So, as I mentioned in my last article, I recently went back to my naturopath for a check up and to see if whether being much more liberal with my diet over the last year had affected my gut and created more food sensitivities.
If you want to know more about seeing and finding a naturopath to consult with about your acne, and an explanation on food sensitivity tests, read my article about naturopathy for acne.
So here’s the deal… I want to backtrack and update everyone on my naturopath adventures, because I’ve never fully disclosed all the dirty little details of my visits, including all the specific foods that I’ve tested sensitive to over the years.
The reason for this is because I was aware of the fact that everyone is very different in the foods they react to. I was afraid that if I told you exactly what I was tested as being sensitive to, you’d get all crazy and go and cut those foods out for no reason.
I’m going to reveal all now, but please, don’t go cutting out these foods from your diet! Just because I’m sensitive to something does not mean you are allergic to it too!
Why I Went to See a Naturopath in the First Place
When my acne got bad, and I decided to heal it naturally. I basically read the entire internet, and I formulated a cutting edge plan.
I cut out all and every processed food ever and was very, very strict about it. I ate a vegan diet because I believed people who said that was the epitome of healthy eating. I religiously avoided dairy, gluten, and soy. I juiced green juice and made crackers out of the pulp. I even tried juice fasting for TEN DAYS.
That’s right. Nothing but juice for ten days (I thought for sure that would be the end of the acne, but no).
I went crazy. Honestly, it was pretty overboard. I was in steel grip control mode because I hated the way acne made me feel. I was willing to do and try anything.
Anyway, all in all, these extreme measures did improve my acne a fair bit from where it had been, likely due to the vast reduction of crap in my diet, and the vast increase in nutrients. It was also likely due to the other, non-diet stuff I was doing, such as using honey to clean my skin, sleeping better, exercising, and doing yoga.
But several months on, I was still getting a lot of ugly inflamed acne around my mouth, chin, and smile line. This was simply not good enough.
Frankly, I was at my wit’s end, because I thought I knew everything and I thought I was doing everything right. It was like “Dude, seriously? What else can I do?”.
Except it wasn’t so casual. It was more like “GHH*h&%h F*DCKDLDING DAMN Gl WWWHWYYYYYywhYYWywyywyYWYY!?!”
I hadn’t gone to see anyone about my skin at first because I thought I knew better. And well, I didn’t want to spend the money. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so I finally decided it was worth it to pony up the dough at the naturopath’s office (seriously – the juice fast was the last straw).
Her assistant tested me for food sensitivities and candida levels. Turns out I was sensitive to all sorts of random ass stuff I never would have known about.
After that, I went to see the big lady in charge, Dr. Macdonald, and was comforted by the fact that she had gotten into naturopathy in the first place because of her own acne problems. She must have the answers!
So, due to the findings of the test, and probably her vast vault of knowledge, experience, and wisdom, she sent me home with a bottle of probiotics, Thorne SAT Liver Support for liver support, Vitex (Agnus Castus), and DIM for my hormones.
At that time, due to my own bias about the overarching importance of diet and gut health in the role of acne, I had it in my head that the food sensitivities and the probiotics were the most important pieces of the puzzle, with the liver support coming in a close second, and the hormonal supplements a distant last.
I very fearfully avoided everything on the list of foods for months. I was deathly afraid of these foods. It wasn’t really a good scene, to be honest. And I also took the supplements.
After starting her regimen, it quickly lead to the rest of my acne disappearing. Luckily, that really was the end of the severe acne.
I took all the supplements until the bottles ran out and then stopped, because honestly – I didn’t really know what these supplements were. I didn’t really understand the reasoning behind why I was taking them. After all, I hadn’t heard about them on the ol’ internet! So I just dropped them.
Around the same time that I stopped (I didn’t really put two and two together at the time that this was related), mild acne appeared around my chin which would come and go for the next few years. This acne frustrated me. I had tried lots of different stuff I had heard about on the internet, but it would never budge for long. I wanted perfection. Especially since I was blogging about it.
Yes, that’s right. As all this was happening, I had started blogging the heck out of The Love Vitamin and sharing my discoveries and speculations about acne with you.
Funnily enough, over the course of The Love Vitamin, I have come full circle and re-discovered the supplements that she prescribed and realized that, hey… she was right!
I heard about how Estroblock could heal female hormonal acne. I tried it and found that Estroblock makes my skin – and many other people’s skin – glorious. I then realized that Estroblock = DIM, and DIM was actually what she had prescribed me in the first place. Oh wow.
I also re-discovered Vitex as another supplement that kicks ass for female adult acne. Again, this was something that she prescribed me (although I never started using it again, since Estroblock has been working fine for me on its own)
I also found that Thorne SAT Liver Support – or milk thistle and other liver support herbs – are what help your liver to detoxify those hormones and keep all that stuff in balance. Again, something that she prescribed me.
Dang. She smart.
I have also discovered that yes, candida and food sensitivities are an issue for me. And they are for many other people with acne.
However, I used to think that these and food in general were the very most important things to healing acne, but I think that I have caused myself a lot of unnecessary grief in having this belief. Because really, it IS super important, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
We need to eat real food most of the time, but we don’t have to be crazy about it and go on insanely restrictive diets for the rest of our lives. I didn’t have to fear these foods like a maniac for months, when they only even recommend you cut them out for 6 weeks and then get retested.
I’m really thankful it’s all worked out in the end, but good grief. It’s been a journey. But as I talked about in my last article, I have it all dialled now. Oddly enough it was the act of trying to discover what works for all of you which has ultimately allowed me to rediscover what worked for me in the first place.
And I’m not saying that what has worked for me is exactly what will work for you, but it does seem that what has worked for me works very well for many other people as well (especially if you are a female struggling with the dreaded won’t-budge-no-matter-what-you-do chin and jawline acne).
Anyway…. What Were My Food Allergy Results?
So you wanna know what I was sensitive to, do ya? I am ready to reveal all!
According to the most recent test, I have moderate levels of candida yeast goin’ on, as I expected.
To my surprise (and relief) though, I actually didn’t react as sensitive to that many foods she tested. Seriously… this was the best test I have had yet! Which surprises me… I figured that my diet lenience and the increase in processed foods over the last year would result in at least the same amount of sensitivities as I had a couple years ago.
But… hey… it didn’t! So that’s awesome!
The way it is ranked is that you either have a strong reaction, mild reaction, or no reaction to a food. No reaction means eat it as much as you want. Mild means don’t eat it more than once or twice a week. Strong means avoid it altogether.
They recommend you go by these guidelines for 6 weeks and then get retested.
The first time I got tested (when I was still trying to get rid of my severe acne), I tested very sensitive to bananas, eggs, garlic, hazelnuts, sulfites, and cocoa. I tested mildly sensitive to gluten, wheat, lemons, tuna, peanuts, nitrates, pepper, and feathers. And I had a candida level of 3 out of 10.
