A Holistic Journey with Acne
“For many years, I relied on Western medicine to solve my acne – multiple dermatologists had prescription medication recommendations or suggested chemical peels... The opinion amongst most medical doctors at the time suggested there was no link between acne and diet, but I never truly believed that.”
Photo credit: @christine_turrentine, 2021
Skin is a mirror of my internal health. This has been a concept that has been present with me for many years. Having suffered from acne intermittently for multiple decades, I’ve become familiar with the frustrations of acne—especially adult acne. This prompted my search for holistic solutions for the health of my skin.
For many years, I relied on Western medicine to solve my acne—multiple dermatologists had prescription medication recommendations or suggested chemical peels. The combination of medications and chemical peels seemed to manage my breakouts, and for the most part, keep them at bay. But I was always curious about holistic and alternative medicine, and I wondered if my diet and stress played a role in my acne. I read multiple books and educated myself, however, my acne was persistent. The opinion amongst most medical doctors at the time suggested there was no link between acne and diet, but I never truly believed that.
The fact is, most medical doctors practicing today received very little, or no nutritional education while in medical school. This has become a core issue within the world of Western medicine today. Many providers simply just do not know. As a result, it leaves people searching for answers and solutions outside of conventional medicine. Thankfully, there are many more resources available for everyone today, including Naturopathic Physicians and Functional Medicine Providers.
By 2020, I was managing my acne with chemical peels and dietary changes. And then the world shut down—which meant zero access to my esthetician or chemical peels. The one consistent thing helping my acne was now unavailable, and I had to turn to lifestyle changes more fully. By this point, I’d determined that there were multiple, key lifestyle factors to managing and overcoming my acne—nutrition, hydration, sleep, stress, and skincare products.
Nutrition and gut health have been central to my acne journey. I was revisiting my diet regularly in hopes of resolving my acne, and years ago, I gave up most forms of dairy, which led to minor improvements but continued breakouts. I went entirely plant-based for almost two years, and still continued to have acne. I realized that my ongoing acne was a signal that something was off balance internally.
The rinse cycle, managing stress with a daily meditation and movement practice. Photo credit: @christine_turrentine, 2021
I learned that keeping a simple diet made me feel better. The simple rules of eating foods in their whole form, consuming healthy fats, and avoiding most processed foods have been the most transformative for my skin journey. Food source is paramount, and if my whole foods come from a clean source, the less likely it will cause issues in my body.
Staying properly hydrated is also key to my skin health. Getting adequate water helps the body to flush out toxins and supports the kidneys to do their job. I recently learned that on average, we should drink half an ounce of water per pound of body weight—this means if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water daily. So, be sure to drink up!
Next, sleep has been integral in my skin journey. Getting 8 hours of shut-eye is literal beauty sleep. I’ve noticed breakouts and changes in my skin with back-to-back nights of poor sleep, and Matthew Walker’s book, “Why We Sleep” was transformative for me as I developed a deeper understanding of the importance of having good sleep hygiene.
Then, my rinse cycle – letting go of thoughts and stories that are not enriching my life—I manage stress with a daily meditation and movement practice. My yoga practice has helped me to process and manage stress for many years, since the start of my university days, 20 years ago.
For years, I searched for the right skincare routine. It wasn’t until I started working with a Naturopathic Physician that I discovered a routine that worked for me and helped to heal my skin—a simple routine with basic products, free of toxins and harsh chemicals. Using skincare products without toxins and chemicals gave my skin the gentle love and care it needed, and it’s been key to my skin health.
In summary, my healthy skin without acne today is the product of proper nutrition, lots of hydration, consistent stress management, regular sleep, and a gentle skincare routine. The more whole, simple, low-processed my diet becomes, the more my health and skin improves. Hydration is so important to overall health, especially to nourish the body’s largest organ—your skin. My rinse cycle of yoga and meditation have been key to my stress resilience, while a good night’s sleep is the best medicine overall. If you’re dealing with adult acne and wondering how to make holistic changes, keep it simple. Start small, focus on one thing at a time. And be kind to yourself, and your skin. This is your journey.
Christine Turrentine is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Yoga & Meditation Teacher. She earned her physical therapy degree at the University of Ottawa and RYT-500 Yoga Alliance certification from Holistic Yoga Flow, and Christine is now pursuing a Health Coach certification with the Integrative Women’s Health Institute. Follow her @christine_turrentine to learn more about how she’s guiding her clients holistically with preventative and proactive health solutions, or start your own rinse cycle with her on Inner Dimension TV.