The following is a repost of an interview with me by Beautiful with Brains (click here for original). Read on – I share all my juiciest skincare gossip to help you on your clear skin journey!

Got acne?

I don’t know what’s worse. The angry red, oozy pimples that take over your face and rob you of your self-esteem or the harsh treatments that turn your skin as dry as sandpaper – and lead to more acne down the line.

Ugh. Isn’t there a way to get rid of acne naturally?

Yes. Just ask Tracy Raftl. Suffering from acne since she was a teen, Tracy tried all the conventional – read harsh – methods to get rid of it. But they only seemed to make things worse.

It was only when she went down the natural route to clear her acne inside and out that Tracy beat her acne and achieved the clear skin she always dreamed of.

Now Tracy’s on a mission to help women do the same, so they can say goodbye to acne, find joy and start rocking the life they were meant to live.

Her blog, The Love Vitamin, is a treasure trove of natural acne remedies while the Naturally Clear Skin Academy gives you access to every ebook, programme and resource Tracy has every created to give you beautiful, naturally clear skin.

In this interview, Tracy shares her skincare routine, her top tips for clear skin and the lifestyle habits that have made her acne-free:

When did you become interested in skincare?

I became interested in skincare back in 2010, when my skin broke out in severe acne. Of course I was totally devastated, and I turned to holistic acne treatment and natural skincare to treat it.

What’s your skincare routine like?

It’s very minimal and gentle with a heavy emphasis on moisturizing. I learned early on that the the more aggressive or drying your routine, the worse results you’d get. I actually just wash my face with water twice a day (I wear little to no makeup), and then I have three steps to my moisturizing routine.

If you could use only 3 skincare products for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Since I have three steps to my moisturizing, it’s those three products/steps that I would choose to use for the rest of my life. They are:

1. While my face is still wet from washing, I apply a Vitamin C serum (the SAP/sodium ascorbyl phosphate form). Specifically I’m using a product called “All Natural Advice – Vitamin C anti-aging serum“. Note that SAP is not only great for anti-aging but super powerful against acne too.
2. Immediately after I apply the Vitamin C serum, I apply a homemade mix of high quality aloe vera gel, and glycerin. This my humectant step for bringing in moisture. My skin LOVES this. It’s never felt so good as after I started using glycerin in my routine.
3. Finish it up with a couple of drops of homemade oil and essential oil mix to seal all the moisture in and add nutrients. There’s a lot of stuff in my mix, but it isn’t exactly fixed. I play around with it. But what’s in it right now is argan oil, tamanu oil, red raspberry seed oil, and for essential oils: frankincense, lavender, myrrh, and I think helichrysum.

My routine has evolved a lot over the years, but I really think I might stick with this basic format for the rest of my life (and not just because you asked ;). My skin feels great.

What are your fave skincare brands and why?

I don’t really have favourite skincare brands, as I mainly make my own — but there’s a lot of amazing natural products out there these days.

What are your top 3 skincare tips to take care of your skin?

Top skin care tips:

1. Treat your skin with love. Which means don’t use harsh products that strip and dry out your skin. Don’t pick at it and squeeze it and harass it. Don’t beat yourself up because of the way it looks. Give it love and nourishment and gentleness it will heal and look its best. Think of it as a metaphor for your life and how you treat yourself and other people. How would you want to be treated? Treat your skin this way.
2. Moisture — so much moisture! Your skin needs water in it in order to function the way it should. Without water, pores get blocked, bacteria are able to enter, and facial lines look way more prominent. It’s really key.
3. Don’t worry about it too much and keep it simple. You don’t actually need a thousand products and a skincare routine that takes you two hours. You don’t need to feel controlled by your skin care.

What skincare treatments do you regularly have done?

I don’t do any regular skin care treatments — too lazy for that ?

What skincare habits do you have that keep your skin in top shape?

I live a generally healthy lifestyle to keep my skin in shape, but I don’t take it as seriously as I used to. There used to be so much fear around food and lifestyle stuff — fear that if I ate something wrong or made a misstep with my routine, that my acne would all come rushing back.

I’ve done a lot of mindset work in this area. Now I eat well (mostly whole foods), try to get lots of sleep, exercise, and keep a handle on my stress. But these things are just something I do now, and it’s not that big a deal. It doesn’t cause me anxiety the way it used to. I am a lot more lenient with my diet for example, and my skin looks just as good as when I was super strict. I’m a lot happier too!

What’s in your makeup bag?

A small thing of concealer (from Juice Beauty) and mascara. That’s about it. Well, I’ve got some random makeup for the odd occasion, but 99% of the time, small dabs of concealer here and there and some mascara is all I use.

Thank you, Tracy!

For more tips on how to fight acne naturally, check Tracy’s website, The Love Vitamin or take her online courses at Naturally Clear Skin Academy. You can also keep up with her on Facebook and Instagram.

The post My Skincare Secrets: An Interview With Me from Beautiful with Brains appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

This is a guest post from Jessica Gremley of the Natural Acne Clinic

Are you well over your teen years and still struggling with stubborn acne? If so, you’re not alone.  Millions of people still deal with pimples and breakouts well in to their 20s, 30s or even 40s. And if anything, adult acne is even more frustrating, more embarrassing – and more difficult to clear.

As someone who struggled with stubborn acne for years, I know how incredibly frustrating it can be. I tried everything to get clear — pills, lotions, antibiotics, skin care. They would work for a while, then my acne would come back. This went on for years!  I missed out on a lot of fun because I hated how my skin looked. My confidence took a dive, too.

But after a lot of trial-and-error, research and persistence I finally discovered how to clear and control my acne. And I realized that I had one goal: to help other people finally get smooth, acne-free skin too.

If nothing has worked, it’s not your fault. Acne is largely a genetic condition. If one of your parents had severe acne, chances are you will too. It’s also triggered by hormones, stress, diet and other lifestyle factors.

Most people treat acne with a lotion, cleanser or topical medication. Dermatologists prescribe a regimen of antibiotics and other drugs that you continue to take for years.

However, if you have tried these treatments with little success, it’s not your fault. The truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to treating your acne. That’s why switching to a different acne medication or trying a new moisturizer rarely does the trick.

But don’t worry — it’s entirely possible to clear and control your adult acne. The good news is that it’s entirely possible to get clear even if nothing has worked before.

During my own journey to clear skin, I discovered that treating acne takes a comprehensive, whole body approach.

While the right skin products are important, a healthy, balanced body is even more crucial.

There are certain vitamins and herbs that help relieve the root cause of your acne—and that’s key to helping you finally achieve the smooth, clear complexion you crave.

Here are the top five on my list:

Skin Loving Nutrient #1: Vitamin A

Acne is a genetic condition that accelerates cell turnover in your skin (a process called retention hyperkeratosis). Acne-prone skin sheds up to five times more dead skin cells than normal. These dead skin cells start to build up and clog your pores.

If that’s not bad enough, these layers of dead skin react with the bacteria on your skin and create a sticky layer to form under your skin. This creates what’s known as a microcomodone. That’s the beginning of a breakout.

So, if you slow down cell turnover, you can stop excess dead skin cells from clogging your pores.  And that’s where Vitamin A can help!

Vitamin A slows down this cell turnover, so dead skin cells stop clogging your pores. It’s also an antioxidant that acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, so it can help reduce redness and swelling.

Since it’s difficult to get the therapeutic dose of vitamin A through diet alone, it’s best to take it in supplement form.

