2 Ways to Clear-up Those Pesky Skin Problems

If you’re currently struggling from acne, dry skin, Tinea Versicolor, Keratosis Pilaris, Eczema, or some unidentified annoying itchy rash all over your body, I understand your frustration as I’ve struggled with those in the past as well.

Don’t lose hope, you can put an end to red, itchy skin.

I want to preface this post by saying I’m not a doctor, and the information shared in this post is based off of my own personal experience. My hope is that it will help you. Please use your own judgement/ seek medical advice before making any major changes.

My Skin “Problems” go back to high school, like many others.

I remember getting ready for school one day, and it was a rare morning when my mom was actually up and in the kitchen (she likes her sleep, even more than me), and I was complaining to her about blackheads on my nose – “I have like 100 blackheads, it’s disgusting – I should probably stay home”.  I also wasn’t the most popular at age 16, so I was notorious for trying to find clever (or so I thought), ways to stay home.

But, like any good mother she said it was totally normal for girls my age to have blemishes and acne, and that they would go away in no time if I just left them alone.

So what did I do? I layered on the makeup. Foundation, powder, blush – the works.

Since that incident I’ve struggled with acne, dry skin, Tinea Versicolor, and a few unidentified rashes of my own.  I’ve also learned A LOT about skin and health over the years.

In that time, I’ve found an approach that works very well for me and one that I’ve shared with others who have had similar results.

Just like your body is different from mine, so is your skin. These might not have the same effect, but I HIGHLY recommend you give them a try.  That being said, most people can benefit from these tips.

TIP #1 – Improve Your Diet

I know, how vague right?

But here’s the thing… 99% of the time skin eruptions are a sign that something is going on inside your body. Something that you need to get to the bottom of. Covering them up with makeup is like putting a bandage on the problem.

When you improve your diet, you’ll start to glow from the inside out. I know for me when I started incorporating daily green juice, I would get complimented on my skin often.

When it comes to Improving Your Diet – we talk about this a lot – but it usually means more fresh, whole foods, and less processed, packaged foods.

Here are a few of my favorite foods for glowing skin 

Aloe Vera Juice (whole leaf) – I recommend 2 ounces every few nights before bed.

Cacao Powder – Add this to your smoothies/snacks and indulge in a little dark chocolate 70% or higher.

Leafy Greens – Kale, chard, spinach, collard greens – Go for the freshest available, and add them to smoothies and green juice (daily)!

Strawberries – So good for sun protection, full of Antioxidants, Folic Acid & Vitamin C – I add these to my smoothies, chia puddings, and eat them as a snack.

Cucumbers – Raw, organic cucumbers are so rich in vitamins and minerals. I add these to my juice every day; they’re also great in salads, wraps and grain bowls.

Green Tea – Great for those with acne, as it flushes toxins out of the body. 1 cup in the morning, or iced in the afternoon, or Matcha Powder (ground green tea leaves) in your smoothie.

Lemon – Also great at removing toxins due to the antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, it’s also a great hydrator (daily)!

Water – I had to add this, as good skin is hydrated skin. Aim for 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day. Example: 150 pounds would be 75 ounces of water.

2 Things to Avoid 

When it comes to skin, one of the BIGGEST offenders is sugar! It causes yeast and bad bacteria grow, which fester inside your body. If skin has always been an issue for you, I highly recommend trying to eliminate sugar completely for a week or two. A low sugar cleanse is a great way to do that.

Another thing you have to watch out for is inflammation– this can cause collagen and elastin to break down, meaning saggy skin. Chronic inflammation has also been shown to make skin conditions like rosacea and acne flair up.

Here are the foods you’ll want to stay away from: sugars, processed foods, white flours, red meat, dairy, and wheat.

Tip #2 – Leave your skin Alone

When it comes to treating your skin on the outside, I recommend a ‘less is more’ approach.

Go makeup free as often as you can, really giving your skin a chance to breathe. I personally don’t wear makeup and my skin greatly benefits from it. I’m not saying that you have to do that, I’m just saying take a few days off each week.

