What are the Best Acne Treatments?

The most common home treatment for acne is twice daily application of a benzoyl peroxide solution such as Neutrogena On-The-Spot. This works by killing bacteria, drying up the oil, and causing your skin to peel. It is effective for minor acne (whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples).

Prescription or over-the-counter antibiotics like Stri-dex or Oxywork kill the bacteria which, with oil, causes acne.

For an even more surefire acne treatment, your doctor may suggest chemical skin peeling, removal of scars by dermabrasion or laser, or removal or drainage of cysts.

Synthetic Vitamin A derivatives, or retinoids, are for severe acne, which take the form of redness, nodules and cysts. Retinoids include creams and gels such as Retin-A and isotretinoin pills - Accutane. Accutane is an effective acne treatment in that it works to reduce the size and production of oil glands in the skin. Its effects are unbeatable and last a long time – six months – which is why it is so expensive ($450 per bottle). Pregnant and sexually active women must avoid retinoids, because they cause severe birth defects.

Laser resurfacing is the newest way to remove acne and acne scar tissue, among other uses. It is showing itself to be a very effective means of clearing up acne permanently, and is quickly surpassing dermabrasion in popularity. It works by vaporizing unwanted tissue, clearing the way for new healthy skin cells to grow.

Ways To Avoid Acne

In many cases acne can be avoided. There are lots of ways to avoid acne. Ways to avoid acne include dietary changes, skin care and home treatments.

This article will have information that explores ways to avoid acne.

Ways to avoid acne #1: Use a cleansing diet to get rid of the impurities in your system.
Ways to avoid acne #2: Clean your skin everyday.

Ways to avoid acne #3: Use a benzoyl peroxide lotion to keep blemishes at bay.

Ways to avoid acne #4: Check your cosmetics, foods and other products to make sure you are not having a problem with allergies that can be mistaken for acne.

Ways to avoid acne #5: If you eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet you are less likely to have problems with acne.

Ways to avoid acne #6: Some vitamins will decrease your chances of acne. Check with your doctor to see what she suggests.

Ways to avoid acne #7: Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Water is important for the health of your skin.

Ways to avoid acne #8: Some people feel that cutting down on sugar, flour and caffeine is one of the ways to avoid acne.

Ways to avoid acne #9: If you have small blackheads or pimples do not pop them. This can lead to even more skin problems.

Ways to avoid acne #10: Don’t use greasy lotions and cosmetics as they contain oils that can promote acne.

Ways to avoid acne #11: Try not to take any medications that contain iodides or bromides.

The above information should help you find ways to avoid acne.

Acne Program - Step 8 Vegetables to Eat and Drink

Eating and drinking vegetables is necessary for good health and for keeping your skin free from acne. Most people don't eat enough vegetables and seldom drink their juices. Here is a list of vegetables and their juices that you need to eat and drink daily to help eliminate your acne.

Vegetable juices

Vegetable juices are absorbed quickly into your bloodstream. As a result, your cells are quickly provided with nutrients that feed them and that wash away waste. Vegetable juices give you the opportunity to get quick relief from various body conditions such as acne, skin disorders, and constipation.

Eating and drinking vegetables provide you with minerals and nutrients that build your blood, tissue, bones, and cells. It is minerals that build every part of your body. It is minerals that keep your body's pH at the required level. It is minerals that keep your body alkaline by neutralizing body acids. Concentrate on putting minerals into your body by eating and drinking plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Carrot apple juice

Drink carrot juice every day. I like drinking carrot juice mixed with apple juice. My stomach can handle this combination better.

Carrot juice contains many vitamins and minerals. It is high in beta-carotene. Carrot juice will enhance your skins health and help you eliminate acne.

Carrot, spinach, and apple juice

A combination of carrot, spinach and apple juice is a powerful drink for cleaning the colon, relieving constipation and improving your skin conditions.

To make this drink, juice 3-4 carrots and a bunch of spinach. Then add juiced apples to make this drink more drinkable.

Vegetables

The word phytochemicals is used frequent here. Phytochemicals are all of the chemicals that exist in vegetables and fruits. There are so many phytochemicals that scientists have yet to investigate and learn about all of them.

Here are the vegetables that you should be eating the most of, so you can support the cleansing of your face and eliminating acne.

* Carrots - contain a rich source of vitamin A-like carotenoids. These phytochemicals have been shown to enhance the health of skin and repair it when it is damaged.
* Cabbage - helps to detoxify the body of harmful chemicals from the air and food additives.
* Celery - helps to reduce nervous tension. It contains many minerals that help to neutralize body acid waste and is high in fiber
* Cucumber - helps to reduce acne problems because it is high in silicon and sulfur. It is also a diuretic which helps flow more water through the kidney to clean out your blood
* Broccoli - is rich in beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which is good for the skin
* Garlic - is a natural antibiotic and will help relieve skin bacterial infections
* Green pepper - The nutrients in green peppers are good for liver health and constipation. Its minerals are good for neutralizing acid waste.
* Radishes - help to digest your food. Good digestion is necessary to avoid constipation and to keep the liver and pancreas strongSprouts - provide plenty of vitamins and minerals, which help to reduce body acids
* Watercress - helps to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies at the skin surface. It provides Vitamin A, B1, B2, C, iron, manganese, copper, and calcium.

Acne DO and DON'T

Every little thing counts when it comes to fighting acne and keeping it under control. After all, zits are not that big themselves, they just bug us in a big way. We don't always realize that seemingly insignificant things can help us look better (or worse, depending on what they are), while intentionally following myths, we do more harm than good to the skin.

Here are a few things to consider if you don't want to see those pimples pop up.

DO:

= Clean your face twice a day. Use a cleanser that is designed for your skin type and avoid harsh and irritating products. When cleaning your skin and rinsing it with water (make sure to use plenty!), move from the neck to the hairline - that way you are not likely to spread hair build up over your face, as it can aggravate acne.

= If you work out and sweat, clean your face after you exercise.

= Use a moisturizer for your skin type. Even if your skin is oily, don't ignore this important part of your daily routine. Your skin needs protection. Overdrying your skin will not do any good: on the contrary, the oil glands will start working even harder.

= Choose cosmetics made for your skin type.

= Use products with fruit acids. They help to shed old skin cells and prevent pore clogging. You are not likely to see the results overnight, but be patient and stick to the treatment - you will be pleasantly surprised.

= Protect your skin from wind and harsh environment as they make skin prone to infections.

= Shampoo your hair regularly. Oil glands on your scalp produce the same sebum as those on your face. Add hair care products residues and environmental elements that stick to your hair - and you have a super-effective acne causing solution.

= Drink lots of water to clean your body of toxins and keep your skin hydrated from the inside.

= Take vitamins and eat a healthy diet. People who suffer from acne often don't get enough vitamin A in their diets (you may want to consult your doctor about that since large doses of vitamin A can be toxic). Zinc supplements are known to fight acne outbreaks. Healthy eating is good for all parts of your body. While diet changes alone won't spare you of acne, they will help your skin look better.

= See a doctor if your acne is severe.

DON'T:

= Don't use drying cleansers and harsh scrubs. They destroy the protective barrier and alter skin pH, making skin vulnerable and prone to infections. Astringents should be used on oily areas only.

= Don't squeeze zits. This is the worst thing to do, and for many the hardest to avoid. Still, if you don't want to aggravate the condition, don't pick on your pimples. You can, however, drain them with a sterilized needle once they are mature.

= Don't scratch or rub your skin. Sometimes rubbing can cause zits on otherwise clear complexion. You may want to experiment if you are brave enough, otherwise try to keep your hands off your face and avoid wearing hats, helmets or bands that may cause unpleasant surprises.

= Don't tan. Even though tan will mask the blemishes, the effect is temporary. Excessive sun exposure can aggravate acne. Many over-the-counter and prescription acne products make your skin sensitive to sun. In addition to causing skin dehydration and premature aging, UV rays destroy cells responsible for skin's immunology

Acne Control the Natural Way

Want to get rid of those zits in your face but you are currently low on budget? How about looking for acne control to avoid the sudden appearance of acne in your skin? So how do we do this?

First, what is acne? Acne is a skin disorder caused by the hormones action on the oil glands of the skin which is called the sebaceous glands. The excretion of oils from this glands can lead to congested skin pores. This is when acne occurs. The face, neck, chest, back and shoulders is where the glands are most profuse, that is why most acne are found on this locations. People who are with this kind of disorder often tends to be depressed, and humiliated.

There are a lot of factors that can generate acne to transpire. First is our Genes. Genetics can't be changed but other factors like our daily routine and the way we take care of our skin can be improved to make acne control no problem at all. Don't feel so sad about your acne because there's lots of things you can do. This acne control tips will help you say bye-bye to those zits.

1. Include Fruits and Vegetables in your daily Diet. A healthy diet consists of at least four to five servings of fruits and vegetables. Acne control will be a lot easier if you start including this in your daily habit.

2. Rose water can be used as a facial cleanser. Dipped in a cotton, clean your face using this everyday for at least two to three times each day.

3. Don't wait for your pimples to form. If you see a bit of it in your face, do something. Acne control is best done early. Pat some ice on the affected area for this will make it less swollen.

4. Acne control is easier when accompanied with multivitamins. Start taking vitamins that contains zinc supplement. Zinc helps in making your skin stronger and acne resistant.

5. Cucumber can help in acne control. Blend it with some water to form a mask. Put it in your face and leave it for about half an hour before rinsing it off. This is a good and affordable acne control remedy that can also refresh your skin.

6. Use only mild soaps and avoid soaps that contains petroleum based products and animal based ingredient for this causes your skin to get dry and irritated.

7. Using alcohol free facial cleansers makes Acne control trouble-free. Alcohol tends to dry your skin more.

8. Makeup also prompt the occurrence of acne. Choose your makeup wisely. Most of the makeup available contains petroleum based ingredients that makes skin dry. An all natural makeup helps acne control become more effortless.

9. Lastly, Drinking loads of water is very important. It flushes out the dirt in our body, Making acne control more natural.

Acne and Green Tea

Green tea is used by the Chinese as a traditional medicine to treat many ailments including acne and to improve general well-being. But does it provide an effective herbal alternative to modern medication?

The answer seems to be ‘Yes’. There are only two herbal treatments that are known to be effective in treating acne and green tea is one of them.

In a recent study by Jennifer Gan-Wong, M.D. a green tea cream was trailed against a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution on people suffering with moderate to severe acne. The results from this research study showed that green tea was just as good in treating acne as the benzoyl peroxide.

But benzoyl peroxide dries out skin causing itching or allergic reactions. Unlike green tea that has the added advantages of natural anti-bacterial properties and antioxidants, particularly epigallocatechin gallate which is 200 times more powerful than vitamin E at fighting free radicals.

Green tea also helps to reduce inflammation, hormonal activity and aids in detoxification - which is all good news for acne sufferers.

Green tea extract is an extremely versatile herbal supplement - it can be administered topically, often being used in creams, taken as a in the form of a pill or incorporated into your diet and drunk as a tea.

This last method is very popular (Green Tea with Honeysuckle is often known as ‘Pimple Tea’ in many Chinatowns) when drunk after a meal it aids digestion and helps to detoxify your system, getting rid of the toxins that can cause acne. Tip: don’t drink it with sugar, this will neutralize the worthwhile effects of the tea.

It seems that taking green tea for acne is a win-win situation… It has many beneficial properties which promote good all-round health with little or no known side effects and for the price, green tea it’s definitely a herbal treatment that’s worth trying.

An acne herbal hand and footbath

Now, you can do either a footbath or a hand bath. Once you prepare a container with hot water you can put your feet or hands into it and get the same results. If you already have foot spa, thank your mother, sister, or whoever bought it because you’re in for a treat. If you don’t, with $20 or $30 you can get one just like I did. When you use a heated footbath, veins in your feet start to expand. Over a period of 15-20 minute, the warm water affects your entire vascular (blood) system and you get improved blood circulation. By adding an herbal infusion into the hot water in the footbath, minerals and other phytochemicals from the herbs enter the soles of your feet and into your blood stream. This means that you can introduce herbal phytochemicals into your blood stream using the footbath. During your footbath, these herbal chemicals quickly circulated throughout your body and get to work neutralizing acid, killing bacteria, and improving your skin circulation. Here is an herbal combination you can use. This herbal combination was taken and modified slightly from a book written by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., called The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, 1986. Mowrey says, “This (herbal) blend attacks external skin disorders from within, purifying the blood, carrying away waste, reinforcing the blood’s ability to ward off infectious agents.” The herbal combination to use is, * Dandelion root – purifies blood and improves liver function * Yellow dock root – purifies blood, helps liver, is anti-bacterial * Saraparilla root – has antibiotic action, promotes waste elimination through urine and sweating * Echinacea – increases immunity and promotes skin healing * Licorice – protects the liver so that it can detoxify the blood better * Kelp – provide minerals and vitamins and binds heavy metal that are bad for health * Chaparral – is anti-microbial making effective against acne. * Fresh Garlic – cut up a few cubes of garlic and place them into the hot water. Garlic is has antibacterial properties. Buy one ounce of each herb and mix them. Here’s how to do the herbal footbath, * Place 2-3 tablespoons of herbal mix into 1 ½ cups of water * Boil the water with herbs – use only a glass, porcelain, or stainless steel container * After water starts to boil, pull the container off the stove * Let tea sit for 15-30 minutes. The longer the tea sits the stronger the tea and its effects * Prepare your foot spa with water * Strain the tea to remove leaves and roots * Poor tea and cut garlic into the foot spa * Place your feet or hands in the hot water for 15 – 30 minutes. I have been using a foot spa for many different conditions for my family and myself. I really like using the footbath. It is a convenient way to by pass your digestive system and get more nutrients into your body

Acne Treatment Tips

Acne is a broad term which includes blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads. Acne can strike at any age. Effective acne treatments are sometimes difficult to find, and understanding acne and prevention can be frustrating. Here are some acne treatment tips that have worked for many.

Although acne isn’t life threatening it can be uncomfortable and hard on your ego. There has always been a debate about the actual cause of acne. The actual cause isn’t as important as finding a cure.

So is there a cure for acne. Well yes and no. There are many products available and for some they are a cure, for others they do not help. A cure is only a cure when you find a product that works for you.

Most acne treatments will take time to work. It usually takes around 8 weeks before you see any significant improvement so you are going to have to be patient. Once you’ve got your acne cleared up it’s important to continue with the treatment that’s working so it does not return.

If you have serious acne it is best to consult a dermatologist. However in milder cases you will often be able to get it under control by yourself just by preservering. Try these tips to conquer your acne.

Exercise
Regular exercise helps keep your whole body in shape. It builds your immune system and helps eliminate toxins from the body. It’s a great start to fighting acne.

Diet
You need to eat at least 5 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each day. Fresh fruit and vegetables are full of nutrients that your body needs. They boost the immune system and are good antioxidants. They can work towards helping you get rid of the acne. Try to avoid refined sugars and fatty foods which have are not good for you or your skin. You also need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to flush your system of toxins.

Cosmetics
Choose cosmetics that are water based and hypo-allergenic. Avoid oil free products, coal tar derivatives, and heavy creams. Make sure you wash your skin thoroughly every night to remove makeup residue.

Hormones
Hormones can play a role in acne flare ups and they can be used to reduce outbreaks. Your doctor may decide to use HRT to eliminate or reduce your acne outbreaks.

Clean Skin
You need to avoid harsh scrubbing of your face but you also need to thoroughly clean your skin nightly. Use a mild cleaning regime every night. Once or twice a week you should also use an exfoliator to gently remove damaged skin and unplug pores.

Shaving
Is actually a great exfoliating treatment the removes dead skin. However you should never shave an area that is infected or inflamed. Always use a shaving cream if your skin is sensitive.

Stress
Can be a contributing factor to acne so try to relax and unwind. Emotions trigger chemical reactions in the body which can cause an outbreak.

You can help control your acne outbreaks by following these simple steps. What are you waiting for?