Skin Loving Nutrient #2: Zinc

Zinc is an important part of every health regimen – but this essential mineral works wonders for relieving stubborn acne, too.

Zinc is an effective natural anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial which protects against harmful bacteria on your skin. It also breaks down a compound called “substance P”, a nerve chemical that causes oil production when your body is stressed.

So, if you tend to break out during times of stress—zinc can help!

Zinc works particularly well when teamed with vitamin A and the next mineral on our acne- fighting list:

Skin Loving Nutrient #3: Omega 3 Fish Oil

Omega-3 fish oil is rich in compounds known as Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) — which are great for the health of your skin. They act as natural anti-inflammatories that help soothe inflammation caused by excess sebum and bacteria.

What’s more, they also fight off the action of PGE2 and LTB4 — two inflammatory chemicals that trigger acne breakouts.

Fish, flaxseed oil, and avocados are great sources of Omega-3’s. But you’ll get the most benefits for your skin by taking it in supplement form.

Skin Loving Nutrient #4: Chaste Berry Vitex

In women, hormonal acne typically manifests along the jawline and chin. If this sounds familiar, an herb called Vitex should be a part of your acne-fighting arsenal.

Vitex agnus castus, also known as Chasteberry, is a “woman’s herb” that’s been traditionally used to relieve menstrual pain, PMS, bloating and other menstrual symptoms. We recommend Vitex because it promotes a healthy hormone balance – and that’s key to getting clear.

Hormonal acne is triggered by elevated levels of testosterone and other androgens along with an imbalance of oestrogen and progesterone levels.

Vitex works with the pituitary and hypothalamus glands by increasing the production of luteinizing hormone and inhibiting the release of follicle stimulating hormone. This helps beat back the acne-causing levels of androgens, while encouraging a rise in progesterone.

Vitex can help promote healthy balance of these hormones faster than what your body could do on its own. Healthy hormone balance means clear, healthy skin!

Skin Loving Nutrient #5: Probiotics

Did you know that your digestive health is directly linked to skin health? It’s true! When your digestive system runs smoothly the rest of your body does too—and your acne can improve.

Here’s why.

Your digestive system is where your body absorbs nutrients from the foods you eat. It helps eliminate toxin from your body.  It’s also where most of your immune cells live.

A struggling digestive system means toxins aren’t eliminated out of your body. Poor digestion also weakens your immune system and increases inflammation throughout your body. And you see it with breakouts, redness, dull skin and more.

One of the best ways to get your digestive system back on track is by taking a probiotic supplement. Probiotics feed your gut with the “good” bacteria it needs to get rid of toxins, reduce inflammation and balance your intestinal tract.

Probiotics are especially important if you take antibiotics. While antibiotics wipe out the bad bacteria…they eliminate good bacteria as well. A probiotic supplement that contains a mix of both lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can quickly re-establish healthy intestinal balance and eliminate acne and digestive problems fast.

Bonus: The One Popular Skin Vitamin You Should Never Take!

Biotin (Vitamin B7) is a popular ingredient in Hair, Skin and Nails supplements. It’s also found in many multivitamins, nutritional drink powders, and even your shampoo and conditioner.

Conventional wisdom says that biotin can prevent your hair from becoming dry and brittle, so they recommend taking extra biotin to help your skin, hair and nails look soft and lustrous. But here’s a dirty little secret: Biotin happens to be one of the biggest offenders when it comes to triggering acne!

Here’s why:

One of the best acne-protecting vitamins is Pantothenic acid, also known as Vitamin B5. Pantothenic acid helps protect your skin’s natural barrier and protect against acne. However, Biotin can stop your skin from absorbing this skin-loving vitamin, and that can lead to acne flare-ups.  There is also anecdotal evidence that excess biotin can make your skin feel oilier.

Biotin is naturally produced by the body. It’s also easily available through diet, so it’s not necessary to take extra amounts. The right supplements can help treat acne from the inside-out As someone who has battled acne, I understand how tough it is.  Sometimes it seems as if you’ll never have clear skin!

But I can tell you — judging by my own experience as well as the experience of our clients — that even the most stubborn, painful acne can go away if you treat it the right way.  And taking acne-clearing herbs and supplements are a giant step in the right direction. They feed your skin with the essential nutrients it needs to start getting clear and staying clear for decades to come.

Jessica Gremley, founder of Natural Acne Clinic in Wheat Ridge Colorado, is a Medical Esthetician, Certified Acne Specialist, Laster Specialist and Healing Diets Practitioner. After decades of struggling with stubborn hormonal acne, Jessica combined her knowledge of herbal medicine, diet, nutrition and skin care to create a holistic acne clearing program that has a 95% success rate.

The post 5 Supplements that Help Clear Stubborn Acne (plus one you should avoid!) appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

Hi, my name is Krista and I am a recovered acne sufferer after a 5 year battle.

I have tried for months to bring myself to writing this story. The emotional well is so deep when it comes to my health and skin. But I am getting out the bucket and doing it anyway in order to help all of you!

My skin issues resulted from systemic yeast (candida) overgrowth caused by antibiotics – internal and topical – which threw off my digestion, liver, and hormones.

(Note that candida overgrowth can be caused by birth control, steroids, and high sugar diet as well).

These organs were struggling to work properly, and in turn became symptomatic in my skin.

My face was covered with red, itchy, irritated whiteheads and cystic acne. My self-esteem took a major hit and I suffered emotionally as well as physically. On top of my skin, I had IBS, blurry vision, brain fog, sleep problems, bloating, etc.

I was so frustrated because I had a Masters degree in Public Health, but couldn’t even begin to guess what was causing severe acne at 26. I went to doctors but they just wanted to put me on Accutane and Xanax.

I wanted to know what was wrong with me! I wanted to know the CAUSE!

So I went online and I found the Love Vitamin.

It opened my eyes to the truth of skin problems and alternative and holistic health (sadly something my school did not teach 10 years ago and I hope they do now).

It isn’t just “dirty and oily skin”, it often stems from deeper physical and emotional issues.

Over the past half a decade, I learned about toxicity of hygiene products, hormonal imbalances, and the impact of stress and our diets through Tracy, naturopathic doctors, and chiropractors.

Yes, acne is not fun and we want it gone, but what is more important is getting rid of the health problems and in turn the acne will go away too!

I am going to share with you what worked for me!

My Top 5 Acne Game Changers

Diet and Exercise

I will not believe anyone anymore who says that acne doesn’t come from your diet. It might not be direct, but there IS an indirect cause at the very least.

Sugar feeds candida which overwhelms the liver forcing the skin to detox the body and it throws off hormones which impact stress, moods, depression, etc.

We need to have a clean diet in order to have clean skin. As someone who developed an allergy to sugar, there are definitely ways to still have “treats” through honey, almond flour, coconut milk, etc.

And being active! It is an amazing stress reliever which we all know impacts our skin.

Chemical Detoxifying

This is HUGE. We are exposed to 300+ chemicals a DAY between hygiene products, cleaners, makeup, toothpaste, candles, and face creams promising perfect skin (but in the end only give chemical burn).

Not only do these contribute to acne but also cancer, ADHD, infertility, and much much more.

I began the Caveman Regimen and still don’t formally wash my face. I only use mixtures of aloe, oils, and witch hazel for makeup removing (clean makeup!), post-sweat session at the gym, and daily moisturizing.

I limited my exposure by switching to all clean products in my home.

