This is just my theory but...

There could be just 2 causes of acne

Gut Flora (relating to soy, nuts, eggs, intolerance..)

Sugar Intake (carbs in general)

Fasting, from what I've noticed helps both. Keeps the Gut at a stable level, while keeping the body at a repair and starvation mode. When your body is at a starvation mode, it tends to REPAIR the existing cells instead of reproduce, thus you do age longer when you fast, naturally humans are suppose to experience common starvation.

So fasting in general may aid in quicker acne and hyper-pigmentation healing, as well as less clogging. It has many other benefits as well. Your metabolism also slows down as well, which can aid in fat storage.

Also fasting before eating loads of carbs helps a lot. You'll find it better than swallowing loads of fibers. Skipping breakfast and partially skipping dinner seemed to be the greatest way. Specially breakfast, where your hormones were active during your sleep.

People who do not see result in fasting or going paleo, may have a dysfunctional gut, which is another trigger.

Whitefox, how long do you think a person needs to be on this path, and still having terrible acne, before they should give up and assume it's something other than their gut?

 

I've wondered this too. To tell the truth, I don't think anyone really knows a definite answer. Scientists aren't even sure of the mechanisms of action that happen with our gut bacteria... so you can only use your own intuition.

Well, I thought I was seeing results and maybe I still am, but due to stress and hormones I've been experiencing some major setbacks. It looked like I was healing up nicely and then stress occurred. Severe stress. Within minutes I had multiple large cysts forming. And ever since then it's back to PMS time and I began getting even more cysts. This never used to happen to me like this. It was only after that breakdown of my gut when I began breaking out badly again this past year. Before, I would get a minimal breakout before my period at best. Now it's like my entire face explodes.

It's possible that this happened because my gut got worse, making my whole system inflamed and sick. That's what I'm trying to determine. But it's so hard with all the stress in my life. The stress seems to be the biggest factor. I want so badly for this to be gut related because that is something I can heal. The stress isn't something I can currently heal, at least not without making a HUGE decision to uproot my life, leave everything I know and start over completely from scratch--which in itself is also very stressful. I've been stuck between a rock and a hard place for a very, very long time. It's been taking its toll, physically, over the past year.

Sorry I'm mostly just ranting. It's bad enough to be in this situation let alone see the results in cystic acne, when I'm trying SO hard in every way I can to clear my skin.

When can I expect to get better?

Most people will begin to see great improvement 2 weeks-2 months after they have

- Followed the diet for a couple of months

- Adjusted to several sources of probiotics and prebiotics (e.g. raw sauerkraut, kefir, probiotic supplements, prebiotic supplement)

- Achieved great digestion. Regular nice BMs

- No food intolerances

When you can put a green check beside all of these lines you have achieved a healthier gut flora and intestinal lining. Inflammation goes down and acne improves:)

No sooner and no later...

What happens when you've been on some version of the gut healing diet for YEARS, have regular BMs, but still have all your food intolerances and your skin is just as bad?

I don't know where to go or what to do from here...

I feel like a lot of you are men, and you don't have the hormonal fluctuations that come from messed up hormones and menstrual cycles... it would give me more hope if I could see a female who's dealt with very troubling menstrual periods AND a leaky gut and been able to heal both. I don't know how to find such a person though...

Sorry to rant so much.... It's just incredibly depressing. And the worst part is, in my case, it's not just the acne. I haven't been able to exercise for over a week because the fatigue is so extreme...I can barely get through work. I have crying fits out of nowhere. I feel psychotic and I don't feel that way the rest of the month, it's the two weeks before my period.

It feels like my hormones are completely toxic to my body. I just can't live like this much longer... I had so much hope for this program.. I've given up caffeine and other things on top of being on the strict diet... WHY ISN'T IT HELPING ME. I just want to cry.

edit-I'm just going to make a million posts today because my body is churning with hormones and I'm incredibly freaked out.

*attempts to breathe*

I don't want to lose hope here. I am trying to tell myself that before all the stress, my PMS breakouts weren't as bad as last month. I'm praying that very, very slowly I am making progress, but that stress just pushed me back in the opposite direction. Hopefully that means that despite the continued stress, I will keep making progress. It's just so difficult to keep a positive perspective when you're breaking out AND you have the extreme emotional unbalance that comes with PMS.

You men don't know how lucky you are. Seriously... it's fucking unfair.

What happens when you've been on some version of the gut healing diet for YEARS, have regular BMs, but still have all your food intolerances and your skin is just as bad?

I don't know where to go or what to do from here...

