Akne
"Minds, like bodies, will often fall into
a pimpled, ill-conditioned state from mere excess of comfort."
Charles Dickens
"Adolescence is just one big walking
pimple."
Carol
Burnett
Although acne is an all too common problem for
teenagers, adults experience it as well. Acne is one of those conditions that
isn't painful or even physically discomforting; however, it certainly is a blow
to the ego. Acne can turn a pretty face into a battlefield where it looks like
bombs have exploded, soldiers are bleeding, and no side is winning. It is easy
to feel that acne is nature's revenge against the beauty of adolescence.
The good news is that you'll grow out of
acne...usually.
For those adults who have acne, it can be even
more embarrassing than to adolescents. The silver lining here is that people
may think that you're a teenager.
On a more serious side, it is important to
realize that skin symptoms are not necessarily a skin disease. Skin symptoms
are usually internal problems that are manifesting on the skin.
The skin is considered the third kidney, it is
another organ of elimination that the body deploys to externalize oils and
other matter not excreted from the body in the urine or stool.
Because acne is more of an internal problem is
manifests through external symptoms, it is not enough simply to wash your face
regularly. Treating skin problems is also an inside job.
Further, one should be careful applying the
various conventional external acne medications for they can irritate the skin and
suppress the external symptoms and create more serious internal ones.
It is also important to remember that having
acne isn't all bad. Texture may be "in" this year or next. If,
however, you do not want this to be your fashion statement, try these strategies.
Clean up your act
Hygiene is important, and you can benefit? from
washing your face 2 – 3x daily. However, more frequent washings can wash away
important oils from the skin that help to lubricate it.
Using make-up, make certain to wash it off every
night.
Too clean is too much
Avoid using soaps that dry out the skin too
much or that causes any redness. Avoid using alcohol as an astringent because
it tends to dry out your skin too much.
Witch hazel solutions are more effective
astringents.
An
herbal wash
Take the tincture of myrrh, dilute it in a
small bowl of water, and use a swab of cotton to wipe your face. Myrrh's
antiseptic and astringent properties can both treat and prevent acne.
Naturally
antiseptic and drying
Tea tree oil is a powerful natural antiseptic
and drying agent. Apply it directly to wherever the skin is oily or where there
are pimples. However, some people can develop an allergic reaction to this
herbal remedy, so you may want to do a small patch test first. It is
recommended to use products with 15% tea tree oil.
Steam
those pimples out
Give yourself a facial steam bath. Place
chamomile flowers or sage leaves in a bowl of water that has just finished
boiling, and place a towel around your head. Create a mini-steam bath for your
face. For people who want a stronger herbal steam bath, use tea tree oil,
though be careful about using too much of this powerful, natural antiseptic (an
alternative to using this herb in a steam bath is to apply tea tree oil
directly on the acne).
Oil's
well does not always end well
Avoid oil-based cosmetics because they tend to
clog skin pores. Cosmetic-induced acne is a common problem for many women. Look
for cosmetics labeled "non-comodegenic."
Your
hair is contagious
Keep hair off your face with a comb or brush.
Wash your hair at least every second or third day.
To squeeze or not to squeeze
Most pimples should not be squeezed because a
pimple is an inflammation, and you can cause infection by breaking it open.
Worse still, squeezing them can sometimes scar you. However, if you are
desperate and want at least some temporary improvement in your facial skin, use
a hot, clean cloth or tissue to soften the pimple. This will allow you to break
the pimple open with gentle pressure (the more pressure you have to use, the
more likely you will damage facial skin).
Supplement
yourself
Vitamin A (25,000 IU daily), vitamin B complex
(100 mg., 3 times/day), vitamin E (200-400 IU daily), and zinc (30-60 mg.
daily) are worthwhile supplements. Vitamin A can be used in an ointment, cream,
or pill.
Good
fats
Essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, evening
primose oil, or borage oil are excellent sources) help keep skin soft and
smooth and can dissolve fatty deposits that block skin pores. Take essential
fatty acids daily.
Avoid
drug abuse
Several prescription drugs, including many
types of contraception pills and corticosteroids, can cause or aggravate acne.
Garbage
inside, garbage outside
Acne can be affected by the food you eat. Although
no foods have been proven to cause acne in all sufferers, some people observe
reactions to milk products, nuts, fats, fried and oily foods, and chocolate.
Emotional
garbage inside, emotional garbage outside
Emotions may be eating at you, literally.
Emotional turmoil can disturb digestive and endocrine functions, leading to
inefficient digestion of oils and to a potential increase in skin oils. The
first step to deal with any emotional problem is to acknowledge it. Don't deny
these emotions, but don't let them get the best of you either. Next, express
what you are feeling; don't suppress it.
Face
Relaxation
Research has shown that people with acne have
higher levels of anxiety and anger than other people do. However, this research
didn't discover if the anxiety and anger lead to the acne or if the acne lead
to anxiety and anger.
In any case, it is worthwhile to do something
so that these emotions don't take a more serious toll upon your health or upon
your face. Relaxation exercises may help you be in greater control of your
anxiety and irritability
rather than visa versa. Consider meditation,
progressive relaxation, breathing exercises, or yoga. But don't try to do all
these at the same time, since such efforts will lead to greater anxiety!
There is a real difference between cosmic
beauty and cosmetic beauty
Everyone has his or her own inner beauty. Once
you truly recognize this, you'll beam it and become even more beautiful.
