Liz James

Acne Face Mapping….. Have you heard of it?

We tend to look at acne as an unpleasant teenage memory, but blemishes, whether adolescent or adult, contains valuable health clues! There are some incredibly toxic prescription medications for acne, and if they can be avoided they should be. Young Living has a Maximum Strength Acne Treatment cream (item #23795) and the Charcoal Bar Soap (item #23799) that are both incredible tools in defeating acne from the outside. However, acne is representative of an imbalance within the body that should be addressed if a chronic situation is to be overcome in a healthy manner. 

 
Clues can be found knowing the location of the blemish breakout, the “style” of the breakout, and the “type” of the breakout, and the frequency of the breakout. 

Clue Type: Frequency 
A chronic blemish problem on a specific area of the face is a strong indicator of which body system is lacking support. If the root cause goes unaddressed, there may eventually be spillover to other parts of the face or body. 

Clue Type: Acne Appearance
Red Inflamed Skin in combination with acne- usually due to poor detoxification, so there is a buildup of toxins the body cannot get rid of fast enough. This is a key indicator that lifestyle changes must happen and that the liver is in need of supportive tender loving care.. Most often, a processed food diet and/or toxic skincare products are causative culprits. Genetically, we are all very different, and some people process toxins better than others, even within families. #MTHFRgenevarianceisagoodstudytopic

Painful red cystic acne- poor liver detoxification and a sluggish lymphatic system. (Note to self: are you supporting your lymphatic system with gentle lymphatic massage you can do yourself? #YouTubeisyourfriend  Are you adding YL’s Lemon Vitality essential oil to your water on the regular for lymphatic system support?) 
Acne closely surrounding  the mouth: may indicate digestive system inflammation, food intolerances, underactive liver function, and too little hydrochloric acid in the stomach….. A quite common thing! There are other health clues indicating low stomach acid out #tobecoveredlater…. And EssentialZyme (regular EZyme, not the EZyme4) is an excellent product Young Living has which supports healthy stomach acid production as well as digestive enzymes. #haveyouhadyourdigestiveenzymestoday

Rash like pimples and uneven skin tone – may indicate candida (a yeast) overgrowth in the body. You may also find a rash in warm moist areas of the body such as armpits, groin, folds of skin on the torso, and on the feet. Investigate what a “candida diet” might mean for you. If you are not taking Young Living’s Life 9 probiotic, now would also be a good time to start in addition to changing eating habits.  Candida overgrowth is a VERY common problem, especially for those whose diet is high in sugar and processed foods.

Breakouts along the jawline- these tend to wax and wane in a cyclic nature and are usually related to a hormonal imbalance. (Ex: Poly cystic ovarian syndrome, androgen dominance, or estrogen dominance are frequent offenders here). Be patient!! These can sometimes take awhile to get under control once you’ve begun addressing the problem. As many of you ladies already know, Progessence Plus can be a game changer for this type of acne as it supports healthy hormones (note: not recommended to be used in combination with Birth Control Pills containing progesterone. I’m not a fan of Birth Control Pills as a pharmacist…… they really do a number on your body, including adversely affecting your thyroid function. Many young women are put on BCP’s to control acne (not realizing they will be trading one problem for a host of others ) when all they usually need to do is clean up their diet and skincare and learn to detoxify properly.

Whiteheads or Blackheads- often due to the use of chemically “dirty” skincare or makeup, or failure to clean the skin properly with healthy skincare options (Have you tried Young Living’s  ART , Bloom, or Orange Blossom skincare lines? YL’s Charcoal bar soap is a must have for anyone who need to up their skincare game.
Breakouts on the cheeks- often the result of a high fat and mucus forming diet, and also ….. This would be a diet high in “bad” fats, commercial dairy (not raw), refined sugar, and processed foods. Cheek acne, when paired with gum disease, tooth sensitivity, or tooth pain may also indicate a subclinical infection somewhere within the mouth.

Breakouts on the line from the outside corner of the nostril to the corner of the mouth- the colon!!!! I speak from personal experience on this one…. Whenever my personal “house” is out of order, I occasionally get a really interesting rash in this very location. Young Living’s Juvatone is very much one of my best friends, and I use it to support my liver which in turn supports my colon health! 
Internal and External Factors Causing Acne: This list is not comprehensive, but it’s a great place to start! With nearly all of these factors, the root cause lies within the realm of “things we can control” if we choose to do the work.

