Acne

What you need to know

Even if you’re no longer a teenager, most of you will remember that horrible crop of spots that appeared just when you were planning a hot date or had an important job or college interview. The only consolation here is to say that you weren’t alone; 80 per cent of people between 12 and 24 have this condition to some degree - but happily most of us grow out of it.

There are some dietary² changes that will help your skin from the inside there are also supplements and natural remedies that can help. Please do not worry if things get worse at first, this is normal and is a sign that things are working and the body is cleansing itself. Luckily, there are also natural preparations which you can use on the affected areas to reduce the redness.

Nutritional supplements that could help

A good hi-potency multi-nutrient formula taken daily is useful to assist in correcting dietary deficiencies caused by a poor or restricted diet.  

• Evening Primrose oil
• Vitamin A^9-10
• Vitamin B6^11-12 (If a premenstrual flare-up)
• Zinc^3-8

Other supplements which could help include:

Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium¹⁶

Herbs to try

• Agnus castus ^14-15,17 (If hormone related)
• Burdock
• Echinacea
• Garlic
• Goldenseal

Other herbs that could help include:

Dandelion, Milk Thistle

Topical preparations of witch hazel and Tea tree ¹³may help ease the redness

Homoeopathy

The following Homoeopathic remedies may also help.

• Kali bromatum
• Calcarea sulphuricum
• Sulphur

Aromatherapy

• Tea tree or bergamot oil patted gently on the spots or used in a face steamer. An easy DIY face steamer is to get a bowl of boiling water, add the oils, cover your head with a towel and put your face over the bowl. You can also put these oils in the bath, soak a flannel in the water and use it as a compress on the affected area.
• Lavender applied directly to the spot using a cotton bud may be of use.

Dietary changes that may be beneficial ²

There are nutritional changes that may help - although they might not seem that attractive to the ‘take-away’ generation. You need to eat more:

• Dark green and orange fruit and vegetables - for their Beta-carotene
• Citrus fruits - for their Vitamin C
• Nuts and seeds - for their Vitamin E
• Cabbage - because it helps to regulate hormone levels
• Complex carbohydrates - potatoes (but not as chips), brown rice, pasta, wholemeal bread and beans
• Tropical fruits like pineapples, mangoes, paw paws, kiwi fruit - for their healing enzymes

Sorry, but you need to give up:

• High-sugar convenience foods, like some breakfast cereals, apple turnovers, Danish pastries
• Chocolate¹
• Ice cream
• Salt
• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• All processed meat products, like pork pies, pasties, salami, sausages

It is also important to drink at least 2 litres of water every day to help flush toxins out of the body.

Traditional Remedies

A good remedy is to rub spots with a garlic clove each night to help keep the skin free from infection.

Other useful advice

• Massaging the skin with a mixture made up of one small carton of yoghurt mixed with a tablespoon of salt. You need to do this very gently and not when the spots look like - apologies about this - custard pies. If you nick the top off them they’re likely to get infected and you’ll be in an even worse state.
• Sitting in moderate sunlight for half an hour or so a day may help, however you do need to be careful that infected skin doesn’t get burned - that’s another recipe for infection, discomfort and disaster.
• If you’re a woman, it’s obviously tempting to try to cover up the zits with heavy make-up. That’s not a good idea, as the additional oil will just add to the problem. And it almost goes without saying that having a good pick while you’re watching your favourite television programme or poring over your homework  is well, …silly.
• If you have been prescribed oral antibiotics such as tetracycline or erythromycin for your acne, please note that these medications deplete the body of many nutrients and affect the levels of good bacteria in your body. It is therefore advisable to supplement your diet with a good multivitamin and mineral as well as probiotics to help keep your body in balance.

This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk). The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.