5 ways to reduce acne

Acne is usually an issue of having an overloaded liver, lymph and an unhealthy gut. This means that the key to healthy skin isn’t just dealing with the symptoms and treating it from the outside, like lathering on creams or taking antibiotics, hormonal birth control or strong liver-damaging medication, because they will only further contribute to the problem by burdening the liver, clog the lymphatic system and damage the gut, which are the reason for acne in the first place.

The long term, sustainable solution to acne, as well as other health issues, is to make sure these pathways of elimination are functioning properly.

The pathways of elimination are your body’s way of getting rid of waste. Your skin is the last place symptoms show up when you are experiencing elimination issues and having acne and other skin problems can therefore be a clear sign that these other pathways of elimination, such as the liver, intestine and lymph, doesn’t work as they should. When that happens, the result is waste coming out through your skin since these other organs, the ones that should be handling waste, are overworked and not able to cope with it. So if we aren't effectively detoxing through the organs of elimination, like we should be, on a regular basis, because they don’t function properly, which often times is due to them being overworked as your toxic burden is too high, your body will start pushing waste material out of your skin to get it out of your system. (When I say detoxing on a regular basis, I’m referring to the natural detoxification process that happens in the body all the time, regardless of whether you are on a detox or not.)

Starting to take care of your body by limiting the chemical exposure as well as supporting the organs of elimination through different things, are the first steps, to not only clearer skin, but better health.

Remember, acne and other skin issues is your body’s way of telling you that something is going on. I have struggeled a lot with my skin, which I’ve learned that a sluggish liver, poor digestion and stagnant lymphatic system are a lot of the reason for. Here’s five steps that focuses on liver health in relation to acne and what you can do about it:

1. Stop Burdening your liver with toxins

The most important thing you can do for your liver is actually not to help it detoxify, but to stop burden it with extra things to deal with in the first place.

Conventional beauty products are loaded with toxins and harmful chemicals that our bodies absorb through the skin. Where do you think that face cream is, when the bottle is empty? It's in your body (liver). These personal care items are not only disrupting your hormonal balance, which by itself contributes to acne, they also burden your liver by giving it all this extra chemicals and toxins to detoxify, which puts a huge strain on your liver and its functions.

Your liver is an already busy organ, with numerous jobs; one of the most important ones being detoxification. And when I say detoxification, I refer to the detox process of all the waste materials and used hormones that our very own body produces - which by itself is a full-time job to get rid off. By adding in a lot of extra things from the outside world as well, on top of our very own waste materials, you’ll make your liver overworked and stagnant. Next time you run out of any beauty or personal care product, buy a natural alternative instead, which is much easier on your liver. In today’s society it is impossible to completely avoid toxins as it’s in everything from food, air, water and personal care products. I know it can seem overwhelming and impossible, but this really just speaks to the importance of doing what we can do, to limit our exposure as much as possible.

2. Keeping a stabilized blood sugar

High blood sugar equals high insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows your body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the food that you eat for energy or to store glucose for future use.

The liver, together with the pancreas, also function to regulate our blood sugar levels as it’s the storage for glycogen which is used to keep our blood sugar levels stable after and between meals. If your liver are too busy figuring out your blood sugar issues, then it won’t ever be able to concentrate its efforts on eliminating and detoxifying toxins and excess hormones, which furter contribute to acne. Therefore, a controlled blood sugar allows your liver to complete its other important duties, including processing excess hormones so that you can avoid one of the main causes of many hormonal imbalance issues and other female diseases which is estrogen-dominance.

Bottom line: the more stable blood sugar levels you have, the less focus on that issue, is needed from your liver, meaning that the liver can concentrate on it’s other important jobs, like detoxification. How to eat for a stabilized blood sugar? Increase healthy fats and lower refined carbs!

3. Avoid Dairy

Milk and dairy consumption is closely linked with acne because dairy is an inflammatory food, which means that it promotes inflammation, which is the underlying cause of acne, as well as almost every other disease and issue. Conventional cows milk can also contribute to leaky gut, also due to the innflamation factors found in milk, which again causes an extra burden on your liver and digestion, two organs that are working together closely.

4. Hydrate

Drink more water! Most people don’t drink enough. Aim for clean, filtered, mineral rich water. How to add minerals to your water? Simply add in some pink himalayan salt or trace minerals like this, as it will regulate your electrolyte and fluid balance and hydrate your body better, besides providing your body with essential minerals.

5. Liver-Support

Like mentioned, there is no point of taking supplements to support your liver, if you at the same time slather chemical loaded creams etc on your skin which further burdens your liver. To start eliminating external toxins by using natural alternatives to things like soaps and creams is first priority, but using herbs to support your liver function can also really make a difference. My two favorites are milk thistle and dandelion, milk thistle which I take as a supplement, and dandelion which I drink as tea and use fresh as food in season.

The herb milk thistle.