Acne is a skin disorder that appears mostly in the face and back. Though acne can be painful and involves bleeding, it is mostly a cosmetic problem, because it involves scarring, rather than a serious illness.

Types of acne

● Comedones (whiteheads are closed, blackheads are open)

● Papules raised red bumps

● Pustules red, bumps with white pus

● Nodules solid, painful lumps beneath the skin

Factors contributing to acne are: diet, hormones, chronic GI tract disturbances, certain medications and infections.

Topical and oral treatments

● Over the counter topical treatments

● Prescription topical treatments (Tretinoin, adapalene and tazarotene): Side effects: stinging, burning, redness or peeling

● Antibiotics: Side effects: Drug resistance increased significantly in people with acne

● Isotretinoin (Accutane) for scarring cystic acne or stubborn acne. Severe side effects: birth defects, dry eyes, mouth and skin, nosebleeds and poor night vision

● Oral contraceptives

Acne scar treatment

● Laser and light therapy. This damages the oil glands, causing them to produce less oil

● Cosmetic procedures (chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion)

● Soft tissue fillers. Temporary results and repeated injections are needed

● Dermabrasion (for severe scarring)

● Microdermabrasion (scars may still be noticeable)

● Laser, light source and radio frequency treatments

● Skin surgery (punch excision) cuts out individual acne scars

These traditional acne treatment are medicine of the first and second levels among the seven levels of medicine. The traditional acne treatments are expensive, especially external laser treatment, they are not a cure and have harmful side effects.

According to the natural law of duality (where expansion = yin, contraction = yang), acne is an expansive illness (tends to spread, appears on skin which is the outermost body organ, raised bumps). Acne is triggered by a passing illness or a crisis. But the underlying cause of acne, like most illnesses, is the accumulation of faulty eating habits that violate the natural law of duality and produce imbalance and lowered immunity. Acne is an illness of the third stage among the seven stages of illness. Acne is directly related to the liver, so the kidneys-lungs should also be considered in natural treatment. Kidneys-lungs are mother-father of the liver in the five elements theory of natural medicine.

Food is best natural treatment. Foods affect acne positively or adversely depending on their type. Foods that restore natural balance miraculously cure acne naturally without side effects. Acne is expansive, and foods that cause expansion (Sugar, parsley, lettuce and vitamin C, etc.) will make acne worse. Foods that cause contraction will naturally cure acne and restore skin elasticity and suppleness. With the right diet, acne can be cured completely. It takes from a couple of weeks to several months to cure acne depending on its severity and type.

In Addition to the prescribed diet for curing acne, temporary home remedies such as compresses made of selected vegetables is sometimes recommended. These home remedies provide immediate relief for acne sufferers during the first few days of natural treatment, until acne recedes tangibly on the right diet.

Curing acne does not require eating Japanese food

Most people believe that macrobiotics means eating exotic Japanese foods. This is a misconception. Macrobiotics is not just a diet. When we understand macrobiotics, we understand the laws of nature that govern our health and our being.

The macrobiotic diet does not work for some people. Why?

If you have acne and tried macrobiotics, particularly the #7 diet, but it did not work for you, then the foods you selected are not appropriate for your acne. Macrobiotics principles, used correctly, help select the foods to eat and the foods to avoid (some permanently and some temporarily) for treating and curing acne. Yin foods for Yang illnesses, Yang foods for Yin illnesses.

Food is best natural treatment. With a carefully designed diet for acne, there is no need for vitamin and mineral supplements. Some supplements can aggravate acne when taken randomly. Vitamin C & iron supplements can have severe adverse effects on acne.