She prescribed me (including links to the exact brands of supplements I purchased from them and used):
- Avoid food allergies
- For bowels: take a probiotic twice a day, and one tablespoon of psyllium husk per day.
- For liver: take one Thorne SAT Liver Support once a day
- For hormones: 1 cap of Vitex (agnus castus), and 1 cap per day of Indolplex DIM (similar to Estroblock that I take now)
The next time I went back was about three months later. I was still strongly sensitive to eggs, garlic, sulfites, and cocoa, and still mildly sensitive to gluten, and feathers.
After that, I went back maybe 9 months later for a full retest because I was having some intense eczema on my hand. Unfortunately, I actually can’t find the records of that one. I think I talked about in this video though.
I do remember that I was no longer reacting to eggs, garlic, cocoa, and all that stuff that I had been before. I had a few random sensitivities, but I definitely wasn’t reacting as strongly to as many things as before. And I had a candida level of 4/10. After that, I did a candida cleanse, and sorted all the eczema out within a couple weeks, and it has never come back like that since.
After that, I never went back for a couple of years, until just recently. And as I said, it was my best one yet in terms of sensitivities! I’m calling that proof that relaxing about diet really isn’t that big of a deal!
This time I reacted mildly to wheat, eggs, garlic, mushrooms, cocoa, and mould. No strong reactions at all! Except to aspartame. But like… I ain’t drinkin’ no Pepsi One, so whatevs. I also tested 4/10 for candida.
I got some probiotics and antifungals and went on my way, which I’ve been taking for the last few weeks. But I’ll be honest – I haven’t bothered to cut out any of the sensitivities. I intended to, but I admit that I just haven’t bothered. We’ll see how it goes.
One of the reasons I went back to the naturopath was that I could nix the mild yeast infections I’ve been getting every month, so if just taking the antifungals and probiotics doesn’t work, I will do the full on candida cleanse again (speaking of which, the Love Vitamin’s group candida cleanse begins June 25th if you want to try a short candida cleanse with the support of others!)
Me Talking a Bit About This in Video
Have you ever been to see a naturopath or other natural practitioner about acne? What happened?
115 Responses
Great article Tracy. Just curious, what is the name of the food intolerance test you had done?
Hey cool how does that work? Like pricks on ur back? Do u think people can test at home without payin money?
@Philip & Julz,
Read this article it explains what the test was that I took and more about it and how it works: https://thelovevitamin.com/1971/naturopath-acne/
Julz, there are ways that people can potentially test food sensitvities at home… google these: the pulse test, pendulum testing, muscle testing. I’ve dabbled in these, but, I never knew whether to trust it, so I preferred to just pay the money and take the guess work out of it. I can’t actually guarantee the test I took at the naturopath is 100% correct or accurate, but, this is just my experience, and it seemed to work 🙂
Ohmahgawsh. I love, love, LOVE your blog posts! Seriously…just earlier today I was having a mental breakdown kinda thing because I woke up and my jawline/chin was all acne covered, inflamed and itchy again…I thought I was doing all the right things (eating whole foods, trying to go gluten-free/dairy-free which has helped a little, etc.)…but then, BAM! Outta nowhere I breakout again. I literally sat down, thought these three things; “I just want to have clear skin,” “what am I supposed to do?” and, “what am I supposed to learn from all of this?”…and then I cried a little, journaled a little, and turned on my computer and read this update. So perfectly ironic haha! Every time I seem to get overwhelmed with a certain problem regarding my skin/health, I end up reading one of your blog posts that relates almost completely with my own experience at the time. You are truly an inspiration, and I want to thank you for sharing your experiences with all of us! 🙂 I’m really considering trying to find a naturopath in my area (I have no idea where to even look though), because I’ve gotten to that point where I avoid foods because I’m afraid of being allergic/sensitive to them…but it doesn’t seem to work anyway, and then I just get stressed all over again…vicious circle, ehhehhehhh…ugh, lol. Okay, before this turns into a freakin’ novel haha – where do you suggest I start in looking for a naturopath? Should I go by word of mouth, or search on the internet? Are there certain credentials I should look for when deciding where to go?
Hey Maria, that’s awesome, I’m so glad that I have a knack for supporting you on your journey just when you need it! 🙂 For choosing a naturopath, read over this article, I talk about how to find one and how I found mine: https://thelovevitamin.com/1971/naturopath-acne/
now your website is my everyday must look. thank you so much for sharing all these life saving information with so many people. bless you!
do you think balancing hormones and sorting those out with estroblock improves digestion?
Hi Amy,
I have been taking estroblock and it has defenately helped in my digestion and also healed my acne:))
Love
Sachi
Wonderful article! This is excellent advice…GO TO A NATUROPATH if the basic healthy lifestyle advice isn’t quite enough for you. I was living with severe and rapidly increasing food allergies, cutting out tons of foods to avoid the inevitable nasty breakouts. For a long time, I didn’t realize that I didn’t have to live this way. After an intense period of gut-healing, things are a LOT better. Oh, and it also regulated my whacky periods and hormone issues. Pleasant side effect.
I love your emphasis on how everyone is different. One of the biggest traps of the internet, in my experience, is thinking someone’s miracle cure will work for everyone.
Hi Tracy!!!
I am considering seeing a naturopath for food sensitivity testing sometime soon. If it turns out that I am not sensitive to gluten/wheat would it cause me any issues if I would eat it? Also, I saw your post about how butter is good for you if you get the right kind of butter from the store. I got Full Circle organic butter. I don’t know if it is grass fed or not (I think it might be) should I still eat it? Then I have one final question, Does touching your face give you acne? I enjoy biking and riding a longboard and I wear a helmet when enjoying those activities. Would something like wearing the helmet cause me to breakout? Thank you for creating this website with all this info, it has truly changed my life!!!!!
Hi David,
With wheat/gluten… it’s hard to know. Many people fear monger about it, but I honestly don’t really think anymore that any whole, real food is that bad if you aren’t sensitive to it. Focus on fruits and vegetables, and then after that, variety and everything in moderation I guess … either way…. I eat gluten not every day, but fairly often…. and… I’m not scared of it anymore. However, for me personally I don’t think it makes me feel good to eat too much of it too many days in a row, so I try to avoid it where possible.
Butter… yeah it’s good. Organic is not as good as grass fed, but it’s fine.
Touching your face? Yeah it can because of the friction… do you notice that you get acne where your helmet rubs against your forehead?
No I don’t believe I usually get acne in that area, but then again I try to move the helmet at an angle so it doesn’t touch my forehead at all.
Is sweet cream organic butter ok too?
I eat like ALOT of brown rice in my diet, as in almost every meal. My mom also makes me eat meat whenever she can because she is worried about me not getting enough protein in my diet. I eat turkey and chicken from the deli at the grocery store. Are these acne free and healthy decisions?