I feel like a lot of you are men, and you don't have the hormonal fluctuations that come from messed up hormones and menstrual cycles... it would give me more hope if I could see a female who's dealt with very troubling menstrual periods AND a leaky gut and been able to heal both. I don't know how to find such a person though...

Sorry to rant so much.... It's just incredibly depressing. And the worst part is, in my case, it's not just the acne. I haven't been able to exercise for over a week because the fatigue is so extreme...I can barely get through work. I have crying fits out of nowhere. I feel psychotic and I don't feel that way the rest of the month, it's the two weeks before my period.

It feels like my hormones are completely toxic to my body. I just can't live like this much longer... I had so much hope for this program.. I've given up caffeine and other things on top of being on the strict diet... WHY ISN'T IT HELPING ME. I just want to cry.

 

Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago that you started eating extremely small quantities of 1-2 fermented foods? I've read every post you have posted in this thread and from the information you have provided it's unbelievable to me that you expect to get better at this point.

I thought I'd been at this way longer than a few weeks, but I didn't keep track of where I started. But I'm definitely not eating extremely small quantities. Half of my plate each night is fermented foods. The other half is is usually stir-fry veggies with tons of prebiotics like garlic and onion and leeks. I'm also drinking 2-3 glasses of strong water kefir a day now.

Like I said though, the problem is that I will be getting better, then the PMS hormones hit and everything goes to hell again. The question is, will that continue to happen no matter what I do with my gut. I'm trying to determine if it's one, or two separate problems.

But if you think there is still hope for me and that there hasn't been enough time, I will continue. Sorry for my ranting but please have sympathy on me. I am not capable of thinking rationally right now. The hormones are making me want to murder innocent people, tear my hair out, break glass... I'm losing it. I try not to rant very much on these forums but sometimes you just need to cry it out, you know?

I thought I'd been at this way longer than a few weeks, but I didn't keep track of where I started. But I'm definitely not eating extremely small quantities. Half of my plate each night is fermented foods. The other half is is usually stir-fry veggies with tons of prebiotics like garlic and onion and leeks. I'm also drinking 2-3 glasses of strong water kefir a day now.

Like I said though, the problem is that I will be getting better, then the PMS hormones hit and everything goes to hell again. The question is, will that continue to happen no matter what I do with my gut. I'm trying to determine if it's one, or two separate problems.

But if you think there is still hope for me and that there hasn't been enough time, I will continue. Sorry for my ranting but please have sympathy on me. I am not capable of thinking rationally right now. The hormones are making me want to murder innocent people, tear my hair out, break glass... I'm losing it. I try not to rant very much on these forums but sometimes you just need to cry it out, you know?

 

I'm not trying to be an asshole, just pointing out the facts-

I've posted the following information multiple times (even in the first post):

When can I expect to get better?

Most people will begin to see great improvement 2 weeks-2 months after they have

- Followed the diet for a couple of months

- Adjusted to several sources of probiotics and prebiotics (e.g. raw sauerkraut, kefir, probiotic supplements, prebiotic supplement)

- Achieved great digestion. Regular nice BMs

- No food intolerances

When you can put a green check beside all of these lines you have achieved a healthier gut flora and intestinal lining. Inflammation goes down and acne improves:)

No sooner and no later...

This is some of the information you have provided in your last posts:

01 October 2012

All of this week I've been doing one large spoonful of the water kefir mixed into a glass of lemon water.

05 October 2012

I went about a week and today I doubled my dose of the kefir. Two large spoonfuls in a regular glass of water.

13 October 2012

I basically had all of the factors they list. Ultra clean lifestyle (I grew up with my mom pounding it into our heads that if you didn't constantly wash your hands, you'd get sick), poor diet (practically lived on beans and gluten as a kid), antibiotics and Nsaids (dr recommended I take Nsaids every day after an injury to reduce inflammation when I was maybe 8 years old, I also did many courses of antibiotics because I had a poor immune system and would constantly get bronchitis), disease (I believe I was born gluten intolerant/celiac), and severe stress (I HATED school and was bullied pretty badly as a kid, lived every day in terror basically).

16 October 2012

I had my first spoonful of kombucha yesterday. The strawberry kind! I was so delicious, even one watered down spoonful tasted strongly of strawberries. I'm going to have two spoonfuls today, along with more kefir.

29 October 2012

just started probiotic supplements

jnow that I'm at 2+ glasses of strong water kefir a day, I've been getting a ton of bloating, gas

02 November 2012

I still have all my food intolerances.

the fatigue is so extreme

 

Again, not trying to be an asshole, just pointing out the obvious. You clearly haven't reached the level you need to see any improvement (see above your quotes).

