So we all know what acne is, and we all know that almost everybody at some point in their life will get acne.
But acne in its most basic form is a disease of this hair follicle with the surrounding oil
glands.
And the oil glands are stimulated by hormones. The hormones primarily being
testosterone, and that's why we get so much acne in the teenage years when our bodies are changing
and testosterone peaks.
Now this video is going to talk about a number of different over-the-counter products that you can use to help
keep your face clear, no matter if you currently have acne, or if you're just trying to prevent acne in the future.
We're also going to be talking about tips on diet, tips on
exercise, tips on how to wash your face, and
hopefully just kind of wrap your mind around the whole concept of acne in a holistic fashion that gives you the control
to help keep a clear acne-free face.
Now we're very fortunate to have a lot of really good products that you can use to help clear your acne.
Now we're gonna go through some specific examples.
But the general rule of thumb is that we do not want stuff that smells like a garden bed.
We don't need fragrance, ok? We also do not need harsh things, or things with
exfoliants or beads that you're scrubbing out your skin.
You can't scrub out acne. In fact, the more harsh you are with your skin
the more acne will develop, because you're creating inflammation, and that inflammation
can help form acne pimples. Now if we pay attention to what type of cleanser we're using and
how we're using that cleanser,
for different areas of the face that have different demands,
then that will allow us to use different over-the-counter
creams that stay on, and
we can decrease the side-effects from those creams because we're not
unnecessarily drying out, or
unnecessarily
moisturizing an
area that doesn't need to be dry, or that doesn't need to be moisturized. It kind of makes sense.
Remember, the more gentle you are, the better your acne will do. Acne is not
caused by dirt.
Now on the other hand if you haven't washed your face in five years, that's probably a problem.
But please do not try to scrub your acne away. Please be very gentle. Makeup. Makeup's a big topic.
The more makeup you use, the more it's going to occlude your skin and cause acne.
So please be modest with the makeup that you do use.
Also, please get a good mineral base makeup, because those tend to cause less acne than the others.
So things like bare minerals,
there's a great makeup and you can try that.
But please, put it on modestly when needed, and when you take it off, please be gentle no excessive scrubbing.
Alright a lot of the acne medications that we suggest are
going to make you more sensitive to the sun.
And so it's important that if you're gonna be out and about in the sun that you protect yourself.
Now my favorite ingredients for sunscreen are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
And there's a lot of great formulations out there. And we're gonna make some suggestions down below for ones that you can use.
But please make sure that whatever sunscreen you use, you use it appropriately, and we have videos on that,
and that you get one that does not cause acne.
We don't want to be putting any products on our faces
that will cause acne if we're trying to prevent acne. It kind of makes sense, and the fancy $10 word for that is non-comedogenic
or non-acne causing. Please make sure the sunscreen that you use has that in it.
One big caution is pregnancy.
We'd like you to not use anything that you don't have to use if you're pregnant, or you think you might be pregnant.
So if you're pregnant, or if you think you might be pregnant, or if you're breastfeeding,
please don't use any of these until you consult with your local doctor to make sure that it okay for you.
Now we're about to talk about diet, and we all know that diet is vastly important for our health.
We need to be following a diet that will produce health not just for our skin,
But also for our brains and our lungs and our hearts and our kidneys.
We have to put into our body the solid nutrients and ingredients needed for health.
Hi, I'm Charlene Wang, Integrative Registered Dietitian and Certified Level 5 Healing Touch Practitioner.
I'm going to talk about how to address acne with nutrition. If you feel like you've
tried just about everything to clear up your acne, and nothing seems to be working,
why not go back to the basics: your diet?
Affecting up to 50 million Americans each year, acne is the most
common skin condition in the United States. What are the top three foods linked to acne that you'll want to avoid?
Number one, high glycemic simple carbohydrates, number two, dairy and number three, fried foods.
None of which are helping your complexion. In fact, studies have found that these foods
stimulate the production of hormones that can cause you to create and excrete excess oil from your oil glands.
