Herbs and Skin Conditions
SkinClear Tonic
The skin consists of the epidermis and the dermis.
“Taking your medicine for a rash that wouldn’t go from under my eye and also cracked skin was an issue. I’m ecstatic it all cleared up by the end of the course of medicine. Wonderful!” J.S. New Forest, Hampshire.
The Epidermis
The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin. It is composed of 4-5 layers, depending on the skin thickness and, unlike the underlying dermis, it has no blood vessels or nerves of its own. Instead, the epidermis relies on the interstitial fluid between the cells to supply oxygen and nutrients and remove waste. This means that good lymphatic flow is vital to ensure long term skin health (Cleavers for effective lymphatic support is included in the our herbal tonic).
The epidermis itself is composed of four kinds of cells:
– Keratinocytes make up 90% of the epidermal cells. They produce the protein keratin, which helps to waterproof the skin cells. New epidermal cells are produced at the bottom of the epidermis and get gradually pushed up towards the surface. During this time, the cells accumulate keratin, flatten and eventually die. By the time they reach the surface, they are no longer living and become easily sloughed off. In healthy skin, this process takes 2-4 weeks.
– Melanocytes, within the epidermis, produce the pigment melanin, which gives skin its colour and provides UV protection (this is supported by blue-green algae with its astaxanthin antioxidant included in our herbal tonic). Melanin granules collect inside the Keratinocytes and cluster to form a layer over their nuclei, protecting the DNA. The amount and distribution of melanocytes is genetic and determines the skin colouration. A high number of melanocytes result in dark, easily tanned skin, whereas an uneven distribution results in freckles.
– Langerhans cells are specialised immune cells that reside within the epidermis and provide a first-line of defence against foreign nvaders that enter via the skin. Their primary role is antigen presentation, engulfing pathogens and presenting them to naïve T-cells to illicit an immune response. Langerhans cells are easily damaged by UV radiation. Aloe vera gel protects against UV damage.
– Merkel cells are located in the deepest layer of the epidermis. They are attached to sensory nerve endings and play a role in sensation.
The Dermis
The dermis is a layer of connective tissue, lying directly below the epidermis. It is home to a huge network of capillaries, nerves, lymph vessels, glands, hairs and fibres:
– Collagen fibres within the dermis bind water and help to give skin its tensile strength.
– Elastin fibres provide the extensibility and elasticity.
– Hairs are situated in follicles within the dermis; each follicle is connected to touch-sensitive nerve endings. The follicles are also attached to arrector pili muscles, which contract in response to low temperature or emotional stress, causing the hairs to stand on end (goose flesh/bumps). Like skin colour, hair colour is determined by your genetic distribution of melanin.
– Sebaceous glands are connected to the hair follicles and produce sebum, an antimicrobial substance that helps to condition the hair and skin.
– Sweat glands in the dermis release sweat into hair follicles or onto the skin surface through pores. This is important for temperature regulation and excretion. Sweat itself is odourless, but bacteria on the skin surface quickly metabolise it into compounds that have a distinctive odour. This can be excessive; there are herbs to help with excessive sweating and/ odour.
– Specialised nerve endings within the dermis provide information about light pressure, deep pressure, pain and temperature.
Seborrhea dermatitis
This is a distressing condition. It can appear as though from nowhere. It can come and go even from childhood. Scalp, face, back, arms, legs – it can appear in one place or different places. On the scalp it can cause dandruff, or it can be in plaques that can cause loss of hair. The real cause of this condition is due to the natural microbes that live next to the hair cells and oil glands where they gather in larger numbers causing inflammation. The reasons for this can be related to stress, dietary deficiency and too much sugar (high carb diet), a low immune system, not enough exercise or sleep, etc. So the first thing to do is to improve the lifestyle. There are natural treatments that can help. Coconut oil is useful to apply to moisturise the skin and reduce inflammation. SkinClear Tonic has the best skin herbs to help improve skin health, liver function, and the immune system (email me for a full list of the herbs in this tonic). The SkinClear Lotion is great for scalp treatment, otherwise select the SkinClear Cream which has DMSO and Marigold and antifungal herbs to help clear the infection, inflammation and overactivity of the natural mites that live in the skin for its health. You can also wash your hair with our totally natural shampoo powder, and wash your body with our totally herbal soap powder, which will nourish the skin and help it back to the right function.