All of this has made a huge difference in my skin, but I am comforted by the protection from other diseases that I may be giving to my family as well.

Spinal Alignments

Chiropractic care has been an insane immune booster for me. I always thought of it as something for those with bone and joint pain only, but those things surround your very precious nervous system! If it is “kinked” out (and it can happen without pain), things don’t flow well including messages from the immune system. I go once a month to stay in check because posture, stress, and exercise can cause misalignments.

Oral Health

If you have root canals, get it changed NOW!

I had one for 10 years and a holistic doctor made me switch to a bridge. I had no pain, but when they took out the hidden dead tooth it was infected and had a cyst.

Once my immune system was freed from fighting the impending infection in my mouth, it had the chance to work on the rest of my body that was impacting my skin!

Plus flossing and drinking a lot of water is so pivotal as well. A lot of bacteria lives in the mouth and it is RIGHT there on the face ready to impact the skin surrounding it.

Essential Oils and Supplements (the BEST for last!)

I found Young Living almost 2 years ago and I wish I found it sooner! It got me from about 60% to 100% skin!!

I swapped out all my supplements from doctors and very importantly started using essential oils on the skin.

Some on my face to heal scars, redness, existing pimples. Some to boost my immunity and balance my hormones to prevent new skin issues from arising.

It has been my home stretch and I will be using these products the rest of my life to continue to keep my skin clear as well as my body safe.

I could go on and on about chemical toxicity and alternatives, but maybe that can be in a separate guest post if Tracy invites me back!

I have helped many in my personal life and now it’s time to help those of you who also found and fell in love with the Love Vitamin.

I am happy to talk to anyone who wants to reach out to my email and help you get on the same road to recovery! You are not alone. I see you and I am here for you.

Much love,
Krista

How to get in touch with Krista:

Email her
Instagram
Twitter
Through her website (she’s a Young Living Health Mentor/Coach)

The post Krista’s Top 5 Acne Game Changers appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

Last week I talked about why you should get your hormones tested if you have acne. This time I promised you I’d tell you which ones to get tested and by which methods.

So first of all, let’s talk about the main hormones that are useful to know about if you have acne.

They are:

1. Progesterone
2. Estrogen (specifically estradiol)
3. Testosterone
4. DHEAS
5. DHT
6. Cortisol
7. Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
8. Prolactin
9. Insulin

Why You Want to Test These Hormones If You Have Acne

Progesterone that is too low compared to estrogen (or progesterone that is normal with estrogen that is too high) is a very common issue that can lead to acne as it increases androgen activity in the skin. This ramps up acne production.

A low progesterone to estrogen ratio is a clue that an estrogen dominance type treatment & supplement plan will work better for you.

Testosterone, DHEAS, and DHT are androgens and these can directly lead to acne, so one or all of them being high is something to look out for.

High androgens are a clue that an androgen based treatment & supplement plan will work better for you.

Note: Androstenedione is also an androgen that frequently shows up as high for women with acne, although androstenedione seems to almost always be high when found alongside a low estrogen/progesterone ratio and is likely caused by this imbalance. That means this kind of acne responds better to an estrogen dominance type treatment than an androgen based treatment.

Cortisol (your stress hormone) levels are useful to know to determine if stress is a big root cause of your acne.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin are useful for knowing whether or not you should take certain herbs as treatment. In particular, Vitex chasteberry should not be used if your LH is high but good if your prolactin is high.

Insulin resistance can be a root cause of androgen based acne, so particularly if you have high testosterone or are diagnosed with PCOS, getting your insulin tested can definitely be useful.

Testing Your Hormones with Blood Testing

The most common testing method for hormones is serum blood testing. This is what you can get done through your regular doctor.

Blood tests measure what’s called bound hormone — it’s attached in the blood to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). When a hormone is bound, it can’t be used at a tissue’s receptor site. But hormones acting on receptor sites in tissue are what actually create symptoms.

So in essence, it is not a very good reflection of what is actually causing you symptoms.

Time and time again, I hear from women who clearly have a gamut of hormonal symptoms and a blood test that says everything is completely normal. Which is obviously not true.

However, blood testing can be useful for some things. Testosterone tends to be better tested through blood. And blood testing is where you’re going to find out about your LH and LSH and prolactin.

So if you can get a blood test from your doctor, then great. Do it.

But I don’t think it gives the full picture. So I’d also recommend getting a saliva or urine test done.

Testing Your Hormones with Saliva Testing

Saliva testing tests more of the free, unbound hormone that is available to your tissue’s receptor sites. This means it more accurately reflects your symptoms.

Saliva tests generally test all the hormones I mentioned above, except for LH, prolactin, and insulin.

The bad news is that regular doctors don’t do it and it needs to be paid for privately through a lab or natural practitioner of some sort. They usually go for around $150.

The kits can be mailed to you wherever you live, as long as you can send them back via courier with two day shipping.

It’s also easy to do — just spit in some test tubes.

Testing Your Hormones with Urine Testing

Urine testing is like saliva testing, except it usually tests more hormones.

It may also be slightly more accurate especially if collected over a 24 hour period, and is more stable if it’s a dried urine test (which means better if you live internationally and need to mail it back in — you have more time).

But, it’s also more expensive. And you also need to do it through a natural practitioner who offers it.

An example of this is the DUTCH test. This is a great test. If you can afford it and can find someone who does it and knows how to interpret it for acne patterns, then I’d recommend this.

For the most part though, a basic saliva test that tests the hormones I listed will do a great job. I find myself recommending this the most.

Getting Your Insulin Tested

If you wanted to see if you were insulin resistant, you would get this done through your regular doctor with a test called “Fasting Glucose Level”.

However, doctors can often be living with tunnel vision, and they may be resistant to letting you do it unless you are overweight, have been diagnosed with PCOS, or have a history of diabetes in your family.

If you have good reason to believe your acne might be tied to blood sugar levels, then push to get the test done. If not, keeping your blood sugar levels stable is a great acne strategy regardless.

Other Things to Be Aware Of with Testing Hormones for Acne

Note that getting your hormones tested when you’re on hormonal birth control is pretty useless. The synthetic hormones in it completely suppress and override your natural hormones.

Since hormone testing tests your natural hormones, it will likely say everything is low across the board and not give you anything too useful.

Another thing to note with saliva or urine testing is that it is very important to have someone who understands acne and the testing to help you interpret them. It’s pretty useless to get back a test, have no idea what it means or what to do with the info, and have your money be wasted.

Ideally the natural practitioner who you run it through will know how acne works and give you some good advice.

There’s also me, of course. For years I have been helping my lovely Love Vitamins interpret their saliva tests in my Naturally Clear Skin Academy.

So if you’d like my help, consider joining us. I also have a special bonus for Academy members only – they get an exclusive 30% discount on a saliva test through a specific company (ie saliva tests for $99).

Do you now feel more confident about getting your hormones tested?

The post Which Hormones You Should Get Tested If You Have Acne & By Which Methods appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

Here’s my opinion. If you’re an adult woman with acne, you should stop wasting time and money and just get your hormones tested.

Our hormones are, in most cases, intrinsically linked to acne breakouts. So knowing what your hormones are doing is incredibly worthwhile in your pursuit of clear skin.

If I could take a time machine back to when I was breaking out badly, this would be one of the first things I would have done.

I didn’t do that though. Because I thought it seemed too expensive. And I thought I already knew everything that I needed to know to clear my skin (partially true, but there’s things I would have done differently, this being one of them).

