Looking For Treatments For Acne?

In a normal pharmacy, there are an assortment of treatments for acne and other skin infections, and not all of them will include salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. That doesn't signify that they don't work as well, it's just that they most likely work in a different way from the aforementioned kinds of treatments. Whether one decides to take an over-the-counter treatment or go for a prescription, the vital thing to remember is that once the acne has been efficiently removed, then working on lightening the social anxiety can start.

There are some skin doctors that suggest combination treatments as a line of attack to relax acne. The approach works by having people apply salicylic acid during the day time, as it is the compound that has a lower chance of motivating side effects. The benzoyl peroxide is then administered at midnight, before sleeping. This decreases the prospects that the side effects would get in the way the sufferer's daily lifestyle, as well as diminish the prospects of the peroxide bleaching clothing.

Skin infections like acne rosacea and teenage acne are usually originated by bacterial infections in the skin. Among the several core ingredients of the medications made use of to take care of acne and similar bacterial infections is benzoyl peroxide. In the case of acne, benzoyl peroxide works by attacking the bacteria, effectively endeavouring to bring to a halt the acne at the source. Nevertheless, benzoyl peroxide is a potent compound and people with sensitive skin can develop redness, rashes, and other side effects that can add to one's social anxiety, rather than be of assistance to relieve it. Medically speaking, adults often find it harder to tolerate benzoyl peroxide, as compared to teenagers. An alternative for acne medication can come up to you in the type of treatments that make use of salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid works on acne in a special approach from benzoyl peroxide. While the peroxide compound works by targeting the bacterial infections behind acne, salicylic acid functions as an exfoliant. The acid works by peeling away layers of the skin, subsequently also peeling away the acne gradually. The acid is considered to be milder than the peroxide, though it can still have side effects. In addition, salicylic acid is not as useful an acne treatment option as benzoyl peroxide, simply because it lacks the raw chemical potency of the peroxide.

The concern with cosmetics has resulted into a boom in the skin care product industry. These cosmetics products are marketed to cater to the large market that requires a kind of preparations to treat dry skin, curb oily skin, and even to “undo” the aging process. These days, manufacturers of beauty products have expanded their beauty line to include concoctions to heal skin infections. The products that are usually purchased to control skin infections frequently comprise of those that are invented to take care of adult acne and teenage acne.

Source: www.goarticles | by. Ras Reed

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Acne Skin Care Product

With acne being such a common problem, there is a huge market for acne skin care products. Many of these are beneficial, while others are just plain hoaxes. Whatever acne skin care product one chooses, expecting instant results is very unrealistic. The most effective products take at least a couple of weeks before they begin to work noticeably. If the acne skin care product contains appropriate ingredients, the acne will recede in three months or so. In other words - one should not reply on advertising that promises overnight results. Acne is a moderately serious form of skin inflammation. The affected pilosebaceous units in the skin need to undergo the required changes before the acne can reduce.

Sometimes, a single acne skin care product is not enough to have the desired effect. In such cases, dermatologists may prescribe a combination of products for use in tandem. The aim of treatment is to normalize shedding into the pore to prevent blockage and kill the bacteria that cause the problem. Additionally, the product used must provide anti-inflammatory relief to the skin and manipulate the patient's hormonal balance in the skin.

Acne skin care products can cause severe allergic reactions in patients who are sensitized to their ingredients. These ingredients can have some rather unpleasant side effects and one must weight the benefits of using such products against their potential drawbacks. Patients must not use acne skin care products containing such active ingredients without medical supervision. They can have dangerous interactions with existing medications and may even make the acne worse. A dermatologist must analyze the patient's problem before he can prescribe the correct acne skin care product.

One of the most radical products used in acne treatment are exfoliating agents. These slough off a thin layer of the affected skin. They invariably contain strong chemicals such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid. These chemicals peel off the superficial skin layer, thereby removing dead skin cells that block the underlying pores. They also have an unclogging effect on pores that are already blocked. Many compounds in this genre of acne skin care products are available over the counter, meaning that no doctor's prescription is required to buy them. These products usually contain moisturizing agents to offset the exfoliating compound's dehydrating effects.