For psoriasis go to our page on this condition.
Skin Ageing
Most age-related skin changes occur in the dermis. The collagen fibres decrease in number, break apart and become disorganised and the elastic fibres thicken into clumps and fray, losing their elasticity. In addition the dermis and subcutaneous fat begin to thin, causing the skin to take on the furrowed appearance we call wrinkles noticable especially on the face and hands or ageing people. The sebaceous glands also decrease in size so skin becomes dry, broken and more prone to infection and the number of Langerhans cells starts to dwindle, reducing skin immunity. We have herbal creams, moisturisers and lotions to help tone and protect ageing skin.
As we age, blood vessels tend to become thicker and less pliable. In the dermis, this impairs nutrient delivery and results in a slowing of skin cell migration and reduced healing ability. Within the epidermis, decreased functioning of melanocytes can result in unusual skin pigmentation, such as age spots and greying of the hair, as air bubbles replace the melanin. We have a specialist herbal health for all aspects of ageing, see AgeLess, also see Bhringaraj for greying, thinning hair.
There are herbs that contain the most important dermatological herbs to help cleanse and clear the skin and improve the circulation and natural function of the skin. SkinClear is formulated to improve the health of the skin and the herbs have been selected to treat all skin disorders, including dermatitis, eczema, dry skin and blepharitis, oily skin. Click here for psoriasis.
A lotion, cream or ointment may also be applicable.
Make sure you also take your daily spoonful of ABC Daily Herbal NutriPowder Plus
Drinking smoothies will also help your condition – find out more about smoothies
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About nine months ago, my husband was scheduled to have a suspected bcc (basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer) removed surgically. I had read about your Black Salve and persuaded him to try it. He applied it for several days, the lesion scabbed over and the scab dropped off after a couple of weeks, leaving new, normal skin underneath which was reddish to start with but faded to normal skin colour after a few months. When he attended his hospital appointment, the consultant was surprised to see that the lesion had all but disappeared and concluded that no treatment was necessary. Subsequently, my husband has applied the Black Salve to another suspected bcc and two suspected solar keratosis spots (as diagnosed by the consultant). Exactly the same thing has happened to these subsequent lesions.
Susan Tindale
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Find out about herbal medicine for treatment of your skin condition
Soapwort – Natural Soap for Skin and Hair
Avoid all the chemicals, petrochemicals and animal products (tallow) found in commercial soaps and shampoos, even found in so-called ‘natural’ products. No nasties found in other products like unnatural, chemical emulsifiers, silicon oil, aggressive chemical preservatives, SLS, mineral oils, silicone oil, PEGs, polyethylene glycols or parabens. These sorts of nasties along with all their false claims you certainly wouldn’t want to be using on your skin. Our shampoo and soap couldn’t be more natural: a blend of herbal powders with nothing else added. I recommend it to all my patients who consult me with serious disease.
You use as much or as little as you want.
Our shampoo and soap are the ultimate safe and pure and natural products!
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Hi Alan, I bought your skinclear soap and shampoo powder about a year ago and I liked it. But when I bought it again last month both of these powders were much more soapier and so much better. They really clean my hair and body. So soapy I could hardly believe it! I had to phone you to make sure it was still 100% plant powders. You gave me that assurance. I’m really impressed with these amazing herbal products. They couldn’t be more natural and so healthy to wash the body with. Thank you so much. S.K. England.
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Soapwort’s native range extends throughout Europe to western Siberia. It grows in cool places at low or moderate elevations under hedgerows and along the shoulders of roadways. Soapwort was originally grown near woollen mills so it was handy for washing wool. Plants have also been found near the sites of old Roman baths. Flowers smell somewhat like Cloves.
The root is rich in saponins and produces a natural soapy lather in water. Not just used for making soap, the plant can also be used to make a shampoo for dry, itchy scalp – although try to avoid getting shampoo in the eyes as it can irritate them.
Soapwort was used to wash the Turin Shroud. Still used today in cleaning old fabrics. This probably helped in its preservation because Soapwort contains a fungicide. A decoction of the plant can be applied externally to treat itchy skin, eczema, psoriasis, acne and boils.
Our SkinClear Soap is simply a mixed powder of soapwort root, comfrey, slippery elm powder, marshamallow root, oats and lavender flowers – all perfect for your skin’s health and cleanlines. It is gentle on the skin, healing for skin problems and a highly effective natural cleanser – for eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections (ringworm/tinia), and general health. Place some of the powder in your hand, add a little water and wash your whole body; or you can put some of the powder in a flannel mit or loofah, perfect!
