Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some time in their lives. It causes spots to develop on the skin, often on the face but it can also affect the chest, shoulders and upper back. These spots can range from milder blackheads and whiteheads to inflamed pus-filled pustules and cysts which can often be severe and long-lasting and may even lead to permanent scarring. Mainstream practitioners maintain that acne is incurable, and the usual acne treatment prescribed are generally topical creams, lotions and gels which are available over-the-counter, or in more severe cases prescription antibiotics are offered. While these may afford some temporary relief they do nothing to address the imbalances which are the underlying cause of the problem.

Acne Causes | Acne Scar treatment

There are many types of acne, acne vulgaris being the most common, and the condition can affect either sex in any age group. Acne causes are often due to excess hormone production is a strong contributory factor; in both males and females increased production of androgen (male hormones) can be involved, making the problem very common during puberty. It is also seen to fluctuate in women as a result of variations in oestrogen production, for example during pregnancy and to a lesser degree, menopause. Stress and poor diet have also been recognised as having a part to play. Recent studies have shown evidence of a connection between a diet containing excessive high glycaemic index foods and acne.

Ayurveda sees acne as a typically Pitta problem, but acne treatment is not simply a matter of Pitta reduction, as any of the doshas can be involved and to treat the condition effectively it is essential to establish the extent of imbalance in each of the doshas. The type of acne can be a strong indicator; if there is pus there will generally be an excess of Kapha, while bleeding is a feature when there is an excess of Pitta and the dry, itchy type is typical of excess Vata.

Because there are so many types of acne treatment needs to be highly individualised. However, a major focus in all cases is on cleansing the liver and digestive system, including the colon, and on blood purification. The acid-alkali balance of the system needs to be addressed for hormonal acne treatment as any imbalance caused by excess hormones creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Constipation can also be an underlying cause, in which case colon cleansing is of particular importance. When the condition affects the chest and back this is generally caused by a leaky gut, and this requires the use of specific medicines to heal the gut lining. Additional natural acne treatment include the application of herbal pastes to unclog the pores in order to keep bacteria and fungi at bay, this will aid in acne scar treatment also. Diet will always require to be addressed in accordance with the constitutional type, for example when there is excess Kapha foods which aggravate this dosha, such as milk, cheese, eggs and seafoods will need to be avoided.

As with all skin diseases, acne is an indication of inner toxicity. There is an analogy which uses the example of a stagnant pond that is attracting mosquitoes. It is possible to put chemicals into the pond and for a while the problem will appear to be solved. However, after a time the mosquitoes will return to find food and lay their eggs. The only way to get rid of them permanently is to clean the pond out. So it is with the body; we are receiving a sign that we are in need of internal cleansing for the best acne treatment. If we do not take heed we lay ourselves open to chronic disease further down the line.

Contact for help with “acne treatment”: To book an appointment Call us on on 1300552260 at YATAN Holistic Ayurvedic Centre for free 10 minute consultation.