This week, I chatted with the lovely Lexie McPhee, a Naturopath who specialises in acne and skin health. We covered her journey to becoming a qualified Naturopath, different acne triggers, skin loving foods, and Lexie busted some of the most outrageous skin and acne myths. I hope you find this one helpful, and if you'd like to get in touch or work with Lexie you can find her details at the end of the post. Enjoy x
ALEXA: Firstly, Introduce yourself! Who are you, what do you do, and what are your passions? LEXIE: Hey! My name is Lexie and I am a Naturopath with a special interest in treating acne. I run an online Naturopathic clinic & offer consultations via Zoom to help women suffering with acne to clear their skin naturally. My passion is empowering women to take control of their health, understand their body and embrace the incredible healing power of nature! I'm a plant person - I love combining herbal medicine with nutrition, food & lifestyle to help my clients get results. Outside of my clinic, I love to cook, paint, read, surf, make chocolate & explore nature.
ALEXA: Tell us a bit about what your page and your work is all about. How do you help others through their journey with clearing their skin naturally?
LEXIE: I'm very active over at @clearskin.withlexie. I make it my business to help women with acne to reclaim their confidence even BEFORE their skin clears. Acne can take a major toll on self-esteem and mental health. Often the emotional and personal confidence element is not addressed by doctors and other practitioners treating acne. I think this is a really important part of healing and so I love to provide tools & resources to get people feeling better about themselves.
My page is a mix of bite-sized skin education, inspiration on eating for skin, a snapshot into my work as a skin naturopath (think herbal medicine insights, nutrition hacks & lifestyle tips) and I also love to entertain so I weave in some dad-jokes and cheap laughs in there also!
ALEXA: What sparked your interest and love for all things skin and health, and what inspired you to start helping others??
LEXIE: I experienced acne for over ten years of my adult life - on and off as a teenager, then post-pill acne and later my acne relapsed due to stress and gut health issues. I have been my own test bunny for herbs, nutritional medicine and the importance of diet & lifestyle when it comes to treating acne naturally. I started attracting more and more acne clients early in my clinic and so it seemed natural that I focus on acne! Up to 80% of women experience acne at some time of their life and I knew how lacking conventional medicine can be when it comes to education, informed consent & sustainable long term treatment. The combination of these factors drives my love for treating acne but the smile on a client's face when they tell me they have their confidence back and their skin is the best it's ever been... THAT inspires me the most!
ALEXA: What are some of the main triggers for acne that you deal with, and how do you help people through them? LEXIE: All acne has a hormonal element, whether it is testosterone driven, oestrogen driven or even stress hormone driven! Hormone fluctuations can be a major trigger for acne however it is usually not the only trigger at play. Gut health and digestion is another major root cause of acne, because the health of the gut microbiome will affect everything from hormone production and detoxification, skin inflammation, resilience to stress and even food choices! Speaking of food choices, there is an undeniable link between diet and acne, as often acne is a metabolic disorder of the skin. This can mean that sugar, insulin levels & blood glucose spikes can be acne triggers also. Regardless of the cause, I use a special framework with each of my clients to get to the root cause of their acne, support their mindset, resolve the internal drivers and then of course make sure that the externals are taken care of with appropriate skin care! I set them up with a treatment plan and prescription tailored to their personal needs - this might include herbal and nutritional supplements, diet changes, vibrational remedies, mindset practices and stress management.
ALEXA: What are some of the most outrageous skin/acne related myths you've heard? LEXIE: Haha wow great question. I'll share my top three: Myth 1 - Acne has nothing to do with diet (it does) Myth 2 - The only way to balance your hormones and clear your skin is with the Pill (dangerously wrong!) Myth 3 - Onion juice applied topically clears acne (please don't try this at home) ALEXA: What are some of the best foods to consume to improve our skin?
LEXIE: It is simpler than you think. Make sure you are eating a diverse variety of foods - look to the rainbow for inspiration. Can you get fruits and vegetables of every colour in, every day? The skin is an organ made of connective tissue. This requires good quality protein and healthy fats to heal, repair and function properly! Get the highest quality meats, fish, organic eggs, ghee, nuts, seeds, olive oil, bone broths, fruits and vegetables that you can afford. The skin also loves zinc - think foods like oysters, seafood, pumpkin seeds, nuts and eggs. When the skin is red and inflamed like in acne and eczema, focussing on cooling anti-inflammatory foods can be helpful: organic cucumber, seaweeds, turmeric, aloe vera juice, chlorella, green vegetables, plenty of water & fresh herbs.
ALEXA: What does an ideal day in your work life look like? LEXIE: Waking up without an alarm, eating breakfast (at the moment it is mango, almonds, pepitas, sunflower seeds & a black coffee) and then taking a walk in nature. I love being able to work in various spots around the house, take breaks to get some sun, run errands, get lunch with a friend and then see clients in the afternoon! A blend of work, relaxation and time outside is what I need to thrive.
ALEXA: What are some lifestyle, diet etc. changes we can make right now to help our skin to heal? LEXIE: Naturopathic medicine also means "removing the obstacles to cure" so it is important to recognise and take responsibility for the ways you might be sabotaging your skin! Avoid the major skin enemies - excess sugar, alcohol, processed foods, late nights, dehydration, toxic skin care, unmanaged stress and poor skin hygiene. The food tips I mentioned earlier will be similar for most people. I also love helping my clients to support their skin detoxification with saunas, dry skin brushing, lymphatic drainage massage and brewing their own herbal teas (herbs like calendula, echinacea, clivers, rooibos and hibiscus are fab) ALEXA: Finally, anything else you'd like to add, and where can we find you on social media? LEXIE: If you are struggling with acne or another skin issue, you are not alone and you don't have to figure it all out by yourself. Seek help (you can find me at www.lexiemcphee.com) and remember that this is temporary. Your skin is always trying to heal for you and you are doing enough. Often you are the only one worried about the appearance of your skin and there are so many people that love you! You can also send me a DM over at @clearskin.withlexie if you would like to chat.
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