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interesting i did this regimen before and still do when i have the time to devote to it. Only thing is i don't have acne, but i do get occasional blackheads and clogged pores and rare breakout. I'll use 2% SA wipes(containing alcohol) rigorously for a month to purposely dry my skin out, my skin becomes kind of plasticy with all the dried skin from the wipes(though it's not really visible i can feel it when i move my face).Then i stop washing my face for about 2 weeks, no water, nothing. If my face gets oily i blot with paper towel. I get the "dead skin mask" which is basically all my dried out skin exfoliating.
Then i wash my face and my skin underneath is super smooth,soft, clear,any acne scars or discolorations gone. After washing i do a mild scrub to make sure i got everything off.
Important: while on this routine it's important to eat very healthy(which i do anyway) but for those of you who eat junk and processed foods cut them out for that time frame eat lots of veggies and fruits,fish, and drink lots of water it makes for a very effective "skin detox" while its healing itself, just my experience
Do you think this would work w/out the alcohol SA Wipes? I'm rly desperate to get rid of the scars....ur method sounds amazing. Do u get more breakouts?
You might want to try just washing with water at the end of the day, or whenever you shower. But I tried that, applying makeup over more makeup made it look weird. And it also partially caused some of my recent peeling/flaking. The foundation might definitely be making it worse. Try just not wearing the makeup at all if you can.
can I do this, and ice with it?
Can you do what, wash with just water? If you want to, yes. And ice with what, the water? It's best to just stop all routines and all attempts at controlling the skin, which includes thigns like icing or hot compresses.
This can help with post-acne marks but it will not treat them. If you don't rub/scrub your face and you mostly leave it be, red marks can fade quicker. Mine have taken too long because I keep wanting to control things by using hot pads to help, which makes things look worse. Drinking more water is the only thing I'm going to attempt now simply because I can easily go the whole day without water, and it might be behind some of my issues with being tired/sleeping, redness, and headaches. And if my red marks are made worse due to internal dehydration, this should help. But I'm still not trying to control how my body heals, just trying to drink enough water for my body.
thank you!!! u seem like quite an expert on this stuff 
so....for the caveman regime, you can't use anything, even if it's all natural? i thought exfoliating made brown/red marks fade quicker....?
oh, and i meant rubbing like 3 to 4 ice cubes over my face.
I mostly wash with only water. However, a couple of times a week, at night, I will wash my face with 'Head and Shoulders for men' and leave it on like a face mask until it dries, then thoroughly was off. I've found this is excellent for any patches of dry skin (not that I get much any more), and the skin is really shiny afterwards.
Lol r u mad????
I've been using this regimen for a long time. In the last year, I haven't put anything but water on my face, except for two times.. One was an awful idea and the other one didn't help or hurt. The bad thing I put on my face was coconut oil, and I left it on for about 24 hours, then showered and used warm shower water to remove the oil. The other time was just recently, when I used a cetaphil moisturizer.
I used the coconut oil and moisturizer to try dealing with built up dead skin. I only have two patches of dead skin, and it's on both of my cheeks.
I guess what I'm wondering is... What are VERY gentle ways to remove the dead skin?
I just remembered I tried Biore a few times, but I don't think it did much good, because after removing the pore strips, I had to take a q-tip and twirl it on my cheeks to remove the excess dead skin. Everytime I remove the dead skin build up on my cheeks, they're always very red for 2 or 3 days.
I really don't know if this is because the dead skin is close to my natural skin color, so it just hides the red marks or if what I'm trying to remove the dead skin with is just irritating my face.
You really can't even tell it's there, unless I scrunch up my face or do something to change the shape of my cheek skin. Smiling does it a lot. When I smile, I can see lines in the dead skin...
My best method is just after showing to VERY GENTLY take a q-tip to the dead skin areas and just very softly remove the very noticeable dead skin clumps.
I'm done rambling.. I hope someone reads this and can maybe help me find a method to remove dead skin without irritating my face.
Thanks so much for reading
GDF
P.S. This regimen is amazing for me, and it's definitely worth trying for several weeks. I can't vouch for anybody who has very oil skin, but my skin isn't really dry.. I would almost call it "normal" in the oily category. It for sure keeps break outs to a minimum.
