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First things first, drink plenty of water. Drinking adequate
amount of water helps in getting rid of acne by removing
toxins that might aggravate the existing skin problem. Also,
washing with water helps remove surface dirt and oil that
may clog the pores. However, harsh scrubbing and frequent
washing should be avoided to prevent spreading of infection
and overproduction of oils by the sebaceous or oil glands.
Since one cause of acne breakouts is clogged pores,
exfoliating the skin helps in controlling acne by removing
dead skin cells and excess oils trapped in the pores.
Exfoliation can be done by applying lemon or citric juice on
the face for 10 minutes and rinsing it off.
Hormonal imbalance is one factor that triggers acne, and
some herbs have actually been effective in addressing this
condition. For instance, evening primrose oil, borage oil,
and saw palmetto have been found to contain
hormone-balancing ingredients.
Using skin care products that have antibacterial agents such
as tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, and apple cider
vinegar remove acne-causing bacteria on the skin. Also,
choosing products that are noncomedogenic prevents skin
breakouts because the ingredients of these products do not
block pores.
Some vitamins and minerals have also been found to help
manage acne, and daily intake of these should be part of the
skin care regimen. Vitamin A in 10,000 to 15,000 IU aids in
reducing oil production, while 900 mg of Pantothenic acid
(Vitamin B5) aids in fat metabolism and prevents fats from
becoming oil that will be released into the skin. Three
hundred mg of Vitamin B6 daily, meanwhile, is important in
maintaining the levels of testosterone and estrogen. Now, at
least 3,000 mg of Vitamin C is needed in cell repair and
synthesis, and it is advised to start with a daily intake of
500 mg and slowly increase it to 3,000 mg. Zinc, in
conjunction with copper, plays a role in controlling the oil
glands as well as in tissue repair. An intake of 25 to 30 mg
of zinc is recommended, but it must be underscored that for
every 15 mg of zinc, one has to take 1 mg of copper to keep
the balance.
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