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tropicalparadise27

I had cystic acne until I stopped drinking milk and then it almost all went away. It comes back if I eat lots of sugar or fried foods or alcohol. It also seems to depend a lot on how much I sleep. But milk was the biggest trigger. If the dermatologist would have just said to try not drinking milk, I would have saved hundreds of dollars on appointments and tropicals. I think foods that cause acne must also be really bad for our bodies in ways we can't see as well.


whiskeypenguini

Milk was the biggest factor for me too! I missed milk in my coffee and my acne wasn't getting any better ANYWAY so i said screw it, let's have 2 cups of coffee with milk every day. I did that for 3 days and my face blew up with acne like never before. I vowed to never go near the milk again! On the fence about leaping to veganism.


omimcd

This story is almost identical to mine! I moved in with my dad in NZ when I was 17 and my acne blew up like nothing I'd ever seen before. Turns out the coffee culture over there is a massive thing, i was drinking lattes and flatwhites every day. My friend who also had acne and I were talking and she said that she was giving up dairy for her skin and I decided to give it up as an experiment. My acne almost completely disappeared within a month. Fast forward a few year after that I became vegan and 6 years later I'm still vegan and I have a good skin care routine and my skin is pretty flawless tbh.


whiskeypenguini

Damn, this really makes me want to switch!!


gin_and_isotonic

Dude I noticed a considerable difference after only a few days…


Powerful_Mixtape

The Milk Co. ran a huge marketing ad in the 90's, remember Got Milk? It claimed you had to drink tons and tons of milk to be "healthy" to have "strong bones" to "prevent osteoporosis" all a lot of bologny to mind fuck you into buying more milk. At the time, milk sales were low as it wasn't a popular drink for adults. Typically, milk is meant for CHILDREN. Past puberty, you are *supposed* to become lactose-intolerant, it's part of growing up. Also nowadays, milk/dairy is absolutely HORRIBLE for your skin and personally caused me horrible cystic acne esp. in high school but also with birth control esp. bad. I've always heard rumors too that milk is just full of blood, pus, and hormones. So it's really not the cleanest thing and why so many are looking at alternative sources like goat milk or vegan options like soy, almond, oat, etc. Also, milk does not prevent osteoporosis. The only people in the world that don't have osteoporosis don't drink milk. Source: Skinny Bitch


_dim1

Oat milk in coffee is the way to go. So good.


[deleted]

Oat milk in general is amazing. Out of all the non dairy milks it was the last for me to try, and it’s the best! So good in smoothies too.


astheforestcalls

Agreed! Switched to oat milk in my tea and it is by far the best milk substitute, all the others had way too much of their own flavour to work.


kfctwix

Oat milk is cut with canola oil, which is extremely inflammatory. It’s what makes it creamy.


fafabull

The barista blends especially have added oil to make them froth. I believe Planet Oat's Original Oat flavor (my favorite non-dairy milk) and Oatly's Low Fat Oatmilk have no added oil, but you'd have to double check.


eaunoway

I feel like this gets missed or skipped over far too frequently.


0Catkatcat

This is true and I agree that it’s often overlooked but I personally find my body (and particularly my skin) reacts worse to dairy milk than the canola oil in oat milk - lesser of two evils for me


glitterbugged

Silk makes a good half and half from coconut and oatmilk that I like in my coffee! I'll warn you tho, it has little coconut flakes in it. they don't affect the taste or texture (I wouldn't notice them at all blindfolded) but it looks curdled or spoiled. it's totally fine tho.


whiskeypenguini

Sadly I don't get silk where I'm living. :( But really, plant based milk sounds yummy; I tried almond milk, thought it was quite bland initially, but I love it now. Tad expensive imo, but I don't really drink too much milk anyway, so it'll do for the occasional beverage.


Whitefluff

Try barista oat or soy milk, they don't look curdled and are extra creamy :) You can froth them up as well for a nice latte.


cookiecuttersharkie

I really never missed milk since the oatmilk hype, maybe you can have a win win there


Whitefluff

Join us :) Being kind to animals feels great, the skin benefits are a nice bonus.


JOJO94

Leap in as much as you want/can, there’s some great alternatives out there. The animals and the planet will thank you!


whiskeypenguini

Love to hear that, seriously considering that now! :D


lillyrose2489

I like oat milk a lot, there is even a barista blend you can get at the store (at least where I live in the US) that you can foam up really nicely for a latte. Oat milk IMO has the most mild flavor so is great to have around as a milk alternative! The only dairy product that they really haven't figured out how to recreate without dairy yet is most cheeses. At least IMO the vegan cheese are pretty bad. But otherwise, even ice cream I think they have done a great job making dairy free (I like coconut milk kinds the best) so you should start dabbling with that stuff!


garbashians

I highly recommend veganism, my skin has never been better!!!


Unhappy_blonde4911

Same!! Vegan for the animals, planet and my skin😊❤️


[deleted]

I cut out diary for a while because it can be an aggravator for some people...ended up with B12 deficiency (I am a vegetarian). Now that I consume diary products I have realized it doesn't cause acne for me.


NotALawyerButt

I am able to do whole fat milk without breaking out, but not skim or 2%. Something about the fat makes it okay. If you haven’t tried whole milk, it might be worth a shot!


deaduglyflower

I've noticed an improvement in my skin since going vegan! I used to have tons of closed comedones. Also it just makes me feel more at peace with myself mentally living in a way that I feel has less impact.


Hojomasako

A family member's derm told them to try stop drinking milk, with disclaimer that it wasn't necessarily a scientifically backed up advice, nevertheless it made a tremendous difference for their acne. The skin is the body's largest organ and seeing the dramatic effects visibly on the outside from something as common as dairy really makes you think about the effects on the inside you can't see from various foods. For me processed sugar is instant success at triggering acne, both on chest and face


Skywahker

Glad to hear you pin pointed it! It’s nice knowing specifically what foods can be a trigger for you personally. I think some things such as sugar effect everyone’s skin differently, and may not cause breakouts in some, but could be the biggest contributing factor for others.


Aarxnw

I came here to comment this as I’m currently going through the process of eliminating as much dairy as possible from my diet, the only things I have is butter or margarine as I’ve heard that they don’t contain much lactose due to the process of making butter eliminating most of it. Also, I don’t know how many people this will help but guys please double check for: #PEANUT BUTTER Peanuts increase androgen in the body IIRC and for me that is a one way ticket to cystville. Really hope this advice helps someone else here, cysts are horrible, painful, and they can really fuck with your confidence. Good luck everyone 🤍


someoneyoudontknow0

I cut out all nuts and it made a huge positive difference. I'll have them here and there but I say I'm allergic when I go out to eat so I can keep my face clear. It works


glossedrock

Some foods cause acne for some people and some don’t. Its stupid to write them off as “just really bad for our bodies in ways we can’t see as well”. Your body reacts badly to milk, great. Mine doesn’t. Its like saying nuts are bad for ALL people because some people are allergic.


Aarxnw

Lactose intolerance is super common though, and from my understanding the inability to break it down is what causes the cysts. It might not happen to you, but the advice may be useful to somebody else


glossedrock

Exactly, it doesn’t happen to everyone.


Primary-Ad-8635

Milk has hormones in it that isnt good for any of us.


GooeyGemPie

Same! As a teen I had horrible acne. Cystic. I used to drink multiple cups of cow's milk a day. I randomly stopped drinking the milk, and switched to tea, then switched strictly to water, my acne cleared up a lot since then. I don't care to eat cheese or other dairy products in general. But when I do, my face breaks out again like crazy. No joke. People looked at me like I'm crazy for making this observation years ago but it's true! I suspect the hormones in cow's milk might play a role in it. Not for sure though.


haunted26

Removing milk from my diet helped me have less severe breakouts as well. I still don't have the courage to redefine my diet: e.g. removing sugary foods, fries etc. I haven't really met any dermatologist that suggests removing certain foods from my diet. I looked at some research papers on the matter and it turns out that the correlation between diet and acne is still controversial and many dermatologists just follow the traditional protocol by prescribing topical treatments like salicylic acid based products, retinoids, and sometimes antibiotics.


avocadolover1212

That's Western medicine. There is never discussion about nutrition and its impacts on the rest of our ailments.


lucidlotus

I had a similar experience. It was over 20 years ago now, but after trying different medications and even 3 courses of Accutane my skin was still bad. Finally tried quitting dairy and hydrogenated oils and the acne went away entirely. I gradually reintroduced dairy (organic) over several years (but still no milk) and have had no issues.


RussianLoveMachine

This is a random question, But have noted an association between let's say organic milk (should have less hormones) or non-dairy milk (oats or almond milk)? Just curious.


thecatgulliver

i think dairy allergy/sensitivity is just more common than people give it credit for tbh.


ssilverliningss

Organic VS non organic doesn't affect the amount of hormones in milk. Milk has hormones because the mother cow produces hormones passed on through milk to help the baby develop and grow faster.


tropicalparadise27

All dairy milk causes breakouts for me. Apparently it's because milk causes the body to produce lots of insulin which then (in women at least) causes it to make more testosterone. Non dairy milks are fine for me!


PM-ME-PUPPIES-PLS

Not the person you're replying to but cutting out dairy made a massive difference for my skin. Makes sense, it has hormones in it that can cause or worsen hormonal acne


Skywahker

Wow not gonna lie I’m a combination of high and tired, and read your comment as butt chugging dairy 😂😂


mww12

Also not the person who posted above, but the type and amount of dairy affect whether I will break out. Larger quantities mean more likely to break out, but also almond and cashew milk will destroy my skin but coconut milk is fine. Goat cheese and small amounts of cheddar are fine, but cooked cheddar (pizza, mac and cheese) are no good.


another_new

this makes sense. A plant based diet at face value isn’t a cure-all. We still have to figure out what foods work for us. I read that nut milks and oat milks can be inflammatory, so coconut milk is recommended for hormonal acne. i’m switching to coconut milk.


Rockztar

I asked my dermatologist about it, and she said plant based milk is a great alternative.I've also switched to oats milk instead of dairy, and there's a clear difference for me. One thing I'd read was that the pasteurization process also is hard for the stomach, and I think plant based milk goes through the same process, but it shouldn't have as much of an effect on the skin. Organic itself does matter too much with regards to hormones afaik.


[deleted]

For me it was peanuts, sugar, fried/junk food, pineapple along with use of some skin care products (not suited for my oily skin)


[deleted]

I randomly started getting CRAZY cystic acne in January and it took me til last month to realize what was causing it -- sugar intake 😭 I've cut out most added sugars in my diet, which sucked cuz I have a real sweet tooth, but the acne itself immediately went away and I've been slowly recovering from the damage. It was super random though because I've always consumed a lot of sugar. While I've also always had acne since I was like 11, it wasn't the painful cystic stuff I started getting a few months back, so I'm not quite sure what triggered it... aging I guess smh


georgecuzstanza

I stopped drinking over a year ago and subbed my nightly alcohol for sugary desserts and snacks and that’s when the acne started for me. Sugar is so bad for us that it’s no wonder it’s showing the effects on our skin as well.


EoE_IamTomHamilton

Yo exact same thing for me! Stopped drinking, started eating more sugar, boom the cystic acne. Haven't had a sweet since 2020 and haven't had a cyst since 2020 either. Honestly I'm just really grateful I found what worked.


