healing ways Acne Antidote

by Sheila Julson

of acne in this country leads people to wrongly conclude that it is a normal part of being human. “In fact, studies of indigenous cultures throughout the world do not find any acne in their populations. Acne is a disease of the Western lifestyle,” she asserts. In essence, acne is an inflammatory skin condition that causes pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and redness. It is prompted by the overproduction of sebum, an oil produced by the sebaceous glands to lubricate hair follicles. Symptoms can be aggravated by an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast, excess hormonal activity or stress.

“The pathways that trigger acne are the same pathways that trigger inflammation. If you’re having acne on the skin, that generally means there are moderate to high levels of inflammation in the body, so that should be addressed,” says Saya Obayan, a board-certified integrative dermatologist at Skin Joy Dermatology, in Austin, Texas. She recommends keeping a food journal for six weeks to identify inflammatory foods that noticeably trigger an acne response and eliminating them from the diet. Many of the culprits are part of the Standard American Diet, including animal protein, wheat and sugar— foods that can increase sebum production, and thus generate acne.

Whether it’s a wedding day or job interview, nothing puts a damper on the moment like an outbreak of acne. It can be embarrassing and compromise self-confidence, but natural treatments and lifestyle modifications can keep those breakouts at bay.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, acne is the most common skin condition in the U.S., affecting up to 50 million Americans annually and roughly 85 percent of 12- to 24-year-olds. Dr. Julie Greenberg, a naturopathic doctor and founder of the Center for Integrative & Naturopathic Dermatology, in Los Angeles, notes that the prevalence

Dr. Steven Daveluy, associate professor and program director for the Wayne State University School of Dermatology, in Dearborn, Michigan, notes that dairy spurs acne, as well. “Dairy contains an amino acid called leucine, which stimulates oil production and affects the skin cells to cause clogged pores. It also influences the insulin pathway, which can affect hormones,” he explains.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, hormonal acne develops when hormonal changes increase the amount of oil the skin produces. This scenario is particularly noticeable in teens going through puberty and in both perimenopausal and menopausal women.

Greenberg approaches acne like she would any other inflammatory disease—by focusing on the gut microbiome. She recommends consuming at least 35 grams of fiber per day, eating a diverse array of fruits and vegetables, limiting meat consumption to four-ounce servings and eliminating or reducing alcohol, sugar and wheat to support microbiome health.

Obayan notes that stress aggravates any inflammatory disease, including acne. Meditation, exercise or regular walks can help calm the mind and lower stress. She also recommends herbs like ashwagandha to lower cortisol, a stress hormone that can trigger acne.

“The things we put on our skin can lead to clogged pores and trigger acne, including makeup and hair products. If you’re getting acne in places where your hair typically touches your face, it could be from a hair product transferring onto the skin,” Daveluy notes. He stresses that makeup should be washed off before bedtime. On the other hand, over-scrubbing or washing the face too often can dry out the skin, which also leads to clogged pores and acne.

“While acne should be addressed from the inside out, topical antibiotics can offer short-term relief and keep severe acne under control,” Obayan says. “Glycolic acid can help keep skin smooth and clear by exfoliating dead skin cells and unclogging pores. Tea tree oil has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, but it shouldn’t be used undiluted on the skin; it can be overly irritating.”

In addition, Obayan recommends topicals like retinol, a nontoxic vitamin A derivative that can help reduce acne, hyperpigmentation, dark spots, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles. Bakuchiol, an extract from the babchi plant, along with topical green tea polyphenols, licorice extract and neem oil, can all be helpful to reduce acne.

Mom was right when she warned to leave pimples alone. “People often think that it’s helpful to manipulate your acne, but it can lead to more acne flaring, discoloration and even permanent scarring,” Daveluy advises. “Don’t believe anything on social media that isn’t posted by a board-certified dermatologist. The rest of the skin info on social media is junk and could lead to damage to your skin.”

Send your event information to mike@naturalawakenings-houston.com

FRIDAY AUGUST 4th

Yoga + Ceramics: Make your own Incense Burner Workshop 5:00-8:00pm. Enjoy a workshop experience delving into the ceremonial and ritual aspects of incense burning. Experience the transformational power of heat through a brief, guided asana practice. Make your own ceramic incense burner to aid in aromatherapy, cleansing, and intention-setting. Investment: $50 unionstudio.yoga

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7th

The Good, The Bad, and The Wicked. 8 am-5pm. The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment will host a climate science conference on the San Marcos campus of Texas State University. The conference brings together practitioners, academics, policy makers, businesses and nonprofit leaders from across the state to explore the lesser-known aspects of the complex problems, unique challenges and opportunities the state faces in the fight against climate change. LBJ Student Center grand ballroom, 700 Student Center Dr., San Marcos, TX. Registration closes Sept. 3. For pricing and more information, visit Climate. MeadowsWater.org.

SATURDAY AUGUST 12th

Hitting the Wall- Bringing the Wall into Your Practice.2:00-5:00pm. Come play and explore the support, balance, alignment, and play the wall can add to your practice. Investment: $20. unionstudio.yoga

SUNDAY AUGUST 13th

Reconnecting with Humanity. 2:005:00pm. Come explore, rediscover, and connect to the human experience within yourself and with your community.Investment: $20. unionstudio.yoga

TUESDAY AUGUST 15th

Fresh Eyes on Green Tara. 7:00-8:30pm

The third week of the 3-wk Teaching Tuesday series at Dawn Mountain Tibetan Buddhist Temple. Come begin or refresh your connection to Green Tara. Tender as spring, swift as the wind, she is your healing friend. Online. The two previous weeks are recorded and you can watch at your leisure. tinyurl.com/FreshEyesNatural

SATURDAY AUGUST 19th

Doyle Ward and Helen Racz Explore The Beyond. 1pm-5pm. Spiritual medium, teacher and life coach Doyle Ward and teacher, author, speaker and channeler of the Emissarians Helen Racz will present an afternoon of mediumship and channeling. They will combine mediumship and channeling in gallery readings to find connections with loved ones beyond and discuss the profound wisdom of the Emissarians at this life-altering event. There will be an open question and answer session where participants can ask questions. Cost is $149. Register at Tinyurl.com/MediumAndChannel. Unity Tower of Light, 2929 Unity Dr., Houston. For more information, call 832-628-4113 or email Doyle@BlissfulQuests.com.

SATURDAY AUGUST 20th

Welcome To Dawn Mountain Event. 12:30 central time. Come learn about our Dzogchen lineage and meet our Lamas/ Founders. Learn what we have to offer and meet some of our sangha. Please join us for a complimentary one-hour event via Zoom (or YouTube), or in person at 4916 Main St #100, Houston 77002. tinyurl.com/ WecomeDawnMt

SATURDAY AUGUST 26th

Green Tara Mini-Retreat. 9:30-12:00. The mini Retreat will show us the power of sitting with Tara for a more sustained period, and also how to conduct a personal retreat on this practice. Open to all who have received instruction from this lineage on this practice, including those who have attended the Teaching Tuesday series listed above. Free, donations accepted. https://dawnmountain. app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/dawnmountain/ event.jsp?event=1265&

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29th

The 2023 CEC Greater Houston Environmental Summit. 12 noon-5pm. This is an annual networking and celebration conference of regional environmental organizations and individuals, in association with a grassroots Houston Community Climate Summit. People in the environmental organization realm and people who care about the environment in general that wish to engage with like-minded individuals should save the date as the organizers fully develop the programming and the speakers. Location: 315 Main St., Houston. For more information, email Charlotte.Cisneros@cechouston.orgor visit cechouston.org

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd

Connecting Across the Veil 1:30 – 3:00 pm. Online. While we grieve the loss of a loved one when they pass, we may also feel alone when we would have reached out for their wisdom or love as we did when they were living. Love is the connection that keeps our friends and family close to our hearts, thoughts, and lives; reaching out to them across the veil provides the reassurance that they are with us, and the warmth of their loving care strengthens our bonds. tinyurl.com/UnityVeil

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4th

Annual 2023 Tapestry Gala 6:30 pm. Interfaith Ministries will celebrate dialog, collaboration and service at it’s annual Tapestry Gala at Hilton Americas. Interfaith Ministries President and CEO Martin B. Cominsky and Board Chairman Randall Evans invite guests and supporters to an inspiring eventing celebrating the work of Interfaith Ministries. imgh.org monday

Free Outdoor Zumba 6:30 pm. Join the party and sweat with Tiny Fitness to rhythms from around the world! This hour-long Zumba fitness class will have you grooving, shaking, and toning to salsa, hip hop, samba, and bhangra beats - and so many more. Open to all fitness levels and recommended for ages 16+ Levy Park, 3801 Eastside, Houston 77098. tinyfitnesshouston.com tuesday

IGNITE! Sessions. 10am-5pm. Find your purpose with igniter/artist/intuitive guide Sarah Gish in 30- or 60-minute sessions ($50 or $100). You’ll leave with a personal mantra that reinforces what the heart-centered connection uncovered. Call for appointment: 713.993.0550. Body Mind & Soul. 7951 Katy Freeway.

