I never had acne growing up. But when I was 21 I switched from the pill to the IUD. My clear skin ended there.

Tiny little bumps and blackheads covered my forehead and tops of cheeks. Painful cystic acne started to pop up along my chin and jawline. Then big, deep pimples began showing up on my chest, shoulders, and back.

Having gone through my teen years acne-free, I thought I would be in the clear as an adult woman. Unfortunately, 20-30% of adults aged 20-40 deal with adult acne. For the next four years, I was one of those statistics. Struggling with breakouts all over my face and body, my only goal was getting rid of acne.

I tried going back on the pill. It got worse.

I took several rounds of antibiotics. Nothing.

I spent hundreds on lotions and potions. No change.

It wasn’t until I started studying nutrition that I realized clear skin comes from inside out not outside in. Acne is a disease caused by gut damage, liver toxicity, hormonal imbalance, inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress. It is not caused by genetics.

THE DON’TS

These options are symptom management tools not a root cause resolution. They also come with a number of side effects that can make getting rid of acne even harder in the long run.

Skin regimens — just treat the surface of the skin and not the actual problem.

Prescriptions (like Spironolactone) — can cause headaches, menstrual irregularities, insulin resistance, anxiety and increases inflammation. Most doctors recommend Spironolactone be taken with the pill which can be potentially dangerous for those with PCOS.

Antibiotics — damages the health and integrity of your gut and thus makes acne worse.

Birth Control Pill — alters brain function, lowers libido, increases your risk of liver tumours, and depletes your body of vital nutrients (including nutrients your thyroid needs to function properly).

Accutane — damages your liver and increases your risk of suicide and depression.

THE DO’S

You can address all of these things by eating an anti-inflammatory diet of real food, avoiding refined carbohydrates, and supplementing with nutrients and herbs based on your specific needs. I tackle this head on with the clients in my program, The Clear Skin Solution.

Heal your leaky gut — cystic acne resolves itself when gut health is re-established. Probiotics are a good place to start.

Detoxify your body — one of your liver’s 500 jobs is to filter toxins and hormones. When it’s overworked, it can’t do this well and acne is a common result.

Balance your hormones — diet has a huge impact on hormones. A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates increase blood sugar and insulin levels which promote acne.

Reduce inflammation — Inflammation in general causes acne. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet to help combat it.

Eliminate food allergies — Delayed reactions to food intolerances like gluten or dairy can trigger breakouts.

Correct nutritional deficiencies — Lacking specific nutrients (like zinc) can promote acne and supplementing with them is vital.

If you’ve been dealing with acne for any length of time, I know how hard it is to be faced with every time you look in the mirror. Getting rid of acne can seem impossible but you can heal your skin. It just takes commitment and know how. Make sure to join my free online community, Clear Skin for Life, to get some helpful tips and support for your acne journey.