Acne may be one of the most annoying things college students can face—especially when a special date or once-in-a-lifetime event calls for a picture-perfect complexion.
It’s not always probable to spend a fortune on fancy dermatologists, expensive topical treatments, or the torture of an arduously long trial and error process to figure out what works best for your individual skin.
Sure, there are home remedies that work wonders for a select few, but what about the rest of us? Have you ever thought that acne, as much as we despise it, might be onto something?
Welcome to face mapping. This idea, based on traditional oriental medical techniques, argues that acne itself is not the culprit, but rather there are worse, internal issues within our bodies that result in acne acting as a warning signal to alert us of what exactly is wrong.
Don’t believe me? The International Dermal Institute has developed a whole new technique called Face Mapping that promises to identify the causes of acne by looking at what part of the face it is inhibiting.
Take a look at the map below, identify your most troubled spots, and find your solution to the ultimate healthy, happy skin you need.
Zones 1 and 3: This area pertains to the bladder and digestive system. As an easy solution to your acne woes, eat less processed food, reduce the amount of fat in your diet, and increase your water intake. You can also use cooling masks, like those incorporating cucumber or aloe.
Zone 2: The area in between your eyes is most often associated with the liver. Persistent acne can mean too much alcohol consumption, eating too many rich foods (i.e., dairy), or even the prevalence of a food allergy. Also, 30 minutes of light exercise daily will help relax your liver a bit.
Zone 4: Your kidneys might need a break if the area around your ears are often inflamed. Greatly increase your water consumption and decrease your intake of caffeine and alcohol (trust me, give it a try).
Zones 5 and 9: Annoying acne on the cheeks can make or break a good day. Odds are, if you smoke, have allergies, or use a dirty cellphone or pillowcase, this could be the cause of those pesky pimples. In addition, be careful not to let your face overheat, especially in the summer. Eat more cooling foods (e.g, celery, soy, tomatoes), cut down on sugar and get more fresh air. Problem solved.
Zone 6: Anything around the eyes (including dark circles) hint at dehydration. This area accurately portrays the conditions of your body, particularly your kidneys. Drink up!
Zone 7: Check your blood pressure and Vitamin B levels. You should decrease your intake of spicy food, cut down on meat and replace the “bad fats” with “good fats” in your diet. Also, since this area is pore-heavy, ensure that your makeup has not expired and does not clog your skin.
Zones 11 and 13: This is the main area that shows stress and hormonal changes. While these factors are uncontrollable, you can decrease their effect by getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating vegetables, and keeping your skin clean. For women, this area also represents the ovaries, and breakouts can often appear before menstruation.
Zone 12: Breakouts can indicate a hormonal imbalance, which can be caused by stress. Poor diet and potential food allergies can also affect this area because the chin is linked to the small intestine. Increase your fiber intake and drink herbal teas to aid in digestion.
Zone 14: Inflammation here may indicate that your body is fighting bacteria to avoid illness. To relax a little, take a yoga class, make sure you are getting enough sleep, and try to control the factors that stress you out the most.
Acne is the worst. While face mapping might not be able to solve for all your skin problems, it definitely provides a unique insight into how the body responds to certain internal issues. Next time you’re tempted to buy that $100 acne advertised on TV, think again and use other methods, such as switching up your diet or drinking lemon water. It’s so important to remember that beauty starts from within.