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Acne and skin breakouts are a common problem, affecting most of us at some point in our lives. There are two main types of acne: inflammatory, and non-inflammatory. With all of the products, treatments and remedies out there, why are so many people suffering from acne? And why does it feel like no matter how much money you invest in a solution for your skin-related issues, it never really goes away?
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Sometimes your face breaks out for reasons you would never expect. For some people, the right natural remedy is simply avoiding certain foods like gluten. For others, the cause has more to do with hormones. Ultimately, awareness is everything when it comes to skin breakouts and what causes them.
Here is the ultimate guide to solving your acne and skin breakouts naturally.
You Have Too Much Stress In Your Life
A lot of people don't realize how much stress can affect their body. When we're stressed out, it throws our hormones out of balance. When our fight-or-flight hormones are activated, oil production in the skin increases, and can lead to an outbreak of unwanted pimples. To remedy this, try taking some time each day for self-care activities like meditation or yoga; this will help balance out your hormones and ease stress levels so that they don't cause flare-ups on your face. Studies have shown that moderate exercise reduces levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) while increasing endorphins (the chemicals responsible for feelings like happiness and contentment).
Two of the best Loose Leaf teas for reducing stress are Daily Calm and Zen AF. Drink these powerhouse teas daily for best results. Even a cozy cup of chamomile will help reduce that stress load.
Learn more about natural ways to reduce stress
You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep
If you don't get enough sleep, your body will produce more cortisol, the stress hormone that can trigger breakouts. Studies have shown that people who don't get enough sleep are more likely to experience fatigue and anxiety, mood swings, depression and symptoms of hormonal imbalance. The recommended amount of sleep is eight hours per day for most adults—but if you're feeling tired during the day or experiencing some other signs of sleep deprivation (such as trouble concentrating), it might be worth evaluating how much shut-eye you're actually getting each night.
To help you get that important shuteye, drink a soothing mug of relaxing tea before you go to bed. Try Loose Leaf's Nitey Nite or Lush Lavender tea, or brew a cup of passionflower or valerian.
Read 10 Tips To Get The Sleep You Need
You’re Eating Foods That Aggravate The Problem
The food you eat could be causing your skin to break out. Some foods are known to trigger hormonal changes that result in acne breakouts (like chocolate). When you have acne, it's important to look at how your diet might be affecting it. Eating foods that are high in sugar and refined carbohydrates may increase inflammation, cause hormonal imbalance, and make your skin more sensitive. Here are a few examples of foods that can cause problems:
- Dairy products (milk, yogurt)
- Wheat/gluten containing foods (breads and pasta)
- Soy products like tofu or soy sauce
- Beef/chicken liver
- Eggs
- Peanuts/tree nuts (almonds)
- Chocolate
A offender to the skin is sugar, which is known to cause inflammation, which is the root cause of inflammatory acne. The more sugar you eat, the worse your acne will get. Sugar also causes hormone imbalances and insulin resistance which can lead to weight gain and even more breakouts, including cystic acne! Eating fewer processed carbs like pasta, white breads and pastries can help you get clearer, healthier skin.
Here is a very popular book Cleanse To Heal with food tips and easy recipes
Read more about the connection between diet and inflammation
Your Liver Needs Some Love And Attention
One of the first things to do when you're looking for natural remedies for hormonal acne is focus on the health of your liver. Your liver plays an important role in supporting your overall health, so if it's not working properly, it can have a negative impact on many different parts of your body, including the skin.
The good news is that there are plenty of foods and herbal teas that help keep your liver healthy and strong—and these same foods can also help fight hormonal acne! Foods like asparagus and beets contain antioxidants that support detoxification processes within our bodies. Herbal teas that contain dandelion and milk thistle help protect and cleanse the liver, which improve its health naturally. These foods and teas should be part of your daily diet and lifestyle whenever possible because they provide such valuable benefits beyond just clearing out hormones or other impurities in our blood—they also support digestion, improve immunity, and reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Drink two cups of a cleansing herbal tea such as Daily Detox, Sleek & Slender, or Smooth Jazz, to boost liver health naturally and gently
Learn more about cleansing and detox here
You're Not Exercising Enough
Exercise can reduce stress levels and boost moods by releasing endorphins into your bloodstream - the same "feel-good" chemicals released when eating chocolate or having sex for example (yes, really). It's well known that stress can play a big role in acne breakouts; so if your current lifestyle isn't taking care of all those hormones properly, adding some exercise could help balance things out. Twenty minutes of moderate exercise daily has been shown to reduce inflammation while improving blood flow and promoting detoxification, so do your best to incorporate some movement into your daily routine. Your mood will improve along with your skin.
Put a pedal exerciser like this one under your desk, or take a break from your desk on one of these small folding stationary bikes to get your blood moving even during a workday.
Read about the best teas to help you with your fitness routine
Your Body Is Exposed To Hormone Disruptors
Hormone disruptors are chemicals that are found in just about everything you can think of: plastic water bottles, cleaning products, skin care products, canned foods, even certain types of cookware. These chemicals create chaos in the human body by interfering with hormone balance, particularly reproductive hormones, and can even cause nerve damage with prolonged exposure. One of the most pervasive troublemakers are microplastics – tiny particles of plastic that are leached into your food and drinks that are stored and/or prepared in plastic containers. Not only are microplastics are an enormous ecological problem; they are also a huge problem for human health. You can reduce your exposure to microplastics significantly by avoiding drinking from plastic bottles, and microwaving food in plastic containers. Invest in a reusable stainless steel water bottle like this one, and transfer food into glass containers before heating.
Shop reusable stainless steel bottles now
You can read more about microplastics right here
These are just a few of the causes of breakouts, but these conditions can vary from person to person. When you treat these causes naturally, you will find yourself well on your way to clearer skin, avoiding the chemical-laden over-the-counter products that can have side effects. Remember that not every natural remedy works for everyone, so it can take some experimentation to find out what works best for you.
*This information has not been evaluated by the FDA, and is not intended to diagnose or cure a medical issue, or replace professional medical care. If you are pregnant or nursing, are under the care of a physician, or on prescription medication, talk to your health care provider before making any changes to your diet or routine.