Athletes face

What to do to clear up the complexities of your skin!

    Pounding the weights, watching every morsel of food, pushing the cardio till the sweat pours in pursuit of that healthy, toned, sexy body we all desire.  As a result, your body and mind are healthier. However, there is one organ that is sometimes affected negatively by our sweaty pursuits, our skin! It is the largest organ in our body and the most visible. The rest of us can be in great shape, but if our skin is out of whack, you know it and so does everyone else! What a buzz kill to have the red marks scarring up your canvas. Our skin is particular, like our body.  The more we understand, the more we can be proactive in the health of our skin!

What is going on with your skin? Our skin is the largest organ of the body. One of its functions is to eliminate a portion of the body’s waste products through sweating. As these toxins leave the body, the bacteria can get stuck in your pores leading to an outbreak of Acne or pimples. Athletes often notice a rise in their skin problems as their activity increases. Extra sweat- extra bacteria! Pressure or friction on the skin, often caused by tight workout clothing, can make acne worse. Hormone changes that occur during our menstrual cycles, pregnancy and weight loss can also cause breakouts. Other culprits are make-up, medicines, foods, allergies and stress. Family history also plays a part. If other people in your family have acne, chances are you will have it too.

    The good news is that if we can find the cause of the acne problem, we can find an answer.  There are always medications on the market for any given issue. But as health conscious females, we should know that drugs can cause health problems. Medication may be necessary in very persistent cases. However, most problems with acne will respond to natural treatments and a diligent program of diet and skin care. By following these natural remedies, you are sure to see a difference in your skin’s health!

     Water is one of the crucial elements for health. It is also important for clear skin! The minimum amount of water needed is 8 glasses a day! That is the minimum. As an athlete as you sweat out water, you need to replace it. I tell my clients to aim for a gallon a day! Sounds like a lot, but you will feel and look better!
Here’s why water is the #1 acne cure!
Water allows our organs to do their job. The liver performs the important job of cleaning the wastes and excess hormones out of our system and moves it to the kidneys.  The kidneys flush the toxins it gets from the liver, out of our body. Without the proper amount of water, the toxins get stopped up in our muscles and organs. It has to find another way to come out or a place to go. So it oozes out of the skin in the form of bacteria.   Start properly hydrating to move these toxins out through regular bowel movements and to allow your tissues to repair themselves.

The number two cure for acne is healthy nutrition! It is not only the key to a healthy lean body, but also to beautiful skin! Maintain a diet that is high in fiber, raw foods, fruits and foods rich in zinc (shellfish, soybeans, whole grains, sunflower seeds and raw nuts.) These foods cultivate a healing atmosphere in the body.  Also keep your diet high in protein and limit your carbs to low glycemic carbohydrates. Protein is the main building blocks of muscle and tissue. It will also slow down the absorption of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can cause a spike in our insulin levels, even if they are low glycemic. Eating a protein with them slows down their absorption and keeps the body in harmony. The more your body is in harmony, the less inflammation will occur. Whenever we throw off the harmony in our bodies, it lets us know through our skin. Breakouts mean something is off inside!
Other foods that can cause inflammation in the body and should be avoided if you are prone to breakouts are: alcohol, butter, caffeine, cheese, chocolate, cocoa, cream, egg yokes, saturated fat, fried foods, hot and spicy foods, hydrogenated oils and shortenings, margarine, soft drinks, wheat, dairy products, and sugar. Often the inflammation caused by these foods is the result of an allergy. Dairy products are a common culprit.  After we are about 3, the enzymes needed to digest dairy often disappear. When this happens, our bodies have a hard time processing it. It can’t digest like other foods and begins to ferment in our system. It can cause digestional issues, acne, asthma and other health problems. Simply cutting dairy out of your diet, the body will begin to return to its homeostasis and will allow your skin to begin to repair.

Even when we maintain a healthy and well-rounded diet, we often are deficient in specific nutrients. Supplementing with these nutrients have been shown to make a change the health of the skin. 

Acidophilus- replenishes essential bacteria to reduce outbreaks.
Chromium picolinate- Aids in reducing infections of the skin.
Colloidal silver- acts as natural antibiotic.
 Essential fatty acids (flaxseed, primrose oil etc)- aids in healing
Garlic-destroys bacteria and enhances immune function
Potassium- a deficiency has been associated with breakouts
Vitamin A- strengthens skin tissue. (Emulsion form easier assimilation)
Vitamin B complex- Important for healthy skin tone, anti-stress
Vitamin C- Promotes immune function and reduces inflammation
Vitamin D3- promotes healing and tissue repair
Vitamin E- is an antioxidant that enhances healing and tissue repair.
Zinc- Aids n healing of tissue and helps prevent scarring.


The number three cure is to avoid stress! There have been debates as to whether or not stress causes or worsens acne. However, it has been proven that stress causes hormonal changes within the body. These hormonal changes can lead to breakouts, increased blood pressure and weight gain.  Stress also increases the amount of oil your skin secretes, which can clog pores. It doesn’t help that we tend to adopt stress related habits such as scratching, picking, laying our hands on our faces, etc. All of these transfer the bacteria from our hands and our surroundings onto the delicate balance of our face! By recognizing your nervous twitch and finding other ways to deal with your stress, you can eliminate a large portion of the problem.

Here are a few other natural suggestions that will help to clear up your skin:
Sun, rest and exercise are often suggested by dermatologists.
 Wash your face twice a day with warm water and mild soap.
Always wash or at least rinse your face with warm water after exercising. 
Exfoliate a few times a week to get rid of dry skin that could clog pours.
After you exfoliate, use a mud mask to draw the bacteria out of the skin.
Make sure your moisturizer and makeup is oil free.
Use a squeeze of lemon after washing your face; wash it off the next morning (only if not sensitive)
Apply toothpaste directly to the pimples to dry them out
Apply tee tree oil to affected areas.
Use a natural steam with ingredients such as; Chamomile, rose petals, comfrey leaves, neem leaves, lavender and sandalwood. Helps kill bacteria and prevents dryness.
Remember, don’t pick! This only spreads bacteria!

Healthy skin starts on the inside!