Herbal Remedies for Acne

Acne is characterized by skin blemishes or pimples and can occur at any point throughout one's lifetime. Since it is related to hormonal imbalance, acne frequently appears at puberty and in women over forty as they approach menopause. The western medical approach is to treat acne with antibiotics, but this can harm the liver. In Chinese terminology the skin is controlled by the lung system and affected by the liver system, and acne is commonly a condition of heat and toxin in the lungs and damp heat in the liver and gallbladder. Therefore, the approach to this condition is to cool the heat, cleanse and detoxify the organ system, and topically work on the healing process.

Some foods that help alleviate acne include squash, cucumbers, celery, carrots, carrot tops, lettuce, potato, cabbage, beet tops, buckwheat, alfalfa sprouts, millet, brown rice, mung beans, dandelions, pears, cherries, papaya, persimmons, raspberries, watermelon, winter melon, aloe vera and mulberry leaves. Drinking plenty of water helps, too.

Foods to avoid are those that are spicy and oily and include: coffee, alcohol, sugar, chocolate, ice cream, soft drinks, dairy foods, red meat, shellfish, bamboo shoots and white mushrooms.
Other things that aggravate acne are smoking, emotional stress, constipation, makeup, and washing with chemicals or soap. The face should be washed with cool water; if it is especially dirty, steam it with hot water to induce sweating, then wash with cold water.

Try some of these natural remedies for acne:

1. Blend a cucumber, apply externally, leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off.

2. Rub watermelon rind on the acne. Eat watermelon or drink watermelon juice.

3. Apply Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera extract is a preferred herbal treatment as it is a mild alternative to traditional medicines. Aloe Vera extracts also contain anti-inflammatory compounds that help boost the removal of acne and scar marks of the face.

4. Drink tea made from carrots including the tops and beet tops.

5. Green tea extracts have become highly popular herbal treatments, because of its results.

6. Drink lukewarm water with 2 teaspoons of honey every morning on an empty stomach. This effectively lubricates the intestines. If one does not evacuate the intestines regularly, the toxins either end up in the liver or come out in the skin.

7. Licorice root extract has been noted to be effective for different medicinal purposes, and these oils are used for centuries in different types of herbal treatments. Licorice oil aids in reducing stomach upsets, as well as in treating acne.

* From InnerSelf by Saho-Mei Zhang, M.S.(China) L.Ac.

Diet as a Natural Treatment for Acne

The skin is the largest organ of the body and it helps other organs with eliminating waste. One of the best acne treatments is a diet which will help the body eliminate waste so that it won't interfere with your skin and cause acne. If you are unhealthy on the inside it will be reflected in your skin.

It is the livers job to remove hormones from the body. If your liver can't remove hormones fast enough you will end up with too much oil in your skin because hormones are like an instruction manual telling your skin to produce more oil. The function of the liver is also to get rid of toxins. If there is an over-load of toxins in your body, the liver can have problems removing hormones.

So what toxins concern acne sufferers the most? Mycotoxins. These nasty little chemicals are the 'excreted' waste of bacteria such as yeast, and usually found in the intestines. Mycotoxins put a strain on your liver and you already know what happens when your liver doesn't get rid of hormones!

Using diet alone as a natural acne treatment was not as bad as I had thought it would be. There are many foods that help the liver and help remove waste from the body.

What foods are good for cleaning the body? Two of the best foods are apples and psyllium husks. They both contain fibers that act like a broom and absorb and push out all the junk that's stuck in your intestines, sometimes stuff that has even been there for many years! The 'junk' is also the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that produce mycotoxins.

And what foods are good for helping the liver? Beetroot. Beetroot is known for it's exceptional liver cleansing properties. Another good food, or herb actually, is milk thistle. Scientific studies have suggested that certain chemicals in milk thistle protect the liver from damage caused by viruses, toxins and alcohol.

To cure your acne, you need to correct the problems inside your body that are causing your acne. No over-the-counter creams can do this. They can only kill bacteria on your face and help reduce the redness.

* Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Kokoska

Vegetable Oil Causes Major Acne Breakouts

There is often the debate of whether or not what you eat affects your skin. Conventional doctors state that diet does not cause acne, whereas nutritionists have the opposite view. My own personal experience and those of many I have helped clear their acne has shown that acne is caused in large part by diet...

In this article you will discover everything you need to know about the worst acne causing food in the world - vegetable oil.

So how does vegetable oil cause acne?

Some foods cause a hormonal reaction in the body that produces an inflammatory condition. If a person is genetically prone to acne and has an inflammatory condition then they will get acne. Vegetable oil causes the most significant hormonal inflammation out of any food in the world. This means if you consume vegetable oil you will break out, usually within a day.

The simple truth is this: Avoid vegetable oil IF you want to clear your acne and maintain acne free skin. There is little you can do to change your genetic makeup, but you can avoid inflammatory food like vegetable oil.

Many people who stop eating vegetable oil find their acne completely clears up within days. So I recommend you do the same and see the positive results for yourself.

The main source of vegetable oil in your diet is likely to be from cooking oils like sunflower oil. DO NOT cook with these IF you want clear skin. You should also watch out for other food containing vegetable oil as these will make you break out as well. I advise you find out which foods you eat that have vegetable oil in it and find non-vegetable oil alternatives.

Do not think that you will be deprived of the food you love because you have to avoid vegetable oil, as many alternatives of the same food exist (for example, pasta sauces with vegetable oil in it, and pasta sauces without vegetable oil in it.)

By avoiding this acne causing disaster food you will either completely clear up your acne, or see a major reduction in both the quantity of acne you get, and the severity of the your acne.

* Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Rambai

How to Prepare a Clay Mask and It's Effects on Skin

Method- Sprinkle the clay over the waters and allow to settle for 5 - 10 minutes then whisk it together. Then add Stage 2.

Clay Mask / Compress

Stage 1:
40ml Chamomile Water
25ml Spring Water
10 drops Paraben
75gr Green Clay

Stage 2:
10ml Apricot Kernel Oil
1 drop Roman Chamomile (optional)
Spoon into a Jar or Tub and label

Method:
Paste the clay all over the affected area and keep it on for 1 hour or until it starts to get dry and crack.
Wash off with warm water and rinse with cold.
Place a cotton compress soaked with aloe vera on the area for around 20 minutes.
Rinse off with cold water.
Apply avocado oil on the face.

Repeat this treatment 1 - 2 times per week.


Clay's Properties and Effects

* Rich in minerals and active enzymes
* Stimulates lymph circulation and thereby more efficient waste handling and Improvement of cell nutrients
* Stimulates blood circulation
* Draws toxins and superfluous fat from the skin
* Contracts and tones the skin
* Strengthens the connective tissue

Therapeutic Indications of Clay and How to Use it

Poor blood circulation-

Use in face masks and body packs.

Poor lymph circulation-

Use in face masks and body packs.

Sunburn and general burn damage to skin-

Use in creams lotions, baths and face masks. A blend of Clay, Aloe Vera, Tea tree and Lavender is outstanding for all kinds of burns.

Irritated and sensitive scalp-

Use in shampoos and hair packs.

Personal hygiene-

If you cannot use ordinary soap.

Refresh tired and "washed out" skin-

Use in facemasks.

Slack or loose skin-

Use in creams, lotions, baths, face masks and cleansing products.

Acne and other skin problems where cleansing is called for-

Use the clay in creams, cleansers, lotions, face masks and baths.

Eczema-

Blend the clay with the juice or infusion of Lady's mantle, Horsetail and Chamomile into a cream-like consistency. Put this into a cotton cloth and place on affected area. Then secure by wrapping the herbal compress with cling film, a sticky compress or another cotton cloth. Leave for 3 - 4 hours or overnight. You can repeat this treatment every second night with the same or different types of herbs.

