Acne | Julie Daniluk's Guide to Natural Acne Remedies

Are you at your wit's end about how to clear up your skin?

Have you tried everything that you've been recommended and are still just stumped?

• Acne creams and alcohol-based toners? Check.
• Microdermabraison? Check.
• Grueling regimens of medications and anti-biotics? Double check!

Unfortunately, you are not alone. Trying every almost product on the market is the norm, and still breakouts occur. Fortunately, you are not alone.

Trying to treat acne by slathering your skin with products to kill bacteria, doesn't address where the problem truly lies. Skin problems, such as acne, are often caused by multiple factors from hormonal imbalances to inflammation. However, all of these factors can be a result of poor elimination, meaning that instead of having your metabolic waste eliminated from your body, it builds up and creates problems.

You have many organs of elimination (kidney, liver, skin, lymph, lungs and GI tract) that act as a filter to wash away waste products, toxins and hormones from your body.

When your detox pathways are inefficient, your lymphatic circulation becomes sluggish, your gut microbiome becomes unhealthy, your hormones become imbalanced and you become prone to inflammation.

The first step to gaining control of acne and skin breakouts is gaining control over your body’s waste management.

My Hot Detox focuses on nourishing foods that can help improve all elimination pathways in your body so that you can get rid of metabolic waste and toxins and thereby balance your hormones. Following the Hot Detox program offers deep cleansing without harsh caloric restriction.

How does this gentle, effective Hot Detox help your skin?

One of the major functions of your liver is to remove excess hormones and toxins from your body. Two hormones of interest are testosterone and estrogen.

• Testosterone is the major culprit behind acne through its stimulation of sebum production, which feeds Propionobacterium acne.
• Estrogen can help decrease the level of testosterone in your body – though only when it is metabolized by the liver. Metabolized estrogen increases sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a protein that binds excess testosterone preventing it from being active in your body and producing sebum.

When you overload your liver with too much caffeine, alcohol, sugar and processed foods, the resulting overload can lead to acne due to hormonal imbalance.

Don’t worry! Your liver function and detox pathways can be improved by following the Hot Detox!

Your liver needs nutrients such as B-vitamins, glutathione, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and supportive herbs and spices (like milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric, dill and caraway) in order to smoothly run both Phase I and Phase II of your detoxification pathway. The Hot Detox menu plan will ensure that you get all the vitamins and nutrients required for liver detoxification because it is based on consuming whole foods.

Whole foods are important for liver detoxification and they help you keep yours GI tract healthy and optimal. High-fat diets and processed foods cause alterations to gut motility and micro-biota, thus increasing the burden of inflammation, oxidative stress, sebum production and thereby exacerbating acne. There is also some evidence that those who suffer from acne have altered intestinal microflora and constipation and that the consumption of fermented drinks or supplements seems to improve clinical aspects of acne. More specifically, it appears that probiotics led to significant reductions in sebum production and regulated the release of inflammatory markers and cytokines.

Because inflammation and oxidative stress play a role in causing acne, it is important not to forget to address them. In fact, acne is primarily an inflammatory disease and should be treated via mechanisms of anti-inflammation. There is evidence to support that adults who suffer from acne have decreased levels of antioxidants (Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E) in comparison to those who have clear skin. Incorporating antioxidant-rich foods such as brightly-coloured and dark green vegetables is an excellent choice and additionally reduces inflammatory factors (cytokines), supports digestion and improves regularity of bowel movements.

Let’s not forget about your lymphatic system!

Impaired lymphatic circulation means that your immune system and detoxification may be sluggish. The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, which colonize follicles and glands of the skin, activate an immune response. Dry skin brushing, as described in my book, Hot Detox, clears pores and stimulates the lymphatic system, therefore strengthening the immune system and transporting waste to the liver and kidneys for elimination.

References

1. Bowe W., Logan A. “Acne vulgaris, probiotics and the gut-brain-skin axis – back to the future?” Gut Pathogens. (2011); 3: 1-11.
2. Bowe W., Patel N., Logan A. “Acne vulgaris: the role of oxidative stress and the potential therapeutic value of local and systemic antioxidants.” Journal of drugs in dermatology. (2012); 11: 742-746.
3. Ebede T. Arch E., Berson D. “Hormonal Treatment of acne in women.” J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. (2009): 2; 16-22.
4. Tanghetti E. “The role of inflammation in the pathology of acne.” J Clin Aestheti Dermatol. (2013); 6: 27-35.