Promises Turned into Experiments

Lent.  It begins the day after Fat Tuesday and during gluttonous Mardi Gras.  It's the time all good Catholics know to give something up...a fast if you will, 40 days until Easter.  This year it's 46 days, go figure I decided to do an experiment on myself with 6 extra days.

I relinquished sweets/treats and alcohol (except for red wine...a girl needs to unwind!) As I honed in on why I chose to give these tempting treats up, I thought it would be even more interesting to see how my skin would respond to these dietary changes. Perhaps one of the top 5 questions I get asked from patients: what foods do I need to avoid in order to stop breaking out?

Let me clear up any confusion...I am by no means an unhealthy eater. Just out of convenience I find myself nuking what’s supposed to be Lean Cuisine's version of sweat and sour chicken, lemon chicken and rice, or enchiladas. My other option ~ eating out with friends. And what’s a dinner with friends without desert?

Nor do I have bad skin. The only time I remember going to the dermatologist was when I was in high school. That’s almost a rite of passage these days.

I figured, if I give up the processed food, sweet deserts, and chips, my skin would have to be glowing right?

Those of us who work in this field know that we can’t pinpoint one food or food group to directly cause acne. Eliminating certain foods from your diet won’t cure acne problems either. My advice: If you eat McDonald’s every meal every day, your skin is probably not going to look its best. If you eat raw organic food every meal every day, your skin is going to look good. Probably not the most realistic lifestyle in either situation, but a combination of both (leaning more towards the organic side) will likely yield clearer skin.

So in an effort to do what I say and not what I do…I have commenced this 46 day excursion with no sweets, treats, or alcohol (immunity goes to red wine) and a week later I’ve already been assaulted on 2 separate occasions with my high school foe.  Hope is not lost, and I haven’t given in to temptation…yet.  Here's hoping that my updates will encourage my Lenten sacrifices. 

40 days and counting,

Bella Derma