Acne Treatment

Severe Adult Acne and Acne Vulgaris Treatment

2008-01-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Acne Vulgaris is the commonly occurring type of acne characterised by blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and cysts in the skin. It has all the physical effects of discomfort and spots and also the psychological feeling of somehow being unclean or unsightly. Hence, it is important to seek help to control the symptoms.

It is caused by hormones (Androgens) that occur in both men and women, stimulating oil glands in the skin. Sometimes these glands then become infected bacteria.Since these androgens are normal within your body, you cannot actually prevent acne. But, there is a great deal that can be done to help you.

Betnovate should not be recommended to treat acne (especially not on your face). And, you do not need to restrict your diet since it will make no difference. Gentle washing of the skin and hair will help, and do not squeeze your spots. Exposure to small amounts of sunshine( ultra-violet light) may also be beneficial.

Your GP should be able to help you by prescribing an armoury of medications which might include long-term antibiotics. If none of these improve your acne, then you can be referred to a skin specialist (dermatologist) who may advise even stronger medication. Do not give up- there is plenty of help out there for your skin!

Adult Acne – How To Deal With It

2008-01-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

We are all rather familiar with acne, we either had it, know someone who had it or are currently suffering with it. Acne affects nearly 40 million people in the United States alone. It can start anytime between the ages of 12 and 25 and when it hits, well it hits with a vengeance. A growing number of adult women in their twenties and thirties are getting adult acne, even if they never suffered with acne before. The problem with acne is that there is no known cure.

Yes we are bombarded all over the place to buy this “miracle cure” and try this “amazing product” and so often a person who is afflicted with this skin problem will hope and pray that this will be the answer that they are looking for. Just this one time this is going to be the one thing that actually does work. Then because it proves not to be the “miracle cure” they were promised they end up frustrated and disappointed.

So how does one deal with acne? More particularly how does one deal with adult acne? Well, to just give up and resign oneself to the supposed inevitable is not the answer either. You see adult acne is much like being over weight in that you don’t feel good about yourself; your self esteem takes a major knock and you are convinced that when people look at you they do not see YOU but are rather focused on just the area that is riddled with acne. You hate going out in public, you do not want people to look at you because you hate looking at yourself. I know this because I have been there.

Adult acne is embarrassing. It is one thing if you were a teenager because society seems to be more accepting; it is what almost the “norm” is for teenagers. People sympathize and “tut tut” it away as just a natural process of life. I’m not taking away for one moment what teenagers go through (they have “strange” hormones to deal with on top of it all) but there seems to be a stigma attached to adult acne. People just look at you differently.

There seems to be this misconception that if you suffer from adult acne you don’t wash your face and you must be dirty. Just like in the case of someone who is overweight people don’t sit back and think that it may most likely be due to hormonal changes and/ or sometimes it may just be hereditary. It seems to be in people’s nature to assume the worse.

Acne doesn’t just lead to physical scars (which are really depressing and more damaging to the psyche) but more concerning it leads to emotional scarring. Well your choices in dealing with adult acne can be put into two categories. You can “roll over and just accept” that this is your lot in life or you can become active, take charge and find ways to help the situation. Acne may not be curable but it can be controlled and eventually you may even grow out of it.

Let’s take a quick look at what acne is and once we understand how it comes about we can look at how to deal with it. Acne is generally characterized by black heads, white heads, red bumps (also known as blind pimples) and in some cases scarring. Acne is the result of overactive oil glands at the base of the hair follicles that become blocked or inflamed. It may appear anywhere on the body but it tends to be primarily on the face.

There are different forms of acne; mild inflammatory acne, moderate to severe inflammatory acne and severe acne. The problem with acne treatments is that what works for one person may not work for the next. Due to how severe your acne may be you will need to find out which is the best course of action for you. This is best done seeking the advice of your health practitioner or a dermatologist. However you can do a few things to help yourself.

As tempting as it may be DO NOT SQUEEZE OR PICK AT YOUR FACE. It may be tempting and you may just want to get rid all the spots and you think that by squeezing them all out you will be rid of it once and for all. Well if only it was that simple. It is not. The pus (and thus the germs) spreads across your face causing you more acne, or you just end up pushing the pus deeper into your skin causing more of an infection. In some cases you are left with scars. Scaring brings on a whole different level of anxiety and depression.

Do not spend too much time in the sun. There seems to be this myth that the sun will “cure” your acne. The hope seems to be that it will dry up the oily glands. But how will it when the follicles are blocked? You see the sun damages your follicular walls causing further blockage and in turn more acne. The sunlight also produces free radicals in the skin which diminishes the skins ability to heal.

There has been no scientific evidence that has proven that acne and diet are related. I have read various reports saying that acne and diet are related and some say that there is no relation whatsoever. So not affirmed either way but cut down on some foods and see if it makes a difference at all. Maybe you have an allergy that aggravates the situation.

Start with the highly refined sugars and things like seafood, mushrooms and salt. Deep fried food is generally not good for your over all health and some say that it is really bad for your skin. Drink more water, water flushes your body of toxins and so in turn is a great internal way of aiming for that healthier looking skin.

Stay away from coffee. It does not matter if it has caffeine in it or not. Coffee stimulates the production of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormonal steroid that the body produces when it is under stress. (Stress does not cause acne but it certainly aggravates it) Cortisol helps our bodies maintain homeostasis during time of stress yet it causes problems when it stays is our body for a long period of time because what cortisol does is it destroys tissue, which then releases small protein molecules from the destroyed cells. These remainders of cell-protein partly end up in the skin which ends up contributing to acne. Watch out for foods packed with hormones. It does not help hormonal acne.

Interesting fact, non Westernized people did not suffer from acne until their diet changed to what we eat and then oops they joined our ranks in the acne department. The problem is that so much of our diet tends to rob us of vitamins and minerals that are essential for good healthy skin. Vitamin A has been known to be a great preventative of acne. Give it a try, eat less “junk” and more fresh fruit and vegetables high in antioxidants, there is no harm in it and maybe it will help.

Remember acne is not caused by dirt and so DO Not scrub your face. It generally makes the acne worse. You aggravate the glands that produce the oil and they then produce more oil and then spread the bacterium that causes your acne around the face making it worse. Don’t use a face cloth because germs tend to stick to them and then you are just smearing them all over your face. Your hands are the best thing to use and they are a lot gentler on your skin too.

Smoking does not cause acne but it does make the skin look unhealthy and so much older, this is because the nicotine reduces the blood circulation to your skin. Some case studies have shown that smoking can irritate the acne, making it worse.

Avoid things that rub against your skin, like collars, don’t wear too much make up and when you do choose products that are oil free or are made specifically bearing acne in mind. These products would be “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic.” Wash your hair as often as you need to and keep it off your face.

Bear in mind the following when receiving advice about your acne:

Most over-the-counter acne treatments are topical and the most popular ones contain Benzoyl Peroxide. The problem is that once you stop the treatment the acne just flares up again and some people say that as the skin becomes used to it so the effectiveness of it lessens.

Benzoyl Peroxide is also known to cause excessive dryness, and for some people itchiness which then further irritates the skin. It is also a bleach so be careful when using it that it does not ruin your clothes.

Antibiotics tend to aim at inhibiting bacteria. The problem is bacteria are not the cause of acne. The irony is that bacteria are essential in keeping the skin flexible and inhibiting it just speeds up the aging process. Then of course it needs to be remembered that antibiotics are also well known for reducing a person’s immune system.

I am not going to give you a whole list of unpronounceable names of various chemicals found in anti-acne treatments but I am going to give you a run down of what some of the side effects are. After all that is what matters most.

• Liver disease (sometimes resulting in a needed transplant)

• Jaundice and life threatening psuedomembranous colitis.

• Autoimmune disease, acute inflammation of the lung and a blue black disclouring of your skin, mucous membranes, nails, adult teeth and Internal organs.

• Benign intracranial hypertension. Early warning signs are headaches, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances. Decreased night vision, inflammatory bowel disease, an increase in the size of your bones, raised cholesterol levels.

• Heart risks

• Further skin problems. As if acne is not enough you suffer too from dry skin, skin fragility, itching, nosebleeds, inflammation and cracking of lips. Eczema like rash, thinning of hair, peelings of palms and soles of feet, skin infections, gastrointestinal problems, urogenital problems and tiredness.

Then to top the list off you also have things like seizures, dizziness, nervousness, insomnia, depression (as if the acne hadn’t caused enough now the “cure” adds to it too) gum inflammation, arthritis and so we can go on but I think you have got the point.

I am not trying to scare you off finding what can help your acne, just informing you of what some of these products may do to you. Don’t loose hope, acne can be controlled and in many cases people do find what aggravates or causes it through trial and error. Don’t give up and you will eventually find the solution that works best for you.

Source : About The Author : Michelle Ludick lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband and two small children. Her interest in health and health related issues led to her site http://www.bhealthy247.com. Michelle Ludick suffered from acne for many years so understands the anxiety and frustrations that come with the skin ailment.

Acne Scar Treatment using Retin A and Mederma

2008-01-13T21:06:00.000-08:00

Normally as the acne begins to heal whilst being treated it will often leave some sort of spot on the skin which usually fades after a period of time. In fact in some cases it can take up to a year before it has faded completely and disappears. Yet for some people they find that it does not disappear within the year and they are then left with scarring. However there are a number of different acne scars treatments available to use in order to treat the condition.

In this article I will take a look at some of the methods that have proved to be fairly effective in treating this particular problem.

1. Retin A

This form of treatment should only be used after talking with a doctor as there are a number of side effects associated with it. However it has been proved to be extremely beneficial in treating not just scarring but skin conditions as well.

2. Mederma

This is a topical medication and is believed to be effective in helping to heal the scars associated with acne. There is a website that the manufacturers of this product have set up where you can learn more comprehensive data about this particular product if you so wish.

3. Copper Peptides

In recent years these have begun to gain widespread popularity as the modern way for treating acne scars. The properties of the copper peptides help to improve the skins elasticity as well as firm it up. Plus it helps to neutralize those free radicals which can cause damage to your skin as it contains anti-oxidant properties.

When choosing an acne scar treatment medication or program, you should first ascertain which products is best suited to you. You should discuss this matter with your doctor or dermatologist first. As there are so many products now available for a person to use in order to treat acne scars carrying out some research first will help to find out just how efficient each one is before you start any treatment.

Source : About The Author : Ricky Lim is the owner of http://acneskincareproduct.org where he teaches how to buy acne product and provides acne product reviews such as the actimine acne treatment review.

Acne Treatment And The Real Secret To Quickly Heal Your Acne

2008-01-13T03:50:00.000-08:00

Acne is an all too common skin condition, and in some cases the chemicals used to treat it can further damage the skin. Here are some tips that will help you heal your acne:

No scrubbing or rubbing.

You can't scrub your acne away. In fact abrasive or frequent washing can lead to dry skin and irritated acne. Your skin will respond best to kind attention. Gently wash your face no more than twice a day with a mild cleanser and pat your skin dry with a clean towel. If you exercise hard and sweat a lot you may want to wash your face afterwards.

Don't pop pimples.

Don't pop or squeeze pimples, as it could lead to inflammation and infection. It could also push the infected materials deep into the skin and create more swelling. Squeezing or popping pimples could lead to permanent scars on the face.

Breathe deeply.

It is advisable to breathe deeply when you feel stressed. Doctors have found out that there is a direct link between stress and acne. Studies have shown that there is increased amount of androgen production when a person is under stress. Not only mental but physical stress such as allergies, surgery etc could activate the androgen production. When androgen is activated the sebaceous glands pumps out more oil/sebum leading to acne.

Use honey.

Apply a honey mask once a week. Honey is regarded as a disinfectant and also it has medicinal properties believed to heal minor blemishes. It has the properties of destroying the bacteria present in the skin.

Pay kind attention to your skin.

Use a mild cleanser no more than twice a day and gently wash and dry your skin. Apply a noncomedogenic (won't clog your pores) sunscreen.

Patience is a virtue.

Be patient. Healing takes time. Unfortunately this doesn't happen overnight. Results are generally seen in a few weeks, but may take up to 8 weeks or more. Don't be tempted by over night promises. So give your acne treatment a fighting chance.

Use sunscreen.

Many acne medications contain ingredients that can make your skin extra sensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet light from tanning booths. Read the label warnings, avoid tanning booths, and always use a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15. Sun exposure can actually irritate acne even if you are not using an acne medication. So don't make sunbathing a part of your lifestyle and always use sunscreen.

More is not better.

If you use more acne medication than directed by your doctor you can actually worsen your acne. Many over-the-counter acne treatments contain active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Too much of either of these can cause your skin to become excessively dry or irritated. It can take time for your skin to adapt to new medications. Remember that it may take up to 8 weeks for any acne medication to have a noticeable effect. Use the medication exactly as directed by your doctor and if you don't see an improvement within 8 weeks talk with your dermatologist.

Use only noncomedogenic products.

When purchasing cosmetics, sunscreen or other skin care products, make sure the label reads noncomedogenic. These products, as well as those labeled nonacnegenic, won't clog your pores and therefore won't cause or make your acne worse.

Here's the rub.

Headbands and hats can aggravate your acne as they rub against your forehead. Try to avoid these things when possible.

Don't touch your face.

It's amazing how often we touch our faces during an average day. Our hands have oil on them and of course bacteria too, both of which can make acne worse. So avoid touching your face or leaning your chin on your hand. Be sure that other objects that come in contact with your face like cell phones, telephone receivers, eye glasses, etc are clean.

Wash your face.

It is advisable to wash your face at least twice a day with sulfur-based soap. Once when you wake up and again when you go to bed. Do not scrub; just give it a smooth touch. Washing your skin over and over again will create more trouble than help you.

Cut your hair.

If you have long hair it is advisable to cut it short. Your hair contains oil and when you move, the dust particles do mix up with your hair and when your hair bangs on your face or neck or forehead or the affected area, the situation could worsen. Also wash your hair on a daily basis.

Eat fruits and vegetables.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables daily.

Drink lots of water.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Water helps in cleaning and hydrating the skin and maintaining overall health.

Change your pillowcase.

Wash or change your pillowcase every day.

Exercise.

Exercise moderately as it helps in blood circulation and helps eliminate toxins.

Review your environment.

Pollution, airborne grease (such as in a fast food restaurant), irritating clothing - all these can aggravate your acne. It isn't always possible to avoid all the various irritants that may contribute to your acne. You can, however, make educated decisions that may help to minimize their impact. Loosen tight, irritating clothing or find fabrics that breathe better and don't aggravate your acne.

Source : About The Author : Kaushik Mohanty is a former acne sufferer, and webmaster of http://mm-acnetreatments.info - a site dedicated to provide valuable information about acne treatment.

The Unspoken Horror Of Adult Acne

2008-01-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Digging Into The Roots Of Adult Acne

Did you know that more than 25% of the adult population worldwide suffers from acne? If we leave the pages of statistical data and look at people with plain eyes it will be hard to find a man or a woman who did not suffer the gnawing problem of zits. However, even though this problem is "skin deep", its effects germinate into bouts of despair and social angst, which jeopardizes quality of life.

Digging Into The Roots Of Adult Acne

Sebum secreted from the hair follicles moves to the skin pores and lubricates the skin. But sometimes the oil glands expand, producing an excess of sebum, which ultimately gets trapped in the hair follicle and clogs the pores. These clogged pores permit bacteria and growth of Propionibacterium acnes. This bacteria causes inflammation of the hair follicle and the surrounding skin and thus acne emerges.

Though till now the exact causes of adult acne are not known, most of the theories suggest hormonal imbalances as the root cause. Some other causes proposed are evolutionary biology, diet, stress, vitamin deficiency and the list goes on.

Some Effective Treatments To Get Rid Of Adult Acne

Studies reveal that Vitamin A plays an important role in the reduction of serum and keratin production and thus minimizes their growth in follicle comedos. So, nourish your system with Vitamin A and take at least five servings of vegetables and fresh fruits daily. However, always consult a doctor before starting up with any kind of regime.

Zinc is an important element in treating acne too. Zinc enhances the functions of Vitamin A and lends a helping hand in the healing and regeneration of tissues. Zinc also reduces the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which shrinks sebum production.

Most acne sufferers lack Selenium, which plays a crucial role in the action of the enzyme Gluthathione Peroxidase that prevents the inflammation of the hair follicle. Vitamin E minimizes this process and plays a vital part in the action of Vitamin A and Selenium.

Friendly bacteria, Acidophilus, can check injurious intestinal bacteria including yeasts such as Candida albicans. You can take in Acidophilus either in gel capsule form or as yogurt with live culture.

Benozyl peroxide reduces pimples and is effective for acne. You can have it in cream or lotion form.

Creams containing sulphur are also useful in treating acne

Medications containing iodide and bromide can worsen your acne condition so stay away from such products.

All these things are medicines, all of which may have side effects and should not be taken without a prescription and the guidance of a doctor.

Good News For Foodies

You will be glad to know that chocolate or fried foods do not cause acne. These foods are often seen as unhealthy food habits and therefore "must be" related to skin breakouts, but this theory has no scientific backing.

However, foods which are high in refined sugar, trans-fatty acid (milk products) oxidized fatty acids (fried oils) and synthetically hydrogenated vegetable oil contents may not cause acne but are definitely not very good for your health, and so an excess of these foods should be avoided. You can be infected with intestinal toxemia if your diet is low on fiber and essential vitamins and high on these contents. The result of glut of toxins may show on your skin.

Some Natural Remedies Of Adult Acne

The good news about the use of natural things is that they come without the risk of side effects.

Name And Fame Of Some Natural Ingredients

Azelaic acid

This acid makes the keratin production stable and you will get almost same results as using Benzoyl- Peroxide or oral antibiotics.

Tea Tree Oil

Reduces acne with its antibacterial and antifungal qualities.

Green Tea

A renowned antioxidant, which trims down inflammation and infection

Topical Vitamin C And E

Both are strong antioxidants, which improve skin condition by diminishing inflammation and infection.

Fruit Acids (AHAs And BHAs)

These acids gently exfoliate your skin, leaving it smooth.

Some Tips To Control Outbursts Of Adult Acne

Cleanse your face with a mild soap or sulphur soap but do not rub your face with a towel.

Never ever pick or squeeze the zits, it will only worsen your skin condition.

Some acne treatment products will hike up your skin's photosensitivity so when you are using these products, use a sunscreen and wear a hat when you are out. Avoid the tanning booths while using these products as well.

Try to avoid the use of oil-based products on your skin. To prevent the clogging of pores use only "noncomdomedogenic" skin products

Try to avoid friction from sports equipment and airborne grease from fast food places; these can make your acne worse.

Along with a good diet include at least 8 to ten glasses of water in your daily regimen to keep your system clean and the skin glowing

Choosing the right path will help your skin get rid of adult acne scars. Make your skin dazzle with a smooth glow by following the tips in this article.

About The Author : Frank Cordova, Learn how you can cure yourself of acne in just three days by visiting my web site at: http://www.acnefreeinthreedays.net/index2.html

What You Should Comprehend About Adult Acne Control

2008-01-11T02:54:00.000-08:00

Adult Acne treatment

Acne treatment can sometime turns into a sort of routine maintenance, as new spots will continue to appear, leaving the teenager without a clear complexion.Get yourself an over the counter acne treatment product that has some sort of anti bacterial properties and try it out. You may be surprise with the result you get. Try these product out first and if these does not seem to have any effect on the acne, ask the pharmacist for a milder sort of treatment. When applying these product ensure the you cover all the surrounding area too and just the spot.

More and more people are affected by acne and it is now not just a common problem suffered exclusively to teenagers.Adolescent boys and girls can suffer severe psychological effects from even mild cases of acne. Acne problem takes months to completely recover and for the duration of the time you will have to live with it whether you like it or not. Perseverance and patience will definitely get what you wanted � an acne clear face. Never stop your treatment and keep it going as this is the only way to clear your acne.