Topical creams and gels that kill bacteria are also available. These usually contain benzoyl peroxide. Such acne skin care products are used on the skin twice or thrice a day. One can also buy soaps and face washes that contain benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide kills the acne-causing bacteria and has a keratolytic effect, too. This means that it dissolves the keratin that is plugging the skin's pores. Unfortunately, acne skin care products containing this chemical can cause the skin to dry out radically. To prevent this, the concentration of benzoyl peroxide should not exceed 2.5%. The patient should also use a non-comedogenic moisturizer to combat excessive skin dryness.

Topical antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, doxycycline, minocycline or lymecycline and tetracycline can also have a beneficial bacteria-killing effect in acne. Applying antibiotic creams is sometimes preferable to oral antibiotic treatment, since the patient will not suffer possible side effects by this route. Oral antibiotics can be effective in treating acne but a doctor must monitor their use. There is a danger of adverse reaction with other medicines.

Topical retinoids have the effect of normalizing the skin's follicles and can be very effective when used in acne skin care products. Such retinoids include tretinoin, adapalene and tazarotene. The dermatologist must ensure that the patient does not suffer skin irritation with these. If this occurs, the patient may switch to a milder retinoid called Retinol. This compound occurs in many popular moisturizers and does not cause skin irritation.


Source: www.buzzle.com 
Tag: acne skin care product

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Natural Acne Remedies

The subject of natural or homegrown acne remedies is a broad one to cover as one must be able to separate the effective options from those that really amount to little more than old wives’ tales. Yet, with this said, someone searching for successful remedies for acne would be foolish to overlook the benefits of those natural remedies that have been passed on in families. These sorts of remedies based upon common sense practices or herbs are typically successful for most mild cases of acne. It is when these cases grow more severe that one should consult a physician or dermatologist.

For centuries, civilizations relied exclusively upon herbal and natural remedies for the treatment of every ailment. No, there were no convenient drive-up pharmacies to get a prescription for manufactured medications. In order to find ways to help treat sickness one had to venture into the woods and search for cures there. And for the most part, nature provided for these needs through the various herbs that were found to have medicinal value.

The earliest physicians were nothing more than what we today call herbalists or at a certain point in time, apothecaries. Either way, the natural remedies they discovered were the basis for scientists who later found ways to create synthetic substitutes for these herbs and distill the innate properties down into a form that can be amplified or augmented by other elements.

A List of Common Natural Remedies

Hot/Cold Compresses - A chief natural remedy that is recommended more often than not is the usage of hot and cold wet towel compresses to reduce swelling and eliminate clogged pores--the major culprit in the production of acne.

Drinking Water - This natural remedy for acne is simple enough. The premise behind it the idea that if you drink a sufficient amount of water per day, typically 7-8 glasses of water a day, your body is cleansed of elements of toxicity that can actually contribute to the development and spread of acne. It also should be noted, that many natural remedies not only recommend to merely drink plain old ordinary water, but a ctually adding herbal ingredients by boiling fenugreek seeds and corn into the water.

Oils and Juices - Though it can seem odd, the benefits of using natural substances like almond oil - which can actually help with the removal of acne scars - cannot be ignored. Apricot juice helps to alleviate the presence of cysts by cutting through them.

• Cucumber juice - Used as a topical application, either alone or combined with carrot juice, alfalfa or lettuce.
• Citric fruit juices - These types of juices, such as lemon juice, serve as a natural exfoliate, removing dead skin cells which might cause clogging of the pores. You should allow it to dry on the face for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing it away with cool water.
• Tea Tree Oil - Tea tree oil has been recognized as a potent antiseptic in Australia anecdotally for much longer than there has been solid scientific evidence. However, studies have recently been conducted which support the role of tea tree oil in skin care and the treatment of various ailments. In the treatment of moderate acne, topical application of 5% tea tree oil has shown a significant effect comparable to 5% benzoyl peroxide with less observed side effects; although, it does display a slower onset of action. This is definitely a
  natural treatment worth trying.

  Bassett I, Pannowitz D, Barnetson R (1990). "A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne.". Med J Aust 153 (8): 455-8. PMID 2145499.

 

Fenugreek leaves - This remedy provides great prevention of breakouts and involves taking the fenugreek leaves, crushing them, and making a paste out of them.  You should then apply it to infected areas every night, then wash it away the following morning with warm water.

Honey Mask - Because honey has naturally occurring anti-bacterial qualities it is often applied to the face as a mask, killing surface bacteria. Typically, the mask should be applied once or twice weekly depending upon the results of usage.

