Peptides: Your Guide to Aging Gracefully

What are peptides?

Peptides are natural biological messages, produced by the body, in order to communicate necessary tasks to be performed. Peptides are your body’s language and communication network. Each peptide, or message, is composed of a specific order of amino acids (the same building blocks of protein). There are many different amino acids and therefore millions of different combinations or messages that can be made out of them.

What are Cosmetic Peptides?

Peptides are high-performance ingredients that have been proven to increase collagen production, re-establish youthful metabolism and assist in the repair of unhealthy skin. When properly formulated, peptides have the ability to effectively address almost every issue that we associate with skin irregularities including wrinkles, hyperpig­mentation, acne, rosacea, cellulite and many more.

In skincare formulations, peptides are designed to engage a particular cell, or group of cells, resulting in a specific function, depending on the peptide and the target cells. They are able to penetrate the top layer of our skin and send signals to our cells to let them know how to function. These messages can promote healthy skin through initiating collagen production or another message to relax facial muscle contracts to help soften wrinkles and more.

Why are they so great for skin?

Since peptides are small enough to penetrate the skin, when applied topically, they signal the skin to repair itself. As a powerful age managing skin-care ingredient, peptides play an important role in replacing lost collagen [the structural protein in skin that keeps it looking young] and they work without causing irritation in the skin.

About the peptides at Sacred Skincareapy

Synthesized in a FDA-certified laboratory, Viktoria De'Ann Peptide Cosmeceuticals create specific messages with unique messengers, making them optimally effective in communicating with our cells because they're formulated with a higher concentration of actives.

Pepti-Lift - A face-lifting serum scientifically formulated to provide peptides to restore youthful skin tension. Applied to the face, arm, or decollete, to lift and re-establish your natural youthful appearance. Results demonstrate 5-10 years younger appearance with daily use by decreasing the distance between the skin cells providing a lifting and tightening effect. (targets modulation between cells)

Pepti-Tone - Viktoria De Ann’s answer to the costly injected ‘toxin base’ treatments like Botox or Dysport, without the pain and/or potential complications. Relaxes the muscles in the areas of expression aging: Crow's Feet, between brows, forehead, etc.

Eye Serum -  Helps to brighten and firm the delicate skin of the eye area. The signs of aging (stress, puffiness, and dark circles) are reduced to improve the appearance of the skin. Acting as an antioxidant and optimizing hydration, green tea extract and soluble collagen are complimentary actives to the UET-3 peptide complex.

Rejuvenator - Rejuvenator series is fortified with a powerful restorative RNF-1 peptide; scientifically designed to initiate cellular responses of repair and regeneration, targeting growth layers of the skin. Rejuvenator is formulated in three strengths to accommodate various levels of skin health. Increases cell turnover to where it should be naturally & heals the skin.

Pepti-Hyaluronic - A natural component in our skin, hyaluronic acid improves or skin's moisture content and also strengthens our skin's barrier. A healthy barrier looks and feels softer, smoother, and plumper. As the first age management cosmeceutical formulated to reestablish the natural regeneration of hyaluronic acid within the skin, Pepti-Hyaluronic acts as a targeted signal to the cells to increase production of hyaluronic acid at the dermal layer to increase skin hydration for youthful skin balance.

Pepti-Pro-Col - Scientifically formulated to promote the repair, replacement and restructuring of collagen. Normally used in combination with Pepti-Lift. Works by stimulating collagen for proper skin structure. Supports lifted skin and natural fibril restructuring collagen that has been formed incorrectly (scar tissue) for healthier skin.

Pepti-Elastin - Elastin is the counterpart of collagen and forms a network similar to spandex in the skin. Collagen alone is fibrous, while the combination with elastin permits elasticity in all directions. Hydrated elastin also functions in combination with desmosomes to tighten the skin, and since it holds 1000x water, it moisturizes and protects the skin from environmental assaults and UV damage. Pepti-Elastin signals for improving elastin production in the skin; an important component of youthful skin retention. Greatly improves your own elastin in your skin and restores skin elastin to youthful levels. Improves skin tone, hydration, as well as surface texture and smoothness. Increases the skin's ability to heal & can assist in diminishing stretch marks.  

Pepti-Repair - Breaks down scar tissue (collagen) and repairs damaged skin cells. Formulated to signal programmed accelerated repair and restructuring of damaged skin; especially formulated for sun damaged or micro scarred skin. Messages for repair & reconstruction. Actively regenerates healthy skin & support a visibly healthier epidermis. Repair is a pro peptide that signals for the overall repair of the skin.

