Treating Your Acne Holistically

Hey there,

We’re diving into a topic many of us have struggled with at some point of our skincare journey... ACNE. It can be a real challenge.

Dealing with acne can be complex, and everyone’s skin is different. While we share some natural "best practices" for clear skin in this email today, remember these are general guidelines. Finding what works best for you might take some trial and error. But don’t get discouraged—it is possible to holistically aid your acne.

At SBA, we’re big believers in the diet-skin connection. Yes, what we put on our skin matters, but we also believe that supporting your body's natural healing mechanisms is key when aiming for long-lasting acne treatment. What we eat, our stress levels, and our habits all play a role in our skin health. And since hormones are a significant factor in acne, supporting healthy hormone function is crucial.

Our skin often reflects our internal health, so caring for the entire body is vital for achieving beautiful, healthy skin. Our tissues, organs, and systems are all interconnected, so while it can be tough to pinpoint the exact cause of an acne flare-up, our skin is always communicating something about our internal state. So, it's best to start at the source to naturally treat acne.

The topic of naturally approaching acne holistically is a HUGE one, but we are discussing just a few of our top tips for living a lifestyle that supports clear skin.

Lymphatic Support:

Many don't realize that our lymphatic system can directly affect our skin health. The lymphatic system acts as our body’s natural detox mechanism, constantly working to cleanse our skin and body. When this system is congested or sluggish, toxins can accumulate in our tissues all over the body, leading to issues like blemishes, blackheads, and other skin conditions. How can we best support this crucial system? Read on!

-Gua Sha Regimen/Facial Massage: A routine gua sha regimen with our Jade Facial Stone and one of our facial serums or balms (slip solution) can be very beneficial for clearing lymphatic blockages and naturally massaging away excess fluid in the facial tissues. Click here to explore the benefits of using our Jade Facial Stone + a full lymphatic support Gua Sha routine video.

-Regular Movement: Regularly moving your body and participating in exercise is one of the best ways to aid a healthy lymphatic system and help your body naturally rid toxins.

-Dry Brushing: Stimulating your lymphatic system through dry brushing is another way to help your lymphatic system cleanse excess toxins and circulate blood flow.

Hormonal Support:

It's something we're all aware of... Hormonal imbalances can lead to acne. Oftentimes, these imbalances are due to poor diets and toxic environments. When our most vital organs like the liver and kidneys are constantly bombarded and overloaded with toxins from processed foods ("fake food" as I like to call it) and toxic chemicals, the body has no choice but to filter out these toxins... and a prominent way is via your skin. So essentially, your body is trying to help you eliminate dangerous unhealthy toxins from your body via your skin. The old saying "what goes in must come out" is very true in this case. There are a few main points to touch on when discussing supporting your hormones.

-Lower Stress Levels: Too much of the stress hormone, cortisol, can cause inflammation in the body, making skin more prone to breakouts. Managing your stress levels is a very important part of keeping a clear complexion, but one that is often overlooked.

-Nutrient-Dense Foods: Inflammation-inducing foods like refined wheat, refined sugars, dairy, and highly processed seed oils are NOT going to help you regulate and support your hormones. However, minimally-processed whole foods will. Load up on healthy nutrients that work well for your body and make you feel good. Some ideas are avocados, leafy greens, grass-fed raw whole milk and butter, raw kefir, wild-caught fish, grass-fed beef, pastured eggs, organic sourdough, raw honey, sauerkraut, etc. You can still enjoy rich and decadent food while supporting healing in your body.

-Eliminate Toxic Environment: Did you know that many toxins circulating in your body mimic estrogen and disrupt your natural hormonal balance (National Library of Medicine)? This can lead to an increase in chronic cystic acne, especially around the lower half of your face. Estrogen-mimicking toxins often cause breakouts in this area. This is why reducing your overall toxic load (diet + environment) is crucial, especially for hormonal acne. This is an extensive topic, but this is one reason we like to provide you with copious non-toxic DIY alternatives to common toxic cleaning products, food products, and skincare products. We know how important living a majority toxin-free life to the best of our ability is for skin health. Explore the rest of the blog and read about our many alternatives to common toxic products. We have lots of them!

-Sweat: Sweating is one of the BEST ways to rid toxins from the body. Lay in the sun, take a hot bath, go for a run, spend time in the sauna, whatever you need to do... get a good sweat going regularly!

Skin Support:

-Oil Cleansing: If you've struggled with persistent acne, you might think oils, serums, and balms are a no-go. However, our blog explains why oil cleansing and double cleansing are some of the best tools for fighting acne-causing bacteria. This simple change in your skincare routine can make a world of difference!

-Eliminate Toxic Ingredients: Many conventional products claiming to be "acne-fighting" actually contribute to the toxic load in your body. Ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, commonly found in these products, can aggravate acne, disrupt your skin's pH balance, and are toxic to the body. When battling acne, steer clear of typical "acne-fighting" ingredients such as fragrance, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, DEA/TEA, and sodium lauryl sulfate, among others.

-Use Pure, Natural Skincare & Body Care: Using pure and all-natural ingredients is key to fighting acne because they work gently with your skin's natural processes. Unlike harsh chemicals in many popular and conventional skincare products, natural ingredients are less likely to irritate or dry out your skin and they won't further contribute to toxic build-up in your body. Our 100% natural skincare helps soothe inflammation, promote healing, and keeps your skin’s barrier intact without adding any extra toxins to your body. By opting for natural ingredients, you’re taking a holistic approach to acne treatment. This not only targets the root causes but also supports overall skin and body health, leading to clearer skin over time without relying on quick fixes or temporary solutions.

Whew! That was a lot of information! I hope you found it helpful. For even more tips and DIY recipes for all-natural alternatives to conventional skincare, body care, and home cleaning products, be sure to explore the rest of our blogs. We even have some great non-toxic recipes as well!

We're on this journey together <3

Chelsea Henderson,

Founder & Formulator, SBA

Treating Your Acne Holistically

Lymphatic Support:

Hormonal Support:

Skin Support:

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