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Hello everyone!
THIS POST IS A MUST READ! I have figured out the root cause of my skin issues and I strongly believe that I have the knowledge which can end almost all cases of acne. The solution is simple! If you have been reading about the caveman regimen then you're on the right track! *However we are no longer cavemen and should remember that in many cases the caveman regimen will have diminishing benefits once you reach a certain point.*
The majority of the skin care industry is a scam. Its an industry which is hungry for your money. What the skin Care industry doesn't tell you is that the harsh chemicals in skin care products will strip your skin of essential oils and bacteria resulting in clearer skin in the short run, but agrevated skin in the long run. Acne can be attributable to many things in today's society such as pollutants, processed foods, allergens, however there is one commonality that almost every acne sufferer endures. That is the usage of unnatural and harsh skin care products. If you ever notice your skin feeling tight after washing or that you use a plethora of products then you need to consider changing your skin care routine. Infact the cavemen regimen (with tweaks) would clear complexion for most people.
Here's why:
When we are teens going through puberty our sebaceous glands produce more oil and sebum which is *necessary* and is a *natural* part of the human growth cycle. Our skin may appear to be more oily at times as a teen, but if you refrain from irritating your skin during these periods your sebaceous glands will quickly regulate production and your skin will no longer look oily. The oil produced by our skin is essential because it actually strengthens our skins ability to deal with toxins ,*but only if the oils are successfully abosorbed by the skin rather than just sitting on top of it or constantly being whipped away.*
When we apply harsh skin care products to our face we "over-clean" our skin, stripping it of all the essential oils it produced. *Oils and bacteria produced by the skin are a defense mechanism of the body.* Therefore the response that people will get from continuously using harsh skin care products and putting their skin into a state of shock is that more oil will be produced at a rapid pace. Rapid oil production along with irritated skin will produce blemishes. In so many cases, people who would normally have clear skin, ruin their complexion by continuously stripping their skin by using common skin care products. If you use these products consistently then your body will routinely have to compensate for this which will cause you to develop sensitive acne prone skin. * The skincare industry is a self-fulfilling trap to get your money.* Some people are born with more sensitive skin than others and the reality is that skin care products have irritated the skin of many people who later developed skin issues. As the skin care industry continues to develop, acne continues to become more prevalent in developed societies. This is not a coincidence.
How to Heal Your Skin:
If you are a healthy individual, who routinely excersizes, and has no idea why you still break out, then you need to try this! Wash your face with only water, before you go to bed for one week. However on the first day I would recommend not washing your face at all. Use lukewarm water and do not rub your face. Ideally, let your face run under the water in your shower. Towel dry, never use any type of paper or tissue to dry. If you see an improvement after a week then continue following these steps. After about 7-10 days your skin will eventually begin to feel more rough and oil production will begin to slow. Dry skin cells will begin to accumulate and sit on top of your skin. Since your body is not used to only using water as a cleanser, you'll need to help your skin out by exfoliating. Use a gentle, all natural exfoliant. A great one to use is an oatmeal mask. The benefits to oatmeal masks are endless and can be read about online. Simply mix oatmeal with warm water and gently rub it around your skin. Wash it off after about 10mins of massaging and pat it dry. For dry skin you can also add in raw coconut oil, honey, or olive oil into the mix. For oily skin you can add in unflavoured plain yogurt. And for hyperpigmentation you can add in a small amount of raw apple cider vinegar. You should also exfoliate twice a week until your skin is no longer acne prone. Exfoliating your skin is a very crucial step because it will allow your skin to breathe a lot better and will help unclog pores. Many people who go on the caveman regimen and forget to exfoliate for several weeks often find that the regimen back fires and they break out in several small whiteheads.This regimen can be tweaked, however during the first month try and keep it as simple as possible as your skin will be doing the majority of its healing. Something else which is very important is to not touch your face especially within the first weeks of starting this modified caveman regimen. Not only will this regimen soothe your skin, reducing acne, hyper pigmentation, irritation, and dryness, it will also balance the pH level in your skins moisture barrier. Many people realize that once their pH levels have been restored they actually have better energy levels and reduced anxiety as well. This is because every time you over wash your face your body has to work very hard to re-balance your skins pH levels which adds extra stress to your body. If you have moderate to mild acne then its probable that you can eliminate all blemishes in as little as 2 weeks depending on how efficiently your body reacts.