Distilled white vinegar - Apply the vinegar as a topical solution, letting it sit on the infected area for at least 5-10 minutes. Then rinse it thoroughly with cool water. Often the vinegar can be a little too strong so it is recommended that you dilute it, though not too much.

Make-up or Cosmetic Usage - Simply put, this is a common sense remedy for acne. Just avoid using these products because more than likely the chemicals and oils used to manufacture them will clog the pores, which, in turn, leads to more breakouts.

Further Remedies

Beyond the common natural remedies for acne, there are a few other interesting options available and worth mentioning at this time.

Diet and vitamin supplements - Unlike former days, when the diets of civilizations included only naturally occurring food from the ground, the usage of fertilizers and pesticides has taken a toll on the nutrient content of much of the food that we eat. Add to this the fact that our food is further manipulated by chemical preservatives and you have some further explanations for the occurrences of some acne breakout. To combat this, observing a proper and balanced diet and taking a hearty multi-vitamin can actually go a long way towards preventing certain bio-chemical conditions which provide fertile ground for acne.

Echinacea and Oregon grape - These herbs are both useful for boosting the body’s immune system and also combating many forms of acne-causing bacteria.

Vitamin A - Used in large quantities, vitamin A has actually been used to successfully treat some severe forms of acne. But it must be clear that if you plan to use vitamin A as a possible remedy you should consult a physician because, if used in large enough doses, it can be toxic.

Vitamin B5 - Following from the discoveries in mouse trials, in the late 1990s, a small study was published promoting the use of pantothenic acid to treat acne vulgaris.

According to the study, published in 1997 by Dr. Lit-Hung Leung, high doses of Vitamin B5 resolved acne and decreased pore size. Dr. Leung also proposes a mechanism, stating that CoA regulates both hormones and fatty-acids, and without sufficient quantities of pantothenic acid, CoA will preferentially produce androgens. This causes fatty acids to build up and be excreted through sebaceous glands, causing acne. Leung's study gave 45 Asian males and 55 Asian females varying doses of 10-20g of pantothenic acid (100,000%-200,000% of the US Daily Value), 80% orally and 20% through topical cream. Leung noted improvement of acne within one week to one month of the start of the treatment.

Today, many companies offer Vitamin B5 supplements aimed at reducing acne. The recommend treatment course, however, is difficult and expensive to maintain. Many sites suggest starting off the first three days with 5g and then moving up to 10g a day for three months. Since the largest pill available is 500mg (a 1g pill of B5 has been made, but is extremely difficult to swallow), this can result in as many as 20 pills a day. Even if powder is used for convenience in place of capsules or tablets, many people report feeling nauseas with such a high dose…and dislike the taste. The average cost for a bottle of 200 B5 500mg tablets is $10, so the cost can be steep. However, after three months many users suggest decreasing to 3-5g a day, with some claiming 1 g/day is sufficient.

Critics are quick to point out the flaws in Dr. Leung's study, however. Dr. Leung's study was not a double-blind placebo controlled trial. To date, the only study looking at the effect of Vitamin B5 on acne is Dr. Leung's, and few if any dermatologists prescribe high-dose pantothenic acid. Furthermore, there is no evidence documenting acetyl-CoA regulation of androgens instead of fatty acids in times of stress or limited availablity, since fatty acids are also necessary for life.

Zinc - This vitamin, if added to one’s diet, can actually aid in the healing of acne lesions and help in the prevention of scarring. Orally administered zinc gluconate has been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne, although less so than tetracyclines.

Dreno B, Amblard P, Agache P, Sirot S, Litoux P (1989). "Low doses of zinc gluconate for inflammatory acne". Acta Derm Venereol 69 (6): 541-3. PMID 2575335. ^ Dreno B, Moyse D, Alirezai M, Amblard P, Auffret N, Beylot C, Bodokh I, Chivot M, Daniel F, Humbert P, Meynadier J, Poli F (2001). "Multicenter randomized comparative double-blind controlled clinical trial of the safety and efficacy of zinc gluconate versus minocycline h ydrochloride in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris". Dermatology 203 (2): 135-40. PMID 11586012.

The following treatments are based on a theory that acne is often caused by an imbalance or shortage of certain essential elements (most commonly sulfur, magnesium, and zinc).

