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It’s true – we all have insecurities that we’d like to cover up. For some, it may be self-doubt in their job or relationships, but for others, it may be a bit more visible…

Like those little red bumps on your face (ya know, the kind you’re only supposed to have during your awkward middle school years). 

Acne and other skin issues can be frustrating, painful, and even embarrassing.

I should know. I struggled with chronic cystic acne for years before I finally realized it was my body’s way of telling me there were deeper issues going on, and I started seeing a functional medicine doctor to fix the root problems of my health issues. 

Since then,  I’ve seen a massive improvement in my health, hormones, and yes, my skin too. 

And I want that for you too!

So whether you’re struggling with acne or some other frustrating chronic health symptom, this episode of the podcast is for you, friend.

I spoke with holistic nutritionist and integrative health practitioner Dani Ferguson to dig deep into treating acne and other health issues by finding the root cause and focusing on nutritional and lifestyle changes.

We chatted about gut health, nutrition, stress, and easy skincare routines. 

And HOLY MOSES, guys, Dani brought the KNOWLEDGE. This episode is packed full of helpful info, valuable resources, and actionable tips that will help you in your own health journey.

WHAT YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO TELL YOU WHEN YOU HAVE ACNE

As I mentioned, I struggled with chronic cystic acne for years. And while it was certainly annoying and frustrating at times, I never really saw it as a serious or life-altering issue. So I kept pushing it aside and ignored it or tried to cover it up.

It wasn’t until I suffered two back-to-back miscarriages that I realized my body was trying to tell me something was wrong, and the acne was my body’s way of telling me that.

When I asked Dani about how our body may be trying to tell us something’s wrong, she shared a really memorable quote: 

“Your body whispers to you until it screams at you.”

Whether you’re experiencing acne or some other kind of issue – eczema, hair loss, brain fog, headaches, painful periods, etc. – you shouldn’t just brush off those symptoms.

God designed our body to tell us when something’s off. When we start experiencing symptoms like acne, brain fog, or painful periods, our body is whispering to us that we need to address something. 

We may need to address a physical issue, like an imbalance in our gut, or an emotional issue, like chronic stress.

And it’s better to address these symptoms right away rather than wait until your body is screaming at you and you develop a more serious problem. 

We also need to look at ALL of our symptoms. We may not realize that the acne we have is related to our infertility issues or the brain fog and anxiety we’re struggling with, but healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and these symptoms are often interconnected.  

THE IMPORTANCE OF GUT HEALTH

As I asked Dani about steps we can take to heal our skin and our bodies, she mentioned a few things, including gut health, managing stress, getting proper nutrition, monitoring your blood sugar, and ordering lab tests from home.

One of the most important things you can do to address skin issues is to check your gut health. 

Yes, I know you’ve heard it before and maybe it doesn’t seem like your gut could cause issues elsewhere in the body.

But your guy plays a huge role in making sure your body is functioning properly. It breaks down food properly so you can absorb nutrients. The gut bacteria (which can be wiped out or unbalanced from things like antibiotics and birth control pills) produce the vitamins and minerals you need. 

Plus, (and this is still crazy to me), the gut produces 30+ different hormones. It’s the largest endocrine (hormone producing) system in your body.

So when your gut’s not working properly, everything else starts to suffer, including your liver, kidneys, and hormones. This could cause all kinds of symptoms beyond just the GI symptoms you might associate with the gut – acne, fatigue, poor sleep, joint pain, bad PMS, brain fog, eczema, heartburn, etc. 

The good news is that your body is constantly reproducing new cells and so as you really nourish and nurture your body, you can see huge improvements and set yourself up for quality health long-term. 

AN EASY SKINCARE ROUTINE 

Okay, onto the part many of you are probably wondering about – the skin. 

Let’s talk about practicals here. What does a good, holistic skincare routine actually look like? That’s exactly what I asked Dani.

And the good news is it doesn’t have to be a 30-step process (because who’s got time for that?!). You can keep things simple and still nourish your skin (and your body) well.

Dani shared her own skin routine as an example. In the morning, she just uses a clean, warm washcloth to wash her face. She doesn’t use any kind of cleanser because it’s important not to strip away the natural oils in your skin. If you do this and dry out your skin, your body will go into overdrive and end up producing even more oi to compensate.

So keep it simple. Wash with water in the morning and consider using a face serum that contains Vitamin C. 

Then, in the evening, try using a cleansing oil or milk cleanser to wash your face. While it may take some time to get used to using oil when many of us have been taught to avoid it, it’s actually one of the best ways you can clean your skin.

Oil attracts oil, and so by using a cleansing oil, you can get rid of oil in your pores. Consider following up the cleansing oil with a gentle, non-drying soap made from natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, or goat’s milk. This will help remove any remaining oil. 

If you struggle with acne scarring, look for products that contain bakuchiol, an ingredient that is known for its effectiveness in healing scarring and doesn’t have the toxic side effects as retinol does. 

You can also try an at-home micro-needling pen, like the one from Banish, to help promote collagen production and speed up the turnover of skin cells. Follow it up with a Vitamin C serum like the one Banish offers. 

Wondering which brands would be good to check out? Here are some of Dani’s suggestions:

• • Primally Pure (I personally love their face products and deodorant!) 
  • The Other Skincare Company
  • Skin Harmonics (Dani specifically mentioned their rosewater toner)

Just remember, that it takes your skin about 12 weeks to really respond to a new routine, so stay consistent when trying something new! 

DISCOVER THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR ACNE

There’s so much great information packed into this episode that I can’t fit it all here! So make sure to listen to the full episode to hear all the wisdom Dani has to share.

Draw up a bath, get your home spa going, and tune in to learn:

• • How to recognize when you’re body is telling you something’s wrong
  • How stress affects your body
  • Why skin creams and prescriptions aren’t the answer to your acne issues
  • How your gut affects your health and your skin
  • How nutrition plays a role in skin health 
  • An easy holistic skincare routine you can try
  • The first steps to take to get to the root cause of your health issues
  • How to heal scarring from chronic acne

Oof, like I said there’s a lot packed into this episode! 

And if you want to learn more from Dani, visit her at detoxingwithdani.com. Dani has tons of resources, including a root cause questionnaire and links to functional medicine tests you can order from home. 

Once you’ve listened to the episode, let us know below: what was your biggest takeaway?