Pimples,
blackheads, and blemished skin
Blemished skin shows up as white or black
blackheads or pimples. Our skin is provided with a multitude of sebum
glands that have the task of making the skin supple. However, if there is
too much sebum and / or there is also a cornification disorder, blackheads and
pimples form.
causes
The cause of blemished skin is often a change in
the hormonal situation, as the production of sebum and fat is strongly influenced
by hormones. It is known here for adolescent acne, which can develop as a
result of the massive hormonal changes during puberty . Especially
when there is too much of the male hormone testosterone, which is also formed
in girls, those affected literally "blossom".
However, hormonal changes are also responsible for
blemished skin during pregnancy and menopause. Stopping the pill is also a
possible cause. Or during the cycle, for example before the menstrual
cycle, women react with increased pimple formation.
Other causes of blemished skin are stress, an
unhealthy diet and insufficient fluid
intake.
How blackheads
and pimples arise
The skin is our external protection and this skin
layer is kept supple by the sebum glands. However, if too muchs sebum is
produced, the gland ducts can become blocked. The sebum expands, which
then creates a white blackhead under the skin layer (whitehead). Often
there is also a cornification disorder. Instead of loose horn cells, solid
horn cell associations form, which in turn leads to constipation. These
impurities occur mainly in places such as the forehead, nose , cheeks, chin, shoulder, décolleté or on the
upper back - where there are many sebum glands. If the blackhead is no
longer covered by the skin layer and there is contact with the air, the
blackhead turns black, also known as blackhead.
Blackheads can
turn into pimples
The mixture of sebum and dead horny cells is a good
basis for the reproduction of bacteria, especially Propionibacterium
acnes. Inflammation develops, along with redness, pimples - or
pimples. If the pimples appear more and more often, it may be acne.
Care of the
skin
In order to counteract impure skin, the right care
is the be-all and end-all. Here, cleaning is the top priority, both in the
morning and in the evening. A wash gel is not absolutely necessary in the
morning, warm water is sufficient for some. But in the evening, a washing
gel or washing lotion should be used. Not everything that is expensive is
good. It needs a cleansing that suits the skin type, preferably does not
contain chemical additives and is gentle. In addition, a gentle peeling
that does not irritate the skin can help - but no more than twice a week, in no
case more often. In addition, a face mask that is tailored to the impure
skin and does not contain any harmful substances is recommended once a week
(see recipes).
Constantly changing products puts a strain on the
skin - it gets under stress and may react with blackheads or even
pimples. Even if the skin is very impure, please do not use harsh
anti-pimple products, as these dry out and irritate the skin. It reacts
with even more sebum production. Better to get hold of a gel that
contains mint , zinc and salicylic acid for
"emergency pimples" .
But too much care is not good either. This
makes the skin feel annoyed and can react with impurities. Excessive care
destroys the protective layer of the skin and it reacts with so-called allergic
acne. This occurs mainly around the mouth. This area is then often
covered with small pustules. This perioral dermatitis often occurs in
flight attendants who, due to the dry air in the aircraft, over-care for their
skin with a wide variety of means.
Decorative
cosmetics
Many sufferers who suffer from impure skin want to
refine their complexion and cover up the impurities during the day. Here
she should make sure that the products primarily suit her skin type and are not
comedogenic.
Anything that can clog the pores is called
comedogenic. Of course, this is an absolute no-go for blemished
skin. Such products can cause blemishes and worsen the complexion of those
affected. The skin must be able to breathe! Examples of comedogenic
are: palm oil, silicone oil, flaxseed oil, petroleum jelly and many
more. The non-comedogenic substances include arachidic acid, argan oil and
hemp oil. A list of non-comedogenic and comedogenic substances can be
found on the Internet. Just takes it with you when you go to the
drugstore.
nourishment
Diet can be to blame for blemished skin, or at
least partly to blame. If someone has blackheads and / or pimples again
and again, the menu should be checked first. Too much fat, sweets and fast
food, but also a diet that is too acidic can lead to blemished
skin. Researchers have also found that dairy products are bad for the
skin. Milk contains substances that are similar to a “hormone cocktail”.
We recommend a base-rich diet that contains plenty
of fresh vegetables and fruit and few animal products. It is essential to
ensure that there is sufficient fluid intake in the form of still
water. Alcohol and nicotine are not good for the skin.
Treat skin
blemishes yourself
Who does not know this: You stand in front of the
mirror and see one or two blackheads or pimples. Your fingers are very
quickly involved and you have to lend a hand yourself. But caution is
advised here.
Even washed hands still have bacteria under their
fingernails. This is perfectly normal. If you absolutely have to
squeeze yourself, please note the following: the hands must be washed and you
must always squeeze with the help of a cosmetic tissue or a so-called comedone
squeezer (please disinfect this beforehand). With gentle pressure from all
sides, from the bottom up and as soon as blood comes out, the process is
stopped immediately. Then the area is cleaned. Calendula essence is
recommended for this. This is diluted 1:10 with boiled water and then
dabbed the area with it. A zinc ointment can be used later. This has
a healing and anti-inflammatory effect. But please only use selectively -
zinc ointment is not suitable for large-area application.
