Everyone who has acne knows how difficult it can be to control. We offer many alternatives to the traditional
antibiotics and prescription creams that are often used to try and control
acne.
First, Dr. Jepson always recommends that the certain lifestyle
steps be followed for optimal acne control:
Cut all fruit out
of your diet except for berries until face is clear
Drink at least
64oz of water daily
Reduce refined
carbohydrates (sugar, white bread, white rice, cookies, etc.)
Use a white pillow
case and change to a clean pillow case often
Do not scrub
face. Wash gently or pat
Avoid over the
counter skin care – it contains fillers that can worsen your acne
Wash your makeup
brushes often
Use mineral makeup
and mineral sunblock (won’t clog your pores)
Avoid
constipation. Use daily fiber supplement
if needed
Keep your hair out
of your face and off your forehead
Sleep 8 hours
nightly
Exercise regularly
Second, we recommend use of the Pelle Di Giovane Acne Protocol.
This is a system of doctor-grade cleansers and exfoliators designed to
penetrate deeply into the skin and effectively unclog pores and keep them
clean. We also offer moisturizers that
will protect your skin, but not worsen you acne.
Third, we recommend that adult women suffering from acne
have an acne hormonal evaluation. Dr
Jepson believes that most adult female acne is hormonal. It is difficult to control this type of acne
without identifying and correcting the hormonal issue. There are 3 common types of hormonal acne:
Progesterone
deficiency - if your
acne cycles with your menstrual period (usually you break out with acne mostly in
the 1-2 weeks before your period) and if you also suffer from some degree of
PMS, then your acne is most likely due to progesterone deficiency. This
is also the most common form of hormonal acne for women over 50 (your ovaries
stop producing progesterone at menopause)
Testosterone
excess - this is a common cause of acne in younger adult
females (20s and 30s). Either your
ovaries produce too much testosterone or your skin produces too much of a
testosterone derivative called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Generally this type of acne will occur
through your entire cycle, is often associated with oily skin and unwanted
facial hair, and commonly (but not always) can affect the chest and back.
Stress
and Cortisol excess – many of you may have noticed that
your acne gets worse at times of stress.
This is also a hormonal form of acne.
Stress causes your adrenal glands to produce a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol causes acne. This type of acne usually only lasts as long
as your stress lasts. But many of you
probably suffer from chronic stress and can consequently suffer from chronic
stress-induced acne.
Dr.
Jepson can help you identify which hormonal problem is causing your acne, and
most importantly, help you fix it!
