Healing Your Acne from the Inside Out
Certain rules apply when it comes to taking care of our skin that are also essential to our overall health. Our beauty starts within, so remind yourself daily that these three rules are a must for a flawless complexion:
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- Get enough sleep. I know it is easier said than done, but lack of sleep ages your skin, leaving you looking dull and – surprise! – tired. When you don’t sleep your body produces cortisol, which breaks down collagen. As a result, growth hormone fails to release, disabling your tissue repair system.
- Reduce stress. The release of cortisol is again the culprit. Ever notice that you get a breakout right before a big event? When you are stressed, a signal gets sent to your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, thus causing you to be a victim of an acne breakout.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps rid your body of toxins, bodily waste, and even bacteria that can be trapped within your skin. Without adequate hydration to flush these out of the body you are increasing your likelihood for acne.
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Now that we’ve covered what you must do to start an acne regimen from the inside, let’s talk eating habits. You are what you eat – I can’t stress that enough. Put down the fast food and be conscientious about what goes in your mouth. Lower your sodium intake to avoid acne flare-ups. Replace canned or frozen veggies with fresh ones. These little lifestyle shifts not only help your skin look better, but you will feel better from the inside out. Clean foods = healthy skin. Ditch the white foods: white bread, white rice, french fries, potato chips, and white refined sugar cause your blood sugar levels to spike, and guess what that leads to??? Acne breakouts.
So now that we are sleeping, elimintating stress, drinking adequate amounts of H20, and eating healthy, let’s optimize our potential and add a few key ingredients for an acne-free life. Remember we are starting the healing process of your skin from the inside. Think of supplements as adding the cherry on top. What every acne warrior needs in their lineup:
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Vitamin A
nAids in shedding dead skin cells that build up and cause acne. Eat a handful of carrots or add 8 oz of vegetable juice to your daily menu.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
nEPA, an Omega-3 found in fish and seaweed, is arguably the best anti-inflammatory found in nature. Inflammation is at the core of acne. You can calm inflammation internally before it errupts externally. There are two inflammatory chemicals responsible for breakouts: PGE2 and LTB4. Omega-3 inhibits the production of these chemicals. Flaxseed and fish are great sources of EPA.
Zinc
nAids in metabolizing Omega-3s and serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Zinc helps slow down oil production that is caused by stress. Studies show acne patients have low levels of zinc. Mushrooms, spinach and roasted cashews are high in zinc.
Selenium
nA mineral that works to protect antioxidants and assists with preventing inflammation. Pairing vitamin E with selenium has been shown to improve acne. Brazil nuts, broccoli and cabbage are packed with selenium.
Acne can be challenging, embarassing, and disrupts how you view your skin. Taking these steps will help you maximize your results when seeking an acne regimen. You now have the resources available to start and stay acne-free.
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