Here are the reasons why you should just do it:

1. Getting Your Hormones Tested Will Save You Money

Why?

Well, you tell me

How much money you’ve wasted on supplements that don’t work for you because you don’t know what your hormones are doing?

I mean, the internet is great because it’s full of people sharing information that we may never have had access to. But now there’s so much info (ie. conflicting info), it’s gotten to critical mass.

It’s awesome, but the very thing that is awesome about it makes everything confusing af.

I admit to playing a role in that just by default, since I myself have a blog and share info. But it’s unavoidable!

The facts are, what works for one person and their hormonal imbalance may not be the thing that is right for you if you have a different imbalance.

But when you see people getting clear skin on a miracle supplement, it’s hard not to want to try it too.

Next thing you know, you’re still not clear, your wallet is empty, and your drawers are overflowing with supplement bottles.

(No shame ladies, you should see my own “supplement graveyard”, as I like to call it).

If you just get your hormones tested, then you can choose supplements and other strategies that are 10X more likely to actually help you.

In short, getting your hormones tested will save you money in the long run, even if it’s a bit more up front.

2. Getting Your Hormones Tested Will Give you Peace of Mind

You know that confusion I was referring to before?

The millions of treatment options?

Doesn’t that feel like a heavy weight?

Like inexplicable anxiety… like you’re never going to get clear, because you have no idea what da feck is going on and why you’re breaking out, and so how could you possibly find the right treatment?

Although you’ll never know everything about why your body does what it does, a hormone test is a great start to getting on the right treatment path.

Believe me, you’ll feel a lot more empowered if you know whats up.

3. Getting Your Hormones Tested Will Save You Time

I mean, I don’t know about you, but when my skin was covered in acne, I couldn’t clear up fast enough. I wanted it to happen, like, yesterday.

Well, getting your hormones tested is going to shave a lot of time off your clear skin journey. Time that was wasted on trial and error.

Not that it’s not going to be perfect. It’s not a magic bullet. There may still be trial and error. But there’s going to heck of a lot less of it!

Which means you get clear and start feeling confident a lot sooner.

Tune in to my next blog post, I’ll tell you which hormones to test and what the best testing methods are.

Have you had your hormones tested in pursuit of clear skin? Was it worthwhile? 

The post 3 Reasons You Should Get Your Hormones Tested If You Have Acne appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

If you’re someone with acne, the answer in your mind to the above question “Does acne make you unattractive?” is likely a resounding, unequivocal YES.

After all, you think it looks ugly when you look in the mirror.

Society seems to support the idea that acne is unattractive.

And ok, not trying to crush you further, but studies have shown that people do rate it as being unattractive.

So that must mean that YOU are also unattractive because you have it. Right?

I know that’s how I’ve felt during my years of acne struggle. Assuming that as soon as a love interest saw I had spots, they would basically lose their boner on the spot.

(News flash: never happened).

Is It True that Acne Makes You Unattractive?

So is it really true that acne, by default, makes you unattractive?

I have to argue the answer is no because:

YOU ARE NOT ACNE.

Acne is just a thing. A thing that in itself might not be particularly attractive (says our current societal standards). A thing that would be great if it would just go away.

But you are not acne.

Everyone struggles with something. It’s just a part of being human.

Acne is just something you happen to struggle with.

That struggle is a small part of the beautiful essence of who you actually are. A small part of the your glorious, beautiful, messy humanness. It does not comprise of your entire being.

We are very reductionist. We tend to reduce everything that we are to being a singular flaw. A singular flaw that we assume is completely valid basis for utter rejection by everyone we know and will ever meet.

This flaw could be the fact that our skin isn’t perfect, our bellies have some extra rolls, or our nose is kind of crooked. Or it could be any number of undesirable personality or life circumstances.

The truth is, if acne is rated in a study for attractiveness, it’s being rated from an objective stand point probably from a photo where the “judger” doesn’t know anything else about the person. This changes everything.

In reality, attraction is so much more than that. Your personality, your laugh, your sense of humour, your mannerisms, the way you move, your dreams, your ambitions, the way you carry yourself, the things you have in common, etc etc.

Some of it is looks, of course, but acne does not comprise of your entire appearance either.

Not to mention that attractiveness in general is so subjective, what is attractive to one person is not to another and vice versa. Whether you had acne or not, you will not be attractive to every single person out there (yes, a hard truth for us perfectionists in the crowd).

Mainline this message straight into the depths of your brain to solve 99% of your problems:

Perfection is not necessary for you to be loved, desired, and cared for. 

They See She’s Attractive with Acne. She Doesn’t See It.

I feels like every single woman I talk to with acne who has a partner, the partner doesn’t seem to give two flips about her skin.

And the ones who don’t have a partner always seem shocked when someone has a crush on them, actually asks them out, or wants to make out with them even though they’re breaking out.

THEY see her beauty. SHE just doesn’t see it.

You see, the fact that you struggle with acne is just such a small part of WHO YOU ARE, that in most cases it just doesn’t really matter that much. You are more than acne, and your attractiveness is more than your skin.

To someone with acne it seems infathomable that others could look past it, because we see it as all that we are.

But think of how you relate to others — do you choose your friends and lovers based on their entire lack of flaws? Do you choose your acquaintances based on their great skin or lack of belly fat?

If they do have some kind of ‘flaw’, whether it’s physical or personality — when you like or love them, you just see it as something that’s along for the ride.

Everyone you love comes with some good and some bad.

You know the bad doesn’t define them or cancel out their beauty and wonder.

Your acne doesn’t define you or your attractiveness either.

Have you reduced to yourself to being nothing more than your skin? It’s ok if you have! We’ve all done it! Share your stories in the comments. 

The post Does Acne Make You Unattractive? appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

If you’re a woman with chronic acne, you’ve likely been prescribed the birth control pill as a solution.

And the question is: Does it work? Should you use it to clear your skin from acne?

And if you are going to use it, are there certain ones that clear acne better than others?

So let’s start with the first question.

Does the Birth Control Pill Stop Acne?

In a lot of cases, yes. I will attest that when I was a teenager, I was on the slow release hormonal birth control shot (Depo Provera) for two years. And my skin was awesome.

But of course, clear skin came with an expense. Other side effects of the Depo Provera shot that I experienced included ravenous hunger and weight gain, possibly some bone loss, and a rare side effect where my vagina felt like it was being stabbed with knives if you touched it.

So that kind of turned me off a bit.

I went off it, and thats when my acne started to creep back in. On the bright side, at least my vagina didn’t feel like knives anymore.

It doesn’t mean the birth control shot had cured the acne. No, it just suppressed it while I was on it.

Hormonal birth control does this by completely over-riding your natural hormones with its synthetic versions. This forces your hormone system into a straight line, often preventing the cyclical breakouts we can experience.

Note that in the above photo, the straight lines are that of the fake estrogen and progestin from the pill. Your natural hormones will actually register as close to 0 on a test. So it’s important to note that it’s pointless to test your hormones while on the pill.

Birth Control Pills Can Clear Acne, But with Side Effects

What I’m saying is that yes, often birth control will work to clear and prevent acne and other hormonal symptoms.

But it usually comes with a whole host of other crappy side effects, a disconnect from our body’s true health, and there are risks with long term use.

And it never really cures acne, it just covers its up until you go off it, after which time you may have found it’s actually gotten worse.