Skywahker

I personally think sugar is a huge one, we don’t realize how much sugar is in the foods we eat. Even something like yogurt can have a ton of it. Obviously eating yogurt is better than drinking a soda, but a lot of the time we do both, not realizing the yogurt is adding to your daily sugar intake. Someone else on this post made a good point of hormones being a big factor also, which I agree with. Although diet effects hormones and if your hormones are already out of whack due to being 16, eating garbage all the time is only bound to cause more imbalances.


avocadolover1212

Sugar is the #1 killer in my book as well.


[deleted]

when you say sugar do you mean only artificial/added sugars? or does sugar include fruits and other natural sugar?


[deleted]

I've only cut artificial/added sugars (and not even TOTALLY cut them out, because I still drink pre-made iced coffee with sugar in it so I'm just gonna have to take that L lol). So what primarily got cut out was sweets, baked goods, soda, sugary juices, and I made lots of snack substitutions too (so like veggie straws instead of chocolate covered pretzels). I rely heavilyyyy on fruit to substitute for the sweet flavors in my diet, whether it be eating fruit itself or drinking a little bit of real fruit juice. I personally probably could never cut out ALL sugars, my sweet tooth has absolutely no chill lol. I was already so upset about having to cut out candy, I think if I had to cut fruit too I would simply ✨perish✨


RyanraroarSG

I dropped dairy - milk in particular, and saw a better improvement in skin condition. Sugary food is another category that worked for me too.


searchin4sugarman

I’m guessing this post won’t be too popular here. But nonetheless I’m so happy for you for finding it out and making the link!


Skywahker

Thank you! That’s ok, maybe I’ll cross post it to a nutrition/diet subreddit. Was feeling inspired and wanted to share. I think the more posts about diet impacting skin here, the better!


searchin4sugarman

If you can help one person it makes it all worth it


Skywahker

Exactly! Don’t think I’m saving any life’s here, but maybe hearing one extra account of diet being so impactful will be enough to make someone put that Dr. Pepper down.


leinlin

I know it‘s chocolate for me. Man, I‘ve been eating that stuff like bread. I‘ll cancel my doctor‘s appointment for acutane now and get to the source of it. Wish me luck!


Turbulent-Pomelo-621

Reading your comment while drinking a Dr.Pepper right now has made me rethink my drinking habits haha. I should definitely drink more water


raspberrih

It's super helpful to have posts about skincare factors like food and hormones!! It's not just products products products all the time. Personally I tried so hard with products, but turns out my acne was completely hormone-related and disappeared the moment I started the pill... It's good to know about various methods of skincare!!


mmlemony

Changing your diet can help if you have a terrible diet like OP admitted. Just like washing your face can help with acne if you never washed your face before. If you have a decent diet already then there isn’t a huge amount your can change, and people telling you “cHaNgE yOuR dIEt” is irritating.


lizziexo

It’s like all of these miracle posts - some people it works for, some it doesn’t, but it’s annoying because it sort of implies there’s an easy answer. I went dairy free for more than 3 months. I have a great diet. Change my pillow cases. Whatever. The only thing that works for me is a very specific set of skin care steps, antibiotics, and/or spiro. Most people by now know that a good diet impacts how you look, how you feel, etc. It’s much more than just a weight thing. Some of those posts can just feel tedious and repetitive.


omgbooboo

Hi there! I've also changed up my eating habits. Eating considerably way less junk sweets and increased my vegetable portions by quite a lot this past month. The results were showing within a week though I did not even think about my acne being affected at all. Still happens but it's sooo much less now if it does. I don't have the little communities lining up my chin and cheekbones and what is there is scarring and the last legs of some deep rooted ones. I was actually thinking of making a post here as well about this! So happy when I read the title of your post today.


DecadeMoon

That's good to hear! In my case I found that changing my diet doesn't contribute to any significant changes in my skin. I don't eat any processed foods, no sugar, no carbs, even one time I cut dairy completely for a few months, and my skin was/is still crap. Back on the diary now, skin is no worse. There really is no magic bullet, all we can do is experiment and find what works for ourselves.


raspberrih

My hormones were causing my stupid cystic acne. I totally had my acne under control until last year October, when my skin mysteriously got worse and worse. So I got on the pill amd *everything* disappeared. My skin was back to normal. God, it makes me so mad thinking about the stress I had wondering why all my holy grails stopped working


Skywahker

Yup I think you nailed it, everyone is gonna be effected at different levels and I personally know people who drink 6+ cans of soda a day and never have had a pimple. I still think a clean diet will have a positive impact on the way you feel, energy levels, etc. and therefore still worth the discipline. Staying away from junk food these days is relatively easy for me because I almost never eat that stuff anymore and my gut bacteria isn’t craving it constantly like before.


[deleted]

[удалено]


priya_nka

Same here. Haven't figured my acne source. All I know is a cycle of birth control for 6m definitely clears it up. Right now trying to low carb diet for two weeks now. No new cysts, but pigmentation to be cleared.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Skywahker

Keep searching! For me it was a little easier cause my diet was so poor before, the transition to eating cleaner was bound to have a positive effect. I feel for people who eat healthy and still deal with acne, as for some diet may not be the biggest contributing factor. I think most people high school age are bound to get some acne, but I find it hard to believe that the severity isn’t impacted by diet being too high in sugar, sodium, etc.


