“For a great many years physicians have
recognized that not only are all diseases made
worse by an incorrect mental attitude, but that some
diseases are the direct result of worry and other
mental disturbances.” George Barton Cutten, Ph.D.

Your personalized skin care regime

The book entitled Acne Cure, by Terry J. Dubrow and Brenda D.
Adderly, offers a general skin care program for people with acne. The
major steps of the program are listed below:

• 1. Remove the dead skin cells. You can do this by using an overthe-
  counter 2% salicylic acid cleanser.


• 2. Exfoliate the skin by clearing the toxins and the excess oil that
  become trapped inside your pores. You can use glycolic acid
  cleanser to perform this task.


• 3. (Disinfect the skin). Clear away bacteria in the skin with
  benzoyl peroxide.


• 4. Finally moisturize your skin.

However, as said before, there is no cure for acne. Acne is a message.
As such, this regime will not work for everyone. You will have to
determine how your skin responds to these products. I suggest using
the salicylic acid, glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide at different times
so that you will know how your skin responds to each of these
products and when they are best used.

To illustrate, I have found out
that benzoyl peroxide to too strong to use on my face everyday. Also,
leaving a clay mask on overnight seems to work better at clearing my
acne than using salicylic acid. Naturally, you will have to work with
your body to determine which skin care combo will work for you.
Before you even start to cleanse your face you need to know what
you are doing and how to visualize the results.

When you are cleaning your face or perform any treatment, knowing
why you are doing something is just as if not more important as
knowing how to do it. To illustrate, knowing why you use a solution
with salicylic acid will permit you to imagine this ingredient removing
dead layers of the skin.

This visualization alone will make the
cleansing experience more effective. Thus, when you treat your face or
body, imagine what you are doing, be it removing dead cells, forcing
impurities to the surface or promoting more circulation. Knowing and
visualizing what you are doing will naturally heighten your innate
healing abilities.

Frequency

It is very important to have a well- structured skin care regime. At the
same time you must be aware that your skin and environment are
constantly changing and thus your skin care regime will have to adjust
accordingly. For instance, if I’m working out twice a day, I may need
more exfoliation because all of this sweating brings a lot of toxins to
the surface of my skin.

Then again, in the wintertime I may wash and
peel my face less while using a heavier moisturizer than I would
during the summer months. On that note, you need to pay attention to
the concentration of the active ingredients in your skin care products.
For instance, you can purchase a glycolic acid toner in a concentration
of 5-10% and the same applies for benzoyl peroxide. Make sure you
know what concentration suits your skin.

Pampering Yourself

Do you ever notice how some people want to be like stars or look like
them? Well let me let you in on a little secret: Stars are regular people
just like you and me! What is the difference between you and them?
The opinion that the general populous and media affords them, the
view that they’re stars so they’re special. What’s this got to do with
acne right? A lot, every one of us is worthy and deserving of star
treatment.

Have you ever seen those talk shows where someone gets a serious
makeover by a group of professionals and looks absolutely stunning
afterwards? What does this tell us? That the person was lazy (could be)
or that the person had so much potential and just didn’t realize it. I am
not pointing the figure here to accuse you of being a lazy person and
that’s why you have acne, not at all.

However, I do want you to realize
that so-called star treatment is not just for the stars. And you do not
have to spend a fortune to look like one.

I have been going to facial salons for years, from the type of salons
that cater to the rich, to the stop and go salons that cater to the
occasional salon visitor. I hold a great deal of respect for aestheticians and what they

bring to the world, but they cannot cure acne. Try they may, and using your money they

will try, but aestheticians cannot cure
acne.

We already know that acne is a message anyway. I will say that
it is a good idea to have professional facial done at a few different
salons so that you get an idea of how to perform a facial yourself. But
remember, facials should not be considered a luxurious treat; you
deserve a facial at least once a week.

But while you learn about how to pamper yourself, it is imperative that
you visualize how you are actually helping your body. For this reason,
I have suggested images to assist you with imagining how you are
helping to revitalize your skin.

With that, lets get on to pampering ourselves.

Facial Steam

If ever there was a cheap way to treat yourself like a star here it is,
steaming your face. Let me warm you first, however, that the
effectiveness of steaming lies in the ability of the heat to draw
impurities to the surface of the skin.

For this reason, some persons
would argue that steaming and even saunas do more harm than good
for acne sufferers. Well, when one rearranges furniture, things get
messy before they get organized. The same applies to your face.
Steaming brings impurities to the outer layers of the face so that they
can leave. You want the toxins out of your body because this renders
clearer skin.

