A is for Acne | Part 2 Treatments | Beauty Glossary ◊ A to Z | Beauty Gospel According to Tash
If you haven’t already, check out my blog and/or video explaining what acne is, understanding your skin’s composition and how your skin works. Here’s a quick recap, acne is the inflammation of the sebaceous glands which is controlled by androgens, the male hormones that women have. Stress and hormonal changes are the main culprits for triggering serious break-outs. Acne is becoming increasingly common for women in later life. According to, The International Dermal Institute, 54% of women older than 25 has some facial acne. How to treat Acne Most dermatologists suggest over-the-counter products for 4 – 6 weeks. If the condition doesn’t clear up, you will be prescribed antibiotic creams and/or long courses of oral antibiotics or drugs or the Pill which influence the way the skin responds to hormones. Severe cases will be treated with Roaccutane. If you get an unexpected breakout after years of clear skin, change your skincare products and be gentle with your skin, i.e. no scrubbing or exfoliating. Also rethink your diet, since hormone function is also dependent on nutrition. Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, spicy foods, orange juice, tomatoes and dairy products can aggravate the situation. Try a diet rich in zinc, vitamins C, E and A and polyunsaturated fats. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, skinless poultry (or better yet, a vegetarian diet), nuts, wheat germ and seeds. Cut down on alcohol, nicotine and caffeine. Avoid meat, processed sugar and juice concentrates. Also, get in some regular exercise. Try to avoid touching your face unnecessarily and always make sure your hands are meticulously clean if you do. Do not squeeze! Rather go to your local beautician and get them to sort out your spots for you so you can avoid scarring. Ask your beautician if they do High-Frequency Treatments, these are game-changers when it comes to acne or even just a pimple. These treatments use electrical currents that are set to the right frequency to benefit your skin. When the device is applied to the skin, it generates oxygen which kills the bacteria and calms inflammation – in a nutshell, the redness and spots go away faster. As you will all well know, people with oily skin are more prone to acne as this type of skin is characterised by overactive sebaceous glands. Good news, people with oily skin generally age well as the skin will always be well hydrated. To keep oil secretions at bay, cleanse the skin thoroughly using an oil (yes, oil) or gel cleanser. However, DO NOT over-cleanse as this can set up a reaction, called seborrhoea, where the oil glands work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils. This will cause dehydration and premature ageing and no-one wants that! Recommended over-the-counter products: ◊ Dr Hauschka products (available at Woolworths) One of my absolute favourite brands! All products are pure and organically grown. Try Dr Hauschka Cleansing Milk or Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream. These products are not cheap, but worth the investment. ◊ Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash (available at Clicks and Dischem) If you’re looking for a more cost-effective product, this face wash is a soap-free, gel-based formula. It cleans impurities from the skin and cures pimples and prevents their recurrence. The combination of turmeric and neem works like magic and benefits your skin. What I loved about it, is that it doesn’t leave your face feeling dry like many acne-fighting products. ◊ Himalaya Neem Tablets (available at Clicks and Dischem) These are great to fight your skin problems from the inside. ◊ Zit Zappers > Tea Tree oil Dab neat tea tree oil onto the problem area 3x a day until it clears. > Eyedrop solution To reduce redness from spots, dab on some eyedrop solution. > SANS SOUCIS Aqua Clear Skin Anti-Blemish Stick (available at Red Square) This is incredible stuff. If I catch a pimple on time and dab this puppy on, it’s gone in 3 days. > Azulen Paste by Doctor Eckstein If you ever find yourself in Germany, get this paste. It is magic. Or you can order it online in SA (yay). Natural Home Remedies ◊ Mix 1 tsp ground turmeric with 1/4 tsp lemon juice OR 1/2 tsp honey. Apply to the affected areas. Why does it work? Turmeric may help with acne scarring. The anti-inflammatory qualities target your pores and calm the skin. Lemon juice reduces sebum (oil), it’s antiseptic and reduces redness and inflammation. Honey balances the bacteria on your skin and speeds up skin cell’s healing process. ◊ Mix 1 part of ground cumin and 1/2 part of organic cold-pressed sesame oil. Use as a face mask and leave on for 10 mins. Why does it work? Cumin’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties work to reduce clogged pores and control oil, as well as tame redness and soothe irritation. Sesame oil, with it’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, can help with acne-prone skin and acne scars. ◊ Mix 1 part crushed caraway seeds with 1/2 part organic cold-pressed sesame oil. Apply to the affected areas. Why does it work? Caraway seeds are effective in regenerating skin cells, thus improving the look of acne scars. ◊ Mix 1 tsp ground turmeric with 1 tbsp Aloe Vera gel. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes. Wash off and pat dry. (This will stain your skin temporarily, but will eventually wash off). Why does it work? Aloe Vera has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for acne. ◊ Mix 1 tablespoon of chickpea flour, few drops of lemon juice, pinch of turmeric with 1 tbsp of yoghurt. Apply to skin and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Why does it work? This face mask is a famous Ayurvedic remedy for blemishes. Its exfoliating action removes dead skin cells. Regular use will result in soft, smooth and glowing skin. Slowly blemishes will start fading too. ◊ For the BEST moisturiser, mix the following ingredients: 5 tbsp of Jojoba oil (anti-inflammatory) 15 drops of Lavender essential oil (contains powerful antioxidants and protects your skin from free radicals) 15 drops of Rosemary essential oil (reduces inflammation) 10 drops of Frankincense essential oil (anti-acne and anti-ageing)
Hope this helps! Watch this space for Part 3 which will look at how to use make-up to hide those pesky spots.
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Disclaimer: Remember turmeric can stain your skin temporarily. This blog is only intended for informational purpose. Any information associated with this blog should not be considered as a substitute for prescription suggested by beauty, diet and healthcare professionals. Readers are subjected to use this information at your own risk. Tash Fromberg does not take any responsibility for any harm, side-effects, illness or any health or skin care problems caused due to the use of this content or anything related to this. Please always remember, products that work for me, may not work for you. Always test them on a small area of skin before buying or using if unsure.