The Acne Prescription: The Perricone Program for Clear and Healthy Skin at Every Age Book

I did not choose to try the "prescription" completely because my skin issues are not severe enough to outweigh other factors and concerns. Some of the foods on his "bad list" happen to be some of the more healthy and convenient foods my young children enjoy (e.g. bananas, mangoes, carrots). Some of the "good foods" upset my stomach, some are heavily pesticide laden in the winter (e.g. berries), and the processed meats and fish he seems to condone are often high in sodium and preservatives. The chapter on supplements was totally overwhelming-- do I really need THAT many vitamins? Then I noticed in the back of the book that Dr. Perricone sells his own custom multivitamin. Hmmm.. The approach to both supplements and topicals seems to be "these are all the things that have ever helped someone, so use them all and something is bound to help". I would rather figure out a couple small changes to try and then go from there. Then again, that approach might be hard to get from a do-it-yourself book without a doctor's ongoing guidance.

On the positive side, much of the advice is corroborated by current prevailing health wisdom (antioxidants, omega 3s, yoga). I decided to try some of the general principles in moderation: I cut way back on carbs, increased protein and water and focused heavily on the "good" foods. I also started an alpha lipoic acid supplement. I did in fact see improvement in my skin. I also found it difficult to maintain my energy level through the day. I did a little research and found out that many people feel weak and tired when changing to a low-carb diet. Whether this is merely an adjustment period or a permanent problem is controversial, but it seems like something the author should have addressed.

So overall I would say this is definitely worth reading, but as with any "miracle cure" it must be taken with a grain of salt and considered in context with your own body, lifestyle, and priorities as well as all the other information sources out there.