Friday, January 18, 2008
How the kidney, lungs, and lymphatic system keep you acne from appearing
The purpose of the two kidneys is to filter the water in your blood as the blood passes through the kidneys. About 4 gallons of water are filtered every day but only around 3 pints are pulled out as urine.
Alcohol and sugar are the most damaging to the kidney since they kill kidney cells and weaken the kidney function.
Water is the major way the body keeps toxins from accumulating in the body and skin. You need to drink plenty of clean water daily so the kidneys can remove toxins and excess nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the blood.
When you drink plenty of water, the skin does not have to act as a filter to filter out excess waste from the blood since it is been filter and excreted, as urine, by your kidney.
Water also is needed to keep your skin moist. Water in the skin layers helps to protect the skin from bacteria and toxins that try to pass into your skin.
The more fresh juices you drink and the more fruit or vegetables you eat, the less water you need to drink. All juices contain plenty of distilled water, which contributes to your daily water requirement.
Drinking sodas and other drinks that have sugar cannot be counted as water.
The Lungs
You have two large sacs that are called your lungs. As you breathe in air, the lungs pull oxygen out of the air, which is captured by your blood, routed to your liver, moved into your heart and then moved into all parts of your body.
As you breathe out, waste and carbon dioxide are pushed out through your mouth.
Your cells use oxygen to create energy for you to live by. You need energy for every movement your body does. Oxygen is also used to neutralize toxins, waste and pathogen. The more toxins, acid waste and pathogens you have in your body, the more oxygen is used up to neutralize them. This means you will have less oxygen for cell, organ and other body functions.
If the other elimination channels are weak and overloaded, the lungs will also become overloaded trying to get rid of toxic waste the other channels cannot get rid of.
When your lungs become overloaded with toxins or become weak, more waste stays in the body, making your body more toxic, acidic and susceptible to disease and infections. If you have kidney weakness, liver weakness, lung weakness mostly likely you will have skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, acne, and many other types of skin disorders.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. It consists of a series of tubes, large and small, that cover your entire body. Through these tubes flow a whitish liquid called lymph. Since this system does not have a pump, the lymph is pushed through the tubes by your body’s movement or exercise.
Lymph liquid surrounds all of your body cells and is responsible for bringing nutrients to your cells from the blood and to move away toxins that come out of the cells.
Toxins and pathogens that are in your lymph liquid are moved into lymph nodes. In the lymph nodes, this toxic matter is neutralized into harmless chemicals and then moved into the blood and are eliminated through the other channels of elimination.
The lymph liquid is composed of electrolyte minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium phosphorus, and chloride. So strong lymph liquid is built when you eat fruits and vegetables.
When the lymph nodes become overwhelmed with toxic waste from the cells and the blood, they become inflamed and cannot keep the body free of toxic matter.
Excess toxic waste accumulates in the lymph liquid when your body does not have enough electrolyte minerals to neutralize this toxic acid waste. Now, your body is a considered acid and will have a difficult time fighting infections wherever they occur, including your face.
When you lymph system becomes weaken, it is unable to detoxify toxins and routes them into the blood where the liver is expected to clean the blood.
Keeping you lymph system strong is important for keeping your skin free of blemishes, skin disorders, eczema and acne.
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call “natural-remedies-thatwork.com” More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info
Eczema and acne herbs for a powerful footbath
I have listed his herbal recommendations and have added a few more that are effective in reducing eczema symptoms. I have listed 11 herbs that you can buy in small quantities, ½ oz, to mix together, produce a tea, and use in a footbath.
As mentioned in my other article on footbaths, create a tea, with herbs and let them sit for 20-30 minutes. Then strain and add them to a footbath. Use the footbath in the morning and evening for 10 – 14 minutes.
Use at least 9 of the herbs listed here.
Artichoke leaves – You can use artichoke leaves dried whole or cut down and as an extract. Artichoke leaves have been used for indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. They help increase bile and help the liver to regenerate. The liver needs to be in good condition to help eczema conditions when excess toxins are contributing to eczema. The liver helps to detoxify colon toxins and other toxins that may reach eczema locations and cause inflammation.
What I do is just buy some artichokes and cut them into small pieces – about a small hand full – boil water and put them into the boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Then I take the boiling water off the stove and put my herbs.
Elecampane leaves – This herb is used to expel intestinal parasites, helps to pull toxins out of the body, stimulate digestion and the immune system. A tea of leaves and roots help clean the skin by removing toxins and allowing your immune system to heal your skin.
Cabbage leaves – these leaves are known to reduce your susceptibility to cancer. It is thought that cabbage leaves have anti-inflammatory action. Cabbage has a healing action on open wounds. You can use fresh cabbage cut into small pieces and add them to the boiling water at the same time you add the artichokes.
Nettles – Nettle tea is good for wounds, stings, and burns. It is also used to eliminate worms and for colon disorders. Many times skin disorders can be the result of a toxic colon. That is why cleansing and detoxifying the colon will help with any type of skin problem.
Sage – is a strong astringent, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. It increases blood circulation, and helps digestive problems.
Lavender –It is used for inflammation from insect bites. Lavender helps to calms nerves. Many of the skin disorders stem from anxiety and nervous conditions which lower the immune system. This allows toxins or heredity conditions to surface and re-establish themselves as skin diseases.
