Three Things to Expect If You Choose To Heal Acne Holistically
1. THE HEART WORK
This journey won’t be easy. You have to know this going in. But your natural intuition, organization, curiosity, and ferocious willpower will provide everything you need. Trust your tummy, head, and heart. It may not seem like it now, but this adventure is deeper than acne. Moving through will shed parts of your being that prevent your soul from soring in this lifetime. You will be forced to look at ugly patterns, learned behaviors, and thought-forms that do not serve you. You will learn to forgive yourself and others. From this heart work, life will become easier to understand. You will build confidence so strong people around you will stand up a little straighter, start improving their own lives, want to be more like you (this is not ego, this is reflection). Your wants and needs will become clear and you will actually START SAYING THEM. Careers will take shape. Negative relationships will fall away and strong healthy ones will take their place. You will look around and be amazed just how close to your dreams you can get. The truth is, you will accomplish something unthinkable by most medical professionals. You will be breathing walking proof that bodies can heal themselves given time, patience, and love. All this from healing acne, Larell? Yes. Because learning how to read the subtle signs of your body brings you closer to internal balance and genuine happiness. And you will look in the mirror every single day and feel like a kid who just got their braces off. That sparkle never goes away.
Takeaway: Healing acne naturally will introduce you the truest most sparkly version of yourself.
Consider purchasing: The most inspiring notebook you can find. We’ve all stood in front of a wall full of pretty journals and walked away empty handed. Now’s the time to pluck your fave and bring her home. Boring as it may look, I’ve been using a Pro Art Hard Bound Sketch Book for years. I’m inspired to fill it with color. And to do so (write/draw/create) I’m obsessed with Paper Mate Felt Tip Pens.
2. THE FOOD WORK
Then, there’s the revamping of the fridge and food cabinet, instead filling it with nutrition sans yeast, sugar, and dairy (you won’t starve, I promise). Following a candida diet is important for healing yeast overgrowth and fostering gut health that goddamn shines (we’ll get into that nitty gritty later). It will be overwhelming at first. I remember standing in Shoprite with a “no” list of food in one hand and treats I use to love in my other, sadly replacing the tortilla wraps and grapes. For me, I quit sugar cold turkey and asked my family eat up my old favorites, like Wheat Chex cereal, which has 5g of sugar (I wasn’t kidding around) and dates, my fav natural sweet treat. Instead, the diet you will adopt consists of vegetables, some fruits, complex carbs, and lean protein. You will lose weight unconsciously. You will get creative in the kitchen and love discovering new foods/ingredients. You can even eat out every once in a while—I’ll teach you how. People may show support or think you’re crazy. In fact, my dad stood back in silent skepticism during most of this journey (he recently told me his mind is still blown by my success). You’ll know it’s working 2-3 weeks in when you wake up with the energy of a thousand puppies, when your ~movements become regular, and when your mind is clear af. Notice I didn’t mention anything about skin improvement. It will come. Let your body pick the flowers before making an arrangement.
Takeaway: Eliminating dairy, sugar, and yeast from your diet will lead to impressive cooking skills, more energy, and mental clarity. In due time, clear skin.
Consider purchasing: I found it helpful (and fun) to have reusable produce bags for grocery shopping, Food Huggers to store my half-cut produce, and Bee’s Wrap to cover and seal literally anything in the kitchen, like ginger pieces, lemons, and cabbage.
3. THE HOMEWORK
You will naturally have 1,600,453 questions about the science of how diet and lifestyle can heal your acne. Or maybe you don’t and just feel it in your bones. Both are fair. I am not a professional with a degree in skin whispering. I’ve only worked with and picked the minds of a handful of doctors gleaming with holistic knowledge. If you’re looking for a specialist to help you along your journey, like I did, research research, research. Make sure they are certified in Integrative Medicine, meaning they’ve earned a degree in chiropractic, naturopathy, or medicine and completed a residency or internship. It’s also useful to know how long they’ve been in practice (5+ is perfect) or how many patients they’ve treated with acne. Read Yelp reviews and testimonial. Then give them a call and learn their procedures. You’ll want to go into the first appointment with your trusty journal, a food diary reflecting least three days, a list of products/supplements/medicines you’re taking, a folder for handouts, and an open mind. At home, read. A lot. I suggest dedicating a section of your bookshelf to healing texts. Find integrative doctors like Dr. Alan M. Dattner and Amie Skilton who are magicians in holistic dermatology and dig into their text. You’ll find it useful to stick your toe in many healing modalities like Ayurveda, aromatherapy, yoga, nutrition, acupuncture, self-help, crystals, gut health, detox, and herbalism as they all have a hand in holistic healing. They’ll bring you comfort and ease. A lot of these books have an index, which is your BFF. Don’t feel like you have to read them from cover to cover. Looking up at this physical knowledge in your room will be comforting.
Takeaway: Knowledge heals.
Consider purchasing: My holistic dermatologist’s book, Radiant Skin from the Inside Out and Amie Skilton’s Clear Skin Secrets. For mind-body work Heal Your Body by Louise Hay. For heart work The Little Book of Letting Go by Hugh Prather. And Secret Medicines from Your Garden for the herbal goddess in you.
This may be the last thing you want to hear, but patience is a necessary ingredient in this juicy journey. You’ve likely been (unknowingly) manifesting acne for years so it will take time to reverse. You’re already doing great by poking around online for alternative advice. That feeling in your gut is true. Follow it.