Use a headband or ponytail holder to keep hair out of your face. Use your fingertips to massage a gentle cleanser, such as Dove or Cetaphil, into your skin using gentle, circular motions for about a minute. Rinse your face thoroughly.  Use lukewarm water; hot water can damage sensitive skin. Pat your face dry using a clean towel. Don’t rub or scrub! You can also choose a plant-oil based cleaner. Grapeseed and sunflower oils are common bases for these cleaners, and can help absorb and dissolve the extra oil from your skin. Some people have allergies or sensitivities to essential oils, so before you put any essential oil into your steam cleanse, test it on your skin.  Mix together three drops of essential oil with ½ teaspoon of a carrier oil, such as sunflower oil. Apply a few drops to the pad of an adhesive bandage and put the bandage on the inside of your forearm. Leave for 48 hours. If your skin is red, itchy, swollen, or develops a rash, do not use that essential oil for your steam cleanse. Thyme, oregano, clove, and cinnamon oil can cause skin irritation in some people. Many citrus oils can cause burning on your skin if it is exposed to sunlight after application. Bring the water to a boil and let it boil for a minute or two. Several essential herbal oils have antibacterial or antiseptic properties, allowing them to kill the bacteria and other microorganisms on your skin that can promote acne. You should never ingest essential oils, as many are toxic or cause unpleasant side effects when consumed. Here are some good options:  Spearmint or peppermint. Add one drop per quart of water; you can increase this if necessary. Both peppermint and spearmint oil contain menthol, which has antiseptic properties.  Thyme. Thyme has antibacterial properties and increases blood circulation by opening up blood vessels.  Calendula. Calendula has antimicrobial properties and can help accelerate skin healing.  Lavender. In addition to being very soothing, lavender oil has antibacterial properties.  Rosemary. Rosemary is naturally antibacterial and is especially effective against P. acnes.  Oregano. Oregano oil is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.  Avoid tea tree oil for steam baths, as it is highly toxic when consumed. You can substitute ½ teaspoon of the dried herb for essential oil if you can’t find the essential oil. After you have added the herbs and boiled for one minute, remove the pot from the heat. Move it to a stable, comfortable area, such as a countertop or table. You may want to place the hot pot on a trivet or cloth. Place your face over the steaming pot. Close your eyes. Keep your face at least 12 inches from the water. The steam will dilate your blood vessels and open up your pores, but getting too close to the hot water could damage or even burn your skin. Try to relax and take even, calming breaths. Keep your face over the steam for 10 minutes. If you begin to feel uncomfortable before the 10 minutes is up, move away from the steam. Use lukewarm water to rinse your face, and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Don’t rub your skin. You can use a brand of moisturizer that will not block pores, such as Olay, Neutrogena, or Clinique. You can also make your own acne-fighting moisturizer using natural oils. Check the labels of store-brand moisturizers. Choose one that states that it will not clog pores (noncomedogenic) and is oil-free.. You can safely use this steam cleanse up to twice a day: once in the morning and once at night. After two weeks, you should see improvement in your acne. Once you see improvement, you can go down to once a day.
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One-sentence summary -- Pull your hair away from your face. Pre-cleanse your face. Pre-test your skin with an essential oil. Fill a 1-quart pot with water. Add one to two drops of essential oils. Move the pot to a stable area. Cover your head with a large, clean cotton towel. Breathe normally. Rinse your face well. Apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Steam cleanse up to twice a day.


If you’re a child or teenager, ask an adult for help. Your parents, teachers, principal and school counselor are all in a position to put a stop to the situation before it goes any further. Don’t assume the problem will go away on its own; speak up immediately to put a stop to it. You might be tempted to let the bullying run its course instead of bringing attention to the problem, but if you do that the bully will get the message that there’s no penalty for harassing someone. Tell a person in authority what’s going on, and explain to them the ways in which you’re being cyberbullied. If you’re not comfortable talking to a principal, talk to your favorite teacher or the school counselor. Every school has a policy for dealing with bullying, and more and more schools have a specific plan for putting a stop to cyberbullying.  No matter what your school’s individual policy might be, it’s part of the administrators’ job to resolve the situation. If you’re a child or teenager, know that taking this issue to the school is the right thing to do. Other kids at the school may be experiencing cyberbullying, too. The school needs to be made aware of the problem to take steps to end it. If you’re a parent, set up a meeting with the school principal to address the problem head-on. Cyberbullying usually violates the terms of service laid out by social media sites, cell phone providers, and other service providers. Read up on your providers’ policies and take steps to report threatening behavior. The provider may decide to penalize the bully or delete their account as a result of your report. You may have to send your records of the cyber bully’s messages to the provider as proof you are being bullied. In some cases cyberbullying may be classified as a crime, which places it beyond the jurisdiction of schools and service providers. If the cyberbullying involves one of the following elements, call your local police department, or report to the officer stationed at your school.  Threats of violence or death. Sexually explicit photos or descriptions of sex acts. If the images are of a minor, this may be considered child pornography. Secretly-recorded photos or videos that were taken without the subject’s knowledge. Hateful texts or online messages that single out and harass the victim on the basis of race, gender, religion, or sexual identity.
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One-sentence summary --
Tell a trustworthy adult that you’re being cyberbullied. Talk to your school administrators if you’re being cyberbullied. Report the bully to your service providers and social media sites. Contact law enforcement for cases of severe bullying.