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How to reduce DHT and 5-alpha reductase activity to clear acne

This blog post looks at the best ways to lower DHT and 5 alpha reductase activity to reduce oily ...

How to treat fungal acne (malassezia) naturally

In this post, we will be looking at how to treat fungal acne, or Malassezia, naturally. We will ...

Homemade ghee for acne prone skin

This step by step recipe and infographic shows you how to make clarified butter at home, I also take ...

Category #2

This blog post looks at the best ways to lower DHT and 5 alpha reductase activity to reduce oily ...

In this post, we will be looking at how to treat fungal acne, or Malassezia, naturally. We will ...

This step by step recipe and infographic shows you how to make clarified butter at home, I also take ...

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Subscribe to my newsletter to receive a FREE Acne Trigger Quiz to help you start your clear skin journey today!

First Name E-Mail Address

ABOUT AMY

Having battled with blemishes for 13 years, Amy specialises in the natural treatment of acne. Skyn Therapy helps others to identify the root cause of their skin problems and achieve a beautiful, clear complexion for good.

GET IN TOUCH

Feel free to send a message if you have any comments:

hello@skyntherapy.com

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What are your biggest inflammatory triggers? List your top three below!
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Not everyone reacts the same way to the same acne triggers. For example, sugar, alcohol and lack of sleep doesn't effect my acne too much but a damaged skin barrier, PUFAs and fluoride will make my skin break out like CRAZY with very little exposure! On the other hand, I have clients whose main inflammatory triggers are cow dairy, alcohol and stress - so just because my biggest trigger is PUFAs, yours may be something completely different. Find your triggers and it will help you keep inflammation low and reduce the severity of your acne breakouts.

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What are your new year beauty resolutions?
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I try not to set myself too many goals at the start of the year... As someone who has obsessive and perfectionist tendencies (especially when it comes to my skin) I find that setting complicated and unrealistic goals puts way to much pressure on myself. Saying that, I have got a few things I would like to implement in my skin care routine in 2020.
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KEEP IT SIMPLE
My skin is happiest when I keep things simple so this year I'm going to avoid the temptation to overcomplicate my routine and continue a routine that I know my skin loves which is: first cleanse, gel cleanse, mist, serum, squalane oil and SPF - with the addition of a chemical exfoliant 2-3 times a week.
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#1EMPTY1NEWBIE
To keep my skin care stash simple and help reduce waste, I'm going to implement a one empty, one newbie rule so I won't replace any products till I have finished what I'm currently using.
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EYE CARE
I spent 15 years of my life focussing on acne and doing everything in my power to get rid of it. Unfortunately that means some questionable methods and products which have done more harm than good to my skin over the years. As I'm turning 30 this year, now is a good a time as any to start thinking about anti-ageing. I'm a huge fan of DermaPen for banishing fine lines, wrinkles and scarring but getting it done professionally can be pricey so I'm looking for something that I can incorporate into my routine on a daily basis in-between treatments. Two ingredients that I'm interested in for in my eye care products are Baicalin and Retinol so if you have any recommendations please let me know!
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MICROCURRENT
On the topic of at-home anti-ageing products, I've been doing some research into micro current devices and I'm pretty sure I want one, I just need to figure out what the best one would be! Microcurrent can improve absorption of products, stimulate collagen production, diminish fine lines and wrinkles and improve acne scarring so on paper it seems like the perfect solution as I head into my 30s! Has anyone else tried any at-home micro current device? Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

