Teen Acne Natural, Holistic Treatment
By Jane Sheppard
 Many
of us, as teen-agers, have experienced the
dread of acne. Blackheads, whiteheads and
the red, swollen, pus-filled lesions we call
pimples is a disease common in teens called
acne vulgaris. Eight out of every ten teens
experience it. Mild acne is considered a “normal”
condition of puberty, continuing throughout
the teen years.
Acne can appear on the face, neck, shoulders,
upper back and chest. Acne vulgaris usually
consists of noninflammatory (blackheads or
whiteheads) or mildly inflammatory lesions.
Nodular or cystic acne is more severe. These
lesions can be disfiguring and painful. Permanent
scarring can occur with large cysts or nodules.
When acne is severe, it can be extremely
traumatic to a teen-ager, leaving life-long
physical and emotional scars. Severe acne
has significant impact on the way teen-agers
view themselves. Effects can include social
withdrawal, low self-esteem and self-confidence,
embarrassment, depression, poor body image,
anger and discouragement. Unless it is treated
in a holistic way, severe acne will most likely
not
disappear when entering adulthood. It is a
sign that there is something happening within
the teen that needs to be addressed on a physical
as well as emotional, mental and spiritual
levels.
How Acne Develops
Acne occurs when the hair follicles (pores)
of the skin become clogged with sebum, bacteria
and dead skin cells. Sebum is an oily substance
produced by the sebaceous (oil) glands. Its
purpose is to lubricate the skin and hair.
Normally, sebum moves through the follicles
and is discharged on to the surface of the
skin.
During puberty (about age 11 to 14) and throughout
the teen years, increased levels of androgen
hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to
grow and produce more sebum. When there is
excess sebum production, the follicle can
become plugged. Also during puberty, the skin
cells of the follicle lining shed more quickly
and can form sticky clumps. Bacteria and dead
skin cells can combine with the sebum in the
clogged pore.
One type of bacteria specifically involved
in acne is Proprionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).
Everyone has P. acnes living in their skin;
even people who don’t have acne. P. acnes
ingests the sebum that is discharged to the
skin. However, when sebaceous glands are clogged
with sebum, the P. acnes multiply quickly
and break the sebum down into irritating fatty
acids that cause an immune response. Inflammation
is the result, with redness, swelling, and
pain. Another type of bacteria that can be
a factor in acne is corynebacterium acnes.
This bacteria can cause skin fats to break
down into irritating chemicals that can also
lead to acne.
Causes of Acne
Most dermatologists will tell you the exact
cause is unknown, probably because there is
not any one cause that can be determined for
everyone. We know how acne develops, but there
are many factors that can cause this development
to take place. In teens, a major factor is
the change in hormones that affect the sebaceous
glands. But what is it that causes some teens
to have severe acne while others have very
mild, occasional acne and others have clear
skin? Like many health problems, the specific
causes of acne are multifaceted and can be
different for each person.
Heredity is known to be a factor in acne.
If you had acne as a teen, your child may
also be susceptible. Diet, hormonal imbalance,
or nervous system disorders can cause a person
to be acne-prone. Premenstrual acne starts
a few days before each period, when progesterone
hormones are highest. Allergies to molds,
foods, chemicals, cosmetics, and other substances
can result in acne. Medications that can cause
acne include dilantin, lithium, isoniazid,
iodine, steroids, and some birth control pills.
In severe cases, candida-yeast overgrowth,
toxic bowel, liver dysfunction and thyroid,
gonadal or adrenal disorders should be looked
into.
Conventional Treatments
Conventional treatments are aimed at reducing
sebum production, reducing bacteria responsible
for acne infection, and exfoliating dead skin
cells to prevent clogged pores. Conventional
treatments can reduce or even eliminate acne,
but in many cases, the breakouts return after
treatment is discontinued since the whole
picture of health has not been addressed.
There are many side effects associated with
conventional treatments. Some of these can
be very serious.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide reduces P. acnes bacteria
on skin and is a peeling agent. Must be used
continuously to keep acne at bay. Available
over-the-counter in creams, lotions or gels.
Often works well for mild cases. Benzoyl peroxide
is a bleach. It may bleach clothing and can
be irritating. It generates free radicals,
which could theoretically increase skin cancer
later in life. Side effects include irritation,
drying, itching, redness, and peeling.
