Acne – Tips to Achieve Bright, Healthy Skin!

Acne is one of the most prevalent skin issues around. For young people it can be especially hard given the often accompanying hormone changes, emotional ups and downs and impact on self esteem.  But there are things that you can do to alleviate acne’s symptoms including proper skin care, diet and daily habits.

An important starting point in keeping acne in check is your daily skin care routine and your mantra here should be gentle! Your skin should be washed twice a day, once lightly in the morning and then again before bed; before bed is important as this is when dirt and oil have built up over the course of the day.  Be sure not to over-wash as this can lead to even more oil production.  If perspiring, wash your skin as soon as possible as sweating can make acne worse.  Be careful with what you are using on your skin. Skin care products should be gentle and non-abrasive with the right PH; avoid oil and alcohol-based cleansers as they leave skin dry and tight.  Use your fingers to gently wash; using sponges, washcloths or others can further irritate the skin. Be sure to rinse with lukewarm water and NOT hot water.  It’s a good idea to use a gentle exfoliate once or twice a week to remove dead skin.

I believe that acne is a warning sign of an imbalance in your body related to hormones, diet, toxins or yeast.  If you want to deal with acne at its root, then it is vital that you get your body back in balance. How do you do this? There are a number of things that can be done including formulating the ideal diet, fasting, eliminating certain foods and food addictions i.e. sugar, creating a healthy gut and the right mindset for change,  and, most importantly making a commitment to a permanently healthy lifestyle. We are fortunate here at Derma Bright Clinic to have an in-house Holistic Nutritionist, SharonPendlington, B.Sc., R.H.N., RYT, of Personal Nutrition. She can look at your diet and make suggestions plus she can test for food sensitivities, hormone imbalances and more.

A healthy lifestyle includes paying attention to the environment you are living in and the lifestyle choices you are making. Are you drinking lots of clean, high PH water? Are you breathing in clean, energizing air? Are you sleeping well? Are you using healing light? How are you handling stress? Are you exercising? What kind of food are you eating? Processed? Organic? Acne is a very western affliction and is not an issue in many older cultures. Take a close look at these areas of your life and know that any changes you can make here will create a huge impact on your general wellbeing.

Your daily habits with your skin warrant close attention as well. It is really important to avoid touching your face as our hands can often leave bacteria and dirt on the face potentially clogging skin pores and leading to flare-ups.  If you have long hair try to keep it off your face as hair can attract dust and dirt.  Do your best to not squeeze or pop pimples as this can lead to acne scarring and leaves the spot even more swollen and red.  Let your skin heal itself naturally.

Other helpful tips include shampooing your hair when it is oily so it isn’t ending up on your skin.  Also, be careful with the sun. I love the sun and it is something we need to be healthy. Although not a proponent myself of slathering sunscreen everywhere, I do believe the face should be as it is exposed 24×7 and needs that extra protection. An acne sufferer though needs to be choosy with their sunscreen and it’s worth investing in one for your face which is going to protect without irritating or full of chemicals. Speak to a professional about ideas on the right product to use – this can include dermatologists, aestheticians and cosmetic counters. I personally don’t like tanning beds – I think they are dangerous, unnatural and there is evidence now of that they can increase your risk for melanoma, so don’t use them. If you want to look like you have a tan try spray tanning, ideally with something as minimally toxic as possible.  If you are using acne medications, they can make your skin extra sensitive especially to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

There are a number of professional services available to help deal with obvious acne signs including extraction, exfoliation, Blue LED light and coaching. There are lots of studies out there to back up LED light. In my opinion, this is a better route than pharmaceuticals, something many Dermatologists will often resort to. Drugs for anything are never the answer as they simply mask the issue and do not get to the root of the problem. And please avoid Accutane and Proactive!!

Acne is a nuisance yes, but treat it as a warning sign that you need to get your body back in balance.  Our bodies are amazing machines and can heal themselves given the right inputs and environment. If you do not treat your acne it may lead to scarring later and that will be difficult to get rid of.

Take a holistic approach to treating your acne and develop the right mindset and core beliefs around wellbeing. Do what you can to educate yourself, see the right professionals to help you and take action today. Not only will you notice positive changes in your skin, you will become a billboard for wellbeing which will do wonders for creating a happy, joyful fulfilling life.

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Estie Gonzalez

Owner

Derma Bright Clinic