* by Kolbjørn Borseth of Aromantic.

Natural Masks for Blackheads

Blackheads are a form of acne that result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is not caused by dirt and can not be washed away. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. A blackhead tends to be a stable structure, and can often take a long time to clear. These natural masks are very easy to prepare and if applied regularly a few times a week you can start seeing results in a few weeks.

CORN FLOUR MASK
Prepare a mixture of corn flour with egg white and apply on face. Let it dry completely for 1/2 hour. Dip your hands in warm water and massage your face and wash off. This when repeated regularly gives you a smooth skin.

ORANGE PEELS MASK
Orange peel is another cheap and easily available home remedy. You can easily get dried orange peels or orange peel powder from market or alternatively you may dry some at home. Grind them to make fine powder. Mix about 2 tablespoons of this powder with some yoghurt to make a thick paste. Apply all over the face, while gently rubbing in circular motions. Wash off with cold water. This is an excellent way to extract oil and dirt from clogged pores and keep the skin clean and healthy.

CLAY MASK
Clay masks used regularly helps pull out trapped oil and dead skin. Take 1 tablespoon fullers earth (Multani Mitti), 1 egg yolk, 1/4 of a mashed avocado and enough witch hazel to create a smooth mixture. Mix all ingredients well and then apply on the face. Leave it till it dry. It is best for oily skin. Fuller's earth dries excess sebum while egg yolk and avocado replenish lost moisture. While witch hazel tones the skin.

ELMER'S GLUE
Make a mask of Elmer's glue with rose water. Plaster it on affected areas and let it dry. As you wash it off with cold water it will extract out blackheads and pull out all the dirt and oil.

Natural Home Remedies to Remove Blackheads

To put it quite simply, blackheads are little bumps embedded into the pores of our skin. They are usually yellowish or blackish in color. Blackheads are a type of acne called an open comedone. Blackheads are also accepted as being the first stage of acne, forming before bacteria invade the pores of our skin, which in turn, results in infection and inflammation, (otherwise known as the pimple).
Most blackheads sufferers wonder how they can be removed easily without causing any scars. Here are a few remedies to remove blackheads easily and quickly. Don't forget to be extremely gentle while treating pimples (as well as all types of acne) because any further irritation of the skin can easily cause permanent scars.

LIGHT SQUEEZİNG:
You can remove the stuff from inside a blackhead with light handed squeezing. Such a process can actually help the skin. Yes, squeezing is detrimental to the skin, but how you squeeze determines whether it harms the skin or benefits it. Gentle is the key word and you have to be careful not to over squeeze it.

STEAM
The best home remedy for blackheads extraction is steam. Take steam for five to ten minutes, it will loosen the blackheads so they can be later easily extracted with a blackhead remover or simply by rubbing with your finger tips. However results are better with a blackhead remover. You can use steam either with water alone or may add some additives like;

* Soda bicarbonate about 2 tsp
OR
* Boric powder about 1 tsp.

VINEGAR WITH CORN FLOUR
Again vinegar is an easy acne home remedy. Make a thick paste of vinegar with corn flour; apply it to the affected area for some time till it dries out. As you remove it with very gentle rubbing it will remove blackheads along with dirt and oil.

COCONUT WATER
Make a granulated paste of coconut water with sugar and use like a scrub over infected area. This helps to remove blackheads and clear skin.

SIMPLY WET SKIN
After washing your face do not wipe off your nose and instead rub it with your finger tips. This will help in removing blackheads.

USING PRODUCTS FOR EXFOLIATİNG
You can use some low potency benzoyl peroxide exfoliating product for removing dead skin cells. It is very effective on the blackheads and is mild to your skin as well. In this way you can remove even the most stubborn blackheads. Also, microdermabrasion can be used to remove stubborn blackheads.

TOPICAL RETINOIDS
Topical retinoids such as Retin-A help in battling against the blackheads, successfully. It also removes and prevents the formation of the blackheads. It reduces oil secretion and unclogs the pores by promoting normal functioning of the cells. However, it is a long process.

