The relationship between dairy products and acne seems very strong for those who have been dealing with acne first-hand. The dermatology field has the set opinion that there is no correlation between acne and diet. For those of us who are experiencing this and experimenting with one food product at a time, we have realized there is indeed much evidence to indicate the relationship between dairy and clear skin. There are many third-world countries especially which are acne-free, having little or no intake of junk food and pasteurized dairy products that we tend to overly consume in developed countries. This make it difficult to listen to dermatologists who won’t profit by backing up the seemingly evident diet theory. Of course there are excellent dermatologists around who will stop and consider the diet relationship, having seen with their own eyes or from experience with many clients, that there is too much evidence to automatically refute.

Eliminating dairy includes almost every dairy food imaginable, with the exception of yogurt, which I suggest experimenting with. Yogurt, the good quality kind with live bacterial culture, has so many benefits, that it may be worthwhile to keep it in your diet. This recommendation may not be good for you however. Complete dairy avoidance may be best for you.

Soy products can be a replacement for those dairy products, but organic soy is the only really healthy kind to buy when possible. This helps you avoid the many chemicals and hormones found in regular manufactured soy products.

Try avoiding dairy products for six months, which should help prevent pores from having new “plugs” and help you in your goal of clear skin.

In your teens and early twenties, eliminate the dairy where and when possible. If you still desire it later, gradually add it in slowly, but try not eating Ben and Jerry’s every day, as ice cream is unfortunately not so great for the skin, especially when consumed on a regular basis. There are many options to replace ice cream in the stores, and you may keep the weight down in the process.

People fret about having enough calcium when they aren’t consuming dairy products, but there are many countries that do not have the daily quotia of dairy, are not force-fed it daily, and still have excellent bones and overall healthy body structure. Your diet should include foods rich in calcium, vitamin D, and remember to avoid cola and other caffeine drinks that can leach the calcium from the body. You will need add extra calcium if you decide to overindulge in those products at times.

Calcium-rich foods: salmon, but I would recommend avoiding this one, as it seems to cause major breakouts in people. Tofu, (made from soybean curd), broccoli, turnip greens, kale, cornbread, eggs, calcium-fortified juices. You should be getting 1000 mg per day of calcium, so look up what foods are high in calcium and what you are getting from each one. Broccoli has 160 ” 180 mg per cup, tofu has 145 mg per 4 ounces, kale has 90 ” 100 mg per half cup, one medium egg has 55 mg, calcium fortified juices vary but can start at 165 mg for a half cup and regular orange juice has 52 mg for a half cup. White beans 120 mg per cup, chickpeas 58 mg per cup, instant oats ” one packet is 165 mg., roasted almonds cup is 93 mg., plain low-fat yogurt has 415 mg for one cup. So this is not impossible or too difficult to do. Acne skin care treatments will not be topical only. It will have to include what we ingest. Our skin mirrors this well unfortunately.

You may have fabulous skin and be a diligent dairy consumer. Lucky for you, and enjoy your Ben and Jerry’s for all of us who can’t.