Acne and pimples: to heal or not to heal: there is a choice
I am a person who feels that I was cheated on when it comes to genetic endowments. I am flat-footed, short, I gain weight easily, worst of all: I have had to struggle with pimples and acne from time to time throughout my life.
I can deal with all the other blemishes, but when those nasty pimples and acne pop up, it’s so hard to ignore. Those red, irritated lumps stare back at me every morning in the mirror and the truth is that if I can see them, so can others.
Nothing makes me more self-aware than acne. Even though I know that my personal hygiene is clean, pimples make me dirty.
The “experts” have told me for years that it is all in my genetic makeup and that it is something I have to deal with, plain and simple. Then there are well-meaning friends (with beautiful complexions) who love to give advice like Judy’s gavel: “stop stressing out,” “get more sleep,” or my all-time favorite “ditch the chocolate.”
In high school, where my battle with acne problems first reared its ugly pimpled head, I tried standard soaps and over-the-counter creams. It kept acne at bay, but required constant vigilance.
When I turned 20, I looked for more organic home remedies.
My favorite home acne treatment was the acne facial with plain yogurt and oatmeal paste. This was actually a good way to treat acne and it was surprisingly very effective. If you want to try it, all you need to do is mix equal parts of yogurt and old-fashioned cooked oatmeal to make a paste. Spread over your face as you would a facial.
Leave the paste for 1 hour and then wash it gently. Do this every other day and within a week you should see a clearer complexion without pimples and overall smoother skin.
But one thing I noticed over the years, when these breakouts happened, even though the treatments worked … they only worked for a season. Acne would always return, sooner or later.
I started to ask: is there a way to cure acne once and for all?
If that’s a question that has entered your mind, the answer is Yes – there is a way to cure acne and pimples so they never reappear. It all starts with understanding that acne is not the problem, it is simply a symptom of something that is not quite right with your body.
Although there are DNA factors that come into play, it is not so much about the levels of oil secretions that affect the skin, but more about diet and lifestyle. I found that once I made some basic lifestyle changes, my acne became a thing of the past.
For most people with acne, there is an option. Follow up with topical treatments through cleansers, toners, creams, and lotions that work to one degree or another. Or you can take the “bull by the horn” and start treating acne holistically, from the inside out.