Sulphur - MSM
Magnesium supplements
Special electrolyte (salt) solutions
Chromium - Chromium supplementation appeared to work in
a small study.
Insulin treatment - insulin treatment has been reported to
work, although no big studies have been performed

Technorati Tags: natural acne remedies,natural remedies

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How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars

The methods for removing acne scars range from topical ointments to invasive surgery. It really only depends on how bad the problem and how much you want to pay in order to get rid of it. Acne scars cannot be cured or lessened until after the acne outbreaks are contained or stopped altogether. This will take some time. There is no miracle cure here, no magic pill that will do it overnight. Treatments, whether they are natural or administered by a qualified dermatologist may take weeks or even months to reveal results. So patience is of the essence when dealing with acne scarring.

The hormonal swings that lead to acne flare ups can happen at any age. Even newborn babies can develop acne. Women who go off the pill and enter menopause can develop acne and then suffer the resultant scars left by the hormonal outbreaks. The bumps usually start to appear on the lower face, chin, around the mouth and on the back and chest.

The quickest and most immediate change to make is in diet. Increase your water intake on a daily basis. You should be consuming half of your body weight in ounces of water, everyday. Stop eating sugar filled sweets, fatty foods and processed foods. Eliminate all junk foods. Now is the time to add whole foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and legumes or beans to your daily diet.

Add exercise to your daily routine, complete with cardio workouts a couple of times a week. In other words, take a walk to the store or a stroll through the park instead of jumping into the car. This will increase blood circulation and help the body detoxify itself. A cleaner body will lead to fewer acne flare ups and lessen the formation of acne scars, internally and externally.

For people who habitually wear makeup, now is the time to decrease usage and give your face a chance to breathe. If you can’t stop wearing makeup then improve your cleansing regimen, by making sure that you wash your face with mild soaps and cool water a couple of times day to rid yourself of bacteria and dirt buildups that will clog pores if left unchecked. Using natural astringents like lemon juice and apple cider vinegar to cleanse your face will go a long way in preventing the formation of acne scars.

Source: goarticles.com | By Mark Daniels

Tag: acne scars

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A Study on Acne Vulgaris

Acne is a simple, harmless skin infection that affects almost all people at least once during their lifetime. The scientific name of this problem is acne vulgaris. In colloquial terms, acne vulgaris is referred to as pimples, spots or simply acne. Acne causes itching and irritation of the skin.

Causes of acne

There are a few portions of our skin that tends to have a dense follicular population i.e. the density of hair growth is high. Such regions have a higher availability of a gland called sebaceous gland. This gland is responsible for the secretion of an oily liquid called sebum which slowly converts into body fats along the topmost layer of the inner skin. These fats slowly protrude through the skin to form acne marks.

Apart from these sebaceous glands, the formation of androgen in young adults also attribute to the formation of acne. These are often acquired at the time of puberty. However, these acne marks are short lived and often disappear within a few months or years without any medication or skin treatment. More than 80% of teenagers around the world acquire acne due to this reason.

Modern researches have shown that acne marks are formed due to reasons other than scientific problems as stated above. Scientists attribute small psychological problems and stress that the individual undergoes as a reason for acquiring acne marks. An acne treatment is not the right choice for this type of problem. Instead, a treatment for stress illness will automatically cure the acne marks.

Where does acne usually occur in the human body?

The region where the sebaceous gland is densest is the scalp. Hence, the scalp has the highest probability of having acne marks. Though these are often hidden inside the dense hair growth above the scalp, they exhibit all symptoms and problems of the normal acne. The next most probable areas are the face and the upper areas of the neck. Other than these, the chest, the areas along the upper part of the back and sometimes along the upper arms and the shoulders also tend to have acne marks.

Acne treatment

The best possible acne treatment is to take correct diet at correct times of the day. A fatless diet for a period of six months can cure 90% problems due to acne.

Dieticians recommend fatless chocolates that tickle the activity of the brain and improve blood circulation. Apart from this, chocolates are anti-depressants and hence reduce mental stress. This helps massively to reduce acne. Intake of milk and carbohydrates also help to reduce acne because of their ability to neutralize the activity of sex hormones and help the body to secrete insulin. Though the intake of sugar indirectly increases the body fat, consuming a minimal amount of sugar regularly helps to reduce the effects of androgens. Medical practitioners recommend a higher intake of vitamin A and vitamin E for patients having acne problems.

Apart from the diet solution, there are other direct treatments to cure acne. Most of those treatments heal the ailment for the time being but it cannot be guaranteed that the disease will not return again.

