The First Step to Curing Acne
So now that we have established the root cause of acne, how do we deal with it? The first step is to cleanse your body of the excess acid and toxins. There are a number of ways to do this and yes, you can use enemas and products you can buy at a pharmacy but if it’s not natural then it will probably do more harm than good. I find that the simplest way to cleanse the excess toxins from your body is to go on a 3-Day Raw Vegetable Fast. This, quite simply, involves eating nothing but fresh raw vegetables for a period of 3 days. It does not make a huge difference which vegetables you use but the basic rule is the greener a vegetable is the better it is for your pH level.
I personally use cucumbers as my largest source of vegetables. They taste great, are extremely alkalizing, and they are easy to carry with you wherever you go. In my regular diet I will eat 5-6 cucumbers a day for snacks. During a cleansing period, I will eat more than 10 on any given day. Some of you may not like cucumbers and that is fine. Celery and tomatoes are good alternatives, but I find them slightly more difficult to eat in large numbers.
The key is to find a raw vegetable that you can eat on a large scale or to find a salad that is easy for you to make. Remember that you will need a lot of these types of foods from now on so make sure you find something that is easy to find and prepare. For those of you with particularly fast metabolisms, you may find it difficult at first to eat only raw vegetables. I strongly recommend using vitamin supplements and/or ‘green’ drinks to assist with your daily nutritional requirements, especially during the cleansing period.
A ‘green’ drink comes in a powdered form for you to mix with water. A single teaspoon contains almost all of the vitamins and minerals your body requires on a daily basis. During the cleansing period, I recommend using 4-5 teaspoons (i.e. drink 4-5 glasses) per day. You can purchase these drinks from most chemists and all vitamin and health food stores or you can purchase them online. There are a variety of different green drinks available on the market but I find that the majority are not very pleasing for the taste buds. There is only one that I have found so far that actually tastes good – Vital Greens (available by clicking here – 300g/10.6oz should last about 2 months). However, you may find others that you prefer or are easier to purchase. Other drinks that may help are liquid chlorophyll, which again can be bought from your local health store and some pharmacies, and lemon water. Liquid chlorophyll can be bought in various flavours and is a well-known pH booster. It is found in all green vegetables and is one of the most active ingredients in alkalizing the body.
Lemon water is simply freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with water. The bonus for this option is that lemons are extremely easy to find and much less expensive than the previous mentioned drinks. Lemons (and limes) are also known to have a strong alkalizing effect on the body. You may be wondering how that works, as lemons are a citrus food containing citric acid. Unfortunately, I still do not entirely understand it myself; but I can verify that it does work. The only disadvantage of using lemon water as opposed to green drinks is the lack of all the vitamins and minerals that green drinks have, that your body requires.










elisandro polese says:
I agree that the Zenmed products reduces blemishes and really works if used properly. I’ve been using this for about 4 years now and you couldn’t get me to try another product if you paid me. In starting after using Zenmed products a few weeks of use, I noticed significant results with my skin. It’s that good. At least, for my skin that is. Everyone is different.
May 24th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
davidtasha2007 says:
excellent product recommended for sensitive, acne-prone skin
I bought this product over the Internet from Zenmed after reading positive review of users who use it. Previously I’ve tried everything from prescriptions to herbal teas. After using Zenmed products there has been a huge improvement in my skin, it soaks up in the skin immediately. it also doesn’t make your skin flaky or dry in the area you choose to put it. it also helps prevent the recurrence of acne.My friends and family have all commented on my complexion and it’s given me a spring in my step and confidence I haven’t felt in years. and I am VERY happy with the results so far.! Please post information of any other products… As per me Zenmed is best.
June 9th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
David says:
Are you crazy????? Zenmed is terrible, its such a waste oh money. Oh my god, their moisturiser is so thick, it made my acne worst.
November 16th, 2007 at 4:23 am
George Cleanthous says:
I agree with you David, I think that Zenmed has limited effectiveness like many other treatments and it is definitely better to look at other products. Even Proactiv is better…
And as i mention in this post, the key to eliminating acne is in your diet. pH balance is the most important factor…
January 7th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Abdul says:
Hey,
I have a question I have mild acne and I’m 19 and I really don’t want to have to deal with it anymore but I’m not sure what to do. I use Benzyl Peroxide cream and Minocylin but they really aren’t that effective. I started lifting weights and I realized that helped and I’m gonna start swimming tomorrow as well. My question is for this Diet only vegtables that means not even drinking protein shakes or like a subway sub with vegtables. My dermatologist reccomends I use Accutane so no scarring occurs but I chose not to because of the side effects I really dont think I can live without my hair,lol.Thanks
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 am
George Cleanthous says:
lol I know what you mean Abdul. Accutane can be dangerous. With the diet, for the first 3 days I recommend not having the subway sub as bread, sauces and spices can still cause minor toxicity. So for the initial cleansing period (of 3 days) you should stick to just raw vegetables. After that you can go back to having your subs, as I do.
