Ways to Get Rid of Acne

Ways to Get Rid of Acne

Yeah sure I know there are tons of articles written about ways to get rid of acne. But how many of them are just promoting their own product?
How many of them tell you about natural products or cheap products found in you local pharmacy?
(yeah that's right...the pharmacy...as in "over the counter" solution)

So do I have your attention now?

Why do I know about this? Well lets just say that I have dealt with acne since I was a teenager and I'm now in my 50's and it's still a challenge to keep my skin clear. A CHALLENGE that I have conquered.

So what's my secret?

Actually the secret way to get rid of acne is what you put IN your body and what you put ON your face.

So lets start with what we put IN our bodies...

Foods & Drinks that Make You Break Out

• Dark colored soda (for some reason clear soda does not cause as much acne)
• Chocolate (I know...it's loved but easy does it)
• Simple Carb foods: potato chips, rice, potatoes, sweets, pasta, breads
• Dairy

I pretty much listed those in descending order from my experience Worst > Least worse

Foods & Drinks that Help Get Rid of or Prevent Acne

• Water
• Water
• Water: Redundant but you get the point. 
• Alfalfa Sprouts:
  Yes, they may look a little like grass, but these sprouts are packed with valuable, skin-clearing nutrients. Alfalfa sprouts contain live enzymes which help fight inflammation, Wood says.
• Broccoli:
  Broccoli is the perfect skin clearing food. It contains health building properties like vitamins A, B complex, C, E, and K. "These antioxidants fight radical damage which will assist with the luminosity of your skin," Wood says.
• Garlic: 
  Garlic is another superfood that helps fight inflammation. "Garlic is full of a naturally occurring chemical called allicin, which kills off many harmful bacteria and viruses your body might be fighting," Wood says.
• Fatty Fishes: 
  Fish is a great source of essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, says Rachelle Wood, registered holistic nutritionist in Charlottetown P.E.I. These acids help reduce inflammation in our bodies that can trigger cells to clog pores and potentially cause acne. Wood recommends eating more salmon, mackerel and sardines to fight blemishes.
• Brown Rice: 
  Brown rice is a rich source of vitamin B, protein, magnesium, and several antioxidants, Wood says. For acne, vitamin B acts as our skin's stress fighter, which will help regulate hormones levels and prevent the likelihood of breakouts.
• Artichoke:
  Artichoke is a good source of antioxidants and full of Vitamin C. "This fibrous green vegetable helps to remove toxins from the body, making it a great addition for a healthy skin diet," she says.
• Fennel:
  If you're looking for the perfect natural skin cleanser, eat fennel. This licorice-tasting root vegetable can improve digestion, reduce swelling and help to flush out excess fluids and toxins in your skin, Wood says.
• Red Grapes: And yes, you can eat the seeds. "The fruit and seed contain powerful natural chemicals and antioxidants that have been shown to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema," Wood says.On top of this, grapes can also help to control the side effects of allergic reactions on skin.
• Avocado: This tasty green fruit, rich in vitamin E, can also increase your skin's vitality, Wood says. Avocado is also a good source of vitamin C, which can reduce skin inflammation and naturally moisturize the skin.
• Nuts: "Deficiencies in minerals such as zinc and selenium have been linked to acne in some sufferers," says Wood. Most nuts contain selenium, vitamin E, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium and iron, which are all essential for healthy skin

Skin Care for Acne - What You Put On Your Face

So what's my preferred routing for a way to get rid of acne externally? 

Glad you asked! 

It's a simple and NOT expensive routine consisting of these 3 items:

1. Wash - with African Black Soap with Shea Butter. African black soap is known for clearing up acne. It gets your skin and pores squeaky clean like no other, and does not leave behind residue. I get mine on Amazon from only ONE SELLER here. 
2. Toner - simple Witch Hazel that you get in the pharmacy. Native Americans produced witch hazel extract by boiling the stems of the Witch Hazel shrub  and producing a decoction, which was used to treat swellings, inflammations and tumors. Early Puritan settlers in New England adopted this remedy from the natives, and its use became widely established in the United States.
3. Moisturize - Pure Jojoba Oil, it most closely resembles the skins natural sebum and "tricks" your skin into NOT producing more oil.

That's it. That's my secret for clear, healthy skin with  no acne. 

Natural Cosmetics for People with Acne

So you have some acne scars or sores that you'd like to cover up, but your makeup makes you break out worse! Well yeah most brands do that. Oil based makeup will clog your pores. Bare Minerals has bismuth oxychloride in it and that causes CYSTIC ACNE, so stay away from brands with that in it. 

So any natural cosmetics that won't break you out worse? Yup...

LA Minerals, specifically the Valley Girl foundation formula. It has Kaolin Clay to soak up oil and Allantoin, a natural antiseptic and skin soother. Good coverage. Won't break you out. And it holds up well in summer heat, workouts, and even swimming! 

By the way, their concealer works great too. I usually have to use makeup remover to get it off! That's some tough concealer!

Let me know if you get started with my ways to get rid of acne. Let me know your results :)