Source: goarticles.com | by Ruchand | Tags: acne vulgaris, acne treatment

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Homeopathic Acne Treatment That Works Wonders

When most people scoff at the idea of homeopathic medicine, they don’t realize that the overwhelming majority of homeopathic treatments have been around far longer than their better known modern medicine counterparts. Homeopathic medicine can trace its roots back centuries to a simpler time when people understood the environment around them, understood what the natural world contained, what it could do and how to use it properly. There is a reason why the pharmacist logo is a mortar and pestle: those tools were actually used for hundreds of years to grind, crush and manufacture cures and treatments for diseases. Let’s take a look at a handful of modern and not so modern treatments for acne.

This first treatment takes a bit of preparation but many people swear by its effectiveness. Start by peeling the skin off of a pomegranate and placing it inside a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Once the skin is nicely roasted, place it inside a blender or food processor (or even a coffee grinder would work) and puree it as much as possible. Place the ground peel in a small bowl and add in a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes until a nice paste has been created. Use this substance as a mask and let dry anywhere on your skin where acne is often a problem. This mixture is an effective homeopathic acne treatment on several levels. The lime juice does the job of today’s benzoyl peroxide by shocking the pimples and cleaning them out and the pomegranate peel is full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and other nutrients your skin needs. Feel free to repeat this treatment 3-4 times per week as necessary. You may also want to eat the pomegranate as they are one of the best and most complete fruits in the world.

This next homeopathic acne treatment will not only help you control your pimple outbreaks, it will likely keep vampires away, as well! Much has been made in the last few years about the power of garlic on the human body. We are always told to eat more garlic every year and now there are even supplements that allow you to intake garlic every day without the tell tale breath. There are a number of creams and concoctions you can make at home that contain garlic that can be great for your skin, but many people simply take a freshly crushed garlic clove and apply it directly to their face. Of course, you are going to have to shower later and you may want to be alone when you try this homeopathic acne treatment, but fans swear it works wonders. Likely the best time to try out this treatment would be right before bed. Since the acids in garlic can be harsh on the skin, keep this nifty new treatment to only 2-3 times per week.

The world is full of incredible and healthy skin treatments, you simply have to discover the ones that work for you.

Source: goarticles.com | by. Brent Crouch | Tags: acne treatment, homeopathic acne treatment

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Proactive Solution Treatment and Prevention of Acne

Is it possible to prevent acne? Most people would not even consider asking the question unless they were troubled by this disease in the first place, so it is not really a matter of preventing acne from occurring at all, but of curing it first, then preventing its return.

Much advice in the western world declares that diet is not a factor in causing acne, yet those who live in some other countries are not affected by the condition. Whether this is an inherited factor, or caused by diet has not been decided yet.

There are many who now believe that diet does play a large part in bringing on acne, while there are just as many, or perhaps even more who believe that junk food, chocolate and foods high in sugar and fats have nothing to do with acne. The trouble is that if you were not affected by it, you would not be motivated to modify your diet to resemble that of the eastern nations.

One thing is clear; acne is not caused by dirt. It is caused when the oil in our body is not metabolized efficiently and dead skin cells become sticky and block the pores of the skin. Bacteria then enters into the pores and causes infection and inflammation.

So what can be done to prevent this happening? It seems logical to eat less fatty foods, but our body may produce oils in any case. Hygiene helps to control it, yet acne is not caused by dirt, but by bacteria normally present on the skin. Therefore, it seems that we must try to prevent acne by using several different methods at the one time.

Zinc gluconate and some antibiotics administered orally are both effective in treating the inflammation of acne, while insulin is also reported to have worked in the same way. No big studies have been done on the latter though, so proceed cautiously with this one.

Chromium supplements appeared to have worked according to one small study, while Nicholas Perricone advises a strict diet in which dairy is almost totally avoided in his controversial book, The Acne Prescription. He also recommends topical applications of alpha lipoic acid. There was no strong scientific evidence for Perricone’s theories until early in 2005 when a paper was published detailing a link between acne and milk.

Research is now being done on the use of lasers for the prevention of acne. Lasers have been used to treat the scars left by really bad acne, but it is now realized that the follicle sac from which the hair grows, as well as the sebaceous gland that produces oil, can be burned away by the use of lasers. They can also be used to kill the bacteria by inducing oxygen in them. But no one has yet come up with a solution to the possible damage that the skin might suffer during these operations, so this option is a long way off.

Source: goarticles.com | by website.promotiavj | Tags: prevent acne, preventing acne

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