Hello Keto, Adios Accutane

[Delizco]

Alright I'm convinced! Day one of my Keto diet. I have struggled with acne for ten years and spent thousands of dollars on the best skin care products and treatments. Nothing has EVER helped. So I decided it was time to try Accutane.a very strong drug that basically stops your body from producing oil. Unfortunately I don't have health insurance so I had to order it from over seas. Although it saved me potentially thousands of dollars, I was a little hesitant to not be supervised by a doctor. The drug is so risky, that if I had gone through a doctor I would have to get blood work every two weeks, provide proof I was on two types of birth control, participate in a program and basically sign my life away. But I was willing to take the risks. The benefits would outweigh the risks. Well, I have to say it has worked wonders for me and my self esteem. However, I can no longer afford it plus is causes me extreme joint pain to the point that I can barely walk for the first hour after I wake up and i honestly dont know if it has caused any internal damage, especially to my liver. This is why I have decided to change my diet. Radically. I'm a 23yr old college student and definitely eat like one. Thank God I have a wicked fast metabolism. Carbs are my life,I was raised in a big Italian family so .....you can imagine. Bread, pasta of every kind, rice, potatoes ...and CHEESECAKE.
Anyway, I've really decided to commit myself to this diet after much research, and not just to help my complection but to experience the overall benefits to my health. I wanted to post this to document and inform of a lifestyle change and to encourage or inspire others struggling with similar issues and to stress that radical drugs may not always be the answer. I'd appreciate any advice on what to expect when starting a Keto diet, experiences with Keto and or acne or just general info. Thanks everyone! I'll keep posted on progress ;D
Danielle

 

[Gaby]

Hello Danielle!

Yeah, I've heard of people throwing up blood after accutane. It is one heck of a drug. There are several supplements which will help you transition easier into a ketogenic diet. Depending on the issues, you might need more or less supplements. I think these ones will be particularly helpful for detox and transitioning purposes:

http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,35363.0.html

http://www.sott.net/article/229352-Tips-Tricks-for-Starting-or-Restarting-Low-Carb-Pt-I

http://www.sott.net/article/230561-Tips-tricks-for-starting-or-restarting-low-carb-Pt-II

http://www.sott.net/article/281996-Acid-Reflux-A-malady-of-those-who-eat-mainly-carbs

http://www.sott.net/article/241808-Milk-Thistle-Boosting-Your-Liver-Function-The-Natural-Way

 

[Chad]

Hi Delizco :)

I was put on 'Roaccutane' (same thing i expect, maybe UK brand) at 16, after a few years with very bad skin from a young age - i have little doubt now this was due to the terrible diet in our house; mainly carbs (sugar) + stress ;) And i would advise that any of these will throw your body our of balance and you will produce excess sebum. Apparently certain genetics - white western and indigenous American - are very susceptible to carbs and their effects (according to Nora Gedgaudas from PBPM).

Roaccutane also did wonders for me, though i had a few experiences shedding skin like a snake and extremely dry eyes! I was probably only on it for a year if that. If i knew now what i did then........! I also had a flatmate who went on it after years of problems at 26. she lived on carbs....

From there i had relatively reliable skin, prone to breakouts, but nothing - nothing - like before. Because of my experiences. and myself generally, i was always paying close attention to skin care and experimenting with different products. So i have been experimenting with essential oils for treatment and oils in general and, i believe, this is the most optimal for regulating sebum production.

Key is: Cleanse and moisturize. Without the added moisture, to my knowledge and from experience, your skin will detect this and produce as much sebum to protect the skin as it can.

initially, and i have read elsewhere, you need to do a few 'rounds' with cleansing your skin, and deeply moisturising it. Apparently acne prone skin is one of the most sensitive and most slow to regenerate (even though all that oil feels like it's busy), so you need to have a few months of telling it that you're sorting it out. See below for my suggestions.

The odd spot:
Tea tree oil directly to the area, with a Q-tip.

