IN A 1971 ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY American Family Physician we see a quote: “Patients are deluded into thinking that their health can somehow be mysteriously harmed by something in their diet.” That’s not all.
The major textbook of dermatology for acne published in 1975 claimed that parents and doctors used the threat of depriving teens of “tempting delights” like candy and junk food only as a way to “keep these imminent sinners in check,” not because diet had any connection to acne.
In fact, most of us tend to believe that pimples are for kids!
Not true.
The average age of acne patients has now increased from 20 to 26 years old.
Millions of adults are experiencing acne for the first time.
And acne rates are rising — contradicting the belief that this condition is caused by genes.
Eight million people see the dermatologist every year for acne and millions more rely on infomercial products hawked by celebrities or over-the-counter products that total $100 million in sales every year.
And healthcare costs for prescription acne treatment exceed $1 billion a year.
Clearly, this problem, like so many chronic diseases in the 21st century, is increasing.
Why?
Let me tell you about a book that I just finished reading.
It’s called The Clear Skin Diet. It’s written by renowned dermatologist Val Trelor, MD and Alan Logan, ND, a naturopath.
This book gives us real answers to why pimples are popping up all over!
For the first time, this book links many of the imbalances in the underlying keys to health to the real causes of acne — including your nutritional status, stress, toxicity, inflammation, and hormonal and gut imbalances.
If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know by now what I’m going to say next.
The key to healthy skin isn’t just dealing with the symptoms — like lathering on potions and lotions, popping and pricking pimples, or taking antibiotics or strong liver-damaging medication.
No matter what condition, disease, or health problem you face, the root causes can be traced back to the same underlying factors, because the body is one whole integrated system.
This includes your skin.
The key to healthy skin isn’t just dealing with the symptoms — like lathering on potions and lotions, popping and pricking pimples, or taking antibiotics or strong liver-damaging medication.
There’s a better way.
Good Skin Comes from the Inside Out, Not the Outside In!
Before I explain these connections in more detail, and what you can do about it, I want to tell you my own experience with acne.
I never had it.
That is, until I got sick with chronic fatigue syndrome.
This is a disease of toxicity, gut damage, inflammation, hormonal imbalances and stress, among other things.
I have told the story of my illness and recovery many times, but I don’t usually talk about the skin problems I had.
The trigger that tipped me over the edge — on a load of mercury and stress — was a severe intestinal infection.
Right away, my skin changed.
My skin color turned gray and I developed dark circles under my eyes.
I started getting pimples all over my face (a new adventure for me at age 36), and strange rashes around my eyes whenever I ate certain foods.
I even developed itchy red patches on different parts of my body.
The skin symptoms completely correlated with a worsening of my gut symptoms and the irritable bowel syndrome that I had developed.
So what did I do?
Well, I didn’t need creams, gels, or lotions such as benzoyl peroxide, retinoid acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid peels, or topical antibiotics (all of which might have helped symptoms a little bit).
I certainly didn’t need oral antibiotics (which can cause long-term gut complications, immune problems, and yeast overgrowth), or Accutane (which can cause liver damage and increase the risk of depression and suicide), or oral contraceptives (which I would have been offered had I been a woman).
These are the tools of modern dermatology — but they overlook the role of overall health in the health of your skin.
I didn’t need any of these things.
Instead, what I needed was to heal my leaky gut, correct my food allergies and nutritional deficiencies, detoxify from mercury, reduce inflammation, and rebalance my stress hormones.
That’s just what I did.
And my pimples vanished, my eyes cleared up, and my rashes went away (along with my chronic diarrhea, disabling fatigue, brain fog, mouth sores, muscle pain, and more).
A miracle? Hardly!
I have seen this happen in so many of my patients.
Beauty and vibrant, clear, healthy skin come from the inside out, not from the outside in.
The only partial exceptions to this are wrinkles and skin cancers, which come from sun damage. But even these, too, are worsened by internal inflammation and oxidative stress caused by things like smoking and poor diet.
Now let’s look a little at the problem of acne (many other skin problems also respond to this approach, which I will cover in later blogs).
People who eat more fruits and vegetables (containing more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds) have less acne.
Here are some things that I have learned over the years and that have been very well reviewed and summarized in The Clear Skin Diet:
A Poor Diet is Bad for Your Skin
- Skin health, and acne in particular, are tied strongly to diet.
