Originally Posted by Aeris

Paula's Choice "Clear" line of products works the best out of non-prescription products for me (now that I'm older and the problem is less severe): http://www.paulaschoice.com/category...tment-products Most drugstore products didn't help much and majorly irritated and dried my skin out on top of it all. Back when I had to use a dermatologist (with no insurance) in my younger years, it costs thousands $$$ for all the creams, Accutane, laser surgery, etc... I did discover through trial and error that my skin stays perfect without any treatments when my diet is pristine, but I realistically can't maintain that regimen very long ...NO sugar, NO milk, NO cheese, NO meat, NO soy, NO, beverages besides water, No processed food, NO gluten/wheat ...ONLY whole, UN-processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, water and ...well...not much else. You can see why that never lasts long, but I try.

Yes it's definitely hard but I wouldn't say it's un-maintainable....and the results are worth it (IMO)! I'm on a similar regimen except meat is fine for me (organic, pastured meat or wild-caught seafood preferably so you avoid the hormones/antibiotics of conventionally raised meat which can cause skin problems) but always I have it in small amounts (a few ounces of salmon, chicken, beef a week. I'm curious, does organic/etc meat affect you in the same way as conventional meat? For the rest of my protein I stick to nuts/seeds as well as RAW protein powder occasionally) Have you looked into the Paleo diet cookbooks/lifestyle books/websites at all for meal suggestions/baking recipes (which are dairy free, gluten free, soy free and often sugar free per Paleo-diet principles)? It makes life so much easier, not only with recipes and such but when you know there are others who are living similarly to you!

Some of my favorite sites are http://robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/, http://www.health-bent.com/ , http://everydaypaleo.com/, http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/ , http://nomnompaleo.com/ , and my absolute favorite http://www.elanaspantry.com/

Originally Posted by eurasiangirl

Yes it's definitely hard but I wouldn't say it's un-maintainable....and the results are worth it (IMO)! I'm on a similar regimen except meat is fine for me (organic, pastured meat or wild-caught seafood preferably so you avoid the hormones/antibiotics of conventionally raised meat which can cause skin problems) but always I have it in small amounts (a few ounces of salmon, chicken, beef a week. I'm curious, does organic/etc meat affect you in the same way as conventional meat? For the rest of my protein I stick to nuts/seeds as well as RAW protein powder occasionally) Have you looked into the Paleo diet cookbooks/lifestyle books/websites at all for meal suggestions/baking recipes (which are dairy free, gluten free, soy free and often sugar free per Paleo-diet principles)? It makes life so much easier, not only with recipes and such but when you know there are others who are living similarly to you! Some of my favorite sites are http://robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/, http://www.health-bent.com/ , http://everydaypaleo.com/, http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/ , http://nomnompaleo.com/ , and my absolute favorite http://www.elanaspantry.com/

Wow. Thank you so much for the links! :) I haven't looked into the Paleo diet yet, but it looks like it's right up my alley.
I haven't had a chance to experiment with organic, pastured meat because I live in a very small town where Walmart is the closest thing we have to a grocery store :x
The most evil of all on my list of unsafe foods is sugar though. That always leads to HUGE cysts the next morning no fail. I'm still trying to figure out if (organic) eggs affect me or not. It can't be too bad if I don't notice much, but I keep it to a bare minimum just in case. I have an insanely fast metabolism so I do included lots of nuts in my diet for the calories and protein.
I don't understand how my friends who live off of junk food, smoke, and drink alcohol like a fish manage to have perfect skin :x

Originally Posted by Aeris

Wow. Thank you so much for the links! :) I haven't looked into the Paleo diet yet, but it looks like it's right up my alley. I haven't had a chance to experiment with organic, pastured meat because I live in a very small town where Walmart is the closest thing we have to a grocery store :x The most evil of all on my list of unsafe foods is sugar though. That always leads to HUGE cysts the next morning no fail. I'm still trying to figure out if (organic) eggs affect me or not. It can't be too bad if I don't notice much, but I keep it to a bare minimum just in case. I have an insanely fast metabolism so I do included lots of nuts in my diet for the calories and protein. I don't understand how my friends who live off of junk food, smoke, and drink alcohol like a fish manage to have perfect skin :x

Definitelyyy check it out! There's also a bunch of great books on the Paleo diet/lifestyle you should get your hands on if you want to learn more in a concise way. Once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze.

Some of my faves:
http://amzn.to/QwtbaO
http://amzn.to/MkwBIT
http://amzn.to/OWd8Ns
http://amzn.to/QgZHil
http://amzn.to/NSVWto

As for your meat problem, if financially feasible you may want to look into delivery services. This link discusses different types of pale meat/food delivery services: http://paleohacks.com/questions/1119...#axzz21XfkIauO . Otherwise it seems as if you're doing ok with alternate protein sources for the moment (but some good quality meat can definitely mix up the monotony) and I definitely recommend RAW protein powder as protein "insurance" (I tend to not fulfill my allotted daily amount so it's an easy, organic, allergen-free way to get some extra protein in my diet, considering protein is crucial for not only skin health but muscle/etc.) I buy mine on Amazon because it's loads cheaper http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Or.../dp/B0031JK96C . You can also buy Paleo stuff like coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut flour, almond flour (GREAT alternative flours that makes awesome Paleo baked goods - check out Elana's pantry for recipes) on Amazon and you don't even have to leave your house. LOL I swear I'm not an Amazon rep, I just love that site.

