Acne Don’ts: The 7 Things You Should Never Do To Your skin
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Besides
helping the body in the process of toxic elimination (One of the
main acne contributing factors), it also protects your body against
temperature changes, and from harmful invaders.
By working with your skin and not against it you
pave the way to an enhanced healing of the skin. Your skin will
look and feel better; it will become more even toned and vibrant.
On the other hand, by constantly doing the following,
you are weakening the natural protecting capabilities of your skin,
you are slowing the healing process of your skin, and are making
your skin look bad and making your acne worse:
1.Smoking
Besides lung cancer, heart disease and early aging
of your skin (e.g. wrinkles), smoking causes the contraction of
the small capillaries and blood vessels of the skin, thus depriving
your skin from the essential oxygen I needs for the creation and
maintenance of healthy cells.
2. Using Topical Steroids
Over the counter or prescription cortisone based
creams, especially the potent types, can eventually thin your skin
and worsen your acne condition in the long run in addition to the
irritation, redness and other side effects steroid creams can cause.
Moreover, topicals by definition address the symptoms of acne (inflammation,
itching, puss), they do not treat the root cause of the disease.
Nevertheless, taking care of your skin externally is highly recommended
but should be performed gently using pure natural ingredients such
as diluted tea tree oil.
3. Taking Antibiotics
Antibiotic treatments like tetracycline aggravate
your acne in the long run and also severely damage your internal
system in the process. Antibiotics destroy all the bacteria in your
system including the good, probiotic bacteria like acidophilus that
have many essential qualities that promote clear skin. One of these
qualities is the ability to protect your digestive tract from parasites
and fungus (that constantly stress and damage your liver, one of
the most important organs responsible for the healing process of
your skin).
4. Shaving with Four-In-One Razor blades
Never use these four-in-one razor blades when shaving
especially if you have large bumps and painful cysts. The reason
is that blades that guarantee the “closest shave” will
cause severe irritation and will damage your skin. Always use a
single blade when having “live” acne.
5. Picking Your Skin (popping and squeezing
included)
Never, never and ever touch, pick or squeeze your
blemishes, regardless of how temping and “safe” it may
seem. By doing this unprofessionally, you make your acne worse by
aggravating your existing inflammation and pushing the puss deeper
and wider into the skin. There are in fact very effective and safe
ways of dealing with small whiteheads or blackheads but I would
strongly recommend leaving that to the professionals if you care
for your skin and wish to prevent further scarring.
6. Taking excessive amounts of Vitamin
A
Vitamin A from natural sources (green leafy vegetables
and beta carotene fruit and veggies) and in small quantities can
significantly enhance the healing process of your skin but when
taken excessively it can seriously damage your liver and cause severe
health problems and side effects.
7.Use over the counters for your Rosacea
That one is a no-brainer. Taking over the counters
that by definition make your skin red and irritating is definitely
not something you want to do when surfeiting from rosacea. If you
suffer from rosacea, always consult your dermatologist prior to
applying over the counters on your already inflamed and highly sensitive
skin.
* * *
Mike Walden is a certified
nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant
and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Acne
No More - Open The Door To An Acne Free Life." Mike has
written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured
in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites
worldwide. Click
here for information on Mike's
Holistic Clear Skin program
|