I’m mad. Like, really f*cking mad. Ok, that’s a lie, I don’t really get mad, I just get sad. So, I’m really f*cking sad. My face was finally getting better, finally looking like something was changing and my face was starting to play nice, but NO. No, no,no. It ain’t playin’ nice no mo’. My face has freaked out. Like OMG Ihateyousomuchjuli. Iwantyoutostaysingleforever. Andidefinitelydontwantanyonetofindyouattractive. Ever.
You, my face, are a straight up b*tch.
Ugh, I’m going to get so many emails about my dirty mouth now. I’ll save you the time…please don’t send them.
Anywho, I’m having one of those days of feeling absolutely hopeless. I don’t know what to do. I clean up my diet and it gets a little bit better, then it goes back to normal. I change up my face cleansing routine and it gets a little better, then goes back to normal. I get off birth control, I stay on birth control. I take fish oil, I don’t take fish oil. I eat more fat, I eat less fat. I don’t eat dark chocolate, I do eat dark chocolate. I get facials, I don’t get facials. You get what I’m throwin’ out? I try everything, but in the end my face has full control, and I am left staring in the mirror with tears in my eyes, choking back the egg of frustration that sits in my throat.
Just today, I started taking the probiotic saccharomyce boulardii which was recommended by Liz of Cave Girl Eats. I also am getting cod liver oil soon to start trying that as well. And making sure all sugar and nuts are cut from my diet. It’s just so annoying that my mind has to be filled with thoughts of how ugly I am or how I wish I could improve my skin. That’s dumb. It should be filled with cookbook thoughts, and Christmas gift thoughts, and food thoughts. But no, the face has won.
So here’s my question out of utter frustration and anguish…do I try acutane? Do I face the fact that I may be incredibly depressed, moody, and upset for months because of the drug? Do I face the fact that I may have to take the drug even though my face and other body parts will literally dry up and peel off? Do I face the fact that it may not even work? I don’t know what to do, but I’m obviously upset enough to blab all about it and want some of your advice. So, advise me.
On a more positive note, you NEED to try these muffins. They are DELICIOUS.
Morning Glory Muffins (nut free option)
- Yield: 9 1x
Ingredients
- 1 apple, peeled and cored, shredded
- 1 large carrot, peeled
- 1/2 cup sunflower seed butter
- 1 cup pepitas
- 3 eggs, whisked
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped (optional for nut free version)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Now add your pepitas to a small saucepan over medium heat with a tablespoon of fat. I used coconut oil.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes, moving around lots so they don’t burn and so they cook on all sides.
- While your pepitas are roasting, add your apple and carrot to your food processor with the shredding attachment. If you don’t have a food processor, use a grater to shred your apple and carrot.
- Add your apple and carrot to a bowl along with your sunflower seed butter and rinse out your food processor bowl.
- Then add your roasted pepitas to the food processor and puree until you get a flour/meal.
- Then add your pepita flour, eggs, coconut oil, honey, raisins, pecans, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Mix well.
- Pour your batter into 9 FULL muffin liners in your muffin tin. I lined my muffins tin with silicone muffin liners but paper would do just fine.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until cooked through.
- Let cool slightly, but eat warm, because they are the best that way.
______________
More Nut Free Muffins:
Apple Cinnamon Muffins (nut free)
Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins (nut free)
______________
Click Here To Get All My PaleOMG Recipes Into Your Meal Planner With Real Plans!
I may be compensated through my affiliate links in this post, but all opinions are my own. This compensation helps with expenses to keep this blog up and running!
PLEASE don’t take Accutane! I have never, ever commented on anything on the internet but I feel like I can really relate to your post. I have struggled with acne my whole adult life, I’m now 34. I have tried absolutely everything. Accutane did NOT work. It cleared my skin a little and only for awhile, the side effects were not worth it to me. Proactive worked wonders for me for about 3 months then my face went back to the same old game. Also you haven’t mentioned it but in case someone recommends it…laser IPL treatment, tried it, it was an absolute nightmare. Awful, awful.
My humble advice & current regimen is Dr Bronners peppermint soap, witch hazel toner, and an all natural fresh moisturizer (I use a Lush product.) Get tested for any random allergies you may have. I found, on my own, that when I avoid any cleanser with sulfates my skin improves dramatically. This includes face soap, body cleanser, shampoo & conditioner , as well as laundry detergent. I made all of these changes about a year ago and I am still slowly seeing progress. That was probably the biggest lesson for me. It takes FOREVER! My skin still isn’t perfect but I am finally starting to feel in control.
Best wishes to you. I feel like I know exactly what you’re going through. It can be very difficult at times, especially if you’re the kind of person who is super confident in every other aspect of your life.
You KNOW I feel you on this. SO SO MUCH.
