Struggling with hormonal acne or just generally ‘bad’ skin can be disheartening and even confusing, and many people don’t realise how much it can impact your confidence.
A few years ago, before I embarked on my own journey to be a health coach, I worked with a professional to identify the potential causes of my acne and work through the best ways to avoid my triggers, to treat my hormonal acne naturally and improve my skin health overall.
I’ve rounded up my top 5 skincare tips below in the hopes this helps you.
Cruciferous veg for skin health
Cruciferous veg such as broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage are rich in folate, vitamins C, E, and K which all promote healthy skin. They’re also high in fibre which helps to detox excess oestrogen from the liver – this was a huge trigger for my acne flare ups along my chin and jaw as I’ve had issues with oestrogen dominance.
Alcohol and acne
I got honest about what, and how much I was drinking.
I’m not a huge drinker but I do recognise that I can go through phases where social plans ramp up and those odd glasses of wine with friends become more frequent.
I can definitely tell in my skin when I’ve had a few drinks as it feels puffier and more uneven in tone.
I’m now far more conscious of how frequently I drink alcohol and while I still enjoy it, and am not 100% sober, I make conscious decisions on when I want to drink and keep it to a minimum outside of big occasions.
As well as limiting alcohol also comes other drinks because I am a sucker for a fizzy pop.
As much as I do love them, I know they’re not good for me and while I don’t advocate for restriction, and think everything should be allowed in moderation, I keep fizzy drinks to a minimum for the benefit of my skin and gut health, which impacts so many other aspects of health.
Healthy fats for glowing skin
Healthy fats in your diet are not something to be scared of and will not make you fat unless you’re consuming them in excess and putting yourself in a calorie surplus.
The omega-3s in foods such as avocado, salmon, and walnuts are fabulous for our skin by regulating oil production and reducing inflammation which is responsible for for a plethora of other issues.
Cleaning blocked pores
I made sure to wash my face thoroughly after every single workout. You might be thinking ‘ew, were you not doing that already? Gross!’ but aren’t we all guilty of getting home from the gym and lazing about for a little bit before we get our sh*t together? Or rushing to get ready for work after an early morning run? Well, no more! I now make sure I thoroughly wash my face straight away with a cleanser that suits my skin before I do anything else.
Stress, anxiety, and acne
You might not realise it but high cortisol can have a huge impact on your skin – cortisol is a hormone after all!
Learning how to get a better manage my stress levels was the best thing I did, not only for my skin but for pretty much every aspect of my health.
Supplements for skin
Supplements aren’t a necessity for everyone and it’s important to remember this and remember that everyone’s needs will be slightly different.
I worked with a professional to identify which supplements I’d benefit from taking and ensured I took them as prescribed for a long enough period of time to see the results.
Ethos Health Coaching 