Are you suffering from acne? Don’t worry. You are not alone. An embarrassing and troublesome problem, acne is a common skin condition that affects many people. Breakouts can appear on the face, chest, back, and shoulders, and are caused by a wide variety of factors—such as heredity, hormones, oil production, and allergies. Before you rush out to visit your dermatologist, there are several natural remedies that can be just as effective as medications (and much less harmful). Here are some useful suggestions to help you take control over your acne, fast and naturally.

1. Watch what you eat

What you eat does make a difference! It is very important to keep track of your diet. Stay away from processed foods and refined sugar, making sure to eat real foods, and consume “good” fats like avocados, coconut oil, flax seed oil, hemp seeds, and high quality fish oils.

Avoid eating foods that cause blood sugar swings. Sugary foods make your blood sugar levels soar, causing your body to pump out the hormone insulin. Though it’s as yet unclear, some studies have linked insulin spikes with acne. To regulate blood sugar, choose a healthy selection of whole foods, good fats, high quality protein, and plenty of fibre.

Studies have also shown that dairy may cause problems for your skin, so it’s best to avoid it. It’s worth trying out for at least a month.

2. Treating acne with Panax Ginseng

In treating acne, it’s important to look at the cause. Hormonal imbalance and stress should be considered. Inflammation and bacteria on the skin also need to be addressed.

Did you know that ginseng is an effective treatment option for acne? Panax ginseng can be used to help maintain hormonal balance in the body. Since hormones play a crucial role in causing acne, it is important to keep hormonal levels in balance to help reduce acne flare ups.

Panax ginseng can also strengthen your immune system. Research has proven that patients consuming ginseng demonstrated a reduction of bacteria. Bacteria build up can clog up pores, resulting in breakouts. Taking Panax ginseng will help diminish the production of bacteria, as well as reduce the period of acne lesions. 

What’s more, Panax ginseng supplements can be taken internally or used topically to treat acne.

References:

American Family Physician; “Panax Ginseng”; David Kiefer, M.D. and Traci Pantuso, B.S; 15 October 2003

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/worst-foods-for-your-skin

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1271/bbb.80555


By Doctor Melissa Carr
(a registered Dr. of Traditional Chinese Medicine, caring for patients in an integrative medicine clinic in Vancouver. www.activetcm.com)

Article first appeared on  binghan.com