Excess oil and sometimes traces of sweat from the surface of the skin is what cleanser does and this to some extent may prevent the appearance of the much dreaded acne monster.When using topical acne treatment, cleanser allows the skin to be more readily absorb the treatment and making it more effective. There are many type of treatment for acne and one of them is the topical acne treatment which is applied directly applied on the acne itself. When using a cleanser, don�t over use it as it can cause skin irritation due to the dryness effect. It is not recommend to use facial cleanser more than two times per day and for a good reason too.

Sex hormones fluctuation and increase in the body can cause the sebaceous glands in the skin to over produce oil.The hair follicle is the place that all the sebum are produced by the skin. In the event of the overproduction of the top layer of skin, the pores leading to the sebaceous glands may become blocked with plugs of keratin. Large quantity of sebum provides a fertile ground for bacteria to breed and mutiply. You�ll notice the surrounding area will begin to inflame, while the blood vessels expand to allow more infection-fighting cells to the blocked pore.Pus is the by product of the event that has occurred.

The first thing people thought of as the cause of acne is usually hormone level which occurs during adolescent. Hormone fluctuation can also occur during adulthood where the hormone androgen will cause hair follicle clogging and inadvertently cause acne breakouts.

About The Author : Nash Burns offers numerous free of charge with vastly constructive hint in his content rich Adult Acne Water Related Article Home Page. To seek out through more helpful articles on the web content, check up on - Best Treatment For Oily Skin web contentmap. For more facts related to the topic please also see this site: http://www.acne-info.factips.com for additional information

Acne – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

2008-01-09T23:29:00.000-08:00

Acne is a common skin problem for most teens and many adults. Acne occurs when the skin’s follicles become blocked with sebum and dead skin cells. The overproduction of sebum in the skin provides an environment ready for the bacterial overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria. This overgrowth of bacteria causes inflammation, leading to inflamed lesions. Acne lesions range in severity from blackheads (open comedo) and whiteheads (closed comedo) to pustules, papules and cysts. Acne generally appears on the face, chest and shoulders, but may also occur on the back, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Why some people get acne and some don’t is not fully known. Factors that are known to be linked to the occurrence of acne are: hormonal activity (puberty, pregnancy), family history, hyperactive sebaceous glands, stress, low skin exfoliation leading to the accumulation of dead skin cells, anything that activates skin inflammation like scratching, bacteria on the skin and the body becoming allergic to this bacteria and use of anabolic steroids.

There are many myths about what causes acne. A common myth is that acne is a result of dirty skin. However, pimples and blackheads are not caused by dirt. Acne is caused by a combination of over-production of skin oil, excess dead skin cells and bacteria. A blackhead is dark in color because it is open to the air and oxidation causes the color change. Respectively, a whitehead is closed to the air and therefore has not noticeable color.

The myth of whether certain foods cause acne is still being debated. Science has not come up with any clear cut answers; however many people will find a connection between the foods they eat and breakouts. Trying to figure out what foods cause acne to become worse is tough, because the outcome of eating a certain food and resulting acne will vary greatly among people. What food causes acne to become worse in one person will not affect another. So what this comes down to is avoiding some of the generally bad foods for your body and putting in more healthy food. So avoid sugary and fatty foods, foods rich in iodine and dairy foods. Add more fruits, vegetables, green tea and meats that contain good essential fats to your diet.

So what can you use to treat your acne? While there is no real cure for acne, managing all the triggering factors is key to keeping acne under control. Those triggers include dead skin cells not exfoliating, excess sebum, P acnes bacteria, and inflammation. Also, the treatments used depend on the severity of the acne.

The first important trigger to control is the bacteria on your skin. Control the harmful bacteria and infections are less likely to start that result in pimples.

To control bacteria, use a topical bactericidal agent like Benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is very effective against P acnes bacteria for many people. Also most tests show that p. acnes do not become resistant to benzoyl peroxide, so if it works for you, it should continue working. Other topical anti-bacterials that can be tried include: tea tree oil for a natural solution, colloidal silver, triclosan, and chlorhexisine gluconate.

Topical antibiotics can be used to control skin bacteria in a more targeted way. Topical antibiotics also usually cause less damage and inflammation to the skin sometimes making them a better choice for people with more sensitive skin. Topical antibiotics are usually as effectual as antibiotics taken orally with fewer side effects. Topical antibiotics include: erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin.

Oral antibiotics are effective and good to use when acne is affecting a large part of the body. They can help to get the bacteria under control and then allow topical treatments to take over. Oral antibiotics are easy to use but can have side effects such as colitis, diarrhea, dysbacteriosis. Moreover, long term oral antibiotic treatment is not practical as a bacterial resistance may develop.Oral antibiotics include: erythromycin and tetracycline.

Next, you need to control the production of sebum. Products that control sebum production include topical retinoids such as tretinoin (Retin-A), tazarotene (Tazorac), and adapalen (Differin), and oral retinoinds such as Isotretinoin (Accutane). Both types of Retinoids improve acne by decreasing oil production and altering the lifecycle of epithelial skin cells. Topical retinoids can increase breakouts during the first weeks of treatment and also cause dryness, irritation and sensitivity to sunlight. Oral retinoids are usually used as a last resort because of their side effects.

To keep the follicles and pores from becoming blocked with the oil, dead skin cells and bacteria; exfoliation can help. Salicylic acid is commonly used in acne products and it works as a skin exfoliator. Other AHA’s and BHA can be used for exfoliating acne prone skin. Remember, you are trying to avoid skin irritation, so do not use microdermabrasion scrubs or anything to harsh on your skin. Besides removing dead skin cells, exfoliation can improve the penetration of other topical treatments.

Other options for treating acne can include combination birth control pills, phototherapy using red light or blue light and photodynamic therapy, and laser treatments which have all shown efficacy in the treatment of acne.

The grade and the severity of the acne help to determine what combination of treatments should be used. The objective with acne treatments is to avert skin scarring and psychological distress, and to shorten the time a person is living with acne. Mild acne can first be treated by gently washing the area twice daily with warm water and soap and over the counter products. If you have moderate acne, consult a dermatologist before the acne gets out of hand.

Although acne can be very depressing for those afflicted with it, doctors say that most acne is entirely treatable. Therefore, it is very important to try to resolve acne as soon as you can. With most acne treatments, the acne can become a little worse before improvement occurs, but it is important to stick with the treatment.

Your results can be greatly improved by following these tips:

Use oil-free, non-comedogenic skin care products and cosmetic

Avoid cream based cleansers when you have oily skin

Do not over wash or scrub your face excessively as you do not want to irritate your skin. Excessive washing will not cure acne.

Do not pop, poke, pick, scratch your pimples, whiteheads or black heads. Touching your face will only spread bacteria.

Use a mild cleanser with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Switching acne products often will not help. Stick with a product routine for at least one month to see if it works.

If you acne is progressively getting worse, don’t wait, see a doctor.

Eat a healthy diet. Tomatoes, garlic, vitamin C and A are all very good for the skin.

Some natural home remedies:

Apply raw papaya juice to affected skin

Apply cucumber juice to the affected skin.

Good basic skin care is the start to ridding yourself of acne. Then finding the right combination of products, whether over-the-counter or prescription, and sticking with a good routine are crucial to success. The key thing you need to understand before using any acne product though, is that the same products do not work the same for every person. Acne is very manageable and should not be suffered by anyone. Taking care of your skin can make all the difference in the fight to treat pimples and zits.
Source

About The Author : Julie Roberts is the publisher / editor of http://Better-Skin-Care.com.

What is acne?

2007-11-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

Acne
This factsheet is for people who have acne.
Acne is a skin condition that causes spots. Most people affected by acne are aged between 12 and 25.1 However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also suffer. There are many treatments available to help deal with the condition.
What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following:
1. Blackheads (comedones)
2. Whiteheads
3. Red or yellow spots
4. Greasy skin
5. Scars
Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.
Acne affects people of all skin colours. The processes that cause acne are exactly the same in people with black or brown skin but the impact is altered by the skin pigmentation.
Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.4
The skin
The surface of the skin has lots of small sebaceous glands just below the surface. These glands make an oily substance called sebum that keeps the skin smooth and supple.
Tiny pores (holes in the skin) allow the sebum to come to the skin surface. Hairs also grow through these pores.

What causes acne?
Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances onto the skin.
The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women.
Testosterone in people prone to acne triggers the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of sebum. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the openings of the hair follicles (the tubes that hold the hair) are not shed properly and clog up the follicles.
These two effects combined cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles. This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form.
For some people, their acne does not progress beyond this stage.
However in other people, the build-up of oil in the hair follicles creates an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes to grow.
These bacteria normally live harmlessly on your skin but when this ideal environment is created, they grow. They feed off the sebum and produce substances that cause a response from your body's immune system. This inflames the skin and creates the redness associated with spots.
In more severe 'inflammatory acne', cysts develop beneath the skin's surface. These acne cysts can rupture, spreading the infection into nearby skin tissue. This can result in scarring.

Treatment
Acne may cause you considerable emotional distress but there is a range of treatment options to help you tackle the problem. No treatment will completely 'cure' your acne. The aims of treatment are to prevent new spots forming, to improve those already present, and to prevent scarring.3
Home treatment
It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser. The skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps.
There are a number of over-the-counter remedies available from pharmacies to treat mild acne. These usually contain antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide (eg Oxy and Clearasil Max).
As well as its antibacterial effects, benzoyl peroxide can dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Together, these effects make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop.
Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially to start with. This tends to settle down if you reduce the number of times you use it. You can then build up your use gradually.7
No home treatments for acne will work immediately. It can take weeks, if not months, for significant effects to be noticeable. If home treatments have not worked after two months, or you have severe acne, you should visit your GP.

Tips To Overcome Insomnia To Prevent Acne, Hair Loss, Ulcer And Headache Problems

2007-11-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

Are you suffering from acne problems, hair loss, ulcer attack or frequent headache? Or do you feel that you are constantly in stress? The most like causes of all these maybe perhaps be insomnia, or lack of sleep and rest. Today let us discuss how we can deal with insomnia. If you have a rocky workplace, this can also be a good excuse for insomnia. You are going to be stressed and uneasy about a lot of things when you are worried about what is going on at work. You need to find out a way to work through these problems to make them better. Get help from your supervisor or manager to take this problem on. Once you get it sorted out, you will probably find that you can rest better at night and start sleeping through the night like you once did. Do not overeat as heavy meals will drain out your energy. Instead of eating a large meal, you need to eat three smaller meals throughout the day. You need to have your blood sugar and your insulin levels more even. You will also find it easier to sleep at night if you eat this way. You need to keep watch of what you eat so that you can dream away at night. Eating rich foods will help you out a lot when it comes to dieting. Remember that overeating can not only cause insomnia, it can also cause unwanted weight gain too. Next, are you finding hard to concentrate while you sleep? Do you know that there are as many as 100,000 car accidents and fifteen hundred deaths that are from accidents caused by people that are driving while drowsy. This is a serious problem and one that more and more people need to address. There are lots of people that are sacrificing their sleep to do other things in life. It is not going to help anyone if a person skips the sleep that they need in order to do something else. Insomnia is a leading cause in the United States for decreased productivity. Each year insomnia will cost the United States over one billion dollars for the research and the lost work that is not getting done. This is a serious condition and one that has to be taken more seriously. There are more and more people under stress and hectic lives. They are not allowing themselves enough time for rest and relaxation and this is leading to more severe problems for them such as headache, acne problems, and even hair loss. You should also eat a great breakfast. You need to eat foods that boost your metabolism and give the body energy to burn off. The brain will depend on the glucose for fuel and so carbohydrates for breakfast is a great idea. You should try to not skip any meals. It is important to eat healthy and to eat when you are hungry. Cereals and wholegrain bread is the best way to get a good start on your day and keep you awake. Lastly, about a third of the average persons life is spent sleeping. This means that sleep is very important to our health and us. Healthy sleep is more important. It is vital to a human's body and it is going to be essential for the brain to function the way that it is intended. Other organs in the body also depend on the amount of sleep that a person gets to function properly. Alright! You've now completed the easy part. From here, you have to start to plan a regular and healthier plan for your daily life. By changing your lifestyle for a better, healthier one, you will ultimately enjoy a healthier, happy life. For more health articles on acne, visit http://acne.greenhealthinformation.com/ . And http://headache.greenhealthinformation.com/ for headache discussion. And http://hair-loss.greenhealthinformation.com/ for hair loss cures.
About The Author
Christopher Wen is the webmaster for greenHealth information site where he provides articles, news, and remedies to current health issues we faced in our everyday life. Check out his blog at http://greenhealthinformation.com.

Menopause-Related Acne

2007-11-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

Menopause has many interesting, seemingly unrelated symptoms. Women can experience any combination of mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, extreme night sweats, achy joints, headaches, irritability, anxiety, trouble concentrating, and even acne. Some women avoid menopause-induced acne, but for at least one in ten menopause sufferers, pimples and blemishes are a genuine problem. Some women have avoided pimples since they were teenagers, yet suddenly the have a face full of them. The truth is, though, teens and menopausal women have a number of things in common. Acne is typically a result of hormone swings, which occurs extensively throughout puberty and menopause. It can be very frustrating for women to endure the added embarassment of blemishes when they're struggling to deal with all of the other symptoms of menopause. Menopausal acne occurs for much the same reason that acne occurs during any other life stage. The skin contains millions of sebaceous glands. These glands produce oil, scientifically termed sebum. Skin cells are constantly regenerated. Old ones die, are sloughed off and quickly replaced. When body hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA run rampant, the sebaceous glands become sensitive and start producing more sebum than necessary. More skin cells begin to die. As a result, not only do you have a surplus of facial oil, you also have a surplus of dead skin cells. Your body cannot rid itself of the unwanted oil and dead cells fast enough. Facial skin follicles get clogged with oil and dead cells. White heads occur as a result of bacteria. Excess sebum builds up under the skin, naturally-occuring bacteria and the oil combine, creating an inflamed area filled with white puss. Blackheads also occur as a result of the combining of bacteria and oil with the addition of air that has leaked in. As a result, the material caught in the pore turns black. Menopausal acne identical to other acne, however. Both the follicles and sebaceous glands on the face contain an enzyme. This particular enzyme can turn estrogen into the hormone androgen testosterone. This has the ability to increase oil production even further. This leads to even more breakouts than a woman probably had as a teenager. Menopausal acne can be extremely frustrating. There are, however, ways to alleviate it. Begin by examining your diet. It is important to eat foods that are high in fiber and calcium. It is also recommended to cut back on your fat and carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates can turn insulin into androgen testosterone. This androgen too can increase the skin's sebum production. Additionally, you might want ensure that you are consuming eight to ten glasses of water each day. In addition to dietary changes, you might want to consider the addition of dietary supplements. There are so many widely-available herbs vitamins, and minerals that can help alleviate the body's excess oil production. Studies suggest that it is beneficial to add Vitamin B and Vitamin C to your diet. In addition to diet and supplements, you should cleanse your skin a minimum of twice daily. Regular exfoliation rids the skin of those dead cells. Also, it is beneficial to use a toner to close open pores.
About The Author
William Miller enjoys writing for several web sites, especially http://nugad.com and http://jasof.com.

Exposed Acne Treatment

2007-10-31T01:35:00.000-07:00

Exposed is an acne treatment developed through a collaborative effort of dermatologists, cosmetologists, naturopaths and chemists. This combination of skin care professionals working together for the first time resulted in a unique and revolutionary skin care approach that not only treats the acne that you have and proactively prevents new acne from forming.

The Exposed acne solution is the first full spectrum acne treatment system that treats and prevents acne in ways that were previously thought impossible. Exposed does not fight with your skin like other solutions by using overly harsh medicines but instead uses a proprietary combination approach that returns your skin to the natural and healthy balance that it was meant to have.

Most products that you will encounter only offer limited methods of treating acne. While treating acne in only one way is better than nothing, the results are limited and often frustrating for the acne sufferers. Exposed recognizes that this limited approach is unacceptable and has designed a system that works to clear acne in ALL ways. A special synergistic system was designed using both Scientific & Natural Additives that work in concert with each other to unclog blocked pores, kill acne causing bacteria (p. acne’s) and help your skin normalize the levels of excess sebum production as well as to aid in the healing of skin lesions, reduce redness and irritation.

Helping Your Wife Cope Acne In Pregnancy

2007-10-31T00:23:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy is the most crucial period in the life of a woman. Especially, the time she is pregnant for the first time, it gets too difficult for her to maintain her mental equilibrium and posture. She remains most tender; and unexplainable feelings of anxiety grip her. This is the time, when she requires understanding and sympathy, the most.

The most unwelcome development for her during this period is sickness. She remains always doubly worried. Firstly, about her own constitution, and next, how to properly support the other growing tiny self within her! Her worry about the later aspect is much more.

And there at times come acne to add to her sorry state. Acne is a disease that upsets the woman even during the normal times. And during pregnancy she is doubly upset, because she has information that acne is a hereditary disease. Her intense worry is that, what if the child gets acne?

Herein, you can play a guard to the emotions of your wife. As such you can not do anything to help your wife to cope acne in pregnancy. But you can surely get her the best medical advice and provide or not provide her medication, on the lines indicated by the medical practitioner. Your sympathy and understanding and kind words are more than any balm, lotion or gel to her.

You can provide her with good reading material or articles on how the other women have faced similar situations in their life and how they were able to tackle it successfully.

Such success stories do a lot to boost her moral courage. That is the real medication needed at this time of her life. Don't allow her heavy mood swings to overpower her. Keep her in good humor by talking to her sweet nothings and by telling her that acne is indeed a minor problem!

But if the depression persists, it could be Postpartum Depression (PPD). Before it gets serious, consult a psychiatrist or a specialist.

The correct causes of acne are still not known. It is a subject, under active research. Acne could be due to the side effects of certain other medications. Stress and pregnancy could itself be the reason for acne. So, you can carefully advise your wife against stressing out on this aspect of acne.

At this stage, what she needs is your constant company. You are a better subject to talk to, than the subject of acne. Spend as much time as is possible in her company. That is the best that you can do for her.

About The Author

Ashish Jain writes articles on different topics. To get more acne articles visit http://www.acnetalks.com/pimple/

Avail Acne Scar Removal or Treatment

2007-10-31T00:15:00.000-07:00

If you have acne scars from breakouts that you had in the past, there are ways to help remove them. Or, you just might have some pimples now that are leaving scars. Well, there is help. Know what some of your options are for treatment, and understand that acne scar removal is possible even with persistent acne woes and scarring.

Now a days the treatment for removing scars are up to date and modern. There are all kinds of treatments, but only a qualified dermatologist can help you get those scars off of your face or body, so you can start feeling confident about how you look. Depending on the type of acne that you’ve had, or are experiencing now, your doctor will determine the routine of acne scar removal that you need.

Most acne scar treatments require clear skin before treatment begins, so this is the first issue that must be addressed. If you haven’t done it already, make an appointment with your dermatologist to get started. Every person must be evaluated individually and treated on a case-by-case basis, and what works for one may not work for another

Some of the different ways that this is done can range from medication, surgery, and light or laser therapy. Medications like Tetracycline are antibiotics that will clear up acne by stopping infection, and the skin heals naturally.

Another type of medication that helps with acne scar removal is called Accutane. It has high doses of Vitamin A that eliminate oils from the skin, and cuts down on the scarring by eliminating infection. There are potential side effects of the antibiotics and Accutane. After a while you can develop immunity to the antibiotics, or even become very allergic to the medications.

Do not take Accutane if you are thinking of becoming pregnant or are pregnant. Only a dermatologist should prescribe this type of acne scar removal.

Light or laser therapy is great for removing scars that are moderate or severe too. You’ll know that your doctor is recommending these types of acne scar removal treatments when Blue or Red Light Therapy is discussed.

