“Your skin is a reflection of your internal health.”

What people don’t realise is that using all these antibacterial soaps they see on T.V. and creams given to them to fight acne by the pharmacist will never do anything except maybe give very short term relief.

Acne, like all skin conditions, starts deep inside the body and it isn’t just skin deep.

I can already hear your voice saying, “Who are you to say that? My doctor has told me…”

Well from the ages of 14 to 24 I Iived with severe and painful acne on my face, chest, neck and back for 5 years before the death of my best that pushed my body into deep physical, emotional, and chemical stress that then meant the acne developed into keloid scarring, as well as large cysts.

I was prescribed everything from antibiotics, steroids, steroid creams, steroid injections and roaccuntane, and not only did none of it work. It actually made me 10 times worse.
Then through what some would call luck, and others would say destiny I found natural healing methods and started living a natural health lifestyle and I’ve never looked back.
I can now say I haven’t had a spot in years and I am always getting compliments on how clear my skin looks, and I’ve helped hundreds of people put their skin issues behind them.
You see breakouts, pimples, and deep cystic eruptions are actually signs of inflammation and toxicity in the body.

Typically, we develop acne when:

  • Hormones fluctuate.
  • We eat certain foods.
  • We drink alcohol.
  • We have irregular bowel movements.
  • We are under extreme stress.

There is one thing that all of these circumstances have in common: The immune system. Hormone levels in the body, food and alcohol, and stress all affect the immune system. And the immune system is what generates inflammation.

When you have acne, chances are that you also have inflammation elsewhere in the body. And maybe even a fungal or parasitic infection.

So, why do we use antibacterial creams and harsh soaps when acne begins deep inside the body? Antibacterial creams and harsh soaps are a quick fix. They dry the skin and change its ecosystem – but they never really get to the root of the imbalance.

4 NATURAL ACNE REMEDIES THAT START ON THE INSIDE

Inflammation is driven by the immune system, which is primarily located in the gut. So, if you really want to take control of your skin, you need to take inventory of what you eat and how you feel. You need to start to really listen to the body.

STEP 1: BODY AWARENESS

Leaky gut and acne are best buddies. Wherever you find one, you will likely find the other. A leaky gut is an inflamed gut. One way to detect leaky gut is to watch out for irregular bowel movements: Either constipation for days or loose stool multiple times a day.

Other possible signs of inflammation include:

  • Bloating, gas, or heartburnJoint pain
  • Nasal congestion
  • Headaches
  • Anxiety or depression

Keep in mind that you can also inflame the gut just by subjecting your body to excess physical, emotional, or environmental stress.

STEP 2: FOOD AWARENESS

Food is the most common gut irritant. If you struggle with acne and haven’t checked in with what you eat, now is the time. The wrong kinds of food actually feed infection and inflammation and thus lead to acne.

The most notorious culprits are:

  • Grains – especially those that contain gluten, like wheat, rye, and barleyEggs
  • Dairy
  • Tree nuts – such as almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, and walnuts
  • Seeds

Seed oils can also feed inflammation. This is because many seed oils are refined (and rancid). They also contain disproportionately high levels of omega-6 fats, which have been shown to contribute to inflammation.

Examples of seed oils include:

  • Canola oil
  • Corn oil
  • Peanut oil
  • Safflower oil
  • Vegetable oil

Read labels – these oils are often in store-bought dressings and mayo alternatives.

Some plant oils – such as unrefined coconut and palm oil – are safe and even beneficial to consume. These oils can withstand high cooking temperatures without turning rancid. Raw organic virgin coconut oil also contains antimicrobial fats that work with your body and your immune system.

STEP 3: SUPPORT YOUR INNER ECOSYSTEM

Did you know that your digestive tract is filled with bacteria and yeast? These microscopic organisms are extremely important and make up the inner ecosystem of the gut. And because they know how to communicate with different cells in the human body, they shape human health.

In addition to leaky gut, many of us have a wounded inner ecosystem – one that is out of balance from an onslaught of antibiotic medication, oral contraceptives, highly allergenic and sugary foods.
Antibiotic medication, oral contraceptives, and sugary foods all damage the inner ecosystem and feed Candida yeast overgrowth as well as many other fungi and parasites.

You can rebuild your inner ecosystem by incorporating fermented foods into your diet. Fermentation is an ancient way of preserving food and has been around for a long time. But over the last century, it’s fallen out of fashion. Fortunately, we are seeing a new wave of interest in fermented foods like coconut water kefir and cultured veggies.

Cultured foods:

  • Are full of active enzymes and good bacteria.
  • Help to lower inflammation in the body.
  • Detox the body gently but deeply.
  • Reboot stress hormones.

STEP 4: SUPPORT LIVER HEALTH

When harmful bacteria, dietary irritants, and environmental toxins get past the gut lining, they drain into the liver. The liver is not so much of a filter as it is a place where detoxification and transformation happen. With the help of powerful antioxidants like glutathione, the liver transforms toxins. And with the help of the immune system, the liver clears potentially harmful substances -including bacteria and pro-inflammatory fragments of bacteria.

When the liver is not able to function optimally and gets congested due to medications, greasy foods, chemicals, heavy metals, preservatives in food, lack of sleep, stress, and repressed anger, it leaks toxic bile. This causes inflammation.

Taking herbs like milk thistle and wasabi helps cleanse the liver from these toxic substances.

How well you remove pollutants from your body is not solely dependent on your liver – it also hinges on the integrity of your gut. You can restore your liver’s ability to cleanse with a healthy inner ecosystem. You can bring your body back into balance and lay the foundation for beautiful, glowing skin.

In Summary:

Acne is a pesky skin issue that is much more than skin deep. Cystic acne and breakouts are signs of deeper inflammation in the body. Acne may be triggered by certain foods, alcohol, irregular bowel movements, hormones, or extreme stress. All of these triggers activate the immune system; the immune system is responsible for inflammation.
Antibacterial creams and soaps are merely a quick fix. Use these four steps to help get rid of acne for good:

  1. Examine your body. An inflamed, leaky gut and acne often go hand-in-hand. Common signs of a leaky gut include irregular bowel movements, either constipation or loose stool several times a day.
  2. Examine your food. Food is the most common gut irritant that could exacerbate your acne. Common inflammatory trigger foods include grains, eggs, dairy, and tree nuts, as well as seed oils like canola, corn, peanut, safflower, and vegetable oil.
  3. Support your inner ecosystem. Your inner ecosystem may be damaged by antibiotics, oral contraceptives, and sugary foods that feed Candida yeast. Rebuild your inner ecology with fermented foods like coconut water kefir and cultured veggies.
  4. Support your liver. A congested liver may not be able to clear out harmful substances, like bacteria and pro-inflammatory bacteria fragments. Help to fight liver congestion and inflammation with cleansing herbs like milk thistle and wasabi.

REFERENCES:

  1. Gibson, R. A., Neumann, M. A., Lien, E. L., Boyd, K. A., & Tu, W. C. (2013). Docosahexaenoic acid synthesis from alpha-linolenic acid is inhibited by diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 88(1), 139-146.