Then wash your hair with our soapwort shampoo. Made from soapwort root, yucca and rosemary – nothing else – pure and simple. Yucca is known for its help in hair loss, hair thinning and baldness (including tinea or ringworm in the scalp which causes bald patches). Washes and softens your hair and cleanses your scalp; conditions and cleans – couldn’t be more natural.
Both our soap and shampoo are low lather products – completely natural!
Buy our unique SkinClear Soap Powder: see prices
“I love using this soap on my skin, it makes it feel soft and smooth” – Melissa (Northern Ireland)
Buy our SkinClear Shampoo Powder see prices
“I’ve tried the shampoo & found it washed my hair well” – Linda (London)
“Your shampoo is really good. It becomes like a jelly and cleans my hair like the American Indians used to use. I’m glad you use Yucca in it which is so good for the hair and scalp. My wife likes it as well.” Peter (Kent)
Summary of Skin Conditions
Acne
Acne is the term for pimples and complexion problems which occur in young people and some adults. Pimples usually occur on the face, but may involve the neck, chest, back and upper arms. Acne is only a skin problem and does not affect your general health. See our SpotLess Herbal Tonic Order SpotLess Tonic and Lotion
Sun Spots (age spots)
Sun spots (age spots), also known as lentigines, are harmless, flat, brown discolorations of the skin which usually occur on the back of the hands, neck and face of people older than 40 years of age. These spots more than anything else, give away a person’s age. Sun spots are caused by the skin being exposed to the sun over many years and are a sign of sun damage. Apply SkinClear Lotion or Cream, or apply retinol oil or cream. Carrot juice is a great way to protect against sun spots or to heal them or halt their spread. See AgeLess Tonic or Order AgeLess Tonic
Angioma
There are many different types of angiomas. An angioma is a benign tumor that consists of small blood vessels. These tumors can be located anywhere on the body. Some of the different types include: spider angiomas, cherry angiomas, and senile angiomas. Apply Black Salve, Bloodroot, or Wart Lotion.
Athlete’s Foot (tinea pedis)
Tinea pedis or athlete’s foot is a skin infection caused by a kind of mold called a fungus. The fungus causing tinea pedis prefers moist, warm skin; this is why tinea pedis favors the folds between the toes and is often worse in hot weather. In some people tinea pedis can get so bad that blisters form. Not all foot rashes are tinea pedis, only those caused by fungus growing on the skin. See Fungal Infections.
Atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema or eczema)
is a name given to a stubborn, itchy rash that occurs in certain people with sensitive or irritable skin. Eczema is common in infants and young children, and may disappear before adulthood. Eczema may clear for years, only to reappear later – often on the hands. Take SkinClear and use the lotion topically.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
A basal cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinomas are the result of sun damage to the skin. Basal cell carcinomas enlarge slowly and steadily and can invade neighboring tissue, like the eye, but they usually do not spread to distant parts of the body (metastasize). The only way to tell for sure if a skin growth is cancerous is to biopsy it. This involves removing a small piece of the skin and having a pathologist look at it under the microscope in a medical laboratory. A biopsy does not remove the cancer, it only takes off the very top (like the tip of an iceberg). Sometimes the skin will heal after the biopsy because it grows over the cancer. This does not mean the cancer is gone, it means the cancer is now covered with a blanket of skin. If the cancer is not removed completely it can go deep into the skin and cause great harm. The alternative way is to use Black Salve.
Bateman’s Purpura
Bateman’s purpura refers to flat, irregular, purple lesions that appear on your skin as you get older. These lesions usually occur on the back of the hands and the forearms. The skin appears thin and wrinkly, almost flimsy looking. They are common, but not dangerous.
Berloque Dermatitis
Berloque Dermatitis is a skin condition in which patients develop a brownish to reddish discoloration of the neck and sometimes the arms due to applying perfume or cologne to the skin. Sometimes the skin first turns red before changing to a brownish color. This condition can persist for years or even be permanent.
Boils (furuncle, carbuncle)
Boils are painful swellings of the skin caused by deep skin infection with bacteria. Boils begin as red, tender swellings, which may later ooze pus. Some people have recurrent boils.