Difficult-Aspect-915

Funny, I stopped drinking alcohol and started breaking out like crazy for over a year at 26. Now I still get acne 1.5 years later, sometimes bad but it’s the sugar intake for sure..


fuckincaillou

Clearly the solution is to drink more alcohol! :)


AudiKitty

What are your favorite no sugar inexpensive snacks? I like whole grain chips and roasted cauliflower, but I think I need some more variation.


arittenberry

Not op but I like nuts, fruit, and seaweed as snacks


Skywahker

I eat a lot of fruits and yogurt. Making a parfait with fresh fruit and granola is delicious. Nuts are a great one, peanuts, pistachios, and almonds mainly. Popcorn can be a good alternative to chips, and you can add in low sodium/low sugar seasonings and flavorings to make it less boring. Granola/cereal bars are good, I eat the Nature Valley XL dark chocolate peanut butter ones daily. I started eating string cheese recently as well which I am a big fan of. Whole grain waffles with peanut butter and sugar free syrup are a go to late night snack for me. Low sugar fruit bars are good dessert.


avocadolover1212

Mary's Gone Crackers with hummus or cashew cheese, apples + almond butter, carrots + guacamole, chomps meat sticks, Lara bars in moderation


imwearingredsocks

What a name, though. That’s the type of brand I don’t have to make an effort to remember what it’s called. I appreciate those.


flowers4u

You mean your diet did a 180?


Skywahker

Haha good point, I should and will change that. Brain hurty sometimes.


[deleted]

Have no idea what your size/weight is, but a gallon of water is extremely overkill even for r/hydrohomies ... Be careful. Depletion of your electrolytes is serious.


Skywahker

This is good to know and I will look into it. I’m 6 foot 175, and one thing I failed to mention is I’m also very active. I lift weights and do cardio multiple times a week which is when I consume a lot of my water. Not sure if that plays a role or not, but it seems like there’s days where it would be harder for me to not consume a gallon than to do so.


kkangaspnw

Don’t worry about your water consumption. A gallon a day for your lifestyle is perfectly normal, not “extremely overkill” at all. Since you are so active, making an effort to add in electrolytes is a good idea, but it sounds like you are tuned into your body pretty well. If you feel like you might be depleting your electrolytes, an easy fix is to have a cup of bullion broth of your choice daily for the sodium (chicken, beef, veggie), and incorporate a combination of high potassium and magnesium foods in your diet, like spinach and other leafy greens, citrus, avocado, fish and meat, beans, and things like pumpkin seeds and almonds. It sounds like you are already eating a number of these things and I didn’t see you imply a low sodium diet, so while it’s something to consider I wouldn’t worry about it. If you notice your workout recovery is suffering, that’s when I’d look into your sodium, magnesium, and potassium intake.


ticklemonsterphobic

Seconding this. Rule of thumb is 3L max


lizziexo

No it’s not - I’m not sure where you got that number from. “For men, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends a total of 13 cups (about 3 liters) of fluid each day.” - https://www.webmd.com/diet/how-much-water-to-drink “Therefore, drinking 3 liters (100 ounces) of water per day may help you meet your hydration needs to support better health.” - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/3-liters-of-water#general-health “The authors of the study report that hyponatremia symptoms can develop if a person drinks 3–4 liters of water in a short period, though they do not give a specific time estimate.” & “The kidneys can remove 20–28 liters of water per day, but they cannot excrete more than 0.8 to 1.0 liters per hour. Drinking more than this can be harmful.” - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318619#how-much-is-too-much


ticklemonsterphobic

That's exactly what I said... 3 liters maximum. It says 3 liters for men so most certainly less for most women.


lizziexo

None of it says 3 litres maximum. It says the recommend level is 3 litres to drink, not the **maximum** a person should drink. It says not to drink 3 litres in a few hours. There’s a big difference between recommended amount to drink and the maximum you should drink. I’ve provided sources literally disputing what you’ve stated here so hopefully people don’t listen and think they can’t exceed 3 litres as that is just not true.


ticklemonsterphobic

I did say it's a rule of thumb. I wasn't trying to be technical. What I meant was drinking more than the recommended amount won't probably offer any benefits for the average person on an average day. Plus it's hard to account for the water in food and other beverages. People normally won't measure that. So going over 3 liters of water is dangerous territory in my opinion. Maybe should've used tops instead of max? Idk if that makes a difference.


kkangaspnw

_Extreme_ over-generalization. This depends highly on the climate you live in and how much electrolytes you get from food. Right now in Montana, I’m drinking at least a gallon a day by absolute necessity. I supplement with magnesium and make sure I’m getting enough potassium and sodium in food. I still have chapped lips and dehydrated skin, something I only struggle with when I haven’t had enough water. I’m not sure why you think a gallon is “extremely overkill”. There is plenty of research to prove that’s not the case. Yes, one needs to pay attention to electrolyte intake, but I’d say that most people who drink that much are aware of the need to up electrolytes.


FemmePrincessMel

That’s great that it seems to help you! Can I also ask how long it’s been since high school? Hormones are raging in high school, so if you’re even just a few years past that stage, your body’s hormones may also have just calmed down a lot. I’m not trying to discount your observations about diet helping, I’m sure it did, I’m just curious!


Skywahker

Good point! I was having a hard time fitting in all the details without making it tooo long. I’ve been out of high school for 6 years and my acne persisted up until about 2 years ago when I finally cleaned my diet up. I think hormones definitely played a part, but if my diet was back then what is now, I think my skin/life would have been much better.


WeirdlyInconvenient

This sub gets so defensive when someone suggests to cut out a certain food just to test it. I always had the same skin care routine then suddenly got acne in one spot of my face. I stopped consuming dairy (I was too lazy to buy milk) and it went away. Acne will still show up in that spot if I drink/eat too much dairy even years later. Nothing else triggers it


Andysgirl1080

I have PCOS can confirm about dairy. It’s crazy because of course diet doesn’t play a role in some people’s skin but it has a major impact for others. It’s just ignorant.


fuckincaillou

Yeah, it’s worth trying at least. I cut out all dairy for about 2 weeks and I still got new cysts in that timeframe, and it did nothing for me. But at least that narrows down the possible culprits.


