Dietary Changes for Acne


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Bluebirdofparadise (Billings, Mt) on 08/16/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Hi,

I just wanted to write tell about some things that seem to be curing my acne.

First of all, I used to get pimples on my butt and I found that it was from the lotion I used (or sometimes I'd use baby oil after a shower). Anything with mineral oil or petroleum jelly or or artificial stuff like that in it would give me pimples. It took me a little while to figure it out because I'm really into moisturizing my skin and it's something I'd been doing for a long time. When I switched to using virgin coconut oil or other virgin oils (olive, grapeseed, etc.) the problem disappeared.

However, I still got pimples on my face, back, and chest. It was really embarrassing to wear a swimsuit or a dress with a low back or anything, because they were all over (esp. my back). Well, a couple of months ago I decided to become a vegetarian (for reasons other than my acne). When I did this, I also became concerned about my nutrition and started taking a tablespoon or two of both unsulphured blackstrap molasses and brewer's yeast every day, in addition to eating a diet almost entirely of whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and cold-pressed (virgin) oils. I couldn't believe what was happening to me, but after a week or two the zits on my chest totally went away. Next they started disappearing on my back and now they are totally gone there, too (except for some little red scars where they used to be, but they are disappearing too). Now my face is clearing up as well - and I didn't even get any new ones when I got my period. I'm putting shea butter and lotions I make myself out of olive oil or almond oil and beeswax on my face. The shea butter really seems to help the scars disappear quickly. I tried using Pond's a couple of days ago but when I did I had a big zit under my eye by the evening.

I'm convinced that my acne was caused mostly by my diet. I realized this even more after I went to the fair a couple of weeks ago and ate a bunch of deep-fried food (still vegetarian but very high fat content!). The next couple of days my acne flared up again badly. A huge pimple on my cheek, one on my chin, lots of tiny ones on my forehead, and several on my back. It didn't matter what I was (or wasn't) putting on my skin. They just came, and benzol peroxide seemed to make the one on my cheek worse. Now that I've been back to "normal" (high-fiber, low fat vegetarian) about a week all the pimples are almost gone again (and no new ones have appeared).

I know a vegetarian diet sounds extreme but it is totally worth it to me. I feel so much better and healthier and more beautiful. I can look at myself in the mirror now and see smooth skin all the way up and down my body, front and back. I think I was just taking in more toxins to my body than it could handle. This wasn't easy for me to see as I am petite and thin for my size - so I wouldn't have guessed that too much fat/toxins in my diet were causing the problem. Now I am certain this is the case! Plus I feel better and more energetic and happier than I have in years. So in a nutshell - eating vegetarian/whole unprocessed foods, making sure my diet is nutritionally sound (blackstrap molasses and brewers yeast) and not putting chemicals or mineral oils on my skin is turning out to be a wonderful acne cure I wasn't expecting. If you can do it, I'm sure it will make you better too.
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Katia (SLC, Utah) on 07/11/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I had terrible facial acne and was on many different antibiotics for years. My acne cure was to remove all sucrose (white refined sugar) from my diet. I replaced it with Stevia, which I mix in drinks and Xylitol, which I use for baking. Removing sucrose completely cured my acne in 3-4 weeks. I also lost weight as a side benefit and I never get colds anymore. I also never breakout anymore and people have commented on how healthy my skin looks. I returned to the sugar habit once (during the holidays) and my acne returned in full force. I also caught bronchitis. That was the last time I relapsed, I learned my lesson.
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Ingrid (Geneva, Ohio) on 06/20/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I'm in my 40's and have had acne all my life. I've found recently that pop (soda) does it and occassionally candy.
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Tina (Seattle, WA, USA) on 01/15/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I believe an improper diet can cause acne. I've found that my skin breaks out when I eat chocolate, wheat products, or ingest caffeine. Acne isn't really a skin problem. The body isn't processing something that it's allergic to, so it eliminates the toxins thru the skin. You have to get rid of the source of the problem, not just treat the symptoms. Acne is just a symptom of an internal issue. I strongly recommend consulting w/ a naturopath. Dermatologists have never helped me clear up my skin. They don't seem to understand that it's a systemic problem.
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Stacy (Oklahoma City, OK, USA) on 11/19/2008
5 out of 5 stars

Keratosis Pilaris, acne, rosacea, etc

I used to have many health ailments, many of which I have read about here. The only thing that works to cure them and keep them away is a raw diet. When eating a raw diet, you avoid most of the foods that cause the problems in the first place. Consuming too much cooked proteins, especially wheat and dairy, causes disease. Cooking the proteins makes them difficult for the body to break down the protein. The excess proteins clog up the lymph and other organs of elimination causing an over growth of bacteria (colds, cysts, etc.)which in turn causes disease. The disease usually shows up in the weakest organs that have usually been abused the most from a wrong diet. There is a wealth of info at waisays.com and barefoots forum at curezone.com. Herbs are a great way to aid in healing. When you just start cleansing and eating a raw diet, they can help you heal faster. Just wanted to mention this. Thanks and have a great day!

