Sudden cystic acne breakouts brought my acting career to a screeching halt, destroyed my self-confidence, and turned me into a hermit. I consulted with dermatologists and other experts, tried a variety of medicines and treatments, but nothing worked for long. My acne always came back with a vengeance. What these disparate cultures had in common were low-fat, unprocessed, starch-based, plant-centered diets.1 The research was very intriguing, so I decided to switch up my game. What did I have to lose? Within three days of my new regime, I had no new breakouts. In six weeks, my acne had receded dramatically, and my skin was actually clearing. Clearing my skin and recovering my self-esteem meant I could get my life back, and this diet allowed me to take control. Here’s exactly what I ate to get rid of my severe acne: But even though I might eat rice and beans each day, there’s still variety. I vary the type of beans cooked—one day might be lentils, another black or pinto beans, cannellini or limas. Of course, there are also many different types of rice—basmati, jasmine, long grain, and short grain. Even when you are eating the “same thing,” it’s still different. I found that keeping the base the same made it easier to cook everything, prevented decision fatigue, and increased the chances of success. After my skin had been clear for a while, it seemed like I was onto something, so I wrote my book, The Clear Skin Diet with my sister to help other people suffering in the same way. I would have never thought that a devastating skin breakout would lead to being able to help people also suffering with debilitating acne. What looked like a curse actually ended up being a blessing. For more information on how to eat for clear skin, check out our full list of the biggest acne-causing factors.
