Have you changed your diet and saw an improvement in your skin ?

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

I've always been prone to the odd spot and ended up on the pill as a teenager when I developed cystic acne along my jawline. It came back after the DCs but then went away. 3 weeks ago I started to see the bumps appearing on my chin again and my face now resembles a pizza. Now I will be honest and say my diet hasn't been the best lately but jeezo my skin hasn't looked this shit in years ! It's really getting me down actually. Have you overhauled your diet, cut out wheat dairy, booze etc and what results did you get ? I've been using Avene Cleanance and Triacneal for about 6 months and my skin is still in this state.

[Tugstonia]

Sorry you're suffering with your skin, I really sympathise. I've experimented with various diets in the past to improve my skin and for me sugar is the biggest culprit. I cut out all refined sugar for 3 months and my skin seemed a lot better - not perfect, but better. Then I had a piece of my nephew's birthday cake the other day and boom, my face erupted around my chin and jawline :( I'm also trying to avoid gluten and dairy but finding it tougher to eliminate everything at once.

[LadyBigtoes]

Hy ryan, I'm stalking your acne threads! :o

I have had adult acne for 30 years now (sorry not to give you more hope!) and no, diet has never made a difference. I have cut out this and that to little avail, and tbh it is such a faff I've stopped bothering. I basically eat healthily and stay within alcohol limits, and I see plenty of people around me who don't, and they don't have acne! So I'm a bit frustrated when people say "Oh just cut out dairy!" etc.

What makes a difference to me is a) stress – always makes it much worse and b) some medications - I'm currently on one that makes my skin and hair more oily, and I've got loads more spots. Pregnancy helped, but the effect didn't last.

Trying to reduce stress and get plenty of sleep is my top tip. Plus always keeping your skin clean while avoiding any harsh products - my acne always gets worse if I use drying treatments etc.

[Tugstonia]

Crikey LadyBigtoes 30 years! I've been battling it some 25 years... It sucks. The 3 months without sugar was the longest I'd ever stuck at any kind of elimination diet, and I agree it's a major faff. It probably isn't as simple as diet but I know that for me sugar makes my acne worse. My problem is my bloody hormones as I had beautiful skin while I was on the pill and during pregnancy.

[LadyBigtoes]

I know Tugs, it's so unfair. I know there are worse problems out there and I do a pretty nifty make-up job but it is no fun staring in the mirror at your faceful of zits and seeing your wrinkles starting to appear!

[Tugstonia]

God yeah, the zits and wrinkles combo is a special one!

[thestauntonlick]

I don't have acne, but my skin definitely looks better when I eat salmon and avocado and drink plenty of water.

[LadyBigtoes]

I am a big fan of avocado. Actually, in between the zits, I have quite nice skin and wrinkle-wise it isn't bad for being in my 40s. It's incredibly oily skin and I think although that contributes to zits, it also helps you age relatively well. Maybe if I ever grow out of the acne I will finally reap the benefits!

[Tugstonia]

Out of interest, has anyone found that fish oils makes their skin worse? I've noticed I get more spots when I take cod liver oil supplements...

[29chapel]

Hello OP. Diagnosed with adult acne after childbirth 8 years ago now. It peaks and troughs but stress and sugar make mine considerably worse. Since i cut out sugar (used to eat Haribo alot - bit addicted) i have seen a big improvement, likewise if i'm on a particularly stressful project it flares too.

[jimjamspam]

I have psoriasis and find that cutting out coffee, red wine & citurs fruits helps a bit.
Sadly coffee, red wine and orange juice make me happy so I have psoriasis

[BeCoolFucker]

years ago, for other health reasons, I went on a vegan alcohol free diet.

It is the only time ever I have been blackhead free.

[BeCoolFucker]

Tugs cod liver oil, although from a fish, isn't the same as fish oil (a good one will be from the whole fish). Try a good 'fish oil' and you should notice your skin is fab.

[Tugstonia]

Thanks becool. Can you recommend a brand of good fish oils? Or shall I just eat a ton of actual oily fish?

[BeCoolFucker]

YY re oily fish but I'm not too keen on it myself. I don't mind eating it but I don't like cooking it and I never go to restaurants these days :)

I take Nutrigold fish oils which are 'therapeutic quality'.

