HOW I TRANSFORMED MY SKIN AND GOT MY CONFIDENCE BACK BY MAEVE MADDEN

I have always been fit and healthy, but your skin is really a true indicator of what’s going on inside your body.
Growing up I never had issues with my skin. During my teens I had the odd spot but luckily had pretty clear, spot free skin. I was that friend that slept in makeup, ate junk food, was super active and never got spots. Well, those teenage hormonal years really caught up with me and bam I reached my 20’s, my body changed, and I was struck with adult acne!! Triggered by hormones, acne can occur at any stage in our lives, so don’t worry you’re not alone. Studies show that over 50% of women will suffer from some type of facial acne in their 20’s.

Why did I get it?
I suffer from a condition called PCOS, Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Hormonal acne around the mouth is one of the main symptoms of this condition.

But if it’s not hormones causing your breakouts what could it be?
Some of the primary aggravating factors leading to adult acne are:
- chronic stress
- lack of sleep
- exhaustion
- anything that is really taking a toll on your body

We all know that stress can cause a breakout from time to time. But chronic, continual stress on your body increases hormone levels, resulting in a great production of oils. Acne or breakouts can be aggravated by both internal and external factors. A few other causes are, poor diet, wrong cosmetic products, sleeping in makeup, sugar, toxins & sun damage.

What does YOUR skin really say about your health/lifestyle?
My skin problems started to clear up when I recognised the triggers to my breakouts.
I made a few simple lifestyle changes, to my diet. I added foods like avocado, spinach, almonds, nut butters, coconut oil, red peppers and eggs which are packed with vitamins, minerals, protein and antioxidants. Foods high in vitamin A and E are two key players when it comes to keeping your skin looking youthful and glowy.

I also wear oil free SPF 50 everyday, but I do allow my skin to get a few minutes sunshine before applying.
Staying super hydrated is key, especially when it comes to sweating. I aim to drink 3 litres of water a day and for every caffeinated beverage I have an extra glass or two of water too.
Avoiding excess alcohol intake. I know in summer we can be more tempted to have a few beverages on hot evenings. Make sure to stick to low sugar options and hydrate well before and after.
Most importantly, getting a good night’s sleep. I aim to get 8-9 hours of sleep a night. I am not an early riser at all and I don’t mind sacrificing being an early bird for getting the sleep my body needs.

There is no shortcut it takes time to build a healthier stronger, happier, version of yourself but trust me it will be so worth it. The best thing I ever did was begin to believe in myself, we are not perfect human beings and we do not have to pretend to be. We just need to focus on being the best version of ourselves.

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