6 Best Homeopathic Medicines for Acne, Pimples, Blackhead Treatment.

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Over View

Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland called sebaceous gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated. When the sebaceous glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The more production of sebum is caused by the hormonal changes, leading to increased activity in oil producing Glands or Sebaceous glands. Acne usually appears on face, neck, back and chest due to the abundance of pilosebaceous units in these areas. Although acne is a disorder associated with teenagers or Young age or Puberty but it can occur at any age of life. The condition is not life-threatening, but it can lead to scarring of the skin, and hence, prompt treatment is essential. Homeopathy can cure acne by acting on its root causes thus offers long term cure and provide a healthy skin, along with a feeling of general well-being.

What is acne?

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is a  skin problemoccurs when the HAIR FOLLICLES become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Some people call it blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, pimples, or zits.Hair follicles are connected to oil glands or sebaceous glands. These glands secrete an oily substance called SEBUM to keep your skin oily. Sebum normally secrets along the hair shafts through the openings of skin pore. When your body produces an excess amount of sebum that accumulate inside the follicle and combining with dead skin cells form a SOFT PLUG. If the clogged pore becomes infected with bacteria, inflammation results and cause the follicle wall to bulge out that is called acne or pimples.

Acne is very common in younger age group between 12 years to 28 ears. But it may occur at any age. There is no age factor for acne development. It can occur at any age and in both sexes. Some people who have severe acne are not bothered by it. Others are embarrassed or upset even though they have only a few pimples.

Different Types of Acne:

It can be classified major two types

1.Non- inflammatory ACNE  : Non inflammatory acne includes blackheads and whiteheads. These normally don’t cause swelling

• Whitehead
• blackhead

2.Inflammatory ACNE:  Pimples those are red and swollen are referred to as inflammatory acne.

• Papules:
• Pustules:
• Nodules:
• Cysts:

1. Blackheads: Blackheads are Clearly visible on the skin of face . They are black and appear on the surface of the skin. Blackheads are develops when a pore is clogged by a combination of sebum and dead skin cells. The top of the pore stays open, despite the rest of it being clogged. 

2. Whitehead:

Whiteheads are a mild form of acne that appears as small, round, white bumps on the skin’s surface. This type of acne occurs when a pore becomes clogged with sebum, dead skin cells, and debris, but does not open outside and is covered with a thin layer of skin. It appears white on its surface. Whiteheads may appear on the face, shoulders, neck, chest, and back.

3.Papules:

Papules are a type of acne vulgaris that show up small bumps on the face. This sort of acne happen when a pore becomes blocked with sebum, dead skins cells and the inflammation set in. The inflammation brakes down the surrounding wall of the pores and form bumps like structures. The skin around these pores is typically pink and tender to touch.

4.Pustules:

Pustules are similar to papules; they are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are red at their base and have pus at the top so looks whitish or yellowish; they are painful to touch. When it comes to pustules as you should wait until a whitehead is visible.

5.Nobules:

This nodular type acne is hard and larger than papules and postures. They are extensive, solid, painful and nodular like deep seated in the skin. These sorts of acnes are can cause more scar formation if not treated early.

6.Cysts:

Cysts can develop when pores are blocked by a combination of bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells. But theses blocks are deep within the skin and further below the surface than nodules. They are larger than nodules and appeared like a cystic structure. They are painful and filled with pus. Cysts can cause scars.

Causes and Contributing Factors to Develop Acne:

 

Normal Follicle

Hair follicles are connected to sebaceous glands. These glands secrete the sebum an oily substance.  When the follicle is "full", the sebum spreads over the skin surface giving the skin an oily appearance.

Obstructed Follicles

If there is more secretion of sebum from the sebum gland and more formation dead skin cells, these combinations can form a soft plug that obstructs the skin pore. in later period bacreial growth appear and causes inflammation. That results to  form an bumps like appearance which is known as the acne. 