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Late nights, boozy parties and indulgent treats mean January can sometimes bring unwanted skin troubles. A breakout can make us do crazy and irrational things to our skin…whether it’s splurging on a whole new skin care routine, gouging at your pimple with a needle and tweezers or raiding your cupboards for “home remedies”…acting in panic will most likely leave you with even bigger skin problems so here are the best ways to reduce a breakout without damaging your skin!
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DRINK MORE WATER
I know you’ve heard this one a million times before, but there’s a reason for that! Drinking enough water helps you body flush out unwanted waste and it’s needed by every single cell in your body to function properly - and that includes the 35 billion skin cells you have! If your skin cells are dehydrated and not functioning properly then you’ll struggle with slower healing so drink up! If you’ve been listening to the advice of your kindly family doctor, then you probably think you’re doing well drinking 8 glasses of water a day, right? For optimum hydration you need to be drinking up to 1oz of water to every 1lb you weigh! So if you weigh 150lbs (68kg) then you need up to 150oz (4.2 litres) of water a day!
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GET SOME REST
When you sleep, your body repairs, detoxifies, regulates hormones and adjusts blood sugar levels so it's key for healing breakouts as quickly as possible! Did you know that sleep experts estimate that one hours sleep between the hours of 10pm and 2am is the equivalent to two hours of sleep before or after these time slots so aim to be in bed by 10pm for optimum beauty sleep!
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DO NOT TOUCH
Whether you’re a picker, a popper, a squeezer or a toucher you need to nip this behavioural habit in the bud if you want your skin to heal as quickly as possible. Picking, popping and squeezing your spots can push the infection deeper, cause more spots, make inflammation deeper and cause scarring/pigmentation. Trust me, the best thing you can do to heal your breakout quickly is to leave it well alone!
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[continued in comments]

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Why am I so excited about @deviantskincare's new Gentle Resurfacing Liquid?
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I have been waiting for the launch of this product for MONTHS and each time the founder Natalie revealed spoilers of the formula's superstar ingredients, I knew this product was going on my wishlist! Now the product has been live for a week, I thought I would share some of the ingredients that make this product great for acne!
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MANDELIC ACID
Mandelic acid has a larger molecular weight than most AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids aka chemical exfoliants) which means it penetrates the skin at a much slower rate than other acids, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Mandelic acid is best at targeting pigmentation.
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LACTIC ACID
Lactic acid is an AHA and like Mandelic, also has a large molecular weight. Meaning it can't penetrate as deep into the skin so it much more gentle of sensitive skin. It helps keep pores clear without irritating the skins surface.
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SALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic acid is a BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) which is oil-soluble which means it penetrates deeply into the pores to keep them clear from dead skin cells and debris. Low concentrations of Salicylic acid are much better then high strength as it can quickly damage the skin and cause inflammation when used incorrectly.
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[cont. in comments!]

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When you start to understand exactly the science behind blemishes, it makes curing your acne so much easier! Once you know how to reduce sebum oxidation, clogged pores, hyper-keratinisation and inflammation you can stop acne formation in its tracks!
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EXCESS SEBUM PRODUCTION
A healthy pore will produce normal amounts of sebum but many lifestyle factors can cause your sebaceous glands to OVER-PRODUCE sebum. Factors like stress, too much sugar, too much cows milk, harsh skin care and genetic sensitivities to androgens can cause your skin to produce too much oil. Head over to my previous #SkynSix post to learn some of the best ways to reduce 5-alpha reductase activity and keep sebum production under control!
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SEBUM OXIDATION
Sebum is a substance produced by the sebaceous glands in your pores. It is made of various fatty acids, including Squalene! Sebum oxidation occurs when Squalene oxidises and produces a substance called Squalene Peroxide. Squalene Peroxide is one of the most pore clogging substances in the world - even if you are using completely non pore clogging skin care products, if your sebum is oxidising then you have no chance at beating your acne! To prevent your sebum from oxidising, your best defence is loading up on antioxidants which will prevent oxidative damage. Because sebum is made up of fats, the quickest acting antioxidants will those that are fat-soluble; like vitamin A, D and E. Beef and lambs liver are antioxidant powerhouses and the best food source of vitamin A, D, K2, E and C. Whilst fat soluble vitamins are much more potent in the fight against sebum oxidation, other antioxidants will help too! Make sure you're eating lots of fruit, veg, herbs, spices and dark chocolate to give your antioxidant intake a much-needed boost.
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[continued in comments]

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WINTER SKIN TIP!
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Has your skin changed with the season? Even the most oiliest of skin can get flaky and dehydrated as the weather gets colder and the central heating goes up!
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Dehydrated skin hasn’t got anything to do with oil, it’s to do with lack of water in the skin. This means that applying heavier creams and oils isn't going to make the problem go away. In fact, it's more likely to cause more problems as heavier creams can results in clogged pores.
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To boost your hydration, apply 2-4 layers of facial mist (NO ALCOHOL) and pat each layer into your skin. Your skin will drink up all that moisture and your skin will feel soft, smooth, plump and glowy! Then lock in all the moisture with a moisturiser or facial oil. This is literally my favourite skin hack and I get my clients to do it all the time and THEY LOVE IT!
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This @greenpeopleuk one is a favourite of mine, mainly because of the secret ingredients - soothing Aloe Vera and Marshmallow Extract which is anti-inflammatory and super hydrating!

