Finding An Acne / Blemish Product That Works

Ah, the teenage years. Those awkward times when your self esteem depends on the state of your face . Is it clear or is it a minefield of bumps and breakout? This is one of the age-old afflictions of man. How do we keep our skin clear and free of pimples? While a few of us act like it’s not happening, the majority of us head to the local drug store in desperate search of some miracle acne blemish control product. Zits can totally ruin our lives. Well, this is how it seems sometimes; especially as an insecure teen. Luckily, these days we have an abundant supply of acne blemish control treatments to use.

Do you have acne? If you’re like the majority of us humans, then, it’s quite possible you do. Some of us are affected as teens and some as adults. Then there are those who have it their whole life. Regardless of your acne phase, one thing is for certain; you don’t have to just put up with it. The drug store shelves are constantly overloaded with acne blemish control products. I don’t care if you’re struggling with whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps, or the whole lot of them, there is an acne blemish control treatment out there for you. If you haven’t browsed through the local drug stores, then it’s certainly time you did. Check out the cosmetics aisle. You will be overwhelmed with the options. Now, you are stuck with the problem of what product to buy.

When it comes to your face, it is crucial to know and understand what skin type you have. Do you know yours? I found out when I was about 20 years old that I had normal to dry skin. Get online and take a quick test to better understand your skin type right away. This way you will be able to narrow down your search when browsing for quality acne blemish control products. Many of these treatments are specifically for oily, combination, dry, or normal skin. Don’t waste all your time and money trying them all out. This is your face we’re talking about here. You need the acne blemish control treatment that is right for you.

The Internet is a perfect place for you to understand acne and how to control it. You will soon find out that there are an incredible amount of solutions to this age-old problem. Probably the most popular acne blemish control product on the market today is Proactive solution. Many happy customers, including well known celebrities, swear by this unique treatment. It’s time to get your life back. Don’t let acne ruin your self-confidence. Log on to the internet and find that ideal acne blemish control product that’s right for you.

Does Retin A Really Clear Acne?

You try to hide them with a heavy facial make up, but can’t ignore the fact or hide your face from the mirror. Embarrassing situation right! It is a general scenario for people suffering from acne. Most people feel that acnes are a part of life and sign of adolescence but go suffering when the situation turns bad to worse. 

Acne is a result of an imbalance of two or more factors in skin physiology relating to the sebaceous gland and duct system. Acne develops when the hair follicle of skin gets plugged by overproduction of sebum, dead cells and become infected by bacteria. This leads to swelling, redness and pain at the site of infection.

The most common causes of acne are an increased production of sebaceous material due to hormone imbalance or side effects of stress that cause an overproduction of sebaceous material.

Dealing with acne needs patience and perseverance. If something goes wrong the scars of acne will follow you through out your life. But oflate there is good news. Medical science has successfully found a breakthrough for treating acne problem significantly and for good. Over the counter remedies like cleansers creams, ointments, Retin-A is found to be very effective for the treatment of acne. It is available in the form of liquid, cream, or gel.

The main constituent of Retin A is tretinoin (retinoic acid and vitamin A). This tretinoin somehow loosen the connections between the skin cells while at the same time stimulates the growth of new cells. There is also some research that shows that it minimizes fine lines and may reverse some of the effects of sun damage.

It is very safe when used as directed and side affects are negligible. At the first few weeks of the treatment, Retin A unplugs acne follicles and brings acne to the surface making the face uglier then before. But, as the day passes by, it reverses the chances of further acne problems. Studies show Retin A is safe to use during pregnancy, but should use if this is fine with your obstetrician.

Facts On 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 30's and 40's 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:

* blackheads (comedones)

* whiteheads

* red or yellow spots

* greasy skin

* 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 colors. 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.

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.

IIllustration showing the structure of skin

Illustration showing the structure of skin

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by the over activity 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 acne 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.

What makes acne worse?

There are a number of things that can make your acne worse. These include the following:

* picking and squeezing the spots may cause further inflammation and scarring1

* stress can make acne worse in some people, although it is not clear why1,

* in women, outbreaks may be affected by the hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle1,

* excessive production of male hormones such as testosterone from conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome may be another cause.

* some contraceptive pills may make acne worse. This is due to the type of progestogen hormone in some pills whereas some other types of contraceptive pills can improve acne – see Treatments section below. Your GP will advise you which contraceptive pill to take.