- Acne is caused by inflammation and oxidative stress (two keys of UltraWellness).
- Traditional indigenous cultures have little acne, but as soon as they adopt a Western diet or SAD (standard American diet), they see increasing levels of acne.
- Sugar raises insulin levels, which promotes the production of testosterone in women, and inflammation in general, causing acne.
- Saturated and processed fats increase arachidonic acid levels and compete with omega-3 fats in the body, leading to more inflammation and acne.
- Milk and dairy consumption is closely linked with acne (and many other skin and health problems) in part because of the hormones (including growth hormone) in dairy and because of the saturated fats.
- High-sugar milk chocolate can increase acne by increasing inflammation, but dark chocolate does the opposite.
Nutritional Deficiencies Promote Acne
- Widespread nutritional deficiencies of zinc, omega-3 fats, and some anti-inflammatory omega-6 fats like evening-primrose oil promote acne, while supplementing with them can help boost immunity and reduce inflammation and acne.
- A topical form of vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) can reduce inflammation and help acne.
- Antioxidant levels are low in acne patients — especially vitamins A and E, which are critical for skin health.
- People who eat more fruits and vegetables (containing more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds) have less acne.
- Certain foods have been linked to improvements in many of the underlying causes of acne and can help correct it, including fish oil, turmeric, ginger, green tea, nuts, dark purple and red foods such as berries, green foods like dark green leafy vegetables, and eggs.
Hormonal Imbalances Cause Skin Problems
- Hormonal imbalances trigger acne — and diet influences hormones like testosterone, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth hormone), and insulin, which promote acne.
- The biggest factor affecting your hormones is the glycemic load of your diet (how quickly the food increases your blood sugar and insulin levels).
- Eating omega-3 fats and fiber (to reduce testosterone in women), cutting out sugar (to reduce insulin), and using soy foods (to reduce toxic testosterone levels) help balance hormones. Exercise also helps improve insulin function.
Leaky Gut and Food Allergies Cause Acne
- Delayed food allergies are among the most common causes of acne. Foods like gluten, dairy, yeast, and eggs can be problems if you have a leaky gut.
- Taking probiotics (such as lactobacillus) can improve acne.
- Good bacteria from probiotics also take up residence on the skin, helping with acne.
- I have seen serious cystic acne resulting from gut imbalances and parasites that resolve when the gut is fixed.
Your Brain Can Cause Acne
- Stress causes acne flare-ups.
- Stress does this by causing increased inflammation and oxidative stress, raising cortisol, and depleting zinc, magnesium, and selenium, which help control acne.
- Stress causes poor dietary choices.
- You can manage stress through meditation, yoga, saunas, massage, biofeedback, aromatherapy, and more.
So getting healthy skin and clearing up acne truly depend on the optimal function of many of the core systems of the body — your nutritional status, your immune system, your gut, your hormones and your mind-body health.
I may seem like a broken record, but it’s true — biology is biology.
I hope you’ve learned more today about how getting to the roots of illness via the 7 Keys to UltraWellness can help you uncover the source of your health problem, wherever you may find it — even in a pimple on your nose!
Now I’d like to hear from you…
Do you suffer from acne?
Have you noticed if your skin looks better or worse when you eat certain foods?
What steps have you taken to keep your skin healthy?
Please let me know your thoughts by adding a comment below.
Dear Dr. Hyman,
)
As a cosmetician and as a woman who suffered most of her adult life from acne I find your post very intersting, eye-opening and IMPORTANT. About 2.5 years ago I experienced severe stress and the acne had become worse. I can tell you that after I took control over my emotional life my skin condition has improved significantly. People that see me today are surprised. I do pamper my skin, but the best treatment for me was letting go of the stress. Next I’ll see what more I can do using diet and supplements. Thank you for your book and the priceless assitance you provide. Noa from Israel
I struggle with acne. I am 28, and have had trouble with flare-ups since I moved to Florida three years ago, but its gotten worse in the last year. I blamed it on the climate initially, but I take good care of my skin to make sure its clean, so I’m looking for another cause.
My dermatologist recently prescribed Epiduo, which I’ve used, but I don’t like using it.
