It might be the change in weather, time of year or an unusual number of sun spots (?!), but we have received an unusual amount of calls/emails and requests for information regarding getting rid of pimples and blemishes - especially from teens and their parents.
Teens, Pimples & Blemishes
It’s probably pretty widely known that changes in hormones, especially among young adults as they go through puberty, is a leading and primary causes of pimples and blemishes. Active hormones excite sebacous glands in pores that lead to an increase in oil production in the skin - especially around the “T zone” across the forhead, down the nose and on the chin.
Increase in oils on the facial tissue can have several affects:
Increase pore size
Cause inflammation and irritation
Trap dirt, makeup and bacteria
Encourage development of pimples
With that said, there is little you can do about acne caused by heredity and genetics, however, there is hope. Most of the symptoms - beakouts, oiliness, irritated or tender skin and infection can be effectively treated. So, at the worse case scenario, you can help eliminate pimples buy regulating the source of infection by reducing oil on the skin.
So, how do you do that?
We recommend using acne products that contain Zinc. An acne face wash, acne tone, or even a mask (masque) with Zinc or Zinc PCA can regulate and control sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands. Most are non-alcohol that keeps from drying-out the skin, and all are often formulated with other ingredients that can help as well, such as Jojoba Oil, Emu Oil, Panthenol, Shea Butter, etc.
As a note to the above comment: Most acne treatments do contain alcohol or alpha hydroxy. While on the surface these are not necessarily bad for your skin, they can dry-out the facial tissue that can lead to drying, craking and inflammation. Emu oil can treat acne by penetrating deep into the skin, carrying with it active ingredients that flush out toxins and impurities.
Treat the Symptoms - Leave Heredity Alone
All of these help “treat” the skin as well as to clear-up the acne and out breaks of blemishes. And as part of an acne treatment regimen that works, you can begin the process by using a light abrasive microdermabrasion cream. These work well for removing used and worn skin cells from the surface of the skin. This not only deep cleans impurities from the pores, but helps reduce pore size - reducing the opportunity for fungus, bacteria, and infection to become trapped and propogate.
As a teen and young adult, dealing with pimples and blemishes is not a pleasant thing. Most often the stress of middle or high school and going through puberty is enough. Using a proven method for dealing with acne - even if only treating the symptoms - can help get rid of acne temporarily or permanently.
Using emu oil to treat skin rash can help alleviate redness and irritation, while stopping itching and tenderness. Take a look at the attched video. It (and this post) is a continuation of series of informational videos related to emu oil.
Typically one video would be enough, but, the oil of the emu has so many effective applications. Its effective for treating and healing many skin ailments…including rashes, burns, lacerations and scars, and itchiness. It is an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial (anti-septic as well), making it ideal for addressing the symptoms and causes of rashes.
As many of us who aret familiar with the uses of Emu Oil know, treating wounds, laceration, scars and infection are at the top of the list of its benefits. “Down Below” Emu Oil is used religiously for many skin ailments - rashes, redness, and it is particulary successful treating burns - primarily due to its sanitizing anti-bacteria properties and its ability to help reduce swelling and inflammation.
Take a look at the video below. It is a summary of how this oil an work for healing scarring - whether from surgical procedures or accidents. Its a bit of a stretch to call it a “wonder oil”, but we have written about before and there are thousands of years of testimonials which corroborate its effectiveness. And, whether it’s old acne scars or minor scarring from orthoscopy, emu oil can work wonders.
For many of us it only took a matter of a few days as we saw temperatures drop from the mid-60’s to the mid-30’s as colder, drier weather hit us fast. Chicago, Buffalo, and Philadelphia are being hit with the earliest snow falls on record (even New England played football in the snow this weekend!), and the cold, dry air is drying-out skin just as fast.
With that said, here is a short primer on why our skin gets dry when fall and winter hits. Well, for one, colder air is
Moisturizing Dry Skin
less dense than warm air. Therefore, it is unable to hold as much moisture or water molecules. Cold air - as in “canadian fronts” - often brings with it wind that “wisks” away moisture and tends to dry-out tissue - causing oils and water vapor to evaporate more quickly.
An interesting observation for those who have swimming pools or jaccuzis…as with many folks we know, we cover our pool during the winter. We keep the pump and filter going, but cover the entire pool with a floating plastic sheet. I assumed this was to keep the leaves and debris out of the pool and the cleaner. Well this is in-part true, but I was informed by our local “pool expert” that the primary reason for the covers is to lessen evaporation. He told me the cold, windy weather would cause as much, if not more, evaporation than the heat and sun during the summer.
Well, that is what happens to our skin! So, what do what should you do? Here are a couple of ideas our staff and consultants suggest:
Keep your skin moisturized. While this may seem an obvious first note, it is difficult for most folks to do. First, you start your day with a hot shower (which depletes oils and moisture), then you go out into the cold, dry air - often windy, too. So, by the time you get to work or school, you face is tight, and the skin on your hands hurt or are notiably dry and flaking. The best thing to do is pat dry following a shower and immediately apply a light moisturizing lotion. We recommend those that contain ingredients like aloe, lanolin and/or emu oil. Generally an emu oil lotion is not greasy, is absorbed deeply into the skin, and lasts much or most of the day.
Stay hydrated - Again, kind of an obvious issue, but for any of you who like to snow ski know, you can easily become dehydrated without knowing it because of the cooler temperatures.
Use vitamin supplements - There is a bit of debate as to whether most folks need a daily supplement for their ski, nails or hair. Personally I think it is a good idea - and there is no evidence that it hurts - none that I know of, anyway. I believe this especially holds true during the winter. Our diets change, level of active outdoor activities decline, and our skin and hair are constantly exposed to a barrage of UV rays and cold air. Help keep your skin elastic and healthy by boosting up on some supplements.
You know your skin best. What you do during the winter generally has an impact as you enter the spring and summer. Care should be taken now to avoid wrinkles, dry patches, skin rash, and flaking. While careful care can be given to protect your skin, a little bit of prevention can help reduce the rate at which your skin ages and helps to keep your complexion smooth and soft.
The benefits of Emu Oil are far ranging - from very common use in hair products to skin care.
Emu Oil is what is known as a “carrier oil”. It has the ability to deeply penetrate the layers of the skin (and scalp) unlike many other oils such as Jojoba, Mineral or Argan. This penetrating property allows its healing abilities to treat common skin problems where they start - most often in the dermis layer of the skin.
It is a natural anti-bacterial making it ideal for treating burns, cuts, and wounds (even scars from surgery or injury). It is also an anti-inflammatory having the ability to reduce inflammation, irritation and to soothe itchy and redness.
The video below is a quick overview that discusses some of it’s benefits that include treating skin rashes, acne, abrasions, and stretch marks. It can be used by itself or combined with other lotions, creams and shampoos to generally improve efficacy of the product. There are a range of Emu Oil products available and you can find it as a key active ingredient in many high-end treatments.
