I didn't have acne until I was in my mid-twenties. I tried EVERYTHING to tame it. I kept my hair clean and off my face, my pillow cases clean, tried all types of different makeup to make sure I didn't have an allergy, never slept with make up on... I tried every single treatment imaginable: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, masks, scrubs, peels, everything over the counter that you can name, ProActive, the harsh, expensive crap that my dermatologist prescribed me... I even tried washing my face less and using very mild soaps made for sensitive skin. Nothing worked; the acne always came back. Anyone who suffers from acne knows the struggle-- I didn't even want to go to the beach or the pool or spend the night at my boyfriend's house cause I didn't want him or anyone to see me without makeup. Finally my skin got so bad that I decided that the problem had to be internal. I don't have health insurance since I turned 26 so I couldn't go to a doctor. I started to do heavy research on my own and came across articles online about gluten sensitivity and gluten intolerance and their strong ties to acne. One of the most prevalent side effects of gluten intolerance or sensitivity is acne! If you're sensitive or intolerant, gluten POISONS your body and it reacts by trying to get rid of it (one way it does this is pushing it out through the skin). I decided to experiment. I IMMEDIATELY cut gluten out of my diet. This was no easy change... Everything has gluten in it!! Bread, pasta, most cereals, cookies, cake, ice cream, even most candies contain gluten. I really had to research and I am constantly reading labels and googling. It has been THREE WEEKS since I've cut out gluten and the proof is in the pudding. The change is unbelievable. The only change I made was cutting out gluten. I used tea tree oil to heal the existing acne and have not had a new breakout since. If you can afford to go to the doctor they can test you for gluten intolerance/sensitivity... I had to do it the old fashion way-- trial and error! It worked... If you've been struggling with acne and nothing has worked for you, try considering what you're putting INTO your body that may be causing it.
See attached thumbnails for before and after pics. These pictures were taken 25 days apart.
I suspect gluten may play a part in my acne as well, but how you can you completely cut it out its in everything! ahh
Once you're sure it's gluten, it's easy. When you get a reaction, stop eating that item. I'll be honest, there are not a lot of truly gluten free foods out there. I learned how to make meals from scratch. I also stick with Bob's Red Mill products. They are the only truly gluten free food brand out there (thank the FDA for that) that is manufactured.
You also got to watch fruits and vegetables, the wax coating is made with wheat. Also remember cows, pigs, chicken, and turkey are fed gluten which they also can not digest and ends up in their skin, fat, connective tissue, ect.. Grass fed is best but at a price. Other than that, it's easy.
Thanks for sharing, and congratulations on finding what works for you. I too am starting to lean towards the possibility that certain foods are causing my acne. My question is this: Is there a specific reaction that you get right away?
I bring this up because at times after a meal, my face would get a bit itchy and red/warm.. It could be a coincidence or may be because I'm eating something warm lol. I can be overthinking this, but have you experienced some sort of reaction as stated?