Health Dept Magazine Health Dept Magazine

1. 

   Jay-Jay
   October 29th, 2010 - 08:53

   You want to stop using cleaners like those on your face for a start!

   Washes and cleaners firstly often contain ingredients that are skin irritants, if you’re sensitive to any of the ingredients they will add to skin problems like acne. What cleansers like these will also do is that they will get rid of the oils your skin needs to stay healthy, the then skin tries to counter-act the drying effect by producing extra oils,and where as oil is healthy for skin, excessive oil blocks pores causing spots. It’s like if you over-wash your hair it gets greasier, same principle.

   Use Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) – http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com
   It seems counter-intuitive however oil is GOOD for your skin, it helps prevent water loss and restores barriers, providing essential nutrition to skin that it needs to renew, maintain and repair. OCM maintains natural oils, this prevents your skin from producing excess oil that leads to spots and blackheads, while also keeping skin healthy and moisturised – this will also help heal spot scars. If it wasn’t for this method my chin would be covered in big painful spots, my face would also be oily, dry and flaky, where as using OCM my skin is perfect.

   Exfoliate often to slosh off dead skin cells that can clog pores, but rather than using scrubs that can irritate spots and cause small cuts in skin leaving you prone to more spots, try cosmetic vinegar. Using something as simple as apple cider vinegar in water will exfoliate your skin, also promote circulation, regulate skins pH and is antiseptic so should help fight spots – lemon juice can also help to essentially exfoliate your skin, but vinegar is better.

   Try masks once every week of so, try this strawberry acne mask; mix together ½ cup fresh strawberries, 1 egg white, and 2 teaspoons of honey until smooth. To use spread over face and leave for 15 minutes, rinse off with cool water and pat dry – this mask is good as strawberries are rich in salicylic acid which is commonly used in acne treatments, honey is also antibacterial. There are many easy recipes online, see Make Your Own Cosmetics http://www.makeyourcosmetics.com

   Keep yourself healthy, eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and drink lots of water, but also avoid salty foods as iodine aggravates acne. Get plenty of exercise, sleep and stay stress-free, also use sunscreen at all times, and try taking evening primrose oil to help regulate your hormones.

   Make-up can clog pores so causing more spots, however make-up isn’t a problem if you use mineral foundation which has great coverage but doesn’t clog pores and is healthy for skin – if you don’t use mineral foundation then switch now! Remember to keep your make-up clean as dirty sponges or hands in make-up will cause bacteria which in turn causes spots. Also avoid products like hairsprays with synthetic polymers such as vinyl or other plastics, that is because if it gets onto the skin on your face, as it does if spraying all over your head even if aiming for your hair, it will clog pores particularly where there are larger pores such as on the chin or mouth.
2. 

   Davis
   October 29th, 2010 - 08:53

   uhmm my friend has reeeeaaallly bad acne all over and she uses everything you use except for biore’ pore unclogging scru and her mom just got her proactive and its pretty much gone!:) try that and maybe talk to your parents about accutane?
3. 

   chelley
   October 29th, 2010 - 08:53

   I’m I8, I had terrible acne when I was in high school, and I was just like you, used everything on the store shelf and it did NOTHING.

   Used proactiv for 3 months…absolutely nothing happened…

   Finally, I talked to my family doctor about it and she prescribed BenzaClin, that worked for a little while, but then my acne came back. I went back to the Doc and she then prescribed Cleocin, which is an amazing medicine, I put it on all the spots I had, and within days they were pretty much gone…I haven’t had severe acne problems for over a year!! If I get a little spot, I put some Cleocin on it, and it’s gone within a day or so…best medicine ever!!!

   So yeah, if the over-the-counter stuff isn’t helping you, see the doc, those perscription acne gels are wonderful (:
4. 

   Sandy S
   October 29th, 2010 - 08:53

   Unless there is a medical condition causing the acne it is really easy to clear up.
   1 drink 8-10 glasses of WATER a day minimum
   2 NO soda, caffeine or other prepackaged drinks
   3 NO processed foods ie: kraft cheese slices, mac & cheese, etc
   4 NO fast food, french fries, burgers etc.
   5 eat clean whole fresh foods as much as possible
   6 very important – keep your hands OFF your face. Don’t touch your face. Don’t pop, break or ‘remove’ the pimples.
   7 STOP using all those products and get a bar of gentle soap like IVORY and simply wash your face at least 3 times a day. (morning, after school and before bed) More if you can.

   The cleaner and healthier you are inside and out the better looking your skin will be not just now but when you are 45 yrs old too! I started using OIL OF OLAY moisturizer at 16 – after the acne phase went away and people tell me I don’t look like I am almost 45 with 2 adult kids!

   Good luck!
5. 

   Slipknot_girl
   October 29th, 2010 - 08:53

   Using all those cleansers is drying out your skin. Try not to use them as much. Only wash twice a day.
   Also, it’s recommended that if you use an acne cream, it’s best to use a cleanser of the same brand. A chemical in the cleanser may react with the cream.
6. 

   Carrie
   October 29th, 2010 - 08:53

   Try different products. Your skin adapts to the products and then they have no effect. Just try switching them out, and on weekends/times when you’re not seen, don’t wear makeup. Always remove it at night too. Hope this helps!

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