Bullous Pemphigoid
Bullous pemphigoid is a blistering disease that usually occurs in people over fifty years of age. The blisters are large and can occur anywhere on the skin but are more common on the skin fold areas such as the groin and armpits. Bullous pemphigoid can also involve the mouth. The disease is rarely life-threatening.
Candida
Candida, or Monilia, is a skin rash caused by a yeast living on normal skin in 80% of all people. In most people, the presence of this yeast on the skin is not visible. In some people, for unknown reasons, the yeast grows more actively and causes a red, itchy, scaling rash. The yeast likes warm moist areas and usually grows in the skin folds under the breast, stomach, and arm pits. Also see Thrush and Candida
Cold Sores Herpes Simplex
Herpes simplex is commonly referred to as cold sores or fever blisters. It is a viral infection of the skin that may occur once or return again and again. This is because when the virus is cleared from the skin by the immune system it hides in the nerves and is never completely removed from the body. Herpes infections are very common. It is estimated that nine out of ten people have been exposed to herpes. Many people are infected and don’t even know it. Unfortunately those who carry herpes can spread the disease without knowing it. Order Cold Sore Lotion
Cradle Cap
A form of seborrhea, commonly found in infants, cradle cap is an inflammatory scaling disease of the scalp. Like dandruff, scales and/or flakes can appear in the eyebrows, around the nose and behind the ear. Use our SkinClear Shampoo.
Cysts
A cyst is a harmless sac-like growth in the deeper layers of the skin, which is filled with a soft, whitish brown material that sometimes oozes onto the skin surface. Order CystLess Tonic.
Darier Disease
Darier disease is a stubborn rash which usually runs in families. The rash often starts when one is a teenager. It most commonly affects the chest, neck, back, ears, forehead, and groin, but may involve other body areas. At times the rash will cause a bad odor. This disease can also cause the fingernails to be fragile at the tips causing V-shaped notches at the end of the nails. Treatment: InfectionLess Tonic and ABC Powder. Topically: SkinClear Lotion.
Dry Skin
Xerosis is the term for dry skin. We all have a natural oil coating over our skin produced by the skin oil glands. If this oil is removed, then the skin becomes dry which can lead to cracking, which can lead to inflammation. Xerosis is usually a long-term problem that recurs often, especially in the winter. Treatment: SkinClear Soap Powder; SkinClear Tonic.
Dishidrotic Dermatitis
Dishidrotic dermatitis (pompholyx) is a form of hand eczema more common in women which starts on the sides of the fingers as itchy little bumps and then develops into a rash. The condition can also affect only the feet. Some patients have it in both the hands and feet. This is usually due to nutrient deficiency. Take TotalDetox Tonic with ABC Powder. Apply SkinClear Lotion.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a bacterial infection of the hair follicles or the skin surrounding the hair. This condition is fairly common. Staphylococcus aureus are the most common bacteria that cause folliculitis. It is not known why these bacteria infect the hair follicles. Contact with oils, tar and grease can make one more susceptible to folliculitis. Tight or occlusive clothing such as polyester can contribute to the development of folliculitis. Heat and sweating are also factors that can contribute to folliculitis. Some people are born with a tendency to development folliculitis. If you are one of these people you may have to continue treatment to prevent recurrences. Treatment: Antibiotic Herbal Tonic, ABC Powder, SkinClear Shampoo and Lotion.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia and Fordyce’s Condition
Sebaceous hyperplasia is a skin condition in which a person develops small, yellowish growths, usually on the face. A variant of this condition, known as Fordyce’s condition causes tiny yellow dots in groups and sometimes in sheets on the lips, inside the mouth, and sometimes on the genital skin. In both conditions, the small, yellow spots represent an overgrowth of sebaceous glands. Neither sebaceous hyperplasia or Fordyce’s condition is dangerous. Best to take a long course of the ABC Powder. Also take HerbShield Tonic.
Grover’s Disease
Grover’s disease, or transient acantholytic dermatosis, is a common itchy rash. The rash usually takes the form of small red bumps on the chest, stomach, back and sometimes the arms and legs. Treat this by taking TotalDetox Tonic, LiverDetox Tonic, and ABC Powder. Apply the SkinClear Lotion to the rash.
