Acne: A Basic Survival Guide

I first experienced acne at the tender age of 11, it was an uphill battle from then on. It didn't go away either, and my teens were a nightmare. Three years of antibiotic treatment left my intestines stripped of flora and didn't cure the acne. The morbid truth is as I am told by dermatologists: acne cannot be cured, but it can be managed. So I embarked on my own acne-management journey and what I discovered was the simplest ways to control it, are in fact the best.

Firstly, acne is NOT always hormonal, although the majority of sufferers are imbalanced hormonally. Acne generating from below the chin towards the neck (mouth and chin area), as a herbalist told me, are hormonal areas. The area around the cheeks (covering the cheeks and temples), relates to the liver and kidneys. He put me on a diet which contained no processed foods or preservatives, as well as a blood, liver and kidney cleanser. To get a simple blood cleanser, use the tissue salt CalcSulph (calcium sulphate). Good liver cleansers include Dandelion tea and Milk-thistle. To cleanse the kidneys, Fennel works very well. Be aware that some kidney cleansers cannot be used if you are suffering from renal malfunction or any form of chronic renal condition.

What dermatologists don't tell you, is that diet plays a large role in your hormones too. Hormones are produced from fats, too much or too little and you have an imbalance. I'm sure by now you will know what fats are 'good' and which are 'bad', so I won't go into detail about that. You can balance your hormones naturally too, Agnus Castus, more commonly known as Chasteberry is good for hormonal balance. If you are taking the contraceptive Pill and hoping it will clear your skin, but it doesn't, make sure you are taking the right one. It may help to have levels checked so that you don't go through the traumatic experience of taking one after the other and living with constant mood-swings! Adaptogenic herbal concoctions are best as they adapt to the body's needs.

All that said, how do you control it? Once acne has cleared or even when it hasn't, the best advice I was ever given, was using a mask every second day. Yes, every second day, not once a week. Purifying masks are the best as they draw out black heads, which come out on their own...don't squeeze (I Iearnt from experience). Your condition may seem worse at first and may continue to be so for about a month, but don't let that put you off. One of the best masks I have used and can vouch for, is Clarins Aromatic Plant Purifying Mask. It is pricey, but it works. If that is out of your budget, try Neutrogena Deep Cleansing mask. Next is to exfoliate. Don't underestimate the importance of this, as it sloughs off dead cells which block the pores. Again, use a non-granular exfoliator every second day (acne sufferers tend to have more dead skin cells which when mixed with sebum form a 'cement' in the pores). I recommend Clarins Gentle Peeling, it has a silver colour and is rubbed or rinsed off. Granular exfoliants break the skin and cause infection. Yves Saint Laurent also has an enzymatic exfoliant as does Clinique, both are excellent. Now, a little gem I found: Neutrogena Antiwrinkle Day Cream, it has Retinol, a powerful force in the fight against acne. This also comes in Blemish Control formular with salicylic acid, but don't apply that to your whole face, only to affected area's. I say this because many acne sufferers have dehydrated skin as the products they use to treat the acne dries the skin out. So apply the normal Retinol cream to the whole face and the other to affected areas. To treat dehydration the company Vichy, still has the best answer. Vichy Thermal Spa Water, in a can, sprays onto the skin with a fine mist. It is amazing. Clinique has a Moisture Quench spray that is similar. Never use Retinol products without a sun-block, be warned! Tea-tree oil is the best for on-the-spot treatment, it works quickly and effectively. That is a promise.

Now, if you think I'm talking nonsense, remember...I have been around the block with this one and really have found a simple regimen that has worked for me. To find out what works for you, you have to do it by trial and error, but this one is definitely a good one. Acne is as much a pandemic as any other disease, but it can be managed. Try these products, but give them a chance to work. Lets hope no one will be calling you pizza-face again!