 

Factors that stimulate sebaceous gland to secret more sebum

• More androgen hormone secretion- The sebum glands are very sensitive to androgen hormone. Rising of androgen hormone levels cause the oil glands to more enlarge and to produce more sebum. Excessive sebum can break down cellular walls in the pores, causing bacteria to grow.
• Unhealthy food habits - Unhealthy food habits like taking of more junk foods, fast foods, fatty foods, also contribute a factor of more androgen secretion that results more sebum secretion acne formation.
• Faulty life style - Sedentary life style, lack of exercise, irregular habit of taking meals, late night sleep or insomnia condition are also one major cause for more acne formation.
• More stress- Staying constantly in a stressful condition, pressure packed life style, compromisation or suppression of natural emotions either due to situation demand or by the own nature can put a major impact on endocrine system including sebum gland. That can also a contributing factor for development of acne.  The suppression of emotion of any form like anger, grieves, vexation, anxiety,jealousy, all affects the HPA axis (The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis) and thus your physical body. 
• Medicines- Some medications that contain corticosteroids androgen and lithium those also increase the androgen hormone level and causes of more acne development.  Starting and stopping Birth control pills can also cause acne.
• Cosmetics - greasy cosmetics are also causes acne more . Cosmetic induced acne generally occur on the chin and cheeks more than than on the forehead.  It presents as small, whitish bumps, sometimes referred to as "grains", which are more noticeable when the skin is stretched.
• Menstrual cycle -Acne appears during the menstrual cycle because fluctuating hormone levels around this time of menses (women) and sometimes in pregnancy.
• Family history - Acne have a family history of the disorder If one of your parents had severe acne, you are more likely to have it.
• Propionibacterium acne - Propionibacterium acne is a bacterium that lives on your skin and uses the sebum as nutrients for his growth. More sebum secretion makes a suitable environment for growth of P.acne and set up an inflammatory condition and develop acne. 

Pathogenesis of Acne:

The 4 major factors interlinked for development of acne

1)  Excess secretion of sebum from sebaceous gland –

• The excess sebum secretion from sebaceous gland initiates the acne formation.
• The excess secretion of sebum from the sebaceous gland is influenced by the excess androgen hormone.
• The excess androgen hormone level in blood stimulate the sebaceous gland to secrets more sebum secretion.
• The more androgen hormone secretion is indirectly influenced by many factors like high stress level, suppression of grieves, suppression of anger, more anxiety or depression,  unhealthy food habits, faulty life style, physical inactive.

2)  Obstruction of sebaceous follicle

• The more sebum secretion swelled up the skin pore and erodes the tissues at the margin of pore that causes more dead skin cells formation.
• The sebum with the dead cells form a soft plug that obstructs the skin pore.

3)  The propionibacterium acne bacterial growth

• Once the follicle is plugged, its lower portion becomes engorged and distended with sebaceous discharge and keratinocytes
• The propionibacterium acne is one type of bacteria that lives on the skin and uses the sebum as nutrients for his growth.
• The more sebum accumulation in the follicle influence more P acne bacterial growth and initiates a inflammatory reaction
• While the skin pore opening persist closed, that is called a closed comedo  or whitehead. It is called white heads because looks white or flesh-colored
• When the follicle enlarges more that stretches the skin pore and the content inside gets exposed to air and oxidization occurs.  It causes a dark appearance of the lesion and that is called black heads.

4.The development of acne

• As dilation of the follicle continues, its inner content  consist of sebum, dead skin cells, released out and spread over the skin.
• This leakage causes an inflammatory reaction and initiates the formation of the inflammatory lesion papules, pustules, and nodules. 
• As inflammation continues to worsen, larger papules and pustules are created. Acne papules are pink or red in color
• Acne nodules are solid, raised inflammatory lesions that are situated deeper in the skin.

