Skin Health?

[adlerblake1]

Thanks a lot friends for sharing your useful tips and suggestions regarding skin health it would be very useful for newbies like me.

[Suave]

Been dealing with an unexpected breakout of acne lately.

 

Feels like I'm 14 again.

[Jon Tenzo]

I would highly discourage oral antibiotics for acne. You are going to kill your gut flora which will just make the acne worse long term. Maybe some topical antibiotic if the pores become infected.

 

I have the opposite problem which is usually dry skin and some eczema. However, the solution for both is similar. Aside from beginning a regimen of Omega 3s in your diet (preferably from Fish Oil from a reputable brand) you should look into probiotics. Skin health is connected to gut health. So if you are not having regular bowel movements (whatever is regular for you but at bare minimum once every other day) then investigate improving that before you buy all the expensive topical products.

 

Aloe Vera internally is believed to help with acne as well as topically. Essentially it can be caused by different reasons for different people but a component is definitely hormonal in nature. Having enough Omega 3s in your diet will help keep the appropriate hormone levels in check.

 

Another element which is known to help is MSM internally (must take on an empty stomach) as well as topically in cream form. Any sort of sulfur containing compound or amino acid usually helps. However, the best thing is to find out the root cause(s). For me as a prior poster said dairy was a big cause for flare ups, a lot of people don't react well to excessive consumption of cow products, milk being the biggest and most obvious offender. This could be because cows today are fed corn and not grass. So in reality it could be a corn sensitivity (since lord knows Americans are exposed to way too much corn derivatives as it is) but who knows for sure...

[youngnlove89]

As someone who suffers from reoccurring bouts of acne fits and also a Licensed Esthetician, I have a plethora of advice available.

 

Everybody is different. Do you have sensitive skin? Do you blush easily? Are you red? What color is your skin? Would you say fair (you burn out in the sun), tan easily, black skin? What is your diet like? Do you live in a polluted city? Do you have soft water or hard water? Does acne run in your family? Have you had food allergy testing? Do you have oily skin? Dry? What is your age?

 

There are several factors to consider. And it takes awhile to pinpoint what is the root cause.

 

I really believe in what is called "Face Mapping" Here is a really good site: Acne Face Map - The Location of Pimples and Their Underlying Cause | Skinacea.com

And actually exfoliating is very important.

 

Your skin's job is to protect you day and night from the elements of the outside world, and that means it can take a heavy beating from time to time. There's actually a lot that goes into keeping your skin healthy, and part of the process involves the constant regeneration of cells. You might not be aware of it, but your body produces new skin cells nonstop around the clock. It has to because an average adult can shed up to 50,000 dead skin cells every minute. It's an important process, but sometimes cells don't slough off as well as they should, so they can end up clogging pores, which leads to breakouts. You can do your part to help facilitate the shedding of dead skin cells by exfoliating on a regular basis.

A good scrub to try are the ones with tiny beads. Never use that Apricot Scrub in drug stores. It's detrimental to your skin. Horrible. My two favorite brands are: 1) Dermalogica, which is pricier, but works wonders and 2) Neutrogena, which is more affordable. A life savor product that has helped me is the Neutrogena Benzoyl Peroxide "On the Spot Acne Treatment" and it has 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. I dab it on at night and in the morning my spot is 60% gone! Major difference.

 

I also love essential oils. Lavender is very calming. Lemon really helps acne, same with orange. Tea Tree oil is almost as good as benzoyl. I also wash my face with Organic Cold Pressed COCONUT OIL, yep, you read right. It is like a magic pimple eraser. Then after rinsing your face, slather it on as a lotion at night before bed. Wake up with glowing, clearer skin.

 

It's also very important when washing your face that you lather it for 2 minutes. Rinse then repeat. I promise that helps.

 

Also, try ACV (apple cider vinegar, cold pressed and organic ONLY). Drink 2 tbsp a day, if you can't handle the taste add some orange juice or baking soda to neutralize it. Drink it every day, watch your pimples fade. Google it. That stuff works magic. If you don't like drinking it, go to Whole Foods and get the pill form. But I think drinking it works better.

 

Oil pulling, or oil swishing is another weird, but awesome way to clear skin. Google that too, lots of good information out there!

 

Drink lots of water. Eat your greens. Avoid dairy. Avoid sugar.

 

Hope I helped!

 

PS I forgot to add that Vitamin E capsules are really good to put on at night. Get the gel capsules, poke a hole in them, apply to your face, whether a spot or your whole entire face (it's oily and sticky) and leave on till the morning when you take your shower. Really helps minimize your pimple. It's healing.

Edited June 3, 2013 by youngnlove89

[Darnell21]

Keeping the skin clean with cold and clear water is something which can help you a lot,Applying aloe vera gel in raw form is also a very useful thing which can heal it in a short while.

I am glad to see opinions on it,thank you for highlighting.

[violetsareviolet]

hi there OP

 

honestly, you can use every soap or cleansing agent on the market but ultimately it comes down to what you put into your body that emanates through the skin. blemishes are indeed caused by dirty pores, that's true...but you need to flush those pores from the inside out by ingesting clean and fresh foods, juices and of course water.

 

I know it's super hard for many, but everyone should be drinking at LEAST 72 oz of water every single day. Water flushes all the toxins and waste out of your system, which would normally manifest itself as skin blemishes and many other issues (gritty joints, headaches, dizziness, fatigue etc) with the body and health.

 

many complain drinking so much water makes you use the bathroom a lot...true story. on the flipside, if you turn this into a daily habit, your bladder will actually adjust and youll soon find you wont have to frequent as often

 

I dont know your eating or drinking habits, but processed sugars (found in soda, candy etc) will actually pull water out of your system and dehydrate you further...and replace that water in the cells with the chemicals in those sodas, and in turn travel through your body. Alcohol also dehydrates your system and knocks your body's pH balance severely out of whack.

 

basically recommending the following:

 

-cut processed foods and sugars from your diet (or at least cut some out to start)

-replace with more fresh fruits and vegetables and juices (non-concentrated)

-decrease caffeinated drink intake (coffee will dehydrate you)

-exercise and break a sweat!

-at least 72 oz of water every single day

-make sure you clean your bedsheets or whatever you sleep on frequently (I usually try for a weekly wash if possible at least)...the sheets can accumulate dirt and oils which will clog your pores

 

medications might work, but a clean internal system works even better...you will be healthier faster and have tons of energy. additionally, water is much cheaper than a prescription

 

after a few weeks, I guarantee you will notice a good positive change and your eyes and body will sparkle with positive energy

 

this should be a good start and I wish you the best of luck my friend

[Darnell21]

Keeping the skin clean with cold and clear water is something which can help you a lot,Applying aloe vera gel in raw form is also a very useful thing which can heal it in a short while.

I am glad to see opinions on it,thank you for highlighting.

 

 

Any comments?