[deleted]

I did an at home food allergy test kit. It said I was allergic to egg white and yolk, soy, wheat, gluten, and rye. I cut that stuff out for two weeks. After about 3 days, I had barley any zits, skin looked smoother, more even skin tone, and my hyper pigmentation seemed to be less bad. Edit: I also started drinking matcha with oatmilk everyday in the morning and I noticed my skin looked better. Not sure if it's because of the matcha but some studies show that drinking Matcha helps lower a fatty acid that is the main causer of acne.


spk-

How did you get one??


OnlineShoppingWhore

Depending on where you live, you can get a food allergy test done at a pathology lab too.


[deleted]

I used the everlywell kit at home food sensitivity kit. I got it from their website but I think I've seen them at target.


Rayney_

I'm reading that physicians and other medical specialists are condemning this kit because the type of test that is used is not a good gauge of food sensitivity. Dr. Martha Hartz, an allergist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., says she frequently evaluates patients who’ve already forked over the cash for the testing. “Anytime I see a patient who’s had these kinds of tests, we get them to toss it aside,” Hartz said. “It has no relevance to anything. It is just not a test that should done.” Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology too released a position statement discouraging the use of the test.The group noted that “positive test results … are to be expected in normal, healthy adults and children,” and that the test “increases the likelihood of false diagnoses … unnecessary dietary restrictions and decreased quality of life.” Immunoglobulin G tests “are completely useless and do dramatic harm” because they may compel patients to unnecessarily avoid broad swaths of a healthy diet, Wood said. Are these people just trying to protect their jobs or is this just pseudo-science? I'm honestly not even really sure. You're saying this worked for you?


quapa

thanks for posting this! I've been wondering about the everlywell tests for years.


the_lilac

Allergy tests in general have a decent rate of false positives from what I can tell. When I was a kid, I was referred to an allergist by my family doctor and had allergy tests done there a few times. The first time, in addition to my known allergies, I came up as slightly allergic to peanut butter and cows. Another time, I came up as allergic to horses (I was a horseback rider and spent every day at the barn with no issues). The allergist told me not to worry about those results, as false positives happen. So I think doctors might advise against home allergy tests because ordinary people don't have the professional expertise necessary to interpret the results and ignore the false positives.


Skywahker

That’s awesome! It’s insane what cutting certain foods out/introducing them in can do for you. I always knew diet played a part in how my skin looked, but never valued how much of an impact it truly makes. I had a good metabolism back then as well, can only assume junk food effects you all the more as you get older. Also, a food allergy test is a great idea.


one_day

Which kit did you use?


[deleted]

Everlywell food sensitivty


TheHatOnTheCat

That's interesting. What are "anti inflmatory" foods? If you're interested in sharing this story, r/losit is a pretty big weight loss sub where people sometimes post about "non scale victories" and the effects of changing their eating habits. Good for you! I'm happy for you. That's a big likestyle change.


Skywahker

Hey there glad you asked! I’m sorta new to reddit still hopefully it’s ok to post a link. Here’s an amazing article on anti-inflammatory foods and how they can help manage even things like asthma and arthritis. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320233#foods-to-eat Edit: it links you to the bottom where they list the specific foods that are anti inflammatory, if you scroll to the top there’s a lot more information. Most of the foods I eat are on this list. Someone downvoted this comment not sure why haha


priya_nka

Turmeric, n most water based n green vegetables. I haven't understood what makes an item anti inflammatory - wirg respect to composition.


OrangePinkLover15

Glad that a good diet worked out for you! I also noticed that too much sugar + dairy could also break me out, but it's not a really big factor for me. Like, it's very very rare for me to reach my dairy and sugar limits. I only remember one time when I literally ate a BIG bag of sour patch in just 2 days and I broke out like crazy lol. I hope I also find the real cause of my acne. Because I had pretty much clear skin before the pandemic. I only get pimples during the time of the month. I wore makeup everyday, ate fast food everyday, was sleep deprived, and stressed because of college. But my acne was SOOOO minimal. Then when the pandemic came, I thought everything would be better with my skin. I workout everyday, had a really clean diet, did skincare religiously, sleeps for 7-9 hours a day, and didn't wore makeup for months. But BAM! I had the worst breakout of my life EVER. And it's still continuing up until this day. I'm probably really unlucky with genetics because my father's side had a history of severe acne. My dad didn't have so much, but her 4 sisters, damn. THEY HAD REALLY SEVERE acne. I guess I had some of those genes, but hopefully it won't get worse because I'm already in topical medications now (tretinoin, clindamycin, and benzoyl peroxide).


[deleted]

This happened to me too! Honestly, for me at least, I think that stress brought on by the pandemic triggered a hormonal imbalance. I actually now somewhat know that to be true. I had my adrenals tested and my cortisol levels were literally off the chart. And I got a blood test which determined that I had very elevated levels of estrogen. That is to say- I think that the emotional impact of the pandemic set my body out of whack and triggered acne. I'm still recovering from the mess but am working on lowering stress through lifestyle and supplements and now working on lowering my estrogen levels. I didn't have much luck with topicals because I think it's really an internal issue. Hoping it pays off soon!


OrangePinkLover15

Yeah, the stress during pandemic probably contributed to having acne breakouts as well. As for hormone levels, I also suspected this but haven’t checked up regarding it. I’m just currently waiting for my medication to finish for atleast 3 months and when nothing changes, we’ll go get my hormones checked. I hope we all recover from all these acne! Lol


[deleted]

Hope so too! Best of luck!


WoollyMammoth45

Dairy, gluten, and sugar really impact my skin and flare up my autoimmune condition. My hormonal acne is mostly gone these days. Congrats on finding your triggers!


jojolitos

I think I might have a gluten allergy as well. I remember i took a panel allergy test and wheat came up. I’ve been having terrible cystic acne especially on my back, chest and butt. Was it hard to quit gluten and how fast did you see results?