Marigold – is used for pain and skin swelling. It is good for wounds, sprains, and inflamed and sore eyes.
Arnica – stimulates blood circulation and increases blood pressure. It is used for eczema and acne. It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce swelling and pain and helps heal wounds.
Burdock root – Has an excellent history of helping bruises, swelling, and joint pain. It can help to eliminate ringworm on the surface of the skin.
Black Walnut – hull and leaves are used to rid you of various kinds of worms throughout the body. It is useful in constipation, parasitic and fungal infection. It also helps eczema, acne, herpes, skin parasites, and psoriasis.
Yarrow Flowers – helps to improve liver function. It has antiseptic and viral properties. It firms and tones tissue outside and inside the body. It helps to boost your immunity and kills many types of pathogens. Its oils absorb toxins and help the body dispose of them without out creating side effects.
There you have it. Don’t be afraid of buying separate herbs and creating an herbal mixture that you can use in a footbath for eczema, acne and other skin conditions. One last thing, when you use the footbath, you will stir up toxins that may increase skin breakouts but this will pass as the footbaths help to clean out your body.
Rudy Silva has a Physics degree from the University of San Jose California and is a Natural Nutritionist. He writes a newsletter called “natural-remedies-thatwork.com” and he has written an ebook called “How to Clear Up Your Acne by Enhancing Your Fighting Power.” You can get more information on this ebook and more acne remedies at this site. http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info
An acne herbal hand and footbath
If you already have foot spa, thank your mother, sister, or whoever bought it because you’re in for a treat. If you don’t, with $20 or $30 you can get one just like I did.
When you use a heated footbath, veins in your feet start to expand. Over a period of 15-20 minute, the warm water affects your entire vascular (blood) system and you get improved blood circulation.
By adding an herbal infusion into the hot water in the footbath, minerals and other phytochemicals from the herbs enter the soles of your feet and into your blood stream.
This means that you can introduce herbal phytochemicals into your blood stream using the footbath. During your footbath, these herbal chemicals quickly circulated throughout your body and get to work neutralizing acid, killing bacteria, and improving your skin circulation.
Here is an herbal combination you can use. This herbal combination was taken and modified slightly from a book written by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., called The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, 1986. Mowrey says,
“This (herbal) blend attacks external skin disorders from within, purifying the blood, carrying away waste, reinforcing the blood’s ability to ward off infectious agents.”
The herbal combination to use is,
* Dandelion root – purifies blood and improves liver function
* Yellow dock root – purifies blood, helps liver, is anti-bacterial
* Saraparilla root – has antibiotic action, promotes waste elimination through urine and sweating
* Echinacea – increases immunity and promotes skin healing
* Licorice – protects the liver so that it can detoxify the blood better
* Kelp – provide minerals and vitamins and binds heavy metal that are bad for health
* Chaparral – is anti-microbial making effective against acne.
* Fresh Garlic – cut up a few cubes of garlic and place them into the hot water. Garlic is has antibacterial properties.
Buy one ounce of each herb and mix them.
Here’s how to do the herbal footbath,
* Place 2-3 tablespoons of herbal mix into 1 ½ cups of water
* Boil the water with herbs – use only a glass, porcelain, or stainless steel container
* After water starts to boil, pull the container off the stove
* Let tea sit for 15-30 minutes. The longer the tea sits the stronger the tea and its effects
* Prepare your foot spa with water
* Strain the tea to remove leaves and roots
* Poor tea and cut garlic into the foot spa
* Place your feet or hands in the hot water for 15 – 30 minutes.
I have been using a foot spa for many different conditions for my family and myself. I really like using the footbath. It is a convenient way to by pass your digestive system and get more nutrients into your body
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call “natural-remedies-thatwork.com.” More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info
Remedying the Silly Ways Women Get Acne When Applying Makeup
The two key symbols to remember when applying makeup and moisturizers are cotton and the feather. Cotton symbolizes the need to use clean applicators when applying makeup. The feather represents light application of makeup and moisturizers.
Here are the four biggest mistakes women make in their beauty regime that can lead to acne and ways to remedy them.
1.Re-using a consealer applicator
You have a zit and you want to hide it. So what do you do? Dip your consealer applicator in the bottle and apply the liquid cover directly to the inflamed zit, right. No. Reapplying consealer to your face with the applicator provided by the manufacturer does one thing only, spread more bacteria. Once you apply the consealer to your face with the applicator wand, you simply return it to the bottle where the bacteria have a whole container in which to flourish. Giving bacteria a breeding ground is what causes acne in the first place, so don’t give them new real estate in which to reproduce.
Solution:
To avoid this, apply your consealer with a cotton swab and never, ever use the applicator stick provided by the consealer manufacturer. This will ensure that your consealer applications are always fresh and free of as much bacteria as possible.
2. Re-using a foundation sponge
The reasons for not re-using a foundation sponge are the same as the reason for not re-using a consearler applicator, you want to limit the spread of bacteria.
Solution:
Never use the foundation sponge provided by the manufacturer of the cosmetic. Instead, use a cotton ball to apply your foundation. This way, each of your foundation applications will be clean.
3. Applying moisturizers and makeup with a heavy hand.
Do you have the habit of piling layers of makeup onto your face? Caking on your makeup clogs your pores. Clogged pores are an ideal breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria.
