*Foods good for acne?

luvfitgals · June 26th, 2007, 10:47 PM

Hey folks,
recently I've been breaking out w/ adult facial acne. Mostly my forehead, nose, and around my sideburns.

Waiting for my blood work & urine results, plus I'm seeing a dermatologist...

was wondering if anyone is aware of any foods good for combatting or calming acne?

Thanks!

*P.S. I'm allergic/intollerant to eggplant, kiwi, strawberry, and peanuts.

**mavgrad99** · June 27th, 2007, 01:33 AM

first... how old are you?

second, whats your diet like?

third, are you juicing?

if you are young, eat like crap and are on the juice, you probably have found your source of acne, if not, break it down for me.

**Bisons** · June 27th, 2007, 07:46 AM

I believe Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) is supposed to be good for acne. Have a read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantothenic_acid

Though from what I've read it only works becasue it's a precursor to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_a

You will find this helpfull http://www.pantothenic-acid.com/acne_vulgaris.html

**Hans_Rachid** · June 27th, 2007, 12:32 PM

I've been told by my dermatologist and read in many articles that no effect had been found between food and acne, so unless you're having some kind of alergic reaction I would search somewhere else.

luvfitgals · June 27th, 2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavgrad99

first... how old are you?

second, whats your diet like?

third, are you juicing?

if you are young, eat like crap and are on the juice, you probably have found your source of acne, if not, break it down for me.

30 yrs old

Balanced diet: plenty of fruits & veggies, fish, seafood, red & white meats, carbs from rice, pasta, bread, ecc, ecc (I've always eaten well, from birth)

The only juice I know is the peach, apricot, apple, orange, and mango nectars I drink

I've been playing soccer since I was a kid, so I'm not out of shape.

luvfitgals · June 27th, 2007, 04:15 PM

Edit: was responding to an idiot who, thankfully, is now banned.

**mavgrad99** · June 27th, 2007, 07:29 PM

then I see that you have been leading the good life. I dont know what to say, sounds like you are pretty clean livin. perhaps a facewash three times daily would do the trick. I get nasty hairline acne in the summer because I work outdoors, I find that a good face soap does the trick.

**pliny_2001** · June 27th, 2007, 07:35 PM

I get a little when the weather first gets nice (dirty face from more sweat? pore-clogging suntan lotion? no idea.), but my skin tends to get used to it after a week or so.

Good call on the dermatologist - just explain, tell them if you're using steroids (which is the 'juice' that mavgrad was referring to), and wait for them to tell you to wash your face morning and night, use a moisturizer, and probably give you a prescription for differin gel.

luvfitgals · June 27th, 2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pliny_2001

I get a little when the weather first gets nice (dirty face from more sweat? pore-clogging suntan lotion? no idea.), but my skin tends to get used to it after a week or so.

Good call on the dermatologist - just explain, tell them if you're using steroids (which is the 'juice' that mavgrad was referring to), and wait for them to tell you to wash your face morning and night, use a moisturizer, and probably give you a prescription for differin gel.

I already knew what you guys meant by "juice"...
and no, I don't use any type of juice.

Yeah, I'll see what the derma says...

still, if anyone has any ideas/suggestions...

**Hans_Rachid** · June 27th, 2007, 10:24 PM

Well I know that accutane is derived from vitamin A so maybe consuming high doses of vit A could help. However, vit A is liposoluble as opposed to other vitamins such as vit C which are hydrosoluble, so instead of being eliminated through urine it is stored in the fat cells, thus can be toxic in high doses, just as accutane is.

If nothing has changed in your lifestyle (stress, hygiene, alimentation), then it is most likely caused by a hormonal change, in which case the best way to get rid of it will be time, topic solutions, antibiotics, accutane, or a combination of these elements, depending on how severe is your case.

luvfitgals · June 29th, 2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans_Rachid

Well I know that accutane is derived from vitamin A so maybe consuming high doses of vit A could help. However, vit A is liposoluble as opposed to other vitamins such as vit C which are hydrosoluble, so instead of being eliminated through urine it is stored in the fat cells, thus can be toxic in high doses, just as accutane is.

