If you are dealing with frequent acne breakouts, chances are you have heard of isotretinoin, commonly known as Accutane, Roaccutane, or Epuris. With countless anti-acne avenues to go down, it can be extremely difficult to choose what’s right for you and your skin. But if you’re thinking of Accutane then it probably means you’ve already gone down a lot of those anti-acne roads, to little success. From every external lotion and potion to various rounds of antibiotics and the birth control pill, it can all be very frustrating. You’re not alone.

Typically, the skin has always been treated from the outside, oftentimes fully ignoring what’s going on inside. This approach is particularly common in Western medicine because it compartmentalizes the body, dividing it into specific organs and physiological processes. By isolating the skin down to a single organ, we do our body a huge disservice, as doing so simply focuses on symptoms and not root causes. Skin tells the story of our internal health; it’s connected to the health of our entire body. What we eat, how we feel about ourselves, how effectively we are detoxifying, and how well our lymphatic system is flowing all play a role.

Let’s talk about how to calm an acne breakout.

Okay, let’s clear the air. We have all at one time or another popped a pimple. It’s okay. Forgive yourself. In fact, it used to be the norm to encourage picking and popping pimples, the thought being that the infection needed to come out. However, with more focus being placed on skin barrier we now know that popping pimples does more harm than good.

You’ve tried everything to clear your acne. You have done the restrictive diet, cut out the common acne triggers like gluten, dairy, and sugar, and piled on the products until all you’re left with is frustration and disappointing results. What went wrong?

You will have ups and down and ebbs and flows. But, one of the most amazing parts of a holistic healing approach is you know when it's working. You will notice changes in your mood, cravings, energy levels, self-affirmations, sleep patterns, and of course your skin & so much more!

Ever wonder why after a late night you wake up with dark circles, puffiness, new breakouts, and dull and congested skin? Your first reaction might be to blame the few extra glasses of wine or the charcuterie board you indulged in. No problem—it was only a rare treat! But what if you knew the breakouts were from lack of quality sleep? Would you prioritize your sleep more than your currently do?

Isn't that the million dollar question. The truth, it’s probably not what you think and it’s also different for each of us.

I've been there. Cutting out anything and everything that might cause a breakout. Stressing about your food choices so much that nothing is enjoyable. There was one point where I was sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, and fun-free. I had gotten to the point where I would decline dinner out with friends because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat out at a restaurant. I felt frustrated with food and afraid that everything would cause my skin to breakout.

Welcome and thank you for checking out my holiday gift guide.

This guide is great to inspire some gifting ideas for your friends and family, and perhaps also spark some great ideas for your own list.

I have included some of my all-time favourite small and local businesses, and I know that you will absolutely LOVE! A few of the below links are affiliate links. There is no additional cost to you, however I do make a very small commission if you purchase through the links provided. Thank you so much for supporting me and my small business. Happy gifting.

Finding a skin nourishing recipe to enjoy in the summer is the best. I love this recipe because it’s super easy and so nourishing for the skin.

Is your acne so stubborn that no matter what you do, nothing seems to work?
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Maybe it’s not acne! At least, not bacterial acne. You could have what’s called fungal acne aka Malassezia (Pityrosporum Folliculitis). Malassezia is common and often gets misdiagnosed as bacteria acne. Fungal acne distinguishes itself from traditional acne in that it’s fungus not bacteria causing the breakouts.