There are several ways to steam your face. You can simply heat water
on a stove. Then pour it in a large bowl and let it set for a minute or
two. You then place your face over the bowl and cover your head with
the towel, allowing your face to steam.

Be careful not to burn your
face by putting it too close to the water. For an additional cleansing
boost, you can add herbs to the water such as chamomile tea or a
teaspoon of the mixture from Swiss Kwiss Herbal Laxative (it’s one of
my favorite facial steam additives). Likewise you can purchase a facial
steamer from a store and use it according to the directions from the
manufacturer.

Visualize

Imagine the heat opening your pores and all of the toxins lying beneath
your skin rising to the surface of the skin. Your pores are deeply
cleansed. Plus, the steam increases blood flow to the face so you look
fresh and rosy.

Frequency

I recommend using facial steam as often as you feel that it is sane and
sanitary. For example, I have steamed my face every night for a week
at a time because my skin was so congested. Since I know my body, as
you will come to do, I could touch it and feel it to determine how
much steam it needed.

I would steam it for 5-15 minutes each night
before going to bed. If you can feel zits forming beneath the skin,
steaming is a great way to bring them to the surface so that they can be
removed from the skin quicker and before they become aggravated.

Clay & Other Face Masks

Clay masks are the best friends of facial steaming. After steaming your
face, your pores are opened wider, making it the perfect time to pull
toxins out of your body.

This is exactly what clay masks do. You have
to be careful in selecting and using a clay mask, however, because you
may be allergic to the ingredients in the product. Like the facial steam,
using a clay mask may make things worse before they get better. This
occurs because as you bring toxins to the surface of the skin, the
bacteria may spread and infect other areas of skin- thus spreading the
acne.

But listen, you want to get the toxins out of your body. I feel it is
a bargain to have a little more of a flare-up for a day or two in
exchange for clearer skin. Remember with acne, the name of the game
is patience, followed by persistence.

Keep the apartment from our analogy in mind; once you do major
cleaning, it gets dirtier before it gets cleaner because you need to move
stuff around to get every nook and cranny clean. But afterwards, you
are glad that you took no shortcuts in getting the house cleaned right.

The same concept applies to the skin; you get what you’ve worked for.
I suggest using black charcoal masks that are available in most beauty
supply stores. These types of masks are not usually available in drug
stores however. The black clay mask really works to pull debris out of
your skin because charcoal is an incredible detoxifier.

Again, you may have an acne flare- up the first few times after having
used a detoxifying mask. But it’s worth the new pimples in the long
run. That’s why it’s a great idea to disinfect your skin after using a
detoxifying mask. Later you will discover that these masks can help
you to have smoother skin as they help draw toxins from your pores.

Visualize

Imagine the mask sucking toxins away from your skin and placing
them into the mask. As you wash off the mask, imagine that you have
also washed away excess toxins from your skin.

Frequency

I normally use a clay mask right after I have steamed my face.
Depending on how congested my skin in I will use a mask 2-4 times a
week. Of course, I realize that too much of a good thing is a bad thing;
I still listen to my body to decide if a clay mask would benefit my skin.

Exfoliating

Exfoliating is manually removing dead cells from the skin, whereas
peels (discussed below) remove dead skin cells via a chemical process.
There are several skin-care products that contain ingredients such as
oats, sugar, and finely ground nuts that are designed to safely remove
dead skin cells as the product is gently massaged into the skin.
Normally, dead skin should shed itself daily.

But sometimes oil, being
adhesive in nature, prevents these cells from sloughing off. As a result,
the dead cells can get trapped in the pores along with the oil and
generate acne formations. To help put a stop to this clogging up, you
can remove the build-up of dead skin cells and excess oils with an
exfoliating scrub.

I even use baking soda as an exfoliating agent. You
only need to use a bit at a time. Moreover, baking soda is extremely
cheap and highly effective. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with
just enough water to form a paste, smooth it onto your face, and begin
massaging. Be gentle though, the baking soda granules are readily
effective since they are so small.

Visualize

Imagine the dead skin cells being removed from your skin and that you
are helping to free some dead cells and bacteria that are trapped by
facial surface oils and comedos. Your pore are breathing better now.

Frequency

I recommend exfoliating everyday before you actually wash your face
with your preferred cleanser. This is because by removing the dead
skin cells first, your cleanser will be more effective at removing
locked-in oil and other debris.

Facial Peels

This is another facial practice that should not be reserved only for the
financially well endowed. One should exercise caution when using
peels. Using the wrong peel on the wrong type of skin will cause more
harm than good. A peel is simply removing the dead layers of the skin
(and sometimes living cells depending the depth of the peel) using a
chemical agent.

