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Acne Natural Skincare
Herbal Acne Treatments
Time-honored alternative traditions and new non-mainstream therapies for acne sufferers.
The ever-popular world of "alternative" medicine - be it old or new,
Western or Eastern - has a lot to offer for the acne sufferer. This is
good news for everybody, but adult sufferers who find their skin no
longer responds to treatments designed for people in their teens will
be especially interested in new ways to handle skin problems.
Although
the dietary connections to acne have been widely discredited (with the
exception of food allergies), most alternative practioners look here
first: while chocolate and French fries do not cause pimples, a diet
lacking in essential nutrients will not do troubled skin any favors.
Essential fatty acids are major components of all cellular formations
and they are critical for a healthy complexion, but are frequently
noted as an item lacking in most North American diets. EFAs can be
easily found in the form of flax or evening primrose oil supplements,
along with a diet high in vegetables, seeds and grains.
In
a perfect world, nobody would need one, but - a daily multivitamin also
has a lot to recommend it, for the reasons mentioned above. "Megadoses"
of vitamins should be avoided unless prescribed by a reputable health
care practioner; many people are aware that vitamin A is critical for
skin health, but few people are aware that an overdose leads to severe
liver damage.
More innovative supplements include
saw palmetto. The saw palmetto plant is recognized as a treatment for
prostate disorders, because it interferes with the production of
certain male hormones. The same process which helps with prostate
disorders has also been seen to be useful for acne patients, especially
for those whose troubles are obviously linked to hormone production;
pre-menstrual acne responds particularly well.
Topical
treatments for acne that are "natural" are legion in health-food
stores. It is useful to remember what is considered "natural" -
salicylic acid, the main ingredient in many over-the-counter drugstore
remedies, is derived from willow bark. There are also a lot of bits of
advice floating around that are nothing more than "old wives' tales":
we've seen a lot of alternative health gurus suggesting lemon juice as
a topical treatment, but there is nothing to support the idea that
disrupting the skin's acid balance will be beneficial.
Your
job here, then, is to sort out the useful from the simply silly (and
overpriced). Obvious as it may seem, effective treatments tend to be
the most popular one: the use of tea tree oil in personal care
preparations has skyrocketed in recent years, and for good reason. Tea
tree oil is a natural antibiotic and antibacterial agent, and has a
drying effect on the skin. Keeping the P. Acnes bacteria at bay along
with decreasing facial oiliness makes this oil a worthwhile investment
indeed. You can try prepared remedies, small applications of undiluted
oil, or, in a frequently overlooked option, you can simply add the tea
tree oil to the skin preparations you are already using.
A
less widely seen but increasingly popular option involves the topical
application of zinc, long believed to be useful for acne when taken
internally but only recently recognized as a topical treatment that may
help with skin oiliness. Herbs categorized as "calming" such as
chamomile and lavender are also useful, particularly if the skin is
inflamed from overly aggressive anti-acne treatment.
The
standard "consult your local library for more information" is
particularly relevant here. Reputable books on herbal healing,
nutrition, and, increasingly, essential oils are good sources for more
information on acne treatments. Mainstream acne advice is also more and
more likely to include non-mainstream therapies, so make sure your
sources are as up-to-date as possible.
As with
any lifestyle change, you should consult your health care provider
before making any dramatic changes to your diet. Good luck!
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Acne and Your Diet
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