But the protein shakes should be avoided in general or at least minimized as much as possible as they are not good for your digestive system and as such can lead to your body not being able to absorb all vitamins and minerals, and to digest unwanted material.
Another thing you should start straight away is taking Vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A is the natural form of Accutane and as such has no side-effects, but make sure you do not exceed the recommended dosage.
Let me know how you go.
George
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:06 am
Abdul says:
Hey,
I started taking “GNC Mens Health Vitamin” today 2 tablets a day and it contains 5000IU of vitamin A (50% beta-carotene, 50 % as Acetate), should I take more I weight about 185 lbs. I am going to start the 3-Day Raw Vegatable Diet tomorrow but I just have a couple of questions, should I avoid yellow mustard cause I think its alot healthier than any other dressing or sauce that can be put on sandwiches, but I could be wrong. I started swimming yesterday and I hope that helps. I don’t have severe acne but I hate it and I’m sure you can relate to how I feel. I really just don’t want to have to worry about it anymore and to be honest from all the websites I’ve read I really feel you are the most honest and convincing out of all of them, even though you also have a product to sell, but for some reason I have a feeling your method will work hopefully. I have one more question can I eat fruits as well during this 3 days period and what can I drink during this period.Thank you and have a great day George.
Abdul
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Abdul,
That vitamin sounds great and the Vitamin A content is what most nutritionists recommend as the daily dosage and it will definitely help. It’s also great that it is 50% beta-carotene as that form of Vitamin A is what is found in foods and as such has no health risk.
As for the swimming, as with any exercise it will help you become more healthy and acne is LESS likely to occur in people that are physically fit. I put the emphasis on the word “less” there because some people have said that they swim sometimes and it does nothing. It is not a cure but it will definitely reduce the severity and frequency of acne breakouts.
If you really just want to get rid of acne as quickly as possible then stick to the vitamin A supplements you’re taking and make raw vegetables as much of your diet as possible. If you are like me, they will not satisfy your metabolism so you will need some other foods as well but just make sure that most of your diet is fresh ‘plant’ type food.
Oh and yes fruits are ok too but if possible you should have more vegetables than fruits. Fruits have a higher sugar content and in some cases a high acid content (e.g. citrus) which is not always alkalized by the body – i.e. some bodies cannot convert citric acid into alkaline in the body and instead remain as acids so to be safe make vegetables more prominent in your diet than fruit.
In reference to my product, I know it may seem that I am trying to push something but what the book contains is not a “miracle cure” or anything like that. It is simply all of the knowledge I have accumulated through the years typed up into a book with my recommendations and the results you will see. My goal when I wrote it is for anyone who bought it to not have to do any more research about acne, ever. So that the information I provide on my site is all included and the questions most people ask are answered.
But anyway, I don’t want to get into a sales pitch or anything here. This area is simply to help you and answer your questions. Let me know how you go with your fast as I am always interested to hear people’s results.
George
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Abdul says:
Hey George,
I finished a 4-day Raw vegetable diet, and its amazing how the severity of the acne has decreased dramatically. There are still a couple I guess but definently improved. There are some red spots left behind which I really would like to get rid of but not sure how. I have been taking the vitamin daily and the gym is in my daily routine, I can see the quality of my skin improving by that I mean when I look at my skin sometimes under a bright light it looks damaged and roughed up but with basketball and sweating it seems to improve day in day out which I hope will continue. I started eating regular food again, but at the same time I’m still eating my carrots, lettuce ,cucmbers and tomatoes which I hope balances out with the carbs of a sub or grilled chicken. I’m also trying to avoid milk because I heard it could have a hand in causing acne.
So what are the types of foods do you recommend eating, because I’ll be honest I really like meat but I’m feeling kinda guilty going for it so I’m not quite sure what to do. I love most types of foods but I’m not sure what to and what not eat. I’m also not sure if I should continue using the benzaclin(Benzyl-Peroxide) because I was reading about its affects with sunlight, and I have to walk to class everyday and thats about 20 minutes of sun exposure total on a sunny day. I can’t even express how happy I am to see the results of the vegetable diet, its amazing, it was alot harder than I was expecting but I thought it was pretty cool and lost almost 6 pounds in the process and probably some of my body fat which I was trying to do for a while :D.
