Acne plagues millions of people of all ages every year. Usually characterized by red pimples, pustules and blackheads, acne is a skin problem caused by an overproduction of sebum. When this oily substance builds up, it blocks and infects pores.
Increased sebum production is often due to hormonal imbalances, like during PMS or when women are on the birth control pill. But nobody is completely sure what causes acne. Blood toxins from poor diet or a sluggish liver can also increase acne, as well as food sensitivities or intolerances.
So what can you do about it?
Acne isn’t just about what you put on your skin. You can improve your skin if you make some simple changes to your routine. Here’s how you can get rid of acne once and for all!
1. change your diet
Your diet should focus on different kind of foods:
- Foods with a high-fibre content that is going to help cleanse your body.
- Lots of vegetables due to their high water content and nutrients.
- Foods rich in zinc to help heal tissues (such as nuts and seeds).
- Foods that contain healthy fats, such as essential fatty acids.
- Probiotic-rich foods as part of an anti-candida diet.
If you want to know more about good foods to introduce into your diet, read this post!
Also, increasing the amount of water you drink helps flush out internal toxins and hydrate your skin from the inside out.
Now, what are the foods to avoid?
- Processed sugar if acne is linked to a glucose intolerance or candidiasis.
- Processed foods since they can damage your skin and collagen, due to their low content of enzymes. Enzymes are very important for proper digestion. Processed foods also contain high levels of iodine, which is known to worsen outbreaks.
- Bad fat…
2. Give your body the nutrients it needs
Nutrients have many benefits in terms of overall state of health. Skin nutrients are primarily found in foods, hence the necessity to have a proper diet.
Unfortunately, the poor quality of soil depletes our food from vital nutrients.
A good nutritional program through a healthy diet and supplements, aims at strengthening your immune system and giving your body the nutrients it needs to function better.
There are lots of nutrients that are beneficial for acne. Here’s a list of the most important ones:
- Beta-carotene and vitamin A are essential for tissue repair and maintenance.
- Chromium helps reduce infection of the skin.
- Zinc aids in healing tissues (most acne sufferers are deficient in zinc).
- Essential fatty acids (especially GLA) can lower the body’s production of sebum.
- Lecithin helps to absorb EFAs.
- Vitamin E helps prevent scarring and enhances the action of vitamin A. Selenium enhances the action of vitamin E.
- Complex B vitamins combat the effect of stress.
- Vitamin C helps fight against infections.
- Vitamin D3 promotes tissue repair.
- Potassium (most acne sufferers are deficient in potassium).
- Niacinamide aids circulation and helps repair the skin.
- Chromium helps with sugar balance.
You may also consider taking:
- Fibre to help keep the colon clear.
- Probiotics to fight against infection and reduces outbreaks.
- Enzymes to aid in digestion (most acne sufferers are deficient in pancreatic digestive enzymes).
- Colloidal silver, which is a natural antibiotic.
- Garlic to fight bad bacteria.
- Chlorophyll to cleanse the blood.
- Nutritional yeast to help reduce oiliness.
Not sure which supplements to take for acne? You should consult a qualified practitioner to help you find the appropriate treatment for you. Skin conditions can be difficult to treat and it’s important that you take the right remedies depending on the cause of acne.
3. Try herbal remedies for acne
Here are the most effective herbs to get rid of acne:
- Chamomile, lavender, and sage infusions are good face cleansers.
- Comfrey, birch leaves, thyme, and blueberry leaves are also good astringents.
- Calendula cream or aloe vera gel can be applied externally to help healing.
- Cleansing herbs are dandelion, chamomile, stinging nettle, yarrow, horsetail, or birch leaves.
- Aloe vera juice helps to cleanse internally.
- Echinacea helps with inflammation and promotes healing.
- Goldenseal has antimicrobial and detoxifying properties.
- Chaste tree berry extract helps in cases of breakouts due to hormonal imbalances.
- Witch hazel is also a great astringent for acne-prone skin.
4. Use essential oils to treat acne
Here are some of the most effective essential oils for acne:
- Juniper essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Rosewood essential oil
- Tea Tree essential oil
Because too high a percentage or direct application of essential oil could cause irritation, it’s best to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as almond or coconut oil. Please read this page before using essential oils.
Also, pure tea tree oil can dry out your skin and trigger your body to overproduce its own oils. This could make your acne worse.
This is why I recommend mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with coconut oil (which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties). Apply it on your pimples a few times a day!
5. Give a try to homeopathic remedies
Here are the most common homeopathic remedies for acne:
- Hepar sulf for painful pimples
- Ledum for pustular acne
- Pulsatilla for hormonal changes
- Kali brom for itchy pimples
Since homeopathy is specific to each person, it’s highly recommended to consult an homeopath for better results.
6. Follow these other useful tips to get rid of acne
- Try not to touch your skin too much since it causes the glands to produce too much sebum.
- Massage around the affected area to promote circulation and speed healing.
- Do not use an electric razor on the affected area but a standard blaze, and do not squeeze the pimples. It can increase inflammation and cause scarring.
- Did you know that clay can be used topically to reduce swelling and treat acne? Read this post to learn how to use it.
- Also try Manuka honey on your pimples. It’s very effective against acne!
Any tips to get rid of acne? Feel free to leave a comment here below and share your experience!
Make your Own Face Wash for Oily Skin: The Best Homemade & Organic Cleansers
- Sources
- Disclaimer
J. Beck
Sources for this article include:
- Acne and acne scarring: why should we treat? (The Medical Journal of Australia)
- Questions and answers about acne (National Institutes of health)
- Acne Vulgaris – Topic overview (WebMD)
- Prebiotics could reduce acne infections
- Andrew Gaeddert, healing Skin Disorders, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 2003
- Louise Tenney, M.H., Today’s Herbal health, 6th edition, USA, 2007
- Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch, Prescription for nutritional healing, United States of America, 2000
- Siegfried Gursche, Encyclopedia of natural healing, Canada, 1997
- Thomas Bartram, Bartram’s encyclopedia of herbal medicine, The definitive guide to the herbal treatment of diseases, Grace Publishers, UK, 1995
DISCLAIMER
The information provided on Optiderma.com is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified practitioner.
If you are allergic to the foods, herbs, essential oils, any remedies listed here, you must of course avoid them. For example, consuming food that you’re sensitive to will only cause more (not reduce!) inflammation.
Please consult a practitioner (such as Naturopath, Homeopath, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dermatologist, ...) to follow the most appropriate treatment to heal your skin. All legal mentions »
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