Halo Nevus
A halo nevus is a mole that is pink or brown surrounded by an area of white or light skin. The halo is depigmented which means it has lost the normal skin pigment or color. Halo nevi are usually seen in young people. The mole portion tends to flatten and may disappear completely. The white area may stay if the mole disappears, or the normal skin color may return. Halo nevi are not dangerous or contagious, but they are sometimes a sign that something is wrong with the skin. Treat this by taking TotalDetox Tonic, LiverDetox Tonic, and ABC Powder. Apply the Wart Lotion to the mole. Also consider our pigmentation tonic for vitaligo. Order from our webstore.
Hand Dermatitis
Hand dermatitis (hand eczema) is common. Hand rashes usually result from a combination of sensitive skin and irritation or an allergic reaction from materials touched. People with hand dermatitis often have dermatitis elsewhere, and frequently blood relatives have hand dermatitis. Use our SkinClear products and ABC Powder.
Miliaria
“Prickly heat” or miliaria is a common rash caused by sweat retention. Use our SkinClear products and ABC Powder.
Herpes Zoster (shingles)
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a nerve infection caused by the chicken-pox virus. Shingles results from reactivation of the chicken-pox virus that remained in your body since you had chicken pox–perhaps many years ago.The rash of shingles begins as red patches that soon develop blisters, often on one side of the body. The blisters may remain smallor can become large. They heal in two to four weeks. They may leave scars. Many patients mistakenly believe that “nervousness” causes shingles–this is wrong; shingles is a viral infection of a nerve and has nothing to do with being “nervous.” Shingles is often painful, this is because the virus travels along the nerve to get to the skin resulting in inflammation and damage to the nerve. Order ShingleLess Tonic and Lotion
Hives
Hives are itching red welts or small bumps that last for 15 minutes to several hours. They usually appear suddenly and leave no trace when they disappear. Crops of hives may appear several times a day, they may even last for weeks, sometimes longer. Hives are harmless except when they cause throat swelling; this is rare but requires immediate treatment. Order Urticaria Tonic
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. The problem may be limited to the armpits, but often the palms and soles of feet sweat excessively also. Excessive sweating becomes noticeable after puberty. Stressful situations such as examinations, job interviews, or an important date will aggravate the sweating. Most over-the-counter antiperspirants do not control hyperhidrosis. Order SweatLess Tonic
Hyperpigmentation
Blotchy, brown spots on the skin. Order Melasma Tonic
Ichthyosis
Ichthyosis is a skin disorder which causes the formation of dry, fish-like scales on the skin’s surface. The condition often begins in early childhood and is usually lifelong. People with ichthyosis have a defect in their skin which causes it to lose moisture. We do not know what this defect is. Use our SkinClear products and ABC Powder.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection caused by bacteria. It is most common in children and is contagious. Impetigo forms round, crusted, oozing spots that grow larger day by day. The hands and face are the favorite locations for impetigo, but it often appears on other parts of the body. While the bacteria causing impetigo may have been caught from someone else with impetigo or boils, impetigo usually begins out of the blue without any apparent source of infection. Order InfectionLess Tonic and SkinClear Lotion
Keloids
A keloid is a greatly enlarged scar that projects above the skin surface. The skin heals by formation of scar tissue, which at first is often red and somewhat prominent. As the months pass, a scar usually becomes flat. Sometimes scars enlarge to form firm, smooth, hard growths called keloids. Use our DMSO lotion to reduce the size of keloids.
Keratoacanthoma
Keratoacanthoma is a type of skin cancer confined to the skin. These skin tumors grow from the hair follicle and usually grow quickly. They are more common in men. Causes: Sunlight is thought to be a factor in the development of keratoacanthomas. Keratoacanthomas are more common in people who smoke. Sometimes minor trauma to the skin occurs before the development of a keratoacanthoma. Use HerbShield and ABC Powder.
Keratosis pilaris
Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition which is usually characterized by small bumps on the back of the arms. It often occurs in people who have rough dry skin. Use our SkinClear products and ABC Powder.
Lichen planus
Lichen planus is rash that can be very itchy and stubborn. It usually involves the wrists, ankles, genitals and mouth but can affect any part of the body. It occurs with equal frequency in both sexes and amongst all races. Order Lichen Planus Tonic
Lichen Simplex Chronicus
Lichen simplex chronicus is a name given to a stubborn itchy rash that occurs in certain people with sensitive or irritable skin; it is also known as localized eczema. Use our SkinClear products and ABC Powder.
