7 Steps to Get Rid of Acne for Good!

Author:

Rich battled acne for years and finally found a regimen that worked for him.

The Struggle

I know why you clicked on this article. I feel your pain—the pain of waking up every morning hoping you'll walk to the mirror and see a clear face: the face that you know you should have and know that is under all the redness, swelling, and marks. You just want to feel confident and feel like yourself. Trust me, I understand all of this and I have good news for you!

Though there is no real cure, the following remedies are the next best thing! I have spent over eight years battling acne and through trial and error, I have found what actually works. After eight long years, I have gone from having constant acne, with new forming pimples every day, to a clear face with only the occasional zit. I envy you for reading this. If I had known all of these things eight years ago it would have been a much easier path for me. Without further ado, I give you some of the best acne curing steps on planet earth.

As you can see, it is the way our body reacts and tries to fight off the clog pore that causes inflammation, redness, and swelling. By gently cleansing you cause less irritation to the affected area.

Step 1: Use a Gentle Clenser

The number one piece of advice I would have for others struggling with acne would be to use a gentle facial wash. It can be easy to think that the more you clean your face and the stronger wash you use the better. However, this is a common misconception and over-washing or using harsh chemicals can cause more acne.

Acne is caused by clogged pores from oil and dead skin but many people can have clogged pores without red and inflamed acne. So the problem isn't the clogged pore itself, it is how your body reacts to it. With harsh chemicals comes more redness and swelling. You want to keep the redness down and use a gentle face wash. What I use and what I would recommend is CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. Make sure you wash your face 2-3 times a day. That would include in the morning, after a workout and before bed.

Step 2: Moisturize!

It is important to keep your skin moisturized in order to have a healthy protective barrier. If your skin is too dry it will be easily aggravated and any acne you have will look more noticeable and inflamed. I used to be afraid to moisturize because I thought it would clog my pores. But once I began moisturizing regularly I saw that the results are amazing and there was no going back!

The key is using a noncomedogenic product, meaning one that will not clog your pores. I recommend moisturizing after every time you wash your face. CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM and CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM are my favorite moisturizers.

Step 3: Green Tea and More Green Tea!

At a minimum, I drink green tea once a day. I have adopted drinking green tea more recently and it has, for the first time in my life, left me completely acne free! This stuff is amazing!

There are multiple reasons green tea can help and prevent acne. It is full of antioxidants, helps regulate blood sugar and has been shown to help with hormonal swings. Antioxidants help with controlling inflammation, and if there is no inflammation then there is no acne. Swings in blood sugar and hormones have also been linked to an increase in acne.

Try to make it a new morning habit to drink a cup of green tea every morning. I use a Keurig and for mine and it is extremely easy to make.

Step 4: Flax Seed Fruit Smoothies

Flaxseed fruit smoothies come in at number four on the list because it is so easy to incorporate into your diet. I started drinking these daily a year ago and the results are remarkable. My skin became clearer, I felt better, and I had more energy.

The flaxseed is full of Omega 3's and has remarkable anti-inflammatory benefits. If you're not catching my drift yet, the key to fighting acne is anti-inflammation! Choose fruit for your smoothie that is high in antioxidants such as blueberries and strawberries!

Instructions for Flaxseed Fruit Smoothies

In a blender pour one cup of almond milk.
Ass one tablespoon of milled or powdered flax seeds.
Add 1-2 cups of frozen fruit. This can include a mix of blueberries, bananas, apples, cranberries, peaches, pineapple, pears, tangerines, or any fruit you want!
Feel free to also add vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli, or carrots.
Blend for 30 seconds or until fully mixed.
Enjoy!

Step 5: Workout!

Working out helps release toxins from your body through your sweat. By exercising especially doing at least 30 minutes of cardio a day, you are releasing these toxins from your body.

Exercise also increases blood flow, which helps carry oxygen and nutrients all around your body including to your skin. This will increase the effectiveness of drinking your tea and smoothies by allowing your body to effectively carry these nutrients and prevent infections such as acne.

Finally, Exercise is also proven to lower stress levels which have been linked to causing acne. So get out there! Go run, bike, swim, lift weights or play a sport for at least 30 minutes every day.

Step 6: Change Your Diet

Changing your diet can be a difficult thing to do but I have found it to be essential in living a healthy acne-free life. As you have now realized from the previous steps antioxidants and nutrients are key to fighting acne. A diet that is high in micro-nutrients will be best for ridding the skin of acne.

Micro-nutrients are what is commonly referred to as vitamins and minerals. So how do we eat a diet consisting of high micro-nutrient foods you might ask? The answer is a mostly plant-based diet. High amounts of fruits and more importantly vegetables are the key! Try to have vegetables with each meal. This will promote not only healthy skin but also lead to a longer happier life.

One of my favorite vegetables is the sweet potato. The sweet potato is very high in vitamins A and C and is considered by some to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. In order to learn more about healthy eating, I recommend reading Eat to Live. This is one of my favorite books and explains how a diet high in vegetables can lead to lower risks of many health problems including type two diabetes, hypertension, clogged arteries, high cholesterol and many, many more.

Step 7: Drink Lots of Water!

Water can detoxify your skin and help keep it moisturized. I would recommend drinking eight to ten 8 oz. glasses of water a day. Try to especially drink a glass of water in the morning, after a shower, before bed, and before and after a workout. Our bodies are made out of over sixty-five percent water so it is important for your overall health to drink up!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.