Few more tips:
- If you need to, find a natural and gentle way to moisturize your skin after washing. Consider coconut oil.
- its highly recommended that you do not wear any makeup during the first month. Your skin needs to breathe. If anything, eye makeup should be alright and remove with baby wipes.
- If you notice that you have any body acne then do not take any long and hot showers. Instead take short lukewarm showers and gently pat your skin dry with a towel. And only shower when you really need to.
- When in the shower, do not let any shampoo run down onto your face. Tilt your head back when rinsing your hair.
- Although diet alone cannot eliminate acne, eating an abundance of healthy foods while staying away from processed foods will greatly improve the look of your skin and boost your immune system so that things such as blemishes can be healed more rapidly
- Only wash your skin if you really need to and remember to stay away from harsh products
Anyway, there's an abundance of information. I'll leave with that.
Cheers & Thanks for reading,
I think that he is trying to say that many companies are able to fool us into buying their products because we, in an attempt to rid ourselves of acne, become vulnerable to marketing practices and buy products in hopes of helping our skin when in fact we only harm it even more over time. These products may provide an almost instant cure but will damage the skin over time. Also, I have found that dairy tends to aggravate acne and since I have completely cut it out of my diet my breakouts have been significantly less severe.
The caveman regimen or water only has been done to death. It's nothing new and doesn't work for the vast majority of people. It doesn't work for me, I've tried it many times and always regret it as I have to start back on the BP which takes a few weeks to clear the breakouts that have appeared.
The science of water only makes sense to me as cleansers and the like mess with the acid mantle but sadly for some, if you have acne you have to use a treatment like BP and for it to penetrate better a gentle cleanser before hand helps. Then because its drying a moisturiser might be needed.
It's a vicious circle I know but a necessary one sadly for many. I can now get away with using BP only at nights so its not to bad with 24 hours in between where I only use water on my face in my morning shower.
This will not clear up acne unless your acne is being brought on by irritation. Acne for most is an internal issue so until that is sorted, then water only will lead to less irritated but broken out skin.
I think that he is trying to say that many companies are able to fool us into buying their products because we, in an attempt to rid ourselves of acne, become vulnerable to marketing practices and buy products in hopes of helping our skin when in fact we only harm it even more over time. These products may provide an almost instant cure but will damage the skin over time. Also, I have found that dairy tends to aggravate acne and since I have completely cut it out of my diet my breakouts have been significantly less severe.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
You mentioned that dairy tends to aggravate your acne and I can assure you that I was just like you in this regard. When I was acne prone I remember that the consumption of dairy always lead to a more flawed complexion, however I always suspected that dairy flared up existing acne rather than caused new acne to form. I was curious to find out if I should completely eliminate dairy out of my diet so I took an IgG, IgA food sensitivity test. This particular test measures the degree of how sensitive you are to certain foods by counting the amount of antibodies in your blood. The results indicated that I was very sensitive to all forms of dairy and that I was moderately sensitive to forms of yeast. Since taking that test I reduced the amount of dairy I consumed and there was a slight improvement on my skin. Due to these findings, I often presumed that my acne was caused by dairy, however I later came to the realization that diet was never the main cause of my acne. I have cut down on the amount of dairy I consume since taking the food sensitivity test, however I never completely eliminated dairy out of my diet. Since healing my skin l enjoy foods such as pizza, milkshakes, and cheesecake and experience no breakouts. I can assure you that it is possible to eat foods that you are sensitive to (not allergic) and still have a clear complexion.
