The Acne Prescription: The Perricone Program for Clear and Healthy Skin at Every Age (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "1986 was a banner year for me..." (more)
Key Phrases: noninflamed acne lesion, ounces green tea, proinflammatory chemicals, Raised-Arms Mountain Pose, Dash Tabasco, International Association of Yoga Therapists (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Acne: it's not just for teens anymore. Thanks to changing hormone levels, many women in their 30s and 40s (and some men as well) can expect to regain a part of youth they really didn't miss. It's not the curfew—-it's the problem skin. Early on in The Acne Prescription, Dr. Perricone (The Perricone Prescription) repeatedly emphasizes that half his patients are adult women. And really, this book seems written specifically for them. He refers to acne as a systemic inflammatory disease. His three-part program aimed at reducing inflammation emphasizes widespread dietary changes generally based on the glycemic index of foods, taking a variety of supplements, and using specific topical applications. The diet features plenty of water, several servings of salmon each week, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. An extremely detailed guide to supplements offers an excellent education, and an illustrated yoga course provides a method of relaxation and gentle exercise. Few of the recipes from an extensive section are geared for novice cooks (almond flour pancakes with mixed berry compote, for example). If you're interested in curing acne problems from the inside out and are willing to make substantial lifestyle choices, you'll find this an excellent learning tool; in other instances, it may seem simply overwhelming. --Jill Lightner

From Publishers Weekly

Perricone, adjunct professor of dermatology at Michigan State University and author of both The Wrinkle Cure and The Perricone Prescription, bases his work on a simple premise: aging skin, and other dermatological conditions are the result of inflammation at the cellular level. To offset this inflammation, Perricone recommends a specific diet. Readers who follow Perricone's prescription diet are advised to avoid starchy foods and any foods that are high in carbohydrates (including many fruits and cereals). The focus is on fish, omega 3 fatty acids, protein and antioxidants, which will effectively reduce the level of cellular inflammation and produce more radiant skin. This new book reiterates this information, but uses the research and findings to assist readers of all ages, specifically adolescents and young adults with acne. A 28-day diet program, glossary of yoga exercises, and discussion of nutritional supplements is included to guide the reader toward better skin. For the most part, readers will find little here that isn't printed in one of Perricone's earlier books. But for new readers, this book may be of interest. Though his theories may still be considered contentious in dermatological circles, one can hardly argue against a regimen that dictates a healthy diet, regular exercise, and good hygiene.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (September 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060188782
• ISBN-13: 978-0060188788
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #493,932 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Omega Connection, July 29, 2004

By	Rebecca Johnson "SeasonedwithLove.com" (Washington State) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

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Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food. ~Hippocrates

Dr. Nicholas Perricone is a pioneer in reversing skin damage and has finally solved one of the mysteries of my life. When I lived with my grandmother, she cooked salmon on a weekly basis and we always ate tuna fish sandwiches on a regular basis. Then, I got married and my husband insisted that I stop cooking fish because he disliked it. That was when my skin changed. For years, I've wondered about the effects of diet on our skin and The Acne Prescription reveals the need for advanced care and a healthy dose of antioxidants and Omega 3 supplements. He explains how skin disorders are caused by a systemic inflammatory disease and explains the details of sebaceous glands and how corneum cells block pores. I learned about oxidative stress, foods to avoid, foods to get into my diet fast and why I should look for creams containing DMAE.

After reading this book, I went to the grocery store and found some Wild Alaskan Salmon which was on sale for 97 cents a pound. I baked the entire fish and tried to follow the three day diet in which you eat mostly salmon. The diet in this book is filled with tasty choices from the sea. If you enjoy scallops, salmon, crab, tuna and shrimp, you will love this diet. I also purchased the pomegranate juice as recommended and you can normally find it in the produce section of your local grocery store.

Other moments of enlightenment occurred while reading about how chocolate can cause your skin to break out, but it is more the sugar than the actual cocoa butter. So, I did not notice any changes in my skin after eating a Hershey's Low Carb bar and then this book even made more sense. It is the sugar, not the cocoa. Another great product he recommends is Pycnogenol which can be rather expensive, but seems to work very well.

Overall, this book emphasizes the need for antioxidants, essential fatty acids and a healthy lifestyle. Avoiding stress is essential and a series of yoga postures are recommended.

At least a third of this book is filled with tasty skin-clearing recipes like:

Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon, Seared Tomatoes, Asparagus and Lemon Olive Oil Hollandaise

Spiced Diver Scallops with Ecuadorian Tabouleh and Lemon Myrtle Oil

Pomegranate Citrus-Glazed Apricot and Garlic Roasted Chicken with Apple-Spinach Stuffing and Garden Vegetables

So, this all sounds very gourmet, but the ingredients are relatively easy to find and the directions are uncomplicated. The recipes were all created by executive chef Bernard Guillas.

The glossary is excellent and if you read one book on how to care for your skin from the inside out, this should be it.

This book is more about lifestyle change than a quick solution. I have only read one other book that is on this level and that is The Metabolic Plan. With those two books in hand, you will have a wealth of information and also understand why lifestyle changes will improve your health. Nicholas Perricone, M.D. has included so many solutions to the problem of Acne that I can only say I'll be reading this book over and over again. Even if you just suffer from occasional breakouts this book will give you the information you need to encourage a clear, glowing complexion. Many of the ideas in this book will also help you live a more healthy life. I definitely want to read all of Dr. Perricone's books. He really is an expert on antiaging and skincare.

~The Rebecca Review

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars worked for me, October 9, 2003

By A Customer

Dr Perricone's advice worked for me, and though it's nice to have the book for reference, you don't really need it. Just cut out all sugar and sugar substitutes, and follow a low-glycemic index diet. Ta-da! Seriously, it did miracles for me.

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars consider it excellent GUIDELINES, November 25, 2003

By A Customer

Perricone's diet/book serves as a great guideline. I have stuck pretty well to the diet -- not necessarily the diet plans -- but have used the foods on his okay list and worked with them to create my own meals. The Salmon I make a key part of my diet and occasionally create some of his recipes. This has worked fine with me. Although, because I was also concerned about fatigue, I picked up another book, The Mid-Life Miracle Diet -- that I thought would address my fatigue. I found Perricone's recommendations very similar to this book -- in both diet as well as supplement recommendation. I combined the two --and battled both acne and fatigue. The Mid-Life book isn't as adamant about elimating carbs from the diet -- only restricting them to later evening eating. So I compromised. I didn't eat bread often but if I did -- I kept it small and later in the day. Perricone's supplements are DOUBLE the cost if you were to just go to a very good quality health food store and put together the supplements yourself. I combined recommendations of what is in his book with the Mid-Life recommendations. The initial cost may be alot -- but will last longer than a month supply of Perricones -- and thus comparitively, cost less to do it this way. Once you spend time figuring out what is in the supplements and getting the supplements -- it's easy. All you have to do is replace when you run out. Mid-Life book recommends TwinLab and Country Life -- there are other good supps. And then there are bad supplements. So go to a health food store, and ask the advice of one of the workers there -- he/she will tell you which brands are best quality. (I have found the owner won't help as much as a friendly employee who knows his stuff.) I followed the diet and took my put together supplements before trying his products. A major difference took place without use of his products -- increased energy, better mood and skin health. I do not like Perricone's acne products at all. Instead I do like his Vitamin C Ester wash and his other products are okay. I give the Perricone book 5 stars because out of the many things I've tried for my acne -- this is the only thing that has ever really worked.