7 STEPS TO ELIMINATING ACNE
Acne is undeniably one of the most common skin issues. Whether blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules, or cysts, we’ve all had to deal with one type of acne or another at a certain point in our lives. It is most common in women because once they hit puberty, they experience all kinds of hormonal imbalances throughout their lives.
I know how frustrating acne can be and what makes matters worse is the fact that some methods don’t work and/or even compound the problem. In this article, I have listed 7 steps that are very effective in eliminating acne and won’t further exacerbate the problem. These steps will ensure you are targeting acne from the both the inside and outside, ensuring all roots of the problem are being addressed.
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Drink fluids like water, green tea, matcha, and hibiscus tea
One of the major causes of acne is excess oil (or sebum) on the face and having dry skin can contribute to excess oil secretion on the face. Drinking fluids helps to keep the skin properly hydrated and prevent excess oil production.
Acne can also be caused by excess heat in the body and so drinking fluids will help to cool down the body’s temperature and prevent excess body heat.
Furthermore, fluids help to flush out toxins from the body’s system, boost the immune system, and regulate blood sugar levels. All these have a huge part to play in preventing acne.
A good way to start drinking a lot of fluids is by starting with drinking 6 - 8 glasses of water daily. Make sure your water has been properly filtered for safe consumption. To find out why this is so important check out 'our water is toxic soup' blog here. You can also try to take a cup of green tea every morning when you wake up. I can assure you that by doing these, you’ve taken a big step in eliminating acne.
Organic Sencha Gree Tea Loose Leaf come in a reusable bag and can be used for up to 200 brews!
For caffeine lovers who need that extra boost in the mornings Blume's Matcha Coconut blend is the perfect choice! It contains half the amount of the caffeine regularly found in coffee, providing you with energy without the crash. This amazing formulation is vegan, sugar free and organic. Offering you 100 times the antioxidants of brewed green tea while also being high in iron, riboflavin, vitamin A and B6!
Anima Mundi's Mangosteen Hibiscus herbal powder contains mangosteen and hibiscus, both powerful ingredients that do wonders for your digestive system. This exquisite powder is easy to dust into anything, from healthy foods, smoothies, juices, to simply dissolving in water to drink as a digestive juice before meals. Just a few of its amazing benefits includes reducing bloating, helping with inflammation, acting as a detox aid, and even helping with fat metabolism.
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Consume cruciferous vegetables
Throughout my years in skincare, I’ve noticed that for almost all skin conditions, your diet can either compound the condition or improve it significantly. It’s not so different with acne.
Consuming vegetables that are low-calorie, rich in folate, vitamin C, E, and K, and fiber (cruciferous vegetables) go a long way in eliminating acne. This is because they are rich in antioxidants and nutrients that reduce inflammation and improve skin quality.
Arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, are all examples of cruciferous vegetables that I always recommend for acne.
I know incorporating these nutritious vegetables into your diet can be a bit of a struggle, which is why a high quality supplement is a great alternative to ensure your not missing out on these vital nutrients.
Dim is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables and SM Nutrition's DIM supplement is an easy way of making sure you are enjoying the benefits of these vegetables. A single bottle of DIM contains 2 months of once-a-day servings in small vegetable capsules. This supplement is vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, titanium dioxide-free, and silicone dioxide-free!
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Take prebiotic and probiotic foods
In a previous article, I extensively explained what prebiotics and probiotics are. Probiotics are good microorganisms present in the gut. On the other hand, probiotics are special fibers the body cannot digest and serve as food for probiotics.
Prebiotics and probiotics kill the bacteria that cause acne, suppress inflammation, and calm the skin. They also reduce skin sensitivity, soothe irritation, and protect the skin from harsh UV rays.
Some examples of prebiotic and probiotic foods that you can incorporate into your diet are yogurt, chicory root, kimchi, banana, garlic, and sour pickles.
You can read more about prebiotics and probiotics here.
Another easy and effective way of incoroporating prebiotics and postbiotics is, you guessed it, supplements. A great all in one dietary supplement we recommend is Ritual Gut Health Synbiotic+. This fabulous supplement contains a powerful blend of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics. This one capsule daily capsule is ideal for those that find it a hassle to take multiple supplements, this offers you simple, streamlined gut support.
If you are looking for some great savings Zuma Nutrition's Multi-Strain Probiotic Complex is an amazing dietary supplement contains clinically studied strains of beneficial gut bacteria, rebalances the gut's microbiome, improves your digestion and metabolism, as well as supports overall gut health. And as if that wasn't enough these supplements are 100% vegan, formulated with organic ingredients, and pesticides-free.
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Cut out sugar and inflammatory oils
Another diet tip I have is to reduce your intake of sugar and oils. I know it might be quite hard to completely cut them out but at least, you should make efforts to reduce how often you consume them.
Some fried foods contain unhealthy saturated fats that cause skin inflammation. Plus, cooking with a lot of oil often can get excess oil on the skin and clog your pores (a major acne cause).
