5 Things You Should Be Doing If You Struggle With Acne
I Know Firsthand How Acne SUCKS!
I have battled with it my whole life and even as I am in my 40’s(!) I still experience the occasional breakout before my period. There are several reasons why acne can be occurring according to Chinese Medicine. Acne can be due to a hormonal imbalance -you might notice break outs occurring consistently during a certain time in your cycle. It can be a manifestation of something going on digestively. It can be due to your skin being exposed to something environmentally or topically. I have successfully worked with so many people over the years on their acne and would like to share with you all what I’ve found to be beneficial.
Here are 5 Things That You Should Be Doing If You Struggle With Acne
Adjust your food intake. Avoid or greatly reduce your intake of greasy, high sugar, overly fried foods and dairy —yes, I’m talking about those fried dumplings at dim sum, yummy desserts and ice cream. These foods are naturally damp, heavy and sticky and can cause a stagnation of fluids in the body. Stagnation of fluids can eventually cause toxic build up or inflammation. Notice which foods you might be digestively sensitive to and greatly minimize or avoid them all together.
Get blue light treatments. For those stuck in the vicious cycle of cystic acne, I recommend a series of 2-3 blue light treatments a week for 2-3 weeks. Read more about LED blue light for acne here. This gets severe breakouts under control so that you can start trying other things like topicals and gua sha.
Do Facial gua sha. If you’re not in a current break out, taking on a consistent facial gua sha routine will help to reduce the incidences of acne. When you have a pimple or two, you can work around those areas. If you’re in a major break out wait til it calms down and schedule a blue light treatment instead. Sign up for my next workshop or schedule a one-on-one lesson.
Get acupuncture and take herbs. These modalities will help to improve the way your body gets rid of toxins, balance hormones and improve your digestion. Acupuncture treatments 1-2 times a week are recommended to start out. Herbal formulas will be customized to your condition and possibly to your menstrual cycle (if you have one!)
Steam with Herbs. A gentle steam for the face and your vagina (if you have one!) can improve your skin. Steam increases circulation in the tissues. Using particular herbs can help kill bacteria, cleanse the tissues and pores, remove toxic build up and balance hormones and the menstrual cycle (if you have one). Read more on vaginal steaming here.
Topical products are not a standalone solution. They should be paired with healthy lifestyle changes. Below are some of my favorite facial tools and topical products for acne. The links will redirect you to different sites for purchase.
By Dr. Emily Grace Siy on May 9, 2021