Pepti-Pad - (inducer) is the first anti-aging product formulated to re-establish the natural regeneration of the dermal cushion.  Early cushion loss and skin thinning is initially apparent on the backs of hands and upper lip, and with time and aging, on forearms, legs and face. pro peptide, signals to the dermal cells a direct message to initiate production of subcutaneous fat.- Restructures the fat pad in areas where there is loss of volume ie: under eyes, upper lip, nasal labial area

Pepti-Correct HP - Helps reduce dark spots and future discoloration, and moderate new melanin production by targeting pigmentation at its core, this lightweight serum is free from surface bleaching agents, hypochlorites, and hydroquinones, reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation without inflammation. Beginning approximately 6 weeks after initial application, one should notice a diminishment of central color, with a continual fading, progressing from the center and then to the edges of the blemish.

Pepti-Acne - A multiple blend of synergistic amino acid complexes to quiet quorum signaling of bacteria. The perfect complement to your skins natural biological defenses. Stops the p.acne bacteria from communicating with each other. When they can't communicate they can't proliferate and the body can naturall control them.

Pepti-Lash XL - Targets the visual signs of eyelash aging and improve the look of thin, sparse lashes and brows with the active PEPTI-lash-XL serum.  Active Oligo-peptide LSH-XL provides support, conditioning, and nutrients to help lashes & brows appear longer, fuller, thicker and more luxurious.  Studies show that clients saw improvement in the appearance of fullness and length of their lashes after 6 weeks of use. Unlike other lash and brow products, there is no evidence of a change in eye color, eyelid darkening, or irritation.

Age Defying Ingredients That Will Keep Them Guessing

There are many wonderful ingredients that address our aging concerns. In this blog post you'll learn about a few of my favorites. Keep in mind as you’re reading that there’s no miracle cure and no ‘one product’ that will be packed with all ofthese ingredients to turn back time. Each of these ingredients benefit the skin in unique ways and provide noticeable differences depending on the how they’re delivered to the skin. I’ve also included my favorite delivery systems/product recommendations per ingredient type, all available at Sacred Skincareapy.

B Vitamins

B vitamins provide an abundance of health benefits, both internally and externally. Essential for cell metabolism, B vitamins give us energy and support the nervous system and immune system. There are 8 separate B vitamins, each of which has a specific function, however they all work together to maintain health and vitality.  Water soluble, B vitamins aren’t retained by the body, so it’s of utmost importance to get the recommended amount in our food and supplementation, if necessary. In skin care products, B vitamins are especially desirable as an ingredient in moisturizers or serums, as they help damaged cells heal and regenerate quicker and increase the production of ceramides and fatty acids, two major components of the skin’s outer protective barrier. Two common and beneficial B vitamins in skin care are niacinamide (B3) and panthenol (B5). Niacinamide provides amazing benefits to our skin! It can help minimize pore size, correct an uneven skin tone, and also softens fine lines, wrinkles and restore dull skin.  Panthenol is a great anti-aging ingredient as it's a humectant, meaning it is moisture binding to keep skin hydrated and youthful. Look for niacinamide and panthenol on serums and moisturizers. Sacred Skincareapy Favorites: Viktoria DeAnn Rejuvenator

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

These gentle and effective acids derived from fruits, nuts or milk help smooth away fine lines, minimize surface sun damage, provide radiance and allow other age defying ingredients to penetrate the skin and work more effectively. AHAs like glycolic and lactic acid are common ingredients found in cleansers, exfoliants, and moisturizers. These acids are typically better for normal, dry or sun damaged skin because they help bind moisture, improve healthy collagen production and smooth uneven skin texture. Glycolic can also benefit dehydrated acne prone skin. BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acids) like salicylic tend to be better for oily skin and also works well to reduce redness associated with rosacea.

You probably know the saying “too much of a good thing…” – This couldn’t be more true as it pertains to AHAs and BHAs. It’s important not to overdo the exfoliation, as it can weaken the barrier of the skin and comes with a hitch: while AHAs can help alleviate the effects of photo-aging (that pesky sun damage that shows itself by way of fine lines, crows feet and discoloration) any treatment or product protocol containing AHAs should always be followed by proper SPF, since the purpose of these skin loving acids is to exfoliate dead skin cells, allowing fresh healthy cells to ‘surface.’ Without proper SPF protection, these new cells are susceptible to sun damage and sun sensitivity. Sacred Skincareapy Favorites: Viktoria DeAnn Lactic Collagen 5%, Skin Script Glycolic Cleanser with Antioxidants and Skin Script Glycolic & Retinol Pads.

