Teen acne can exacerbate the struggles most teens already face. Natural remedies can help.
My adolescent daughter was devastated. Granted, at that age, it didn’t take much to pull her into an emotional frenzy. The culprit was a small, red bump that appeared on her forehead, smack in between her eyebrows.
“What is this?” she asked, pointing at her head.
“What?”
“This, this, this,” she said growing more agitated as she continued to point.
“Oh that,” I replied nonchalantly, as I continued chopping lettuce for dinner. “It’s just a pimple.”
By the look on her face, you would have thought I had told her she was growing horns out of her head. She immediately ran upstairs to her bedroom and slammed the door. I imagine that she was up there engaged in a staring match with her new discovery, believing that if she looked at her pimple in the mirror long enough, and with enough hatred, it would magically disappear.
If that failed, she would undoubtedly sneak into my makeup bag in search of cover-up.
I know the last thing my preteen wants to hear is that acne is a normal part of puberty. Or, that in a few years, her face will clear up. She especially doesn’t want to hear me tell her that beauty is on the inside and it is more important that she be a kind, strong, caring individual.
Oh no, she definitely doesn’t want to hear any of that, as true as it all may be. What she wants is a solution and a definite plan of action on how to prevent these blemishes from spreading.
I imagine this scene has occurred in every home with an adolescent. Acne often occurs at puberty, when the body increases its production of androgens (male sex hormones). These hormones stimulate the production of keratin (a type of protein) and sebum (an oily skin lubricant). If sebum is secreted faster than it can move through the pores, a blemish arises.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 85 percent of American teenagers will have acne. Unfortunately, some teens are genetically predisposed to having more acne than others.
A typical response to acne treatment is either to purchase one of the many topical creams available at the pharmacy or, in extreme acne cases, consult a dermatologist. While these measures may be successful, mild acne can be reduced with a whole foods diet, natural health remedies, and a good skin care routine. Like anything else, it will take time. There is no quick fix solution to reducing or even preventing acne.
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Reduce Toxins
The skin is the largest organ of the body. One of its functions is to eliminate a portion of the body’s toxic waste products through sweating. If the body contains more toxins than the kidneys and liver can effectively discharge, the skin takes over. As toxins escape through the skin, the skin’s health integrity is disrupted, which can cause skin disorders, including acne.
Eliminating processed foods that contain artificial dyes, saturated fats for some people, and high levels of sodium and sugar can effectively reduce the amount of toxins ingested.
In addition to following a whole foods diet, encourage your teens to increase their water consumption so that toxins are flushed out of the body. Foods that are high in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, will also help contribute to a healthy digestive system so that toxins can be eliminated through the colon.
Avoid Topical Oils and Chemicals
If your teen wears cosmetics, encourage her to use only natural products. Harsh chemicals and dyes will clog pores and cause acne to flourish.
Keep Skin Clean
The skin breathes. Dust, grime, oils, and pollutants can clog the skin’s pores and exacerbate existing acne.
Teens should wash their faces thoroughly, but gently, twice a day. Over washing or excessive scrubbing can make acne worse by over stimulating the sebaceous glands, causing them to produce excessive amounts of sebum.
Use an all-natural soap with sulfur that is designed for acne (available at health food stores) to help keep the skin clean.
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Avoid Touching or Squeezing
In all likelihood, teens will be tempted to squeeze, pop, and touch their pimples—anything to make them go away.
Try to encourage your kids to keep their hands away from their faces as any dirt or oil on their hands will make acne worse. Breaking or popping a pimple will also allow harmful bacteria to enter the blemish thereby risking infection and possible scarring.
Nutritional Supplements
Certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, C, E, and zinc, along with the essential fatty acid omega-3, may help improve the appearance of the skin and minimize the eruption of acne. Consult with a natural health care practitioner to determine the correct dosage for your child when using a supplement, as exceeding the recommended daily units of some vitamins can be harmful to the body.
Vitamins A, C, E, and zinc and omega-3 can also be found naturally in the foods we eat: vitamin A is found in animal livers, fish liver oils, and green and yellow fruits and vegetables; vitamin C is found in berries, citrus fruits, and green vegetables; and vitamin E is found in avocados, cold pressed vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
Zinc is found in egg yolks, fish, kelp, legumes, liver meats, mushrooms, soy, and whole grains. Omega-3 fatty acids, with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, can be found in fresh cold water fish, such as salmon and mackerel, fish oil, and walnuts.
Apple cider vinegar. (Shutterstock*)
Natural Remedies
If your adolescents are anything like mine, they will be willing to try anything to help minimize the appearance of acne. There are some natural remedies that use low-cost household items that may help.
Apple Cider Vinegar. A mixture of organic apple cider vinegar and quality water applied to the affected area can help balance the skin’s pH level and prevent breeding of acne-causing bacteria. Mix 1 part apple cider with 10 parts quality water and apply gently with a cotton ball to the skin.
Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice applied directly to clean skin can also help balance the skin’s pH level. Allow the lemon juice to dry for a few minutes and then rinse with cool water. Re-apply a couple of times a day.
Raw Honey. Honey contains enzymes that rejuvenate the skin and act as an antimicrobial agent. A thin layer of raw honey applied to the face and left there a few minutes can serve as a natural mask to remove dirt and grime from the pores.
Tea Tree Oil. Tea tree oil, available at natural health stores, is a natural antibiotic and antiseptic. A dab of full-strength tea tree oil applied to blemishes three times a day can help reduce the size and appearance of blemishes. Tea tree oil soap also works well. As with all natural remedies, discontinue if a rash appears.
Be Patient
Living with a teen isn’t always easy. It is a time of change, confusion, and emotional ups and downs as they figure out their place in the world. What may seem as a natural rite of passage to us can be viewed as a tragedy to them.
What an adolescent needs most is an understanding parent who remembers what it’s like to be at this age. If you are living with a teen fighting the acne battle, suggest some of these remedies and hopefully your teen will be on the way to achieving healthy looking skin.
Joanne Capano is a registered holistic nutritionist. This article was originally published on NaturallySavvy.com
*Images of “acne“, ”water,“ ”squeezing“ and ”vinegar“ via Shutterstock
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