I think you'd be wasting your time and energy.
Speaking as someone who has tried for years to eliminate acne with dietary/holistic means, I realize it was a fools errand, ESPECIALLY when there are many other medically proven methods for doing so. You should probably find a good dermatologist who doesn't rush you out the door and actually listens to you. Or try Dan's regimen, which is really good. Benzoyl peroxide has actually been scientifically and medically studied, and is proven to help fight acne. Eliminating gluten can make no such claims.
Also, I'd be VERY wary about taking health or dietary advice from people on message boards. Most people on these boards speak about diet, health, nutrition, supplements, and disorders, as if they are authorities or qualified to do so. The truth is, most if any are not, and for some reason when you read a comment or two by people on boards, they have a tendency to sound authoritative and knowledgeable, even though they are not. People on the boards tend to exaggerate, get over enthusiastic, and speak matter of factly, without the normal ability for you to discuss and converse as you would in real life.
Why would you think there was a connection between gluten and acne? If the only reason is because you read it on a message board, it's probably not very credible. A lot of these dietary claims, when you really think about them with common sense and clarity, actually make little sense. Ask any dermatologist, and they will tell you there is little to no connection between foods and acne. And you know what? The "experts" on these boards will shoot that down and explain how western medicine is bogus, etc, etc. Now, just take a moment and really think about these claims, the qualifications of the people making these claims, and just plain common, everyday sense.
The other thing that is puzzling is the idea that somehow gluten is bad for you. Humans have been nourished by wheat and rice since the start of civilization, and still are. If you think you have a gluten allergy, you should talk to your doctor and take their advice, NOT the advice of people on internet message boards. Ask your doctor if acne is a symptom of a gluten allergy, and I'd be willing to bet they say "no". But obviously, ask them for yourself.
It is my opinion that a lot of diet extremists look for ways to get some kind of control over aging, over health, over appearance and beauty, and so they find ridiculous scapegoats in conventional thinking, put EXTREME restrictions on themselves, all as a way to get "control" over what they perceive as health and beauty. IMO, it's actually very similar to the way people with eating disorders think and approach things. To rule out eating wheat, rice, rye, barely, and any other grains that have gluten, with no existing allergy, because you think it will improve your skin, is EXTREME, and nonsensical.
Controlling your acne requires being pragmatic, logical, and calm. Engaging in these ridiculous dietary quests for clear skin is none of those. I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but I've been there, and it's a waste of time and energy, and it diverts you from the real medications/treatments out there that can actually help you.
Edited by Enimrac, 11 March 2013 - 12:51 AM.