Sacred Skin Tip: Always discuss with your skin care professional which exfoliating products are right for your skin and how often they should be used.. This helps insure you're optimizing benefits without increasing risks of over-exfoliation. 

Hyaluronic Acid

A naturally occuring substance in the body, hyaluronic acid regulates cell renewal, cushions our connective tissues, and is an important component in hydrating our skin and helping skin maintain elasticity. Not only does HA improve hydration in skin cells, it also stimulates collage production (half of the body’s hyaluronic acid is found in the collagen of the skin). HA also works as an antioxidant, fighting free radical damage. As we begin to age, our natural hyaluronic acid breaks down and isn’t replaced, making this moisture-loving molecule an important part of your age defying regimen. Applied topically, HA creates a moisture barrier making skin smooth and supple and effective in minimizing the appearances of fine lines. It’s also a wonderful rejuvenation treatment for the skin in the form of dermal fillers, available at medical spas. Since hyalronic acid already exists in the body naturally, it’s a safe alternative to non HA fillers.  Look for hyaluronic acid in serums, moisturizers, toners, and eye creams and in dermal fillers with licensed individuals. Sacred Skincareapy Favorites: Skin Script Pomegranate Antioxidant Cleanser, Ageless Skin Hydrating Serum, Cucumber Hydration Toner, Acai Berry Moisturizer and Sacred Skincareapy Lip Treatment.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Chances are, if you take supplements, or have ever browsed your local natural food market or vitamin shop, you’ve seen varying sized bottles labeled with this essential vitamin. in maintaining youthful skin, Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that can help build the foundation necessary for younger-looking skin. It works by protecting the elastic tissue and collagen that shape your skin. As you can probably expect, with each passing year our natural CoQ10 levels diminish, slowing down the skin’s ability to rejuvenate and protect itself from damage. To build levels of the coenzyme, many people find that taking a supplement in addition to using moisturizers or serums containing CoQ10 yields optimal results. There’s a bonus to taking a supplement, too — some researchers believe it can aid in preventing heart disease, managing diabetes and gum disease. Sacred Skincareapy Favorites: Skin Script Ageless Skin Moisturizer, Skin Script Peptide Restoration Moisturizer, Skin Script Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum and Sacred Skincareapy Lip Treatment.

Green Tea/Green Tea Leaf Extract (Camellia Sinsesis)

By now, most of us have heard about all the wonderful health benefits that come with drinking green tea regularly. It helps improve blood flow, lowers cholesterol, and makes us heart healthy. This amazing antioxidant rich plant is steeped (see what I did there?) with nutrients that recharge skin. It’s the polyphenols in green tea that provide healing medicinal properties that have an energizing and stimulating effect on aging skin. Especially beneficial under the eyes, green tea has a wonderful effect on brightening dark under eye circles. The antioxidant properties help aid in preventing and repairing the damage done by free radical oxidation, which breaks down skin cells, by reducing inflammation, building collagen, and reducing cell damage.

Sacred Skin Tip: Green tea is often listed as Camellia Sinensis or EGCG in skin care products. Look for it in cleansers, serums, and eye creams. Sacred Skincareapy favorites: Skin Script Green Tea Citrus Cleanser, Skin Script Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum, Viktoria DeAnn Eye Serum and Viktoria DeAnn Collagen Gel.
 

Vitamin C

One of my absolute favorite, tried and true skin care ingredients! I LOVE Vitamin C and use it every day, twice a day.. This amazingly powerful antioxidant protects skin from free radicals — those nasty environmental factors (pollution, sun, oxygen quality) that we can’t escape unless we stay locked away indoors. Vitamin C boosts collagen production for firmer skin, it reduces the appearance of sun damage, strengthens the barrier response of the skin, enhance skin’s repair process (great for reducing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from breakouts) and helps boost your skin’s natural defenses against the sun while allowing your sunscreen to work more effectively. Look for it in cleansers, facial cloths, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens. Sacred Skincareapy MUST HAVE: Skin Script Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum

Peptides

Another ingredient in my daily arsenal? PEPTIDES. With outstanding results in various clinical research, peptides are becoming increasingly popular as age management skin care ingredients. Peptides are short chains of amino acids; the building blocks of proteins. "Peptides allow the skin’s cellular function and skin renewal cycle to become optimized and renewed, which replaces the upper thick dead skin cells. Rejuvenation of the dermis helps to renew and smooth the skin’s surface. Renewal of the stratum corneum also helps reduce the appearance of uneven pigmentation and freckles, while healthy Collagen and Elastin promote firm, youthful skin." - Viktoria DeAnn

They signal the skin to create collagen, which is essential for firm, healthy skin. When included in anti-aging treatments, peptides are believed to stimulate the production of collagen. Sacred Skincareapy Favorites: Viktoria DeAnn Lift Kit, Viktoria DeAnn Pepti-ProCol, Viktoria DeAnn Pepti-Repair, Viktoria DeAnn PeptiPad, Viktoria DeAnn PeptiHyaluronic, Skin Script Peptide Restoration Moisturizer, Skin Script Tri-Peptide Eye Cream, Skin Script Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum, Sacred Skincareapy Lip Treatment & Vital Proteins Collagen Peptide daily supplement.

Retinol

Many refer to topical vitamin A as the Holy Grail of skin care ingredients. It's true that no other ingredient has been studied and tested more. Retinol works by enhancing and stimulating cellular turnover and increasing collagen production for smoother and younger-looking skin. In the right formulation it helps reduce existing signs of aging, reduces acne, exfoliates skin, strengthens aging skin, and helps reverse sun damage.

Just be aware that adding retinol to your skin care regimen oftens comes with little annoyances in the beginning and certain formulations (like the cream Retin-A) contain pore clogging ingredients, which can be counterproductive. Redness, dryness, and even skin flaking are normal side effects when your skin is adapting to retinol. For the first couple of weeks it’s a good idea to use retinol sparingly. Try easing into it by applying it every third evening; once absorbed, follow with a moisturizer containing ceramides and vitamin B3 (niacinamide) as these help strengthen the skin barrier allowing for better absorption with little or no irritation. Retinol and its derivatives labeling in order of potency: retinol, retinyl palmitate, and HPR (Hydroxypinnacolone Retinoate) Sacred Skincareapy picks: Skin Script 2% Retinol Scrub, Skin Script Glycolic & Retinol Pads, and Face Reality Vitamin A Corrective Serum.

Sacred Skin Tip: Packaging, packaging, packaging! Don’t buy retinol creams in twist-lid or see through jars as air and light exposure degrade effectiveness. Look for products in opaque containers (preferably with a pump) or an aluminum tube.

And of course, no list for Age Management would be complete without —

Sunscreen

If you use only ONE product to keep your skin from prematurely aging, sagging, accumulating blotchiness or brown spots – USE SUNSCREEN. It’s a no-brainer that forgoing sun protection can result in uncomfortable sunburns and worse case scenario, skin cancers. Look for a blog entry dedicated to sunscreens soon, since the focus of our topic today is ingredients for youthful, vibrant, glowing, smooth, supple skin.

Make no mistake, though, ladies and gentle readers, tanned skin makes you look older. It doesn’t make you look younger, or bronzed, or golden. It AGES you. By at least 5, and often TEN years. Tanned skin IS damaged skin. It is much easier to take preventive measures vs corrective and the best way to do this is to make SPF your most important product pick.

Using a broad spectrum sunscreen (I always prefer a zinc based when possible) will protect you from both harmful UVA & UVB rays. Even better, look for one containing antioxidants because they boost effectiveness. And DON’T SKIMP. A teaspoon is the right amount for your face. If you’re outside, it’s important to reapply every two hours. I make a point of making sure a variety of sun protection is available for my clients' needs and am excited to be launching my Sacred Skincareapy SPF very soon. (Stay tuned!) Until then my Sacred Skincareapy SPF picks are: Brush on Block Mineral SPF, Face Reality Daily SPF, and Skin Script Sheer Protection SPF 30.

Did your favorite age defying ingredient make my list? Let me know in the comments section below.

Common household ingredients that should stay in your kitchen and off your face.

Originally Published 2.26.2016 sacredskincareapy on wordpress

I find myself at a quandary often as a ‘community active’ professional skin care therapist. In an ever-evolving field, it’s important for me to keep abreast of trends, new ideas, changes, etc — and so not only am I active in various professional social media forums surrounding this wonderful world of beauty and skin care, I also keep current with Instagram, Twitter, and of course, our beloved Pinterest, which has seemingly taken the place of traditional print media. I mean, why subscribe to a magazine when everything you’re looking for is right there? And even better, it can be “pinned” and saved for a rainy day. Without the clutter.

