Acne
|
| Acne is a skin condition that effects almost 80%
of teenagers, both male and female. It tends to start at the onset of puberty and can last
until the early twenties. |
Although no one is sure of the
exact cause it is thought that the body's production of increased amounts of the hormone
testosterone at the start of puberty is a factor. As boys produce more testosterone than
girls this probably accounts for boys being more likely to suffer acne than girls. |
| Other factors which contribute to acne include
oily skin, heredity, stress, oral contraceptives, allergies and poor diet. Some women
develop acne before the start of their menstrual period, this is sometimes called
premenstrual acne. |
|
| How
to avoid or reduce Acne |
 |
Keep affected areas as clean and free from oil
as possible |
|
Shampoo hair often |
|
Eat a whole food diet with plenty of fruits
and vegetable - raw if possible |
|
Cut down on dairy, meat, fried food, and sugar |
|
Eat more cold water fish like salmon |
|
|
What you can do to treat
acne pimples
Apply Tea Tree Oil to pimples about three or four times daily.
In a study tea tree oil proved to be an effective alternative to benzyl peroxide. |
| Use tea tree oil only at the recommended
dilution and avoid contact with the eyes. Never take tea tree oil internally as it is
poisonous |
| Do not pick or scratch pimples - this can cause
scaring. Keep hands clean and touch your face as little as possible. |
|
| Some
Supplements worth considering |
|
Vitamin A, 25,000 - 50,000 IU daily -
strengthens skin tissue Note: Women of child bearing age should not take over
5000 IU of vitamin A unless under the supervision of a health care provider. |
|
Vitamin E, 400 IU daily - also strengthens
skin tissue |
|
Zinc, 50 - 75mg daily - aids healing and helps
prevent scars |
|
Chromium - helps to reduce infections of the
skin |
|
Evening Primrose Oil - aids in the healing
process |
|
Vitamin B6, 50 - 100mg daily - useful for
premenstrual acne |
|
