T-Zone

Prior to accessing your blemishes using the acne face chart, it will help to know more about the Tzone.The sebaceous glands lubricate the skin and hair with the oil-likesubstance they secrete. These glands are located all over the body.However, sebaceous glands on the face are concentrated in an areaknown as the T- zone.

The T- zone area of the face consists of the forehead, nose and the areaaround your mouth, including the chin. It’s called the T-zone becauseit’s shaped like the letter “T”. When the glands in the T-zone areoveractive, it is wise to enjoy food high in vitamin A and zinc, sincethese nutrients help regulate oil produced by the sebaceous glands.Also, whiteheads appear to be indicative of over-sensitivity andnervousness.

If this applies to you, try doing some of the exerciseslisted in the Calmation section of the book. Listed below are a fewpoints to keep in mind when dealing with acne formations in the Tzone.Overeating sugar products or not properly balancing them with proteincan trigger a series of hormonal reactions that end in acne. You canread more on this in the Blood Sugar section.

Not having the proper balance of oils within the body can triggerexcess oil production. Ensure that you are eating the proper amount ofomega-3 and omega-6 fats. You can learn more about this in theEssential Fatty Acids section.

Stress can cause the oil glands to produce more oils. I have coveredstudies showing that an increase in stress can encourage the onset ofacne formations. To help ease your stress level, try enjoying one of thesimple relaxation techniques offered in the Calmation section.

When acne appears outside of the sebaceous gland area, you can lookat the face chart to help decide what organ(s) within your body may bein need of attention and thus has sent a messenger zit to the skin.

Whitehead (Closed comedo)

Whiteheads are clogged hair follicles that stay below the surface of theskin. They look like small white bumps. If squeezed a worm-likeformation of oil and bacteria will usually emerges from the skin.

Possible messages behind whiteheads:

Whiteheads are the most challenging form of acne to deal withbecause they are directly related to our immune response. Eventreatments with Blue Light therapy cannot treat whiteheads becausethese little white bumps are packed with powerful insights into how anindividual deals with life’s stresses and daily situations.

If you are willing to explore the messages your whiteheads bring, I promise thatyour world will become much richer. That’s because decodingwhiteheads brings you remarkably closer to understanding who youare and how you respond to the world around you.

Since whiteheads are usually formed in clusters and are representativeof a rapid immune response by the white blood cells; their presencesuggests that your body is under a continual attack or constant stress.This attack may arrive from causes such as eating the wrong food,overeating, or stressing out before driving to work everyday.

Questions to ask yourself regarding whiteheads:

Stress Response

Do you know of at least three natural methods to calm yourself prior toentering into a stressful situation such as deep breathing, walking ormeditating? If not develop systems right away. The first line ofdefense in dealing with a stress overload is being able to relax.

Remember, acne is a flare- up; we cannot resolve an acne formation by“flaring- up”. Instead, we must calm ourselves in an effort to create thetype of environment that will encourage our bodies to heal itself. Also,you should note what people and/or environmental settings stress youout so that you are more aware of when you need to conscientiouslycalm yourself.

For example, I know that I always get nervous aroundlarge crowds. My skin expresses this nervous response with multiplewhiteheads. Because I am aware of this reaction, I calm myself prior toentering crowds. The result is that my skin and I are a lot calmer.

Food Sensitivity

To which foods are you sensitive? If you say that you know you arenot sensitive or have an allergic response to any foods how do youknow?

Have you done elimination dieting to find out how you respondto different foods? I highly recommend performing a food eliminationdiet to discover the foods that you have an allergic response to,especially if you have uncontrollable acne. Please refer to theElimination diet section for details on how to use this method.

Skin Care Products

Please note that with this question I am not encouraging you to buy thelatest product that promises to rid you of acne. No drug or cream willever free you of acne.

Although, these products assist us in our skincare goals, they are not miracle performers like our divine bodies.What type of skin-care products work best for your skin type? Are youwashing your skin too much or applying too much moisturizer?

Become familiar with the ingredients in your skin care products. Someproducts contain mineral oils and wax that can clog pores and causewhiteheads. Learn how your skin responds to the products that youuse.

It is very important to ensure that you are only using as much ofthe product as necessary. (But make sure you use enough sun blockbecause many studies show that people do not apply enough of it). Inthe Outer Body Cleansing Experience section, we take a closer look atcleansing agents to determine how they can best work for you.

Sunscreen

Are you wearing an appropriate sunscreen when you enter the sun?Not protecting your skin appropriately from the sun for extendedperiods can cause burning and inflammation. Most skin careprofessionals recommend wearing at least creams with SPF 15everyday.

I suggest using SPF 30. Whiteheads could be a response tosun sensitivity. Sun sensitivity can arise as a side effect fromprescription drugs and/or consumption of processed foods.