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Discoid lupus erythematosus is a chronic skin condition characterized by inflammation and scarring type skin lesions which occur on the, face, ears, scalp and at times on other body areas. These lesions develop as an inflamed growth with scaling and a wart-like appearance. The center areas may appear lighter in color surrounded by an area darker than the normal skin. When lesions occur in hairy areas such as the scalp, permanent scarring and hair loss can occur. A small percentage of patients with discoid lupus can develop disease of the internal organs. Use our SkinClear products and ABC Powder, also use the DMSO and aloe vera lotion.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks that feed on deer and small rodents, such as field mice. The ticks can attach themselves to humans and pierce the skin for a blood-meal. As they feed, they infect humans with spirochetes (spiral bacteria) that spread outwardly, causing the red, circular, and expanding rash characteristic of many, but not all cases of early Lyme disease. Order LymeShield Tonic (specifically for Lyme)
Melasma
Melasma or chloasma is a brownish discoloration of the face that occurs most often in women. Men can also develop this problem. The brown color often fades in winter and gets worse in the summer. Pregnancy (mask of pregnancy) is the most common cause of melasma. Women who are taking oral contraceptives are at risk of developing melasma. Sunlight is a major factor in the development of melasma. Order Melasma Tonic and Lotion
Melanoma
Melanoma or “black mole cancer” is the name given to the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma is so dangerous because once it grows to a certain thickness, it metastasizes or spreads throughout the body. Once melanoma spreads to the internal organs there is little that can be done and death follows shortly after. This type of cancer tends to occur in men and women. See Black Salve
Moles
Moles are harmless skin growths that may be flat or protruding. They vary in color from pink flesh tones to dark brown or black. Everyone has moles; some have a lot, others have only a few. Rarely a mole can become cancerous. If you have a mole which is marching out of step with your other moles, you should have it checked immediately by your doctor. See Black Salve
Molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum consists of small, harmless growths caused by a skin virus. They resemble pimples at first. Later, when they enlarge, they have a waxy, pinkish look and a small central pit. Molluscum contagiosum can be spread from person to person by direct skin contact. It is harmless and never turns cancerous. Molluscum occurs in children and adults. Order ColdLess and Antivirus Tonic, ABC Daily Powder. SkinClear Lotion
Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the finger or toe nails. It can be very difficult to cure. Onychomycosis is caused by a fungus. Often a person has had athlete’s foot for a long time prior to the development of onychomycosis. Sometimes trauma or damage to a nail predisposes to the development of onychomycosis. FungalLess Tonic and Fungal Lotion.
Onychoschizia
Onychoschizia or splitting of the fingernails is one of the most common problems that a dermatologist sees. The term onychoschizia includes splitting, frail, soft or thin nails and nails with ridges. Onychoschizia is more common in women. Repetitive and prolonged wetting and drying of the fingernails is the single most common cause of splitting and ridging of the nails. Splitting of the nails is rarely caused by internal disease or vitamin deficiency. Take TotalDetox Tonic and ABC Powder.
Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis is a rash composed of tiny red bumps that are primarily around the mouth, but can also be seen around the nose and on other areas of the face. Perioral dermatitis is a disease that occurs mostly in young and middle-aged women. Perioral dermatitis can be caused by prolonged therapy with topical corticosteroids (hydrocortisones). The contraceptive pill, fluorinated toothpaste, cosmetic usage and emotional stress can worsen perioral dermatitis. The affected area is often worsened by sunlight and almost always by wind, heat, chlorinated pool water and even by washing with hot water. If you have this condition, premenstrual flare ups are common. Use SkinClear products and take ABC Powder.
Pimples
Acne is the term for pimples and complexion problems which occur in young people and some adults. Pimples usually occur on the face, but may involve the neck, chest, back and upper arms. Acne is only a skin problem and does not affect your general health. Order SpotLess Tonic and Lotion
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are ordinary warts of the sole, or plantar surface, of the foot. Since plantar warts are on a pressure area, they grow inward and are often tender and painful. Like other warts, they are harmless skin growths that are caused by a virus. Plantar warts are common. They may bleed if injured. Since plantar warts are caused by a virus, they are slightly contagious (can spread from person to person). You should not share clothing or linen with someone who has plantar warts. Plantar warts may spread on the body and seed other areas. Order WartLess Tonic and Lotion
Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
Pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps) is a common condition of the beard area occurring in African American men and other people with curly hair. The problem results when highly curved hairs grow back into the skin causing inflammation and a foreign body reaction. Over time, this can cause keloidal scarring which looks like hard bumps of the beard area and neck. Take ABC Powder and apply our DMSO Lotion.
