Acne-Treatment-Guru.com » Acne Prevention

Food Facts: Good Digestion Improves Acne Problem

John Dale — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:36:06 +0000

You know, a healthy digestive system can do a lot of good in a lot of ways. However, that is not the ‘point at issue’ (spot quiz: which popular character from Enid Blyton used to say this?). We are talking about how good digestion can improve acne, and the results of my research on this subject have been illuminating.

For a start, you need to know that good digestion means no constipation. Gross? Live with it, because your internal bodily functions (note how delicately I phrase that) have a huge impact on your acne. To crystallize the wealth of information that I’m dying to share with you, one of the keys to the digestive process is the production of hydrochloric acid (HCL), which helps you absorb vital proteins and vitamins, and does battle with various toxins.

Now, if you diet is over-rich in proteins and fats, the production of HCL must increase too, and if that does not happen, constipation is only a short step away. Also, the various digestive enzymes in our system help eliminate toxic elements that may clog skin cells. Therefore, putting them under excessive pressure may not be such a good idea.

If I still need to spell it out, you need to eat only that kind of food that you can easily digest. Across the world, no matter what your nationality or body type, this stands for non-oily, less-spicy food. And if that stands for less tasty too, you obviously haven’t been reading the right cook books!

Benzoyl Peroxide: An Acne Sufferer’s Chief Weapon

John Dale — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:55:11 +0000

Did you know that an acne sufferer’s best friend actually has a celebrated cosmetic link? Gosh, what a clumsy opening line that was. Ok, to make it simple, the credit for establishing benzoyl peroxide as a treatment for acne goes to one Jack Breitbart of Revlon Laboratories, who developed benzoyl peroxide’s use for treating acne in the 1920s. Take a bow, Mr Breitbart.

Today, benzoyl peroxide is a household name in every acne-affected household, I should think. The chemical is usually applied on acne-affected areas in gel or cream form, in concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 10 percent. While on the topic of concentration, there is nothing to show that a 10 percent benzoyl peroxide solution is more effective than a 2.5 percent solution. So the strength in numbers concept is invalid here. In fact, a 2.5 percent solution is usually more bearable.

The application of benzoyl peroxide typically results in a little dryness and occasional irritation, though skin tolerance usually develops in a week. For the uncommonly (and unluckily) sensitive types, burning, itching, peeling and inflammation are likely side effects. In any case, start with the lowest concentration and increase it as required.

From what I have distilled from my vast reading (gloat, gloat), benzoyl peroxide is a peeling agent, really, that clears skin pores and reduces the bacterial count. That means it restricts the harmful effects of acne-causing bacteria as well as unclogs pores that trap dirt and oil within them, and thereby reduces acne.

Nifty little chemical, eh? So the next time you take any treatment for acne at all, make sure benzoyl peroxide is part of it.

Direct Action: Should you use Antibiotics for Acne?

John Dale — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:51:29 +0000

Having used antibiotics for acne myself, I can go on and on about how beneficial they are. Brought up by parents who looked on antibiotics only as a last resort, I had always treated antibiotics with suspicion anyway, but a few years ago, after a friend claimed that her dermatologist had prescribed antibiotics for her severe acne and that the drugs were having a miraculous effect, I decided to try them myself.

Ok, the anti-antibiotics brigade (brilliant coinage!) will probably point to the following extract from an article that appeared in Science Daily: “Antibiotic-resistant propioni bacterium acnes (the bacterium that causes acne) strains were significantly more often isolated from antibiotic-treated than from non-antibiotic-treated patients. When patients with acne are treated with antibiotics, the risk of development of antibiotic resistance should be realized.” Thus spoke Carl Erik Nord, lead investigator of a study conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

That was in 2001, but time is not the factor here. In simple English, what the study found was that using antibiotics to treat acne may actually produce antibiotic-resistant acne-causing strains of bacteria. But that’s true of every antibiotic, and there is nothing to conclusively prove a cause and effect pattern, i.e., nothing shows us that just because you use an antibiotic, you will inevitably get antibiotic-resistant acne.

