I NEED encouragement!

[Lisalee2]

Does anyone out there have a positive experience with raw clearing up acne? I am soooooo tired of it. (Was that enough o's ? :) ) Anyway, I could use some stories of how raw helped with skin conditions, etc.

I've been 100% raw for a week now and have noticed small differences, like no huge cystic pimples and a calmer complexion but it's still far from perfect. I just need the encouragement as fuel to keep going.

Thanks so much!!! :D

[Fuzzypeach]

I am here to say that raw has immensely helped my acne. People at work and in my church ask me what type of make-up or wash I use. I really should post a before and after shot for you so that you can see how much clearer I am.

Before I had cystic pimples especially in my lower chin and lower cheek area. It was awful!! Now I get an occasional very very small zit around my mouth or chin, but it is a night and day difference. It also took about 2-3 months for my skin to get like it is now. (but it got better everyday) It is interesting because even now when I have a "slip-up" sure enough, the next day I am breaking out!!

I ate a lot of fruit, and tons of greens. I also notice now that if I eat mac nuts that I will have a break out. Don't know why though, maybe their too oily?

[Rawmney]

Hi Lisalee, I do think raw has helped me, but what really seems to make a clear (no pun intended) difference is water. If I'm getting a lot, I definitely do better. It's a tribute to the water content of raw foods that even while I've not been drinking a lot, I'm still doing well. Of course, maybe at 45 I'm finally out of those teenage problems.

Good luck. Acne is such a drag. I even did Accutane in my 20s, but the effects were not permanent.

Best,
Rawmney

[SchoolOfRAWk]

I know it helps skin.

But honestly, fasting clears up skin big time.

And yes, hydration. Colonics and enemas, too - acne is from a toxic colon I've read.

Rife machines work great on it, too, but they can be costly. I still will buy one first chance I get, though $2800 or whatever is NOTHIN compared to what it can do.

[Lisalee2]

Fuzzy peach - I know what you mean about slip-ups. Before going raw, I would definitely notice a big change in my skin after having sweets. I was pretty bad with that, haha...especially wine, that made me break out like crazy. Glad to hear that eating a diet full of raw foods has helped you. :)

Rawmney - Ah yes, water! Though now with all the raw foods I know I'm getting a lot of water through that. Also, I've been starting my day with a huge glass of lemon water. And about Accutane, my sister is in her 2nd month of taking it and even though I'm not about to go get a prescription, hearing about her getting clearer skin from it is tempting. :mad: I just don't think that it's worth the risks.

School of Rawk - What is a rife machine? Just curious, with that price tag...haha... I've heard/read a lot of good things about fasting but at this time in my life, I just don't think that's for me. Maybe after a couple months raw, things will change. I definitely agree, I think there's some kind of colon/digestion issue with the acne.


So thanks everyone! It really helps to be able to visit this message board for encouragement. I'll be going to the farmer's market tomorrow to get more raw goodies...:cool:

[jenjen]

yes yes! raw will clear your complextion but...and i personally do beleive this 'but' will make the difference:
it's not just the fact that you are eating healthier, getting enzymes, more nutrients, ect, ect....BUT that you are NOT eating foods which convert to sugar quickly and therefore quickly rise your blood sugar levels which cause inflamation. it's inflamation caused by high levels of sugar...which was without a doubt the problem for me.

just eating raw was not totally enough though:

i have to avoid high sugar foods like pineapple, grapes, honey, ect. i do eat dates around one day of the week when i make a special dessert, but if i eat them too many days in a row...i can see my pores are larger. my face puffs up a bit more and surely enough, i wake up with a few pimples.

if you are like me...you might want to just try avoiding high sugar foods for a couple weeks, just to see. i am sooo glad i did. i used to have really bad skin...once i figured this out...and figured how to sneak these foods in, in a way that was less damaging (there are ways)...i now get compliments on my skin ALL the time. it's like the feature which i'm most proud of now...my complexion!

i never thought i'd be the girl with the beautiful skin! but it's really me now!

this is what i do:
- avoid high sugar foods at all times (honey, pinapple, grapes, bananas, ect)
- eat medium sugar foods sometimes (melons, water melon, ect)
- i sweeten everything with stevia only (also happens to be zero calories and all natural and raw)
- when i do want to splurge on some real sugar (like dates, honey ect) i combine it with high fat/protein foods...this massively reduces the inflamation. so alissa's date nut torte...is my favorite dessert right now...cause all the fat in the walnuts slow down the sugar spike from the raisons.
- i do take supplements for keeping skin at it's best. alpha lipoic acid and any kind of good quality multi-anitoxidant (a high dose one). i also take extra of these when i 'indulge'
- as a result...my skin does not breakout anymore, i think i have seriously slowed down aging and i've broken my self of needing sugar every day, which i think is healthier anyway....just sweeten with stevia!

all this info really changed my life...with regards to how happy i am with my skin.
all the best,
j

[hypnocmt]

Raw has been great for my skin. I has helped clear up the remnants of adult acne, as well as clear my psoriasis considerably. If I didn't have faint undereye circles, i would go without makeup completely. I never thought it would be possible as I have had acne on and off forever. I was the concealer and foundation queen! My skin at 32 is better than it was at 19..and bonus...no lines, smaller pores. Yay!

As an unexpected bonus, I noice that my pedicures seem to last longer...softer heels and soles even though I am on my feet alot, working, walking, etc.

I have started oil pulling too, and though it is too soon to tell, I think it is helping the texture of the skin on my arms. There was some hyperpigmentation and unevenness (it had lingered even though the pilaris keratosis cleared up with organic, no-dairy cooked) and after 3days it seems ever-so-slightly lighter.

There is an acne thread under the header "Honey" in the health forum. You can also find a thread on oil pulling in the same area. One of the other members started it and is kind enough to keep up updated on her progress!

Welcome and best of luck!

[Lisalee2]

jenjen - Wow, thanks for such a descriptive post. I'm definitely going to cut down on the high sugar fruits, though it will be hard, especially in the morning without a banana for my smoothie. Oh well, I guess it's just a chance to experiment. ;) I definitely need to try Alissa's Date Nut Torte, I haven't tried it yet.

hypnocmt - Grrr...adult acne. I have worse skin now than I did as a teen. I guess all those years of junk food are catching up to me. :eek: But now I have hope...haha I did check out the thread on oil pulling, very interesting. Can you use coconut oil for that?

[hypnocmt]

some folks here do. I have read that sesame oil is the one used most often, so that's what I use, :)

[Lay-Lay]

When I first go raw 100% my acne becomes worse which I contribute to detox, but then my skin clears up and becomes like a babies skin. At different points I will still have breakout with detoxes but I say bring them on. They are short lived.