Weekly exfoliation:
i have found bicarbonate of soda, mixed into a paste - can all be 'made' in palm of hand as needed - gently massaged all over the face to neutralise the dirt and as an exfoliating treatment (to slough off the dead skin cells) - you can add a (one) drop of tea tree, or lavender - lavender soothes inflammation and aids healing and cleanses. I believe Dermatoligica does a 'skin powder' (which is where i got the idea! ;) )but i'm not sure of it's formulation, and why waste the money?? If you are gentle, the bicarb shouldn't give you any problems. You can add a pea sized amount to a sink of warm water (maybe 1 drop Tea tree onto the powder so dissipates onto the surface of the water) and use that as a very gentle cleanse for every day.

Moisturiser: For me, this was the trickiest! No matter what, after application of any store bought version i would shine like a star... Now i use olive oil (good quality in UV proof bottle, the stuff i put on my salad!)l on my skin and it works better than anything i have ever tried. However i am now older (30), i follow the diet and i have given my skin time to balance. For younger skin, I would advise hemp oil may be the best. It is light, absorbs easily, contains many good fats and things to tell your skin that it has a protective barrier - thanks! - so it doesn't need to go haywire and produce it by the bucket load.

If you just put a few drops onto lightly wet hands, rub together, and massage in. The key here is to have a mixture of oil and water on your palms, mix briefly by rubbing, and apply. The water makes it go further and is very important so that when it dries, it isn't like a blob of oil drying. It should almost emulsify on your skin, and melt in. You should find after a few minutes, less if your warm, it will have absorbed and you skin feels as though you just left the shower. In theory this should also provide some 'barrier' and it will also tell your skin, by being absorbed, to calm down. I think the process is similar to how people use 'baby oil' (petroleum) but for some reason when explaining people misunderstand and find it 'very strange' to be putting 'oil' on their face. Well, tell that to the Romans!

The other tip is: initially, you need to thoroughly cleanse, but then thoroughly moisturize AND massage the face with the oil - including and especially the 'problem' areas. As this process is bringing blood to the surface (to take away the toxins) and massaging the oils in, tells those cells to slow down production. It took me some time to adjust to the idea of rubbing oil on my nose (blackheads :( ) but when i do this regularly i can visibly see they are lessened. It does go against the idea of 'ripping them out'( or 'drying them with harsh alcohols) but when has conventional wisdom ever been right? ;P

Once you have the hang of your moisturizer, i personally like to finish it off by dropping either Tea tree (if i feel i need to 'refresh' my skin) or lavender (if i've been out in the sun for example) onto my still damp palms and massage into my still damp face. Tea tree oil can smell sterile but lavender is natures own (non toxic) fragrance ;)

i have experimented with many other oils but found i only need: Bi carb, Hemp/Olive oil (almond in winter) plus tea tree and lavender. I use coconut oil in my hair but have read it is the most comodegenic (blocks pores) of all, so i would advise against that. I accept many 'organic' companies have great natural formulations but as with many problems, simple - with least chance for reaction - is best.

hope this helps somewhat and good luck with the diet

 

[Carl]

Alright I'm convinced! Day one of my Keto diet. I have struggled with acne for ten years and spent thousands of dollars on the best skin care products and treatments. Nothing has EVER helped. So I decided it was time to try Accutane.a very strong drug that basically stops your body from producing oil. Unfortunately I don't have health insurance so I had to order it from over seas. Although it saved me potentially thousands of dollars, I was a little hesitant to not be supervised by a doctor. The drug is so risky, that if I had gone through a doctor I would have to get blood work every two weeks, provide proof I was on two types of birth control, participate in a program and basically sign my life away. But I was willing to take the risks. The benefits would outweigh the risks. Well, I have to say it has worked wonders for me and my self esteem. However, I can no longer afford it plus is causes me extreme joint pain to the point that I can barely walk for the first hour after I wake up and i honestly dont know if it has caused any internal damage, especially to my liver. This is why I have decided to change my diet. Radically. I'm a 23yr old college student and definitely eat like one. Thank God I have a wicked fast metabolism. Carbs are my life,I was raised in a big Italian family so .....you can imagine. Bread, pasta of every kind, rice, potatoes ...and CHEESECAKE.
Anyway, I've really decided to commit myself to this diet after much research, and not just to help my complection but to experience the overall benefits to my health. I wanted to post this to document and inform of a lifestyle change and to encourage or inspire others struggling with similar issues and to stress that radical drugs may not always be the answer. I'd appreciate any advice on what to expect when starting a Keto diet, experiences with Keto and or acne or just general info. Thanks everyone! I'll keep posted on progress ;D
Danielle

It's great that you have discovered the keto diet! I have been lucky enough to never experience serious acne, but I can confirm that it does wonders for any skin problems. That is, the type of ketogenic approach that we take here, because a lot of keto approaches allow for a whole of dairy, nightshades etc.