If nothing has changed in your lifestyle (stress, hygiene, alimentation), then it is most likely caused by a hormonal change, in which case the best way to get rid of it will be time, topic solutions, antibiotics, accutane, or a combination of these elements, depending on how severe is your case.

My derma doesn't want me on accutane b/c it's known to screw up other things in the body (i.e. organs)...
and I wanna keep everything intact.

Guess I'll just need some patience on this one...

*if anyone else has any suggestions or knowledge, feel free to add your 2-cents worth.

Thanks to all!

fiona · July 12th, 2007, 10:40 PM

There was a study linking dairy to acne:

Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Danby FW, Frazier AL, Willett WC, Holmes MD.
High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Feb;52(2):207-14.
PMID: 15692464

There might also be a link between iodine intake and acne.

There are some people who think that acne is caused by "dirty" protein. Protein is a humectant, it absorbs water. They think that these dirty proteins can't be digested and accumulate in the skin where their water attracting properties cause pinching off of the sebaceous glands leading to clogging. They advocate a raw paleo diet: raw fish, raw egg yolk, brazil nuts, and all the fruit you want. Some people have been happy with it. Search on Wai diet, I am not allowed to post urls yet.

But many derms remain unconvinced. They think it is not possible to drastically change the fatty acid quantities in a person's sebum without a starvation diet and don't think any major tweaks aside from drastic calorie restriction would have any effect.

Nonetheless some people insist that their acne improves when they eliminate certain foods. You might have to do some experimenting to see what works for you, if anything.

**tidalwave** · July 12th, 2007, 11:43 PM

I've found stress to be a big factor in my skin's appearance. However, vitamin B5 seemed to help significantly. Note that my experience was not a scientific study, but I attributed the clear-up to the B5. I just went to the supplement shop and bought the B complex pill with the highest dose of pantothenic acid. Good luck!

**Insex** · July 13th, 2007, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvfitgals

My derma doesn't want me on accutane b/c it's known to screw up other things in the body (i.e. organs)...
and I wanna keep everything intact.

Guess I'll just need some patience on this one...

I was on Accutane while I was in high school.

The biggest threat Accutane can pose is birth defects. Lately, there have been many measures implemented to ensure that mothers and potential mothers and fathers do not use or handle Accutane. It has been known that even as little as one dose of Accutane can cause serious birth defects in babies. Another thing doctors warn you about while on Accutane is to stay out of the sun, and stay well hydrated. While on Accutane, your body becomes very dry (not just your skin, but everywhere else as well).

I can say firsthand that Accutane definitely took care of my acne problem. I experienced the expected side effects while on it: dry skin, dry nose, dry lips; basically every part of my body was lacking moisture. However, another thing I experienced while I was on Accutane was that my body's growth slowed down substantially after I stopped taking it. Height, limbs, everything slowed down except body fat and muscle. I was 5'11" at age 15 as a freshman in high school. I started using Accutane at age 16 as a sophomore at about 6'0". I am 24 today and about 6' and half an inch (but I usually round it off and tell everyone I'm 6'1").

Other than what's mentioned above, I didn't experience any life-threatening side effects from the drug. While I was on Accutane, I saw my doctor regularly and she monitored me (through blood tests) to see if my body was functioning optimally. Everything came out OK for me.

napoleon · October 15th, 2007, 01:41 PM

I was on accutane years ago, and yes it is nasty stuff but as long as you go in for your blood tests and make sure everything is cool its great. However that stuff is usually left as a last resort because it is that rough on your internals, kidneys and liver the most I think.

Usually if you go to a dermatologist theyll give you a prescription for some kind of antibiotic and some kind of topical creame.

I dont care what anyone says food can totally influence your complexion, especially caffeine and chocolate, for me atleast.