The most important function of antibiotics is to reduce the number of acne-causing bacteria near the affected hair follicles. Among the common antibiotics used to treat acne are Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Minocycline, and Doxycycline. Among the listed side effects are nausea, upset stomach, dizziness, tooth discoloration, increased risk of sunburn, and intestinal infections, to be brutally honest with you, but these vary from person to person, and I have never experienced them myself.

Bottom line: I really think antibiotics can kill acne, because I’ve used Accutane myself and can vouch for it. Anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to write in.

If You Have Acne-Prone Skin…Look After It

John Dale — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:53:35 +0000

When I was younger, finding a skincare regimen that worked seemed about as possible as describing the sound that purple makes (ok, I filched that from Terry Pratchett). With time, I have found that with a little trial and error and lots of patience, you can actually control acne with your skincare routine. But you need to know that just as every individual is unique, so no two people with acne-prone skin can be assured that their skincare regimen will be the same.

However, there are a few basic steps that, by and large, work for most people. The first, of course, is to cleanse your skin regularly, which means washing at least twice a day. Use a mild cleanser that contains salicylic acid, and never scrub your skin dry – DAB and PAT – because you don’t want to rub off the surface covering of the pores. And once you’re done washing, moisturise your skin with an oil-free moisturizer, of the non-comedogenic variety.

I’m assuming you are already undergoing dermatological treatment for acne, so I skip that part and remind you that when using make up, NEVER use yesterday’s sponges today. Also, keep your towels and bed linen squeaky clean.

Also, just because you need to wash your face, don’t wash, like, 15 times a day or something. I say this because people with acne-prone skin often enter into this competition to see Who Can Wash Her Face Most Times during the Day and then brag about it.

Finally, do not pick at your pimples, no matter how great the temptation. Like I did, work out the mental equivalent of a slap on the wrist every time you try.

10 Tips To Prevent Acne

John Dale — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:53:10 +0000

For acne victims such as I, no amount of helpful tips seem to work because there is always something that can make the acne resurface. Having tried and tested various methods, however, I have come up with my own 10 tips that I have found to be personally helpful. And if these work for you, just remember to tell people where you read them in case someone asks(or you can just bookmark this post):

1. Chant this like a mantra: ‘I will clean my skin twice daily.’ If you want, you can add ‘with mild soap and water’ to the sentence. Do not use harsh soaps, for the love of God, because they worsen your acne and leave ugly scars. There are plenty of mild acne-specific cleansers in the market, so go buy.

2. Particularly for those with oily hair, a daily hair wash can work wonders, because when oily hair comes into contact with your face, you have a classic breeding ground for pimples. And while hair falling all over your eyes can give you a certain look, no one will notice it when you sleep, so pull your hair back at night.

3. Invest in a branded exfoliating cleanser. As I have mentioned elsewhere, such cleansers contain salicylic acid and benzyl peroxide, which remove the outer layer of skin (no harm to you, I swear) and unclog the pores.

4. Do not wear make up. Yeah, yeah, I can hear you going ‘not possible’. Okay, then, but at least make sure that the make up of your choice is water and not oil based.

5. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily. This is essential to flush out the toxins from your system.

6. Avoid sleeping on the same pillowcase more than two days running. You know why, don’t you? Hair…oil…right.

7. Make sure you get proper nutrition. So eat well and eat right. If need be, you can take a multivitamin, under medical prescription, of course.

8. Do not use too many types of pomade; gel, and other oil-based hair care products.

9. Get some exercise every day. Nothing like a brisk walk to keep your blood circulation healthy.

10. LEAVE THAT ZIT ALONE! Do not pick at your pimples, please. In public or in private. It can worsen your acne a thousand times and actually help it spread.

Efficient Acne Treatment For Different Acne Types

John Dale — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:53:10 +0000

Blessed indeed are those who have good skin that is not prone to acne. Acne not only affects teens but can also affect people of all ages. However, for people who suffer from acne, some relief is at hand in the form of acne treatment. Here is a brief look at the various acne treatments available today.

