Letter to Kat.(Column)

Dear Kat James,

What a treat to find your column in Better Nutrition! I am about to graduate from a 600-hour skin care program at a California community college. The curriculum is pretty conventional, but I did manage to bring in a Dr. Hauschka rep to talk to the students, which certainly gave then a different perspective.

I have a question for you that pertains to a particular skin care condition affecting men. Your column seems to be mostly aimed at women, but I hope you might have some ideas or referrals for me. A few nights ago, I was at a natural foods market buying some raspberries to try a natural skin care recipe, and I got into a conversation with a young man who works in the produce department. Because I commented to him that I planned to use the raspberries to make a skin cleanser, he began talking to me about his own skin care troubles.

This man is dark-skinned, and he and all of his male relatives suffer with folliculitis, which, as I understand, is an inflammation of the hair follicle. This is especially prevalent in men who have wiry hair, which--instead of pointing straight up and out to reach the skin's surface--ends up curling around under the skin surface, thereby creating pimples and inflammation.

This man has been using a somewhat conventional skin care regimen--expensive products from big department store cosmetic counter--but he would like to find some other way to keep the folliculitis under control. I was at a loss for what to recommend, but I would really like to see him use something more natural, especially since he works at a natural products store.

It ...