Would you consider corn a good vegetable because I had some in the fridge and when I saw it I thought of the word “RAW” and ended up eating raw corn which really wasn’t that bad. Thanks again george and I hope we keep interacting on these blogs and I really think its pretty cool you take the time out of your day to answer these post.
How can I improve the quality of my skin overall?
Abdul
March 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Abdul,
I’m happy to see you are getting good results and I feel great that I’ve had a part in that.
It’s good that you are avoiding milk because yes it does increase acne. It’s the same reason you’re not supposed to have dairy when you are sick, because it makes it worse. You should switch to soy or rice milk. Both are organic and still have all the benefits of dairy milk without the negative effects.
In general you should make sure a minimum of 50% of your diet is raw vegetables. Of the remaining 50%, half should be fruit, cooked vegetables, or any other food that is generally considered completely healthy.
When it comes to meet, I can sympathize as I have a high metabolism and vegetables just don’t cut it for me. You may or may not already know this but I find that white meats are far more healthier than red meets so you should stick primarily to your seafood and poultry. When you do have red meat, which shouldn’t be more than once or twice a week, make sure it is lean and always trim the fat.
In addition, when eating any kind of meat, always accompany it with a salad of some kind, even if it is a small one.
For general overall health, you should look into what are called “green drinks”. They usually come in powder form and contain all your daily vitamin and mineral intake requirements. Usually these drinks don’t taste very good but I have found one that is actually quite addictive and smells like bubble-gum… strange but good. This one you can buy at http://www.vitalgreens.com
It’s around $30 for a 1-month supply or $150 for a massive amount but I find that it makes me feel healthier almost instantly and I’m far more healthy for taking it. I’m never without this drink anymore and everyone I have had try it is instantly convinced of the same thing.
For your skin, DEFINITELY stay away from benzoyl peroxide products (e.g. proactiv, oxy10, etc). They dry your skin and speed up the aging of it. If you want healthy skin, try using a facial masque (there are literally tons of recipes online) and you may want to consider a softer cream like moisturizer with aloe vera or avocado. For good looking vibrant skin there are quite a few methods that people use but I believe that just a simple cream and the exercise and diet you are already on will show the best and longest lasting results.
Keep me updated with your progress. On top of feeling good about helping I also learn from my readers’ results.
Good luck and thanks for taking the time to write back.
George
March 1st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Abdul says:
Hey George,
I will stop with the Benzaclin, but I also have a Retin-A cream which I still haven’t used but not sure If I should and I also have a cream that has Saylic Acid(Neutrogena), which one do you think I should use.
I kinda left the cycle today which has me feelin pretty nervous of tomorrow I went to Fridays today and had a 10 ounce steak with a Nachos appetizer, but I had alot of vegetables earlier in the day. I’m going back to my healthy approach tomorrow but was wondering if what I did ruined all I’ve done for the past week?? I also have a question about having Subway almost everyday because I find it to be very healthy and appetizing. I either have subway or any salad from any place with either grilled chicken or sometimes grilled salmon, do you think its wise to do so. I never really got an answer about the red spots which appear to be fading but I’m not quite sure how to speed the process if possible. I am going to GNC tomorrow to but the Green Drink but is there a specific brand which you reccommend to buy? I just hope I don’t wake up tomorrow to find that all my work went down the drain, but please do let me know think, thanks and god speed.
Abdul
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Abdul says:
P.S- I have been using the Benzaclin for over a year are the effects permanent
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
Henry says:
I saw that you said both milk and protein drinks were bad for your skin. I’ve herd about milk being bad, but I thought it was only whole milk. Is that true or is all milk bad. Also I understand that protein shakes can be bad, but what about brown rice protein?
March 13th, 2008 at 6:01 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Henry,
Only dairy milk is bad. Other milks (e.g. soy, rice, etc) is fine and in most cases actually help against acne.
Rice protein occurs naturally so that is fine also. The reason protein shakes are bad is because in most cases they contain synthetic and/or very concentrated protein. So for example, the protein found in rice and whey is fine as it occurs naturally.
A good example of a protein drink that is healthy and has little or no negative effect on acne can be found here: http://www.vitalgreens.com/products/phyto_protein.html
George
March 13th, 2008 at 7:26 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Abdul,
In reference to the red spots, there are a number of things you can do naturally but you have to understand that they will only fade away with time because they are scars.
I have found that some natural creams with healing properties (e.g. aloe vera) can help reduce the appearance of acne scars and help with the healing process.
Also, it may be beneficial to look into facial masques.