Things I’ve done to take better care of my skin include: eliminating dairy from my diet, changing my face wash, getting regular facials, exfoliating regularly, drinking more water, eating much less sugar (its hard to eliminate it completely but I’m working on it). I’m a teacher on summer vacation, so I don’t think I have much stress. My skin seemed to improve slightly without dairy, this was a big change for me, but not completely.
I have food allergies, and I am concerned this is the underlying cause, but I have been avoiding those foods I am allergic to for a long time. I do not believe I am allergic to gluten. My dermatologist also suggested ovarian cysts as a cause for adult acne, which I am going to investigate with my OBGYN.
Added incentive for me: I’m getting married in November, and would really, really like to have beautiful skin.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve struggled with severe acne since I was about 12. I’m 22 now and in the past 2 years started developing cystic acne, recently it flared up so bad I skipped school, work and time with friends due to embarrassment. This has been an ongoing struggle in my life and find it nearly impossible not to stress about it! When my acne started getting worse around age of 16, 17 I turned to food for comfort since no one understood how I felt, as a result i gained about 60 pounds. Friends, family, doctors all said it was just a “phase” and would pass, but have found it to be worse than ever now. I severely depressed about this situation and was put on a Retinoid cream and antibiotics to treat my acne. It has helped a little, but I am still doubtful I will ever have decent skin. I dream of walking out of my house with no make up on! Recently I have taken initiative and started eating much, much healthier and exercising 3 times a week. It is hard but I am hoping this will help in some way. If there is any suggestion you could provide me I would be so grateful. It’s hard to be positive and optimistic when you don’t feel heard. (p.s. i love your website and blog!)
Dude, awesome post. Treating the symptoms is not the way to deal with it. You’ve gotta go straight to the source. Thanks for sharing.
Have you had any success treating rosacea?
Your approach makes so much sense. Sounds like a modern twist on ayurvedic medicine.
Nicola,
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
This is for Stephine – I struggled with the same problems for too long. I kept researching acne to try and find out what my problem was. I stumbled upon an article about leaky gut syndrome and a diet that would help clear up my acne. It worked and I think it can work for you. Exercise did help a lot too. Hope this helps.
I recently stumbled across this website and am savoring every article! After five years of miserable symptoms and thousands of dollars spent trying to find answers I found a doctor in my city that specializes in Functional Medicine. She saved my life following Dr. Hyman’s principals. Among other things, I tested positive for gluten intolerance and after following a strict gluten free diet, the cystic acne I was struggling with at 39 vanished. Even now if I cheat from my diet and have a piece of pizza, it’s like clockwork – I break out everywhere. And to think, I almost went on Accutane!
would like to thank dr. hyman for his enriching books. i’m 47 ,searching for solutions for a problem i’m facing for more than a year .a year ago i’ve been through a traumatic event , which caused various symptoms. i have no genetic problems at loosing hair since both my parents after 70 , have no such problem. it all started for me at that point, after the trauma occured, i felt flows and pricks at my scalp and aches at the roots of my hair-which felt like burning .since then it went on and i can’t find a way to solve this horrible inconvenience. each time i shampoo my hair i lose lots of hair .something i’ve never experienced in my life till then. i will be more than thankfull to your advice… sigal/israel
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation.
You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hello,
I would love to hear you do a write up on keratosis pilaris as I feel it must be linked to inflammation however doctors seem to tell me that diet has nothing to do with it. I have had advice from a dermatologist to take Roaccutane. I have heard of certain Web sites which say they can cure KP with diet and naturopathic solutions.
Because I trust your advice implicity, I would be so grateful for your advice on how to get rid of my KP once and for all. I have been seen by a panel of doctors before because it is so bad.
Kind regards.
Thank you, Mike, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
hi, im 15, and i’ve been strugglinq with acne for as lonq as i can remember. i just started to learn the reason why a couple of months aqo and suqar is the main part. i’ve been tryinq to qive up suqar for a year no but its so hard its like im addicted. i also have stomach problems which i just read about in this article also make acne worse. my acne is’nt just the typical pimple here and there its EVERYWHERE. it makes ne soo sad and soo angry sometimes. and being a light skinned african american qirl the acne leaves horrible acne scars that shows up really dark. the acne would qet so horrible sometimes that it swells my eye. i’ve tryied so much acne products but they just dont work. well my question is, after i’ve tried the solutions you’ve used, you know with the diet and everythinq how do i get rid of the scars.
