Acne is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages. Naturopathy offers a holistic approach to clearing acne naturally. Here are the types of recommendations I give clients wanting to clear their acne naturally.
How to clear Acne Naturally
1. Diet
A healthy diet is essential for clear skin. There are some foods we know limiting can assist some people to clear their skin. Often looking to reduce or avoid processed foods, sugary foods, and dairy products as they may trigger acne. It can be helpful to focus on eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats like omega-3s found in oily fish.
2. Water
Drinking plenty of water can help keep the skin hydrated. Dehydrated skin is often the first domino in what leads to a breakout. I suggest at least 2ltr of water per day.
3. Herbs and Supplements
When clients working with me to clear acne, I will often use and suggest certain herbs and supplements to help support the body’s natural detoxification processes, heal the skin, support hormones and healthy digestion and reduce inflammation. Some examples include milk thistle, dandelion root, burdock root, zinc, fish oil and vitamin A.
4. Skincare
Using gentle, skin care products tailored for acne. These can help to prevent clogged pores, assist with healing and reduce inflammation. I am no expert here and will link you up with acne specialising beauticians and aestheticians who can help create the perfect skincare routine for you.
5. Stress management
Stress can trigger acne by increasing inflammation in the body. We also have receptors in our skin that directly react to increased stress, which will see an increase in the products and stickiness of sebum, which can lead to more outbreaks. I often recommend lifestyle techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to help manage stress levels as well as some amazing herbs and nutrients.
6. Exercise
Regular exercise can help to improve circulation and lymphatics and promote the elimination of toxins from the body. It can also help to reduce stress levels. If you have deep cystic pimples, along your lymph glands and hair lines, these types of outbreaks will see a huge improvement in exercise. Walking at least 10k steps as well as infrared saunas can be quite helpful.
7. Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for healthy skin. Ideally, you need to be having 7-8hrs of deep good quality uninterrupted sleep. I often recommend establishing a regular sleep schedule and avoiding screens and electronics before bedtime to promote restful sleep.
It’s important to note that everyone’s skin is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. That’s why it’s important to work with a specialised acne Naturopath who can create custom plan for you. During our initial consultation, we work out a plan for you to achieve clear skin. We review your blood results, pathology testing and symptoms to create a plan to help clear your skin. While our end goal is clear skin, clear skin comes when our diet is balanced, our blood sugar is managed, our nervous system feels supported and our digestion is regular.
If you experiencing breakouts and acne and would like support to improve your overall health you can book a consult with Naturopath Lindsay for a clarity call to discuss what working together looks like and how we can help improve your acne.
