A Simple Recipe + Tips For Healing Body Acne
If you're familiar with Minimalist Beauty you know I do my very best to keep it real. If you are dealing with body acne and acne scars, your body is begging for a lifestyle change not only for a topical solution. Although my lifestyle approach to healing body acne is similar to clearing up acne on the face, I have my favorite DIY recipe that I use specifically for the body. Today I want to share with you how I address body acne and the scars that often come with it.
1. Acne Is A Symptom Of Toxicity
When we have acne on our face or on our body, it is simply a sign that toxins are overloaded inside of our body, and are unable to be eliminated through our digestive system. When our digestive system is out of wack, these toxins will try to exit through our skin which is our largest organ. The more toxins that can't be eliminated, the more acne we have.
In my previous article, a reader asked me what was the one thing that helped me to heal my skin the most. Changing my diet by incorporating abundant amounts of raw fruits and vegetables was most likely not the exact answer she may have wanted to hear, but it has been the truth. I will not say one diet is the best for all, but I will say that processed foods, refined sugar, and genetically modified foods are not your friends.
I've gone into greater details on these topics throughout the blog so I won't here. Instead I'll link to the related articles which may be of interest to you. Becoming your own nutritionist will not only save you money in the long run by improving your health, but it will also be a major game changer in the appearance of your skin.
2. Using High Linoleic Oils For Acne
By doing tons of research and being my own guinea pig, I discovered that using oils high in linoleic acid on acne prone skin helped to balance sebum production and composition. I started using high linoleic oils for my skin in 2013. When I shared this information, it has been the most frequently visited article on my blog ever since. I never imagined it to have such a huge response. So many have shared how this information has helped them which is amazing too.
If you are experiencing body acne, think about using a high linoleic carrier oil as a body lotion. My two favorite body oils are organic grapeseed oil and organic rosehip seed oil. It may take a moment to find what oil works best for your skin, so I always suggest trying one oil at a time before creating an oil mix. You want to make sure that your skin loves an oil before making a concoction and not knowing exactly which ingredient is working or not.
3. DIY Dead Sea Salt Scrub
I honestly don't use natural soaps or body washes on my entire body and only on the "hot spots". I am chemically sensitive to most commercial products and have found it much easier to make my own. I make gentle DIY body care which does not effect the pH balance of my skin or create contact dermatitis. I've made clay and oatmeal washes as well as my favorite DIY Dead Sea Salt Scrub.
Have you ever noticed how amazing your skin looks after a beach holiday? I believe this has everything to do with the healing properties of sea salt, not to mention your relaxed state of mind and getting vitamin D from the sun. To create this DIY Dead Sea Salt Scrub mix equal parts of dead sea salt, with vegetable glycerin. Dead sea salt is the best kind of sea salt for this simple recipe because it is extremely mineral rich and very fine. Regular sea salt will be good though too.
I specifically use vegetable glycerin for this scrub instead of oil because it will not cause the shower to be slippery. Vegetable glycerin moisturizes the skin without leaving any residue, plus is makes a great base for this dead sea salt scrub. If your skin is raw from harsh topicals, allow it to heal first before using this scrub. Salt on wounds is no fun.
I only use this scrub on my body and never on my face. The skin on our face is much more delicate and deserves to be treated gently. You can use this scrub as often as you like depending upon how your skin responds. It will help to prevent acne and soften acne scars.
4. Use Soft Microfiber Cloths For The Body Too
Let's say that you actually have a favorite soap or body wash and desire to continue using it. Well then go for it! We all have to find what works best for our skin and personal preferences.
I've raved so much about soft microfiber cloths with oil cleansing and in general. The texture of my skin changed dramatically when I incorporated these cloths into my skin care regimen. Swap out your loofah or regular washcloth for a soft microfiber cloth. These cloths will help to gently exfoliate the skin and enhance the properties of your favorite soap or body wash.
5. Drink Even More Water & Gentle Body Detoxes
With even gentle body detoxes experiencing body acne was part of my healing crisis. Drinking tons of water helped tremendously. Squeezing lime juice in my water helps me to drink even more water throughout the day. You can even infuse your water with fruit in the refrigerator overnight. I love to infuse my water with fresh fruit, but often forget so lime juice is easier for me.
You can not fill your body with processed foods and drinks then expect to have good health and beautiful skin. Even if it looks like someone else can, I wouldn't trust your eyes to tell you everything that is going on inside of their body. I hope that these tips will be helpful to you, and please be patient along the way. I've learned so much from tuning into my body more during this journey. Healing is a constant process to embrace.
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Image by Dawn Michelle