smoking and acne

[guest]

hey there, I was just wondering if perhaps smoking could be linked to acne? Ive come across this theory before and in my case I was never an extremely heavy smoker but I did smoke regularly for about maybe a year and that wouldve stopped about 7 months ago, I only smoke rarely now but Ive noticed in the last couple of weeks if Ive had a cigarette, in the next few days Ive coughed up phlegm (which isnt that unusual for me as my throat gets congested after I drink hot tea or even just a lot of water), but the difference is the phlegm will have like a blackish thready thing in it. Lol sounds gross i know but im thinking this is related to smoking, and if that is the case i can definately find a link between starting smoking and getting wayyyy worse breakouts. To get to the point I would really like to know the best way to cleanse the toxins from my body that have been caused by smoking, is there anything particular i should focus on? And are there any particular parts of the body which breakout due to smoking or is it an individual thing? Thanks in advance for any advice and one more question shelley I tried the protein shake which was really nice by the way I seriously enjoyed it, I included granulated Lecithin (which is the first time Ive ever taken it) and I had this extremely sudden emotional outburst of crying, it was quite bizarre! Lol ive read that liver cleansing causes emotional release so my question is, does the protein shake cleanse the liver or was my outburst related to something else? I rather enjoyed it actually as although I havent been sad in the last couple of weeks it felt like I was releasing emotions so yeah just some food for thought

[shelley]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Wow, that's great you had an emotional release due to the protein shake! Yes, it is very cleansing. Lecithin and oils together is a mini-liver flush, which you really need to do regularly if you're going to smoke tobacco.

Smokers need to do lots and lots of liver management! Nicotine is like alcohol - it will keep the liver from doing other things that it needs to do. Once any process is interrupted, the side-effects can present as various symptoms, acne being one of them. It's an individual thing.

So focus mainly on liver cleansing, and whenever your skin is compromised you need to include everything else - kidneys, lymph, bowels. Just pick one thing to do for each.

Hope that helps!

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply, I didnt expect anyone to respond so quickly! I havent had the chance to have another protein shake so i'll see if i have the same reaction next time. Just one question though, I dont have any acne on my forehead, its totally clear and pretty much always has been except when i drink a lot which isnt very often. If forehead is connected to liver then wouldnt I be having blemishes on my forehead if my liver was compromised? Thanks.

[shelley]

Liver congestion can show up just about anywhere on the face, we've just noticed a definite correlation between bad forehead acne and congested liver/gallbladder. The "T-Zone" seems to be very much connected to the liver, gallbladder and small intestine, while body acne has more to do with stomach, small intestine and lymphatic system.

[Guest]

Hey, was wondering about the comment that:
"body acne has more to do with stomach, small intestine and lymphatic system."
I can keep my face under control by avoiding sweets and drinking lots of water, but my back is another thing altogether! I feel like I've tried everything, even that stupid lemon detox diet where you don't eat for like 5 days and drink that syrup/lemon juice drink. My back isn't as bad as it used to be when I was just eating anything but I have persistent breakouts along the top part of my back, like above my shoulder blades up to the base of my neck. It's not too severe however it's very annoying as I can't figure out what causes it. I also get small spots all over the rest of my back but thats more random and I've noticed I get that on the right side of my back when I eat too many sweets. Any ideas??

[shelley]

Oh yes, lots. It depends a great deal on your body type, which I don't know, but a lot of people with skin eruptions on the back or abdomen have had great success with adopting a more Pitta-pacifying lifestyle. Once they sweat less, they break out less.

The major factors involved in chronic back breakouts tend to be: food allergies (poultry, wheat, what have you, check the blood type diet lists for a good idea and then do a rotation diet), low stomach acids, low acidophilus, too much sweat, too much hot/spicy/pungent foods, and then the usual suspects as far as nutrient deficiencies.

Hope that helps!

[Guest]

Well I don't really sweat that much so I doubt thats the entire reason..I mean I sweat normally like in hot weather and when I exercise and do detox baths and whatever..but generally my back isnt very oil either. I remember finding out I was predominantly Vata but there was Pitta in there too so i could try that. Thanks for the help.