You can purchase a salicylic, glycolic, lactic or enzyme peel at a
beauty or drug store and try it on your skin. Read the labels of the skin
peels that you are considering using. The labels should explain
whether or not the peels are suitable for active acne and how to use
them.

One peel that is readily available in beauty supply stores is the AHA or
alpha hydroxyl acid peels. There are five types of AHA peels available
on the skin care market which are: glycolic, lactic, malic, citric, and
tartaric acids, with glycolic acid peels being one of the most popular.
In addition to the AHA peels, there is the BHA (beta hydroxyl acid)
peel. Salicylic acid is the only available BHA.

Alpha hydroxyl acids and beta hydroxyl acids work by chemically
burning off or un-sticking the outer layer of dead skin cells. This
process reveals a more youthful layer of the skin while improving skin
texture, unclogging pores, and improving the effectiveness of other
beauty products since they can better penetrate the skin.

The chief difference between AHA and BHA peels is that alpha
hydroxyl acids are water-soluble and beta hydroxyl acids are fatsoluble.

This means that BHA (i.e. salicylic acid) peels can penetrate
the oil in the pores and remove built-up dead cells and waste within
the oil gland. For this reason, BHA peels are highly suitable for those
suffering from pimples and blackheads. AHA peels are best for dry
and thickened skin.

Keeping up the Peel

The beauty of the peel is that it pulls up toxins within your skin while
removing dead cells. This action helps reduce acne in two ways: 1.

The toxins beneath the skin are removed before the can rise to the
surface of the skin and cause more acne flare-ups and 2. Dead skin is
removed from the skin so that these cells cannot cause cell build-up
and clog the pores, which causes acne.

Because they are so potent, peels should be a central part of the skin
care regime of anyone dealing with acne. If you have ever had a
successful deep peel before, you probably fell in love with how perfect
and smooth your complexion felt afterwards, I know I did. But this
complexion will not last unless you take active steps to maintain it.

Peel your skin and help yourself constantly reveal the newer you.
I implore you to find a peel that works for you and use it diligently and
wisely.

Home Peels

Then again, in the book “Home Remedies, What Works”, a contributor
suggests using oatmeal once a day to help with acne. To create the
mask or peel, just make a bowl of oatmeal according to the containers
instructions. Then let the oatmeal cool in a bowl. Once cooled, place
the oatmeal over the entire face.

Then cover the face with a clean
damp washcloth for 15 minutes (make sure your nose is free for easy
breathing). Finally, rinse the mask off.

This may sound like just another wise tale for acne, but I am not here
to offer short-lived miracles. There’s actually some science behind
Grandma’s suggestion. For instance, azelaic acid is a saturated
dicarboxylic acid that’s found in foods such as wheat, rye and barley.

Azelaci acid can simultaneously exfoliate and disinfect the skin much
the same way benzoly peroxide does. So, why not put on some
oatmeal and give yourself a beautifying double whammy. Thanks
granny!

Additionally you can create your own lactic (milk) or papaya peel at
home. Refer to Appendix G for instructions on how to create these and
other peels.

Keys to remember

Avoid picking zits or forcibly removing dead skin while you peel your
skin. This can result in scarring, the last thing you need, because the
skin underneath the peeling skin is very fragile and susceptible to
scarring. Be patient and allow your peel to help reveal the healthier
you.

Visualize

The peel is breaking up dead skin cells and going deeper into the skin
to pull up toxins. These toxins are absorbed in the mask. As you rinse
away the peel imagine that you are revealing fresh, new and healthy
skin.

Frequency

I use a peel when my skin looks dull. This means that there is a lot of
dead cells resting on my face and they need to come off. This is
usually once a week. You want to be careful with peels because
overuse could cause your skin to age faster, which we don’t want. Use
the guidelines provided by the maker of the peel to decide how often
to use them.

Extraction

Extraction is physically removing waste that is lying within the pores.
This should only be done if you know exactly what you are doing
because faulty extraction could cause some serious skin damage and
scarring. Here again, I recommend that you have extraction done by a
professional before you try to do it yourself. Since all professionals are not the same, I

suggest getting it done by a few different aestheticians.

Warning: I suggest not making any hot dates for a day or two after
you have an extraction performed. This is because the face is usually
swollen and red, plus your pumps my look more aggravated than
before. Fret not my friend. Remember decoding acne is about patience
and persistence. And acne can become aggravated before it clears up.

Extraction by a professional can hurt as well so do brace yourself.
Once you become comfortable performing extraction yourself, I
suggest that you perform it after you have steamed your face, when the
pores are open.

