Hello I have been acne free for 12 years. I have dealt with every type of acne both on the face and the body. I thought I would share what I have been doing and I hope this helps!
For my face:
I do not use anything on my face. I use to use cleansers and toners and creams but I transitioned out of them by brewing 1 cup of tea using 10 green tea bags and letting it cool and rubbing one of the tea bags all over my face. Can do this over night and it may stain your pillow case so be aware of that. I don't allow the water to touch my face in the shower either. Acne isn't cause by dirt clogged in your pours, as I have rubbed dirt and charcoal all over my face as well as rose hip seed oil and it has no effect on the acne. That is a myth
For my diet:
I am a vegan. There are vegan protein blends like Garden of Life Raw Protein that I use every day. For fats I use MCT powder. For sweetener I use Monk Fruit powder or granulated. You can get a shaker bottle and mix these all up. There is no soy in the protein blend. There are many vegan alternative to meat in the frozen section at any wal mart or whole foods stores.
I take a whole food multi-vitamin in the morning with a shake or a meal. You can double the dose for added effect with no side-effects that I have noticed.
There are now many vegan snack foods that are available to add variety into your diet. You do not have to consume a strictly raw food diet. Vegetables are extremely hard to digest raw so I cook all of mine.
Green Smoothies!
All you need is a blender and frozen pineapple or blueberries. You can use oat milk or flax milk or water. You can add the MCT Powder and Garden of Life protein blend. Get Spirulina powder and Chlorella powder and add them to the mix. You can boil spinach or steam it and then add a lot to the smoothie mixture. Add the Monk fruit. You can also buy ascorbic acid powder and add some to the mixture. Green apple flavoring packets also go really well with this such as the Pure Kick ones you can get a dollar general or online. Blend it all up and consume twice a day.
Detox:
You can buy Yogi Detox tea at wal mart and brew a batch using about 6 bags per cup. You can add valerian tea to this to help you unwind. Valerian has similar effects to a benzodiazapine in it's interaction with you GABA receptors so it depends on how many bags you want to get the desired effect for anxiety relief. You can also get valerian drops at Vitamin Shoppe or online.
Burdock root, red clover, slippery elm, white willow bark, marshmallow root, licorice root, the list goes on and on for herbs that you can brew to make the detox effect even stronger. Can buy these in bulk at Mountain Rose herbs.com or if you have a local store that sells them
Activated Charcoal Powder from any brand but I use Country Life. Add a tablespoon to Alkaline water in a shaker bottle and drink at night or after a meal for acid reflux and and detoxing the organs and skin. It works miracles. I have had plugged pours that came out after months by using this.
For Dry Skin:
Rose Hip Seed Oil is the lightest oil I have found and the most sensitive on skin. You can apply the green tea bag mixture as a toner and then after it dries use the rose hip seed oil. It won't break you out because it is so easily absorbed into the skin, I would not recommend any other topical oils I have tried them all and they are all too thick and clog pores
For acne cause by androgens!
White Peony Root Powder or capsules. It stimulates aromatase production and helps convert unwanted androgens that trigger hormonal acne into beneficial estrogens. It boosts your mood and doesn't act like soy in the body so if you have bad soy reactions this is not the same. Also this won't turn you into a female if you are a male it only alleviates the unwanted androgens and excess oil production.
The herbs in the detox tea also help with this process as well, but white peony is the strongest aromatase stimulant. If you are an insane body builder and want raging testosterone levels, you may want to stay away from this.
Probiotics:
If you can get your hands on a cold storage liquid probiotic they are extremely beneficial to you gut. They cannot be the cheap stuff on the shelves, those do nothing I have tried them and they are useless. They are expensive but if you get the cold storage option it is worth it. Can find them at any whole foods or natural grocery store
Bonus Vitamins and Supplements:
You can take extra Zinc Gluconate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Magnesium/Calcium for health benefits. Turmeric Root is amazing for anti-inflammatory. Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals sells a highly bio-available version of turmeric powder that I have found to work the best, but you can choose whichever brand you like.
Beet Root Powder can be added tot he green smoothies, it is extremely healthy for blood pressure and and inflammation and oxygen levels.
