I am very excited to participate on the Fashion and Beauty Segment of Bella Life. I’ve been a Skin Care Therapist for more than 7 years now and a Health and Wellness Coach for more than 3 years.

As a young teenager I remember breaking out on my forehead constantly and what I would do was pick at my skin, because I couldn’t stand those pimples looking at me in the mirror. Then I would use alcohol as an antiseptic and to dry my skin because it was so shinny. Pure alcohol, seriously? I had the right idea but the wrong information. I remember my mother dragging me to the dermatologist to get my refill of sulfur lotion and my dose of “zapping” every so often because she was tired of hearing me cry and not wanting to go out due to my breakouts.

In my early 20’s I had something very stressful happening to me and immediately my hormones started acting up and my face was broken out with big, huge, painful pimples all over my face, specially my neck that I couldn’t even touch because they hurt so much it was unbearable. I was a mess. I wish someone would’ve given me the magic pill for it to go away.

What is acne? Why do you have breakouts?

Acne is an inflammatory condition of the sebaceous (oil) glands. Inflammation in the body is usually caused by stress, hormonal imbalance and poor diet. Since the skin is the largest organ in the body and one of the detoxifying organs as well, most of the toxins or waste products that don’t get eliminated through regular elimination will be eliminated through the skin.

When I went to skin care school I learned how the skin works. It wasn’t until I got tired and frustrated of trying to help my clients battled their adult acne through products and treatments only, that my real passion for nutrition started. After I graduated from studying nutrition I also learned how the body works and it made complete sense! Due to the food suggestions I was recommending my clients, I noticed they were getting better quickly and that’s when it hit me…..acne and breakouts are very much related to food, especially sugar, dairy and gluten. Basically anything that your system has trouble digesting will cause inflammation in the body and your skin to break out.

Since starting my practice in NYC I keep attracting these men and women who are stressed out trying to battle with acne and skin sensitivity. They are so desperate which causes even more stress. Because I know that it is possible to heal acne, balance your hormones, have the glow that is natural to a healthy complexion and feel totally great about oneself, I’ve created a program called 10-Week Acne Be Gone which includes a series of natural peels that help to get rid of acne and acne scars for good in a non-invasive, non-aggressive way …yes! Plus all you need to know about foods and supplements that will help achieve your skin goals.

Here are some very easy ways that will help you get rid of breakouts in no time and even kiss them goodbye:

• Keep your finger away from your face. I know it sounds simple and obvious but it is such a habit that most people have. Even when clients come to see me as they explain their skin concerns they will touch their face non-stop. It really takes awareness to catch yourself doing it and if you gently and lovingly make the effort to do so, the rewards are going to be amazing.

• Wipe your cell phones. I know you knew this one and I also know that it is very easy to forget to wipe your phone every night. This is huge. As the smart phones started to be more and more popular I started noticing how my clients were breaking out on the side of the cheek. After treating a few of them with the same issue I started asking the question, “What side of your face do you use to talk on the phone?” Sure enough, it was almost always the side that had the breakouts. A tissue with pure alcohol or an alcohol wipe would do the trick.

• Change your pillow cases regularly. This is a weird one when it comes to asking my clients, “How often do you change your pillow cases? aka, how clean are you?”. Now seriously, this is also key because if you have breakouts the bacteria and excess oils will stick to your pillow case as you toss and turn during the night. Depending on the amount of breakouts or acne that you have, I usually recommend to change them frequently during the week. If you have a more serious case of acne I will recommend you to change them every day and actually I would suggest for you to sleep with a face towel that you can turn over from one night to the other so you will be sleeping on a clean surface every day.

• Exfoliation: Some people take exfoliation for granted and some don’t even know what that is. I feel it is because of lack of information. Exfoliation is the action of assisting the shedding process of dead cells that lay on the surface of the skin. When we do not exfoliate at all, these cells build up and create what we more commonly known as “rough skin”. For those who battle with acne and breakouts, this is the major reason why bacteria form within the pore. The dead cells accumulate on the surface and block the pore, preventing oxygen from circulating. As a result, the P-acne bacteria that causes acne and breakouts has a perfect environment to grow and reproduce. If you do not address these problems through exfoliation you will end up with a dull, rough complexion and in the case with acne, with clogged pores and blemishes.

• Moisturize day and night. This is a challenge one for those who have oily skin and breakouts. Remember when I said earlier that I used to apply alcohol on my face? That was the worst thing I could do to prevent pimples from popping on my forehead. I had no idea! When you dry your skin you are actually causing the skin to compensate creating more oil. When you apply moisture to the skin it balances itself out.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. People who eat more fruits and veggies have less acne. This is due to the amount of antioxidants that nourish the skin and boost its immune system which will ultimately help fight the bacteria that causes breakouts. The more colorful vegetables you eat the more antioxidants, you might have heard that. Green vegetables specially are excellent for the skin and I highly recommend them (kale, chards, collard green, parsley, cucumber). Drinking a green juice every day can cause you to whiteness a miracle! Stay away from the starchy ones, like potatoes, which in my opinion should not fall into the category of vegetable. Fruits are great but make sure not to go overboard, since natural sugars also spike insulin levels that can cause inflammation. The ones I would recommend are apples, papaya and blueberries and eat one serving per day only.

• Include foods that correct acne problems. Certain foods have been linked to improvements in many of the underlying causes of acne and can help correct it. These include fish oil, turmeric, ginger, green tea, nuts, dark purple and red foods such as beets, berries, green foods like dark green leafy vegetables, avocado and omega 3-eggs. Play with it and try incorporating them on your regular day.

• Have fun with it. Sometimes we really forget to have fun with the process of life and we become way too serious. Find things that make you happy, do things that make you feel good and surround yourself with people that truly care for you. Ask for support if you need it so you do not feel that you have to do it alone. Your skin will clear out in no time when you are happy and feel supported!

Wishing you healthy, clear and beautiful skin!
Paula

Paula Lacobara is a featured Fashion & Beauty contributor and is a NY licensed Skin Care Therapist and a certified Holistic Health Coach. Her passion is to support people to reconnect with themselves and their inner beauty. For more about her click here for her full bio and all of her articles!