Natural Remedies for Acne Treatment at Home
ABSTRACT
Acne is one of the most common skin concerns in teenagers. Teenagers are usually very conscious about their looks and eruption of acne may lead to low self esteem. The acne is a result of a combination of two factors; the blocking of the sebaceous glands along with the presence of bacteria. The bacteria most commonly involved in the case of acne are Proionobacterium acnes. It is advised to start the treatment of acne as soon as possible. The management of acne will depend on the type of acne erupting and the severity of the condition. According to the allopathic perspective, there are various antibiotics that are prescribed to be taken orally. But, as Ayurveda has its own unique principles, we aim at balancing the levels of pitta dosha and rakta dhatu of the body to cure the condition. With proper and timely management of the acne, the condition of acne can be improved to a great extent. Let’s have a look!
INTRODUCTION
The problem of acne is seldom life threatening but it is seen to reduce the person’s confidence. The acne is seen to affect as much as 85% of the teenagers. The teenagers are prone to acne because of the changes that occur at the time of puberty. The acne usually appears at the time of puberty and start revolving around the age of 18-20 years. While in some cases, the acne may continue till the age of 40 or even longer. Generally, not much attention is given to this topic, because it does not cause any life threatening condition. But, it should not be seen as just a skin altering condition. Apart from the cosmetic alteration, this may result in consequences that are far deeper than the skin such as inferiority complex, low confidence, anger, depression, anxiety, fear, bullying and body shaming by peer groups, etc. The person starts avoiding social gatherings and feels fear and anxiety in meeting people. These attributes are seen in many individuals especially teenagers due to lack of confidence and the feeling of inferiority.
CAUSES
The causes of acne can be numerous. There are various factors that determine the condition of acne such as the age, hormones, genetic composition, sweating, etc. The acne is caused by excessive secretions of the sebaceous gland. The hypersecretion of the sebaceous gland will result in blocking the pores. This blockage leads to various presentations which might be black heads, white heads, pimples, etc. The condition gets worse in the individuals that are addicted to smoking. The use of some chemicals such as iodide, bromide, lithium etc. will lead to acne. The use of corticosteroids and various hormonal preparations such as oral contraceptives are also responsible for the eruption of acne.
SYMPTOMS
The clinical features of the condition of acne will depend on the type and severity of the acne. The areas that are most usually affected by the acne are skin of face, back, and other regions with high density of sebaceous glands. There are various types and forms of acne such as white heads which are caused by closure of the plugged pores, the blackheads that are a result of clogged pores that remain open, papules (these are small eruptions red in color and tender on touch.), etc. Some other forms of acne can be pustules (also known as pimples), nodules (painful and solid lumps under the skin), and cystic lesions (pus filled lumps under the skin and cause pain.). The pimples are the most common form of acne. They are also known as pustules. Pimples are small red eruptions with pus at the tip. The acne may appear on the upper back, forehead, chest and shoulders.
DIAGNOSIS
Acne can be diagnosed by observing the skin properly. All the regions where acne is seen such as face, shoulders, back, chest etc should be examined properly. The type of acne is diagnosed according to the features it presents. The acne is characterized according to its severity as mild, moderate or severe. The white head and blackheads are considered to be a mild form of acne. If these white and black heads are spread in a much wider area then they are considered to be moderately severe. In the cases, where there are a lot of large pustules, nodules, cysts that cause pain are considered to be a severe form of acne. This severe condition may also result in scarring.
TREATMENT
The modern medicinal therapy for acne will include various types of antibiotics, hormonal therapies, etc. The management may also include the use of steroidal injections or chemical peels. The first line treatment of acne should be antibiotics which are given either orally or in the form of creams that are advised to be applied on the affected areas. Some people can show allergy or various other systemic side effects of antibiotics such as loose motions, nausea, anorexia, etc. So, in cases where the patient is unable to take the medicines, there are other alternatives also available such as the light therapy or the drainage and extraction etc.
