Anyone found cutting dairy to help acne?

[Fab90]

My skin has been terrible since lockdown started last April. Prior to that, it had been clear for years. I’ve just given silver serum a try and it didn’t work. Would cutting out dairy help? I’ve had 2 rounds of roaccutane in the past.

Thanks.

Some of the soya milks have vitamin d.

I used to get terrible spots and some awful boils. I didn’t link it to dairy for years.
I realised coincidentally and have stayed off dairy for years and I’ve no spots anymore. I sometimes have cheese and it seems fine. I think there’s a tolerance limit.
All those wasted years feeling awful about my skin

I always wonder about the bad press dairy gets here - because if dairy were so bad, shouldn't all the farming communities around the world, or even countries like Austria, Switzerland, where dairy is a large part of the diet, be known to have adult acne as standard? I grew up in a part of the world where full fat milk was the norm, and eaten as part of most meals, and adult acne wasn't at all common.

So I think it's very individual and hormone balancing might be more effective if you aren't actually lactose intolerant. Processed carbs (like white bread) and sugar might be more a culprit if you're considering diet.

@Mrstwiddle

And agree with previous post, since I’ve been drinking 1 very strong cup of spearmint tea a day my hormonal acne (painful spot once a month, either side of chin) is significantly reduced. I microwave the tea after making it with boiling water as apparently that releases more of the catchecins (sp?) or something :)

My back acne has been improving a lot since the last 'has anyone fixed hormonal acne' thread last week, I don't know if it's the spearmint tea, the zinc supplements which I'd only started a couple of days before the thread went up on the Himalayan salt in my bath. Do you microwave the tea with bag in? is it a 30 second thing?

How long do you think you need to give up dairy for to see an effect? I'm doing Veganuary, so haven't had any dairy for almost 3 weeks (I'm normally a cheese fiend) but haven't seen any obvious improvement to my spots yet... it would be amazing if my skin did clear up, that would definitely motivate me to try to stay off dairy (or at least cut down).

@BibbityBobbety, Exactly.

The English aren’t a healthy country, we drink way too much booze, we eat a lot of heavily processed food, loads of people smoke and we don’t exercise enough.

I cut out dairy for. a while and started using soy milk and my skin erupted, so do be aware that soy can be a problem too.

I think it could be the accumulative effect of over-consumption of dairy rather than dairy itself. As a PP said if dairy simply led to acne, adult acne would be extraordinarily common in all dairy-eating countries but it isn’t ...

*cumulative effect

workingfamilies.org.uk/advice-information/free-parents-carers-helpline/

Oops, that didn't belong here at all! Sorry.

OP - try Palanquin for spearmint tea, i got some on Amazon. I only started drinking the tea a week ago after reading all the recommendations on the other thread so can't comment on the effect just year.

I never found that diary made a difference for my hormonal acne, if anything cutting down on sugar and carbs seems to improve things. Otherwise i noticed that for a couple of years now my skin is calmer in the spring/summer and then i have bouts of acne as the weather cools. Go figure.

I'm 42, IV suffered acne since I was 12. I think IV tried everything from skin lamps to antibiotics. 3 rounds of roaccutane in my 20s ( worked brilliantly but acne returned), several things in my 30s. I tried the keto acne regime, cutting out dairy etc, in the end although the correct diet helped my skin to heal timely and look supple etc, it did little for my acne. At 40 I was prescribed adapelene differin cream, it's been a game changer. Every 2/3 days I also use benzoyl peroxide around my nose. After the initial purge it left me with clear skin, and I'm continuing to use it every night, have you tried it?

It could be dairy, carbs and/or sugar. They all cause inflammation.

I see peppermint tea in the shops but not spearmint . Why is it not stocked? This is a revelation to me. I never knew it was good for acne. Thanks.

Btw my skin clears up every summer too despite lashing on suncream so I think there’s a vitamin D link. I’ve started taking a vitamin D supplement,

I’m so sorry I haven’t responded. I stupidly didn’t think there were any more responses. Thank you so so much for the suggestions. Its nice to talk to people who understand and who don’t just suggest washing my face. My hair is also inexplicably looking horrendous so I’m not feeling great about myself.

Well I gave silver serum a good go, but have not seen any improvement. From today I am stopping dairy. I will ensure I eat sufficient protein though and I will order vitamin d supplements.

I’ll also order the spearmint tea. Thanks for the brand recommendation. If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask the doctor.

I’ve tried a lot over the past 20 years or so. Benzoyl peroxide sadly did nothing. I’m sure I’ve also had a differin lotion to apply before. I’ve tried so many creams and pills I can’t remember them all. The bcp has only ever assisted with the oiliness. Roaccutane worked like magic from the first pill, but I’m reluctant to go back on it again. Not wearing make up hasn’t helped either- I’ve stayed bare faced most of the time over the past year.

But I’ve got a plan of action now, so thank you all very much.

Acne’s just an infection, you’re not actually doing anything wrong anymore than someone with a uti is doing something wrong.

Make sure you get sufficient calcium and other vitamins, osteoporosis for example is a big problem for older women.

Thank you for saying that Fluffycloudland. All too often people think you have acne because you eat too many chips.

Chew becca- thank you, that’s a good point. I will order some vitamins. I’ve also ordered spearmint tea!

Just thought I’d update in case it helps anyone who comes across this thread. I cut out dairy and started drinking 2 cups of spearmint tea daily. I also started using Boots Skin Clearing paste. My skin is definitely a lot clearer! I don’t know exactly what has done the trick, but there’s definitely been substantial improvement. As the red marks slowly fade, it’ll look even better.

Thanks a lot for the advice and help.