<3
I mostly wash with only water. However, a couple of times a week, at night, I will wash my face with 'Head and Shoulders for men' and leave it on like a face mask until it dries, then thoroughly was off. I've found this is excellent for any patches of dry skin (not that I get much any more), and the skin is really shiny afterwards.Lol r u mad????
Nope, lol. One of Head and Shoulder's active ingredient's is zinc. Have a look at this forum: http://www.topix.com/forum/health/rosacea/T0N0B7F1L52O1D6GP
To anybody still reading this thread:
I did this no-wash regimen for about 85 days straight. Actually, I created this username just so I could report my progress... At times I thought the regimen was a success, whilst still other times I was so overwhelmed by the negative results of the regimen that I nearly broke down and cried. I believe in one instance I even did.
Contrary to what my name suggests, I am not a fan of this regimen. It personally made my acne 2-3X as bad as before I started using any topicals... and probably 20X as bad as when I was on the DKR. Further, on the DKR I started to see evidence of some seborrheic dermatitis, but it was kept at bay by a combination of benzoil peroxide and manual exfoliation. When I started this no-wash regimen there was no possible way to determine what was the "deadskin mask" and what was moderately severe seborrheic dermatitis. While doing this regimen, parts of my skin were smooth, and other parts were covered in thick scaly skin flakes (many of which would fall off at embarrassing times). The majority of the skin was very red throughout the course of this regimen. Breakouts ranged from small whiteheads to large pustules. Thankfully, I never had cystic acne, and this regimen did not bring any about. Now, a year and a half after I've quit this regimen for good, I'm still struggling to combat seborrheic dermatitis.
I did extract some value from this whole experience though. With my skin in ruins, I turned to self-help to try to work through some of the emotional problems I could sense myself developing. I learned effective methods for dealing with anxiety, and I learned how beneficial journaling can be. I started focusing less on my appearance, and more on my mind. Since that time I've become an avid reader, and I think my friends and family see me as a much more intelligent individual. I also found the experience of the regimen valuable because each day is a battle against your mind. It is a battle against that part of you that just wants to curl up and shelter you from the world... I fought the battle against myself for 3 months, but it wasn't until the end that I finally realized that I shouldn't be fighting a battle at all, I need to accept that part of me that is fearful, speak to it, and reintegrate it into my life.
Alright I got way off on a tangent. Let me finish up this brief post by encouraging people not to do this regimen. If you want to let your skin heal naturally, go start using a glycerin soap, or a vitamin E bar. If you want clear skin through topicals, get on the DKR. If you are trying to get rid of seborrheic dermatitis, try washing with selsun blue or a zinc bar.
Its kind of funny actually. I remember many of the people who tried this regimen... They are now over on the seborrheic dermatitis thread, trying to cure the deadskin mask.
Contrary to what my name suggests, I am not a fan of this regimen. It personally made my acne 2-3X as bad as before I started using any topicals... and probably 20X as bad as when I was on the DKR. Further, on the DKR I started to see evidence of some seborrheic dermatitis, but it was kept at bay by a combination of benzoil peroxide and manual exfoliation. When I started this no-wash regimen there was no possible way to determine what was the "deadskin mask" and what was moderately severe seborrheic dermatitis. While doing this regimen, parts of my skin were smooth, and other parts were covered in thick scaly skin flakes (many of which would fall off at embarrassing times). The majority of the skin was very red throughout the course of this regimen. Breakouts ranged from small whiteheads to large pustules. Thankfully, I never had cystic acne, and this regimen did not bring any about. Now, a year and a half after I've quit this regimen for good, I'm still struggling to combat seborrheic dermatitis.
So the BP gave you seborrheic dermatitis?
One of the dumbest threads ever to appear on the org. The OP didn't even post a pic before or after in fact no one has on this thread.
Pics or you're acne isnt bad or...
pics or it never happened.
Have you actually tried this yourself?
Unless you've tried it you really don't know.
One of the dumbest threads ever to appear on the org. The OP didn't even post a pic before or after in fact no one has on this thread.
Pics or you're acne isnt bad or...
pics or it never happened.
Have you actually tried this yourself?
Unless you've tried it you really don't know.
Im clear i dont need to try it. You're making a real pathetic attempt to back this so called 'treatment' method.
