Perhaps one of the most common of chronic skin diseases is acne, with more than 80% of teenagers reporting some form of the pimples, blackheads or spots on their facial skin. It is closely related to the flux of hormones the body witnesses at puberty. Most people recover between the ages of 20 and 30, but the disease causes a great deal of embarrassment and mental trauma at the age when people are most sensitive about their looks and appearance.
What is Acne
Technically, Acne is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands of the skin. (glands responsible for secreting fat/oil) and hair follicles of the forehead, temples, cheeks, chin and neck. It presents as pimples, blackheads, superficial sebaceous cysts and scars.
Causes of Acne
Though difficult to pinpoint, the most common causes of acne include incorrect and irregular feeding habits, improper food containing high amounts of starches, fat and sugar. Excessive tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, strenuous studies and sedentary habits are also associated to varying degrees with acne. Improper food habits increase accumulation of toxic materials in the blood, making the skin and other exit routes work harder to throw them out. This often is an underlying cause of acne and most skin diseases, which is exacerbated if the patient does not maintain hygienic living conditions.
Natural Remedy for Acne
Rather than smother the sebaceous glands with creams or iontments and hinder their functioning even further, the cure for acne lies in holistic cleansing of the body. The emphasis is on natural diet and water.
Diet :
- For the first few days, one should aim at detoxifying the body. That means curtailing sugar, fat and starchy foods, along with tea, coffee and alcohol. Diet should be rich in fresh, juicy fruits like apples, grapes, pineapple, peaches, pears. Starchy or acidic fruits like banana or oranges should be avoided, as should be any type of canned/stewed/preserved fruits.
- The second step is to drink lots of water, plain or with lemon (no sugar, please). This helps to cleanse the body and reduce the load on the sebaceous glands.
- If the patient has constipation, warm water enema or consumption of Psyllium seed husks/isabgol should be used to treat it.
- After around 5 days on a fruit-rich diet, a gradual transition to a well balanced diet should be made, making sure its rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts, nuts, whole cereals and water while still avoiding strong tea and coffee, sugars, red meat, refined and processed foods.
- Foods high in Vitamins E, A and niacin should be consumed. These incude milk, oily fish and carrots. Vitamin E is particularly helpful in maintaining a supple skin and preventing or removing scars and spots.
- Nutritional supplement of zinc also provides tremendous benefit in treatment of acne. These include walnuts and flaxseeds.
Face Packs and Baths in Acne Treatment
- Hot towel fomentation opens up the pores and cleanses the skin and glands of waste matter. Immediately, rinse with cold water. This makes the skin supple and taut.
- Face packs made of grated cucumber,carrots and oatmeal cooked in milk is very effective to remove blackheads, as are facials made with orange peel and lemon rind.
- Avoid cosmetic creams and keep the face well aired.
- A sunbath early in the morning or a bath with hot Epsom-salts is very beneficial to get rid of pimples.
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