Dear Dr. Cutler,

I am a woman in my 60s and for several months I’ve been having skin problems that resemble acne. Although my dermatologist has told me that my diet is not impacting my skin’s health, I wanted to get your opinion on the matter. Could the foods I eat have anything to do with my acne-like skin condition?

—Loretta Y.

Dear Loretta,

It’s truly ridiculous how many doctors, especially dermatologists, preach tirelessly about how food has absolutely nothing to do with the health of your skin. But that is the farthest thing from the truth, and I’d like to give you an example from my own personal life.

My daughter was concerned about her skin breakouts and underwent microdermabrasion—an intense dermatology procedure. She endured tremendous pain but only saw a limited improvement in her skin’s health. What’s more, she was told she’d have to endure two more of the same painful procedures. However, she decided instead to take control and change her diet.

Over a period of six months, my daughter consumed more than 95 percent nutrient-rich whole foods—mostly in their raw form—and has almost completely cleared up her skin—naturally and painlessly. As an extra bonus, she’s found that her energy has increased dramatically. Plus, she’s lost more than 15 pounds… and she’s still losing.

By removing unhealthy foods from her diet, my daughter may have eliminated a food allergy. Any food allergy can contribute to skin reactions like acne. Why don’t more dermatologists know this? They aren’t trained to recognize the role of good nutrition in powerful, lasting health.

All the best!
Michael Cutler, M.D.