How I'm Healing My Skin Naturally

So I’m going to talk about something that I just don’t like to talk about. But I think it’s a big part in the healing process.

Acne.

Oh yes my friend, I am no stranger to acne. At all. I have dealt with breakouts for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I tried a lot of different acne face washes. From proactive, to just any drugstore brand. Nothing seemed to fully help me. Then, when I was going into my senior year of high school. I developed a skin infection, that looked like really bad acne. Well two years on antibiotics seemed to only clear up big bumps. And yes, because of those antibiotics is why I deal with the health issues I deal with today. Isn’t it life just fun when it throws a lot of stuff your way? After the medication cleared up most of the problem, my skin seemed to get better, but wasn’t perfect. So I decided to try birth control, that didn’t seem to make clear all the time like I wanted. I still had occasional breakouts. I took myself off of birth control, because I was sick all the time, and birth control isn’t healthy for you body. For awhile my skin actually behaved and was almost clear. Couldn’t really complain. But just this past year, I went through probably one of the worst breakouts yet. I thought that putting good food in my body was suppose to help. Right before I broke out, I cut out sugar completely. It was around the holidays, and I started eating sugar again. I think I overdid it and with adding all that sugar, my body didn’t know what to do. So I broke out. Painful, redness, and completely embaraasing. I was really at a lost because I have spent a lot of money on products that are suppose to help your skin.

I was about to just go to the doctors and get antibiotics because I felt really helpless. And I just wanted all of the bumps gone. And fast. Well, I didn’t go to the doctors. Instead I started researching natural ways to help acne. I would read people’s success stories and what worked for them. I probably did so much research,  Just because I didn’t want to make my skin any worse, which at that point, I didn’t see how it could get much worse.

There are a lot of natural remedies out there to help acne. You just have to find what works for you. It’s a lot of trial and error. I’m going to list remedies that I tried. Ones that worked, and ones that didn’t work. If you have dealt with acne, moderate to severe. You aren’t alone. Even if you feel like you have tried everything, you have to be patient. Your skin needs time. It can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks to see any improvement depending on how severe it is.

Natural Home Remedies for Acne

Lemon-Used as a toner: I stumbled on this one and it looked like it could really help. Lemon performs as an acne remedy since it includes alpha-hydroxy acid. Also, lemon is a skin brightener as well. Lemon isn’t recommended if you have sensitive skin.

My Experience: At first, I loved using lemon on my face, it brought such a brightness back into my skin. But it burned, really bad. After a week, I started developing little bumps all over my cheeks and around my mouth. This in turn made me break out even worse. Like I mentioned above, I didn’t think that was possible. I stopped using lemon for good after that. 

Apple Cider Vinegar- I’m talking about the completely raw, organic, stinky feet vinegar. Used as a toner. The vinegar kills off any bacteria deep into the pores. Which fights acne.

My Experience: I had no reaction to the vinegar. It smelled completely terrible. So I only used it at night. I noticed a small improvement in my skin. 

Cinnamon and honey face mask: After I started breaking out. I ditched my face wash I was using considering it wasn’t doing anything for me. I actually cleaned my skin with Raw Honey. Honey is an ancient remedy with strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant properties. You want to use Manuka Honey. This is the most powerful in helping fight acne. Honey’s best friend is cinnamon. Cinnamon is powerful alone, cinnamon’s antioxidant activity is responsible for its ability to speed wound healing, and credits it with anti-inflammatory properties as well. So combining honey and cinnamon, you have one powerful team to fight acne.

My Experience: This is one remedy that I can say really worked. Within a month of using the cinnamon and honey, I saw an improvement. Still not a huge improvement. But my breakouts weren’t as big. 

Baking Soda: Baking soda can be used as an all natural exfoliator. Your skin sheds cells, and sometimes when they don’t fully shed, the new ones become clogged. And acne can develop. Also, can use a baking soda mask.

My Experience: I actually noticed a calming feeling in my skin after using baking soda. I would use it more as a mask and let it sit for 30 minutes on my skin. I would combine baking soda, honey, and cinnamon together.

Aspirin: Aspirin is known to have salicylic benefits. But it’s an all natural form and when crushed up, can help prevent acne, and help already formed acne.

My Experience: I still use this remedy when my skin is feeling congested and I’m breaking out more. Combine crushed aspirin with honey, to make a face mask that will make your skin soft, and glow.

Diet: Yes, I am still on my Paleo diet. I have eliminated as much processed sugar as I can. When I do consume it, it’s once in a while. But for the most part. I stick to all natural sugars. I make sure I’m drinking enough water as well.

Supplements: I am a true believer that what you feed your body, reflects on the outside. It can be different for everyone too. You put junk into your body, your skin may react, and also eating junk leads to weight gain. Since I was already eating healthy, I figured I was missing out on some vitamins. When I started taking vitamins. I did notice a change in my skin. I really feel like the vitamins play a big role in my skin health.

List of supplements I take:

Fish Oil- 2x a day
Melaleuca’s Woman’s Multi Vitamin- 2x a day
Zinc made for acne- 1x a day
Calcium- 2x a day
Vitamin C- 1x a day
I also try to drink as much water as I can to keep flushing out toxins

Those are just a few remedies that I used when I first started trying to heal my skin. All of this was 5 months ago when I had this major breakout and knew I had to focus on caring for my skin health.

Today, my skin still isn’t “perfect” but it’s slowly improving. I have discovered more remedies. I’m still trying to figure out my perfect skin regime.
That’ll come at a later date.

Cheers for now to skin health!!

Healing my skin has become just another part of my journey. I’ve come a long way, but there’s still a way to go.