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Gua Sha for breakouts!
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Some of you may remember I did a course in Gua Sha over the summer and I figured it was about time I started putting my learnings into practice.
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This week I developed a mammoth spot (thanks cortisol!) It had been lurking as a clogged pore for weeks but a week of ill health, bad diet choices and lack of sleep meant that inflammation soared and my little clogged pore turned into a full on monster!
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I’ve never found conventional spot treatments work, they just dry out the skin and cause irritation and sensitivity to the area. Instead, I’ve always been a big believer in hot/cold compresses as an effective way to reduce a breakout. Here’s how I incorporate heat compress with Gua Sha and lymphatic drainage to speed up the healing of a spot.
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PREP YOUR SKIN
Always apply some slip to your skin to allow the Gua Sha to move freely across the skin without dragging. I like to use 3 drops of Squalane oil onto freshly cleansed skin. If I’m focusing on a breakout - I will usually do a full Gua Sha routine on my face prior to this little mini routine for best results.
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WARM YOUR TOOL
Using a hot cup of water, dunk the edge of your Gua Sha into the water for 15-30 seconds. Use the back of your hand or inner wrist to check that the stone isn’t too hot - you should be able to hold it against your skin without any discomfort.
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APPLY HEAT
Apply very gentle pressure to the spot with your heated Gua Sha - you really just want to be resting the tool on your skin - no pushing down on the spot as you don’t want to push the infection deeper into the skin. Hold in place for 1 minute - during this time, I recommend doing some deep, abdominal breathing.
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DRAW OUT STAGNATION
Using the long edge of your Gua Sha, lightly “scrape” the skin away from the blemish towards the outside of the face. This will stimulate new blood flow and draw out stagnation in the problem areas to help heal and repair. NEVER go over an active breakout, instead focus on the areas around the blemish.
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[continued in comments!]

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Take note! ☝️
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Are you focusing on clear skin or healthy skin?
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I’m going to bet that a huge % if you are still obsessing over brands aimed at acne such as Mario Badescu, Dermalogica, La Roche Posay, ProActive, Clinique etc...I hate to break it to you, but these brands DO NOT CARE about the health of your skin, they care about $$$ and making sure that you keep buying from them! Frankly, they are using extremely out-dated methods of clearing acne that are aimed for short term use when you first start getting a few spots as a TEENAGER! Adult acne is SOOOO much more complex and to be honest, the beauty industry just hasn’t got a clue on how to manage it properly! Harsh ingredients ARE NOT THE ANSWER GUYS!
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Here’s how it works...
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You start breaking out so you buy a range of products aimed at acne. Unfortunately these products don’t look at the full picture. Yes, they reduce oil on the skin surface and dry up spots...and YES! In the first 2-4 weeks you start seeing some great results...but things start to get worse again...why? Because these products aren’t caring for your skin! By aggressively attacking your skin, you are increasing the amount of oil your skin produces and damaging your skin barrier which causes irritation, sensitivity to ingredients and inflammation (spots!)...So, what do you do next? You move on to stronger products, and again see some initial results but it starts to get WORSE again! Why? Because you are doing even more harm to your skin and you get trapped in this damaging cycle where the products you are using to clear your skin are actually making your acne worse.
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To break this vicious cycle, you have re-think acne skin care and start focusing on skin HEALTH, then clear skin WILL follow. I usually recommend a 6 week skin barrier detox (head to my blog for more info), focussing on hydration and repair and THEN you can slowly start incorporating acne-fighting actives that won’t damage your skin like Niacinimide, Green Tea Extract and topical DHT blockers like Sea Buckthorn Fruit Extract - these promote HEALTHY skin and are still scientifically proven to be extremely successful at reducing oil production and acne!

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Is your hair care causing acne?
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You can spend hours (and a small fortune) researching and buying “the right” skin care for your face but if you’re ignoring your hair care, you may struggle to clear your acne.
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If your acne is on your neck, cheekbones, temples, hair line, back, shoulders or chest, then you may need to check the labels of your hair care for these acne forming ingredients!
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SHAMPOO
The worst ingredient for acne that’s commonly used in shampoos is SLS (Sodium Laurel Sulphate/Sodium Laureth Sulphate). It’s a foaming agent that strips the skin of its protective barrier, leading to sensitisation and inflammation) and also highly pore clogging! Other ingredients to avoid are synthetic fragrance, preservatives Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethanol and Alcohol Denat!
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CONDITIONER
Conditioners are a bit more tricky as there is a universal ingredient that is a major acne trigger. Conditioners often contain silicones and/or rich plant oils which can be very problematic for acne. Silicones are a bit of a grey area, whilst generally regarded as safe for the acne, many people do prefer to avoid silicones as they can weight hair down and make it look greasy and dull. However, the role of silicone in conditioner is to make the hair soft and smooth so silicone-free hair care will often use plant oils to give a similar effect instead. If you struggle with fungal acne, this may be a problem as any oils will feed the strain of yeast which causes fungal acne to go wild! Other ingredients to avoid in conditioner are synthetic fragrance and preservatives Methylchloroisothiazolinone/ Methylisothiazolinone
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STYLING PRODUCTS
Styling products can be tricky as they often contains high levels of alcohol and lacquers/plasticisers/phthalates/polymers. Alcohol can dehydrate and irritate your skin and plasticisers/polymers will leave a pore-clogging film on your skin! Finding good, acne safe styling products can be tricky and I’m lucky that my hair is pretty low maintenance but if you’ve got curls or frizz that needs taming, I recommend checking out @boucleme as I hear great things!
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[continued in comments!]

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Using an SPF every single day NEEDS to become a habit, not just for your acne healing right now, but for the health of your skin long term too. However, this is soooo much easier said than done! You think you've stumbled across a great SPF and then you go to check out the ingredients list and it contains heavy oils, parabens or irritating ingredients... URGH!! If you're putting something on your face every day, it's got to be just right...am I right?! Anyway, as I have spent FURRREVVAA finding good SPFs for my acne-prone skin - I thought I'd share the top six products I recommend!

Supergoop! Daily Correct CC SPF 30-45
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✓ oil free
✓ mineral UV filters only
✓ fungal acne safe
✖ silicone free
✓ fragrance free
✓ reef safe

MyChelle Sun Shield Liquid Tint SPF50
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✓ oil free
✓ mineral UV filters only
✓ fungal acne safe
✓ silicone free
✓ fragrance free
✓ reef safe

Juice Beauty SPF30 Oil-Free Moisturiser
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✓ oil free
✓ mineral UV filters only
✖ fungal acne safe
✓ silicone free
✖ fragrance free (E.O's)
✓ reef safe

Suntegrity Impeccable Skin SPF30
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✓ oil free
✓ mineral UV filters only
✖ fungal acne safe
✓ silicone free
✓ fragrance free
✓ reef safe

Elta MD UV Clear – Untinted
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✓ oil free
✖ mineral UV filters only
✓ fungal acne safe
✖ silicone free
✓ fragrance free
✖ reef safe

Marie Veronique Everyday Coverage SPF30
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✖ oil free
✓ mineral UV filters only
✖ fungal acne safe
✓ silicone free
✓ fragrance free
✓ reef safe

What do I use personally? At the moment, I'm switching between my Elta MD and MyChelle SPFs, although the Supergoop! Daily Correct is on my Black Friday hit list!

What's your favourite SPF for acne - did it make it into the #SkynSix?

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How to apply sunscreen properly!
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ALWAYS
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✓ apply enough, you should use around 1 heaped teaspoon (yes, it’s a lot!)
✓ tap/press into the skin for best absorption
✓ apply to the neck and chest
✓ wait 5 minutes after application before applying make up
✓ use SPF30+
✓ apply to the backs of your hands
✓ use a broad spectrum sun cream to protect against UVA and UVB rays
✓ apply to the eye area and eye lids where it’s thinner and more prone to damage
✓ re-apply if you are exposed to direct sunlight for more that 2 hours
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NEVER
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✖ rely on SPF in your foundation alone
✖ rely on loose powder or spray sun creams, they just don’t give the same level of protection
✖ miss the hair line - pigmentation is very common here
✖ forget your ears
✖ EVER SKIP SPF - even in winter as up to 80% of harmful UV rays can penetrate through clouds!
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Tomorrow I’ll be sharing my top six sunscreens for acne so stay tuned! Have you learnt any new tips from this post? Let me know in the comments below!

