The FastDay Forum

[carorees]

Just found some interesting info about acne. One is that coconut oil kills the bacterium associated with acne, Propionibacterium acne, the other is that a diet high in milk products can worsen acne.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19387482
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419445

I've heard both these theories, carorees, although I have to say even just the blurb at the start was a bit too sciencey for my brain to get around (esp on a sunday morning!) I use coconut oil as a moisturiser and I eat it fairly regularly too. I did try to give up dairy for a time - I think I managed about 3 weeks before the cheese cravings were too much!) and it didn't seem to make much difference, although I'm sure 3 weeks isn't long enough to really tell. I don't get the other issues with dairy that a lot of people have (increased mucus, digestive problems - my gut is fine with milk & cheese), but I have reduced the amount of milk I drink quite drastically. I have almond milk in my porridge and smoothies, and quite like it to drink as well. Only really have normal milk in coffee & tea (non-dairy milks are foul in both!) and I don't eat as much cheese as I used to. A bit of yogurt a few times a week.

Oh and I tried using a combo of honey (antibacterial), oatmeal (gentle exfoliation) and bicarb (cleansing) as a facial wash for a few months but it didn't help either. Neutrogena's pink grapefruit scrub is actually much better, hate to say!

We shall see what doing 5:2 does to my skin. If it's hormonal then I don't see that anything I eat or don't eat can affect it but one theory I have wondered about is the thought of too much food 'clogging up' my system and coming out on my face, as it were.

Time will tell - and so will I, especially if it works and I have this mythical 'clear skin' I have heard tell of!

Thanks Caroline for these links - like green monster I found them a bit difficult to understand but I got the general gist ( not sure about the mouse ears though). I think some coconut oil may be called for as it seems to have lots of miracle properties. I have terrible acne in my teens and in those days (70's) you were told not to eat fried foods. To this day I rarely eat anything fried but it didn't do my skin much good. It is interesting that some populations don't get acne at all.I am one of 5 children and 4 of us had acne. genetics or family diet? I think there is strong link between hormones and acne , I did see an improvement when I took the contraceptive pill . I have spoken to a number of dermatologists in the last few years and one said she was convinced that your skin was a good reflection of your digestive system which sort of supports the dietary link.

I keep getting new spots and I'm not happy. Just discovered a new one under my nose and I've got some stubborn ones on one side of my face.

My daughter, only 25 had persistent spots for years after her teenage years, as you said one starting, or one full blown or one dying down and another starting again. It turned out that her skin was so sensitive that ANY oil in any of her makeup or cleansers would send her into spot hell. She now gets specialist completely oil free make up and cleansers on prescription, they cost a LOT but its better than being covered in spots at her age.

Being on this diet has really helped my acne. I've suffered all my adult life (I'm 47) with hormone related acne - usually 1 or 2 large spots on my chin each month that take ages to clear up. Since I started 5:2 this has almost disappeared - last one was in May. I still get an occasional spot on my back or chest but the skin on my face has not been this good since I don't know when!

My milk consumption has gone down by at least a third which may have played a part. Or it could be a reduction in chocolate/sugar. Whatever it is I'm really pleased. For a topical spot cream (non prescription) I found Freederm best on my skin - doesn't make the skin dry up so much. My teenage daughter uses it as well as Sudocrem overnight.

I'm not saying that coconut oil is bad. I love the stuff personally, I use it as a general all over body moisturiser, especially on my face as I have a persistent dry patch on the bridge of my nose, about where witches are supposed to get their warts, that the coconut oil has brought under control.
Coconut oil also has a slight SPF of 3 to 4 I believe.

I didn't develop acne until my late 30's.

When I reached my 50's, it was horrible and extremely embarrassing. My doctor suggested large doses of vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid):

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-cured-acne- ... 26891.html

Obviously, check with YOUR doc first, but it has truly changed my life. I now just take one every other day. I think in the beginning I was taking 5 a day.

I've told friends about it who have teenagers, and they've had the same luck. As far as I could tell, there were no real side effects. My skin was a little drier, but it certainly was preferable to the acne.

Thanks for the B5 tip. I'm giving it a try (1000 mg per day) and hoping for an improvement.

For what it's worth, Paula's Choice has really great products, including a kit for acne that's very reasonable; she has a trial kit for only $13US: http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/CLEAR- ... ial-Kit/?=