new to raw food --- Acne - Herbert M. Shelton

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Acne is an inflammation of the oil glands of the skin and of the follicles

of the fuzz-like hairs attached to the oil-glands. It manifests as small and

large pimples, often containing pus, which detract greatly from the

appearance of the sufferer.

 

I am not sure that I am right, but it seems to me that there is far more

acne now than there was twenty-five years ago. Sure I am that it is very

common today and that it is the source of much anxiety and mental discomfort

in those who have this affection. More than one otherwise beautiful young

girl has consulted us who was on the verge of suicide, so much were they

concerned over their appearance and over the persistent failure of their

efforts to remedy their skin trouble.

 

Various qualifying terms have been added to the term acne to distinguish its

most important features. Thus we have:

 

Acne Simplex, or simple acne, which is the most common form, hence the term

Acne vulgaris.

 

Acne Indurata, which differs from the simple form chiefly in the degree and

extent of its Symptoms and the hardening (induration) which is resent.

 

Malnutritional Acne, called, also scrofulous acne, or, acne scrofulosum, and

acne cachecitcorum, occurs in undernourished or scrofulous or emaciated

individuals. It develops chiefly on the trunk and lower limbs, though,

occasionally the arms and face are affected.

 

Artificial Acne, or acne artificialis, is papules produced by the internal

use of such drugs as the bromides and the iodides, and the external

application of tar, chrysarobin, etc.

 

Atrophic Acne, or acne atrophica, is simple acne in which the lesions are

followed by scars or small pits.

 

Popular Acne, or acne papulosa, is simple acne in which papular eruptions

(solid raised spots on or in, the skin) predominate.

 

Pustular Acne, or acne pustulosa, is acute acne simplex with papules

developing into pustules.

 

Overgrowth acne, or hypertrophic acne, is Yap lied to acne followed by

thickening of the n from an overgrowth of connective tissue. Scurvy Acne, or

acne scorbutis, is a papular acne with hemorrhages into the skin.

 

Acne Rosacea is acne plus rosacea, or a chronic congestion of the nose and

parts of the face.

 

Acne Vartoliformis is a form of acne the pustules of which resemble those of

variola (smallpox). It develops chiefly on the fore head, along the hair

margin, also the scalp, face and neck and, sometimes, the shoulders and

breastbone.

 

No effort will be made to describe each of these forms of acne. Suffice is

to say that, except artificial acne, these forms are all the out growth of

toxins. Since they are merely variations of simple acne and all yield to the

same care let us confine our remarks chiefly to this form.

 

This form is seen more often in women and girls than in men and boys. It

develops chiefly on the forehead, cheeks, lower jaw and chin and sometimes on

the chest, shoulders, upper arms and even down the back and thighs. It

develops chiefly during the adolescent years and tends to disappear upon the

attainment of maturity, although it may persist long after thirty is passed.

It is often aggravated before and during menstruation.

 

Blackheads usually constitute the center or nucleus for the beginning of the

inflammation. A papule develops around this miter, and later becomes a

pustule. However, acne may develop without blackheads, and blackheads may

exist without acne developing.

 

A crust-forms on the pustule then falls off, leaving a redness which lasts a

few days, or a depression or scar may be left. In many cases no pustules

develop, the condition remaining in the papule stage, in which cases, the

papules are absorbed after a few days.

 

On the same face, or other portion of the body, and without any semblance of

regularity, there may be seen all stages - blackheads, papules, pustules,

crusts, redness, pittings and scars. I frequently see faces that have been so

badly pitted their owners look like they have had smallpox. Few things can so

completely spoil the beauty of the face as acne.

 

The scars may be permanent, or they may gradually smooth out. In some cases

no scars are left. The stain that often remains tends to fade out eventually.

 

If the papule of acne is opened or squeezed, blood, pus and fatty substance

and, if present at the beginning of the papule, the blackhead, are found.