The best time to squeeze the pimple is in the
evening. The face is washed thoroughly beforehand and the affected area is
made "soft" with a hot washcloth. A sterile needle can be used
to open the pimple. The small wound heals overnight so that make-up can be
applied again the next day.
Constantly touching pimples or blackheads should be
avoided as they can become infected in this way.
[GList slug = "10-home-remedies-against-pimples"]
Recipes for
blemished skin
Anyone who suffers from blemished skin would do
well to get natural products for skin care. Masks can be mixed at home
using simple ingredients. It is best to do the masks at a time when the
skin is no longer made up afterwards. During the application, the eyes and
the mouth area are always spared.
Steam baths are also recommended. They open
the pores. After that, one or the other pimple can be removed more
easily. Ointments or creams work better after a steam bath.
Mask with
healing clay
Everyone knows healing earth. It has an
anti-inflammatory effect both internally and externally. For a mask, mix
some fine healing earth with lukewarm water or chamomile tea and apply this to
the skin. After about ten minutes, the whole thing is carefully washed off
with lukewarm water and provided with your own skin cream as usual.
Mask with
cucumber, healing clay and honey
A piece of cucumber is peeled and mashed. Add
a teaspoon of honey and some healing earth to
make a paste. The whole thing is applied to the skin and remains there for
about 20 minutes. If the mask feels uncomfortable, it is of course
carefully removed with lukewarm water before the time is up.
om)
Mask with egg
yolk and honey
This mask is good for recurring pimples. An
egg yolk is mixed with a little honey . The
mask is ready. This can stay on the skin for up to an hour before removing
it with enough lukewarm water. With this mask, used regularly, blemished
skin can be prevented.
Mask with
black tea and cottage cheese
Black tea is anti-inflammatory and quark has a
cooling and decongestant effect. Quark is mixed with some strong black tea
and applied to the skin. The mask can be washed off after about 20
minutes. Individual blemished areas of skin can be treated by placing an
already brewed tea bag on it.
Facial steam
bath
A steam bath is a very simple home remedy for
widening the pores of the skin. To do this, hot water is mixed in a bowl
with a little salt (cleaning), chamomile flowers (anti-inflammatory) or
rosemary leaves (disinfecting). The face is held over the vessel so that
the steam is not too hot. In addition, a towel comes over the head, so
that a small steam cabin is created and no steam can escape. The facial
steam bath cleanses the skin, sebum and toxins can drain away.
After this treatment, the skin needs some
rest. Only then can a gentle, mild care product be used. A facial
steam bath should not be done more than once a week.
Salt peeling
With a salt peeling, the skin can be cleaned
thoroughly and pore-deep. This removes dead skin cell and stimulates blood
circulation. If the skin is already inflamed, this should be
avoided. Otherwise, this is a simple application that is mainly used for
prevention.
And this is how it works: Sea salt or Himalayan salt
is mixed with a little argan oil to form a spreadable paste. The paste is
applied to the face with a brush or a cosmetic pad and gently massaged
in. The eye area and the mouth are left out, as with the masks. The
salt-oil mixture is then rinsed off thoroughly with enough clean
water. The skin feels really fresh afterwards. Smaller unclean areas
can also be dabbed with the salt-oil paste.
General tips
to improve the complexion
Impure skin does not go away
overnight. Consistent action is required here. If skin care products
do not help immediately, they should not be discontinued immediately and new
ones tried out. Give it time.
Washing the skin in the morning and in the evening
must be fundamental. Depending on the severity, a wash gel is also
necessary in the morning.
Food is tolerated differently. So one or the
other intolerance reactions can show up in the form of blemished
skin. Watch yourself, test this out. Leave off any triggers for at
least two weeks to see how the skin develops.
Fresh air is important for the skin. Just go
for a walk every evening. This relaxes and also promotes a good night's
sleep. If you travel to the south, you should protect yourself from
Mallorca acne with suitable sunscreen and avoids the sun much as possible.
Help from
naturopathy
In naturopathy ,
the skin is viewed holistically. There it is referred to as the
"mirror of the soul". This means that psychological problems can
definitely show on the skin. Accordingly, a detailed anamnesis is made in
naturopathic practice. How do those affected live? Where and what
does she / he work? Are there stress ,
problems, worries? Does she feel uncomfortable in her skin?
It is also important to examine the intestinal
flora. If the intestines are not in good order, this can easily affect the
skin. No skin treatment without intestinal cleansing .
In addition, the liver and kidneys are detoxified
using suitable agents. This must be done very carefully with skin
patients. As a rules, these are people who are very sensitive to homeopathy , phytotherapy or Schüßler
salts . Initially, the agents in question are only given in small
doses to see how the patient's skin reacts.
Going to the
doctor
If the impure skin cannot be influenced by anything
or if more and more skin irritations occur, a visit to a doctor is
inevitable. If the acne is solid, drugs are prescribed that, in severe
cases, are used not only externally but also internally. Young people
sometimes suffer massively from impure skin. They may need psychological
support.
Often young girls with blemished skin
are prescribed the birth control pill .
A professional treatment by a beautician is also
recommended. Usually this uses steam to first open the pores. This is
followed by a detailed cleansing. Microdermabrasion may be performed (the
top layer of skin is minimally removed). After cleansing, the skin is
provided with special care products. (sw)