The biggest gripe (and gasp) I have is how accessible bad information has become and with so much instant information at our disposal, how this bad information often spreads like an uncontrollable wildfire.

I bring this up, (and felt compelled to blog about it) because more and more I am meeting with first-time skin care clients with highly sensitized, sometimes painful, and almost always inflamed skin.

I’m so happy they are turning to me for help, but does it ever hurt my heart when I learn of all the DIY skincare they’ve been using in place of formulated products! And they’ve been doing so largely because of how much fear marketing has invaded our laptops and smart phone screens, as well as how often every day people with zero background in skin histology, ingredient knowledge, chemistry, etc are spouting off recipes or advice for whatever reason. Attention? I don’t know. What I DO know is it needs to stop. For the love of all things healthy skin!

So let’s get to it, shall we? Here are the top offenders and why you shouldn’t use them on your face.

Baking soda. This one always gets me. pH balance is extremely important to the integrity and health of your skin. A healthy skin pH is between4.5-5.5, where as baking soda has a pH of 9.

Using ingredients that are too alkaline disrupts and damages the skin’s natural barrier, which is important in protecting the integrity of the skin and keeping you healthy. Because it’s so alkaline, using baking soda on the face results in the skin’s inability to retain moisture, stripping the barrier and compromising your skin’s ability to protect itself for environmental factors, including bacteria.

Know what else has a pH like baking soda? BORAX.

Keep the baking soda in the fridge and off your face. Please.

Citrus & Citrus Oils.

A common ingredient in DIY skincare recipes, especially those intended to “lighten” pigmentation irregularities — lemons and lemon juice are way on the other side of the pH scale with a pH of 2. This means they’re extremely acidic.

Applying lemon or other citrus oils directly to your skin irritates and disrupts the acid mantle. The oils in citrus fruits are also photo-toxic, which means if you concoct a facial oil with any citrus essential oils, any sun exposure after can exacerbate irritation to the point of getting chemical burns, because they create a chemically induced skin irritation.

Mind you, products containing citrus or citrus oils are formulated with other ingredients to prevent photo-sensitivity.

The same does not apply when you rub a lemon on your face.

Coconut Oil.  Fatty acids are part of our skin’s natural composition, along with ceramides and cholesterol. As part of a formulation in products for dry skin, coconut oil can be great. Though oily skin types and those prone to acne need to beware – coconut oil won’t just break you out. It will present extremely painful, cystic acne that can make it challenging to clear and restore skin to optimal health.

Coconut oil is HIGHLY COMEDOGENIC. Comedogenicity Scales rate a substance’s ability to clog pores. Coconut oil is a 4 out of 5.

Even formulated products can cause issue for some consumers. Using that jar you picked up at Trader Joe’s? You can pretty much guarantee your skin is going to be compromised.

So you might be wondering, what about other oils then? 

I have a great answer for you –if it’s in your kitchen pantry, leave it there.

If it’s already formulated for SKIN then it’s probably ok, but it’s still a wise idea to ask your esthetician if it will benefit you or not.

And if you use an oil, be sure to follow it with a ceramide-rich moisturizer, otherwise skin will react by creating a low level inflammation, which is not what you want. Inflammation cooks your collagen and speeds up the aging process.

I don’t know about you but I am NOT trying to speed up the aging in my skin.

Rubbing Alcohol. I remember busting my boyfriend with this one when we first started dating. Rubbing alcohol is often used as a topical antiseptic and/or to sterilize wounds to avoid infection.

Oh and it’s also used to clean the house.

While it might feel “refreshing” at first and create a little tingling sensation that makes you feel like it’s working, the truth is — rubbing alcohol is one of the most drying, damaging ingredients you can put on your face.

It dissolves the DNA of both bacteria and human skin cells, leading to dryness and buildup of dead skin cells, thickening the epidermis like a well-worn baseball mitt. Is that the look you’re going for? I didn’t think so. It wasn’t my boyfriend’s look, either and he stopped immediately after learning just how bad it is.

Sugar. DIY Face Scrub? Just say NO. The uneven, jagged edges of sugar crystals will tear up your face so much you might as well toss yourself through a plate glass window. No, really (but don’t do that). Sugar disrupts the lipid barrier and creates microscopic tears in the skin. You might not see them but the dryness and flaking skin to follow are sure signs of what has happened. This irritation takes even longer for skin to heal. It’s just not worth it.