There are two important things which everyone needs to understand. Firstly, every individual functioning body part can only withstand so much stress before it begins to experience some sort of hindrance (acne for example). Secondly, the entire human body system as a whole can only undergo so much stress before you begin to feel some degree of physical, emotional, or mental hindrance. *In order for your immune system to function optimally, each body part must be able to effectively do its job without interruption.* In relation to the acne-dairy issue, every time we irritate our skin by using harsh ingredients found in most OTC skin care products this weakens our immune system and specifically makes our skin more prone to skin issues such as acne. Due to an added dairy sensitivity, dairy will also add further inflammation to the body if the immune system is suppressed and the skin which has constantly been stripped of its essential oils will be most vulnerable to visible inflammation. Once the skin is healed, your immune system will be able to deal with food sensitivities much more efficiently and breakouts are far less likely to occur.
For those who still don't understand what I am attempting to articulate, think of a glass or water which is filled halfway and a small pile of stones on the side. The glass represents the amount stress which can be tolerated which remains constant. The stones are variables which represent various forms of stress. Every time a form of stress is encountered a stone is dropped into the glass. For example: allergens - add in one stone. pollutants - add in one stone. harsh chemicals consumed or applied directly to the skin - add in one stone. Food sensitives - add in one stone. Lack of sleep - add in one stone. Eventually the glass will overflow. The overflowing glass represents the point at which your body has to much stress to deal with and you begin to experience some form of malady. The skin and acne can be thought of as relative to this analogy. *Due to all of these stress factors which we endure it can bring forth the illusion that mild food sensitives, which almost everyone has, appear as severe food sensitives which are the primary cause of acne.*
Keep in mind - Most medical doctors will tell you that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that diet alone causes acne. When I was first told this I thought it was absurd, however I am now begging to understand why. Yes, eating healthy will improve the look of blemishes and make the skin appear more radiant, but I no longer believe that diet alone is the cause of acne. *Unless it is a food allergy which you should take measures to avoid.*
Hope this helps.
Unfortunately what you are saying just isn't true for everyone. I went on the caveman regimen while also having cut out any foods I found triggered my acne (dairy, sugar) but it did not cure my skin. It didn't make my acne any worse, yet it didn't make it any better either.
So are you saying that Benzoyl peroxide for an example is a scam? That's found in most OTC products and has worked for millions of people.
Hello Quince, thanks for your comment,
I understand your skepticism behind my post, however I will attempt to clarify a few things. The reality is that skin sensitivity varies among people and the application of skincare products such as benzoyl peroxide will result in more severe skin reactions in some people. It seems unjustifiable to read about all of the potential side effects of a powerful chemical such as BP and think that you need to apply an ingredient this harsh in order to rid you skin of acne. Common side effects of BP like itchiness, dryness, flaking, redness, and peeling should be evident that your skin is to sensitive for a chemical this powerful. In fact concentrated benzoyl peroxide can also be flammable and potentially explosive, and is used by people to bleach hair and teeth, is that something that you want to continuously apply to the delicate skin on your face? Although skin care products contain low amounts of BP, it can still be causing your skin more harm than good. It is said that after a few weeks you skin will become more tolerant to BP and wont be as irritated which may be true, however by continuing the use of BP the skin will not be able to fully heal to the point where it can prevent bacterial growth on its own - and as it should.
Benzoyl peroxide is a relatively new "acne treatment", and it is no secret that acne is becoming more prevalent in newer generations who live in developed areas who are statistically more likely to apply an array of OTC skincare products to their faces. My parents for example never had acne and they have told me that there were very few people who they grew up with that had blemishes. I have also seen people from many places all over the world and I can tell you that those who live in less developed societies all seem to appear acne free - the same people who have never let an OTC skincare product touch their skin.