Fotofacials are another type that is often used too. It rids your skin of scars by using pulsating frequencies of lights or lasers. Scars are either totally removed, or they are faded to the point that a good makeup will hide the remaining evidence. The best thing about it is that results are sometimes better with this type of acne scar removal treatment.

Most acne scar treatments are not covered by health insurance plans, and can be quite costly if more than a couple of treatments are needed, which is the case in more instances than not. Less expensive acne scar treatments can always be tried first, especially if the scars are not too severe. Check with your dermatologist’s office for prices of various procedures recommended, and also check online for more in depth information on acne scar treatments

It’s important too that medications don’t have to be used for an extended period, and it’s not as dangerous. Acne scar removal is possible, and all you have to do is to make an appointment, and start on the way to healing your scars on your body, and your outlook on you.

About The Author
Rudy Silva is nutritional consultant that writes on natural remedies. To get a free copy of how to eliminate acne using facial creams go to: http://www.acne-no-more.for--you.com.

Acne Herbal Remedies That Help Clear Acne Scar

2007-10-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a magic pill that squelches the burden of acne altogether? Well, there isn’t any that I am aware of. However, there are a number of acne formulas. For example, what do you know about acne herbal remedies?

Have you ever given acne herbal remedies a shot? Maybe something different from that Clearasil in your medicine cabinet would do you good. After all, how well is that topical cream from the drugstore even working? Does it actually heal and get rid of a nasty pimple in no time at all? Or, does it merely mask the problem and eventually dry out your face? That is always a common dilemma with basic acne problems.

Unlike many of the acne herbal remedies, the drugstore creams, gels, and face washes can be harsh for your delicate face. They remove most of the dirt and oil from your face and leave it dry and tight. This can lead to more breakouts, if the pores close and still have bacteria, oil, and dirt deep down.

Acne herbal remedies are gentler on your skin and face.

Are you in the market for some quality acne herbal remedies? Maybe this is the route you should be choosing. Think about it for a moment. How many drugstore acne treatments that don’t work have you already gone through, and found little to no results, probably quite a few?

Finding an acne herbal remedy for your outbreaks of pimples isn’t that hard to do. The trick is getting one that works for your specific type of acne outbreaks and is natural. Don’t get discouraged about it, you can have clear and healthy skin, it will just take a little experimentation and patience.

There are several types of treatments for blemishes and using them isn’t all that hard. One treatment for blackheads is a wash of lime and milk. All you have to do is bring the milk to a gentle boil, and then add the juice from one lime. Then wash your face with this combination after it cools down enough so it does not burn your face.

Another acne herbal remedy is to use an astringent for a deep cleaning of your pores. At your local grocery store buy a leafy mango. Boil it in some water, and then rub it, after it cools, on your face. If your case of pimples isn’t too severe you can just leave the mango to soak overnight. It’s an acne natural cure that will clean your pores thoroughly.

Something that you probably eat everyday in some form is good for your skin as well. A raw potato is an ideal acne remedy, especially for whiteheads. The vitamin C gives your skin a healthy glow, and its alkaline gets rid of the bacteria on your face. The potato has an acid in it too that scrubs away dead or dying skin cells on your face, which works as an acne natural cure.

Finally, remember that acne herbal remedies might leave your skin a little parched for moisture at times during treatments. A good way to re-hydrate your skin after using an acne herbal remedy is to use Almond Oil or Jojoba oil.

If you’ve tried every over the counter medication for it and it’s just not working, than you might want to use an acne herbal remedy. You can find a treatment solution in an herbal remedy, but take your time, and find out what works for you.

About The Author
Rudy Silva, a natural nutritionist, has been teaching people how to use natural remedies for various conditions. To get one of his reports free on how to get rid of acne using facial creams go to: http://www.acne-no-more.for--you.com.

Natural Remedies for Acne

2007-10-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

How to Get Rid of Acne with Natural Remedies
With the vast number of creams and lotions available in the local pharmacy you would think that they could get rid of acne, but not all of them work.

Every person is different and the cause of their acne may also be different. So this means that for you to get rid of your acne you would need to try many different creams and techniques, unless you knew exactly what was causing your acne. Then you could buy exactly the product or service that could eliminate your skin problem.

For example, to get rid of acne caused by infection, you might need to use an antibiotic cream or antibiotic capsules. But, to get rid of acne caused by excessive oil secretions, you might try Azelaic acid cream.

Or, if your acne was caused by poor diet, then using a cream that had a form of vitamin A might help you get rid of acne. But if hormonal acne was your problem, then internal cleansing, supplements, including fish oil, could get rid of your acne.

Even though teenagers, and indeed, anyone affected by acne wants to get rid of this condition right away, you must remember that acne is a normal and natural part of growing up. Hormonal balances or imbalances might cause acne related problems for the time being. But it is rarely, if ever, permanent. Acne, no matter how severe it seems to be, does disappear once the pubescent changes are completed in the human body.

But for those of you that are older, then hormones many not be the issue and to get rid of this acne requires some serious nutritional steps and facial applications which require the help of a professional nutritionist or dermatologist.

Here are some tips that you can experiment with to see it they will get rid of your acne.

If you are a lady who wears foundation makeup, look at the ingredients in your makeup. If it is an oil-based product, your foundation may be the culprit behind the acne problem. Change your makeup to one that has a water base and your skin can breathe a little easier. And, you may also go very lite on the makeup or go without make up to see if you acne lessens.

Wash your face consistently twice a day using a mild soap, such as pure glycerin. Mild is the secret technique. Harsh soaps can actually aggravate your skin. Also, make sure that you rinse your face thoroughly. A trace of soap can aggravate your acne.

Try regular old benzoyl peroxide, which is among the most tried and true home acne remedies there is. It is also an extremely inexpensive solution that has stood the test of time. The secret behind the benzoyl peroxide's effectiveness among the home acne remedies is oxygen. Oxygen kills the bacteria lying under the surface of the skin and deep into the pores.

Try applying toothpaste to the affected area at bedtime. Make sure to use traditional toothpaste instead of gels or whitening paste. When you wakeup, you will find a small remnant of the acne, if any at all.

Finally, you can try washing your face with sea salt and distilled water. After that, squeeze some lemon juice on your face and finally wash your face with glycerin soap

Trying to get rid of acne can really create stress and emotional problems. So by trying many different creams and remedies, you may find the answer on how to get rid of your acne.

About The Author
Rudy Silva is a Nutritional Consultant that specializes in natural remedies. To get free information on how to use facial creams to get rid of acne go to: http://www.acne-no-more.for--you.com

How We Deal With Adult Acne

2007-10-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

About The Author

Michelle Ludick lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband and two small children. Her interest in health and health related issues led to her site http://www.bhealthy247.com. Michelle Ludick suffered from acne for many years so understands the anxiety and frustrations that come with the skin ailment.

Source

Acne: A Skin Condition Common Among Teenagers

2007-10-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

Acne is a skin condition that many individuals have. Despite the fact that individuals of all ages can develop this common skin condition, there is one group of individuals who are more likely to develop it. That group is teenagers. Teenagers are more at risk for acne, especially when they begin to hit puberty. For that reason, there is a good chance that you may be the parent of a teenager who has an acne problem, whether that problem is large or small.

If you haven’t already noticed, times have changed. Unfortunately, this has led to appearance concerns among many teenagers. Although you might not necessarily think that acne is a big deal, it may be to your child. That is why it is extremely important that you talk to your child about their acne, especially if they have a severe case of it. Acne may go away on its own, but it might not. If your child constantly has problems with acne, it may be a good idea to schedule a visit with a healthcare professional.

When seeking treatment for your child’s acne problem, you will likely find that you have a number of different professional options. Most primary care physicians, also commonly referred to as family physicians, should be able to treat acne. This treatment will often include an over-the-counter medication or a prescription medication. The type of action taken will likely depend on how severe your child’s acne problem is. In addition to their primary care physician, you may also want to take your child to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a medical professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions.

Aside from being prescribed medications or given another treatment plan, you and your teenager will likely learn more about acne. Your healthcare provider, whether it is your primary care physician or a dermatologist, should provide you with information on acne. This information should not only include how to treat it, but how to manage acne outbreaks, as well as how to prevent them. Although this important information should automatically be explained to you, it might not be. When it comes to treating acne, it is important to learn more about it; therefore, if it is not automatically explained, you need to ask.

Regardless of which type of medical professional you are speaking with, a primary care physician or a dermatologist, you will likely learn, as mentioned above, that acne is not uncommon in teenagers. It fact, it has been stated that over half of all teenagers will develop a problem with acne, at one time or another. You may also learn that acne not only includes zits, but it also includes blackheads and whiteheads. You should also learn how and why acne develops. It is even possible that your healthcare physician may have also determined an exact cause for your child’s acne problem, such as unclean skin, clogged pores, or greasy health and beauty products.

As you can easily see, you and your child can learn a lot by meeting with a healthcare worker. Despite the fact that you are advised to seek professional assistance, it may not be possible. Whether you are without insurance or you cannot afford a doctor’s visit, your child does not have to suffer from acne. There are a number of over-the-counter medications that may be able to help reduce or completely eliminate the number of blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples that your teenager has. While prescription medications may work more effectively and quicker, over-the-counter medications are great alternatives. These relatively low-cost medications can be purchased from most department stores, drug stores, or grocery stores. The amount of time it takes for your child’s acne to clear up, if it even clears up at all, will all depend on what type of product you are using.

Since acne is relatively easy to treat, at least from your standpoint, you are advised to take action. Whether your teenager complains about their acne or if you think a problem may be in the process of developing, you are advised to get them the help that they need. Whether that help comes from a medical professional or an over-the-counter medication, your teenager will likely be please that action was initiated.

About The Author

Morgan Ulrich is a retired high school counselor, and writer for http://www.healthline.com. During his career he spent a great deal of time discussing the effects that http://www.healthline.com/channel/acne.html can have on a child's social life.
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Acne Prone Skin Care Treatment

2007-10-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

Although acne has been largely associated with teeners and puberty, the condition is not only confined in this age level. In fact, there are cases when as teeners, people do not suffer from acne only to have acne appear when they are in their 20s.

Acne is characterized by big break outs and pimples in large quantities. It can develop in different areas of the body although frequently found on the face and at the back. Acne often starts from the overactivity of the pilo-sebaceous glands, oil-producing glands. When combined with bacteria, dead skin cells and hormones, these oils are trapped in pores and induces swelling.

Often, lumps will develop into white heads or blackheads or even purely red lumps that are tender. Acne can also lead to scarring when not treated early. Some acne extend so deep within the skin and form nodules and cysts that even when heals, will leave scars that may not disappear.

Although nothing has been proven yet, acne has been known to be exacerbated by emotional stress, fatigue, humidity and even cosmetics. This is the reason why the use of chemicals on the face is strictly forbidden when there is acne as the products only irritate the skin.

There are actually medicines that can be applied to treat acne but before putting them on your face, you need to first consult a doctor to find out the regimen that will fit your condition and your skin type.

Here are some tips on how to take care of acne prone skin.

1. Let it be treated by professionals

The earlier you have it medically treated, the better will be the prognosis. There are medications that can help control the processes that lead to the acne problem such as the over-activity of the sebaceous glands, hormonal imbalances and even stress.

2. Do not take it in your own hands

Do not squeeze your pimples. This will only spread the infection and cause the affected area to swell. Squeezing your pimples may also result in permanent scarring. So be very careful in tweaking those red bumps on your face.

3. Avoid oily cosmetics

Remember that acne-prone skin is oily enough as it is. If you use oily cosmetics, it will only add up to the oil build up. If you have to wear make-up, look for the ones that are water-based. This will be less harsh on the skin. Also, remember to always remove your make-up at night. This is very crucial as leaving make-up on your skin while asleep can further irritate the skin.

About The Author

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Skin-Care & other useful information, please visit http://skin-care.articlekeep.com

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Acne Scar Treatment

2007-10-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

The news is, acne scarring is permanent but can be treated. A final solution for your acne scarring is to have major plastic surgery. Most sever acne is NOT controlled by food, cleanliness, or OTC meds.

However, acne scarring is commonly more significant than this. Acne Scarring is visible markings, lumps or indentations on the skin's surface resulting from scar tissue which has formed as part of the healing proc. The only way to completely prevent acne scarring is by properly treating acne lesions as soon as they form.

The most effective way to prevent acne scarring is to leave the acne alone, however this doesn’t mean you can’t seek expert advice on how best to treat your acne. Acne scarring is most often the result of self-excoriate behavior such as the tendency to pick or squeeze the pimples.

Moderate to sever acne include: nodules, cysts, rosacea and conglobata. For moderate to sever acne, it is advisable to consult with a dermatologist.

Oral Antibiotics:

These are available by prescription for moderate to sever acne. A new topical treatment of moderate to sever acne can help and it’s best to ask your dermatologist first.

Physicians say that the scarring itself represents only a small part of the actual damage.

Acne suffers are aware that where there is acne there will be scarring as well. Many people have the common pimple or breakout, but for a few of the unlucky acne sufferers, acne can cause scarring. Any scarring will improve with time.

Doctors advise people not to squeeze acne themselves, because scarring can result.

Adjacent, no overlapping laser pulses are delivered over the scars. The ultra pulsed carbon dioxide laser, the erbium YAG laser and the pulsed dye yellow light laser are most commonly used for treating acne scarring.

For the improvement of facial acne scarring: a systematic review of the evidence check out Laser resurfacing of the skin The Harmony Pixel Laser is proving to be highly effective in the treatment of acne scarring.

Numerous medical studies have documented the effectiveness of Nd:YAG laser treatments for acne scarring. Acne scar laser treatment is administered by experienced medical staff who have been properly trained in this area. Laser therapy for acne and acne scarring works by targeting the sebaceous, oily glands that cause bacterial entrapment.

Scar reduction is one of the most common uses of laser skin resurfacing. Recent research shows Acne Rosacea can be successfully treated with yellow laser with no side effects. The erbium laser typically is used to produce superficial resurfacing.

Laser skin resurfacing has added to the numerous treatment options available for acne scarring. The latest treatment options for acne scarring are lasers, such as the pulsed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser and the Erbium:YAG laser. There are many treatment options for those who suffer from chronic consistent acne.

The good news is that there are numerous treatment options now available to treat acne scarring. Fortunately there are topical treatment options, depending on the kind of scarring. The first thing to do is to get good advice about the options.

Laser treatment is one of the newer options for getting rid of acne. As with any surgery, it is important to understand the options and procedures. Laser resurfacing is a recent addition to the armamentarium of options for acne scarring. Electrolysis and laser are the best options. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.

However, acne scarring is commonly more significant than this. One more cause of acne scarring is the pinching and squeezing of acne. A final solution for your acne scarring is to have major plastic surgery. Acne scarring is one of the most embarrassing skin problems faced by many, but help is out there, so make the most of it.

Acne scarring is permanent but can be treated. The only way to completely prevent acne scarring is by properly treating acne lesions as soon as they form. Acne scarring is almost as embarrassing as actual pimples.

Acne scarring is one of the great misfortunes of many people, young and old. For the lucky majority, acne scarring is a minor annoyance, difficult for others to visualize. Acne scarring is what most teenagers and adults fear. Acne scarring is the end result of the body's healing process.

About The Author

Len Cecchetto has written lots of articles about acne. He suffered as a kid and has had a keen interested in the development of cures over the years. You can find out more at: http://howtorid-acne.blogspot.com

The Unspoken Horror Of Adult Acne

2007-10-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

The Unspoken Horror Of Adult Acne
Did you know that more than 25% of the adult population worldwide suffers from acne? If we leave the pages of statistical data and look at people with plain eyes it will be hard to find a man or a woman who did not suffer the gnawing problem of zits. However, even though this problem is "skin deep", its effects germinate into bouts of despair and social angst, which jeopardizes quality of life.

Digging Into The Roots Of Adult Acne

Sebum secreted from the hair follicles moves to the skin pores and lubricates the skin. But sometimes the oil glands expand, producing an excess of sebum, which ultimately gets trapped in the hair follicle and clogs the pores. These clogged pores permit bacteria and growth of Propionibacterium acnes. This bacteria causes inflammation of the hair follicle and the surrounding skin and thus acne emerges.

Though till now the exact causes of adult acne are not known, most of the theories suggest hormonal imbalances as the root cause. Some other causes proposed are evolutionary biology, diet, stress, vitamin deficiency and the list goes on.

Some Effective Treatments To Get Rid Of Adult Acne

Studies reveal that Vitamin A plays an important role in the reduction of serum and keratin production and thus minimizes their growth in follicle comedos. So, nourish your system with Vitamin A and take at least five servings of vegetables and fresh fruits daily. However, always consult a doctor before starting up with any kind of regime.

Zinc is an important element in treating acne too. Zinc enhances the functions of Vitamin A and lends a helping hand in the healing and regeneration of tissues. Zinc also reduces the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which shrinks sebum production.

Most acne sufferers lack Selenium, which plays a crucial role in the action of the enzyme Gluthathione Peroxidase that prevents the inflammation of the hair follicle. Vitamin E minimizes this process and plays a vital part in the action of Vitamin A and Selenium.

Friendly bacteria, Acidophilus, can check injurious intestinal bacteria including yeasts such as Candida albicans. You can take in Acidophilus either in gel capsule form or as yogurt with live culture.

Benozyl peroxide reduces pimples and is effective for acne. You can have it in cream or lotion form.

Creams containing sulphur are also useful in treating acne

Medications containing iodide and bromide can worsen your acne condition so stay away from such products.

All these things are medicines, all of which may have side effects and should not be taken without a prescription and the guidance of a doctor.

Good News For Foodies

You will be glad to know that chocolate or fried foods do not cause acne. These foods are often seen as unhealthy food habits and therefore "must be" related to skin breakouts, but this theory has no scientific backing.

However, foods which are high in refined sugar, trans-fatty acid (milk products) oxidized fatty acids (fried oils) and synthetically hydrogenated vegetable oil contents may not cause acne but are definitely not very good for your health, and so an excess of these foods should be avoided. You can be infected with intestinal toxemia if your diet is low on fiber and essential vitamins and high on these contents. The result of glut of toxins may show on your skin.

Some Natural Remedies Of Adult Acne

The good news about the use of natural things is that they come without the risk of side effects.

Name And Fame Of Some Natural Ingredients

Azelaic acid

This acid makes the keratin production stable and you will get almost same results as using Benzoyl- Peroxide or oral antibiotics.

Tea Tree Oil

Reduces acne with its antibacterial and antifungal qualities.

Green Tea

A renowned antioxidant, which trims down inflammation and infection

Topical Vitamin C And E

Both are strong antioxidants, which improve skin condition by diminishing inflammation and infection.

Fruit Acids (AHAs And BHAs)

These acids gently exfoliate your skin, leaving it smooth.

Some Tips To Control Outbursts Of Adult Acne

Cleanse your face with a mild soap or sulphur soap but do not rub your face with a towel.

Never ever pick or squeeze the zits, it will only worsen your skin condition.

Some acne treatment products will hike up your skin's photosensitivity so when you are using these products, use a sunscreen and wear a hat when you are out. Avoid the tanning booths while using these products as well.

Try to avoid the use of oil-based products on your skin. To prevent the clogging of pores use only "noncomdomedogenic" skin products

Try to avoid friction from sports equipment and airborne grease from fast food places; these can make your acne worse.

Along with a good diet include at least 8 to ten glasses of water in your daily regimen to keep your system clean and the skin glowing

Choosing the right path will help your skin get rid of adult acne scars. Make your skin dazzle with a smooth glow by following the tips in this article.

About The Author

Frank Cordova, Learn how you can cure yourself of acne in just three days by visiting my web site at: http://www.acnefreeinthreedays.net/index2.html

What Is Body Acne And What Can Be Done?

