If you have never eaten a fruit or vegetable in your life - never fear.  You have only to try one or two of the hundreds of delicious fruits that summer offers to get your waistline back and shape and clear that skin in no time. If you don’t want to eat them, then try applying them directly to your skin as a facial mask or body scrub!

First lets looks at some of the seasonal fruits that might still be available, depending on what zone you live in. These fruits are chock-full of nutrients and lots of phyto-chemicals to help build collagen and re-build acne-scarred skin.

Nearly everything will be in bloom soon, so you have no excuse to not try at least of some of this delicious harvest or at least experiment with a new facial mask. Most fruits and vegetables have great propensity to eliminate toxins and flush your system of all those - pore-clogging bacteria and excess oil that creates acne flare ups and breakouts.

BERRIES: berries are the first thing one might think of in the summer - all those delicious colors and fragrances to take in - AND they are excellent for your skin - not only on the inside but on the outside as well. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, any berries you can think of - Naturally blue and purple foods contain additional nutrients including the super anti aging reservatol (famous for its high (concentration in red wine) and other flavonoids that fight inflammation and cancer, plus ones that support immune and digestive function and mineral absorption. Find can find high concentrations of these age-fighting phytonutrients in grapes or purple bell peppers (found at your local farmers’ markets), purple yams or sweet potatoes and pomegranates also have these amazing phyto-nutrients to protect cellular DNA, slow the aging process and heal acne flare ups and scars.

For a direct treatment, simply crush the berry mix into a pulp and add directly to the face for an instant fruit facial mask and anti-acne fruit acid treatment.

These amazing fruits also slow the aging process by impeding oxidation, combatting dryness and strengthen the barrier for improved elasticity and long-lasting beauty. Taking in large doses, they can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and inhibit the breakdown of elastin that causes sagging. the free-radicals will also help to prevent overall premature aging.

With all these benefits, what have you got to lose?

HOW ACNE STARTS

Acne is common in young adults, teens and pre-teens and may cause emotional and self-esteem problems. In severe cases, medical treatment may be needed. There are many over-the-counter products that can help treat acne.

Acne is caused by inflammation of the oily glands in the skin - they are called sebaceous glands - that contain a fatty material called sebum. When the duct of the gland becomes blocked either by layers of skin, fatty secretions or dirt, a mini-cyst or pimple forms. The cyst can become infected with acne bacteria.

Treatment of Acne

Just as acne can range from mild to severe, acne treatments also vary, depending on how serious the problem is. The basic treatment is to remove what is plugging the duct of the gland and, if necessary, kill the acne bacteria. This is done either by applying a product to the skin or by taking medication internally. A treatment applied to the skin is called a topical medication; treatment taken internally is called systemic medication.

Topical medications

The simplest treatment for acne is the daily use of ordinary soap and water. Many topical medications are available over the counter without a prescription. They include:

• medicated soaps;
• salicylic acid ointments and washes; and
• benzoyl peroxide.

Topical prescription products may contain antibiotic ingredients such as erythromycin that help control inflammation associated with acne. Topical prescription products may also contain ingredients derived from vitamin A. These products are designed to clean the area, dry up the oiliness, peel the skin and eliminate the acne bacteria present.

Anti-Acne facial masks come in all forms and types to help clear current acne breakous and heal old scars from previous acne erruptions. Many anti-acne facial masks may contain harsh chemicals or parabens that might not be safe for your skin or can actually cause more damage.  harsh chemicals like salycidic acid and benzoil peroxide can actually increass redness and inflammation and increase your chances of breakouts and acne erruptions.

If you use a skincare regime, try to find ingredients that will gently cleanse your skin and allow inflammed tissues to regenerate naturally, without shocking them into submission.

Natural ingredients like Chamomile, Marshmallow, Confrey, Calendula and other herbs are the best way to papmer acne-prone skin and relive redness. Acne erruptions are caused by excess oil and clogged pores, so you want to find an acnti-acne mask that will also help pull the dirt and oil out of the clogged pores - clay based masks work well.  if you can, look for an all-natural option or a 100% herbal option to meet both requirements, to heal skin herbally and remove toxins.

Acne scars are created when tissues are not allowed to purge toxins or harsh cleansing or picking has created a groove or indentation in the skin tissue. Acne acars are treatable and skin cells can regenerate with the proper treatment.

You may have looked into using a laser treatment to heal your scars, but again - this can cause more problems down the road as it is only a temporary solution…using a laser to physically BURN the skin cells into a flat shape.  Try to stay true to a natural or herbal rmedy and allow the skin to regenerate on its own.