George
March 13th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Bill says:
Hi George. Good info. Hey, I’m 58 and still get red eruptions (acne) mostly on my neck, chin and scalp areas. I’m read about taking organic apple vinegar for acne and take it 3 times a day. I avoid all the acne causing foods and eat a fairly good diet of chicken,, fish occasionally, veggies, fruits and hot/cold cereals plus soy milk. I take a multiple vitamin daily. My parents never had acne problems and my two sisters (older) hardly ever. I’m semi-retired and pretty stress free. Yet, still, I break out. Any further recommendations appreciated. Thanks.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Abdul says:
Hey George,
Do you have a specific cream that I can buy for my face for the red spots, plus I have been eating alot of vegetables and I am happy to say I have seen alot of improvement in my skin texture and overall it looks healthier. I am using a cream that has saylic Acid and I’m not sure If I should continue to use it, please let me know what you think. I have been on your diet for a month and I’m seeing alot of improvement but I just want to know how long will it be before I see completly clear skin,
I also broke out a couple of days ago it’s not nearly as frequent as before but is that normal??Thanks
March 15th, 2008 at 12:16 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Abdul,
The best cream I have found for red spots is Proactiv repairing lotion. You can buy this on its own from different places. The completely clear skin will come in time but if you are still having breakouts you may need to look at other parts of your life to finish of the job. Even with a good diet, other activities can still cause breakouts – e.g. stress, sweat, dirt, etc.
————————————————-
Hi Bill,
I haven’t heard about apple vinegar for acne treatment but if it is as it sounds then the vinegar aspect of it will make it an acid. All acids, if not processed properly by the digestive system, can have a negative effect on acne.
Also, if your diet is 80% vegetables and there is no junk food yet still you are having breakouts I would suggest adding a couple of things to your daily intake:
- The first is a vitamin A supplement. Just your general pharmacy level vitamin A should do and if you are already taking a multi-vitamin then only 1 tablet a day should do.
- The second is the green drink I mention in the article above (vital greens) or something similar. This will help to bring an acid-alkali balance within the body and you can take as much of it as you see fit. The instructions say 1 tablespoon per day but the great thing about green drinks is you can increase your intake for a stronger result without any side-effects. Plus you will generally feel a lot more energetic and healthy.
Good Luck!
George
April 9th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Anita says:
Hi George, I really like your approach, and the website. I love the idea of the raw vegetable diet and will try it. Just a few questions though.
- Do you have to do the 3-day raw diet only once (eating well afterwards of course) or do you recommend doing it periodically?
- You talk about vitamin A, which I will also try. What about vitamin E? I find topically it’s good for taking out redness, but do you recommend taking it as a supplement?
My Naturopath put me on liquid zinc for my skin because apparently I was deficient, but it hasn’t done much in the four weeks or so that I have been on it.
-My breakouts appear to be connected mainly to work stress and hormone fluctuations. Do you think the dietary changes still help?
Sorry to bombard you with questions, but you are one of the only people out there who seem to have a simple, healthy, straightforward understanding of this.
Thanks!
Anita
June 12th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Anita,
In reference to the 3-day raw vegetable diet, basically it is a cleansing process, the purpose of which is to allow your body to get rid of any excess toxins (as mentioned in the article above). You may be wondering what “toxins” are and why so many websites refer to them. I mention them in this article and in a previous post about pH balance but haven’t really explained them. Basically, anything that your body cannot fully digest or process (primarily acidic foods) remains in your body. But your body still tries to get rid of them in other ways. For some people the toxins are converted to fat. Others may get acne. Some get both, or other diseases in which your body is attacking itself.
The 3 day diet allows your body to fully remove the excess toxins in your body. The great thing is that you will feel this almost immediately!! It’s a great feeling too. And once you start you will notice that your cravings for sweet, oily, and fried foods will begin to diminish, and you will be fine with that. Plus you will get sick FAR less often.
But I digress…
In response to your question, since there are always foods with parts that cannot be digested properly, it is always a good idea to do a cleanse every now then. A good time frame would be once every few months, or if you notice something in your body, like a breakout, is starting.
If, however, you stick to a healthier diet then the frequency of the 3 day diet can be lessened. To be safe though, like I mentioned, every few months should be sufficient.
In terms of vitamin E, it is definitely beneficial to the body. In relation to acne, however, vitamin A is more effective. Vitamin E generally helps against colesterol and joints, whereas vitamin A is primarily used to promote healthy skin, which is why it is so effective against acne.
If you can, take both. Vitamin supplements are always a good idea. But they shouldn’t replace any part of your diet, they should simply ADD to it.
George
June 16th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Vince says:
Hi George,
I also tried your 3 day raw diet and i didn’t have any breakouts during the 3 days. I did feel healthier which was great. But the only prob was, I ALWAYS felt hungry. And i was really craving for KFC. Now, I’ve decided to try and eat salads for lunch and to have a balanced meal for dinner so that I can maximise my vege intake.