Response to Pimple Formations

When you develop a zit or zit(s) do you get upset? Do you becomeangry and feel less presentable. This adds stress to your body and cancertainly lead to more acne formations. When you develop zitssuddenly, it is crucial to examine what your mood and environmentwere like in the past 24-36 hours. Did you become upset with aperson?

If so, why? How did you deal with it? Are you anxious,nervous, having doubts about something, or extremely happy? Did youperform a new activity, or meet someone new? How did you respondto these situations?

Did enjoy yourself or judge yourself. The point isyou need to understand how you respond to people and situations. I,for instance, realized that I can be overly sensitive to criticism and itwas manifested in how easily I could acquire a whitehead flare up. Iliterally had to develop thick skin and I am a better person for it.

Regularity

Are you regular? Opinions on what is regular vary across the board.But after having read several books such as Dr. BernardJensen’sTissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management and MillanChessman’s, Stay Young and Healthy Through Internal Cleansing, Iam convinced most of us are severely constipated and don’t evenknow it.

Do you defecate at least 6-8 hours after a meal? Are your bowelmovements large and easy to release? Do you feel as if you’re bowelmovements are complete? If you answered “no” to most of thesequestions, the majority of holistic health and colonic experts wouldagree that a little colon irrigation would do your body a huge favor.

Look at it this way, what types of food do you eat? Whole natural,fresh foods that pass through the body easily or heavily processedfoods laden with sugar and fats? Processed foods are more taxing onour digestive system and require lots of fluids, time and nutrients toexit the body.

Do you realize that a great deal of our typical western diet (burgers,chips, red meats, pizza, pasta) ends up staying in our colon andfermenting because it cannot be broken down properly and used tonurture our bodies?

Again, if the colon cannot handle the waste in ourbodies it sends excess toxins to the skin for expulsion. Please read theTaking the trash out and the Commonsense guide to stayingconstipation free sections for methods on becoming and stayingregular.

Water

Do you drink enough water? Your body should be 70-75% water butnowadays most Westerns are 60-64% water due to poor nutrition.There are endless benefits of adequately hydrating yourself includingstabilizing your weight, moderating your appetite and allowing ourbody to better rid itself of toxins.

Your body needs water, you’veprobably heard this a lot, but its truth warrants repetition. Drink at leasta gallon of water a day. As your body works to cleanse itself, it canbecome dehydrated and this dehydration can present itself in the formof whiteheads.

Blackhead (Open comedo)

A blackhead is a clogged hair follicle that has made its way to thesurface of the skin. Its dark appearance is due to a buildup of melanintheskin’s dark pigment- in the pore.

Possible messages behind blackheads:

Although I will acknowledge that poor hygiene is not a root cause ofacne nor does the dark appearance of blackheads arise from dirt, I dosense a need for cosmetic pampering in the case of blackheads. Thisfeeling arises because the dead cells in the blackhead have arrived tothe surface; they just need a little help from you to make a quick exit.

On a more practical note, blackheads can arise from using creams thatcontain bismuth and mercury, and using hair care products that containlead salts.

Questions to ask yourself regarding blackheads:

Do I need to steam my face? This will help open the pores so that theycan be cleared of waste.

Do I need to rest? If the body is tired it cannot perform at optimumlevels, so activities such as cleansing are impaired. Get some beautyrest.

Am I going to a new environment, i.e. new buildings or locations?Changes in humidity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure can allhave a significant bearing on acne prone skin. For example, I noticethat I have fewer breakouts in colder climates.

Also, I have more whiteheads in dry heat climates (because of the need for greaterhydration) and more blackheads in humid climates. In the hot andhumid environments it is easy for the pores to open and absorb waste.Am I eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables? Thesefoods contain nutrients that help deactivate free radicals and regulateoil production. For healthy skin, a balanced diet is a must.

Papule

Papules appear on the skin as a small, firm pink bump. These bumpsmay be tender to the touch.

Possible messages behind papules:

I take papule as a very serious sign that one of my internal organs isoverworked and in need of a rest. This is because most of the time, onecan detect the formation of a papule before it arises to the surface ofthe skin and it usually hurts.

Questions to ask yourself regarding papules:

Look at the face chart and note what area of the face the papule islocated. To what organ is the location of the pastule linked? Try usingthe suggestions for aiding that organ.

Do the papules always seem to arrive in the same area of the face?You may have a more serious problem or pattern of overuse with theorgan(s) related to this area.

Are the papules occurring on the sides of the face? Just a note frompersonal experience: You may need to change your pillowcase moreoften. Further, the appearance of these types of papules may serve toguard your beauty by reminding you to sleep on your back and notsmoother your face. This way, your face can breath and you canprevent wrinkles.

Pustule

Pustules are small round lesions that are clearly inflamed and containvisible pus. The outer area of the bump may appear red while having awhite or yellow center where the pus is lodged.

Possible messages behind pustules:

The pus is a sign that an antibody fight has taken place in the pore asthe white or yellow pus is sign that leucocytes have been sent intodestroy problem-causing bacteria.