Raw Honey that you can't see through, meaning it still has all the good stuff in it, is anti-biotic, anti-fungal, -anti-microbial, anti-viral, and you can leave the lid off for literally a thousand years and nothing will grow on it that is how powerful the real stuff is. You can take a tablespoon or two before bed and it heals you stomach and is full of enzymes and nutrients you cannot get anywhere else.
Raw Carrot Juice. You need a juicer and this is the only one I suggest consuming Raw. Can add ginger root as well. It detoxes and you can get organic carrots at many stores now. You can sweeten it with Monk Fruit.
Organic Fermented Cocoa Powder. You can purchase at Natural Grocers or online. When taken in the morning with smoothies or in protein mix it boosts energy and is loaded with anti-oxidants.
Thank you for Reading!
I sincerely hope that this helps anyone still struggling with acne as much as it has helped me. I wish I had known this information when I first started getting acne. It has changed my life and I hope that it can do the same for you!
Let me know if you have any questions and I will update occasionally because I am sure that I missed something.
You can also take 100mg of Niacin (the flushing kind) and this will help all of the nutrients to reach your skin more effectively. The flush feeling only lasts briefly and then it goes away. If you get the flush free kind it is not as effective in my personal experience. You can take 100mg 2-3 times per day
If you are looking for even greater blood flow to help with high blood pressure and elevate oxygen and also to help the blood reach your skin even more effectively, I have also used and continue to use a complex of mushrooms like turkey tail, lion's mane, cordyceps, and a couple others in powder form. This alongside L-Argine, Citruline, other nitric-oxide precurssors. You can get them in fitness shops and GNC or others like it. I would shy away from any other ingredients before researching them because too high of stimulants can worsen acne and elevate stress. The Nitic Oxide is not a stimulant it just allows for more blood flow
Also the green smoothie/vitamin rich/zero sugar/vegan diet works miracles for cancer patients. I have seen so many testimonials on you tube that have since been taken down due to the fact that they are an inexpensive way to beat cancer and are not profitable for medical institutions. I have seen the body scan before and afters of the cancer literally disappearing over a period of a few months. So if you know someone who is struggling with cancer this is a great alternative to help in their recovery. Chemo is too toxic and radiation is also. They both destroy the immune system which is the opposite of how it should be treated.
Essiac Tea is another HUGE one. Sheep Sorrel, Red Clover, Burdock Root, Dandelion Root, Slipper Elm, Marshmallow Root, Licorice Root, White Willow Bark, all brewed together and taken a few times throughout the day. The creator of this concoction was curing cancer from her own basement and was shut down by greedy medical institutions.
The tea also works wonders for acne!
Drinking the tea's that are listed in the OP (original post) detox your blood stream and the liver. They work miracles internally and externally. I always have difficulty understanding some of these responses like "tea made it worse". I highly doubt it had anything to do with tea, OR your skin was purging all of the crap built up in it which is actually a thing that happens, and it's a good thing, you just have to get through the initial purge
The chlorophyll and green smoothies also work miracles for internal health and skin health. Just research all the health benefits of Chlorella (pulverized cell wall if can afford it)
I also stopped using anything externally and focused only on internal approaches. Kind of similar to the OP's gradual reduction externally using only natural stuff on the skin.
We are trained to run out and buy harsh chemicals at the first sign of a zit during puberty and I wish I could go back and only focus on my diet instead of the years of abuse I put my face through with so many over the counter products.
Also kind of like i said in the previous post...
It can be scary to try to get off of the over the counter products. It takes a willing to venture into an unknown and underhyped avenue to deal with acne. There's no money in these alternative avenues (virtually no money cause you still have to purchase the healthy products) and a lot to be made showing you photoshopped models with flawless skin after "using" the harsh chemical treatments.
All that to say....if chemicals that you purchase at the store or through info-mercials or ads have actually gotten rid of your acne....then keep doing it if it's working. But for those at a dead end or who are NEW to their acne.....
Maybe give the alternative health/internal/less external approach a chance before you make a potentially very small outbreak of acne into a much worse lifelong condition that possibly isn't even being addressed the way that your body needs to address it. That is my 2 cents
Also this diet outlined in the original post has helped countless people beat their various cancers without chemo or radiation. Alot of the personal testimonies get taken down off of you tube because they are viewed as a threat to modern medical treatments. It's just the sad fact of the corrupt world we live in today where the truly benefical treatments are called quack theories or dangerous....meanwhile they have to where hazmat suits to properly dispose of the chemo therapy equipment after it's been administered. Doctors aren't trying to harm their patients or mislead them, they just simply don't get trained in alternaitve treatments and literally do not know how effective they are because they don't administer them and then observe the effects on their patients.
