Acne Control
Acne occurs when oil and skin cells plug up hair follicles. It’s 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 this condition.
Acne control
What To Do
Keep the skin clean. It’s important to keep your skin clean by using a gentle cleanser such as Aquaspirit™ and purified water at least twice a day. Stay away from harsh chemicals or abrasive cleansers that may aggravate delicate tissues. Instead use a cleanser that is specially made for acne control to wash away the dirt, makeup, dead skin cells, and other toxins that build 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 64 oz. of water throughout the day in order to stay hydrated and to move waste and nutrients through your system more efficiently.
Get your 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’re not sleeping well, then you’re depriving your body of this vital recuperation period, and the result may show up on your face. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep (not just rest in front of the TV) each night. If you’re having difficulty sleeping try the Rest Quiet sleep patches.
Eat a rainbow. While it's true that foods don’t directly cause acne, they are responsible for the overall health of the body as well as the skin. Your body needs at least 40 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, and 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 5 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 an organic sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to protect against ultraviolet rays.
Acne Control
What Not To Do
Pick at blemishes. Rule number one for acne control: 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 when it comes to the care and prevention of acne. But by far the most off-target is the theory 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 skin tissues 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 out of your hands. 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’s 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 and may cause acne to develop.
About the Author
Dr. Edward F. Group III continues to develop and sell exclusively high-end natural and organic skin care lines to support a wide range of skin conditions. The products he promotes are free of toxic tag-along herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, heavy metals, fumigants, irradiation, liver-toxic glues, binders, or gelatin capsules with animal-source risk and toxic preservatives. For more information on skin care please visit Skin-care-support.org.