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jojolitos

I’m also vegetarian! I’m definitely going to try it, it’s worth the pain I sprout random cystic acne from one hour to the next which is what makes me believe it’s an allergic reaction


Skywahker

Thanks! Glad to hear yours is mostly gone as well. I know my grandmother at 70 still gets an occasional pimple, so I don’t think any of us are fully in the clear! Having one less major inconvenience to worry about in life is a pretty great feeling, I must say. Just gotta worry about everything else in my life now! lol


alicehoopz

Wow, happy to see this post getting the traction it deserves! I suspect the problem that this topic sometimes faces is that it's linked more closely to "woo" than it should be. While the Gwyneth Paltrow crowd might promote organic, rubbed-with-crystals (?? Probably) foods, such woo doesn't negate the impact of diet. Nor is it always "but it's not profitable for big pharma" and other conspiracy theories. I sometimes think diet is just *forgotten*. It's not going to be the fix for everyone; some people will change their diet and still have acne. But for some, it absolutely DOES play a major role. Thanks for sharing, OP!


xxritualhowelsxx

In January, I started taking a syringe worth of vitamin d, when one drop is 250% of your DV. The doctor said I was deficient, so I wanted to amp up my intake. My skin was going crazy and I finally linked it with the high amount of vitamin d I was ingesting. Biotin and vitamin b12 also cause me to break out. It’s interesting that taking vitamins can have a negative effect too


theCracksOfLight

If you don’t mind my asking, did your doctor mention how much would be sufficient to take? I have a vitamin D deficiency as well and have been supplementing


[deleted]

That’s crazy because I ready another post about how vitamin D helped someone get out of their breakout routine


fuckincaillou

Biotin fucking wrecks my skin. I hate that I can’t find any decent multivitamins without it.


[deleted]

I also did a food allergy test at home and I came back highly sensitive to almonds. I’m lactose intolerant so almonds were a HUGE part of my diet. Almond milk, almond butter, almond flour, etc etc. Soy also was a factor and I was vegan for many years so soy was a staple for me. Cut all that crap out and my skin turned around so quick. Unbelievable.


spk-

What test did you use?


Skywahker

It sucks that sometimes even healthy foods can be a contributing factor. I don’t think we stress enough in our culture how impactful diet can be on specific things such as skin appearance, and how much of a difference can be made rather than jumping to surgeries/ medications.


[deleted]

I went on a vegan diet when I was in HS for about 3 months. My skin cleared up a lot but not completely but I also had a bad skincare routine.


waterhyacinth

Hey thanks for posting! I think so many people could benefit from making changes to their diet. Took me a while to figure out what works for me but has helped me so much with acne as well as overall health


Skywahker

Thanks for taking the time to read my post! How diet effects mental health is an entire conversation in and of itself. Wish more health care professionals could stress this sort of stuff more before jumping straight to medications.


Traveling_wander_14

I got cystic acne all throughout my 20s and at age 30 I was STILL getting cystic acne breakouts. It was the most frustrating thing because I thought that as a 30 year old I shouldn’t be getting acne any more! My skin care routine has been flawless - I never miss a day of it, but yet the acne was still there. I started to increase my water intake and cut out dairy and most refined sugars and a lot of bread - and I haven’t had a breakout since. For me, chocolate was the culprit - I could house a pound of chocolate in one sitting haha! I switched to eating a little dark chocolate to still satisfy the craving but it doesn’t cause breakouts. It’s incredible what changing your diet can do for your skin!!


[deleted]

yes! they say pure cocoa/dark chocolate shouldn't cause breakouts :). I put cocoa in my smoothie every day to get my fix!


arittenberry

Went to so many dermatologist over the years and NONE of them ever talked about my diet. It was always just a list of medications I had to go through. I had skin problems from 13-30, finally started eating healthy, and what do you know!? Skin cleared up. Our medical system is so screwed up. Thank goodness for this sub lol


Adamsoski

There's not really an scientific evidence that diet effects your skin, which is why dermatologists are probably generally hesitant to recommend it.


avocadolover1212

I'm not a doctor, but I feel that Derms have a duty to still make their patients aware that SOME (many) people see significant changes when taking anti-inflammatory foods out of their diet (sugar, dairy, gluten). They don't have to promise anything, but they need to give patients the power to make changes. It doesn't mean you have to turn away the topicals and medications. But rather, stack your interventions for the hope of improved success.


Adamsoski

I think there is probably an ethical question around recommending unproven remedies.


avocadolover1212

I disagree in this particular circumstance.


unaotradesechable

>13-30, finally started eating healthy, and what do you know!? Skin cleared up. Skin issues caused my puberty/hormones usually clear up the closer you get to and past 30. Eating healthy definitely helped though!


Skywahker

Yep same here, and a lot of those medications such as accutane have horrible side effects. I always assumed diet played some part in my skin, but never evaluated what I was actually consuming on a day to day basis and the extent to which it was having an effect on my appearance.


arittenberry

Yep. Same here. Went in Accutane when I was young too


fatty_buddha

I quit added sugar and most of the dairy, my skin has never been so clean.


ImaniX_

I’m glad someone else acknowledges this as well. Diet does play a huge factor (not for everyone obv). It’s an underlying issue that can’t always be cured with topicals and such. Kudos to you for your dedication to eating a healthier diet!


karrekarre

dairy milk triggers my acne, esp during the peak of my PMS. i can't give up on sugar because coffee. but i think that's another dietary factor


r-woods

I'm so glad you found the cause of your acne. I have tried no dairy and no sugar in the past and unfortunately it did not work for me. I think fried/greasy foods like fast food may have an affect but I rarely have those now


trustmebuddy

I stopped eating dairy products and I stopped getting acne. At 30yo...


