Natural Ways to Get Rid of Acne

I never had any problems with my skin until I was pregnant. For nine months my skin was a wreck. I searched out what to do, but found a lot of harsh chemicals and expensive so called “miracle products.”

Image Source

Most of us are not graced with perfect skin. We need help to keep our skin healthy and blemish free. Severe acne can be traumatic and cause lasting emotional an physical scaring. Harsh chemicals are not the answer and often add to the problem. Natural treatments for acne are not only affordable, but actually work.

Before we get into what to do, let’s look at what causes skin problems. Why is it that some people have severe breakouts and others only get the occasional pimple? Dermatologist will tell you the exact cause is unknown. However, we do know some of the factors that instigate skin problems. Avoiding the ones that you can is step one to clear skin.

Some Instigating factors:

Hormones & Heredity- There are times in life that hormones go haywire- pregnancy, puberty, menstruation, and menopause. Of course, hormones can go haywire anytime they feel like it too! Hormones are responsible for the maturation of the oil glands in our skin. Anytime an oil surplus is created it can clog hair follicles and cause acne. We can also inherit oily skin.

• Allergens
• Certain medications
• Increased Stress
• Lack of exercise
• Diet imbalances

There are several approaches to natural acne treatments. Though, that doesn’t mean that you can not combine these treatments.

Acne Diet:

Image Source

If you suspect that a food is causing your acne, stop eating one food at time for four week intervals. If you see a difference in your skin, then the food may be contributing to the problem and you can eliminate it. The best diet is a high plant, fiber, and water diet, with a low fat diet.

Here are some key suggestions to add or subtract from your diet:

• Choose organic foods over processed
• Lower saturated fats
• Increase olive oil
• Eat five servings of fresh vegetables and fruits daily
• Eat one tablespoon of fresh pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, etc.. seeds.
• Add bulky fiber foods
• Limit caffeine to two cups daily or cut out completely
• Avoid alcohol
• Limit red meat to three-four times weekly
• Avoid sugary products
• Broil, boil, or grill- instead of fry
• Only eat raw nuts
• Avoid nicotine
• Drink 8 – 8oz glasses of water a day
• Try to replace milk products with soy products where possible

Oral Vitamin & Mineral Supplements

Image Source

Some lists will tell you to take massive amounts of vitamins, but this can be dangerous. Vitamins can have side effects when taken in massive amounts. Instead, find a good multivitamin with minerals. Look for these : Zinc, Vitamin C, Flaxseed oil, Vitamin E, Chromium, Vitamin B, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B5, Vitamin A, selenium, lycopene, & bilberry.

Topical Vitamin A:

Topical Vitamin A helps to dry the skin and exfoliate it. Once the top layers of skin are off the pores are open and can breath. This will help prevent acne from forming.

Skin Cleaning:

Image Source

Avoid over washing your face. Frequent washing practices are one common misconception with acne prone skin. A gentle wash with calendula or natural glycerin soap twice a day is all that is needed. Do not use any soaps that have fragrance or dye. Do not use oil based make up products. Moisturize skin with oil free, dye free, and fragrance free product after washing.

Exercise & Sleep:

The easiest lifestyle change to make- Exercise 30 minutes a day to get blood circulating to all tissues. Get 8 hours of sleep a night. Simple as that!