Solution:
Always lightly apply your makeup and moisturizer. One easy trick for assuring that you are applying your makeup and moisturizer lightly is that you feel a tickling sensation as you apply your cosmetics. The added benefit of light facial handling is that you reduce stretching and irritating your skin, a combination that can help limit the onset of wrinkles and acne breakouts.
4. Not evenly applying cosmetics
If you notice a collection of pimples surrounding your temple or hairline, this could be because you start applying the makeup or moisturizer at the bottom of your face and work your way upward. However, if the makeup or moisturizer collects on your temples or at the hairline, the cosmetic excess may clog the pores and cause zits.
Solution:
When applying makeup or a moisturizer, spread it evenly across the entire face. Keep in mind that hair styling agents may have spread to your hairline and this increases the chances of the pores getting congested and zits arising. Also, while cleansing your face, apply a warm cloth onto your hairline area to help remove the waxy build-up that comes from hair styling agents, moisturizers and makeup.
So next time you are applying makeup or your moisturizer, call to mind the feather and cotton, your metaphor for staying “light” and “clean” with your skin.
How mental attitude and digestion affect acne
Acne is an expression of toxins in the body that are not being released through normal channels of elimination, so they come out through the skin. Since mental attitude and thoughts cannot be separate from the body, thoughts and feelings are also being expressed as acne.
Negative thoughts and feelings produce chemicals that are toxic acids. Just like toxic acids created in the colon, the toxic thoughts need to be eliminated through the 5 elimination channels
Acne can be an expression suppressed past traumatic experiences. As a child, when you were exposed to experiences that overwhelm you – constant mental, physical, or sexually abuse, you suppress them. So now as an adult, as your defense system weakens, you’re not able to completely suppress this information, so it becomes expressed as acne or other skin disorders. Of course, these suppressed experiences can be expressed as other diseases.
Acne can also be related to the emotion of fear or anxiety. It can also be an expression of holding onto old junkie or unpleasant memories. It’s a way of holding on to and burying the junkie or toxic memory into your face. It is these memories that are trying to surface and, in an usual way, asking you to face them. Many times, you and other people may not want to remember them or deal with them.
To deal with them requires a lot of strength and help from a psychotherapist.
Stomach Acid
Your stomach uses Hydrochloric acid (HCl) to break down protein. It also has many other functions,
* Kills pathogens and microbes and prevents them from getting into the colon and blood
* Controls the adsorption of B12
* Controls the adsorption of iron calcium zinc, copper, magnesium and most B-complex vitamins
* Controls the adsorption of vitamin C
* Created indigestion
* Prevents constipation
When you have low levels of HCl chances are that you will be susceptible to getting acne. HCl can be increased by using a digestive enzyme that contains HCl.
Pancreatic Digestive Enzymes
When the food you eat passes the stomach and enters the small intestine, the pancreas releases digestive enzymes and bicarbonate to help complete the digestive process.
The bicarbonate helps to reduce the acid strength in the food coming from the stomach. The digestive enzymes digest carbohydrates, fats, and protein.
When the pancreas loses its efficiency and starts to release less digestive enzymes, less food is properly digested. This results in more undigested food reaching the colon. When this happens, the undigested food, if it stays to long in the colon, becomes a source for rotting matter and toxic material. This toxic material can get into your blood and cause skin disruption such as acne.
A healthy pancreas, which provides the necessary digestive juices to digest the food you eat, is needed for healthy skin and for eliminating acne and other skin sores and eruptions.
When you have acne or other skin diseases, they are created when there is an in-balance in your body and that includes many different organs and body processes and systems – your thoughts, digestion, liver, kidney, lymphatic system, lungs, and pancreas.
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call “natural-remedies-thatwork.com” More natural remedy hints and information can be found at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/archive.html
Are you addicted to your acne trigger?
If a food or drink is the culprit behind your acne breakouts you may actually be addicted to your preferred culinary delight. The allergy addition could stem from the body’s response to frequently consumed allergens. During an allergic response, the body releases endorphins. These endorphins in turn create the feeling of a natural high. Any substance that promotes this fleeting state of euphoria may be additive. So, you may be eating a food that you are allergic to just to get high, and as an after blow, you get acne. Ouch.
Surprisingly, eating a lot of any particular food, even a “healthy food”, can incite an allergic response. Though still unexplainable, the food creates an immune response and/or stresses specific digestive enzymes. Poor digestion can irritate the body in multiple ways, generating an allergic response. One way to decide whether or not you are allergic to a certain food is to examine the foods your most often crave. Are you eating the food to experience a gastronomic high? Foods containing chocolate, dairy, wheat, corn, tomatoes, and soy are common sources of food allergens.
Sources and additional reading:
The Inflammation Syndrome: The complete nutritional program to prevent and reverse heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, allergies, asthma. Jack Challem. John Wiley & Sons. 2003.
Stop Inflammation Now! A step-by-step plan to prevent, treat, and reverse inflammation- the leading cause of heart disease and related conditions. Richard M. Flemming, M.D. with Tom Monte. G.P. Putman’s Sons. 2004.
