How I Achieved Clear Skin Naturally
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If you’ve struggled with acne, you know how debilitating it can be. When you wake up in the morning and find a new visitor on your chin, it makes you want to hide from the world and avoid human interaction at all costs. I’ve been there.
I struggled with hormonal acne for years. I even went on the birth control pill to get rid of it, which is more like a dangerous Band-Aid than an actual solution. I used birth control for 12 years until I got educated about what was really causing all of those painful cysts on my face. Turns out there are quite a few triggers for acne and everyone is different.
In this blog post, I will be sharing the secrets that helped me clear my skin and allowed me to finally stop taking hormonal birth control. I’ll be sharing:
• How I transitioned off the pill and avoided breakouts
• How your hormones might be affecting your skin and how to manage them
• How to avoid pore clogging products
• What foods to watch out for if you have acne prone skin
• How to create a customized skin care regimen that works for you and your skin
type
So, if you’re tired of these little visitors that destroy your confidence and make you want to run back to bed and hide under the covers, then you’ve come to the right place! Get ready to say “hello” to clear, acne-free skin.
How I transitioned off the pill and avoided breakouts
At the age of 18, I was desperate to find a solution for my painful bumps on my cheeks, jawline and forehead so my mom took me to my doctor who prescribed the birth control pill. She said many girls my age had experienced improved skin by going on the pill so I, without hesitation, said “SIGN ME UP!”
Fast forward 12 years and I was still popping that little pill every day. While I enjoyed the clear skin and other benefits of the pill, I was 30 years old now and knew that the pill and I had to break up at some point, and I expected it wouldn’t be pretty when we did.
Once I discontinued my use of the birth control pill, I changed everything from my laundry detergent to my makeup products and even shampoo and conditioner. I also started taking some natural supplements to help with my hormonal imbalances and got regular chemical peels to refresh the old layers of skin and clear my pores.
Even though I was strictly following my new regimen every morning for the next 3 months, I woke up anticipating the next breakout or painful cyst, but that never happened! My skin looked better than it had even on the pill. I was amazed and SO relieved that I had finally figured out how to achieve clear skin naturally, without any harmful prescription medications. My confidence ski-rocketed and I was getting compliments almost daily from family and friends on how great my skin looked.
Here are some of the secrets I learned and how you too can achieve clear skin.
Secret #1: How your hormones might be affecting your skin and ways to manage them
Hormones play a big role within your body and your skin is no exception. When hormones are out of whack, your skin can reflect that. In the case of coming off the pill, many women, myself included, experience what is called an androgen rebound. The birth control pill suppresses testosterone production so when you quit taking it, your body can experience a surge of testosterone a.k.a the androgen rebound. This almost always causes excess oil production, acne around the jawline, and in some cases hair loss and hair growth in other areas you may not want.
A clean whole-foods based diet and some natural supplements like Chasteberry Vitex and Saw Palmetto might be a good option for you if you think you are experiencing androgen rebound or other hormonal imbalances. Always consult your Naturopath or Functional Medicine practitioner before starting any new supplements.
You can learn more about hormones in my 3 Tips to Balance Your Hormones post.
Secret #2: How to avoid pore clogging products
Removing pore clogging ingredients from your routine is going to be a game changer in clearing up your acne. Lots of products have “Non Comedogenic” on them but they actually aren’t. In fact, most liquid foundations are pore clogging and powder foundations tend to be much more pore-friendly. Check out the acne friendly makeup products I use and love by visiting my Favorites Page.
To see if any of your favorite products contain pore clogging ingredients, click HERE.
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Secret #3: Foods to watch out for if you have acne prone skin
It’s common knowledge that salty foods can cause acne but it's actually not that black and white. For example, sea salt is okay and won’t irritate your skin but Iodized salt is where you can get into trouble. Iodized salt is everywhere, especially in fast food so try to limit your iodine intake. Dairy is also a common offender so if you are struggling with painful breakouts, try to go 30 to 60 days without dairy and see how your skin responds.
It’s best to remove processed foods, dairy, fast food, and even eggs (as vitamin B12 can be an acne trigger for some) for a period of at least 60-90 days to see if any of those foods trigger your acne. Then you can slowly, one by one, re-introduce them into your diet and take note if any new blemishes appear.
How to create a customized skin care regimen that works for you and your skin type
It’s going to take some time to figure out what triggers your acne and what you can keep in your diet, routine, and lifestyle. This process can be frustrating to say the least which is why I recommend focusing on your immediate skin care routine first. The products that are touching your face daily are going to be the biggest offenders in most cases.
I recommend Clearstem skin care to start. You can take their skin quiz to find out what type of skin you have and what product line you need. You can start with just the essentials if cost is a concern for you and work your way up from there. I love their products because they are 100% non-pore clogging and non-toxic. That combo is difficult to come by, believe me, I have looked high and low.
Once you have removed the pore cloggers from your product routine, you can target food triggers and then other items like laundry detergents, shampoos, and conditioners.
It’s also a good idea to get your hormones tested by a naturopath or functional medicine practitioner to see if there are any hormone imbalances you need to address to clear your skin completely. This can be a last step once you have removed all of the other known triggers from your life.
By implementing these changes, I was able to achieve clear, healthy, glowing skin without any harmful prescriptions. I feel so empowered and encouraged by the knowledge I have gained and am no longer worried about breakouts or blemishes and that is a very freeing feeling. I want this for you too!
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Related Posts- 3 Tips to Balance Your Hormones