Ideally you want to eat in a matter that keeps your blood sugar nice and steady.
And some of these foods can cause your blood sugar to spike.
When your blood sugar spikes,
it causes your body to release an excess of hormones called insulin. Having excess insulin in your bloodstream
causes your oil glands to secrete excess oils. The second food group you want to avoid is dairy.
Milk contains a component related to the hormone testosterone
that may stimulate the glands in your skin, setting the stage for acne.
The third type of food you'll want to get rid of is fried food.
We all know that fried chicken and french fries aren't doing our health a favor.
But if you're prone to acne, you may want to reconsider taking another bite of fried food.
So then what are the foods that you want to implement in your diet to decrease acne? The top three are
omega-3 fatty acids, also known as the good fat, an
adequate intake of water, and low glycemic complex carbohydrates.
Your skin is a reflection of your health. Eating a nutritious diet will keep you healthy internally, and will reflect externally.
My best advice in dealing with acne with nutrition is to eat a balanced, wholesome meal,
abundant in fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, plenty of water,
omega-3 healthy fats, and lean protein.
We all know that exercise is vitally important to keep not only
our heart and lungs alive and functioning, but also our brains, and our skin, and everything else about us.
So please, get your thirty minutes of exercise in the day.
Hi, I'm Angela Anderson, Certified Group Fitness Instructor and here to talk to you a little about skin and exercise.
Exercise is not only good for your mind, body and spirit, but also for your skin. Studies show that sustained
cardiovascular exercise can actually promote growth of collagen in your skin. That's right,
you can make yourself look younger and healthier
just by getting the recommended 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity exercise. Remember to consult your primary care physician before
engaging in an exercise regimen.
Also a quick tip is to make sure you shower after you exercise.
This will prevent the sweat from drying and sticking to your skin, which actually can help cause acne.
So if you don't have access to a shower or can't right away, just go to the bathroom,
wash your hands fully with soap and water, and rinse your face off so that you're not promoting acne growth on your face.
If you're exercising outside, don't forget your sun-protective clothing and your non-acne causing sunscreens. I hope you found these tips helpful. Thank you.
Please understand that with all of these things,
more is not better. I want you to use what I suggest, the amount that I suggest, because
that should work and
it shouldn't
unnecessarily increase your side effects. Please remember that acne takes about four to six weeks of a continuous
comprehensive
treatment plan
before we know if it's going to work or not.
A lot of people think okay, I put it on last night, today I should be great. It's not how acne works.
You need to give yourself six weeks and
if you try to rush it by using
five times the amount that we suggest, all you're gonna do is get increased side-effects, and your acne will not get better
any quicker. Now obviously with everything that you try, if you start
experiencing side effects that are extreme, that are going beyond just a little bit of irritated or dry again, please stop everything.
Call us and we'll get you in sooner. We do not want you to wait if you're having a side effect.
We want to know what's going on. So please communicate with us. If anything that we're recommending is
causing more than just a little localized irritation or rough spot.
So we're gonna give you about six weeks until your acne appointment to see if you can help control it, by changing around your cleansers,
your moisturizers,
your over-the-counter products that you can use, by monitoring your diet by doing appropriate things after you exercise.
If you get the level of control that you need, perfect. Keep it up, cancel your appointment, and we'll give it to somebody else.
If you don't get the level of control you need, please come in with a piece of paper
for everything that you've been putting on your face, and how it has performed or not performed to your satisfaction.
It's really important that you come in with no makeup on. It's really hard for us to see through the makeup.
And one thing that I would ask of everybody, is take a picture
when you start treatment, and take a picture at two weeks, four weeks, and six weeks.
If it works for you,
feel free to post it online. Tell others what you have discovered, and what's worked for you.
And if it does not work for you,
bring those pictures in, so that we can quickly scroll through, zero to four and six weeks, and see for ourselves
how things are, or are not progressing.