Vitamins: Two vitamins,
namely, niacin and vitamin A have been used successfully to treat acne.
Vitamin therapy should comprise the intake of 100 mg
niacin, three times
daily, and 50,000 international units of vitamin A, three times daily.
Vitamin E, 400 mg, should be taken once daily. This therapy should be
continued for a month.
Zinc: Another effective remedy in the area of nutrition that seems to
offer new promise of help for acne is zinc. It has shown dramatic
results in some cases. Zinc should be taken in therapeutic doses of 50
mg three times a day. 7inc is available in tablet and in capsule form.
In tablet form, it is available as Zinfet - 200 mg (Yash Pharma,
Bombay). The patient can take a quarter tablet so as to get 50 mg of
zinc. In capsule form, zinc is available as Ulseal220 mg (Tam
Pharmaceuticals). One-fourth of the powder inside the capsule can be
taken as a single dose. The patient can take a dose of 50 mg daily up o
one month or till there is noticeable improvement and then reduce the
dose to 25 mg.
Orange Peel: Orange peel has been found very effective in the
local treatment of acne. Pounded well with water on a piece of stone,
the peel should be applied to the affected areas.
Lemon: Lemon has also proved beneficial in reducing pimples and
acne. Its juice should be applied regularly to obtain relief
Garlic: Garlic has been used successfully in the treatment of
acne. Pimples disappear without scars when rubbed with raw garlic
several times a day. Even extremely persistent forms of acne, suffered
by some adults, have been healed with this herb. The external use of
garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, pimples and boils. The process
is further helped by eating three pods of raw garlic once daily for a
month to purify-the blood stream, so as to secure a long-term clearance
of the skin.
Coriander and. Mint juice: A teaspoon of coriander juice, mixed
with a pinch of turmeric powder, is another effective home remedy for
pimples and blackheads. The mixture should be applied to the face after
thoroughly washing it every night before retiring. Mint juice can be
used in a similar manner as coriander juice.
Fenugreek: Fenugreek is another useful remedy for acne. A paste
made of the leaves of this vegetable, applied over the face every night
before going to bed and washed with warm water in the morning, prevents
pimples and blackheads.
Cucumber: Grated cucumber applied over the face, eyes, and neck
for fifteen to twenty minutes has been found effective. It is the best
tonic for the skin of the face. Its regular use prevents pimples and
blackheads.
Dietary Considerations
To begin with, the patient should take only an 'all-fruit’ diet for a
week, taking three meals a day, of fresh juicy fruits, such as apples,
pears, grapes, grapefruit, pineapples, and peaches. Only unsweetened
lemon or plain water, either hot or cold; should be drunk and nothing
else. After the one-week, all-fruit diet the patient can gradually adopt
a well-balanced diet with emphasis on raw foods, especially fresh fruit
and vegetables, sprouted seeds, raw nuts, and wholegrain cereals,
particularly millet and brown rice. Further short periods of the
'all-fruit’ diet for three days or so may be necessary at a monthly
interval till the skin's condition improves. Meats, sugar, strong tea or
coffee, condiments, pickles, soft drinks, candies, ice cream, refined
and processed foods should be avoided as far as possible.
Other Measures
During the initial one week 'all-fruit’ diet, a warm-water enema should
be taken daily to cleanse the bowels.
Hot fomentation should be applied locally to open up the pores and to
bring out the waste matter. The affected parts should then be rinsed
with cold water. The patient should take sun and air baths by exposing
the whole body to the sun and air. A hot Epsom salts bath twice a week
is beneficial in all cases of acne. This bath is prepared by adding 1
1/2 kg of Epsom salts to 60 liters of water having a temperature of
about 37.80 C. The patient should remain in the bathtub for 25-35
minutes till he sweats freely. After the bath, the patient should cool
off gradually.
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