Amy Sumner Naturopath

19/09/2023

19/09/2023

23/07/2023

POST-PILL ACNE
The oral contraceptive pill is often touted as a cure-all for feminine maladies, offered as a solution to painful periods, heavy bleeding, irregular cycles and acne. Yet, all too often, I find myself treating women in their 20s and 30s for severe acne that burst into existence only AFTER they took the pill and then ceased it after a time.
Firstly, the pill CANNOT balance hormones. It is designed to imbalance them to such an extreme that one of your body's main purposes - reproduction - becomes impossible. It continues to astonish me how many health professionals will say that the absence of ovulation and inability to fall pregnant somehow equate to balanced hormones. Putting a pretend hormone in your body and suppressing your body's natural production of real hormones might change your signs and symptoms, but it is not at all the same as having balanced hormones.
While on the pill, are supplying your body with an external source of synthetic progesterone and in some cases, oestrogen. While they are not identical to natural hormones, your body still recognises them as replacements, and your natural feedback mechanisms respond by reducing their production of these hormones.
Stopping the pill can cause a short-term drop in oestrogen and progesterone levels because your body was so used to not having to make them. These low levels cause a rebound surge of androgens (‘male’ hormones like testosterone) because the presence of progesterone normally would lower the internal production of testosterone. The pill also suppresses sebum production, but your body fights back and tries to upregulate it, so when you stop this can result in you producing too much - leading to rebound pimples and oily hair.
If you are experiencing post-pill acne or looking to stop the pill, there are amazing herbs and nutrients we can use to give your body what it needs to recalibrate its natural hormone balance and minimise any breakouts.

23/07/2023

One of the reasons clearing acne can be so challenging is because there are many different underlying systemic causes that vary between individuals.
Some of the possible causes of your acne:
1. Hormonal imbalances - most people are aware of this one. High testosterone, low progesterone and high oestrogen are the most common imbalances that drive acne because they increase oil production and alter the turnover and separation of skin cells.
2. Blood sugar imbalances - high levels of sugar in the blood, insulin resistance and high IGF-1 can alter skin cell turnover, microbial growth and sebum production.
3. Stress and high cortisol - emotional stress or a high-paced lifestyle (even excessive exercise) can alter the above two factors and limit the skin's ability to heal.
4. Lymphatic and immune dysregulation - toxins accumulate and bacteria, fungi and mites can overgrow when these systems are compromised.
5. Gut dysfunction - the biggest source of inflammation and a major factor in immunity.
6. Liver or kidney dysfunction - if you are not detoxifying well, your largest elimination organ (the skin) will be overloaded.
7. Nutrient deficiencies - if you don't have the right ingredients to make a skin cell, your body will do the best it can - but it will never look quite right.
8. Topical factors - last and (in my opinion) least, the products you are putting on your skin may be clogging the pores, driving pathogenic overgrowths and causing inflammation.
One of my main tasks in treating you is to figure out the main cause and rebalance things from there for long term results - let's get started! You can email me hello@amysumner.com or book online at www.amysumner.com/book-online

07/05/2023

Ready to level up your health?
If that full flower moon-lunar eclipse energy has you feeling drawn to transform, I'm ready to support you!
Although I LOVE treating skin, I also treat so many other conditions and usually correct multiple imbalances in the one patient. If you come to me with chronic acne, I can almost guarantee we will end up treating your hormones, blood sugar, gut or another area in order to resolve your skin issue for good so I am constantly looking at the intricate links between every part of the body.
This week I'll be sharing a little more about some of my recent cases to give you a sense of how I work through complex health mysteries to get life-changing results. Along with acne, pigmentation, rosacea and psoriasis, lately I've been working with detoxification, fertility, v react!ons, gut health, MTHFR issues, fatigue and brain fog.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (post-viral illness, brain fog, post exertional fatigue) is one of my favourite things to treat because I struggled with this myself for a couple of years before I found the right help to fully recover.
My plans are always tailored to you - if you need testing or referrals we can do that and if you prefer to work with food only I'll always do my best to fit the plan to your lifestyle while being honest about what needs to happen.
I always seem to attract the BEST clients and I love seeing what you can achieve with a little guidance! In most cases we work together over about 6 months before you're ready to leave the nest with your newfound knowledge.
You can book your own appointment online at www.amysumner.com/book-online or email me hello@amysumner.com if you have questions. Let's go!