This treatment is not a quick fix, and I have never claimed that it is.

Thank you. You aren't being an asshole, you've helped me and others so much. I apologize for my posts today. I'm a mess right now and not thinking clearly. Sometimes it seems like you've been doing something for so long but it's really only been a few weeks. Thanks for the reminder, I'll try and stay positive.

Nothing will heal without patience. I think i can speak for alot of people when i say that time is our worst enemy when it comes to acne. We dont really want to try new regimes (after failing from several others) and still have to wait a couple of months for results...even minor ones. I guess we just need to keep our heads up and look at the good things we have instead of focusing on the bad ones. I believe in natural before anything, and unfortunately, it takes time for our body to adjust from new things, thats just how we are. Im sure many of you already read people saying the same thing, but im just trying to make people out there not to give up. Just hang in there guys, we all can reach our goal, we just need to find it!

Hey d©j , I wanted you to remember that we are all in this together and that you aren't the only one that struggles with this disease. I am currently on 3 weeks and still getting some odd symptoms at random times. I am yet to see any significant results but it's obvious it will be that way since I have trashed my body with a couple courses of Antibiotics and eating fast food many times a week. Just think about it, you can't expect to heal years of bad health with in a month or two..as a matter of fact we should appreciate the way our bodies work since our bodie seem to heal faster then they break down. One year to heal is rabbit speed when you look at the bigger picture, let's say for me wich was 18 years of constant burger king and taco bell. You also have seemed to up your dose on cfus from every source, so isn't it logical that your body might have still not adjusted to the new bacteria? Like whitefox said it might even take months to see minimal results. Don't let this frustrate you though because I have felt with the cysts and scars too, but here I am reminded myself every now and then that what I am doing to heal myself won't be easy. In the begging of this thread whitefox even warned us about that. It's a battle that all of us here are going through with you and we all share the same pains, experiences and myself occasionally the mood swings..and I'm a guy! Lol. Just keep your head up even when it seems like things will never get better. The true test here is to be patient. We would all really love to see you succeed, as of for everyone else

Thank you guys. I was just having a bad day. My skin is continuing to heal a lot, I really think it was all hormones and stress making things look and seem worse. I'm actually doing better than I've ever been at this point in my cycle so I feel super sure this is doing something good now!

Hey guys, I'm generally following the diet suggested by whitefox (chicken, eggs, veggies, fruits + probiotics) and i'm having a lot of trouble finding some sort of salty snack throughout the day. i can snack on fruits just fine but when i start craving salty all i can do is wait for my next meal... i can't digest nuts so that's out of the picture. any ideas??

Hey guys, I'm generally following the diet suggested by whitefox (chicken, eggs, veggies, fruits + probiotics) and i'm having a lot of trouble finding some sort of salty snack throughout the day. i can snack on fruits just fine but when i start craving salty all i can do is wait for my next meal... i can't digest nuts so that's out of the picture. any ideas??

 

I like these a lot

But I usually can't help but eat an entire bag at once most of the time.

Apparently sweet potato isn't good for candida though, so I don't know...

Hi Deja,

I'm a girl dealing with the same problem, so you are not alone.

I've been on a strict paleo for 2.5 months. So far, I improved a lot in my overall acne (acne I usually had around my jawline, ears, an odd spot on the cheeks, blackheads on my nose and generally greasy skin. This is all gone.). However, my biggest problem is the acne around my chin and this one is still there. I've done a lot of reading and finally decided this was something too complicated for me to deal with so I went to the experts. I would suggest you to get a good doctor, better if it is a holistic one, and get some tests done.

I've had a stool test done and found out I lack many bacteria, so now I will need to tackle this. Regarding my hormonal acne (the one in my chin) it's helped me a lot to check my basal temperature everyday and use an online application to record all my symptoms, as well as ovulation day, etc. it's incredible how much related it is. Try to eat super healthy from your ovulation day until you're passed your period, it will help you a little. I have another appointment next month so I will update you on my progress and how the doctor decides to tackle the hormonal issue.

In my case I also developed this type of cystic acne last year even though I had acne all my life. Don't know why.

Hey guys, I'm generally following the diet suggested by whitefox (chicken, eggs, veggies, fruits + probiotics) and i'm having a lot of trouble finding some sort of salty snack throughout the day. i can snack on fruits just fine but when i start craving salty all i can do is wait for my next meal... i can't digest nuts so that's out of the picture. any ideas??

 

I like these a lot

But I usually can't help but eat an entire bag at once most of the time.

Apparently sweet potato isn't good for candida though, so I don't know...

 

Sweet potato isn't safe for the gut-healing diet, in general. If you can handle it, that's great. I hope you can! I'm just saying though, because it was one of the things that led to me getting bad acne again after my period of being clear in 2011. I was clear and I thought I could eat certain foods again. I probably could, had I done it in moderation. But I began eating sweet potatoes as a staple, thinking they were healthy, among other not-so-gut-healing things. Over time I got worse and worse, not only my skin but my hormonal symptoms and other health problems too. I was totally in denial because I didn't want to face having to cut more foods again. 🙁 But finally I woke up and stopped the sweet potatoes and that was step one to getting where I am now, which is probably at least 50-60% more clear. Still have a long way to go...

Hi Deja,

I'm a girl dealing with the same problem, so you are not alone.

I've been on a strict paleo for 2.5 months. So far, I improved a lot in my overall acne (acne I usually had around my jawline, ears, an odd spot on the cheeks, blackheads on my nose and generally greasy skin. This is all gone.). However, my biggest problem is the acne around my chin and this one is still there. I've done a lot of reading and finally decided this was something too complicated for me to deal with so I went to the experts. I would suggest you to get a good doctor, better if it is a holistic one, and get some tests done.

I've had a stool test done and found out I lack many bacteria, so now I will need to tackle this. Regarding my hormonal acne (the one in my chin) it's helped me a lot to check my basal temperature everyday and use an online application to record all my symptoms, as well as ovulation day, etc. it's incredible how much related it is. Try to eat super healthy from your ovulation day until you're passed your period, it will help you a little. I have another appointment next month so I will update you on my progress and how the doctor decides to tackle the hormonal issue.

In my case I also developed this type of cystic acne last year even though I had acne all my life. Don't know why.

 

It's good to know I'm not the only girl on this path. Ahh you're so lucky you could afford doctors and testing. I'm hoping if this Obamacare thing goes through maybe I'll be able to get medicaid a few years from now and that might cover some of this stuff. I'm not sure. But if I'm ever able, I definitely want a whole bunch of tests, from hormones to vitamin levels and all of it.

I get certain hormonal breakouts on my chin too. Like clockwork. In fact one of the cysts is basically the same cyst.It never comes to a head and pops, it just swells up HUGE about a week before my period, and then about a week after it sinks back down into the skin. Then the next month it appears again in the exact same spot. It's so weird and frustrating.

Hey guys, I'm generally following the diet suggested by whitefox (chicken, eggs, veggies, fruits + probiotics) and i'm having a lot of trouble finding some sort of salty snack throughout the day. i can snack on fruits just fine but when i start craving salty all i can do is wait for my next meal... i can't digest nuts so that's out of the picture. any ideas??

 

Find some beef jerky that doesn't have a bunch of crap in it.

Recommended reading:

The gut-skin connection: how altered gut function affects the skin

A new era in the treatment of acne vulgaris

I'm not so sure that fermented foods are good for everyone with acne. I totally agree that the root cause of acne is often leaky gut and imbalanced gut flora, and probiotics should help resolve those issues. However, all fermented foods are very high in histamine, and histamine is an inflammatory chemical that is involved in acne formation. All foods that are high in histamine (fermented veggies, vinegar, canned fish, etc.) will break me out within a few hours.

Now, a "histamine intolerance" can be caused by imbalanced gut flora, so theoretically fermented foods should help in the long run. I'm sure the reason one of the reasons I'm so sensitive to histamine (and have so many food allergies) is a bacterial and/or yeast overgrowth in my gut. I have found that going on a fairly low carb diet (and taking certain supplements) has reduced my histamine issues. My food allergies (which used to be very severe) have become less severe, and I'm not *as* sensitive to fermented foods as I once was... However, they do still break me out. Instead, I take a probiotic supplement (Kirkman's acidophilus -- SCD-legal), which doesn't break me out at all and seems to help a little. I still have some gut issues, and I still have lots of food allergies... but I've managed to overcome some of my food allergies, and my skin is now pretty much clear.

I just personally couldn't deal with the horrible breakouts I would get from eating fermented veggies on a regular basis, even if it would improve things for me in the long run. (I'm not sure that it would anyway, because I think I may have a problem detoxifying histamine due a "methylation cycle" problem...)

