
I’ve been sharing this article specifically to a lot of reader’s when replying about questions regarding acne, so I decided to repost it. I originally wrote this in August 2012, yet it seems so pertinent now. I’m not exactly sure why we disconnect from the whole body healing experience in regards to having clear radiant skin. We seem to believe that beautiful skin lies within a cosmetic bottle. I guess we can just blame beauty advertising and marketing for that. Yes good and also simple skin care is important, yet that’s only a small slice of the pie.
After so many years of being on a healing journey, I honestly feel that having beautiful healthy skin has everything to do with having a light physical and emotional body. When we have imbalances inside our body from toxic processed foods, chemical laden beauty products which our body absorbs through our skin, and possible hormonal imbalance, our body is overridden with negative “weight”. While our intelligent bodies try to figure out how to rid ourselves of this mess, when it can’t release it through the digestive and lymphatic system, it gets pushed out through our largest organ… our skin.
The same is also true for those buried negative emotions of anger, rage, and low self esteem. Negative emotions also get pushed out through our skin. Our emotions play a HUGE role with the appearance of our skin as well as our overall health. Let’s not even get into what stress does to the body. Well please read on. One Love!
I’ve definitely had my share of skin ailments from acne, eczema, hives, dermatitis, you name it. I believe that the same chemical based cosmetics promoted to fix these skin irritations can actually exacerbate the problem more. Even after finding many natural solutions for acne, eczema, dermatitis etc. I still find that topical ointments are not the complete solution. I do believe in Beauty From The Inside Out, yet it doesn’t stop there either.
Drinking lots of water and consuming more fruits and vegetables than you can imagine are still only part of it. Truthfully, what’s going on with your emotions?
I would never have thought to connect my emotions to what has manifested in my body until my mother put a copy of a tiny book called Heal Your Body by Louise L. Hay in my hands in high school. Louise L. Hay is a phenomenal metaphysical practitioner and counselor who studied the consistent mental and emotional correlations with physical illnesses from her clients over many years. She is also a metaphysical best selling author, teacher, and lecturer who has helped millions of people uncover their own unlimited potential for personal growth and self healing in all aspects of their lives.
In Heal Your Body, the information is provided in three columns which list the problem or ailment, the probable mental and emotional cause, and a new thought pattern and affirmation. For example the probable cause for pimples are “small outburst of anger” and the new thought pattern is “I calm my thoughts, and I am serene.” If this is an issue that I’m currently dealing with, I usually don’t just say the affirmation all day and think that my skin will be perfect in the morning. Instead I use this book as a guide to asking deeper questions that will bring more clarity to releasing the emotions behind the problem like “Who am I angry at, or what am I angry about?” or “Who am I still holding resentment towards who needs forgiveness?” along with the affirmations.
I found it very interesting that a common theme for many skin ailments are a lack of self acceptance and/or anger.
I’ve been having continued great success oil cleansing daily. (I’ve had even more success with oil cleansing once I learned about high linoleic oils for acne). If I do see a blemish emerge, I know that I am most likely experiencing some deep seated anger that I haven’t released. Aggressive exercise or simply hitting a pillow usually helps along with yoga and meditation. It may sound ridiculous, but in this busy day to day high tech society that we live in, it can be very challenging to make the time to see what’s really going on inside our emotional and physical bodies. Despite all of this, it is still very important to take the time and look within ourselves and make the time to heal and release.
I’ve found that this book Heal Your Body has really brought a new perspective towards any physical discomfort or illness that I may be experiencing. It is a brilliant reference book and guide to finding the emotional/psychological root of many dis-eases versus only medicating them. A more in depth tool to this book is You Can Heal Your Life which is an phenomenal extension and explanation of the principles in Heal Your Body. This book also includes all of the information that is in Heal Your Body plus more in depth teachings on how to use this new knowledge to heal all areas of your life including relationships, work, success, prosperity, and of course your body.


What are your thoughts on this?
(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)
brandy says
This is so true. I never have skin problems unless there is a huge amount of anxiety. Last year I was very anxious and I had 2 of the largest skin ulcers ever. They were deep below the skin. I am now having the same issue again.
Thanks for this post.
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks so much for your comment Brandy. Stress, anxiety, and anger can really do a number on the body. Best wishes with everything!
Ali Mc says
Love this 🙂 thanks for sharing. I am going to grab a copy of this book, as I love metaphysical studies and human energy. Immediately following reading the above I actually meditated and forgave a few people, including myself. I am going to try a reaffirm this forgiveness anytime it comes up 🙂
GREAT POST!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Ali, Forgiveness alone heals so many things. I truly appreciate your comment. Have a beautiful day!
