Nature’s Counterattack on Acne; Go Natural and Organic

Acne is a skin disorder that shows itself as various types of lumpy bumps. These bumps can present as whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and pustules. Whiteheads result when the pores of the skin clog up, close off and start poking out of the skin, forming a lump. Blackheads are formed when the affected pores do not close, as the surfaces of the bumps’ surfaces turn darker in color.  When the walls surrounding and protecting the pores break off, sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells invade the skin, causing small red infections called pimples. Pustules occur when pimples are filled with pus. The blocked – up pores that get into the deeper layer of the skin are called the nodules, which are relatively more painful than the other bumps.  These nodules turn into cysts when they are filled with pus.  When left untreated or incorrectly treated, both the nodules and the cysts can result in severe scarring of the skin. Acne is usually visible on the face, but can also occur on the neck, shoulders, upper arms, back and chest.

Acne can occur in any age group. Though it is not life threatening, it poses a serious problem because it can be disfiguring and socially embarrassing if severe.

 How do acne treatments actually work? The focus of treating acne is mainly the reduction of oil production.  Afterwards, the growth of new skin cells is accelerated, as the dead skin cells are removed.  Most frequently, an acne therapy combines two or three of these actions for more effective and faster results. There are many ways of treating acne, but there is no single acne cure that works for absolutely everyone because everybody’s skin and the causes of acne are different. Natural treatments for acne have advantages over some other types of acne chemical laden medicine. Many successful acne treatments are organic and do not use the typical “poison chemicals” to treat the skin.

Propionibacteria acnes also known as P. acnes or Propioni bacteria are anaerobic bacteria responsible for inflamed acne breakouts. They are the normal flora of the skin and are generally regarded as harmless. But when pores become engorged with excess oil and dead skin cells, skin becomes susceptible to these bacteria. The result is an anaerobic environment where they can thrive. Popular natural remedies known for their anti – bacterial activity are:

·         Tea Tree Oil –  A popular antiseptic home remedy for acne. It is diluted with water and applied topically to acne lesions.  The essential components in tee tree oil contain terpinen-4-ol which is responsible for most of tea tree oil's anti-bacterial activity.

·         Sugar and olive oil – Easily prepared by diluting sugar in warm water and adding olive oil to the solution. Sugar’s anti-bacterial action expedites the cleaning of acne blemishes while olive oil contains antioxidant properties that protects and aids in remedying skin breakouts.

·         Vinegar – Vinegar is diluted in water with a ratio of 1:8. After applying on the affected skin, let it stay for ten minutes or so and  rinse with cool water. It also absorbs extra oil on the face and balances the skin's pH, aside from killing bacteria.

·         Honey – Honey contains anti-bacterial properties and is gentle on the skin. It destroys surface bacteria when applied to the face and can be used two to three times weekly. Results may vary.

·         Turmeric – A useful spice in treating acne is turmeric because of its antiseptic properties. It is applied directly on the affected skin. It is also useful in drying out acne sores and removing blemishes.

·         Lavender - Lavender oil contains several beneficial and natural chemicals that complement one another. Lavender oil is powerful with a broad range of healing properties including that of an antiseptic, which also makes it an excellent general cleaning agent when diluted in warm water. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can also be applied directly to the skin undiluted. A lavender steam is another method to kill germs causing acne and stimulate new skin cell growth. In a glass or enameled pot use 2 – 4 tablespoons of lavender to 2 quarts of water. When the pot is steaming, sit with the face a comfortable distance from the steam and treat for fifteen minutes. Use a towel to trap the steam if preferred. Afterwards, rinse the face with cool water and pat dry.

Exfoliation is necessary for keeping skin healthy and preventing the accumulation of dead cells on the skin surface because clumped and dead skin cells are another cause of acne. When dead skin cells are removed, the growth of new skin cells occurs. Instead of using chemicals for exfoliation, scrubs made of natural and organic material can be used such as:

·         Baking soda – To create a scrub to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin that clog pores and lead to acne, baking soda is mixed with water and massaged onto skin for a few seconds. It is then rinsed off and face is dried with towel.

