Diet for Acne

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Acne treatments that did you wrong

losingforgood120
losingforgood120 Posts: 94
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What's your motivation for using diet to treat your acne over other types of treatments?

Here's my acne history:

Birth Control: completely solved acne- gained weight. Twice!! It has really been a cycle. Had acne, went on birth control (prescribed my dermatologist), acne went away! Yay! Gained weight. Boo. Went off birth control, lost weight, Yay! Acne came back, Boo. Repeat.

Accutane: no personal experience, but I've heard the horror stories. From personal friends and strangers on the internet alike. Of course I've known some people who survived it with only dry eye. I've had Lasik so I don't need any more dry eye. Not to mention the less likely but severe possible side effects.

Creams like benzol peroxide, epiduo, etc: Dry out my skin, very tedious morning and night routine. Usually my go-to when I'm not on birth control.

Antibiotics: not a great long-term option. All sorts of side effects.

Looking at that... sure makes diet change look better.

Replies

  • zcb94
    zcb94 Posts: 3,678 Member
    I'm not dieting specifically to treat acne but think it'll help. I agree that Acutane can cause such effects. ProActiv is effective but takes forever to use properly, what with all the stupid steps!

    Horror story: On doctor's orders, I once tried Benzaclin (sp?) for acne, and learned that I am anaphylactic to clindamyacin. Long story short, I spent that month looking like a human red balloon that itched! OUCH!:sick:
  • losingforgood120
    losingforgood120 Posts: 94
    I'm not dieting specifically to treat acne but think it'll help. I agree that Acutane can cause such effects. ProActiv is effective but takes forever to use properly, what with all the stupid steps!

    Horror story: On doctor's orders, I once tried Benzaclin (sp?) for acne, and learned that I am anaphylactic to clindamyacin. Long story short, I spent that month looking like a human red balloon that itched! OUCH!:sick:

    I'm so sorry!! A month?! Skin issues can be very challenging emotionally and socially. I hope you have something now that's working for you.

    I tried proactiv as well- my acne got a lot worse on it. They said just keep trying but I gave up after 1-2 months...
    The cream that has worked the best for me (but still doesn't get rid of all the acne) is epiduo. However I started it while doing antibiotics, eventually got off the antibiotics and used just epiduo. It made my skin burn and was really dry. I'd have to cake on greasy moisturizer to deal with it. I didn't like it when my husband touched my face because it hurt so bad and it was all slimy from moisturizer.

    Sorry if this is really negative... but it may put into perspective why I'd be willing to try a diet change for acne. I think the diet change will be really challenging but this may remind me why it could be worth it for me. :smile:
  • zcb94
    zcb94 Posts: 3,678 Member
    I'm so sorry!! A month?!

    Thanks. I frankly don't remember the exact time, but thereabouts. It was painful, though. As I mentioned, I'm dieting for more than skin help, but feel confident that better skin and health will eventually coincide.

    I'm not a huge believer in food/skin connections like chocolate=acne flare (unless you deliberately rub it on), but I am aware that what one eats and drinks can affect one's whole body. I'm open to fellow members' thoughts about possible linkage.
  • losingforgood120
    losingforgood120 Posts: 94
    I agree- from what I've read so far there was no evidence to support cutting out chocolate to clear up acne. People used to (and maybe still do) say that a lot.

    The evidence that suggests diet changes can fix acne are more extreme changes (like going paleo) which is I think kind of a highly restrictive diet. I'm going to keep researching this and trying out things myself.

    So do you mean just eating a healthier diet -> better skin eventually? Like increasing water, vegetables? That makes sense to me. :) What kind of diet changes have you made? Good luck to you!
  • zcb94
    zcb94 Posts: 3,678 Member
    An unrelated health condition (diabetes) has forced me to cut back/out all carbs, which I thought was necessary for weight loss anyway, and I think that that might lead to cleaner and brighter skin someday.
  • losingforgood120
    losingforgood120 Posts: 94
    I've read there's a link w/ high glycemic foods and acne so seems like it could help!

    Good luck w/ your diabetes and your diet. I hope it's getting better.

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