Healthy Sunday: Dealing with acne naturally

Acne can be a tremendously embarrassing and burdensome problem for young people to handle. Rita Ohai writes on ways to tackle this dilemma

THE human skin is the largest organ in the body and it does a lot more than simply prevent you from spilling out all over the place. It serves as protection for the internal system and a source of beauty to the vain.
However, in an environment as hot and humid as Nigeria's, it can be a challenge to keep the skin smooth and little bumps off a person's face.
Although acne is a skin condition many people fight, very few actually know the root cause of it.
Shedding light on this health issue, Dr. Eunice Alegbe says, “Pimple is caused by bacterial infection in a hyper-active oil gland which is found at the base of the skin's pore. The infection causes the pore (holes in the skin) to fill up with pus and this in turn raises bumps on the skin. When these bumps keep recurring, we can then officially say that the person has acne.”
Because the cause of acne is really an internal cause, experts say the best way to solve it is also internally and all of the symptoms can be influenced by nutrition and lifestyle choices.
According to Dr. Alegbe, sometimes, all your body needs is the right nutritional balance and proper skin care. Here are some easy things you can start doing today to help you heal your acne:
Apply a honey mask to your face once or twice a week - Honey has antibacterial properties so it is great for disinfecting and healing minor blemishes. It is also gentle on sensitive skin.
 Have a bath twice a day with gentle soap - You should wash your face and body twice a day with a mild soap. Soaps designed for acne are usually helpful for some people. Once when you first wake up in the morning and then, right before you go to bed at night. Be extremely gentle to your skin when washing - do not scrub or use any sort of rough cloth. Over-washing your skin will actually stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, thus increasing your acne.
 Keep your hair off your face - If you have long hair or bangs, pull your hair off your face. Your hair contains oils as well, and will contribute to your breakouts. You'll also want to wash your hair everyday and after workouts
 Feast on good food and take a potent multi-vitamin - Acne can be a sign that something is wrong on the inside. Your skin depends on nutrition. It is a vital organ that is usually neglected. If your body is not receiving the right nutrition, it will fight back. One common way it will rebel is to produce excessive sebum, clogging pores, and reducing the ability for your skin to heal and fight bacteria.
Eat carrots for beta-carotene (Vitamin A) - Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne? Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production. This vitamin is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins. 
Avoid wearing makeup - Leaving makeup products on your skin only contributes to clogging your pores, causing more pimples and blackheads. If you feel you must wear makeup, be sure it is water-based.
Do not pick or squeeze your blackheads and pimples - As tempting as it may be, do not squeeze, scratch, rub or touch your pimples and blackheads. Do any of these actions, it actually increases the sebum production. Plus, when you squeeze, you are actually rupturing the membranes below your skin, causing infection and sebum to spread underneath your skin. The result is more pimples.
 Wash your pillow case every other day - Your face lays on your pillow case every day. Your pillow case absorbs the oils from your skin and reapplies the dirt and oil. Thus causing breakouts. Keep your sheets and pillow cases clean.

Misconceptions about pimples

SOME people also suffer from acne on the chest and back. In any case the problem is universal and affects all ethnicities and ages.
Here are some common false beliefs people share with regards to acne:
 · Acne is caused by eating chocolate.
 · Acne is caused by eating oily, greasy food
 · You can catch acne from someone else
 · The more you wash your face, the less likely you will have acne.
The truth be told that none of the above is a true statement. Acne is simply caused by the glands in the skin producing too much oil. Too much oil is produced because of horomonal changes or some kind of horomonal imbalance.