You know that sinking feeling?

The one you get where despite your best efforts, a pimple has decided to form, somewhere very noticeable like your forehead, and you have an event, date – something important – in a matter of hours.

That was me last Tuesday. I’m pretty sure you have a similar story (or stories, in which case I feel for you).

Acne is one of those things that affects everyone at least once in their lifetime, and it’s one of life’s great equalisers.

Another thing that we all have in common is that we would like it to go away, and stay away, forever.

The problem is that until recently, acne treatments have been focused on topical skin remedies and long-term oral antibiotics. This strategy doesn’t offer a long-term solution because it only addresses the symptoms of the problem.

This means that the acne is likely to come back because the underlying cause has never been fully addressed. Just when you think you’ve nipped it in the bud, it’s back once more, which is far worse than ‘unfortunate’, really.

According to the experts at Skin Renewal, one should take a holistic approach to treating acne, which will then eliminate it from your life.

First, did you know that there are a number of underlying medical conditions associated with acne? Conditions such as low stomach acid, dysbiosis and leaky gut all compromise skin.

Low stomach acid can also lead to low levels of zinc and other important minerals and vitamins which are essential for good, healthy skin.

Apart from medical conditions, the most common causes of acne are as follows:

• The primary cause of all acne is increased sensitivity to the androgen hormones especially DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) and DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone).
• A person may have the acne gene that could predispose them to its development.
• Low stomach acid is associated with acne, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.
• When suffering from low stomach acid and an inflamed gut, vitamins and minerals especially Zinc are not well absorbed. There is a link between acne and poor digestion.
• Internal inflammation increases oil production in the hair follicles and when mixed with bacteria and dead skin cells, can result in inflamed blemishes.

To improve your gut health, you should eat a healthy, balanced diet, and take probiotics to regulate the bacteria in your digestive system.

Here are the five ‘Rs’ of gut restoration:

• Remove factors that promote+ bacterial overgrowth and low stomach acid by eliminating grains, sugar and alcohol from the diet. It is also important to remove the bad bacteria that overpopulate the small intestine.
• Replace stomach acid, digestive enzymes and nutrients that aid digestion.
• Re-inoculate beneficial bacteria by taking the correct supplements and probiotics and prebiotics to maintain a healthy gut.
• Restore and heal the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Retain health and proper functioning of the GI tract with a healthy diet, adequate sleep, nutritional support, regular exercise and stress management.

Once you have started treating your acne from the inside out, you can seek out the help of a professional to ensure the best external results possible.

The damage that has occurred on the skin’s surface due to acne lesions such as acne scarring, roughness, texture and hyperpigmentation can now all be successfully treated, and the results sustained with topical treatments such as Chemical peels, Laser Genesis, Dermapen, Titan and Carboxytherapy.

Your best bet for treating acne in a way that ensures the best long-term results is to make an appointment with an expert at Skin Renewal to diagnose the underlying cause, and formulate a plan of action tailored specifically to your needs.

Those details can be found on the Skin Renewal website, as well as a look at the special discounted acne packages that they have formulated for their acne patients.

Congrats, you’re one step closer to never experiencing that sinking feeling again.