What Is the Most Popular Acne Treatment System
The first acne treatment I tried were some of the popular over the counter products: Clearasil and Neutrogena. After they failed I went to a dermatologist. She prescribed Differin and Tetracycline. Differin is a cream you put on your blemishes and Tetracycline is a pill that supposed to fight your acne internally.
Six months later neither helped and in fact I think they made my acne worse. Not to mention the awful side effects that came with Differin. It tried my skin out to the point where it constantly itched.
Sometime later I saw the Proactiv Solution infomercial on TV. At first, I was skeptical about ordering it. I had tried a couple of infomercial products in the past and was disappointed with the results, but I had tried everything else so I gave it a go.
Seven months later I was virtually acne free. Proactiv does work and it doesn’t come with all those side effects associated with many prescription medications.
Acne’s not a big issue health wise, but psychologically it can be devastating. At one point I became embarrassed to go out in public and as a result became antisocial. If your acne makes you feel self conscious, give Proactive a try. The self-confidence you get back easily pays for the cost many times over.
You can check out Proactiv Solution at
About the author:
Kevin Emswiler is a freelance writer that has several articles published on and off the net. For more information on Proactiv Solution, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prwebxml176239.php
How To Use Fish Oil To Help You Stop Acne
Normally, enzymes in your body break down omega-6 into DGLA, AA, EPA and DHA fatty acids.
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA)
Arachidonic Acid (AA)
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
These four fatty acids eventually change into prostaglandins.
What are prostaglandins?
Prostaglandins are chemical hormones that come from omega-3 and omega-6 oils and that help,
regulate every function in your cells and organs.
Postaglandins also keep androgen hormones in control so that excess sebum is not produce in the hair follicle, which results in acne.
This is the reason why Essential Fatty Acids – Omega-3 and Omega-6 – are critical foods to eat.
However, eating plenty essential fatty acids may not insure that you produce enough EPA and DHA, which produce the essential prostaglandins.
It is critical for acne and more importantly for your health that you get enough EPA and DHA in your cells and organs so they can produce the required prostaglandins.
To increase the prostaglandins in your cell walls, it is necessary for you to take a fish supplement, which contains both the EPA and DHA.
Of course eating salmon, halibut, and mackerel twice a week will be a plus in providing your body with more EPA and DHA.
Here’s what I use daily. Spectrum Essentials puts out an excellent product called
Omega-3 Norwegian Fish Oil
Two capsules contains
EPA – 360mg
DHA – 240mg
Omega-3 – 892mg
Stearic, Lauric, Palmitic Acids - 508mg
Using the Omega-3 Norwegian Fish Oil is critical in getting relief from acne, so take two capsules per meal.
When your body creates prostaglandins, it creates a good prostaglandin and a bad prostaglandin. Here’s how to encourage the production of good prostaglandins.
·Maintain a ratio of two times more omega-6 than omega-3 in your diet.
·Eating too much omega-6 can lead to producing excess bad prostaglandins.
·Take a multi-vitamin and minerals with your meals to provide these nutrients for breaking down the
essential fatty acids into prostaglandins
·Reduce the amount of meat, saturated fat, dairy, and eggs you eat to reduce the production of AA, which blocks the activities of the good prostaglandins
·Eat cold water fish at least twice a week to provide EPA and DHA to your diet
Include at least 20% of your diet calories as good fats – omega oils and fish oil. This is essential for controlling the excess activity of your hormones and reducing the inflammation of your acne.
How to keep your skin clean by brushing and keep acne away
Toxins that accumulate in the colon tend to move into the blood, when colon walls have been weaken through constant constipation or abused through eating excessive junk food. Once in the blood they move into the liver for detoxification.
If you are frequently constipated, than your liver will be overworked and unable to detoxify all of the colon toxins. The liver will store a lot of these toxins in its own tissue and else where in your body’s tissues, joints, organs, cells and skin.
When you have excessive toxins and your immune system is not able to detoxify them, these toxins will moved to the skin surface through the blood where they are enter the hair pores – follicles – and try to move to the skin surface. When your pores are not working properly, excessive toxins in the pores can lead to acne.
Body odor is also a result of toxins coming out through the skin that should be moving out through the other elimination channels.
If your body skin is clean and its pores are open and unclogged, toxins will move out through the pores without creating pimples or eruptions. The skin normally moves 1-2 pounds of toxins out of your skin daily.
You can tell when your pores are open. You sweat freely during exercise. If you do not sweat much during hot weather or during exercise, then your skin pores are probably plugged.
To keep your skin active and serving as a good channel of elimination you need to brush your skin daily before you shower or during your shower. When you brush your skin, brush in one direction, starting from your feet towards your heart.
In her book, Detox For Life, 2002, Loree Taylor Jordan, C.C.H., I.D. says,
“One of greatest gifts of health that you can give yourself is the gift of skin brushing. Dry skin brushing in one of the finest of all baths. No soap can wash the skin as clean as the new skin you have under the old. You make new skin on the body every 24 hours. The skin will only be as clean as the bloodstream. Dry skin brushing removes the top layer. This helps to eliminate uric acid crystals catarrh, and various other acids in the body. The skin should eliminate 2 pounds of waste acids daily.”
Understanding how your skin lives will help you keep it clean. Brush your skin daily and bring toxins to the skin surface where you can get rid of them during your shower.
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call “natural-remedies-thatwork.com.” More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info
A Natural Approach To Managing Acne
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 exact cause of acne is not known, but factors 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.
