You know that any rashes, irritations, acne, discoloration, etc. that appear on  your face is a direct or indirect reflection of what is happening inside your body – you know that, right? It is the skin’s job to show us the imbalances occurring in our internal organs and systems before things get out of hand, and often times this results in pesky pimples. But did you know that where these guys are popping up on your face, can tell you where exactly in your body you are out of balance?

It’s called face mapping: a technique that can help identify where any skin issue connects inside the body, so that you know how to address the root problem, rather than slather on the latest topical and cross your fingers. This technique has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, and is something I have come to swear by. 

Here is a breakdown of how it works:

Forehead 

In The Body: liver and gallbladder

What’s Going on: too much fat and too many margs

What To Do: minimize rich foods and alcoholic beverages and drink plenty of herbal tea and fresh water (aka order a Sakara Meal Program stat)

Supplement: milk thistle and burdock root

Eat: beets, garlic and leafy greens

 

Third Eye (space between the eyebrows) –

In The Body: stomach and liver

What’s Going on: poor digestion and toxic buildup

What To Do: try an elimination diet (ditch dairy, gluten, soy, alcohol, corn, caffeine, eggs, nightshade veggies and sugar) and consider a gentle cleanse.

Supplement: probiotic, digestive enzymes, marshmallow root, aloe vera

Eat: miso, sauerkraut, cauliflower, leafy greens

 

Temples and Brow Line 

In The Body: kidneys

What’s Going On: dehydration and/or overworked kidneys

What To Do: drink more water! Include more hydrating foods and up your intake of superfoods like kale, berries, chlorella and spirulina.

Supplement: celery root, parsley, chanca piedra and goldenrod

Eat: red bell peppers, cabbage, cauliflower

 

Under the Eyes (dark circles and puffiness)

In The Body: stomach, kidneys and liver 

What To Do: heavily reduce or remove alcohol, caffeine and sugar from your diet. Take care of those adrenals! Drink plenty of water and sleep more than you think you should.

Supplement: ashwagandha, magnesium and rhodiola

Eat: garlic, grapefruit, beets, leafy greens

 

Upper Cheeks and Bridge of Nose (rosacea)

In The Body: heart 

What’s Going On: make sure that you are getting enough healthy fats with omega fatty acids to control cholesterol levels. Eat avocados, walnuts, salmon, chia seeds and flax seeds.

Supplement: red yeast rice, garlic and fenugreek

Eat: oats, flaxseeds, chia seeds, blueberries

 

Middle Cheeks (rosacea and hyper pigmentation)

What’s Going On: stomach and lungs

What To Do: try an alkalizing and anti-inflammatory diet by eating tons of green, leafy vegetables and avoiding common triggers like corn, soy, wheat, caffeine, alcohol and sugar.

Supplement: calcium, magnesium, spirulina and chlorella

Eat: apples, chili peppers, carrots, oranges

 

Lower Cheeks and Lower Nose (wrinkles, breakouts, redness)

In The Body: liver and stomach

What’s To Do: Focus on eating a clean diet, including lots of cleansing vegetables like greens and beets and green vegetable juices.

Supplement: milk thistle, burdock root and a good quality probiotic

Eat: beets, garlic, avocados, olive oil

 

Mouth Region

In The Body: stomach

What To Do: Experiment with eliminating trigger foods from your diet, i.e. dairy, gluten and sugar. Focus on fibrous, nutrient-dense foods to assist in removing toxins built up in your system.

Supplement: ginger, peppermint, magnesium a high-quality omega-3

Eat: kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, pears

 

Jawline (breakouts can be triggered by hormonal stress)

In The Body:  ovaries and/or colon

What To Do: Women should follow a diet focusing on greens and hydrating foods when menstruating. Try a balanced diet optimal for hormone stabilization including clean protein, antioxidant-rich vegetables, healthy fats and stabilizing herbs. This will keep your blood sugar and hormones at ease. Practice meditation and breathing exercises to help manage stress. Sleep is not to be ignored!

Supplement: cinnamon, adaptogenic herbs like holy basil and ashwaganda and vitamin D3

Eat: sweet potatoes, Brazil nuts, kale, broccoli

 

Lymph Nodes 

In The Body: stress levels

What’s Going On: Your lymph nodes can swell when your body is trying to fight off a disease or under an immense amount of stress.

What To Do: Take time to take care of yourself! Practice self-love with yoga, meditation, long hot showers and lots of sleep.

Supplement: ashwagandha, panax ginseng, rhodiola and vitamin c

Eat: mushrooms, chickpeas, grapefruit