Acne?

baileybiddles
baileybiddles Posts: 457 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone!

I have only radically changed my diet in the past week or so - no junk food, healthy foods, more fruits and vegetables, etc. Did anyone else notice a change in their skin when they changed their diet?

I have broken out ridiculously this week and wonder if it's because of the diet change. I've also been drinking more water and I've cut caffeine out completely.

Replies

  • Dulcemami4ever
    Dulcemami4ever Posts: 344 Member
    I heard that could be just impurities leaving the body. It should straighten itself out after a bit. I guess just make sure to clease and moisturize daily :)
  • cassondra1370
    cassondra1370 Posts: 162 Member
    Have you been working out? My face starts to break out when I am sweating a lot.
  • baileybiddles
    baileybiddles Posts: 457 Member
    Have you been working out? My face starts to break out when I am sweating a lot.

    Not last week - I wanted to take a week to break into tracking everything and eating right. This week I start doing the Shakeology workouts 3 times a week, so I expect this will only get worse, not better! :(
  • CAS317
    CAS317 Posts: 267 Member
    My skin will break out occasionally but not really that bad. I used to drink a case of Diet Coke every 2 days. I did not drink water at all. Now that I am drinking lots of water I have noticed that my skin NEVER breaks out anymore. Like somebody else said, make sure you clean and moisturize. Don't clean and dry your skin out with alcohol, peroxide, etc.
  • nf1982
    nf1982 Posts: 38 Member
    Probably everything making its way out.
  • jjwalker77
    jjwalker77 Posts: 22 Member
    The extra water (and change to a diet full of good nutrition) will often cause an initial breakout with all the toxins and impurities built up underneath and then it will clear dramatically. In reality, I mostly experience hormonal acne - but diet can change the way your hormones work, as well.

    Give it another week or two - if it is not any better maybe make an appointment with the dermatologist?
  • CrystalDreams
    CrystalDreams Posts: 418 Member
    i have terrible acne my shoulders and chin. And my face sometimes. I have no idea why but it was suggested to me that it is toxins being pushed out my skins last ditch effort to stick around.
  • nf1982
    nf1982 Posts: 38 Member
    Also are you taking any diet pills or anything that could alter your hormones?
  • SarahBeth0625
    SarahBeth0625 Posts: 685 Member
    My skin has been a ***** since I started working out. Well, it kind-of goes in spurts. Anyway, it's worth the trade-off. I'm on "The Regimen" from acne.org and have been for years and I highly recommend it. This is coming from someone who tried every OTC and prescription remedy (even Accutane, 2 rounds, at age 20)... The Regimen works. I just purchase "step 2" from the website and substitute products for the cleanser (Avalon Organics Vitamin C cleanser) and moisturizer (generic brand of Cetaphil for that).
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    Probably everything making its way out.

    yeah this. give it time, probably the diet change
    ive been at my parents last week so been having a completely different diet and my skin has gone terrible!
  • aarikadanielle
    aarikadanielle Posts: 179
    My face did the exact same thing when I first changed my diet. It was bad. It did however begin to clear up the more and more and now I rarely get a bad breakout anymore (except I do have one right now). Just keep cleansing and eating clean and your face may begin to clear up gradually.
  • ej_glen
    ej_glen Posts: 34 Member
    Yep. I've been eating healthily and working out 4-5 times a week for about 2-3 weeks and my skin has been TERRIBLE. Finally starting to clear up now so I hope that's the last of it :)
  • SlinkySpencer
    SlinkySpencer Posts: 139 Member
    My skin was its usual horribly broken out self for the first month and a half. Then, over the past few weeks, it's cleared up. In fact, as someone prone to skin problems, my skin feels healthier than it's felt in years. Just continue to take care of it the way you're taking care of the rest of your body, and it should even out.
  • erikaaaaaaaa
    erikaaaaaaaa Posts: 155 Member
    I have the same problem. I'd never had acne before in my life, and since changing my eating habits, it's gone crazy! It actually looks like I'm allergic to something, so I went to the dermatologist and she said that it is, in fact, acne. She prescribed me something (Clindagel) for it, but it isn't working.

    I, too, have heard that it's impurities possibly leaving the body or a change in estrogen due to weight loss/diet changes that is probably causing it. With this said, however, I was also told it should sort itself out, but it has been like this since October and has not gotten better-- if anything worse.