Topical Antibiotics
Topical antibiotics available by prescription
only and applied to the skin in creams, gels,
pads or lotions. Topical antibiotics are limited
in penetrating the skin. They inhibit inflammation
caused by bacteria, rather than having a direct
bactericidal effect. There is a risk of development
of resistant strains of P. Acnes.
Oral (systemic) antibiotics
Oral (systemic) antibiotics, taken by mouth,
circulate through the body and into the sebaceous
glands. Most common are erythromycin, minocycline
and tetracycline. Antibiotics work by killing
off the P. acnes, but do not address the other
aspects of how acne develops. They are usually
used in combination with other drugs that
help to “unclog” follicles. They may take
several weeks or months to show any improvement.
Improvement is usually temporary, while still
taking the antibiotics.
Antibiotics also kill the beneficial intestinal
bacteria needed to maintain health. Long-term
antibiotic use, as is prescribed for acne,
lowers immune function and could increase
susceptibility to infection. Adverse affects
include yeast overgrowth, vaginal yeast infections,
upset stomach, allergies, increased susceptibility
to sun-damage, yellowing of teeth, decrease
in absorption of some vitamins and minerals,
increased risk for cancers, and increased
bacterial resistance. Many are not safe during
pregnancy and may reduce the effectiveness
of birth control pills.
Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids)
Vitamin A Deriviatives (retinoids) or topical
vitamin A acid - normalizes the way skin grows
and sheds and helps unclog pores. Creates
an unwelcome environment for P. acnes. Retin-A
cream or gel is available by prescription
only. The side effects of higher concentrations
include red skin and peeling, sun sensitivity.
Not to be used in pregnancy.
Accutane (oral retinoid)
Accutane (oral retinoid) decreases the secretions
and size of the sebaceous glands, improves
shedding of skin and reduces the P. acnes.
Can clear severe nodular or cystic acne. Used
for treating severe acne that has not improved
by other methods, including antibiotics. There
is an extremely high risk of birth defects
if pregnant while taking accutane. The FDA
issued a statement that advised doctors and
patients about reports of “depression, psychosis,
and rarely suicidal thoughts and actions”
related to using accutane. The most common
side effects are dry skin, lips, hair and
eyes (as accutane inhibits the oil glands),
headaches, nosebleeds and changes in blood
lipids.
Birth Control Pills
These hormones can help to counteract the
effect of the male hormone androgen on acne.
It is used for the treatment of moderate acne
vulgaris in women 15 years of age or older.
In clinical studies, improvement of acne was
reported in more than 80 percent of the studies’
participants. The serious side effects include
blood clots, stroke and heart attacks as well
as an increased risk of developing breast
cancer, particularly at a young age. This
risk is related to the duration of use.
Holistic Treatments for Acne
It is important for to address the “whole
person” in dealing with your child’s acne.
For true healing, acne must be addressed both
internally and externally on many levels.
Psychological/Stress Factors
The psychological/emotional aspect of acne
requires significant attention. As previously
mentioned, severe acne can be extremely traumatic
to a teen, with life-long consequences. Acne
can create feelings of intense shame and anguish.
Other kids can make cruel and damaging remarks
about acne. Teen-agers frequently feel repulsive
or dirty and connect their acne with guilt
and punishment. These feelings can become
deeply buried along with negative self-beliefs
that can detrimentally affect every aspect
of their lives for many years to come (or
for the rest of their lives if these beliefs
and feelings are never dealt with). It is
crucial for parents to be sensitive to this.
Teens with skin problems need to hear constantly
how beautiful, precious and special they really
are, particularly from their parents.
In addition to talking to your child positively,
you can encourage her to spend time looking
in the mirror, seeing beyond the acne, and
affirming to herself how beautiful she is.
I believe that this reinforcement of positive
self-image is the single most crucial and
effective thing you can do for your acne-prone
teen. In addition to emotional support from
parents, supportive psychotherapy or hypnotherapy
can be beneficial.