2007-10-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

What Is Body Acne And What Can Be Done?
Body acne can plague the skin of all parts of the body. The skin is the largest organ on the body and contains many layers with the most common layer being the epidermis. This layer covers the whole body and is made up of hairs, oil glands, nerves and nerve endings, sweat glands, blood vessels, cells, and sensory cells. The environment plays a huge part in causing a film to be placed upon the body everyday. Germs and dirt attach onto the skin in everyday life, which makes cleaning the skin essential.

Body acne can appear anywhere on the body. The most frequent place for most acne is on the face, followed by other parts of the body. The chest, shoulders, back and even buttocks can become the affected areas on the body. Many cases of body acne are caused by external objects, for example a purse strap, which may cause friction and result in acne-prone areas. The dirt that may be on the strap can transfer onto the skin, thus providing the bacteria and consequentially causing acne. Sports equipment can be a contributing factor, as the bacteria that has remained on the equipment can transfer to skin and cause inflamed areas. Many dermatologists suggest wearing clothing that will wick away the moisture and keep skin area protected from any underlying microorganisms. The buttocks can become crucial areas for body acne to appear, as there is an inevitable factor of friction of clothing always providing an irritant. Taking care of any affected area will help to lessen the problem of acne.

Suggestions for combating body acne include taking vitamins to boost nutrients in the body and to provide healthy tissue growth and prevent continuous outbreaks. Bathing regularly and using a topical ointment can provide a relief from problem areas. If acne becomes a larger problem, consulting a dermatologist can provide solutions to combat body acne. Sun exposure, while previously considered a treatment, is no longer recommended. While the skin does become darker eliminating the red marks, more skin damage can occur unless proper precautions are taken. Consistent sunbathing will dry the skin and will result in more production of oil. Old sun-exposed cells will slough off more frequently, mixing with skin oils, and will result in a greater chance of blocked pores.

Getting enough quality sleep and loading up on beneficial food and lots of water can ensure the best possible environment for the healthiest skin. Body acne can also be treated with hormonal medications and prescriptions from a dermatologist. Avoiding tight-fitting clothing and using an exfoliant like a loofah sponge in the bath or shower can help keep dead cells off the skin’s surface and away from follicles and pores. Body acne can cause problems, but following just a few simple indications can help combat a controllable situation.

About The Author

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about acne medications - and about acne in general - visit his website: http://www.just-acne.com.

How To Treat Your Acne At Home

2007-10-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

How To Treat Your Acne At Home
Home treatment for acne includes care from the inside out, as well as taking good care of your skin.

Cleanse your face using a cleanser appropriate for your skin type, that will not dry out your face or leave it greasy.

Diet can be important, although there is some debate as to whether certain foods exacerbate acne. Keep track of when your breakouts are worst, and if there seems to be a particluar food that causes flareups, cut it out of your diet.

Remember that good nutrition will have a positive effect on your complexion. If you are not eating properly, consider a multivitamin daily, as well as taking MSM, which enables your body to absorb nutrients more efficiently.

Remember that exfoliation is important to remove skin cells that may lead to clogged pores. Be careful if you have sensitive skin, as this may aggravate the condition. Instead of a grainy scrub, you may want to look for a product with buffered chemical exfoliants, and remember to test any product on a small patch of skin to make sure you are not going to react negatively to it.

There are many over the counter treatments for acne. Salicylic acid helps cell turnover, and benzoyl peroxide is an effective way to reduce the number of bacteria on the skin, and reduce inflammation associated with pimples. It is best to apply a small amount all over the face, because there is little you can do about the acne you actually see; it is more about preventing the blemishes that are forming beneath the surface.

If, even after using the above preventive and treatment measures, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor. There have been many advances in acne treatment, and your doctor may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics or lotions and creams to help you deal with your condition more effectively.

There is no reason you need to suffer alone. Acne can be embarrassing, but the feeling of finally being able to control it is worth anything you need to do to get there!

About The Author

Ingrid Tiessen writes on health and lifestyle issues, and has it on very good authority how difficult acne is to control. You can learn more by visiting my blog, Dealing With Acne at http://dealwithacne.blogspot.com/.

Acne Medications for Quick Recovery

2007-10-23T00:25:00.000-07:00

Acne Medications

Read this Medication Guide every time you get a prescription or a refill for Accutane (ACK-u-tane). There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your prescriber (doctor or other health care provider).

What is the most important information I should know about Accutane?

Accutane is used to treat a type of severe acne (nodular acne) that has not been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics. However, Accutane can cause serious side effects. Before starting Accutane, discuss with your prescriber how bad your acne is, the possible benefits of Accutane, and its possible side effects, to decide if Accutane is right for you. Your prescriber will ask you to read and sign a form or forms indicating you understand some of the serious risks of Accutane.

Possible serious side effects of taking Accutane include birth defects and mental disorders.

1. Birth defects. Accutane can cause birth defects (deformed babies) if taken by a pregnant woman. It can also cause miscarriage (losing the baby before birth), premature (early) birth, or death of the baby. Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking Accutane. Do not get pregnant for 1 month after you stop taking Accutane. Also, if you get pregnant while taking Accutane, stop taking it right away and call your prescriber.

All females should read the section in this Medication Guide "What are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?"

2. Mental problems and suicide. Some patients, while taking Accutane or soon after stopping Accutane, have become depressed or developed other serious mental problems. Symptoms of these problems include sad, "anxious" or empty mood, irritability, anger, loss of pleasure or interest in social or sports activities, sleeping too much or too little, changes in weight or appetite, school or work performance going down, or trouble concentrating. Some patients taking Accutane have had thoughts about hurting themselves or putting an end to their own lives (suicidal thoughts). Some people tried to end their own lives. And some people have ended their own lives. There were reports that some of these people did not appear depressed. No one knows if Accutane caused these behaviors or if they would have happened even if the person did not take Accutane.

All patients should read the section in this Medication Guide "What are the signs of mental problems?"

For other possible serious side effects of Accutane, see "What are the possible side effects of Accutane?" in this Medication Guide.

What are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?

You must not become pregnant while taking Accutane, or for 1 month after you stop taking Accutane. Accutane can cause severe birth defects in babies of women who take it while they are pregnant, even if they take Accutane for only a short time. There is an extremely high risk that your baby will be deformed or will die if you are pregnant while taking Accutane. Taking Accutane also increases the chance of miscarriage and premature births.

Female patients will not get their first prescription for Accutane unless there is proof they have had 2 negative pregnancy tests. The first test must be done when your prescriber decides to prescribe Accutane. The second pregnancy test must be done during the first 5 days of the menstrual period right before starting Accutane therapy, or as instructed by your prescriber. Each month of treatment, you must have a negative result from a urine or serum pregnancy test. Female patients cannot get another prescription for Accutane unless there is proof that they have had a negative pregnancy test.

A yellow self-adhesive Accutane Qualification Sticker on your prescription indicates to the pharmacist that you are qualified by your prescriber to get Accutane.

While you are taking Accutane, you must use effective birth control. You must use 2 separate effective forms of birth control at the same time for at least 1 month before starting Accutane, while you take it, and for 1 month after you stop taking it. You can either discuss effective birth control methods with your prescriber or go for a free visit to discuss birth control with another physician or family planning expert. Your prescriber can arrange this free visit, which will be paid for by the manufacturer.

You must use 2 separate forms of effective birth control because any method, including birth control pills and sterilization, can fail. There are only 2 reasons you would not need to use 2 separate methods of effective birth control:

1. You have had your womb removed by surgery (a hysterectomy).

2. You are absolutely certain you will not have genital-to-genital sexual contact with a male before, during, and for 1 month after Accutane treatment.

If you have sex at any time without using 2 forms of effective birth control, get pregnant, or miss your period, stop using Accutane and call your prescriber right away.

All patients should read the rest of this Medication Guide.

What are the signs of mental problems?

Tell your prescriber if, to the best of your knowledge, you or someone in your family has ever had any mental illness, including depression, suicidal behavior, or psychosis. Psychosis means a loss of contact with reality, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there. Also, tell your prescriber if you take medicines for any of these problems.

Stop using Accutane and tell your provider right away if you:

? Start to feel sad or have crying spells

? Lose interest in activities you once enjoyed

? Sleep too much or have trouble sleeping

? Become more irritable than usual

? Have a change in your appetite or body weight

? Have trouble concentrating

? Withdraw from your friends or family

? Feel like you have no energy

? Have feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt

? Start having thoughts about hurting yourself or taking your own life (suicidal thoughts)

What is Accutane?

Accutane is used to treat the most severe form of acne (nodular acne) that cannot be cleared up by any other acne treatments, including antibiotics. In severe nodular acne, many red, swollen, tender lumps form in the skin. These can be the size of pencil erasers or larger. If untreated, nodular acne can lead to permanent scars. However, because Accutane can have serious side effects, you should talk with your prescriber about all of the possible treatments for your acne, and whether Accutane?s possible benefits outweigh its possible risks.

Who should not take Accutane?

? Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or become pregnant during Accutane treatment. Accutane causes severe birth defects. All females should read the section "What are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?" for more information and warnings about Accutane and pregnancy.

? Do not take Accutane unless you completely understand its possible risks and are willing to follow all of the instructions in this Medication Guide.

Tell your prescriber if you or someone in your family has had any kind of mental problems, asthma, liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis (bone loss), weak bones, anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder where people eat too little), or any other important health problems. Tell your prescriber about any food or drug allergies you have had in the past. These problems do not necessarily mean you cannot take Accutane, but your prescriber needs this information to discuss if Accutane is right for you.

How should I take Accutane?

? You will get no more than a 30-day supply of Accutane at a time, to be sure you check in with your prescriber each month to discuss side effects.

? Your prescription should have a special yellow self-adhesive sticker attached to it. The sticker is YELLOW. If your prescription does not have this yellow self-adhesive sticker, call your prescriber. The pharmacy should not fill your prescription unless it has the yellow self-adhesive sticker.

? The amount of Accutane you take has been specially chosen for you and may change during treatment.

? You will take Accutane 2 times a day with a meal, unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Swallow your Accutane capsules with a full glass of liquid. This will help prevent the medication inside the capsule from irritating the lining of your esophagus (connection between mouth and stomach). For the same reason, do not chew or suck on the capsule.

? If you miss a dose, just skip that dose. Do not take 2 doses the next time.

? You should return to your prescriber as directed to make sure you don?t have signs of serious side effects. Because some of Accutane?s serious side effects show up in blood tests, some of these visits may involve blood tests (monthly visits for female patients should always include a urine or serum pregnancy test).

What should I avoid while taking Accutane?

? Do not get pregnant while taking Accutane. See "What is the most important information I should know about Accutane?" and "What are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?"

? Do not breast feed while taking Accutane and for 1 month after stopping Accutane. We do not know if Accutane can pass through your milk and harm the baby.

? Do not give blood while you take Accutane and for 1 month after stopping Accutane. If someone who is pregnant gets your donated blood, her baby may be exposed to Accutane and may be born with birth defects.

? Do not take vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A in high doses has many of the same side effects as Accutane. Taking both together may increase your chance of getting side effects.

? Do not have cosmetic procedures to smooth your skin, including waxing, dermabrasion, or laser procedures, while you are using Accutane and for at least 6 months after you stop. Accutane can increase your chance of scarring from these procedures. Check with your prescriber for advice about when you can have cosmetic procedures.

? Avoid sunlight and ultraviolet lights as much as possible. Tanning machines use ultraviolet lights. Accutane may make your skin more sensitive to light.

? Do not use birth control pills that do not contain estrogen ("minipills"). They may not work while you take Accutane. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist if you are not sure what type you are using.

? Talk with your doctor if you plan to take other drugs or herbal products. This is especially important for patients using birth control pills and other hormonal types of birth control because the birth control may not work as effectively if you are taking certain drugs or herbal products. You should not take the herbal supplement St. John?s Wort because this herbal supplement may make birth control pills not work as effectively.

? Talk with your doctor if you are currently taking an oral or injected corticosteroid or anticonvulsant (seizure) medication prior to using Accutane. These drugs may weaken your bones.

? Do not share Accutane with other people. It can cause birth defects and other serious health problems.

? Do not take Accutane with antibiotics unless you talk to your prescriber. For some antibiotics, you may have to stop taking Accutane until the antibiotic treatment is finished. Use of both drugs together can increase the chances of getting increased pressure in the brain.

What are the possible side effects of Accutane?

Accutane has possible serious side effects

? Accutane can cause birth defects, premature births, and death in babies whose mothers took Accutane while they were pregnant. See "What is the most important information I should know about Accutane?" and "What are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?"

? Serious mental health problems. See "What is the most important information I should know about Accutane?"

? Serious brain problems. Accutane can increase the pressure in your brain. This can lead to permanent loss of sight, or in rare cases, death. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away if you get any of these signs of increased brain pressure: bad headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Also, some patients taking Accutane have had seizures (convulsions) or stroke.

? Abdomen (stomach area) problems. Certain symptoms may mean that your internal organs are being damaged. These organs include the liver, pancreas, bowel (intestines), and esophagus (connection between mouth and stomach). If your organs are damaged, they may not get better even after you stop taking Accutane. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber if you get severe stomach, chest or bowel pain, trouble swallowing or painful swallowing, new or worsening heartburn, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or dark urine.

? Bone and muscle problems. Accutane may affect bones, muscles, and ligaments and cause pain in your joints or muscles. Tell your prescriber if you plan vigorous physical activity during treatment with Accutane. Tell your prescriber if you develop pain, particularly back pain or joint pain. There are reports that some patients have had stunted growth after taking Accutane for acne as directed. There are also some reports of broken bones or reduced healing of broken bones after taking Accutane for acne as directed. No one knows if taking Accutane for acne will affect your bones. If you have a broken bone, tell your provider that you are taking Accutane. Muscle weakness with or without pain can be a sign of serious muscle damage. If this happens, stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away.

? Hearing problems. Some people taking Accutane have developed hearing problems. It is possible that hearing loss can be permanent. Stop using Accutane and call your prescriber if your hearing gets worse or if you have ringing in your ears.

? Vision problems. While taking Accutane you may develop a sudden inability to see in the dark, so driving at night can be dangerous. This condition usually clears up after you stop taking Accutane, but it may be permanent. Other serious eye effects can occur. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away if you have any problems with your vision or dryness of the eyes that is painful or constant.

? Lipid (fats and cholesterol in blood) problems. Many people taking Accutane develop high levels of cholesterol and other fats in their blood. This can be a serious problem. Return to your prescriber for blood tests to check your lipids and to get any needed treatment. These problems generally go away when Accutane treatment is finished.

? Allergic reactions. In some people, Accutane can cause serious allergic reactions. Stop taking Accutane and get emergency care right away if you develop hives, a swollen face or mouth, or have trouble breathing. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber if you develop a fever, rash, or red patches or bruises on your legs.

? Signs of other possibly serious problems. Accutane may cause other problems. Tell your prescriber if you have trouble breathing (shortness of breath), are fainting, are very thirsty or urinate a lot, feel weak, have leg swelling, convulsions, slurred speech, problems moving, or any other serious or unusual problems. Frequent urination and thirst can be signs of blood sugar problems.

Serious permanent problems do not happen often. However, because the symptoms listed above may be signs of serious problems, if you get these symptoms, stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber. If not treated, they could lead to serious health problems. Even if these problems are treated, they may not clear up after you stop taking Accutane.

Accutane has less serious possible side effects

The common less serious side effects of Accutane are dry skin, chapped lips, dry eyes, and dry nose that may lead to nosebleeds. People who wear contact lenses may have trouble wearing them while taking Accutane and after therapy. Sometimes, people?s acne may get worse for a while. They should continue taking Accutane unless told to stop by their prescriber.

These are not all of Accutane?s possible side effects. Your prescriber or pharmacist can give you more detailed information that is written for health care professionals.

This Medication Guide is only a summary of some important information about Accutane. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. If you have any concerns or questions about Accutane, ask your prescriber. Do not use Accutane for a condition for which it was not prescribed.

Active Ingredient: Isotretinoin.

Inactive Ingredients: beeswax, butylated hydroxyanisole, edetate disodium, hydrogenated soybean oil flakes, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and soybean oil. Gelatin capsules contain glycerin and parabens (methyl and propyl), with the following dye systems: 10 mg ? iron oxide (red) and titanium dioxide; 20 mg ? FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Blue No. 1, and titanium dioxide; 40 mg ? FD&C Yellow No. 6, D&C Yellow No. 10, and titanium dioxide.

About The Author

James Vond writes for http://www.acnedong.com where you can find out more about acne and other topics.

Basic Knowledge on Acne Scarring

2007-10-23T00:23:00.000-07:00

Acne Scarring
A detailed and comprehensive discussion of acne scars starts with causes of scarring, prevention of scarring, types of scars, and treatments for scars.

Before talking about scars, a word about spots that may look like scars but are not scars in the sense that a permanent change has occurred. Even though they are not true scars and disappear in time, they are visible and can cause embarrassment.

Macules or "pseudo-scars" are flat, red or reddish spots that are the final stage of most inflamed acne lesions. After an inflamed acne lesion flattens, a macule may remain to "mark the spot" for up to 6 months. When the macule eventually disappears, no trace of it will remain—unlike a scar.

Post-inflammatory pigmentation is discoloration of the skin at the site of a healed or healing inflamed acne lesion. It occurs more frequently in darker-skinned people, but occasionally is seen in people with white skin. Early treatment by a dermatologist may minimize the development of post-inflammatory pigmentation. Some post-inflammatory pigmentation may persist for up to 18 months, especially with excessive sun exposure. Chemical peeling may hasten the disappearance of post-inflammatory pigmentation.

Causes of Acne Scars

In the simplest terms, scars form at the site of an injury to tissue. They are the visible reminders of injury and tissue repair. In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body’s inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle. Two types of true scars exist, as discussed later: (1) depressed areas such as ice-pick scars, and (2) raised thickened tissue such as keloids.

When tissue suffers an injury, the body rushes its repair kit to the injury site. Among the elements of the repair kit are white blood cells and an array of inflammatory molecules that have the task of repairing tissue and fighting infection. However, when their job is done they may leave a somewhat messy repair site in the form of fibrous scar tissue, or eroded tissue.

White blood cells and inflammatory molecules may remain at the site of an active acne lesion for days or even weeks. In people who are susceptible to scarring, the result may be an acne scar. The occurrence and incidence of scarring is still not well understood, however. There is considerable variation in scarring between one person and another, indicating that some people are more prone to scarring than others. Scarring frequently results from severe inflammatory nodulocystic acne that occurs deep in the skin. But, scarring also may arise from more superficial inflamed lesions. Nodulocystic acne that is most likely to result in scars is seen in these photos:

National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides)

The life history of scars also is not well understood. Some people bear their acne scars for a lifetime with little change in the scars, but in other people the skin undergoes some degree of remodeling and acne scars diminish in size.

People also have differing feelings about acne scars. Scars of more or less the same size that may be psychologically distressing to one person may be accepted by another person as "not too bad." The person who is distressed by scars is more likely to seek treatment to moderate or remove the scars.

Prevention of Acne Scars

As discussed in the previous section on Causes of Acne Scars, the occurrence of scarring is different in different people. It is difficult to predict who will scar, how extensive or deep scars will be, and how long scars will persist. It is also difficult to predict how successfully scars can be prevented by effective acne treatment.

Nevertheless, the only sure method of preventing or limiting the extent of scars is to treat acne early in its course, and as long as necessary. The more that inflammation can be prevented or moderated, the more likely it is that scars can be prevented. (Click on Acne Treatments for more information about treatment of mild, moderate and severe acne). Any person with acne who has a known tendency to scar should be under the care of a dermatologist. (Click on Find a Dermatologist to locate a dermatologist in your geographic area).

Types of Acne Scars

There are two general types of acne scars, defined by tissue response to inflammation: (1) scars caused by increased tissue formation, and (2) scars caused by loss of tissue.