Sahaja Yoga Meditation 10-11 am In person and online. A unique method of meditation, rooted in ancient spiritual knowledge. You can achieve a state of balance in just 10 minutes. Continue with free meditation classes. FREE. South Community Center (The Woodlands) 2235 Lake Robbins Dr, Spring, TX 77380 houston-meditation.org

Gentle Yoga Flow and Sound Medition

6:30-7:30 pm. Strengthen your body, relax your mind, find your center with this dynamic yoga flow sequence with Farinda Meduid and Saumil Manek. FREE Discovery Green 1500 McKenney St. 77010 discoverygreen. com

Qi Gong: 7pm-8pm. Learn to heal yourself using Qi Gong with Master Wong with over 40 years of experience. Qi Gong can calm & reduce stress. Bellaire Yoga Tai Chi 2537 S Gessner Rd #131, Houston77063. Fee $25. bellaireyogataichi.com wednesday

Blissful Quests® with Doyle Ward-The Pocast. 1:00pm.Are you looking for answers? Have you ever had a “hunch” or a “gut feeling” that came true? Are you wondering if you are intuitive? Maybe the real question to explore is not IF you are intuitive, but HOW you are intuitive. Doyle Ward is an experienced intuitive medium, teacher, grief recovery specialist, and life coach. Call in during the show at: 1-760-456-7277, access on-demand episodes or listen live! blissfulquests.com/podcast

Sahaja Yoga Meditation 10-11 am In person and online. A unique method of meditation, rooted in ancient spiritual knowledge. You can achieve a state of balance in just 10 minutes. Continue with free meditation classes. FREE. Katy Library 5414 Franz Rd, Katy, TX 77493 houston-meditation.org

Yang Tai Chi: 12 Noon–1 pm. Join Master Wong in this simplified Tai Chi class appropriate for beginners with emphasis on foundation. Good for maintaining health and increasing flexibility. Bellaire Yoga Tai Chi 2537 S Gessner Rd #131, Houston 77063. Fee $25. Website: bellaireyogataichi.com

HIIT Class with FitMix 6:30-7:30 pm A fun and challenging body weight interval training class to burn tons of calories while gaining strength, endurance and empowerment. FREE Discovery Green 1500 McKenney St. 77010 discoverygreen.com

Reiki Circle 11:00 am. Reiki Holy Fire Experience healing circle, held on 2nd Saturday of every month. A chosen issue for healing will be the focus of each circle. Everyone is welcome.Location: 9039 Katy Freeway, building 500, suite 504, Houston, TX 77024. Fee: Love offering. Contact: April 713-922-3474. Website: dharmareikiacupuncture.com

Sahaja Yoga Meditation 10-11 am A unique method of meditation, rooted in ancient spiritual knowledge. You can achieve a state of balance in just 10 minutes. Continue with free meditation classes. FREE. Sahaja Yoga Meditation Center 4510 C Hwy 6 N, houston-meditation.org

Wednesday Night Satsang. 7-8 pm. At Unity, everyone is recognized as a true spiritual being, awakening to the truth that sets them free. Unity Pyramid 2929 Unity Dr. Houston 77057. https://unityhouston.org/ thursday

Qi Gong: 6pm-7pm. Learn to heal yourself using Qi Gong with Master Wong with over 40 years of experience. Qi Gong can calm & reduce stress. Bellaire Yoga Tai Chi 2537 S Gessner Rd #131, Houston 77063. Fee $25. bellaireyogataichi.com

Chen Tai Chi: 7:10pm-8:10pm. All styles of Tai Chi comes from Chen Tai Chi. This is an authentic class taught in the lineage of Chen Zhao Kui that focuses on self defense and healing. Master Wong has been training in Tai Chi for over 40 years. Bellaire Yoga Tai Chi 2537 S Gessner Rd #131,Fee $25. bellaireyogataichi.com saturday

Free Outdoor Zumba 9am. Join the party and sweat with Tiny Fitness to rhythms from around the world! This hour-long Zumba fitness class will have you grooving, shaking, and toning to salsa, hip hop, samba, and bhangra beats - and so many more. Open to all fitness levels and recommended for ages 16+ Levy Park, 3801 Eastside. tinyfitnesshouston.com

Sahaja Yoga Meditation 10-11 am Online. A unique method of meditation, rooted in ancient spiritual knowledge. You can achieve a state of balance in just 10 minutes. Continue with free meditation classes. FREE. houston-meditation.org

Free Weekly Meditation 11:00 am to 12:00 noon Central time, online via Zoom or Youtube, and in person at 4916 Main St Suite 100, Houston, TX 77002. Led by senior members of the Dawn Mountain sangha (community), this meditation offers a chance to take a mindful pause from your busy life, enjoy serenity and fellowship, and learn a bit more about Buddhist practice at Dawn Mountain. Free, guided meditation suitable for everyone. Come as you are – dress comfortably and plan to remove your shoes. Free monthly “First Sunday” teachings on the first Sunday of each month at 10:30 am Central time, with the meditation following also being led by our lamas. https://www.dawnmountain.org/sunday-meditations/

Let sunday Free Yoga on the Lawn. 8:30-9:30 am. Join Union Studio for a complimentary 60-minute all levels outdoor yoga class on the Yoga Lawn at the M-K-T every Saturday at 8:30 AM, weather permitting. This event is sponsored by Central City co-op. Enjoy a sample of tasty seasonal and local produce. FREE. unionstudio.yoga