Pimples. Natural treatment

Almost every teenager has to deal with it…..pimples. One has it worse than the other. When I saw my daughters skin, she is 13, getting worse I knew I had to do something about it. So I did some research. It starts between 10-13 years old when the hormones start to change. Boys are mostly a little bit later than girls. It’s also the age that they get insecure when they have pimples, but they shouldn’t be ashamed or getting insecure about this natural change of your skin. It’s not only the hormones who are causing pimples. What you eat is also really important for your skin, especially sugar. A high blood sugar level attacks the collagen of your skin this can lead to dehydration and inflammation. All of this can make your skin age faster.

 

Too much sugar can also affect:

• Your brain, because sugar is highly addictive, which makes you not want to eat an apple or carrots.
• Your teeth, so brush them twice a day.
• Your liver produces a hormone called insulin, this can be damaged by eating too much sugar. Which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
• Your heart will get damaged over time and can cause heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
• Your body will gain weight which can affect your joints and makes you less active.

Watch your food/drink intake:

Make sure you eat enough vegetables/fruits:

• Carrots – High in essential vitamins and minerals.
• Peppers – High in vitamins, which makes your skin look healthy.
• Broccoli – Excellent source of vitamin c.
• Tomatoes – Reduces inflammation, clears up skin and helps with aging.
• Berries – Provides collagen, the most important protein source in your body.
• Oranges – Full of nutrition, low in calories. They help you get a clear and healthy skin.
• Lemons – Lots of vitamin c, drink a glass every morning and it will kill the bacteria on your skin.

Make sure you eat enough protein:

Protein is one of the most important sources in your body. If you eat enough protein you won’t have the craving for sugar.

• Steak
• Chicken breast
• Eggs
• Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, flax)
• Milk (contains sugar, so watch your intake)
• Low fat cheese
• Greek yogurt
• Beans

Make sure to eat lots of healthy fats:

Your skin needs fats to support cell growth, which means anti aging. Healthy fats will also give you lots of energy.

• Nuts – Contains vitamin c, fiber helps reduce your appetite (almonds, walnuts)
• Avocado – Lots of fiber too that lowers cholesterol because too high is not good for your heart.
• Fish – It’s not only filled with healthy fats, but also a good protein source. (salmon, sardines, white fish)

Make sure you drink enough:

Drinking will keep your skin hydrated and that will help reduce pimples. Not every teenager drinks enough. I always have to force them to drink. Drinking water or tea instead of soda is better for your skin.

•  Helps with the health and the beauty of your skin.
•  Flushes body waste, so less chance of getting pimples.
•  Loosens the joints so that you can be more active and that is good for the blood circulation.
• Drink at least 1.5 liters a day.

Exercise:

You will probably think why exercise is good for your skin and helps to get rid of pimples? Well when you exercise it helps by removing toxins out of the body and it helps to increase the production of collagen. You will see a difference after your workout. You don’t have to buy expensive equipment.I recently bought a second hand exercise bike for only $75. This was a really good investment. It’s not only good for your skin but also for your body and your condition. You only have to do it for 30 minutes each day and you have different programs so you don’t have to be bored. I send my kids downstairs with some music and water to keep them hydrated. Why sit on the couch and play video games when you can workout for 30 minutes!!  YOUR ONLY LIMIT IS YOUR MIND!

Get enough sleep:

If you have enough sleep your skin will be in a healthy condition too. That’s not the first thing you think of when you think of sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep during the night it can effect the quality of your skin, because when you sleep your body will produce an hormone that stimulate collagen. The saying ‘beauty sleep’ is not a cliché. I recommend 8-10 hours of sleep at night..

Here are some helpful tips for a healthy sleep.

• Wash your bedding once a week because you loose dead skin cells and you sweat. Isn’t it nice if you can sleep in a nice clean bed??
• Try not to eat products with sugar. If you are hungry get an apple, if you don’t crave an apple you aren’t really hungry but bored so drink water.
• Take a refreshing walk around the block it helps you to relax and fall asleep faster.
• Clean your skin before you go to bed. Especially when you wear foundation/make up because it will block all of your pores

How to steam?

The hot steam will open up your pores and helps to free dead skin, dirt and bacteria.

• Boil a small pot of water
• Wash your face while your water is boiling and get a towel
• Pour the boiling water in a bowl, be careful!
• Put your face above the bowl with the towel over your head
• If you want you can add some essential oils
• Keep your face above the steaming water for about 10 minutes
• After those 10 relaxing minutes you dry your skin, it’s optional to moisturize your face with a cream

What about facial scrub:

When you scrub once a week you will remove ‘old’ skin and reveal a more softer skin. Focus on areas like nose and forehead. If you have acne I wouldn’t recommend to scrub and let an expert take a look at it. Scrubs only work on the skin’s surface to make your skin softer. It’s not a pimple treatment because they can’t come that deep in the pores. But it is still a nice treatment. I use St.Ives Apricot scrub but it also works as a mask. So  if you leave it on for a couple of minutes and wash it off your skin will feel very soft. Sunday is my scrub day, always looking forward to that moment.

• Wash your hands
• Apply scrub on your skin
• Gently rub it in
• Rinse your face with lukewarm water
• Dry your skin gently with a towel
• Moisturize with a nourishing cream

Stick with this routine and you will see results in the next couple of weeks. Pimples easy to get, hard to get rid off. It doesn’t cost much only your time. Be patient!

SLEEP, DRINK WATER AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN.