To Be Gluten Free Or Not?

[Sal]

Hello All,

I've been to this forum many times, however, this is my first post. Quick intro - I'm 26, male, and have suffered from back acne since about 13 years old.

In late October (this year) I went and saw a naturopathic doctor regarding the acne on my back and some general fatigue. I eat very healthy and exercise daily. I did a "Quantum BioFeedback Test" and it revealed some food sensitives as well as gluten sensitivity. I've now been strict gluten-free for almost 3 months and although the acne hasn't gotten worse, it hasn't gotten any better. My overall well being feels the same also. Now the big question, do I continue to deprive myself of the delicious pizza's and cookies, or continue this gluten-free diet longer?

I'd love any comments or suggestions you guys have.

Thanks a lot!

Sal

[tarnalberry]

If you have eliminated all food sources of gluten, all contamination sources of gluten, all vitamin/health care/skin care sources of gluten, and so on, to be *strictly* gluten free, and have elminated other food intolerances, and have seen absolutely no change in the past few months, then I'd say that ingesting gluten or not makes no difference to your body. The dietary challenge, with a positive or negative result, is a valid test. Containue to pay attention to your body if you do add wheat back, of course.

[Sal]

Hi tarnalberry, Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I cut out all gluten containing foods and switched to all natural sources for skin products (I use all Burt's Bees now). I should also mention that I've been dairy free too.

If I do reintroduce gluten containing foods to my diet, should I start slow? Will I be more sensitive now that I've been off them for a while? I've read the book "Dangerous Grains" and it doesn't really address these kinds of issues. (Great book though).

On a side note, other than antibiotics, nothing has worked for my back acne. If anyone has any suggestions regarding that also, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks again!

Sal

[Viola 1]

Hi Sal;

I don't know if this would work for you or not, but it's worth a try.

My hubby had psorisis very bad on his knee, and nothing would work on it. Then he went in for knee surgery on that knee (just a scope) and the result is ... no more psorisis. We think it was that orangy red stuff that surgeons paint on the area they are going to work on. However, as it is gone, we have no way of testing it out. I realize the two conditions are different in some ways, but ... if you can talk a doctor into trying it, who knows, it might work!

[Looking for answers]

Hi!

My sister suffered her entire life with acne--and when I suffered, I mean suffered. She had really bad acne throughout her teens and well into her adult life. She tried everything . . . every medication, face wash, astringent, mask .... nothing work. She continued to have acne and would even break out it boil-like blemishes. Finally she had a doctor explain to her the harm that sugar can cause to the body, expecially hormones. She decided to go sugar free (which is not easy for some because you can go through withdrawals) and within three weeks her face was completely healed. Today, (she's now 30) her skin is beautiful--completely healthy and glowing even! After being completely sugar free for three months, she introduced it back into her diet and can handle small amounts without any problems. But, the moment she goes overboard, her face breaks out again. It really is amazing.

I REALLY recommend you give this a try. If you have trouble giving up sugar, you may want to read through parts of "The Diet Cure" by Julia Ross. She lists supplements to ease the "pain" of eliminating sugar from your diet.

Good luck

[Guest cassidy]

I too have had back acne forever. I have been gluten-free for a year and mine has never gotten better. I know I'm not getting glutened because I have get the typical intestinal symptoms. when I'm glutened I think mine is more related to hormones. When I went off bc my skin got bad and when I got pregnant it got worse. Nothing I can do about that for a few more months. I have also cut out all other foods that I seem to have an issue with and that has done nothing for my skin. I haven't seen a coorelation between when I get glutened and when my skin gets better or worse. Also, my face is usually clear, it is just my back that is bad.

I did try getting back facials and they helped. I can't do it now since I can't lay on my stomach. I realize you are a guy, but they might help. I went to a training school called the Salon Professional Academy, so they weren't expensive. I will probably try that again after I have the baby.

Do you have any other symptoms that would lead you to believe that gluten is a problem for you?

[Sal]

She decided to go sugar free (which is not easy for some because you can go through withdrawals) and within three weeks her face was completely healed. Today, (she's now 30) her skin is beautiful--completely healthy and glowing even! After being completely sugar free for three months, she introduced it back into her diet and can handle small amounts without any problems. But, the moment she goes overboard, her face breaks out again. It really is amazing.

Wow! Sugar free huh? So other than obvious sugars, does that also mean excluding fruit and, say, rice and potatoes since they eventually get converted into sugar?

I hit the gym 4-5 times a week, and after a workout, a simple sugar (fast digesting carb) is needed to recover from the workout. So it will definitely be hard for me.

Thank you for your input, and congrats to your sister on the beautiful skin!

Merry Christmas ALL!