Finally, my family and I are taking a vacation soon for a week. I am debating on wheather or not I should follow my diet as well as I could, or if I should just through my dietary ways to the wind and just enjoy myself for that week.
Good one Tracy! Congrats on your improvements. This is a nice reminder that health is a journey.
Can you or anyone recommend a good naturopath database or even better a DIY food sensitivity test that’s available in EU, specifically Germany? Cheers.
Have a bad feeling that I’m sensitive to eggs but I eat so many….
Cheers people!
Hi Jake,
Hmm no I don’t really know of any database like that. I’ve also found it difficult to really recommend specific food sensitivity tests because there are a lot of different ones… I definitely know the type of one that I had done is not available everywhere, but I don’t know what IS available in different areas. You’ll just have to find a naturopath in your area, see what they offer, and then research it!
Hey Tracy, great article. I wanted to mention Olive Leaf Extract is a great addition if you are prone to cystic acne like I am. It really helps. I did try Vitex, but found myself getting all sorts of odd cramps throughout the day. Almost like I was on my period type cramps, but I wasn’t. I finally gave up on it even though I really wanted to see it through. I lasted about 2 weeks. Maybe I should try again, a different brand. What do you think? Also, for the Estroblock or DIM, I have yet to try that. I plan on it though. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the ones on the jawline and chin that never go away. Mine are always forming there, constantly, every week!!! I have been taking Zinc (which helps a bit) and Evening Primrose Oil to regulate hormones and I have been having regular (for me) periods every 30-35 days. I did find someone who was willing to saliva test for my hormones, but I think all they will do is prescribe different creams depending on what your results are. I think I should go ahead and do the testing though just to see. Again, thanks for your posts. I think I should give the milk thistle and DIM a try. 🙂
Hi Rachel,
Yep if you have that annoying chin acne, defs try the DIM, it will probably help a lot (get a good brand like Estroblock and take a fair bit of it to really see if it works – 3 regular strength per day, or 2 of the triple strength)
Hi Tracy! Thank you for your encouraging website and all your hard work and research you share with us!! Seriously – you’re priceless 🙂
I’ve made an appointment to go to a naturopath but sadly wasn’t able to get in to see her until July 29th 🙁 I’m really curious to find out if I have sensitivities and/or hormonal imbalance to get to the bottom of this really really stubborn and severe acne basically all over my face!
I want to do something more in the meantime while I’m waiting for the appointment to help relieve the acne a little. What do you think….milk thistle and burdock root supplements for liver and blood? Also was thinking about washing with a cleanser with neem oil (by Alaffia) instead of honey, which hasn’t shown much result yet like I was expecting.
Hi Kira,
Ah that sucks it’s so far away! Yeah, give milk thistle and burdock a try and just concentrate on improving your health/lifestyle if it needs work… and try not to stress :p.. easier said than done, but don’t worry, it will be here before you know it
” Thanks for the encouragement, Tracy! I’ve come to recognize through your blog and some other resources that I haven’t been de-stressing enough and that it’s ok and NECESSARY to give myself a healthy dose of patience and grace with this acne. It’s easy to forget that it takes time to test remedies and heal.
I’m glad you’ve arrived at that point in your “healing journey” that you can allow yourself lee-way with foods. Have a great day!
*hugs*
Following your advice for a few months now. On and off progress. Recently had AWFUL outbreak. Worst in YEARS. It’s clearing up – especially with the help of calamine (have you tried?) but I’m trying a last resort effort before I find a natropath and make the however-many-hour drive (not many in my city unfortunately): ditching the birth control. I hear tell it can mess up digestion, plus the whole hormone situation. I know it can take a few months for everything to level out but… Wish me luck!
Hey Elizabeth,
If you are about to quit birth control, make sure you read this post (and the comments): https://thelovevitamin.com/769/can-you-wean-off-the-birth-control-pill/
Already watched and read all of your birth control posts. Thanks! 🙂
Okay good 🙂
my naturopath (Dr Dattner “Holistic Dermatology” in New York City) just put me on DIM!! I have been on probiotcs, liver support, and chaste tree but now am VERY excited about adding the DIM 🙂 He tried to put me on a cream because “my face looked dry” but I know that is just my dead skin mask 😉 Caveman is THE WAY TO GO! He didn’t recognize me at first because of the improvement from last time (which right after is when I started the caveman)
LOVE YOU TRACY!! Not sure if you recognize me by now, but I am commenting and chatting with you on here a lot 😀
p.s. I am probably going to go ALCAT food sensitivity testing down the line but my candida is WAY too high (I have a systemic infection and organs have been damaged and leaky gut issues!) I can’t wait to get back to normal foods and through your example I know it will be someday!
Yay! That’s awesome. Great to hear he recommends DIM too… will probably do some great things for ya. Lots of love to ya Krista – yes I recognize you. I get to know and recognize my regular commenters over time. I always wonder what you guys look like, as I only know you as names haha
oh this makes me happy since I feel such a kindred friendship towards you despite never meeting! When ppl ask about my healing, I always reference your inspiration that got me on this right track.
I am very excited about DIM. I thought of your positive reviews when I realized it was DIM (it is marked ID3 on the bottle http://www.thorne.com/Products/Immune-Support/Oncology_Support/prd~SF749.jsp)
Thank you for always taking the time to respond back to me :)And since you are curious…this is me! https://s-media-cache-ec1.pinimg.com/avatars/kristatony_1361637517_600.jpg
Great! Nice to meet you face to face! You’re beautiful 🙂
aw thank you! granted, that is pre-severe acne but it is what I am determined to get back to (praying for no scars!)
You are beautiful too xoxo
Quick DIM question – dosage. I am on a 200mg pill 2x a day. Is considered normal or high compared to Estroblock?
It says one capsule of Estroblock contains 107 mg of DIM complex. I can’t really say though if straight numbers = straight numbers because it all depends on the quality of the ingredients and how they absorb!
Krista,
ID3 isn’t exactly DIM. It’s a DIM precursor that’s converted to DIM in the gut. It has about 50% bioavailability of DIM, so you’ll absorb 50% less DIM from 100 mg of ID3 than from 100mg of DIM.
Krista – did he help heal your acne. I saw him for many months and noticed no improvement whatsoever.
Hi Sascha,
Yes very much!! It’s taken a long while because of the severity of my condition (Candida Overgrowth Syndrome [COS] and liver/intestines malfunction) but 18 months later, the results are startling! Still some redness (due to liver still damaged) but hardly any spots. If you’d prefer a before/after let me know.
Did you follow the diet if prescribed? Take your pills properly? Tracy’s Caveman Regime was also very very helpful for me!
Check out this article called the Tragedy of the Healthy Eater, it’s really great, you’ll totally get it. http://www.nwedible.com/2012/08/tragedy-healthy-eater.html
hahah I’ve read that before, it’s great. I do love that article 🙂
Thanks again Tracy for sharing your life with us! This has come at a perfect time for me because I’m continuing to struggle with jawline and back/chest acne. I have to say that I have seen improvement since I did your candida cleanse on April 1st. I’ve adopted some healthier habits, but will admittedly eat small amounts cheese (weak point), drink adult beverages, and have sweets, occasionally. Mostly, I don’t really crave them as much as I thought I would since I completed the cleanse, but I guess it’s still there. Reading that you have been less strict with food helps me to relax and remember that it’s “progress, not perfection” and I know I’ve made a lot of progress in the last 2.5 months. I think seeking advice from a naturopath would be the next step on my journey to improving my skin, so thank you for sharing your experiences! Your posts are always positive, enlightening, and REAL. Thank you!!
That’s exactly it! 🙂 Progress not perfection!
Hi again…I just read your article on choosing a naturopath. Quick question…why does acupuncture and chiropractic services seem to be abundant when searching through the yellow pages? Out of hundreds of listings, I’ve only found one labeled as “naturopathic”. Could this be?
Also, would my chiropractic internist who does food allergies possibly offer the same treatment and tests as a naturopath? I definitely will look into it, but thought you or someone else could shed light on this too.
Thanks! Caitlin
Hi Caitlin,
I’m not really sure why acupuncturists or chiropractors are more abundant than naturopaths.
Either way – acupuncturists and chiropractors are both holistic specialists who specialize in a certain modality – acupuncturists hope to improve over all holistic health with the needle/pressure point/meridian thing, and chiropractors aim for the same thing but doing that with spinal alignment.
These things could potentially help your acne, and both acupuncturists and chiropractors may have enough knowledge to even prescribe you supplements since their practice is holistic (and maybe they even have other services like the food testing?)…. so I don’t know. I don’t know the extent of their abilities, as I’ve never been to a chiropractor or an acupuncturist. I would definitely call a few of them and just ask them. Tell them your problem, what you’re looking for, ask them what they offer, and if they have experience treating acne. And if not, if they have someone they would recommend?
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for your reply. When I refined my search on the Yellow Pages to “Naturopathic Physician”, several more listings appeared in my area.
I also looked into my current chiropractic internist services and he does do an allergy test called an ELISA test, which assesses delayed allergies. Have you heard of this before? He also has a GI health assessment service (stool test) that can assess bacteria, parasites, fungus, and candida. Looks like I should do that one, too, maybe.
Thanks for your response,
Caitlin
Hey Caitlin, yes the ELISA is a good test, and the stool test sounds good too 🙂
Thanks, Tracy. I’ll share once I take the next step.
Ahh this sounds just like my story…still struggling with the chin acne! Have you heard of a link between acne and high iodine consumption ( seaweed mainly)? I have been eating a ton of it since a nutritionist recommenced. Thanks again for the posts!
Hi Anna,
I’ve heard of the iodine acne link, but I don’t know what I think about it. Some people think that if you get a breakout after a large intake of iodine is a healing/purging reaction. I take a bit of kelp every day disguised in my smoothie and haven’t noticed a problem, but … as I like to say…. everyone’s different!
Hi, Tracy.
Thanks for all your help and inspiration.
Just wondering. What type of anti fungals are you taking? Are they working?
Thanks agian!
Lauren
The kind I take is called Canplex by Signature Supplements.. I don’t know how easy it is to find, I don’t see it on Amazon. It does seem to work very well. The ingredients in it is a mix of Pau d’Arco, Undecanoic Acid, and Grapefruit Seed Extract
I drink pau d’arco tea! And I take capystatin (caprylic acid) by ecological formulas and it has been working great for me. I also hear good things about oil of oregano
Great post, Tracy!
I’m super curious what sorts of method they use for testing? Is it a blood test? I’m starting an elimination diet with my naturopath next week to figure out what sorts of food sensitivities could be causing my own issues (like eczema and horrible menses), Rather than testing levels (?), I’ll be cleaning up my diet for the next while and then reintroducing foods and monitoring my reaction.
But I’m curious about the possibility of being tested.
M.
Hi Megan,
No it wasn’t a blood test… read over this article, it explains the test that they used: https://thelovevitamin.com/1971/naturopath-acne/
Hey Tracy I was wondering.. I bought the candida cleanse program a few months ago, can I still sign up for this one?
Yep, your username is good to go in the forums 🙂
That’s great. Buuut.. How do I access the forums again? haha. 😛
Email me, I’ll tell you 🙂
Hi Tracy!
Glad to hear you’ve more or less kicked acne out of your life now. I’m also getting very good results, just with somewhat different methods.
As you know, we don’t always see eye to eye on health-related things, but that’s not really a problem as long as people get good results.
I just want to bring up the ‘other side of the story’ about these food allergy and sensitivity tests. The thing is that, as both you and I know, getting crazy with dietary restrictions can make your life really miserable. And that’s what many of these so-called tests do. So I think it’s good if people get to hear from both sides, so to say.
The sad truth about those tests is that when they are tested properly they are no better than guessing at diagnosing food allergies or sensitivities. This is especially true for things like the Vega test, electro-acupuncture, muscle testing, pendulums, etc. I know they seem convincing, and I have fooled myself with them also (as you probably remember from my earlier books), but they are based on ideomotor action. The pendulum is moved by small, unconscious hand movements. The person doing the test is not aware of it, so it looks convincing to him/her, but that’s what’s really going on.
This video is a good demonstration of what happens when dowsing is tested properly, and why such testing is necessary.
The same thing happens also with muscle testing, pendulum and vega tests. If these tests would really work, then they should also work when you don’t know the food being tested. But they never do.
BBC did a nice investigation into Vega tests:
They gave the testing a second chance by sending another person to 3 different stores. Same results. 3 different test locations, countless diagnosed allergies, and only a single food they agreed on.
This stuff is really as bogus as they come.
Naturopaths are, unfortunately, equally clueless about IgG-based tests (ELISA, ALCAT, etc). IgG doesn’t indicate delayed reaction to a food. It indicates exposure to a food. We all make IgG immunoglobulins for foods we normally eat. And when we stop eating those foods IgGs for that food go down. So naturally the next testing shows you’ve gotten over your ‘sensitivity’. IgG tests have never been shown to have any diagnostic validity.
The thing is that food allergy testing is incredibly difficult. They are many pitfalls and one has to really know what you can and cannot conclude from the tests. These alt-med practitioners offer over-simplified answers to complicated issues. And trusting a naturopath for this is not unlikely trusting a butcher to do brain surgery.
I do think there’s value to avoiding some foods. Gluten is a problem for some people, but there’s too much hysteria and fear-mongering around it. Similarly, FODMAPs can cause problems for some (I have to avoid onions or I’ll get a painful breakout on my scalp). But I’m massively skeptical when it comes to food sensitivity diagnoses. I think they are a fantastic way to get yourself confused, and I’ve yet to see much value from them.
And I really don’t mean to criticize you with this. Nobody has all the answers, and I think we are all better served when all the sides of the story are heard.
Looks like the video embed wasn’t working, here’s a link to the video I referred:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VAasVXtCOI
Hey Seppo,
I know that you feel this way about this topic, and that’s cool. I’ve actually read that BBC investigation many times and get people asking me about it from time time.
When people ask, I say that I honestly don’t know how reliable or accurate it is. I have absolutely no way of knowing this. I don’t really know anything. All I know is that this test, and going to a naturopath, definitely helped me (and they said that they have great results using it with all sorts of people). Even if it’s all mental – because you know how crazy people can get wondering about foods and being scared of foods because of acne… it’s honestly easier just to have someone give you a list, it relieves a lot of mental pressure. Yes, it might be argued, why avoid any food, and yes, .. I kind of agree, but as I say in this article it’s only supposed to be for six weeks and it might help.
So yeah. It might be all bullshit and have no merit whatsoever aside from placebo, but.. it is what it is and I feel this experience with the naturopath really helped me. But this is why we are different – you work analytically, I work more on ‘feelings’. Lol – but I know that’s what you’re raging against in this acne space since you’re sick of people doing that. Well, I know we see things differently, but it’s cool, because those who resonate with you will love what you do, and those who resonate with me love what I do.
Everyone go check out Seppo’s blog!!
I understand that visiting the naturopath helped you, and I can understand wanting to have someone advice you with these things. Health issues can be frustratingly complicated and the medical system doesn’t always do such a fantastic job in guiding people (aside from guiding them to the drug store, lol). And that puts lot of people into a difficult situation, something we’ve both faced.
Anyway, my point was actually to question the need for food sensitivity testing. I do agree it’s a good idea to cut out some foods, like all the common sense stuff, but I’m not so sure getting tested will add much value to that.
From reading this post, I got the impression that you attribute most of your results to the supplements you take, and you even mentioned you didn’t bother with cutting out the foods you tested positive. Yet, you are getting great results. Did I get the correct impression?
I think that’s something people should keep in mind before spending potentially hunderds of dollars on tests that have never been shown to have any diagnostic validity.
No matter what others say, I believe in you (AND your ways) Tracy!!
Thanks for the support Krista 🙂 But do know that I am not always right, it’s good to have a few different points of view. Everyone has their own beliefs and truths and it shapes and biases what information you give others. Everyone has to find their own truths for themselves, I just give ideas.
you’re right 🙂 no one is perfect nor has all the answers, but I wanted you to know that you shouldn’t feel any attack on your self-confidence as an acne advisor. You have great humility to admit their is always room for error (or human differences aka what works for one may not work for another) but you DO have validity to your claims! You are living proof! xo
The point isn’t to attack anyone or claim someone is wrong. Rather, I think we are all better off if we can learn from the data at hand, i.e. experience and results. And with little bit of logic and reason we shoukd be able to separate the things that really helped from those that are just waste of time and money.
My point was that it’s unlike the sensitivity tests helped Tracy that much. Them being highly implausible and nothing Trqcy wrote here suggets they really helped. Of course I don’t know her situation and can’t and don’t want to put words into her mouth.
I wasn’t suggesting that they didn’t help me (I do believe the food sensitivities were one part of the puzzle to getting rid of that last bit of bad acne, alongside the supplements, but of course, I cannot be sure exactly which thing helped the most)… what I am suggesting is that while I think it helped, I didn’t have to be insane about it and be so fearful and cut them out for months longer than I was supposed to and allow them to rule my life. I feel that it would have been more helpful as a guideline as things to cut back on, rather than the way I treated it.
As for why I’m not cutting them out now…. frankly, I’m just being lazy (probably because the little minor health issues I’m dealing with right now aren’t a painful or annoying enough motivation to bother, unlike having acne). I’m saying that I am going to try just using the supplements and see if it works without avoiding those foods. If it does, then that might be an indicator that perhaps the food test really isn’t necessary … but we will see
Hey,
How do you know which hormones you are lacking or having too much of ? My acne started after quitting birth control so there most be a link with hormones however, I got tested and my doctor said everything is all right. But I don’t believe him, ( he doesn’t takes me seriously because i am kind of a hypochondriac also I do not trust traditional medicine) because I never had acne before. Are there other signs to know which hormones are th bad guys. After quitting the pil I so got severe panic attacks and some facial hair although barely noticeable.
Ps love the site keep up the good working acne sucks
Not everyone with acne has hormone abnormalities. There are studies that show some acne patients have hormones in the normal range. Thought, mostly those studies looked at androgens and IGF-1. Anyway, I would look into lowering insulin as it’s usually the cornerstone hormone in acne.
“I would look into lowering insulin as it’s usually the cornerstone hormone in acne.”
I can def agree with you here. Lots of my research has found that modern diet has made acne such an epidemic in our culture where it wasn’t years ago or even in parts of the world that eat more clean/natural/sugar-free or very minimal!
More specifically if you’re having ‘quit the birth control’ related acne (which is very hormonally related in my opinion), generally it seems that people’s progesterone is very low afterwards (as one part of it anyway)… vitex might help: https://thelovevitamin.com/9662/q-about-vitex-agnus-castus-for-acne/ – personally I don’t really think the doctor’s blood tests are accurate since women come on here all the time and tell me that they have obviously sex hormone related symptoms, yet the doctor’s test said it’s all normal
Also read through the comments of this thread, as there’s a whole support group of women helping each other through the dreaded post BC breakouts… check out what they’re doing and using for ideas: https://thelovevitamin.com/769/can-you-wean-off-the-birth-control-pill/
hey are you cutting out sugar and stuff whilst taking these anti-fungals and such?
Nope, I’m being lazy about it, so I’m just seeing if the antifungals and probiotics will be enough on their own, and if not, I’ll probably do a little sugarless diet for a bit
I am currently battling a HUGE yeast issue and I think if it’s bad enough, cutting out sugar is key. Along with probiotics and antifungals of course 🙂 STARVE THAT YEAST!!
I know, it’s definitely key – I’m just hoping mine isn’t bad enough hehe
would be interesting to see how that works out for you tracy
Hello love! I too am seeing a naturopath doctor in my area, and so far I’m doing well with the plan of action. I got an ALCAT food sensitivities test, a GI panel, and will be doing my hormonal test this week. Based on what I learned from ALCAT i have to cut out lots of foods and do a rotation diet for 6 months, then re-introduce them. She put me on some supplements, and I’ve been trying my best to stick to the regimen. I have moderate acne around my chin, forehead, back, and chest. She said from looking at my test results from the GI panel I have a lot of inflammation from being on antibiotics over the years. She gave me Mycostat for candida, Amla Plex jelly, OmegaAvail fish oil, iron, and vitamin D3. So far my acne has been settling down. I am 100% satisfied with her, every other doctor I’ve been to has done zip compared to this one. Also, to cleanse my face I’ve been using h2Ocean piercing after care spray (i recently got a rook piercing) and the bottle said it was good for ance so I thought why not try! It’s all natural, purified salt water and Lysozymes. it’s done wonders for my chest and back. Other than that, I’m somewhat caveman (; and I try to stick to a clean diet! Good luck!! (:
Hey Sarah,
That’s great!! I’m so happy you found someone who has been helping you so much
Hey Tracy 🙂 I’ve been following you for long time and your advices really helped me.. I cleaned my diet (paleo) and while it works for the body acne, my face is pretty much the same.. I’ve been struggling for 3 years and noticed that I get cysts in the EXACT same spots.. literally. The other pimples I get are just normal that go away.. but these places always get inflamed with cysts.. And i’m very sure about my statement, it’s the same pores.. Do you think it might be a local infection and not acne? Should I go to a dermatologist to take a sample and see what’s going on? I’d be so greatful if you can reply.. All the best, I will always follow your blog, you’re great!
Hi Ana,
Hmm… interesting… you know I’m not really sure why the cysts would appear in the same pore. The only reason I am currently aware of for that happening is when people pop and pick at the pimples, that’s when it invites them to return in the same spot. There might be other reasons for it, but I’m not really sure what
Thank you so much for answering! No I don’t pop them, I leave them do their business and dry (somehow).. Then they leave a dark mark that seems to never go away.. It starts to fade but before that happens a new cysts forms.. It’s really frustrating!
I tried Caveman and it turned me into a picker. I normally never pick at my skin but caveman made my face itchy and I could visibly see hard sebum coming out of my pores. Stuck it out for three weeks 🙁 I’ll do more balancing internally before I try it again.
Hah! Oh no Lola! Me too…! I actually just came here to post a question about exactly that topic!
It’s been almost two weeks into the caveman and I CANNOT leave my cheeks alone! I have NEVER had congestion like this on my cheeks, they have oil plugs and tiny spots/whiteheads/blackheads everywhere, it’s totally weird, the parts of my face that are normally the best have become the worst. Plus my skin is basically falling off. I’m starting to feel sorry for my incredibly patient and supportive boyfriend for having to look at my zombie-like complexion every day! hah!
Tracy – Did you have any congestion problems at the beginning? I watched your video about the congestion on your forehead after the first month but I can’t go near jojoba oil without my skin going nuts. Tried oil cleansing last year and it was the worst mistake I ever made (so far!). Any tips? I’m so so close to exfoliating right now…
It’s amazing how few people have written about this topic online, it’s almost impossible to find other people’s experiences of the caveman.
I would say my skin is Kiiind of better. The spots show up less, are smaller and heal quicker. Plus my skin isn’t oily at all, not really dry either, but seriously flaky and congested. It’s pretty gross… Though it’s my ‘ladytime’ right now so I guess I should at least stick it out till i’m less hormonal.
Uhhhh
P.S – I take almost the same as you Tracy, suppliment-wise. Probiotics and DIM are where it’s at.
@ Lola and Rebecca,
Yes! My skin did get all congested and flakey and gross on the caveman during the first month (might even be longer if your skin has more healing to do than mine)… it seems to be a normal healing phase that the skin goes through
Ok. cool. I can do this.
Sorry Tracy, I think your forum has become the official caveman regime helpline!
It would be really nice to find a forum dedicated to natural/alternative skincare for acne. All of the folks that I’ve seen breach the topic of the caveman on acne.org were basically told to stop being ridiculous and go and get some antibiotics or benzoyl peroxide.
*forum = comments
That sucks 🙁
I thought some people were into it there, that’s where I originally heard of it.
Anyway, I definitely think a forum would be helpful here, but from what I understand if you have an open forum for the public, it’s like a full time job trying to keep spammers out of it. So I’m not sure of the solution on that one. I don’t mind people discussing it in the comments for now.
Yeah it’s a shame. Plus the acne board on Reddit isn’t much better. You’re right about hosting a forum, I’ve heard that it’s a LOT of work to keep it functional. I think it’s part of the reason why the ‘good acne advice’ is so inaccessible to teenagers, it’s basically hidden and there’s no space to discuss. People often want to hear a mix of others’ experiences before trying something new.
After running a forum for some years, I can say it’s not that time consuming to keep the spammers out. With good initial setup you can keep the vast majority of automated bots out. Of course you have to do some manual work, but it’s not that much. Drop me an email and I’ll be happy to guide you further.
Hi Tracy!!! I have officially set up my naturopath appointment. I have a question, If I am not sensitive to dairy should I stay away from it? I know that certain hormones in cheese and stuff can make your own hormones go nuts, but would that make mine go crazy if I am not sensitive?
Hi Dave,
Well, I consider being “sensitive” to it, meaning that if you eat it a lot, it has a noticeable negative impact on your health, so if you’re not sensitive to it, I don’t see why not to eat it. Personally, I eat a fair bit of it as I haven’t noticed it having a specific effect on me. I know you can read to the heaven’s earth as to why dairy is terrible, but I’m sick of food fear mongering. You can read that about any type of food.
Thanks for the reply!!!
I totally agree on how much bad rep there is out there for almost any kind of food. I mean, if you stay away from everything people out there say, your going to be stuck with eating nothing anymore!
Hi Tracy. I’ve had my food allergies tested at the naturopath, and I’m supposed to avoid gluten, dairy, walnuts, and pineapple. For the gluten, I was wondering how strict you were at first, during the cleansing phase… did you eliminate foods that said “processed on shared equipment with wheat products” (some foods, like nuts or seeds, would be gluten-free if it weren’t for that), or did you just avoid foods that contained gluten themselves?
Hi Francesca,
Tracy is away without internet access for a few days (until Monday 15th), but I‘m sure she will answer your question as soon as she‘s back! 😉
In the meantime, you‘ll have to deal with my opinion 😉 :
Some people may suffer mild irritation and others may suffer from major complications that may cause serious damage to the body. We are all different individuals.
Celiac disease, for instance, is an autoimmune disease where the body produces IgA antibodies against the enzyme the body produces to digest gluten. The IgA causes inflammation in the intestines where the enzyme is found. The body only produces this digestive enzyme if it’s needed, so the solution to this sensitivity is to avoid gluten. No gluten, no enzyme to digest gluten, no autoantibodies attacking the the enzyme in the intestine.
