The End of Acne - Finally!

While doing research today, I came across some very interesting information that will likely put an end to acne for everyone. All you need is four key ingredients: Honey, baking soda, powdered oats and coconut oil. This article describes the role of each, with references to scientific studies, in controlling your acne. You can use this routine to help keep your skin healthy and glowing even if you do not have acne.

Controlling acne is actually easy. All you have to do is keep your pores free-flowing so they can't back up with sebum and oils. You also have to kill the bacteria associated with acne. This article shows you exactly how to do that with four simple ingredients.

First, learn how it works. The routine is described after the research. I believe it's on Page 3 .

How it Works:

Honey is known for its antibacterial properties. There have been plenty of studies to show that honey is nature's best topical antibiotic. According to a number of scientific studies, including this one, Effect of medical honey on wounds colonised or infected with MRSA. which states, "Full healing was achieved in seven consecutive patients whose wounds were either infected or colonised with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antiseptics and antibiotics had previously failed to irradicate the clinical signs of infection."[1] There were many more articles supporting the fact that honey kills MRSA. Here was a study of treating MRSA with honey in an immunosuppressed patient, Healing of an MRSA-colonized, hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with honey. which states, "RESULTS: MRSA was eradicated from the ulcer and rapid healing was successfully achieved."[2] Honey kills bacteria and yeast both of which are responsible for skin infections. According to this report, Honey versus superbugs, the concentration required to kill most bacteria and yeast is below 50%. [3]There is a lot of scientific research that proves this over and over again. In addition, it smells really good, too.

The most important part of this information is the honey. Honey kills the bacteria associated with acne. Honey also kills yeast, which is another common cause for skin eruptions. If you just wash your face with honey instead of soap, the bacteria can't grow on your face. It is literally impossible.

The baking soda is included for its abrasive properties. While salts are known to kill bacteria, the honey alone is enough to control bacteria and yeast associated with most skin eruptions. The inclusion baking soda in this perfecting mix is simply to help remove dead skin cells without excessive abrasion.

Dead skin cells that can plug your pores are easily removed with baking soda. There is no reason to pay a ton of money for a chemical stripper that removes as many living cells as dead cells. Why would you choose to induce a chemical burn rather than rub a little bit of baking soda on your skin?

Oatmeal has long been recognized as a beneficial ingredient to skin care. I found one study that explains it all in one sentence, Colloidal oatmeal: history, chemistry and clinical properties., "Its many functional properties make colloidal oatmeal a cleanser, moisturizer, buffer, as well as a soothing and protective anti-inflammatory agent."[4] That sure is simple.

The oatmeal is soothing and anti-inflammatory. If your skin is inflamed from irritation, your pores become swollen shut, blocking the flow of sebum and oils. Many chemicals in cleaning and body care products have been proven to cause a dermal allergic response. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is up to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air and pollution is known to contribute to acne.[5] The oats will soothe the allergic response. In addition, until natural products can be purchased at WalMart, the only soaps available for most people to use contain ingredients that are known dermal irritants. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review openly admits that sodium lauryl and sodium laureth sulfate are dermal irritants.[6] Dermal irritation contributes to acne. The only way to soothe all that irritation is with oats.

The last ingredient, coconut oil, is an emollient. Emollients help soften and moisturize the skin. Again, there are many scientific studies to show that this is true, and very well documented. The results of this report says it all, A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. "RESULTS: Coconut oil and mineral oil have comparable effects. Both oils showed effectivity through significant improvement in skin hydration and increase in skin surface lipid levels. Safety was demonstrated through no significant difference in TEWL and skin pH. Subjective grading of xerosis by the investigators and visual analogue scales used by the patients showed a general trend toward better (though not statistically evident) improvement with coconut oil than with mineral oil."[7] Exerosis is the medical term for dry skin. Mineral oil is defined quite well in Wikipedia, "Mineral oil or liquid petrolatum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline."[8] Coconut oil is from coconuts. Mineral oil, or petrolatum, is a petroleum by-product. Which do you want on your skin?"

The Routine:

Try this once or twice a day for just one week:

Do not use any soaps, scrubs, creams, lotions, astringents, moisturizers, pimple creams or anything on your face. Use nothing other than this routine. You will not need them and the irritation can lead to contact dermatitis. Be sure your shampoo is not running on your face.

For shaving, use only a natural bar soap from a natural store.

Warm your face with hot compresses to open pores, soften dead skin cells and soften sebum. A hot compress is just a rag with very warm water. When oils heat, they soften and easily wash off.
Rub honey all over your face.
Do another hot compress.
Mix honey, powdered oats (powder some oats in a blender) and baking soda and use as a scrub. Add water as needed so the mixture is not sticky.
Rinse.
Blot dry.
Rub on a bit of coconut oil to moisturize.
Done.

Before you go, tell your friends about this article with a quick email...they will definitely thank you for it.

Resources:
1. Effect of medical honey on wounds colonised or infected with MRSA., http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17927079?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
2. Healing of an MRSA-colonized, hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with honey., http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12171686?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1
3. Honey versus superbugs, http://www.beesneez.com.au/Julie%20Irish%20Media%20release.pdf
4. Colloidal oatmeal: history, chemistry and clinical properties., http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17373175?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
5. Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html
6. Cosmetic Ingredient Review, http://www.cir-safety.org/staff_files/alerts.pdf
7. A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis., http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15724344?dopt=Abstract
8. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil