Acne: A Holistic Approach

To reduce acne breakout, follow these simple steps:

1. Wash your face gently, twice daily. Avoid harsh cleansers or scrubs. Desert Essence with Tea Tree (Kona Naturals), Neutrogena acne wash with salicylic acid (drugstore) or Skin Ceuticals Clarifying Cleanser (Lokahi) are good cleansers for oily skin. Simplicite Plant Cleanser (Lokahi) or Cetephil bar or liquid (drugstore) are good cleansers for sensitive or dry skin.
2. Use only oil-free or noncomedogenic products on your acne prone skin. Read the labels on all your moisturizers, sunscreens, foundations and makeup to be certain.
3. Your diet affects your acne. Limit your intake of sugary foods like desserts, candy, sodas and sugary drinks. Also avoid "bad" or saturated and hydrogenated fats in fried foods, fast foods, fatty cuts of meat and processed foods like chips and cookies (unless they are from Kona Naturals). Good fats in fish (esp. salmon and sardines), olive oil, nuts and avocadoes are healthy. Lots of vegetables and fruits in your diet make a big difference. Take a daily multivitamin and an additional 50mg of zinc for your acne. If you don't eat cold-water fish 2-3/wk, then taking 1000mg of Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) daily with food can help as well. Eskimo 3 (Lokahi) and Nordic Naturals brands (Kona Naturals) do not have a fishy aftertaste or any residues of chemicals.
4. Decease stress level. Find ways to relax. Going for a walk, yoga, meditation, reading a book and regular exercise can help. Consider Jon Kabat Zinn, "Wherever you go, there you are" for learning about mediation.
5. Make sure to drink 8 glasses of water a day to keep your system hydrated and to flush out your pores. Sugary drinks, beverages with caffeine or alcohol do not count in your 8 glasses a day. Regular exercise and going to the sauna are helpful ways for cleansing the pores.
6. Consider a facial or a series of fruit acid peels. Facialist, Alison Welch, comes to our office once a month to do facials. Otherwise, consider using a mild exfoliating cleanser 3 times a week. Examples include: Simplicite (Lokahi) or DermaE Microdermbrasion Scrub (Kona Naturals). Weekly or biweekly masks help as well. Examples include Simplicite Plant mask (Lokahi) for sensitive skin or a Skin Ceuticals Clarifying mask (Lokahi) for oily skin. Both of these masks soak up congestion in the pores.
7. Our goal is to keep your skin clear with changes in your diet and lifestyle. This may take some time. We may use some prescription topical or oral medication for a short time if you desire to speed up the process. Use any medications prescribed regularly. Medications usually take 4-6 weeks to take effect. If we prescribe an antibiotic, we recommend taking 2 probiotic capsules each morning on an empty stomach to replenish the good bacteria in the intestines and to keep your immune system healthy.