05/03/2023

HEALING, MAGIC & MANIFESTATION

This beauty conjured me through actual magic from across the Pacific (so no pressure!)
When we had our first consult at her dawn and my twilight, she said to me, before we start, I have to tell you the story of how I found you...
She had been struggling with her skin and trying so many things to heal but the products were only flaring her skin more. Wondering if she needed to just trust the process and let her skin purge, she asked her guides, "please show me a yellow snake if I'm on the right path".
Time passed, no snakes. And her skin was worsening.
Then, "if I'm not on the right path, please show me the person who can help me."
A video of me speaking appeared on her Instagram search page and something about me captured her attention. She opened the video, where I was talking about acne.
Intrigued, she continued to my page, she discovered my profile was completely lit up with yellow snakes because I was in the middle of launching my Clear Course acne healing program. I'd also been visualising my ideal clients coming to me from far and wide.
Needless to say, I was so happy and relieved to see these photos of her now clear skin after she has put in the work to clear it naturally! This was achieved mostly with herbal medicines to balance hormones, blood sugar and cortisol, as well as a very gentle approach to skincare and some magical Australian Bush Flower essences to address some energetic and emotional imbalances as her skin was really getting her down. We only did two consults. I tracked down all her products in the US so she could access them quickly.
I have the most beautiful clients! The only problem is, after a while, I don't get to see you as often.

03/03/2023

☀️ EMBRACE THE HAT ☀️

It may surprise you to know that I'm not really a fan of sunscreen. Sure, UV rays can damage our skin and lead to wrinkles, pigmentation and even cancer, but the severity and rate of damage is relative to other lifestyle factors and systemic health. The benefits of sunshine far outweigh any risks, though of course on our beautiful Aussie summer days, we need to be careful to moderate our sun exposure and definitely avoid sunburn.
🐙 MOST sunscreens are toxic - to humans, the reefs and sea creatures - so avoid anything with oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, octocrylene or octisalate. These ingredients are found in most chemical sunscreens, which work by absorbing UV rays, converting them to heat then deactivating them. (Oh - and oxybenzone can CAUSE cancer 🥴, octinoxate and homosalate accumulate and are endocrine disrupting, octocrylene and octisalate can cause rashes/allergies).
⛱ Physical sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) are a way better option as they simply deflect and scatter the rays so they bounce off the skin. My favourite is because it has clean ingredients, a soothing base and is coloured with minerals and clays.
🐚 If you have acne or another skin condition, wearing sunscreen is sometimes just not going to work for you until your skin heals. (Worth noting that if you are on Roaccutane /isotretinoin or have recently had microneedling, you will be way more sensitive to the sun and will need sun protection.)
👒 Hats, shades (trees, beach umbrellas etc), baggy shirts and kaftans and big sunnies are always my preference and I only load up on body sunscreen if I'm spending a lot of time outside and am not covered up. This way you can protect your skin without congesting it further. If you do have acne or a fungal skin condition, make sure to wash your hats so they don't aggravate the skin on your forehead.
🐬 Daily (sensible/ moderate) sun exposure is important - the sun literally makes life on Earth possible! It's essential for everything. 🌱
Let me know your fave clean sunscreens or cool hats in the comments. 👇

28/12/2022

YOUR SKIN IS MAGICAL
When you have a skin condition, it's natural to focus on all the things you don't like about your skin. It can feel like your skin is against you and that all your problems in life are because of your skin.
The truth is, your skin is working 24/7 to love you and keep you safe. Mindset isn't everything on its own, but when you start to see your skin as the incredible, magical ally that it is, you can approach your skin healing journey with less pain and more peace.
When you are injured, the skin calls in reparative agents to inflame the area of damage and hasten healing. Should your body expand too rapidly, the skin will stretch to allow more room - and if it can’t stretch that far, you needn’t worry for it won’t break but only leave a stripey mark. If a wound heals in the absence of the nutrients ideally required, a scar forms to seal the tear in the only way the skin can manage, ever committed to keeping your inner world safe. When other bodily organs require more nutrients and water, the skin sacrifices its own needs, allowing them to receive the nourishment it, too, requires. Spend too much time in the sun and the skin releases melanin to deflect more of its rays. Strip your skin of its natural oils with harsh cleansers and the skin produces ever more oil in an attempt to restore the skin’s healthiest state. When the other organs are overwhelmed with toxicity, the skin opens its channels to quickly push toxins out through its surface, at the sacrifice of its own appearance.
So you see, while you might berate your skin, picking and punishing it, sending hateful thoughts towards it for being red and swollen, scarred and stretched; these signs of dysfunction are not the real problem. They are only evidence of your skin’s ongoing efforts to keep you safe.
When we begin to love and respect our skin we have a better chance of finding out what it needs and working WITH it to heal and thrive.

