New mum Chanelle Hayes has revealed she's been struggling with a skincare problem that has left her devastated
Chanelle, who gave birth to her youngest baby Frankie last August, took to Instagram to share her skincare problem.
Poor Chanelle, 30, shared a video in which fans could see her irritated and revealed that she was suffering from "cysts and boils" underneath the top layers.
GALLERY: Skin experts share their top 7 tips for healthy skin in winter
Abigail James' top 7 tips for healthy skin in winter (slider)
skin
1. Say goodbye to unnecessary chemicals
"Some fragrances and colours are skin irritants and have no actual benefits for the skin - they simply look and smell nice. "According to the research almost two thirds of British women are concerned about the chemicals in their personal care products so my advice would be to avoid unnecessary chemical ingredients and look for shower gels and deodorants that are kinder to skin - such as the Sanex Zero% range which is formulated with 0% colourants, 0% soap and 0% parabens."
2. Avoid low fat diets
"When it comes to holistic health, achieving a healthy balance is really important. Choose healthy fats for healthy cell function – this can be added into your diet through foods such as avocadoes, fish, nuts and seeds and plant oils such as flax and hemp. "Another tip is to ditch the processed margarines. If you're going to have butter then make it organic natural butter which has less synthetic ingredients."
3. Try light exercise
"Getting up and moving daily will boost circulation, and getting your muscles moving will increase your levels of 'happy' hormones or endorphins and blood flow. This in turn will give your skin a lovely healthy glow. "It doesn't matter whether it's a light stroll or training at the gym, as long as you're moving your skin will feel the benefits."
4. Get an early night
"Lack of sleep increases the visible appearance of ageing, such as dark circles caused by sluggish circulation."With that in mind say goodbye to your phone or tablet at least an hour before going to bed and try to get a good night's sleep – your skin will thank you for it."
5. Reduce sugar intake
"A high intake of sugar can cause an inflammatory reaction within the skin resulting in a whole host of skin conditions, from acne and rosacea to premature ageing and dry skin. "A little treat every now and then won't hurt, but try to keep an eye on your sugar levels if you're looking to keep skin healthy."
6. Curb the caffeine
"Too much coffee or caffeinated drinks can put extra stress on the liver and digestive system which impacts your body's natural detoxification process. "This build-up of toxins can have a negative effect on the health of your skin causing issues such as dry skin, redness and sensitivity."
7. Skincare shouldn't stop at your face
"There can often be a temptation to focus on the health of the skin on our faces but we must remember that the whole body is covered in skin which is the largest organ of your body – so we need to make sure we are giving it the care it deserves."Our skin absorbs a percentage of the products we apply, so choose products that are gentle on skin with natural moisturisers."
She wrote alongside the video: "Please can someone - ANYONE - let me know what the hell is wrong with my skin?????
"I’m eating right, using a good skincare routine including salicylic acid and avoiding makeup!! Why is this problem not going? They’re like cysts / boils under my skin and they’re not getting any better.
"This problem is massively affecting my confidence and I have no idea how to fix it?"
The former CBB star then revealed she didn't feel right going to the doctors about her problem as then it would "waste an appointment for someone who is actually 'sick/ill'", before adding that she was "running out of options."
She confirmed she'd never suffered from acne before, but admitted she had no idea what else it could be.
Luckily for her, fans flooded her comments section with helpful advice - and most had suffered from it themselves.
One wrote: "Looks the same as mine -cystic acne. Your gp will refer you to the dermatologist who will prescribe you what they think is best. If they don't work they will see if your right for isotretinoin (actutane) side effects are tough but it really works!"
Another wrote: "You need to go to see a dermatologist for antibiotics. It won’t go without them," whilst another added: "Definitely adult acne brought on by hormonal imbalance after having baby. I got it too...not pleasant and still suffer from breakouts but spoke to gp and after medication it slowly cleared up. It really does knock your confidence."
Chanelle seemed to take on the advice of her fans, and took to Twitter to write: "Thanks for everyone’s helpful replies about my awful skin. Think I will try to get to my gp this week and see if she can recommend anything to help."
We hope you get it sorted soon, Chan!
WATCH: Chanelle Hayes opens up about the break down of her relationship with former fiancé Ryan Oates
**Have you ever suffered from acne following giving birth? Let us know over on **Facebook and Twitter.
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