Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Background: I've had acne since I was a teen due to inflammation. For as long as I can remember I've had easily irritated skin, ketosis pilaris and slow healing wounds than often turn into scars. Since going autoimmune Paleo as per Robb Wolf my skin has improved but I must be very vigilant in my food choices and still suffer from these skin problems.

The only time I ever felt normal in my skin was when I was giving a course of prednisone for a couple of weeks to help treat an isolated attack of bronchitis. When on the prednisone, my acne disappeared overnight, old scars started to fade and cuts and scrapes on my legs healed up. Prednisone is a strong anti-inflammatory but also an immune suppressor. Most people put on prednisone report the opposite effect on skin. It seems people on a high dose for a short term usually break out.

The strange thing is that I currently have a common cold and my skin has been clearing up. This seems to be a common occurrence and I can honestly say that my skin is the best when I'm sick.

Could the result of an over-active immune system be causing my inflammation? Since my immune system is trying to rid my body of this cold virus it is no longer attacking my skin thus resulting in a better complexion?

flag	asked May 1 2012 at 16:46 Eric 1,054●1●3●17

Lost and found · Answer 1 · 2012-05-01 17:16:10Z UTC

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My face (and acne) looks better after throwing up (when I'm sick) Looks less inflamed.

Thought it could be some gut issue. Can anyone shed a light on this as well?

answered May 1 2012 at 17:16

Lost and found
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April S. · Answer 2 · 2012-05-01 17:16:50Z UTC

You could be right. I don't know if there's any scientific proof behind this but yeah, your immune system could be busy off utilizing more resources to fight off the cold rather than your acne.

I suffered from horrible acne but since switching to Paleo, my skin has really cleared up. So I've done a bunch of research on acne back in the day and I totally forgot where I saw this but one of the (many) causes of acne is high testosterone levels. And I've read that some people think that when you get sick, your testosterone levels decrease, so your skin clears up. I can't find any literature on this though.

Nikolas · Answer 3 · 2012-05-01 18:23:38Z UTC

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I don't think acne has anything to do with hormones - in personal experience anyways. If any hormone is the culprit it is estrogen and that just accounts for oily skin.

Personally I believe what has happened is when you are sick, your metabolic rate increases as well as your temperature thus protecting your body from infection. Oily skin doesn't cause acne you must have a compromised immune system for the bacteria(infection) to grow.

Personally I would pin acne down to digestive health alone. Bacterial overgrowth in the digestive tract in particular. Vitamin A/D is needed to fight infection - are you getting any from liver?

answered May 1 2012 at 18:23

Nikolas
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If you were a woman, you would know that acne is at least somewhat effected by hormones. – Kelly May 1 2012 at 18:53

I take Green Pasture Fermented Cod liver oil everyday. – Eric May 1 2012 at 19:01

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"I don't think acne has anything to do with hormones"?? Acne has a lot to do with hormones! – April S.♦ May 1 2012 at 19:07

Well there is a connection - sebaceous glands are controlled by hormones. However, you can have oily skin and no acne. I used to believe it was strictly hormone related, but I now think it's too narrow minded. There is another issue (immune system related) that is allowing that bacteria naturally on the skin to get out of control. – Nikolas May 1 2012 at 19:09

FCLO does my body no good. Any "isolated" omega -3 oils in general (but especially FCLO) cause me skin issues. Try eating liver instead.. Though with that said, I don't believe this is the root of the problem. It may control your symptoms but not address the underlying issue. – Nikolas May 1 2012 at 19:17

Lutfisk · Answer 4 · 2012-05-01 18:37:46Z UTC

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I have noticed the longer I go without eating the better my skin is. Like if I just get busy and don't eat as much for a couple days, it clears up. I am confused.

answered May 1 2012 at 18:37

Lutfisk
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Points directly to digestive health. The food you're eating is not digesting properly (no matter how healthy it is) and putting a burden on your immune system - increasing inflammation and allowing infection to grow. – Nikolas May 1 2012 at 18:43

Kelly · Answer 5 · 2012-05-01 18:52:36Z UTC

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I have an opposite experice with acne. If I get a fever, I tend to immediately break out with several zits.

On the other hand, my eczema always got a lot better when I was sick. I never knew why, but hypothesized that it was because I was eating less and sleeping more. But I wouldn't be surprised if there were more immune pathways involved.

answered May 1 2012 at 18:52

Kelly
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Do you have a good source of retinol and vit D in your diet? If not, when you do have a fever you use very large amounts of them (A in particular), and if you're deficient, that alone can account for your acne in such a situation. I would also be worried about that eczema - In my experience it is caused by antigen specific immunity. Vitamin D may be a huge help. – Nikolas May 1 2012 at 19:47

I am well supplied with Vitamin D. Vitamin A, I get a significant amount of beta-carotene with my mulitivitamin, but I know some people aren't good converters. I also take Carlsons Cod Liver oil, which is a lower Vitamin A oil, about 50% of the time. I wouln't be surprised if I weren't gettng quite enough, but I don't want to take too much. – Kelly May 1 2012 at 20:34

The eczema has plagued me my entire life. Elimniating gluten and nightshades and coffee, and greatly reducing my dairy and chocolate intake has knocked it down 90 - 95% depending on the day. I've been working on healing my gut to try and deal with the last 5 - 10%. Though it's been an awful thing to have, I try to view it as a visible barometer of my autoimmunity. – Kelly May 1 2012 at 20:37

I did also see a reduction in eczema when I started supplementing with Vitamin D 3 or so years ago. – Kelly May 1 2012 at 20:41

Good to hear you've almost gotten rid of it! I haven't seen evidence of b-carotene being a useful source of vitA. Also not a fan of fish oil but if you feel like experimenting try eating 4oz of liver, safe starch(50-100g) and your daily dose of d3 and gauge results. In my experiences with eczema (if I consume dairy for an extended period) it flairs up - however if I eat a bunch of carbs (starch) and take vitamin D (4k IU) it evaporates over night. (I eat beef liver 1-2 times a week for Vit A). In regard to the carbs - helps the thyroid out which helps everything out. Report back if you try :) – Nikolas May 1 2012 at 22:00

Jenna · Answer 6 · 2012-12-11 13:25:48Z UTC

I have also keratosis pilaris and now when I've been sick for 3 days, my skin looks very good! It's so amazing! I have been sleeping more than normaly, eating less and haven't even washed my face that often than usually. My guess is that it must be the diet. I guess some ingredient usually poisons me and makes my skin sick. Now when I've been ill, I haven't been eating so much, so my body doesn't get that "poison" that much either. I don't have a clue about what poison is. It could be milk, wheat, anything. Though tests say that I don't have lactose intolerance nor celiac desease. So I don't know. That's why I came here to find some information. Sorry if there are some grammar mistakes. English is not my mother language.

marsha · Answer 7 · 2013-05-08 18:35:12Z UTC

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Hormones has everything to do with acne. I took prednisolone and my acne cleared up. It was like i was in someone's elses skin

answered May 8 at 18:35

marsha
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Why is my skin better when I’m SICK! Autoimmunity, Acne, Inflammation

7 Answers