How to Prevent Acne Scars?

Who will develop acne scars and how severe will scarring be? Much of that is left to chance. What we do know is that genetics plays a definite role in the likelihood of acne severity and consequent scar formation. But since an estimated ten million Americans become scarred to some extent by acne each year, intervention is the absolute best solution.
Acne scars are caused by the body’s inflammatory response to acne lesions. The more that inflammation can be prevented or moderated, the more likely it is that scars can be prevented. The best way to prevent scars is to treat acne early, and as long as necessary.

1. Increase intake of antioxidants

Foods containing vitamins A, C and E help reduce inflammation as help neutralize free radical damage and reduce inflammation.

Vitamin A foods include: organ meat, sweet potatoes, spinach and apricots
Vitamin C foods include: peppers, lemons, strawberries, broccoli
Vitamin E foods include: shrimp, sunflower seeds, nuts, and oils

2. Limit irritation to the site of the acne lesion

When you have an acne lesion, it is tempting to touch the lesion and wonder when it is going to go away. Each touch to an acne lesion further irritates the skin. When you touch or press and acne lesion, you could force an acne lesion contained in one pore to burst and thus spread the infection to surrounding pores, and enlarge the acne lesion.

Also, touching an acne lesion increases the chances that your skin will come in contact with more bacteria via your hands. This additional bacterium gives your skin one more factor to defend itself against and increases the inflamed, red, painful response even more.

Avoiding the temptation to extract a pimple when it has not yet reached a head - an exposed tip where all of the post inflammation cellular waste resides- will help a pustule heal faster without leaving a deep scar. When the acne lesion does rise to a head, you can use a sterilized needle to puncture the head and release the debris inside the acne lesion.

Cleanse the area with an antimicrobial wash afterwards. (Note: In some instances, embedded and long term cysts should only be removed under medical supervision to avoid harmful side-effects.)

3. Displace swelling fluids

The easiest way to shrink a growing pimple is to displace the antibacterial fluids that the body creates in response to an acne lesion. You can help reduce the swelling resulting from imflammation by applying wet heat to the acne lesion.
To do this, place a damp hand towel in the microwave for 60 seconds. Let the cloth cool for 10 seconds and then apply it to the pimple for one to two minutes. Repeat this heat treatment three times to help reduce the swelling of the acne lesion.
Another way to remove antibacterial fluids from a zit is to apply tea tree oil to the pimple at night time. Throughout the night, the oil will seep into the skin and displace the antibacterial fluids surrounding the inflamed pimple. In the morning the pimple should be smaller.

4. Speed up the healing time with a clay mask

The longer an acne lesion remains in the skin, the more cosmetic damage it can inflict. To hasten a zits healing time, increase blood flow to the acne lesion. This increased blood flow transits a therapeutic envoy that includes skin cells, vitamins, enzymes and antimicrobial agents to the site of an inflamed zit.

Applying a clay mask to the acne lesion increases blood flow to the sore as the clay dries. Moreover, the mask will draw away excess, inflammation-aggravating oils from the acne lesion, further reducing the papule's size.

5. Icing the swelling and reducing the pain.

The intense pain an enlarged acne lesion incites serves as an indirect source of acne scarring. This excruciating pain increases an acne sufferer's desire for immediate relief. You can soothe acne induced pain by icing your lesion. Just take an ice-cube from the freezer, and then wrap five sides of the cube with a paper towel. Rub the unwrapped side of the ice cube over the acne lesion for 30-60 seconds using circular movements.

In short, whatever you can safely do to speed the healing time of an inflamed acne lesion reduces your chances of experiencing deep scars.

See your doctor if you experience large, deep breakouts, or cysts. Deep nodules or cysts often leave deep, permanent scars as the infection destroys skin tissue. A doctor must treat acne of this severity. Quick, effective treatment can help lessen the chance of developing deep scars.