* some medicines can make acne worse. For example, some medicines taken for epilepsy, and steroid creams and ointments that are used for eczema. Do not stop a prescribed medicine if you suspect it is making your acne worse, but tell your GP. An alternative may be an option.

* steroids can cause acne as a side-effect.

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.

Home treatment

It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an non perfumed 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.

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.

Prescription medicines

Your GP may start your treatment by prescribing a preparation containing benzoyl peroxide. If this does not work, or if you have more severe acne, there are a range of other treatment options that you can either rub onto your skin (topical) or take in tablet form (oral).

Topical treatments

There are several topical treatments you may be prescribed including those listed below:

* azelaic acid (Skinoren) is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide and may not make your skin as sore as benzoyl peroxide

* topical retinoids (eg Adapalene) are medicines based on vitamin A, which are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.7 They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off

* a topical antibiotic lotion applied to the skin can be used to control the P. acnes bacteria (eg Dalacin T). Treatment needs to continue for at least six months. Preparations that combine an antibiotic with other acne medication are available (eg Benzamycin which combines an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide)

Oral treatments

There are several oral treatments you may be prescribed including those listed below:

* oral antibiotics (tablets), such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. They should be taken daily for around three months, although it might take four to six months for the benefits to be seen.7 The success of this treatment can be limited because the strains of bacteria are often resistant to the common antibiotics. Antibiotics do not prevent pores from becoming blocked so treatment to prevent blackheads, such as benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time

* some types of oral contraceptive tablets help women who have acne. A combination of the usual pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate (eg Dianette) suppresses male hormone activity so is often used in women with acne

* isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane) is a medicine known as an oral retinoid, which also exists in a topical form (see above). Isotretinoin works by drying up oily secretions. It tends to be prescribed to people with severe forms of acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. There a number of serious side-effects of this drug, such as liver disorders and depresssion. You should not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, as it is very dangerous to an unborn baby. For safety reasons, isotretinoin is only prescribed under the supervision of dermatology specialists.

Tips For Making Your Skin Look Healthier

Tip 1: Drink Water

Water has long been considered as the most efficient natural treatment or an almost free treatment for any skin condition because of its being alkaline, with pH 7.3. It prevents dehydration which is capable of producing sebum or oil from the sebaceous glands. Your skin needs water in order for it to function best, thus doctors and nutritionists suggest that a daily intake of between 6 to 8 glasses of water per day is highly needed.

Tip 2: Watch Your Diet

Nutrition plays a vital role in skin health too. Specific foods such as those acidic foods and dairy products are said to be effective in causing an allergic reaction in some people. Also, one of the widely debated topics in the area of nutrition today is chocolates. Some say that chocolate does affect the condition of the skin, while others say it doesn’t. Whatever the result may be, the best advice is just to follow a nutritious diet that has a number of fresh fruits and green-leafy veggies, as well as fiber.

Tip 3: Consider Exfoliants

Many experts say that exfoliating your skin is another great way to attain a beautiful skin. So, try to invest in a good body exfoliant or “loofah”, as it is commonly called, as it is capable of eliminating the dead skin cells from your body. Accordingly, this should be done once or twice a week so to free the skin to breathe. What’s more, exfoliants help to put off ingrown hair from developing.

However, it is essential to avoid using any body exfoliant on the skin on the face. The main reason for this precaution is that the facial tissue is more sensitive and finer than those tissues of the body.

Tip 4: Consider a Healthy Routine for Facial Care

When it comes to facial skin care, getting into a healthy beauty routine is not bad. Most of the doctors today greatly suggest that you cleanse, moisturize and tone your skin twice every day. When cleaning, never fail to remember cleaning the area on the neck, including your face. Apply a moisturizer or neck cream after.

Before going to bed at night, always bear in mind to remove all make up. Clean your skin before you sleep, no matter how tired you may feel. It was found out that during the night, the skin goes through a process of elimination and cannot breathe properly if it is clogged with make up. And, you may also find out that sleeping with your make up on will cause your skin to “break out” with spots on it.

When it comes to shaving for men, some men may experience shaving rashes. For many, these rashes lower their self-esteem, but this is actually not a big problem to think about. There are a lot ways to avoid rashes. Perhaps one of the best is to make sure that when shaving, the razor strokes are following the direction of hair growth. That’s simply it!