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Telicia (Farmington Hills, MI) on 09/14/2008
5 out of 5 stars

Eliminating dairy practically cured my acne. I actually went to a nutritionist who tested my urine and told me that I was lactose intolerant. I rarely get an upset stomach from dairy so I wrote it off. I've practically lived on cereal, yogurt, and sourcream for years! Later on, I went to an acupuncturist who told me that my acne would clear up if I just stop eating dairy. She says I have too much yeast in my body and that when I eat dairy I was feeding it. Well apparently she was right. Cause over the years I've done everything from taking vitamins everyday, to doing full body detoxes. But the moment I stop eating all dairy products including creamer in my coffee and sourcream on my baked potato, my skin was completely clear! Completely! Whenever I get a pimple now, I just stop eating ALL dairy products, swipe a little peroxide and/or tea tree oil on my face, and my skin clears up within a matter of days. Why couldn't I have figured this out 10 years ago? Good luck.
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Simone (Portland, Oregon) on 07/20/2008
5 out of 5 stars

re: Acne & wheat/gluten allergy. I have suffered from embarrassing acne for over 20 years. I finally went to a naturopath, who diagnosed me as being allergic to gluten and wheat. Now that I have stopped eating anything w/ wheat or gluten in it, not only has my stomach stopped being upset, but my skin has cleared up. I don't have to put anything on it or do anything - it's just clear now.

I have also heard that dairy products can cause acne. I stopped using dairy products about the same time i stopped eating wheat/gluten, so that could also be part of the solution.

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Raquelle (Auckland, New Zealand) on 12/04/2007
5 out of 5 stars

I have suffered acne most of my life....now I have majorly linked it to my digestive track .....I have also suffered constipation as well. so if you have acne, have a look at how well your digestive system has been working ....everytime I have pimples return I find I have been constipated. Some of the best bowel movers are ...coconut oil(organic) used as butter etc..flax seeds in yoghurt(yummy way) peaches are very high in fiber ...oh and water water. and externally , there is some excellent cures on this website. ALso lemon juice (avoiding the eyes) is an excellent toner. Cider vinegar rinse. and also manuka honey can be steamed in with hot flannel till it disappears into your skin and is very antibacterial ! Also salt is great if you put in the basin with your face rinsing water , for helping all heal up. For skin internally can be fish oils , zinc healing scarring. Vit c . these I find are some of the best vitamins.
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Les (Athens, Greece) on 12/03/2007
5 out of 5 stars

For acne, the best solution is having a blood test for food intolerances. Then completely cut out the foods you are intolerant to. It takes less than a week to see results. It took me years of struggling to finally discover this simple solution. I hope this helps people.
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Linda Phillips (Phoenix, AZ) on 03/28/2007
5 out of 5 stars

I am in my late 50s and have endured mild to moderate acne my entire adult life, until several months ago when I vowed to find the cause and end my frustration. It was clear to me that this was not hormone-caused acne of teenagers, but a reaction of my body to something. I know that I am sensitive to soap, shampoos, conditioners, etc so have avoided these products as much as possible. But the key for me was diet. I went back to the basics and ate only raw green vegetables and drank only filtered water for 3 days. I noticed an immediate improvement in my skin. I then very gradually added back foods, starting with only natural food such as fruits, nuts, grains, beans, vegetables. I avoided anything processed or foods which may contain hormones (meat or dairy). I discovered that I am sensitive to anything enriched with vitamins (white flour, white rice, breakfast cereals, some pasta, etc.) This is an unusual sensitivity but I firmly believe that acne that persists beyond the teenage years is caused by a senility to something and that no topical treatment is as effective as finding the cause and eliminating it. This method may be helpful to others who want to find the cause of sensitivity acne. I wash my face with only tepid water, use no products on my face, and use Shikai brand shampoo which contains no sodium lauryl sulfate. I am elated to have clear healthy skin for the first time in my life.
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