Many "acne-prone individuals" believe that getting pimples means their body has "heat toxins," so they drink herbal tea as soon as a pimple appears. Experts remind us that if you have a spleen-deficient constitution, it is not suitable to consume excessive amounts of cold and raw foods, such as herbal tea and frozen drinks, nor is it advisable to frequently consume soups that clear heat and purge fire. Otherwise, it will worsen the symptoms of spleen deficiency, and due to phlegm-dampness obstruction, the acne can become more severe.
I. Chugging herbal tea makes acne worse
A 20-year-old young man from Guangzhou, named Xiao Jie, has been troubled by "acne" for a long time. To fight acne, Xiao Jie often drank frozen herbal tea and cold drinks. Xiao Jie's mother would also specially cook various kinds of soups to clear heat and purge fire for her son.
However, after such "purging of fire" for a period of time, not only did Xiao Jie's acne not subside, but it also showed a tendency to get worse. Some pimples even formed scars. When Xiao Jie recently went to the hospital for treatment, he learned that he actually had a spleen-deficient constitution. People with this constitution are not suited to eat too many cold and raw foods, as it will worsen the symptoms of spleen deficiency. Due to phlegm-dampness obstruction, it can cause acne to "flare up" rapidly.
Experts state that acne is actually a chronic inflammatory disease of the hair follicle and sebaceous gland unit, related to sebum metabolism. Because it often occurs during adolescence, it is commonly known as "teenage acne" by the public. The onset of acne is related to sebum metabolism. As long as there is life, there will be sebum metabolism, so there is a possibility of developing acne. It's just that the incidence rate varies at different age stages, with a high incidence during the period of puberty development.
II. Five Principles for Treating "Teenage Acne"
1. Avoid emotional anxiety and tension, maintain a cheerful and pleasant mood. Do not be pessimistic just because you have acne; be optimistic and confident. Persist with active, timely, and reasonable treatment, and prescribe the right medicine for the individual's condition.
2. Keep the skin clean. It is advisable to wash your face with warm water, avoid using strong alkaline soaps, and avoid using greasy and strongly irritating cosmetics to further clog pores and worsen acne. Avoid using oily or powdery cosmetics, and especially avoid heavy makeup. Before bed, you should thoroughly remove the day's makeup and avoid applying nourishing creams, ointments, etc., to allow the skin's pores to be unobstructed and breathe fully. Face washing should not be too frequent or too infrequent; 2-3 times a day is sufficient.
3. In terms of diet, pay attention to "four less and one more": eat less spicy food (such as chili, green onions, garlic), eat less greasy food (such as animal oil, vegetable oil), eat less sweet food (such as sugar, coffee), eat less "trigger foods" (such as fish, shrimp, beef, mutton), and usually eat more foods rich in vitamins A/C/F and fiber (such as vegetables, fruits).
4. In terms of lifestyle, it is best not to smoke, drink alcohol, or drink strong tea. Patients with active, inflammatory acne (such as papules, pustules) should avoid sun exposure, wind, sand, and places that are too cold, too hot, or too humid, as these are also unfavorable for acne.
5. In terms of medication, it is not advisable to take long-term medications containing chlorine, bromine, iodine compounds or corticosteroid hormones. If using topical medications, it is still better to choose lotions and creams, and try to avoid using ointments and pastes.