Acne Treatment For Problem Skin

1. Topical Acne Treatments: One of the most convenient ways to control acne is by using topical acne preventing creams and lotions. These are available readily over-the-counter and are economical too. Most topical acne remedies contain one or more of the following substances:

• Sulfur: Whiteheads and blackheads on the face are broken down and eliminated by sulfur. This helps to rid the skin of these pimple-causing agents, thus reducing acne. Sulfur is known to irritate some skin types and should be discontinued if any irritation persists.

• Benzoyl Peroxide: This substance fights the bacteria that are responsible for causing acne. Dead skin that is abundant on the top layer of skin is also removed by benzoyl peroxide. In the absence of dead skin, blackheads and whiteheads do not develop easily, thus reducing acne.

• Salicylic acid: This substance too removes dead skin cells, thereby reducing blackheads and whiteheads and consequently acne.

Topical acne treatment comes in the form of gels, lotions, and creams. Lotions and creams should be used for dry skin, whereas gel based products and alcohol-based solutions should be used for oily skin.

2. Acne Treatment With Antibiotics: Antibiotics are medicines and drugs that are consumed orally to fight acne. Antibiotics reduce the pimple-causing bacteria on your skin; decrease the production of chemicals that make your skin acne prone; and also lower the presence of fatty acids in sebum, thereby controlling severe bouts of acne. Popular antibiotics used for acne treatment are:

•    Erythromycin
•    Tetracycline
•    Doxycycline
•    Clindamycin
•    Minocycline

3. Dermatological Acne Treatment: If acne is extremely severe and cannot be managed by antibiotics and topical treatments, it may be time to see a qualified dermatologist. A skin specialist can offer you different acne treatments such as acne surgery and drainage procedures for acne control. They can even administer injections of corticosteroid, which help to melt acne pustules and cysts, thus reducing acne. Even if you do not have very severe acne but suffer from it regularly, you should consult a dermatologist who will help you to figure out the cause for your particular type of acne and identify the best possible acne treatment for you.

4. Natural Acne Treatment: Various home remedies for acne treatment have proven to be as effective if not more, than medical prescriptions for treating acne. Here are some tried and tested natural acne remedies:

•    Cut a fresh clove of garlic and apply directly on the pimple for quick acne treatment.
•    Grate a piece of cucumber and apply it to acne-affected skin. You should see a marked difference within few days.
•    Dry the peels of few oranges. When completely dry, grind into a powder. Make a paste using the orange peel powder and water/rose water. Apply to acne-affected skin for 15 minutes and rinse well.

Try one or more of the acne treatment mentioned above and stick with what works best for you.

Top 7 Tips For Acne Prevention

John Dale — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:51:26 +0000

People who suffer from acne have only one thing on the top of their minds and that is acne prevention. Living with acne riddled skin is not only very embarrassing, but it can also lower your self esteem considerably and give you a distinct disadvantage in life. Severe bouts of acne can also leave you with permanent acne scars on your face. The only way to prevent this from happening is to stop the pimples from occurring in the first place. These tips on acne prevention will help you to do just that.

How To Prevent Acne

• Keep your skin clean and dirt free at all times. Wash your face twice a day and exfoliate it at least once every week. Use warm water and mild soap for cleaning your face. Ensure that an astringent is part of your acne skin care routine as the astringent helps to control the production of excessive skin oils, which is absolutely essential for acne prevention.

• Pay careful attention to your diet. Recent research has proved that diet can play a vital role in the prevention of acne. Eating too many fatty foods such as cakes, cookies, pizzas etc can cause your acne to worsen. Same goes for foods that have a high sugar content. Instead, you should try and include as many fruits and raw vegetables in your diet as you possibly can. Such foods have high fiber content and help to keep your system clean, which in turn goes a long way towards preventing acne. Also ensure that you drink a minimum of 8-10 glasses of water each day so as to keep your skin well hydrated.