Though sugar doesn't trigger breakouts for me I'm still trying to completely nix it from my diet (it already comprises a veryyyy small percentage of my diet, but just that last push) - it's overall just so toxic to the body and has no nutritional value! I can tolerate eggs pretty well (I have anywhere from 3-6 a day) but like we both know, the process is very trial-and-error and what works for one person may not work for another.

I applaud you for making such drastic dietary changes for the benefit of your skin because you're not only helping your skin but your insides as well! Too few people understand that skin problems primarily arise from food intolerances/poor dietary choices/intestinal toxicity/etc. I've definitely got friends like you describe and all I can say is that their lifestyle choices WILL catch up with them, juuuust wait.


P.S And don't worry about the high(ish) fat content of the paleo diet. As we know now, good fats (omega 3's, monounsaturated types like olive oil, nuts, avocado as well as healthy saturated fats like coconut oil) are SUPREMELY beneficial for skin, satiety, weight management, cardiovascular health, etc and do not make you fat (also tons of books/resources about that, check them out too, though the Paleo books will also address this). Obvs one should not go overboard and keep portions reasonable.

are you sure its acne? some of the products you might have been using could actually aggravate you skin. i wouldn't recommend using specifically acne products, since they could be causing all this. instead, it is very important that you start a daily skincare regimen and wash your face 2x a day with a non-sudsing, soap free cleanser followed by a toner and moisturizer. i'd stay away from cream moisturizers because they tend to be too thick, so stick with lotions and look for a toner with salicylic acid to dry out those pimples.

Originally Posted by eurasiangirl

Definitelyyy check it out! There's also a bunch of great books on the Paleo diet/lifestyle you should get your hands on if you want to learn more in a concise way. Once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze. Some of my faves: http://amzn.to/QwtbaO http://amzn.to/MkwBIT http://amzn.to/OWd8Ns http://amzn.to/QgZHil http://amzn.to/NSVWto As for your meat problem, if financially feasible you may want to look into delivery services. This link discusses different types of pale meat/food delivery services: http://paleohacks.com/questions/1119...#axzz21XfkIauO . Otherwise it seems as if you're doing ok with alternate protein sources for the moment (but some good quality meat can definitely mix up the monotony) and I definitely recommend RAW protein powder as protein "insurance" (I tend to not fulfill my allotted daily amount so it's an easy, organic, allergen-free way to get some extra protein in my diet, considering protein is crucial for not only skin health but muscle/etc.) I buy mine on Amazon because it's loads cheaper http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Or.../dp/B0031JK96C . You can also buy Paleo stuff like coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut flour, almond flour (GREAT alternative flours that makes awesome Paleo baked goods - check out Elana's pantry for recipes) on Amazon and you don't even have to leave your house. LOL I swear I'm not an Amazon rep, I just love that site. Though sugar doesn't trigger breakouts for me I'm still trying to completely nix it from my diet (it already comprises a veryyyy small percentage of my diet, but just that last push) - it's overall just so toxic to the body and has no nutritional value! I can tolerate eggs pretty well (I have anywhere from 3-6 a day) but like we both know, the process is very trial-and-error and what works for one person may not work for another. I applaud you for making such drastic dietary changes for the benefit of your skin because you're not only helping your skin but your insides as well! Too few people understand that skin problems primarily arise from food intolerances/poor dietary choices/intestinal toxicity/etc. I've definitely got friends like you describe and all I can say is that their lifestyle choices WILL catch up with them, juuuust wait. P.S And don't worry about the high(ish) fat content of the paleo diet. As we know now, good fats (omega 3's, monounsaturated types like olive oil, nuts, avocado as well as healthy saturated fats like coconut oil) are SUPREMELY beneficial for skin, satiety, weight management, cardiovascular health, etc and do not make you fat (also tons of books/resources about that, check them out too, though the Paleo books will also address this). Obvs one should not go overboard and keep portions reasonable.

I will definitely look into these books. The Raw protein powder is soy and milk free yay :)
And I'm definitely trying out the organic Paleo meat delivery service. I miss meat soooo much.
I don't understand how so many "experts" and dermatologists keep proclaiming that diet has nothing to do with acne. There's an obvious link from what you, I, and many others, have noticed. Wait, maybe I do know.....so people can continue to spend lots of $$$ for years of Accutane and medicated creams for the dermatologists to get richer?

Originally Posted by Aeris

I will definitely look into these books. The Raw protein powder is soy and milk free yay :) And I'm definitely trying out the organic Paleo meat delivery service. I miss meat soooo much. I don't understand how so many "experts" and dermatologists keep proclaiming that diet has nothing to do with acne. There's an obvious link from what you, I, and many others, have noticed. Wait, maybe I do know.....so people can continue to spend lots of $$$ for years of Accutane and medicated creams for the dermatologists to get richer?

