How I cured eczema and acne from within

By Ana Maria Aguirre

Cat lady without cats. Obsessed with music, cosmetics, and NYC.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food . "

- Hippocrates.

They say, "We are what we eat." But I would add, "and what we absorb." These days, due to various factors such as pollution, processed foods, genetically modified organisms, stress, and other lifestyle-related issues, we are not absorbing nutrients properly.

This leads to countless health problems due to inflammation and deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phytonutrients—all essential for our bodies to function properly.

The human body is a perfect machine, the only one that functions by performing millions of processes per second, without anyone directing it. When something goes wrong, this little machine alerts us. This is what we can identify as a symptom. In my opinion, when a symptom exists, it shouldn't be ignored under the premise of "it will pass," or "if you don't think about it, it will go away on its own." No, the body speaks to you, it tells you that something is wrong, it emits signals that, if you detect and address them in time, can correct the problem and prevent a greater harm.

Among these signs, besides pain or discomfort, are those that occur on the surface of your skin, hair, and nails. It's no coincidence that we have extremely dry hair, split ends, inflamed skin, acne, or eczema. Ignoring these symptoms will only worsen the situation.

I'm going to share my experience of achieving a complete transformation in my skin and hair. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution , because every body is different and each person has distinct needs and requirements based on their sex, age, height, weight, lifestyle, profession, and any existing health conditions or problems.

My goal is for this article to serve as a guide, a beacon of hope for those who haven't yet figured out what's happening to them, so they can more confidently seek help from a medical professional who can address their health needs. Remember that self-medicating is counterproductive and also costly. It's very likely you don't need the same medication or the same quantities as me.

For me, it all started when I began training very intensely, five times a week (sometimes six with an additional tennis lesson on Saturdays). Out of ignorance, I didn't seek out a qualified nutritionist to effectively guide my food intake according to my new needs and the physical strain I was experiencing. When your body becomes physically unbalanced, it's possible that it will produce cortisol, and instead of achieving well-being through exercise, you might end up stressing and inflaming it.

For this reason, I suffered a minor injury that caused tendinitis, and since I couldn't take anti-inflammatories because I'm allergic to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), it worsened over time until it became chronic. This, combined with a lifestyle change when I went to study in Europe—changing countries, cities, and continents—also disrupted the gut microbiota. I was exposed to microorganisms that my body wasn't used to.

To make a long story short, the whole imbalance led to an overgrowth of parasites, which blocked my nutrient absorption and inflamed my digestive system. On top of that, I moved again (my master's program was international) and went to live in New York for a year. With my body already inflamed, stressed, and with that constant discomfort, I started sleeping very poorly, which is terrible for my health and creates a vicious cycle of constant inflammation.

After visiting countless doctors and therapists, from traditional physiotherapists, osteopaths, acupuncturists, cupping, Inca chiropractic; hypnotherapy, Chopra meditations, ballet... and in desperation even alternatives far removed from science and common sense such as hemp oil, maca, moringa, collagen, celery juice on an empty stomach... nothing seemed to resolve my pain and inflammation that everyone said was only muscular (or failing that, that it was only in my head).

And you might be wondering, weren't we talking about skin? Well, yes, in addition to muscle discomfort, I started suffering from severe eczema (an allergy to everything and nothing) and acne. I have atopic dermatitis, but I'd never had a flare-up or breakout that lasted so long. My skin couldn't even stand the sight of it; it was inflamed all the time. The only thing I could use was my 24k gold facial oil (a blessing!) to relieve the sandpaper-like dryness that eczema causes. Because of this, I had practically cut half the food from my diet and became malnourished. As you can see, everything is connected. What started as just muscle discomfort ended up affecting my skin, my mood, and my physical, emotional, and mental health.