In my experience, there is also a psychological aspect to facial skin problems, so it would be worth examining the stresses in your life and correlating them with outbreaks.


Welcome to the diet journey, I hope you get the results you seek :).

 

[Delizco]

hope this helps somewhat and good luck with the diet

Helps?You wrote me a manual!!!Helps is an understatement ;) Thank you so much, I can see how much time you put into that.
Thanks everyone.

 

[lainey]

Hello there, this book is very informative:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Without-Bread-Low-Carbohydrate-Diet/dp/0658001701

and here is the thread of the same name:

http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,22916.0.html

I strongly suggest you do thorough research before making any drastic dietary changes as any sudden change can have serious health implications.

Good luck on your journey :)

 

[Chad]

hope this helps somewhat and good luck with the diet

Helps?You wrote me a manual!!!Helps is an understatement ;) Thank you so much, I can see how much time you put into that.
Thanks everyone.

Yeah, sorry i have a tendency to be verbose...! I also found sunlight works well and is said to 'kill the bacteria' but UV can stimulate viruses, like cold sores, so be sensible. And since the diet helps with hormone regulation, that's another breakout issue that could be avoided.

With all the reading, via the links provided, you have enough information to keep you busy for a while :P

All the best Delizco :)

 

[Delizco]

Oh no need to apologize!Yes everyone gave me great info. I really appreciate it, and yeah I actually went to the beach four days ago and got pretty tan, and a little burnt, and my face looks so good.
Thanks a bunch, will keep updated.

 

[Chad]

I remembered a product i used when i was 16 - and it's still in business! I'm not sure where you are based, as it seems to be primarily Europe - which makes a change, everything i usually need is from the US..

I'm fairly sure it's a 100% natural product as well.

It's like a facemask and when it dries, it dries really tight and powdery. I used it about 2-3 times a week at first and you should be able to feel when and how often you need to use it. If can make your skin look quite flushed after using and you will want to use at night, or when you are not 'meeting with the public', though the redness soon goes. i would advise evenings so you also aren't tempted to put on make up over the top. A tube, to begin with, might last a month, though all i remember is reordering it, i don't remember how often.

I happened upon it from a tiny magazine ad - before i had internets! - and other than roaccutane, this was probably the next most effective tool in my regime. (there was one other item which was a gel, made from a plant and it 'slowed' down the sebaceous glands' but i can't think of it right now - and the effect wasn't as instant)

_http://www.silicol.com/skin.html


Silicol Skin has been proven in clinical trials to be extremely effective in the treatment of acne. Silicol Skin can also be used as a deep cleanser as part of your skin care routine. It is ideal for sensitive skins as the active ingredient, silicic acid is found naturally in our food and water, it is non-toxic and has been dermatologically tested. Silicol Skin can be used as a topical facemask, which is applied to the skin in a thin layer and left to dry. Once the facemask has dried onto the skin and turned white, after 10-15 minutes it is then washed off with luke warm water.

Silicol Skin and Acne:
Clinical double-blind studies show that a twice-daily application with Silicol Skin significantly reduces blackheads / whiteheads (comedones), pimples and pustules within a few weeks. Silicol Skin is effective at clearing acne and cleansing the skin because of its large reactive surface area. When applied as a facemask Silicol Skin forms a coating over the skin, and due to its binding properties absorbs impurities, bacteria and excess sebum. It has a cooling effect on the skin, helping to reduce itching.

Silicol Skin and Cleansing:
Silicol Skin is not only for those suffering with acne, it is also a great revitalising deep cleansing mask, which effectively absorbs excess oil, bacteria and other impurities leaving the skin visibly fresher and brighter. In addition, the slight lifting and tightening effect, as the gel dries on the skin, temporarily reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Silicol Skin is ideal for those with slightly oily skin. The facemask can be used daily over the T-zone and weekly for really deep cleansing.



