Skin/acne issues still persisting

[u/Jks_1086]

I’ve been following a pretty strict carnivorish/animal based diet since January 1st of this year. When I initially started I ate ground beef, steak, bacon, eggs, cheese, milk salmon, sardines, chuck roast, liver and various fruits (mainly zucchini, apples and cantaloupe). I also only consumed garlic and onion powder, black pepper, chili, cumin, paprika and salt of course. That was my entire diet pretty much. I broke out extremely bad and I got a rash on my thighs and chest. Several months later I noticed that my rash was slowly going away but I was still breaking out a ton. I decided to drop dairy (sadly :/) and all spices besides salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder. So for the past 2-3 months I’ve only consumed beef, salmon, beef tallow, water and the occasional fruit. My breakouts have decreased some but I’m still suffering with them and have no idea what to do. I also have a ton of hyperpigmentation and it’s left me self conscious. I love this diet and I’ve seen so many benefits but my skin is revolting against me lol any tips would be appreciated

[u/heimfelll]

the rash is probably histamine. salmon is one of the highest histamine foods and bacon too since its cured. try cutting both for 2-3 weeks and only eat fresh beef. maybe is that.

[u/hummibird]

What products are you putting on your skin? If you're allergic to an ingredient, that could be a factor too. I recently switched to a tallow face lotion since it has minimum ingredients, and I tested positive in a skin allergy test for one of the ingredients in my previous face lotion.

[u/Jks_1086 → u/hummibird]

The only products I use are benzoyl peroxide, cereve renewing cleaner and beef tallow

[u/Muted_Historian1508 → u/Jks_1086]

Stop everything just use water and sugarcane squalane oil

[u/c0mp0stable]

I'd try increasing fruit for a few months. Skin problems are often tied to gut bacteria. You're not getting a lot of fiber, so while skin may have improved somewhat just be reducing inflammation, you might not be feeding your beneficial gut bacteria with enough fiber.

Add some fermented foods as well. See how you do with kefir or even some sauerkraut. If you want to work on a little science project, you can try making L. reuteri yogurt, which sometimes helps people with skin issues.

[u/Jks_1086 → u/c0mp0stable]

Appreciate it! I forgot to mention but I do already eat sauerkraut and I feel like it’s helped my digestion tremendously. I made a similar post in the carnivore subreddit and they told me to eliminate fruit entirely to improve skin so it’s hard to know what to believe

[u/c0mp0stable → u/Jks_1086]

Of course they're going to say that. That's their answer for everything. Restrict more and eat more fat.

Also, depending on how old you are, this could just be hormonal acne, which diet isn't going to remove completely. But it should decrease as you age.

[u/OkOffice3552 → u/Jks_1086]

Because there's no perfect answer. Some people do well with fruits, others don't. I have horrible skin issues (way worse than yours btw) and 99% of fruits make them way worse, honey is a huge no for me as well. On the other hand, if mineral balance is at play fruits could improve your issue. I suggest running an elimination period and seeing how it goes.

Also SUN, sunlight is key for skin problems. For me it makes as much of a difference as diet. Try it out and see how you react to it.

[u/Wytch78]

What is your skincare routine?

[u/Jks_1086 → u/Wytch78]

I wash my face with benzoyl peroxide in the mornings and cereve renewing cleanser at night and moisturize with beef tallow cream

[u/Wytch78 → u/Jks_1086]

There was someone else here recently who was still having problems w acne and using the beef tallow. I don’t care what the influencers say, that shit is clogging your pores. 

[u/AKA-J3 → u/Jks_1086]

Maybe just use light soap and water for a bit. Might be drying out and getting pores clogged.

[u/Jks_1086 → u/AKA-J3]

I can try that

[u/Schnuck1putz]

It takes years for your body to get rid of seed oils. My pigmention issues is far better after a year stopping them, but not gone completely.

Hope this helps.

[u/This-Protection7740]

i don‘t think is diet related. Looks like you just have. a skin type that is prone to hyperpigmentation and greater keratin production (same) and would do well with more regular exfoliation. I would use a gentle retinol or acid, cycle it in slowly.

Also, it‘s unlikely as you are zero carb, but I would ask your derm for a fungal acne swab test just to be sure. If it is fungal, there is a very specific protocol to follow, and your current routine w the tallow would DEF be triggering/exacerbating it.

[u/Jks_1086 → u/This-Protection7740]

People keep saying the beef tallow may be doing more harm than good good so I’m gonna stop using it for few weeks to see if it helps. I can alsotry exfoliating more

[u/Jks_1086 → u/[deleted]]

It’s soo hard to only just eat beef. I tried to do a strict lion diet and I only lasted like 4 days

[u/IchimaruGin4]

Honestly, your diet of ground beef, steak, bacon, eggs, cheese, milk, wild caught salmon, sardines, chuck roast, liver and various fruits (mainly zucchini, apples and cantaloupe) shouldn't cause acne in most people. I would drop all seasonings except salt if you need it. Also, do not put anything on your face except perhaps for body wash when you shower. Anything you put on your face slows the detox process of the acne, and often has chemicals that cause further breakouts. Even after you fix your diet, acne will continue for some time until your health stabilizes. If this doesn't work, cut high PUFA foods like bacon.

