Healing Acne Naturally: My Personal Journey, by Trish Alkaitis

My journey with Dr. Alkaitis Organics began in a deeply personal way. At 28, I joined forces with my father, Dr Saulius Alkaitis, during a challenging period of my life when I was battling cystic acne. Despite the frustration and embarrassment, this experience became a profound learning curve for me. I attempted the conventional mainstream treatments, only to find them aggravating my condition further. It was finally through a holistic combination of our organic products, dietary adjustments, and other positive lifestyle choices that I found healing and relief. This ordeal ignited a passion within me, leading me to consult and guide hundreds of our customers over the past 29 years. The intricacies of skincare and the myriad factors influencing acne are vast, which made condensing my knowledge and insights for this article a genuine challenge. But I assure you, every word shared here is from both professional expertise and personal experience. Whether you're trying to decode the enigma of breakouts or seeking natural remedies, this article is crafted just for you.

To Your Health & Beauty,

Trish

What are some of the main internal causes of acne?

While many think acne is just a surface issue, it begins deep within. One primary reason is clogged pores caused by dead skin cells and excessive oil. But what causes these? Fluctuations in hormones leading to oil overproduction, improper diets, hereditary conditions, stress, some medications, and even food allergies can be culprits. Shockingly, even intestinal parasites, often tied with Candida, play a role. Candida is a fungus that exists naturally in our system. When its balance is disturbed by antibiotics or a high sugar and dairy diet, an overgrowth can occur, leading to gut imbalances. To address this, it's essential to focus on gut health, following an anti-inflammatory diet and using pre-and-probiotics.

What are the main external causes of acne?

Externally, skin products laden with toxic ingredients, preservatives, and fragrances often trigger breakouts. Even sunscreens, certain laundry detergents, and toothpastes can aggravate the skin. On the other hand, swapping conventional products for organic ones might cause a temporary "cleansing reaction" or mild breakout – a sign of your skin detoxing.

What are some common mistakes made during a breakout?

Resist the temptation to pick! This worsens acne and may even scar. Over-drying pimples with harsh topical treatments can push the skin into an unbalanced state that triggers a signal to your body to produce more oil and then things can quickly escalate from there. Relying on black box warned medications can have lasting detrimental effects on your health, and trying to scrub or over-exfoliate acne away disrupts the skin further. A gentle, balanced approach is crucial.

Recommended ingredients for blemish and acne-prone skin?

Go organic and natural! Our skin, a living organ, thrives best when treated with nature-derived ingredients. I do not believe we should try to banish or strip the acne condition but rather nourish our body and skin back into balance, and to achieve that, it will always be an inside AND outside job. All our ingredients are naturally anti-bacterial (from nature) and anti-inflammatory. Every single one of our ingredients holistically falls into these categories. They nourish, protect, and gently exfoliate the skin and work synergistically together without disrupting the skin’s microbiome, while restoring and maintaining the health of the skin. Contrary to popular belief some plant oils are actually very beneficial for acne and will not clog the pores, but again quality is key, and the way products were manufactured.

Which skincare ingredients should you avoid?

My stance has always been ‘less is more’. I would avoid all products that are too active, contain fragrance, harsh exfoliators, commercial alcohols (organic alcohol excluded), and synthetic oils. I would also be very careful about which  sunscreens you use and avoid heavy oils such as coconut oil, and makeup that contains silicone, lanolin, and any product that will dry out or thin your skin.

Can you recommend a simple routine to improve the appearance of acne over time?

Yes, I love this routine because it’s so important for acne-prone skin to be properly moisturized, yet most people get very nervous about using oil. This routine is wonderful and is one that worked perfectly for me when I was dealing with adult acne. The Dr Alkaitis Nourishing Treatment Oil will not clog your pores, and in the science of Ayurvedic medicine, “oil cuts oil,” meaning this therapeutic oil will also help to rebalance oily skin and t-zone areas while deeply moisturizing and repairing the skin as a whole.

• Press a warm damp cotton washcloth onto the skin for a minute.
• Gently press 2-3 pumps of Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil into skin. If you are not actively breaking out, you can gently massage the oil into the skin, neck and décolletage.
• Mix 2 pumps of Organic Purifying Cleanser with water in the palm of your hand to create a light foam. Applying this to the skin prepped with the Nourishing Treatment Oil will essentially create an oil cleanse. Double wash and if you are not actively breaking out, you can use the washcloth to remove product and gently ‘exfoliate’ the skin with the washcloth. If active, rinse with your hands only. Gently dry your skin.
• To finish, opt for either 2 pumps of Soothing Gel gently applied to skin and allow to dry  or a blend of 2 pumps Soothing Gel with 1 pump of Nourishing Treatment Oil if you need some moisture.
• Once a week, apply the Organic Enzyme Exfoliating Mask followed by a Nourishing Mask. I recommend either the Organic Universal Mask, which contains a high dose of minerals and anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating herbs, high nutrient seaweeds, potent grasses and raw whole plant extracts, or our Organic Cellular Repair Mask, filled with antioxidant berries and vitamins that will feed and regenerate the skin. Both nourishing masks may be used as often as needed.

[Click here for our Ultimate Acne Essentials Kit]

How to deal with cystic acne?

Cystic acne, a painful and potentially scarring condition, requires gentle care. Stick to the routine above, but ensure you pat products onto your skin rather than massaging them in, avoid picking, and regularly use the Dr Alkaitis Universal Mask. Also, commit to colon cleanses, anti-inflammatory diets, and clean makeup.

• Use the Universal Mask on a regular basis (can be mixed with organic honey & coconut yogurt with living probiotics) It can also be used as a spot treatment daily.
• Apply the Organic Soothing Gel to these spots after.
• Sleep on 100% cotton or silk pillowcases (change them often) and to always use a clean cotton washcloth for your face.
• No perfumes or dyes in laundry detergent & don’t use fabric softeners.
• Use makeup that is as ‘clean’ as possible.
• Commit to doing a colon cleanse (this was the game changer for me)
• Try to drink as many fresh organic vegetable juices as possible.
• Follow an anti-inflammatory diet.

How to treat acne scars?

My number one product for scars is the Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil. We have so many success stories with this hero product. It’s truly a miracle in a bottle and a multi-functional one, good for the face, scalp, hair, and body. I will go on to say that it is important to have a good product line when dealing with acne. Our products are extremely therapeutic, filled with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients; and all of them gently exfoliate when used on a regular basis so to treat the scarring, I would highly recommend Steps 1-5 (above) to use on a daily basis.

Handling hormonal acne?

It’s a big subject but I have seen so much success with those who handled it through diet and lifestyle changes and turned to nature. For starters:

• Avoid dairy, refined carbohydrates, sugar, and alcohol.
• Eat more cruciferous vegetable like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale which are known to stimulate detoxifying enzymes in the digestive system and regulate your hormonal balance.
• Take a good quality Omega 3 fatty acid, Vitamins A, C, D, and E, plus zinc and selenium.
• Drink organic burdock and green tea.
• Use therapeutic organic skincare products that will help nourish, repair, and balance the skin back to a healthy state.

A short list of herbs that work wonders to balance hormones are:

• Royal Maca from Peru
• Ayurvedic herbs: Ashwagandha, Moringa, Shatavari, Neem.
• Olive leaf extract.

Nature has really provided us with so many options. It’s all about creating a lifestyle that you can manage to support your health. I would also recommend:

• Monthly facials
• Full body + face lymphatic massage
• Yoga & meditation to calm the nervous system.

What do breakouts in different areas signify?

I have long been a fan of the ancient practice of Chinese and Ayurvedic face mapping. and have used it for years when working with our customers to identify various acne concerns. I must say that it is almost always accurate, even though it’s not a ‘proven’ science, I am a believer!

1. Forehead / Small intestines & Bladder
2. Between the eyebrows / Liver and Stomach
3. Under eyes / Kidneys, Liver, Intestines
4. Left Cheek / Liver
5. Jawline / Hygiene and Stomach
6. Ears & Temples / Kidneys
7. Under Nose / Heart
8. Right Cheek / Lungs and Respiratory system
9. Around the lip area / Hormone, Heart & Large Intestines
10. Chin / Stomach, Kidney, Reproductive Organs
11. Neck / Thyroid

Our skin, often termed the 'mirror to our internal health', serves as a testament to the intricate balance between external care and internal well-being. Acne, as we've explored, isn't a superficial issue; it's a call from our body to recognize and address underlying concerns. Whether it's modifying our diets, changing skincare routines, or understanding the silent signals of our body, the journey to radiant skin is a holistic one. My personal experience with adult cystic acne and the transformative power of Dr. Alkaitis Organics products combined with a dedicated wellness routine, has solidified my belief in the synergy of nature and self-awareness. Remember, true beauty radiates from within, and your skin is the testament. Embrace it, nurture it, and watch it flourish.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. We also offer consultations with our holistic esthetician to tailor a skincare regimen specifically for your unique needs and concerns. For a complimentary consultation with our educator, Paisley, please send an email to paisley@alkaitis.com.