*

Silicon (silicic acid), which comes from the latin word silex meaning flint, is one of the most common elements on earth, second only to oxygen. 25% of the earth's crust is silicon, and most of the rocks on earth contain silicon. Silicon itself is too inert to be biologically active - but in the form of its aqueous oxygen compound, colloidal silicic acid, it is essential to human health. A deficiency of silicic acid is associated with a number of health problems. Conversely, colloidal silicic acid has a variety of important clinical applications.

In traditional or folk medicine it was known that silicic acid, which was then used from siliceous earth or medicinal plants, could help or heal certain illnesses. The silicic acid was taken in tea to treat the kidneys, cystitis, bleeding and tuberculosis. Silica is also present in many foods such as oats, barley, and millet, which are not prevalent in today's western diet.

Silicic Acid in a colloidal solution (Silicol Gel and Silicol Skin) means that the silica is highly dispersed in water. The silicic acid particles in the colloidal solution are characterised by a very large surface area. On the surface are highly reactive groups, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen (Si-O-H). This large surface area and surface energy mean that colloidal silicic acid is an excellent adsorbent. This is when the surface of a solid or liquid takes up atoms, ions, molecules of gas, liquid or other matter.

Research and use points to Silicol Gel's success as a safe alternative in maintaining digestive comfort and harmony. In Sweden it was voted the Health Product of the Year for two years running.

Silicol®Gel is available in:

United Kingdom
_www.silicol.co.uk
Republic of Ireland
_www.naturalmedicine.ie
Germany
Sweden
_www.silicol.se
Norway
_www.silicol.no
Denmark
_www.silicol.dk
Iceland
Portugal

[added]: Silicol Skin

The Effects of Silicol Skin on Moderate to Severe Acne: UK Field Survey, with members of The Acne Support Group. This study was designed to assess the effect of the naturally occurring essential trace element silicon, the active ingredient in Silicol Skin on cases of moderate to severe acne. The study asked members of the Acne Support Group to use Silicol Skin in accordance with the packaging instructions over a period of 6 weeks. They completed identical questionnaires on the type and severity of acne before and after treatment.

A statistically significant 86% overall improvement was reported with most acne sufferers citing the chin as the area which showed the biggest improvement. Some participants benefited from total disappearance of their acne in some locations. Furthermore, no statistical difference was noted when comparisons were made between members using Silicol Skin only and those using it in addition to their prescribed oral medication. These findings show that Silicol Skin can be used to help improve moderate to severe acne.
Advances In Natural Therapy, Vol 18, No 2 March/April 2001

The Evaluation of the Efficacy of the Preparation Silicol Skin for the Treatment of Mild and Moderate Intensity Simple Acne: This study was designed to assess the efficacy of Silicol Skin in comparison to the leading OTC brand in children and youths suffering with juvenile acne. The study concluded that Silicol Skin proved to be an effective medication for juvenile acne. Dermatological improvement was seen in the reduction of amount of sebum, comedones and inflammation. Silicol Skin was found to be more effective than the leading OTC brand of acne treatment tested. There were no unwelcome side effects observed by the Silicol Skin testers.
Paediatric Institute of the Medical Academy in Poznan, Poland. Krystyna Alkiewicz and Jerzy Alkiewic, March 1999

Clinical Study of the Evaluation of the action of the product

Silicol Skin on persons with acne: The subjects were divided into two groups, those with mild acne and those with severe acne. Sebum production (a major cause of acne), creation of comedones, and inflammation were measured, before the therapy, at 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 9 weeks of therapeutic treatment. There was a substantial reduction (38-65%) in sebum excretion in the subjects using Silicol Skin. In both the severe and mil cases there was a substantial clinical improvement with the subjects who used Silicol Skin in comparison to those who used the placebo, although the results were shown even more clearly in the severe acne group. The study concluded Silicol Skin helps substantially in the healing of acne and combats skin greasiness, it may also be used as a precaution by subjects who have a tendency for acne.
Study completed at the University Clinic for Skin and Veneral Diseases, Hospital of A Syggros, Greece. Alexandra Katsarou-Katsari, Vasso Koufou, Kyriakos Xenos, Ioannis Stratigos, February 1995

The Effect of Silicol Compared with Placebo on Papulopustular Acne and Sebum Production: A Double-blind Study. 30 patients (19 females and 11 males), mean age 19 years were randomly into two groups. All patients had chronic papulopustular acne of the face. A total of 15 patients were treated topically with Silicol for 20 minutes, twice daily for six weeks and the remaining 15 patients were treated with a placebo gel in a similar fashion.