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I actually vomited a bit in my mouth when I worked this figure out... Many of you were super interested in one of my previous posts and finding out the real root cause of your acne with some proper comprehensive testing...but there is one stumbling block for a lot or you...and that is THE PRICE! The king of hormone testing is the @dutchtest - it doesn’t come cheap but then again, wasting money on supplements that aren’t suited for your hormones imbalance will burn an even bigger hole in your pocket! ☝️☝️ Exhibit A.

To put things into perspective, I decided to work out how much money I actually spent on products to heal my acne in the year before I got my DUTCH test done and I was horrified! I spent over £1,200 on basically nothing! Yes, the DUTCH Complete test cost me £300, but from the moment I got my results I knew the issue I was dealing with and was able to start treating it properly...with the right products and not just chucking money down the drain trying everything and anything claimed to help breakouts.

That was the other thing, before my DUTCH test, I was terrible at sticking with a supplement for more than 6 weeks. I’d be constantly looking for “the next best thing”, splash out on whatever it was that month and hope that THIS product would be the answer to all my skin problems... Now I have an actual concrete GAME PLAN...instead of shooting blanks in the dark which makes sticking to my routine easy as I know what I’m dealing with and the best way to treat it long term. That has provided me with more results than I saw in the six years of trying to fix my acne through trial and error!

Don’t get me wrong, when your cortisol is sky high like mine was, it’s not a quick fix but at least I knew that supplements weren’t really going to help me, I needed to make lifestyle changes and get my stress management under control...which is great news for me, as breathing exercises, saying “no” and listening to binaural beats are FREE!

How much do you spend on your acne each year? Please say I’m not the only (reformed) supplement splurger here..?! 🤷🏼‍♀️🙈

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—— • 𝗠𝗬 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗘
My mornings are always SO rushed so a quick smoothie is the best way for me to start my day! I used to pack my smoothies with as many vegetables and fruit as possible but I would always be STARVING by 11am and reaching for the snacks and chocolate. 2 years ago I changed my approach to smoothies and focused on fat and protein rather than veggies /fruit and I immediately saw improvements! The addition of fat and protein seriously boosted my energy levels and kept me full through till lunchtime which meant my blood sugars stayed stable. I stopped getting hangry and my skin started to finally improve! Here’s what I’m currently mixing into my smoothie for a filling, gut-healing, blood sugar and thyroid supporting breakfast!

𝗖𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗞
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I get the highest fat coconut milk possible so it contains more nutrient dense fats which are anti-inflammatory and easy to digest.

𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗦-𝗙𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥
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Grass-fed butter reduces inflammation and it’s also a good source of omega-3 and fat-soluble vitamins like A and D that are needed to clear acne! Now it’s winter I’m melting the butter before so it blends smoothly!

𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗗𝗘𝗥
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Collagen is a protein so will keep you fuller for longer, but it’s also great for strengthening the skin and protecting the lining of the gut! I’m currently used #gifted @sobodyco Peptigen+ Powder which contains 5 types of collagen from 4 sources, but have used @vitalproteins, @greatlakesgelatin and @gardenoflife in the past!

𝗔𝗟𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥
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Almond butter is a fat booster and it makes the smoothie a bit thicker!

𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥
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At the moment I’m using #gifted @vida_glow Beauty Mind powder. It contains cocoa, berry and vanilla flavours with plant proteins and mood boosters of Maca and Ashwaganda, sweetened with a bit of Stevia! However, when I don’t have any lovely supplement powders in my kitchen I’m a basic b*tch and use plain old cocoa powder and stevia drops or just some frozen berries!

What’s your favourite smoothie blend? Comment below! 👇

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// 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗻𝗲?

Whilst there are many hormonal issues that could be present in those struggling with acne, these are the most common culprits I see with clients!

𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗘

It’s safe to say I had to start with testosterone, up until a few years ago it was thought that acne was caused by high testosterone alone! We now know that this definitely isn’t the case yet many doctors still don’t acknowledge the link between acne and other hormones.