Ted Grossbart, a psychologist on the faculty
of Harvard Medical School and in private practice
in Boston, works with the mind-body connection
in skin diseases. He is co-author of Skin
Deep: A Mind/Body Program for Healthy Skin
(Health Press, 1992). Grossbart points out
that the skin is intimately connected with
the nervous system. With acne, emotional issues
can trigger an outbreak or make it worse,
even when there’s a clear physical cause.
In addition to working with teen-age acne
patients, he is seeing patients between 20
and 40 years old with very difficult acne
problems. He has found that each of these
patients is dealing with adolescent issues,
i.e. sexual or professional identity, separation
from parents, and anger. As he works with
these adults on their teen issues, their skin
clears up.
There is general agreement that emotional
stress and fatigue can trigger and exacerbate
acne. Stress and/or sleep disturbance can
induce higher levels of hormones and adrenaline,
which increases sebum production, leading
to clogged pores. Severe acne outbreaks have
been reported after prolonged sleep deprivation.
Skin cells are nourished during sleep so it’s
important to encourage teens to go to bed
early and get their “beauty sleep”. Regular
exercise is important to increase blood circulation
and bring more oxygen to the skin. The mental
and emotional benefits of exercise can also
help a teen suffering from acne.
In addition to plenty of sleep and exercise,
it’s important for teens to find a good relaxation
technique that works well for them. Relaxation
includes breathing exercises, yoga, self-hypnosis,
meditation, or listening to relaxing music.
Whatever they choose, they must do it every
day to be effective, not just when they are
stressed.
Hormonal Factors
Hormones are produced by the endocrine glands.
Healthy hormonal activity is dependent on
a well-functioning liver and endocrine system.
The liver plays a major role in hormonal balance
and in removing toxins from the bloodstream.
One of the skin’s jobs is to excrete toxins
and poisons from the body. If the liver is
not functioning properly, toxins can circulate
longer and cause not only poor general health,
but acne as well. With this in mind, the need
to nourish and strengthen the endocrine glands
and the liver is important.
Saw palmetto berry extract helps to balance
hormones in boys and chaste tree berry (vitex)
helps restore female balance. Seaweed (hizike,
kelp, arame) is exceptionally high in minerals
and is considered one of the best foods for
nourishing the endocrine glands. Herbs that
can strengthen and cleanse the liver include
burdock root, dandelion root, nettle leaf,
oregon grape root, and yellow dock root. Consult
a qualified herbalist for specific use of
these herbs. Herbs work gently and build up
in your system over time so allow at least
3-4 weeks of consistent use.
Diet and Acne
Most doctors will tell you there is no conclusive
scientific evidence that diet causes acne.
However, there are many indications that particular
foods do
cause acne in some
people. Food sensitivities or allergies may
cause acne. A food that may cause acne in
one individual may not pose a problem for
someone else. We are all different. The key
is to find the food or foods (if any) that
may cause a problem for your teen. Mild acne
can be cleared simply by avoiding any food
or drink you have found to trigger an outbreak.
In some cases, avoiding certain foods can
clear even severe acne.
A good way to test for problem foods is to
stop eating the suspected foods for a month.
Make sure you read labels so you know you
are not ingesting any hidden forms of the
food. For instance, small amounts of sugar
and milk products are hidden in many processed
foods. After a month, you may find that the
acne is much better or has disappeared. Begin
adding one food at a time back into the diet
to see if there are any changes. There may
be a lag time of a few days between when the
food was eaten and when the breakout occurs.
In dealing with any health problem, a good
diet is always very important in order to
create an environment for healing to take
place. The typical teen-age diet includes
many things that are detrimental to general
health and could be making their acne worse.
The foods to eliminate are processed food,
refined sugar
and sugar products, foods that contain
trans-fatty acids, i.e. margarine, shortening,
and other hydrogenated vegetable-oils, fried
foods, commercial dairy products and meats
that contain hormones, sodas (soft drinks),
and salty snacks (chips and pretzels).
Studies suggest that people eating a Mediterranean
diet, low in animal fat (saturated fats) and
high in olive oil have a lower risk of acne.
Foods that are important to add to the diet
are fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly
those rich in vitamin A carotene - dark green
leafy vegetables, and yellow-orange vegetables
and fruits (apricots, mangoes, carrots, sweet
potatoes, yams and squash). Cod liver oil
is important and also contains a lot of vitamin
A. It’s also beneficial to drink plenty of
purified water (up to 4 quarts of water a
day) to flush out toxins and transport nutrients.