A clinical evaluation was carried out at baseline, and after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment. The clinical variables evaluated were as follows: number of comedones, papules, pustules and cysts on a standard area of the left cheek (5 x 5 cm) and measurement of sebum production on the same area by the use of Sebumeter SM 810 PC (Courage and Khazaka, Ltd, Germany). In the active group, the number of comedones decreased from a mean of 48.5 to 15.1 after 6 weeks of treatment. The corresponding figures for papules were 10.7 and 1.0, for pustules 6.8 and 0, and for cysts 0.6 and 0. In the placebo group no improvement could be observed.

There was a highly significant difference in efficacy between the two groups (P < 0.001) in favour of the actively treated group. The mean sebum index was 193 at baseline and 88 after 6 weeks. Correspondingly, in the placebo group the mean sebum index at baseline was 187 and after 6 weeks, 179. This difference between the two groups was also statistically significant (P < 0.001).

After a short follow-up period (3 months) no deterioration was observed in the 14 active patients, showing either complete cure or improvement.
Research carried out at the Department of Dermatology, Helsinki Research Center, Helsinki, Finland. Published in The Journal of International Medical Research 1996; 24: 340-344. A Lassus et al.

 

[aaronfransen]

I've said this at least once before in another thread, but going keto killed my acne dead. And removed most of my grey hair. And wiped out my psoriasis.

Something tells me that a diet heavy in carbs isn't all that good for you

 

[Delizco]

Well I have stayed off the accutane for over a month now and everything is going great. I use Bio Oil mixed with a day cream every time after I wash my face and I am noticing that as long as i keep my skin moisturized with a non-comdegenic oil, it sort of tricks my skin into thinking it doesnt need to produce its own oil, thus keeping me acne free! But, to be completely honest with everyone, I have not stuck to the keto diet. My hat is off to all who are.Seriously! Bread is my life! I cannot conceive of a life without it. Its simply a matter of will, and for right now I am content, but also slowly changing my diet. A little less carbs and sugar every week, substituting it with something healthier. Slowly but surely Ill get there :] Even if I am not completely committed to keto in the end, I will feel good about myself as long as Im healthy and understand the long and short term consequences of everything I put in my body.

 

[nicklebleu]

Well I have stayed off the accutane for over a month now and everything is going great. I use Bio Oil mixed with a day cream every time after I wash my face and I am noticing that as long as i keep my skin moisturized with a non-comdegenic oil, it sort of tricks my skin into thinking it doesnt need to produce its own oil, thus keeping me acne free! But, to be completely honest with everyone, I have not stuck to the keto diet. My hat is off to all who are.Seriously! Bread is my life! I cannot conceive of a life without it. Its simply a matter of will, and for right now I am content, but also slowly changing my diet. A little less carbs and sugar every week, substituting it with something healthier. Slowly but surely Ill get there :] Even if I am not completely committed to keto in the end, I will feel good about myself as long as Im healthy and understand the long and short term consequences of everything I put in my body.

Delizco, giving up gluten will probably have the biggest impact for your health. You cannot conceive to give it up because your brain is literally addicted to it - consider it the same as any other addiction, and that's what you want to beat. Yes, the transition will be tough, but the benefits likely to be far-reaching. And then after a short while, your bread cravings will go away - trust me, been there myself.

If the current Ebola epidemic gets out of control andi spreads widely, which in my eyes is a very real possibility at this stage, you want your immune system to be top-notch.

DO what IT doesn't want to do!

Good luck!

 

[Nienna]

Well I have stayed off the accutane for over a month now and everything is going great. I use Bio Oil mixed with a day cream every time after I wash my face and I am noticing that as long as i keep my skin moisturized with a non-comdegenic oil, it sort of tricks my skin into thinking it doesnt need to produce its own oil, thus keeping me acne free! But, to be completely honest with everyone, I have not stuck to the keto diet. My hat is off to all who are.Seriously! Bread is my life! I cannot conceive of a life without it. Its simply a matter of will, and for right now I am content, but also slowly changing my diet. A little less carbs and sugar every week, substituting it with something healthier. Slowly but surely Ill get there :] Even if I am not completely committed to keto in the end, I will feel good about myself as long as Im healthy and understand the long and short term consequences of everything I put in my body.