This is what I looked like BEFORE a year ago... these photos are screenshots from the video I made to teach you how to use Aggi Beauty concealers and foundations. I was really embarrassed to post them because, obviously, I don't look good at all. I have acne, eczema around my eyes and lips, and dark circles under my eyes like a corpse. But after weeks of thinking about it, I concluded that it was necessary as visual support so you could understand what I'm talking about. In this photo, I look completely haggard; even my eyes lack vitality. Today, when I look at it, I feel like crying, but at the same time, I pat myself on the back and say, "Bravo! You made it through!"

These photos here are from the same video, the same day, after the makeup (not bad, huh?) so you can see how I disguised it.

I don't want to go into more detail because I would end up boring you and my goal is for you to read it all (maybe we'll leave it for a Q&A live or IgTv), I'm just going to tell you how I finally solved my problem: with supplements and a diet designed according to my needs.

It's not as easy as it sounds, believe me. What made the difference was that on my last attempt, thanks to a recommendation someone made during one of my desperate moments, I went to see a functional medicine doctor. I can say that Dr. Rafael Serrano gave me back the life I had lost. When I went to see him, I felt completely weak, fatigued, irritable, stressed, helpless, and depressed. My memory was failing; I had trouble retaining or remembering things. Sometimes I would ask the same question several times, which made people angry. My skin and hair were a disgrace, my dark circles were unbelievable, and I didn't understand why, even though I supposedly "had nothing wrong with me," I felt so bad that, honestly, I would have preferred to die.

The doctor explained that due to malabsorption, I had a deficiency in iron, magnesium, and vitamin D. After reading a lot about it, I learned that deficiencies don't appear overnight; sometimes they can take months or even years to manifest.

The diagnosis was determined through blood tests. I'm a proponent of science; when it comes to health, I don't like to put it at risk with pseudoscience, shamans, or other quack remedies. Although many may disagree, and I know it might work for some due to the placebo effect, when you need something real, sugar pills or injections of water aren't going to do the trick.

I also strongly advocate for thorough research and not masking symptoms with drugs that, in the long run, damage other organs or simply fail to address the root cause. That's why I'm fascinated by functional medicine, because it treats the patient holistically, recognizing the human being as a whole, as the perfect, interconnected system they are, without isolating any aspect or reducing them to a single symptom or disease.

Thank God I didn't have anything serious, and by serious I mean a catastrophic illness, because when I told the doctor that, his eyes widened in shock and he said , "What? You think that's nothing?!" And well, he agreed with me when I told him that I didn't really think I had anything serious because I didn't have cancer, or anything that couldn't be treated with just supplements and a good diet. For me, that's a blessing since not everyone is so lucky.

I offer this heartfelt advice: never blame the sick person for their illness (even though you might be tempted to because they don't follow medical recommendations), and never compare them to others with more serious conditions. Pain is pain, and the anguish is the same when you can't find a solution to a problem that affects you constantly on every level. No one wants to be sick, nor do they complain to bother others. It's easy to have positive thoughts when you're well, but when you're unwell for a long time, your mind starts to work against you. It's like asking someone with depression to be happy because life is beautiful and the sun is shining. Hormonal imbalance causes depression; there's nothing a person can do about it with willpower alone. Be compassionate, supportive, and empathetic. Instead of judging, let's ask more often: Are you okay? How are you feeling? Is there anything I can do to help?

Now we've reached the part you've all been waiting for, but I wanted to give you some context so you understand that the information you should take away from this article isn't a doctor's prescription, but rather the moral of the story: listen to your body, even if others tell you you're exaggerating or that you're a hypochondriac, and seek advice from the right people. Trust your instincts and intuition; if you feel something isn't right, it's because it isn't, even if others tell you otherwise. Remember, this is why subclinical diagnoses exist (they don't yet appear explicitly in tests, but they present symptoms that require further investigation and consideration of other indicators or correlations).

The perfect solution: Supplements

Just by starting to take oral supplements, beginning with B COMPLEX , I saw a change in my energy levels within 3 days. I can't even begin to explain how much that also boosted my mood because I was finally starting to see improvement. I started taking B Complex Plus from PURE ENCAPSULATIONS (nothing in this article is sponsored), which also contains BIOTIN. You wouldn't believe how much my hair improved. From dry and with split ends all the way to the crown, today it's shiny, long, and in excellent condition. (I'll take a moment to mention that my hair was rescued from that bad state by the haircut Antonella Pereira gave me, since I asked her to please do everything possible to keep it "long." And she made me look fabulous, even though she had to cut off about 50% of it.)

