wetshavingmonkey
01-19-2008, 11:16 AM
After more years than I care to admit of trial and error with various acne treatments, I have finally discovered a skin care regimen that is really working to not only clear up the breakouts, but, more importantly, to prevent them. The best part of this regimen is that it is simple, natural, and 100% chemical and drug free. Are you still suffering from blackheads, whiteheads, and other forms of breakouts well into your adult years? Then read on, this just may be your salvation (it was definitely mine).
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
I believe that in order to attack a problem, it is best to try and fully understand the problem. I am not a dermatologist and would never claim to be any type of licensed skin care expert, but I definitely possess the “street smarts” concerning acne problems. So, what causes acne? Lets start be examining the delicate balance of nature occurring in and on our skin. The body produces sebum which secretes through our pores to moisturize the skin. Along with the sebum are skin cells that the body is sloughing off. On the surface of the skin there is a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that feeds on sebum. The purpose of P. acnes is to prevent the colonization of more harmful bacteria on the skin. When things are functioning normally, the mixture of sebum and cells exit the pores to the skin’s surface, moisturize the skin, feed P. acnes so it thrives, and all is well. But if things aren’t functioning normally, the sebum and cells get trapped in the pores and P. acnes gets in under the surface and problems begin. This is perhaps a rudimentary explanation, but just understand that acne is not caused by what you eat or by having excess dirt on your skin, because if that was the case, then everybody would have some degree of acne.
TREATMENTS
There are a lot of treatments available for acne sufferers, but I will limit my discussion to the more common ones.
Benzoyl Peroxide This is a topical solution that comes in either a cream or gel base. The gel base is much more effective because it absorbs into the skin more readily. Benzoyl Peroxide helps clear acne by releasing oxygen beneath the skin to kill bacteria and clear up breakouts. The downside to BP is that it can be very drying and irritating to the skin. It also bleaches hair and clothes, and realistically, is not good for long term use.
Salicylic Acid Another topical solution that comes in various formulations. Salicylic Acid helps slow down the excessive sloughing of skin cells that lead to clogged pores and breakouts. In essence, it helps the skin to normalize it's exfoliating process. Again, it can be very drying and irritating and not a good choice for long term use.
Antibiotics Way back in the day when my acne was more severe, several doctors prescribed either Erythromycin or Tetracycline for treatment. They seemed to only have a minimal effect for me and once again, were poor choices for the long term because the longer you take them, the less effective they become.
BALANCE IS THE KEY TO THE SOLUTION
The human body is really a magnificent machine that constantly strives for balance, sometimes with unpleasant results like manic/depressive disorder. Acne problems are kind of similar (though not as debilitating to one's life, obviously). See, most of the common topical treatments tend to dry the skin out, and when that happens, the body overproduces sebum to counteract the excessive dryness, and the problem exacerbates. It’s a cycle of going nowhere fast. So, the true solution is to help the skin achieve a state of balance and allow it to correct it’s own problems. If this sounds like some kind of Taoist Yin/Yang teaching, well maybe it is. But balance, like moderation in all things, is definitely the way to go.
WET SHAVING IS A GOOD START
I have read several posts at B&B where the writer mentions how their skin looked better after they started using a shave brush and DE razor. This is not a coincidence. Using a shave brush helps to exfoliate the skin and, when properly used, a DE razor provides a cleaner, less irritating shave than multi-blade cartridges, and assists in exfoliating also.
THE REGIMEN
The first step is using a good natural soap to wash your face with. I know, I know, soap is bad because it dries your skin -- but not natural soaps. I like Grandpa’s and Dr. Bronner’s soaps because they have pure, natural ingredients, create lots of lather, rinse away completely, and are very gentle. Avoid any soap with ingredients you can’t pronounce, and steer very clear of products containing Sodium Tallowate. This is rendered animal fat, and aside from being plain disgusting, animal fat can clog your pores. The next step is to exfoliate daily with either a face brush or a scrub. Whichever you choose, make sure it is gentle to your skin, because you want to open pores so your skin can function properly, but you don’t want to be abrasive and irritate it. Sometimes I use a face brush, but most often I prefer either Burt’s Bees Citrus Facial Scrub or Desert Essence Gentle Stimulating Facial Scrub. Burt’s Bees is amazingly gentle and virtually impossible to aggravate your skin with no matter how hard you scrub. Desert Essence, though still very gentle, does possess a little more bite and requires a lighter touch when used daily. After the wash and scrub, it is time to moisturize. Use an oil-free moisturizer and look for something as natural as possible (my current preference is Alba Botanica). And now, the most important step: patience. It took some time for the acne condition to develop, and it will also take time to reverse the problem. Stick with the program, resist squeezing anything, and your face should begin clearing up.
I should also mention that this regimen is intended for the more mild cases of acne where the problems are occurring close to the surface. Another thing I would like to mention is the importance of water. I have a post here* that goes into detail about water quality, and I really noticed a vast improvement in my skin once I switched to filtered water. Thanks for reading, and I hope this information is helpful.