·         Oatmeal – Oatmeal is a healthy scrub and is able to absorb extra oil and impurities from the pores. Oatmeal is cooked and allowed to cool and then rubbed over washed skin. Let it remain for 10 minutes or so like a mask and then rinse off.

·         Citrus juice – Citrus juice from lemon, lime, apricot or orange are good exfoliants and can retard the appearance of blemishes. The juice of the citrus fruit of choice is extracted and mixed with key ingredients such as salt or sugar to create a scrub mixture. Aside from removing dead skin cells, the scrub mixture helps to stimulate circulation, hydrate and rejuvenate the skin, giving it a natural radiance.

·         Coffee - Coffee will not only minimize pores and slough off dead skin so that fresh new skin underneath will be revealed, but it will also gently firm and tone skin. One egg white and ¼ cup of used coffee grounds are mixed and combined well. The mixture is gently massage onto the face, then allowed to dry. Simply rinse off with warm water.

·         Crushed almonds or walnut shells – These can be used in place of coffee. They have the same effect and action.

·         Strawberry - Strawberries are abundant with whole food vitamins such as vitamin C, v antioxidants, and salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that loosens dead skin cells and encourages new healthy cells to proliferate to the skin. BHA has anti-bacterial properties and is oil soluble, causing an effective penetration of the pores. About 8 to 10 strawberries are mashed and 2 tablespoons of apricot oil or olive oil and one tablespoon of coarse salt or sea salt are added into the mixture. The mixture is applied and massaged onto the skin.

One of the biggest problems that many encounter is excessive sweating and facial oiliness. Skin has sebaceous glands that release oil periodically. This oil lubricates the skin and prevents the skin from drying and in turn reduces the occurrences of wrinkles. But in some people the oil is produced so excessively that it results in acne. Natural remedies to remove excess oil and prevent acne breakouts include:

·         Oatmeal – As described above, oatmeal is a good scrub to use to absorb extra oil and impurities from the pores.

·         Vinegar – As described above, aside from its anti-bacterial properties, it also absorbs extra oil on the face.

·         Aloe vera – Aloe vera juice and aloe vera extracts when topically applied onto skin absorb oil and clean out pores. The aloe vera extract should be placed in the refrigerator because they are more refreshing to the skin when cooled.

·          Witch Hazel or Lemon Juice – Either of these can be used as astringent to unclog pores and dry up excessive oil. Witch hazel extract can be obtained by steaming the twigs of the witch hazel shrub. Witch Hazel is commonly found in Canada and the United States.

·         Tomato or Cucumber - Tomatoes and cucumbers help absorb oil from the skin which prevents the formation of acne. Cucumber is cooling and soothing and feels wonderful on sore skin.  It works well to reduce the inflammation and soreness that accompanies acne. Cucumbers are also 90% water making them an ideal hydration vehicle for the skin. Cucumbers are also a great alternative to using chemical laden moisturizers. Tomatoes have natural acidic properties that help balance the skin and get rid of excessive oil. The antioxidants and natural vitamins in tomatoes also make them potent free radical fighters. Slices of cucumber or cucumber juice can be applied topically to the acne affected area. The same goes with tomato juice as it is also applied topically. Tomato and cucumber juices can be mixed together and used as an astringent. This is a natural power packed acne fighting punch.

Look for reasonable expectations as acne therapy begins, regardless of the treatment of choice.  Improvements usually take six to eight weeks before they are seen, so don’t panic when acne might appear worse before it gets better. Take a deep breath. Do not be discouraged and continue with treatment regimen regularly.  It takes a patience when seeking clearer skin. If wishing for all-ready packaged acne treatments, please use organic products only. The majority of acne treatments are simply a cocktail of chemical concoctions that do more hard than good in the long run. Who really wants to trade acne for cancer causing chemicals?  All natural substances listed above can be found or purchased almost everywhere. They are easy to prepare and can be used in the comfort of one’s own home. With treating acne naturally, it is also important to modify one’s lifestyle to a certain extent.  Sufficient water intake, regular exercise and proper nutrition full of vitamin rich and phytnonutrients rich plant foods will go a long way in helping to treat chromic acne. Make sure the diet is void of processed foods.  Adequate sleep and moderate exercise will also go a long way in helping to treat an acne condition.