That’s the other big thing to consider… women often experience worse acne for a period of time after they stop the pill, which you will likely need to do at some point in your life.

This is referred to as the dreaded “post pill breakout”.

It’s for this reason that it’s not a solution I tend to recommend solely to clear acne. There are healthier ways to get rid of acne.

However, birth control is very personal for women. Some women don’t experience the negative side effects of hormonal birth control that many do.

And for many of us, we have acne AND we need to protect ourselves from pregnancy. So in some cases it may seem to just make sense to go ahead and use it.

There are other options for contraception, of course… for example I have had a non-hormonal copper IUD for close to 10 years now and love it.

But if you’ve decided the pros outweigh the cons and hormonal birth control is for you, then you may as well choose the pill that is most likely to clear up your skin.

And the reason I say that is because not all birth control pills are created equal when it comes to acne clearing.

Some clear up acne, while others can actually cause it.

Which Birth Control Pills Clear Up Acne?

So first of all, let’s acknowledge that the pill is not the only option out there in the land of hormonal birth control.

There are many different forms of hormonal birth control, classified by their delivery method. For example, the daily pill, a three month shot, a slow release implant under the skin, a ring you place over your cervix, a patch on your arm, or an IUD in your uterus.

However, they all work in the same way: by using synthetic hormones to disrupt the signals from your pituitary gland that tell your ovaries its time to ovulate.

Which exact hormones they use has an important role in whether the birth control clears up acne or makes it worse.

Acne and Combination Pills vs Mini Pills

There’s pretty much two types.

One type contains a combination of both synthetic estrogen (“ethinyl estradiol”) and synthetic progesterone (aka progestin).

The other type of birth control pills only contain progestin (sometimes known as the “mini pill”).

Many long release methods like Depo Provera shot, the implant, and hormonal IUDs are also progestin-only.

There are also a ton of different types of progestin that could be used, which also factors into whether the particular brand of birth control pill is acnegenic or not.

Generally the options that contain both estrogen and progestin are better for acne. Progestin-only options have the potential to aggravate acne.

This also goes to show that nothing is really black and white. The Depo Provera shot that I used as a teenager is progestin-only and known to aggravate acne, and for me, it cleared me right up.

The Type of Progestin Used Matters When it Comes to Acne

Whether or not the pill has estrogen or not is not the only factor in clearing up your skin. The pill also has to have the right type of progestin.

Many types of progestins are androgenic, which means they are similar to male hormones that aggravate acne.

If you are wondering if your brand of birth control pills has an acnegenic progestin in it, please compare the type of progestin to the following lists.

Note that this list of progestins and brands isn’t exhaustive – there are other possible progestins out there and will require your own research to figure out if they are acnegenic or not. 

Progestins that are known to aggravate acne, especially the top four on this list:

• Norgestrel  (eg. Low/Ovral)
• Levenorgestrel   (eg. Alesse)
• Desogestrel  (eg. Mircette)
• Gestodene  (eg. Femoden)
• Etonogestrel  (eg. the NuvaRing)
• Norethindrone  (eg. Aygestin)
• Norethendrone acetate  (eg. Ortho Micronor)
• Ethynodiol diacetate  (eg. Femulen)
• Norethynodrel  (eg. Enovid)
• Norgestimate  (eg. Ortho-Tri-Cyclen)

Progestins that contain anti-androgenic properties which will likely help clear up your skin are:

• Cyproterone acetate  (eg. Diane-35)
• Chlormadinone acetate  (eg. Belara)
• Dienogest   (eg. Qlaira)
• Drospirenone   (eg. Yaz)

Please note that it’s unfortunate that these particular anti-androgenic progestins also seem to come with a higher risk of deadly blood clots (although actual chances of experiencing one still remains low).

The one in particular I would very much caution staying away from is Diane-35, which is although is very powerful at clearing acne, it is very risky in terms of clots. It actually isn’t even approved as a contraceptive.

So Which Brands of Birth Control Pills are Best for Acne?

So far, we know that in order to clear acne, we need a pill or hormonal method that has both estrogen and progestin it. And that the progestin needs to be of the anti-androgenic variety.

Another consideration is finding a pill or method that has a low dose of estrogen in it (35 mcg or less). Higher estrogen levels have the potential for more unpleasant side effects, but lower doses also do not seem to diminish the acne clearing effects. So go for low dose.

Mind you, this doesn’t diminish the potential clot risks with these particular progestins.

So here’s the list of ones to consider:

• Yaz, Yazmin, or Beyaz (or any of their generic names: Ocella, Syeda, Zarah, Gianvi, Loryna, Nikki, Vestura, and Rajani)

• Qlaira (or it’s other names: Valette, or Climodien)

• The one that sounds like it’s the safest in terms of clots, as well as with all these other benefits is one called Belara (also called Lutéran, and Prostal).

Remember, this article was mainly written if you are already on hormonal birth control, have weighed your options, and want to stay on it.

Please think long and hard about starting birth control pills just for your acne.

For one it’s risky, but two, it’s just a delaying of the problem. It’s certainly no cure. As mentioned, many women find that their skin is gets even worse after quitting.

It also can take several months, usually around six to fully clear your skin while on birth control. Some will also break out more in the first three months of use before it clears your skin.

So it’s not like a magic wand.

It still takes time, and in that time you could employ healthy lifestyle changes and supplements that will very likely work even faster and better, and keep you clear for the long run.

And What If You Want to Get Off the Pill But Fear the Acne?

Maybe you’re in that place where you’re on birth control and would way rather be off it, but fear of the post-pill-breakout has you stuck.

I totally get it!

There are safe and effective ways to get off the pill without the dreaded post pill breakout. Some people employ weaning off as a successful strategy.

But diet, lifestyle, and supplements can also be successfully used to prevent major breakouts whether you wean or not.

If you want my help navigating the pill and getting off it without the breakouts, connect with me in the Naturally Clear Skin Academy.

What’s your story with hormonal birth control and acne? Tell us in the comments!

The post Which Brands of Birth Control Pills Clear Acne & Which Ones Cause It appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

If you struggle with chronic acne, an underlying syndrome you may have is something called PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

PCOS is a very common hormonal syndrome, allegedly affecting 5 to 10% of women. One of the common symptoms is acne.

So what the heck is PCOS and why does it seem to cause acne? And more importantly what DO YOU DO ABOUT IT so that you can stop struggling with your skin?

Is PCOS What’s Causing Your Acne Breakouts?

So despite the fact that it’s right there in the name — ie ‘poly cystic ovaries’, having cystic ovaries is not actually a defining feature of the syndrome, nor do you have to have cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS.

Yes, this is really dumb. There is currently a push to change the name so it can stop confusing the heck out of everyone as to what this actually is.

So there are only two things that are required for you to have PCOS. Those two things are:

• High androgen levels (aka male hormones). Eg. testosterone, DHEA-S, or adrostenedione. Diagnosed through a blood or saliva test.
• You don’t ovulate because of the high androgens. So you have irregular periods.

The possible side effects of having high androgen levels include oily skin and acne, hirsutism (excess hair on places like the beard area or chest), hair loss, mood swings, and weight gain.

Possible side effects of not ovulating are, well, infertility, low progesterone (causing its own host of symptoms including bad PMS), and cysts on the ovaries.

So, yes… — the cysts on the ovaries thing… Sometimes when you don’t ovulate, the eggs that were going to leave the ovaries start swelling and become cysts. Despite popular belief, the cysts don’t CAUSE the high androgens or lack of ovulation. It’s just another symptom.