For your cooking needs we suggest opting for Primal Kitchen's Organic Extra Virgin Olive oil and Avocado Oil. Primal Kitchen makes uncompromisingly delicious products that use high-quality ingredients that feature healthy fats and zero highly inflammatory ingredients.
Furthermore, foods that contain refined sugars like bread, white rice, noodles, sodas, and some sweeteners promote acne. This is because they increase insulin levels and this promotes the production of excess sebum.
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Eat foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acid
Omega 3 fatty acid is a type of unsaturated fat that is present in fish oils. It has been known to fight inflammation, a major cause of acne. It also helps to prevent dry skin which is another major cause of acne.
It also contains other ingredients that make it very beneficial for the skin. Fish oil and flaxseeds are very rich in Omega-3 fatty acid. You can also choose to buy Omega 3 supplements and products. My favorite supplements are Ritual Essential for women Multivitamin 18+, Naturesage Clary Sage seed oil Omega 3 and Antler Farms New Zealand fish oil. Ritual is ideal for those looking to incorporate Omega-3 Fatty Acid in their daily Multivitamin. Naturesage is an ecologically-conscious product that offers a vegan alternative to fish oil.The Omega-3 is cold pressed from sage seed oil. Antler Farms are clean sourced from wild fish oil, sourced from one of the world’s most isolated, natural and pristine environments, New Zealand is an ideal source for pure, clean fish oil that is free of environmental contaminants!
TBD Barrier Repair Serum is a product I recommend often when talking about healthy topical fats.
Its superior formulation combines the most powerful and effective oils out there, that are well tolerated by sensitive skin, helping address discoloration, moisture, and sensitivity. One of these superstar oils is hempseed oil, which is made up of large amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fats. To learn more about the best clean beauty oils check out our blog here.
It should be noted that Omega-3 doesn’t work for everyone so I’ll advise that you consult your doctor before using it as a solution for acne.
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Consider trying blue light therapy
As much as I am against blue light that comes from electronic devices, as it is harmful to the eyes, the natural wavelength of blue light is quite beneficial for the skin.
Blue light therapy is using natural blue light as a treatment for skin conditions and diseases. It is majorly used to treat acne, skin cancer, and sun damage.
Blue light therapy eliminates acne by killing the bacteria that causes most acne conditions (Propionibacterium). However, it doesn’t work for everyone and you might need several sessions before the results show.
Reduce acne and post-breakout inflammation with Bye Acne, an FDA-cleared, award-winning, 3-minute Light Therapy treatment. Bye Acne uses the power of Red Light Therapy and Blue Light Therapy to target and treat pimples and breakouts for long-term results. Bye Acne is portable, pain-free, and non-invasive. Studies suggest most users see results after 2-3 uses.
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Follow a gentle skincare routine
The right skincare routine might be all you need to clear up your skin. When choosing a skincare routine and you have acne, you should focus on gentle products that are very effective in fighting acne.
Double cleansing is very important when it comes to eliminating acne. It is important that you double-cleanse first with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser that contains tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a highly effective acne treatment for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
I recommend starting off with Blubiome Nourishing Oil Cleanser, a nutrient-rich nourishing oil cleanser that can be used for all skin types including the most sensitive skin.
Afterwards, I suggest following up with Taïla Muhka Botanical Cleanser for double-cleansing. This nourishing cleanser gently removes impurities without stripping the skin. Ideal for all skin types. This face wash does it all: effectively removing eye and face makeup, while also featuring tea tree oil as a main ingredient.
Another crucial part of your skincare routine should be to include a gentle serum that focuses on clearing and preventing acne in your night time skincare routine. Our top pick for us is Versine Gentle Actives Clarity Serum + Azelaic Acid. A multi-tasking, doctors-vetted serum created to calm breakouts and improve the appearance of post-inflammation dark spots and melasma. If you're looking for more amazing products to deal with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation check out our blog here.
For a daily facial oil we love Earth Harbor Obscura. I know applying oil to oily, acneic skin might seem counterintuitive but it is exactly what your skin needs rather than over stripping with harsh products. When you strip oils from your skin it leads to an overproduction of sebum which, then leads to further breakouts. This facial oil is amazing because it helps to balance oil production from the sebaceous glands, keeping your oil production at bay which, will help keep your breakout under control.
The last, but certainly not least, part of your skincare routine should be adding an amazing face mask for use once a week. We recommend using these two amazing masks that both offer incredible benefits to help with your acne.
Agent Nateur Holi (Bright) Resurface Glass Face Mask is fabulous for resurfacing the skin and reducing congestion without irritating your skin thanks to its gentle formulation which, includes aloe vera.
Loli Pank Pitaya Mask helps keep pores clean thanks to its purifying properties as well, as soothes existing break outs.
Conclusion
Treating acne doesn’t have to be a Herculean task. Simple lifestyle and diet changes can make such a huge difference in clearing up your skin. The steps I gave in this article are cogent steps that help eliminate acne and ultimately make such a huge difference on the skin.
As usual, I advise that before incorporating these steps (especially the diet changes), you should seek the counsel of a doctor in case of any allergies.
Be Well. Be safe. Be beautiful.