| Acne vulgaris, an inflammatory skin disease (also | | | | untouched, and avoid overexposure to the sun. Also, |
| referred to as pimples, plukes or zits), occurs when | | | | since external skin diseases (such as acne) may be |
| follicles, or pores, become blocked. Oil, which is normally | | | | caused by internal health problems, fighting the disease |
| discharged to the surface, gets trapped and bacteria | | | | internally may produce better results. |
| begins to grow. Most typically on the face, upper chest, | | | | Certain vitamins may be helpful in combating this |
| and back, the sebaceous glands secrete sebum to | | | | disease. They include: Beta-carotene, B Complex, C, |
| lubricate the skin. Acne develops when the flow of | | | | Calcium, Chromium, D, E, Lecithin, Omega-3 Fatty |
| sebum is blocked by skin cells, dried sebum, or | | | | Acids, Potassium, and Zinc. |
| bacteria. | | | | Herbs and other healing foods are also considered |
| Both whiteheads and blackheads begin as a | | | | helpful for treating acne. Those taken internally include: |
| microcomedone. Microcomedones become | | | | basil, burdock, cabbage, chaparral, cleavers, cloves, |
| non-inflamed skin blemishes called comedones. A | | | | dandelion, echinacea, garlic, horsetail, lavender, lemon, |
| complete blockage results in a light-colored bump | | | | milk thistle, myrrh, onion, oregon grape root, pumpkin |
| (whitehead); an incomplete blockage develops into a | | | | seed, rose, sarsaparilla, stinging nettle, thyme, trillium, |
| dark-colored spot (blackhead). When the trapped | | | | wheat germ, walnut, watercress, and yellow dock. |
| sebum and bacteria are trapped below the skin | | | | Those applied externally include: chamomile, cucumber, |
| surface, a whitehead is formed. A whitehead may | | | | eucalyptus, goldenseal, horseweed, lavender, licorice, |
| appear as a tiny white spot, or it may be so small that | | | | red clover, rosemary, sage, strawberry, tea tree, |
| it is invisible to the naked eye. A blackhead occurs | | | | vitamin A, and watercress. |
| when the trapped sebum and bacteria is slightly | | | | You are what you eat, so unless you want to be a |
| unobstructed to the surface and turn black due to | | | | walking pimple, choose your foods carefully. Try to |
| melanin, the skin's pigment. It cannot be washed away | | | | consume a diet high in fiber with lots of fruits & |
| because it is not dirt. Blackheads can remain for a long | | | | vegetables. Limit dairy products. Avoid unhealthy fats, |
| time because it very slowly drains to the surface. | | | | fried foods, junk carbohydrates, junk food, sugar, and |
| Bacteria, which is normally found on the surface of the | | | | white flour. |
| skin, may then infect the whitehead or blackhead and | | | | Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes |
| cause an flare-up (pimple). In severe cases, known as | | | | only, and is not intended for use as diagnosis or |
| cystic acne, painful purple lumps form. | | | | treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for |
| It is important to leave acne prone skin relatively | | | | consulting a licensed medical professional. |