29/07/2022

✨ This new moon has been a strong one. After a few days Clearing out the old, I'm feeling renewed and ready to forge my own Course. ✨

27/12/2021

The DANDY DETOX 6 week online group program starts January 10th! All the details are here with payment plan available. Sign up now so I can post your products in time x
https://www.amysumner.com/dandydetox

6 week guided naturopathic group detox program for glowy skin, revitalised energy and cognitive clarity.

12/08/2021

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐬.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I know you've already tried slathers of skincare products, and maybe even invested in expensive salon treatments. You've tried the advice from your family, your friends, your never-ending research and maybe even from beauty editors and influencers.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Surely you can figure this out.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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𝐻𝑜𝑤'𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Look, I know how hard you're actually trying. Yet despite your constant efforts, there's hardly any pay off... and sometimes the things that are supposed to help, only make matters worse. It's frustrating, disappointing and emotionally exhausting to keep trying and failing to heal your acne. But it's really not your fault.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬, 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐅.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Did you know there are 8 key body systems involved in creating acne, so everyone's acne causes are a little bit different? Most health and beauty professionals don't even understand the true depths of acne. By the time 𝑦𝑜𝑢 figure it out, you may have endured a lot of unnecessary suffering.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You don't have to do your time, or wait til you magically grow out of it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✨𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 ✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Over 8 weeks, we will demystify the secrets of clear skin. Your customised herbal tonic and targeted nutrient supplement will work away on regenerating your skin cells while you learn all about the different causes of acne and how to prevent and treat them, naturally. You'll also be following a nourishing, skin-clearing food plan throughout. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Go to www.amysumner.com/clearcourseacneprogram for all the details and to come along on this healing journey.

27/07/2021

Vitamin C is amazing for collagen formation, cellular repair, boosting immunity, nourishing the adrenal glands and healing connective tissue of all kinds, including the skin. It is an antioxidant that helps to detox and mop up the damage caused by all manner of toxins including electromagnetic frequencies.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Most 'vitamin C' supplements use ascorbic acid, a synthetic part of the original vitamin C complex found in real plant foods. Ascorbic acid is only the protective antioxidant shell around the whole vitamin C molecule. It is NOT the same as vitamin C found in wholefoods and thus does not have the same benefits in the body. Dehydroascorbic acid is natural and slightly different in chemical structure, but it is still only one bit of real vitamin C.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The concept of synergy is essential in natural medicine. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts! Separating out one part of any plant medicine will never yield the same benefits, despite the constant efforts of the pharmaceutical industry to reduce nature down and identify the one part responsible for the medicinal effects.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your body absorbs almost 100% of real vitamin C, whereas ascorbic acid is around 10%. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As ever, Mama Nature knows best.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You can get WHOLEFOOD VITAMIN C from:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
oranges⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
lemons⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
kakadu plum⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
camu camu⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
acerola cherries⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
guava⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
kiwifruit⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
paw paw (papaya)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
capsicum + chilli⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
parsley⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
strawberries, blueberries, bilberries, raspberries⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
amla (Indian gooseberry)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
raw cacao beans⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
rosehips⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
broccoli⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There are also good supplement powders available that combine superfood sources of vitamin C in an easy to take powder that will usually taste delish! Just look for the ingredients above and avoid ascorbic acid supplements if you want all the benefits of natural vitamin C!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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14/07/2021

