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Acne is a skin disorder common amongst teenagers.

When does Acne occurs

Sebaceous glands are made up of lobes (small tubes) which produces sebum (oily substance consisting fats).

Acne occurs When there is an increased production of sebum (oily substance),. This oily substance travels up to the pores of the skin and there they get blocked by keratin.

Once sebum(oily substance) is blocked in the skin pores surface, the skin gets inflamed and erupted which results into Acne

Reference Picture showing the glands:

• Other names for Acne : pimples, blemishes, spots, zits.

Diagnosis

• Acne can be seen on the skin surface as Inflammatory eruptions on the skin. These are usually small in size and gradually increase in size if left untreated for long period of time.

• Severe Acne When untreated the size of Acne increases. It increases so much that it becomes a serious condition and then a visit to the doctor should be made.

• Treat Acne before it grows in size, because…

A stitch in time saves nine!

If you start the alternative treatment on time, you can prevent Acne with MUCH EASE!

Symptoms

Acne spots are visible on the skin. Inflammation is common.

Tests

Usually no tests are required.

Root cause:

Acne is caused by formation of excessive sebum (oily substance) under the skin. This ain't the root cause. There are several things happening around in the body. Let's see some of those…

Acne Root Causes

• Hormonal changes in the body [1] When teenagers attain puberty there are some hormonal changes in their bodies. There is an increase in androgen hormone in the body. This hormone leads to increased sebum excretion under the skin.

• Increased fats substance under the skin Junk food which contains high amount of fat. This type of diet increases the quantity of fat [2]. So one should avoid foods with high fat and sugar contents. It will help in preventing onset of the problem and reduce chances of a relapse.

• Indigestion This is one of the major cause in older people. Junk food leads to indigestion. This leads to weight gain (more fat). When the muscle tissue carry more fat Acne will occur.

• Unhealthy eating habits overeating, irregular routine, and even starving yourself adds to the cause.

• Less intake of vitamin C and A Studies have shown that people who have low levels of vitamin A are more prone to Acne. [3] . So eat fruits with natural sources of Vitamins Amla is a great option to start with. Carrot can bring you great benefits providing adequate Vitamin A.

Treatment approach

These are the two approaches

• First is: Skin surface treatment
  • Using creams and washing face regularly.
  • These are short term treatment and does not usually cure the root cause.
  • These creams like Benzoyl_peroxide kill the bacteria.
  • When taken for long term (upto 2-4 weeks) they show improvement.
  • But the action is NOT on the root cause it does not provide long term relief in most cases.
  • People get benefit using these creams BUT they are not best cure. They treat the condition , but cannot cure the root cause.

• Second is: reducing the formation of fats using hormone therapy
  • This approach includes taking oral antibiotics and other medicines to make changes in hormonal levels.
  • But this is usually complicated and benefits are less than the side effects.

Allopathy modern medicine treatment

• Topical Antibiotics: (applied on the skin)
  • Medicines like erythromycin , clindamycin or tetracycline
  • These antibiotics are applied on the Acne spots. It kills the bacteria.
  • Topical Antibiotics are preferred over oral antibiotics because they do not cause any side effects. But
  • These medicine do nothing to treat the root cause. (that we have discussed above.)

• Oral Antibiotics
  • Oral antibiotics used to treat acne include erythromycin or one of the tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, the better absorbed oxytetracycline, or one of the once daily doxycycline, minocycline, or lymecycline). Trimethoprim is also used.
  • These medicines kill the bacteria BUT do not do anything to change the sebum (oily substance) secretion of the cell.
  • As soon as people would stop taking these medicines chances of relapse are higher.
  • But oral antibiotics have potential side effects that may include:
    • Imbalance in the gut flora Read more about probiotics
    • Reduced immunity
    • Relapse (there is high chances of relapse after an anti-biotic treatment because body's self immunity is reduced.

• Hormone Therapy
  • Hormones are messengers that convey messages to the cells in the body. When there is a excess of Androgen harmone produced in the body the cells release higher amount of sebum [oils] which leads to Acne.
  • Hormone contraception medicines are prescribed to reduce the production of Androgen. It does have some potential side effects.

• Surgical Removal of Acne Spots
  • If the size of the infection grow big, surgery is conducted.
  • This is a very painful procedure.
  • This however do not cure the disease but provides temporary relief.

Ayurvedic treatment with herbs

With the power of herbs, Acne can be treated with ease and with no side effects.

• Triphala
  • Contains Amalaki Bibhitaki and haritaki - triphala is an ayurvedic medicine formulation that helps in detoxification and increase immunity. It is a natural laxative and helps in eliminating toxins from the body.
  • It helps in bringing a balance in hormonal levels and normal production of androgen.
  • It cleans your body and helps the liver to detoxify and eliminate the toxins.
  • It is safe and have no side effects whatsoever.
  • It helps in getting rid of unnecessary fats from the body.
  • It is VERY POPULAR and you can find it at any medicine store and online shopping websites like Amazon.

• lemon
  • Also known as neembu
  • It is rich in Vitamin C, it kills all sorts of bacterial infections from the body
  • Helps the liver to detoxify
  • Remove bad fats and toxins from the body.
  • Drinking lime water can help the body in curing the infection.

• Neem
  • Is a tree found in south Asia and India
  • It's leaves are natural antibiotic. These can kill any type of bacteria and does not have any side effects.
  • They clean the blood
  • Procedure: You can crush neem leaves, mix it with water and drink it. Continue this for a month 2 times a day. It is an antibiotic that does not kill the good bacteria. A great alternative to the modern medicine antibiotics.

