Three Stages of a Skin Condition
When we analyze topical conditions, we can first divide what we see or feel on the surface into 3 stages. Please Click on Each Stage to learn more about it.
Primary Conditions are symptoms in their first stage of appearance. This includes both issues resulting from the skin doing it’s job (see Functions of the Skin Chart) or issues resulting from the skin not functioning properly-dysfunction. (See Triangulator Chart). These conditions include everything from rashes to welts to scrapes or uneven texture. Primary simply describes that stage that it is in.
Conditions that are in the Secondary Stage are in the process of either the immune system acting upon a primary skin condition (Pus, inflammation, scabs) an external source (such as a drug or skin care product) that is making the body behave the way it is. We also call these "COMPOUND SYMPTOMS"
Tertiary Conditions have reached a stage where they are no longer active, though they have not necessarily resolved. This includes Post Inflammation Hyperpigmentation (PIH--the redness left over after a pimple), Scars, and something we refer to as The Ghosts of Pimples Past (more about that later...) Though these issues are no longer active, there are steps that we can take to remove many of the final traces of these conditions.
Primary Conditions are symptoms in their first stage of appearance. This includes both issues resulting from the skin doing it’s job (see Functions of the Skin Chart) or issues resulting from the skin not functioning properly-dysfunction. (See Triangulator Chart). These conditions include everything from rashes to welts to scrapes or uneven texture. Primary simply describes that stage that it is in.
Conditions that are in the Secondary Stage are in the process of either the immune system acting upon a primary skin condition (Pus, inflammation, scabs) an external source (such as a drug or skin care product) that is making the body behave the way it is. We also call these "COMPOUND SYMPTOMS"
Tertiary Conditions have reached a stage where they are no longer active, though they have not necessarily resolved. This includes Post Inflammation Hyperpigmentation (PIH--the redness left over after a pimple), Scars, and something we refer to as The Ghosts of Pimples Past (more about that later...) Though these issues are no longer active, there are steps that we can take to remove many of the final traces of these conditions.
PRIMARY STAGE
Dysfunction
Oil and Water
Defensive Line, Structural or Biome-related
Cellular Communication
Topical conditions may also be a result of skin function as well. See Skin Functions and Function Vs Dysfunction for more information. The Triangulator is a useful Tool for assessing where a deficiency lies that may lead to the condition.
Oil and Water
Defensive Line, Structural or Biome-related
Cellular Communication
Topical conditions may also be a result of skin function as well. See Skin Functions and Function Vs Dysfunction for more information. The Triangulator is a useful Tool for assessing where a deficiency lies that may lead to the condition.
SECONDARY STAGE
Conditions that are in the Secondary stage are in the process of either the immune system acting upon a primary skin condition an external source (such as a drug or skin care product) that is making the body behave the way it is.
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Indications that the skin condition is in a secondary stage due to immune response:
EXTERNAL SOURCES
External Sources: Conventional Skin Care and Drugs. This is because most conventional skin care products or medications do one or more of three things:
Control or Suppress or Destroy
CONTROL
Products that control the skin are made to tell the body what to do. We have basically determined that the body is not doing things properly and it is our job to boss it around. Even natural products that are intended to “balance” certain problems are really just using herbs and oils as a method of controlling the skin. The idea is to “dry out” things that are oily, “moisturize” areas that are dry--etc.
The problem with products that control the skin is that your skin becomes dependant on them and looses it’s ability to “think for itself”.
SUPPRESS
Suppression is a method that is used when your prescriber is attempting to stop the body from having an immune system reaction--Usually an inflammatory or histamine reaction. Suppression can save lives and is a valuable tool in modern medicine.
Sometimes it is completely necessary to suppress--it can be life-saving! If we did not have suppressive therapies, bodies would reject donor organs after transplants, allergic reactions and asthma attacks could kill.
"Works" on Cellular Communication issues but then causes more problems.
The problem with suppression is that it can’t stay down forever. The initial problem hasn’t been resolved and has to come up again sometime. Suppressive Care merely stops the symptoms (for a little while) and pushes the problem underground—only to return again when the suppressive force no longer works or is removed.
Diagram: Suppression
Work sheet for determining the depth of suppression
DESTROY
Antibiotics and anti-fungals are some of the most-used “destroyers” in skin care.
Topical and internal antibiotics, though not suppressant, may contribute to the skin’s weakened ability to rebuild or protect itself)
Other External Sources may include: Venom, poison
Problems with antibiotics:
Products that Suppress and Destroy:
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Indications that the skin condition is in a secondary stage due to immune response:
- Pus: Indicates that white blood cells rushing in. Perhaps the skin has been compromised and bacteria has entered.
- Inflammation: Blood rushing to the area to bring healing
- Ulcer: Open sores that are slow to heal or keep returning
- Histamine reaction: Urticaria (itchy and puffy)
- Scab: A cicatrix of cells/fibers that weave together to form a temporary covering to the wound
EXTERNAL SOURCES
External Sources: Conventional Skin Care and Drugs. This is because most conventional skin care products or medications do one or more of three things:
Control or Suppress or Destroy
CONTROL
Products that control the skin are made to tell the body what to do. We have basically determined that the body is not doing things properly and it is our job to boss it around. Even natural products that are intended to “balance” certain problems are really just using herbs and oils as a method of controlling the skin. The idea is to “dry out” things that are oily, “moisturize” areas that are dry--etc.
- Salicylic Acid, etc...drying potions
- Knocks off the oil/water balance
- Another use of a “controlling” type of product would be Hormonal (Birth Control) Pills
The problem with products that control the skin is that your skin becomes dependant on them and looses it’s ability to “think for itself”.
SUPPRESS
Suppression is a method that is used when your prescriber is attempting to stop the body from having an immune system reaction--Usually an inflammatory or histamine reaction. Suppression can save lives and is a valuable tool in modern medicine.
- Topical, injected, ingested and inhaled steroids (cortisone, prednizone etc), anti-inflammatories, or anti-histamines.
Sometimes it is completely necessary to suppress--it can be life-saving! If we did not have suppressive therapies, bodies would reject donor organs after transplants, allergic reactions and asthma attacks could kill.
"Works" on Cellular Communication issues but then causes more problems.
The problem with suppression is that it can’t stay down forever. The initial problem hasn’t been resolved and has to come up again sometime. Suppressive Care merely stops the symptoms (for a little while) and pushes the problem underground—only to return again when the suppressive force no longer works or is removed.
Diagram: Suppression
Work sheet for determining the depth of suppression
DESTROY
Antibiotics and anti-fungals are some of the most-used “destroyers” in skin care.
Topical and internal antibiotics, though not suppressant, may contribute to the skin’s weakened ability to rebuild or protect itself)
Other External Sources may include: Venom, poison
Problems with antibiotics:
- Used on defensive line issues...but...impairs the defensive line even more!
- Not only destroys the bad flora but the good flora too--disrupting the biome.
- The skin isn’t really defending itself--so if you stop using it or the product stops working, everything gets infected again.
Products that Suppress and Destroy:
- Tea Tree oil
- Benzoil Peroxide
- High Dose Vitamin A (Accutane, Retinol)
TERTIARY STAGE
When a pimple has reached the Tertiary Stage, it is no longer active. That does not mean the condition is resolved, though.
Tertiary Conditions include Post Inflammation Hyperpigmentation (PIH--the dark spots or deep redness left over after a pimple), Scars, and something we refer to as The Ghosts of Pimples Past. Though these issues are no longer active, there are steps that we can take to remove many of the final traces of these conditions.
For many people (especially those with darker or more olive complexions) there is still a pool of dark red (highly oxygenated) blood under the skin that we refer to as Post Inflammation Hyperpigmentation (PIH). Most instances of PIH will resolve on their own, but it can take a very long time. See the section on PIH in Practice for options on how to prevent PIH as well as help to resolve it more quickly.
Scars are also common tertiary conditions and many scars are permanent. Scars do fade and look better over time, but we find it best to prevent them and have some ways of improving their overall appearance. (see Practice: Preventing and Resolving Scar Tissue)
Anyone who has used suppressive therapy for papules and pustules, will experience a Tertiary condition that we have named nicknamed The Ghosts of Pimples Past. These are just like Oil Deposit Dumps, but the little hard bumps that are scattered in bunches where the breakout has typically been in the past. (chin, jaw, temples, between the eyes…) They may be removed, but until the suppression has had the full amount of time to resolve, another one will come right up where that one was.
So, even if there are no new “active” stress bumps (see Preventing and Resolving Stress Bumps) or you have gotten the topical integrity under control and the bumps aren’t becoming pimples, those Ghosts of Pimples Past will continue to haunt your client until they have had the opportunity to release and resolve the original stress bump. It takes up to one month for every year of suppression for these bumps to appear and resolve.
Tertiary Conditions include Post Inflammation Hyperpigmentation (PIH--the dark spots or deep redness left over after a pimple), Scars, and something we refer to as The Ghosts of Pimples Past. Though these issues are no longer active, there are steps that we can take to remove many of the final traces of these conditions.
For many people (especially those with darker or more olive complexions) there is still a pool of dark red (highly oxygenated) blood under the skin that we refer to as Post Inflammation Hyperpigmentation (PIH). Most instances of PIH will resolve on their own, but it can take a very long time. See the section on PIH in Practice for options on how to prevent PIH as well as help to resolve it more quickly.
Scars are also common tertiary conditions and many scars are permanent. Scars do fade and look better over time, but we find it best to prevent them and have some ways of improving their overall appearance. (see Practice: Preventing and Resolving Scar Tissue)
Anyone who has used suppressive therapy for papules and pustules, will experience a Tertiary condition that we have named nicknamed The Ghosts of Pimples Past. These are just like Oil Deposit Dumps, but the little hard bumps that are scattered in bunches where the breakout has typically been in the past. (chin, jaw, temples, between the eyes…) They may be removed, but until the suppression has had the full amount of time to resolve, another one will come right up where that one was.
So, even if there are no new “active” stress bumps (see Preventing and Resolving Stress Bumps) or you have gotten the topical integrity under control and the bumps aren’t becoming pimples, those Ghosts of Pimples Past will continue to haunt your client until they have had the opportunity to release and resolve the original stress bump. It takes up to one month for every year of suppression for these bumps to appear and resolve.