I just wanted to mention to this in case anyone is getting a whole lot worse on this protocol... although if you're willing to stick it out to see if things improve, good for you

You're absolutely right on this point. I'm actually waiting for my tests to check my diaminoxidase levels. If they are low, then that would mean histamine rich foods could cause several problems to my body.

UPDATE 8 weeks:

So I've been following this program for 8 weeks. Diet is lots of meat (about 3 lbs day), veggies (raw and steamed), juice(made fresh, carrots, cucumber, kale, cabbage, celery, etc), oils like coconut and olive. Eating about 3,000-3,500 calories/day. Losing weight but thats because I'm a very lean(8ish%), 200 lb, and have a very high metabolism. Just keeping protein high and doing a little Fall/Winter cut I guess.

Probiotic sources:

-quart of water kefir daily(cultured for 48 hours)

-15 oz coconut milk kefir daily(cultured 48hrs), mixed with inulin powder

-Lots of kimchi, sauerkaraut, fermented beets. I've been getting 1 gallon jars from a local company, so lots of that with each meal

-2 probiotic pills 1 morning ,1 @ night

-Some kombucha occasionally. The one bar I go to often makes their own, so I get that instead of alcohol

Skin is looking really really good. Still getting some pimples but a MAJOR improvement so far. I currently have just one tiny little one on my chin, and a few on my back. 8 weeks ago they were covering my back and upper arms, and at least 8-10 on my face at a time. So definitley a big improvement. I have up and down days but overall looking incredibly better. I'm thinking another 8 weeks on this and I should looking really good.

I'm not getting any gas or bloating from all the probiotics, but still hesitant to add back in foods I know cause problems like nuts and dairy yet. I want to give it more time, and get clear first.

I'm currently fermenting some bok choy and carrots. The jar I am doing it in isn't the best, it is an air tight one but the top you just push in and not a screw one. I noticed yesterday the lid had pushed up a bit and then the same happened later on. There are some bubbles about and I have noticed it is getting closer to the top now of the jar now. It has been going for about 3 days so far, as it is getting close to the top and as there must be a lot of pressure with pushing the top off would it be best to stop it now and put it in the refridgerator?

UPDATE 8 weeks:

So I've been following this program for 8 weeks. Diet is lots of meat (about 3 lbs day), veggies (raw and steamed), juice(made fresh, carrots, cucumber, kale, cabbage, celery, etc), oils like coconut and olive. Eating about 3,000-3,500 calories/day. Losing weight but thats because I'm a very lean(8ish%), 200 lb, and have a very high metabolism. Just keeping protein high and doing a little Fall/Winter cut I guess.

Probiotic sources:

-quart of water kefir daily(cultured for 48 hours)

-15 oz coconut milk kefir daily(cultured 48hrs), mixed with inulin powder

-Lots of kimchi, sauerkaraut, fermented beets. I've been getting 1 gallon jars from a local company, so lots of that with each meal

-2 probiotic pills 1 morning ,1 @ night

-Some kombucha occasionally. The one bar I go to often makes their own, so I get that instead of alcohol

Skin is looking really really good. Still getting some pimples but a MAJOR improvement so far. I currently have just one tiny little one on my chin, and a few on my back. 8 weeks ago they were covering my back and upper arms, and at least 8-10 on my face at a time. So definitley a big improvement. I have up and down days but overall looking incredibly better. I'm thinking another 8 weeks on this and I should looking really good.

I'm not getting any gas or bloating from all the probiotics, but still hesitant to add back in foods I know cause problems like nuts and dairy yet. I want to give it more time, and get clear first.

 

That is AWESOME! You are doing everything right:)

Yes, 2 months is to early to start introducing other foods. Ups and downs are to be expected for the first couple of months so the best approach is to keep doing what you are doing 2-3 more months if you can and then slowly introduce other foods.

Wow, I really must have been hitting the probiotics and fermented foods way to hard. This past week my digestion was been awful and I have had major brain fog, it has been so difficult to concentrate. Despite how bad I have been feeling can I look at this in a positive light that this is a sign the good guys are trying to take out the bad ones?

I shall really have to cut down on what I have been doing. I was having some of my fermented carrot, romaince lettuce and ginger in the morning along with some kefir. 2 bio-kult probiotic supplements. Later in the day once more have some kefir and some more fermented food with a meal. Also I was then having 2 more probiotic supplements. When writing this down it feels way too much considering I didn't start that much long ago.

When i started this I went all out too. Didn't really work my way into it. I had some gas pains for like a week when I'd drink kefir, but just pushed through and am doing much better. No symptoms whatsoever when eating tons of probiotic sources.I'd say if its bearable, just keep doing what you are now.