Psoriasis
This skin condition most often appears on the scalp, elbows and knees. Psoriasis affects between 1-3% of the population. It varies in severity from mild to severe. Psoriasis can start at any age. Areas of the skin grow much faster than normal and form red, scaling patches. Psoriasis is itchy and unsightly, but is not contagious. Order Psoriasis Tonic and Lotion
Rosacea
Rosacea is a common face rash of adults. Rosacea is only a skin condition and is not related to your general health. Rosacea has three stages. In the first stage the face gets red. This redness sometimes merges into the normal variants of ruddy or blushy complexions. The redness often persists after cold exposure or after exposure to irritants like soap. With time, small blood vessels develop making the redness more noticeable. Many patients will develop stinging or burning sensations and the skin will often feel tight. The skin feels like a mild sunburn with smiling, frowning, or squinting. Sometimes this progresses to the point that everything the patient puts on his or her face stings, burns, and irritates. Order Rosacea Tonic and Lotion
In the second stage of rosacea, the redness covers a larger area of the face. Slight swelling, pimples, and pustules develop. This is especially noticeable on the nose, mid-forehead, and chin. As the condition progresses, prominent facial pores can develop.
The third stage is characterized by swelling and growth of the nose and central facial areas. At times the ears may be involved as well. This can be very disfiguring. This stage is known as rhinophyma. Most patients do not progress to the third stage of rosacea.
Tinea Corporis
Tinea corporis is commonly known as “ring worm.” Tinea corporis is the term used for fungal infection of the skin. The fungus causes a characteristic lesion which is often clear in the center with a rough, scaly, circular border. The lesions vary in size from very small circular patches to very large patches. Diagnosis is aided through scraping the lesion and examining the scales under the microscope. Order Fungal-Less and Lotion
Scabies
Scabies also known as “the itch” is an intensely itching rash caused by a tiny mite (bug) that lives in the skin. Since it is only 1/60th inch long, the scabies mite is almost impossible to see without magnification. The rash usually involves the hands, wrists, breasts, genital area, and waistline. In severe cases scabies can spread to almost the entire body, but rarely the face. Scabies often resembles other rashes. The only way to find out whether you have scabies is for a doctor to scrape off a piece of skin and examine it under a microscope. Order Scabies Lotion
Schamberg’s Disease
Schamberg’s disease, or progressive pigmented purpuric dermatitis, is a chronic discoloration of the skin which usually affects the legs and often spreads slowly. This disease is more common in males and may occur at any age from childhood onward. People who develop Schamberg’s disease have leaky blood vessel walls which allow red blood cells to slip through into the skin. The red cells in the skin then fall apart and release their iron which has a rust color. This accounts for the orange tint of the rash. Take Heart and Circulation Tonic and ABC Powder.
Scleroderma
Scleroderma means “hard skin” and is pronounced skler-o-derma. Scleroderma is a disease that causes fibrosis (hardening) of the skin and sometimes the internal organs. Scleroderma can range in form from a localized in the skin to systemic scleroderma, a severe disease that affects the internal organs. Order HerbShield the great immunostimulant
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Severe Dandruff. This chronic, scaly rash appears on the scalp, face, ears and chest. It is most frequently seen in the winter months on older people. It is thought by some to be caused by yeast growing on the skin and it is believed those who have it are genetically predisposed to the condition. While there is no cure, treatment to lessen the appearance includes special shampoos and topical ointments. Order SkinClear Tonic and Shampoo
Seborrheic Keratoses (“barnacles of aging”)
Seborrheic keratoses are harmless, common skin growths that first appear during adult life. As time goes by, more growths appear. Seborrheic keratoses appear on both covered and uncovered parts of the body. These growths are sometimes referred to as barnacles of aging. Seborrheic keratoses are harmless and almost never become malignant. Begin as slightly raised, light brown spots. Gradually they thicken and take on a rough, wartlike surface. They slowly darken and may turn black. These color changes are harmless. Seborrheic keratoses are superficial and look as if they were stuck on the skin. Take TotalDetox, LiverDetox, ABC Powder and apply DMSO Lotion.