Sal

[Sal]

Do you have any other symptoms that would lead you to believe that gluten is a problem for you?

Honestly, no. I've read many symptoms people have on this forum and on websites, and I exhibit none of them. Some of the foods I'm apparently 'sensitive' to are (other than the gluten containing ones):

Black Pepper

Bananas

Strawberry's

Soy

It's really hard cutting soy out of your diet, it's in almost everything. And after a quick check now, I've realized that soy protein is in all my Burt's Bees products. AND I just noticed oat flour in my facial cleanser. Could this at all be affecting my back acne? On top of all this, I'm starting to think that the sweating from my gym workouts is aggravating the acne at least.

So much to consider..........

Thanks for your help!

Sal

[Guest cassidy]

Honestly, no. I've read many symptoms people have on this forum and on websites, and I exhibit none of them. Some of the foods I'm apparently 'sensitive' to are (other than the gluten containing ones):

Black Pepper

Bananas

Strawberry's

Soy

It's really hard cutting soy out of your diet, it's in almost everything. And after a quick check now, I've realized that soy protein is in all my Burt's Bees products. AND I just noticed oat flour in my facial cleanser. Could this at all be affecting my back acne? On top of all this, I'm starting to think that the sweating from my gym workouts is aggravating the acne at least.

So much to consider..........

Thanks for your help!

Sal

I really do realize how frustrating back acne is however, if that was my only symptom and I wasn't sure it was due to gluten, then there is no way that I would stay on this diet. I'm not familiar with the testing that you had done, but several doctors, including a natural doctor, told me that food sensitivity testing isn't accurate. I know some people like it, but some people have been told the same thing I was. As long as you have a blood test for celiac and that comes out negative so you don't have some version of celiac where that is your only symptom, I would try another alternative.

Seriously, I was surprised at how well the facials worked and that is so much easier than cutting everything out of your diet.

[linds]

sal-- i was wondering if you decided to reintroduce gluten into your diet or not. i have been trying to decide if i should try to or not. i had the bloodwork done and it was negative. and i have been gluten free for 3 months with ABSOLUTLY no improvements. if you did reintroduce, how did you do it?? thanks.

linds

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Sal, the only thing that EVER caused acne for me was sodium nitrite--which is in bacon, hot dogs, many (but not all) sausages, ham, and processed, smoked deli meats like smoked turkey, pastrami, smoked, chicken, etc.

You probably aren't eating any of these, but I thought I'd mention it just in case.

Merry Christmas!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

There is one brand of nitrite-free bacon available, but I have never seen nitrite-free hot dogs or ham. Maybe someone else has?

[Sal]

I really do realize how frustrating back acne is however, if that was my only symptom and I wasn't sure it was due to gluten, then there is no way that I would stay on this diet.

That is exactly what I'm thinking! The biofeedback test straps these bands around your head and wrist and this machine apparently reads your energy. I've never actually gotten a blood test done.

[Sal]

sal-- i was wondering if you decided to reintroduce gluten into your diet or not. i have been trying to decide if i should try to or not. i had the bloodwork done and it was negative. and i have been gluten free for 3 months with ABSOLUTLY no improvements. if you did reintroduce, how did you do it?? thanks.

linds

Hi linds, are you having the same problem as I am? After reading all the comments I've decided that I AM going to reintroduce gluten into my diet. I'm basically going to dive right in with rolled oats and maybe pizza (I'm getting excited just thinking about it). I'll keep monitoring my energy level and acne and see how it goes.

[Sal]

Sal, the only thing that EVER caused acne for me was sodium nitrite--which is in bacon, hot dogs, many (but not all) sausages, ham, and processed, smoked deli meats like smoked turkey, pastrami, smoked, chicken, etc.

You probably aren't eating any of these, but I thought I'd mention it just in case.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

You're right, I actually haven't been eating those, but I will keep an eye on that ingredient in the foods I eat. I think it's actually pretty amazing that you've been able to narrow down your source of acne to a single ingredient. Is there a process you went through to find that out? I'd love to be able to pinpoint my troubles.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

It was when I was in 7th grade, actually. My mother didn't buy the idea that acne was caused by chocolate (didn't eat it then), french fries (wasn't eating these, either) , or hormones, so she did a total elimination diet on me. I ate nothing but rice, plain chicken breast, plain hamburger meat, toast (this was decades before I had any discernable problem with gluten), and eggs for several days. Then she slowly reintroduced things one at a time. First thing to cause a problem was hot dogs. Second was ham. Third was smoked turkey. Plain roast turkey from the deli did not cause problems. Neither did pork chops. By the time we tried bacon (and I reacted on cue with a headlight-sized zit), it was pretty obvious.