Not everyone with PCOS has all of the classic symptoms. Remember, the only defining features are high androgens and lack of ovulation. How that actually translates into symptoms will be different for everyone.

The good news is that despite popular belief, you can definitely reverse your PCOS and the accompanying acne. All it is is a set of symptoms. It’s not a permanent condition.

So What DOES cause the high androgens in PCOS?

What is Causing Your PCOS and Acne?

Well this is very important to understand. Just knowing you have PCOS doesn’t tell you all that much in terms of how to actually treat it because there are many possible causes for it.

If you want to successfully put your PCOS into remission (and your acne), you will want to be barking up the right tree with your unique cause.

The Five Different PCOS Acne Profiles

Thanks to my gal Lara Briden, she has defined five different PCOS profiles.

Note that if you have acne and have shown high androgens on a blood or saliva test, but you do have regular periods and ovulation, read on. The following guide is still super helpful in sleuthing why your body may be over-producing those androgens.

Insulin Resistant PCOS Acne Profile

PCOS primarily caused by insulin resistance is by far the most common type of PCOS, and the only one doctors tend to know about. It accounts for about 80% of those with PCOS.

Insulin resistance is when your body just doesn’t respond to insulin very well anymore. This results in your body pumping out a ton of insulin when you eat, which prompts the ovaries to over-produce androgens, particularly testosterone and androstenedione. This leads to the shutting down of ovulation.

This person will typically have trouble with their weight, and break out easily from simple carbs and sugar (which spike insulin more than other foods). Note that you can also be normal weight and have insulin resistance, especially if you have a history of dieting or disordered eating.

A doctor can confirm you are insulin resistant with a glucose tolerance test. Although his probable solution if you are is to put you on birth control, the drug Metformin, and tell you to lose weight.

The treatment for this type of PCOS is generally a healthy low carb diet (in particular quitting sugar), strength training, supplements like Inositol to support your blood sugar, and yes, losing some excess weight. Sleep, stress reduction, and all the basics will help.

There is also some evidence that chronic inflammation is a major cause of insulin resistance, so inflammation will also need to be addressed if you have this type of acne. See inflammatory PCOS below.

Adrenal PCOS Acne Profile

Androgens aren’t all produced in the ovaries. A significant portion of androgens are made in the adrenal glands (aka the stress glands!)

Stressed out? Stress stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the androgen DHEA-S, so high levels of this hormone is something to look for on a saliva or blood test.

This stress is most often mental/emotional stress (like from a demanding job or a constant barrage of self criticism), but could also be excessive physical stress like over-exercising, under-eating, or lack of sleep.

Signs your adrenals are getting burnt out and may be the cause of your PCOS are feeling tired all the time (except maybe at night), not dealing with stress well, disturbed sleep patterns, and feeling worse after exercising. Not to mention chronic anxiety or feelings of mental burnout.

Treatment? Work on that stress. Learn to be kinder to yourself, reassess your life’s stressors, get some sleep, knock down the training if you are a chronic over-exerciser, and make sure you are eating enough calories.

Supplements to support your adrenals and HPA axis include adaptogens like rhodiola and nutrients like magnesium.

Inflammatory PCOS Acne Profile

A chronically activated immune system creates inflammation in the body. If you have PCOS but without the insulin resistance, then you may be an inflammatory type.

Mental and physical stress can increase inflammation, as can poor gut health. You may also be affected by environmental toxins or food intolerances.

Clues you have chronic inflammation include getting sick all the time or experiencing chronic infections. Also look for things like chronic digestive problems like bloat, diarrhea or constipation, autoimmune disorders, eczema, sore joints, or asthma.

You may also show inflammatory markers on a blood test such as Vitamin D deficiency, abnormal blood count, elevated C-RP, thyroid or autoimmune or gluten antibodies. High DHEA and/or androstenedione may have showed up on your tests.

Treatment — work on fixing your gut. Use probiotics and treat any possible infections like parasites, bacteria, or fungus. Reduce exposure to chemicals and plastics. Avoid inflammatory foods like A1 dairy, gluten, and sugar. Work on reducing mental stress as well.

Post-Pill PCOS Acne Profile

Lara Briden says this is actually the second most common type of PCOS. It occurs because the pill, by definition, disrupts the hormonal signaling from the brain to the ovaries, telling it to shut down ovulations so you don’t go making babies when you don’t want to.

Normally when you stop the pill, this returns to normal. In some cases, that doesn’t happen because the ratio of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) remain out of whack. These are the hormones responsible for telling your body it’s time to ovulate. So you don’t.

This is probably you if you had normal periods before the pill and now after going off of it, you no longer do. You also have high LH on a blood test, or normal LH and high prolactin.

Lara recommends the herbal treatment Poeny & Licorice. However, if your prolactin is high but LH is normal, then use Vitex instead. Wait three to four months after stopping the pill to take these and don’t use them for more than 10 months in a row. After three to four months of use, it should kick start your period and should stay regular.

Hidden Cause PCOS Acne Profile

If you don’t really fit into any of the above categories, there may be one simple thing that is stopping you from ovulating.

Lara includes on this list:

• Too much soy, because it’s an anti-estrogen and can block ovulation for some people. A small amount is ok.
• Thyroid disease, because your ovaries need T3 hormone
• Vegetarian diet, because it causes zinc deficiency and your ovaries need zinc
• Iodine deficiency because your ovaries need iodine
• Artificial sweeteners, because they impair insulin and leptin singling
• Too little starch in your diet, because your hormonal system needs gentle carbs (in other words, we shouldn’t go too low carb)

The Overlap of PCOS Types

Unfortunately our bodies don’t tend to fit into neat little boxes. There’s often quite a lot of overlap between the types.

For example, mental/emotional stress may be one of the biggest causes of adrenal type PCOS, but mental/emotional stress is also a major contributor to both insulin resistance AND inflammation.

It’s for this reason that often focusing on the basic principles of health will sort out many health issues you may experience, including PCOS and acne. It addresses all of these factors simultaneously.

The basics include:

• Eating a healthy whole foods diet low in sugar, processed, and inflammatory foods
• Reducing mental and physical stress where possible, and learning to respond to un-changeable stressors in a healthier way
• Getting solid sleep
• Getting regular exercise, but not overdoing it
• Eating enough calories, but not overdoing it
• Reducing your exposure to environmental toxins where possible (for example – in pesticides, in hygiene products, plastics, and household cleaners)

Once these are in place, some fine tuning may be in order, but most of the time covering these basics will do all the heavy lifting.

Have you been diagnosed with PCOS or suspect it? Do you see yourself in one of these categories? 

The post PCOS & Acne: The Underlying Causes of PCOS and How to Treat It appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

It’s a habit most acne sufferers know. That insatiable urge to run and check the mirror a thousand times a day.

I’ve been there. You’ve been there.

What are we actually doing when we go to check the mirror? What are we trying to accomplish?

For some reason we are grasping to the desperate hope that the acne has magically cleared up in the last five minutes.

Except, of course, we know it hasn’t.

And then all that happens is that we are just reminded about our skin and more miserable than ever.

And we logically know this is pointless and just creates more pain. And may lead to picking at our skin, which makes our acne worse.

So why do we keep doing it?

The Critter Brain Is Responsible for Obsessive Acne Mirror Checking

We have this funny part of our brains that I like to call the critter brain.. sometimes referred to as “the lizard brain”. This is not a very logical part of your brain.

