I’ve had acne ever since I was a teenager. It would come and go, sometimes worse than other times. Over the years, I’ve made countless trips to the doctor about my acne. All they could recommend were steroid creams, antibiotics, or Accutane. I tried every skincare routine I could find, hoping something would work. I even went on two courses of antibiotics. While they helped temporarily, they made my acne worse in the long run. By October 2023, my acne was the worst it had ever been. I tried going back to the doctor, but nothing they suggested made any lasting difference. That’s when I realized that the only person who could truly fix this was me. After doing some research, I discovered something called the gut-skin axis. In simple terms, the health of your gut directly affects the health of your skin. The worse your gut health is, the more breakouts you’re likely to have. I decided to go on a strict elimination diet, cutting out all processed foods and eating only a few simple, whole ingredients for six months. The journey was far from easy. There were plenty of ups and downs, and many times I felt like giving up. January was particularly hard—I experienced a skin purge where my acne got worse despite all the healthy habits I was following. But I stayed consistent, and eventually, I started to see real results. Now, although I still get the occasional breakout, I feel in control of my skin. When I eat junk food, my skin reacts, but I know how to manage it. If you’re struggling with acne, remember: the journey to clear skin takes time, patience, and commitment. It won’t always be easy, but it’s worth it in the end. Good luck on your skin journey—you’ve got this!