Do u have a facewash that u would like to recommend? Also, I have oily skin but I use a moisturiser with sunscreen. Do u think I should continue to use it?
June 18th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Gregg says:
Hey George,
I really think its great what your doing for people by answering questions that you would otherwise have to go to a dermatologist for. I’ve tried all kinds of antibiotics and topicals. I saw a ad about Differen and had some laying around, is this anything worth using. I also wanted to know what kind of effects Benza Clin and Benzoyl Peroxide have on your skin as I’ve used these a lot. I want to try your Veggie diet and Vitamin A supplements because I have taken antibiotics so frequently that when I’m done taking them, whether they work or not, my face and body breaks out even worse. Lastly I wanted to ask what the best face wash is, I used Cetaphil cleanser and sometimes clean and clear daily pore cleanser but that seems to irratate my skin. Once again thanks for all the information I’ve already recieved from your site
June 19th, 2008 at 6:56 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Gregg,
Thank you for the support, it’s greatly appreciated!
Just to answer a few of your questions..
Differin is a topical retinoid gel with adapalene as the main active ingredient. Being a retinoid means that it is a synthetic drug related to Vitamin A, which as we know is used to treat acne. Adapalene is a synthetic retinoid chemical which, when used alone or with clindamycin, can help treat acne and other skin conditions. It has certain antibacterial properties that make it effective.
While being a retinoid means that there are possible side-effects (which is why it is only available with a prescription), the fact that it is a gel minimizes that. But on the same note, being a gel means that it does not target the problem, only the symptoms. Killing the bacteria on the skin does not prevent more from developing, and vitamin A on the skin is not as effective as vitamin A in the body.
In reference to BenzaClin, the active ingredients are Benzoyl Peroxide and Clindamycin. Benzoyl peroxide dries out the skin to prevent oiliness from causing acne and forcing existing blemishes to dry out (though they usually get worse with benzoyl peroxide before they get better). There are other factors involved with benzoyl peroxide but this is by far the most important as it will only help you if your acne is caused by oily skin. If it is caused by dry skin you should avolid benzoyl peroxide.
Clindamycin, as mentioned previously, is an antibacterial agent which is effective in minimizing the bacteria on the skin, which is generally in higher quantities in oily skin. So again, if you have oily skin it may help.
But like before, it only targets the symptoms, not the cause.
In my opinion, you would get the same effect using Proactive and small amount of vitamin A in your diet.
I would suggest trying out the diet and vitamin A supplements as they are both generally effective no matter what the cause of your acne is.
In terms of face wash, I find the more exfoliating it is the better because the only purpose for a face wash is to remove dead skin cells and dirt. You can usually find one at your supermarket that is probably called something like “Exfoliating Facial Scrub”. Any brand will do just try them out and see which one makes your skin feel fresher afterwards. Gemnerally, the rougher ones are better.
George
June 26th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Vince,
I know how you feel. I have a very high metabolism so the 3 day raw vegetable diet was very difficult. But I realised that if you can find a raw vegetable that you like, even a little, just buy that vegetable in bulk and carry it with you everywhere you go.
E.g. I like cucumbers so I bought a box and had around 15-20 of them each day as well as salads for breakfast lunch and dinner.
If you find that you are still hungry, as I did, use bread (wholegrain). It’s not as effective as a raw vegetable cleanse but it is not too bad and can be quite filling.
Your taste may be different to mine but I love avocado, cucumber, and tomato sandwiches – no butter of course.
After you begin to eat more and more vegetables and salad sandwiches, and less junk foods you will find that your ‘cravings’ for that type of food will start to disappear. If you can maintain a balanced diet (i.e. mostly vegetables) for a few weeks you will even get to the point where you don’t want to eat junk food and if you do you feel unhealthy immediately. That’s your goal. If you can get to that point you should see massive results!
George
June 27th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Vince says:
Thanks heaps for your advice George. I was really craving for bread during those three days.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Gregg says:
Hey George,
Thanks again for all the great info, I have been including many more veggies in my diet and have been taking two 10,000IU vitamin A supplements daily. Also I began taking a Kenzen colon cleansing and liver detoxinfying formula in hopes that this will help clean me out along with everything else. I ordered some Himalayan Crystal Salt in Bar form and am anticipating the arrival of this miracle salt bar hoping that its minerals will help improve my complexion. Also I saw somebody talking about an anti-inflamitory, I go through cycles where I get swolen large scar leaving acne on my face, also I get swolen bumps under my arms and they seem to be related to the one’s on my face. I have been told it could be Hidradenitis Suppurativa, also possibly MRSA. Would an anti-inflamatory be something worth trying? Knowing this scares me but I’m not gonna stop fighting and hopefully with your advfice I can cleanse my body completely and live on. Thanks again George,
Gregg
June 30th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Sarah says:
Hello!