Also Gerson Clinic is worth researching for cancer, and the Netflix documentary called Apple Cider Vinegar (raw juicing and coffee enemas similar to Gerson Clinic)
The zero topical and all internal is very difficult to jump into because we are all brainwashed into belieiving dirty skin is the problem. Over-cleansing and using all of these topicals destroys the "Acid Mantel" in our skin. Whether it's hormonal....diet....or genetically inherited acne.....
It can all be dealt with internally. The tea methods help with hormonal imbalances. The green smoothies help to give your body what it needs to fight off acne internally. Vitamin C in high doses.....Activated Charcoal Cleanses are AMAZING and purge out the skin in miraculous ways you can purchase a tub of powder and mix a tablespoon in a shaker bottle and once a week do a daily fast and just drink a few bottles of this throughou the day trust me it works!
The topical green tea treatment overnight using 10 organic green tea bags and a teaspoon of crystalized vitamin C powder form (can be purchased online or health stores) is an amazing way to transition off of topicals. The vitamin C helps to keep the healing powers of the green tea from oxidizing and aids in cellular regeneration and acidic balance in your skin.
You can also take organic sulfur mixed into the green smoothies a teaspoon added to the smoothie to help with scar prevention and scar recovery it really does work it just takes time. Oganic sulfur powder does wonders for your skin and body it is highly under-rated. Can purchase online just google it and make sure it's organic
If you already have a topical regimen that works for you then stick with it. If what you are doing isn't getting you any results then I highly reccomend following the Original Poster's advice and trying all of these things and checking out the "Good things for the many factors that lead to acne" post by Alternativista. Worth browsing though. I will provide a link below. Best of luck!
Also if you are a guy and have too much DHT and testosterone leading to acne....or girl with testosterone dominance OR estrogen dominance....
White Peony Root!
Can brew it into a tea and consume daily to help balance out this issue it does work and has other health benefits
Can purchase in bulk online and actually if you have a coffee maker just put the peony root powder like you would coffee into the filter and it brews itself! It's very easy. Comine the peony root with burdock root powder or in combination with all of these other herbs and it's a powerhouse of detoxing and hormone balanceing herbs.
It tastes gross so you can add some cinnnamon or Stevia to it to help it go down easier. All the herbs can be used in this method like Red Clover....Slippery Elm Bark...White Willow Bark.....Sheep Sorrell.....Lircorice Root ......Marshmallow Root......Dandelion Root....Maca Root....
Just combine them all in a coffee maker using the filter and you can brew an amazing detoxing hormonal balancing drink every single day I have done this method for years and it works amazingly well give it a shot! It's great for cancer too there are so many testimonies of this tea method destroying cancer cells and curing people of thier various cancers but the videos get taken down on you tube because they are a threat to chemo and radiation therapies that ultimately make the canacer worse in the long run.
There was a lady curing people of their cancers in her basement using these herbal teas daily and a zero sugar alkaline diet rich in greens and antioxident fruits and vegetable smoothies but she got shut down by the powers that be because she was a threat. Essiac Tea. That's what she used. Same ingredients I already listed plus a few more for added effect
Also check out the Gerson Clinic the creator of this got poisoned because his methods worked so well and was threatening the cancer industry.
Also forgot to mention with the topical green tea or white tea and vitamin C treatment....
Just use a teabag from the brew when it cools off to apply it gently to your skin.
Also alongside the smoothie diet and tea diet... Niacin....Niacin....and Niacin! NOT the no flush kind. Carlson Labs is a great option (can purchase online or at health stores) 50-100 mg 3 times per day. If you are just starting out stick with 50 mg 3 times per day and can gradually work up to 100mg. It flushes all of the nutrients to your skin by dialating the capilaries.
Feels a bit wierd your first time like a sunburn feeling but it GOES AWAY don't panic or freak out it only lasts about 20-30 minutes
Just make sure it's not the NO FlUSH kind... that kind is ineffective I have tried it
I have been following this regime for a few months now and seeing amazing results! I know it's going to take more time but getting rid of the topicals and using the green tea method and internal approach is doing wonders for my skin!