This supplement contains methylcobalamin, which is supposedly better absorbed than cyanocobalamin; however, some doctors consider cyanocobalamin safer to prescribe because it has been studied for more years, is more stable for longer storage, and is more economical.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is generally very rare, as the body can store enough for several years, and it is usually obtained from a balanced diet (not vegan or vegetarian). However, people with absorption problems and older adults may experience it. B12 deficiency is very serious and can cause irreversible neurological damage. It is found only in animal sources such as meat and dairy, so a vegetarian could not survive healthily without supplementation. Vitamin B12 is involved in numerous essential bodily processes:

• It maintains the proper functioning of the nervous system.
• It helps in the production of red blood cells (a lack of it causes shortness of breath, in addition to tiredness).
• It promotes mental clarity, concentration, and memory.
• It increases physical, mental, and emotional energy.
• It contributes to a healthy immune system.
• It protects the heart and circulatory system from homocysteine.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia, depression, dementia, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, muscle weakness, and bowel problems.

Probiotics were a key pillar in reducing the population of harmful bacteria and decreasing inflammation in my digestive system, allowing me to better absorb nutrients. I take Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics , which are among the few that don't need refrigeration to prevent spoilage (although in Guayaquil's climate, I still keep them refrigerated to protect my beloved bacteria). I switched from the regular version to the ones formulated for women , which contain specific strains ideal for our vaginal microbiota.

For general body inflammation , take Omega-3 with essential fatty acids. I like Dr. Mercola's Krill Oil for Women , which contains primrose oil (helps regulate hormones). Viva Naturals' is also very good and more potent (2 capsules have the same amount as 3 of Mercola's). Both contain other antioxidants and essential fatty acids like astaxanthin (the most powerful carotenoid, 100 times more potent than vitamin E, and excellent for eyesight), EPA, DHA, and GLA, which have been recommended for decades by the pioneer, Dr. Perricone, in his " The Wrinkle Cure " diet (so it's not for nothing that all of this is anti-aging, and I can vouch for it!) and "The Anti-inflammatory Diet" (that's what it's all about! Don't forget that acne is also an inflammatory condition). Astaxanthin also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation (skin blemishes). In another article I will talk about the most beneficial anti-aging supplements for the skin.

Omega 3 provides you with all these benefits:

• It reduces inflammation in the organs.
• It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• It stabilizes blood sugar levels.
• Improve your mood by regulating serotonin levels.
• Boosts the health of the immune system.
• It helps with weight loss because it suppresses excessive appetite.
• It reduces the severity of symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis.
• It reduces the severity of skin conditions such as eczema.
• It makes your skin look more radiant.
• Omega-6 fatty acids help fight allergies.

These two brands didn't cause me any stomach upset, nausea, or a fishy taste in my mouth. They're also quite small and easy to swallow. In another article, I'll talk about foods rich in Omega-3.

"By controlling inflammation, we can help reduce disease and maintain healthy, youthful skin." - Dr. Nicholas Perricone.

As a digestive and muscular support , L-glutamine, one of the 20 amino acids present in protein, is found in muscles and helps maintain cells in good condition and repair tissues. It supports cardiovascular and muscular health. This was especially helpful for my muscle spasms and pain caused by contractures, as it was prescribed precisely to reduce pain episodes.

One of the rockstars of minerals, magnesium threonate is a next-generation magnesium supplement that has had its laxative molecule removed (so it won't cause digestive discomfort) and is more easily absorbed. Remember, it's not just what you take, but what you actually absorb. Besides being an excellent anti-inflammatory, magnesium also helps retain calcium in the bones. I take Dr. Mercola 's magnesium threonate and Pure Encapsulations' CogniMag (this one is more potent). As an added bonus , magnesium threonate also offers the following benefits:

• It helps maintain cognitive function during aging.
• It contributes to the maintenance of cardiovascular and bone health and vitamin D status.
• It helps maintain the number of synaptic connections between neurons, improving memory.
• It helps you fall asleep.