Panda says
I absolutely believe there is a link between any kind of mental stress and skin. Mental stress would include what we normally think of as “stress” as well as anger, sadness, frustration, etc. to which there is no releasea.Those all affect your internal functioning, which affects your skin.
Panda says
PS: I’m glad to see there are other natural beauty folks dealing with acne AND eczema. I have a combination of the two and it’s a constant balance between treating the one without flaring up the other.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Panda,
Acne & eczema are a challenging combo. My experience with eczema was 100% stress related and I was at the time doing and giving way too much of myself. I had no balance in my life. Topically I found that black walnut extract mixed with vegetable glycerin worked really well for me. Keeping the skin moisturized and treated at the same time was so important to assist my skin in healing itself. I wrote about that experience here.
Best wishes!
Asia says
Great post! I have acne, eczema, and rosacea. They all will flair up horribly if A) I eat like the broke college student I am or B) I’m stressed. My skin has been perfect this entire summer until last week when I spent $300 on books for the next semester. Now I have 3 pimples, what a coincidence. Lol
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks for your comment Asia! I wish you a wonderful semester in college!
Dionne says
Great post! I think many people should look into the mind-body connection to discover that the root of their ailment lies within their emotional health, or the lack thereof. I know Louise Hay and her teachings have been instrumental in helping me to understand the health issues I have encountered.
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you Dionne. Louise Hay really is a life changing women! Best wishes!
kandis says
Great site Dawn!!!!!! Lovely to catch up with you yesterday as well!
xox
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks so much Kandis! It is always great seeing you! Hope you are having a great day!
Candace says
Hi, thank you for the great tips on thrifting, one of my favorite activities. I wanted to ask how you clean your newly thrifted items when you first get them home? I wash with hot water and a few drops of bleach to make sure the items are clean, or sometimes i dry eclean but that dds alot of chemicals and I’d prefer a chemical free cleanin. thanks
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Candace,
I usually machine wash my thrifted items. If it is a dry clean only piece I take it to a non-toxic dry cleaner. I’ve found one true non toxic dry cleaning spot locally and it does cost twice as much or a little more but I don’t worry about it. It’s better to be without the chemicals. I”m glad you enjoyed the thrifting series!
Best wishes!
lily says
thank you, Dawn Michelle, for this post and the many others that I have found really helpful during my personal quest to form that connection between mind and body. being more conscious of what we consume [food and other products as well] is key. in line with the philosophy of beauty from the inside out, I was wondering if you have any resources online or in book form about vegetarianism / veganism / nutrition. thank you for any insight you can offer,
lily
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Lily,
I’m so glad that this information has been helpful to you. I will get back with you with resources for vegan/vegetarian foods and nutrition. I may end up writing an article about it or sharing links on the Minimalist Beauty Facebook page.
Best,
Dawn Michelle
Kat says
I had a friend do something so f@*#ed up to me recently.
Literally a HUGE like golf ball cyst acne arose above my
Eyebrow within a half hour of it happening. It put hot compresses on
It to help.. Honestly when I got up the courage to tell off the person
In a loving way .. The thing went down.. Again in like a half hour.
It was like the pent up anger was in the acne cyst.. So use your
Affirmation bug also stand up for yourself.. Don’t hold in anger or
Let someone’s else’s sh*t pop up on your face!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kat,
It’s amazing that you were able to see the connection spot on… literally! Holding anger is one of the worst things. Yet knowing how to release the anger and stand up for yourself is also challenging, but still very important for your overall health and peace of mind. Thank you so much for sharing your experience, and yes we must stand our ground on the things that are important to us… in a loving way of course, but with strength and power!
Best wishes!
Sarah says
Thanks for this post. I have had skin issues since November last year. It’s getting better. I keep being reminded that I need to ask what’s getting under my skin. I love Louise Hay’s stuff. It’s so beneficial. I’ve been using EFT too with affirmations and a good long walk on the beach helps too. Thank you. I think a lot of it had to do with being angry that a relationship didn’t go the way I hoped. There was also lack of clarity and communication which made it even more difficult to speak up or talk about things with him. Sigh. Oh well. Good lesson I guess.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sarah,
Wow thanks so much for sharing this with us! Louise Hay is AMAZING! I truly appreciate the wisdom and guidance she has shared as well. When you say EFT is this the same as tapping? It keeps “popping up” for me so I’m thinking it something that I should look more into. Wishing you the best and have a beautiful day!
