Diet's impact on Acne

[CW330]

Over the past 2-3 months, I decided to raise my daily protein intake to 2 grams plus per pound of bodyweight. Coincidentally, I have developed a minor but noticeable acne problem during this same time. My face has always been clear and blemish-free. It seems as though they mainly appear on the cheekbone area.

I always believed your ways of eating causing acne was a myth, but it has been brought to my attention that high amounts of protein in the diet cause acne. Has anyone experienced this from consuming large quantities of protein? Aside from the acne, I can't complain since I am pretty satisfied with the gains since the diet change (Perhaps the increase in calories?).

I'll be seeing a dermatologist about it, but I wanted to know if anyone could verify whether this could be a cause.

[Allyrulez]

Fat intake regulates hormones (if i remember correctly)

So if taking in more fat, more testosterone = more acne


I think this is true, im on a cut and my acne has cleared up. When i bulk i have baaaaaaad skin

[CW330]

Thanks for the response.

I also noticed my skin is better than ever on a cut. Even when I go the low/no carb route. I consumed a fair amount of fat when I did the NHE diet, essentially a protein/fat/fiber diet with weekly carb-ups and my skin was crystal.

Your comment about hormones made me wonder if it's just that when bulking, the excess calories put your body in a more anabolic state resulting in more testosterone which in turn, causes the acne. Does that sound right?

[Scott S]

More like dieting causes your test and a whole bunch of other things to crash, resulting in less testosterone than *normal.*

Also, beyond getting the amount of fat your body needs, eating extra won't boost your testosterone magically.

[Zaras]

It could be the extra fat/sugar in your diet, or it could be something else in your life that is causing it (stress is a big one for me).

Drink lots of water with your protein shakes and otherwise, and believe it or not, take garlic supplements. There is something about the natural antibiotic in them that will help your skin.

[emjlr3]

ive had problems with acne before...but now i only get em on my shoulders ( GAY ).....the only time I find I break out is if I eat a lot of sugar or dont get enough sleep, then ill break out for a day or two

but yea my shoulders are off and on...they will be clear for a month...then ill have a few for a month...then a lot for a month...then go back to none....and ive never been able to figure out what it is

i always though it was because i sweat so much and that clogged my pores or something...but then i go months of being clear so that isnt the reason....i think it is just my body being goofy or something...who knows...but i think i will look into that extra fat intake...that could possibly be it

but one thing that i have found for certain that clears up acne is getting enough sleep...not to much, not to little, but just enough

that and washering your face good...you dont have to use all the expensive cleaners and what not...jsut use your regular bar of soap ( i use coast) and wash your face thoroughly..im talking for like 3-5 minutes...seems to help as well

ah yes and dont touch your face with your dirty hands after you lift...thats jsut gross

ofcourse depending on your age it might just be that your getting older and maturing and your body is jsut being gay and giving em to you..i had some for like most of tenth and some of 11th grade in hs....then one week they jsut magically disapeared...weird ???

[moklepaul]

I break out whenever I drink pop. Every time. Have pop, wake up next day with acne.

So I've stopped drinking pop

[KIDRR]

Hmmm interesting thread.

Do you thing creatine will cause break outs? My skin was fine, I started loading on creatine a week ago (skin still decent) Then when I started my maintenence phase I started breaking out like crazy.

ps I am taking PROLAB Creatine Monohydrate

[emjlr3]

i think it maybe does, because your body sort of becomes dependant upon it, then when you stop taking it your body is pissed so it gives you pimples or something like that.....i was on for 2 months then stopped about a week ago and my shoulder broke out again.....not my face, not my back or chest, just my shoulders.....who knows why, maybe it is some sort of withdrawal, very mild of course, but you never know

[KIDRR]

Hmm weird, I didn't break out form loading (although I guess it could of been delayed reaction) but from going from 4 servings a day down to 2 servings.

[bentkarnes]

creatine wont affect your acne, unless your sensitive to sugar and your useing alot with it. if you think the protien affects your skin try eating more fruits, something to do with more enzymes

[CW330]

Thanks for the responses, a lot useful information here.