Thanks for all of the advise, you have a way of making your responses clear and easy to read. I am sooooo trying the 3 day veggie diet as of now. Bit of background, then I’ll get to my question! I am 29, and have been getting acne progressively worse over the past year. The acne itself started 2 years ago. As a teen and even into my 20′s, I have had perfect skin. I had 2 children, and a year after my last is when my problems began. I have been put on Retin-A, now Ovcon (a high estrogen BC), and I tried Proactive and tons of other stuff from the stores. It’s getting much worse, to the point of constant pain. I am nearly at wit’s end, honestly nearing the point where I will seclude myself and my kids at home. AND I have a family reunion on both sides of my family as a result of 2 weddings in 2 days in just 3 short weeks. Can your veggie diet work for those of us (like Anita and me) whose hormones and stress may play a suspected significant role in our problem? Do you have any additional advise for me?
BTW, I love the Aveno products with soy for helping the red scars fade quicker.
Thank you!!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:59 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Gregg,
This is VERY VERY IMPORTANT!
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use an anti-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory medication actually makes acne worse.
The reason for this is that anti-inflammatory medications weaken the immune system and make you more susceptible to infections. And since acne is a form of skin infection, it causes more and wider spread breakouts to occur, with more severe blemishes.
Anti-inflammatory creams may have a different effect, but if you are referring to ingestible anti-inflammatories then I can speak from experience; do not use them!
Other than that, let me know how the diet and vitamin A goes for you.
George
July 4th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Jacob says:
No offense Gregg, but it sounds like your tryin to say we have to be vegetarian to have clear skin so i just want to know if that is what your sayin. Also im pretty sure my mom would not support a three day veggie diet so is there a way to go around that?
July 8th, 2008 at 3:08 am
Jonathan says:
Trying your suggestions George! Although I felt pretty light headed today after my first day of raw vegetable fasting… I am highly active, have a pretty insane metabolism, have a far above the average calorie intake…so replacing my diet with raw vegetables was a bit of a shock to the system.
I have been using proactiv for over 3 years now, so getting off of it was a little shock as well. My skin while on proactiv was pretty good, but I didn’t like how it made my skin feel and how sensitive to sunlight it made it. Getting off of it my skin broke out worse than it has in 3 years, which makes it difficult to not jump back into using it. But I like the idea of getting to the root of the problem, so that’s why I am sticking with this clensing approach, maintaining a good pH, healthy diet, and using Vitamen A suppliments.
I was suprised to see that you suggested the use of Proactiv Repairing Lotion because it contains Benzoyl Peroxide which you suggested NOT to use. I am not trying to be a critic, I think what you are doing here is great.
Well, I hope all this works for me, I will keep you posted…if not, it’s back to the proactiv grind where at least I can enjoy mostly clear skin. I’ve had bad skin since I was 15, took accutane in college (bad experience), and have had only mild acne since graduating college. Overall that makes 12 years of dealing with it in some form or another…If I can find the solution to my personal skin problem I will be one very happy person.
Thanks again for putting your research all in one place and saving me from having to dig through false claims and even scams taking advantage of people who are in a vonerable position.
Cheers
Jonathan
July 8th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Anita says:
Okay, an update…
I did the 3-day veg cleanse a couple of weeks ago (it was hard, being winter and wanting warm food, but I managed!) and unfortunately haven’t noticed a reduction in the pimples, but my skin overall looks healthier. I also starting taking vitamin A about three weeks ago, I’m drinking three glasses of Vital Greens every day (it’s addictive – it really tastes like bubblegum!), eating more vegies than I normally would but could probably do better with that, admittedly…I’ve cut right back on coffee, alcohol and dairy and I wash my face every night with Himalayan Crystal Salt. Nothing seems to be working!! :( I’ll keep at it of course, because I actually feel better overall and it’s a healthier lifestyle; hopefully it’s just taking a while to kick in. My acne is cystic, large, aggressive and usually really deep in the skin when it starts, so it takes ages to surface. SO frustrating. I’m about to start getting microdermabrasion again, which I find helps to a reasonable degree, but can get expensive.
It’s clearly something starting way below the surface for me, so I’m concentrating on what I’m eating/drinking, looking into paying more attention to acidity and ph on George’s advice, trying to drink more water (I’m terrible with that) and I really think most of it for me is about STRESS. A couple of years ago my boss went on five weeks’ holiday and my face cleared up…!! Looking for a new job…
I was also on hormonal contraception for years, and I stopped about two years ago on advice from my Chinese Medicine doctor – my skin is the only thing he hasn’t been able to fix. I did find that my skin was a lot better while on the pill/implant, as my hormones seemed to be more balanced – my skin has since become slowly worse since I went off it.
George – how serious are you about your 100% money back guarantee for your program, if I buy it?? I’m just not sure anything will help when it’s hormonal/stress based…what do you think??
July 8th, 2008 at 8:30 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Anita,
Thanks for the update.
It might help to try taking a bit more vitamin A for a while. How much were you taking?
The RDA for vitamin A is usually 10,000IU but you can take up to 20,000IU as long as it is for a short period of time. If this works to an extent you might want to consider Accutane. I generally don’t advise people to do this but if you find that extra vitamin A helps then Accutane probably will as well, especially since it sounds like you have severe acne.
In terms of the guarantee, I always action refund requests as soon as I receive the email, which is generally within 24 hours and Clickbank are very fast to respond to the refund request. I think that you will mainly benefit from the amount of information in the eBook. I tried to put down everything I knew of acne at the time (a year ago) so at the very least it will let you know what triggers to look out for.
George
July 8th, 2008 at 9:39 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Jonathan,
I know how you feel regarding the raw vegetable diet. It is hard, but remember that it is just a cleanse. I don’t recommend switching to an all vegetable diet permanently. It may be good for you or it may not but I find that you need other food types as well.
If for those 3 days you feel too weak and no amount of vegetables can fill your appetite then I suggest adding bread. I think I have mentioned this before but a couple of salad sandwiches can be filling and still not be too intruding on the cleansing process.
In reference to Proactiv. I generally don’t recommend the use of benzoyl peroxide as a treatment for acne. But as a treatment for scarring, I have not yet found much else that is quite as effective. I am still looking, but for the moment I am stuck with the Proactiv repairing lotion. However, I do use it very moderately and only on the red marks, which do fade away quicker with the repairing lotion than without it.
Keep up the effort and let me know how you go with your regimen.
George
July 8th, 2008 at 9:45 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Jacob,
My name is George, not Gregg, but I will just take that as a typo.
I am not suggesting you should go vegetarian to cure your acne. It would probably help but if you’re like me and have a high metabolism that would just be far too difficult.
In terms of the 3 day vegetable diet, it is a cleansing process that allows your body to remove unwanted toxins and acids without the hassle of needing to deal with more being added. If you cannot do this then there are alternative cleanses. You can get a cleansing pack at a pharmacy which generally just has a few days’ supply of laxative powder which you add to water. That method is arguably UNhealthy and I would not recommend it at all. If you can use that method, or any other for that matter, then 3 days on vegetables should be easy. Plus, it doesn’t do any unnecessary damage to your body.
In addition, if your mother does not support a 3 day vegetable cleanse then I would suggest 2 things: have a look at what is in your diet now, and consider doing the cleanse on your own.
At the very least you should see an improvement.
George
July 8th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Anita says:
Thanks George; I wouldn’t say my acne is severe as such, considering what some people have to put up with, but it is certainly worse now than it has been in years (since I went off the contraceptive implant). I always seem to have two or three really deep, large, inflamed pimples at any one time, when usually this only used to happen with monthly hormone fluctuations, usually around my chin. I have them on my back as well (ERK), and microdermabrasion is the only thing that has helped, if I get it every few months. It certainly could be worse; and it’s definitely primarily a hormonal/stress thing for me as far as I can gather, from all the years of trying things. Hormonal contraception has a significant effect, as does my work habits. It seems that when I’m on holidays, my skin clears up. I’ve had stressful jobs for years. Otherwise, overall I’m extraordinarily fit and healthy.
I’m taking 10,000IU of vitamin A a day. I’ll bump it up to 20,000IU for a while and see what happens. If I ever want to get pregnant, I’ll just have to back it right off for that time (this probably won’t happen for a few years at least, however). I’d certainly rather not take medication or use anything harsh, I’m careful about what I consume.
Thanks for your time and advice George, you’re doing a great thing. I’m interested in your e-book; not sure why you need such a dodgy looking page to convince people to buy it though, I’m more inclined to buy it without the ‘oh my god, buy it, buy it now’ hype! It actually puts me off, to be honest… The fact that you are so willing to help those writing to you here and you seem to know what you are talking about is enough convincing for me. Just a thought. ;)
July 9th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Kristyl says:
Hey George
I have spent the past couple hours doing some research on acne remedies. Acne has been an annoying problem for me since I was twelve and has never seem to go away completely. The past year it has done better than in my younger teen years ( I am 20) but recently It has become unbearable once again (hence the reason for my recent search). I have read all the blogs and just think what an awesome thing you are doing for us vulnerable people. I feel like I have tried everything to get rid of my acne and everything seems to just work for only a little while then my body seems to get use to it and the “remedy” doesn’t have a positive effect anymore. My skin type is combination on the more oily side with large pores and also fairly sensitive. My main problem is the chin area. Either I have tiny skin colored bumps that won’t go away, or I have big inflamed spots with the small bumps. I WANT CLEAR SKIN DANGIT!! My acne is not severed but It is annoying because it is just noticeable enough to mess with my confidence.