• Wear as little make up as is possible. Also, make sure to choose your cosmetics properly. People with acne prone skin should avoid buying creamy lotions and oil based makeup. Instead, switch to gels and water-based makeup for your skin.

• Take quality acne vitamins everyday. Multi-vitamins that contain vitamin A are especially good for acne prevention and so as chromium supplements.

• Ensure that your bed sheets and pillowcases are clean. People do not realize that hair oils and dirt tend to accumulate on pillow covers and bedspreads, and are then transferred to your skin thereby increasing acne. Thus, remember to change your bed clothing regularly.

• Make exercise a regular part of your daily routine. Your blood circulation increases with exercise and toxins are also eliminated from your body. Not only does this help in acne prevention, but also makes you healthier overall.

• Stress is a major contributing factor for acne. Thus, keep your stress levels down by using stress-busting techniques such as exercise, meditation, deep breathing, positive thinking, etc.

By using these acne prevention tips, you can be well on your way to acne free skin.

Does Drinking Water Help Acne?

nick — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:46:07 +0000

Asian people, especially the Chinese and Japanese believe in the magical power of water and therefore they drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and this is the reason why most Asians are free from acne. The body produces a lot of toxins through out the day and those could be potentially dangerous toxins if not released. When you do not have ample water, the toxins start finding ways to get out of the body through the skin, and this is where you usually end up with acne.
Water is a flushing system for your body. It washes through your system and helps you release the toxins through out the day, thus leaving your skin healthy and glowing. The secret to a fresh, healthy looking skin has always been the consumption of water. When you drink enough water, internal organs get the refreshment to work well. Without water your body will try to work harder than usual and that is where you get a sense of dryness and dehydration; for acne prone people, this is a bad situation.
The regular count of drinking water is either 8 glasses a day, 3 liters a day or half of the bodyweight in ounces a day. This doesn’t mean that you should end up consuming more than needed water as this will make you loose valuable minerals too. As it is a fact that an excess of something is always bad, no matter how good or beneficial that object is.
Drink boiled water up to 7 glasses a day and you will gradually see the acne’s reducing. It is though not at all a magical cure for acne; it is just a path for reducing acne affects. Maintain a fresh diet consisting of vegetables and fruits plus water and you will see that your skin will start to glow. Even people with severe conditions should adapt to this method of drinking water, as it will help remove most of the build up toxins in the body. But make sure that you drink boiled, purified healthy water and not tap water, which itself consists of toxins. Drink well, eat well and live well.

About the Author:
Brian has many years of experience in the field of skin care. He writes for various publications on a variety of topics about home remedies for acne. For more articles on acne and its causes please visit http://www.acnehome.com

Fast Relief: Do over the Counter Acne Treatments Work?

John Dale — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:00:42 +0000

The surprising thing about over the counter acne medications is that most of them work fairly well in mild to moderate cases of acne. So no matter how much you mock and mistrust them, OTC acne treatments ought to receive their due share of credit. The snag, however, lies elsewhere. Given the vast number of acne remedies that can be bought over the counter, you will most likely stop at the local pharmacy to buy one. Worse still, it may be an OTC product that a friend has told you about, or you have seen in a TV commercial.

Unfortunately, this will do little for your acne. It would make far greater sense to consult a dermatologist before buying an over the counter acne medication. Charles, a doctor I know from my days at university, says the worst thing for a doctor is to try and get a self-medicating patient back on track. “The number of wrong decisions people take when self-medicating is killing,” he always says. So don’t think about it.

When you do consult a doctor, you will find that the first thing s/he will recommend is likely to be benzoyl peroxide, the life and soul of any over-the-counter acne treatment. Benzoyl peroxide can be found in various acne gels, lotions, and cleansers and works by killing the bacteria which cause acne. Depending on the severity of your acne, your doctor will prescribe a certain concentration of benzoyl peroxide, so stick to that.