Just something to consider,
OP, what is the "secret" behind people whose acne doesn't respond to this or anything else (including diet) because they have a serious internal problem?
Hello Lucas,
To clarify, my original post suggests that individuals who appear healthy, eat a relatively clean diet, and manage to find time to work out, but still breakout will find great success with this modified caveman regimen. It seems as though you already know the "secret" behind your acne, which is as you stated, a serious internal problem. Can I ask what exactly that problem is? I might be able to help you out.
BPs been used since the 30s its not really a new treatment.
Leaving your acne to treat itself doesn't work for the vast majority of us. There's no big conspiracy going on. Throwing word like powerful, flammable and explosive is just scaremongering. BP is tired and tested safe for most people. I've used it for nearly 20 years. Just don't be stupid and plaster it on straight out of the blocks.
People have always had acne. I've heard that old story thrown around for years. I never really see anyone with it like your parents experienced and my parents never had it either but it sure as shit was around. Its just with the dawn on the internet it it seems like we all now have it. If you search for something enough you'll find it in the end.
I've tried letting my skin "heal" many times over the years with no joy. I came to realise I have acne and learnt to deal with it. Thankfully I have something that works. I'd love to be able to go without having to have a face regimen but them's the breaks.
I get your not a fan and there's more than one way to skin a cat but it just seems like your trying to push an agency without being true with the facts.
OP, what is the "secret" behind people whose acne doesn't respond to this or anything else (including diet) because they have a serious internal problem?
Hello Lucas,
To clarify, my original post suggests that individuals who appear healthy, eat a relatively clean diet, and manage to find time to work out, but still breakout will find great success with this modified caveman regimen. It seems as though you already know the "secret" behind your acne, which is as you stated, a serious internal problem. Can I ask what exactly that problem is? I might be able to help you out.
It could be super bacteria?
Theres no real secret to it. Some of us just have pores that clog and therefore create an environment for bacteria to grow. Its as simple as that. Just bad luck.
You could have cosmetic acne where your using products that are not helping but generally if you have acne you just have acne.
Unfortunately what you are saying just isn't true for everyone. I went on the caveman regimen while also having cut out any foods I found triggered my acne (dairy, sugar) but it did not cure my skin. It didn't make my acne any worse, yet it didn't make it any better either.
Thanks for reading my post,
In my opinion the actual cavemen regimen is to extreme and unnecessary, especially for people who apply several skincare products to their faces on a daily basis. The actual cavemen regimen urges you to not wash your face at all --not even with water, which will cause the regimen to back fire and lead to more breakouts which are caused for a different reason. Since some people apply so many products to their skin regularly, its going to take time for your skin to adapt to the modified caveman regimen which I explained initially. *If you use powerful chemicals on your skin, your skin and your immune system will attempt to adapt to your skincare routine.* Therefore, once you stop using OTC skincare products you need to help out your skin by still washing with water and begin exfoliating after the first week. Then your skin will soon adapt to your new skincare routine.
As you stated - the cavemen regimen didn't make your acne worse, yet it did not make it better - you should take this as a sign that the skincare products you were applying to your face weren't providing much help to begin with. If foods such as dairy and sugar are the *main* causes of your acne then you would have broken out your entire life if that's the immune response your body projects- unless of course , you recently began eating those foods around the time you began to experience breakouts.
BPs been used since the 30s its not really a new treatment.
Leaving your acne to treat itself doesn't work for the vast majority of us. There's no big conspiracy going on. Throwing word like powerful, flammable and explosive is just scaremongering. BP is tired and tested safe for most people. I've used it for nearly 20 years. Just don't be stupid and plaster it on straight out of the blocks.
People have always had acne. I've heard that old story thrown around for years. I never really see anyone with it like your parents experienced and my parents never had it either but it sure as shit was around. Its just with the dawn on the internet it it seems like we all now have it. If you search for something enough you'll find it in the end.