Even though testosterone is a male hormone, healthy women also produce small amounts of this hormone. It’s produced by the ovaries and helps to regulate sex drive (libido), energy and mental state. If you suffer with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or excess facial/body hair, cystic acne, deepening voice or irregular/infrequent periods you may be suffering from high testosterone. Too much testosterone in our system will results in the enzyme 5-alpha reductase converting your testosterone into a more potent androgen - DHT.

𝗗𝗛𝗧 + 𝗗𝗛𝗘𝗔-𝗦

Testosterone isn’t the only androgen that we need to watch out for…we also need to be wary of previously mentioned DHT and adrenal androgen DHEA/DHEA-S.

Have you ever gone to the doctors with symptoms of acne, oily skin and excess hair growth to have your bloods taken and then your testosterone results come back NORMAL? What’s is that about!? You can have “normal” testosterone levels but still display ALL symptoms of high testosterone. Why? Too summarise, DHT is a potent androgen which is 3 times stronger than testosterone so is much more problematic when it comes to acne. As i mentioned before, it's the CONVERSION of androgens into DHT which is the biggest issue for acne, but there are OTHER androgens which can be just as problematic as testosterone. DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands before it gets transported into the blood stream where it can be converted into DHEA-S. Too much stress leads to an excess of this androgen which, just like testosterone can be converted by the 5-alpha reductase enzyme into acne-causing DHT which will make your skin break out like crazy. [cont. in comments]

#SkynSix

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Make bubbles without baddies!
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If you've seen my second # SkynSix post then you will see that SLS, or Sodium Lauryl Sulphate/Sulfate, is one of the worst ingredients for acne so I wanted to share a little more info into why you need to be checking every single product for this acne-causing beast!
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It's an industrial detergent which strips away your skin's natural oils. To put it in perspective, if SLS is used by mechanics to degrease car engines - imagine what it's doing to your sensitive, acne-prone skin!?
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SLS is dirt cheap, which means it's a popular choice for beauty brands and is commonly used in things that foam like toothpaste, shampoo, mouthwash, cleansers etc.
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Prolonged exposure to this chemical results in the breakdown of skin structure and inflammatory response that causes irritation, redness and possible breakouts!
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It's not just irritation that's the problem, SLS also scores 5/5 on the comedogenic scale! It's comedogenic rating plus it's oil-stripping abilities (causing your skin to produce excess sebum) is a recipe for disaster! If you're already suffering from clogged pores and acne, then you should definitely be avoiding this ingredient at all costs!
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Comment your favourite SLS-free cleanser below! 👇👇👇
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#acne #acnetreatment #acnescars #acnefree #acneproblems #acnecream #acneskin #acnecare #acneproneskin #acneprone #acnesolution #acnecommunity #acneseries #acnefacial #acnescar #acnecure #acneskincare #acnetips #acnes #acnesucks #acnecontrol #acnescarring #acneproblem #acnetreatments #acneremoval #acnecoverage #acnefacials #clearskintips #clearskindiet

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💉 If you really want to know what’s causing your acne, you need to start testing!
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This week, two of my new clients had already done a DUTCH test so it made it so much easier for me to recommend supplement and lifestyle changes and the client will ALWAYS see much faster results. I put off getting tested for imbalances FOR YEARS, thinking that I could work it out by trial and error...but a lot of my experiments actually made my acne worse! When I finally got a DUTCH test done last year, it revealed so much about my health - I was adamant that my crazy oily skin and acne was due to high testosterone but my results came back within range...so WTF was the problem?
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Swipe ⏩⏩⏩ to see snippets of my DUTCH test results which revealed EXACTLY what my issues were (more details on these factors another time). OK, so I know that DUTCH tests are pricey (although totally worth it), but there are other at-home tests you can do which can help guide you towards the right direction, or at least rule out causes! Brands such as @thrivahealth , @medichecks and @letsgetchecked offer testing services that can help you get to the bottom of your hormone imbalances. Some of the helpful tests they offer include:
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Progesterone 💉
Insulin + Glucose 💉
Thyroid (TSH, FT4, FT3, TGAb, TPOAb) 💉
Testosterone 💉
Saliva 24hr Cortisol 💧
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I've just ordered a Thyroid test from @medichecks (thyroid hormones aren't tested in DUTCH Complete) as I'm STILL struggling with symptoms that point to hypothyroidism (elevated cortisol, slow pulse, low basal body temperature, constipation, sore boobs, puffy face and weight gain) despite trying to work through the issues raised in my DUTCH test results for many months now!
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The great thing about these tests is that they have really clear ways of displaying whether your results are low, high or in range PLUS they have qualified doctors that analyse every patients result, write their own comments and tell you whether you should take your results to your doctor for further investigation so even if you have zero clue about optimal hormone levels, you can easily see if there are any issues or not!
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What hormones would you love to test first? #Skyn101

