Last post, I gave you some hints and clues about what may be causing your specific acne problem. If you now have a hunch about which imbalances may be wreaking the most havoc for you, then you may be wondering….. what do I do about it?

General Poor Health; Nutrient Deficiencies; Poor Circulation

  • Start by improving your diet! If you know you eat really poorly, a bit of extra nutrition may be all it takes.
  • Start getting exercise. Try to find an activity that you find fun so that you’ll stick with it. Bonus points if it’s outdoors.
  • Start taking fish oil or cod liver oil. Almost everyone is deficient in Omega 3s and it’s so important for the health of the skin.
  • Get tested for vitamin and mineral levels so you know what to work on

Hormones

  • There are many things that can cause hormones to go out of whack (puberty, birth control pills, stress, Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, etc), but all of these things are almost entirely influenced by lifestyle. So the number one key to balancing hormones is to eat right, exercise, sleep well, and reduce stress.
  • Get a saliva hormone test. This can tell you exactly which sort of hormonal imbalance you’re dealing with, and you can then find supplements that may help with your specific issue.
  • Stop eating conventional meat and dairy that contains synthetic hormones.
  • Super intense body building (as well as performance enhancing drugs) can increase testosterone in the body which can lead to breakouts. Tone down the workouts so that they’re less stressful and quit the performance enhancers.

Food Allergies

  • Start by eliminating the most obvious food sensitivities for those with acne – and those are wheat and gluten, conventional dairy, and soy products.
  • Eliminate anything you think you may have a problem with for a month or two and monitor yourself for any changes in your skin, moods, or digestion.
  • Get a food allergy test done. I recommend an electroacupuncture test, or kinesiology testing.

Blood Sugar Problems

  • Cut way down on sugar and refined, processed foods (like white bread and rice).
  • Try to stay away from coffee, drugs, or other stimulants – it feeds the sugar swings.
  • Eat snacks throughout the day to prevent your blood sugar from dipping too low.
  • Avoid eating huge amounts of dense carbohydrates at one meal. Combine small amounts of dense carbohydrates with lots of vegetables and some protein and good fat to prevent blood sugar swings
  • Buy a glucose meter that diabetics use to test their blood sugar levels. This can help you get a precise idea of which meals and combinations of foods cause problems for you.

Poor Digestion; Candida

  • Cut way down on sugar and refined processed foods.
  • Take probiotic supplements and eat fermented foods.
  • Get an electroacupuncture test that can let you know if you have a candida problem, and how bad it is.
  • If you have a candida problem, do a candida diet and include yeast killing antifungals in your regimen.
  • Take a psyllium husk fiber supplement.
  • Cut down on grains (especially gluten grains), unsoaked nuts and seeds, tough raw vegetables (like broccoli), and other things that are tough to digest.
  • Be mindful when you eat. Chew thoroughly, don’t rush, and don’t eat when you’re stressed.
  • Take digestive enzymes to help you fully digest your food.

Stress; Poor Emotional Health; Poor Self Esteem

  • Read Skin Deep
  • Begin a practice of meditation, breathwork, yoga, or some other calming, relaxing activity.
  • Do you what you love and that makes you feel good about yourself! Concentrate on what you’re good at and ignore the rest.
  • Try positive visualization. Your body can’t tell the difference between things that are real or imagined. It will respond positively to positive imagery (like envisioning yourself with clear skin)
  • Reevaluate your life. What can you do to move away from the people and things that don’t resonate with you or support your best interests?
  • After you’ve reevaluated your life, take action. Don’t sit there and do nothing.
  • Are you doing too much with your time and getting overwhelmed? Remember that 80% of your output comes from 20% of your effort. Streamline the things you have to do and cut out the unimportant stuff.
  • Every morning or evening, write down 5 things that you’re grateful for.
  • Remember that your thoughts are not as important as you think. You don’t have to believe every negative thought just because it came into your head.
  • If you need extra help, see a counsellor or or a hypnotherapist.
  • Stop drinking caffeine. Caffeine automatically raises the stress hormone in your body.

Physical Irritation; Skin picking; Really Harsh Skin Care Routine

  • Simplify your skin care and stop messing with your face’s natural balance by using commercial products that are full of ingredients and chemicals. I suggest using raw honey to wash your face, and only organic aloe vera as a soothing moisturizer/toner/whatever.
  • Find a skin care routine and stick with it. Shocking your skin by changing every two weeks is a bad idea.
  • Stop picking, popping, touching, using abrasive things, and irritating your skin. Just leave it alone. If you need help, read Stop Picking On Me.
  • Never wash your face more than twice a day even if your skin is oily.
  • Become aware if you are leaning into or pressing things onto your skin (like your cell phone) and getting breakouts in those areas. If you notice a connection, try to find a new way to hold your phone, etc.

What do you think? Are you more clear on what you need to do now, or more confused?