My mom was really on top of it, though--she went into action about a month after my first pimple. Also, I didn't get a faceful (or back full) of acne, either--just one or two huge, glaring (glowing?) pimples.

I had exactly the same reaction for a few years, and then didn't bother trying any of the offending foods for about 20 years. Now I can eat them with no problem, but don't eat them very often (and I buy nitrite-free bacon). My oldest son, though, now is having exactly the same reaction!

[Looking for answers]

Wow! Sugar free huh? So other than obvious sugars, does that also mean excluding fruit and, say, rice and potatoes since they eventually get converted into sugar?

I hit the gym 4-5 times a week, and after a workout, a simple sugar (fast digesting carb) is needed to recover from the workout. So it will definitely be hard for me.

Thank you for your input, and congrats to your sister on the beautiful skin!

Merry Christmas ALL!

Sal

She only eliminated sugar, both white and brown. The sugar from fruits and vegetables don't cause issues with hormones from what we were told and read. After everything cleared up, she introduced it slowly back into her diet and now knows how much she can eat without causing breakouts.

[portrgirl]

I believe that dairy causes my acne (also bad). When I started feeling sick after eating milk and cheeses and cut it out of my diet, my acne disappeared. I always assumed it was due to my hormones as I'd get a worse breakout right before my period but when I stopped eating it, I found that my worst cravings for those products were right at that time.

[Sal]

She only eliminated sugar, both white and brown. The sugar from fruits and vegetables don't cause issues with hormones from what we were told and read. After everything cleared up, she introduced it slowly back into her diet and now knows how much she can eat without causing breakouts.

Maybe I'll try that then. I've started back on gluten. I enjoyed a big pizza today and I guess I'm just waiting to see now how/if I react in any way.

[Sal]

I believe that dairy causes my acne (also bad). When I started feeling sick after eating milk and cheeses and cut it out of my diet, my acne disappeared. I always assumed it was due to my hormones as I'd get a worse breakout right before my period but when I stopped eating it, I found that my worst cravings for those products were right at that time.

Hi portgirl,

Actually I've been dairy free also but it hasn't helped. Maybe because I'm a guy I don't have these hormone problems??

[linds]

Hi linds, are you having the same problem as I am? After reading all the comments I've decided that I AM going to reintroduce gluten into my diet. I'm basically going to dive right in with rolled oats and maybe pizza (I'm getting excited just thinking about it). I'll keep monitoring my energy level and acne and see how it goes.

no i am not having the same problems as you. i am actually having a bunch of symptoms some digestive and some that are not. but after 3 months and not feeling any better i am about to test myself with gluten. and i did just now! i only ate 2 spritz cookies so we will see how it goes even though everything makes me sick so i don't know if i will notice a difference. keep me updated on how it is going for you.

[Sal]

no i am not having the same problems as you. i am actually having a bunch of symptoms some digestive and some that are not. but after 3 months and not feeling any better i am about to test myself with gluten. and i did just now! i only ate 2 spritz cookies so we will see how it goes even though everything makes me sick so i don't know if i will notice a difference. keep me updated on how it is going for you.

Hey Linds... well, it's the day after.. my stomach is kind of hurting a little but I think it's just from overdoing it a bit, haha. Also, to be fair, I never actually had digestive problems.. my gluten free diet was an attempt to rid myself of my acne. The funny thing is that my face is completely clear and looks very healthy. This 'back acne' problem is obviously a much bigger problem for me in the summer.

Anyway, because of the holiday I'm not in my usual work/training routine so I'm guessing it will take a couple weeks until I'll know if there is a difference or not. I will definitely keep you posted. By the way, my email is salibaq@gmail.com.

Sal

[sunshinen]

You might want to look into candida being the culprit. This would make your body respond negatively to gluten in terms of the type of testing you had, but would require some steps in addition to watching your gluten intake to get rid of.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Hey Linds... well, it's the day after.. my stomach is kind of hurting a little but I think it's just from overdoing it a bit, haha. .

Sal

Many people here have noticed that, even thought they did not have obvious digestive problems before going off gluten, they did have them when they tried to go back on. Hmmmm....

[Katie618]

Good luck with it all, i'm so jelous that you'll be eating real pizza... but the gluten free pizza is pretty good too!!!

maybe sweat is aggrevating everything, do you wear underarmor when you go to the gym?? or a sweatshirt? maybe its not letting your body "breathe" and it's keeping the sweat in? i had bad skin when i was teen (hopefully have grown out of it) but get occassionaly break outs- chlorine, the sun, and swimming in the ocean always helped me... were the meds you in gluten free? did you have a DH test done??

let me know how things are going!