What I found that works the best for me is neutrogena soap, washing in the morning and evening, and before I go to bed, after washing my face at night I use a straight benzoil peroxide creame. I found tubes of the stuff online for around $9.

Another thing that makes a big difference for me is remembering not to touch your face with your hands during the day, your hands are dirty even though they dont feel like it and it COULD make you break out more.

I been fighting this for most of my life, from 16 to 28 was hell for me, after accutane was when it finally turned around for the better. I believe I just have a genetic disposition to it, it has ran in the family so Im kinda screwed and have to be super careful to keep it at bay.

Good luck.

**angelfaces** · October 15th, 2007, 02:23 PM

My skin started to go bad too when I was eating lot's of junk and greasy food and gained alot of weight, I used to just slap on tons of foundation cream to cover it up, until I took a herb called 'Echinacea' my skin is now really clear and soft again while I continure to eat the junk!! 'Echinacea' has really worked magic with my skin and once I started taking it I never looked back, I know once I start eating healthier my skin will become clear anyway and you eat healthy too but give it a try anyway u never know! it's 100%herbal.
I only came acroos it when I had the flu and a friend recommended it but when I took it next morning I woke up and all the crap on my face was gone

! It's traditionally used to fight of infections, cold, flu etc works as a blood detoxifier, vitamin C also worked on me but I had to take alot for it to have any affect and if you take too much you get a laxative type result

!
Definitly worth a try

**angelfaces** · October 15th, 2007, 03:01 PM

another is that steam your face!!!

it's the most natural way. just pour boiling water into a bowl or something and put your head over it then a large towel over your head to cover it and around the bowl completely so the steam cant escape.
just stay there like that letting the steam work on your face for about 10-20mins or so then wash your face and you'll see any blackheads etc will just wipe off, its the steam loosens up your skin and pores etc
Do that every nite or so and the longer you steam your face and the hotter the steam is the better the result so don't give up after a min however tempting

**varbo** · October 15th, 2007, 03:35 PM

This book might help:
The Clear Skin diet

Amazon.com: The Clear Skin Diet: A Nutritional Plan for Getting Rid of and Avoiding Acne: Books: Alan C. Logan,Valori Treloar

**wildstang** · October 15th, 2007, 07:42 PM

my son has problems with acne and various other skin ailments and the doctor prescribed (triacinolone acetonide) and that cleared him up quickly. worth asking your doctor about anyways.

**bigpurp** · October 16th, 2007, 01:27 AM

I'm not big on buying 'products' but my g/f has huge breakout issues (though claimed by many to not be 'acne'' Due to stress, and many other issues. Ranging from her face, and also her upper back between her shoulder blades. We attribute the back problem to conditioner and oils from her hair hitting her back and causing the breakouts.

Her face, could be diet, stress (she stresses about everything beyond reason), diet, etc.

I started using this product by Origins, it's a charcoal body wash, just because it felt really good and clean. She started using it on her back and worked very well to remove the oil and clear up the breakouts. It's a bit harsh and drying for the face, but if you used a good moisturizer it would probably be great. It's black as can be but doesn't stain the skin what so ever. A decent size tube was around $15 last I recall and she gets about a month out of it. I go probably 3x that long on a tube.

For her face she tried that proactive stuff with no real positive results after 2 months. Since has switched to Philosophy products. Uses a whole mixture of stuff, from retinol (sp) caps, a reall awesome moisturizer, and a slew of other things in this 'makeup optional' kit she bought, plus the retinol caps, and an oxygen peel. I don't know what all is in there, but it work amazingly well. The oxygen peel caps and such make enough stuff we both use it about once a week and my skin look really good due to it. I believe it's about $250 give or take and she gets almost 3 months out of it, but it cured the breakouts she has been fighting since she was 19, so it's worth every penny to her. Shes much more conservative with $$ than I am, so if she thinks it's a good deal then I just go with it.