When I see pustules, I know theimmune system is capable of putting up a good fight, but we don’tnecessarily want it to do extra rounds. Since these pustules arerepresentative of a complete antibody attack on a foreign substance,this suggests that you have come in contact with some bacteria(perhaps via the hands), negative thoughts or polluted air. In the end,your body was able to respond to the threat and dispose of the attacker.

Questions to ask yourself regarding pustules:

Have you been touching your face more often than usual? Touchingyour face, even subconsciously is an easy and often unnoticed meansof bringing new bacteria onto the skin. Even telephones can be asource of acne causing bacteria.

I discovered that I would touch myface out of a nervous habit. Some persons touch their faces whilethinking or daydreaming. Take note of how often you touch your faceand what you are thinking about during these times. Then quicklyremove your hands from your face. You could just be bringingunwelcome guests to your face and destructive thoughts to your mind.

The emotional cause of pustules parallels the physical cause. Forinstance, thinking negative thoughts can present themselves in theform of pustules. Your body has to fight off these toxic thoughts toprotect itself.

Take account of your recent thoughts. Do you insultpeople, even if it is only with the little voice in your head? Do youbecome angry and stay this way for a while (days, weeks)? Addressthese negative thoughts with healing comments such as, “I invite joyinto my life” and “I allow strife to exit my life and leave me in peace.”

Do you feel tied or sluggish? Do you feel as though your food is notnourishing you? You may need toxic relief. You can give your body abreak by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables for a few days andenjoying lemon water.

Also take notice if you have started eating anew food or drink, this substance may not agree with your body. Tohelp boost your immune system during sluggish times you can enjoyfoods containing selenium and vitamin E. You may want to consider agarlic enema as well to ward off parasites.

Cyst (Nodule)

Cysts are easy to recognize because they are large and usually tearfullypainful nodules that lie deep in the skin’s surface. These bumps alsocontain bumps. Cysts are created when the contents of a comedo havespilled into the surrounding skin and the local immune systemresponds, producing pus.

These lesions may last for weeks or monthsand develop into deep cysts. If handled wrongly, cysts can leavesevere scarring. One can generate a cyst by squeezing a newly formingzit and causing the bacterial contents of the pore to spread.

Possible messages behind cysts:

Since cysts occur deep within the skin, they require us to look deeplyat our life situation and how we are treating ourselves mentally andphysically.

Questions to ask yourself regarding cysts:

Look at the face chart and note what area of the face the cyst islocated. To what organ is the location of the cyst linked? Try using thesuggestions for aiding that organ.

Have you been squeezing newly forming zits? If so try to stop. I knowthat this is psychologically difficult since you want to have nice clearskin now. But you may believe that you would look better if only thezit would just go away, and you can make it go away by squeezing it.Here again, we find the lesson of loving yourself brought to you byacne.

If you have not realized it by now, let me remind you: Squeezingthe zits that you have not does not make them go away. Although thereis a time to squeeze and a time not to squeeze, when a zit is in itsformative stages deep within the skin and you can feel it, but not see,and the upper layer of the skin is inflamed- this is not the time tosqueeze. You will only spread infection in your skin.

The need to squeeze a zit is born of impatience. Ask yourself, why doyou really squeeze a zit when you know it will leave a scar? Do youdesire that instant gratification that the zit is gone? Before you squeezea zit, you should always ask it what did it come to tell you? This maysound silly and you may have too many zits at present to ask each ofthem individually.

If that is the case ask all of the zits at once. Themost important message will be heard first if you are listening andwilling to look intimately and critically at your psyche and lifestyle.Deal with that message.

It could be that you simply need to takedeeper breathes so that the oxygen in your lungs can do more cleaningor it may be that you need to dump your girlfriend because she treatsyou unfairly and as a result you are cruel to yourself. The messages areendless. That is why there is no cure for acne, only interpretation.

Acne conglobata

This acne develops primarily on the back, buttocks and chest. Pustulesand nodules characterize its appearance. There may be severebacterial infection at the site.

Possible messages behind Acne conglobata:

Acne conglobata serves to enforce body awareness because this acnetypically occurs in places that we cannot see with our eyes but that wecan certainly feel because of the physical pain they bring.

Questions to ask yourself regarding Acne conglobata:

When you place your body in chairs or beds, are you comfortable? Iknow a person who developed acne conglobata on his bottom becausehe was constantly sitting on a chair that did not provide enoughcushioning to his rear end.

He was actually sitting on his bones andthus the acne conglobata developed because of constant rubbing andpressure on the lower buttock. Once he bought and used a chaircushion the problem went away.

When you go to places such as the gym, do you properly cleanse yourskin afterwards? Many people use the equipment at gyms so it iscrawling with bacteria. I noticed that when I wear sport tank tops forworking out, I would get pustules on the parts of my back that wereexposed to the weight bench.

If your skin is exposed to devices usedby lots of people, protect your skin by covering the equipment with atowel if possible or cleaning it prior to using it.