So I was in a supermarket checkout line and flipped through the current issue of Prevention magazine. It had a brief article on acne and under diet, it mentioned that the glycemic impact of meals and dairy were factors in acne.

I didn't note the author, doctor or studies cited.

This is a very good article by a Dr Mark Hymen. I don't know anything about him but he seems to be a regular for the Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/do-milk-and-sugar-cause-a_b_822163.html

Wow - the above article by Dr. Mark Hymen is the best article on acne by an M.D. I have ever read. Not only does he mention avoiding dairy and eating a low-glycemic diet, but he mentions other key factors as well. Below is a summary taken from his article of the main key points -- just in case this link or article ever gets moved one day -- too great a summary to not have. I disagree with the Vitamin A suggestion though - I would suggest lots of blended greens instead, which contain beta-carotene that the body will then safely convert into the amount of Vitamin A needed.

How To Prevent and Treat Acne

Eight simple steps will help most overcome their acne problems.

1. Stay away from milk. It is nature's perfect food--but only if you are a calf.

2. Eat a low glycemic load, low sugar diet. Sugar, liquid calories, and flour products all drive up insulin and cause pimples.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. People who eat more veggies (containing more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds) have less acne. Make sure you get your 5-9 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables every day.

4. Get more healthy anti-inflammatory fats. Make sure to get omega-3 fats (fish oil) and anti-inflammatory omega-6 fats (evening primrose oil). You will need supplements to get adequate amounts (more on that in a moment).

5. Include foods that correct acne problems. Certain foods have been linked to improvements in many of the underlying causes of acne and can help correct it. These include fish oil, turmeric, ginger, green tea, nuts, dark purple and red foods such as berries, green foods like dark green leafy vegetables, and omega 3-eggs.

6. Take acne-fighting supplements. Some supplements are critical for skin health. Antioxidant levels have been shown to be low in acne sufferers. And healthy fats can make a big difference. Here are the supplements I recommend:

• Evening primrose oil: Take 1000 to 1500mg twice a day.

   

• Zinc citrate: Take 30 mg a day.

   

• Vitamin A: Take 25000 IU a day. Only do this for three months. Do not do this if you are pregnant.

   

• Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols, not alpha tocopherol): Take 400 IU a day.

   

7. Try probiotics. Probiotics also help reduce inflammation in the gut that may be linked to acne. Taking probiotics (lactobacillus, etc.) can improve acne.

8. Avoid foods you are sensitive to. Delayed food allergies are among the most common causes of acne--foods like gluten, dairy, yeast, and eggs are common culprits and can be a problem if you have a leaky gut.

Following these simple tips will help you eliminate acne and have that glowing skin you have always dreamed of. And it's much cheaper (and safer) than expensive medications and dermatologist visits. Improve your diet and take acne-fighting supplements and you will watch your pimples disappear.

I know this thread is old but I want to take a second and seriously commend the people that try to re-write the books on Acne. For too long we've been saying myths about acne. It's time to get the facts. And I'm happy to see this board exposing the truth that diet does affect acne. I found this out myself, and I WISH I knew this sooner.

so, there's a group calling themselves Integrative Dermatologists. Integrative medicine is about doctors that know how important nutrients are to bodily function and illness, unlike the average doctor that only has a vague idea while believing what you really need is some drugs.

http://www.integrativedermatology.com/biographical-information/ The site doesn't have much info on it. They are selling a book and appointments.

Time for a bump. there's a few people here right now that need it.

I created a cleaned up list and posted it here. http://dietforclearskin.blogspot.com/2013/04/doctors-and-other-experts-admitting.html

I haven't come across anyone new in a while, though. Has anyone else?

Ok, Found one. Dr. Andrew Weil. Although he doesn't have consistent stance or regimen. In one place he cites a study on the dairy link, but specifically says that sodas and other high glycemic foods don't have an effect. Elsewhere he recommends consuming a lot of nutrient dense anti-inflammatory foods.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00292/acne-treatments.html

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02033/natural-skin-care.html#acne

Eating 101: Preventing Acne

Acne is a common problem among teenagers as well as adults. Heredity, stress and hormones all influence the appearance of inflamed hair follicles, which result in breakouts. While cleansing the face with a mild glycerin soap and applying topical treatments such as tea tree oil or benzoyl peroxide can help, making dietary changes can also be helpful.