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

at the comments about wrinkles and acne !

On my last birthday I awoke to find what I thought was my Siamese twin attached to my chin. Honestly, this thing was like a spot from a joke shop. That was my 39th birthday and I thought to myself when the feck is this going to end. Spots or wrinkles ? One I can cope with but to have two at the same time is a bit of a p*ss take really isn't it ?

Come to think of it I have been a bit stressed lately though I can't put my finger on the exact cause. I was very agitated and moody with the kids at the weekend and ended up feeling really guilty about it.

A few spots I can handle, it's the buggers that sit under the skin like a boiled sweet and are so painful that you can't even bloody smile that get me !

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

And the ironic thing is, when I'm relatively spot free I have been told that I have lovely skin !

[Fuckitthatlldo]

I have never had full blown cystic acne, but until recently I was a person who was generally always having to deal with a significant blemish or two. The week leading up to my period was always a nightmare.

I have cut out sugar and I don't drink alcohol, and this along with regular use of a retinoid has transformed my skin into being smooth, even-toned and reliably clear. I always used to spend the time leading up to important events (interviews, dates e.t.c.) praying that my skin would behave. Now I don't have to worry.

For me personally, sugar was a huge culprit. I also recommend juicing. Not fasting or anything like that, but a daily juice in addition to three healthy meals a day gives skin a real healthy glow.

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

What is the retinoid you use Fuckit ?

[LaFataMalvagia]

I don't think salt agrees with my skin.

I gave up crisps for lent one year and I've never had such good skin (or as flat a stomach) as that spring.

[Fuckitthatlldo]

I started out with Triacneal, which is the one you are using no? I used it until I could tolerate nightly usage with no side effects and then I moved on to NCN skincare 2% retinol with non-prescription tretinoin. The tretinoin percentage in that is 0.19, whereas prescription strength starts at 0.25. Again I used that until I could tolerate nightly usage, and now I have just moved on to the hard stuff! So now I use proper prescription strength 0.5% retin-a every third night with the NCN in between. I'll do that for a month and if I'm tolerating it ok I'll move up to alternating the two with the aim eventually to be using the retin-a nightly.

What I found with Triacneal is that I initially got good results and was pleased. But then my skin seemed to almost get used to it and revert back to its former state. The stronger products have had a far more lasting and much better effect. What the triacneal did do however, was acclimatise my skin to retinoid use which meant that when I moved on to stronger products, the side effects were not so scary.

I cannot sing the praises of retinoic acid loudly enough. My skin is smooth, clear, even toned, and I've started to notice a real difference in terms of fine lines and deeper wrinkles too. The only downside is having to use facial sunscreen daily - it took a while for me to find products I was happy with - but you get used to it, and it's worth it definitely.

[lurkingaround]

Sympathies ryan. It's a bitch.
Avoid dairy, here, not the greatest site but worth a browse, 'read the no milk acne page', it explains the dairy connection quite well.
Also avoid sugars (including fruits), and nuts. Sterols in nuts can be converted to androgenic (male-type) hormones, in some people, that can cause/worsen acne.

My own belief is that cystic acne can only be treated properly by conventional medicines.

[Fuckitthatlldo]

If you have active acne, your doctor may well be happy to prescribe you retin-a Ryans. The only thing is that you absolutely cannot use it if you are planning to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding. But the doctor should go through all that with you if you ask him/her about it. You could also ask for a referral to a dermatologist if you wanted.

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

Thanks for the info Fuckit. The problem I have with my skin is that it can be pretty clear for 3 or 4 months then I'll have a period of 4-6 weeks when all hell breaks loose like it is just now. Not sure if they would consider prescribing it unless my skin was like this constantly.

[JoanRanger]

I gave up dairy and my cystic zits cleared up. I also stopped having what I'd thought was IBS. Turned out I just don't have the genes for lactose digestion.

Pleasant surprise how easy it was to solve those two problems!

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

Looks like I'm going back on the almond milk then and cutting out cheese. I hope to God it helps. I can actually feel one of them on my chin throbbing as though the bugger has a pulse !