8 Ways to Reduce and Prevent Acne
Holistic skincare from the inside out to help reduce and prevent acne
Skincare is essential to looking and feeling your best. Common skin ailments, like acne, can drastically impact your self-esteem and confidence and here at TMB we understand how challenging and emotionally draining that condition can be.
The key to improving your skin lives in your gut
Don’t click away! What we’re saying is a real thing. You’ve probably heard of the “gut-brain” connection, but did you know about the “gut-skin” connection? Our skin is our largest and most porous organ, so it makes sense that what we put in (and on!) our bodies affects our gut, sometimes causing acne and other skin conditions.
Skin issues are often a sign of something going on deep under the surface, such as a gut related issue. It’s important to tackle the underlying cause when it comes to formulating a long-term strategy. As much as we’d all like to slap on a cream and call it a day, skin/gut health is significantly more complex but addressing it correctly can have far more long term and lasting results.
Customized protocols make the difference in healing your gut and as a result reducing acne
Many of our patients with SIBO, leaky gut or other gut issues report being acne-prone. Once they begin their customized and comprehensive protocols that are designed to heal their gut microbiome, their overall health improves dramatically and their acne clears up.
So to help you achiever clear skin, we’re going to recommend some simple strategies to first help heal your gut.
8 easy tips to heal your gut and improve your acne
1. DITCH ACNE TRIGGER FOODS
Certain foods, such as gluten, dairy, corn, soy and sugar can cause an inflammatory response in your body, which can physically appear as skin rashes/blemishes. The two food sources that are most likely to trigger skin issues are sugar and dairy. Why? We’ll tell you! When we eat sugar, our blood sugar increases, and when this happens, insulin also increases. When insulin increases, it stimulates an increase in androgens and sebum production, causing breakouts!
2. AVOID GLYPHOSATE – EAT ORGANIC!
Glypho-what? Glyphosate is a widely used, highly toxic chemical and herbicide that is sprayed on most conventional (non-organic) crops, like wheat, grains like barley and oats, corn, soy, sugar, peanuts and legumes. It has been associated with damaging health effects including fertility problems, detoxification enzyme destruction, damage of the gut microbiome, endocrine disruption and even plays a role in breaking down our collagen. The health of our skin relies on collagen, so we recommend avoiding glyphosate as much as possible and sticking to organic foods wherever possible. You can check out Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15/Dirty Dozen list for some guidelines!
3. LOAD UP ON ANTIOXIDANTS
Research shows that those with a higher amount of antioxidants in their diet report less acne than those without. Make sure to include plenty of of colourful, organic fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, as they have been linked to improvements in the underlying drivers of acne. Sneak some leafy greens into your morning smoothie or include them as an easy side dish to your lunch or dinner.
4. ADD CUT-SUPPORTING COLLAGEN
Collagen is rich in amino acids (like Proline and Glycine) that support the integrity of the gut lining. As we age, collagen production naturally declines which can cause physical signs of aging and skin issues. Increasing collagen levels can be beneficial as it helps your skin appear firmer, increase smoothness, and help your skin cells continue to renew and repair. Find out more about collagen and why it matters here. (LINK TO COLLAGEN ARTICLE)
5. EXERCISE REGULARLY
One of the reason’s why exercise is so important is because sweating is one of your body’s natural methods of detoxifying. Research shows that physical activity improves sleep quality, reduces stress levels, improves insulin function, manages blood sugar and boosts your immune system, all of which support skin health. It’s totally a win-win situation!
6. KEEP A CLEAN BEAUTY ROUTINE
It’s essential to cleanse and exfoliate your skin to get rid of dirt, residue and any barrier of dead skin cells that are clogging your pores. This is especially important for those with acne-prone skin. Unfortunately, many personal-care products are poorly regulated and commonly made from untested chemicals that can damage your gut which starts the skin outbreak cycle all over again, so it’s important to choose organic products with natural ingredients.
7. EAT PROBIOTIC RICH FOODS
Foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir are great sources of beneficial bacteria that can improve the health of your gut. Remeber healthy gut means healthier skin. Skin issues often mean that there are more bad bacteria than good living in your gut, and probiotics can help fix this ratio, reduce inflammation and heal the gut-skin axis.
8. SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN C
Vitamin C is high in antioxidants and is essential in maintaining healthy gut flora balance. It’s also a necessary component in the synthesis of collagen, which as we mentioned promotes healthy, vibrant skin. We recommend https://the-movement-boutique.myshopify.com/” target=”_blank”>Stellar C!
Take care of the skin your in and reduce or prevent acne by paying attention to your gut.
The key to healing acne is to address the deeper underlying issue of one’s gut. It might sound odd, but try our tips and see the difference that a healthy gut has for healthy skin.
Visit TMB to talk in more detail about your gut/skin health! We take a holistic and integrative approach to healing. We use functional tests to identify and address the root cause of your skin issues. We address diet, lifestyle factors, food sensitivities, hormone and gut imbalances etc. in order to create long lasting transformations. We also insist on high performing skincare products that are 100% organic that won’t cause any excess work for your liver.
About The Movement Boutique in Toronto – Pilates, Chiropractic, Functional Medicine
Located on Yonge Street in Toronto, The Movement Boutique serves the areas of Summerhill, Rosedale and Yorkdale with Pilates classes and much more. Our philosophy is centred on a holistic, multimodal approach to health, grounded in the latest therapeutic techniques and clinical research. Our approach: Optimal health cannot be attained through a single therapeutic lens; injuries are often the result of a constellation of lifestyle issues, including dysfunctional movement patterns, trauma, nutritional deficiencies or destructive habits of mind.
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