Seeking advice on acne management regimen

[Dave]

Hi Shelley,

I started trying to address my mild/moderate acne problem through diet last May after an ebook written by a guy called Leo Kiesen's which prescribed a comprehensive program of diet, supplementation, cleansing, etc. I haven't followed the program to the letter but since then I have completed 8 liver flushes and performed quite a bit of bowel cleansing using oxypowder (I've gone through nearly 4 bottles of the latter).

Things have definitely improved but I'm definitely not out of the woods yet. In particular, I still don't feel that I have identified all the causes and effects. I'd like to at least have a regimen that I would be confident could clear me 99% if ahdered to strictly for 1-2 weeks. Right now, there are clearly factors which I have yet to address as even during periods of following my regimen quite strictly, I'm still prone to the odd breakout.

I should mention that my job is reasonably intense - I wouldn't say that I feel particularly stressed out but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that stress effects are afoot in my system. Also, my sleep patterns are a bit erratic. It tends to take me a while to fall asleep and I often wake up several times during the night. I am looking into relaxation techniques - I've tried yoga and I'm reading up on meditation at the moment.

I'd be grateful for any comments you may have on my current regimen:

On waking: cleansing drink - water, juice of half a lemon, tbsp of apple cider vinegar, tsp of maple syrup, some cayenne pepper powder

10/15 mins later: 2 or 3 pieces of fruit (kiwis, pears, handful of grapes, etc)

20 mins later: weight training (3 times per week), 3 mile run (2 times per week)

After training: protein drink - rice milk, 3 egg yolks, 1 egg white, 1 tbsp cod liver oil, 2 tbsp udo's choice oil blend, 2 tbsp lecithin granules, cinnamon powder; supplements - vit c/b complex, zing 15mg, saw palmetto (ran out recently - not sure of the exact dosage I was taking - it was 2 tablets), 1 cal/mag tablet, 2 primal defense, 2 acidophilus tablets, 1 digestive enzymes tablet, glucosamine/msm/condroitin tablets (latter for joint health)

Morning snack: fruit as above, maybe some nuts

Lunch 1: Steamed chicken (I try to get free range) with salad or steamed vegetables

Lunch 2: as Lunch 1

Evening snack: maybe some fruit and/or nuts

Evening: protein drink and supplements as above

Before bed: cleansing drink as above

That's the basic approach - can't say that I have adhered to it 100%, especially over the Christmas period, but I've followed it reasonably closely for a few months now.

Anyway, I'd be really grateful for any input/suggestions you could provide. I'd also like to thank you for providing such a phenomenal health resource - I've learned so much from reading the material here, on your yahoo group and on curezone.

Thanks in advance.

[pinkcat]

Can I jump in here really quickly, Dave, while Shelley is out being treated to Birthday goodies today? (Happy Brithday, Shelley!! xx)

I read your note and found ONE thing missing: Colonics.

I know you wrote about cleansing and oxypowder, but, know what? nothing did it for me like good old hydrotherapy.

Try one and see what happens. Of course, more will happen if you go to a good place where the treatment is supplemented with massage or reflexology or energy healing and essential oils and implants AND where they give your treatment plenty of time to happen (at least an hour). All this works even better if pre-colonic you get some body work done, like massage, chiropractic or acupuncture. And if you work up to your appointment by using oxypowder.

Good luck!

pinkcat

[shelley]

Hi Dave! It's great to hear from you.

Okay, can you describe your acne *in detail*? Like where is it exactly, what kind (whiteheads, blackheads, angry red or just skin-colored bumps). Are you prone to breakouts on your torso?

A couple things about your protocol that I would alter:

No more oxy-powder or colosan. 1-2 bottles is usually enough, after that you risk imbalances. Switch to a fiber-based cleanser like Colonix and the occasional colonic.

Your after training list is a lot to digest all at once, and the calcium will interfere with stomach acids. So take all calcium supplements prior to bed or when you're not eating. If you've taken the Primal Defense for more than a month, take a break.

Your evening doses... hmmm... I'd back off on the flax oil, no more than 2-3 tablespoons of that a day as it blocks thyroid activity slightly. Best to switch to coconut oil, olive, avocadoes. And do take a break from flax a couple days a week.

And at least one of your meals several days a week should be a fiber meal like Kichadi, or carbs like pasta. You don't want EVERY day to be a high-protein day. So long as you get adequate calories, the protein will do what protein needs to do thanks to the protein-sparing quality of carbs.

If your tongue is clean and free of any coating every morning, then the acne could be hormonal or low stomach acids. If the breakouts are minor, then you may just be seeing the last residues stuck in the pores, in which case a facial would be the best way to go. Extract what's there, keep the pores clean and watch them fade away!

[Dave]

[shelley]

[quote="Dave"]

[Dave]

[shelley]

Ah, good questions. Okay. Cleansing overall and in particular the liver will eventually regulate hormones. You also need to be getting adequate, healthy oils.

You can test any food you like with either kinesiology or by taking your pulse about 30 minutes after you ingest it.

Before you eat the questionable food, take your resting heart rate. Have a bowl of oatmeal or whatever and start noting any symptoms like sleepyness, irritability, brain fog, mucus production like runny nose, coughing. See if your pulse has risen 10% or more. If it does, you have an allergy or intolerance to that food. If your stool from the test meal is softer than usual, you have intolerance. If you have mucus production, you have an allergy.

[Dave]

Thanks - I'll definitely check out my response to a few foods, starting with oatmeal.

Another question occurs to me. Do you have any view on the effect of sunlight deprivation on a condition such as acne? I really don't get much sunlight - I tend to be indoors during the day and especially at this time of the year there's not much sun around anyway. On another forum I read about people using light therapy via light boxes and other devices. It could also account for my sleep problem I suppose which itself could be a cause of acne?

Thanks again for your time Shelley.

[shelley]

Sunlight is essential to vital health, it's how we synthesize Vitamin D and sunlight exposure regulates all sorts of hormones. Insomnia can be due to not enough sunlight, as the circadian rhythms do take the rising and setting of the sun into account. It helps to set your rhythm properly by gazing at the sunrize.

Those of us stuck in office jobs and cloudy weather, who don't see more than 10 minutes of real sunlight a day, really should consider getting a full-spectrum light. I had one in my bedroom for years until I redecorated. Have to see about getting another. They are beautiful lights, no yellow tinge.