I've tried letting my skin "heal" many times over the years with no joy. I came to realise I have acne and learnt to deal with it. Thankfully I have something that works. I'd love to be able to go without having to have a face regimen but them's the breaks.
I get your not a fan and there's more than one way to skin a cat but it just seems like your trying to push an agency without being true with the facts.
OP, what is the "secret" behind people whose acne doesn't respond to this or anything else (including diet) because they have a serious internal problem?
Hello Lucas,
To clarify, my original post suggests that individuals who appear healthy, eat a relatively clean diet, and manage to find time to work out, but still breakout will find great success with this modified caveman regimen. It seems as though you already know the "secret" behind your acne, which is as you stated, a serious internal problem. Can I ask what exactly that problem is? I might be able to help you out.
It could be super bacteria?
Theres no real secret to it. Some of us just have pores that clog and therefore create an environment for bacteria to grow. Its as simple as that. Just bad luck.
You could have cosmetic acne where your using products that are not helping but generally if you have acne you just have acne.
Tm1210,
BP is known to cause skin irritation in many people even when many skincare products contain only traces of it and they often find that without a moisturizer they do experience issues like dryness and flakiness. I cannot help someone who has given up to the point where they just assume that acne is attributable to "bad luck." I like to think that everything happens for a reason and for those who want to rid themselves of their acne need to understand that there is a reason why they are breaking out. I am trying to articulate that the skincare industry has conditioned us to believe that we need to apply so many manufactured chemicals to our skin to keep it clear when that is not the case at all.
I cannot open the eyes of a person who doesn't want to see.
Cheers,
There has been a lot of skepticism behind my original post and I will address some of the main arguments with the modified caveman regimen I have proposed.
Firstly I need to add that I personally suffered with acne for seven years and I have tried many acne products and procedures to clear my acne with no luck. During this period of time I suffered with mild to severe acne mainly on my cheeks and jawline. The majority of my acne was medium sized cysts which would rarely turn into white heads and a few smaller whiteheads. Some areas of my face which never developed acne were around my hairline including a patch around my side burns, my chin, nose, and temple area. Sometimes, but rarely, I would get acne on my forehead. One day I had gotten my wisdom teeth pulled and my cheeks were so swollen that I didn't even consider washing my face for two days. During those two days I always felt as if I was going to suffer from a severe acne outbreak however when I had woke up the next morning my skin appeared to look radiant and my acne was greatly reduced. It was at that moment when I realized that the common skin care products which I had been using (a face wash with salicylic acid and a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment) were actually the root cause behind my acne. The areas of my skin which were more prone to breakouts were also the areas which I made sure to cleanse very well when applying my skincare products. The modified cavemen regimen which I have referred to in my original post has cleared my complexion and has helped others as well. After reading posts by so many people saying that they have attempted lifestyle changes, diet changes, or some other procedure to rid themselves of acne -- YET THEY ARE STILL APPLYING HARSH CHEMICALS TO THEIR SKIN -- see little to no improvement in their acne really motivated me to create my own posts on this site.
People seem to think that I am saying that OTC skincare products which contain things like BP and salicylic acid make everyone's complexion worse when I am not saying that at all. Some people do not have sensitive skin and can get away with using OTC products to keep their skin clear. What I am saying is that if you are one of the many people who have sensitive skin and you use BP or SA products on your skin and you still breakout then skin irritation is likely the cause of your acne. Some people have more acne than others. Some people are also more sensitive to skincare products than others.
In order for the modified caveman regimen to work you need your immune system to be functioning optimally. You cannot have an internal malady of some sort suppressing your immune system and expect your skin to suddenly heal itself while on the regimen. You need to address any internal issues first. You also need to ask yourself: Do I exercise? Do I eat a ton of processed foods? Do I get enough sleep? Am I under constant stress? Do not say that you have a serious internal issue because you have acne. If you have been diagnosed with an issue of some sort then that is a different story, but simply don't assume that there is something severely wrong with you until there is evidence. There aren't any severe internal issues that just cause acne. And if you are going to say that acne is being caused by an internal issue then it would be useful to state what exactly that issue is.
