything you explained here i can truly relate to the story i mentioned above, my story.
I would like to ask the moderators not to close this topic since i've noticed that the author, moonbase, has been gone from the forum for a long time. Please, i truly believe this is one of the more important topics in your foruns, i think it also deserved to be pinned.
This, along with moonbase other topic "Gaps: All Disease Begins In The Gut..." have opened my eyes. I truly recommend everybody to take a look at the video in that topic.
Also, it made me research more into diet, i've picked different books on the subject (mainly reading Paleo and Primal books until now), and as i can tell my suposedly "healthy" diet has been wrong all these years!! I will continue to study and learn more about nutrition, i hope, but it is time for me to go from theory to practice! I intend to start, next week, the exact same diet as described here by moonbase. If it improves even a little my poor health i will be very happy. I don't have high expectations, maybe see a little results by christmas, but i really am excited to try this. I also intend to modify it as i learn and hopefully recover, i especially intend to add fermented foods to it. I've tried a few probiotic supplements in recent years without much result, so i'm also hoping that fermentation would work much better in restoring my gut flora.

If this proccess will work or not i cannot tell, but what i can tell is that i've never been this happy or excited for trying something! At least it devolved me my hope that was almost gone!
I'm only sad that moonbase is no longer around, since i really wanted to thank him for open a door for me into the world of nutrition!
Wherever you are moonbase, really, really THANK YOU!

just dont forget acne isnt always just diet based, there are other factors. but moonbases general opinions are good ones to follow. detox the body and get more energy. good luck

[mrjarjarbinks77]

The post about it being about low immune system and a gut or stomach problem is precise. I think genetics, pollution, and a series of things play a part in this. It just really sucks. I have the choice to continue accutane running the risk of balding, thinning hair or other long term damage and the option of not continuing accutane and getting a face full of scars and more acne? The biggest piss off is eating so well, having such low percent body fat, I can set my 6pack, not drink or do drugs, and party yet, go through this shit. It blows. The good news for anyone wondering about accutane is that, it works, it is the miracle that people say it is when factoring in acne removal but, it comes with a price. Its not cheap if you are not covered and there are risks and health complications.