Did you know approximately 17 million Americans suffer with acne? It is estimated that 90% of adolescence suffer with this difficult condition. Over one billion dollars per year is spent on treatments, which end with less than satisfactory results. The cosmetic industry treats the skin with very harsh ingredients. The most common allergic reactions reported to such products are due to preservatives. The FDA does not regulate the cosmetic industry and its treatments for acne. In addition to the unhealthy preservatives contained in acne treatments, Accutane and antibiotics are often used to combat acne. Many people spend a great deal of money only to find their condition getting worse. The problem with these treatments is that they treat the symptom—not the problem. Many times, these treatments bring a truckload of unwanted side effects. There is a better way to treat acne than these cosmetic “treatments”: change your diet. The most common misconception about acne is that diet does not affect this condition. Nothing could be further from the truth. Diet has everything to do with acne and natural acne treatment.
Are you ready for healthy skin?
In my practice, it is always hard to see people suffering with any skin condition, but this one is especially hard because it is such a discouragement to the one who has it. Almost everyone with this condition has one or more of the following in common: nutritional deficiencies, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, internal toxic build up, and poor intestinal flora. Skin conditions signal internal imbalances. The skin is our largest organ, and it has much to say about our internal health.
What causes these internal imbalances? Let’s start with a very basic issue that has proven to be a problem for a lot of people. Constipation is a huge problem. Americans spend over 2 billion dollars per year on laxatives. Every cell and tissue in your body is fed through your intestinal tract, so when your bowel is constipated, you are feeding your bloodstream through a dirty grid of nutrients. Constipation can also cause an overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria in the intestinal tract. You cannot fight any type of infection (especially on the skin) well with your most basic element of immunity being compromised (we will talk more about how to resolve this later). Another issue that is critical to address is excess sugar and carbohydrates in the diet that elevate IGF1 (Insulin Growth Factor). Insulin spikes, which happen as a result of eating these foods, are a common cause of acne. Skin bacterial conditions (acne), cannot be defeated without eliminating these foods for a season. Deficiencies in skin nutrients are also a common contributor to acne. Vitamins A, zinc, D3, and essential fatty acids are critical for proper skin healing. In fact, vitamin D3 is so important that without a sufficient level, harmful microbial levels on the skin can increase. Very few people who come to my practice are getting enough of these nutrients. The truth is the Standard American Diet (as well as the average “healthy diet”) lacks these vital skin healers.
Be comforted—you can turn your acne around. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Get a good bowel cleansing program to make sure you are cleaning out your bowels and having 2-3 good bowel movements per day.
2. Take a full spectrum probiotic morning and night.
3. Eat tons of green foods and high quality organic protein (including raw nuts).
4. Cut out all sugars, including dairy (lactose is a sugar) and carbohydrates, until you are cleared up in order to reduce elevated IGF1 levels that cause you to break out.
5. Take high quality Vitamin A, zinc, and essential fatty acids daily.
6. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to keep your sebum levels balanced, or you will increase your number of breakouts.
7. Exercise and sweat 2-3 times per week. This will flush out impurities and increase blood flow to tissues that need oxygen to heal.
8. Use gentle face washes without harsh chemicals to gently cleanse. Do not scrub your skin since scrubbing will only make it worse.
9. Use natural products for skin care and try colloidal silver gel topically 2-3 times per day. 100% Pure and Juice Beauty are great brands.
10. Consider using a high-quality red/blue LED acne lamp. These are amazing because they kill bacteria and reduce inflammation within 4-6 weeks.
11. Don’t give up! You can heal your acne and eventually eat some of the foods you love again. Try this program for at least 12 weeks before you decide if it is working.
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