The thing is, as nicklebleu said, gluten (and casein) is addictive. "Bread is your life", seriously? The thing about gluten is you may think that you are healthy now, but gluten is quietly, insidiously working it's damage to your system. It's been said that most of our immune system is in the gut. And gluten slowly compromises it and your gut lining. By stopping the damage being done to you now by stopping the eating of gluten, you won't have to suffer like many of us do now. You can help yourself to not have autoimmune disorders.

There is so much damage that is caused by gluten, you may benefit by reading the material here and watching this video:

http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/video-tutorial/gluten-sensitivity-what-is-it/

I can only hope that gaining the knowledge of how evil gluten is, it can give you the wherewithal to help yourself be healthier, not only now, but in the future.

 

[Chad]

Remembering this thread i thought it best to post this here should anyone look in the future.

Even though my doctor DID at least ask if i was drinking enough water, me and my mum lied. I was drinking at miniumum a pint of cola a day, as well as all the junk food.

Having suffered from Acne for most of my teens, i just wish we'd had 'known' this back then. But both me and my mother preferred the easy quick and quick, toxic fix and, as noted prior, used Roaccutane. Rather than alter the diet - for me Keto is the best. The fact that it's now banned in many places should give anyone considering it pause for thought.

In the UK: Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): reminder of possible risk of psychiatric disorders (eg, depression, anxiety, and very rarely suicidal ideation and suicide)

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/isotretinoin-roaccutane-reminder-of-possible-risk-of-psychiatric-disorders

This paragraph really struck me, because it rings so true to my own situation:

Commentary

What this study really signified was that acne maybe a sign of localized insulin resistance in the skin. That is why acne severity correlated with the degree of obesity. In the early 1940s some dermatologists began referring to acne as "skin diabetes." The reasons were very interesting. Although results from oral glucose tolerance tests in acne patients showed no differences from controls in blood glucose measurements, when researchers looked at the levels of glucose within the skin through repetitive biopsies, it revealed that the acne patients' skin glucose tolerance was significantly disturbed.

http://www.sott.net/article/301375-Acne-and-its-link-to-sugar-dairy-products-and-bad-fats-Skin-diabetes

 

[Eboard10]

Remembering this thread i thought it best to post this here should anyone look in the future.

Even though my doctor DID at least ask if i was drinking enough water, me and my mum lied. I was drinking at miniumum a pint of cola a day, as well as all the junk food.

Having suffered from Acne for most of my teens, i just wish we'd had 'known' this back then. But both me and my mother preferred the easy quick and quick, toxic fix and, as noted prior, used Roaccutane. Rather than alter the diet - for me Keto is the best. The fact that it's now banned in many places should give anyone considering it pause for thought.

In the UK: Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): reminder of possible risk of psychiatric disorders (eg, depression, anxiety, and very rarely suicidal ideation and suicide)

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/isotretinoin-roaccutane-reminder-of-possible-risk-of-psychiatric-disorders

Yep, same here. I started getting acne in my late teens and after a few failed attempts at getting rid of the eczema with various creams, the dermatologists prescribed me Roaccutane. The treatment lasted some 8-10 months and it was very effective. Within a few months, my eczema had completely disappeared. However, at the time I was living a very unhealthy lifestyle, gorging on carbs, sugars and alcohol and in less than a year the acne came back.

A few years later, I did another round of Roaccutane and while it did help removing most of the spots, I became quite depressed, unsociable and more closed towards others, so I can definitely attest to the psychological side-effects described in the link. While taking the drug, I also developed an allergic skin reaction to certain types of white fish, mainly John Dory/St Pierre which I still get to this day :( so I highly advise against taking it under any circumstance, especially if someone is prone to mood-swings or is going through diet changes.

What did help though was changing my diet by cutting down sugars and refined carbs. After a couple of weeks, I already noticed big improvements in my skin and I would get visible flare ups when "treating" myself to chocolate or sweets. From my experience, continually moisturising the skin and staying hydrated, especially during winter, is also very important.

My 2 cents.