Symptoms:
Blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, inflamed and infected nodules, sacs, and cysts. They occur where the sebaceous (oil) glands are most numerous: face, neck, chest, and back. Permanently expanded pores, as well as scarring, can result.

Cause:
A sebaceous gland is located in every hair follicle, and produces oil which lubricates the skin. Some of the oil becomes clogged, bacteria multiply, and inflammation results. This occurs during adolescence (between 12 and 24), when androgens (male hormones) are released in increased amounts in both boys and girls. A few have acne all their lives.

Other causes include junk foods, oral contraceptives, allergies, stress, and heredity.

The problem is intensified when sebum, combined with skin pigments, plugs the pores—and produces blackheads. If scales below the surface fill with sebum, whiteheads are formed.

Canadian Eskimos, prior to 1950, never had acne. When "modern foods" were brought in, acne became common.

Treatment:
• Cleanliness is important. Keep the skin washed and clean. Keep the infected area free of all oils. Wash or pat the face with lemon juice 3 times a day. Shampoo the hair frequently. Eat a good, balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get adequate sleep at night. Drop all saturated fats from the diet, along with junk food, fried food, refined food, dairy foods, carbonated drinks, caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.

• Certain dietary deficiencies have been linked to acne. This includes vitamin B6, zinc, and essential fatty acids.

• Increase raw vegetable intake. Eat plenty of non-citrus fruits, raw vegetable juice, cooked vegetables, salads, whole grains, and a few seeds and nuts. Include some seaweed (for iodine) and pumpkin seed (for zinc).

• Go on a short vegetable juice fast of 1-3 days, along with enemas. It would be well to do this every 2 to 4 weeks, until the skin is perfectly clear.

• Beware of all oily foods which have saturated fats. This would include peanut butter, cheese, milk, and cream. A small amount of unsaturated vegetable oil would be acceptable.

• Herbs which could be applied to the skin would include dandelion root, echinacea, alfalfa, chaparral, and red clover.