Make sure your hands are clean when doing
extractions to avoid placing more bacteria on the skin and spreading
infection. If the pimple has a whitehead, or a center with visible yellow
or white pus, you can prick the center of the zit with a sterilized pin
(dip it in alcohol to sterilize it).

Wrap you fingers in a clean white
tissue to squeeze out the contents of the zit. Some dermatologists
recommend to stop squeezing if blood begins to come out of the pore.
On the other hand, some skin specialists recommend squeezing until
all the blood that follows the pus is gone as well.

It’s your call on this one, but please note however that some doctors warm that if you

continue to squeeze a zit until all of the blood is gone you could damage the pore and

cause scarring. But for certain, once your have extracted a pimple, leave it alone. Do not

return to a pimple a few
minutes, hours or days later to begin squeezing it again.

This will only delay the healing process and promote scarring. And always disinfect your

skin after extraction to prevent the spread of acne and bacteria.

On a psycho-emotional level, you can liken leaving a pimple to heal to
dealing with your daily problems. For example, once you have decided
how to solve a problem, such as whether or not to take singing lessons,
make the decision and follow through with it in full confidence. There
is no need to wrack your brain and waste local memory space asking
yourself whether or not you made the right choice.

Simply put, you take action and move on with your life. The same principle applies to

extraction. Tell yourself: “I have helped this pimple and now I will move on to other

things.”

Visualize

Imagine an open pore emitting waste and then healing faster.

Frequency

I do extraction once a week or once every week and a half. There are
times when I need extraction performed twice a week. You can adjust
your extraction levels according to your own preferences. When my
skin feels bumpy underneath. I steam my face and then perform
extraction.

To help reduce the possibility of spreading infection after
extraction, I massage my face with a combination of one part tea-tree
oil and one part lavender oil. These two oils disinfect and reduce
swelling in the skin. Please to refer to Appendix C for a list of oils that help treat

acne.

Dealing with a developing pimple (spot treatments)

Once I see a pimple on the rise and ask for its message, I then assist it
in leaving by steaming my face. Afterwards, I will rub tea-tree oil on
the pimple.

At night, I place a bit of clay mask on the eruption. These
steps usually help the pimple leave. But as stated earlier, not all
pimples are created the same, nor should they be treated the same.

There are essentially two methods for spot treating pimples: to dry out
a pimple or draw out the infection in and surrounding the pore. You
dry out a pimple by using drying products such as benzoyl peroxide or
a clay mask. Pimples that are best treated with the drying method
include whiteheads, black heads and papules.

But inflamed and painful pimples are best treated using the drawing
out method. You can use substances such as tea tree oil to help draw
out an inflamed pimple. This is because the pain comes from the pus
surrounding the inflamed pore. The oil is able to seep into the skin
where it can help displace the pus and draw it out of the skin. I use tea
tree oil for cysts, nodules, and acne that may arise from premenstrual
symptoms.

Please refer to Appendix F for a list of other ways to treat acne
formations on the rise.

Disinfecting the Skin

After using certain techniques such as peeling and exfoliating to reveal
new skin, you typically free new bacteria and toxins in the process.

That is the goal of cleansing your face; to move excess bacteria and
waste out of their hiding places deep within the skin. But once these
toxins come to the surface of the skin, they can do more damage if
they are not taken care of properly and quickly.

There are a variety of skin disinfectants to use. For example, hydrogen
peroxide is a cheap disinfectant and it is available at practically all
drug stores. You can dip a clean cotton ball in a solution of 3%
hydrogen peroxide and swipe it over your face. Just know that if you
have an active infection on your face, this area will almost
immediately turn white after having contact with the hydrogen
peroxide.

That is because the solution is simply doing its jobdisinfecting
the skin. But the whiteness usually goes away in a few
minutes. Also, be careful to keep your hair away from the hydrogen
peroxide because this solution can bleach the hair.

Likewise, you can disinfect your skin with a solution of benzoyl
peroxide. The strength that you select will depend on your skin
sensitivities and needs.

Beyond helping to remove skin contaminates,
benzoyl peroxide also penetrates the pore so that it can reach the hair
follicle where acne promoting bacteria may be lurking in over
abundance. I have noticed that after using a benzoyl peroxide cleanser,
my pores feel as if they are breathing and energized again. It’s an
invigorating experience.

Finally, I will mention one of may favorite disinfectants- tea tree oil.
This product is also available in most drug and health food stores. This
oil is one of the very few essential oils that you may safely use at full
strength (that is without the need to dilute it in a carrier oil). Some skin care

professionals may argue that oil will clog the pores and just cause more acne.

This is not the case since tea tree oil seeps into the pores
and helps remove irritating bacteria. If you like, you can just warm
some tea tree oil in your thoroughly cleansed hands by rubbing them
together and rub the oil onto your face.

It takes your face roughly 10-15 minutes to absorb whatever substances you apply to it.

So, after 10-15 minutes you can wash the remaining oil off your face. If you only need to

treat a small area, dip a cotton ball or cotton swab into some tea tree oil and cover the

area of the infection with the oil and rinse the area in 10-15 minutes, if it pleases you.

Visualize

When using a disinfectant imagine that all of the waste has been
pushed up to the surface of the skin is moved away. When you swipe
your face with a disinfectant drenched cotton ball or cotton swab,
imagine that you are removing the last remaining remnants of garbage
and preventing the spread of infection. See yourself putting the
finishing touch on the cleansing process.

Frequency

Whenever you give yourself a treatment that brings up waste from the
skin such as facial masks, exfoliation or peels, I recommend using a
disinfectant. It is equally important to use a disinfectant after
performing an extraction.

Remember, when you extract pimples, you
are removing a lot of built-up waste and bringing it to the surface of
the skin. Make this extraction worth your while by disinfecting
afterwards to ensure that you avoid giving acne any chances of
spreading.

Facial Massage

If you like your sundae with the cherry on top, you must have a
massage after you give yourself a facial. There are innumerous
benefits to come from massaging your face. It helps firm the skin
tissue and give your face an energized look. I like to massage my face
with a combo of tea-tree and ylang ylang oils.

Prepare for the massage by thoroughly washing your hands. Your face
should be cleansed as well. For additional moisture, you can spritz or
pat some water onto your face. Next, place 3-4 drops of your favorite
face oil into your hands. Rub your hands together for a few seconds to
warm the oil.

Now apply the oil to your face, starting at the neck.
Continue massaging up your face continuing onto the temples in a
smooth, gentle movement. Then pat your face all over and note any
stressed or painful areas.

Apply a slight pressure with your thumb or
forefinger for 7-10 seconds to the area that exhibits tension or pain.
Now lightly tap your entire face with the tips of your fingers,
energizing the face. That’s it. You can proceed to rinse off the oil if
you like.

Visualize

Imagine more blood coming to your face and energizing your
complexion. See your skin becoming firmer and wrinkles getting
massaged away.

Frequency

I suggest performing a facial massage daily since they not only help
you look better, but the massage also relaxes muscles whose existence
and exhaustion, you may have never known. You can also gently
massage your face when using your daily cleanser.

“Give me the power to produce a fever and I shall cure any
disease” Hippocrates

Sauna

When the body is heated above its normal temperature of 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit, the body starts mild hyperthermia, or stress detoxification.
This process increases circulation of the blood within the body,
increases lymphatic drainage, and heightens the white blood cell
count, which collectively boosts the immune system.

Typically during this state of mild hyperthermia, malignant cells that
have limited heat tolerance are destroyed. Also, toxins are able to exit
the skin through sweat.

Visualize

Imagine all the pores that cover you body ejecting toxins in the form
of little sweat beads. When sensing the heat, visualize a cloud of calm
and comfort surrounding and relaxing you. As you wash away the
sweat, imagine the healthier state within yo ur body.

Frequency

Saunas are an awesome means of enhancing your health. I enjoy the
sauna almost everyday after a workout and suggest the same to you.
However, keep in mind that the heat in a sauna can over exhaust some
people. Proceed with a caution and adhere to the wisdom of your body.

Applying the Ice

Just like heat, the coldness of ice brings benefits as well. Applying ice
to the face does several wonderful things. First, the coldness reduces
inflammation. Next, the temperature change on the surface of the skin
closes the pores.

As such, you can lock in the clean feeling that you’ve
worked so hard to achieve with your skin. To ice your face, just get an
ice cube and wrap half of it in a paper towel. Then, smooth the
exposed ice cube over your face for about a minute and then focus for
5-10 seconds each on inflamed area of the face.

Visualize

Using the ice is like putting a wax coating on a cleaned car. When
applying the ice to your face, imagine the inflamed areas of your face
shrinking and melting away. Also, see your pores as clear and
receiving protection.

Frequency

Using ice cubes is a great spot treatment for inflamed areas of the face.
Additionally, ice treatments are really beneficial after peels and
microdermabrasions, which can slightly irritate the face. Likewise,
icing the face is great after extractions, which can leave the face mildly swollen.