In addition, the skin functions to eliminate a portion of the body’s toxic waste by sweating. If the body contains more toxins than the kidneys or liver can effectively discharge, the skin takes over. In fact, some doctors call the skin the 3rd kidney. 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 (can be diluted if too strong) to the face and affected areas. Allow this to sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.
Lemon or any citric fruit works great as a natural exfoliate, removing dead skin cells that may clog the pours. As with the white vinegar, apply the juice of a lemon (or desired citric juice) to the face. 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.
Increase water consumption. Water helps flush toxin out and help transport nutrients in the 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.
Dandelion, Burdock or red clover can help to keep the liver clear of toxic overload.
Herbal combinations such as Natures Sunshine's Ayurvedic Skin Detox and BP-X can also be used to cleanse and detoxify the liver and reduce acne.
Historically, large quantities of vitamin A have been successfully used to treat severe acne. Large amounts, however, can be toxic and should be used when working with your health care provider.
Consider adding additional zinc to your diet. Zinc aids in the healing of tissues and assists in preventing scarring. It is also important for the body in resisting infection and inflammation.
To clear and heal the skin, try a homeopathic Acne remedy. It can help to dry up pimples & prevent future outbreaks
Do you suffer from a chronic medical condition that defies diagnosis? Do you feel “stuck” or dissatisfied with life? Whether it is a physical problem, an emotional issue, a problem at work or a problem in a relationship, medical intuitive, Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. can help you bring health, healing and wholeness back into your life. You can find Dr. Louise at http://www.soulhealer.com
Baby Acne
Some babies when born, may have small red bumps on their face. This is not baby acne, but something called “milia”, which usually disappears in a couple of weeks. On the other hand, the acne will appear around that same two week period, and show itself as small white heads, sometimes surrounded by red, irritated skin on the cheeks, chin, forehead and even the back.
In teenagers and even adults, acne is blamed on hormones and excessively oily skin. To some extent this is true of infants also, with hormones transmitted through the placenta, often being blamed for the facial spots. However, science has no real idea of the cause, and there is normally no treatment for the few weeks a child will have it.
Because the baby acne appears on areas of the face where they may have spit up, rubbed against sheets washed in harsh detergent, or drooled, it can become slightly aggravated, but that extra irritation will go away by changing your laundry soap, and wiping their face with a damp cloth when needed.
It is not advisable to try home remedies such as creams or oil, as these will only irritate the skin further. As a rule, nothing more is needed than washing once a day with mild baby soap. In some cases where the baby acne appears to get significantly worse, your doctor may prescribe a cream or other medication. He will also check at the same time, to see if a breastfeeding mother is taking any medication that may have triggered the acne through her milk.
Home Treatments for Acne
Perhaps the most common effective home acne treatment is twice-daily application of an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide in combination with gentle skin cleansing and the use of a moisturizer. Shampoo your hair daily, especially if it’s oily, and tie it back so it’s out of your face. Avoid touching your face. Take a look at your cosmetics and creams. They should be water-based or ""non-comedogenic"" formulas. Take off all make-up at night.
Maintain a healthy diet. Stock your kitchen with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat foods containing healthy omega-3 oils such as ground flaxseeds, salmon, and sardines. Drink six to eight large glasses of water a day. Vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as chromium and zinc, all play a role in reducing and preventing acne. Avoid refined sugar, fried foods, and trans fat (such as milk, milk products, margarine, and any hydrogenated vegetable oils). Some people find that chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, iodized salt, shellfish, wheat and/or milk products aggravate acne.
Using Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) as an Acne Treatment
Many people have commented before that I recommend vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) a lot to acne sufferers. There happens to be a reason for that: It is what cleared my acne. Totally. 100% Eliminated. If you haven't tried it before, I strongly urge you to give it a go, it really is amazing stuff.
Pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, is commonly supplemented in large doses to reduce oil production and help rid your skin of acne. It works like Accutane, in the sense that it reduces oil production. Pantothenic acid, however, works by helping your body to metabolize the fats in your body that later turn into sebum. Accutane actually shrinks the oil glands to block the oil from coming through to your face. Since pantothenic acid addresses the underlying problem, it is, in fact, the more efficient solution.
Let's get into the details of how exactly pantothenic acid works. During your natural metabolism process, your body breaks down fats. When your body lacks enough coenzyme-A, not all of these fats can be broken down, and your body has to get rid of them some how, so they are ejected through your oil glands on your skin in the form of sebum (oil). By creating more coenzyme-A, these extra fats can be broken down with the rest, and oil production will be greatly reduced.
Coenzyme-A is made up of three things: Cysteine, ATP and Pantothenic Acid. Your body takes care of cysteine and ATP by producing it by itself, so vitamin B5 is the only thing that you have to take in through food. By supplementing with pantothenic acid, more coenzyme-A is producted, fats are broken down better, and less oil ends up on your skin. Without too much oil on your face, when a pore gets clogged, the p. acnes bacteria will have nothing to feed upon and can't thrive to cause acne in the first place.
Considering that pantothenic acid works for more than 90% of the people who take it, including myself, it's a very effective medication. Since it's all natural and water soluble, it's much safer than Accutane, which only works for 70%-80% of the people who take it. It's also more efficient than Accutane, because it eliminates the problem, instead of covering it up by shrinking the glands and trapping the fats inside the body.
