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ACNE: CAUSES & TREATMENTS |
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By Debbie Markel, CH, CNHP |
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When I was young, I was told that acne was a problem that only affects teen-agers and would go away when I grew up. They lied! (By the way, who are “they,” anyway??!!) Acne comes and goes throughout one's life and affects men and women equally. Women's acne tends to be more cyclical and shows up during adolescence, PMS, peri-menopause, and other periods of hormonal fluctuations. Men's acne stays active longer, often for years. Stress, poor diet, environment, toxicity, bacteria, genetics, and poor hygiene can all contribute to acne. Our liver plays a role in skin health, too. Since our skin is our largest organ of elimination, and our liver traps toxins that pass through our bodies, when our liver becomes overloaded with toxins, they will be released through the skin. This often results in acne, cysts, boils and rashes. Acne occurs when sebaceous glands become blocked with excessive production of sebum (oil) causing a cyst to form that in turn becomes infected and discharges pus. David Hoffman, author of Medical Herbalism and a clinical phytotherapist in Britain, explains that acne can show up in the form of blackheads (glands plugged with excessive material which discolors on exposure to air), whiteheads (small collections of pus within glands), or nodules or papules (red and inflamed areas of more extensive infection). Many traditional treatments for acne have serious side effects. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings about Accutane, an oral medication which has been linked to depression, suicide, and birth defects if taken by pregnant women. In fact, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation released the following statement about Accutane: "There is an extremely high risk of fetal malformations if pregnancy occurs while taking Accutane in any amount, even for short periods. Potentially all exposed fetuses can be affected.” (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6163) The FDA also reports that Retin-A, a topical acne treatment, makes the skin overly-sensitive to sun and extremes in temperature. As alternatives, there are many natural and simple ways to keep skin healthier and free of acne. Here are a few tips: 1. Eat a healthy diet. Poor diets full of sugars, processed foods, white carbohydrates, sodas, and junk food are lacking in nutrients and often aggravate acne and other skin problems. Eating plenty of fresh, cleansing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will enable your body’s immune system to eliminate toxins more effectively and provide critical vitamins that play a role in skin health. 2. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of pure water every day. Water flushes toxins from our systems. 3. Wash with all-natural cleansing products. Good acne products often include tea tree oil, a natural anti-bacterial. Many traditional soaps and acne remedies contain petroleum products and other chemicals that actually damage skin and are absorbed into our systems through the skin. These can contribute to toxic conditions, including acne, and even lead to allergies and rashes. Topical tea tree oil products are also available. 4. Detoxify your system. If you don’t have any chronic or debilitating medical conditions, eat only raw fruits and vegetables and drink only water for a few days to clean out your entire system. Your skin will actually break out more at first as your body gets rid of toxins. As an added bonus, you'll feel wonderful. After that, stick to a healthy, whole foods diet and see how great your skin will look. 5. Take Omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFA's). EFA's like fish and flax oils are critical to keeping skin looking healthy and cells working properly. They moisturize skin from the inside without aggravating over-active sebaceous glands. 6. Use a good internal skin support formula that contains one or more of the following: yellow dock, burdock, Oregon grape root, dandelion, Echinacea, and myrrh. These will cleanse the liver, purify the blood, and assist the detoxification process. 7. The Textbook of Natural Medicine recommends the following supplements to help treat and prevent acne: Vitamin A 25,000 IU daily; Vitamin E 400 IU per day; Vitamin C 1000 mg per day; Zinc 50 mg per day; Selenium 200 mcg per day; and Brewer's Yeast 1 tablespoon twice a day. 8.
Squeezing the blackheads or pimples can cause damage to the hair
follicle, so try to refrain from this practice. Having clear skin is easier than you may think. Eating a healthy diet will cure many ills, inside and out. Why not give these methods a try? They’re easy. |