Acne Control

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updated about 1 year ago

What To Do and What Not To Do

Acne occurs when the oil and skin cells plug up the hair follicles in the skin. It is the most common skin condition in the world, as it affects people of every age, race, and gender. It can range in severity from a minor pimple to a scar forming cyst. And while there is no known cure for acne, there are a number of things that you can do, and avoid doing to help remedy the condition.

Acne control: What To Do

• Keep the skin clean. It is important to keep your skin clean by using a gentle organic cleanser and water at least twice a day. Stay away from harsh chemicals or abrasive cleansers that will aggravate the delicate tissues. Rather use a cleanser that is specially made for acne control to wash away the dirt, make up, skin cells, and toxins that have built up on your skin

• Drink up. Purified water is vital to the overall health of your body as well as your skin. Try to drink at least sixty-four ounces of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and to move waste and nutrients through your system more efficiently.

• Get you ZZZs. Sleep is just as important to your physical health as it is to your mental health. Sleep is a restorative period that your body uses to repair damage and maintain cells. If you are not sleeping well, you are depriving your body of this vital period, and the result may show up on your face. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep (not just rest in front of the TV) each night.

• Eat a rainbow. While its true that foods do not directly cause acne, they are responsible for the overall health of the body as well as the skin. Your body needs at least forty essential vitamins and minerals on a daily basis in order to stay fit and healthy. Try to eat a variety of healthy foods throughout the day to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Use the rainbow as your guide to choose foods that are rich and varied in nutrients:

  • Red: red peppers, apples, raspberries
  • Orange: oranges, cantaloupe
  • Yellow: corn, yellow peppers, squash, pineapple, lemons, bananas
  • Green: green peppers, peas, green beans, spinach, broccoli, pears, limes
  • Blue: blueberries
  • Purple: grapes, eggplant

• Chill out. For acne that is particular swollen and painful, try applying an ice pack for five minutes, several times throughout the day. This may help to reduce inflammation without irritating the sensitive tissues.

• Use protection. Skin that is prone to acne is particularly susceptible to damage from the sun. Be sure to use a natural sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays.

If you are plagued by troublesome or persistent acne, it is best to seek the advice of a natural healthcare professional that can evaluate your condition and make recommendations for your treatment. Moderate and severe acne that is left untreated can lead to the development of acne scars.

Acne Control: What Not To Do

• Pick at blemishes. Rule number one for acne control is this: DO NOT PICK OR SQUEEZE acne blemishes.

• Scrub the skin. Your skin is very delicate. Scrubbing your skin, or using harsh cleansers will only serve to aggravate the tissues. In fact, when the skin is irritated it tends to respond by producing more oil. Hence, acne usually becomes worse when the skin is scrubbed or exposed to abrasive cleansers.

• Sunbathe. There are plenty of myths that abound when it comes to the care and prevention of acne. But by far the most painful is the assumption that the sun will somehow help to "dry up" acne. This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, the sun's rays can damage the delicate tissues of the skin and leave it more susceptible to the development of acne.

Factors That You Can't Control

In addition to all of the factors that you can control, there are a number of conditions that are simply not possible to influence. These include:

• Heredity: Although the link is not clear, severe acne does tend to run in families. So if your parents were plagued by acne, it is likely that you will be too.

• Gender: Boys are much more likely than girls to suffer from acne

• Puberty: The hormonal surges of adolescence cause the over stimulation of oil glands in the skin. This in turn may lead to the development of acne

• Menstruation: Each month, the hormones in a woman's body fluctuate and affect the production of oil in the skin. This could cause acne to develop.

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