Supplementing with Pantothenic Acid
As I've said before, to address a pantothenic acid deficiency, you have to take large amounts of it, up to around 12 grams or so. Not everyone has to take quite that much though, so the recommended dosage is as follows: Start out with around 4 grams per day. Always divide the doses into 4 times per day, spreading them out as much as possible. To prevent stomach irritation, the only known side effect of pantothenic acid, try to take it with food or at least a glass of water.
If the 4 grams doesn't work for you, slowly ramp it up until you start to see results, stopping at around 12 grams. When you find a dose that seems to be working for you, stay with it for about two months straight, continuing to divide the doses so that you are splitting the dose into 4 parts. After those two months or so, you should be able to slack back on it until you start seeing negative results to find out how much you will need to continue to take as a "maintenance dose".
The only thing to watch out for is that pantothenic acid can deplete your body of other B vitamins, so a B-50 complex should be taken with it. Some say you should also take Zinc with it, though I only take B-50.
Since pantothenic acid has to be taken in large doses to see results, that means you can forget trying to get enough by eating foods high in it, or through a multivitamin or B vitamin complex. You can even forget about taking pantothenic acid pills, since that means you would have to take 20+ pills every day. There's only really one reasonable way to take the amount of B5 you will need to treat acne, which is pantothenic acid powder.
Pantothenic acid pills can't be found in most stores, much less the powder form of it. Some health food stores might have it, but the ones around my area didn't. You might be able to talk to someone at the store and have them order it for you, though it's usually marked up quite a bit. The easiest and cheapest way to get pantothenic acid powder is to just order it online. A Google search will uncover many websites, such as Amazon.com, which sell pantothenic acid powder at a great price.
About the Author
Ryan Bauer is a former acne sufferer from Springfield, MO. He runs an Acne information website located at http://www.AcneElimination.com
The Real Reason Your Acne Is Out of Control
Acne is believed by many people to be caused by improper hygiene, but the main culprit is an excess of sebum, which is the natural oil that your skin produces. Why do some people produce more sebum than others? In many cases it has to do with improper diet, hormonal imbalances and over-cleansing of the skin. Once the skin begins producing too much sebum the pores become clogged, allowing them to become infected and inflamed, resulting in blackheads, whiteheads, and painful red bumps. If these symptoms are not treated properly, they can cause pain and scarring, leading to discomfort and embarrassment.
First of all, all things regarding your body stem from a well balanced diet. You can use the most expensive, most researched products on the planet and you’ll be wasting your dollars if you do not pay attention to what types of foods you put into your body. Most people know that they should be drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily, avoiding sweets and refined carbohydrates, and consuming as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible. At the same time, some healthy foods can aggravate acne breakouts due to food allergies. For example, many people have skin problems when eating oranges. Different foods will affect people individually, and keeping a journal of what you ate coupled with your symptoms may be helpful in determining which foods you should avoid.
Hormone imbalances come frequently for women before their menstrual cycle, but these fluctuations can be controlled by a balanced diet as well. Certain herbal supplements may also help to level out uncontrollable hormones, such as black cohosh, dong quai, or Siberian ginseng. Soy is especially good for many women in helping with hormone balancing for both menstrual and menopausal women. I highly recommend soy in any of its forms (tofu, edamame, miso, tempeh, etc.) not just for women, but as a healthier lifestyle choice that will dramatically improve overall health and nutrition, and therefore assist with acne concerns.
For those who realize that excess sebum can cause problems with acne, their line of defense is to repeatedly wash their face with harsh, drying ingredients in order to cut down on their skin’s oily appearance. Cleansers that include alcohol, along with rinsing with hot water can actually trigger your skin to produce more sebum. Excessive exfoliation opens up pores and will most certainly leave your skin to infection, which results in painful blackheads. Instead, try using a mild cleanser such as witch hazel once a day, exfoliating only once a week while avoiding the eye area. Moisturizers with mineral oil, petrolatum and lanolin should be avoided in order to prevent clogged pores, which can trap sebum and cause breakouts.
If you’ve already developed a problem with acne and need a solution, there are many natural ingredients that will work best with your healthy eating regimen without expensive medical treatments. A few drops of tea tree oil and lavender essential oils can be mixed into a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and applied directly to any spot where acne is present. This can be done twice daily with improvements in as little as a day. Cedarwood, chamomile and lemongrass are also essential oils that are easy to find, inexpensive, and quite effective.
Natural and Dietary Therapies for Acne
Many of the common theories regarding the possible cause of acne point to the improper release of toxins. As the skin is the largest organ of the body, it helps to eliminate toxins and waste through sweating if the kidneys and liver are overburdened. When a person's diet is unhealthy, their hormones out of balance or their skin clogged, acne is usually one of the red flag symptoms.
In using natural therapies to treat acne, the focal points of treatment are to decrease the amount of toxins that need to be excreted, balance the hormones, and in general, bring the body back into balance. All of the above can be regulated through diet, herbs and other nutritional supplements.
Vitamin and mineral therapy is a good place to start in the quest to clear up a case of acne. Crucial additions to the diet include essential fatty acids, chromium picolinate, and zinc. A variety of vitamins such as Vitamin A, B complex with extra B3, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin E are also helpful in supporting the body while it works to come back into balance.
