Natural Remedies for Acne
It is hard to believe, but acne affects millions of people and is the most commonly treated inflammatory skin disorder. You, like myself, at one point during your life probably dealt with acne concerns. Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and cysts are the different types of lesions associated with acne. It develops when the pores or glands in the skin become clogged and occurs due to the overproduction of oil known as sebum and the irregular shedding of dead skin cells. These two things create an irritation to the hair follicle, which can often lead to a build-up of bacteria. Your doctor can examine your skin and determine that the lesions you have are acne. Some lesions may appear to be acne but be something else.
What Causes Acne
The cause is unknown, yet many believe the following contribute to acne.
- Hormones seem to be the biggest contributor. It appears that sebum production increases as our hormones surge. This would explain why acne is noticed more in adolescents and is prevalent in women prior to their menstrual cycle or during menopausal years.
- Heredity
- Stress
- Sometimes it can be the result of taking certain types of medications
- Poor diet that is high in saturated and hydrogenated fats
Other factors, such as allergies, environmental exposures, and skin-care products, may contribute to skin irritation or inflammation in some individuals. Maintaining a healthy skin barrier is also important for overall skin health.
Help for Acne
The skin is the body’s largest organ, and its health can be influenced by hormones, inflammation, nutrition, stress, and daily skin-care habits. Supporting your body through proper hydration, nourishing foods, movement, and stress management is a good place to begin. These habits benefit your overall health while complementing a consistent skin-care routine.
Looking at the above list of contributors to acne, drinking more water will keep your body properly hydrated and should help with the elimination of toxins. Exercising is known for helping in keeping your lymph system moving and is also very helpful in managing stress. You might also consider making some dietary changes. Dietary changes are not only good for your skin, but they are also good for your health overall. So grab a piece of fruit or some carrots and celery sticks next time you’re hunting for a snack.
There are also some supplements that can assist your body. Burdock and Dandelion Root are great herbs for supporting the liver and kidneys and also assist the body with cleansing. You can try some Detox Tea and make sure Burdock and/or Dandelion are two of the ingredients. Essential oils of Chamomile can help with inflammation, and Patchouli has regenerative and antibacterial properties and can also help with acne. Just make sure to properly dilute the essential oils before applying them topically; in fact, I like to dilute them in Aloe Vera or Silver Shield Gel.
Related Herbal Products
Silver Shield Gel: A clear cosmetic gel that has been shown to be an effective cleaning agent, promoting natural hydration and gently moisturizing the skin.
Skin Detox: An Ayurvedic herbal supplement traditionally used to support skin health and the body’s natural cleansing processes.