Managing Acne in a Natural Way

Almost everyone has suffered from acne at one time or another in his or her lives. It is primarily a disorder of the sebaceous gland (glands in the skin that secrete an oily substance) of the face, the neck and back. When the sebaceous glands become clogged with the oily substance they create, the accumulation results in pimples. There are several forms of acne, but the most common is acne vulgaris, found primarily in adolescents.

The precise cause of acne is not known, but aspects that contribute to this condition include heredity, oily skin and androgens. Additional factors include allergies, stress, the use of certain drugs, nutritional deficiencies, liver dysfunction, exposure to industrial pollutants, cosmetics and the monthly menstrual cycle.

The skin functions to get rid of a portion of the body’s toxic waste by sweating. The skin takes over if the body has more toxins than the kidneys or liver can successfully release. The skin is called the 3rd kidney by some doctors. As toxins escape through the skin, they can disrupt the health and integrity of the skin, creating issues.

Recommendations for Wellness

Note: Some of these recommendations may take 2-4 weeks before any results or improvements are experienced.

Apply distilled white vinegar to the face and affected areas. Let this sit on your face for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.

Lemon or any citric fruit can be used as a natural exfoliate to remove dead skin cells that may clog pores. Apply the juice of a lemon (or desired citric juice) to the face, as you would with the white vinegar. Allow it to dry for about 10 minutes, then rinse with cool water. You may feel a mild sting or burn when the lemon juice is applied. If so, diluting the juice is acceptable.

You should increase water consumption. Drink water to help flush out toxins in your body and to help transport nutrients in your body.

Eat a properly balanced diet to ensure proper nutrition. Take a high quality multiple vitamin and mineral supplement to make up for nutrients missing in today’s foods.

Echinacea or Oregon grape can be used to boost the immune system and fight acne-causing bacteria.

To help keep your liver clear of toxic overload use dandelion, burdock or red clover.

You can also use herbal combinations such as Natures Sunshine’s Ayurvedic Skin Detox, and BP-X to cleanse and detoxify the liver and reduce acne.

Large quantities of vitamin A have been successfully used to treat severe acne. However, large amounts can be toxic and should only be used when working with your health care provider.

You should consider adding additional zinc to your diet. Zinc helps heal tissues, and it helps to prevent scars. Zinc is also important to the body in resisting infection and inflammation.

Try a homeopathic acne remedy to help clear and heal the skin. It can help to dry up pimples & prevent future outbreaks.