Acne and Treatment – 3. The Big Guns
In the previous posting in this series on acne and the treatment available for it we looked at some of the treatments available to combat your acne.
Next are some preventive measures. If you’re a woman, check your makeup, and try to avoid products containing lanolins, isopropyl myristate, sodium lauryl sulphate, laureth-4 and red dyes. Rinse your makeup off thoroughly every night and wash with mild soap twice a day.
It’s possible your makeup has too much oil and is at least contributing to your acne problem. Check this out by putting a generous portion of your makeup onto a piece of bond paper and leaving for around 24 hours. Then check it to see how big the ring of grease is. A big ring betrays excessive oil in the makeup.
As another little “experiment” it may be worth giving up seafood for a while to see if it affects your acne. The trouble with seafood is that it contains iodine, which excretes through the oil glands, irritating the pores.
Any medication, such as creams or gels, that you are applying should be spread over the whole area affected and not just the spots themselves. Allow an extra half an inch all round to give the best chance of success. And cleanse your skin thoroughly before each application of over-the-counter medications.
Now for a little advice which may sound weird, but it works. Try a little TLC for your skin. Giving your face a little affectionate squeeze or massage may be just the ticket. This will help your skin rid itself of excess oils and keratin. Do this a couple of times a day. Stretch it gently in all directions, but don’t pinch. You and your skin will feel much better for it.
Finally, here is a little nugget of wisdom I want you never to forget. Your acne may be caused or exacerbated by stress and if you think this may apply to you then try the following little exercise. Locate the two hollow points at the base of your skull on either side of the back of your neck and press them gently but firmly for one to two minutes with your thumbs. Breathe deeply and relax. If you do this two or three times a day then after a week or so you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised at how your acne is receding.
The important thing is to never give up. By assessing what is and isn’t good for your skin, examining the likely causes of your acne, and reviewing the best medications you will give yourself the best chance possible of achieving results you never thought possible.
Philip Gegan
For the full range of exercises for getting rid of acne and seventeen other common ailments, read Press Away Pain, available from our home page.