Herbal therapy includes any herb that works to detoxify the liver and kidneys. Examples include burdock root, dandelion leaves, milk thistle and red clover. Burdock root and red clover also help in cleansing the blood which is another important part of the overall therapy to decrease acne outbreaks. For hormonal balancing many claim that chaste tree berry works very effectively.
Regardless of the type of treatment you decide to use, always check with your doctor first about the natural therapies you would like to try.
How to Treat Acne for Black Skin
Darker skin has a tendency to develop excessive skin darkening at places where the skin was inflamed. Severe inflammatory acne (cysts and nodules) may result in dark spots. The spots disappear over time; a dermatologist may be able to recommend cosmetic measures to make the spots less apparent until they resolve. Some acne treatments, such as topical retinoids and azelaic acid, may also help fade the discoloration.
Alterations of melanin (dark pigments that give the skin its color) pigmentation such as vitiligo and melasma are not related to acne, but they may be present simultaneously with acne. The diagnosis and treatment of melanin pigmentation disorders such as vitiligo requires a dermatologist with knowledge and experience in treating these conditions.
Many doctors feel that laser resurfacing isn’t meant for dark skin because it alters the color of skin too dramatically and unpredictably. Others believe that in the hands of a very experienced surgeon, people with darker skin tones can benefit. Acne Treatment provides detailed information on the best acne treatments, including laser acne treatment, and scar treatment, as well as adult, natural, home treatment, and more. Acne Treatment is the sister site of Microdermabrasion Web.
How to Brush Your Skin to Relieve Acne
Brushing your skin while dry and just before taking a shower is a way to stimulate the flow of liquid through lymphatic system and increase the circulating of blood. It also has other benefits:
- Removes and brushes away dry dead cells that can clog your skin
- Opens pores to allow you to excrete more toxins safely
- Activates the nerves near the top of your skin, making your skin work better
- It stimulates the tiny blood vessels near your skin and brings more nutrients and acid neutralizing minerals to your skin
- Improves your overall health since the skin must eliminate close to 2 pounds of waste through your pores.
If you practice dry or wet brushing your skin, you will see improved beauty and health in your skin.
You can also scrub your skin during your shower and this is the way I like to do it.
There are two different types of brushes that are designed for dry skin brushing.
- A natural bristle brush
- Loofah with a long handle
When you start bushing for the first time, do it softly and gentle until your skin gets use to the rough feeling. If you have not been brushing and scrubbing your skin, then you may have some side effects caused by stirring up toxins. Because skin brushing promotes release of toxins through the skin, you want to make sure you are not constipated, otherwise you will start to release to many toxins through the skin.
A word of caution: Brush only once a day and do not brush too hard. Excessive brushing over stimulates the skin and can produce unwanted side effects.
But, here is how to dry brush your skin before you take a shower,
- Start with gentle light touch circular motions at your face. If you have severe acne do this gently massage with a clean hot face towel and do not brush your face.
- Always brush only in the direction of your heart. From the feet upward, brush up toward the heart. At the neck, brush downward toward the heart.
After you finish brushing, about 5 minutes, take a shower to remove the dead and old skin.
What I do is use a loofa in the shower with soap and brush my skin as described above. It is a gentler way to brush your skin and you wash away the skin derby at the same time. Brushing your body decreases the amount of toxins that reach your face and can help you get rid of or prevent acne.
Acne Program - Step 9 Protein and 0ther Food to Eat
Here are some of the foods that can help you overcome the acne on your face or throughout your body.
Protein
Eating excess meat is harmful to your health. Eating too much meat, more than 2-4 ounces per day, has been found to contribute to narrowing of the arteries.
If you do physical labor and are involved in a lot of movement in your work, then you should eat more than 2-4 ounces of protein per day. Just make sure that the meat has a minimum of additives and preservatives.
Remember, meat is high in saturated fat, which blocks the activity of EPA and DHA, which produce prostaglandin and control the activity of your hormones.
Meat and bread is a big contributor to creating constipation. Meat is difficult to digest and many times it will get into the colon partial digested. This condition benefits the bad bacteria and allows them to dominate the colon and create constipation.
Because meat and bread have little fiber, they move slowly in the colon, which leads to constipation and eventually to some type of colon inflammation.
Bad bacteria, decaying meat and other undigested food contribute to the build up of toxic matter in the colon. This is the type of condition you should try to avoid, if you have acne. You need fecal matter in the colon to move regularly and out the rectum, otherwise, toxic matter will build up and end up in your blood stream
Here are the grains you should be eating:
* Brown rice - contain many amino acids that help rebuild skin tissue
* Whole grains - contain folic acid, magnesium, and vitamin E, B vitamins, minerals, and fiber
* Oats - use them in the morning with honey or raisins. Oats have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and help to keep you regular.
Seeds and nuts
* Almonds - Almonds contain protein, the B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Use them as a snack. These small nuts help to build muscles and tissue.
* Flax seeds - These seeds are known for containing plenty of omega 3 oil, an essential oil for life. They also contain fiber when used ground up and put into smoothies. Omega 3 is also an anti-inflammatory oil, which is good for acne.