It’s only job is to keep you safe from mortal danger, and it is constantly scanning for it.

Except the problem is that it doesn’t know what’s real or what’s imagined. Anything that we imagine as a threat to our love or belonging or safety or security is deemed a mortal threat by our brains.

To your brain, a literal lion about to eat you, or imagining a scenario where someone rejects you is considered to be exactly the same level of “oh shit”.

What does your brain do when it senses danger?

It gives you a lot of anxiety.

Acne is the perfect so-called “danger”. It’s interpreted by us as an ultimate threat to our love and belonging.

In caveman days, threats to our love and belonging could literally mean death. There was safety in numbers, and if you were kicked out of the tribe, then you were likely going to find yourself dead by wild animal, hypothermia, or starvation. This is why we react so strongly to the potential judgment of others.

But in this day and age, it’s just simply not as serious as our brain makes it out to be.

Acne (or 99% of the things we get anxious about) are not actual mortal dangers. But your brain doesn’t know that, so no matter what it is that you are worrying about, it’s going to treat it as one.

And what does your brain want you to do when you are faced with a mortal danger? It wants you to freak the f out. It wants you to run. It wants you to fight. It wants you to do whatever it takes to stay alive at all costs.

This is the biological purpose of anxiety.

This is why acne makes you so anxious. This is why your brain wants you to run and fight and kick and scream when you get a breakout.

This is why your brain wants you to go and check the mirror a thousand times a day (or pick at it, or obsess over it, or buy a million products, or go on a strict diet, or the list goes on).

To your brain, acne is as bad as a lion about to eat you. Checking the mirror over and over is akin to exiting your cave every five minutes to see if the lion is still there or if it’s taken off.

Understanding Why You’re Obsessively Checking Acne in the Mirror is Key

Why am I telling you this?

I’m telling you this because it’s very important to understand how this works.

As humans, we take our thoughts and our emotions extremely seriously.

We think that because we thought it, it must be true or important or that we have to act on it.

We think that because we felt something difficult, it means that we have to do something so that we can avoid feeling that way ever again.

In fact, you can see how the critter brain is just full of BS. It tells you stories of doom because it wants you to stay alive, but in reality… well, it’s actually just being overly dramatic.

Unless you are actually, literally in mortal danger, then you don’t have to listen to what it says.

You don’t have to be so afraid of every thought and every emotion. You don’t have to be ruled by the fear. Because it’s false.

It’s just some cracked out satanic character in your brain trying to scare you.

So what I mean is that when you get the urge to check the mirror, remember what I said here. Remember that just because your brain told you to go look, doesn’t mean that anything bad is going to happen if you don’t do it.

What’s actually going to happen?

You’re going to feel uncomfortable for a few minutes. That’s it. And then it will pass.

What else is going to happen?

You’re going to be sending the message to your critter brain that acne isn’t life or death and it doesn’t need to make you so anxious about it.

When you don’t fight or flight from something you’re anxious about, your brain learns that it was perhaps not as big a threat as it thought. So next time, it won’t make you so anxious.

Your Feelings About Your Skin Comes From Your Thoughts About It

 But… but…. IT FEELS WORSE THAN A LION ABOUT TO ATTACK ME! AHHHHH    – quote: you

The other part of this is understanding that our emotions are always generated from our thoughts. And our thoughts are generated from what we believe to be true — aka the meaning that we give to our skin, or our life, our circumstances.

As mentioned, the meaning that we have given to acne is that it’s a threat.

We have determined that acne makes us ugly. If we’re ugly, then people will judge us. If they judge us, it means that we don’t deserve to lives our lives, do what makes us happy, to be seen, have love, or feel attractive.

That’s pretty scary, right?

Of course that’s going to make you feel sick, anxious, frustrated, and ashamed.

You have to understand that these emotions come from the THOUGHT. It comes from the thought about what acne means.

I repeat: It’s created by the thought…  not from the acne itself.

The meaning we give to things is something we’ve created, based on how we’ve interpreted our lives up until that point.

Even though these meanings, these beliefs, feel inextricably true to us, they are NOT TRUE. They are just interpretations.

One person can be in the exact same situation as someone else. and think something completely different about it. This means they also feel completely different about it.

It’s the meaning that creates the pain, not the circumstance.

Which means if you change the meaning of something — or simply understand that we don’t have to take the meanings we’ve made up so seriously — then you change the emotion surrounding the thing that you think is causing you pain.

Changing the Meaning Behind the Acne Mirror Checking

For example…

Does acne really make you ugly?

What if it didn’t? Because you aren’t just your skin. You are a multi-faceted human being with a million amazing qualities, and your struggle with your skin is one small part of the essence of who you are. Everyone has ‘flaws’, which are entirely subjective and created in the mind. We reduce ourselves to being just our skin, in fact we are so much more. And attraction is much more than one quality. You don’t choose your friends, lovers, and acquaintances based on their lack of all human flaws, and neither do others.

But it’s horrible if people judge me!

So what?

People judge each other for the most random things that you can imagine, and it’s all based on their own stories and beliefs and actually have nothing to do with you. You might think they are looking at your skin, in fact they think your nose is too round (which is only because they hate their own nose). You actually quite like your nose, thank you very much – so you know they’re just whacko anyway. Point being — much like you don’t have to take your own thoughts so seriously, you also don’t have to take other people’s thoughts so seriously. Why give them the power? Do they deserve that much power? Is it worth it for other people’s whacko transient thought farts to rule what you do with your life and how you feel about yourself?

The reason we check the mirror obsessively (or any other self destructive habit) is because we are looking for a way to change the feelings we are having. We’re looking for a different experience.

The problem is, it gives us temporary relief from that intense buildup of anxiety, which is why we keep doing it.

In the long run, it makes us more miserable though and it just doesn’t work. It just perpetuates the story that acne is threatening, just making us more and more anxious. It invites more of the same difficult thoughts.

If you really start to understand what’s going on — and perhaps find new meaning in the thing that seems to be making you anxious — you may just find that your anxiety and urge to run to the mirror will naturally fall away.

The NLP Swish Pattern for Obsessive Acne Mirror Checking

What I’ve described above is really the heart of the matter, but something else you can try is called the NLP Swish Pattern.

Our brains get into habitual patterns, so when you think about your skin, you can’t help that it’s automatically going to be firing the urge to go check the mirror. It will happen before you have the chance to even consider what’s going on.

There’s no point getting mad at yourself for having the thought. It’s not that big a deal. Thoughts are just thoughts. Don’t make them into such a big deal!

Just remember why the thought is there (the critter brain trying to scare you), and that you don’t necessarily have to act on it. It’s ok. You will live!

But there is a trick you can use to try and “rewire” the trigger, so that when you think about your skin, it doesn’t trigger the urge to go look in the mirror.

The trigger in this case, is when you remember about your skin.

This triggers the fearful thoughts about your skin and that acne makes you ugly and etc etc etc, which leads to feelings of anxiety, and then you get the urge to go to the mirror to relieve the anxiety. So you check the mirror. And then you feel temporary relief, followed by more misery and the ever-continuing urge to check the mirror again.

The swish pattern helps you re-program your brain to change the response to the trigger. So instead of getting the urge to check the mirror when you think about your skin, you instead trigger a response that is more supportive and healthy.

Check out this guide on how to do the NLP swish pattern.

