More than Skin Deep

A hot topic it seems, what with the number of questions accumulating on this topic.. There must be something going around, so we’re taking the opportunity to explore the issue… How do you interpret skin problems? Could they be more than skin deep?

So you’re in your thirties, or perhaps forties, and you feel like your skin is plagued with acne. Only, wasn’t acne a hormonal thing only supposed to affect teenagers, or maybe twenty-somethings? Still this isn’t you, so you’re a bit confused by this continuous challenge in your world. How, at your ripe old… (sorry!) middle age, are you still dealing with the youthful problem of breakouts, irritations, perhaps oily skin and unsightly blotches? Of course, you’re a master, now, at covering it up with makeup solutions, but isn’t it time to outgrow this problem, finally??

What if every health problem was deeper than its physical symptom? Acne on your face, for instance, could indicate something challenging you that’s more than its skin depth… After all, you introduce yourself and recognize people by faces first. You communicate, seeing through your face and sensing what’s around you.

Let’s Ask Your Subconscious

Before reaching for an external treatment, reach for a journal and a pen. Chances are your persistent irritations stem from something more than skin deep in your subconscious, or is there a conscious irritation you’ve been neglecting. It likely has roots in communication or how you carry yourself forward into the world. Give it some thought!

What with universal new stresses in summer 2021 after so many months of isolation, shielding and social distancing, it is completely understandable to be faced with hidden social anxieties or repressed thoughts that are itching to be released (no pun intended.) Ask yourself these questions and any more that arise:

• Are there areas of my life in which I’m not fully expressing myself?
• Do I have repressed fear, shame or insecurities I have been hiding from myself and others?
• Are there communication issues I’ve tucked away out of my attention, but really need to address head on? (Think of people, situations, or feelings that don’t sit right within you.)
• Can I think of areas of my life where I can identify irritation, itches or desires that are more than skin deep, and yet I’ve overlooked acting upon them?

Write. Don’t think. Even, ask yourself these questions on the paper. Meditate on them for a minute or two and journal whatever comes to you. Don’t filter it. Just write. You may be surprised as to the real source of your skin problems.

Meanwhile, naturally healing topical treatments can help you look and feel better with ease. You will have most of these botanicals already in your kitchen or pantry, so give them a try:

Rosacea

Brew some chamomile tea and apply it as a toner, or pick up a soothing Chamomile Soap such as Dhana’s Pure & Pretty. With these solutions, you’re engaging the polyphenols and phytochemicals present in the chamomile flower that are known to fight inflammation and relieve skin irritations, naturally. Chamomile is a gentle but powerful treatment for acne scars, reducing wrinkles and helping to alleviate rosacea and eczema. Drinking it never hurts either. As you’re likely aware, it is calming relief that will set you up for a peaceful nights’ sleep.

Acne

High in zinc, calcium, copper and potassium as well as anti-inflammatory eugenol, rooibos tea is a powerhouse acne fighter. You may choose to drink the brew, use it as a face toner, or employ chemical-free rooibos skincare bars that combine with healing oils to give your face your desired clear glow.

Further, Castor Oil, despite its unpleasant and sticky appearance is composed of ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that promotes hydrated skin, while opposing the production of skin oils from within your body. It is these oils that enhance more acne, so cutting them back can be a first step in natural healing. Apply it alone, topically or in a gentle facial bar such as Dhana’s Against the Grain shaving bar where it’s coupled with skin-healing rooibos.

Eczema & Psoriasis

Coconut Oil, oats and tea tree essential oil are your new best friends when it comes to alleviating the itch of dry skin that comes with eczema and psoriasis. (We don’t claim that these skin diseases are the same, however, their natural remedies are aligned, so we’ll address them here together.) As counterintuitive as it is to add oil in place of a moisturizer, know that moisturizing lotions contain water, pulling moisture from your skin rather than giving it back. Massage coconut oil into affected areas and notice the rich hydrated sensation. Now repeat as often as feels comfortable for your skin.

A mask of oats applied to affected areas of your skin, may bring relief from itching, drawing impurities out. Tea tree oil holds strong antiseptic qualities, but must be used carefully, only ever diluted in a carrier oil. Consider Dhana’s Align-mint Shampoo & Body Bar, containing a gentle blend of rosemary, peppermint and tea tree essential oils, which has a track record of helping to heal eczema and psoriasis among a growing number of friend and community members.

Get out into the world…

The best way to realize the social triggers that bring out irritations on your skin and in your comfort zone is to get out and be with people. As the world opens up, wherever you are, take notice of these interactions and your response to them. Give yourself grace, Covid has been a trying time for us all. You’ll become strong at identifying how you react to others and when you’re putting yourself first, second or last, which, can affect your facial skin and deeper into your head and heart.

For those of you suffering with skin irritations who’ve asked for assistance, I’d like to thank you for inspiring this blog post. I do hope it helps someone out there to face their irritations with natural treatments bringing healing that’s more than skin deep.