Solar Keratoses
A solar or actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin growth caused by sun damage. Solar keratoses are difficult to see, they feel rough and are sometimes scaly. Solar keratoses are not skin cancer, but if left untreated they can turn into skin cancer. Apply Black Salve Lotion.
Squamous Cell (carcinoma of the skin)
A squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is a form of skin cancer which is usually the result of long-term sun damage to the skin. Squamous cell carcinomas enlarge slowly and steadily and can invade neighboring tissue, like the eye. They can also spread to distant parts of the body (metastasize) if not treated early. The only way to tell for sure if a skin growth is cancerous is to biopsy it. Order HerbShield, ABC Powder
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is an abnormal loss of hair due to alteration of the normal hair cycle. Hair growth occurs in a cycle which is divided into three phases: a growth phase, a regression phase and a resting phase. Different hairs are in different stages of the cycle at any one time. Normally, most of the hairs are in the growth stage and only one hundred hairs per day fall from the scalp. When telogen effluvium occurs, a greater proportion of the hairs enter the resting phase of the cycle and hair shedding is greater than normal. During pregnancy, more hair follicles are maintained in the growth phase. After pregnancy, a greater proportion of these hairs go into the resting phase, causing a temporary self-correcting increased shedding of the hair. The same phenomenon can be seen after stopping birth control pills, stress, medications or chronic illnesses. Take Hair Tonic for women or men, apply hair lotion. Take ABC Powder daily.
Tinea Versicolor
Tinea versicolor is a chronic skin condition caused by a yeast living on normal skin of all people. In most people, the presence of this yeast on the skin is not visible. In some people, for unknown reasons, the yeast grows more actively and causes an itchy scaling rash. People who have tinea versicolor are genetically predisposed to developing a rash when this germ is present on the skin. When the yeast grows on untanned skin, the rash is pink to brown. When the yeast grows on tanned skin, the rash looks white because the yeast blocks out the sunlight and the skin where the yeast is growing, does not tan. When growing on Asian or African-American skin, the rash can look darker or lighter than the surrounding skin depending on the patient. Take Candida Tonic. Apply SkinClear Lotion. Take ABC Powder.
Urticaria (hives)
Hives are itching red welts or small bumps that last for 15 minutes to several hours. They usually appear suddenly and leave no trace when they disappear. Crops of hives may appear several times a day, they may even last for weeks, sometimes longer. Hives are harmless except when they cause throat swelling; this is rare but requires immediate treatment. Hives can be caused by something taken internally, most often a medicine such as penicillin or aspirin. Sometimes foods cause hives; shellfish and strawberries are well-known examples. Hives are also sometimes caused by infection. Order Urticaria Tonic also ABC Powder
Urticaria Pigmentosa
Urticaria pigmentosa is an uncommon rash that usually affects the neck, arms, legs and trunk of children and young adults. The rash consists of reddish-brown spots that turn into hives when they are rubbed hard or scratched. Sometimes the spots will blister. Take Urticaria Tonic also ABC Powder
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a common skin disorder in which white spots appear on the skin usually occurring on both sides of the body in the same location. The disease has been around for thousands of years. Vitiligo occurs in 1-2% of the population. It affects both sexes, all races and all ages. Order Vitiligo Tonic
Warts
Warts are harmless skin growths caused by a virus. They have a rough surface on which tiny dark specks may be seen. They may grow on any part of the body and their appearance depends on their location. Warts in the genital or rectal area have a wet appearance and have been said to look like cauliflower. Order WartLess Tonic and Lotion
Xanthomas
Xanthomas occur on the eye lids, usually on both sides. They are yellow, soft, and slightly raised bumps. Xanthomas are made of cholesterol deposits and are fairly common on the eyelids. Sometimes they can occur suddenly on other areas of the body. These are called eruptive xanthomas and are a sign that blood fat levels are too high. If one gets eruptive xanthomas a physician should be consulted as soon as possible. Take Cholesterol-Less Tonic and TotalDetox Tonic, and ABC Powder.
With all these conditions make sure you also take a spoon of ABC Daily Herbal NutriPowder Plus
Other specific herbal tonics for the skin:
psoriasis
acne and spots
blepharitis
ringworm/fungal infections
anti-aging tonic
Black Salve and Bloodroot for skin lesions