A few readers have asked about products and D.I.Y.s that will help with acne situations. I struggle to answer these questions simply because acne is a symptom of a larger internal imbalance.\u00a0Based on\u00a0my research and reading more holistic approaches to managing acne and blemishes, this is a two part problem: there’s the stuff you put on the outside that can either soothe or aggravate acne, but the more important part is dealing with the underlying causes which are diet and stress levels because they affect\u00a0hormones, on which this post will focus. In part II, I’ll provide topical oils and products that can help clear up the skin. It’s a long one, so grab a beverage and settle in.<\/p>\n
I have been rather lucky; I’ve never dealt with serious acne, even as a teenager. I\u00a0did deal with a moderate case of cystic acne about two years ago in my late twenties. My attempt in this post is to pool my research and to share what worked for me, which I learned from holistic approaches.<\/p>\n
Most\u00a0skin care products formulated to eliminate acne can worsen the condition, due to the drying ingredients. The skin is slightly acidic and most mass-produced\u00a0products mess with the pH balance <\/a>or completely strip skin of its natural oils, sending the skin into panic mode. While what we put on our skin is very important to combat environmental damage and to retain moisture, topical products are only a fraction of the cause of most acne cases.<\/p>\n Most dermatologists and Western doctors do not treat the skin as an integrated system and will prescribe detrimental drugs like peeling agents, Accutane or, for women, birth control pills to “fix” hormonal issues, while completely ignoring the underlying cause(s). With this method of treatment, blemishes on the\u00a0facial skin are managed temporarily, but the food allergy or the high-stress lifestyle only continues to fester in the body in other ways. More pollution has been added to the body from these serious, disruptive medications or chemicals that may bring another set of side effects into the picture. Now, we have a toxin masking one symptom, only to push the sickness to cause harm in another part of the body<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yes, you are what you eat, and it will show up on your skin. \u00a0Many naturopaths and Ayurvedic practitioners will say that acne begins in the gut<\/a>. The overproduction of sebum and bacteria is just the effect of acne. \u00a0Because our skin is a sensory organ, it is constantly processing what comes in and out and is the best way to tell if someone is healthy at first glance. You’ve seen it: the person that has naturally glowing, dewy skin…that’s a reflection of a healthy internal ecosystem. When we ingest toxins or foods which are difficult for our bodies to digest, this shows up on our skin because what happens in our gastrointestinal system directly affects our hormones. The profound relationship between the food we eat and hormone balance is just now being understood. The resulting inflammation, toxicity, etc. is the root of the problem.<\/p>\n I was surprised to discover that acne is very much a U.S.\u00a0problem<\/a>\u00a0because of the prevalence of processed foods in the average American diet. The rest of the world doesn’t consume it in the large amounts that the typical American does. There are hundreds of studies that show relief of participants’ acne conditions when placed on a low-glycemic diet <\/a>(no grains, sugars, processed foods, etc.). This is because our bodies are more efficient at digesting complex carbs. \u00a0Many scholars are starting to believe that it has more to do with one’s environment than their genetics. Although, some will tolerate dairy and grains, or even if they have trouble processing, it may show up as another ailment like weight gain or IBS, rather than blemishes.<\/p>\n The other main acne trigger is our emotional well-being.<\/p>\n During the last six months of grad school, I dealt with cystic acne, those pimples that form underneath the skin and stay there for a solid week or so. There’s nothing you can do except wait it out \ud83d\ude41 It was the pits. This horrible bout of adult acne happened because I was constantly stressed, neglected my body, and ate poorly. After graduation, I got back into a routine of eating and exercise\/yoga and I haven’t had a cystic pimple since. \u00a0However, I did have some serious scars from those suckers. I researched natural ways to fade scars and hyper-pigmentation and found out about rosehip seed oil, which I’ll talk about in part II.<\/p>\n The\u00a0condition of the skin reflects what’s going on inside our bodies. Any imbalance, or lack of self-care will show up on your face in a few days. \u00a0I still experience normal hormonal breakouts that coincide with my cycle, but I only get one or two spots around the jawline, and they are manageable and go away within a couple days.<\/p>\n Identifying any hormone imbalances can clue you and your doctor in on not only why you’re experiencing adult acne, but other issues. \u00a0If you have insurance, ask your doctor to check for imbalances during routine blood work to identify or rule out any serious issues, like a thyroid problem.<\/p>\n If your tests come back “normal” and you still feel “off”, then definitely listen to your gut and look into seeing an alternative medicine practitioner, like an acupuncturist. Most major cities offer sliding scale practices, so those of us without this coverage can still seek the benefits without going broke. If you’re in L.A., try this wonderful place<\/a>!<\/p>\n Whatever you decide, I also would recommend the book\u00a0Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life<\/em><\/a> by Claudia Welch. She describes the symbiotic functions of hormones\u00a0and writes about how stress, food and synthetic medication and hormones wreak havoc on the hormones of modern women. She also offers solutions rooted in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Western medicine. My mind was blown after reading this and is\u00a0must-read for every woman.<\/p>\n The lymphatic system does not have a pump, like the cardiovascular, so the system can be sluggish and not working to purge toxins and junk out as efficiently as possible. If you are sedentary, so is your lymphatic system.<\/p>\n – Exercise – take a vigorous Vinyasa flow class<\/p>\n – Drink water – this will help flush out nasties<\/p>\nDiet<\/h2>\n
Stress<\/h2>\n
What to Do?<\/h2>\n
1. Check your hormones:<\/h3>\n
2. Exercise your lymphatic system<\/h3>\n