ASH OPENS UP ABOUT HER SKIN JOURNEY
Hello! For those who are new to this space, my name is Ashleigh and I have been a client at SJM since 2017 and their naturopath since 2019! As you can see, I have a long history with the SJM family treating clients and helping their skin heal and thrive from the inside out. What you may not know, is that I too suffered for many many years with acne vulgaris. I had the type of acne that was painful, red, inflamed, raised and angry known as cystic acne. The type where could feel them coming before you saw them and took forever to heal. The cycle was so viscous with no break in frequency that I came to accept that my face would always look like this and that there would always be at least one pimple. My skin would never be 100% clear.
I had tried everything under the sun from the oral contraceptive pill, green tea, vegetarian diet, increase water consumption, rose-hip oil, watching my sugar intake, tea tree ointment, different cleansers & moisturisers. I even started a round of roaccutane- a high dose vitamin A medication that came with many other side effects and complications. I’m not saying that these things don’t help but on their own however they weren’t therapeutic enough to make a difference to my skin. It wasn’t til I saw a mutual friends instagram story of skin needing at SJM that I sought out Suzanne. We started with an advanced skin consultation, Dermaviduals skin care and facials to prep my skin for skin needling. We did this for many months, giving my skin the time needed to reverse all the damage from over the years and repairing the skin barrier back to health.
It wasn’t til I started working at SJM as a naturopath in the lead up to my wedding that I decided to take on the advice I give to my clients weekly and put my self on a routine of herbal medicine, zinc and essential fatty acids. The combination of Bare Roots Skin Care, alternating between (at the time) level 2 enzyme peels and Lymphatic Therapy Facial, anti inflammatory, lymphatic herbal medicine and supplements that for the first time I saw a real shift in skin behaviour where the results were long term. I had clear skin for my wedding and it felt so good!! Now days I am alternating between skin needling and herbal peels to help skin cell turn over and help break up the scar tissue. In terms of products I use all bare roots products from gentle cleansing milk to serums, omega oil and the vital cream.
Internally I am only taking essential fatty acids! The herbs completely unburdened my lymphatic system so no need to take them! I hope this inspires you, motivates you chase your own dream skin and provides hope and education to find the right therapist for you! I also hope it demonstrates a realistic native of the work and time it takes to have long lasting results through holistic principles and practices. It is definitely achievable!