“Dear Pharmacist,
Skin problems seem to run in my family. i have severe rosacea, my husband has a new scar on his face and my daughter has acne and warts! Help us; we look like the Munsters” from TV. What are some “Suzy secrets” to help clear the skin?” –D.V., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Answer: Suzy secrets? That’s funny. Okay then, just between you and me, this is what to do.
Rosacea: This is an inflammatory condition in the body that causes redness and pustules all around the nose and center of the face. Avoiding alcohol, direct sunlight and spicy foods will help, but stress is the biggie. because inflammatory chemicals need to be reduced, doctors often prescribe prednisone packs or steroid creams. before i took steroids, i would buy probiotics, a digestive enzyme supplement and a digestive acid (like betaine hydrochloride) and take this with each meal. if you feel heartburn, stop the digestive acid supplement. i’d also take a b-complex and drink fenugreek tea daily. A day wouldn’t go by without me consuming a superfood like chlorella or spirulina (sold online or at health food stores).
Acne: Kids with lots of acne breakouts may be low in zinc, or in Vitamin A. They may also have high levels of processed junk foods, trans fats and sugar! Tea tree oil sold in health food stores can be applied to the zits. Routine facials help clean and exfoliate your skin. but if you can’t afford that, buy some conventional products like clearasil, Oxy 10 balance or bye, bye blemish. Naturopathica makes an all-natural, organic Moss Extract blemish remover, which contains Kaolin clay, calendula and other flower extracts to dry out blemishes, kill bacteria and remove redness (www.naturopathica.com).
Scars: some people rub raw garlic cloves on their scars (or their pimples), which helps fight bacteria and reduce scars. i would take 4 mg. astaxanthin or 400 iU Vitamin E by mouth each day. some people rub Vitamin E oil on the skin and this is fine to do as well. Drink orange juice daily and keep an aloe vera plant handy, rubbing it on your skin can work wonders.
Warts: These skin growths are caused by a type of Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. Your immune system has to be weak in order for these little guys to erupt. so eat better and take immune-building supplements, which i’ve discussed in detail in many prior columns and in my book, “The 24-Hour Pharmacist.” some people paint clear nail polish or apply duct tape to the warts in order to starve them from oxygen. conventional treatments like Wartner or Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away are sold nationwide. stubborn warts will require your trusty dermatologist.
Did You Know?
if you peel the banana upside down (away from the stem), you won’t have to pick off any of the strings, they come off with the peel.
Suzy Cohen, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years and believes the best approach to chronic illness is a combination of natural medicine and conventional. She founded her own dietary supplement company specializing in custom-formulas, some of which have patents. With a special focus on functional medicine, thyroid health and drug nutrient depletion, Suzy is the author of several related books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, Diabetes Without Drugs, and a nationally syndicated column.