Sandy says
I agree that emotions, hormones and the rest of the body including the skin are intricately related.
Many physicians and meta-physicians such as Louise Hay agree with each other. That said, I think many people minimize what our skin can tell us because they see skin as a type of protective cover of the organs.
Yes it is a cover but it can tell us a lot because it is the largest organ. And as we know internal organs are affected by bio-chemical changes, it makes sense that the skin would be as well.
I did some research on this because I had eczema as a child and as an adult and it correlates with emotional stress(both conscious and unconscious) along with diet as well. Do I eat aggravating foods because of stress? And does my stress from this cause eczema to flair up? The old chicken and the egg analogy.
I also have read about the topic of macrobiotics by the Kushi institute and they have theories about skin breakout as well, particularly in relation to the location of the skin eruptions. They believe where the pimples occur can also tell you a lot about what is going on in the organs. As the organs expel toxins it is represented in the skin as well.
I found that when I use to have menstrual cycles I would break out in areas closer to the chin and mouth area, which in Macrobiotics is the area of the face represented by the lower ovaries.
Another thing I noticed is that when I’m distressed I’ll put my hands on certain parts of my face and as the hand holds bacteria it can leave a pimple in those places. So the emotions even affected how I handled my hands. (examples: leaning my face on my hands)
The skin is a visible organ that manifests our physical and hormonal state is so fascinating.
The universe has given us a visible organ as a tool to read our bodies.
Thanks Dawn for this post.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sandy,
What you said about the area in which you break out being where there is toxicity really struck a cord with me. I does really help to understand the Chinese Face Chart to know what areas in the body may be out if balance with breakouts. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Vanessa says
Lovely article. Thank you for sharing this as people need to know that cosmetics are just another culprit and not a remedy. I have had flare-ups for the last 10 years. on and off…on and off…lately mostly on……and intuitively I knew it was due to stress and anger plus the “anti ageing” regiment that strips our lovely skin of protective layers.
I love Louise Hay. She has enough LOVE to heal the World. I call her Mother Louise as she gave me love my mother never knew how (as she wasn’t given any either).
Then I discovered teachings of Abraham (recommended by Louise) and voila…Abraham says that all minor irritations and discomfort are signs that we are in misalignment and we need to correct our emotions at that time before they take MOMENTUM and real dis-eases knock on the door.
Meditation is the best way to deal with this, hypnosis and EFT work magically too all because they get us into a state of allowing our health and balance to come back to us.
Love you all. Healing is in allowing.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Vanessa,
Meditation has been life changing for me. There are so many calming, healing, and centering activities from yoga, prayer, tai chi, just being in nature, journaling, painting, dancing, etc. It’s just about finding what works for you and using them all. Thanks so much for your comment and compliment on the article. I hope you are having a wonderful day and wish you the very best!
laurel says
I just found your blog and I’m completely in love with it and your approach to skincare, Im so glad to find someone who has the same values! Thank you so so much for all your posts!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Laurel,
I’m thrilled you found the site too and welcome! Wishing you only the best of everything!
Olena says
Girl, I gotta thank you for this.
After having clear skin for a long time, I decided to try Jojoba Oil. I wanted to get away from my old chemical skin care routine…
Three weeks later my skin is an absolute wreck.
Thing is, I can blame the Jojoba Oil…Or I can look inside. This blog post came at the exact right time, and once again, I want to thank you.
I just got You Can Heal Your Life in audio, and will be listening to it shortly.
Have yourself a beautiful day,
Olena
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Olena,
Thanks so much for your comment! I have also blamed my skin care choices in the past for breaking me out when there were definitely other things bringing me out of balance as well. Healing in general is mind body and spirit. I will never separate them again.
I know you will enjoy the audio book. I have the actual text and it was a gift from my mother. The pages are all different colors and it is a beautiful gift to give as well. Best wishes!
Stephanie L says
Dawn, in this vein of thought, could speaking poorly of others cause acne around our mouth? Or maybe talking poorly about ourselves?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Stephanie L,
I’ve never thought of it this way, but speaking poorly of yourself and others has no healing value to anyone.
Mandi says
100% YES! I am a big fan of Louise Hay and I’ll be going to esthetician school very soon to start a career helping and healing others with the same skin conditions I’ve suffered with and are still battling to this day. It’s a personal journey that will lead to helping others in their journey and I truly know within my heart that emotions are the absolute root cause of all disease, skin related or not. I am so excited to have found your website and look forward to reading more from you. Blessings!!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Mandi,
I am so glad you have been enjoying the site and best wishes with school!