Having acne as an adult can be frustrating and demoralizing. Your doctor will tell you it's nothing to worry about health-wise, but it's hard not to care about something when it's ON YOUR FACE.

From a naturopathic medical perspective, it's also a sign of an imbalance in the body.

The skin is a window into your health.

Luckily there are things you can do to improve your skin, and some of them may be surprising to you. Read on for 9 secrets to clear and healthy skin...

1. Splash cold water on your face at the end of every shower.

OK, We’re starting off with an easy one...

You can even do this in the sink after you get out of the shower. (Although finishing with cold water on your whole body is an excellent habit to get into. So good for you!)

You'll want the water coming out of the tap to be as cold as you can get it.

This splash of cold reduces inflammation, closes your pores and stimulates circulation.

Once you get into the habit you will love the feeling of it!

2. Break the soap cycle. (i.e. Wash your face with water only.)

I know this can be a tough sell at first, but it is one of the most important items on this list...

When you wash your face with soap, you strip the skin of its natural oils and it dries out...What your skin does in response is to produce more oil.

So begins the vicious cycle!

Regular washing with soap can also throw off the bacteria balance and disrupt the skin's natural barrier.

Not to mention the fact that most of the soaps that people are using on their faces are full of chemicals!

If you are a religious face washer then this will feel a bit odd at first. But you will adapt and your face will regain its natural balance.

If you are out working in the yard and end up covered in dirt or grime then, by all means, wash away! But your normal routine should be nothing other than water on your face.

3. Stop touching your face.

Unless you have just washed your hands, you should avoid touching your face.

Facial skin is sensitive and thin and your hands are likely dirty.

Pretty simple. 😉

4. Don’t smoke cigarettes

Just in case you needed one more reason to quit smoking, it is terrible for your skin!

Both the cigarettes and the frequent proximity of your dirty hands to your face. (See number 3 above.)

5. Avoid face makeup.

This is another one that may require you to get out of your comfort zone at first.

Women often use foundation or powder to cover up their acne, but it absolutely makes the problem worse.

Makeup clogs your pores and exposes you to potentially harmful ingredients.

You may feel self-conscious at first but most people have dealt with acne or pimples at some point in their life, and your imperfections are usually not nearly as noticeable as you think.

It's a brave move and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised!

6. Avoid dairy products.

So, you may have been told at some point that there is no connection between diet and acne...That is totally false!

Your digestion and skin are strongly connected. Diet and digestive health are huge factors in the health of your skin.

It is true that there is not a very strong correlation between chocolate and acne, as people once thought, and that's where this "diet doesn't matter" idea comes from.

But there are a definitely few foods that are likely to cause your skin to break out.

Dairy is one of them.

For some people it's eating too much dairy or poor quality dairy. For others, dairy in any amount or form will cause a skin freak out.

The best thing to do is to treat it as an experiment. Give dairy up strictly for 1 month and observe your skin. If you aren't sure if it's better or think the improvement could be due to another factor, try eating a whole bunch of dairy for a coupe days and then ay attention.

You will usually have a clearer answer then! 😅

7. Reduce refined sugar and carbohydrates.

While we are on the subject of diet, there is another common culprit when it comes to breakouts...Refined carbohydrates. This includes sugar, most breads, pasta and anything made with refined grains.

This doesn’t mean that you can never have these foods. But if your diet is heavy in bread products and sugar then you may be unwittingly contributing to your problem.

Take some time off and see how your skin looks. Similarly to dairy, you'll ideally want to give it a month.

8. Try a gluten-free diet.

OK this is the last diet one, I promise!

Gluten is the third and final suspect it when it comes to acne and other skin issues.

It doesn't matter if you don't notice digestive issues when you eat gluten. You can have inflammation affecting your skin without any sign from your gut!

Once again - one month minimum. Give it a shot! It may make a world of difference in your life.

And if not, you will have at least tried...and I'd be willing to bet you'll reap some other benefits along the way!

9. Get your hormones tested and regulated.

Hormone imbalance is another very common cause of acne.

Usually it’s either high testosterone or high estrogen causing the problem.

These hormones can be tested by your doctor and addressed naturally.

I do not recommend getting on birth control to regulate your hormones. There are too many long-term side effects.

But there are a plethora of safe, effective treatments that naturopathic doctors like myself can use to bring you back into balance.

A clue that your acne has a hormonal cause is if it flares periodically and seems related to your menstrual cycle. Acne that occurs along the chin and jawline is also often hormonal.

9 Secrets To Clear Skin