I've suffered with acne for as long as I can remember. I have faint memories of going to school in 3rd grade and having pimples while everyone else still had flawless skin. I'm seventeen now, and although my skin isn't the worse its ever been currently, you can tell it's been put through a long and difficult struggle. Through my years of trying to fight acne i've learned a couple of things; one, diet has a lot to do with the way you look, in every aspect, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!, two, you're skin is very, very delicate.

As a pre teen, I experienced my period long before any other girl in my grade did. I was around 10 when I got mine and that was around the time I realized that I was no average girl. By then I was already familiar with my ever growing skin condition and was already trying to combat it with over the counter face washes. I can say, that to this day I have tried literally everything, and when I say everything, I mean LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE FACE WASH that has graced the shelves of any drug store you could think of. At that time I did not realize the long struggle that would curse me through my adolescence. Trying face wash after face wash I figured one of them HAD to work, I mean why wouldn't they? The commercials say they do. My older sister had struggled with acne for a brief amount of time, as did my brother, I figured I would come out unscathed as they did in a couple years or so. Or So I Thought. Years went by as I came to the realization that nothing was working and there might be something wrong. I visited a dermatologist a couple months back. Albeit, he was not a very good one. I walked in to the office and was asked several questions regarding my skin, that I didn't even know the answer to, and then within minutes I was escorted out with a prescription for " so and so". Excited at the fact that I would finally have clear skin I dove into the new acne regimen I was prescribed to. The following months would be spent with dry flaky skin that was finally starting to clear up! I was so relieved. But as fast as it cleared up, it began breaking out once again. I'm back at the beginning of the horrible cycle we call acne . Among other efforts to cure my acne were, proactive and birth control. Proactive ended up drying me out and giving my horrible cystic acne. Birth control made me fat and pimply. I was a lost cause.

Now I've decided to take my skin in to my own hands. No one knows your skin or your body better then you do. My main areas of concern reside on my cheeks and jawline. Followed by small whiteheads on my nose, and small bumps on my fore head. I've learned that maybe there isn't a magic product that will clear up my acne for good, maybe I need to change something myself. A slow and eye opening realization cleared up something for me. Dairy is not agreeing with my body. Upon the consumption of dairy I notice the next 24 hours are spent feeling bloated, gassy, and over all uncomfortable. It took me forever to make this connection and I am now realizing that I need to cut dairy products out of my life. Besides making me uncomfortable I have also noticed that the more dairy I eat the more my skin breaks out! I could possibly be lactose intolerant. I have also noticed that my diet is not the best. My mother is of mexican decent and she enjoys cooking fried foods, if she isn't cooking fried foods then we are fast foods. Bad, bad, bad, but seeing as though I don't have much of a say in what my mom has time or the ability to cook I am taking a different approach. Vitamins and a little thing I like to call the green smoothie!

Although I have just recently started drinking green smoothies I have already been commented by my mother on the improved appearance of my skin. The past couple months have been spent taking a multi vitamin and a teen vitamin. I have noticed that when I forget to take my vitamins an increase in break outs occurs.

My current acne regimen will look something along the lines of this;

In the morning: Take Super B-Complex, which includes the following amounts of vitamins

Vitamin C (absorbic acid) 180mg - 300%

Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate) 50mg - 3333%

Vitamin B2(riboflavin) 12.5mg- 735%

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) 50mg -250%

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)5mg - 250%

Folate (folic acid) 400mcg - 100%

Vitamin B12 (cyancobalamin) 12.5mg 208%

Biotin 45mcg 15%

I had previously taken a multi vitamin which contained less vitamin c, less B1, less B2, less, Niacinamide or B3, the same amount of B6, less folic acid, less Vitamin B12, and far more Biotin.

From this I am hypothesizing that the decrease in Biotin will allow for less break outs to occur, and the increase in the rest of the B vitamins will allow for fresher, healthier, more balanced skin. I have noticed that many people experience break outs with access amounts of Biotin. Keep in mind that I will still be taking my Teen Advantage which contains 300mcg of Biotin, but overall I will be consuming far less Biotin then previously stated.

After school I indulge in my favorite part of my regimen, my green smoothie. Honestly guys, I've heard nothing but great things about these smoothies and their improvement on skin and your over all health. If you struggle with acne and notice that you do not eat a good amount of vegetables or fruits then you might want to look into including these smoothies in your diet.

The ingredients I use are as follows:

3 handfuls of spinach, or you can use any leafy green vegetable.

1 banana,

Mixed fruits, such as mangos, pineapples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries. anything really, I save time by just buying frozen fruits, make sure they are organic though!

a splash of any organic fruit juice or water, AVOID MILK!

Blend and enjoy a fruity green smoothie, you can't even taste the spinach at all which makes this a fantastic after school treat.

Before night I will be taking my One a Day Teen Advantage for girl which has a butt load of vitamins that I don't feel like typing in.

I will be documenting any changes in skin tone, clarity or texture over the next couple months.

Maybe I'll finally get the clear skin I've been praying, dreaming, wishing for.