First off I will introduce myself! I’m Marissa Schillinger and I help women with chronic acne get clear, glowing skin naturally by taking a personalized, holistic approach! I struggled with pretty severe cystic acne in my past and am currently in the process of healing my pitted acne scarring. You can find all sorts of acne and health tips & information within my blog!
Now let’s get into this post!!
Question 1: Will taking antibiotics help clear my acne?
Antibiotics can help clear acne in the short-term, but taking antibiotics is not a long-term solution, and in fact can actually lead to worse acne down the road due to digestive issues.
Check out this blog post of mine for more details on the topic of antibiotics and acne: https://marissaschillinger.com/why-you-should-think-twice-before-taking-antibiotics-for-acne/
Question 2: Should I cut out oils and high amounts of fat in my diet to help prevent breakouts?
There are “clear skin diets” out there that claim that consuming oils and high amounts of fat worsen acne. This is not true! In fact, healthy fats are CRUCIAL for hormone health, and imbalanced hormones can be a contributor to acne for many people.
There is some truth to it, though, as unhealthy inflammatory fats can definitely worsen acne! The key is to consume healthy fats including avocado, coconut, olives, wild-caught salmon & sardines, coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil.
Question 3: What skincare products are best for clearing acne?
Most “acne fighting” skincare products out there contain harmful endocrine disrupting ingredients (which can lead to hormone imbalance, which can lead to acne), so it’s best to stray away from them.
Instead, stick to using essential oils such as lemongrass, rosemary, frankincense, tea tree, and/or clove mixed with carrier oils such as jojoba or almond oil for a great spot treatment or full-face moisturizer great for helping calm breakouts!
**I also can’t stress enough that just trying to treat acne topically is NOT going to get you long-term results, as acne is a symptom of an internal issue. You must heal from the inside and out! (more about clearing acne long-term is towards the end of this post!)
Question 4: How many times a day should I wash my face?
Ideally you’d only be washing your face 1-2 times a day, always at night if you wore makeup that day. In the morning you can just rinse your face with water in the shower, no need to wash it with soap/cleanser.
When it comes to soaps/cleansers, it’s best to choose all-natural, non-toxic products. Pure castille soap is the most ideal (and is GREAT for removing makeup) – my favorite is Dr. Bronners!
Question 5: My face is oily – what moisturizer should I use, if any?
The most ideal moisturizer is actually oil! The best oils for oily skin tend to be jojoba oil, almond oil, argan oil, and fractionated coconut oil (it is liquid at room temp).
Question 6: I’ve found things that have worked to clear my acne, but it always eventually comes back – how do I clear it long-term?
The KEY to clearing acne long term is to take a personalized holistic approach, addressing the root cause(s) of your acne. This is the approach I take when working with my clients so they can get the long-term results they’ve always dreamed of!
For more details on how to clear acne long-term, check out this other blog post of mine: https://marissaschillinger.com/the-ultimate-holistic-acne-guide/
Also, you can learn more about working with me here: https://marissaschillinger.com/11-coaching/
And there you have it – answers to common questions about all things acne!
I hope this was helpful!
