Drinking Water and Acne
Begin Your Healing Protocol
by Nancy Hearn, CNC

The connection between drinking water and acne is often overlooked. Yet, dehydration is one of the most prevalent underlying conditions that can lead to chronic or acute acne.

Since acne affects, to some degree, about 80 percent of all Americans between the ages of 12 and 44, I am sure I don’t need to explain the discomfort.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne has become the most commonly treated skin problem.

Those who suffer from acne know that it is not just a cosmetic issue; it can significantly affect self-esteem and emotional well being as well.

Factors that Contribute to Acne

There are numerous factors that can contribute to acne, including hormonal imbalance, oily skin, monthly menstrual cycles and the systemic yeast condition candida.

In addition, stress, nutritional deficiencies, unhealthy eating habits, and exposure to environmental toxins can contribute to acne.

The reason that acne often arises during puberty is because the body significantly increases production of sex hormones that produce an oily skin lubricant called sebum.

According to Phyllis Balch in Prescription for Nutritional Healing, “If sebum is secreted faster than it can move through the pores, a blemish arises. The excess oil makes the pores sticky, allowing bacteria to become trapped inside.”

Many women experience premenstrual acne because of the release of the hormone progesterone after ovulation. Balch also writes that the presence of candida can cause hormonal changes that encourage the liver to produce the wrong substances for healthy levels of sebum.

However, we don’t need to become victims of hormones. Hormonal balance in the body is regulated by water, indicating a key link between drinking water and acne.

In addition, a body that is too acidic from excess consumption of animal products, sodas, black tea, coffee, sugar, white flour products, and other acidifying foods will more likely breed a nesting ground on the skin for acne-causing bacteria.

I believe acne is another health condition that is due primarily to an imbalance in the body pH and the accumulation of toxins. In my experience, acne can best be healed by assisting the body’s natural detoxification processes.

Skin is Our Largest Organ of Elimination

So what is the connection between drinking water and acne? It comes down to 2 key factors:

1. Our skin is the largest elimination organ in the body and
2. Our body is about 70 percent water.

When the body is not sufficiently hydrated, the skin is the first site that is affected in the body’s water conservation management program. When dehydrated, the skin loses moisture and there is less circulation to the skin area to provide essential nutrients.

One of the skin’s primary functions is to remove some of the toxic and metabolic waste in the body through sweating. 

If the body accumulates more toxins than the liver and kidneys can handle, the skin takes over. This is why some doctors refer to the skin as the “third kidney.”

Thus, as the excessive amount of toxins leave the body through the skin, the normal pH of the skin changes. If the body is even slightly dehydrated and the pores become clogged, the imbalanced pH of the skin will allow bacteria to flourish. This is one of the main reasons why cleansing the skin is so important.

Healing Acne from the Inside Out

However, as most people will attest, cleansing the skin is often not enough to prevent or heal acne. Even if topical medications are used to suppress the symptoms of acne, the acne will simply come back, sooner than later, if the underlying issues are not resolved.

Even though most of us think of acne as a “normal” part of growing up, studies show that more and more adults are getting acne. I don’t believe teens should have to suffer with it either.

I see acne primarily as a sign that the body chemistry is imbalanced and that the body’s detoxification system is backed up. 

Thus, the first place to start in healing the body from the inside out is drinking half your body weight in ounces of contaminant-free water daily.

Drinking more water will assist the kidneys and liver to do their jobs of detoxification more efficiently.

The colon is the other major organ to consider. I have always found a close connection between the health of the colon and healthy skin.

The gentlest and most effective colon cleanse product I have ever used is called Oxy-Powder, an oxygen based, all-natural product that works while you sleep.

I highly recommend taking this product either before, during, or after the following protocol for quicker and longer lasting results.

Drinking Water and Acne Healing Protocol

This protocol is designed to fully hydrate the body, cleanse the colon, assist the body’s detoxification processes, improve blood circulation to the skin, restore hormonal balance, and normalize the pH of the skin to prevent acne outbreaks.

1. Drink half your body weight in ounces of clean water daily.  Read more about drinking enough water daily.
2. Eat at least four to five servings of raw fruits and vegetables daily. Fruits are especially beneficial because they of their water content, nutrient value and cleansing effect.
3. Keep the skin clean and free of excess oil. Cleanse skin thoroughly but gently twice a day with natural products. Avoid wearing cosmetics or used water-based facial products.
4. Eat a high-fiber diet to help keep the colon clean and rid the body of toxins. High fiber foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
5. Eat more foods containing zinc, including whole grains, sunflower seeds and a small amount of raw nuts daily.
6. Avoid the following beverages and foods: alcohol, soft drinks, chocolate, caffeine, snack foods, fried foods, fast foods, processed foods, hydrogenated oils, margarine, table salt and vegetable oils.
7. Reduce or eliminate all dairy products, especially milk, ice cream, cheese and butter—at least until the acne clears up.
8. Reduce the amount of animal-based protein in your diet, especially red meat, which is highly acidifying to the body and difficult to digest.
9. Reduce or eliminate all forms of sugar. Sugar intake significantly impairs the immune system, creates imbalances in blood sugar levels and contributes to candidiasis.
10. Nutritional supplements to consider: Probiotics (to replenish good bacteria in the gut), flaxseed oil or primrose oil (to supply essential fatty acids that help repair skin tissue), garlic (potent natural antibiotic and immune booster), and proteolytic enzymes (to cleanse blood and aids in digestion).

Many dermatologists also recommend getting 15 minutes of sun exposure on the skin each day, at least seven to eight hours of sleep, and regular exercise.

The bottom line is this: the more water you drink and the more raw fruits and vegetables you eat, the faster the skin will clear and heal.

If you do nothing else, I encourage you to try just the first three steps of this program and see if your skin doesn’t start to clear up. I invite you to then come back to this site and share your results on the Drinking Water and Acne Healing program.

Reference:

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Phyllis A. Balch, 2006.

Further reading . . .

Cosmopolitan.com; How to Get Rid of Acne.

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