Q: Anyone know of some herb that can get rid of blackheads?
A: All skin diseases are caused by impure blood or infection. You need to go on a prolonged diet of fruits. Stop using meats of all kinds, do not eat between meals. Do not use cane sugar, white flour, or white flour products. Get plenty of exercise in the fresh air. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and well-cooked grains.
Cold towel rubs are very helpful, rubbing vigorously afterwards to increase the circulation.
Make a strong tea of red clover blossomes, using 3 or 4 tbs. to a quart of distilled boiling water, covered. Drink this tea freely in place of water. Chickweed tea may be used in the same way. If you follow these directions, the blackheads will disappear.
The following herbs are also beneficial: burdock root, yellow dock root, hysop, sanicle, blue violet, golden seal, plantain, echinacea, beech, bittersweet, buckthorn bark, elder, bloodroot, dandelion, sassafras, sarsaparilla, and spikenard. These can be taken singly, or combine 2 or more in equal parts. Take 4 cups a day, one before each meal, and one before going to bed.
A very effective external remedy , is the following; make into a tea, and bathe the effected parts. Equal parts golden seal, echinacea, yellow dock root, burdock root, witch hazel bark, mix thorougly. Use a heaping tbs. of this mixture to a pint of boiling water, steep 1/2 hour, pour of the liquid or strain, add a level tsp. boric acid: this will keep the fluid from souring. Apply a number of times a day to the effected parts.
Citrus fruits are especially beneficial in all skin troubles. Wahsing your face after every two to three hours helps. Eating a lot of green Veg. like cabbage, salad leaves also helps.
If diligent use of over-the-counter acne products isn’t bringing relief to troubled skin, see your dermatologist about the newest prescription acne fighters. But do it sooner rather than later. Most prescription acne treatments take about six weeks before they start showing any effect-a long time if your outbreaks leave scars. What follows are the most recent innovations that may hold the key to clearer, more luminous skin.
Retinoids
Long a favorite with dermatologists, the retinoids are usually among the first treatments of choice for most types of acne. They are thought to battle blemishes via a comedolytic action: They loosen and expel what’s blocking pores and prevent new pimples from forming. The three newest entrants are tretinoin in a Microsponge delivery system (Retin-A Micro), adapalene (Differin), and tazarotene (Zorac). These products offer another avenue of treatment for people who haven’t responded well to what was previously the only available retinoid, Retin-A gel or cream. (Tazarotene, currently undergoing FDA review, is not yet on the market.)
Sodium Sulfacetamide
Most acne medications leave the skin dry and irritated. Sodium sulfacetamide lotion (Klaron) contains an antibacterial agent that inhibits bacterial growth while also moisturizing the skin. Some studies show it may also reduce the inflammation involved in acne. As it’s a previously existing drug that has been reformulated and relaunched, it’s still a little early to determine its effectiveness for acne. Dr. Shalita believes it’s particularly suited for adult women because it can go on under makeup without difficulty. He also recommends using it in conjunction with other acne treatments.
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid is thought to work both by inhibiting bacterial growth and by comedolytic action. “Azelaic acid (Azelex) seems to take longer to work than the retinoids, but might cause less skin sensitivity,” says Dr. Shalita. He suggests that you might obtain better results if you use it in conjunction with other acne products. Since azelaic acid can lighten skin, darker-skinned individuals may need to watch out for hypopigmentation.
Acne drug chart
| NAME |
MECHANISM OF ACTION |
FREQUENCY OF USE |
WHEN TO EXPECT RESULTS |
 |
| TRENTINOIN (retin-a-micro) |
comedolytic |
once daily |
6 weeks |
|
ADAPALENE
(differin) |
comedolytic |
once daily |
6 weeks |
|
TAZAROTENE
(Zorac) |
Not yet available, but should be comparable to trentinoin and adapalene. |
|
SODIUM SULFACETAMIDE LOTION
(Klaron) |
antibacterial, anti- inflammatory |
2x daily, or 1x in conjunction w/ retinoid |
too new to tell |
|
AZELAIC ACID
(Azelex) |
antibacterial, possible comedolytic |
2x daily, or 1x in conjunction w/ retinoid |
slowest onset of action; could take up to 6 months |
