Natural Skin Care for Acne

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Article Title:

Natural Skin Care for Acne

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Article Description:

Acne affects nearly everyone at some point in his or her

life. It can be painful to endure, and even leave scars if

severe enough. While there are many remedies available for

over the counter or prescription purchase, some products are

laden with chemicals and acids that may have adverse

effects. Fortunately, there are effective natural

alternatives to these harsh chemical treatments.

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Distribution Date and Time: 2010-01-12 09:15:00

Written By: Janet

Copyright: 2010

Contact Email: mailto:janet.davis@...

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Natural Skin Care for Acne

Copyright © 2010 Janet

Mark and Janet

http://www.MarkandJanet.com/

Acne affects nearly everyone at some point in his or her life. It

can be painful to endure, and even leave scars if severe enough.

While there are many remedies available for over the counter or

prescription purchase, some products are laden with chemicals and

acids that may have adverse effects. Fortunately, there are

effective natural alternatives to these harsh chemical

treatments.

What's the Problem?

Acne is caused by dead skin cells and the body's own natural

oils becoming trapped in the pores of the skin. These changes

lead to bacterial growth that causes the inflammation and

discomfort associated with the condition, as well as the scarring

and infection in severe cases.

Diet may impact the development of acne. The hormonal content of

partially skimmed milk, the high glycemic content of certain

simple carbohydrates, and low levels of vitamins A and E have all

been linked to the formation of acne in some research.

Proper home care of acne outbreaks requires treating both of the

factors involved: diet and environment.

Basic Care

There are several methods of controlling acne that don't require

any specific treatment or product. The first is diet. Since

simple carbohydrates may have an effect, acne sufferers should

consider limiting processed foods high in sugar, and opt for a

high-fiber, protein-rich diet instead. In addition, increasing

intake of vitamins A and E is recommended by some experts to

fight acne. Eating right will have other health benefits beyond

clear skin, so a healthy diet in general is a win/win solution.

Cleaning Up

While the instinct is to keep the skin very clean, it is

important to remember acne is not caused by dirt, but by the

body's own oils and skin becoming trapped in the pores. You

cannot simply scrub acne away, and in fact doing so may aggravate

the skin and result in an increase in oil production. Instead,

stick to washing your face twice a day, as well as after

particularly heavy perspiration that may send more oils and skin

into the pores.

To cleanse your face, use a non-abrasive (specifically a non

alcohol based) cleanser, and apply gently with the fingers.

Again, using harsh abrasives or a washcloth may cause irritation,

and do more harm than good. The trick is to clean smarter, not

harder. For people with oily hair, wash and shampoo daily with an

equally gentle shampoo. Oily hair will cause just as many

problems as perspiration, so don't neglect caring for it.

Finally, use lukewarm water rather than hot water, since it will

be less harsh on the skin.

Thou Shalt Nots

For starters, avoid the temptation to pop or scrape the blemishes

that form on the face. This is actually one of the worst things

you can do to acne-afflicted skin. It exposes the wound to

bacteria and additional oil, meaning it can cause extra

inflammation, breakouts, or possibly even infection.

As mentioned before, oily hair can aggravate neck, forehead, and

shoulder acne. For that reason acne sufferers are advised to

avoid heavy, greasy hair products such as gels and pomades. Make

sure your shampoo isn't too harsh, as well. Drying out the scalp

will have a similar effect as drying out the facial skin, leading

to extra oil production that can gravitate to the forehead and

clog more pores.

Many people like to use skin masks to improve skin tone, but this

should be avoided while treating acne breakouts. As might be

expected, masks often trap dead skin and oils against the skin,

leading to more clogged pores and further breakouts.

Avoid harsh chemical cleansers with alcohol or astringents. These

may dry out and irritate the skin, exacerbating the problem.

Additionally, drying out the skin can cause dry, painful itching,

and scratching will scrape skin and spread oils that can clog

pores.

Last but not least, control the exposure of the skin to sunlight

and tanning. Sun exposure can dry, damage and irritate the skin.

Better Skin, Naturally

Healthy skin comes with a healthy body, so focus on natural

solutions that contribute to your overall wellbeing. Avoid harsh

chemicals and be gentle with your sensitive skin. Natural skin

care is all about being good to your body and maintaining a

healthy lifestyle. Acne is a result of irritation, and proper

acne care involves reducing the irritation through proper care

and diet.

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Janet and her husband are health and nutrition

entrepreneurs and founders of Mark And Janet, a website

with uncompromising, premium products for your health

conscious family. For more on going green -- Visit us at:

http://www.MarkandJanet.com/ or check out our blog at

http://www.MarkandJanetBlog.com/