Unlike some over-the counter prescription treatments or harsh prescription drugs, herbal anti-acne masks contain NO chemicals whatsoever.  They simply use the healing properties of natural herbs to repair acne skin and prevent breakouts.

Most of you if you have suffered from serious acne may have already tried many of the products on the shelf.  Maybe you took accutane or a similar drug. I actually had a friend who suffered from horrible acne breakouts all over his body - it was genetic, and he was on prescription medication that actually turned his teeth grey!  I can’t imagine that would be a good trade off to prevent acne.

If you have tried the rest, now try something natural.  Natural healing agents are so much better for your body, your skin and the environment. What comes from the earth, can easily be reabsorbed back into the earth. There are no harsh chemicals or acids to inflame sensitive skin and no peroxides to dry out your skin.

Acne skin needs TLC - not a combat zone. Natural Anti-Acne masks are usually herbal or sometimes they might be made of natural clay.

Here are the BEST ingredients to look for and what they do:

Botanicals of Oats, Rosemary, Lavender, Dill, Mint, Aloe Vera, Green Tea, act as natural anticeptics, absorb impurities, increase cellular turnover and reduce dark spots.  Vitamins C and E oil, detoxifies and refines pores, heals skin cells / removes dead skin cells and repairs blemishes without drying the skin.

INGREDIENTS to look for:

Avena Sativa (Oat Flour,)

Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary)

Althaea officinalis (Marshmallow)

Anethum Graveolens (Dill)

Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera)

Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender)

Mentha arvensis (mint)

Origanum vulgare (Oregano), Yogurt Powder

Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare)

Angelica, (Angelica Archangelica)

Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander)

Carum Carvi (Caraway)

Ocimum Basilicum (Basil)

Green Tea

 All Vitamins help nourish the skin to promote healing and cellular turnover, for fresh, youthful-looking skin.  Look for these names in your natural herbal anti-acne masks.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Calcium Panthothenate (Vitamin B5)

Pyridoxine-HCL (Vitamin B6)

Biotin (Vitamin H)

 So give herbal anti-acne masks a try and enjoy your new healthy skin!

Many of you may be new to understanding skincare and how to properly treat your pimples or acne.  Teenagers especially are bombarded daily with ads for this and promotions for that, making it extremely difficult to know what the right product can be for them.

Rest easy, there is no need to be overwhelmed, just follow a few simple rules for the choices that fit your skin the best and you will be acne-free and loving your new acne facial mask in no time.

First, decide what type of skin you have so you can better choose the mask that suits you. Do you suffer from oily skin or dry skin? Do you breakout easily and have sensitive skin or redness or roseacea? Maybe you have combination skin - its all ok. There is a specially formulated acne treatment mask out there to help all skin types.

Most acne masks contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in an effort to “dry out” the acne.  natural remedies have proven that’s not always best way.

If you worry about using harsh chemicals and are supportive of non-animal testing and sustainable practices, then you might love all-natural products or organic  acne masks. Be aware though, that just because an acne mask says it’s “organic” doesn’t mean your skin can’t have a reaction. Know your skin and know what makes you break out.  If you are allergic to nuts, DONT go using a face mask with macadamia oils!

Anti-Acne face masks should be calming and antimicrobial - meaning they contain ingredients that help prevent breakouts and reduce redness.

Key ingredients to look for in an anti-acne mask would be:

Oatmeal - natural anti-inflammatory and skin softener

Rosemary - Natural antibiotic, anti-microbial, astringent

Aloe Vera - natural skin healer, helps repair damaged cells

Lavender:  natural anti-microbial and astringent

Marshmallow ( the herb - no the desert)  - helps reduce redness and inflamattion

Green Tea - helps repair cellular damage to skin cells

Vitamins - A, C, E - all help repair skin and nourish

And that’s it!  not too much to worry about - just remember to find the acne treatment that is right for you and your acne will clear in no time.

“Of the 85% of teenagers (between the ages of 12 and 24) that suffer from acne, 25% will have permanent scars ranging from severe to light. The American Dermatologist Association finds that:

• 20% of all adults have active acne
• 60 million Americans have active acne
• 20 million Americans have acne badly enough to cause scars.
• Only 11% of acne sufferers seek help
• Acne is considered a social taboo

You may wonder if this epidemic is genetic, due to the foods Americans eat or perhaps it might be your own “bad skin?”

Take heart.  Again, know that you are not alone when it comes to being self-concious about your skin. Almost everyone at some time or another has suffered an embarrassing acne breakout that practicially kept them at home!

First off, there are many studies, all sometimes disagreeing with each other WHY acne forms or happens. Some say it is due to genetics, others say it is the result of a horrible American “fast food diet.”  But the bottom line is - You have acne that makes you feel less than confident and you want to get rid of it, right?

