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"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Acne - My Story

After many years of struggling with acne, I finally figured out what was causing the problem and how to conquer it. To be more specific about the many years of struggle -  the problem started when I was about 16 and lasted until I was in my early thirties.  During this time I had whiteheads, blackheads and cystic acne, all in varying degrees of severity.  I visited at least three different dermatologists and tried many different medications, such as Retin-A and antibiotics.  I also tried at least 20 different over-the-counter medications - most of which included benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.  My favorite over-the-counter product was Stridex (reg. strength).  I would follow that up with tinted Oxy 10, to cover red spots.

After about 14 years of fighting this problem, I started searching the internet to see what solutions were available online.  At first I found a program that included taking very high does of vitamin B5.  Being about 29 and still having an acne problem, I decided to try it.  At one point, I think I was taking about 20-30 capsules per day. Within a couple of weeks, it appeared that the B5 solution was working, which very exciting.  After a few months though, acne returned.  Looking back, I don't know if the B5 treatment helped or if it was the placebo effect.  To be quite honest, I really didn't feel right about taking so many pills per day, but wanted to do anything I could to get rid of the acne.  Then I considered Accutane, but my doctor talked me out of it.  He said that I didn't need it, and that there were some potentially serious side-effects.  This advice was a blessing to me, as it led me to a much more natural way to solve the problem.

Over the years, the problem affected me socially, as it was often a preoccupation to me when I was in public places. I recall telling my brother that I would pay thousands of dollars to never have to deal with acne again.  He had a less severe case than I did, but always agreed that he was willing to do anything to get rid of it.  It seemed like a totally out of control problem and was very frustrating.

I can't take credit for discovering the solution, because I recall reading variations of it on different acne forum boards.  What I will share with you is what solved it for me, and what I think would work for most people.  My solution is not meant to offer you specific advice.  It is meant to encourage you to learn more about the effects of what you're putting in and on your body.  If you're fighting acne, you probably know that there are a couple of really informative message boards and holistic healing sites available online.  I encourage all acne sufferers to find these sites and read what other acne sufferers are going through.  You'll realize that you have plenty of company. 

Acne - My Diet Solution

I had always heard that there wasn't a strong correlation between acne and food (i.e. diet), and one of my well meaning doctors told me that the link was controversial.  What I discovered was just the opposite.  The foods and beverages I was consuming were causing most of my problem.  Stress also played a smaller role for me, and that will be covered in a different post. 

The road to clear skin started when I read a very well-written post on an acne message board.  The author pointed to trans fats (aka hydrogenated oils) as the major culprit of acne.  I started to experiment with this concept, by eliminating all trans fats from my diet, and my condition noticeably improved.  I then heard about the acid/alkaline diet from Tony Robbins (Get the Edge CDs).  Once I adjusted my diet to become more alkaline, my complexion improved further.  Having been on the alkaline diet for about three weeks, my face and body were much cleaner than they had been in a long time, and I fully knew that food and acne were related.  To this day, if I eat certain packaged foods (containing trans fats) or drink cheap coffee, I will almost certainly breakout.  I am now 35.

When I radically changed my diet, it was very difficult at first.  Prior to the switch, I was a fairly healthy, well-balanced eater, but this was a new level.  What I'm about to describe may seem somewhat dramatic, but it is what cured my acne problem.  So here's the program that worked for me.   