Scars Caused by Increased Tissue Formation

The scars caused by increased tissue formation are called keloids or hypertrophic scars. The word hypertrophy means "enlargement" or "overgrowth." Both hypertrophic and keloid scars are associated with excessive amounts of the cell substance collagen. Overproduction of collagen is a response of skin cells to injury. The excess collagen becomes piled up in fibrous masses, resulting in a characteristic firm, smooth, usually irregularly-shaped scar. The photo shows a typical severe acne keloid:

National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides)

The typical keloid or hypertrophic scar is 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter, but some may be 1 centimeter or larger. Keloid scars tend to "run in families"—that is, abnormal growth of scar tissue is more likely to occur in susceptible people, who often are people with relatives who have similar types of scars.

Hypertrophic and keloid scars persist for years, but may diminish in size over time.

Scars Caused by Loss of Tissue

Acne scars associated with loss of tissue—similar to scars that result from chicken pox—are more common than keloids and hypertrophic scars. Scars associated with loss of tissue are:

Ice-pick scars usually occur on the cheek. They are usually small, with a somewhat jagged edge and steep sides—like wounds from an ice pick. Ice-pick scars may be shallow or deep, and may be hard or soft to the touch. Soft scars can be improved by stretching the skin; hard ice-pick scars cannot be stretched out.

Depressed fibrotic scars are usually quite large, with sharp edges and steep sides. The base of these scars is firm to the touch. Ice-pick scars may evolve into depressed fibrotic scars over time.

Soft scars, superficial or deep are soft to the touch. They have gently sloping rolled edges that merge with normal skin. They are usually small, and either circular or linear in shape.

Atrophic macules are usually fairly small when they occur on the face, but may be a centimeter or larger on the body. They are soft, often with a slightly wrinkled base, and may be bluish in appearance due to blood vessels lying just under the scar. Over time, these scars change from bluish to ivory white in color in white-skinned people, and become much less obvious.

Follicular macular atrophy is more likely to occur on the chest or back of a person with acne. These are small, white, soft lesions, often barely raised above the surface of the skin—somewhat like whiteheads that didn’t fully develop. This condition is sometimes also called "perifollicular elastolysis." The lesions may persist for months to years.

Treatments for Acne Scars

A number of treatments are available for acne scars through dermatologic surgery. The type of treatment selected should be the one that is best for you in terms of your type of skin, the cost, what you want the treatment to accomplish, and the possibility that some types of treatment may result in more scarring if you are very susceptible to scar formation.

A decision to seek dermatologic surgical treatment for acne scars also depends on:

* The way you feel about scars. Do acne scars psychologically or emotionally affect your life? Are you willing to "live with your scars" and wait for them to fade over time? These are personal decisions only you can make.

* The severity of your scars. Is scarring substantially disfiguring, even by objective assessment?

* A dermatologist’s expert opinion as to whether scar treatment is justified in your particular case, and what scar treatment will be most effective for you.

Before committing to treatment of acne scars, you should have a frank discussion with your dermatologist regarding those questions, and any others you feel are important. You need to tell the dermatologist how you feel about your scars. The dermatologist needs to conduct a full examination and determine whether treatment can, or should, be undertaken.

The objective of scar treatment is to give the skin a more acceptable physical appearance. Total restoration of the skin, to the way it looked before you had acne, is often not possible, but scar treatment does usually improve the appearance of your skin.

The scar treatments that are currently available include:

Collagen injection. Collagen, a normal substance of the body, is injected under the skin to "stretch" and "fill out" certain types of superficial and deep soft scars. Collagen treatment usually does not work as well for ice-pick scars and keloids. Collagen derived from cows or other non-human sources cannot be used in people with autoimmune diseases. Human collagen or fascia is helpful for those allergic to cow-derived collagen. Cosmetic benefit from collagen injection usually lasts 3 to 6 months. Additional collagen injections to maintain the cosmetic benefit are done at additional cost.

Autologous fat transfer. Fat is taken from another site on your own body and prepared for injection into your skin. The fat is injected beneath the surface of the skin to elevate depressed scars. This method of autologous (from your own body) fat transfer is usually used to correct deep contour defects caused by scarring from nodulocystic acne. Because the fat is reabsorbed into the skin over a period of 6 to 18 months, the procedure usually must be repeated. Longer lasting results may be achieved with multiple fat-transfer procedures.

Dermabrasion. This is thought to be the most effective treatment for acne scars. Under local anesthetic, a high-speed brush or fraise used to remove surface skin and alter the contour of scars. Superficial scars may be removed altogether, and deeper scars may be reduced in depth. Dermabrasion does not work for all kinds of scars; for example, it may make ice-pick scars more noticeable if the scars are wider under the skin than at the surface. In darker-skinned people, dermabrasion may cause changes in pigmentation that require additional treatment.

Microdermabrasion. This new technique is a surface form of dermabrasion. Rather than a high-speed brush, microdermabrasion uses aluminum oxide crystals passing through a vacuum tube to remove surface skin. Only the very surface cells of the skin are removed, so no additional wound is created. Multiple procedures are often required but scars may not be significantly improved.

Laser Treatment. Lasers of various wavelength and intensity may be used to recontour scar tissue and reduce the redness of skin around healed acne lesions. The type of laser used is determined by the results that the laser treatment aims to accomplish. Tissue may actually be removed with more powerful instruments such as the carbon dioxide laser. In some cases, a single treatment is all that will be necessary to achieve permanent results. Because the skin absorbs powerful bursts of energy from the laser, there may be post-treatment redness for several months.

Skin Surgery. Some ice-pick scars may be removed by "punch" excision of each individual scar. In this procedure each scar is excised down to the layer of subcutaneous fat; the resulting hole in the skin may be repaired with sutures or with a small skin graft. Subcision is a technique in which a surgical probe is used to lift the scar tissue away from unscarred skin, thus elevating a depressed scar.

Skin grafting may be necessary under certain conditions—for example, sometimes dermabrasion unroofs massive and extensive tunnels (also called sinus tracts) caused by inflammatory reaction to sebum and bacteria in sebaceous follicles. Skin grafting may be needed to close the defect of the unroofed sinus tracts.

Treatment of keloids. Surgical removal is seldom if ever used to treat keloids. A person whose skin has a tendency to form keloids from acne damage may also form keloids in response to skin surgery. Sometimes keloids are treated by injecting steroid drugs into the skin around the keloid. Topical retinoic acid may be applied directly on the keloid. In some cases the best treatment for keloids in a highly susceptible person is no treatment at all.

In summary, acne scars are caused by the body’s inflammatory response to acne lesions. The best way to prevent scars is to treat acne early, and as long as necessary. If scars form, a number of effective treatments are available. Dermatologic surgery treatments should be discussed with a dermatologist.

About The Author

James Vond writes for http://www.acnehon.com where you can find out more about acne and other topics.

Acne Alternative Treatments - 3 Dreadful Secrets of Acne Alternative Treatments

2007-10-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

Acne Alternative Treatments
Let's face the facts. I am sure most of you have tried at least one acne alternative treatment like acutance or proactive or any other tropical ointment that promises you to get rid of acne in the least time possible.

Even today evening I just saw an ad showing a cream that will make your zits vanish in 7 hours! When are industrialists going to realize that it is high time they stop playing with people's lives for money?

Don't you understand what is going on? Let me show you 4 reasons why you should not go for any expensive and rapid claiming acne alternative treatments.

Reason Number 1

Acne is a simple a signal your body is screaming out to you with a note that you are suffering from a much deeper internal problem.

So I am sure you understand that just because you made your acne vanish with some expensive acne alternative treatment like Accutane, it does not mean you have solved the internal problem inside you that still persists!

Now what can acne alternative treatments do about the internal problem? You spent your hard earned money on it right? What happened?

Reason Number 2

Acne has been evolving from generation to generation for a very long time. Let me ask you a question.

What was the acne alternative treatment at a time when people used to walk from one place to another? In other words, what was the acne alternative treatment during the age where technology was not in the dictionary?

They probably had a better alternative treatment for their acne. They used to get rid of their acne in a more natural manner with controlled diets and useful medicines made in their own kitchen!

Reason Number 3

How permanent do you think are your results with the consumption of acne alternative treatments?

Yes, your acne may be gone for a few months, but are you sure they won't come back?

Like I told you before, acne is simply a signaling system to a much deeper internal problem. The more worse your acne gets, the more the internal problems is getting worse, and no acne alternative treatment has yet promised that so far..

How many of you actually watch an animation movie called osmosis Jones?

I recommend you do that. It gives an inside look at how your body works, and it is a real comedy. You will enjoy it.

There you go I gave you three reasons why you should not go for an acne alternative treatment.

It is always recommended you go for the natural path to curing your acne. If there is an alternative acne treatment that promises you to get rid of acne by solving your internal problems, I would be the first to find out how it works and recommend it to you if it works fine.

Like I said, there is no better acne alternative treatment than your own self.

About The Author

Abi Shaan is an expert in Natural Acne Skin Care.
Click the link below to get more Free Tips on Acne Skin Care teatments..
==> http://natural-remedy-for-acne.blogspot.com

At Home Microdermabrasion: 4 Tips to Make This Acne Scar Removal Treatment More Effective

2007-10-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Acne Scar Removal Treatment
Over the counter microdermabrasion kits serve as an ideal way to approach do it yourself acne scar correction. And with four scientifically sound tweaks to your current dermabrasion regime, you can transform this skin treatment into a world-class spa experience with striking results.

1. Prep the skin with proper cleansers

Effective dermabrasion treatments remove the upper layers of the damaged and dead skin cells. However, after a normal day, dead skin cells, oils, and cellular waste create a sticky, protective barrier called "stratum corneum" on the upper layers of the skin. This dermal shield can downgrade the actions of a derma-scrub.

Before applying a dermabrasion treatment, use witch hazel to safely and effectively remove this collective debris from the skin. Cleanse your face with a warm wash cloth and pat dry. Next saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and smooth the cotton ball over the face for at least 60 seconds.

Alternately, Daniel M. Siegel, M.D.of State University of New York Downstate Medical Center suggests prepping the skin with a soap containing lava ash such as Lava (available for under $5US in most drug stores). Dr. Siegel explained to Skin and Allergy News that Lava soap removes part of the stratum corneum.

2.Use the correct pressure and pull the skin taut

How you apply a microdermabrasion treatment to the skin readily determines how spectacular your results will look. For example, a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that applying negative pressure to the skin activated key genes that help grow new, blemish free skin.

Similarly, delicately pulling the skin taut when applying a microdermabrasion application increases the amount of skin surface area treated, while allowing you to more deeply penetrate the skin and thereby remove more damaged layers.

3.Use smooth circular motions

As you tenderly pull your skin taut and apply the right amount of pressure to your skin, smooth on the dermabrasion product in circular motions with a diameter of about an inch and a half or the size of a strawberry. These small motions will help you more evenly apply the dermabrasion treatment so that the therapy is uniform, and creates an even skin tone and texture.

4. Apply a deep penetrating moisturizer that contains aloe vera or hyaluronic acid

After rinsing off the microdermabrasion treatment, you have removed part of your guardian stratum corneum, exposed young skin cells and essentially created a mini-wound on the skin. Now time it's to help your skin protect itself again by applying a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or hyaluronic acid.

Aloe vera cools the skin and helps calm inflammation so that you can enjoy skin renewal faster. Likewise, hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan) comprises the skin and facilitates the wound healing process. In the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, researchers reported that applying a moisturizer containing hyaluronan after dermabrasion helped improve skin healing.

There you have it, four ways to make the most of your time and money while applying an at home dermabrasion treatment.

Sources:

Karimipour, Darius J et al. Microdermabrasion with and without aluminum oxide crystal abrasion: A comparative molecular analysis of dermal remodeling. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; March 2006, vol 54, no 3, pp 405-410.

Kirn, Timothy. Dermatologic Supplies Abound on Hardware Store Shelves. Skin and Allergy News; August 2005, vol 36, no 8, p 20.

Voinchet, Véroniqu; Pascal Vasseur & Jérôme Kern. Efficacy and Safety of Hyaluronic Acid in the Management of Acute Wounds. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology; 2006, vol 7, no 6, pp 353-357.

About The Author

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz engineered the acne trigger approach to naturally controlling acne in her internationally published book, "Acne Messages". San-Joyz continues to serve persons with acne by developing customized acne scar removal treatments for the face and body at the San Diego based skin research firm Noixia. If you want free, researched tips for naturally removing acne marks, visit http://www.Noixia.com .

Acne Scars: Discover the Best Way to Remove Your Acne Marks in 5 Simple Steps

2007-10-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

Acne Scars
You enjoy a world of customization. You can customize your hair color, manicure type, vehicle, health care plan and most certainly, your acne scar removal regime. But before you take one step in customizing anything- you plan. When it comes to getting rid of acne marks, you can plan to delete traces of your former acne affliction in five time and money saving steps.

Step 1: Define your acne scarring situation

Measuring improvements require that you first assess your scarring situation. To find your ideal acne scar correcting product, you need to clearly define the type(s) of cicatrices you wish to reduce.

Types of acne scarring include:

Hyperpigmented spots- round, flat, darkened spots that remain after an acne lesion heals. In some instances, darkened acne spots can fade on their on in 2-12 months.

Pock marks, ice-pick scars- these scars are indentations in the skin that result from loss of skin and fat tissue that occurred during the formation and healing of inflamed acne pustules or cysts.

Rolling acne scarring- stretched pores and the roughened skin texture that results from extended periods of moderate to severe acne.

sentence 7 Hypertrophic scars- circular, raised scar tissue that results from excess collagen growth during the acne lesion healing process. This is generally the least common form of acne scarring.

Step 2: Decide what changes you would like to see in your skin

If you have acne scarring, you most likely want your skin to look as if you never had acne. That's understandable. To make this scar disappearing act happen, you first need to precisely determine what changes you want to see with your scarring. For example, you may want to fade dark spots, and smooth away indented pock marks and ice-pick scars.

Step 3: Determine your budget and time commitment to improving your skin

You have numerous cosmetic and medicinal options for correcting acne scars. However, before dipping into your wallet, you want to ensure that One: You devised a budget to fully fund your scar removal method and Two: You have the time it will require to successfully benefit from your chosen scar removal methods.

To illustrate, lets say that you wanted to soften a hypertrophic acne scar. Your scar removal budget is $500US and time commitment is two months. With these figures, you could witness improvements in your raised scar by receiving two-20 minute- flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatments within two months.

Conversely, if your scar removal budget was $50 and you had about 2-5 months to see improvements in this hypertrophic scar, you could use a $19 silicon or polyurethane patch. You usually need to wear these patches daily for 12 hours and each patch costs roughly a dollar. This brings the costs for your silicon patch based hypertrophic scar removal to about $60-$150US for two to five months of daily treatment.

Step 4: Match the acne scar removal treatment to your specific scar type

Not all scar removal treatments perform the same job. For instance, the silicon patch may fabulously flatten hypertrophic tissue, but could aggravate rolling acne scars. Similarly, while a deep chemical peel can reduce the depth of pock mocks, the same peel may have no effect on raised scarring. Here's a basic guideline for matching acne scars with the ideal acne scar removal treatment.

Hyperpigmented spots- chemical peels, skin lighteners, intense pulsed light treatments

Pock marks, ice-pick scars- dermabrasion treatments, deep chemical peels, advanced laser treatments administered by a trained professional.

Rolling acne scarring- chemical peels, skin tightening laser treatments

Hypertrophic scars- laser treatments, silicon patches, scar creams

Step 5: Consistent product usage

Once you've done steps one through four, all you need to do now is use the acne scar removal products and/or treatments consistently and as directed until your see optimal changes in your skin.

While having a "plan" for changing your skin may seem awkward, chances are this simple guideline will help remove doubts about freeing yourself of acne scars while saving yourself precious time and money. Also, a report in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology reported that having a regime while performing popular acne scar removal treatments like alpha hydroxy peels enhanced patient compliance and peel results. Why not treat yourself to an acne scar reducing plan.

Sources:

Manuskiatti, W; Rungsima W & R Fitzpatrick. Effect of Pulse Width of a 595-nm Flashlamp-Pumped Pulsed Dye Laser on the Treatment Response of Keloidal and Hypertrophic Sternotomy Scars. Dermatologic Surgery; February 2007, vol 33, no 2, pp 152-161.

Meyer-Ingold, W & V Achterberg. Scar Reduction by Adhesive Patches: Efficacy and Potential Mode of Action. Wound Repair and Regeneration; April 2004, vol 12, no 2, pp A19.

Tung, R; W Bergfeld, A Vidimos & B Remzi. Alpha-Hydroxy Acid-Based Cosmetic Procedures: Guidelines For Patient Management. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology; March 2000, vol 1, no 2, pp. 81-88.

About The Author

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz pioneered the acne trigger approach to naturally controlling acne in her internationally published book, "Acne Messages". San-Joyz continues to serve the acne community by developing customized acne scar removal treatments for the face and body. If you want free tips for naturally removing acne scarring, visit http://www.Noixia.com.

Acne Scar Treatment

2007-10-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

About The Author

Ricky Lim is the owner of http://acneskincareproduct.org where he teaches how to buy acne product and provides acne product reviews such as the actimine acne treatment review.

Source

Natural Skin Care Treament For Acne

2007-10-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

How To Smooth Out Acne's Bumpy Road

A natural skin care for treatment for acne will always treat the body first, main stream medicine and over the counter treatments for acne always treat the symptom as the cause, which is wrong.

Acne appears on the skin and it is a natural reaction to want to treat it there. But consider for a moment how did I get acne? Acne did not originate on your skin, so would it not make sense to treat the cause. Acne will occur in most cases with hormone disruption. If you want to get rid of acne the best place to start is from the inside out.

The skin is a mirror image of the internal health of your body.Acne and other skin disorders is an outward sign of stressed systems within the body. There are many conditions which can contribute to acne formation. Herdity and family history of acne is often suspected as a contibutor to acne. The probability of developing acne is higher but that doesn't mean that acne will develop. Heridty is not a major factor.

Acne can occur during puberty when sex hormones (androgen) in boys and (estrogen) in girls upsets the normal function of the sebacious glands.Too much oil is produced and combined with dead skin cells which become trapped in the foliclles, allow bacteria and infection to develop. The result is acne or other skin disorders.

Adult acne can be from many sources as well.

stress (emotional and metabolic)
In women, hormone regulators
drugs
poor diet
sleep disorders
toxic bowel and parasites

The most common cause of hormone disruption other than puberty is toxemia of the bowel. Candida is also a serious contributor to toxemia and hormone disruption.

High emotional stress is very destructive to the entire body, and can upset normal hormone balance of the entire body, including the skin.If you have high stress levels no treatment will be effective in the control of acne, no matter what the cause, so try your best to understand your stress and get it under control.

A Simple 3 Step Natural Skin Treatment For Acne

Acne sufferers will benefit greatly from a complete detox program including eliminating accumlated fecal matter in the bowel. Toxic stress of the bowel is a very common cause of many skin disorders. The cleaner the blood, the cleaner the body, the more skin conditions will improve.

Improving the diet by including lots of raw greens, fruits and vegetables, jucing is best as the body can assimulate and digest liquids much easier and faster than eating raw fruits and vegetables whole. There is a wide variety of books and recipes on jucing with many excellent and delicious recipes.

Reducing or eliminating refined sugar, white flour products, hydrogenated oils and saturated animal fats is a definite plus not only to help clear acne but make major improvements to your health as well.

After a cleanse and improvement to the diet you are giving your body back the ability to heal. For your skin pure organic skin care products that feed nutrients to the skin will help in the healing process of existing damage that much faster.

Getting acne under control without harmful drugs using a simple 3 step natural skin care treatment for acne, get results that are long lasting.

About The Author

Robert Dixon is a health researcher,health advocate, a published author with many years experience in the haelth field. You can learn more about healthy alternatives to skin care at his website http://www.organicskincare101.com
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New Acne Medicine: The acne drugs, creams and therapies that could be coming to a shelf near you

2007-10-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

My first encounter with acne medicine, if you will, happened when I was twelve. My grandma just spotted a huge, swollen bubble of a zit on my cheek. Ached by the sight of my massive facial growth, grandma gestured me over to her medicine cabinet and pleaded, "Put some turpentine on that soar to suck that poison out". And use that backwoods prescription I did.

Not all zit tales end in such swift bliss.

Many people tormented by pimples find no reprieve with trusted pustule terminators like benzoyl peroxide or antibiotics. And so researchers toil away in labs and challenge the stamina of pimple prone skin with yet another acne preventative. However, this summer, the entourage of novel acne therapies could make blemishes retreat from the skin.

Reduced dosage isotretinoin

For starters, doctors may soon prescribe the acne drug typically reserved for the most severe cases of cystic or nodular acne, isotretinoin, for mild to moderate cases of acne. Just this past June, a study published in the Expert Review of Dermatology found that an intermittent, low-dose regimen of isotretinoin could mitigate potentially caustic side effects of isotretinoin, like liver damage and extreme skin dryness, while still effectively controlling acne.

Bio-identical acne preventing agents

While isotretinoin effects acne control by reducing facial oil secretion and bacterial counts, a recently patented bio-product called phytosphingosine (PS) may combat pimples by mitigating pain inducing inflammation.

Phytosphingosine (PS) is a fat that exists in upper layers of the skin called the the stratum corneum. According to a report in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, a skin-identical version of phytosphingosine exhibited antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in the skin. Researchers suspect that this new anti-acne fat may soon complement topical pimple treatments.

Less menacing contraceptives

If such fat laden topical acne creams prove insufficient to tame blossoming blemishes, woman can bolster their skin care regime with contraceptives. And with the arrival of a new hormonal agent called drospirenone, women may enjoy less pimples and a more pleasant period.

Doctors may prescribe an oral contraceptive blend of spirolactone and ethinyl estradiol to female acne patients over age 35.

Similar to spironolactone, drospirenone helps prevent acne by reducing androgenic hormonal activity like excess facial oil production. Yet when drospirenone displaces spirolactone in such contraceptives, women experience better acne control and less menstrual weight gain and pain, while enjoying the same level efficacious birth control.

While I don't foresee pine derivative like turpentine stealing the acne controlling spot light from isotretinoin, phytosphingosine, or birth control pills, I do predict that in a generation from now, the multifaceted causes and contributors to acne lesions will continue to baffle scientists and continue to crowd our cabinets with test-worthy acne antidotes. In the mean time, "Thank you grandma."

Sources:

Pavicic, T; U Wollenweber, M Farwick & H Korting.. Anti-microbial and -inflammatory activity and efficacy of phytosphingosine: an in vitro and in vivo study addressing acne vulgaris. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, June 2007; vol 29, no 3, pp 181-190.

Ramos-e-Silva, M; C da Silva & S Coelho. Oral isotretinoin: intermittent and low-dosage regimen in acne. Expert Review of Dermatology, June 2007; vol 2, no 3, pp 267-269.

Rapkin, A & S Winer. Drospirenone: a novel progestin. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, May 2007; vol 8, no 7, pp 989-999.

About The Author

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Men's Acne Facts versus Fiction

2007-10-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

MenScience gives the inside scoop on myths and facts about men’s acne and acne treatments. How much do you really know about breakouts? Take our quiz and see for yourself!

1. Popping acne pimples makes them go away faster.

* True
* False

2. You should wash your face several times a day if you have acne.

* True
* False

3. Eating greasy or oily foods causes acne.

* True
* False

4. Tanning clears up acne in men’s skin.

* True
* False

5. Where you work can affect your skin and cause acne.

* True
* False

6. Benzoyl Peroxide is the most effective ingredient for acne treatment.

* True
* False

7. Glycolic and Salicylic Acids are effective against acne.

* True
* False

8. If an acne medication causes your skin to get worse, you should stop using the acne product.

* True
* False

9. It takes 28 days for new cells to appear on the surface of men’s skin.

* True
* False

10. Acne-prone men should use noncomedogenic products.

* True
* False

11. Perspiration cleanses skin.

* True
* False

12. Teenagers (not real men) get acne.

* True
* False

13. Only men with oily skin get acne.

* True
* False

14. Acne is caused by bacteria.

* True
* False

15. Using a face scrub can control acne.

* True
* False

16. Acne is no big deal.

* True
* False

ANSWER KEY:
1. FALSE: Popping pimples may seem to reduce their size, but it can actually aggravate blemishes by spreading bacteria, causing them to take longer to heal. Not only that, but popping or picking at pimples causes scars and dark spots to form.

2. FALSE: It’s important to have a clean face, but washing your face with force several times a day can cause your skin to produce more oil to make up for the moisture being washed away. Not to mention skin will become red and irritated. Your best bet is to wash once or twice a day with a gentle liquid cleanser that contains Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree extract.

3. FALSE: Pizza, chocolate and junk food have long been labeled “acne magnets,” but there’s very little scientific evidence to back up this claim. However, men should aim to eat a balanced diet full of vitamins from fruits and vegetables, and drink a lot of water for overall well-being.

4. FALSE: When you tan, dead cells build up on your skin’s surface. This can often cause your pores to look tighter and the surface to look smoother. Tanning also masks redness caused by acne. However, once the tan disappears, you’ll be left with greater outbreaks and darker acne scars and marks. Protect skin exposed to direct sunlight by regularly applying sunscreen (especially if using a treatment containing Benzoyl Peroxide).

5. TRUE: Men who work in places that put them in constant contact with grease and oil (restaurants and garages, for example) may find themselves breaking out more because oil creates an ideal environment for bacteria to reproduce. Although there’s no simple way to rectify this, they should clean skin gently at least twice a day and try to keep their hands from their faces at all times.

6. TRUE: Benzoyl Peroxide is an antibacterial ingredient prescribed by dermatologists as the preferred topical medicine for safe treatment for acne. It clears acne-causing bacteria on the surface, absorbs excessive oils and clear pores, while promoting greater cell exfoliation and renewal. Doctors also prescribe Green Tea, Urea and Allantoin to help soothe acne-irritated skin. Because Benzoyl Peroxide has powerful antibacterial and exfoliating qualities, it may take some time for skin to get used to the treatment. Once skin has become accustomed to the treatment however, irritation, redness or dryness usually disappears. The best bet is to apply a small amount only once a day, and then increase frequency gradually over 5 – 6 days. If too much dryness occurs, decrease frequency and gradually increase again.

7. TRUE: Glycolic and Salicylic Acids work very effectively to exfoliate dead skin cells and clear pores. By reducing pore blockage, acne has less of a chance to form and breakouts are reduced. Exfoliation with gentle products that contain Glycolic and Salicylic Acids helps smooth and clean skin, while also reducing instances of ingrown hairs as well.

8. FALSE: During acne treatment, skin often seems to take a turn for the worse before it begins getting better. This is due in part to the need to become accustomed to a treatment and the exfoliating process of shedding dead skin cells. The important thing is to keep usage regular. If, however, skin remains irritated for a long period of time, stop acne treatment and consult a doctor.

9. TRUE: It takes new cells 28 days to form and move through the epidermal layer of skin to finally appear on the surface. This is why results are not always immediately apparent. Using a product with Glycolic Acid may accelerate this process and help clear away dead skin cells.

10. TRUE: Noncomedogenic means ingredients in the product do not clog pores or provoke acne. Although it’s definitely recommended for men with oily skin, you should use non-irritating, noncomedogenic products no matter what skin type you have. All MenScience products have been developed by doctors and are noncomedogenic.

11. FALSE: Perspiration helps flush toxins from the body and maintains body temperature, but it does not cleanse skin at all. In fact, leaving sweat on your body can actually cause acne breakouts. Because of this, remember to take a shower or wash your face immediately after sweating heavily with a gentle cleanser several times a day.

12. FALSE: If only this were true! While acne outbreaks are often strongest during teen years (due to hormonal imbalances and improper skincare), acne can affect men their entire lives. Good skin health needs to be regularly maintained to avoid falling prey to blemishes.

13. FALSE: Acne can affect guys with any skin type, from dry to combination and even normal. Men with oily skin might be more susceptible to outbreaks, but they are by no means alone.

14. TRUE: Bacteria (P. acnes) play a big part in the creation of acne. Once a skin pore becomes clogged, acne bacteria begin to grow, causing blemishes to form. Benzoyl Peroxide is the most effective treatment for acne because it introduces oxygen into the bacteria, which kills it.

15. TRUE: Using a gentle exfoliating face scrub that contains Salicylic and Glycolic Acids can help clear pores of dirt and blockage, cutting down on the instances of acne. However, do not use a scrub if your acne is severe; it could aggravate your skin further.

16. TRUE….and FALSE: Acne is a painful, annoying condition, but it doesn’t need to negatively affect your lifestyle. While healthy skin is something we should all aim for, an occasional pimple or breakout is nothing to freak out about and can be treated with the right acne products. Remember: almost everyone is affected by acne. By using the most effective acne products and skincare techniques, there’s nothing to stop you from attaining a clear, healthy complexion.

SCORING:

13-16 Answers Correct: Acne Expert

9-12 Answers Correct: Good job! Add to your acne know-how with more tips.

5-8 Answers Correct: Knowledgeable, but check out our articles for more info.

0-4 Answers Correct: Needs work. Discover how to treat acne with our expert advice.

About The Author

Deidra Garcia is a freelance writer and communications manager for MenScience Androceuticals, a men's skincare and grooming company. You can find more articles by Deidra, as well as further tips and advice, at http://www.MenScience.com.

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Acne Scars: How to find the best dermal filler to correct deep acne scarring

2007-10-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

Softening deep acne scars resulting from severe bouts of cystic or nodular lesions requires a well thought out cosmetic corrective plan. And according to reports in Dermatologic Surgery, popularized scar removal options like laser resurfacing may not satisfactorily smooth away deep acne scars. Yet, patients can readily witness scar depth reductions in indented acne scaring using aesthetic therapies such as dermal fillers.

Silicon based dermal fillers

In a 30-year perspective study of using dermal fillers to correct acne scars, doctors Jay Barnett and Channing Barnett deemed medical-grade liquid silicone the only filler substance that permanently and precisely corrects acne scars. During their investigation, the researchers reviewed the lives of five patients with a history of acne scarring. Each patient showed improvements from injections of liquid silicone at the initial treatment session and at 10-, 15-, and 30-year follow-up sessions.

Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers

Even though silicon based dermal fillers work, heavily marketed fillers made of hyaluronic acid also present a potential deep acne scarring corrective. While the results from dermal fillers can prove pleasantly dramatic, in the case of hyaluronic acid, the enhancements may only last six months. Moreover, most Food and Drug Administration approved dermal fillers like Perlane have only been tested on and prescribed for correction of nasal labial folds, not acne scars that can arise on multiple areas of the face.

Calcium-based dermal fillers

In a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, investigators tested a dermal filler composed of calcium hydroxylapatite to treat acne scars. Researchers used the filler to correct both round or saucerized acne scars, and deep acne scars with a sharp triangular shaped called "ice-pick" scars. After administering the dermal filler to ten patients with various types of acne scarring, the investigators found that only saucerized acne scars responded well to the treatment. Scar improvements lasted up to twelve months in some volunteers.

How to select a dermal filler

While dermal fillers offer dazzling results, they aren't cheap. And typically, the longer the filler lasts, the more expensive the treatment. Dermal injections can run from $300 to $2000 for treated area so plan to spend smartly. Moreover, a dermal injection is only as aesthetically beautiful as the professional delivering the shot.

When seeking a dermal injection, seek a professional possessing experience with correcting deep acne scars with dermal fillers. Finally, when using a dermal injection, make certain that you have your acne outbreaks under control because dermal injections are contraindicated for facial areas experiencing pain or inflammation, including pimples.

Sources:

Barnett, Jay & Channing Barnett. Treatment of Acne Scars with Liquid Silicone Injections: 30-Year Perspective. Dermatologic Surgery, November 2005; vol 31, no 4, pp 1542-1549.

Food and Drug Administration. Perlane Injectable Gel – P040024s006 Labeling. May 2, 2007. http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf4/p040024s006c.pdf

Goldberg, David; Snehal Amin & Mussarrat Hussein. Acne scar correction using calcium hydroxylapatite in a carrier-based gel. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, September 2006; vol 8, no 3, pp. 134-136.

Woo, S; J Park & & Y Kye. Resurfacing of Different Types of Facial Acne Scar With Short-Pulsed, Variable-Pulsed, and Dual-Mode Er:YAG Laser. Dermatologic Surgery, April 2004; vol 30, no 4, pp 488-493.

About The Author

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz pioneered the acne trigger approach to naturally controlling acne in her internationally published book, "Acne Messages". San-Joyz continues to serve the acne patients by developing customized acne spot removal treatments for the face and body at the San Diego based skin research firm Noixia. If you want free tips for naturally removing acne marks, visit http://www.Noixia.com .

Source

What Is Acne Rosacea?

2007-10-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

What is acne rosacea? Well it is not acne. The symptoms of acne and acne rosacea overlap, but they are distinct skin conditions... Acne rosacea affects the facial area and is most common in fair skinned women between the ages of 30 and 60. When men are affected by this skin disorder their symptoms are often particularly severe. Acne rosacea cannot be cured but the disease can be treated and controlled with the help of a dermatologist.

The early stages of acne rosacea are characterized by frequent reddening of the facial area. It is suspected that individuals who blush frequently are more susceptible to developing acne rosacea. If you have a history of frequent blushing, it may be difficult to distinguish between a normal blush and the beginnings of this skin disorder, since the redness of acne rosacea is intermittent in the early stages of the disease. If your blushing skin burns when you apply lotions or your face is swollen, you may be experiencing the early symptoms of acne rosacea. If you experience these symptoms and do not have a history of frequent blushing, you may need to seek acne rosacea treatment.

As the disease progresses the face become ruddier and is discolored more frequently. Small red solid bumps may begin to appear on the skin of the face. Visible blood vessels and pimples will also appear. Blackheads, a normal symptom of acne, do not appear with the pimples of an acne rosacea sufferer. In severe cases of this disease the skin of the face may thicken and the nose may become bulbous.

The eyes of fifty percent of acne rosacea suffers are affected by this disease. The eyelids become inflamed, and the eyes are red and irritated. Tearing and frequent sty’s are common when acne rosacea affect the eye area. In severe cases loss of vision may occur. When the eyes become infected, the treatment plan includes oral antibiotics and a strict eye cleansing routine. Steroid eye drops may also be prescribed.

There is no cure for this skin disorder but acne rosacea treatment includes topical antibiotics to reduce the skin inflammation and pimples. Other forms of acne rosacea treatment include oral antibiotics and long term topical therapy to keep outbreaks under control. Most doctors also realize acne rosacea treatment should also include assessment for depression since this disease is disfiguring and embarrassing to it’s’ victims.

Aggressive acne rosacea treatment also includes the use of lasers to remove visible blood vessels and reduce redness. Surgery may be indicated in cases where the nose has become disfigured.

Once diagnosed with acne rosacea, it is important to follow an acne rosacea skin care routine. Mild, non abrasive cleansers are recommended. The acne rosacea patient should not use rough cloths or extremely hot or cold water on their faces. Lukewarm water and soft cotton towels are the best options for acne rosacea skin care. Constant use of sun block, (SPF 15 or higher) should be used daily. Make up can be part of an acne rosacea skin care routine, if it does not further irritate the skin.

Currently there is research being conducted on this skin disorder. As the population ages, an increase in acne rosacea is expected. While there is no cure today, research may develop a cure tomorrow.

About The Author

This article was written by Scott Mogul, editor for http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com and http://www.quickcare.org/skin/acne.html These websites provide information on rosacea and acne treatments.
Source

Heal Acne in Nature This Summer Without Cancer Fears

2007-10-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

For once, some good news for sun worshipers. Investigators at the Harvard-affiliated Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston provided reasons to be less paranoid about tanning. In an upcoming edition of the Harvard Health Letter, researchers clarified that a suntan is the body's best effort to guard against the known cancerous effects of ultraviolet (UV) light, not a mere symbol irreparable skin damage.

As ultraviolet light penetrates the skin, it mutates DNA. This mini mutation helps create that sun kissed look that no tan-in-a-tube can emulate. While this is good news for seasonal beach bums, it's spectacular news for acne sufferers.

For years, tanning has served as an anecdotal cure for acne. But who wants to treat acne with sunshine if this remedy could cause skin cancer years later? Now that medical insights reveal sunbathing with an 45 SFP sunscreen significantly reduces cancer risk, acne sufferers can enjoy a free solar acne treatment, minus the cancer threat.

Using the Sun as an Acne Treatment Acne lesions can form from a motley of bodily processes including hormonal fluctuations, dietary allergies, improper skin shedding and an encumbered immune system.

When acne pustules grow into large, inflamed and painful lesions, it's because agents called Langerhans cells are responding to the irritating oils, hairs and debris trapped within the developing pimple.

Yet something unorthodox happens when you put a pimple in the sun. The bacterium know as Propionibacterium acnes, which is readily implicated in provoking acne, produces an inflammation taming agent called porphyrin. These porphyrins can in reduce the presence of Langerhans cells in the skin. With fewer Langerhans cells circulating, an inflammatory response becomes less likely, as does the chances of experiencing acne lesions.

Most likely, skipping the sunscreen will leave you to inherit skin that looks like a dried up river. But when combined with adequate protection, the sun transforms into serious skin care capable of healing a body ravaged by acne.

Here's how to implement your own day-the-sun natural acne treatment:

1. Buy a non-pore clogging (noncomedogenic) sunscreen with at least an SPF of 45.

2. Rub on the sunscreen according the manufacturer's instructions, which typically means applying the lotion 20 minutes prior to sun exposure.

3. Use the Environmental Protection Agency's website to check the UV Index in your area and ensure that you won't get seared on your tanning day.

4. Enjoy the sun and watching those zits dissipate.

5. After sunbathing, soothe your skin with an aloe vera gel.

Sources:

Harvard Health Publications. Could a Suntan be Protective? Newswise, July 13, 2007.

Hayami, Junji; Hiroyuki Okamoto, Akira Sugihara & Takeshi Horio. Immunosuppressive effects of photodynamic therapy by topical aminolevulinic acid. The Journal of Dermatology; May 2007, vol 34, no 5, pp 320–327.

About The Author

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz pioneered the acne trigger approach to naturally controlling acne in her internationally published book, "Acne Messages". San-Joyz continues to serve the acne patients by developing customized acne spot removal treatments for the face and body at the San Diego based skin research firm Noixia. If you want free tips for naturally removing acne marks, visit http://www.Noixia.com .
Source

What to Expect from Laser Acne Scar Removal Procedures

2007-10-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

Have you decided to invest in a laser procedure to remove acne scarring? What do you expect to get for your cash- a completely new look? You should because these services aren't cheap. No matter what your aims for laser skin corrections are, by using medical reviews of leading laser treatments for acne scarring, you can have a clearer idea of what to expect after your laser treatment.

Most appraisals of the effectiveness of laser skin enhancements are two-sided because both the patients and study-independent physicians typically access the level improvement in acne marks.

While these post-treatment assessments are not standardized, they still offer a glimpse into the potential cosmetic outcomes from using laser treatments. Besides cosmetic changes in the skin, another variable that you'll need to add to your review of laser treatments is the overall number of treatments required to see dramatic changes in the skin.

What follows is a rundown of what to anticipate from four different laser procedures for treating acne scarring along with estimates of how many treatment you will need.

Laser 1

1,064-nm Nd:YAG pulsed light system Marketed names include PhotoSilk Laser

Last year, a study in Dermatologic Surgery tested the efficacy of the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser at removing acne scars. Nine patients underwent eight treatments for moderate to severe acne scarring. Three independent physicians assessed the overall improvement level of acne scarring severity for the group at 29.36%.

