5 replies to this topic

[moonwolf]

Okay, basically I've been struggling with pimples for over half a decade since high school and I'm at the point where I'm way beyond frustrated. I don't even have the confidence to look into a mirror, let alone pose for a photo.

Here's the deal; About a month and half ago, I began consuming an organic vegetable drink as a form of a 'detox' routine about 2-3 times daily. I stopped eating chocolates and even tried my best to abstain from cheesecakes T_T I'm a small eater and usually have about 2 rice meals with some dishes (meat, eggs, tofus whatnot) each day. I barely snack, and since last month, I've been avoiding meat as best as I can. Sometimes, I'd even go three days with just milk, nestum and the vegetable powder.

I'm taking the vege drink as a substitute for raw, organic vegetables which I would never be able to implement as a diet routine for a whole month, let alone for life (since organic is expensive and difficult to get).

I'm 1.5 months into this and I wonder if anyone can tell me how long must I continue (or make some changes to this routine) before I can see results? 3 months? 6 months? I don't mind the wait, as long as it's 110% guaranteed the pimples/blemishes/whiteheads/blackheads will be rid of forever T_T

Please help me.......

[Seppo]

I wonder where you've gotten your dietary info?

I seriously doubt that the vegetable drink will make much of a difference on your skin. In my books it's much better to stick to eating normal foods. You can get nutrients from the drink, but you should get the same nutrients from whole vegetables also. I wouldn't also stress too much about organic. The evidence for organic being better than non-organic food is less than solid. Organic might be more nutritious, but not so much I would stress over it.

You go for days with just milk and little bit of other stuff? Are you aware that milk is one of the biggest triggers for acne?

Please see this hormones and acne page for detailed explanation of how hormones affect the skin. Dairy products increase insulin and IGF-1 levels a lot, and that's why they cause acne for so many people.

I also don't see a big reason to avoid meat. For most people it's good for acne - assuming you keep it in moderation.

I'm happy to guide you further, but for that I need to know more about what you eat.

As to your current regimen? If you haven't seen any results in 1.5 months, then I doubt you are on the right track.

[moonwolf]

Yeah well, time constraints don't allow me to have cooked meals very often. As for the vege drink, it's actually a product known as Melilea (From the US), meant for detox of the intestines. I'm just taking it because I find changing my diet hasn't been helping old, persistent and seem-to-be-forever-there pimples and redness I'm practically at a dead end. I've tried every OTC cream available under the sun, I increased my intakes of vegetables and fruits, yet nothing.

If you have a recommended regimen, I'd loooooooooooove to hear about it. At least it might keep my mind off the problem *sigh*

As for milk, no no. Only when I began taking the drink did I also begin having milk a few times a week, so no. Milk wasn't the culprit that caused the condition.

As for what I currently eat, 2 meals a day (lunch and dinner) - usually rice with dishes like a plate of meat/vegetable/egg/tofu. Snacking? Rarely. It frustrates me so so much.

[Seppo]

I hear you pain man. This condition can be frustrating.

I don't see any harm from taking that vegetable powder. That said, I don't think it's going to do you much good either.

Are you making your own yogurt or eating any other fermented foods? If not, I would recommend you start doing that. Yogurt makers are really cheap, like $20 from Amazon. And making yogurt is as simple as mixing milk and unflavoured yogurt and letting it sit in the yogurt maker for 10 to 12 hours.

There's a connection between acne and gut issues. See here for more:

http://www.natural-a...clear-acne.html

Yogurt and other fermented foods help to fix the gut. Compared to other dairy products yogurt is less likely to give you acne since it has lower levels of IGF-1 hormone.

So that's something I would definitely recommend trying. Homemade yogurt is also really good

I don't think your acne is caused by any big dietary problems. But I can't say about details, like omega 3/6 balance. Are you taking any omega 3 supplements or eating omega 3 rich foods?

What about stress? Are you doing anything to mitigate it? Stress is even bigger cause than diet.

[moonwolf]

Indeed However, my condition's more on the pimple/whiteheads/blackheads side rather than acne. My skin's rather dry, I suppose... with lots of red patches, sadly.

Yogurt? Uhm, is it possible to purchase store-brand yoghurts or are homemade ones better? What other kinds of fermented food would you recommend? Stuff that can be eaten daily or something (And hopefully, easy to get)

I guess other than Omega-rich eggs, no, I guess xD Should I start taking some cod liver oil supplements or something???

As for stress, not that big of an issue (Well, in the past maybe but not now. I'm on break, relaxing... and frustrating over this. That count?) What concerns me the most is whether these seem-to-be-forever reddish patches and bumps/pimples can be cured a 100% without stuff like chemical peeling or the sort Most of them are flat but if observed closely, the round shapes and redness are prominent - some are raised (which made me assume pimples) and some are not. I once thought of them as rashes but... nah. They aren't acne, no, thank God. But still... arghhhhhh...... Are they going to be there forever? T_T Someone please tell me they won't.......

Oh and I lead a rather sedentary lifestyle (meal times are always off the clock) and while I do not usually exercise (For the fear I might end up slimer than I already am), I am willing to, if that'll help

Please, please, help me. I am willing to change my lifestyle if that'll help at all. I'm tired of crying and trying this and that...

As for Melilea, there ARE testimonials of terrible acne conditions which have cleared up thanks to regular detoxing done by consuming the vegetable drink. Supposedly, it takes 1.5 months for cleansing to begin (signs of breakouts) and an additional 1.5 months for it to actually work on the current pimples. So...... What do you think? If it's not too much, do you mind checking it out? I mean, I don't believe it's a commercial sales method of luring customers. Many people I've been acquainted with have tried it for their constipation problems and yes, it does work well in that area

[Seppo]

Sorry about my late reply.

Hmm.. dry skin with red patches. Sounds like your skin could be irritated. Maybe there's some damage to the skin barrier function, and that allows too much moisture to escape the skin.

I would recommend making your own yogurt. That way you'll know what's in there, and many store bought yogurst are just loaded with sugar. Making your own yogurt is really, really simple. It takes like 3 minutes to set it up in the evening and the yogurt is done in the morning.

Other fermented foods include kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi. Japanese also have some fermented soy stuff, but I don't remember what's that called now.

Can your skin be cured? Acne has a huge genetic component, and that makes the skin more vulnerable to hormones and inflammation. To my knowledge there's nothing we can do about that. But we can manage around it with smart topical treatments and good diet and lifestyle.

There are testimonials for all sorts of things, and they are anything but reliable indicators of effectiveness. Acne being cyclical there are times when it's better and times when it's worse. People can easily send testimonials during those 'good skin times' and later have their skin wrecked again.