* Pecans - This is one of the good nuts to eat. It contains Vitamin A, B's, C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Use them as a snack.
* Pine nuts - these nuts also one of the best to eat. They contain vitamin A, C, B's, protein and iron.
* Sesame seeds - They are high in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. They are helpful in relieving various skin diseases such as acne by reducing the swelling.
* Sunflower seeds - These seeds should be used as a snack. They are high in protein, calcium and vitamin A. They provide nutrients for building the whole body and are good for dry skin.
All of these nuts and seeds should be eaten raw. Heating and other processing will kill the life force of the nut or seed and also reduce the quantity of the vitamins and minerals.
Eat these nuts and seeds as snacks. Sesame seeds, sunflower, and flax seeds can be put directly into your blender as you make your smoothies.
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info
What Treatment Is Available For Severe Acne
Severe acne can be detrimental to the thin layers of skin
on your forehead and face. It can also cause extreme
irritation, resulting in open wounds, puss-filled pores,
and unsightly scarring.
This type of acne is quite different than mild or moderate
cases. Severe acne needs the immediate attention of a
qualified dermatologist and your family practitioner.
Severe or acute acne can be caused by both environmental
and genetic variables. Prevention and treatment are the
best ways to deal with such cases. Seldom does an extreme
acne sufferer's skin clear up naturally, but in most
instances, it actually worsens.
Usually a dermatologist will recommend a combination of
both topical cream and oral drugs. Several types available
include different antibiotics, benzyl peroxides, Tretinoin,
Adapalen and the strong, yet effective Azelaic Acid.
Antibiotics and this acid can work wonderfully, attacking
the source of inflammation-the bacteria lining the
follicle.
The other topical drug, Tretinoin, is simply a form of
vitamin A that stops the development of comedones, or
inflamed hair follicles. While it doesn't necessarily stop
the growth of bacteria, this is a more natural way of
unplugging clogged pores that cause inflammation and
lesions, thereby allowing the use of topical antibiotic
cream to work deeply within the skin.
Another drug that isn't so natural in it's approach are the
newer forms of Retinoid drugs. These drugs are quite
powerful in the way they work. Like Tretinoin, these drugs,
often Tazarotene or Adapalen, also help to fight off the
development of comedones or comedo lesions.
These drugs, although not available over the counter (OTC),
come in different forms. Similar to OTC drugs, these come
in a variety of solutions, gels, lotions and creams. Your
dermatologist will immediately know which type is right for
your skin and prescribe what she or he believes will most
effectively open pores and fight-off unwanted bacteria.
Dermatologist will routinely ask you which form of
medication you'd prefer. Creams are good for those with
extra sensitive skin, while gels and other solutions tend
to make the skin become more dry and irritated. He or she
may recommend one or the other based on gender and/or
whether you live in a hot and humid climate.
At first, your skin may look and feel worse with the use of
such strong medications. If the pain becomes unbearable or
if you develop a rash or extreme redness of any kind, be
sure to stop using the product and immediately talk to your
doctor and dermatologist.
Similarly to OTC treatments, it will take up to eight weeks
for you to actually notice improvements. But, once it
begins to clear, it will make a world of difference to how
your skin looks and feels.
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Water and Sunlight Helps to Clear Acne
Drink More Water
The skin stores around 12% water. It is important to maintain this amount with the correct amount of good fat to keep your skin from getting acne. You need to drink around 2 quarts of distilled water every day. If you are not drinking this amount, just start increasing the amount that you do drink.
Drinking water helps you get rid of toxins in the blood. By drinking water, you will urinate more and more toxins will be eliminated. The cleaner your blood the healthier your skin will be and your will not have a problem with acne.
Use glass containers when buying distilled or reverse osmosis water. Try to avoid using plastic containers for water since plastic containers contain chemicals, left in the container walls during manufacturing, which leaches out into the water.
If you are drinking fresh juices, you will also be getting water from these juices. Drinking sodas is not drinking water.
Here’s a few things you do to help you drink more water or to make the water healthier. Find a 16 or 32 oz glass container and add distilled water. Then add one of the following nutrients:
* A few drops of Alkalife. This solution changes the pH of the water from 7 to 8 and also activates the water with its electrolytes – sodium and potassium.
* Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the water. Do not add sugar. A few drops of honey may be ok.
* Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the water and add up to one teaspoon of powdered MSM. MSM is excellent for the skin disorders such as acne. It makes the skin cells more flexible, allowing more nutrients to go into and out of the cells, and its anti-inflammatory. MSM is also excellent in activating peristaltic action and will prevent constipation.
* Put 2 oz of mangosteen into the water. Mangosteen is an over all body tonic. It works on all parts of the body and will help keep you regular.
You can also choose to add your favorite nutritional flavor to give water an additional value.
Chose one of these natural additives for your water and drink this water little by little all day long. This is one more thing you can do to get rid of acne, improve your skin texture or to keep the nice skin you already have.
Get Some Sunshine
One more thing you can do for your skin is to get more natural light.
Expose your face to plenty of sun and air. This helps your skin to heal faster. But don’t purposely place your face in the sun, but remaining in the shade and open outdoors gives you plenty of sun and air.
At least 20 – 40 minutes a day in the outdoors is necessary for you to get sufficient vitamin D for you daily needs.
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call “natural-remedies-thatwork.com.” More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info