Managing Acne Through Natural Home Care

Acne can be managed through dietary and lifestyle changes in addition to natural home remedies found on most household shelves. It does not have to be lived with nor do acne scars need to be a permanent feature on the skin. These simple tips will keep acne managed naturally if followed on a daily basis. Start by controlling acne through small dietary changes, follow that up with topical treatments, and then work on lessening the appearance of acne scars.

Understanding Internal Acne Causes



Acne has several causes, including exacerbation from fluctuating hormones, over active sebaceous glands, and clogging by dead skin cells, makeup and the wrong skin care products. The most common issue is overactive sebaceous glands. This simply means the pores-responsible for keeping the skin moisturized-put out too much oil or it is too thick to leave the pore on its own. This issue is caused by both hereditary and dietary factors.



The hereditary factor is controlled somewhat through diet and careful cleansing. Foods such as sugar, caffeine, and certain fats can make hormones fluctuate or fly out of control, which can cause the skin to become more active. Limit or eliminate sources of sugar, caffeine, and fried or greasy foods. These include chocolate, coffee, power drinks, fast food, processed foods, and anything with added sugar, food colors, or cooked in refined oil. Also, eliminate white foods such as breads and pastas-these are treated the same as refined sugars in the body-and chemicals such as preservatives, food colors, and artificial sweeteners. These can cause breakouts by causing fluctuating hormone levels, which increase oil production.



Natural Topical Treatments from Home



A good skin care routine is essential for healthy skin. Cleanse the skin twice per day and after any activities that produce sweat or allow dirt and dust to settle on the skin. This is essential to keep the pores from becoming blocked. Follow up a gentle cleansing with a toner and lightweight moisturizer. Avoid all products that contain petroleum derivatives or mineral oils since these do clog pores.



Avoid soaps containing antibacterial agents, unless prescribed by a doctor, or that contain sodium tallowate, which is beef fat. Instead, opt for bar soaps based on coconut or olive oil; or mild cleansers designed for the face. Use these on any acne prone areas including the chest, back, arms, and even legs. Avoid hard scrubs or scrubbing pads, instead opt for applying the cleanser with the fingertips or gentle pads made specifically for tender skin. (Vickery and Fries 170)



Gently pat the skin dry. Then, follow up with the toner using a 100 percent cotton cosmetic pad. Toner helps restore the delicate acid balance and remove any residual dirt or dead skin to help prevent infections. Instead of purchasing an expensive toner product, James A. Duke Ph.D. recommends trying out the following home remedies: 100 percent aloe Vera gel without fragrances or dyes, five percent apple cider vinegar diluted into water using a one-to-ten ratio, chamomile, calendula, cucumber, gotukola, wild pansy, carrot, English plantain, ivy, marsh mallow, pineapple, purslane, walnut, mint, witch hazel, or white willow bark infusions. (Duke 475)



Follow this routine up with a moisturizer that does not contain fragrances or colors. A good moisturizer will help keep the skin from becoming too dry and flaky, which can lead to blocked pores. Cocoa butter, Coconut oil, and vitamin-E oil based moisturizers are okay for nighttime use, but opt for an oil free moisturizer for daytime use. Vitamin-e oil is a well-known cure for many skin conditions and despite being oil, generally acts as an anti-bacterial healing agent. (Duke 475)



Other Products That Naturally Help Acne and Scarring



Gentle clay masks work to help clear up skin by absorbing excess oil and gently sloughing away dead skin that can block pores. Apricot scrubs can help slough away scar tissue and help reveal fresher skin beneath.



To help eliminate scars, use a gentle scrub or clay mask one per week and apply aloe vera and vitamin-E oil to the skin every night. Preferably, use aloe direct from the plant by slicing a fresh leaf open and spreading the plant gel onto the skin using a cotton pad.



Follow this routine up with a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin-A'"usually found in orange vegetables such as carrots'"and 20 to 30 minutes of sun exposure daily to aid the body in producing vitamin-D, which is essential for clear skin.



Manage acne through dietary changes, a good skin care routine, and exercise daily-which also helps to normalize hormone levels. Get plenty of sunshine, drink plenty of fresh filtered water, and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and fiber. The naturally occurring vitamins and fiber in the fresh fruits and vegetables help normalize digestion and hormone levels, and thus help the body reduce oil production. Acne can be managed with a daily routine for good health.



Works cited



James A duke Ph.D. The Green Pharmacy: The Ultimate Compendium of Natural Remedies from the world's foremost Authority on Healing Herbs. St. Martins Paperbacks Non-Fiction 1997



Donald M. Vickery, M.D. and James F. Fries, M.D. Take Care of Yourself: The Most Complete Illustrated Guide to Medical Self-Care Covers At-Home treatments for over 175 Health Problems and When to See a Doctor. Perseus Publishing 2001