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The One-Minute
(or so)
Healer
by Dana Ullman |
Acne
Carol Burnett once said, “Adolescence
is just one big walking pimple.” Although acne is an all-too-common problem
for teenagers, adults experience it as well. Acne is one of those conditions
that isn’t physically 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’s 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 for adolescents. The silver lining here is
that people may think that you’re a teenager!
On a more serious side, it’s
important to realize that skin symptoms do not necessarily indicate a skin
disease. Skin symptoms are most likely 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, it manifests through external symptoms, so it is not enough to
simply wash your face regularly. Treating skin problems is an inside job.
Furthermore, you 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. Try these strategies:
Clean up your act
Hygiene is important, and you
can benefit from washing your face two or three times a day. However, more
frequent scrubbing can wash away important oils from the skin that help to
lubricate it. If you use makeup, make certain to wash it off every night.
Too clean is too much
Avoid using soaps that dry out
the skin or that cause any redness. Do not use 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 the skin wherever it
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 percent 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-steambath
for your face. For people who want a stronger herbal steambath, use tea tree
oil, but be careful about using too much of this powerful, natural antiseptic
(an alternative to using this herb in a steambath is to apply tea tree oil
directly to 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 “noncomodegenic.”
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 are to damage facial skin).
Supplement yourself
V 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 primrose 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 contraceptive 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
and 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 discern if the anxiety and anger led to the acne, or if
the acne led to anxiety and anger. In any case, it is worthwhile to do something
so that these emotions don’t take a more serious toll on your health or on
your face. Relaxation exercises may help you take greater control of your
anxiety and irritability, rather than vice 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 even more anxiety!
This
article was
excerpted from
"The One Minute
(or so) Healer"
by
Dan Ullman, MPH
Info/Order this book
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