Treating acne is twofold

Treating acne or any constant skin care problem is a twofold process. If you do one step but forsake the other step, it’s doubtful you’ll see long-term results. As I read skin care books and articles in magazines and even listen to skin care experts on TV, I am always amazed that the treatments for problem skin usually recommend doing only one thing: treating the breakout. The question in my mind is always “What is causing the breakout in the first place?”

Here is one analogy. You are driving your car down a street with nails all over the place. You drive, and lo and behold, you get a flat tire. You fix the flat tire and keep driving down the same road. Later, you get another flat, and you fix it. What you don’t realize is until you get off the road with all the nails in it, you will continue to get flat tires. Translate this to your skin. You may not even realize you are doing things that are contributing to your problem skin.

Until you become more aware, you will probably continue to have problems—even if you’re using topical (or oral) medications. You must go to the root to find the cure. And even then there are no guarantees. But causal treatment (treating from the cause or root) will surely help you get a better hold on why you are breaking out.

If you alter your behavior in order to stop contributing to your breakouts, hopefully then you will have clearer skin. You may not be able to afford to eat so much (or any) sugar—or whatever it is you may have in your diet that is a major contributor. But you have a choice. You can choose to continue to be frustrated with your blemishes or decide to do something about them, which usually includes discontinuing items currently found in your diet.

For more information, see:

• Sugar & Skin Problems
• What is causing your breakouts?
• Gaining control of problem skin—important recommendations