Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis and their psychological effects

Keeping Acne At Bay During the Summer By Mari Bozozo The Dog Days of Summer are undoubtedly here. Along with the long lazy days, beachcombing, sunbathing, and buying our fair share in stocks of bug repellent sprays and antihistamines, we must also tango with the soaring temperatures. And if you’re not blessed enough to reside in areas such as the west coast or the southwest, the heat becomes especially unbearable when coupled with oppressive humidity. Of course, the challenges become amplified for the acne sufferer. Sigh. Is Autumn here yet?! As you may tell, Summer is not my favorite season, and for the reasons mentioned above. However, as someone with a propensity toward challenged skin, I am determined to navigate my way through it, regardless of the darts that the sun rays and the relentless dew points throw at me. One way that I do this is by trying my hardest to keep my sweat to a minimum, particularly when exercising. This is why I avoid any vigorous activity that involves be...

Word Association Test On Skin Disease Words Do Matter By Audrey “This test in which the organ of the skin played a vital role as psychic mediator was developed by Carl Jung when he worked as a psychiatrist at the Psychiatric Hospital in Zurich at the turn of the century. It was to mark the beginning of his understanding of the psychic material which presented itself to him, in the course of his work, and during his subsequent psychiatric investigations and studies. Between the years 1902 and 1907 Jung’s early work produced the extraordinary and exciting demonstration that the skin’s electrical activity changed remarkably when certain specific words, (charged with emotional overtones for the subject) were spoken in the course of the test. It became clear that mental activity particularly the process of recall evoked the simple verbal stimuli was consistently and continuously reflected by skin changes. Jung’s paper on his psychological investigations with the galvanometer was ...

What About Men With Acne? By Mari Bozozo As a woman, I know all too well that the lot of us are subjected to acne for a plethora of reasons, with hormonal imbalances heading at the top of the list. This would not only explain our cyclical skin eruptions but why we appear to be the sex that appears to struggle with it at a higher rate, thus making us far more vocal about this issue. But what about men with acne? While I believe that they are just as susceptible to it as women, it appears that they adopt a stance of silence and inaction toward it. Thus, resulting in more challenges dealing with it. Certainly, I am not undermining a woman’s insufferable experiences with acne. If that were the case, I’d be undermining my very own. However, if I’m to do a “comparative analysis” in regards to which sex is at a more disadvantage in having acne, I’d be compelled to admit that it very well may be men. Ponder over this for a moment: As women, what is the #1 go-to weapon in our arsenal to eithe...

By: Audrey You can’t be on top of everything. None of us are. So, what will you do about it? What will you do about the areas where you don’t make the commitment and take the time or practice patience to reach your goals and be exceptional? One approach is to never talk about it and ignore it.  Do the work poorly, but pretend you don’t. Another approach is to talk about it and deal with it. Make the effort to find resources you can use to solve your issues. Find a source that will challenge you to do better. Find new and better ways to improve… It’s hard to imagine that avoidance of the issue is going to make things better.

Skin disease: A message from the soul by Dr. Anne Maguire Dr. Anne Maguire a dermatologist and a trained analytical psychologist at Jung Institute has done a great job explaining how our psyche affects everything in our lives including skin disease. A must read for people who suffer from all sorts of skin diseases. She says: “The last fifty years has encompassed unparalleled development in the world of scientific medical research. Yet, still, the causation of many diseases eludes consciousness. Nowhere is this more apparent, than in the sometimes neglected, discipline of dermatology. In which, a scientific basis for causation and treatment is offered to very few diseases of the skin. In fact, the etiology, the cause, is unknown in the vast majority. This work is an exploration of the unconscious psychic background of acute, but mainly chronic skin disease. It is a study, which includes both the personal unconscious of each individual and the vast archetypal world with its comm...

How to Manage Acne By Mari Bozozzo Blog # 3 of 3 Another strategic method to use in ridding yourself of acne would be that of oil cleansing. Oil cleansing is just as it sounds. It is the use of natural oils to cleanse the skin, instead of traditional cleansers, especially cleansers that target acne. The latter is actually not good for the skin, as they tend to be drying/stripping. Overly dry skin usually results in more acne. If you are using cleansers that supposedly treat acne, you may want to rethink it, as it serves as a counterpoint to the process. I have used jojoba and avocado oil, in addition to product 3 in 1 Body Drench, a gel to oil cleanser. My esthetician suggested that I give it a try, so naturally, I did. I must admit my skin purged. However, if you can get past that effect, and have a little patience, you may get the results that you’re in search of. To be completely candid, I’m on the cusp about this method, on top of my not giving it enough time to really s...

How to Manage Acne By Mari Bozozzo Blog 2 of 3 This week, I will continue in my exploration of discovering more ways to manage Acne. Vitamin A peels have given me immaculate results. My esthetician is a huge fan of them, and now I see why. For me, it runs unparalleled in exfoliating the skin. Since receiving these peels, any acne or congestion that used to be trapped underneath my skin is only too easy to extract now. I have more even skin and smooth skin, as a result. I would get a Vitamin A peel every two weeks. But now with Summer approaching, it may prove to be counterproductive to get them, as my esthetician noted. Inquire with your esthetician to learn what peels may be of benefit to you. These two are no brainers in keeping acne to the absolute minimum: Get plenty of exercises and avoid foods that encourage flare-ups. I know it’s easier said than done, but you will get results, granted that these things are done in conjunction with all of the above. Exercise, for o...

How to Manage Acne By Mari Bozozzo  BLOG #1 of 3 ACNE. Such a tiny word for something that wreaks havoc in disproportionate amounts for all of us who continue to suffer from this physically and emotionally debilitating issue. ACNE could very well stand for Anxiety-Inducing, Compulsively obsessing, Never being happy, and Esteem destroying. Sounds familiar? If you are reading this, chances are that you know all too well the negative impact that this condition can have on your life. I personally have suffered from acne, varying from mild to severe, for at least 25 years now. I cannot begin to expound upon the emotional, mental, psychological, and physical disruptions that it has caused. Not to mention the mind-numbing amounts of money, time, and energy that I spent to the point of exhaust in my attempts to eradicate this dream killer from my life’s existence once and for all. Who out there can relate? Probably each and every one of you. So here’s the million dollar question: What is...