Acne has always been a formidable foe in my life. I had a really bad time with it in high school, but I figured that it would go away by the time I was in college or something. Nope. I tried everything to get rid of this persistent and painful problem: Topical gels, face washes, acne medication, birth control, and even special makeup. Sometimes, one of these things would help for maybe a week, but then, it would return.
So after much frustration, I started researching some natural ways to get rid of acne. After changing my diet a bit and implementing some lifestyle changes, I started to see a dramatic difference in my complexion and my acne cleared right up. I’ve been taking the more natural approach for almost two years now, and I have not had a problem with acne since then.
If you’re also having a hard time with acne, here are some of the more natural remedies that I found to be extremely helpful in clearing up persistent acne.
1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
I always thought I was decent at drinking enough water, but then I started to track how much I was actually drinking. It was maybe two or three glasses a day, not nearly enough. So, in an effort to increase my H2O intake, I stopped buying my beloved Diet Coke, I stopped getting orange juice, and (for a very short time) I even stopped buying coffee.
2. Get Rid of Dairy
I found this one to be extremely difficult. I love dairy so very much, but I read in several sources that dairy can cause some people’s skin to break out. So I gave it a try, and yes, I could see a dramatic difference in my acne.
Now, everyone’s skin reacts differently to dairy, so try to test out what works for you. For instance, I will still occasionally have dairy (this girl will never give up ice cream), but it isn’t nearly as often as it had been. Small substitutes can also help, like instead of milk now, I drink almond milk.
3. Avoid Sugar
Sugar causes inflammation and can make acne worse, especially if you are more prone to getting acne. Sugar was another difficult thing for me to give up due to my excessive sweet tooth; however, instead of completely giving up sugar, I tried to just limit and control it. Instead of eating sugary desserts and drinks whenever I craved them, I would pick a day of the week where I could have my little sweet fix.
4. Sleep
This “natural remedy” was the one that I was most okay with. I’m always down for more sleep. Seriously though, lack of sleep can cause stress, which increases sebum production (big time acne trigger). So make sure that you aren’t skimping on those Zzz’s and make sleep a priority.
With these natural acne remedies, you need to stay committed! This was a big reason why it worked for me. Now, do I still eat desserts? Absolutely. Do I still have to pull the occasional all-nighter? Unfortunately, yes; however, I truly try to stick to these four things. Do I still get a pimple sometimes? Of course! Who doesn’t? However, it is nothing compared to what it used to be!
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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