I am not assuming that everyone's skin is the same. I am saying that many people who have not been able to clear their complexion with OTC skincare products still refuse to stop using these harsh chemicals to wash their face. Why would you continue to do the same thing day after day and expect to see different results? People have become so brainwashed by the skincare industry that excluding skin care products from ones daily routine is the last thing that they think of.
I thought you were still supposed to still wash your face with water on the caveman regimen, hahaha. I stayed on it for nearly a month though.
I do think what you're saying has some credibility but I certainly don't think this is a breakthrough in understanding acne, as you make it out to be. Acne can come from a number of things besides stress and irritation. Frankly, I can rub my skin harshly with a towel and not break out as badly as If I was to stop using the current treatment I'm on. I guess some people's skin just doesn't do it's job correctly, there's tons of other skin conditions that are just passed on entirely genetically.
Although this regimen might not work for everyone (of course), but it def. WORKED WONDERS for me.
I've struggled with on going acne since i was 12, and i never thought products were the cause/ what made it worse.
This isn't a short-term regimen by all means, its a very long process in which your skin needs time to heal and get back to normal.
For me, it took about 3-4 months to completely heal
DIET does not contribute completely to acne, because acne is caused by so many different factors ( hormones, stress, genetics to name a few)
and although a cleaner diet will help towards acne, its not a direct cure.
(vegan for 3 years going strong, but had acne through it all)
Trust me guys, if you're dealing with acne try this because it could potentially be your "miracle acne cure" 
.
Been doing the water only regimen for exactly one month and my skin looks and feels better than it has in years! Trust me guys, the solution really is as simple as it sounds. I used to use a bunch of products to clean my skin when they were actually causing my acne and oily skin. Since I have cut out all products to clean my skin it feels incredibly smooth and is never oily and doesn't seem to be acne prone anymore! Here is a quick timeline of how my skin healed up by just washing it with water once a day:
Day 2: Woke up this morning and my skin was glowing and felt softer. Starts to get oily towards the end of the day.
End of week 1: I always wake up with smooth radiant looking skin. Oil production is steadily decreasing but my forehead looks pretty oily towards the end of the day. Still have 7-10 blemishes but they are healing. My skin tone looks a lot smoother and there is no more redness.
End of week 2: My skin is no longer oily. I developed a layer of dry skin on my face which is pretty itchy. Developed 2 new medium sized cystic spots. Had about 5-7 blemishes this week. My acne scars which developed previously seem like they are fading.
End of week 3: My dead skin mask is slowly coming off and my skin isn't as itchy anymore. Skin is starting to feel softer. I no longer get large zits, only small whiteheads which go away after a day. Had about 3-6 blemishes this week (not including random small whiteheads that went away really quickly).
End of week 4: Early this week I had reached a point where the majority of the dead skin mask was off and my skin was no longer oily or dry. From that day on my acne started disappearing really fast! Each day I would wake up and my skin looked noticeably better than the previous day. My overall skin tone looks a lot healthier. Don't have any sebum clogging pores except for sebaceous filaments on nose that are also disappearing. I have a couple blemishes still and some scarring but at this rate they will probably be gone in a couple weeks.
In the end I can hardly believe how much my skin has healed. The only thing I feel bad about is the fact that I suffered with acne for so long when it was actually so easy to cure. That post above about eating foods you're sensitive to is really true. I eat a healthy diet but things like dairy and whole wheat that used to cause breakouts for me no longer do. So glad I did this, please give this a try guys, you owe it to yourselves!