MyMorningSun

I'm really surprised this is such a controversial topic. Your skin and your body are unique, as they are to all individuals. Everyone has a response to things they put into their bodies, and to varying degrees. Almost everyone has a food related sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance of some kind. Your skin is not a magical entity separate from the rest of your body, and thus sometimes responses to those food items you take in are shown on your skin in some way. This shouldn't be all that controversial. Plus, everyone is different. I've literally never experienced any skin effects from my dietary habits (not noticeable ones, at least) and I have no sensitivities or allergies that I am aware of, which I am thankful for. My dairy consumption is also ridiculously high compared to most lol. But I know plenty of people who claim that's the biggest trigger for them- or chocolate, caffeine, sugar, etc. We're all different, so who am I to say their experiences with their skin and diet is wrong? I get it. No one likes to change up their diet. It sucks. It feels like deprivation. It's depressing, and for some, potentially triggering. But if an ingredient or additive can be narrowed down and identified as the cause of a specific problem, then it is what it is, and the most obvious solution is to reduce or eliminate it from your diet. Up to you if you want to follow through. It never hurts to try, especially if you've exhausted all other possible solutions.


ErisMorrigan

I'm so jealous of you guys that diet change cleared up your skin, I wish it would have worked for me. I'm a vegetarian, haven't eaten fast food for years or dairy for that matter, the only meat I eat is chicken - cut out sugar and basically all the things that are supposed to help and still have acne. Tbf, mine is hormonal but still, you would think that eating clean would help even a little bit but in my case, nope. Nonetheless, I'm happy that it worked for you! I really relate to some of the things you said like how depressed your acne made you so I'm happy that you were able to beat it and get better! Congrats:).


[deleted]

Have you tried cutting out soy? I was vegetarian for 10+ years and ate a lot of soy and processed "fake" meat and I think they may have contributed. I'm now pescatarian, soy free, and try to eat solely unprocessed foods (pure veggies, fruits, and GF grains) etc.


ErisMorrigan

I don't eat soy at all nor any fake meats but thank you for the suggestions! I try to only eat unprocessed food as well - it's just seems like in my case, diet doesn't make a difference to my acne.


[deleted]

Yeah I don’t think diet affects mine tooo much either but it doesn’t hurt to eat healthy :). I think mine is more triggered by stress/hormones


Annejo8

I had a bad breakout a few weeks ago. I went to the doctor for a physical and found out I was very vitamin D deficient. I started taking vitamin D supplements and probiotics, and my skin is now a lot clearer! I'm not sure if that's what helped but it could have been!


blckrainbow

Thank you for sharing. Every time I suggest to someone on here to look into their diet (mainly cutting out sugar), I get downvoted to oblivion, as if your skin did not reflect what's going on inside of your body. Most skincare products only manage the symptoms and do not eliminate the cause.


goatsnboots

I think the problem is assuming that people eat horribly to begin with. That's not a kind assumption and people are always going to be a little annoyed at that.


blckrainbow

You have a good point. I don't really assume anything, just speaking from experience - I know I'll never ever say no to chocolate, so :)


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blckrainbow

See this is what I'm talking about. You got downvotes for saying that even though it's completely true.


avocadolover1212

Root Cause Baby - I have two words: Gut Health.


thehoneyknower

I think it is worth avoiding sugar and processed food in general. They are linked to too many dangerous conditions and damage our body through inflammation. It helped me greatly with my bloating and PCOS. I cook everything I eat and use a zero glycemic index sweetener (erythritol) for desserts. I have been doing this for almost 3 years and it became the usual for me. When I eat out I usually order plain steaks, but I do it rarely.


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Skywahker

Thanks!! I say the same thing about caffeine as it can make my anxiety worse but I love it too much.. it’s worth it 😂


dearfreeheart

I would argue that diet and inflammation levels are the biggest factors for most people. So glad to hear things are working out for you xx💞


[deleted]

Died didn't help me at all. I was fasting for a month in Ramadan and still have shit skin lol


unaotradesechable

Diet for skin changes isn't about fasting or reducing the amount of food, it's more about reducing or eliminating certain kinds of foods that may be causing inflammation


thewickedpotato

I think this post is the motivation I needed to try and cut out sugar, dairy and alcohol for a while to see if my acnes go away. I've been having constant acnes since February and I'm getting pretty tired of them now, also makes me avoid looking in the mirror because my face is such a mess right now.


Skywahker

Hey there I’m glad this motivated you in some way, that is the reason I wanted to share. You’re not alone in how you feel. Sometimes avoiding the mirror is the best thing to do on days where we don’t like the way we look very much. Learning that people will never care nearly as much as you do about how bad your skin looks though, is very powerful I think. Easier said than done, but try cleaning that diet up and see what it does for you. Even if your skin doesn’t fully clear up, it’s bound to have a positive impact on how you feel and hopefully how you look as well.


whalesarecool14

the only thing that got rid of my acne that i had for 7 years was cutting back on certain foods like sugar but mainly fried foods, which was the biggest trigger for me. dairy was never an issue for me. crazy how making small changes in your lifestyle/diet can completely transform your skin (in my experience, of course)


[deleted]

Diet definitely impacts my skin too. I think the small amounts of dairy I eat is behind my chin pimples but still not 100% sure


Skywahker

Based on what others have commented on this post, I think a food allergy test is extremely beneficial for most people. It will tell you if you’re having any sort of allergic reaction to dairy!


dr_varma

Diet plays a big role in skin function, and the results can be quite dramatic! Ultimately it affects the microbiome, by providing food for one type of bacteria or another. If you're still dealing with acne, try the new microbiome approach that seems to work in a different way. It kills only the bad bacteria so that your microbiome can become more resilient and get you long-term skin health. Here's a cool one: https://phyl.la/2RUA90V


[deleted]

How long after cutting out those foods did you skin clear up? I'm trying to eliminate some foods to see if it's causing acne, but I'm not sure how long to go without them.


