Here’s Why Your Pimples Keep Showing Up In The Exact Same Place
A vibrant, lively, bulbous fruit, grapefruit has long been lauded for its high concentration of vitamin C. It first became known as a nutritious food in the West Indies, where it grew abundantly on trees. Eventually the people, foods, and cultural pastimes of the South American island countries made their way to the mainland of North America, bringing with them the grapefruit. Today the trees gr
Take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only person asking that question. Take greater comfort in the fact that this is your body’s way of telling you where the problem lies, and how you can most quickly find the solution.
Ayurveda believes that the causes of acne results from an imbalance. In the case of acne, it can be your skin or body, or both. The recurrence of acne in a certain place can give you vital cues about imbalance in your dosha or where you might be holding toxins within. Here are some clues:
Acne types often correspond to your dosha. Consider each types of acne and try incorporating these natural remedies for acne as well as avoid taking foods that cause acne:
- Milia, blackheads, and whiteheads are vata acne, which most often appears around the nose, upper cheeks and near the eyes. It’s often caused by stress and dehydration, and the best remedy is to drink lots of water and regularly partake in yoga and meditation to relieve anxiety.
- Try: Drinking lots and lots of fluids and coconut juice. Eat Avocados, sweet fruits, cherries, and oranges.
- Avoid: Dry fruits, apples, melons, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, beef, and peas (they tend to aggravate the vata).
- Pitta acne is the most common—angry red bumps often found on the cheeks and sometimes the forehead. This acne is caused buy a heat imbalance, so be sure to eat plenty of naturally sweet, cooler foods (such as fruit) and to stay away from spicy food.
- Try: Aloe vera juice with a pinch of turmeric in the morning, and tea made from cumin, coriander and fennel seeds. Foods such as sprouts, green salads, sunflower seeds, mangoes, pears, plums, and mushrooms.
- Avoid: Tomatoes, garlic, sour fruits, bananas, peanuts, and spicy foods
- Deep, cystic breakouts found in the t-zone are common in the kapha. This type of acne is usually painful and full of puss, but it can be avoided by waking up early and drinking warm, detoxifying beverages (such as ginger tea).
- Try: Warm drinks—even water should be no cooler than room temperature—and detoxifying teas like ginger tea or hot water with honey several times a day. Eat dry fruits, pomegranate, cranberries, and basmati rice.
- Avoid: Coconut, dates, pineapples, and dairy products.
Breakouts can be a result of toxins in a specific part of the body.
- Forehead – related to the nervous system and digestive system, which means stress and internal stagnation are probably causing breakouts here. Reduce the amount of processed foods and fat in your diet and partake in de-stressing activities.
- Cheeks and nose – indicates poor metabolism and low absorption of nutrients, such as folic acid and iron, an internal flare up or a blood pressure issue. Up the amounts of essential fatty acids in your diet (avocado, flax, olive oil), and avoid alcohol, coffee and spicy foods.
- Chin – hormonal imbalances and stress will make themselves known here, which means you’re more likely to break out here around your menstrual cycle. Reducing stress as much as possible, getting adequate sleep and exercising will help heal blemishes around this kapha-ruled area.
Some acne is caused by common habits or changes to your routine.
- Changing your pillowcase and washing your sheets often will help prevent breakouts on the cheeks! Bacteria and sweat builds up on your pillowcase especially, so make sure you are changing it frequently or placing a clean towel on your pillow each night.
- Dandruff can be the culprit of breakouts on your forehead. Use a clarifying shampoo or treat your scalp with a hair oil and/or lemon juice to reduce flakiness. (Your shampoo can also cause breakouts, so make sure you’re using something with few chemicals!)
- If you find yourself breaking out on your chest, back or neck suddenly, it could be because you’ve recently changed your laundry detergent. Sometimes, this is also a result of an allergy to the fabric your bra is made of or because you are wearing it too tight.
Furthermore, for all acne types, Ayurveda recommends the following:
- Adding iron and a robust anti inflammatory like turmeric to your diet. Aloe vera and honey can be further additions – both when consumed, and when applied topically.
- Practice daily detoxes – like cleaning your tongue, trying a metabolic detox like starting your morning with a cup of warm water, and practicing oil pulling.
- Add yoga for acne which can aid both circulation and detox – powerful acne fighters. Sun salutations and breathing meditations can be of great help in preventing and healing blemishes.
- Using the best skincare products for acne, such as a gentle cleanser or a spot treatment, can also help clear breakouts.
- Try anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory topicals that don’t damage the skin: neem, tea-tree and clove are some of our favorites. Find all of these and more in UMA’s ultra-potent yet gentle, 100% organic Deeply Clarifying line.