Biggest fail thread ever.
One of the dumbest threads ever to appear on the org. The OP didn't even post a pic before or after in fact no one has on this thread.
Pics or you're acne isnt bad or...
pics or it never happened.
Have you actually tried this yourself?
Unless you've tried it you really don't know.
Im clear i dont need to try it. You're making a real pathetic attempt to back this so called 'treatment' method.
Biggest fail thread ever.
Right, so you haven't ever tried it but you know for sure that this won't work for anyone?
One of the dumbest threads ever to appear on the org. The OP didn't even post a pic before or after in fact no one has on this thread.
Pics or you're acne isnt bad or...
pics or it never happened.
Have you actually tried this yourself?
Unless you've tried it you really don't know.
Im clear i dont need to try it. You're making a real pathetic attempt to back this so called 'treatment' method.
Biggest fail thread ever.
Hah! Biggest troll ever. Anyway, i've been doing this method, (but using water and no topicals) for about three or four months now. It is the single best thing i have ever done for my skin. For my sensitive skin type, chemicals were too harsh. Granted, i have changed alot about my diet in order to attack from the inside as well. This method doesn't work for everyone, but it is alot less risky and expensive than trying something like murad, (just look at the reviews of murad on this site)
One of the dumbest threads ever to appear on the org. The OP didn't even post a pic before or after in fact no one has on this thread.
Pics or you're acne isnt bad or...
pics or it never happened.
Have you actually tried this yourself?
Unless you've tried it you really don't know.
Im clear i dont need to try it. You're making a real pathetic attempt to back this so called 'treatment' method.
Biggest fail thread ever.
Right, so you haven't ever tried it but you know for sure that this won't work for anyone?
So i have to try it in order for my opinion to be valid? How about you look throughout this board u newb
search user- 'The Caveman', and you'll find that he tried this lame method and logged his entire experience in the diet/holistic log section and it did nothing for him and he ended up going on accutane and got clear from that lol. There are so many others, im just warning others not to waste their time.
Oh and onefatalgoose, the regimen says ie dont wash face, not use water which is what you're doing lol.
One of the dumbest threads ever to appear on the org. The OP didn't even post a pic before or after in fact no one has on this thread.
Pics or you're acne isnt bad or...
pics or it never happened.
Have you actually tried this yourself?
Unless you've tried it you really don't know.
Im clear i dont need to try it. You're making a real pathetic attempt to back this so called 'treatment' method.
Biggest fail thread ever.
Right, so you haven't ever tried it but you know for sure that this won't work for anyone?
So i have to try it in order for my opinion to be valid? How about you look throughout this board u newb
search user- 'The Caveman', and you'll find that he tried this lame method and logged his entire experience in the diet/holistic log section and it did nothing for him and he ended up going on accutane and got clear from that lol. There are so many others, im just warning others not to waste their time.
Oh and onefatalgoose, the regimen says ie dont wash face, not use water which is what you're doing lol.
You're actually right, i should have been more clear. When i say washing with water i mean standing in the shower and letting water run over your face. This is my definition of washing with water and it is going to happen to anyone using this method unless they cover their head with a plastic bag in the shower, or sacrifice personal hygiene. Also what is with the gamer lingo...? This site is not about putting other people down, so even though 'newb' might not be extremely offensive, it's still a slight against someone who is contributing an opinion, and in a much more constructive manner than your own
Contrary to what my name suggests, I am not a fan of this regimen. It personally made my acne 2-3X as bad as before I started using any topicals... and probably 20X as bad as when I was on the DKR. Further, on the DKR I started to see evidence of some seborrheic dermatitis, but it was kept at bay by a combination of benzoil peroxide and manual exfoliation. When I started this no-wash regimen there was no possible way to determine what was the "deadskin mask" and what was moderately severe seborrheic dermatitis. While doing this regimen, parts of my skin were smooth, and other parts were covered in thick scaly skin flakes (many of which would fall off at embarrassing times). The majority of the skin was very red throughout the course of this regimen. Breakouts ranged from small whiteheads to large pustules. Thankfully, I never had cystic acne, and this regimen did not bring any about. Now, a year and a half after I've quit this regimen for good, I'm still struggling to combat seborrheic dermatitis.
So the BP gave you seborrheic dermatitis?