So, the real question is, WHAT can you do about it?

Truth is, YOU have to learn your own body and find out what works for you to start. ONE of the ways to do this is to satart cutting down on fatty, sugary foods that might be exacerbating the problem.  If you were never a great fan of vegetables and your skin is a mess - that MIGHT be a clue.  Genetics of course play a part, but your body is uniquely yours and if you want to see it thrive, you have to provide it with vital nutrients and wholesome food that it needs.

Once you get through this process, I KNOW you will start to see some positive changes in your skin.  The remainder is up to you to take on a daily skincare routine - one of which includes a good facial mask.

Anti-acne facial masks can mean an herbal mask, a pure clay mask or maybe one that helps soothe your irritated skin afters years of harsh treatments.

Look for GENTLE ingredients first - ones that don’t strip your skin, but help it to nourish and heal itself - just like your body. Ingredients like Oatmeal, Chamomile, Comfrey and Zinc will all be healthing, nouishing and anti-microbial (meaning they help pull the acne toxins out of your skin).

So take heart, and don’t give up.  With the right diet, and proper treatment, you can have brilliant, gorgeous skin.

It may be that your acne skin is an embarrassment to you when you are in school and want to attract positive attention instead of bad. Or maybe you are an adult experiencing adult acne for the first time. Not to worry, there are loads of natural, herbal treatments out there to help ease your acne pain.

The majority of acne facial products on the market today may contain salicylic acid or other hard, irritating chemicals that can not only cause our skin to erupt more violently or even cause harsh, allergic reactions, causing redness and blotching. This is not the way to go. Anti Acne facial masks, if they are to work effectively must be natural and contain ingredients that will help reduce redness and allergic reactions. Acne skin is delicate, though it might seem you should treat it abrasively with chemicals and oil-reducing products, but what acne skin really needs is gentle, soothing botanicals and herbal treatments like anti-acne facial masks.

Gentle acne facial masks can be made at home or bought from a variety of stores, including local pharmacies or herbal / organic grocery stores. Botanicals that will reduce redness and help stop your acne skin from hyper-reacting, include; oatmeal, chamomile, comfrey, calendula and rose hip seed oil. Some of these ingredients can be found in your local store and made into instant compresses at home – like oatmeal – simply make a paste out of whole oats and water and apply to the face. Chamomile and Calendula are found in more facial creams and face masks today, but these herbs can also be purchased in an organic or herbal store and boiled into water to create a “facial tea” that can be spritzed on the face daily as an anti-acne facial toner after your oatmeal mask to reduce redness.

Try these remedies today!

]]> http://antiacnemask.com/2011/03/15/take-care-of-your-acne-with-a-face-mask/feed/ http://antiacnemask.com/2011/03/04/treating-acne-with-facial-masks/ http://antiacnemask.com/2011/03/04/treating-acne-with-facial-masks/#comments Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:44:49 +0000 Staff Writer http://antiacnemask.com/?p=770 The style of diet and lifestyle followed by a person affects the quality of skin. Only the skin which is healthy inside will show healthy outside. Bad eating habits alone, however is not the only reason why a person develops pimples, but yes, it is one of the major causes.

The market of anti acne products is growing as more and more people take on to ready-made mixture of herbs and chemicals to fight acne. There are many effective and easy-to-make anti-acne masks which you can yourself make with the ingredients easily available in your kitchen.

Oatmeal, the king of beauty secrets, along with tomatoes and honey makes for a good facial mask to tackle acne. Avocadoes, yogurt and tomato together constitute an effective anti-acne mask. Chamomile and lime mask is also held to be extremely beneficial. Also you may try cucumber, lemon and kaolin mask. Both egg white and egg yolk are very useful. Strawberries, though mentioned in the end are the most effective of all naturally available products.

No doubt, these are natural ingredients and will cause you no harm at all but still it will be an act of intelligence if you consult a specialist before becoming your own doctor. Self treatment of pimples can further worsen your already severe problem. Another thing, if the acne face mask gives you even the slightest hint of irritation or burning sensation, rush to the doctor without demur. It is, although recommended that you first test the mask on a smaller part to check if it causes any sensation rather than applying it all over.

Experts suggest that acne masks must be applied a minimum of twice in ten days. A person having to deal with acne may also consider the idea of using a facial scrub. Scrubs have proven results to show their effectiveness.

Most dermatologist and skin experts recommend consistently following a daily skin care routine. This does not have to be complicated or time-consuming.  Your daily routine can be performed in as little as five to ten minutes.

