Controlling Dry Skin

Dry skin is a prominent aspect of acne and acne treatments. Whether you are breaking out because of your skin being dry or you are flaking in response to a treatment, controlling the moisture in your skin should be a priority.

Dry skin is characterized by having discolorations and uneven tone. Fine lines are accentuated and wrinkles become more visible when the skin lacks moisture. With dry skin, the elasticity of the skin is restricted and increases our proneness to follicle ruptures and lesions.

In response to a dry skin type, some people break out as their oil glands attempt to compensate by secreting higher quantities of sebum.

Acne treatments work by inhibiting oil glands in the skin and controlling the amount of sebum that is secreted into the follicle. Because of this, and especially during the first stages of a treatment where we are first responding to the medications applied, dry skin can be a major hit to how we perceive the treatment's effectiveness.

But fear not. Even though dry skin is unavoidable when treating acne, it generally subsides after the first month or two of treatment, when retained dead skin cells have been shed.

In the meantime, you can minimize dryness and soothe your skin in several ways:

(a) Drink plenty of water:
Like exercise, drinking enough water is essential to having a healthy lifestyle. Also, when suffering from acne, drinking water becomes particularly important. Drink at least two liters of water per day to flush away toxins, ease nutrient transport/absorption, and moisturize your skin. Since water is a transporting medium, drinking enough water will also accelerate tissue healing and body resilience.

(b) Use light-bodied but powerful moisturizers:
If you are using a lightweight face moisturizer, you can try switching to "all day moisture" humectants or to light, non-comedogenic face creams for dry skin. As an alternative, you can add a few drops of jojoba oil into your face lotion to reinforce its moisturizing power.

(c) Don't over wash your skin:
Over washing will lead to dry skin no matter what. Gently wash your face a maximum of two times a day for 10-20 seconds. Use a non-soap, non-comedogenic gentle foaming wash to prevent irritability and pore plugs.

Finding a Good Skin Care Regimen

Everyone has different schedules. But fitting a good skin care regimen into your daily routine must be done. Whether you wake up early or are working the graveyard shift, you ought to find a few minutes to take proper care of your skin.

Step 1: Brush
Teeth FirstIt's important to do this first, so that once we tackle our face, it doesn't come in contact with any toothpaste residue or mouth bacteria.

Step 2: Wash Hands
Removing oil, bacteria, and other residues is important to prevent cross-contamination.

Step 3: Wash face
Wet your face with warm water and proceed to wash your face. Use a non-soap, non-comedogenic, oil-free gentle cleanser. Lather your face very gently. Don't rub the face wash into your skin as you would be washing dishes. Your skin is very sensitive, especially if you are suffering from acne, and it is prone to breakages and follicle ruptures. Rupturing a follicle causes a small lesion to become bigger and inflamed, making it more likely for scars to persist.

Step 4: Pat Dry
Again, don't rub your skin dry. Simply pat it to remove excess water, and allow it to air dry for 5-10 minutes before applying any topical. Have some cereal, check your schedule, make a phone
call - just go about your day.

Step 5: Wash Hands

Step 6: Apply Medication
After 5-10 minutes, you can proceed to apply the acne medication of your choice (or your doctor's). The most common acne medication used is Benzoyl Peroxide, but there are other options such as salicylic acid.

Make sure to be extremely gentle while applying the medication, covering all the area of your face (even if you aren't breaking out there). Don't rub the cream in; simply smear it to cover every inch of your face. You should notice your skin looks "wet" after application. Wash your hands and allow the cream to absorb for 10 minutes.

Step 7: Moisturize
Apply moisturizer as directed in step six. Allow to absorb for at least five minutes before applying make up.

Do this regimen twice a day, ideally morning and night. Remember: over-washing your face worsens acne, so don't fall prey to this bad habit.

Help Your Skin Clear with These Tips

Sugar Down: sugar is probably the worst food to put in our bodies. It is like a plague, as it is readily found in most processed products, and even in natural foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and even meat. Sugar, especially in high amounts, causes our bodies to experience hormonal imbalances that compromise immunity.

As is the case with moderate to severe acne, a sugar overload can not only give rise to acne, it prevents it from healing, as white blood cells are debilitated and unable to effectively fight acne causing bacteria. Sugar also feeds unwanted yeasts, such as Candida, that grow in our colons.

As a result, our digestive system is compromised, inhibiting the effectiveness of nutrient absorption, worsening our immune response, and ultimately resulting in poor waste management. When the body can't rid itself of waste due an infection due yeast like Candida, that waste isn't metabolized correctly in our systems. As a result, symptoms arise such as oil over-production (acne), hair loss, excessive sweating, wax build, and fluid over-production.

Drink Enough Water: Drink at least two liters of water a day to flush out toxins and help the body cleanse itself.

Do the Dairy Test: try eliminating all dairy products from your diet for 3-4 weeks. You could be experiencing acne that occurs as an allergic response to lactose-based foods, as is the case with dairy products. If you notice that upon introducing this change your skin clears up, it's a clear sign that you are not able to process lactose as you should.

Load Up on Yogurt: if you are not allergic to dairy products, take advantage of soured products such as yogurt, sour cream, and certain cheeses, which contain probiotic bacteria that enhances the body's ability to rid itself of waste.

Three Milestones to Replenish Your Body

Eliminating acne requires an internal evaluation of how we are treating our bodies. Cleansing our skin is just one milestone to achieve in the process of becoming acne clear. However, to obtain permanent results, one must address the overall health of one's entire body.

In this mini guide to acne and skin care, we will teach you ways to replenish your body. We will address the three essential aspects of your life and body that you must keep in balance and provide you with body strengthening, mind clearing exercises, sample diets, and skin care regimens. Most doctors, even those of ancient Chinese medicine, will tell you that to get rid of acne, it is essential to maintain the following conditions: (1) a healthy balanced diet, (2) proper bodily functions, and (3) clear mind and spirit.

Believe or not, these three milestones are so intertwined that they must all be achieved for guaranteed, acne-clearing success. With our following newsletters, you will learn everything that you need to know about acne, from how it affects your psyche to the medications and treatments to use and its underlying causes. Our guide will make you feel more aware of your condition so that you can take that step and make the change that your body needs.

As we go through this learning process, you will learn many new terms that you ought to be familiar with to better understand the nature of your skin eruptions. If you are unsure of the terms that we use throughout these newsletters, fear not. We will be incorporating an Acne and Skin Care glossary that you can refer to any time you're in doubt.

So, get ready! We are beginning our way down the road to clear skin.