Natural Approaches Treating your Acne

Almost everyone has suffered from acne at some point in his/her life. It' primarily a disorder of the sebaceous gland (glands in the skin, that secrete an oily substance) of the face, the neck and back. When the sebaceous glands become clogged with this oily substance it creates the pimples. There are several forms of acne, but the most common form of acne is acne vulgaris, found primarily in adolescents (teenagers primarily). The exact cause of acne is not entirely established, but factors that contribute to this condition include heredity, oily skin, and androgens.

Additional factors include allergies, stress, the use of certain drugs, nutritional deficiencies, liver dysfunction, exposure to industrial pollutants, cosmetics and the monthly menstrual cycle. In addition, the skin functions to get rid of a portion of the body's toxic waste, by sweating it out. If the body contains more toxins than the kidneys or liver can discharge effectively, the skin will take over. In fact, some doctors call the skin the 3rd kidney. As toxins escape through the skin, it disrupts the health and integrity of the skin, creating issues. (such as acne.)

  Recommendations for Wellness Note: Some of these recommendations may take 2-4 weeks before any results or improvements are experienced.

•  Apply distilled white vinegar (can be diluted if too strong) to the face and affected areas. Allow this to sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.

•   Lemon or any citric fruit works great as a natural exfoliate, removing dead skin cells that may clog the pours.

•  As with the white vinegar, apply the juice of a lemon (or desired citric juice) to the face. Allow it to dry for about 10 minutes, then rinse with cool water. You may feel a mild sting or burn when the lemon juice is applied. If so, diluting the juice is acceptable.

•  Increase water consumption. Water helps flush toxin out and help transport nutrients in the body. Eat a properly balanced diet to ensure proper nutrition.

• Take a high quality multiple vitamin and mineral supplement to make up for nutrients missing in today's foods.

•  Echinacea or Oregon grape can be used to boost the immune system and fight acne-causing bacteria.

•  Dandelion, Burdock or red clover can help to keep the liver clear of toxic overload. 

•  Herbal combinations such as Natures Sunshine’s Ayurvedic Skin Detox, and BP-X can also be used to cleanse and detoxify the liver and reduce acne. 

•  Large quantities of vitamin A have been successfully used to treat severe acne. Large amounts of Vitamin A, however, can be toxic and should only be used when working with your health care provider. 

•  Consider adding additional zinc to your diet. Zinc aids in the healing of tissues and assists in preventing scarring. It is also important for the body in resisting infection and inflammation. 

•  To clear and heal your skin, try a homeopathic Acne remedy. It can help to dry up pimples & prevent future outbreaks. 

 For a quicker remedy to treat your Acne, consider using the following: