There is no doubting that acne is a scourge. It seems that a greater number of people than ever suffer from the complaint. For some acne becomes a serious and debilitating cross to bear. So finding the right, and most effective treatment that can truly bring long term relief form the condition is paramount. A simple, natural approach that is often overlooked could have a big impact on your condition if you are an acne sufferer.
Acne can make its presence felt about the time that puberty occurs for many youngsters. For an unfortunate minority the onset of acne can be even earlier. It seems even more unfair that it strikes you just when you are feeling most self conscious and aware of your looks. Sadly acne can become effectively 'crippling' when severe, because it is not only unpleasant to put up with, but it can also lead to self imposed social isolation.
When you feel like you just don't want to face the world it is little wonder that desperation can lead you to try most any treatments that might bring some relief. For some this can lead them on to a soul-destroying merry-go-round. For sadly it is likely in some cases that the fact that a person is highly sensitive to toxic chemicals in their environment could be a causative factor in their condition. Often the chemicals used in so-called 'treatments' are in themselves highly toxic!
Acne is a chronic and sometimes severe condition of the skin that can be evidenced by the appearance of blackheads, cysts, pustules and whiteheads, particularly on the face and neck, and also on the back. It is generally thought of as an infection of, or disorder relating to, the ?oil? producing glands of the skin known as sebaceous glands.
The factors that trigger acne can vary widely between individuals. For some the male or female hormones, called androgens, may be responsible for the imbalance that leads to an outbreak. The power of hormones is evidenced by the fact that for some women, when they take the contraceptive pill it can either make a case of acne settle down, or for other it can actually cause the onset of an attack of acne!
There is a common tendency for people to be prescribed chemical-based creams to treat their acne. In extreme cases some sufferers are put on a course of Roccutane. This proprietary drug is very powerful ? and may initially make acne worse ? then eventually lead to an improvement. But the drug carries with it a horrendous list of side-effects which for some become intolerable.
It is known that sensitivity to chemicals that are commonly used in off-the-shelf skin care and household products can also be a trigger for acne. Typical known irritant synthetic chemicals ? including the still widely used detergents: Sodium lauryl sulphate and Sodium laureth sulphate ? are found in almost all common brands of liquid soaps, shampoos, washing-up-liquids and are particular culprits that should be avoided. Numerous other common chemicals in hand and skin creams, and the like, have also been implicated in exacerbating some cases of acne.
It is a sensible tactic for acne sufferers to try and reduce their exposure to commonly used synthetic chemicals found in many households. To start with this would include avoiding any personal care products based on non-natural chemical ingredient. When you look at the shelves of many supermarkets and pharmacies it may seems as if this is an impossible task. However, the good news is that more products made with all natural ingredients ARE gradually finding their way to market.
Sufferers should keep an eye out for these products even though such natural, and ideally organic, products cost a little more, for if they might be an effective and safer way to 'calm' your acne down then it is well worth the cost. Organic products ideally need to be 'certified' (which should be marked on the label) and their advantage is that even in the process of growing crops used in making natural oils and ingredients no synthetic chemicals will have been used.
Complementing the process of 'de-toxing' your personal care regime with overhauling your diet is also good idea. Besides the natural 'calorie reducing' advantages of cutting fatty foods out of your diet it is a good idea to reduce fats as these may be contributing to the problems experienced with over-active sebaceous glands. Other foods with refined ingredients such as white flour and white sugar are also recommended to be avoided!
Without clutching at straws and using any new (and often terribly expensive) creams that come on to the market, acne sufferers could well find that simply by reducing their skin's exposure to synthetic chemicals along with cutting down their intake of highly refined, and processed foods they could experience a dramatic improvement in the health of their skin. The least these tactics will achieve is to make them a little healthier all round ? so it is a win-win strategy that is well worth trying.
Article by A. Graham Smith MSc BSc ? The author has many years experience in the food industry and teaching students studying food, nutrition and health at degree level. He now regularly contributes articles to the non toxic lifestyle website http://www.GoNandO.com where additional information about natural and organic products that could help in providing a less toxic treatment for acne can be found. You can also claim a complementary copy of the latest 'Toxic Ingredients in Skincare Products Desktop-Directory' also prepared by A Graham Smith, via the website. | |
