Naturally Gentle Cures for Skin Problems

Every year, millions of dollars are spent trying to cure skin conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea.  For many people, these conditions are simply embarrassing and often temporary, but they can also be painful, and for some never go away.

While doctors may treat your condition with pills and creams, they are often very expensive and even more often, they do little to help your issues - and sometimes their chemical ingredients can even irritate the skin and make things worse.  Before you try another expensive treatment, why not try treating your skin problems naturally. 

Acne vulgaris (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While you may be skeptical, some of these treatments have been used for hundreds of years and cost a lot less than prescriptions.

There are many myths about skin issues involving food that just aren’t true.  Eating chocolate or other oily foods isn’t going to give you a breakout, but that doesn’t mean that diet isn’t a factor in the health of your skin.  We are what we eat, so if you want to look good, you have to eat right with a diet rich in nutrients, many of which can be found in fruits and vegetables.

One of the best natural cures doesn’t require you eating anything, or applying anything to your skin at all.  In fact, you may need to do the opposite.  Many skin problems like acne are actually allergic reactions to foods or skin creams.  You just need to figure out what you’re allergic to and avoid it and you’ll likely see your skin issues clear up quickly.

To determine if you have an allergy, you’ll need to keep a food and skin journal.  Record everything you eat, everything you put on your skin, and your skin symptoms.  After a few weeks you can review it.  You may notice that a specific food or product is triggering your symptoms.  While it might be hard to cut out a food, if it's something you're sensitive or allergic to, your body and your skin will thank you.

Food types likely to cause allergic reactions in adults. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To keep skin healthy, it needs to be cleansed twice a day.  Using natural cleansers can help keep your pores clear without irritating them with harsh chemicals.  Many products claim to be natural, but really only contain a few natural ingredients.  You can look for certification seals on products, check the ingredients carefully, or simply use products you make yourself. (For guidance on purchasing natural skin care products, visit http://www.thenaturalproductdirectory.com/.)

For a great at-home blemish mask, try mixing a tablespoon of flour, ¼ teaspoon of orange peel powder, 1 tablespoon beaten yogurt, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.  Apply and dry, just like a regular mask, then rinse with hot then cold water.  Other natural things shown to cut down on skin problems include tomatoes, watermelon juice, cucumber, and mint juice.

You may also find a detox diet beneficial for clearing up acne, eczema, and other skin issues.  Toxic chemicals from our food and other things we’re exposed to can build up in our system.  Your skin problems could simply be a reaction to these chemicals in your system.  To rid yourself of them, you can try a quick detox or simply switch to a diet with cleansing herbs and less processed food, such as the Total Wellness Cleanse.

Eliminate Acne With the Proper Diet

Most people with acne attempt to treat their irritated skin with external face washes, soaps, lotions and treatments. However, the best way to treat acne is by changing your diet and getting rid of acne-causing ingredients such as fried foods.

A healthful diet rich in natural whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans is the first recommendation for treating acne (organic if possible, to avoid introducing more toxins into your body for the skin to eliminate). Foods containing trans-fatty acids, such as milk, milk products, margarine, shortening and other synthetically hydrogenated vegetable oils, as well as fried foods, should be avoided.

Image via WikipediaIt seems the prevalence of acne in the United States is closely tied to the typical American diet. Americans tend to eat fried foods in large quantities, usually cooked in the most harmful of fats and oils. Not all fats are bad, but the fats that typical Americans eat make them more prone to develop acne and skin problems, such as what’s in processed and fried foods like potato chips, french fries, and convenience foods (and don't forget sugary sodas and other drinks - sugar can be a major trigger of acne and related skin problems).

Acne cannot really be cured using creams and soaps because the root of the condition lies beneath the skin. Pimples and blemishes are caused by bacteria and other irritants embedded underneath the skin's oil glands and hair follicles, which are generally caused as a result of improper hygiene and poor diet – such as too much processed, fatty, fried and sugary foods.

Image via WikipediaA skin-healthy diet emphasizes raw and lightly cooked vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables that contain valuable trace minerals and are rich in fiber. Fresh green vegetables are essential. Also include in your diet lean protein sources and complex carbohydrates, such as rice, whole-grain bread, and potatoes. These fiber-rich foods help ensure a clean gastrointestinal tract, which is especially important in the management of acne.

Eat three healthy meals daily to provide important nutrients and to decrease your appetite for sugary or greasy fried foods. Foods rich in vitamin A, like apricots, watermelon, and broccoli, as well as foods like lean beef, nuts, beans and whole grains that are rich in zinc can also be helpful in reducing acne breakouts. It’s also imperative to drink lots of water to help flush the toxins out that contribute to breakouts.