ACNE

Acne is a skin condition producing lesions in the form of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, nodules and cysts that occur on the face, head, neck, shoulders, chest and the upper arms.

Acne is the curse of the teenage face. In fact, up to 80% of all teenagers will experience some form of Acne. The good news is that most teen acne disappears as the teenager get older. In other words, they grow out of it. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are plenty of adults who suffer from acne and this can be very distressing for them.

Essentially, Acne occurs when the skin pore or hair follicle becomes blocked. This blockage is caused by dead skin cells that are exfoliated but not completely removed from the skin. The skin cells block the pores and this forms a plug that traps sebum (a natural oil produced by the Sebaceous Glands). This in turn leads to a build up of bacteria and the resultant inflammation of the skin.

The body produces sebum to lubricate the skin, so it doesn’t dry out. Sebaceous Glands are located near the hair follicles and are mainly found on the scalp, face, back and chest. The sebum is secreted through a small duct in the gland to the hair shaft. From there, it reaches the skin’s surface by moving up the hair follicle.

Even though these sebaceous glands are present at birth, they only begin secreting sebum when a person starts puberty. This explains, in part, why people aged 12-25 are primarily affected. However, there are many people in their 30’s and 40’s that also get acne.

Acne is due to over-stimulation of the sebaceous glands, resulting in the excess production of sebum and the clogging up of the hair follicles by dead skin cells that haven’t shed properly (because of the excess oil). The term “Comedo” is used to describe a sebaceous follicle that is clogged up with excess sebum, dead skin cells, tiny hairs and sometimes, bacteria (called Propionibacterium). We call them pimples.

When a comedo is raised but there is no opening or only a very small opening to the skin’s surface, it is called a Whitehead. Where the clogged sebaceous follicle has an expanded opening with a blackish appearance, it is known as a Blackhead. Sometimes this “pimple stage” of Acne, progresses to nodules or cysts, which can become extremely painful and result in scarring. cysts. The nodules are a severe form of Acne characterized by significant inflammation extending into the deeper layers of the skin.

More than anything else, acne (and acne scarring) can be highly embarrassing and distressing for the sufferer. Seriuos forms of Acne can result in disfigurement in the form of acne scarring. Acne affects both males and females, irrespective of race.

CAUSES OF ACNE

The underlying cause of Acne is not fully understood. The development of Acne is a complex, metabolic process and it is not known why some sebaceous follicles get clogged while others do not. Scientists and dermatologists suspect that many factors may combine to cause Acne. Clearly, one significant factor can be an increase in male sex hormones (called androgens) in both males and females during puberty. It is also well known that hormonal imbalances related to pregnancy or the use of birth control pills can also cause Acne.

Other suggested factors range from diet, stress, vitamin deficiency, heredity or genetics, certain drugs (such as Lithium and Androgens) through to certain skin care products such as creasy moisturizers and cosmetics. Will a change of diet alone cure Acne? Probably not, unless your Acne is actually an allergic reaction to certain foods (such as diary products), but it may help. It is certainly the case that eating the wrong types of food may aggravate a pre-existing Acne condition. The same goes for stress and personal cleanliness. While there is little evidence to suggest that stress and/or dirty skin causes Acne, both factors may well worsen the condition.

HOW TO TREAT ACNE

While you can buy antibacterial agents, oral antibiotics and chemical-based topical products from your local pharmacy or chemist, these seldom completely cure Acne. In fact, some medications can, in some cases, worsen the condition. Some sections of the medical profession go so far as to say that there is no such thing as an Acne cure. Their view seems to be that the best that can be achieved is the "control of Acne" and in some instances, Acne prevention.

Others will tell you that you can get rid of Acne simply by cutting down or cutting out processed foods, fatty foods (such as potato chips and french fries), sugar and dairy products. They'll tell you to make some changes in your lifestyle, particularly your diet. Recommendations range from cutting out the consumption of softdrinks and soda completely (irrespective of whether they are sugared or so-called diet sodas), choosing steamed vegetables over stir-fried, using honey instead of refined sugar, eating more fruits and/or nuts and drinking lots of water. Personal cleanliness is also recommended to reduce the spread (as distinct from the cause) of Acne.

These recommendations are not only good for your health, but should improve the general condition of your skin. However they may not be enough, on their own, to cure Acne. To really get rid of acne the natural way, we need to specifically address the following:-

(a) Facial Acne;

(b) Acne Scarring;
(c) Back & Chest Acne;

For a fast and dramatic Facial Acne solution, we recommend the following, natural Acne treatment, using our fabulous, anti-acne products which are all chemical-free:-

1. Wash your hands.
2. Gently exfoliate the face and neck using our Honey & Pumice Exfoliant.

3. Rinse off with warm water.

4. Immediately apply our Facial Toner.
5. Follow with our Facial Moisturizer (With Tamanu Oil & Virgin Coconut Oil).

The above produre should be carried out as per the instructions on each product. Even though these products are designed for use on the face, they are equally effective on the shoulders. The key to this treatment is our Honey & Pumice Exfoliant, due to the drawing power of the Volcanic Pumice ingredient and the antibacterial properties of Honey. The latter is also gentle on sensitive skin. Done correctly, you should expect visible results in as little as a day or two. Stop Acne in its tracks today! To find out more about the above products - Click Here.

To reduce existing Acne scars, apply our pure Tamanu Oil a couple of times during the day. This can be done easily and conveniently using our small 12ml Roll On (fits into a pocket or small purse). The Roll On is refillable so grab yourself a 50ml or 100ml bottle while you're at it. You may also find that Tamanu Oil will remove some other minor skin blemishes (if any) in the process.

For large areas such as the back and chest, we suggest you simply apply our pure Tamanu Oil, using either our 50ml or 100ml bottle. If the skin starts to dry out and itch, hold off applying any more Tamanu Oil for a few days and in its place, apply a bit of our CocoVan Virgin Coconut Oil.

Lukim yu next month......

VOLCANIC EARTH
PO Box 1540 Port Vila. Vanuatu
Tel: 678 46112 Email: enquiries@volcanicearth.com
www.volcanicearth.com

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