Nutritional Supplements
The following recommendations are from Encyclopedia
of Nutritional Supplements, Michael
Murray, N.D., Prima Publishing, (1996). Consult
a qualified nutritionist for specific guidelines
in supplementation for your child:
High-Potency Multiple Vitamin/Mineral
Vitamin
C, 500 to 1,000 milligrams 3 times
daily
Flaxseed
oil, 1 tablespoon daily
Vitamin
E, 200 to 400 IU daily
Zinc,
45 to 60 milligrams daily
Chromium,
400 to 600 micrograms daily
Vitamin
A –A safe and effective recommendation
for vitamin A in the treatment of acne is
less than 25,000 I.U. per day. Beta-carotene
may be taken in large doses (25,000 to 300,000
I.U.) without toxicity. Vitamin E and zinc
are important to the proper function of vitamin
A. Although high-dose therapy of vitamin A
may be useful for the treatment of acne, a
physician should closely monitor the therapy
(unless it is from beta-carotene).
Homeopathy
Constitutional prescribing by a qualified
homeopath may be helpful in treating acne.
Homeopathic remedies
to try for acne are Anti-monium crudum,
Carbo animalis, Hepar sulfur, Kali bromatum,
and Sulfur.
General Tips for Your Teen
To cleanse an acne-prone face, gently wash
it twice a day. Rinse well with warm water
and pat dry with a clean soft towel. Do not
scrub with a washcloth or use harsh, high
pH soaps or abrasive cleansers. Too much friction
can worsen acne. A mild calendula soap is
fine. Avoid over washing your face since this
can make it dry and irritated. Skin must maintain
the proper pH levels to be healthy.
Beware of skin products that contain chemical
preservatives, fragrance or coloring agents.
These chemicals can make the problem worse.
If using cosmetics, use water-based, oil-free
foundations sparingly and wash off thoroughly
before going to bed. Check for noncomedogenic,
or nonacnegenic ingredients that are not likely
to cause or aggravate acne. Use a nonscented
moisturizer. When skin is dry, it produces
more oil and the oil is more likely to become
trapped in pores.
ZenMed Herbal Cleansing
System
I recently
found the ZenMed system, a product that is
designed to treat the problem at its source,
using the finest herbal ingredients. I highly
recommend this system since it is formulated
with natural ingredients that have been proven
over centuries to heal skin problems such
as acne, and promote a healthy, clear complexion
from the inside. This skin care system prevents
and treats acne both internally and topically
and provides lasting results.
I know
the ZenMed system works to heal acne. I suffered
from severe acne as a teen and used many medications
and harsh treatments, including long-term
antibiotics, Accutane, and many toxic topical
products. I didn't know any better as a teen
and thought these medications and products
would work. They did not and the long-term
antibiotics devastated my immune system. The
acne continued into my adult years, and I
am very happy to have found the ZENMED Derma
Cleanse System. It cleared the acne that I
had been struggling with for 35 years after
using it for only 3 weeks! It really works!
It has the best, natural, non-toxic ingredients,
and I am thrilled to recommend it to parents
for helping their teens clear their skin.
Acne can be devastating to a teen's self-image
and must be treated holistically with safe,
natural ingredients. My eleven year-old daughter
is beginning to experience acne and starting
to use the ZenMed system. I am very grateful
that she will not have to go through what
I did as a teen.
ZENMED's advanced delivery system will clean,
detoxify, and tone the skin in the following
ways:
Internal Treatment (ZENMED™
Derma Cleanse® Capsules)
Topical Treatment (ZENMED™
Derma Cleanse® Gel)
-
penetrates the skin with healing nutrients
-
provides antibacterial activity against
acne causing organisms
-
modulates the inflammatory response to
reduce redness, swelling and scarring
Cleansing Your Skin (ZENMED™
Derma Cleanse® Gentle Cleanser)
-
removes debris, impurities and excess
sebum
-
provides anti-inflammatory relief and
leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
-
limits the growth of causative organisms
-
no side effects and is actually healthy
for your body
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Use
the information provided on this site as an
educational resource for determining your
options and making your own informed choices.
It is not intended as medical advice or to
diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific
illness.