Acne is an extremely common skin disorder that effects over 50 million Americans every year. Most people try to treat their acne with topical products but acne is a reflection of an internal
imbalance and no matter how expensive or ‘innovate’ the topical product is, it will never truly eliminate acne because it fails to address the root cause.
My acne consultations include not only a systematic approach to the application of the proper topical products, but also help with lifestyle choices, including diet, which usually has the most impact.
Acne is an inherited disorder, yet it can be controlled. It can strike at any any age. There are several key triggers, and here are the 5 simple steps to help control acne:
Step 1: Ideally, you want to consume a low-fat, high-fiber, plant-based diet. Alcohol, sugar, grains and oils are highly inflammatory and should be vastly reduced or eliminated. Animal products are particularly problematic because they are loaded with hormones and antibiotics. As such, you should limit your meat intake and avoid dairy completely because it’s both loaded with hormones and high in acne-causing sugars. Focus on including a lot of raw green veggies, fruits (especially citrus), a wide range of fresh herbs, and lots of herbal teas (dandelion is particularly helpful for detoxification).
Step 2: Keep pores clean, healthy and unclogged with proper cleansing, toning and exfoliation. Your skin cells slough at a higher rate than people who don’t have acne, the skin cells need to be removed, otherwise they feed the bacteria (that we all have) and cause breakouts. This is also why I like to see my clients every two weeks so that we can do a deep exfoliation (Acne Treatment). This also helps decrease any redness or acne scarring.
Step 3: Your skin is your largest eliminative organ, and the toxins need to go somewhere, so when the other organs stop working properly, the toxins are forced out through your skin. Eating the diet mentioned above and exercising at a level that promotes sweat will both help to stimulate the detoxification process. To encourage further detoxification, start each morning off with a glass of warm lemon water (this helps optimize liver function), and include green veggie drinks in your diet– they are loaded with essential nutrients for detoxification.
One final thing to consider is that the internal conditions that created acne, did not occur over night, and reversing them will take some time and patience. You will likely notice more radiant skin within a couple of weeks, but if you have extremely stubborn acne, it could take up to 12 months for complete acne healing. The effort is worth it though — not only will you be rewarded with clear, glowing skin, you’ll also increase your energy and vitality, and reduce your disease risk along the way.