Homeopathy Treatment

• Homeopathy offers a long term cure to acne problems. It is because homeopathic medicines target the root cause or triggers factors of the disease thus gives a long-term cure
• As discussed above the excess of androgen hormone in blood plays a major role in acne formation.
• The excess of androgen hormone secretion is caused by many triggers. Though we know during the teen age more androgen hormone  is secreted, but there are many things which stimulate to secret more androgen hormones
• The major factors that trigger more androgen hormone secretion are various unhealthy emotional states a person passing through in his life
• There are various emotional states a person go through during his life time such as grieves, anger , agony, anxiety ,fear, depression etc
• When anybody suppress those emotions like suppress the anger, suppress the grieves, suppress his desire, those all directly affect on the neuro-endocrino-immune path which disturbs the harmonious function of endocrine and immune system.
• So in case of acne the more androgen hormone secretion also has the same causative factor. So the more androgen secretion is somewhat related to suppression of various motional factors of the patient in the present or past life.
• More androgen secretion means more sebum secretion. More sebum secretion means more acne formation
• So to give a long term curative effect it is highly required to consider all of those emotional factors of the patient which are somewhat relates of its developments . Hence the treatment basing on those emotional suppression can help to maintain a normal and healthy endocrine function.
• Only the homeopathy treatment that target the different types of suppression of emotion and thus helps to regain back the healthy endocrine function and thus maintain healthy physical state.
• For various emotional suppression there are different homeopathic remedies. So in homeopathy there is no fixed medicine to all acne patient as because  there is not a single emotion expressed by all people.
• Thus a homeopathy medicine is selected on the basis of the individual’s emotional picture that has been suppressed in past life. The other key symptoms are also taken under consideration to select a suitable medicine for that patient. This medicine can only able to give a long term cure to this acne problem. It is called the constitutional homeopathy treatment.
• Besides that the acute condition of acne like the pain, inflammation, swelling that are well treated by proper homeopathic remedies.
• Homeopathy treatment not only give a long term cure to acne but keeps the person as a whole healthy. 

Here are the 12 best homeopathic medicines commonly used in acne:

Antim crude - There are acne of granular like eruption, lumpy, red, like eruptions on the face with red areola. Acne is of in blotches type over cheek. There are pustular types of acne. The etiological triggers factors can be deep seated depression, desperation. The young age groups who have a tendency to fast weight gain with acne over face. The fatty, obese children who are fund of taking more junk foods and fast foods. Ars iod- It is generally prescribed as constitutional treatment for acne condition. The acne is of nodular type. Ars ios has the symptoms similarities of both arsenic album and iodium. The person is of irritable nature; don’t answer to the question asked by the doctor. Anger with irritability and restless nature with an anxiety types constitution. He is impatient and in a constant state of hurry. He becomes indifferent to his surroundings. He is unable to decide between two opinions. Those types of emotional make up initiates to secrets more androgen hormone and that stimulate the sebum gland to secret more sebum and acne appears. Basing on his/her emotional picture if this medicine is given can help to cure acne for a,long term period

Calcarea carb – It is a great constitutional remedy for any disease including acne. Persons of psoric constitution with pale, weak , timid , shy nature and easily tired on any physical exertion. Though he has a weakness or fatigue feeling, but in body constitution is fatty and obese, gaining weight easily. He has the tendency to sweats a lot on slightest physical exertion. Those persons are very susceptible to catch cold easily. The calacarea carb person thinks a lot about the very small things. He fears of losing his/her judgment capacity, fears of failure to complete any work perfectly. Always keep engage her mind on very small silly things and develop anxiety. Fear that something sad or terrible will happen. Fears that people are observing her confusion of mind. There are tiny eruptions like black heads on forehead. Basing on those mental and physical symptoms if it is given in case acne can give a long term cure

Asteria Rubens- A sycotic group of remedy. The acne generally occurs at teen age and more abundantly found on chin and side of nose. The person is of an anxiety, excited and irritable temperament. Sexual desire is increased in women. Bowel motion is not clear of constipated type. Like Nux Vom ineffectual desire for stool.

Psorinum – The face is oily, more sebum secretion. The acnes are pustular types. Generally acne develops in those who have more coffee addiction. Also taking more fatty foods, meats, more sugars, chocolates aggravates the acne eruption in face. There is more acne before the menstrual cycle. Any sort of emotional distress triggers the development of acne. The person is extremely psoric in nature. Very nervous in nature and easily get frightened. Have anxiety with very restless nature. He/she is Sad, depressed for her ailments, thinks can’t recover. The person is very chilly patient feels chilly and cold in slightest cold weather. the person have a chronic headache tendency when the stomach is empty, relieves while eating. He has a tendency of feeling hungry at the middle of night i.e. mid night hungry.

