School teacher, 23, who suffered chronic acne for years reveals the toll it took on her mentally – and the natural approach that cleared up her complexion in a matter of weeks
- Sydney teacher Elizabeth Nguyen has suffered from acne for most of her life
- But over the last two years she turned to a holistic herbal approach to treat it
- Speaking to FEMAIL, Liz focuses on her diet, sleep, exercise and skincare
- As a teenager she felt the physical and emotional impact from the ‘toxic’ acne
- Over the last three years she has shared her skincare journey on social media
Elizabeth Nguyen has felt the physical and emotional impacts of acne since she was a teenager, but after prescribed medication only provided a short-term solution she chose a holistic approach to treat her skin.
The 23-year-old school teacher from Sydney told FEMAIL she was suffering from cystic acne but over the past two years has used Chinese herbal medicine and other natural remedies to clear up her complexion.
‘I started taking a brand called Zilch, which helped heal my cystic acne within weeks, but I also looked at the foods I was eating, how much sleep I was getting each night, exercising to increase blood circulation, stress levels and skincare,’ she said.
‘I tried taking prescribed antibiotics and birth control pills when I was younger, but this only helped as a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution,’ she said.
Liz has also learnt that acne is often an indication of ‘internal imbalances’ relating to immune and gut health.
Elizabeth Nguyen (pictured) has felt the physical and emotional impacts of acne since she was a teenager, but after prescribed medication only provided a short-term solution she chose a holistic approach to treat her skin
The 23-year-old school teacher from Sydney told FEMAIL she was suffering from cystic acne but over the past two years has used Chinese herbal medicine (pictured in 2017)
When asked how acne has previously impacted her self confidence, Liz said in high school she was infatuated with her self image and often compared herself to other girls.
Liz said in high school she was infatuated with her self image
During her mid-teens she said the ‘most damaging’ emotional aspect was receiving negative comments from others which made it feel like she was constantly ‘walking on egg shells’.
‘Receiving insensitive or unsolicited advice was the most damaging part because it feels like you have to fix yourself,’ she explained.
‘Emotionally I felt so inadequate; I felt like I was never good enough, I was hard to look at, and because of that I started losing my bubbly, confident identity.’
During her mid-teens she said the ‘most damaging’ emotional aspect was receiving negative comments from others which made it feel like she was constantly ‘walking on egg shells’
How Liz has been treating her acne by using a holistic approach and Chinese herbal medicine
Liz has been using the brand Zilch
Exercising regularly
Removing dairy, fatty meats and caffeine from her diet
Getting enough sleep each night
Implementing a good skincare routine that works for her skin
Managing her stress levels
Liz said as her confidence and self esteem levels dropped, she avoided drawing attention to herself.
‘I was so obsessed with the way I looked because I thought my outward appearance would equal my worth and value, but that’s not the case at all,’ she said.
But since sharing her journey on social media and talking to others, Liz has transformed her mindset and learnt to embrace her skin and acne scars.
Since sharing her journey on social media and talking to others online, Liz has transformed her mindset and learnt to embrace her skin and acne scars
When discussing the physical impacts, Liz said she experienced facial pain, irritated and inflamed skin that turned red, as well as stomach cramps and digestive issues
When discussing the physical impacts, Liz said she experienced facial pain, irritated and inflamed skin that turned red, as well as stomach cramps and digestive issues.
The symptoms of acne vary depending on each individual and the issues their body is experiencing.
‘The skin is the largest organ in the body and is usually a good indication of what’s going on internally with your gut or immune health,’ she said.
Liz said the ‘most important thing’ is communicating with others about acne to receive support and understanding that there is always a way to treat it
Over the last three years Liz has shared her skincare journey on Instagram and has developed a following of more than 24,400 people.
Liz said the ‘most important thing’ is communicating with others about acne to receive support and understanding that there is always a way to treat it.
‘If you’re at a point when you feel that nothing works, remember you just haven’t found what option works for you yet,’ she said.
‘There is always a solution because your body and skin are capable of healing.’
Now Liz has a positive attitude towards her skin and has gained a wealth of knowledge towards treating her acne which she shares with thousands of others online.
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