Tip 5: Heal Your Feet

When it comes to skin care, the feet are often neglected. So, if care you found no time for a professional pedicure, try to fill a football or basin with warm water and add your favorite essential oil. Soak your feet for about fifteen minutes. Then, dry them and apply a rough skin remover onto them. Rinse this off and dry you feet well. And, if you consider pedicure, simply add some body cream to your feet for an easy and quick fix pedicure.

Tip 6: Avoid Too Much Exposure to the Sun

One of the most common precautions when it comes to skin care is avoiding too much exposure to the sun. As you may know, over exposure to sunlight causes sunburn. So, while current sun blocks only block out the UVB rays and still let in harmful UVA rays, it is still wise to cover up before venturing into the hands of Apollo. If possible, use a wide brimmed hat while tending your garden to keep the sun from your face.

Tip 7: Exercise

Aside from considering a healthy diet, exercising your body also helps keep your skin healthy. Note that a proper exercise does not only keep the body fit by regulating the oxygen; it also improves the glow of the skin as well.

Tip 8: Take Enough Rest

One common problem that face people is stress; the one which is not normal. It was found out that when a person is stressed, the adrenal cortex converts adrenal androgens to the hormone testosterone in male and female, which in turn results in overactive sebaceous glands. These adrenal androgens are released causing a double amount of testosterone, causing the face to be oily, while other areas of the body are still dry from dehydration. So, taking proper rest that includes 6 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep daily is the best way to rejuvenate the skin.

Practice Makes Perfect. Finding The Acne Treatments That Work For You

Acne causes embarrassment and discouragement for millions of people. Most are in their teen years, but adults are affected, too. There are many choices of acne treatment on the market. Some are well formulated, while others are weak and ineffective. Finding the best acne treatment for your skin can improve your outlook, and your looks.

The best products for treating your acne are natural, gentle products. Look for botanical ingredients in the list. Some herbal ingredients that are healing to blemished skin include sage, yarrow, coltsfoot, wild thyme, horsetail, althea (or marshmallow), and balm mint (or melissa). Aloe vera is a well known skin healer, and is often included in good acne products.

Also valuable in a treatment remedy for acne are certain essential oils. Some essential oils are harsh for skin. (None should be used straight, but should always be diluted with a carrier oil!) The best acne treatment products might include oils such as lavender, rose, tangerine, and geranium. These are not only healing to the skin, but will make the product smell great, too.

If the product is made with a transdermal system, any vitamins or herbal ingredients will be able to absorb into the skin and treat the acne where it starts. Some vitamins that might be included in a topical acne treatment include vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and pro vitamin B5.

Just like healthy food for the body, the best acne treatment will provide nourishment and nutrition directly to the skin. The skin tends to reveal the health of a person. What shows up on the outside often indicates a deficiency or need on the inside. Getting a healthy diet can help you overcome your acne, and is a good addition to make to your use of good products.

Even the best products, however, won’t clear up that acne if they are used inconsistently. It’s a good idea to get into the routine of taking your vitamin supplements and cleansing your face every day. Don’t let procrastination or disorganization leave you without time for taking care of yourself. The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is a major agent in removing toxins from the body. It needs to be pampered and cared for.

A moisturizer is also an important part of an acne treatment. Like other components, it needs to be 100% natural, or it can make matters worse by contributing to clogging the pores. Make sure you take the time to read the label to make sure the ingredients are natural botanicals, nutrients, and healthful oils.

Some people say you should try to use only products on your skin that you would be willing to put in your mouth. This might not always be the case, since the skin does act like a filter, while absorbing nutrients and other substances. Still, one should be cautious about using unnatural products.

Can Flax Seed Oil Help To Clear Acne?

While there have not been many flax seed oil and acne studies carried out, flax seed supplements remains a popular acne treatment, with both natural therapists and acne sufferers.

Flaxseed is traditionally used as a natural laxative, providing bulk to the stool as well as lubrication. But flax oil has many other benefits, which derive from its richness in the omega 3 essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids are so named because we must get them from our diet – our bodies do not make them. They are important for normal growth and development, brain function, and help prevent chronic illnesses like arthritis and heart disease.

Essential fatty acids come in several forms, the most commonly known being the omega 3 fatty acids and the omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 6 fatty acids are more common in our Western diets, being found in oils like safflower, sunflower, corn, sesame, and other oils. It is possible to have a deficiency of omega 6 fatty acids if relying only on omega 3 fats, like flax and fish oils, as the main type of fat in the diet. Or if taking the omega 3 fatty acids in greater quantities for a period of one and a half, to two years, to restore an omega 3 deficiency. But the more likely scenario is that an excess of omega 6 fatty acids is being consumed in relation to the omega 3′s.

