Everybody wants to have skin that is devoid of any blemishes. Unfortunately, there are so many skin conditions or even the simple accumulation of dirt that make it impossible for some to have flawless skin.
The periodic outburst of pimples on the skin during puberty tops the list of these conditions. But the skin condition that scares most teens (and some pre-teens and older adults as well) a great deal is known as acne.
The condition is disturbing for some, and nothing short of devastating for others. It can rob a person of their self-esteem and tear their self-confidence to shreds.
Often, it requires medical treatment for people to see any change in their skin, and there is a general notion that homemade treatments can do little to alleviate the condition.
However, the discovery of activated bamboo charcoal has changed that notion a great deal. Activated bamboo charcoal has proven to be especially useful in clearing acne spots, thus offering those who suffer from the condition a sweet and swift relief.
Activated charcoal also has a number of other aesthetic uses, not to mention how useful it is in a number of medical procedures. In fact, while it is true that activated bamboo charcoal is just getting noticed in the world of beauty and cosmetics, the product has long been used in hospitals to help alleviate a number of illnesses.
What Is Activated Charcoal?
At the mention of charcoal, no doubt most people start thinking about ordinary coal, and images of mines and stoves immediately spring to mind.
Some may even be slightly repulsed at the thought of using charcoal for any kind of beauty routine. While no one is denying that activated charcoal is some kind of charcoal anyway, there is a huge difference between it and ordinary charcoal.
And it is that slight difference that makes it so powerful in clearing acne as well as the countless other functions it serves.
Activated charcoal is a type of carbon that has been processed in order to increase its surface area for adsorption. The carbon is heated so that it expands a lot, thus making it exceedingly porous.
The process makes it micro porous, which means that it has very small and fine pores. In that state, it has an incredibly high rate of adsorption. A very little amount of activated charcoal occupies an unbelievably large amount of space, which only goes to show just how effective the process is.
Acne on the other hand is a skin condition characterized by red skin and pimples. The condition is more common during puberty, although it does affect pre-teens and adults as well.
Hormonal imbalance is usually to blame when the condition occurs during the teenage years, because it is during this age that teens experience the full impact of raging hormones.
This imbalance affects the normal working of sebaceous glands, whose job is to provide oil for the skin. When these glands start functioning abnormally, it results in excess oil being produced and deposited on the surface of the skin.
This excess oil then blocks the pores of the skin and hair follicles. The combination of oil and dead skin is lethal for the skin, and the face is particularly vulnerable. With pores blocked and plenty of oil having accumulated on the skin, bacteria begin to thrive. This then leads to the condition known as acne which can occur in varying intensities. Acne can cause scarring, and the pustules are particularly sensitive and painful. Coupled with the fact that the condition also takes a huge toll on a person’s emotional and social life, there is obvious need to get immediate treatment for acne.
There are many ways through which acne is treated, some of which include taking medicine and applying creams on the affected areas. Because acne is a bacterial infection, it is often treated using antibiotics. Some of these drugs need to be ingested, while others are meant for external use only. There are also drugs that are administered to help remove some of the excess oil from the skin. These drugs often contain Vitamin A, which achieves that effect very easily. There is yet another group of drugs used to treat acne that aims at removing dead skin from the face.
These drugs have salicylic acid as a major component, and it is this chemical that helps remove the dead cells that contribute significantly to the disease. Sometimes, watching what you eat can also help you in the fight against acne, as some foods contain the nutrients that nourish the skin. However, one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep acne at bay is to use activated bamboo charcoal, as will be explained to you in subsequent paragraphs.
Benefits Of Using Activated Bamboo Charcoal On Your Skin
Activated bamboo charcoal is especially useful in battling acne. This is because it is has an exceedingly high adsorption rate and has absolutely no adverse effects on the skin. Once you apply activated charcoal on your face, all the oil and dirt is pulled to it as though it were a magnet. The charcoal attracts not only the huge oil molecules to its surface, but even the finer, tinier, and invisible toxins that also play a significant role in causing acne.
When you finally rinse the charcoal off your face, then all the dirt, toxins and oil are washed away as well. It is because of this that activated bamboo charcoal helps clear acne so effectively. Once the dirt and oil is off your face, then the bacteria have nothing to thrive on, and the pimples will certainly disappear. In addition to fighting acne, this activated charcoal has plenty of other benefits for your skin.
Because of how it effectively gets rid of oil and other dirt from your face, it also clears the pores. This in turn makes the pores much smaller and less visible, and leaves your face much fresher. Needless to say, every time you look in the mirror, you will be nothing short of pleased with what you see. The effects of activated bamboo charcoal on your skin are nothing short of miraculous.
Activated bamboo charcoal is also very helpful for those who have a skin that is naturally oily. If you have oily skin, then no doubt you will appreciate the transformative effect that activated charcoal will have on your skin. One cannot overemphasize just how effectively activated charcoal gets rid of excess oil on your skin. However, one must use the product with a bit of caution, as frequent and continued use on your skin can drain your face completely of oil. While you may be very familiar with the distaste of an oily skin, you should also be aware that excessively dry skin is no good either. You should aim at achieving balance, and not an extremely dry or oily skin. Washing your face using activated charcoal once or twice a week should be enough to keep the excess oil at bay while at the same time preventing your skin from being completely dry.
Activated Charcoal And Teeth
Activated bamboo charcoal is also useful in whitening teeth. Just like acne, having stained teeth can greatly erode a person’s self-esteem. The staining may be gradual, and it is only when the situation escalates that most people start looking for a solution to the problem. Often times, the solution takes the form of rigorous dental procedures, which are also usually quite expensive. Activated bamboo charcoal is, however, an effective and much cheaper alternative to the dental procedures. It removes stains from teeth using the same principle of absorbability. It binds plaque and other microscopic substances that attach themselves to the surface of your teeth, and as you rinse the charcoal off, the stains leave as well.
Activated charcoal is also great for your overall oral health. It has been shown to get rid of bad breath, which is a relatively embarrassing problem that makes many people suffer in silence. It also promotes PH balance in your mouth and also plays a significant role in preventing oral diseases such cavities and even bleeding gums.
In order to enjoy all the benefits that activated charcoal holds for your teeth, all you have to do is to apply some activated charcoal on top of the paste on your toothbrush, and then brush your teeth as usual. Activated bamboo charcoal has virtually no taste, and there is absolutely no harm in ingesting it.
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal also serves various functions in hospitals. It is used to treat cases of poisoning and even drug overdose. Because of how adsorbent it is, activated charcoal is able to bind the toxic substances, such as mercury, bleaches, and pesticides to its surface very fast, before they are circulated in the body through the circulatory system. Once the toxins get attached to the surface of the activated charcoal, they are then flushed out of the circulatory system and eventually out of the body through the excretory system.
Activated charcoal is also used in case a person takes an overdose of ordinary medical drugs, and the same principle of adsorption applies in the case of an illegal drug overdose as well. The same powder is also very effective in relieving the discomfort caused by insect and animal bites.
But perhaps the single most alluring aspect of using activated charcoal on your skin is the fact that the powder cannot adversely affect your skin. Often times, people are wary of using some skin care products because they might contain some harsh chemicals or ingredients that can cause allergic reactions.
This is not the case with activated bamboo charcoal. Save for absorbing the unwanted dirt and oil from your skin, the product does absolutely nothing else to your precious skin. It is, after all, made from just one ingredient. Cases of allergic or other reactions that were triggered by using the product are completely unheard of. When you use this product, you have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Sources of Activated Charcoal
Activated bamboo charcoal powder can be purchased from many chemists and beauty shops. In order to rid your face of acne pimples and other blemishes, you can either make a mask using the powder or scrub your face using the same. For added effect, you should also consider using the powder together with other exfoliating facial scrubs. The scrubs will get rid of the dead skin on your face, while the activated charcoal deeply cleanses your face, thus ridding it of any dirt that has accumulated over time.
Activated bamboo charcoal can also be found in various beauty products, where it is used as one of the ingredients. Using such products is highly advisable, as they will not only remove the dirt from your face, but also balance the moisture on your skin, thus preventing your skin from becoming completely dry.
Conclusion on Activated Charcoal
Acne is a devastating condition, this is an undeniable fact. The effects of this seemingly painless and harmless condition can be very far reaching indeed. It has been shown to make people less social, and some even go into isolation because of the condition. Because of the self-esteem problems that it causes, some who suffer from the condition also often find it very difficult to have serious and rewarding relationships. The chain of consequences that is sparked by this condition is indeed unending, and all these consequences can be life changing.
But that need not be your predicament. You can easily battle the external manifestations of acne by using activated bamboo charcoal. Using the powder is just about the easiest thing to do. Sometimes, all you have to do is add it to your usual beauty routine, and you are good to go. If you feel like it, you can even just apply the powder on the affected part only, and the pimples will be gone in no time. You might even consider purchasing skin-cleansing products that have activated bamboo charcoal as a core ingredient, and you will enjoy all the benefits that this porous powder has to offer. All in all, activated bamboo charcoal is one of the most effective and powerful remedies that can significantly help combat the ravages of an acne outbreak.