In closing —

Inflammation and irritation are a nightmare for your skin. Using any of these products to create your own DIY skin care is an assault on your skin. Whether you see it or not, irritation creates inflammation. Inflammatory chemicals trigger an increase in oil production to try and right the wrongs created on the surface of the skin. This irritation leads to a breakdown of your skin’s natural repair process, it breaks down your collagen which speeds of the aging process, and it weakens the skin’s surface, leaving it susceptible to infection and acne. Yikes!

So if you feel like using lemons, make a tart.

Coconut oil? Saute some veggies.

Sugar? Bake a cake… I’ll even send you my address.

Just keep this junk off your face.

The Connection Between Dairy and Hormonal Breakouts

Now more than ever we’re realizing the impact on our health by the foods we use to fuel and fill our bodies. We’re learning the importance of foregoing prepackaged, preservative-dense foods and choosing low-glycemic, vitamin, mineral & protein rich options that make us feel great from the inside out.

When it pertains to acne, it’s a no-brainer that the foods we eat are often part of the equation that results in blemishes in the skin. Think about it. The foods we eat affect so many of our body systems and organs; the skin is the largest organ of the body — what we put in, must come out and when are bodies are breaking down foods through digestion (70% of your body’s immune system is in your intestinal tract), occasional (or frequent) disagreements reveal themselves in our skin.

Got Milk?

Cystic breakouts (those hard, painful, underground blemishes that linger for weeks) on the chin, jaw line and neck area are often a sign that your dairy intake is more than your body can handle.

The reason this often painful skin purging happens is a result of the pregnancy hormones in dairy cows.

Dairy cows are usually doing two things for the span of their lives: birthing calves and milking.

Pregnant dairy cows are naturally producing hormones. Just like humans, these hormones produce at higher levels during ovulation and pregnancy. Most women are familiar with PMS and the causes (hormones) so now imagine for a minute if you were in a constant state of pregnancy and giving birth. Yikes, right?

With this higher state of hormones, it makes sense that dairy consumption can disrupt our own hormones.

All About Androgens

Androgens are male hormones that are made by the testes in males and by the adrenal gland in females. Androgens are endocrine hormones. Major endocrine glands include the pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid, hypothalymus, gastrointestinal tract and adrenal glands. These hormones flow directly into the bloodstream.

Androgens act as a stimulant for sebaceous glands (oil glands in the skin) causing them to produce oil. So it makes sense that too many androgens cause overstimulation of the oil glands, leading to acne breakouts.

The DHT in milk is an androgen hormone that wrecks havoc on skin oil glands by causing an overproduction of oil.

Your skin acts as an excretory system to flush what your body doesn’t agree with. In general, dairy products can be extremely difficult to digest (that wine & cheese night? Sounds awesome until constipation sets in) and the “flushing” can result in skin purging in the form of cystic blemishes in the lower area of the face.

Sacred Skin Tip: The best way to determine if your acne cysts are directly related to dairy intake is to completely cut dairy out of your diet for 30-40 days.

Cutting out dairy is a great way to help pinpoint a cause of acne. If you don’t develop any new cystic blemishes in the first few weeks then you’ve likely discovered the culprit. I always recommend 30-40 days to help your skin cycle through possible new breakouts and heal from existing breakouts.

But before you bid frozen yogurt adieu and toss the penne with cream sauce in the trash, this doesn’t mean that you can’t eat any dairy anymore – ever.

The best gauge is to slowly introduce dairy back into your diet and keep a daily food journal as you do so. If you start breaking out again you’ll have an idea of your body’s tolerance level.

For some, giving up dairy completely and abruptly can seem challenging. We don’t even think about the many foods that contain dairy. Along with the obvious milk, cheese and yogurt, there’s also cream, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, many sweets like cookies and cake that contain milk, milk chocolate, pastas, pizza, cereals, as well as protein powders & supplements that contain whey and casein.

Luckily, we live in a time where dairy substitutions are a lot easier to find in local and national chain-typel markets. Almond, rice, and hemp milk are all alternatives for milk. There are lots of soy options available, though I caution against too much soy consumption as soy can sometimes cause hormonal disturbances, also, due to isoflavones (plant estrogens). Too much estrogen tips the balance towards what again? Yep, androgens. 

Keep in mind there are several factors to take into consideration when you’re experiencing acne and diet is just one.  Genetics, stress, certain medications, and products are also factors.

Have you eliminated dairy and noticed a change in your skin?