Some folks with gluten sensitivity tolerate small amounts of gluten because their body doesn’t produce the enzyme for gluten unless larger amounts of gluten are present. Other folks produce the enzyme in response to very small amounts of gluten.
Hello Svea. Thank you so much for your reply! I’m honored to receive your opinion. 🙂
I don’t actually have celiac disease, just a moderate allergy to gluten, along with dairy products. I just wonder if my body needs to purify itself for a given amount of time, and then later on I could be more lenient.
I’ve struggled with acne half my life, but I used birth control for almost three years to control it. It worked great, but now that I’ve gone off the pill my skin is the worst it’s ever been, and I haven’t had my cycle for seven months. So I’m pretty desperate for a solution.
For the past few months I’ve been trying herbal supplements (vitex, milk thistle, and burdock), and a gluten-dairy-processed sugar-fried food-free diet. The naturopath gave me a high dose of vitamin A a few months ago, along with magnesium/zinc and vitamin E, but it did nothing. I was also prescribed DIM, another detoxifying supplement, and a natural progesterone, but that did nothing either. Now I’ve been given a higher dose of progesterone to start my period, but still nothing.
Sorry to burden you with my life story. I was just wondering if you (and/or Tracy when she gets back) had any further advice!
Hi Francesca,
thanks a lot for your compliment!! 😀
I cannot tell you if you will react to trace amounts of gluten or not, but you could try to cut out even the tiniest amounts of it from your diet for at least 2-3 weeks and see if there is any improvement. Then eat something containing very small amounts of gluten for one day. Do you feel worse? Does your acne get worse? Unfortunately, it’s always a situation of trial and error… 🙁
Another question: Do you exercise regularly? Do you work out, go running, swimming, do yoga, ride your bike, take long walks or take the stairs up to the 5th floor every day? You seem to be pretty much focused on your diet at the moment. However, I think it‘s very important to move your body as well. At least for me it was one of the missing links in the puzzle. Now I go running 2-3 times a week (or just once if I’m lazy – or I go swimming instead). On all other days I force myself to take long walks (even in the middle of a stressful period) and I work out nearly every day. I feel better and my eczema is like blown away. AND: I get my work done all the same!!! Even my concentration levels improved a lot. 😉
Stress is hugely toxic to our bodies and our skin. This article is very informative and insightful:
https://thelovevitamin.com/8382/skin-trying-to-tell-you-something/
And here’s an article about locating your acne on your face. It might give you some clues about what the root cause of it may be:
https://thelovevitamin.com/5335/where-your-acne-is-and-what-it-looks-like-can-tell-you-whats-causing-it/
Anyway, don’t give up! Please don’t stop investigating, but try not to think so much about your acne at the same time. I know, that’s easier said than done, but it’s definitely possible. And it helps. Healing usually goes in waves. Try not to worry too much if you’re breaking out again. It will pass. I swear!!! 😀
Just keep on with your healthy lifestyle ♥
You’re on the right track.
Hi Svea! Thank you for your reply! I’ll try to exercise more days per week (I figure skate two to three times a week) and focus on stress-relief. It’s hard to tell what works because I’m constantly broken out. There is never any healing, nor improvement. A good day is when I don’t get any new pimples. But I’ll keep trying!
Thanks again!
Hello Tracy! Thanks for your wonderful blog. I have been doing a lot of research and have found the combination of Vitex, DIM, and probiotics, Liv Tox to be a success for many people struggling with adult acne. I thought I’d take the plunge! However, I just started Estroblock a week ago and have been getting more acne around my jawline? Then I read that Estroblock helps boost testosterone? Is it possible that the supplement is giving me too much testosterone?
Thanks!!
Hi Peppiina,
I‘m sorry to hear that you are breaking out right now. DIM is said to improve metabolism by adjusting the balance of testosterone and estrogen hormones that are active in both sexes. I don‘t think that DIM is giving you too much testosterone. However, I can‘t tell you for sure if it‘s just an initial breakout or if you have some kind of (allergic?) reaction to DIM or one of the components contained in your capsules…
I don’t think that restricted diet is the way.It will not fix the problem but just covered.
Hi tracy, don’t mind my email adress it is an old one from when I was 15, runescape is a nerd game I used to play lol. Anyways I was somewhat chatting with you or one of your website managers and I had to reset my phone and forgot my email address so i’m hoping maybe I could finish that convo here. I want to tell you what has been happening to me and hope to get a simple yes or no answer from you.
So a little under two years ago I cut off my fingertip and was put on antiobiotcs called cephalexin for about 2-3 months. At this same time I was working in a restaurant with a broken ventilation system and also had a horible diet consisting of restaurant food and candy. Meaning I was always covered in grease from standing over a grill all day and my diet was nothing but carbs and sugar. Almost immediately after I quit taking the antibiotics I started getting acne, this is strange for a couple reasons, mainly because I never even had a blackhead let alone a pimple beforehand so it would be weird to start getting acne at 18, especially since i’ve had a full on beard since 15, meaning I went through puberty early so it shouldn’t be hormonal.
I was just wondering if I could’ve gotten some form of candidiasis from the antibiotics and crappy diet, and if so could a candida overgrowth be the soul cause for my acne? It makes sense because if I do have an overgrowth of candida that means my immune system is comprimised, and the yeast is creating an endless amount of toxins so now it’s too much work for my liver and colon to cleanse it all by themselves so now the toxins need to exit through my skin.
I would’ve never even thought about this but when I first started getting acne I started taking vitamins and most importantly ginger root, which helps digestive health, I was taking it cuz I heard it’s good for acne but the thing is when I stopped taking all supplements to see if they were helping me or not I broke out with a genital rash which hasn’t gone away and i’m now thinking it’s a yeast infection. I’m thinking maybe the ginger root was stopping the yeast from spreading as much but not killing it, so I was still getting acne, but now that i’m not taking it anymore it’s spreading more rapidly and has given me a genital yeast infection as well.
Sorry if this is tmi or way too long but I am hopeless, I am hoping and praying these past two years of absolute hell and isolation are all the result of a simple yeast infection that got a chance to take hold since I was unaware of it. It is my birthday today, I have spent the last two birthdays by myself because of acne, so now i’ve made a deal with myself. Either I finally figure out what’s happening and how to stop it, so I can be normal again, or I put myself out of my misery, because I can’t take another year of being alone and depressed.
If you read this an think i’m crazy that’s cometely understandable, even my parents have disowned me because they think i’m making this all up, but if you do decide to respond I would jus like to know if you think what has been happenin to me is in fact because of candida and do you think candida alone could be causing my acne? I got a hormonal blood test taken and all my hormones are level so it would make sense if it’s because of candida… Anyways please and thank you, I know I jus wrote a short book but I am desperate.
