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Keloid: A nodular, firm, movable, nonencapsulated, often linear mass of
hyperplastic scar tissue, tender and frequently painful, consisting of wide
irregularly distributed bands of collagen; occurs in the dermis and adjacent
subcutaneous tissue, usually after trauma, surgery, a burn, or severe cutaneous
disease such as cystic acne, and is more common in blacks.
Try the Natural Cures for Acne/Pimples/Keloids.
Acne is perhaps the most common chronic skin disease. It is an inflammatory
condition of the sebaceous (that is fat or grease) glands and hair follicles
usually found on the face, the neck, chest, and shoulders. Nearly 8/10 young
people between the ages of 12 and 24 suffer from some degree of acne. It is
closely related to the disturbance in the hormones experienced at puberty.
The majority of patients recover between the ages 20 and 30 years. But it is
still common in men over 30 years. In women, it rarely lasts beyond the early
30s and is normally worse before each menstrual period. The disease causes a
great deal of embarrassment at an age when people tend to be sensitive about
personal appearance.
The skin, covering the entire body, is a marvellous and intricate mechanism. It
serves three main purposes; namely, protection of the inner organism, regulation
of body temperature, and elimination of cell waste and systemic refuse. The skin
is directly connected with and intimately bound up with the working of the whole
system. All skin diseases, including acne, are the outcome of malfunctioning of
the body as a whole.
Symptoms: Acne is characterized by the presence of comedones or
blackheads, pimples, small superficial sebaceous cysts, and scars. There are
over half a dozen forms of acne. All of them are concerned with sebaceous glands
or the glands connected with hair follicles. The most common form of acne is
blackheads. The areas chiefly affected are the forehead, temples, cheeks, and
chin, the chest and back. In rare cases, almost the entire body may be covered
with black heads with extensive scarring.
Causes: All forms of acne have their origin in wrong feeding habits, such
as irregular hours of eating, improper food, excess of starches and sugar,
excess of fatty foods. Chronic constipation is another major cause of acne. If
the bowels do not move properly, waste matter is not eliminated as quickly as it
should be and the bloodstream becomes surcharged with toxic matter. The extra
efforts of the skin to eliminate excess waste result in acne and other forms of
skin disease. Yet another important cause of acne is a devitalised condition of
the skin resulting from unhygienic living habits. Other causes of the disorder
are excessive use of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco, strenuous studies,
masturbation, and sedentary habits which lead to indigestion and general
debility.
Treatment: The treatment of acne by the administration of salve or
ointment does not serve any purpose. They only suppress the action of the
sebaceous glands temporarily. In nature cure, the main emphasis is on diet and
certain water applications. To begin with the patient should resort to all-fruit
diet for about a week. In this regimen, there should be three meals a day,
consisting of fresh juicy fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, grape-fruit,
pineapple and peaches. Citrus fruits, bananas, dried, stewed or tinned fruits
should not be taken. Unsweetened lemon or plain water, either hot or cold,
should be drunk and nothing else. During this period, warm -water enema should
be taken daily to cleanse the bowels and all other measures adopted to eradicate
constipation.
After a week of all fruit diet, the patient can gradually adopt a well-balanced
diet. Emphasis should be on raw foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables,
sprouted seeds, raw nuts, and whole grain cereals, especially millet and brown
rice. Further shorter periods on the all-fruits for three days, or so may be
necessary at a monthly interval till the condition of the skin improves. Strict
attention to diet is essential for recovery. Starchy, protein and fatty foods,
should be restricted. Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles,
refined and processed foods should all be avoided, as also soft drinks, candies,
ice cream and products made with sugar and white flour.
Two vitamins, namely, niacin and vitamin A have been used successfully to treat
acne. The vitamin therapy which may comprise a niacin, 100 mg. three times daily
and vitamin A in large doses up to 1,50,000 units per day should not exceed one
month. Vitamin E is also vitally important to prevent scarring from acne and in
removing old scars.
Another effective remedy in the realm of nutrition that seems to offer new
promise of help for acne is zinc. It has shown dramatic results in some cases.
Zinc should be taken in therapeutic doses of 50 mg three times a day. After
noticeable improvement it can be gradually reduced.
Local Treatment: As regards local treatment, hot fomentation should be
applied to open up the pores and squeeze the waste matter. Then rinse with cold
water. Sun and air baths by exposing the whole body to sun and air are highly
beneficial. The healing packs made of grated cucumber, oatmeal cooked in milk,
and cooked, creamed carrots used externally, have been found to be effective.
The orange peel is valuable in the treatment of acne. The peel, pounded well
with water on a piece of stone, should be applied to the affected areas. The
lemon has also proved beneficial in removing pimples and acne. It should be
applied regularly.
A teaspoonful of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is
another effective home remedy for pimples and blackheads. The mixture should be
applied to the face after thoroughly washing it, every night before retiring.
The juice of raw potatoes has also proved very valuable in clearing skin
blemishes. This cleansing results from high content of potassium sulphur,
phosphorous and chlorine in the potato. These elements are, however, of value
only when the potato is raw as in this state they are composed of live organic
atoms.
A hot Epsom-salt bath twice a week will be highly beneficial in all cases of
acne. This bath is prepared by adding one and a half kg of Epsom salt to 50
litres of water having a temperature of about 100 degrees F. The patient should
remain in the bath from 25-35 minutes till he perspires freely. After the bath
the patient should cool off gradually.
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