I have been vegan for 2 years now and have the same amount of breakouts as I used to. I think this is a myth.

Posted by: Dom | September 23, 2009 04:46 PM

No, this is really very true. I had acne for over 15 years, I tried creams, antibiotic and laser treatments. Finally, I broke down and went on Accutane and my skin improved a lot. But I still had acne. Then as a fluke I went on a no dairy diet and not only did I lose weight but my skin cleared up. Went I splurged on a pint of ice cream my skin broke out and still does to this day whenever I have more than a bite of dairy.

I wish that I had looked at the food I ate years ago before I pumped my body full of harsh medications.
*** Just an FYI if you are low on Zinc your skin can break out :)

Posted by: Chris | September 23, 2009 06:48 PM

Hi Dom, maybe Woody's body was reacting to milk that way with his skin breaking out. I believe it worked for him, and a lot of others too! It's not a myth, I do hope you find something that works for your skin, in my case I had allergies so I know what your going thru, good luck! Just glad Woody's found what worked for him.

Posted by: Shari | September 23, 2009 07:22 PM

I was a lacto-ovo-vegetarian. But seeing the videos on PETA website of factory farms and reading the truth of dairy industry, I gave up both dairy and eggs and went vegan! It was hard at first to go without milk but now it's fine. Anything to prevent cruelty towards beautiful creatures!

Posted by: Shallu | September 23, 2009 08:42 PM

When I was a pure and religious little kid I concluded that eating God's creatures was wrong. Now I'm an impure aging geezer but I still think that eating God's creatures is wrong.

Posted by: Brien Comerford | September 23, 2009 09:14 PM

The Witness from Tribe of Heart. yep watching that movie is what did the trick. that was over seven years ago, before that i was vegetarian for over 3. with occasional very rare slippage.

Posted by: vegancoin | September 23, 2009 10:12 PM

I have been a vegetarian for a few years. I go vegan on Sept 28th...The step I need to make is giving up that cheese!

Posted by: jill | September 24, 2009 01:46 AM

My breakouts reduced drastically after going vegan (from once a week to once every few months). I wouldn't call it a myth, the effects are just different for everyone.

Posted by: Chris | September 24, 2009 08:51 AM

i became a vegetarian after watching a video clip on youtube...was about animal cruelty in many ways...couldn't bear to finish it though...but i swore that no animal was going to die so that i wud live...since i have kept my word!

Posted by: rats_k | September 24, 2009 12:15 PM

My skin has never been clearer or healthier since becoming a vegan. I get compliments all the time (and I am not that young, believe me) and I always mention that it is due to a vegan diet. I believe that even people that are not concerned with the welfare of animals, are willing to go vegetarian/ vegan if there are benefits for them like lowering cholesterol or clear skin. I always go there when I want to convince people to go veg and of course I mention that since I love animals, I don't eat them!

Posted by: NT | September 24, 2009 02:10 PM

I just can't do it. The tofu meat substitutes all look gray, disgusting and unappetizing. The worst was tofurkey last Thanksgiving. Not to mention now they are saying eating soy is detrimental to men's health

Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2009 03:45 PM

My skin didn't entirely clear up when I went veg 20 years ago, but it improved, and I think it may be the reason why, in my mid-40s, people still ask me what school I go to.

Posted by: Lacey Matthews | September 24, 2009 05:01 PM

I'm still in my teens, and my skin isn't perfect. However, I went vegan in July, and by early this month, my skin was smooth and crystal clear!

... Unfortunately, going vegan isn't a foolproof anti-acne treatment. When school started back and I became incredibly stressed, my skin got gross again. But were I not stressed, I would have great skin thanks to my shunning dairy.

Posted by: Suzie | September 24, 2009 08:13 PM

I think it depends on the person, i just went from veggy to vegan afew months ago and my skin isn't any better. Alot of people have reactions to dairy and it's probably these people that it helps. Eating a better and healthier diet should help lots (in time)i just gotta stop eating junk food. I went veggy cause i love animals and after doing that for 2 years and reading how bad dairy and eggs are (and how bad the animals are treated) i decided it was about time to go vegan.

Posted by: josie | September 24, 2009 11:26 PM

This story is:

1. Recycled - including the responses. This isn't literally, but there has been a story before touting how milk supposedly messes up your body and causes acne problems.

2. Inaccurate - different bodies have different Ph degrees. So, someone could take out milk and have even worse problems as well as clear skin. It is dependent on the person's body.

3. Easy to do - Harrelson sure has been quoted a lot lately, as have several "big name" celebrities here. Why don't you go and try to find new commentators to get their views?

Posted by: mel | September 25, 2009 11:57 AM

I'm surprised no comment was made about the snakeskin Woody is wearing in the picture. PVC I hope?

Posted by: Mary | September 25, 2009 03:35 PM

No, the best way to get rid of acne is to TAKE SHOWERS.

Posted by: MH | September 25, 2009 04:33 PM

@ Mary: Snake "skin" = totally fake.

Posted by: Shawna Flavell | September 25, 2009 04:49 PM

Mel is:

1. A pain in the ass who would rather complain about any of PETA's efforts to make the world a better place than do something--anything--positive or constructive.

Posted by: Elphaba | September 26, 2009 05:54 PM

Elphaba - at least I'M observant of what PETA does and am telling the truth.

Please - instead of bitching to me about my opinion (which I can have as you) - research stuff here more often, you'll notice I'm actually right for once.

(Mod, please post this up - it should actually help your cause more than harm it).

Posted by: Mel | September 28, 2009 10:47 AM

I stand by my original statement, Mel. You are never anything but contrary and it is quite boring. Why do you spend so much time on the PETA site if you disagree with everything?

Posted by: Elphaba | September 28, 2009 07:08 PM

Easy Elphaba: I do it because you and others really need to look at both sides of the story.

I can at least say that I do that... can you?

Posted by: mel | September 29, 2009 01:12 PM

Mel, I was not born AR, and for a long time what PETA had to say WAS the other side of the story for me. I refuse to date AR people as I'd rather create discussion with those who do not think about animals (though that does exclude instigators like you with your unpleasant attitude and nitpicking), frequently have nice conversations with hunters and the like about animal suffering, but I also do not have to defend myself to you (as you do not have to defend yourself to me, so please feel free to shut the hell up as you bore me). However, if you see both sides of anything at all on the PETA site you really could have fooled me, as you seem to have made a sport of disagreeing with anything PETA has to say.

Posted by: Elphaba | September 29, 2009 03:55 PM

Elphaba - to be blunt - you nitpick me as much as I you, so please do not be hypocritical.

Then again - given PETA's stances, this doesn't surprise me.

I'll leave it at that - all you have shown me is that you really do not look closely at the world around you.

Posted by: Mel | September 29, 2009 06:00 PM