Then I added (with my doctor's permission) liposomal vitamin C and ubiquinol (from CoQ10) because, well, I was really excited and wanted to feel stronger faster. Seriously, you have no idea how amazing my skin felt after my body got back into balance.

Branding does matter

The brand of supplements is extremely important because they need to be of high quality. A few years ago, a study was conducted in the US on generic supplements, the kind sold at places like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, etc., and unfortunately, the results revealed that they weren't what the labels claimed.

I can attest to that, since I used to be terrified of magnesium (citrate), omega-3, and B complex, because all the ones I usually bought at pharmacies or GNC caused me discomfort, stomach upset like gastritis, nausea, and a horrible taste in my mouth. The pharmacy B complex even gave me migraines.

The diet

All of this yielded fantastic results, combined with a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, quality protein like meat, and natural carbohydrates such as green plantains, sweet potatoes, and rice; low in dairy (only goat and sheep cheese and Greek yogurt—I love Galatea ) and free of refined sugar and processed foods. By following an anti-inflammatory diet, you'll get rid of excess sebum production, enlarged pores, blackheads, and pimples. You'll combat acne, which, as I mentioned before, is an inflammatory condition.

The eczema disappeared, along with some patches around my cheekbones that I got after using a Korean activated charcoal mask that burned my skin! (Yes, so be very careful with these products). And the acne? Forget about it! GONE! My skin hasn't been this beautiful and calm in years! I think not since my school days, more than 20 years ago.

My skin is still sensitive, but now it looks and feels healthy, although I still don't dare to use any makeup other than the natural ones from AGGI BEAUTY (basically every formula is super tested on ME! We are CRUELTY-FREE and specialized in ultra-sensitive skin).

Now I've switched to Luna Elixir facial oil to finally lighten the spots left by my endless pimples.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to leave your comments below the blog post and I will gladly answer them in another article or video.

Conclusion

After this experience, it's very clear to me that we are BODY-MIND-SPIRIT , and if one of them is out of balance, the rest suffer. If we are malnourished, neglected, don't exercise, overwork, or don't sleep well... sooner or later, our bodies will make us pay the price. And when we are sick, it's very difficult to have the ENERGY (because that's what we are and what keeps us alive) to be mentally and emotionally well.

And likewise, we must maintain a balance with our spiritual side, our relationships, and stop believing that only professional, material, or status-based success constitutes success in life. We must be aware that we are more than material possessions, that nourishment is physical but also spiritual and emotional.

I don't have any recent studio photos, but here's a selfie from my last trip... no foundation or concealer, but plenty of energy, joy, vitality, and above all, a real zest for life. If you follow @aggibeauty on Instagram, you'll also see me posting more stories and videos with a bare face :)

So if you want to have beautiful skin, here's the secret:

• Good physical and spiritual nutrition.
• Supplements (when necessary).
• Avoid excessive or INexcessive sun exposure (like the 80s band) (we need vitamin D!)
• Use healthy and kind cosmetic products for our skin.
• Lead a balanced lifestyle (between work, family, friends, self-care) avoiding living in a state of constant stress.
• Gratitude. They'll smile more and look radiant ;)

I hope you enjoyed this article and found the information useful. As Carrie Fisher said, "Take your pain and turn it into art." And here I am, sharing my art with you.

*You can find the list of products on Amazon here.

ATTENTION

This article is not intended to diagnose or replace the professional opinion of a medical specialist; it is purely informative. It is based on a specific case that cannot be generalized. Before taking any supplement or medication, consult your doctor; do not self-medicate.

©All rights reserved. If you wish to share this information, please cite the source with a link to the article.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-b12/art-20363663

Perricone Nicholas (2001). The Wrinkle Cure: Warner Books Edition.