| As a general rule, acne affects people with oily skin, | | | | inflammation. Cold compresses can help this. First you |
| which is cause by overactive sebaceous glands (oil | | | | need to wash well with a mild cleanser. |
| glands). Your oil glands produce natural oils which keep | | | | Pure organic honey is excellent for this because it is a |
| the skin irrigated in most parts of the body (not the | | | | natural antibacterial cleanser. This cleansing should be |
| palms or soles), but which oily skin, they tend to | | | | done upon waking and before bed daily; fitting at one |
| overproduce sebum (oil) on the face, neck, chest, and | | | | or two more honey washes into your schedule is even |
| back. | | | | better. |
| Of these areas, the nose is the most affected, | | | | Begin by putting a damp washcloth in your refrigerator. |
| followed by the chin and forehead. There is a | | | | Massage about a tablespoon of honey in tiny circles all |
| reasonable explanation for these areas producing | | | | over the face, giving acne prone areas extra attention. |
| more oil than other areas of the body. The nose has | | | | Let the honey sit for a few minutes and rinse with |
| the largest pores, followed by both the chin and | | | | warm water (hot water irritates and further inflames |
| forehead. Some people naturally produce more oil than | | | | skin). |
| others and various triggers increase this oil production. | | | | Take the washcloth from the refrigerator and lay it on |
| One of these triggers is hormonal imbalance, which | | | | your face for a minute or two. This will reduce swelling |
| occurs most during puberty, followed by pregnancy. | | | | and the pre-wash has removed excess surface oil |
| The hormones produced during these times stimulate | | | | and debris, so this will not get added to already |
| the oil glands, sometimes causing overproduction of | | | | clogged pores. Remove the washcloth and return it to |
| the natural oils. | | | | your refrigerator. |
| Stress affects oil production in much the same way. | | | | Now get a tablespoon of honey and mix a teaspoon |
| The excess oil fill pores and catches debris (dirt) in | | | | of granulated sugar with it. Rub this mixture all over the |
| them. This, in turn, causes a reaction similar to an | | | | face gently, again using the tiny circles and paying |
| allergic reaction in the skin. | | | | close attention to acne prone areas. |
| Itching is usually the beginning; this causes scratching | | | | Rinse well with warm water. Get the washcloth and |
| which not only adds more debris and bacteria but | | | | lay it on your face again, removing after a minute or |
| encourages inflammation. The inflammation (slight | | | | two. Apply chamomile toner to your face. Apply a |
| swelling in this case) causes the pores to further close, | | | | good organic moisturizer to your face; in this case, |
| blocking the chance of escape for the entrapped | | | | good means an organic moisturizer created for oily |
| toxins. This requires special care in order to create an | | | | skin (we have various moisturizer recipes but you can |
| optimal environment for the skin to heal itself and begin | | | | also buy these ready made). This is an important step, |
| to regulate oil production. | | | | even though it seems to contradict the removal of the |
| An important thing to remember is that some natural oil | | | | oil. |
| is necessary for your skin to retain moisture like it is | | | | By applying the moisturizer, you are helping your skin to |
| supposed to. Over drying the skin causes it to produce | | | | remain lubricated, which helps your oil production |
| more oil in an attempt to replace the much needed | | | | become balanced. Never use moisturizers and lotions |
| moisture that has been removed. Many of the over | | | | that are alcohol based because these actually dry the |
| the counter and prescribed products for oily skin and | | | | skin, creating a cycle of need in your skin. |
| acne dry the skin too much. It is better to cleanse | | | | If you wear makeup, make sure that you are using a |
| several times a day with warm water and a mild | | | | water based makeup because oil based makeup |
| cleanser than it is to use harsh chemicals on the skin. | | | | tends to clog the pores. Always remove makeup |
| Creating an optimal environment for healing means | | | | before going to bed; leaving makeup on the face |
| reducing inflammation, unclogging clogged pores, and | | | | through the night tends to grind it into pores as you rub |
| keeping the pores free of further trapped oil and | | | | your face on your pillow during sleep. |
| debris. Obviously, the first step has to be to reduce the | | | | |