Thank you, R.W., for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Awesome! Bookmarked!
I do believe our skin reflects what you eat. I’ve been with acne for almost 16 years. But along those years, I noticed that every time I eat lots of fruit and vegetables, my skin looks and feels a lot better. Also when I’m in peace, spiritually, my skin looks brighter. The “Good Skin Comes from the Inside Out” is absolutely right. Because no matter how many times I went to dermatologist, all of them said that I have too high level fat in my skin and it’s all caused by unhealthy food. Fruit-and-vegetables definitely is a must. Period.
Thanks for sharing.
I have had a session with psoriasis – pityriasis rosea – is what one dermatoligist called it after taking a sample of the infected skin & sending it to a lab. However, noneo f the many medicated creams, and washes have helped in the past 2 yrs. I am ready to just go with plain unscented soap and water and pat dry. I do not think I have allergies, but could be mistaken. My 3 sons all have allergies and they do have some skin conditions similar to mine but not exactly the same. Milk, corn, wheat, yeast, potatoes, etc. make up the list for some. Not all have the same allergies. I have been tested but do not show an intolerance for any of them. I would have thought stress could contribute to it, but since I turned 55 & became a Red Hatter I don’t believe I am stressed about anything now..who has the time to be stressed. Enjoyed your website.
I whatsoever occasions choose to look at the great quality content materials and also this create a difference I foundxdf in you post. many thanks for sharing.
My seventeen-year old son, who suffered from major depression has been a patient of Dr. Hyla Cass from Pacific Palisades, California. We bought your books that she recommended and we buy her supplements. He is doing very well and we are weaning him off of Cymbalta. He eats gluten and casein-free with occasional cheating. His only problem is that severe acne still remains, in fact, it’s worse since we changed his diet. I don’t know what to do about it. He has not been tested for food allergies, intolerances, mostly because my HMO doctor would probably think I’m Crazy Mom. But I suppose I should just ask. It’s really hard to do the food elimination diet to find out what could be causing the acne. Any suggestions?
Thank you, Jeri, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I developed severe cystic acne at age 29 after having had clear skin for the past ten years due to being on a birth control pills and I figured, at this point I was too old for acne anyway.
I developed irritable bowel syndrome with extreme constipation as well as TONS of emotional stress from an event that was going on in my life. My constipation and stress seemed to directly correlate to my horrible skin.
I started taking probiotics and the stressful event is now over and in the past and my skin has cleared. My skin was so severe dermatologists would have given me accutane and all it took was a daily probiotic as well as dealing with my constipation problems/stress.
I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives great information ~”`
I have had Morgellons for 13 years. It seems to be systemic, as it affects my blood pressure, depression, brain fog,headache.etc.,
Going to doctors about it is a waste of time as they aren’ aware of it. If you can help with this, it would so much be appreciated. I need a doctor near Richmond, Va. that can help with this.
Thank-you, Lois Blair
Thank you, Lois, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I found this post very interesting and eye opening. I have dealt with acne and rash like symptoms over my entire body for most of my life. I am now 34 and still have these issues. I have tried just about everything and nothing has worked.
Interestingly enough I noticed that when I became pregnant with my first child, my skin cleared up and was the most beautiful skin I ever had. Once I gave birth, my skin continued to stay clear until about three months after I stopped nursing. Then I became pregnant with my second child and my skin cleared up again. It’s as if being pregnant made my body balanced. Now that I am no longer nursing, my skin is back to its itchy, rashy self and I am miserable!
Have you heard of this before? I am thinking about having my hormone levels checked. Any thoughts?
`;’ that seems to be a great topic, i really love it ;-’
Really this is nice information for me. I have seen serious cystic acne resulting from gut imbalances and parasites that resolve when the gut is fixed. People that see me today are surprised. I do pamper my skin, but the best treatment for me was letting go of the stress. Next I’ll see what more I can do using diet and supplements. I dream of walking out of my house with no make up on! Recently I have taken initiative and started eating much, much healthier and exercising 3 times a week. It is hard but I am hoping this will help in some way. I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post. Thanks for nice information..
