Home > HINTS FOR A CLEARER COMPLEXION

by Dave Foreman

Recently while reviewing my message board at vsconnect.com, I noticed that the most viewed post on my board was about acne. At the time of writing this, it had almost 1200 views -- which is at least 3 times more than any other subject. Even though acne is not a lifethreatening condition, it is obviously a major issue. Acne always seemed to be a teenager's problem, but in the past 10-15 years it has become a problem for people of all ages. In more severe cases, the acne becomes more like boils and can cause permanent scarring and pain. Believe it or not, treating your acne and/or boils does not have to be rocket science. My experience with this topic has yielded outstanding results for those who stick to the program.

Here is my expanded protocol for handling your acne/boil issues. Part 1: Cleansing

Cleansing is actually divided up into two types when it comes to your acne needs. The first type is to use a more dramatic/deep cleanse. These "total" body types of cleanses (ex. CleanseSmart, Whole Body Cleanse, Perfect Cleanse, etc.) target the major systems of your body (refer to my past article on 4 Steps to Building a Healthier You, Step 2). Not only do these multi-system cleanses work on your bowel, but they also cleanse your skin, blood, lymphatic system, liver, kidneys, etc. They work quickly to get rid of the unwanted toxins and clean the major filters of your body. I suggest using this type of cleanse for 4 weeks to assure you of a thorough impact. Immediately following this type of cleanse, move directly to Flor*Essence Tea. Flor*Essence is another great detoxifier/ cleanse, but it is gentle enough to use every day. The fact that it is a liquid makes it easy to take for people of all ages. Back in my satellite radio days, I had a gentleman use this tea with his 3 year old daughter (suffering from boils). Gentle daily cleansing will help support your body from developing another toxic buildup. Remember to consume plenty of purified water each day to assure yourself that you are flushing away the toxins.

Part 2: Probiotics (friendly bacteria)

Besides using probiotics to help with digestion, we also use them to help suppress other disease-causing bacteria that may end up in our digestive tract. There are certain types of "bad" bacteria which secrete toxins that can cause skin issues. Other types of bad bacteria can decrease the effectiveness of the hard work your liver does to neutralize toxins. If we don't do anything to rid the body of these harmful bacteria, we not only open ourselves up to skin issues like acne and boils, but other diseases like cancer, arthritis and more. Using a probiotic is one of the ways we can help suppress or even rid the body of these disease-causing bacteria. When choosing your probiotic, make sure you get one with multiple strains of bacteria. God designed you to have more than one type of bacteria in your digestive system (not just acidophilus) so read your labels. Products like Jarro-Dophilus EPS, M.D. Select Advanced Probiotic 30 Billion,Vitamin Shoppe Ultimate 10 Probiotic, Reuteri Pearls, All Flora and Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics 12 Plus are just a few of the examples of what to look for at the store.

Part 3: Omega-3s from Fish

Omega-3s from fish could be the "miracle" for skin health problems. I realize that I just made a huge statement, but until you try using Omega-3s you won't know what you are missing. In most adults, using 3-5 grams per day will give you the added nutrition to make sure you are producing new healthy skin cells. These Omega-3s can also help fight inflammation, which is another issue that affects those with acne and boils. Make sure you read the supplement information on your product.

Just because the front of the product says each gelcap contains 1000mg of fish oil doesn't mean that each capsule is 1000mg of Omega-3s. Products vary depending on the concentration and type of fish used. Add up the total amount of Omega-3s/serving on the label and divide that into the daily dose you desire. For example, if my product says that 2 capsules contain 240mg DHA and 400mg EPA that equals just 640mg of Omega-3s per serving (2 capsules). If I desire to take 3 grams (3000mg) ofOmega-3s per day, then I would need 4 ½ servings - 9 capsules - per day. Once your acne begins to clear up, you may be able to get by with just 2-3 grams of Omega-3s per day.

Part 4: Diet - garbage in and garbage out

I have to laugh when I hear people say that their doctor told them that diet has no impact on acne. It makes me want to find out what rock their doctor has been hiding under all these years. Diet has a huge impact on your skin. There are two primary suggestions: First, avoid dairy and bad fats/cooking with oils. Dairy foods (foods containing cow's milk) are major contributors to acne issues. Don't ask how, they just are You will have to trust me on this one. Bad fats and cooking oils like canola oil and vegetable oil will also have a major negative effect on your skin. There is no wiggle room here either. No cheating allowed. There are other ways to eat and cook that don't involve dairy and these fats. Secondly, certain allergens, like gluten, can trigger acne problems. Oftentimes, people with acne and boil issues have severe sensitivities to certain food groups. Gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye) is the most common. If you aren't sure, then stop eating these foods for a few weeks and see what happens. You can also have blood work done to determine what sensitivities you may have. Wouldn't it be sad if after all these years of creams, lotions, soaps, antibiotics, etc. that you found out your skin problem was due to something you were eating? No cream, lotion, soap, or drug will help if this is your issue.

For best results, think of this as a non-negotiable program. If you have been suffering for years with acne then you need to take the bull by the horns. Get it fully under control, and then learn what you can do without causing more problems. Before I got into practicing what I preach, I learned that if I ate microwave popcorn (I hear you gasping at the thought - LOL), I would develop pimples a few days later. I played with the idea for a while and then stopped eating it completely. Of course now I realize that there were worse things in that food than I care to know about now, but that is beside the point. Get your acne/boil situation under full control first, then play with what supplements and dietary choices you make later.