LYMPHATIC FUNCTION & SKIN⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Lymphatic congestion often plays a key role in the development of acne, eczema and other skin conditions. The lymph is a clear-yellow-white fluid that flows through a network of lymphatic vessels throughout the body. This system plays an important role in immunity, fluid balance and cleansing the blood. Lymphatic vessels can't 'pump' on their own so lymph is only pushed around the body by fluid buildup (the vessels have valves), muscle movement or manual therapies.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is one of the reasons massage, or using tools like gua sha and jade rollers can be so wonderful for the skin. It's also a reason why you can feel sluggish and unwell after a period of being sedentary, and why tight muscles in the neck and shoulders can sometimes contribute to facial skin breakouts - due to the constriction of lymphatic flow.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
A congested lymphatic system may show up in skin breakouts and rashes but also indicators like swollen glands, a tendency to tonsillitis, and puffiness or swelling.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Traditionally, skin conditions were thought to be caused by 'dirty blood' and in many cases, we are now finding the scientific evidence to expand on that. High blood sugar or IGF-1, toxicity flowing through the blood from a leaky gut, excess circulating hormones - these are some of the blood impurities that are proven to contribute to acne. Some scientific writers aptly refer to the lymph as the body's 'sewerage system'. So, yeah - if it's clogged up or sitting stagnant, that's never good.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It's important to move the lymph in an anatomically correct way so that it drains properly, removing fluid buildup and clearing toxicity, while also improving muscle tone and helping to define the features. Exercise also gets the lymphatic system moving.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Have you tried jade rolling?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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LINK IN BIO for my free acne storytime sesh this Friday 10am. Join in if you or someone you love has acne x⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

14/07/2021

Acne isn't really the problem.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sure, it is painful and irritating, it can cause scarring and it can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other complications in itself. If only that were all.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The real problem for most acne sufferers is the mental and emotional impact of living with a visible disease on their face. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you experience repeated rejections enough times, you can begin to reject yourself. Enough cruel comments can lead you to form harmful beliefs about your worth. Repeated criticisms of your skin by others can lead you to truly believe your skin is your enemy.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You may learn to pre-empt the negative reactions of others and shrink back into yourself. Perhaps if you can avoid any attention whatsoever, you might avoid further unkindness.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The disappointment of repeatedly failing in your attempts to clear your skin can break your spirit.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Further to this, even from a physical perspective, acne is rarely (in my experience) caused by something going on superficially. It is almost always an indicator of hormonal imbalances, STRESS, gut dysfunction, food intolerances, blood glucose dysregulation, a high toxic burden or some other deeply damaging condition that goes unnoticed - because it is not visible. Or so it seems.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There is so much more to skin than many people realise. It is such a powerful protective organ, that reveals so many clues as to what is going on deep within us. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Join me on Friday at 10am AWST to hear MY ACNE STORY - register at the link in bio! This is for acne sufferers, all clients, parents of children with acne and skin therapists and anyone who works with people suffering with acne. I want to share the deep impact that acne had on me as well as the long journey to finally clearing my skin. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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12/07/2021

Obsessing over your skin?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'm so grateful to be past those days, but I do remember what it was like to be consciously aware of my skin, pretty much all the time.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How exhausting. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I would wake to be greeted by a new group of pustules in the mirror, and then spend a good deal of time in the morning trying to make myself look ok. I didn't really have that much fun with my appearance because the focus was a desire to look entirely average, rather than being playful or expressive. In highschool, where the administration ruled against makeup, it was more a matter of keeping my head down and avoiding eye contact, in the hopes no one would feel the need to alert me to the tingling mass on my chin - that I couldn't possibly be oblivious to if I tried.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I read books about skin and spent my checkout chick earnings on products and supplements. I tried harsh and natural treatments, steaming, masks and tips from models in Dolly magazine. Nothing particularly helped because I really had no clear guide or understanding of what was going on for me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you're struggling with your skin, I can't promise to know exactly how you feel, but I certainly know what it's like to have a chronic skin condition (and overcome it) and I believe you 100% when you tell me your skin is dramatically impacting your self worth and your life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I don't really think about my own skin anymore. I still read books about skin and spend a decent amount of money on supplements. I now have so much clarity around the complexity of the skin, and why of course it was so challenging for me to navigate on my own back then.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I want to make sure that you don't have to struggle for as long as I did, or let it impact your beliefs about yourself as you move through life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Join me for AMY'S ACNE STORY on Friday!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'll be sharing my skin journey entwined with some practical insights into what worked for me.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
LINK IN BIO to join!