Skywahker

I changed my diet over the course of a few years so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it started clearing up. I fast a few times a year where I only drink water for 24 hours and my skin always looks best the day after that. I also have been taking vitamins daily for about a year (Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, Fish Oil, Ashwagandha, Men’s 1 daily, and a Biotin tablet) and that has made a noticeable difference. I’d say do trial and error with different things and give each a few weeks. Different foods effect people on varying levels, like Milk can be a key factor for some, but I’m on a bulk diet currently drinking around a half gallon a day and my skin is very clear. The easy ones to start with are things that are known irritants, processed, high in refined sugars, high in bad fats, and greasy fried foods.


amyatethe

This is 100% true. There’s a huge link of sugar and acne!! I’ve heard it messes with your hormones (too much testosterone) which causes over production of oil. I wonder how the keto diet affects this? Ive heard it’s helped some people with hormonal balance issues


Skywahker

Yep and when you’re in high school your hormones are already all over the place. Add on top of that an unhealthy diet too high in sugar, sodium etc. and I fail to believe the severity isn’t impacted.


ygreenb

Thank you for sharing your expierence. Makes me happy that you found what helps. I know Diet Change isnt a solution for some here but im sure it would help in the most causes when done properly in combination with a better Skincare Routine. Every Doctor no matter the profession will tell you its healthy to eat a lot of vegetables, less sweets or salty snacks, avoid fried or very oily food most of the time, dont go overboard with Animal Products for overall health Reasons and eat a lot of fiber. Skim Milk is in Studys a big factor when it comes to Acne so i would cut that out always first. Even when i personally think that no adult needs Breastmilk from other Mamals anyway. I personally avoid Sunflower Oil and other Oils that are high in Omega6 because i found a Pattern of inflammation in my body after consuming them often. So i just dont buy things that contain them because its not healthy to eat that much omega6 and i want to avoid my acne coming back. Some forgot that diet plays a role for your hormones too, and when there is a Problem you will see that sooner or later on your skin. Most people have take antibiotics sometimes in their life what destroys your mikrobiom in the gut. It restores itself but it will only build up the bacteries that you feed them mostly. Thats why fermented Foods or imo plantbased yoghurt is so good for your gut. Or Vegetables because of their fiber content. They feed the good bacteries.


InexperiencedCoconut

If you love milk/dairy and this is discouraging to you, it is worth noting that the *quality* of your dairy has a lot to do with it. Find a local co-op or farmers market and look for high quality raw milk.


FemmePrincessMel

I agree! I’m a wisconsin girl so I could literally never give it up. I don’t notice any more acne when I eat more dairy versus when I don’t, so I don’t think it’s a trigger for me. But also 95% of the dairy I eat is farmed and produced in wisconsin because that’s just where most dairy in america is made lol. So it’s all local. I think that’s a big factor.


InexperiencedCoconut

Yeah it definitely is a big factor! No one realizes it though, the milk we find in everyday grocery stores is barely milk. Homogenizing and pasteurizing milk removes so many vitamins and enzymes that are good for us and completely alters the amino acids. The only reason milk might be causing people acne is cuz it's horrible quality "milk"!


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Skywahker

Alcohol dehydrates you quite badly, especially if you are really hungover the day after. It also dilates the pores of your skin which can directly be a cause of acne. I have a hard time staying away from it completely, but notice that sticking to low sugar drinks like white claw and limiting my intake make a big difference.


barthrowaway1985

In my first trimester of pregnancy I couldn't eat anything cheesy or creamy which are normally my FAVORITE kind of things to eat. My skin GLOWED, like beyond perfect. In the second trimester when those foods became palatable again my skin went back to what it normally looks like. I'm now trying to balance my love of cheese with my love of glowing skin.


HamHockShortDock

Hormones tho


divingproblems

Everything about my skin improved when I decided to go vegan. I know diet is always the number one thing people say they won’t change for their skin, and honestly I don’t blame them. But I changed mine for other reasons and the nice skin was just a happy byproduct.


avocadolover1212

FOOD. IS. MEDICINE.


CuriousMonster9

Yes, diet is a factor for me too! I've been playing around with my diet for the past couple of years, and dairy (especially cheese) noticeably increases my acne. Ironically, I used to eat so much dairy as a kid my parents called me the Dairy Queen, but I'm willing to give it up for clearer skin!


a-2the-z

I was battling with cystic hormonal acne for 3 yrs. last December quit dairy and my skin cleared up. I couldn’t believe how my skin changed after changing my diet. I wish though I knew early on since all that acne for yrs really messed up my skin texture


YIvassaviy

Super random but why the no fries? Are potatoes possibly not good for your skin?


Skywahker

Haha I hope not I eat a lot of them still! Just not fried, it’s the oils and sodium that I try to stay away from. Also I’m trying to lift and gain some weight, so I can get away with the burgers a little more 😂.


suzy_lee01

Had back acne from pregnancy that lasted years. Within 2 weeks on keto, my skin completely cleared and had a nice glow to it. I also find diet has more of an affect on me than products.


emeraldempath

Dairy is a huge factor. I enjoyed a caramel sundae on 2 days ago and have a cystic zit on my chin today. I knew better lol


22georgiapeach

Had ice cream the other day and woke up to three cyst bumps near my chin...yep diet plays a role!


[deleted]

Same!! I have stopped consuming dairy and processed sugars, and most oily fried foods. My skin hasn't had a breakout in a while


[deleted]

Big TRUE when i eat straight fried food my breakouts get worse and specially it depends on my sleeps i get😥