Remember those days when a tiniest pimple would send you into a terrible mood? As teenagers, we have experienced the deep misery from a pimple, that at times, was hardly visible but screamed at us from the mirror. We discussed, shared and tried multiple remedies to clear the lesions.
What are Pimples and Acne?
Pimples are the first symptom of acne, a skin disease. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance called sebum that lubricates the skin and are the part of the pilosebaceous unit, found everywhere on the body except lower lip, palms of hand, and feet. As the greatest concentration of sebaceous glands is on scalp, face, upper neck and chest, acne, usually affects these areas as blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and nodules.
The glands are connected to the pores by a channel known as follicle from where a thin hair grows out to the skin's surface. The sebum and dead skin cells clump together to form a plug in the follicle where the already present bacteria cause inflammation. These oil glands become clogged and infected leading to sore red lesions. Acne is this condition that affects the skin follicles and oil glands. Hormonal change is one of the main causes for pimples and acne are more common during adolescence, but it can affect adults of any age.
Common causes are puberty, menstruation, contraceptive pills, pregnancy, eating junk food, sleep deprivation, lack of fresh air and exercise, stress, anxiety, over use of cosmetics and pollution.
There is no instant cure for pimples and acne and prevention is the best remedy. Conventional treatment includes microdermabrasion and laser which are invasive and should be done by a dermatologist.
If you are suffering from acne and worried about scars, Ayurveda offers some natural and non-invasive treatments.
What Does Ayurveda Say?
Ayurveda cites the imbalance of the three doshas especially the pitta dosha that creates problems in fat and blood tissue. The aggravated doshas produce toxins that block the energy channels of the face and lead to pimples. Excessive stress, overwork, emotional issues like anger, fear or depression are some causes for aggravated pitta dosha. Exposure to heat and sun can also intensify it.
Recommendations from Ayurveda:
- Eat fresh food and have regular meals
- Avoid spicy, stale or fried food
- Include herbs like fennel, cumin, and coriander
- Avoid overindulgence of tea, coffee, artificial and fizzy drinks
- Drink 8- 10 glasses of water
- Follow a regular exercise routine
- Expose yourself to natural light and air
- Wash face with lukewarm water
- Avoid touching acne or pimples
- Avoid overuse of cosmetics
- Avoid sleep deprivation
Ayurvedic Remedies
Ayurveda recommends we lead a balanced and healthy life. It emphasizes on preventive remedies as acne scars take time to fade off, an extremely slow process that requires much patience. Follow these tips meticulously for a period of time, your skin will definitely improve.
(Nupur Roopa is a freelance writer, and a life coach for mothers. She writes articles on environment, food, history, parenting and travel.)
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