Question: I have tried Proactiv in the past and it worked for only a little while, but I am thinking of using it again. Are you saying to not use the all three products of Proactiv but just the repairing lotion? If so how can you just purchase the lotion?
Question: You also mentioned about using Exfoliants. I am some what skeptical of them because my dermatologists have said that exfoliants just further irritate the skin causing acne to worsen. With my sensitive skin, is it best to use a exfoliant still or stay away from them?
Question: last one; I heard of someone using Neosporin on their acne scares to help get rid of them. Would this really work or cause the skin to break out more?
I am sorry about the very very long comment but I just want to get this problem remedied and you seem like you know what you are talking about and not full of B.S.
I am going to try and take some of your advice by adding more vitamin A into my diet along with the raw vegetables. Also avoiding dairy and acidic food.
I also believe that my acne is worsen by stress, i also tend to get cold sores on my chin when I am overly stressed. MOST embarrassing!
I you can help me out and have anymore information for me I would be most grateful.
(One last question: don’t know if you have already mentioned this but have you suffered from acne also?)
July 13th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Mari says:
George,
I think this forum is absolutely wonderful! I’m 34 and have been suffereing with adult acne which has gotten progressively worse over the past 10 years. The ONLY thing I found to work consitantly (not being willing to put any synthectic substances in my body) is cleansing my system.
Unfortunately, I have a massive sweet tooth and fall back into my old habits of binging on junk food, but reading these posts have inspired me to go back to healthy eating again. I cut out all meats (except for fish) from my diet a year and a half ago and have definately reaped the benifits. I was surprised but very happy to hear about the effects of dairy products on acne. I’ve been feeling like I should cut out regular milk and cheese (love grilled cheese!) from my diet, as I feel a difference in my body after consumption but wasn’t quite sure if it was in my head (I’m constantly trying to think of new things to add/delete from my diet to improve my acne and overall health).
Overall I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time for maintaining this forum. I’ve found some great new suggestions as well as some inspiration and if I could offer any advise for others who read these posts and have any doubts about what to do for their own body, I would definately recomend listening to your own body to determine what is best. While the suggestions from others about what worked for them can be most benificial, you never know if it will work for you unless you try it for yourself. I also REALLY recomend improving your diet. While topical solutions can improve the SYMPTOMS, working from the inside out will get to the root of the problem.
Thanks again George and best of luck to everyone! :)
July 17th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Joe says:
Hey,
I have seen that you strongly suggest proactiv repair lotion, which has 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, but also mention that all natural substances are best such as himalayan crystal salt. So do you use the proactiv repair lotion only on scars, and Himalayan crystal salt for actuall acne? And I just wanted to ask if what I am using now is ok? I use neutrogena (Oil free acne wash cream cleanser) and On-the-spot. Then I use Aveeno moisturizer twice a day. Today I started the veggie diet, but I was also wondering, after the diet do you still use the vitamin A supplement and green drinks. Do you use those and the acne wash in a daily routine, or stop using them when your face is clear?
December 4th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Kathy says:
Hi! I’m thinking about doing the 3-day raw vegetable fast BUT I wanted to know if the raw vegetables need to be eaten alone or can i put some sort of seasoning or dressing to help them taste better. I’ll completely understand if I can’t do this. Also, do I eat vegetables ALL DAY like for breakfast , lunch and dinner and NOTHING else. I want to make sure I do this right. Thanks in advance!!
March 10th, 2009 at 1:47 am
George Cleanthous says:
Hi Kathy,
If you need the dressing to keep motivated then you can use it but it would be better if you didn’t..
Ideally you should eat nothing but raw vegetables for 3 days, but I do know how difficult that can be for someone with a high metabolism so sometimes I have a salad sandwich as well. No spreads (i.e. no butter, mayonnaise, etc) and make sure it’s wholegrain but that generally does ok.
If you do take this option, though, it might be a good idea to go 4 days instead of 3, just to make it more effective.
George
March 13th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Kathy says:
Thanks George! I’ll definitely do it for 4 days (no dressing) and if it becomes too difficult I will have a salad sandwich minus the spreads. Thanks so much!!
March 13th, 2009 at 1:07 am