Acne is a skin condition that occurs mainly due to hormone fluctuations, clogged pores, poor diet, stress and an imbalance of bacteria living on the skin. Everyone has acne-causing bacteria living on their skin, but researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine have identified that there are "good" and "bad" strains of the bacteria, which determine the frequency and severity of developing pimples. Propionibacterium acnes is a tiny microbe that lives in the oily region of the skin's pores. The bacteria can aggravate an immune response which causes red, swollen bumps to develop on the skin (acne).
Acne is affecting many teenagers and can be a major cause of embarrassment and low self-esteem - not just for teens, but for adults as well.
The pharmaceutical industry earns millions of dollars from selling all kinds of drugs and cures to desperate people. However, these treatments only address the symptoms of acne, and not the cause of it. Not that the pharma industry minds - that way they get repeat business and the money keeps on rolling in.
Unlike what you will hear from many doctors, pharmacists and dermatologist - one of the key elements of treating acne is your diet. What you eat has a huge impact on your skin. This is because the right diet will create an environment that does not allow the bad strains of bacteria to grow.
If you want to tackle the cause of acne, you need to consider all the environmental factors such as:
Eat a well-balanced diet, that is low in GI (glycemic index). Stay away from sugar, processed food, refined carbs, gluten and cow's milk dairy products
Take a probiotic supplement
Drink lots of water (eliminate soft drinks, juices and other sugary drinks)
Avoid stress
Change your pillow case every week
Get plenty of sleep
Establish a healthy skin care routine
Home remedies for your skin:
Step 1: Cleanse your skin
Dampen skin with warm water, then massage the following home-made cleanser into your face. Rinse well and pat dry. Do this each morning and evening.
Home-made cleanser:
1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Couple of drops of tea tree oil
Step 2: Tone
After cleansing, use a cotton ball with a small amount of apple cider vinegar and wipe the face. The vinegar kills bacteria on the skin.
Step 3: Moisturize
Coconut oil makes an ideal moisturizer, it has lauric acid fighting bacteria as well as antioxidants and medium-chain fatty acids hydrating and restoring the skin.
Warm ¼ teaspoon of coconut oil in the palms of your hands. Smooth over your cleaned face and neck. Allow to soak into the skin for five minutes. Gently wipe off excess oil with a dry cloth.
The amount that has been absorbed is all your skin needs, but any excess may cause a breakout.
Step 4: Treat spots
To treat spots, dab a little bit of the following mix lightly on problem areas – best done before going to bed (only use once per day).
4 drops of tea tree oil mixed with 1 teaspoons of coconut oil -
(or alternatively you can use a very small amount of 2 % benzoyl peroxide)
Tea tree oil is an antiseptic and is used to treat wounds, fight bacteria and fungi. Always mix the tea tree oil with a base (like coconut oil) and don't use it pure. If you experience any burning on the skin, discontinue use.
Additional skin care:
Mask
2 x per week use a mask. Apply to face. Relax for 10 minutes and gently wipe off with a damp cloth.
Yogurt and Honey Mask:
Mix one tablespoon of raw honey with one tablespoon of yogurt and 2 drops of tee tree oil.
Exfoliate
1 x per week exfoliate to remove dead skin cells. Apply in the shower and rinse well.
2 tablespoons of raw sugar (or sea salt) and
2 tablespoons of kefir (or honey or coconut oil)
Sunscreen
Avoid sun, always wear a hat and cover up. Coconut oil has an estimated SPF value of around 7.
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