I recently had a sudden skin inflammation caused by seborrheic dermatitis that had me in the kitchen mixing up all kinds of concoctions night and day. The condition is characterized by redness, sensitivity and dryness or flakiness. To make matters worse it was on my face and hairline, so it's not like I could just go around in a long sleeved shirt and jeans and call it a day.
It turns out that this is a common skin and scalp condition that many people experience. It is a mild form of yeast. Why on earth would I be sharing this personal information on my blog you may wonder? Well, I am trying to keep it real. There is a certain level of transparency that is freeing to self and others. Maybe this will help other people find relief too, saving them from hours of concocting in their kitchens, or worse, experimenting with crazily toxic over the counter creams that may not even work.
After a few hits and misses I stumbled upon the following mixture which not only healed my condition, but had my skin looking the best it had looked in recent memory. So this is the basic recipe;
2 Tablespoons raw honey
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon neem powder
1 teaspoon noni powder
1 tablespoon aloe juice or gel (optional)
1/2 teaspoon EM 1 (optional)
Mix all ingredients together into a paste and apply to clean skin, spreading evenly over face, neck and any other affected areas. Leave the mask on for at least an hour, and for up to 4 hours if possible - especially if you are experiencing an outbreak. Rinse with cold water and a clean face cloth. Rub gently until you have removed all remnants of the mask. Do not wash face with soap after this. Proceed with your regular beauty regimen (toning and moisturizing) as usual. I prefer to just add a few drops of a dry oil like baobab or melon seed ( check out www.sheaterraorganics.com for these lovely oils) with a dash of essential oil after this.
For regular beauty maintenance, just a half hour daily or min. 3 times weekly is very beneficial.
You will notice that you will have less outbreaks, reduced inflammation, wonderful hydration and moisturization and a nice glow on which your friends are sure to complement you.
You may also find that washing your face with soap less often (a few times a week ) and using witch hazel on a cotton ball as a substitute cleanser in between washings may help. I found that my skin does not respond well to total elimination of soap or cleanser. But there are many people out there, with more normal skin, that do better by eliminating soap/ cleansers all together. It is just to drying for the skin and destroys the delicate acid mantle that actually acts as a protective barrier for your face.
My favorite cleansers are castille soap bars (www.annelees.com has a great selection), Lluvia has an excellent Botanical Facial Cleanser (get it from www.amazonherb.net ) and so does the ISUN line. ISUN's phyto-cleanse I for mature and or dry skin and II for oily and younger skin. (check out the Tree of Life's Culture of Life Shop at www.awakenedshoppe.com or you may call in your order at 520-394-2520 ext 221 or ext 212).
The honey in the mask I think is one of the key ingredients. It hydrates, exfoliates and kills all bad things (antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial). It also has a ton of enzymes, and glycolic acid that help to remove dead skin from the surface, to reveal the fresh new skin beneath.
Noni and neem are also very antibacterial and antifungal, and are both known for healing skin conditions. Turmeric has been used for ages by indian women both internally and externally for beautifying skin and creating a vibrant complexion.
EM 1 is chock full of probiotics, which I think helps to soften the skin and eat harmful bacteria off of the affected areas.
Aloe soothes inflammation, hydrates and promotes collagen synthesis.
If you are in a pinch for ingredients, just the raw honey on its own will work.
Feel free to mix and match and give me feedback on how this works for you.
peace, love and beauty
Eden
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