Ugh, Another Valentine’s Day with Acne….
Valentines day is around the corner….
What do you get when you combine hot geothermal water, sunshine, and a lotta love? Happy skin!
In less than 2 weeks I’ll be soaking in the healing waters of Pagosa Hot Springs, one of the deepest geothermal water sources around.
Soaking in hot springs is something I love to do for my skin and for myself, but with busy schedules and shorter days, our trips to the hot springs have been few and far between. Luckily, I know the importance of caring for my skin, so I am taking a time-out (with my fiance) to give my skin a little extra winter love.
We are blessed to live near natural geothermal water….it wasn’t always this way though. I used to live in NYC, but I still found my personal haven for skin health, The Russian & Turkish Baths, tucked away in the East Village. Natural geothermal water is way better than the bath houses of NYC, but the point is, I utilized what was available…and you can too. A steam room or dry sauna will work perfectly well and you can often find one at a gym or spa. Many offer sauna packages, making a quick visit affordable and easy. I am straying from my point though….it is important and fun to discover and enjoy these wonderful tools of health and healing. Not only do I feel relaxed when I do, but my naturally oily complexion is able to work out some of the excess oil and dirt that builds up from the day/week. The heat and sweat production help increase blood flow so that nutrients are able to better circulate, benefiting the skin on your face. Acne is like a wound and it needs nutrients delivered to the skin from your blood stream. Think of this: After a major injury, like a broken bone, you see a physical therapist to assist in recovery. Some of the things that the therapist does include massage and ultrasound to help stimulate blood flow to the affected area. They are actively trying to push nutrients into the injured area to assist in healing and minimize inflammation. Seems like a no-brainer to me. 
If you happen to be in a hot spring, you will get the added benefit of certain minerals such as sulfur and silica, both useful for maintaining the integrity of the skin. The gentle heat assists in softening the skin so that dirt and debris can be released with ease. Done during the latter portion of your luteal phase (if you are a lady), this can help with the natural detoxification and removal of hormones. It is not uncommon for acne prone skin to take on a “thicker” feel as menstruation approaches, but you can help balance out the excess sebum production that accompanies this “thick” feeling by assisting in the removal of excess skin cells which have quickly built up and turned into a sticky glue like substance. If you have worked with an Acne Beautiful Complexion Coach, you have learned about how acne prone individuals often have trouble with two things, the unnaturally quick production and build up of skin cells and the lack of their timely removal – resulting in clumps of thick sticky dead cells that can attract bacteria and often accompany the inflammatory response whereby a pimple begins to develop. Knowing how to proactively prevent this for your skin type is amazing. I use the term skin type loosely as there are general qualities but everyone is quite unique. However, we can loosely categorize skin types, taking into account that skin changes over time and often needs to be reevaluated – but that’s another topic for another day.
There is more there than meets the eye when it comes to acne and we all know that acne prone skin needs extra care and attention. In fact, it demands it. So, I give my skin the attention is wants. I listen and I know what works for my skin. I am grateful for this freedom, but it didn’t happen over night.
What I really want is for anyone suffering from acne to simply start today. That is some of the best advice anyone has ever given me. Just start today. Wherever you are in your acne journey…I want you to know that each thing you do is progress, whether it feels that way or not. So, find something loving that you can do for your skin. It doesn’t have to include a trip to a hot spring or a sauna. The point is to find something – write your acne a love letter. Do something loving for your skin. If you do find some heat, bring plenty of water, an electrolyte packet (sans sugar), a few clean towels, a good book, a dry skin brush, a natural/gentle face wash, some yummy serums or cooling gels (think cucumber, aloe, peppermint) and a moisture grabbing topical like hyaluronic acid. 