🔥Candida, fungus and molds – usually will cause “shiny” skin that will be oilier than normal, most often affecting the T-Zone. Fungus and molds can hide quite easily in a home or office building, and it’s worth the effort to track it down and clean it up, especially  if you have other health clues indicating that fungus/mold may indeed be amongst you and your loved ones.

🔥Congested Liver- lots of blackheads and clogged pores that are red and sore to the touch.

🔥PCOS, childbirth, menopause, estrogen dominance, breast feeding  (all hormonal imbalance events)- acne most often sits just below the skin and is often tender to the touch. Women most often experience most of this type of acne along their jawline. Do not underestimate the power of a good friend like Progessence Plus in times such as these.

🔥Blemishes along the very edges of the hairline only are often a reaction to chemicals in skincare, makeup, or shampoo. #haveyoutriedtoxinfreeYLSavvyMinerals

Acne face mapping is quite revealing in terms of health clues as is face mapping in general! I could write for weeks on this particular topic, so hopefully this brief overview has given you the spark to do a little more digging on your own. Ultimately, inflammation, hormones, and/or an overtaxed liver are the three main causative agents of acne. Now it’s your turn…. What products have you found to be helpful in managing your skin’s health? 
We have much more to cover on skin health clues……stay tuned! 
xoxo~ liz

 My goal is to teach you how to discerningly care for yourself! 😘
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#caringissharing
#pharmacistandfarmacist
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#skininthegame 
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#yourfaceisamirrortoyourhealth
#ThanksYL

We’ve moved on to new terrain! Skin holds sooo many clues friends. Please continue to be mindful of the difference between a singular clue and a diagnosis! A clue by itself may mean next to nothing, but if you can pair multiple clues together, the savvy personal health detective can often head off big health concerns by being proactive and using the right tools and lifestyle habits to get back on track!

Bags and Circles around the eyes👀 are separate clues, but often paired together.  Common causes of dark circles include stress, anemia, dehydration, fatigue, allergies, nasal congestion, a parasite load, chronic eye strain, thinning of skin, and unhealthy habits.

Chronic stress and fatigue often (and usually) go hand in hand. It’s awfully hard to get a good night’s sleep if you are under a great deal of stress. Conversely, if you are missing out on sleep for whatever reason, a chronically stressed body will ultimately result. We, in the Young Living community, have an arsenal of tools to help us sleep and keep our bodies and minds balanced even during stressful seasons. My bedtime regimen always includes oils (Tranquil or Rutavala are my go to!) to support healthy sleeping habits, and my nightly pre-bedtime ImmuPro supports both sleep and immune system function. I also mitigate stress with regular exercise, plenty of time outdoors, prayerful meditation time and faith based yoga. 

Thinning of the skin happens naturally as we age simply because collagen production begins decreasing after about the age of 25…….the older we get the less our body produces! A couple of key ingredients that our body needs for collagen production include Vitamin C complex (hint:  Super C Chewables for the win!) and elemental sulfur (hint: Sulfurzyme ). Pair this clue with a quick look at your fingernails and make note of any evidence of pitting! 

Perhaps you are feeling your dark circles might be clues related to allergies or chronic congestion? Allergies always have a digestive dysfunction component, and it may behoove you to look into Young Living’s  AllerZyme capsules for digestive enzyme support. I’ve personally also found several essential oils that work quite well in our home for seasonal respiratory support when used topically, diffused, or taken internally (in vitality form)….. What have you found that works for you?   

 
As we discussed over in the fingernails section, parasites are not an uncommon first world problem. Check your fingernails for Beau’s lines for an additional clue!
Puffiness under the eyes is often a sign of inflammation or water retention. How might you pair puffiness with other signs of inflammation in the body?
Xanthelasma is the formation of cholesterol deposits around the eyes. While it can occasionally be hereditary, most often it is a clue that cholesterol levels are high. Recent research has also linked xanthelasma to type II diabetes. If you have found this clue around your eyes, I suggest reaching out to your favorite healthcare provider to schedule labwork to evaluate both cholesterol and blood sugar levels. (If you don’t have a healthcare provider handy, message me, and I can walk you thru setting up labwork analysis!)  Both high cholesterol and type II diabetes are largely correctable with changes to lifestyle and eating habits….. So be encouraged! You are the CEO of your own body, and that gives you the power to make healthy changes! 

Are you starting to put clues together? It’s kinda fun, isn’t it? Agatha Christie would be proud! 
Stay tuned for more skin clues coming your way…..
xoxo~ liz
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(holler if you need labwork or are interested in any of the above mentioned products. I’d love to help you help yourself!)  

#caringissharing
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#skininthegame 
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#ThanksYL