When buying products, use gentle cleansers and moisturizers on your skin. Look for ingredients you can identify and try to avoid added fragrance.

Here are a few of my favorite brands:

Eminence – This brand is all organic and made from plants. My best friend Nadina, who happens to be an esthetician, turned me on to this brand and I could not be happier with them. It’s very high quality and great for sensitive skin.

Zatik – I just recently started using their soap and moisturizer and really like it. This brand is very affordable while still using high quality ingredients.

Boodah Organics – This brand makes the most amazing lip balm, body lotion and soap. They’re all handmade with high quality organic ingredients. Oh, and they smell so good due to the cocoa butter :)

When it comes to my skin care routine, I keep it pretty simple – cleanse with soap, exfoliate every other day, and then moisturize in the morning and in the evening. I’ll do a homemade mask 1-2 times a month, but that’s about it.

In general, I’ve found that your skin will clear up the fastest and with the best results if you tackle it from the inside AND the outside at the same time.

BONUS ITEMS

A DIY Spray for Eczema, Tinea Versicolor (+ Other Pesky Skin Issues)

• 2 ounces Fractionated Coconut Oil – you want it in liquid form so it can go into a spray bottle.
• 10 Drops Tea Tree Oil/ Melaleuca Oil – go for a high quality brand with no fillers or other ingredients.
• 1 spray bottle

Mix ingredients together, and then on clean skin, heavily spray the affected area. I use this on my back and arms when my Tinea Versicolor shows up, and it works amazingly well. My clients have used this for rashes as well and had great success.

I recommend spraying it on before bed and then putting on an old T-shirt. You want to keep it on as long as you can without sweating or washing it off. If you can do it twice a day, even better.

*Be sure to test this on a small area of skin first to check for any skin reactions – if you notice any discomfort, don’t use it as you might be allergic to one of the ingredients.

Coconut Oil & Tea Tree Oil are two of my favorite skin ingredients of all time! Both are anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, making them a killer combo for cleansing and getting rid of bad bacteria on the skin.

Issue specific 

Eczema – Cut back on the sugar as Eczema is linked to fungus, which feeds on sugar.  Also, focus on improving your gut health by 1) increasing your fermented foods 2) taking a good quality Probiotic and 3) drinking whole leaf aloe vera juice.

Keratosis Pilaris – Increasing Vitamin A, K & D seem to be the big ones people with KP aren’t getting enough of. So ask yourself, are you getting a wide variety of leafy greens and other vegetables each day? And also, a minimum of 20 minutes of sunshine/day with most of your body exposed? If not, I suggest incorporating more veggies and a Vitamin D supplement. Also, increase Probiotics and fermented foods as you really need to be absorbing those nutrients from your leafy greens.

Tina Versicolor – Use the DIY spray above on your body as often as you can, and reduce sugar and grains at the same time. I also highly recommend doing a cleanse as this can be so deeply rooted it takes a more intensive treatment to remove it once and for all.

I hope you found this helpful and if you have questions about your skin, feel free to leave them below, or join the conversation in our private Facebook group.

BTW – Peter & I are getting ready to start our beginner cleanse…

10 days of clean plant-based eating!

What you can expect during the cleanse…

– You’ll have more energy to get through your busy days without needing 5 cups of coffee.

– You’ll feel more confident about your body at the beach.

– You’ll no longer feel like you have to wear makeup every time you go out.

– You’ll finally be able to say “Yes I eat healthy, and No, I’m not on a diet”.

We’re calling this a Beginner Cleanse, as it’s a great spot to jump start your healthy eating lifestyle.

We do ask that you’re able to exclude animal products from your diet for the 10 days during the cleanse, and that you’re comfortable making green smoothies (we’ll provide the recipes, but you’ll need to have a blender).

And also that you understand that for 10 days we require that you pass on any frozen meals or entrees – this includes any frozen Trader Joe’s meals;) Trust me – it’s in your best interest.

NOTE – this cleanse is only for those who are serious about improving their health. Learn more here.

Wishing you healthy and clear skin :)