Acne Treatments Beyond Skincare

So many people today label acne as something you just have to deal with as a teenager, with acne treatments focused on hormones or food choices. “It’s hormones,” they say. “You’ll grow out of it eventually.”

An entire acne treatments industry has grown out of it, really. Just think of the aisles full of face washes, lotions, creams, and ointments that claim to cure your acne and leave you with glowing, clear skin.

But covering up the problem with toxic, topical acne treatments isn’t getting to the root of the issue. Once you know what causes acne in the first place, you’ll know how to combat it properly. And no, acne isn’t necessarily caused by chocolate.

And it’s not just a topical issue either. It’s what happens under your skin that largely determines what appears on it. In fact, most skin conditions (acne, eczema, rosacea, etc.) actually begin in your gut!

Acne Treatments that Work

An imbalance of beneficial bacteria in your system can lead to inflammatory skin issues like acne. This can be a result of an overuse of antibiotics or exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment. Try supplementing with a high quality probiotic supplement to restore a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Inflammation of the skin can also occur when there is an imbalance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in your diet. This is why you will want to avoid highly processed, rancid oils like vegetable oil, canola oil, & soybean oil–read the ingredients label on any packaged food! Also make sure you are eating plenty of foods high in omega-3’s like chia seeds, flax, linseeds, and walnuts.

There are a host of other foods that are important to include in your diet on a daily basis for clear, glowing skin. A good rule of thumb is to eat lots of bright colors. The beta carotene in carrots & pumpkin is fantastic for your skin. The same goes with any leafy green vegetable like spinach and kale, bright red tomatoes and beets, and silica-rich cucumbers. Try fresh squeezed juices with beets, carrots, and cucumber. Also make sure most of your vegetable intake is in raw form. There are tons of creative raw recipes out there like my Not-Tuna Salad Pate on Tomatoes or a nutrient-packed raw lasagne!

One food you will want to avoid like the plague is sugar. In high amounts, refined sugar is toxic to your body! Just a few teaspoons can deplete your immune system for hours. Beware of hidden sources of sugar as well. Processed grains (anything white like white bread and white rice) will turn to sugar in your bloodstream in a matter of seconds. So swap your candy bars for antioxidant-rich dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) and nix the bread in exchange for more fruits & veggies.

Now that your diet is in place, go ahead and toss those chemicals you’ve been spreading on your skin. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Instead, use coconut oil on your skin. That’s right, the same kind you might cook with in the kitchen. Extra virgin coconut oil has antibacterial properties that will help heal your skin from acne scars. It works as a great moisturizer as well that won’t leave your face oily. This is a common misconception. When you wash your face too often, your skin is stripped of its natural oils and will overcompensate with oil production in an effort to restore balance. Allow your skin time to rest and breathe. You don’t even have to wash your face every day if there is no noticeable dirt or grime! Instead, apply a thin layer of coconut oil once to twice daily.

Tea tree oil has also been shown to help fight acne with its antibacterial cleansing properties. It’s also great to use in homemade cleaning products like these on my site. Dilute just a few drops of tea tree oil in 8 oz. of water and apply to the affected area 3-4 times daily.

One last piece of advice for getting rid of acne? Stop stressing out. Emotional stress and lack of quality sleep can affect not only your skin, but your overall health. Take time to relax and refresh so you can achieve a boosted immune system and a glowing complexion.