I would encourage you all to give this a shot. Everyone is different but this is no joke I gave up my skin care routine and took a chance on this and it has been paying off.
The teabag thing at night is amazing. I have been brewing my cup of tea with 16 bags to give it a little more kick for my skin. Rosehip Seed oil for any dryness and barely need any at all.
The diet is amazing and making me feel much more energetic and youthful/vibrant. It was alot to give up with refined sugars and junk food but I can tell it's making a huge difference. There are some great vegan alternatives to meat at any grocery store including Wal Mart. Some of them taste like the real thing and some don't so just experiment. Morning Star is my favorite brand it tastes the best to me personally
The tea's are super easy to make and I would also suggest juicing carrots if you can afford a juicer. Organic carrots juiced a few times per day. Great for cancer too lot's of testimonies of carrot juices cleanses and coffee enemas working wonders for natural healing.
Hope this helps anyone thinking about trying this it is working incredibly well for me. Big thanks to the OP
Also the vegan diet is not that scary. With the options available at Wal Mart and Target and other health stores like Whole Foods and Natural Grocers the options for alternative foods that mimic the real thing are pretty incredible. Some taste better than others you just have to experiment.
There have been stories like "my child died from a vegan diet"...and then the parents of the child are prosecuted for child abuse. If you actually analyze this more closely....the parents did not seem to know how to properly/safely transition their child into a vegan lifestyle. They likely thought salads and green peppers were all that their child needed.
You still need proteins....fats....carbohydrates....all of which are attainable through plant sources.
I have been doing this for 2 and half years.... a fully vegan diet. And I feel more energetic and positive and much better than I did while eating meat.
The vegan diet is anti-cancerous.....environmentally friendly...aids in acne prevention and inflammation....
Done with all of the fats....carbs....vitamins....proteins and minerals in mind.....the vegan diet is not complicated at all. Meets all the requirements your body needs.
Maybe give it a shot?
Just my 2 cents for anyone weary of jumping into this lifestyle
Great post! Not sure this was mentioned or not but when I personally got rid of "topicals" that meant face washes too. Just running medium heat water occasionally over my face in the shower. If you wear makeup this will be difficult and I suggest you switch to a LITERALLY all mineral organic makeup powder without corn starch or any of the other pore clogging agents.
The face washes I have used....pro-activ....neutrogena....clean and clear....so on and so forth just dried my skin out and left it very tight feeling. That same tightness actually inhibits the pores from doing their normal thing because they are so stretched tight that the pore cannot do what it was naturally designed to do. It CREATES a blockage due to the restrictions unless you lather on a load of oils to compensate and are left with even more oily skin and "non-breathable" skin.
So I would suggest in using this method not washing your face and just using the tea bag method only. It's more popular than you might think people just don't know about it because there is virtually no money in it.
Also like the OP stated rose hip seed oil in small quantities for dry skin works miracles and does not clog pores. (in small quantities)
Saw this post 8 months ago and been following it plus the additional suggestions. Better than anything I have tried to date. Takes a bit of patience to see the results but my skin is "virtually" acne free. At the rate it's going I'm optimistic that it will be shortly
Just a brief background: Cystic acne....white heads....clogged pores....over oily skin for years. And a lot of it. Since doing this and straying away from store bought topical treatments and washes/astringents....
I feel a lot better internally....Acne that i never thought I would get rid of is 90% gone. Just dealing with some slight scarring but have added the organic sulfur to my regime in the smoothies and it seems to be making a difference but will keep you posted. Also the rose hip seed oil seems to be reducing some of the scarring but i barely use any in the evening. Tea bag method as absurd as it seems is actually quite brilliant and simple. Just get black pillow cases cause it stains the white ones. Or a dark color
Stopped using face washes of any kind. Way less tightness of skin/dryness and the tea cleansing basically does all the work in my opinion
Teas are great. I'm a guy and they seem to have balanced out whatever hormonal imbalances I was having. And the detox aspect of it is a plus.
Anyway shout out to the OP for opening my eyes up to a new avenue to deal with this stuff we get genetically passed on to us basically