Are you an obsessive mirror checker? It’s ok, you’re not alone! Have you had any success with kicking the habit? Share your success secrets in the comments!

The post How to Stop Obsessively Checking Your Acne in the Mirror appeared first on The Love Vitamin.

Hi friend, today we’re going to explore an effective, permanent method of acne scar removal. Called dermarolling. In which the tool you use soooorta looks like a torture device.

Well, not sorta — it looks exactly like a torture device.

Maybe I shouldn’t have started the article with that.

Anyway, it only hurts very mildly… not so much like torture per se…. ANYWAY….

This torture device is called a dermaroller or a skin needler, and what it does is called dermarolling or microneedling.

The basic premise is this:

When you’ve got acne scars (not so much red flat marks, but deeper indented or rolling ones), the problem is that your skin has technically already healed. You had a wound (an acne spot), and then it healed and left a scar. It didn’t exactly heal in the way you wanted, but it’s healed now, so your skin views this as a low priority for fixing and filling in.

What you then do is roll the dermaroller over your skin and the micro needles create very tiny pricks in the skin… “micro traumas” as it’s so elegantly and frighteningly called. This basically “reminds” your body that there is still work to do in the area, and it begins to fill the scars back in with tissue and collagen

-Quote: me

Here’s a video of me demonstrating how to do it:

Dermarolling for Acne Scars: Not as Bad as It Sounds

So… at first I couldn’t believe this was a legit thing I would ever be recommending. After all, it sounds so aggressive.

And as you may know, I’m all about being gentle to your skin. And I still am!

There is one important thing to remember:

Don’t dermaroll on areas of your face that still have active acne! Clogged pores and red marks left from well healed pimples are ok but not over top of active inflamed spots. (Also, don’t perform skin needling on raised or keloid scarring)

Quote: me

Being aggressive and picking and squeezing and popping and pricking your skin is not how you heal from live acne wounds. It only makes it worse and more likely to scar. Think of any injury – harassing it ain’t the way to heal it.

However, this dermarolling thing has a lot of science that says that on intact, healed skin, it really helps a great deal with indented scars. So who am I to say no.

There is another thing to remember too:

Don’t do it too much!

Quote: me

You can still be aggressive with the dermaroller by simply doing it too much (which I know some of you will be attempted to do! You think that if it works, then the more the merrier, right?)

For deep scars, you really only want to do it every 6 weeks. More than that and you aren’t giving your skin sufficient time to heal and build the collagen you want – you’re only aggravating it.

Think of dermarolling like weight lifting for your skin… when you lift weights or exercise, you are creating tiny little micro tears in your muscles. This prompts your body to repair these and lay down more muscle tissue as a result, making you stronger.

However, you have to rest after the exercise in order for your body to do this repair work. If you work out too often and don’t allow enough recovery time, then you don’t get stronger and are more likely to get injured.

Choosing a Dermaroller for Treating Your Acne Scars

When it comes to dermarollers, there are different lengths of needles you can use for different purposes.

Dermarolling isn’t only for acne scars – it can also be used for improving wrinkles, cellulite, large pores, and overall skin texture. It can also be used to bring a topical moisturizer or healing serum deeper into the skin.

If you are using it for anti-aging or serum absorption purposes, you use a shorter needle and it can be done more often. For deep acne scars, you do need to use the longer needle lengths to really see results.

The unfortunate part is that the longer the needle, the more it hurts, but the payoff is that you don’t have to do it as often.

Here’re the general guideline for needle length and frequency:

To increase serum absorption and thicken the skin: 0.25 to 0.3 mm needle. Can be done every other day if your skin can tolerate it without becoming excessively dry, red, or peely.

To treat mild acne scars and decrease wrinkles and increase collagen: 0.5mm needle. Give yourself 7 days before each subsequent treatment.

To treat moderate to deep acne scars and wrinkles: 0.75 to 1mm needle. Do not do this more than once a month.

For really deep and old scars: 1.5 to 2mm needle. Can only be done every 6 to 8 weeks and if you are getting into this territory, you might strongly consider having a professional do it instead

So, when you buy a dermaroller, you want to find one that has a certain number of needles per square inch (540), is titanium, and preferably comes with a cover as to not damage the needles.

Ideally you would also find one with interchangeable heads so you could use different needle lengths for different applications. This isn’t always easy to find, but I have linked to one such set below.

Sdara Skincare 0.25 mm
Dermaroller kit with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mm heads

The General Dermarolling Procedure for Acne Scars

So first thing’s first… you want to make sure that your roller has been thoroughly sanitized before each use.

After all, the last thing you want to do is bring bacteria deep into the skin and cause an infection. You should take this very seriously.

After each use, rinse it off with hot water, then place the roller head completely submerged in rubbing alcohol for at least an hour. Then rinse again and allow to dry.

Before using it again, either soak it in alcohol again for for 30 minutes, or just wash it with soap and water and you’re ready to go.

Okay, so now you’re about to rock and roll. ha.

Numbing Creams for Dermarolling Acne Scars

If you are using a longer needle, you may at this point want to apply a numbing cream.

With the shorter needles, it’s not really supposed to hurt… like… for example, take your finger nail and tap the tip of it on your forehead repeatedly. Slightly uncomfortable, maybe, but not painful at all.

The longer needles, it does start to actually hurt a bit, so to do a thorough job and get the results you want on your acne scars, a numbing cream containing lidocaine might be a good idea.

I have done a pretty thorough search for a natural numbing creams, without coming up with a whole lot. Here’s the best one I could find.

But, I figure that since you will only doing the procedure with the long needles once a month maximum, it’s not the end of the world if you use a non-natural cream for this.

So anyway, take your numbing cream and put it on the areas that you will be treating and allow it to sit for 30 minutes in order to kick in.

The Dermarolling of Your Acne Scars

Okay, now you’re ready to rock and roll.

Again, here’s the how-to video:

So take your dermaroller and hold it with your index finger pressing down on the shaft.

Basically, this finger “posture” creates the downward pressure that you need to do the job properly. Just gentle pressure though — no need to be overly aggressive with it.

Now get to work. You’ll want to roll back and forth over each area of the face four to eight times first in one direction, then the other, while holding your skin tight with the other hand.

So roll up and four to eight times. Then back and forth four to eight times. Then move onto a new area.

Remember, for acne scars, you don’t have to treat your whole face. You can just spot treat the scars.

Anyway – if you’re using the longer needles, your skin is probably going to be full of tiny little red marks and probably a small bit of blood.

Rinse your face off, and then apply a moisturizer full of healing ingredients – natural oils, aloe, glycerin. Etc. Something like my DIY moisturizer.

Or you can use a good quality Vitamin C serum that contains sodium acetyl phosphate aka SAP (not ascorbic acid) and follow up with a drop of oil. I recommend the following:

• 20% Vitamin C Hyaluronic Serum – Made in Canada (avail on US & Canada amazon)
• Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum (available on amazon and iherb)
• Face Theory Gegena C20 Serum (UK)
• Roccoco Clarifying C Serum (Aus)

What Results to Expect from Dermarolling

Be gentle with your skin after a rolling session. And don’t expect immediate results.

As with weight lifting, you don’t get huge muscles after one workout, but after several uses (providing you let your skin heal sufficiently between each session) you should start to see some filling in of the scars.

Keep going and hopefully you’ll see a big, if not full, improvement!

Would love to hear your thoughts on dermarolling. Tried it? Want to? Questions? Any advice to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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