My name is Michel Xenia Achilles (@withloveachilles) And I’m 27 years old, living in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the founder of a skin care company. by Achilles. I started struggling with acne since she was 12 years old, and with the help of a naturopathic doctor, dietary changes, and the more holistic treatments outlined below, I was finally able to clear up my skin.
I started getting acne when I was 12 years old and it was a very long and tiring journey. Acne is Huge It played a role in my life and influenced me especially socially. There were days I canceled plans, parties, and gatherings with friends just because I didn’t feel well.
I remember people asking me if I had a mosquito bite on my face, if I had some kind of illness, or simply, what the hell happened? Comments like this always give me a very strong emotional blow and make my damaged self-image even worse. My heart still tightens when I think about how those words made me feel. Here’s what I did to take control:
First, I visited a dermatologist and tried taking Accutane.
When I was 14 and my acne was at its worst, my dermatologist put me on the antibiotic tetracycline for three months. I think this messed with my gut because I was always feeling bloated. I told her that her medication was making her feel sick and had no effect on her acne.
Then she put me on Accutane, or isotretinoin, for three months. This was the only thing that completely removed my acne. However, I had to stop the treatment early because I felt mentally unwell and even depressed. Still, it definitely helped. I was hopeless, but thanks to isotretinoin, my face was riddled with severe acne. My breakouts were often excessively itchy and I literally couldn’t be in my own skin.
Then I tried giving up dairy products.
After about two years, my acne returned, so I decided to take a more holistic approach this time to get to the root of the problem. I went to a naturopathic doctor who took blood samples and did allergy testing to identify food intolerances and mineral and vitamin deficiencies. He discovered that I had a severe allergy to dairy products and was deficient in magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc.
He explained that these factors stress the system and cause more skin problems. To see if this would change his situation, he made a plan to avoid everything he kept in his diary for three months, but it changed dramatically. After about 3 weeks, I noticed that my skin became brighter and calmer.
I am a functional doctor, naturopathic doctor, or someone who can run tests to see if you may be suffering from a food intolerance or other disease that may be contributing to stress in your body. I strongly support people seeing a doctor, naturopath, or any type of health care provider. I myself have been guilty of purchasing hundreds of different supplements, teas, etc. in the quest for clearer skin. I always share what works for me, but I also encourage people to do their own research and not blindly follow advice. Visit online. I think it’s important to work closely with someone who knows your history and will hold your hand throughout the process.
I began to believe in a more holistic, mind-body approach to treatment.
Physicians with a holistic approach believe that the mind and body function as one unit in both health and disease. Therefore, shouldn’t you think in this way when treating acne? For a long time, I tried to treat acne from the outside in, which worked temporarily, but in the long run it did not completely cure acne. I believe that a combination treatment approach is often required to achieve complete acne relief.
I think our skin is very sensitive to emotions, which makes sense since the skin is an extension of our nervous system. We blush when we feel certain emotions. I feel that the skin really visibly responds to our emotions. Paying attention to my emotions and inner health was the best solution to my acne that I found.
I learned that consistency is key.
We believe that applying powerful and superior ingredients to your skin every day will definitely help you achieve beautiful skin. Consistency is key, so I try to stick to the same routine as much as possible, but I like to change it up from time to time, especially if I live in an area with extreme weather like Denmark.
Facial Sunshine Elixir, $57.24
Facial Sunshine Elixir, $57.24
Since winter is coming, I want to keep my skin moisturized. I cleanse my face in the morning with Achilles Beauty Balm’s Oil Her Cleanser and use the moisturizer Achilles Facial Sunshine Her Elixir every day. At night, I cleanse with oil again, wipe off any excess dirt with a cotton pad, and apply a face oil like Blue Jasmine Facial Oil.
I like to use a gentle exfoliating clay cleanser like Aztec Secret once or twice a week. You can take a small amount, add a drop of water and use it as a rinse instead of masking. Mix it with water droplets to make a paste, apply it on your face in a circular motion like you would a facial cleanser, and then rinse it off. When I get acne on my skin, I mask it with a clay blended with floral water, like the Heritage Store Rose Petals Rosewater Facial Toner. Whenever my skin feels a little dry, I make a honey mask to really hydrate it.
I massage my face every night.
I make it a priority to do a facial gua sha massage every night before bed to encourage lymph flow and relieve muscle tension. This beautiful little crystal utensil is one of her favorite things I do myself. It’s like giving yourself a mini-facial, and you’ll instantly notice how plump and vibrant your skin looks, plus it’ll help you relax and de-stress.
herbivorous rose quartz gua sha
herbivorous rose quartz gua sha
My skin has become clearer and I feel much more confident. Words can’t describe the feeling of being able to walk out the front door without a face. It used to take a lot of energy to grieve about my acne every day, so I’m really grateful that it doesn’t have to be my main focus anymore. I’m definitely happier and have learned that being kind to myself is part of the process of healing my acne.