Kali brom- The Acnes are of postural, indurate nature. Scars left after the acne heals up. Physical constitution is of obese, younger person. The person is very nervous, depressed, low spirited in nature. The depression is mingled with anxiety and feels as if he would loss his mind. The person feels restless and no sleep at night due to worry or grief from loss of job, loss of business, loss of property, loss of reputation etc. Melancholic nature

Calcarea phos – Acne generally is occurred in younger age grouped boys and girls who are lean and thin in physical constitution. Acne develops in teen age girls who are anaemic and always complaining of headache gas problem.

Calcarea silicate- Mostly used in acne, black heads. Patient is weak, emaciated, feels cold and chill but worse from being overheated. The remedy has combination symptoms of both calcarea carb and silicea.

Natrum mur – The face is very oily due to more sebaceous secretion. The patient is very sensitive in nature and weeps on slightest things. Irritable by nature and cannot endure any contradiction. At the time when she upset if anybody tries to give consolation that makes her more irritate. Have a nature of ‘living me alone’ attitude. The person is thin and sensitive to heat of sun. Exposure to heat of sun she get headache. She is fond of taking extra salt in her diet. It is a constitutional remedy for acne

Belladona – At the early stage of acne when it looks reddish with inflammation and pain but no pus formation belladonna gives good result

Heper sulph – if the acne is postural, white, filled up with pus and very sensitive to touch heper sulph give good result.

Berberis aquifolium – There is acne, blotches, pimples in girls and boys. Its mother tocture can be applied externally to clear the scar mark of acne.

Healthy Tips for managing acne

• Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle-Marinating a healthy lifestyle is always good for everybody whether he/she is sick or not. Under healthy life style daily physical activity, taking of healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, yoga, meditation are the major segments that everyone should practice.
• Minimum 6-8 hours of sleep -The risk of psychological stress increases if there is less sleep. Stress increases glucocorticoid production, which can lead to abnormalities in skin structure and function that can make your acne worse. Hence to sleep minimum for a 6 to 8 hours is essential for every body.
• Healthy food habits-Some foods raises the blood sugar quickly, triggering a boost in you insulin. Too much insulin in your blood can trigger your sebaceous gland to secret more oil which is a cause for development of acne. So you should take healthy foods which will not affect on your blood sugar level. You should add more whole grains, beans, and veggies and avoid all junk foods, fast foods, pasta, white rice, white bread, chocolate, and sugar.
• Daily Exercise-Daily exercise helps to reduce your stress that may contribute to acne outbreaks. Daily physical activity also helps to increase more blood flow to your skin , which provides more oxygen to your skin cells and carries cell waste away. After exercise it is important to shower because sweat from exercise can irritate your skin.
• Drink more water -Drinking more water is a great way to flush out internal toxins and hydrate your skin from the inside out.
• Take more omega-3 fatty acids-omega-3 fatty acids have the anti inflammatory property as it control the production of leukotriene, a molecule that can increase sebum and cause inflammatory acne. Omega-3 fatty acid can be found in foods like walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil, and salmon.
• Apply ice on the swelled acne areas-For swollen pimples, gently apply ice for a minute or so. Just don't keep the ice on so long that it irritates your skin.
• Do not scrub the skin or burst the pimples, as this may push the infection further down, causing more blocking, swelling, and redness.
• Avoid popping pimples, as this makes scarring.
• Refrain from touching the face.
• Hold the telephone away from the face when talking, as it is likely to contain sebum and skin residue.
• Wash hands frequently, especially before applying lotions, creams, or makeup.
• If acne is on the back, shoulders, or chest, try wearing loose clothing, avoid tight garments, such as caps, headbands, and scarves. If you are using wash them regularly.
• Avoid oil-based products for your make-up. Remove makeup before sleeping.
• Wash your hair daily, as it collects sebum and skin residue. Avoid greasy oily hair products.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure, as it can stimulate to produce more sebum