Symptoms of omega 3 fatty acid deficiency include dry skin, sticky platelets, and tissue inflammation. Given that inflammation is of particular concern for acne sufferers, it becomes easier to see why increasing the amount of omega 3 fatty acids in the diet remains a popular natural acne treatment. 

Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in certain types of fish like salmon and mackerel, and flaxseed oil. And as well as reducing inflammation, omega 3′s speed up healing – again, important for acne sufferers – and reduce platelet stickiness. Platelet stickiness becomes important beyond heart health when you consider that the blood cells carry the supply of oxygen to cells, including cells in our skin, and the cells that are involved in healing.

There are 3 types of omega 3 fatty acids that are significant. These are alpha linolenic acid (ALA or LNA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). ALA (or LNA, as it is often abbreviated to) is converted into EPA and DHA by the body. EPA and DHA are the forms in which the omega 3′s are most easily used by the body. Supplementation with ALA has been found to reduce inflammation and improve dry skin.

Flaxseed oil is a very good source of ALA, containing an average of 55% and higher. But to carry out the conversions into EPA and DHA, the body needs to have good levels of zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin B3 and vitamin B6.

The recommended intake of ALA is about 2,220 mg per day. Higher doses are recommended to treat deficiencies, or some conditions. There is no real standard recommendation for acne sufferers simply because not enough studies have been done in relation to acne. But doses of 3000 to 6000 mg per day are used to prevent and treat some chronic conditions.

Acne Clearing Tips For Teenagers

There are several criteria for acne treatments for teenagers. Number one – they must have a high rate of success. Two, they should be simple to use. And number three, they must be safe for your skin, preferably good for sensitive skin.

Preferably, they should also be fast acting. And low cost. Teens and parents should not have to spend hundreds on dermatologists and facial peels.

There are two systems that I think qualify for serious consideration for those seeking acne treatments for teenagers.

The first was created by a Board Cerified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon, Dr Beckman. He has a background in chemistry as well as 24 years of experience in plastic surgery, where he developed expertise in the principles of skin restoration. He has developed a two step system, which is by its nature simple to follow.

The first step is an antimicrobial wash that gets rid of 99.9% of all bacteria on the skin’s surface for up to 12 hours. This reduces the chance for infection to occur, and many people using his system have found that even if they were on oral antibiotics or accutane that this alone was able to help prevent future acne outbreaks. This cleanser is also excellent for removing dirt and oily deposits on the skin.

The next step is a topical medication designed to encourage the skin’s natural process of exfoliation. This treatment contains salicylic acid and lactic acid, which remove dead skin cells and oily plugs from the sebaceous glands to prevent acne by unclogging pores. Lactic acid encourages the growth of new collagen and elastin, whilst restoring the skin’s natural PH balance.

This acne treatments for teenagers system has been used by people with all types of acne – from mild to severe cystic acne. It is 100% effecive on people with Grades 1 & 2 acne, 80-90% successful with Grades 3 acne, and very effective in controlling new breakouts with Grade 4 acne sufferers. Users on prescription medications like accutane were able to cut back on their dosage or stop using it altogether.

In a study of high school and college students over 12 weeks, all participants had some degree of improvement, and most improvements were within a two week period. So the Reversion system is fast acting. Grades 1 & 2 acne sufferers achieved total control of their acne, and Grades 3 & 4 achieved dramatic improvements.

Click Here to Buy or Find out more about Reversion’s acne treatments for teenagers

The next system of acne treatments for teenagers that I recommend is by Zen Med. Theirs is a 3 step system, with a little bit of a different approach to Reversion. They have two topical applications like Reversion, a cleanser and an acne treatment medication. But they also have herbal acne supplements included in the package.

This is an important part of the treatment, and one of the reasons they have such a high success rate with many people’s acne clearing up for good. The Zen Med system was developed using the 3000 year plus expertise of Traditional Chinese Medicine, combined with modern therapeutics. Theirs is an all natural, all herbal preparation that works on mild to severe acne. It does not contain drugs and there are no side effects.

Many people who tried traditional prescription medication but did not achieve satisfactory results on these were very happy with what the Zen Med system did for their skin. One of the big pluses in this acne treatments for teenagers is that most people using it stopped their acne at the source within 1 to 3 months – this is not a treatment that you will have to be using for the rest of your life.