[Thomas Cowan, MD]
Question: I have a 16-year-old son who is in
his sixth month of suffering with pretty severe acne. Being a teenager, his
diet is not optimal to say the least. Lately he is getting more self-conscious
and even a bit withdrawn
because of his looks. The dermatologist we went
to prescribed Tetracycline and Acutane but isn't there any other way to go?
Answer: As your describe, acne vulgaris and
cystic acne, two very common problems of modern teenagers, can be very
debilitating for young people, particularly as it undermines their sense of
self-esteem at a time when
it is already fragile. Is there an effective
strategy available for people in this age group that does not incur the side
effects of conventional medications e.g. Tetracycline as a broad spectrum
antibiotic which alters bowel flora
and also interferes with bone metabolism.
Acutane is a synthetic vitamin A molecule which causes very dry skin,
irritability and possible birth defects in growing foetuses.
A strategy for dealing with acne begins with
effective "bowel cleansing" and healthy bowel flora (the normal
lacto-bacteria that live in our intestines). This has always been considered
the cornerstone of every natural acne treatment. The best remedy for this is
for your teenager to eat about 1/4-1/2 cup of fresh, unpasteurized
traditionally made sauerkraut every day and then take one teaspoon of Swedish
Bitters in warm water before bed.
You can make the sauerkraut yourself following
the recipes in Nourishing Traditions. There is also a brand called Bubbies,
found in the refrigerator section of a good health food store. There are also
scores of other
lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits and drinks
described in Nourishing Traditions that you can try. Sauerkraut, however,
should be the cornerstone of treatment as the high sulphur content of the
cabbage is especially
valuable in skin cleansing. (Cabbage juice is
valued in Irish folk medicine for giving a beautiful complexion.)
Another area of importance is the inclusion of
the proper fats in the diet (good quality butter and olive oil) and excluding
the commercial vegetable oils and hydrogenated margarines and shortenings. Your
teenager should
also take ½ teaspoon or 3 capsules cod liver
oil daily and 4-5 capsules of evening primrose daily as supplements.
Raw foods should be included liberally in the
diet, including vegetables, fruits, milk. At the same time he should decline
sodas, sugar and junk foods as much as possible. Make his own lunch so that he
does not have to eat
in the cafeteria, and always have plenty of
nutritious natural snacks on hand.
Finally, there should be some attention to
sweating and the general cleansing of the skin. If your child is athletic,
encourage him to exercise heavily, then brush his skin vigorously (with a
loofah) and then rinse off in cool-cold water. This is like a skin "exercise."
If he is not athletic, one to three saunas weekly followed by a cool shower
will aid detoxification. You might also look into a good herbal skin treatment.
Recommended: Hauschka Cosmetics products. A
trio for acne treatment that consists of capsules containing silica and herbs,
a special face lotion for acne and a cleansing cream.
From a reader, via email:
"Your website neglects to mention high
doses of the water-soluble vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) for curing acne. It does
wonders, without of course the damaging effects of Accutane."
-Ted Sawyer, Des Moines, IA
Respond: Thank you for sharing this important
piece of information with us. Good sources of pantothenic acid include
nutritional yeast and liver. Other nutrients that help in the treatment of acne
are vitamin A (available in
cod liver oil, organ meats, egg yolks and
butter) and zinc (available in shellfish and red meat).
[Van Niekerk]
Investigated the relative effectiveness of
miasmatic treatment as compared to simillimum treatment in terms of the
objective clinical findings in participants with Acne vulgaris. It was found
that there was no statistically difference between the two treatments. The
miasmatic treatment for participants with Acne vulgaris was found to be as
significant as the simillimum treatment. It was found that both treatments
reduced the clinical
manifestations of the Acne vulgaris
significantly.
[Nijland]
Kali-br. 30CH was utilised, compared to a
placebo. Kali-br. 30CH has physical and mental characteristics which are
frequently encountered in acne participants. According to the materia medica,
Kali-br. has the following relevant characteristics:
Acne of face (Boericke 1994: 366).
Pustules (Boericke 1994: 366).
Acne of the face [cheeks and forehead] and the
presence of pustules (Vermeulen 1994: 538).
Profound indifference and disgust for life
(Phatak 1998: 281, 282).
Kali-br. is a remedy that is relevant for the
ill-effects of embarrassment, and incl. mental symptoms such as nervousness,
anxiety, suspicion and fear of people. Patients needing Kali-br. as a remedy
also experience profound indifference and disgust for life. These symptoms
correlate well with the psychological effects of Acne vulgaris. The 30th
potency of Kali-br. was selected because it is low enough to effect physical
symptoms, but also high enough to effect mental symptoms. Pollock and Steele
(personal communication, 2001) recommended the use of 30CH in conditions of a
physical nature which also have a psychological component, such as Acne
vulgaris.
Sulph.: most often indicated in this affection
(chronic). The skin is rough and hard and the acne is associated with
comedones.
Sang.: women with scanty menses and irregular
circulation of blood.
Thuj.:
Calc-pic.: clinically it has been found one of
the best remedies.
Ant-t.: Obstinate cases, with tendency to
postulation
Dr. Tony Chu: acne patients treated
with red and blue light showed on average a 76% decrease in the number of
visible spots.
Vergleich: Siehe: Verstossenen
Antidotiert von: Sulph-i. D4 - D6 Tiefpotenzen gelten als Resorptionsmittel bei Akne sowie nach Eierstocksentzündung.