Acne is the most common skin condition, affecting about 50 million people in the USA alone. The good news is that you don’t have to resort to antibiotics, accutane, or strong drugs. Here’s how you can treat acne naturally.
You don’t have to try strong prescriptions from your doctor or spend hours reading labels trying to find something that won’t irritate your skin further. Below are our top tips for clearing up acne without harsh treatments.
Acne sufferers are often told that their breakouts are a result of poor hygiene, but that’s simply not true. Studies have shown that people with acne tend to wash their faces more than those who don’t suffer have acne.
Meanwhile, some common skincare products like harsh cleansers and soap can actually make matters worse by drying out your skin and causing further irritation. Here are our top tips for how to clear acne naturally:
Look at acne triggers in your diet
If you are suffering from stubborn acne that just won’t clear, it may be down to your diet. You may be surprised to learn that gluten and dairy are two of the most common causes of inflammation in the body.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. It can cause acne by increasing inflammation throughout your body. Dairy also causes inflammation by activating an immune response in the body. This releases histamines that block oil glands and increase sebum production, leading to more pimples.
If you have stubborn acne that doesn’t seem to clear, try eliminating all forms of dairy and gluten from your diet for 8 weeks and see if there is an improvement.
Stop drinking alcohol to clear acne
The high sugar and carbohydrate content in alcohol can cause your skin to become inflamed and congested. Alcohol consumption dehydrates the body and the stress response that results from drinking wreaks havoc on the body and skin.
Alcohol causes inflammation and puts strain on the liver. If you are trying to clear your acne, this is not good news: The liver plays an important role in regulating hormones that have been linked with acne—like testosterone and estrogen. So when your liver is busy detoxing from the night before, your skin suffers.
Stop smoking.
Vapes and cigarettes wreak havoc on the skin. Recent studies have shown a link between vaping and acne.
Smoking is a well-known acne trigger, and it’s not just because of the toxins in cigarettes. Smoking also reduces blood flow to your skin, which can cause breakouts. Vaping also increases the risk of acne by increasing inflammation in your body, as well as being full of unregulated additives.
So if you want clear skin and a healthy heart, consider kicking that habit!
Ditch the pore-clogging makeup.
While it may be part of your daily routine to slap on a face full of foundation, contour, and powder, this leads to a vicious cycle of acne breakouts and then applying more makeup to hide them. Let your skin breathe and heal.
If you are serious about clearing up your acne, it’s time to ditch wearing a face full of makeup every day. While it might be part of your daily routine for work or school, it’s actually making breakouts worse in the long run.
That’s because makeup contains ingredients that clog pores, causing bacteria to grow inside them. When your face is covered with foundation or other products, it prevents the skin from getting oxygen and natural light that would normally help clear acne.
So what should you do instead? Focus on following a skincare routine (which we’ll get into below). Once your skin heals, you won’t even need foundation! In the meantime, you can still use eye makeup or tinted sunscreen.
Change to a natural gentle skincare routine.
The vast majority of skincare products on the market are packed with toxic and harsh ingredients. Change your SLS-packed cleanser to a gentle cream/ milk cleanser. Incorporate a natural toner into your routine to hydrate your skin before applying a customized moisturizer to soothe your skin.
You can switch to a gentle, natural skincare routine. The vast majority of skincare products on the market are packed with toxic and harsh ingredients. Change your heavy-duty chemical cleanser to a gentle cream cleanser. Incorporate a gentle anti-inflammatory toner into your routine after cleansing your skin, and create your own customized moisturizer to soothe your skin.
Removing harsh chemicals that irritate the skin allows it to heal. Focus on repairing your skin’s natural barrier. Keep exfoliating to a maximum of once per week to remove dead skin cells. exfoliating can cause acne and inflammation. But exfoliating gently once per week keeps your skin clear of congestion. f!
Focus on repairing your skin’s natural barrier.
Your skin barrier protects the skin from bacteria, pathogens, and other nasties. If you are stripping your skin dry with harsh, drying chemicals, you are also destroying your skin’s natural protective layer. Add plenty of hydrating, soothing ingredients that repair and protect your skin’s natural barrier, such as our hyaluronic acid serum or vitamin c serum.
Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin. It protects your skin from bacteria, pathogens, and other nasties. If you are stripping your skin dry with harsh chemicals, you are also destroying your skin’s natural protective layer.
Going for monthly facials with an acne specialist will also help you massively on your clear skin journey.
The first step to naturally clear skin is to make sure that you are treating your acne with gentle products. Your skincare routine should be free from harsh ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and fragrances. If you vape or smoke, it’s time to quit as not only do they cause acne breakouts but a huge amount of damage to your body.
Stop wearing pore-clogging makeup every day and allow your skin to breathe. Eliminate the main acne triggers in your diet for 8 weeks and you will be sure to see some improvement in your skin.
Incorporate these simple skincare tips into your daily routine, and your skin is sure to improve. You can also book a Customized Facial with us to get an acne treatment plan and start your clear skin journey.