AYURVEDIC ASPECT
As the Ayurvedic perspective always describes the body’s health and diseases in a very unique way. Acne is described as a state that arises due to the imbalance of agni. The agni can be explained as the digestive fire of the body. It is responsible for providing nutrition to the components of the body. Any imbalance in the levels of agni will result in hindering the levels of all the elements of the body. In the cases of acne, it is believed that the agni (the digestive fire) is polluted and it leaves its natural state. Thus, result in imbalance of the pitta dosha and rakta dhatu. These dooshit (unbalanced) pitta and rakta will leave their natural place and will get accumulated in the twacha (skin). This will lead to various red and hot eruptions which may or may not contain pus. So, to treat this state, efforts are made to balance the levels of pitta dosha and rakta dhatu. Also, the treatment regimen will include correcting the Agni dushti also. There are numerous herbs that will be beneficial in acne such as manjishtha, haridra, neem, aloe vera etc.
HERBAL REMEDIES FOR ACNE BY PLANET AYURVEDA
Planet Ayurveda is providing various preparations of natural herbs such as gandhak rasayan, de grease face wash, etc. which are prepared using authentic ways and provide great results in removing the acne of the body. All the herbal products manufactured here are free from chemicals, preservatives, starch, additives, colors and fillers. These products are hundred percent natural and are formulated by MD Ayurvedic doctors with deep knowledge of Ayurveda and many years of experience. The formulations are prepared strictly according to the procedures described in the samhitas (classical texts) and therefore are very effective in promoting health and curing the diseased state. The products that benefit the condition of acne are specially combined in a pack called ACNE CARE PACK. This pack includes
- Gandhak Rasayan
- Dermo Plan Syrup
- De-Grease Face Wash
- Alektrona Anti Ageing Face Serum
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
1. Gandhak Rasayan
Gandhak Rasayan is prepared by pure extract of Sulphur (purified). It shows great results on the overall health of the body. It helps to detoxify the body. It acts as an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agent. It is beneficial in various skin related disorders such as urticaria, acne etc.
Dosage: 1-2 tablets two to three times a day with lukewarm water.
2. Dermo Plan Syrup
The dermo plan syrup is prepared by mixing the following herbal drugs – Manjishtha ( Rubia cordifolia), Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Chopchini (Smilax china), Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Shobhanjan (Moringa oleifera), Khadir (Areca catechu), Gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus), Shahtara (Fumaria officinalis), etc. The combination of these medicines will help to pacify the excessive pitta dosha. These are very beneficial for the skin.
Dosage: 1-2 teaspoons two times a day or as prescribed by the Ayurvedic Physician according to the type of body.
3. De-Grease Face Wash
De-Grease Face Wash prepared by planet Ayurveda comprises the following – Aloe Vera extract, Green tea extract, Basil extract (Ocimum basilicum), Glycerin, etc. These help to purify the skin and help to get rid of acne.The face wash should be used according to the following directions- Wash your hands properly, then squeeze the de-grease face wash and apply it on your face, massage a bit and then rinse it off.
Dosage– Squeeze a small amount on wet palm and apply on face, work up a lather and gently massage in with fingertips. Rinse off and pat dry gently.
4. Alektrona Anti Ageing Face Serum
Alektrona Anti Ageing Face Serum helps to moisturize skin and gets rid of wrinkles and fine lines of aging. It gives you glowing and fresh looking skin. You should use the Anti Ageing Face Serum to the face and neck daily after washing the face properly. It is suggested to use the Anti Ageing Face Serum on a daily basis. This will improve the health of the skin.
Method of Application
Apply to the face and neck daily following cleansing and before applying other cosmetic products. Can be used for all-over facial treatment or applied to specific target areas such as under the eye or around the mouth. Daily use of a face serum is recommended as part of a healthy skin care regimen.
CONCLUSION
The Ayurvedic principles consider that an imbalance of agni will result in various type of diseases. And as discussed above, the rakta and pitta dosha are responsible for acne eruption. So, the target of treatment of acne will be to balance the levels of pitta dosha. Managing the proper levels of pitta will lead to the healthy state of body. So, as the Ayurvedic treatment emphasizes on treating the root cause of the condition it is capable of eliminating the disease permanently. In a nut shell, it can be concluded that with appropriate and timely management of the pitta and rakta levels of the body, the acne can be removed in almost all of the cases.
