| |
| |
|
Acne Information |
|
|
|
Save Money On Acne Cleansers
My first education on how to buy acne skin care products came from Johnson & Johnson and Noxema. They had their models wash their clear complexions with the perfect acne cleanser and then, once the suds vanished, the models were dancing around so happy not having to worry about zits. Alas, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and most other acne washes do not wash away zits. One trap to fall into with cleansers is over cleansing, which can aggravate acne. The next trap, which is common, is to expect too much from one product. For example, benzoyl peroxide works by destroying excess acne provoking bacteria. Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin and clears the pores, which reduces the chances for waste buildup in the pores and producing a zit. If you have severe acne like I did, over the counter acne washes cannot provide the amount of bacteria control and exfoliation you need to keep acne at bay. It's like trying to empty a bathtub with a teaspoon instead of just unplugging the water clog. Severe acne requires regulating the skin on an internal and external level. You can regulate the growth of excess bacteria on the face and body in a number of ways. 1. Decrease or control your stress response. Stress sets off a series of hormonal reactions that can ultimately produce excess oil on the face and provide an ideal environment for excess acne-causing bacteria growth on the face. 2. Moderate sugar consumption. Excess sugar, like stress, moves the hormones to excrete more oil on the face. It's not the chocolate the causes the acne, just the collective hormonal response of a sugar overload. 3. Take a multi-vitamin. It may sound silly, or trivial, but taking a multivitamin can provide vital nutrients that boosts the immune system and help you manage stress better. Collectively, strong immunity and stress control help reduce acne breakouts. I learned these three points the hard way. Trial and error and buying a lot of acne skin care products. If your at a loss about choosing an acne product, I can only say this, high price does not guarantee high quality. When I used Oxy 10 for instance, I found it worked just as well as products that costs 5 times as much. One drawback is that these drying products are not ideal for maturing skin. If you are battling acne and wrinkles, I suggest using essential oils to combat acne flair-ups such as tea tree or eucalyptus oil. On a final note, if you've been using an acne cleanser for months with no noticeable improvement in your skin, I suggest trying to regulate you skin's condition from the inside, with sound nutrition and relaxation. Health author and Stanford University graduate Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes from her home in San Diego. Her works include "Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne" (ISBN: 0974912204) and the upcoming work "Skinny Fat Chicks, Why we're still not getting this dieting thing" (ISBN: 0974912212) for release in June of 2005. For useful acne self-help articles visit http://www.Noixia.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Acne - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Eczema and Acne Herbs For a Powerful Footbath In 1979, Maurice Messe'gue', the famous French herbalist, who practiced herbal footbaths for all kinds of ailments, wrote a book called "Health Secrets of Plants and Herbs." In this book he outlined his footbath treatment for Eczema. Do Roasted Peanuts Cause Acne? Many people wonder what the active cause for acne to occur on an individual really is a result from and some folks even attribute it to roasted peanuts. The truth is acne, zits and blackheads can be caused from a variety of reasons. The Truth About Acne Skin Care Let's face it, you are engaged in an ongoing battle when you are afflicted with acne. While acne treatments for a mild case of acne are usually successful, moderate acne is a greater problem. Natural Alternatives to Treat Acne Acne can be caused in teenagers just from the hormonal aspect of being a teen and genetics (that stinks!)Many products on the market just don't work. That's because my son tried some of them. Using Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) as an Acne Treatment How Pantothenic Acid Works Many people have commented before that I recommend vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) a lot to acne sufferers. There happens to be a reason for that: It is what cleared my acne. How To Use Fish Oil To Help You Stop Acne If you want to control acne breakouts, you need to supplement your diet with fish oils which contain omega-3 and omega-6 oils. These fish oil also contains EPA and DHA fatty acids which are necessary for creating prostaglandins. Whats The Real Cause Of Acne? Most acne medications only mask the symptoms of acne and does nothing to stop the real cause of acne. This is why people buy acne products month after month (year after year). Clear Your Acne With My 12 Step Program In 12 previous articles, I have outlined the specifics of each step they you need to take to eliminate acne and have a clear, clean face.Here I outline this acne program, giving specifics that you can follow. Oily Skin Care Can Treat Acne-prone, Shiny, Oily Skin Oily skin is not only shiny, dull-colored, and coarse, it is also acne-prone, which means that a host of more serious problems can develop: blackheads, whiteheads, enlarged pores, redness, and potential scarring. If your skin is oily or you have combination skin, take control with oily skin care before the trouble escalates. How Enzymes, Lecithin, and Chlorophyll Reduce Acne Systemic EnzymesIf you have scars or pockmarks that have recently occurred from acne, you may be able to clear them by using a product called Vitalzym.You're not going to hear this from your doctor or dermatologist, but systemic enzymes, such as serapeptase, which is found in Vitalzym, can remove excess fibrin, which makes up scar tissue that forms acne pockmarks. Stop Squeezing Your Pimples - 7 Safe Ways to Get Rid of Pimples It's everyone's worst nightmare. Waking up the day before a special event to discover a big, red pimple baring itself for all to see right on your face!Here's how to get rid of it quickly and safely:1. Acne Cure, How to Cure Acne Acne is a common skin condition that is not restricted to any age group or sex. Acne may appear for any length of time. Acne Program- Step 3: Relieve Your Constipation with a Three Day Mini-Juice Fast Getting your bowels moving and cleaning out your colon is necessary for having facial skin without blemishes or acne. By reducing the toxins in your colon, you minimize the toxins that can seep out of your facial pores and contribute to acne. Acne Prevention Tips Preventing acne is an extremely difficult thing to do. There really isn't a cure for it, yet it drags yourself esteem way down. Calming Teenage Acne: How to Smooth Troubled Skin with a Holistic Approach... 7 Key Steps To calm teenage acne the skin must be balanced both internally and externally. Getting back to nature from the inside out can rebalance the glands, keep the skin bacteria-free, and allow it to heal more quickly. How a 25 Year Old Asian Man Stumbled Upon a Sweet and Delicious Cure for Acne Permanently! When dealing with acne, we somehow have the gut feeling that our diets do affect us. Well, you're absolutely correct! It's a proven fact because the toxic substances contained in certain food will cause your liver and kidney to overwork. Acne Treatment Tips Acne is a broad term which includes blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads. Acne can strike at any age. Dermatologist Lotion For Acne Prone Patients You can find dermatologist lotion for acne prone patients at your doctor's office. Your dermatologist will be able to suggest or prescribe the best dermatologist lotion for acne prone patients. The Truth About Your Acne Problem! Like a good many people I have been the victim of acne vulgaris (what an appropriate name for such a vulgar disease) the medical term for pimples.My acne problem has made me aggravated, made me cry, and made me angry. Acne Scars - Getting Rid of Bad Memories! Acne scars can often be the final reminder of a bad time in the life of a person's skin. Though acne is one of the most common skin disorders, most former patients feel no need to display their scars like war wounds from a hard won battle, and once sufferers have achieved the clear skin they have longed for so long, they move swiftly into a new fight - how to remove, or at least lessen, their acne scars.
|
Acne Medications 01/07/09
by: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN
Acne is an annoying skin condition that affects people of every age, gender, and race. Few skin conditions are as bothersome and disturbing as acne. The scientific name for the condition is acne vulgaris because acne usually strikes in plainly visible locations such as the face, neck, chest and back. Acne is an age-old problem that has likely been plaguing people for centuries. But there are numerous treatment methods available for this bothersome condition. Read on to learn more about acne, and the herbal, homeopathic, and traditional medications used to treat it.
What is Acne?