    Hopefully it'll all sort itself when I reach my goal weight and maintain. It's driving me nuts!!! Hope to see some other stories/remedies here!
  • hiyomi
    hiyomi Posts: 906 Member
    Since I started exercising my skin has turned to crap :(
  • AABru
    AABru Posts: 610 Member
    Any change in diet and exercise changes your hormones. My guess is that your body is adjusting your hormones, and your skin is showing the difference. Give it a month or so.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    My skin did the same thing. But after a few months of sticking with water over other drinks, my skin is the clearest it's ever been! I was shocked as hell.
  • SarahBeth0625
    SarahBeth0625 Posts: 685 Member
    Since I started exercising my skin has turned to crap :(

    Glad I'm not alone! You look gorg in your profile pic. :smile:
  • baileybiddles
    baileybiddles Posts: 457 Member
    Also are you taking any diet pills or anything that could alter your hormones?

    Nope! No diet pills. I am on Depo Provera for birth control, but may soon be switching to the pill. I am nervous for this... Depo Provera leaches your bones of calcium, though, and I have been on it for three years. You're really not supposed to use it long term, but it's so convenient for me I haven't cared.
  • Kelley_Marie
    Kelley_Marie Posts: 17
    Hey there! I always seem to deal with acne when I start eating healthier, but it usually goes away within a week or two (depending on whether or not I start eating junk again). Just stick with the healthy foods and everything will balance out. Also, I've found out the hard way that you really need to make sure that you shower shortly after you workout, or at the very least wash your face. Don't let too much time pass or you'll find yourself breaking out. Hope I helped, and good luck with everything!
  • porcelainjune
    porcelainjune Posts: 10
    Dairy will make your skin break out so maybe you should try limiting that in your diet (if you're not already). I wash my face with a honey, brown sugar, and olive oil mixture and it really helps. Also apple cider vinegar has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, but it is an acid so you should try diluting it with water at a 1:1 ratio first. Putting honey on a blemish and covering it with a band-aid over night will remove it. I've tried and it works.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Might be a good idea to see the doctor if it keeps up. There are lots of different reasons for acne. I started having awful acne when I went on birth control (I know, it was backwards) and finally after dealing with it for a month I went to the doctor. He gave me some prescription cream that cleared it right up. Wish I'd gone sooner.
  • LazyGuy91
    LazyGuy91 Posts: 171 Member
    Not happy that other people are suffering, but glad to see I'm not the only one!

    I've always had poor skin, but since exercising, I've really been fighting the acne and breakouts. Being 30, you can only imagine how embarrassing it is (going along with still being overweight!)

    If it doesn't get any better in the next couple of months, I'm going to see a dermatologist.

    Anyone have advice on otc soaps or creams?
  • Oakley82
    Oakley82 Posts: 53
    When I just started working out a lot, eating cleaner, sitting in the sauna, and drinking a ton of water I broke out too. I think it was a combo of sweating and impurities leaving my body. It took about 3 weeks to completely go away, but it did. I have oily skin to begin with, so I just have to make sure to shower right when I'm done working out.

    I used salicylic acid astringent (Clean & Clear I think, something cheap) and it helped. My skin is clear again. :smile: If you want something natural, try witch hazel.
  • Emma_Problema
    Emma_Problema Posts: 422 Member
    I'm pretty sure that there have been numerous studies disputing the wives tale that diet impacts acne. If you're breaking out after hitting the gym, I'd be more diligent about washing your face and body right after and putting a nice layer of benzoyl peroxide on after, also making sure to moisturize.

    If that doesn't help, I'd check with a dermo. My own acne was pretty much 100% hormonal. Sometimes you think that a breakout is coinciding with something else when really it's not. I made myself believe for the longest time that the medication I was taking for acne was making it better, when really I just happened to start taking it when I was in a good place in my cycle.
  • LazyGuy91
    LazyGuy91 Posts: 171 Member
    I used salicylic acid astringent (Clean & Clear I think, something cheap) and it helped. My skin is clear again. :smile: If you want something natural, try witch hazel.


    I just bought some Clean & Clear stuff a couple weeks ago. I need to use it more consistently though.
  • baileybiddles
    baileybiddles Posts: 457 Member
    I used salicylic acid astringent (Clean & Clear I think, something cheap) and it helped. My skin is clear again. :smile: If you want something natural, try witch hazel.


    I just bought some Clean & Clear stuff a couple weeks ago. I need to use it more consistently though.

    That's my problem! I wash my face once a day when I take a shower. I can't stand doing it over the sink or anything else, it's just messy. I love my cleanser right now, it's coconut pineapple from clean and clear, but it actually doesn't contain any acne medication... I always have a hard time finding something that works and doesn't fry my skin.
  • moo1907
    moo1907 Posts: 24
    I broke out big time when I upped my water in take. Felt as though all the scum in my pores was dying to come out! I'm hoping it's only temporary...have you tried a facial steamer?
  • LazyGuy91
    LazyGuy91 Posts: 171 Member
    Wonder if caffeine plus stress has something to do with it?

Categories