Healing is usually rapid after evacuation of the contents, though squeezing

usually' tends to aggravate the local lesion. If the pustule is not molested

spontaneous evacuation takes place.

 

In acne indurata the areas of hardening vary from the size of a pea to as

large as a hazel nut. They begin deep below the epidermis, are usually deep

red or purplish, often involve several adjacent glands, thus giving the

appearance of boils and may contain much pus. The lesions often fail to

rupture spontaneously. When opened and evacuated artificially, they tend to

refill rather than to heal. Scar formation is often very pronounced

especially where there has been much squeezing or direct pressure. Fibroid

changes in the scars may cause them to resemble fibroid tumors.

 

There are no general symptoms of acne and the sufferer is inclined to regard

himself or herself as otherwise healthy. Observing that their friends who do

not have acne (but who often have much worse troubles) eat and drink as they

do, they are not easily convinced that their mode of living is in any way

responsible for their trouble.

 

The skin is the largest organ of the body, but because it is on the outside

we tend to forget that it is helped or hurt by the same internal conditions

that help or hurt the other organs of the body. We do not sufficiently

recognize its dependence upon the blood.

 

" Diseases " of the skin occur as the direct or indirect result of a large

number of constitutional and visceral failures. Functional weakness and

actual pathology of the stomach, intestine, liver, kidneys, nervous system,

etc., frequently lead to eliminative efforts through the skin. These are also

seen in rheumatism, gout, diabetes, etc.

 

Carbuncles, furuncles and other skin eruptions seen in diabetic cases are

explained by the saturation of the skin with sugar and, even if we grant the

claim of bacteriologists, that these things represent staphylococcal

infection, the sugar saturation is necessary to provide a favorable nidus for

the growth of the microbes.

 

Pruritis and eczema occurring in a patient suffering from chronic

interstitial nephritis is due to the failure of elimination through the

defective kidneys. There is also an intimate relationship between

gastro-intestinal disorders and skin " diseases " - eczema, pruritis,,

urticaria, acne, etc., an frequently observed in association with and to be

influenced by digestive disturbances which involve decomposition of food and

partial digestion.

 

Pruritis is often observed in connection with pathology of the liver,

especially when jaundice exists; xanthoma and chronic jaundice an often

associated. Eczema and gout are so common together that they have both been

classed as belonging to the " gouty diathesis, " while there is also a close

connection between psoriasis and chronic arthritis.

 

It is often difficult to trace the relationship between eruptions and other

skin symptoms and the internal failings and " pathologies " with which they are

associated; but we may be sure that faulty digestion, incomplete metabolism,

and deficient excretion, these growing out of faulty dietary habits and other

evil practices, are the underlying causes for these skin troubles.

 

Acne in particular is definitely related to toxemic states and nutritional

impairments. The large amounts of sweets consumed during adolescence tends to

saturate the skin with sugar and lay the foundation for this and other

troubles.

 

The first principle in the care of skin diseases is to deal with the

internal conditions with which they are associated, by removing or correcting

the causes of these. Locally, the only care necessary is cleanliness.

 

Functional impairments, - faulty elimination, digestive derangements,

glandular defects, etc. - growing out of enervation and toxemia, must be

overcome by removing or correcting the causes of enervation and toxemia.

 

For parents to permit their sons and daughters to suffer with acne until

their faces are a mass of scars is inexcusable. In all cases the condition

may be quickly remedied by fasting, improved diet and general hygiene.

 

The local application of salves, ointments, lotions, etc., is of no value.

Some of these preparations will suppress the condition for a time, but the

minute their use is discontinued the acne reappears. Often the acne reappears

while their use is continued. The only time they appear to produce a lasting

" cure " is when they are used coincident with spontaneous disappearance of the

trouble. It should be remembered that in most cases the acne disappears

without any treatment or change in the mode of living, after adolescence.

 

It is never wise to wait upon the spontaneous termination of acne at the end

of the adolescent period; for, by that time, the face may have become a mass

of scars and its owner the victim of an inferiority complex that makes life

miserable.