Acne is an inflammation of the skin that can be caused by a number of factors. Contact with an oily substance such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, or petroleum is a common cause of acne, as is the use of certain medication, steroids, on the contraceptive pill. However, acne is most often cause by the secretion of androgens. Androgens are sex hormones that are initially secreted at the onset of puberty. They are male hormones but they are secreted by females as well. Androgens stimulate the production of oil from the skin's oil glands. Acne occurs when these oil glands become overactive and the exit from the gland is blocked, causing the oil to build up in the gland and swell. A bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes normally colonizes this swollen gland causing the development of inflammation and pus. In particularly severe cases, the glands may burst into the skin and produce cysts.
Over ninety percent of acne patients respond to acne medication, although the treatment may need to be continued for months or even years. Here are a few of the common herbal, homeopathic, and traditional medications that can be used to treat acne.
Acne Medications
Herbal Medications: Herbs such as chamomile, lavender, juniper, bergamot, dandelion root, and burdock root can be used to reduce toxicity and improve the overall condition of the skin. Echinacea and poke root are often used for their anti-inflammatory properties and red clover may be beneficial for its estrogenic action. Witch hazel has excellent astringent properties and may be very effective on acne. I recommend the skin rejuvenation program at the www-acne-answers.org website.
Homeopathic Remedies: For patients with pustules and blind boils, especially on the face, neck, and back, may be helped by Kali brom. Taking selenium internally is often used for acne sufferers with oily skin, blackheads, and pustules. And hepar sulph. is typically used for patients who suffer from pustules that are painful and filled with yellow pus.
Nonprescription Medications can be toxic to the skin over a period of time. (Not Recommended for Use).
Benzoyl peroxide is a common acne treatment. It is an exfoliant and therefore helps to remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface. It also prevents bacteria from multiplying on the skin. It may come in gel, cream, or lotion form. And it may also be found in combination with sulphur which is another exfoliation agent. Benzoyl peroxide helps to prevent the development of new blemishes and clear up ones that are already present. It needs to be used on a daily basis and may initially cause itching, redness, and dryness. Skin will slowly show improvement over time with continued usage.
Salicyclic Acid: The chemical is very effective in the treatment of blackheads. It can loosen and soften thick, clogged pores. However, it does little to prevent the development of new blemishes.
Retinoic Acid: This medication may be used alone or in combination with a benzoyl peroxide preparation. Retinoic acid is derived from vitamin A, which is an important nutrient in the maintenance of healthy skin. Vitamin A reduces the blockage of oil glands and is therefore very useful in the treatment of whiteheads and blackheads. It can cause itchiness and redness, especially if the skin is exposed to strong amounts of sunlight. As with benzoyl peroxide, retinoic acid needs to be used for an extended period of time (at least six months) and it may be several weeks before any initial improvement is noticed.
Prescription Medications can be toxic to the skin over a period of time. (Not Recommended for Use).
Tetracycline: This antibiotic is the most popular conventional treatment for acne. It may be used alone or in combination with benzoyl peroxide. Food, antacids, iron supplements, and milk can interfere with the absorption of this antibiotic, so it is important to remember to take it alone. This medication must be taken for a minimum of three months, and it often needs to be continued for even longer. It will take at least two months before any improvement is noticed. Other antibiotics may also be prescribed if tetracycline is not effective. These include: trimetoprim-sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, doxycycline, and erythromycin. Antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in your bowel and can cause your teeth to turn gray.
Oral contraceptives: For women with acne who also need birth control, some doctors will prescribe an oral contraceptive that contains either mestranol or ethinylestradiol. These drugs interfere with the androgen hormone that causes acne.
Therapeutic Injections: In severe cases of acne where cysts form, doctors have had some success with injecting steroids directly into the cyst to resolve them.
Isotretinoin: Like the topical retinoic acid, this medication is a derivative of vitamin A and it works to prevent the blockage of oil glands. Blocking the glands does not fix the problem.
To learn more visit http://www.acne-answers.org.
About The Author
Dr. Group, the founder/CEO and clinical director for the Global Healing Center, heads a research and development team producing advanced, new, natural health protocols and products. To learn more visit http://www.ghchealth.com.
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