I have lots to say on the topic — I have done Accutane myself and there were benefits and drawbacks — of course I did it long before I was ever Paleo, so my opinions about what were benefits and what were drawbacks are probably a lot different than they were back then. Anyway, lots of people are giving you EXCLAMATORY ADVICE!! So I won’t weigh in like that, but if you ever want to email me, I’m all ears (eyes???) to chat about it. I’ll give you some real deal opinions. 🙂
You are SOOO pretty Juli! Not to mention hilarious and a paleo recipe genius. I can’t recommend anything for your acne, but I CAN guarantee you that you will not be single forever, nor will no-one ever find you attractive just because of your skin. You can hold me to that 😉 If all of your readers love you, you should definitely love yourself too 🙂
(P.S thanks for another amazing recipe)
Sorry to hear that you are struggling. I can relate to your frustration.
I would echo Bo’s response above. My own experimenting has confirmed a lot of what she is outlining regarding nuts and sugars. I would also add that I notice overdoing my exercise routine tends to create flareups. I don’t have scientific back up but my guess is that is has to to with high levels of cortisol in the system that lead to adrenal fatigue and other subsequent hormonal imbalances as a result of that fatigue. Practicing relaxation techniques and breath meditation has helped me with that as well.
I know that it’s a pricey solution, but if you haven’t tried it already, washing my face once a day with the Clarasonic Mia skin brush totally changed my life and the quality of my skin. It took me awhile to find the right kind face wash to go with it (the one that they sell didn’t work all that well in my opinion) but I landed with a line of products called DDF (doctor’s dermatologic formula) that really works well and has options for a variety of skin types.
Like some of the others said above, I would exhaust all possible holistic resources before trying accutane. That sh*t is serious.
Best of luck to you as you continue to try and figure our your personal recipe for skin health.
Before my wedding I went to a top dermatologist in Chicago. Like so “top” that most of her patients were famous people like Michael Jordan. Not that that matters….but since she was so famous of a doctor, I listened. She told me not to put anything on my face except for luke warm water. So since then, I splash my face with luke warm water and gently massage with a clean wash cloth if needed. And it cost me lots of money to be told that!!!
Think like a paleo. How did they eat 100’s of years ago? You eat like that and like it, right? Now move that thought process to your face. How did our an-sisters care for their face 100’s of years ago? They didn’t have any chemicals, toners, lotions, etc. They just used water. And they also took Cod Liver Oil. Which is what I also started taking!
Email Maria Emmerich @ http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/p/contact.html.
She may have answers for you. Good luck.
Just remembered another weapon in the fight against acne – oil pulling with coconut oil – just Google oil pulling to find out more.
Gum disease and bacteria getting into your bloodstream via your gums could be a cause of acne, especially around your mouth. Oil pulling with coconut oil will get rid of the bacteria.
I agree also with Angela – only use plain water to wash your face.
Another side effect of accutane that I have been left with is extremely sensitive skin that has an allergic reaction to everything.
I see a lot of ladies have given you a thought on accutane, you may appreciate the thoughts of a guy (oh no, Y chromosome!) who was on accutane. As you already know from the posts and research, you’ll first have to be approved by a dermatologist to even be able to take the stuff. Usually they’re good at determining whether or not you need to be on the stuff, if they say yes, then I say take the plunge.
You’ll have to take blood tests, and you will ANNIHILATE all your Chapstick and skin moisturizing products, GUARANTEED! Eye drops will also be your friend. Considering you live in an area that snows, you will want to moisturize your face so as to not crack and bleed around your nose, mouth.
I took it when I was 16, so I don’t know if I was already over emotional, but I know the medicine couldn’t have helped. It is pretty rough on the body, and does take a toll those 6 months you are on it, BUT (big but, huuuuugggeeee BUTTTT) the results have been worth it to me.
I am almost willing to bet my first borns life that your acne isn’t as bad as mine used to be. Thankfully accutane helped me out. I get the occasional zit here and there, but it’s not terrible, and i’d say that is pretty great considering it’s been YEARS since I was on the stuff.
If you do get on the stuff, just be sure to stop immediately if you start feeling anything weird internally.
Good luck!
Girl! i want to say i love your blog and love how funny you are. I hate you have to suffer with acne. i tell people i must sound like an info-merical but, i had bad acne that HURT! and i used to hate life. i thought i had tried everything too until Proactiv. im being for-reals. this junk WORKS. like crazy works. never going back, and its only 20 bucks a month. for care free, eat what you want (paleo of course), no make up wearing skin, please give it a try 🙂
Others have already said it. The number 1 cure for you will be to lower that stress. Our bodies hate it, and yours reacts by breaking out it seems. Then, you stress more.
I would also suggest you find a consistent approach and stick with it long term and avoid shot-gunning whatever someone else said worked for him or her. Give your body time to adjust to the good things you are doing for it before throwing the next “solution” at it and confusing it more. My opinion…