When treating acne, avoiding blemishes, or maintaining healthy skin, some choose to work from the inside out, rather than the outside in. Dr. Leigh Ipsen, a naturopathic doctor based in Sweden and owner of Bedford Naturopathic Clinic and Healthy Selection, is one of those people.
Eat Essentail Fatty Acids to Moisturize & Balance Inflammation
First off, she says we need to ensure that we have adequate essential fatty acids, which will moisturize from the inside out and will balance inflammation. Her top pick for an omega 3 source is fish oil, but flax oil comes in at a near second. And for omega 6, she suggests turning to evening primrose oil, but sunflower oil will also do.
Antioxidants Protect Your Skin
You'll also want to load up your skin with antioxidants - these little soldiers act as a shield for your delicate face. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene, will help to decrease and prevent free-radical damage from toxins, sun and alcohol.
Get Enough Protein!
Dr. Ipsen also recommends you ensure you have adequate sources of protein in your diet in order to achieve and maintain healthy skin.
Get Rid of Acne Naturally by Starving Bacteria
For preventing and treating acne, Dr. Ipsen has a simple, natural solution: starve it. Bacteria inside a blemish will feed on sugar, she says, so she will observe how her patient handles sugar and will cut back as necessary. If needed, she will also recommend a supplement like chromium, which helps cells take in the sugar so it doesn't become easy food for hungry bacteria.
"Medical doctors kill the bacteria using antibiotics," she says. "We take a more natural approach by starving the bacteria."
Zinc is an Anti-Acne Super Power
Zinc is also your caped crusader in the battle against acne. This mineral prevents scarring, speeds up the healing process, and supports your immune system. Found in pumpkin seeds and shell fish - though Dr. Ipsen recommends the seeds over the toxin-filled shell fish - zinc will also fight pesky bacteria.
Acne as a Sign of Toxins in Your System
When assessing a patient's skin, Dr. Ipsen says she looks at the skin as an organ of elimination.
"If you're eliminating toxins through the skin, you're having problems," she says.
In this way, she'll look at how the bowels, liver and kidneys are working - other means of eliminating toxins - and recommend a detoxification process if necessary.
Balance Hormones to Get Rid of Acne
Since acne has famous hormonal connection, a naturopathic doctor will also work at balancing hormones within their patient's body. This is of course done naturally - avoiding the birth control pill, says Dr. Ipsen - with the use of a few different herbs that are determined by either a naturopath or herbalist.
Protect Your Skin Naturally
Dr. Ipsen, who sees the most success from taking sugar out of the diet, and adding zinc, chromium and fish oil, also understands the need to topically protect and cleanse the skin. But that doesn't mean stripping your skin of all its natural oils. Keep any products you add to your face as natural as possible, especially sunscreen, and also aim to protect your skin from future damage.