Yup the RAW stuff is great because it hasn't got loads of unnecessary stuff in it and very allergen friendly :))) also, Amazing Grass (http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Grass-...s+amazing+meal) is pretty good too and comes in a few different flavors but it's not a "protein powder" per se, more like an overall meal replacement beverage with protein and greens for those days you're running back and forth for classes/work/whatever and need a quick pick me up.

Let me know how the delivery service goes, I'm curious to see how it is!

And you're spot on about derms and docs...it all really boils down to $$$. Sad but true. And honestly also a lack of education in the nutrition department because docs get woefully inadequate nutrition education (http://www.sarahbesthealth.com/think...out-nutrition/ I know this is just a casual article, but it sums it up quite nicely and there is plenty of information regarding this fact should you feel the urge to Google ) I mean they really don't get anything for prescribing you a healthy diet but what they do get is you coming back to them again and again for expensive treatments that don't work in the long term. And they stay in business. It's really sad actually. And this goes far beyond just dermatology too - oncology, gastroenterology, etc :/

People/patients really need to take their health into their own hands and read up on CURRENT (not circa 1950's) nutrition studies/information/etc and not be so easily brainwashed by slick marketing by food and pharmaceutical companies. Ok, ok, I'll step off my soapbox now....lol

After all, Hippocrates once said, "Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be food." I think we can both agree he was onto something...!!

To me it sounds like a stress acne, your body is reacting to your stress levels. My skin always gets mad at me when my stress levels jump up and down, it even goes dry...and I have combination to oily....weird!

From the experience I've had so far, I say calm down. It's the first step, I was put on sedatives to keep my heart and nerves in check (too long of a story). Then drink fluids...lots of them! That helps your skin to stay hydrated and clean. If that does not help with clearing it up, then go to dermatologist, because it sounds as though it could be stress or the new environment which your skin does not like. It has happened to me, it's possible. When I moved to Canada I learned what acne is, when I go back home to visit family and friends, my skin is as clear as it can get and as even as it gets. So look into that as well.

Originally Posted by eurasiangirl

Hey girl I had a similar problem to you. I was blessed with clear skin forever until I had an increase in life changes/stress/etc. What you need to understand is that acne is a reflection of what is going on inside of you. Your gut. You more likely than not have some imbalances going on inside and until you "right" them, you will likely be unable to completely clear your skin. Stress and life changes can affect your immune system (which is primarily located in your intestines) and bring about a myriad of problems including skin problems. You need to fix your gut flora ("good" bacteria) and identify any possible food allergies and right any mineral/vitamin deficiency. Let me explain. I speak from experience. Dermatologists might say that "diet doesn't have anything to do with the condition of your skin." Wrong. This has been proven otherwise now. The initial "study" that made this fallacy come about was poorly controlled with a very tiny population. I mean let's face it - a derm cannot sell you a healthy diet. They don't really gain anything from that. I'm not saying there's no place for prescription drugs - I would just really be cautious about diving into them before you try other methods. I tried all sorts of prescription washes, topical treatments, birth control, etc when my skin went haywire. What did they do? Made my skin red and raw because even the small-dose stuff can be very harsh. BC made my hormones go out of whack (I even had to get my cervix cauterized TWICE due to the hormones in the BC pill. Yeah. They're bad news) Things weren't changing and I was frustrated. So I smartened up. I went to a nutritionist and I sought out an acupuncturist. That was the first time I made the connection between food and skin. I also stopped the BC pill after 5ish years of being on it. To make a long story short, I did an elimination diet. I cut out soy and dairy as well as gluten. To this day I am soy, dairy and gluten free. I also had some blood work done and I had a zinc deficiency (which can also lead to skin problems.) Along with the diet changes I also take Dr Ohhira's probiotic 12 plus (good for gut flora), fish oil (GREAT for skin), organic broken cell wall chlorella (detoxing and GREAT for skin), Carlson's Super 2 Daily vitamins (nutritional "insurance") and I take shots of Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar every day (alkalinizing and also amazing for skin). DO a google search on any of those things and you'll be able to read about so many people's great experiences with them for their skin. My topical skin regimen is olay sensitive skin facial wash, Paula's Choice BHA liquid, cell food oxygen gel and/or organic aloe vera gel (as moisturizers) clinique emergency gel, tea tree or sea buckthorn oil (if i need it), and Aztec Secret clay mixed with apple cider vinegar as a weekly mask (magical, I swear by it). Nothing harsh - I avoid parabens, fragrances, alcohol, etc in all my skincare products and try to go organic/natural if I can. And guess what, my skin has completely cleared. People comment on my beautiful skin, I go makeup less regularly, and they can't believe I even had a bout with bad skin. And mind you, I have very fair, burnable, scar-prone skin so that says ALOT. If you fix what's going on with your insides you will not only fix your skin from the inside out but your immune system as well. Feel free to ask me more questions. Also, check out these resources: http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Skin-Die...f=cm_lmf_tit_4 (LOVE THIS BOOK!) http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Out-W...f=cm_lmf_tit_2 http://www.amazon.com/Digestive-Well...gestive+health http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Tract-G...gestive+health

This!

thank you eurasiangirl for the helpful post