• I started eating an all natural and organic diet.  To the greatest extent possible, I ate whole foods that had never been or were minimally processed.  There is a Whole Foods Market in my town, which made shopping for these types of products very easy.
• I stopped eating most processed foods.  Instead I shopped the perimeter of the grocery store for fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken and beef.  Most center of the store items purchased at Whole Foods didn’t bother me, but I still felt that it was always better to buy fresh, non-processed food. 
• I avoided all foods prepared in a deep fryer.  Yes - I did experiment with a french fry every once in a while, but not more than once a month.  When you think about it, the oil/shortening in deep fryers might not get replaced for a week or more, and your lunch is being cooked in it.
• I chose salads and other vegetarian dishes when eating away from home, because, in general, natural and organic meats were not available.  Realizing that it was not always possible to eat natural and organic foods away from home, vegetarian/vegan was my compromise.  I also ate fresh, wild caught fish when I dined somewhere that offered it. 
• I completely stopped drinking soda, as most are made with high fructose corn syrup.  I replaced soda with water and all natural teas and coffees.
• I started drinking enough water for my body weight.  According to Wikipedia, "about 70% of the fat free mass of the human body is made of water".  I was not drinking enough.
• I started drinking more juice, especially orange and apple.  These were both wonderfully helpful to my complexion.

If what I've described so far seems dramatic to you, that's OK.  It was quite a change for me too.  Avoiding chicken and beef in restaurants was the most awkward part.  I honestly enjoy following this regimen now and know that it is much better for me.

• I reduced my meat and dairy consumption and avoided pork and shellfish altogether.  I believe that pork and shellfish are not good clean sources of protein.  I still enjoy beef, chicken, turkey and dairy (e.g. milk, cheese, butter), but always buy the natural/organic variety. Animals are now given too many antibiotics and growth hormones, and that's not healthy for the animals or for humans.  I also stayed away from farm raised fish.  Wild caught fish is better.
• Olive oil and balsamic vinegar became my new favorite dressing for salads and sandwiches.  Now, the only oil I have in my apartment is olive oil, and I use it for everything.  I've read that olive oil is not the best oil to use for cooking, especially when cooking at high temperatures (e.g. pan frying); therefore, I only cook at low temperatures.  It takes a little longer to cook on lower temps, but I find that food generally tastes better when prepared this way.
• I started consuming higher quality beverages, including coffee (e.g. Starbucks, Newman’s Own, Green Mountain) and alcohol. One or two cups of cheap coffee per day still affect my complexion.  For whatever reason, Starbucks does not.  I think they use a better bean and have higher quality processing standards. 
• I moderated alcohol consumption, as alcohol made my body's natural defense mechanisms weaker. When I did drink alcohol (and I'm not necessarily recommending it), I chose higher quality beer, wine and spirits.  They are usually made with better ingredients.
• I decided to eat less overall.  Although I was not overweight, I thought I was consuming too many calories each day.  Eating a more modest dinner not only helped to clear my skin, it also helped me sleep better.

Acne - My Topical Solution

In addition to diet, I found three products to be exceptional for topical application.

• Acnesil - This is a treatment that worked well for me and led me to look at the excellent ingredient list, which included aloe vera.
• Organic Aloe Vera Gel - There are many brands to choose from, including Aubrey, Jason and others.  I don't think the brand matters as much as the product itself.   I would cover my entire face with this two nights per week.  It was really helpful.
• Acnomel  - This is a good product for covering red spots.  It didn’t dry out my face like other tinted products made with Benzoyl Peroxide.  I would first apply the aloe vera gel and then spot treat with Acnomel.

Acne - My Cleansing Solution

I used and still use these two products to cleanse my face.

• For general cleansing - I use an all natural soap made by Kiss My Face.  I normally wash with warm water, work up a good lather, rinse with warm water, and finish rinsing with cool water.  After washing, I pat dry with a soft, clean towel.
• For deeper cleaning - I use an exfoliant made by Alba Organics.  Proactiv makes a good one also, but I think any all-natural exfoliant would work.  I use this about 2-3 times a week.  When I first started exfoliating, I noticed an immediate improvement in my skin's texture.  It was much smoother.
• Moisturizing - I just started using a moisturizer made by Avalon Organics.  I don't know how good it is yet, and will post about it later.

Acne - Conclusion

Well, that's how I did it.  I still follow this diet and cleansing regimen today and my complexion is 99% under control.  Fortunately, I don’t have to use the topical treatments unless I slack off with my diet or am under stress for other reasons.  Good luck and let me know how you're doing.

Check out my new frequently asked question page.

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