Acne
What Is Acne?Acne is a condition of the skin that shows up as different types of reddish coloured bumps. These bumps can be in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or cysts. Teens get acne because of the hormonal changes that come with puberty. The good news is that, for most people, acne goes away almost completely by the time they are out of their teens.
What Causes Acne?The hair follicles, or pores, in your skin contain sebaceous (oil) glands. These glands make sebum, which is an oil that lubricates your hair and skin. Most of the time, the sebaceous glands make the right amount of sebum. As a teen's body begins to mature and develop, though, hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum, and the glands may become overactive. Pores can become clogged if there is too much sebum and there are too many dead skin cells.
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What Can I Do About Acne?It is important to address the liver when trying to treat Acne due to the liver's responsibility in breaking down hormones and rendering them suitable for excretion by the body. If the liver is under functioning due to everyday stress, from such things as poor diet, caffeine, alcohol, medications and pollution, hormone metabolism and elimination will suffer. Being kind to the liver by avoiding stress inducing substance, and taking a good liver detoxing formula that contains herbs such as Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Globe Artichoke, will greatly improve skin conditions such as Acne
To help prevent the oil buildup that can contribute to acne, wash your face twice a day with a mild soap and warm water. Don't scrub your face hard with a washcloth - acne can't be scrubbed away, and scrubbing may actually make it worse by irritating the skin further. Try cleansing your face as gently as you can. There are many over-the-counter lotions and creams containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide available to help prevent acne and clear it up at the same time. It is also important to consider your diet. Contrary to popular opinion there is a link to what you eat and acne. Eating refined carbohydrates and sugar leads to a surge in insulin and an insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1. This in turn leads to an excess of male hormones, which encourage the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum. This grease-like substance encourages the growth of bacteria responsible for acne. Scientists believe the modern Western diet is partly to blame. It is also important to keep your hair clean as oily hair will make acne worse!
To pop or not to Pop?!
Dirt from your fingers can force bacteria into your pores and cause an infection, leaving you with a bigger bump and, even worse, possible scarring. If the zit is deep down and the whitish stuff inside isn't close enough to the surface, you might end up squeezing the acne bacteria back down into your skin. If you have a zit where you can actually see the white stuff just under the surface and you've gotta do something about it - at least do it safely. First, clean the area thoroughly. Then take two sterile gauze pads and gently press on each side of the pimple, using the gauze (not your fingers, and especially not your fingernails) to apply (GENTLE) pressure. If the white stuff can be squeezed out easily, do it. Then use another gauze pad to apply hydrogen peroxide and spread on a natural antibiotic treatment like Tea Tree Oil. If the white stuff doesn't budge after squeezing gently, don't even think about popping it!
To be most effective, nutritional supplements work better in combination. It may be more beneficial to take a variety of Herbs or Nutrients for more rapid and complete healing...
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The following Combinations are those recommended for the treatment of Acne.
Supplements:
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Vitamins :-
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A, B Complex, C, E
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Minerals :-
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Calcium Sulphate, Zinc, Chromium
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Food Supplements :-
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Nutritional Yeast, Lecithin
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Herbs :-
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Echinacea, Garlic, Golden Seal, Evening Primrose oil
(EPO-GLA), Watercress & Parsley, Chapparal, Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Globe Artichoke
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Notes :-
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(Many of these products are available combined in a specific formula for acne. See related items.)
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Related Items: (You can click on the product images for additional information)
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Caution: Always seek professional help for any serious disease. The products listed may be helpful in addition to Medical Treatment, however they are not intended to replace it. When in doubt seek Medical Advice.
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