Although the temptation is there, I know it is, try to avoid it! That feeling of conquest when you pop that zit, allowing its contents to shoot out, is only temporary at best. The negative consequences of such a battle cannot be overstated.
Acne is the result of sebaceous (oil) glands becoming clogged and thus infected, eventually leading to that white headed pimple full of pus (pustule), that you so ever want to squeeze. While not attractive, and often quite painful, one must avoid picking at them, for fear of actually worsening their acne. This process can actually drive the infected contents deeper into the skin (the dermis layer), destroying healthy tissue in its path and leading to the creation of larger lesions called nodules and cysts. Picking at zits can also lead to a scar.
Scars become permanent fixtures on the skin, with the only real solution being some type of plastic surgery or laser treatment to remove them. I know of no herbal medicines that can truly make a scar vanish once it is created. People may make claims that their product can remove a scar, but I have yet to see it happen. So one must do their best to avoid creating them in the first place!
Obviously the best way to control acne is to, for one, leave it alone. Do not pick at it, do not squeeze anything and, contrary to what many beauticians say, DO NOT exfoliate with abrasive substances! Acne is from the creation of clogged pours, usually as a result of excessive sebum (oil) production, or from a protein in the skin called keratin. The production of both keratin and sebum are stimulated through exfoliation, thus increasing the future incidence of acne – so please avoid exfoliating.
The best way to control acne, from the outside, is to wash with warm water and a mild soap, using only your finger tips to lightly scrub. Avoid roughly scrubbing with a face clothe, as this will have the same effect as the exfoliation I just mentioned. Pat dry your face with a clean towel, and then apply some type of acne product suitable for your skin type.
I use a combination of things in my practice, all based on Chinese medicine. If the skin is too greasy, with lots of white and black heads (commedones), then I have my patient’s make a herbal wash that they apply and leave on for several hours or even over night. For the more inflamed lesions, like pustules, then I have them apply a paste based on the famous acne formula called Dian Dou San (Upside down powder).
Of course any external treatment of acne is usually short lived, as the main culprit is from internal imbalance. Appropriate treatment has to be based on the individual’s unique health picture, meaning herbal medicines that are drunk as a tea and take into account one’s digestion, menstruation, energy levels, and the actual look of the acne itself. Where the acne lesions are located on the body, how deep they are, how inflamed they are, how persistent they are, etc, will give the Chinese medicine doctor lots of information when writing up a herbal prescription. Basically no two people with acne will get the same formula. (Sorry folks, no magic pill here for your acne. You must see a qualified Doctor of Chinese medicine to have a formula designed specifically for you.)
So to avoid permanent scars, deep painful cysts and nodules, and the spread of infection, leave those zits alone! Please do not pick at them. You will thank yourself for it in the future.
Wishing you health,
Dr. Trevor Erikson
Copyright © 2019 Dr. Trevor Erikson