skin mapping 101: all you need to know about healing blemishes

Ayurvedic medicine says that the face is a reflection of what is happening inside the body. Breakouts may be signs of an imbalance in the body and depending on where the blemish is on your face, Ayurveda says there is a specific organ that needs to be paid attention to. If you are having a breakout on your chin, for example, you would know that it is related to your colon or ovaries. Ayurveda is one of the oldest holistic health systems and has been practiced for thousands of years. The theory is that health is determined by a balance and connection of mind, body and soul. If any of the three are out of whack then you cannot be truly healthy. I love this system because it allows you to really understand what is happening inside your body and teaches you how to treat any problem areas. It is important we understand what role our organs play and how to keep them working most efficiently. Let's not forget that every part of our body is connected and to be really healthy, you cannot focus on just one.

1. F O R E H E A D
Breakouts of the forehead represent an imbalance in the liver and gallbladder. If you are consuming large quantities of fat (don't forget that oil is 100% fat) or alcohol, your liver and gallbladder are probably overloaded. Give your organs a chance to catch up on detoxing by cutting out alcoholic beverages and fatty, rich foods and adding in more garlic and green tea. Garlic and green tea help flush out toxins and cleanse the liver.

2. B E T W E E N  T H E  E Y E B R O W S
Pimples in this area are a sign of a build up of toxins in the stomach and liver. It's also a sign that your digestion system isn't working as smoothly as it should be. This means that you are consuming something that you shouldn't be. Try cutting out refined sugars, alcohol and caffeine. After some time, you can add back in one of these at a time and see how your body reacts to it. 

3. T E M P L E S  A N D  B R O W  L I N E
This area represents an issue in the kidneys. It is more than likely that you are dehydrated. Increase your water intake and decrease the amount of salty, dehydrating foods you are consuming. It also wouldn't hurt to add more leafy greens and other vegetables with a high water content. 

4. U N D E R  T H E  E Y E S
Puffy under eyes and dark circles are a sign you are drinking too much alcohol and coffee, eating too much sugar and not getting enough sleep. Limit the amount of alcoholic drinks you have per week. Be aware of how much sugar you are consuming by reading the ingredients on the back of the packaging. Better yet, trade out packaged food for fresh produce. Last but not least, try to get a solid 8 hours of sleep every night.

5. B R I D G E  O F  N O S E  A N D  T O P  O F  C H E E K S
This area is correlated to heart health. If you have a lot of saturated fats and cholesterol in your diet then you may have breakouts and rashes like rosacea in this area. Where are saturated fats and cholesterol found? In animal products of course! This includes, the meat, milk, eggs and cheese. Skip these foods and opt for much healthier fats like avocado and raw nuts and nut butters. 

6. C H E E K S
The middle of the cheeks show an imbalance in the stomach and lungs. This area is the most common area for pimples, rosacea and hyper-pigmentation. Ayurveda believes that this may be a result of food allergies to gluten or dairy. If this is a problem area for your, why not remove gluten and/or dairy from your diet and see what happens. (change doesn't happen over night, i'd give it a month to really see results) Then, add back in gluten/dairy and see how you feel. If you begin to break out again and don't feel your best you know you have a food allergy. 

7. B O T T O M  O F  C H E E K S  A N D  N O S E
Problems in this area mean the liver and stomach are overworked. Clean up your diet and replace processed foods with whole foods. Cleanse your body with herbal teas and lots of filtered water.

8. M O U T H
The mouth is the window to the stomach. Pimples and premature wrinkles represent a toxic buildup in your gut. Try going on a juice cleanse for three days. It's really not hard at all (after day 1) and you will feel like a new person. Juicing gives your digestion system a break so that your body can actually focus on detoxing. When you eat, your body goes into digestion mode and all detoxing pauses. If you never give your body a break, it never has time to catch up on cleaning out your organs. Make sure to drink green juice and not just fruit juice. 

9. J A W L I N E  A N D  C H I N
Blemishes in this area let you know that there is an imbalance in the ovaries and colon. It is common for women to breakout here during their period. Before and during your period, amp up the amount of greens and water dense foods in your diet. Aim to have greens at every meal. Keeping hydrated will also help to prevent breakouts.