If you’ve ever dealt with adult acne, you know how frustrating it can be.
No matter what products you slather on your face, your acne won’t budge. One pimple goes away just in time for another one to take its place.
Of course, you can rid yourself of these pesky pimples for good. But first, you’ll have to find a solution that goes more than skin deep.
Because the truth is, most chronic skin issues aren’t presenting because of what’s happening on the surface. They signify deeper imbalances in your body and lifestyle that could lead to more significant problems.
So, instead of putting all your hope into topical acne solutions, face creams, toners, and masks, start addressing the root of the problem.
The Master Hormone Connection
While it’s not exactly groundbreaking news that lifestyle factors like diet and stress contribute to the condition of your skin, you may be surprised to find out that your body’s master hormone — insulin — has a lot to do with it.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City found that women with adult acne are more likely to have a low intake of fruits and vegetables. They are also more likely to eat foods with a high glycemic index, like bread, rice, chips, crackers, and sweets.
These foods cause your blood sugar to spike, which raises your insulin levels and leads to more acne. That’s because insulin, which acts as your body’s master mediator, encourages your body to produce certain growth factors and hormones that can increase your skin’s oil production and cause clogged pores.
And stress levels create a similar hormonal reaction in your body. When you’re stressed, your adrenal gland goes wild and increases the amount of male hormones (androgens) your body produces.
That’s probably why women in this recent study with high or very high-stress levels were a whopping three times more likely to have acne.
Adopting An Anti-Acne Lifestyle
To get your hormones and acne in check, you need to cut back on high-glycemic foods that throw your insulin out of whack. And believe me, acne will be the least of your troubles if you don’t get your insulin balanced. I’m not just referring to diabetes, either.
I’m talking about the insulin factor.
The insulin factor is something doctors who practice alternative medicine have been aware of for decades. It turns out that insulin acts as your body’s metabolic mediator, boosting your health, helping you avoid disease, and slowing aging — all the way down to your DNA.
But conventional doctors can’t wrap their heads around insulin outside of the context of diabetes. They won’t tell you that when your insulin is dysfunctional, you are wide open to heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s.
So your acne could be the earliest warning sign that out-of-control insulin has you headed for chronic disease. But you can derail the disease path.
One way to do this is to increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables by focusing on eating the foods within the following categories:
- Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, romaine)
- Orange and yellow vegetables and fruits (carrots, sweet potatoes, lemon)
- Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines)
Berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries) - Beans (chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans)
- Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios)
- High-quality meat and eggs (grass-fed beef, organic chicken and turkey, organic eggs)
- Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, kombucha)
If you stick to these food categories, you’ll see an improvement in your skin — and overall health — in no time. And whatever you choose to eat, always ensure you drink water all day. If you want to clear up your acne quicker, drink a large glass of water with a wedge of lemon every morning when you wake up. That will help detox your body and skin.
Once you get your diet in order, the next step to adopting an anti-acne lifestyle is getting a handle on your stress levels. No matter how busy you are, setting aside time to de-stress is urgent. That means giving yourself at least 30 minutes of relaxation time daily to meditate, do a yoga routine, listen to music, drink a cup of tea, take a walk, play a round of golf, write a poem, get a massage, or nap.
To learn more about what you can do for adult acne, get a FREE Consultation with one of our doctors (D.C) here.