• karaunji
  • Rich in vitamin C

• Aloe vera
  • Has great anti-inflammatory response.
  • Works as a coolant
  • Jelly can be taken orally and even applied directly on the skin.
  • Aloe vera is popularly used for skin problems in the world. It is main ingredient in beauty products available in the market.
  • Procedure: Apply aloe vera gel on the skin and wash the skin after 10 minutes.

• Panchakarma can help reducing unnecessary fats from the body. It is a great option if you can spare 10 days for a vacation.

Can't find above said herbs locally? You can buy medicinal formulations available in the market which contain extracts of these herbs and are usually 90% as effective:

* Divya Kayakalp vati medicine
* Acne n Pimple cream from Himalaya
* Clarina

Naturopathy treatment

Naturopathy cures this disease by eliminating the toxins and provide adequate vitamins.

Diet

• Go for Juice fasting it is highly recommended. Carrot juice and Orange juice are best sources of vitamins. If you have adequate vitamins and low content of fats you will never have Acne in your life.
• Do not eat foods with high saturated fat contents. They can aggravate the problem. Say no to oily junk food at any cost.
• Avoid carbohydrates and oily, cooked foods.
• Prefer eating fresh fruits and boiled vegetables.
• Include Green vegetables
• Drinks at least 3-4 liters of water everyday to eliminate toxins from the body. This is very important. Drinking water helps your body in balancing the hormones.
• Breathing exercise helps in bringing hormonal balance. It also oxidize the cells which helps them to fight off the infection.

Home remedy

1. Mix the following ingredients in the ratio 1:2:1:1

* Dry orange peel ( This is rich in vitamin C which fights off the infection, it has anti-inflammatory action ) Dry Orange peel guide
* Gram_flour
* Multani mitti
* Rose water

* Procedure:

* Put this mixture into water for 15-20 minutes and apply the mixture on the face (or spots) for 10 minutes. Wash your face after 10 minutes.
* Repeat this procedure two times in a day.
* This is a very effective remedy for Acne. It can be taken for long term as it has no side effects.
* It clears the infection and inflammation.
* This formula is good for any type of skin problems.

2. Drink 100ml Amla juice 3 times a day :
* Amla is a fruit that brings a balance in the hormonal levels in the body.
* It helps the liver in detoxifying and balance Vata, Pitta and Kapha
* Amla is good for all types of ailments. It has no side effects and can be taken by everyone.
* It is a good source of Vitamin C, A and Zinc all these minerals helps the body in getting rid of Acne fast.

* Note: If fresh Amla juice is not available: get dry amla and soak it in water over night. In the morning drink the water. This is a good way to get the important nutrients as Amla does not loses nutritional value after being dried.

3. Papaya juice face pack
* Papaya (green and raw) juice can be applied on the face and body parts with pimples, zits and acne.
* This is an effective remedy for acne and pimples, put it for 7 days and you will see the difference.

4. Garlic juice with water 1:3 ratio
* Mix 1 tbsp Garlic juice with 1 cup of water and wash your face.
* Garlic helps in not only fighting the Acne bacteria but also remove the scars that might be left after the treatment.

5. Very effective Turmeric Paste with Chandana powder - 1:5 ratio
* Turmeric is a herb that is anti-septic and fight off infection. Chandana is the bark of tree found in India that has cooling properties.
* In India, Chandana powder is extensively used by the teenagers to remove acne spots. This is a sure shot remedy and provides benefits in less time.
* Mix chandana and turmeric paste 1:5 ratio and soak it in water enough to make a paste. Apply the paste on the skin and keep it there for 10 minutes. Do it two times in a day to see the results.

* Turmeric and Chandana powder is applied on groom and bride as a custom in marriage ceremony. It brings glow to the skin and makes it look beautiful and clean the small infections.

Do's and Dont's:

Do s

• Wash face regularly(at least 3 times a day). This will help in keeping the skin dry and free from oil. This can also help unblock the pores and let the infection come out.
• Pranayam brings hormonal balance, breathing exercise oxidize the cells in the body. The immunity increases and infection is cured.
• Personal Hygiene is very important keep face clean.
• Drinking lots of water helps in eliminating excess fats and toxins from the body.
• Increase intake of Vitamin A, C, E and Zinc rich diet List of Vitamin A Sources

Don't

• Do not think too much about sex, do not watch porn. (to reduce Androgen hormone production)
• Do not eat diet with high fat content, especially saturated fats
• Do not live a sedentary life style.
• Also read: General lifestyle considerations for any medical condition

Faqs about Acne - why, how, when

• Why acne occurs predominantly on face and back
  • Because these are the areas of the skin with most density of Sebaceous glands. These glands produce sebum which results into Acne. Acne can occur in almost any part of the body. But because these areas skin is sensitive they are more prone to Acnes bacteria attack.

• Why acne occurs mostly to teenagers
  • Increased androgen hormones sends a message to the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oily substance).

* When teenagers attain puberty. Androgen secretion increases which helps in formation of hair in the body. This is the main reason why teenagers are more prone to Acne than anyone else.

• Why does acne keeps getting bigger and more inflamed (if left untreated)
  • The Acnes bacteria infect the skin pores and keeps multiplying. The infection and inflammation increases if the oil is blocked and not let out.

• How is food and diet related to Acne
  • Eating junk food will increase the toxins and fat content in the body cells. This will result into decreased immune levels and makes one prone to Acne.

References

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Welcome to treatmentGuru a wiki for sharing natural treatment and simple home remedies for common ailments. You can find information about root causes and symptoms of diseases and find cure with herbs and yoga.

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