Treatments: 8 Improvement rating: 29.36%

Laser 2

1,320-nm Nd:YAG Marketed names include CoolTouch Laser

An investigation from the same journal featured eight patients with facial acne scars. The group received eight treatments with the 1,320-nm Nd:YAG laser. After five treatments, independent observes assessed the overall acne scarring improvement rate between 40-60 %.

Treatments: 5 Improvement rating: 40-60%

Laser 3

1,450-nm diode laser Marketed names include Smoothbeam Laser

In a split test comparison between the 1,450-nm laser and 1,320-nm laser at treating mild to moderate atrophic (indented, or lost skin tissue) acne scarring, the 1,450-nm laser demonstrated greater improvement in acne scarring.

Laser 4

1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber laser Marketed names include Fraxel Laser

Just this past March, a study in Dermatologic Surgery tested the 1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber laser on fifty-three patients with mild to moderate atrophic facial acne scars. After three treatments, two independent reviewers judged a 51-75% improvement in the scarring of 90% of the study participants.

Treatments: 3 Improvement rating: 51-75%

Remember, these ratings are based on the improvement levels patients coping with mild to severe acne scarring experienced after various laser treatments. As Dr. Rohrer pointed out that it is difficult to predict what your skin will look like after a laser treatment for acne scarring because many of the patient assessments during the studies were based on opinions of before and after photos.

To reduce the uncertainty surrounding laser correction of acne scars, ask your laser surgeon for before and after images of laser cosmetic procedures she has performed in the past months. Then judge the overall acne scarring improvement level for yourself.

Sources:

Alster, Tina; Elizabeth L Tanzi & Melissa Lazarus. The Use of Fractional Laser Photothermolysis for the Treatment of Atrophic Scars. Dermatologic Surgery; March 2007, vol 33, no 3, pp 295-299.

Lipper, Graeme M & Maritza Perez. Nonablative Acne Scar Reduction after a Series of Treatments with a Short-Pulsed 1,064-nm Neodymium:YAG Laser. Dermatologic Surgery; August 2006, vol 32, no 8, pp 998-1006.

Rohrer, Thomas E. Ethics in Cosmetic Laser Treatments. Skin and Allergy News; May 2007, vol 38, no 5, pp 14-15.

Sadick NS & AK Schecter. A Preliminary Study of Utilization of the 1320-nm Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of Acne Scarring. Dermatologic Surgery; July 2004, vol 30, no 7, pp 995-1000.

Tanzi, Elizabeth L & Tina S Alster. Comparison of a 1450-nm Diode Laser and a 1320-nm Nd:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Atrophic Facial Scars: A Prospective Clinical and Histologic Study. Dermatologic Surgery; February 2004, vol 30, no 2, pp 152-157.

About The Author

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz pioneered the acne trigger approach to naturally controlling acne in her internationally published book, “Acne Messages”. San-Joyz continues to serve the acne community by developing customized acne scar removal treatments for the face and body. If you want free tips for naturally removing acne scarring, visit http://www.Noixia.com .
Source

Acne

2007-10-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

Acne Treatment

There are many different types of acne treatment that people can use. Just about everyone you know has some kind of magical remedy. But where did they obtain their information? It is little wonder that there is a lot of misunderstanding on the subject. Acne is generally placed into one of three categories; mild, moderate or severe. The management for each of these stages varies significantly. Acne is a health condition and needs to be treated as such.

If you have acne and you feel that it is getting worse instead of better, the best thing that you can do is let a professional dermatologist have a look at your condition and prescribe an appropriate treatment for you. Mild acne is first treated by gently washing the area twice daily with warm water and soap. In addition to cleansing the area, an over-the-counter cream or similar otc products that incorporates benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid should be used. These can be found in most pharmacies, and kill the bacteria on the epidermis. Proper skin care is essential. It is important to comprehend that improvements take time and do not happen overnight, especially with topical solutions. Look for a gradual, steady improvement in the condition of your skin. Some physicians will recommend certain vitamins to help the appearance of the skin. Remember acne can occur nearly any part of the body, including the arms, neck, back, the legs, and the arms.

Acne is moderate when pimples (blackheads , whitehead, and comedones) cover approximately half of the face. If you have moderate acne, consult a dermatologist in order to quickly get a handle on your situation. Although acne can be very depressing for those that suffer from it, doctors say that most acne is completely treatable. Usually, a combination therapies is used to treat moderate acne. This would usually be a mixture of a physical treatment such as extraction or light therapy and a prescription treatment like an antimicrobial or retinoid cream. Sometimes, oral acne treatments or oral contraceptives have been known to work as well. Acne scars can definitely become more serious if it is not taken care of in the moderate stage. Therefore, it is very important to try to resolve acne as soon as you can.

When acne is severe, the symptoms will be very obvious to the individual suffering from it. Pimples and zits become deep, inflamed and cyst-like. Usually a lot of scarring and damage to the skin occurs, causing feelings of sadness and depression. Remember though that you can find acne treatment and, as much as possible, should be sought before the acne has reached this level.

Dermatologists will use very aggressive treatments to try to prevent the progression of severe acne. They will try to stop it in its tracks while at the same time, work to prevent permanent scarring. Oral antibiotics and medications such as accutane, may be used at this stage as well as drainage techniques and surgical incision, also known as Acne Surgery. Other acne treatments such as injections of corticosteroids can be used. This is primarily used to melt cysts over a period of a few days. The acne therapy chosen by your determatologist will be matched to the severity of the condition effecting your skin.

It is important to obtain well-informed information from a medical professional regarding your acne. Acne treatment requires patience as it usually takes between six to eight weeks of management before visible signs of improvement can be seen. One should follow an acne care regime prescribed by a doctor. Misinformation can have you using an ineffective remedy for a long period of time, in a desperate attempt to cure your acne. Mistakes can waste time, ultimately making your acne last longer. Be persistent and work with the prescribed medications and stick with the instructions given to you by your doctor. Adult acne care is different from adolescent acne care, as the hormones going through ones body are different. Therefore don't assume what you used to cure your teenage acne problem will cure your adult problems as well.

Adult Acne

What causes adult acne?
Adult acne is a result of fluctuating hormones that occur naturally as we mature. Certainly pregnancy can sometimes worsen or improve adult acne because it profoundly affects hormones. In addition oral contraceptives have also been proven to improve adult acne.

What are the best adult acne treatments?
Adult acne is treated by dermatologists in the same manner as adolescent acne. The dermatologist will choose from various systemic and topical antibiotics. Other topical treatments consist of use of Retinoids, benzoyl peroxides and other agents such as sulphur, salicylic acid, glycolic acids. Many of these traditional treatments are very effective, however, acne is an inflammatory disease and initially many of the treatments exacerbate the inflammation. This means that initially patients looks and feel worse before they see improvement. The new approach is to use topical anti-inflammatories in addition to traditional ingredients to accelerate resolution and to prevent the initial pro-inflammatory worsening phase. Studies show tremendous benefits with this new anti-inflammatory approach and it will change the way physicians and patients treat acne.

Acne Scars

Acne scars are the marks which are left after the acne is caused. These acne scars are more visible on the face and the major problem for the women’s concern.

Mild acne scars can be treated at home naturally. There are some treatments and medications which help in reducing acne scars but not considered as a permanent solution.

There are various treatments by which acne scar can be removed completely.

The best treatment for reducing acne scar is the natural treatment which can be done at home without paying anything to the doctor.

Some of the remedies for Acne Scars are :-

Water is considered to be the best natural method to treat the acne scars and heal them naturally. Water sheds the dead skin cells and makes the new skin to grow and hydrated. So, one should drink lots of water.

One should eat the fruits and vegetables daily to reduce acne scars.
Lemon juice is a citric acid which is a part of AHAs group which is an effective home remedy for reducing the acne scars. This removes the dead skin cells, helps in the growth of new cells and gives elasticity to the skin.
Balanced and nutritious diet should be taken to heal the acne scars. As the body needs protein to rebuild the skin cells and heals the acne scars naturally. Eating a good diet contains the essential nutrients which fight against the infection and any type of disease. Some foods which one should take in the diet include fish, soy beverages, chicken, tofu etc which are rich in protein.
Rosehip seed oil is also another home remedy which reduces acne scars. This oil acts as an anti-aging agent and helps in the reduction of wrinkles, regenerates the skin and reverses discoloration. It is mostly used in the cosmetic products and used for acne scarring, facial scarring, surgical scars, sun damage, premature aging, burn marks etc. This oil should be massaged twice on the acne scars daily.
Aloe Vera Juice or Gel is helpful in the fading of the scars and in their healing. Different brands of this gel are available in the market and the effect of each one is different.

Lavender oil can also be applied on the acne scars as this oil is very gentle and contains regenerative characteristics.
A paste ofsandalwood and rose water can be applied on the acne scars and wash it with cold water the next day.
One of the home remedy is that ice cubes can be rubbed on the acne scars for ten to fifteen minutes.
Make a paste ofMultani Mitti powder mixed with garlic, honey and carrot juice and apply on the acne scars for just 20 minutes which makes the skin glowing and reduces the acne scars.

Baby Acne

My baby has pimples on his chin. Could it be acne?
Yes, it could. Baby acne is very common. It can be present at birth, but more often it shows up after a couple of weeks, usually on the cheeks and sometimes on the forehead, chin, and even the back.

These small whiteheads might be surrounded by reddish skin. They can become more pronounced when your baby is hot or fussy or if his skin is irritated by saliva, spit-up milk, or fabric that's a little rough or that's been washed in strong detergent.

By the way, if your baby had tiny bumps on his face at birth that disappeared within a few weeks, these are called milia and they're unrelated to acne. If the irritation looks more rashy or scaly than pimply or it appears elsewhere on his body, your baby may have another condition, such as cradle cap or eczema.

What could be causing my baby's acne?
As with adolescent acne, there's no clear answer. For some time, experts have pointed to the hormones babies receive from their mother at the end of pregnancy as a cause of baby acne. But researchers continue to study other factors and have yet to agree on one culprit. If you take certain medications while nursing, for example, or if your baby takes certain medications, they might trigger baby acne.

How long will Baby Acne last?
Baby acne usually clears up within a few weeks, but it can linger for months. If it doesn't clear up within three months or you're concerned about it, talk with your baby's doctor.

What can I do about my baby's complexion in the meantime?
Well, there are some things you should not do. Don't put creams or oils on your baby's skin, because these can make the acne worse. Don't use over-the-counter acne medicines. And don't scrub. Baby acne isn't caused by dirt.

In fact, too much washing can further irritate your baby's skin, so don't overdo the cleansing. Simply wash your baby's face with mild baby soap and water once a day. Gently pat it dry.

Patience is usually the best course of action. Your baby's acne doesn't bother him in the least, so try not to let it bother you, either.

Acne Vulgaris

Topical Acne Vulgaris treatments
- Topical retinoids are comedolytic and anti-inflammatory. They cause epidermal differentiation and, thus, normalize follicular hyperproliferation and hyperkeratinization. Topical retinoids reduce the numbers of microcomedones, comedones, and inflammatory lesions. They may be used alone or in combination with other acne medications. The most commonly prescribed topical retinoids include adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin. These retinoids should be applied once daily to clean, dry skin, but they may need to be applied less frequently if irritation occurs. Skin irritation with peeling and redness may be associated with the use of topical retinoids. The use of mild, nondrying cleansers and noncomedogenic moisturizers may help reduce this irritation. Alternate-day dosing may be used if irritation persists. Topical retinoids thin the stratum corneum, and they have been associated with sun sensitivity. Instruct patients about sun protection.
- Topical antibiotics are mainly used for their role against P acnes. They may also have anti-inflammatory properties. Topical antibiotics are not comedolytic, and bacterial resistance may develop to any of these agents. The development of resistance is lessened if topical antibiotics are used in combination with benzoyl peroxide. Commonly prescribed topical antibiotics include erythromycin and clindamycin alone or in combination with benzoyl peroxide. Clindamycin and erythromycin are available in a variety of topical agents. They may be applied once or twice a day. Gels and solutions may be more irritating than creams or lotions.
- Benzoyl peroxide products are also effective against P acnes, and bacterial resistance to benzoyl peroxide has not been reported. Benzoyl peroxides are available over the counter and by prescription in a variety of topical forms, including soaps, washes, lotions, creams, and gels. Benzoyl peroxides may be used once or twice a day. These agents may cause a true allergic contact dermatitis. More often, an irritant contact dermatitis develops especially if used with tretinoin or when accompanied by aggressive washing methods.
Systemic Acne Vulgaris treatments
- Systemic antibiotics are a mainstay in the treatment of acne vulgaris. These agents have anti-inflammatory properties, and they are effective against P acnes. The tetracycline group of antibiotics is commonly prescribed for acne. The more lipophilic antibiotics, such as doxycycline and minocycline, are generally more effective than tetracycline. Greater efficacy may also be due to less P acnes resistance to minocycline. However, P acnes resistance is becoming more common with all classes of antibiotics currently used to treat acne vulgaris. P acnes resistance to erythromycin has greatly reduced its usefulness in the treatment of acne. Subantimicrobial therapy or concurrent treatment with topical benzoyl peroxide may reduce the emergence of resistant strains.
- Other antibiotics, including trimethoprim, alone or in combination with sulfamethoxazole, and azithromycin, are reportedly helpful.
- Some hormonal therapies may be effective in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Oral contraceptives increase sex hormone binding globulin, resulting in an overall decrease in circulating free testosterone. Combination birth control pills have shown efficacy in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Spironolactone may also be used in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Spironolactone binds the androgen receptor and reduces androgen production. Adverse effects include dizziness, breast tenderness, and dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea may be lessened by coadministration with an oral contraceptive. Periodic evaluation of blood pressure and potassium levels is appropriate. Pregnancy must be avoided while on spironolactone because of the risk of feminization of the male fetus.
- Isotretinoin is a systemic retinoid that is highly effective in the treatment of severe, recalcitrant acne vulgaris. It causes normalization of epidermal differentiation, depresses sebum excretion by 70%, is anti-inflammatory, and even reduces the presence of P acnes. Isotretinoin therapy should be initiated at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks and increased as tolerated until a cumulative dose of 120-150 mg/kg is achieved. Coadministration with steroids at the onset of therapy may be useful in severe cases to prevent initial worsening.
  - Isotretinoin is a teratogen, and pregnancy must be avoided. Contraception counseling is mandatory, and 2 negative pregnancy test results are required prior to the initiation of therapy. Baseline laboratory examination should also include cholesterol and triglyceride assessment, hepatic transaminases, and a CBC count. Pregnancy tests and laboratory examinations should be repeated monthly during treatment.
  - Associated mood changes and depression have been reported during treatment. Although the cause is not clear, patients should be informed of this potential effect and must sign a consent form acknowledging they are aware of this potential risk.
  - A US Food and Drug Administration–mandated registry is now in place for all individuals prescribing, dispensing, or taking isotretinoin. For more information on this registry, see iPLEDGE. This registry aims to further decrease the risk of pregnancy and other unwanted and potentially dangerous adverse effects during a course of isotretinoin therapy.
  - The patient is considered at high risk for abnormal healing and development of excessive granulation tissue following procedures. Many dermatologists delay elective procedures, such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing, for up to a year after completion of therapy. Other procedures to be avoided during therapy include tattoos, piercings, leg waxing, and other epilation procedures.

Solution Acne

Acne is something that most people will encounter at some point in their lives in some form or another, and the prevalence of the condition has resulted in the creation of a multitude of myths regarding possible acne solutions. As anyone who has suffered with the condition will know, acne can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition, making sufferers all too eager to embrace any potential acne solutions in an attempt to rid themselves of the problem. Let’s take a quick look at some commonly suggested treatments for acne, and see what works and what doesn’t.

Your foundation treatment for acne should always be a good cleansing routine. It is often thought that those heavily medicated facial washes and cleansers are the best acne solutions, and while they are effective in some cases, they can be overly drying, which simply causes the skin to produce more oil. Acne can be an uncomfortable condition and using these products can lead to skin that feels tight and even more irritating. Try some of the milder products available — not all of these will be advertised as acne solutions, but a good gentle cleanser is often one of the best acne treatments.

And remember that while acne is not contagious, pimples do contain material that can lead to further spots if spread. Unfortunately your Mom was right on this — one of the best treatments for acne is to avoid touching your pimples.

While acne is a condition of the skin, there are non-topical acne solutions that can help in your acne treatment. While it is simply not true that eating chocolate and fried food directly cause acne, eating a sensible diet helps your health in general, which can in turn affect the appearance of your skin.

Unfortunately, there are very few quick fixes for acne, and treatments for acne invariably take some time to work. Try to be patient, and avoid stress, as this can aggravate the situation. The basis of your acne solutions should be a good cleanser and a topical solution that you can apply directly to each pimple. Slathering your face with a multitude of treatments can simply overwhelm your skin, so stick to the basics that work for you.

Keep it simple, and try to be patient. You will find the right acne solution for you.

There are acne solutions, but it takes some time to find them sometimes.

About The Author:
Find out more about acne, acne cures, adult acne, acne skin care products, the best acne treatments and more, visit Peter Crump’s website www.acne-all-gone.com

Care Acne

Acne Skin Care is important at any time of life but especially so if you have acne. One of the secrets for keeping acne under control is maintaining the health of the skin as much as possible. This means keeping the skin clean and protecting it from sources of damage like sunshine and harsh cosmetics.

Cleaning the Skin

Use a gentle soap or specialized skin cleaner for washing the face once or twice a day. It is important not to scrub the skin as this will further aggravate the acne. Just use a soft cloth to moisten the face and then apply the cleanser to all areas from the hairline to the neck. Rinse the cleanser with plenty of water and pat your face drive with a soft towel.

Those with especially oily skin may need to use an astringent, but it must be used with care. Only apply it to the parts of the face which are most oily and discontinue use if your skin becomes irritated. It is best to consult with a dermatologist if you feel you need to use an astringent.

Hair care is also an important part of acne skin care. Shampoo your hair two or three times a week and try to keep it off your face as much as possible. Those with oily hair may need to wash their hair once a day.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

A suntan may dry out the skin and make your acne less noticeable but this is only temporary. As your skin becomes accustomed to sun exposure the acne will flare up once again, and in the meantime you are also risking skin damage that may cause it to age prematurely or even cause skin cancer. Many of the medications used to treat acne cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunshine and more vulnerable to burning. It is always best to wear a sunscreen when outdoors.

Choose Makeup with Care

The best choice for good acne skin care is to wear no makeup at all, but if you feel you must wear makeup choose some that will not clog the pores. These products are labeled noncomedogenic, but they may still cause acne in some people. Above all, avoid makeup with an oil base. Read the labels carefully and use sparingly.

Shaving with Acne

Try both electric razors and safety razors to see which is more comfortable. Don't use safety razors with dull blades -- change the blade every two or three shaves. You may have to shave around blemishes to avoid cutting them, and be sure to soften the beard as much as possible with water and shaving cream. If you happen have a lot of breakouts perhaps it is best to skip shaving that day.

Avoid Touching the Skin

As tempting as it may be too squeeze and pop those pimples, don't do it! You are only inviting more trouble because the bacteria which causes pimples will spread. Popping pimples can also lead to permanent scarring.

Try to avoid touching your face as much as possible. Many people do this unconsciously, but the hands are dirty and oily and can spread germs over greater areas of your skin.

Acne can be brought under control. Medications are a great help in clearing up the skin and combating the bacteria which causes acne, but be sure to help it along as much as possible by taking good care of your skin.

Cystic Acne

Cystic acne, also known as nodulocystic acne, is a severe form of acne wherein acne develops into small cysts. Acne cysts are not true cysts in the sense that they are not abnormal dilations of skin structure, but rather nodules of inflammation. Although not uncommon, it is rarer than other types of acne. Like other forms, it is caused by an excess buildup of sebum in the pores and, contrary to popular belief, is not caused by, nor is it affected by, hygiene or the lack thereof. A common treatment for cystic acne is Isotretinoin, which cures most acne in about 90% of patients.