Four Simple Steps

* Cleanse
* Tone / Treat
* Moisturize
* Protect

A typical skin care routine includes the following steps: washing/cleansing, toning / treating (optional depending on skin type), moisturizing and sun protection.

Optimize for your skin type
The steps of the basic routine should be adjusted to fit your skin type. Your skin type may change with the season, diet and age. Skin tends to be oilier in the summer and drier in the winter. Menopause often brings about a change from oily or normal to dry skin. Conversely, a shift from a low-fat diet to that rich in certain fats (particularly essential fatty acids) may turn dry skin to normal. Skin pigmentation affects the degree to which you need sun protection. While sun damages any skin, the damage is far less in dark-skinned people. Conversely, fair skinned people need to be particularly meticulous about sun protection by minimizing sun exposure, choosing an effective sunscreen and applying it frequently and consistently.

Depending on your skin type, you may want to use your routine once in the morning and again before you sleep. Those with dry and/or sensitive skin may do better with once a day washing/cleansing while moisturizing two or more times a day. Exfoliation, to remove excess oils and prevent acne or blackheads, is also recommended in some cases, but exercise caution as daily exfoliation may be excessive and can lead to chronic irritation. Exfoliation once or twice a week is usually sufficient. Younger skin, like that in your 20’s and 30’s will have a fast natural epidermal turnover may need little to no exfoliation.

Cleansing
Cleaning facial skin is even more important than cleaning your body. Your face, unlike your body, is exposed to elements all day long. Dirt, pollution and oil from hands all accumulate on the epidermal layer and can clog pores and cause acne eruptions or inflammation. Like all skin care products, the best cleanser for you will be determined by your skin type. If you suffer from oily or acne-prone skin, you may benefit from an oil-free gel cleanser or one containing salicylic acid. Mature or dry skin will do best with a cream cleanser to help retain moisture. Once your face and neck are cleansed, rinse with lukewarm water and pat your skin lightly with a towel.

Toning / Treating
Toning can consist of using a store-bought toner, astringent or simple Witch Hazel. Toning or treating will balance the ph level of the skin and remove any residual dirt or oil not picked up from your cleanser. For those over the age of thirty, adding a well-selected treatment or two with scientifically proven active ingredients can further improve your results. Treatment can mean anything from skin rejuvenation products, skin discoloration items and oil absorbing agents to applying medicines for acne or eczema. If you suffer from multiple skin conditions, select an initial treatment aimed at the broadest improvement and then fine tune things from there.
Be aware of applying products to un-cleansed skin as the penetration of active ingredients will be greatly reduced. If you cleanse, moisturize and then apply advanced products, the penetration of active ingredients may still be reduced because the moisturizer has blocked some the entryways.

Moisturize
Moisturizers are essential to keep skin cells plump and hydrated. Hydrated skin will show fewer lines, wrinkles and imperfections. Even if you have oily or acne prone skin, you may still need some hydration. Look for gel-based moisturizers or lightweight formulations. Many medications and treatments appropriate for dealing with acne or oily skin automatically are drying. Don’t make the mistake of drastically drying out your skin until it is a challenge to repair. During the fall and winter months your skin may be even more vulnerable thanks to reduced humidity from indoor heating and excessive hot showers or baths.

Apply your moisturizer when your skin is clean, warm and still slightly moist. Since many active treatments have moisturizing ingredients, you may be able to skip a separate moisturizer. If you feel that you need additional moisturizing, wait a few minutes for the active treatments to absorb, and then apply your favorite moisturizer over it.

Protect
Wearing sunscreen or sun protection EVERY DAY is the proven best way to block harmful UV rays and diminish formation of wrinkles, skin discolorations and to reduce your chances of developing skin cancer. A good UVA+UVB sunscreen should be applied on top of your moisturizer or other treatments as a final step of your routine whenever sun exposure is expected.  Sunscreens come in a wide variety of bases, from those meant for oily skin to hydrating versions. Those with sensitivities to chemical sunscreens can choose natural Zinc Oxide formulations. Protective clothing can also now be improved thanks to new laundry treatments with UV protectant for widespread areas of the body mistakenly thought to be protected by your clothing.

Some skin care products or cosmetics contain added UV blockers, but they may not be enough, using a separate, specially formulated sunscreen is proven to be more effective.

And that’s it! Cleanse, Tone / Treat, Moisturize and Protect. Use these four simple steps to achieve beautiful, healthy skin. For a lifetime of skin care that can help leave your skin looking its very best, see your healthy skin as a clean canvass upon which to paint any improvements.

Author: Rachelle Dupree
Vivoderm Natural Skincare