Washing my face every chance I get seems to be helping lots. I used to just wash it when I shower.

bentkarnes, you might be right about the fruits. I practically eat no fruits whatsoever, aside from blueberries in my oatmeal in the morning. I'll be adding 2-3 apples, to see how that works.

[J.C.]

[QUOTE=CW330]Thanks for the responses, a lot useful information here.

Washing my face every chance I get seems to be helping lots. I used to just wash it when I shower.
QUOTE]

AHHHHhhh! Do NOT wash you face that often. I get acne fairly regularly, its not terrible but I never have perfect skin, there are always a few spots. For me it is a genetic/hormonal problem and my older sister had the same (but much worse). She has good skin now because she is in her 20's and therefore passed the whole hormone/puberty stage and also because she used various drugs and treatments recomended by dermatolagists. So trust me, thanks to her complaining and my mild experience I know what I'm talking about!

If you wash you face that often, you will stimulate the facial oil glands to produce more oil. They do this naturally to moisturise your skin - the problem for people who get spots is that their oil glands produce too much and also start producing grease due to overstimulation; bacteria on your face can live off this and the skin gets irrtated and infected and comes up in acne. Over-washing can also dry out the skin totally which is very unhealthy (the very reason you get acne is because the skin is trying to moisturise itself).

I wash my face twice a day, once at morning and once before I go to bed. If the skin feels greasy then I will wash it off at mid-day. Personally I think that a decent anti-bacterial face-wash like clearasil is pretty good. I also have a prescription for a topical anti-biotic that you put on your face for overnight, though I want to stop using it in a year or two because I hate using medicine or anything like that. I'm 17 at the moment, so my skin should hopefully be fine in a few years.

[bentkarnes]

[QUOTE=drummer]

Thanks for the responses, a lot useful information here.

Washing my face every chance I get seems to be helping lots. I used to just wash it when I shower.
QUOTE]

AHHHHhhh! Do NOT wash you face that often. I get acne fairly regularly, its not terrible but I never have perfect skin, there are always a few spots. For me it is a genetic/hormonal problem and my older sister had the same (but much worse). She has good skin now because she is in her 20's and therefore passed the whole hormone/puberty stage and also because she used various drugs and treatments recomended by dermatolagists. So trust me, thanks to her complaining and my mild experience I know what I'm talking about!

If you wash you face that often, you will stimulate the facial oil glands to produce more oil. They do this naturally to moisturise your skin - the problem for people who get spots is that their oil glands produce too much and also start producing grease due to overstimulation; bacteria on your face can live off this and the skin gets irrtated and infected and comes up in acne. Over-washing can also dry out the skin totally which is very unhealthy (the very reason you get acne is because the skin is trying to moisturise itself).

I wash my face twice a day, once at morning and once before I go to bed. If the skin feels greasy then I will wash it off at mid-day. Personally I think that a decent anti-bacterial face-wash like clearasil is pretty good. I also have a prescription for a topical anti-biotic that you put on your face for overnight, though I want to stop using it in a year or two because I hate using medicine or anything like that. I'm 17 at the moment, so my skin should hopefully be fine in a few years.

definitly right. anything over 3 times a day will just agitate your skin

[emjlr3]

i think one big thing is genetics, and i know that the oil is a big part to due with, when I had acne i had a very oily face, adn i inheriited that from my mother who also had a very oily face in hs

so i think genetics plays a big deal with it

[J.C.]

i think one big thing is genetics, and i know that the oil is a big part to due with, when I had acne i had a very oily face, adn i inheriited that from my mother who also had a very oily face in hs

so i think genetics plays a big deal with it

Of course; thats why me and my sister both have had acne; my mother said she had bad skin when she was younger too. My dad said he always had perfect skin though: bloody selective genes!

Back to CW330's original question; have we decided whether increased protein intake does make your skin worse?

[Ðragons]

i got a load on my back, some days they look fine and not so many, other days they are red and look sore, but they arent :-o