Controlling Acne

There is a need today to search for new and innovative ways to treat acne and other skin conditions naturally without the use of drugs, lasers and harsh chemicals. Some call this the ‘green option’; others are just searching for an effective acne treatment. Effective skin care for acne must address the issues related to formation and production of pimples. The symptoms and appearance of acne can be controlled. The treatment of acne requires motivation and desire for change.

Most acne suffers have gained much knowledge in their battle with this skin condition, but unfortunately, most of the gained knowledge has not been helpful in solving their acne. You have discovered what does and does not work for your acne. Many acne sufferers have been frustrated by unsuccessful or marginal results from their acne treatments. Many have found that prescription medications such as steroids, retinoids, accutane, and various light laser treatments do not work for you and in some cases have caused more acne, and additional damage to the skin. The oral and topical antibiotics can work for up to several months before the bacteria become immune to the antibiotic, causing the antibiotic to no longer be effective. The harsh and aggressive ingredients in many acne treatments cause skin redness and irritation. The goal in treating acne is to promote clearer skin without damaging the skin.

Successful acne skin care begins with balance. As the body’s largest organ, the skin is directly tied to whole body health care. Achieve the proper balance in your body and you achieve the proper balance for your skin. The treatment of acne is a complex system of action and reaction. Acne partially results from an overly acidic body and skin. The pH (potential of hydrogen) ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Acne results from 'acidic triggers' regardless of whether they are foods, drinks, stress, or lack of breath due to not enough oxygen (oxygen is an alkaline) and inability to exhaust enough carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide is acidic). We all know that if we hold our breath for 30 seconds or 60 seconds, we will all notice that our face turns pink or red. We all know, but hardly think that the cause is a build up of carbon dioxide which is an "acidic" gas and we have a shortage of oxygen.

Water is alkaline and drinking more water with a pH of about 7.3 is an excellent way to neutralize, buffer or balance your acne.

Acne sufferers should also pay attention to the build up of acids in the blood stream due to the foods and beverages that we consume. We all know of our triggers such as alcohol, coffee, various medications, etc. which all have a pH below 7.0 or are termed acidic. Our objective therefore should be to balance, buffer or neutralize the acids with alkaline.

Acidity is measured as a pH of 1 to 7. Alkalinity is 7 to 14.The numbers refer to how many hydrogen atoms are present compared to an ideal or standard solution. Normally, blood is slightly alkaline, at 7.35 to 7.45; urine pH is the best and easiest way to check on the proper foods and drinks being eaten. Try to keep the pH in the 6.8 to 7.00 range for optimal functioning of the body and brain. If we are excessively alkaline, we don't have the mental and physical 'go' so we need our 'energy' brain and muscle foods and drinks during the day and very alkaline foods at night to calm the body and brain (parasympathetic system). This scale is logarithmic; meaning that each number is ten times stronger than the preceding number. For example, a pH of 2 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 3 and one hundred times more acidic than a pH of 4.

The body has several different ways to ensure that the pH balance stays in the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45. These are referred to as buffer systems. Through normal day-to-day activity in the body, acids are formed as waste products that need to be neutralized, alkalized, or buffered and eliminated. Some of the acids are released with CO2 from exhaling; others are excreted via the kidneys. With acidic foods and drinks, there is always more carbon dioxide (acidic) while alkaline foods produce much more oxygen. These systems work together in the healthy human body to keep the pH level within normal ranges. Sometimes with extreme intake of acidic foods and drinks, the normal system cannot compensate and the body becomes even more stressed resulting in more stress hormones, which are also acidic in nature causing an imbalance that may show itself in the form of acne pimples.

The adrenal cortex secretes cortisol, a natural body hormone of about 10 mg of cortisol daily, with peak cortisol levels occurring early in the morning and therefore the acne flushing and papules will look best in early mornings after this natural anti-inflammatory drug. The hormone that will report back to the original brain centers together with other body organs to tell it to stop the whole cycle. But since cortisol is a potent hormone, the prolonged secretion of it will lead to health problems such as the break down of cardiovascular system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system with resulting osteoporosis and arthritis - rheumatism, and the immune system. Also when the organism does not have a chance for recovery, it will lead to both catecholamine and cortisol depletion.