Fasting and Acne: Can Fasting Reduce Breakouts?
A while back, I spent a lot of time reading popular articles that claimed that following a “quick” or “detox” program would result in clear, radiant skin. I also wanted to have clear skin, and since none of the products I tried had worked, I decided to go for it.
This is the theory of how fasting (or detoxing) works to treat acne:
First you choose what kind of food you are going to leave out during the fast. Mainly this would be meat, dairy, and fatty/sugary foods. When I did my fast, I gave up all food except fresh fruits and vegetables. You then choose the length of time you will commit to fasting. Ten days is usually a good starting point, but a longer fast than 30 days will give you the best results.
At this point, it will take a lot of determination and self-control to be able to continue the fast. You will see various changes occur both physically and mentally. My results weren’t as dramatic as many of the success stories I’d read on the internet, but I did experience extremely heightened mental awareness, weight loss, brighter, clearer eyes, and much more energy. But did he have lighter skin? No, not really.
During my 30 day fast I had my normal hormonal acne, some weeks it was lighter than other weeks, but the fast didn’t seem to have a noticeable effect on my skin. I was disappointed with my results and all the work I had put in, and immediately after the fast I went back to my old diet. If you had continued for 60 days, you might have seen better results. It all depends on the person, the type of fasting and the time you are willing to dedicate to it.
Aside from the benefit of healthy skin, there are several other reasons why I continue to recommend fasting:
-To detoxify your body of unwanted chemicals
-To break a bad habit (eating unhealthy food, smoking)
-To prepare for a healthy diet change
-To give your digestive system a break from all the hard-to-digest processed foods, pesticides, insecticides, fatty foods, dairy, caffeine, and excess sugar that normally creeps through your body
-To gain self-control and confidence.
-To give you an energy boost
However, there are three main issues to be aware of when fasting:
1. It can be dangerous. Never do a fast that requires strict caloric restriction (ie, a water fast) for an extended period of time. A healthy fast is one where you provide your body with all the essential nutrients it needs while avoiding all the junk you can’t use.
2. Sometimes fasting can cause breakouts. At the beginning of a fast, you may experience increased acne because your body is flushing out all the toxins from your blood at once. Some of these toxins will be released through the skin and cause breakouts. This initial phase of detoxification is reason enough for some people to decide never to try fasting, but if you stick with it you will see results.
3. Fasting does not last forever. If you complete a fast, you will most likely see several positive results, such as clearer, brighter skin, increased energy leverage, weight loss, and an increased level of concentration. But these results are very difficult to maintain after the fast ends! The only way to see permanent results from a fast is to start a strict healthy diet plan immediately afterward. This is a lot of work for someone who just desperately wants fair skin!
Simply put, a fast can definitely be a positive way to improve your health. I have fasted several times before and have never had a negative experience. But if you don’t take the implications of fasting seriously and are looking for the quickest and easiest way to clear skin, fasting is not the answer.
