ACNE
Ok so this is a topic close to my heart. I, like you, suffer from acne. It is not just adolescent acne, it is ADULT ACNE. I am taking nothing away from adolescent acne (after all that’s where it starts) but it is expected and so half accepted but you sort of hope that’s that is where it will END too. Yet for 40 million United States citizens alone, the acne does not stop there.
WHAT IS ACNE?
Well one look in the mirror and you can see what it is. You are faced with redness, puss, blackheads and whiteheads. The exact causes are rather unclear. Doctors and researchers seem to have an ongoing debate about what the cause is but they do seem to agree on a few things.
Statistics show that GENETICS is the single strongest factor that causes acne. We all know that we cannot change our genes! That, coupled with the hormonal changes that take place as an adolescent, does not help. An increase in testosterone occurs in both sexes. When these increases of hormones happen, the levels of sebum production rise resulting in more pimples.
Acne is a skin condition caused by over activity of the glands that secrete an oily substance onto the skin. Not a pretty site and a rather debilitating one too. It knocks your self confidence resulting in low self esteem and depression. Socially you become a hermit not wanting to see people for fear of being ridiculed. (Want to stop that quickly click here) I think we all can agree, that this is not a great way to live your life. So..
HOW DO WE TREAT ACNE?
I was absolutely shocked to learn that there is NO CURE for acne. Yes initially I was disheartened but then I picked myself up and got to finding out how I can at least control or diminish my acne. Something is better than nothing. There are also some BIG NO-NOs when it comes to dealing with acne.
Acne is NOT caused by dirt so it can not be washed or scrubbed away. In fact scrubbing just makes it WORSE! It irritates it and I don’t need to go into why that is not a good thing. My suggestion is just use your hand (as opposed to exfoliating mittens or a cloth) and only wash your face twice a day.
DO NOT PICK At YOUR FACE! I can not stress that enough. I have done it countless times and it only makes your acne worse. You see our thought process is one of “if I can just get rid of that pimple, I will look better” and then the next and the next and it never ends, all the while we are just causing more harm than good. The bacterium just gets spread across your face or it gets pushed in deeper causing the follicle to rupture and the infection to spread. Not a good combat for acne.
Sun does not cure acne. I live in sunny South Africa and I got told drink orange juice and go into the sun. I would have tried anything, so I did and yes it helped and then just got a whole heap worse. Why, well the sun damages your follicular walls, clogging your pores resulting in more acne a few weeks later.
Diet and acne. Ok well I have read various reports saying it is related and some saying that there in no relation whatsoever. So not affirmed either way but cut down on some foods and see if it makes a difference at all. Maybe you have an allergy that aggravates the situation. Start with the highly refined sugars and things like seafood, mushrooms and salt. Watch out for foods packed with hormones. It does not help hormonal acne.
Interesting fact, non Westernized people did not suffer from acne until their diet changed to what we eat and then oops they joined our ranks in the acne department. Give it a try, no harm in it and maybe it will help.
So now we have covered the what not to dos, however these alone will only help a bit and you want to do EVERYTHING you can, to keep yourself empowered in the battle against acne.
Straight to the point. I prefer the more natural way. (click here to see which natural way)Yes I know it can take longer but acne starts from the inside out so that’s where I am going to go. I want to get to the core of it; what are my options? The chemical/ antibiotic route or the herbal route. I am no doctor and nor do I profess to be but I did a little research on the side effects of these anti-acne medications that we get prescribed and I was shocked at how long the list goes on..
I am not going to give you a whole list of unpronounceable names of various chemicals found in anti-acne treatments but I am going to give you a run down of what the side effects are. After all that is what matters most. (Don’t want side effects click here now)
Liver disease (sometimes resulting in a needed transplant), jaundice and life threatening psuedomembranous colitis. Autoimmune disease, acute inflammation of the lung, blue black disclouring of your skin, mucous membranes, nails, adult teeth and Internal organs.
Benign intercranial hypertension. Early warning signs are headaches, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances. Decreased night vision, inflammatory bowel disease, an increase in the size of your bones, raised cholesterol levels. It also puts you at risk of a heart attack.(Had enough yet, want to go straight to the herbal acne solution, click here)
Further skin problems. As if acne is not enough you suffer too from dry skin, skin fragility, itching, nosebleeds, inflammation and cracking of lips. Eczema like rash, thinning of hair, peelings of palms and soles of feet, skin infections, gastrointestinal problems, urogenital problems and tiredness.
Then to top the list off you also have things like seizures, dizziness, nervousness, insomnia, depression (as if the acne hadn’t caused enough now the “cure” adds to it too, gum inflammation, arthritis and so we can go on but I think you have got’n the point. Why subject yourself to these life threatening risks? Agreed? Click here
Remember there is no CURE so why put yourself through all that. Yes acne is not pleasant to live with (I spent many a night crying myself to sleep because of it) but it is also not worth damaging your HEALTH for it so GO HERBAL!!