*http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=34313
Disclaimer: As with everthing in life, this regimen is YMMV. I certainly don't have any case study information to prove it's effectiveness, only my own personal experience. This regimen is based on my philosophy that "anything against nature is bad", and I have been practicing what I preach for about 6 months now. In that time, my skin has become the clearest and healthiest looking it has ever been since my acne problems commenced in my teen years.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
I believe that in order to attack a problem, it is best to try and fully understand the problem. I am not a dermatologist and would never claim to be any type of licensed skin care expert, but I definitely possess the “street smarts” concerning acne problems. So, what causes acne? Lets start be examining the delicate balance of nature occurring in and on our skin. The body produces sebum which secretes through our pores to moisturize the skin. Along with the sebum are skin cells that the body is sloughing off. On the surface of the skin there is a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that feeds on sebum. The purpose of P. acnes is to prevent the colonization of more harmful bacteria on the skin. When things are functioning normally, the mixture of sebum and cells exit the pores to the skin’s surface, moisturize the skin, feed P. acnes so it thrives, and all is well. But if things aren’t functioning normally, the sebum and cells get trapped in the pores and P. acnes gets in under the surface and problems begin. This is perhaps a rudimentary explanation, but just understand that acne is not caused by what you eat or by having excess dirt on your skin, because if that was the case, then everybody would have some degree of acne.
TREATMENTS
There are a lot of treatments available for acne sufferers, but I will limit my discussion to the more common ones.
Benzoyl Peroxide This is a topical solution that comes in either a cream or gel base. The gel base is much more effective because it absorbs into the skin more readily. Benzoyl Peroxide helps clear acne by releasing oxygen beneath the skin to kill bacteria and clear up breakouts. The downside to BP is that it can be very drying and irritating to the skin. It also bleaches hair and clothes, and realistically, is not good for long term use.
Salicylic Acid Another topical solution that comes in various formulations. Salicylic Acid helps slow down the excessive sloughing of skin cells that lead to clogged pores and breakouts. In essence, it helps the skin to normalize it's exfoliating process. Again, it can be very drying and irritating and not a good choice for long term use.
Antibiotics Way back in the day when my acne was more severe, several doctors prescribed either Erythromycin or Tetracycline for treatment. They seemed to only have a minimal effect for me and once again, were poor choices for the long term because the longer you take them, the less effective they become.
BALANCE IS THE KEY TO THE SOLUTION
The human body is really a magnificent machine that constantly strives for balance, sometimes with unpleasant results like manic/depressive disorder. Acne problems are kind of similar (though not as debilitating to one's life, obviously). See, most of the common topical treatments tend to dry the skin out, and when that happens, the body overproduces sebum to counteract the excessive dryness, and the problem exacerbates. It’s a cycle of going nowhere fast. So, the true solution is to help the skin achieve a state of balance and allow it to correct it’s own problems. If this sounds like some kind of Taoist Yin/Yang teaching, well maybe it is. But balance, like moderation in all things, is definitely the way to go.
WET SHAVING IS A GOOD START
I have read several posts at B&B where the writer mentions how their skin looked better after they started using a shave brush and DE razor. This is not a coincidence. Using a shave brush helps to exfoliate the skin and, when properly used, a DE razor provides a cleaner, less irritating shave than multi-blade cartridges, and assists in exfoliating also.
THE REGIMEN
The first step is using a good natural soap to wash your face with. I know, I know, soap is bad because it dries your skin -- but not natural soaps. I like Grandpa’s and Dr. Bronner’s soaps because they have pure, natural ingredients, create lots of lather, rinse away completely, and are very gentle. Avoid any soap with ingredients you can’t pronounce, and steer very clear of products containing Sodium Tallowate. This is rendered animal fat, and aside from being plain disgusting, animal fat can clog your pores. The next step is to exfoliate daily with either a face brush or a scrub. Whichever you choose, make sure it is gentle to your skin, because you want to open pores so your skin can function properly, but you don’t want to be abrasive and irritate it. Sometimes I use a face brush, but most often I prefer either Burt’s Bees Citrus Facial Scrub or Desert Essence Gentle Stimulating Facial Scrub. Burt’s Bees is amazingly gentle and virtually impossible to aggravate your skin with no matter how hard you scrub. Desert Essence, though still very gentle, does possess a little more bite and requires a lighter touch when used daily. After the wash and scrub, it is time to moisturize. Use an oil-free moisturizer and look for something as natural as possible (my current preference is Alba Botanica). And now, the most important step: patience. It took some time for the acne condition to develop, and it will also take time to reverse the problem. Stick with the program, resist squeezing anything, and your face should begin clearing up.
I should also mention that this regimen is intended for the more mild cases of acne where the problems are occurring close to the surface. Another thing I would like to mention is the importance of water. I have a post here* that goes into detail about water quality, and I really noticed a vast improvement in my skin once I switched to filtered water. Thanks for reading, and I hope this information is helpful.
*http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=34313
Disclaimer: As with everthing in life, this regimen is YMMV. I certainly don't have any case study information to prove it's effectiveness, only my own personal experience. This regimen is based on my philosophy that "anything against nature is bad", and I have been practicing what I preach for about 6 months now. In that time, my skin has become the clearest and healthiest looking it has ever been since my acne problems commenced in my teen years.