I absolutely love this!!! I also totally believe that healthy foods & a healthy life style cures so much from the inside out. If you don’t mind, I will probably repost this blog. My website & what I believe is very much in sync with this: http://www.ahealthylifenow.com
In good health,
Pam Bilfeld
Certified Holistic Health Counselor
I have many health issues like Dr. Hyman did including leaky gut, food allergies, stress, hormone imbalance, the celiac gene and chronic fatigue. My skin itches all the time, I get all different types of hives and I have perioral dermatitis around my mouth. I also get pimples and itchy rashes from time to time on my face. I have been taking many supplements to heal my gut such as l-glutamine and intensive probiotics, taking dmsa once a week for chelation and taking infrared saunas. It’s hard to go on an elimination diet when food in general seems to be the enemy. I cannot budge this perioral dermatitis for anything and it’s drving me insane!!
I discovered this site and it gives great info on acne related problems. Do you know of any other sites out there giving this amount of info? There are loads of different types of acne and degree of the condition. Do you know any more natural cures?
I love your website…such a wealth of information. I would love to hear your thoughts on Keratosis Pilaris. Nothing seems to help. I am thinking about removing gluten and dairy as well as sugar to see if diet helps her conditions. Any experience with this? Many thanks.
Thank you, Kim, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Treating acne used to be a process of time, regular washing, and luck. Now however, in the twenty-first century, the problem with treating acne has shifted. There are now so many treatments out there that it can be hard to figure out what you want, or what you need to treat acne.If your suffer from acne spots, and have come looking for the solution on how to cure acne, my recent acne experiment may help you to decide on what acne treatment might be best for your skin too.
Awesome post over again. Thumbs up=)
Hi,
I am trying to get away from my daughter’s Eczema. She is itching a lot and make scratches and cuts. He can’t sleep in the nights continuously. We would like to consult you,but it is too far for us to reach MA. She is 4 years old. In he summer,it becomes worse. Please provide me a solution.
Hello Abi, thank you for your comment and interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To see a doctor in your area who practices functional medicine, like Dr. Hyman, please take a look at: http://www.functionalmedicine.org.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman, I have had acne from the age of 9 and im currently 13. The acne is all over my forehead (mostly), my chin, around my nose, my neck, my cheeks, and my shoulders. I dont have cysts or nodules at all. I have mostly white heads and papules. Even though I’m only 13 I’ve been reasearching acne for a while. My question is if oily skin causes more acne, and if so, how do I get rid of oily skin? Also I need to figure out how to get my parents to get rid of the junk food and buy more fruit and vegetables. Having the junk food around is kind of tempting and its not like i dont like vegetables or fruit because i absolutely love them. I could eat them all day. Please help because i want to get rid of this acne before I get into highschool.
Sincerely,
A girl from georgia that needs help
Hi Sani, thank you for your comment and for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s website. It takes a lot of self control to avoid junk food but your desire to have better looking skin should be your inspiration. Please take a look at http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/do-milk-and-sugar-cause-acne/ for additional information on diet and skin care.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Coffee is what caused my acne. Three straight days of drinking coffee will produce cysts and whiteheads.
Hey, you guys should look into fasting if you have acne. I am developing inflammatory acne at the moment and i am going crazy about it. I will probably be doing a two-week water fast in the next one or two months in hopes of getting rid of this problem.
I developed acne at age 12 and it lasted until 44. It was pimples and also cystic acne. I won’t go through what I tried over the years, but I will tell you what worked big-time. Two things: 1) I found that drinking a lot of water each day prevented pimples from forming, and 2) I went from washing my face twice a day to washing it three times a day with an anti-perspirant soap. I came across the water idea because I recalled that as a teen-ager, whenever I got a cold or sore throat, I would of course drink lots of juice. I noticed then that my skin became clear. Then when my illness would end, I stopped drinking so many fluids, and my skin went back to normal, breaking out everywhere.
So, I believe of the two things above, it is the water that is the more important. Once I began drinking eight 12-ounce glasses per day, the pimples went away. And if I ever stopped drinking as much water, a few would start to form again. I am now 54 and only see a couple of pimples a year, and that is only when I am travelling and do not keep up with my eight glasses a day. Nowadays, I drink eight 16-ounce glasses, but I am sure the 12-oz portions would be fine, too.
Very important: Never pick at your blemishes or squeeze them. Use a comadone remover (Revlon) only when it appears as though a blemish is about to burst open. And then use a benzoyl peroxide cream to encourage the skin on the blemish to peel so it goes away. But if you pick at them, permanent scarring may result. A friend had acne as a child and he picked at his blemishes. His skin is permanently pitted and his face looks cratered. Dermabrasion might help him, but he is not interested.