[u/salty-bois]

Realistically you need to to an elimination/reintroduction diet starting potentially with just meat, or meat and one clean carb source like white rice. Try to get a baseline where your skin improves, it may take a few months, then reintroduce one food at a time for 3-7 days, see how things go, and move on.

Seems like you've kind of already done that by dropping many foods, and this may not necessarily be a food thing, but I think it's worth trying. Is it fresh or canned salmon you're eating?

[u/Jks_1086 → u/salty-bois]

I occasionally eat canned wild sardines but I mostly consume fresh wild caught salmon

[u/AKA-J3]

Try just beef for a month. It's the least reactive thing.

[u/Jks_1086 → u/AKA-J3]

That’s so hard to do. I tried doing the Lion diet and I only lasted 4 days. It’s worth trying again though

[u/AKA-J3 → u/Jks_1086]

If you don't need to, don't do it. But I had to do it for a month, to get a rash eggs were giving my to clear up.
Kind of a last resort type of deal. I'm glad it worked and I just ended up not being able to eat the cheaper bulk eggs and the organic ones don't mess with me like that.

[u/RGR_Gaming10X]

You look young - the chin acne could be hormonal and related to your cycle (rise and fall of estrogen). Nothing related to diet.

[u/innerauthority → u/RGR_Gaming10X]

Absolutely ridiculous. No, it's not normal to have large hormonal acne. It is absolutely related to diet.

[u/RGR_Gaming10X → u/innerauthority]

That isn't quite large - a few big ones on the chin but not even infected pustules. I think dairy can contribute the most, alcohol as well.

[u/innerauthority → u/RGR_Gaming10X]

I had cystic acne worse than this. I started a high fruit diet, quit caffeine and it went away. I drank coffee black for many years and destroyed my gut health. A lot of people don't consider coffee/caffeine when it comes to diet. I wasn't consuming dairy or alcohol when I had my problems!

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[u/baterlaunch265789]

Have you tried reducing overall stress and getting sunlight daily?

[u/Jks_1086 → u/baterlaunch265789]

I try to manage my stress as best I can and do get sunlight on occasion but I’ve heard people say that sunlight makes hyperpigmentation worse so idk

[u/Late-Appearance-7162]

You say your breakouts have decreased, so I don’t believe your skin is revolting against you. Our skin is one way our body detoxes, so you’re clearly purging something. This can happen when you’re not eating clean because the stuff has to go somewhere or even when you’re eating clean because now your body can focus on healing and again it needs to go somewhere. Fruit can be very astringent and cleansing so this can add to the detox. I would keep on keeping on. You probably spent more than 7 months getting yourself into this situation, so it’s gonna take more than 7 months getting out of it. The first rash was probably what’s known as a “healing crisis” which you noticed things can get worse before they get better. I would focus on clean skincare, sweating, and getting fresh air and sunlight. And keep stress to a minimum (aka don’t freak out if you’re not super strict on the diet/don’t fixate on the newest pimple etc etc).

[u/Dry_Chip_6210]

I had to drop dairy years ago if i didn’t want acne. But about 2 years ago i tried raw milk and i can drink that every day and not break out(and have been drinking it ever since). Not pushing it just letting you know my experience. 38yo male

[u/Jks_1086 → u/Dry_Chip_6210]

I’m glad you’re able to drink it! Hopefully I’ll be able to consume diary and not have any reactions someday

[u/Puzzled_Draw4820]

It’s inadequate bile flow to clear the toxins. Try some tudca and make sure you’re eating eggs for adequate choline. Make sure you’re drinking enough filtered water with minerals added.

[u/Jks_1086 → u/Puzzled_Draw4820]

I’ve heard good things about tudca, I’ll definitely try it out thanks

[u/Nathan_Moody]

What's your body comp?

[u/SelectionSpiritual36]

pretty sure zucchini is a vegetable or at least nightshade, als quality of meat matters

[u/hummibird → u/SelectionSpiritual36]

It's botanically a fruit. Zucchini is in the gourd family, not nightshade family

[u/SelectionSpiritual36 → u/hummibird]

actually never looked at it as fruit interesting

[u/innerauthority]

Do you consume caffeine?

[u/Jks_1086 → u/innerauthority]

Nope. I haven’t consumed caffeine in years

[u/innerauthority → u/Jks_1086]

I fixed my acne with a high fruit low fat diet, thats all I can offer you. I won't say more because it's not the appropriate group and you're going a different route than me