While each person may suffer from acne for different reasons and a naturopath will tailor the treatment on an individual basis, a good start for anyone wanting to tackle acne is to use the tips below:
Manage your diet
Studies show that eating processed foods, dairy products, and other foods high in fat and/or sugar can contribute to and exacerbate acne as they cause your body to produce excess insulin which in turn can trigger an increase in sebum production and inflame your pores. That’s actually good news because it means that we you can reverse and relieve acne while improving your overall health without the adverse side effects of some medical treatments and other invasive procedures.
So, stay away from bad fats commonly found in chips, cookies, cold cuts, fried foods, margarine, salami, and processed foods. Discover coconut oil, a fat with many benefits that you can use both for cooking and as a spread for organic whole grain bread.
Avoid sugar, a low sugar diet is one of the best ways to control acne breakouts in the long term.
Reduce or even cut out dairy products from your diet for two weeks to see if your acne is related to your consumption of cheese, milk, or yogurt. Hormones (including growth hormones) in dairy contribute to acne.
Avoid any foods or drinks that overload your liver such as alcohol, butter, caffeine, and chocolate.
Eat more fiber by adding fiber-rich foods such as chia seeds, whole-grain cereals, 4-5 servings of raw vegetables a day, or take a fiber supplement. The dietary supplement psyllium is a good source of soluble fiber. Fiber absorbs waste testosterone in the intestines, which prevents the hormone from being reabsorbed through the intestinal wall. Always take fiber separately from other supplements of medications.
Eat more raw foods, such as almonds, beets, and cashews. These contain oxalic acid and help the skin to clear and heal faster.
Focus on fruits such as grapes, pineapples, and strawberries. These naturally contain alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which helps exfoliate your skin by removing dead skin cells and stimulating cell renewal.
Choose high-quality, complete proteins at each meal; proteins are rich in amino acids that produce collagen, thus providing your skin with elasticity. Whole eggs, fish such as sardines, lean meat, legumes, poultry, and tofu are all excellent source of high-quality proteins.
Eat foods rich in zinc such as oysters, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds. Zinc is an important nutrient in the treatment of acne, involved in hormone activation, wound healing, immune system activity, and tissue regeneration.
Stay hydrated
Drink a minimum eight glasses of water a day to ensure adequate hydration of your skin. Well-hydrated skin helps keep pores open and unclogged.
Cleanse your skin well
Your skin is your body’s largest organ of elimination; some doctors call the “third kidney”. It gets rid of toxins and waste through sweat which can unbalance the integrity of the skin, making it important for you to cleanse your skin well.
Use tea tree essential oil
Tea tree essential oil offers antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Add 1 drop of half a teaspoon of any vegetable oil and apply to the affected area with a cotton pad each night after washing your face and before bed.
Use depurative plants
A poor diet and misuse of antibiotics can lead to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in your intestine and cause intestinal toxemia, yet another cause of acne. If, for example, you have been constipated for some time, then your body couldn’t get rid of waste and the elimination process is not complete. When toxins keep circulating in your blood and your intestines, liver, and kidneys can’t complete the elimination process, your skin (our largest waste-eliminating organ) will take charge and eliminate the toxins, often resulting in acne.
Depurative plants can help your body eliminate waste and purify your blood. Burdock, dandelion, and red clover are most commonly used to relieve acne. Burdock and red clover are powerful blood purifiers while burdock and dandelion help the liver cleanse itself. Burdock also seems to regulate the production of sebum. These plants contain inulin, a starchy substance found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that can improve the quality of your skin due to its antibacterial properties.
Try a decoction of burdock and dry dandelion roots. Add 1 tablespoon of each per cup of water, then let it simmer for 30 – 40 minutes. You can mis the decoction with an infusion of red clover. Drink this mixture 2 – 4 times each day.
Manage stress
Although stress doesn’t cause acne, it may make it worse by altering your normal intestinal microflora and increasing inflammation and sebum production. Also, the stress hormone cortisol can deplete your body’s levels of magnesium, selenium, and zinc which help control acne.
Naturopathy can help you achieve smooth acne free skin by treating its root cause, not the symptoms.