Cystic acne can affect the face, chest, back, shoulders and, occasionally, upper arms. Like pimples, which are more common, cysts are usually filled with a white pus-like substance. They are usually several centimeters in diameter, and can be quite painful.

If cystic acne is not treated early on, especially with antibiotics along with a topical cream, some degree of scarring will occur. This can be quite severe depending on the case. Although many scars can be treated, scars on the body often do not respond as well as those on the face. In most cases, it is unlikely that all scars can be removed. After cysts have mostly healed, macules, or "pseudo scars" may form. Macules are red patches of skin, sometimes raised slightly, where cysts used to be, and may resemble cysts in their appearance. They are sometimes known as "pseudo scars" because they resemble scars, but unlike true ones, macules usually only last up to six months and leave no permanent scar.

Proactive Acne Treatment

When you have tried a whole array of treatments and have still not found the right way that would solve the acne problem, then you must try out the proactive treatment of acne. There are times when the acne medicines are of no use and they might cause the secondary infections and worsen out the situation and cause harmful side effects. We are going to discuss the different tips which can help prevent acne and will maintain the health of your skin.

1.You must improve your health by taking the morning walks and thus getting a plenty of fresh air and the sunshine would help promote a good amount of vitamin D that would help you ensure the healthy skin and your stress will be reduced to a greater level and this will have a very positive effect on your body, as well as prevent you from being predisposed to the risk of having acne lesions. There is another thing that you must take under consideration, which includes that you must not spend much time under the sun, as it will cause sunburns and if you are going to stay for longer periods of time under the sun then you must use a sunscreen that has the right SPF in it and it is not oily. This proves to be a good proactive acne treatment for the beach lovers.

2. It must be in your knowledge that the stress is the major factor that triggers the internal chemical response in the body and that can result in the development of acne. You need to relax and do not think of worries all the time, but try to find and extract happiness from the little things that you can find to be happy on and this will help you to control the stress that can trigger the acne and would prevent the increased stress hormone production, cortisol, which will reduce the release of the stress hormones and thus it will reduce the effect of acne. You can also divert your attention by developing positive health habits, which include exercise and helps you to get your mind off of the life’s tension and worries and thus improves the body’s natural ability to improve the internal body management of different waste and toxic products and they are being managed effectively and prevents the formation of acne lesions.

3. It must be noted that the blackheads and the whiteheads are filled with sebum, dead cells and the bacteria, and the proactive treatment just follows the same advices to keep the skin clean and eat healthy so as to prevent these from forming.

4.You must drink an adequate amount water on a daily basis and there are many people who recommend that the individual must drink about eight glasses of water per day or must drink water that is filtered so that the water is cleared from the impurities. You must also know that drinking little water would result in dehydration, which is going to cause the dead skin cells and this would lead to the clogging of the pores and this would result in the development of the acne lesions.

5.You must not scrub the skin that has the acne pimples as this would peel off the skin and would result in the spread of the expressed material from the acne and would cause the development of the acne pimples in the neighborhood areas of the acne pimples. If you dry your skin too much with the towel, then your skin would lose the oil necessary required for the protective purposes of the skin.

6. You must eat more fruits and vegetables and must make them a part of your regular diet, as the natural diet plans include salads and dried fruits and juices that keeps your body healthy and alive. So you must plan your daily natural diet plan in order to keep you and your skin healthy.

7.You must decrease the intake of caffeinated beverages, use of sugar in different foods, as well as refined carbohydrates. There are studies, which show that increased levels of caffeine increases the levels of stress hormones in the body and thus result in creating an environment ideal for the development of acne pimples on the skin. You must not utilize the sugar and the refined carbohydrates which are present in white bread, rice, flour and pasta etc. as this can result in increased level of insulin production and this in turn would result in the production of stress hormones and will result in the excretion of an increased amount of oil.

8.You must also decrease the intake of red meat and the dairy products in your diet. Both these products are really very difficult to digest and they have the acid forming properties, which can affect the health of our body and can result in the formation of acne problems. The red meat and dairy products cause the production of increased hormone production, which leads to acne formation. On the basis of proactive lifestyle, one can add other nutrients in place of red meat and dairy products, which includes lean meats, soy milk and nut milk products.

Homemade Natural Remedies for Acne

There are a lot of natural products that are available in the market. In this article we are listing a few of the natural acne remedies that you can use to treat the acne problems.

1. Amaranth: You can make tea from the amarnath seeds and can use them to wash your face. In order to make that tea, you would be needing about 3 cups of water in a pot. Boil the water till it reaches the point of rolling, and after the water is boiled, you need to add about 2 teaspoons of seeds in it. Cover the pot and allow it to boil for another five minutes. After five minutes, take off the lid from the pot and then add one teaspoon of leaves and cover the lid for about another five or ten minutes so that it gets the essence of the leaves.

2.Basil: You can get the basil seed oil from the grocery stores and can apply it directly to your skin. You can also get the basil herb and you can make facial wash from it. You need to two add about two to four teaspoons of dried basal leaves in a cup of boiling water, and then allow it to cool for about 10 to 20 minutes, then cool and apply it to the acne areas.

3. Burdock: Burdock is a herb and is really an effective remedy for the acne problems and other skin related problems that are chronic in nature. The other name for the burdock herb is Arctium Iappa. You can make the tea by adding about 1 quart of water the pot and allow it to boil, To make the tea, bring 1 quart of water to a boil, allow the water to bubble, just add about 4 teaspoons of the crushed dried root and cover the lid of the pot and then allow it to boil for about 7 minutes and then allow it to cool for about 2 hours. After you have gone through the procedure, you can use it as a facial wash.

4.Calendula: You can make tinctures, lotions and creams from calendula. You can look for the products that contain herbs in them or you can make the tea of calendula and can use it as a facial wash, as it really soothes the skin.

5.Oregon grape: The Oregon grape has antibiotic like properties and it also helps to improve the immune system. The Orgeon grape is also known as Mahonia aquifolium. You can use the remedy and can use it for about three times in a day such as tea made from dried root about (2-4 grams), tincture (6-12 mL or 1.5-3 teaspoons), fluid extract about (1-2 mL or 0.25 to 0.5 teaspoons), solid powder of about 8-12% alkaloid content about (250-500 mg).

6.Tea: There are a lot of herbs available from which you can make the tea extract and can use it as a facial wash. To name some of the herbs from which you can make the tea extracts are aloe, burdock, calendula, chickweed, dandelion, red clover, white oak bark, yellow dock, cayenne, ginseng, Echinacea, sarsaparilla, Redmond clay and valarian. These are different herbs that can be used to make the acne remedy.

7.Tea Tree Oil: The Tea Tree Oil is being derived from the leaves of a tree known as Melaleuca alternifolia. The active ingredients derived from the tree have the antiseptic quality and they are really very effective for the skin and act as a skin disinfectant. You can use the Tea Tree Oil depending on the severity of the problem and can use about 5-15%. This remedy is less drying as compared to the benzoyl peroxide. The Tea Tree Oil just takes longer than the benzoyl peroxide to work.

Make The Right Choice

You must make the right choice for your treatment and must select the product know in detail about the product and your skin type and the extent of the problem that you are going through before you buy out the product. It is always wise that you get the advice of your dermatologist before you try out anything as they will help you as to what are the products that would work best for you and what are the products that are going to work opposite and would not help you heal. So your health care provider can help you a great deal in making the right choice for you.

Acne Laser Treatment

We have learnt about a lot of acne treatments that are conventional, but along with the passage of time there are new treatments that are very promising to treat the acne problems and this include the acne treatment through laser.

What You Must Not Do After You Opt Laser Acne Treatment
If you are opting for the laser acne treatment, you must not buy the acne medicines, you have no need to use the skin moisturizers, you must not believe what other treatments promise to provide you.

What Is The Cost Of The Laser Acne Treatment
The laser treatment for acne costs about $500 for about a 15-20 minute session. This procedure is costly, but it is really important for you to note that you might have spent about thousands and thousands of dollars by buying different products over the span of months and years and still you have not find any effective results from the conventional modes that you have been trying for long, so it is not an expensive deal and is really pretty promising for you to get the definite results.

The Different Laser Exposures That You Will Go Through
There are a lot of people who accept that the fast cure rate that they receive from the laser treatment, that the cost of the laser therapy justifies. For the successful treatment of acne blemishes, there are various types of laser exposures such as the carbon dioxide laser therapy, which eliminates the negative effects of acne and thus becomes a reality for lots and lots of people out there who have waited long for that. The laser treatment is totally painless and really effective.

Procedure Of Laser Acne Treatment
Laser treatment for acne blemishes just works perfectly and thus ensures the confidence of the people who are looking for such a treatment that would definitely treat their acne. The laser treatment has a very high success rate. Before the laser treatment starts, there is application of the creams that would numb the area by using the anesthetics as to where the laser will be applied. In this process the laser is being emitted from the device and the laser beam focuses on the affected areas. This laser emits pulsating heat below the skin’s surface and then causes the diminishment of the size of the sebaceous glands, which are the major cause of the formation of acne pimples. Be

What Is The Main Focus Of The Laser Acne Treatment
The main focus of the laser treatment is that it kills the bacteria that is present in the pore and to repair the damaged skin tissues.

What Are The Different Types Of Laser Acne Treatments

Introduction: There are different kinds of laser therapies that are used to treat the acne condition. We will elaborate the different kinds of laser in the following paragraphs.

1.Nonablative Lasers. This is the kind of the laser therapy that works by working its way underneath the skin and thus it stimulates the growth of collagen and helps to tighten the skin. The outcome of this therapy is that it will result in a good skin tone, reduction of the fine lines and a very obvious different in the appearance of the skin in positive terms and ultimately results in the elimination of the acne problem from the skin of the face.

2.Erbium Lasers: This laser therapy works in a different way than the nonablative laser therapy in which it just does not work on the ducts of the skin, but rather works on the water molecules in the skin and this laser therapy is mostly used in people who have very shallow or a moderate level of facial wrinkles or facial lesions. This treatment is the right choice for acne treatment and the removal of the acne lesions.

3.Carbon Dioxide Lasers: This is another kind of laser treatment in which there is emission of short outbursts of high energy light to the skin. The damaged part of the skin vaporizes the skin in layer by layer. This laser therapy works in removing all types of acne is considered as the best acne treatment.

What Are The Side Effects Of Laser Acne Treatments
As there are a whole lot of positive effects of laser treatments, there are side effects of the laser treatments as well. The most commonly encountered side effects include the discoloration of the skin, roughness of the skin, swelling of the affected areas. It is also known that the Carbon Dioxide laser treatment produces increased pigmentation to treat the acne lesions.

What Happens In Most Cases Of Laser Acne Treatment
It is an established fact that most of the people who have opted for the laser treatments have very little or no side effects at all and thus the people who opt for laser therapy have a great deal of confidence in this procedure.

Acne Treatment Harmones

Hormonal acne in healthy women responds to a wide variety of acne treatment products.

A thorough study of the patient's medical history to go with the conduct of a physical examination and blood testing is useful as it is necessary.

At best, the close supervision of a qualified and trained dermatologist who will select the treatment best suited to the needs of the patient is obligatory.

Hormonal acne treatment is intended for women who may consider an acne alternative treatment if the acne condition may prove resistant to traditional acne and acne popular treatments.

Hormonal acne skin treatment options include oral contraceptive pills, oral corticosteroids (anti-inflammatories), and anti-androgens. Estrogen-progestin combinations are present in Oral contraceptive pills. The acne removal treatment formulation alter female hormone patterns specifically the production of androgens.

Low dosages of oral contraceptives have long been part of the dermatologist's treatment regimen. There are also approved oral contraceptives formulated to treat mild to moderate breakouts. Even, oral contraceptives offer a convenient option for women who have no plans of getting pregnant.

They can choose to retain the treatment for extended periods of time to control hormonal acne. Prominent side-effects, which can differ depending on the condition of the patient's overall health status, include nausea, weight gain, menstrual spotting and breast tenderness. If these are found intolerable, a homeopathic acne treatment is the next best option.

In severe acne cases, oral corticosteroids can be particularly effective by suppressing inflammations.

Oral corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs akin in structure to some of the substances secreted by the adrenal glands.

When a woman's adrenal glands are overactive in producing the male hormone androgen, Prednisone and Dexamethasone can be prescribed.

Side effects of oral corticosteroids can include bone thinning and more noticeably, weight gain.

Anti-androgens, the third type of hormonal treatment, are a class of drugs that works on both the production and delivery mechanisms of male/female hormone imbalance, particularly to: reduce androgen production in a woman's ovaries and adrenal glands, and block androgen reception by cells in the hair follicles.

By using anti-androgens spironolactone or the less common flutamide, excess androgen available in the hair follicle is greatly reduced subsequently cutting off production at its source. Irregular periods and breast tenderness are cited side effects but these may be eased by taking the anti-androgen in combination with an oral contraceptive.

Natural Herbal Acne Treatment
Natural herbal acne treatments usually use herbal ingredients combined with warm compress to open pores and allow the healing benefits of the herb to work on affected skin.

This formulation is contained in an actual commercial acne treatment product with claims of natural ingredients: botanical alpha-Spina-sterol, citruline, stigma-sterol, water, aloe vera, and methyl paraben.

One may wonder if this combination of supposedly natural ingredients works.

Well, for some reason it is a legit acne skin treatment that can indeed cure, even surprisingly well.

Then again, like all homeopathic acne treatments, it really depends upon the severity of the acne condition and the response of the patient to the medication.

There are topical acne removal treatment products that were allegedly derived from rare living botanicals. Some claim to have developed their product from plant protein compound of natural amino acids and other (plant) phyto-chemicals.

Red clover is sought after for its estrogenic action. Echinacea and poke root are often used for their anti-inflammatory properties as well as extracts from garlic, fresh mint and raw papaya can relieve swelling acne.

Other herbs such as bergamot, chamomile, dandelion root, juniper, lavender and witch hazel – with excellent astringent properties, can be used to reduce toxicity and improve the overall condition of the skin.

A few more herbal combinations applied to the affected do have healing effects – and can even beat acne popular treatments, such as: ground ginger with milk, honey and cinnamon, lemon juice with cinnamon, ground orange peel with water, salt and

vinegar, turmeric and vinegar paste, and a poultice of ground sesame seeds and water. Some herbal preparations can be taken orally. One herbal blend that can preempt the inflammation of acne consists of equal parts of the herbal extracts of cleavers, sarsaparilla, burdock root and yellow dock.

These herbs are believed to be potent lymph and blood cleansers. Half a teaspoon per day of this blend can be taken three times per day combined with a healthy diet allegedly decreases the effects of acne.

Alternative and Laser Acne Treatments
A variety of topical and oral medications – particularly systemic antibiotics, are readily available today to treat acne.

The success of acne skin treatment varies from each case, but generally there has been great improvements brought about by new innovations and technologies And then there are slew of acne alternative treatments in the form of natural herbal acne treatments and homeopathic acne treatments.

However fussy, homemade acne treatments are also popular for quite some time now. Laser acne treatment is an option for those who wanted to lessen the required amount or shorten the period of medications.

It has been proven that laser treatment can improve not only the inflamed acne, but also leads to reduce acne scars.

Under cosmetic surgery, there are two basic groups of acne treating lasers and light based systems. The first set of device inhibits the growth of the bacteria that is involved in acne lesions. The other system shrinks the sebaceous oil glands that are largely responsible for acne inflammation.

The use of laser technologies is not without due consideration to the patient -- as cosmetic surgeons use what they feel most appropriate for a particular patient's condition.

And as a particular acne condition is interpreted, various laser or light based systems are used to optimize the acne clearing benefits.

A desired improvement in acne removal treatment is normally observable within the period of approximately 5 to 7 months of regular treatment sessions. Depending on the progress – like when acne flares, periodic re-treatments will be required.

There is a particular “sting” during an actual laser treatment procedure (described as “rubber band” sensation).
Patients with low tolerance to this kind of sensation or simply uncomfortable are given a numbing topical anesthetic cream.

Often, an even better result can be achieved when laser treatment is combined with microdermabrasion performed by qualified aesthetician. Some skin clinics would prescribe acne treatment products as after-laser medications to promote quicker clearance of newly formed pimples.

Natural Acne Treatment
Why go natural? Because the products you buy at the local pharmacy contain ingredients that can actually make an acne problem worse. One of the worst is alcohol which is a major ingredient in almost every over-the-counter remedy. Alcohol is used as a cleanser and antiseptic. As a cleanser, alcohol works well by removing oil based grime. (That’s most of it.) Alcohol is also a mild antiseptic (germ killer) that gets into the infected pore and kills the bacteria causing the inflammation.

The only problem is, alcohol is terrible for the skin. It’s rough. It burns the skin and dries it out – something that leads to even more skin oil production.

inaturalhealth.com has looked for quality acne care products in many retail outlets. Unfortunately, they’re all the same – loaded with chemicals, alcohol and other ingredients harmful to the skin. They’re aren’t any.

Take a look at your current acne medication. Chances are if you picked it up at the local megamall, it contains alcohol and a bunch of chemicals that actually sound dangerous and unhealthy.

Not so with i-naturalhealth products. Each one is personally test by us to ensure your ultimate satisfaction. And what makes our products better than the rest. All-natural ingredients. Quality all-natural ingredients.

Facial Cleansers
They must be abrasive enough to open the pore and remove make-up and grime, but not so abrasive that they damage the skin. Skin that has been damaged by abrasion is actually more susceptible to acne breakout because its an easy target for those acne-causing germs.

Facial cleaners should also gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells that can clog a pore. If pores are kept clean and open, the acne problem disappears because bacteria can’t be trapped in clogged pores. It’s an essential part of any skin care program. A must have.

Facial Toners
Used to remove dead skin cells, remove oil and build-up from clogged pores before they erupt, facial toners are refreshing and provide your face with a healthy glow. Our selection of facial toners contain natural botanicals, not harsh chemicals. Botanicals that soothe the skin, giving it time to heal and time to regain good health.

Finally, our select facial toners actually repairs skin damage by alcohol-based, drugstore products. So instead of making a bad situation worse, i-naturalhealth toners improve a bad situation from Day 1 by healing damaged skin. Start seeing improvements in skin tone from the very beginning. Highly recommended for those interested in long-term skin care.

Healing Lotions
Only the best for your troubled skin. That’s what i-naturalhealth delivers in a variety of healing lotions that remove blackheads to prevent further breakouts. These lotions soothe your skin without oils that can just clog up pores and create more problems. Our healing lotions contain the natural ingredients need to repair skin damaged by long-time exposure to the harsh chemicals used by all over-the-counter prescription aids. It’s time to start the healing with our selection of skin-softening products that will make your skin look good and feel great.

Facial Masks
Not for daily use, but at least once a week your skin will feel better and look better after a facial mask. Our products get into the pores, removing dirt, oils, skin cells and other impurities before they have the chance to cause a flare up. We think of facial masks as the best, pro-active choice in skin care for treating acne. Too many people have overlooked this time-tested method of clearing clogged pores so if you haven’t tried the benefits of a facial mask, you are going to live what a facial mask can do for healthier skin.

Facial Moisturizers
Keeping your skin healthy is one of the best ways to beat acne – or at least minimize its effects on you. Skin needs to be moisturized regularly, but most moisturizers contain a lot of oils, including lanolin which is almost guaranteed to clog your pores.

i-naturalhealth facial moisturizers are light, providing the skin with just enough moisture to keep it healthy without oils and other ingredients that actually clog pores rather than clearing them. Any skin treatment is going to deplete skin moisture so it’s essential to moisturize your skin throughout the day – especially when in dry-heat, winter conditions. You may have tried moisturizers in the past, but you’ve never tried one of our moisturizers. You have to try it to believe it.

Only i-naturalhealth carries the best in acne treatments and skin care products designed to fight blemishes before they have the chance to appear. We believe a pro-active approach will keep the acne problem under control and for natural acne skin care products