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🥳🤗 When you discover a product you love has been reformulated and is now totally acne safe!!
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I was so excited when @balancemeskincare me revealed their new packaging and I spotted that they had tweaked the formula of their Gradual Tanning Drops and removed Polysorbate 20! If you’ve read my previous post, you’ll know that Polysorbate 20 is a very problematic ingredient for anyone with fungal acne.
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Like many acne sufferers, I’m sure you find hunting for acne safe products a total faff - and the thought of finding a suitable self tanner is just too much of an effort...
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That’s why tan drops are a lifesaver! When the days get darker and your skin looses that golden glow you worked on all summer, tan drops can help you regain a hint of colour. For those of you that don’t know, tan drops are concentrated DHA that you mix with your existing serums, moisturiser or facial oil to create your own self tanner...so no more extra skin care products that may or may not be safe for acne! Another huge bonus is that you can tailor the dose to suit your needs, one drop for a teeny hint of glow or 4 drops for more noticeable tan (just remember to wash your hands thoroughly after!)

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What ingredients should you be avoiding in your skin care?
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Are any of these ingredients lurking in your current beauty routine? If you've found any in a product of yours, share the acne-causing product in the comments below and I will reply with an acne-friendly alternative!
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Whilst navigating beauty labels and INCI lists can be a daunting task, if you’re suffering with acne or congestion it’s really important you check your products thoroughly as even the smallest oversight can cause breakouts - especially if your acne is fungal!
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❌ PEG-100 Stearate
This ingredient is an emulsifier and emollient made from mixing oil with Steric Acid to make it water soluble, meaning it can be easily blended with other ingredients to make a beauty cream that doesn't separate during use. It's often found in moisturisers, lotions and serums! Aside from the studies that indicate that it could be toxic to our health, it's also a major fungal acne trigger and feeds Malassezia in the skin which can results in bumps and comedones under the skin.
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❌Polysorbates
These are very similar to PEG-100 Stearate in the fact that they are also emulsifiers and help to create a nice smooth cream by allowing oil base ingredients and water based ingredients to mix. While it's not as hazardarous as PEG-100 Stearate, they are VERY common in skin care and are also major acne triggers. Look out for Polysorbate ‪20/40/60/80‬ and avoid them at all costs!
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❌Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
This ingredient is a foaming agent commonly found in cleansers, toothpaste, shampoos/body washes and bath bombs. It damages the skin barrier by stripping the skin of its natural, protective oils and it is also highly pore clogging. Just two weeks of using a shampoo containing SLS recently left my arms and back covered in spots so this is definitely one to avoid in your routine!
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[Continued in the comments] #SkynSix

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I'm a big fan of vitamin C in skin care - it's one of the few ingredients that targets both acne AND scarring. It helps acne by reducing inflammation in the skin - one study showed a 5% vitamin C solution improved inflammatory acne lesions by 48.82% in 8 weeks! Vitamin C also boosts collagen production in the skin which makes it an excellent choice for plumping out scars when used regularly AND it also reduces the redness and pigmentation left after an acne breakout as it speeds up your skins natural healing response.

Sounds pretty sweet right?

Well to make it just that little bit sweeter, I have recently discovered an incredible vitamin C serum that is totally acne safe (for both bacterial AND fungal) AND it's super affordable! I had been using Drunk Elephant's C-Firma for around a year and it made me want to CRY every time I had to pay £70 for a new one...enter @gardenofwisdomskincare Vitamin C Serum it's more potent than DE, only costs £10 for the same size and is available in the US and from @victoriahealth in the UK. I'm on my second bottle now after 4 months of using it and I STILL love it, plus I'm enjoying the extra £££ I get to spend on upgrading my Autumn wardrobe!

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2008.00479.x

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How to reduce DHT and 5-alpha reductase activity to clear acne

How to treat fungal acne (malassezia) naturally

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