I am sure this will help someone out there…and hopefully many!
hi, i have had acne since i was about 10 i am 17 now, i covers my face my chest and my upper back its not hugely serious is mainly pimples and blackheads but i have had more than a few larger spots. The real problem is the amount i have
it has been more than anything incredibly frustrating for me, i eat reasonably healthily and try to take good care of my skin.
this article has been incredibly helpful to me.
so far i have learned several things to help me deal with my acne:
1) i drink LOTS of orange juice i don’t know if this is relevant but i noticed when i had a cold and drank more fruit juice my kin seemed clearer so i’ve kept it up.
2) NEVER wear liquid foundation
3) Clean off ALL of your make up with a skin friendly cleaner (personally i like liz earl cleanse and polish)
4) don’t wash your face too much it just makes it worse.
thanks for the post i am now considering cutting more salt out of my diet.
I have had acne all my life since ateenager and am now nearing 50. The acne has diminished now compared to 15 years back but still pops up in the back and shoulder region depending on foods I eat.
Recently 3 weeks back I spent one week on controlled diet and ,massage in an AYURVEDIC CENTRE IN INDIA and have never seen such positive results in my life.
Acne on my back has vanished though they told me i need to continue this for 6 months minimum.
The tretment is totally herbs oriented both internal tonic and external application.
Anybody interested can contact and am only too happy to share my experience.
However it is only 2 weeks and I need to see long term but up untill now the resuts are just unbeleiveable!!!
Hello, i believe that i noticed you visited my blog thus i got here to go back the desire?.I’m attempting to to find issues to enhance my web site!I suppose its good enough to make use of some of your ideas!!
A person I work together with visits your web page often and recommended this to me to read too. Thanks a lot for sharing this kind of information with us all.acne
Great article!! Just one question: how can someone who smokes like crazy, eats the most unhealthy things- junk food- consumes a lot of sugar, drinks alcohol every weekend have perfect baby-like skin even if he’s 18 and it looks like he doesn’t have pores? – - i really try hard to eat healthy and eat lots of fruits veggies and fish and don’t smoke or drink and drink a lot of water still my face looks terrible with acne scars, black heads, huge pores and redness..
im the same age as my friend and this juat drives me crazy!!
Hi Talese,
We understand how you could be frustrated-it just doesnt seem fair! While your friend’s skin is hard to ignore, it is probably best for you to focus more on bringing balance to your own system than comparing your skin to this friend. He probably has some good genes but eventually, even the best genes can fall out after years of providing poor nutritional messages with junk food and toxins! Dr. Hyman’s nutrition coaches are a wonderful resource to help sync your diet and healthy skin goals. Have you been to the coaching site? http://store.drhyman.com/Store/List/Coaching-Programs
I see alot of this all over the web. First off, I do not see any explanation as to why acne occurs. Second I do not see one of the leading causes of acne in here. So I will lst both.
How acne occurs
Acne is caused by Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes for short. It is a common bacteria on everyones skin. P. acnes feeds on the sebum produced by glands on our skin. When sebum becomes overproductive, or is not removed regularly, P. acnes can spread rapidly and infect our skin. Our body send white blood cells to combat the bacteria over growth and forms a barrier around the pore. This it what causes the “white head” and puss on shallow acne. If the P. acnes gets deeper into the skin it can cause pustules (red inflamed pimple with no head and painful) or even cysts.
Most common cause of acne
Acne feeds on sebum. And sebum is increased (mostly) by the production of testosterone. When teens come of age, their hormones produce a hefty amount of testosterone, which increases sebum on the skin. As a teen becomes an adult, the hormone usually levels off, and the acne disappears due to a decrease in the production of sebum.
If acne plagues you to mid adulthood, or you have sudden onset of acne in your adult years, you might want to consider getting labs done to check your testosterone and see a dermatologist who will acknowledge your possible condition. Their are foods that increase and decrease testosterone, and not everything works for every person. A good diet is always beneficial whether acne plagues you or not. I don’t mean to be scare monger, but certain cancers may also affect testosterone levels.
I do not dispute anything Dr. Hyman has posted here. I just thought I would ad a little more information.