• Increase your consumption of antioxidant-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables.
• Include omega-3 fatty acids like Wild Alaskan salmon or freshly ground flaxseeds to help reduce and prevent inflammation.
• Drink lots of water to keep the skin hydrated and healthy. Limit processed and refined foods, and opt for whole, healthful foods instead.

And, don't be afraid to eat a piece of dark chocolate now and then - there is no link between chocolate and acne, and dark chocolate actually has antioxidant benefits!

So apparently in February NYU researchers published a paper examining the Diet and Acne research and the obvious connection. And it was reported all over the place.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/19/172429086/diet-and-acne-for-a-clearer-complexion-cut-the-empty-carbs

http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2013/02/20/nyu-steinhardt-researcher-says-dont-dismiss-diet-therapy-when-treating-acne.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130220084809.htm

A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has determined that there is increasing evidence of a connection between diet and acne, particularly from high glycemic load diets and dairy products, and that medical nutrition therapy (MNT) can play an important role in acne treatment.

More than 17 million Americans suffer from acne, mostly during their adolescent and young adult years. Acne influences quality of life, including social withdrawal, anxiety, and depression, making treatment essential. Since the late 1800s, research has linked diet to this common disease, identifying chocolate, sugar, and fat as particular culprits, but beginning in the 1960s, studies disassociated diet from the development of acne.

"This change occurred largely because of the results of two important research studies that are repeatedly cited in the literature and popular culture as evidence to refute the association between diet and acne," says Jennifer Burris, MS, RD, of the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University. "More recently, dermatologists and registered dietitians have revisited the diet-acne relationship and become increasingly interested in the role of medical nutritional therapy in acne treatment."

Burris and colleagues, William Rietkerk, Department of Dermatology, New York Medical College, and Kathleen Woolf, of New York University's Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, conducted a literature review to evaluate evidence for the diet-acne connection during three distinctive time periods: early history, the rise of the diet-acne myth, and recent research.

Culling information from studies between 1960 and 2012 that investigated diet and acne, investigators compiled data for a number of study characteristics, including reference, design, participants, intervention method, primary outcome, results and conclusions, covariate considerations, and limitations.

They concluded that a high glycemic index/glycemic load diet and frequent dairy consumption are the leading factors in establishing the link between diet and acne. They also note that although research results from studies conducted over the last 10 years do not demonstrate that diet causes acne, it may influence or aggravate it.

The study team recommends that dermatologists and registered dietitians work collaboratively to design and conduct quality research. "This research is necessary to fully elucidate preliminary results, determine the proposed underlying mechanisms linking diet and acne, and develop potential dietary interventions for acne treatment," says Burris. "The medical community should not dismiss the possibility of diet therapy as an adjunct treatment for acne. At this time, the best approach is to address each acne patient individually, carefully considering the possibility of dietary counseling."

Thing is, the link hasn't been proven on a cellular/molecular level, because it's probably so indirect. I'm guessing it'll be not only diet, but maybe microbial peptides or compounds absorbed from the GI tract.

Also alternativista, that moisturizer in your signature looks amazing. Do you make it yourself/have any advice on how to get my hands on some?

Thing is, the link hasn't been proven on a cellular/molecular level, because it's probably so indirect. I'm guessing it'll be not only diet, but maybe microbial peptides or compounds absorbed from the GI tract.

Also alternativista, that moisturizer in your signature looks amazing. Do you make it yourself/have any advice on how to get my hands on some?

I can't see my signature, written ages ago, while on my ipad, but I imagine its the one I make. I'm pretty sure I haven't promoted a commercially prepared topical in a long time if ever.

Thing is, the link hasn't been proven on a cellular/molecular level, because it's probably so indirect. I'm guessing it'll be not only diet, but maybe microbial peptides or compounds absorbed from the GI tract.

Also alternativista, that moisturizer in your signature looks amazing. Do you make it yourself/have any advice on how to get my hands on some?

I can't see my signature, written ages ago, while on my ipad, but I imagine its the one I make. I'm pretty sure I haven't promoted a commercially prepared topical in a long time if ever.

It's the aloe vera/niacinamide/linoleic acid one. Do you just buy the ingredients and mix em? And do you suggest any particular proportions of the ingredients?

Bump. Because we seem to have a handful of people around who need it.

Bumping, especially for you, YouKnowNothing1.