Natural Remedies for Acne

If COVID-19 mask wearing and holiday stress has flared your skin, you’re certainly not alone! Triggered by factors such as hormonal changes, dietary shifts, the environment, incompatible skincare, gut bacteria imbalance and stress, acne can unfortunately occur at any stage in life.

Here are my top tips for naturally preventing and treating breakouts:

⁠Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Given that your skin is your largest organ and a primary channel for elimination, what shows up on the outside is a direct reflection of what's happening on the inside. By eating a plant-heavy diet rich in antioxidants, fiber, collagen and omega-3 fatty acids, while eliminating (or at least significantly reducing) sugar, dairy, gluten, soy and conventional animal products, you can quickly notice major improvements in your skin tone and texture.

Great foods to include: orange-colored vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash), dark leafy greens (i.e. kale, arugula, spinach, chard, parsley, mint), blueberries, pomegranates, dark chocolate, cinnamon, turmeric, legumes (beans, peas, lentils), grass-fed bone broth and wild-caught salmon.

Drink LOTS of Filtered Water
Water lubricates the skin, flushes toxins and supports the liver (among many other things). Aim to drink 1/2 your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water per day, preferably 30-60 minutes away from meals, rather than at mealtimes.

Take Probiotics
A healthy gut is crucial for keeping inflammation at bay and helping your body assimilate the skin-soothing nutrients from the foods you are eating. Probiotics are good gut bacteria that support digestion, promote bowel regularity, aid detoxification, boost immunity, balance the hormones and uplift the mood (after all, up to 95% of your feel-good serotonin is made in the gut!).

As with all supplements, sourcing a high-quality probiotic is of utmost importance. I recommend looking for a product that contains at least 20 billion CFU and multiple strains. This probiotic is my personal favorite.

Incorporate Daily Stress Management
As Americans, we spend the majority of our time in stressed out, “fight or flight”, sympathetic nervous system mode which affects everything from our hormones to digestive function and sleep. Staying in this tense state for too long eventually takes a toll on the body which is when symptoms (such as breakouts, hair loss, weight gain and insomnia) arise.

I recommend incorporating calming activities into your daily regime, i.e. a 20-minute walk outside, 10-minute meditation, journaling, essential oil therapy, deep belly breathing (especially important before meals) or reading a light, uplifting book. These will help you tap into your parasympathetic nervous system which stimulates “rest and digest” and everything beauty-related.

Apply Manuka Honey Face Masks
I personally LOVE Manuka honey masks and apply them on a weekly basis to address my oil-prone skin. Manuka honey is a medicinal honey, coming from New Zealand, that provides up to 3x the antibacterial properties of regular honey.

You can either apply the honey directly to problem areas or make an anti-aging, skin-brightening mask by combining 1-2 tbsp. Manuka honey with 1-2 tsp. fresh lemon juice and 1/8 tsp. cinnamon. Apply topically to dry skin and let it sit for up to 30 minutes before washing your face and continuing with your skin-appropriate toner, moisturizer, etc.

Rely on Tea Tree Oil for Spot Treatments
Essential oils are naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal and antimicrobial. Tea tree oil is especially beneficial for acne because its anti-inflammatory properties calm redness and swelling while preventing and reducing acne scars.

If you are experiencing a breakout, I recommend applying a drop of tea tree oil directly to the spot (especially before picking - NEVER PICK). Note: essential oils are highly concentrated and acidic which can irritate sensitive skin. Before applying directly to the face, I recommend doing a patch test on your hand or other area of the body. If you experience a reaction (redness, itching, burning or rash), I encourage you to use a carrier oil such as jojoba in combination with the tea tree oil before applying to the skin.

Incorporate Detoxification
We live in a toxic world - from the water we drink and air we breath to the pillow we sleep on at night, we are constantly being bombarded. Without daily support, the toxin bucket starts to overflow and symptoms, such as breakouts, arise.

Daily detox practices such as drinking warm lemon water in the morning, dry brushing and oil pulling are great, but it’s also important to do a more intensive liver flush at least twice a year, preferably at the change of every season.

Breakouts are a real bummer: not only do they lower self-confidence in the moment, they can also leave permanent damage and scarring. Antibiotics seems like a fast and easy solution, but they destroy your gut flora which will only backfire in the long run (trust me, I know from experience!). I encourage you to go the natural route first. By addressing your diet, water intake and gut health while supporting your liver and trying these natural spot treatments, you will improve acne and minimize pore size while brightening the skin and even reducing fine lines and wrinkles! A win-win all around :)⁠

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