Hi Tristen,
If you’d never had acne before in your life and developed it right after stopping a 2 to 3 month, I would say it is definitely candida and digestive system related. With probably a stress factor thrown in there from developing the condition itself.
sending you love xox
Hi Tristen,
If you’d never had acne before in your life and developed it right after stopping a 2 to 3 month course of antibiotics, I would say it is definitely candida and digestive system related. With probably a stress factor thrown in there from developing the condition itself.
sending you love xox
I got candidiasis from antibiotics!! You need an anti-yeast diet, probiotics, liver cleanse, vit c for your immune system, and an anti-yeast such as caprylic acid. I went to a naturopath/holistic derm in NYC and he is doing wonders for me!! (if you live near there, I can give you his name) Don’t give up (my parents didn’t believe me at first either…) and get help from someone who can treat a candida overgrowth. lots of love and prayers!
Yep, what she said!
Thank you tracy, that’s good to hear, sorry for the long letter but I figured if I told you everything that has happened you could better understand the situation and make a clearer decision. I know your not a doctor or anything but I have read a lot of your stuff an can honestly say I would trust you more than a doctor, not saying doctors don’t know their stuff but all of this is happening because of doctors, and I agree with pretty much everything you say anyways.
Krista: Also thank you, I hope you don’t mind if I ask one more question. I was wondering what kind of acne you got from it? I have somewhat oily skin, and my pores are big, also my skin just looks unhealthy, like my nose and inner cheeks. Idk how to explain it but it doesn’t look like healthy skin and all on my nose and cheeks I have blackheads. I don’t really get big pimples just little ones but mainly unhealthy looking skin. So my cheeks and nose is all blackheads and I mainly only break out on my forehead also back an chest sometimes. Is it possible for candida to cause all that? Is that how yours was? I’m hoping that’s what my problems is so at least then I would know how to stop it.
this isn’t me but when I googled “candida rash” it came up and is a lot like what my face looked like http://yeastinfectionhubs.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi
I am not sure there is one set “look” to a candida problem though. My face was very red and while I had whiteheads, it looked like a rash (clusters of bumps)
I agree with Tracy, if all this happened soon after your stint with antibiotics, candida seems very very likely. Trust your gut! And yes, the stress I’m sure compounded the issue
Okay thank you krista, i’m almost 100% positive this is what’s happening. I am now getting really bloody noses but only on my right nostril and once it starts bleeding I get severe headaches inbetwen my eyes, also I have this lump on the left side of my adams apple that came up today and it’s hurting the whole side of my neck and throat. Don’t know if the candida could do this but i’m thinkin maybe it’s spreading now. Anyways thanks for the advice tracy and krista, hopefully this is finally the end to this
you’re welcome Tristen, but I highly recommend going to see a naturopath/holistic doctor… your symptoms sound like things you don’t want to ignore! best of everything, xxo!
Hi Tracy,
I was just wondering how exactly did your naturopath test for candida and food intolerance’s?
Thanks
Hi Steph, check out this article: https://thelovevitamin.com/1971/naturopath-acne/
I just went to the naturopath for the first time last week. I had super high expectations going in from all that I had read on here. I hoped my experience would be as awesome as yours, unfortunately it wasn’t. I went in because of my acne, and I am wanting to get off birth control so I decided now was the perfect time to go in so my skin wouldn’t freak out whilst weaning myself off BC. Unfortunately the experience was awful. She did not answer any of my questions, tried to sell me $700 worth of supplements that her “ZYTO” machine said I had wrong with me. She gave me no insight to my acne issues or what supplements to take while getting off birth control… So here I am, I have ordered Liv-Tox and my next purchase will be EstroBlock. I am excited and I hope they work. I wish I lived closer to your naturopath, I would love to see someone who is full of knowledge instead of someone who relies on a machine… that is exactly what I wanted to get away from *conventional drs.* I live in oklahoma and we are a little behind when it comes to stuff like this.
Aw Lauren, I’m sorry to hear your naturopath sucked :/ Like everything there’s some good, some bad, sorry you got the short end of the stick.
Hi Tracy – I have a question on Estroblock. You mentioned it took a couple of months for it to clear your skin, however did you see incremental improvements along the way or was it all of a sudden after months of no change?
Hi Andi – well, hard to say exactly because for it wasn’t always there.. it went in cycles. Sometimes I’d be clear, and then inevitably I’d break out in mild, but you know.. kinda numerous, acne around my chin. That was always the pattern with it. So.. it was definitely a few cycles of breakouts before I noticed any difference. Once I noticed a difference (those breakouts were finally not coming back), I actually don’t really remember whether it was all at once, or more gradual.
I just came across this and wanted to add mt 2 cents. I am in my late 30s and have suffered from acne for what seems like forever. Since my mid-20s I’ve had it under control by using a zit cream every other night, whether or not my skin is acting out (mostly pimples around the chin). I recently went to a naturopath regarding a chronic stuffy nose and did an elimination diet for a few weeks: no wheat, dairy, brewers yeast, soy. Lo and behold, I discovered that dairy causes acne (for me, anyway. Obviously your mileage may vary). One week off of dairy and my skin looked fabulous. Now within a day or so after eating dairy (milk, yogurt, and cheese, I haven’t reintroduced butter yet) my face breaks out. I am passing on the info, as maybe it will help a fellow acne sufferer. Also, eliminating dairy for a few weeks is something anyone can do and costs nothing. I hope this helps someone out there!
Thanks for sharing Merne! You’re right … dairy is the most common food that causes acne! Very happy for you you found the solution that works for you 🙂
Such a helpful post! I actually lost my hope a bit. I went for a allergy test/ food sensitivity test early december 2014. And turns out that there is a whole list. My test didn’t know the milt or extreme cases, just an overall of sensitivity. After knowing that I avoided every single thing on that list… Except for one. Clove… I didn’t know at all that Curry is partly made of Clove. And my god, my skin broke out like it never did before. From that moment on it hasn’t been going back to normal or a little less red and bumpy.
I did got some pills to detox my body but I wonder if this is really helping.
Now about a month later since I ate the curry… I still keep getting bumps and super red zits together with red marks on my face while I have not eaten anything that was on my list. I am pretty clueless now. What if the sensitivities keep changing and I just keep getting acne again and again. I don’t have the money to have a test again ( it was super expensive ). I actually expected my acne to calm down to not show up as bad as it used to at least. And for my skin to calm down as well, less redness, scars fading etc. But that’s not happening at all?
I also wonder if having those sensitivities also apply on using those on your face, for example you use honey to wash your face… When you’re over sensitive for honey does that mean you also can’t use it on the face?
I searched for answers on google but there’s nothing to be found regarding that haha. So I thought maybe you might know it?
Hello Tracy! I was just wondering if you still believe in this and if its still helping your mild acne? It feels like i’ve tried everything and im willing to pay that much amount of money on a Imupro test. But do you still think it is worth a shot even if its not that scientifically proven?
Thanks!!