11/07/2021

I want to share with you my experience of having acne for over a decade. How it started, how it progressed. The things that made it worse, how it finally got better, the many lessons along the way, and most importantly, the way it really changed my life experiences.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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JOIN ME live at 10am Friday in the private Facebook group.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This is for you if:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ACNE AND ARE TRYING TO FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH IT. You'll have the opportunity to ask me questions, interact with others in the group and share your story IF you want to. You can totally just sit back and quietly watch the training though! I hope that you will take some comfort, inspiration and practical ideas from hearing my story.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
YOU LOVE SOMEONE WITH ACNE. Parents and partners, I'm looking at you! It can be difficult to truly empathise with someone's experiences if you just haven't been there yourself. Please let me share my insights with you, to help you understand what your loved one may be going through and maybe even how you can support them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
YOU HELP CLIENTS WITH ACNE. Skin therapists, naturopaths, doctors - you're all welcome to join! Having more insight into what it's actually like to have acne will give you an extra edge when helping people.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
YOU'RE JUST CURIOUS OR WANT TO GET TO KNOW ME BETTER. Anyone can join this free session! You will definitely get to know me more as a person, and I hope you will learn something too.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm going live with my story at 10am Friday 16th, however if you can't join the live you can watch it on replay. You have to sign up to get access though. x⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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THIS STORY SESSION IS FREE! FOLLOW THE LINK IN MY BIO TO JOIN THE PRIVATE GROUP NOW. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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11/07/2021

AMY'S ACNE STORY⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As many of you may know, it's no coincidence that I ended up working in the realm of skin healing! My skin troubles started creeping in around the age of 9 and persisted until I cleared it in my early 20s.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I didn't live a single day of my teenage life without serious acne. Not. One. Day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you haven't had an ongoing skin condition yourself, you might think it's not really a big deal. I promise you - that assessment couldn't be further from the truth.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Acne can be deadly.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Not because of what it does to the body physically. The mental and emotional impact of having acne, bolstered by a million small rejections and the hopelessness of awakening each day to even worse skin despite your constant efforts - that can break your soul.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
For me, when I look back on my teenage years, I have a lot of grief. I never really felt comfortable in myself and as a result, I tried my very best to be invisible.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My 'friends' pushed me out of the group because I wasn't pretty or cool enough.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I didn't date, and if a boy showed interest in me, I was certain it must be a cruel joke.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I received unsolicited advice or unkind comments most days.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My teachers got annoyed with me all the time because I wouldn't put my hand up in class or contribute - I didn't feel safe to receive any attention ever.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And it changed the way I lived my life in those years.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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JOIN ME at 10am AWST Friday 16th July for Amy's Acne Story. It's exactly what it sounds like, just me sharing with you what went on for me in those years. How my skin condition started and progressed, how I allowed that to affect everything about my life and experiences, and how, eventually, I healed my skin. I will also be sharing a little about the many treatments I tried - the ones that worked, and the ones that really didn't.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'd love you to join me.⠀⠀
Sign up at the link below to join the private Facebook group now! https://www.amysumner.com/amysacnestory

24/06/2021

BE GENTLE ON YOUR SKIN⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When your skin is looking angry, irritated, itchy and inflamed, it doesn't need to be squeezed and picked, have the top layer ripped off, or undergo scratchy grainy scrubbing. It needs tender loving care.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Dry, flaky, red, scaly skin that is rough on the surface and uncomfortable to live in is often an indicator that your skin is crying out for more essential fatty acids (EFAs) and water from within. The EFAs and water form your acid mantle, an acidic substance that holds the top layers of your skin together. The acid mantle prevents water from evaporating out of the skin, since the oils seal the water in, and also kills any pathogens that might try to enter the skin itself. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You can experience this problem even while having oily skin on the surface, and even acne. Any skin condition with a lot of redness and inflammation can usually benefit from supplementing EFAs (high quality fish oils or sea buckthorn), eating more good fats (avocado, small oily fish like sardines, raw nuts and seeds, flaxseed oil etc) and drinking more filtered water. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Even if your top layer of skin is looking and feeling unhealthy, it is there to protect the layers underneath. Using a gentle chemical exfoliant like natural fruit acids which will not force the removal of necessary cells, is a better option than manually removing the top layer with harsh treatments like dermaplaning, microdermabrasion or apricot kernel scrubs. You can use nourishing oils on the surface and avoid any harsh skincare ingredients, but the problem must be addressed from within, where the skin cells are created. For a visual explanation of how EFAs work in the epidermal layer of the skin, check out who has posted a number of great videos on this recently.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