10 Tips to Reduce Acne
1. Pimple? Ice it. Reduces inflammation, redness and promotes healing. Repeat 2-3 times a day.
2. Avoid foods high in ANDROGENS. These hormones have a testosterone like effect in the body, causing hair growth, inflammation, excessive oil production and more. Foods high in androgens are Milk, Cheese, Soy, Some Seafood, Peanuts and more. For my complete guide on acne triggering foods and supplements CLICK HERE
3. Ditch the coffee and go for Green Tea tea instead. The high level of antioxidants and polyphenols help keep skin bright and aid in the healing process. Check out my blog about my obsession with tea. Coupon inside. Click Here
4. Sleep. When we are resting, our body/skin goes into repair mode. It is important to get 6-8 hours of sleep a night so the skin can heal and repair itself.
5. Establish a good home care regimen and stay consistent day and night. Never go to bed without washing your face, change your pillowcases weekly.
6. Wash your hair more often. I have a lot of clients with oily scalp/hair. I tell them to tie or wrap their hair up at night and wash it often. Shampoo with Tea Tree oil is great for cleansing the scalp oily surface.
7. Fabric Softener – Do not use this in the washer and/or the dryer (no dryer sheets). The waxy residue gets on your pillowcases, towels, wash cloths, and sheets that have direct contact with the skin. The residue will clog pores of acne- prone individuals. If you want something to stop static cling in your dryer, you can get anti-static balls at Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, or online. Fragrance Free Detergents, Detergents with fragrance can cause skin irritation. Best to use fragrance-free such as Cheer Free, All Free & Clear, Tide Free, and Arm & Hammer Free.
8. Avoid low estrogen birth control pills. “Lo” dose pills are higher in androgen hormones that can make acne- prone skin worse. For a complete guide to birth controls that trigger acne, CLICK HERE
9. Just because it’s all natural does not mean it’s good for acne. Natural oils can be some of the worst offenders, like cocoa butter and coconut oil found in a lot of skin care lines. These oils are comedogenic, which means they clog pores. For a full list of Pore Clogging Ingredients CLICK HERE
10. Reduce stress in your life. Stress affects hormone levels and can send the skin into an inflammatory response. Incorporate relaxation and self care into your daily lifestyle. Practice mindfulness, where you become hyper aware of what you are feeling at every given moment. Spend time in nature, outside in the sunshine, express gratitude for all the many blessings in your life.
Read my blog post about ways to incorporate more mindfulness into your daily routine. CLICK HERE