I'm not sure what gave me seborrheic dermatitis. Before going on the DKR I was on both tetracycline and doxycycline. It could have been those.
All I know is, I'm back on the DKR, and I'm going to get clear again. Sometimes, we make getting clear skin more complicated than it has to be.
Yep, no longer am i going to wash my face. I have had great success with the caveman diet in the past but my skin was still flakey/little dry at times..I think it was the water or something.
I'm now back on the diet and starting my new "regimen".
When i was clear, i NEVER washed my face (even with water!). It's time to make my skin normal again.
Let the healing begin!
Disclaimer (writing over a year later):
It appears that many people have had success with this approach. People have tinkered this approach in various ways (some with water, some without etc etc) with varying success.
Not washing with water at all, whilst liberating, did not work for ME. I am convinced that the use of steroid creams (years ago!) have damaged my skin to a degree whereby 'simply doing nothing' is not enough to heal my skin.
I don't have acne anymore. I haven't for ages. I do get zits from time to time but no big deal. At the moment, I am trying to heal my chin. It occurred to me that my skin has been flakey and dry for years and I havent touched a cream for years! Ridiculous.
I am a stubborn person. I have refused to use moisturizers in the past. And whenever I did use them, I found them difficult to apply. I think that this was because of the flakiness. Applying moisturizer when my skin was flakey created the biggest mess. However, I have read that it is best to exfoliate the skin prior to moisturizing (note: this is conventional wisdom so yes I am naturally skeptical). I think that moisturizers have been ineffective for me in the past because the new skin needed moisture, and the outer 'dead layer' of the skin was not allowing the cream to get where it needed to go.
I have learnt that manuel exfoliation of my skin does not give me acne (I have been doing this for months). However, it does give me temporary redness.
My current approach has been to gently exfoliate the outside layer of my skin then moisturize the new skin. I am hoping that this will heal my skin.
So yeh, there it goes. I still do believe in this 'caveman regimen' but only to an extent. In my case, I think that my skin has been damaged to a degree that it cannot simply heal on its own. I am now using chemicals to help my skin repair itself from chemical damage in the past. The irony hurts a little but whatever. I keep an open mind.
All the best,
Ads
This works, HOWEVER, the flakiness and dryness you get is from hot water, stop using hot/warm water and only use cold water. Hot/warm water can move oil off of the face and dry out the pores, cold water is the KEY step in this process. Shower cold, splash cold water onto face, let air dry, that is all, it works 110%.
Hi everyone:
First post, but I've been reading all of these caveman threads, and it inspired me (thanks wapak, adam, "snow", and the many others who have been trying this out) to try the NO WATER Caveman regimen. I'm on day 12 or 13. I have moderate / severe? acne. Having more cystic acne lately. I'm doing a paleo diet, but I do have whole wheat bread, and occasionally cheat. I'm taking zinc, fish oil, a probiotic, and enzymes (the last two are for IBS). Here's what I've noted so far.
My face was pretty greasy the first few days, but it has gotten far less greasy, even at the end of the day.
I've noticed that I'm getting a few more white heads on my chin, but they heal very quickly usually within a day, sometimes faster.
I've also noticed that my skin tone is a bit more even and looks nicer.
I will say that I still have gotten some cysts. Mainly, they were from before I started, but a few have popped up in the couple of weeks I've been on this. Right now, a new one has formed, which is discouraging, but I try to not focus on it. The cysts I do get, seem to heal a bit faster and don't get as big.
Hopefully I can update everyone from time to time. Let me know if you have any questions.
Almost starting week four, face is looking better. I've made some changes to my lifestyle, that I think are really helping this whole caveman thing.
1. Stop looking in the mirror! I couldn't believe how much of a difference this made for me. It helps me take the focus off of my acne, which in turn let's me focus on my life, as if I didn't have acne.
2. Don't worry about what you eat. That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat a healthy diet, it just means that if you find yourself indulging or forced to eat something that may not be good for you, don't fret. Just be happy you have food to eat.
Both of these in concert with the Caveman method, cause you to drop the focus on acne. I believe most of my acne is caused by worry, fear, and focus on the negative. Taking away triggers for those emotions, really helps me enjoy life a lot more.
Good luck everyone and go out and live.