It is not what you put on your face that is going to help your acne problem.

Acne has the nasty habit of showing up when you least want it to.

Treat Acne From Within

You finally get to go on a much anticipated date and two nights before the great event, your skin erupts. Or you have been planning a party for months, deciding on what to wear (and what not to wear), only to find that the only thing that you are really wearing on the day is a big red angry looking zit on your face.

The blow is crushing and it is no wonder that this skin ailment is responsible for so much alienation, embarrassment and low self esteem. And it is not just about adolescents; 20% of American adults suffer from it too.

Over the Counter = Over Promises

But wait, isn’t help just around the corner in the local pharmacists? Row upon rows of every kind of pimple eliminators, zit killers and acne bashers?

All you have to do is fish out your wallet and buy preferably the whole range of acne control products : from the face wash to the toner to the moisturizer to the special over night acne remover. Oh, if you want, there is the concealer too so you can pretend you do not have any acne.

Or you resort to prescription antibiotics or worst yet accutane – possibly one of the most controversial oral acne treatment around due to its side effects.

The Culprit is Right in front of You:

According to Dr. Mercola, it is your diet that is the main culprit:

“More proof is continuing to emerge that the root cause of acne is not bacteria or genetics, but environmental factors—particularly your diet. Acne is much less of a problem in non-Westernized societies, where refined carbohydrates and sugar are consumed in much lower amounts. Solid evidence exists that diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates are the primary CAUSE of acne.”

The other cause is stress, which explains all those flare ups just before a big events.

What carbohydrates to avoid?

It is the simple carbohydrates that should be avoided : sugared deserts, sweets, muffins, doughnuts and foods that contain high fructose corn syrup. So are complex carbohydrates the way to go?

Yes and no.

Complex carbohydrates found in green leafy vegetables are the way to go, but foods such as nuts, beans and whole grains will need to be reduced if you have acne problems.

Dr. Mercola explains:

“Your body “prefers” the complex carbs found in vegetables to the complex carbs found in grains, because your body handles their digestion differently. Vegetable-carbs are slow to break down into simple sugars, with minimal insulin impact, whereas digestion of grain-carbs raises your insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1).

Higher IGF-1 levels can lead to increased male hormones, which cause your pores to secrete more sebum, a greasy substance that traps acne-promoting bacteria. IGF-1 also causes skin cells (known as keratinocytes) to multiply, a process associated with acne.

This is why most grains should be avoided if you have acne issues.”

Beware Dairy Products

Another food product to be avoided is milk, especially pasteurized milk.

Milk has a high amount of iodine  which is what farmers add to the cows’ feed to prevent infections, and iodine seems to irritate your skin more. The best thing to do is to avoid milk and dairy products for a few weeks and see if it makes a difference to your acne skin.

Here is a plan worth trying for better skin:

• Eliminate as much as possible sugar and grain from your diet. This is probably the most important step to try.
• Drink plenty of pure water to hydrate your skin and body. This will help your cells to regenerate and get rid of toxins in your body. If your urine is pale in color, you are doing it right.
• Exercise and sweat. Sweating will clear your pores of all the unwanted debris that is clogging up your pores.
• Get enough sleep so your body can recharge and mend itself. You will feel less stressed too.
• If you have been on antibiotics, take a good probiotic supplement to balance the bacteria in your gut for good immune health.
• Get plenty of sunshine on your skin. This will ensure you have the adequate amount of vitamin D which is necessary for a healthy immune system

If you have tried all the ointments, lotion and potion; not to mention the over counter oral prescriptions and have not seen any significant improvement, or it seems to work just for a little while and then you are back to square one, then you will need to try a different approach.

You need to avoid acne heartache and treat acne from within.

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