November 14, 2013
How to Treat Acne Naturally
Most of us had some experience with acne during adolescence. And many of us are encountering acne after having children and into later adulthood. Acne at any age is not fun. Here are a few ways to try and tackle it.
Less is More
You hear this all the time from us, but it`s true! Sometimes we are our own worst enemy when it comes to acne. By overinterferring, we make the situation worse. Read through these suggestions and find what works for you.
A Word on Hormones & Genes
If you`ve ever asked me this in person, I`ve probably told you that hormones trump any external skin care regime. Try as you might, if your hormones are raging (adolescence, pregnancy or post-natal, etc.), your hormones may win the skin care battle. And some skin issues are genetic like pore size, blackheads, etc. They will have a big influence too.
Lightly Cleanse
Most people make the mistake of attacking acne with super intense cleansing regimes. This is not needed. Follow the same approach above for a gentle cleansing. Some people enjoy the cleansing properties of tea tree, rosemary, lemongrass, or peppermint scents.
If you need a little extra work, try washing twice a day. Or even wipe the acne areas with some undiluted tea tree essential oil (perform a patch test first). But don`t overdue it after that. You are only trying to gently remove excess dirt and dead skin.
Extra care:
Blackheads: I`ve read that pure honey on half a lemon wiped around your face is great for blackheads. Some people use witch-hazel or aloe juice as a `toner`or to help reduce blackheads.
Active Pimples: LEAVE THEM ALONE. I know it`s so tempting, but really, leave them be and they will heal faster.
Lightly Moisturize
This may seem counter-intuitive, but adding moisture to oily or acne areas might actually settle the inflammation. As most people over-wash, our oil producing glands can go into hyper-drive. If you provide the needed moisture, you may settle the oil producing glands.
I find the Facial Serum to be very effective. Spread on a damp face. Or simply moisturize dry areas like cheeks and avoid acne prone areas.
Lightly Exfoliate.
If you find your skin dull and dry, try a gentle exfoliate like the ones suggested above. Honey and baking soda is my favourite. Use up to twice a week.
And that`s it. Of course you should also work on the inside out by eating well, drinking enough H20, sleeping well, exercising and doing fun things…
Be patient, this process can take up to two skin regeneration cycles to really work (that`s two months).
You might want to try one change at a time if your skin is especially sensitive.
I wish you luck! We would love to hear your feedback!Comments will be approved before showing up.
From our June 2014 E Newsletter:
~ written by mama bare
Common Sense Sun Protection
I absolutely love soaking up the sunshine this time of year. While it’s true that the sun’s rays are far more powerful now with our depleting ozone layer, sunshine is still vital for our health.
Karen Kerk
Author