In chinese medicine, spring is a time of renewal and detoxification. Spring is associated with the earth element and with the liver. A liver detoxification can go far in helping to alleviate the syptoms of a toxic liver, and some of these symptoms include acne.
Acne is caused by the build up of a particular bactera - p. acnes which always live in the skin pores. Once the pores become clogged with sebum, the bacteria begins to multiply, causing acne breakouts. There are four grades of acne - type 1 being comedonal acne. Comedones are blackheads (open comedones) or whiteheads (closed comedones). Acne is at its most severe at Grade 4, which means really bad skin, pustules, nodules, cysts, open and closed comedones, redness, irritation and active infection. Acne is great to treat in the early Spring with a light, yet powerful medical peel, known as a Jessner Peel. The Jessner Peel can only be administered by a physician (trained in peels) a nurse aesthetician, or a medical aesthetician. The Jessner peel contains Resorcinol (Vitamin A), lactic acid, and salyciic acid. A Jessner peel is self-neutralizing after 24 hours. Usually the client presents in the morning for the peel and removes it the next morning by washing his or her face at the sink or in the shower. The Jessner peel will cause visible skin peeling. This is called "chemical exfoliation". Scrubs and such are known as "mechanical exfoliation" and are not recommended for people suffering from acne for a variety of reasons, mainly because they cause injury to the surface of the skin and can actually spread the p. acnes bacteria.
If you suffer from acne, see your medical aesthetician for a Jessner Peel - don't buy anything off the internet that claims to be a Jessner Peel. If these chemicals are used improperly by an untrained person, permanent dark patches and chemical burns can result. And acupuncture in addition to a short liver detox are wonderful adjuct therapies for people who suffer from any grade of acne.