Been doing the water only regimen for exactly one month and my skin looks and feels better than it has in years! Trust me guys, the solution really is as simple as it sounds. I used to use a bunch of products to clean my skin when they were actually causing my acne and oily skin. Since I have cut out all products to clean my skin it feels incredibly smooth and is never oily and doesn't seem to be acne prone anymore! Here is a quick timeline of how my skin healed up by just washing it with water once a day:
Day 2: Woke up this morning and my skin was glowing and felt softer. Starts to get oily towards the end of the day.
End of week 1: I always wake up with smooth radiant looking skin. Oil production is steadily decreasing but my forehead looks pretty oily towards the end of the day. Still have 7-10 blemishes but they are healing. My skin tone looks a lot smoother and there is no more redness.
End of week 2: My skin is no longer oily. I developed a layer of dry skin on my face which is pretty itchy. Developed 2 new medium sized cystic spots. Had about 5-7 blemishes this week. My acne scars which developed previously seem like they are fading.
End of week 3: My dead skin mask is slowly coming off and my skin isn't as itchy anymore. Skin is starting to feel softer. I no longer get large zits, only small whiteheads which go away after a day. Had about 3-6 blemishes this week (not including random small whiteheads that went away really quickly).
End of week 4: Early this week I had reached a point where the majority of the dead skin mask was off and my skin was no longer oily or dry. From that day on my acne started disappearing really fast! Each day I would wake up and my skin looked noticeably better than the previous day. My overall skin tone looks a lot healthier. Don't have any sebum clogging pores except for sebaceous filaments on nose that are also disappearing. I have a couple blemishes still and some scarring but at this rate they will probably be gone in a couple weeks.
In the end I can hardly believe how much my skin has healed. The only thing I feel bad about is the fact that I suffered with acne for so long when it was actually so easy to cure. That post above about eating foods you're sensitive to is really true. I eat a healthy diet but things like dairy and whole wheat that used to cause breakouts for me no longer do. So glad I did this, please give this a try guys, you owe it to yourselves!
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uncledrew3, i think your right. it does seem a bit like a downward spiral, where creams & washing just makes things worse.
i recently tried to find a sensitive soap with no chemicals or SLS. i tried a few new ones but they both gave me the welders goggles (red face, white area around my eyes 
) .
im currently only a few days into the "caveman"/ water regiment, sls free toothpase, vitamins and everything is going great. no redness and only a few small white heads which seem to heal quite quickly.
i have done the caveman regiment before for a short time but my skin becomes gritty and just end up scratching it then it becomes a mess again. 
this time im planning to stick it out as long as i can, without picking/scratching.
Really happy to read such positive comments about the water only regimen not only on this thread, but other threads which have surfaced over the past month. You guys should really give it a try if you've tried everything else. I highly recommend you try this first before going on a substance like accutane.
If you are trying out the water only regimen and your skin develops a dead skin mask then you should take that as a sign that your skin is repairing itself. Skin which has a healthy acid mantle and stable pH level will not develop this layer of dead skin. Therefore once your skin is healed, it will shed the dead skin mask and it will not return unless necessary.
Another thing which is notable is how all the systems in the human body are interconnected. Once you let your skin repair its acid mantle you may notice that you actually feel physically different. Instead of forcing your body to continuously exhaust itself by trying to repair your damaged skin, it can reallocate and use that energy more efficiently. You may notice a potential increase in your energy levels, reduced anxiety, less irritability, better mood, and better hormone synthesis. Seriously! An example of the interconnectedness of human body systems is that when I was acne prone I always had a coating on my tongue which was thicker than normal. After about 2 weeks of the water only regimen I noticed a dramatic change in the coating on my tongue and after about 5 weeks my tongue returned to a state which looked completely healthy. My mood and energy levels are also noticeably different.
If you're going to take anything away from this thread just know that everything is good in moderation -- including washing your face. Keep it simple.
Thanks, but when I stopped using skin care, my face became super oily!! So now I am back to my facial wash. However, I managed to tame my acne through a strict diet. I figured that the food I eat had something to do with it and it did. I cut off on the dairy and voila, less pimples!