Posts Tagged Acne Skin Care

Acne Light Treatment – an Acne Cure

Acne light treatment is rapidly becoming a popular acne remedy because it is a fairly easy and a drug-free way to help heal blemishes. As you know, many topical medications contain strong ingredients that damage sensitive skin, resulting in peeling, redness, and increased sun sensitivity. Ouch ! But, Blue light (not the beer, if you are a Canadian) therapy is widely regarded as an excellent alternative to most acne medications. Some individuals have expressed concern over the safety of this procedure, becuase this procedure used to use ultraviolet (UV) light that was harmful to the skin. Fortunately, modern Clearlight treatments have been FDA approved and free of UV dangers.

The FDA approved blue light therapy for acne in August of 2002. In studies, two 15-minute exposures a week for a period of four weeks produced a 60 percent reduction in acne in 80 percent of patients. Reported remissions from acne lasted as long as three to eight months. The first approved system of treatment, ClearLight, is now available through dermatologists. This method involves a new therapeutic blue or red light that uses what is called Acne PhotoClearingTM – APCTM technology. It targets and destroys the surface of the acne and quickly and easily repairs it. It is also known to be effective in clearing inflamed acne in one month.

So how does blue light therapy work?

Basically, patients are exposed to a low intensity blue light source (405 nm to 420 nm) for 15 minutes twice per week for 4 weeks. Each session costs between $50 and $150, making a full course of treatment an average of $800. But, wouldn’t you know it, acne light treatment is considered cosmetic and is therefore not covered by insurance.

Another form of acne light therapy that is used more and more is known as pulsed light and heat energy (LHE) therapy.

LHE therapy uses both light and heat to eradicate the root causes of acne. Very much like blue light therapy, LHE therapy uses light to destroy acne-causing bacteria. It also uses heat to reduce the production of sebum and to help shrink sebaceous glands. It is an attractive option for many acne sufferers because it promises fast results. Usually, improvement in the symptoms of acne can be seen in as little as 30 days. Not surprisingly, this is becoming popular because it is a fast treatment, with most sessions done in just over 10 minutes. The FDA has approved LHE therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate acne.

While different kinds of light therapies may seem attractive, they can also be expensive, and may not be covered by most health insurance plans. If you are looking for an answer that is milder and less expensive, consider the many herbal therapies that are available. Some acne sufferers swear by certain herbal supplements, including black currant seed oil, evening primrose oil and others. Follow the instructions on the bottle or ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice. Also, never take any herbal medication if you are taking prescription drugs as their could be side effects. Consult with your Pharmacist or Doctor first.

Visit a skin specialist or dermatologist for more information on acne light treatments.

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Is There an Acne Cure Diet That Works?

Acne Diet and The Money Factor: You Can’t Sell a Healthy Diet

Ask any medical doctor if there is a connection between diet and acne and almost all of them will claim there is no connection. Quoting from the Journal of the American Medical Association:

“Diet plays no role in acne treatment in most patientseven large amounts of certain foods have not clinically exacerbated acne”.

With years of medical education and clinical experience behind these claims, how can we the simple folks who suffer from acne challenge these statements and think otherwise? The answer is: doubt. Doubt, if its stays in the borders of reason, can open many doors otherwise will stay forever shut. Believe it or not, doubt can change reality. Doubt can cure your acne and doubt can even save your life.

Fact is, countless of acne sufferers have reported that their acne seemed to get worse when they consumed certain foods and saw dramatic positive change over their acne condition when they eliminated the same foods from their diet and when certain foods with specific nutritional value were incorporated into their diet.

So why do dermatologists so stubbornly insist that diet does not cause acne? The answer: you can’t make as much money as you could make by selling drugs and over the counters. There is a huge pressure upon doctors coming from the drug and pharmaceutical companies to prescribe expensive medications and lotions that create dependency. The truth is, that your doctor is in a way, a hostage by the trillion dollar drug companies. Did you know that the drug companies, who have no interest in producing something that they cannot control financially, sponsor most medical schools?

The right diet, although not a solution by itself, can, in many cases, dramatically reduce inflammation and even completely clear one’s acne (if you’re one of the lucky ones who’s acne is triggered by allergic response to food). There are less profits for the drug and pharmaceutical companies when promoting a clear skin diet.

The truth is that conventional medications will never cure your acne, simply because they are pre-designed NOT to fix the internal cause of acne. They are pre-designed to deal with the external symptoms of a disease as they create more and more dependency and more dependency means making more money all at our expense and ignorance.

The Theory That Diet Doesn’t Cause Acne Is A Myth

The dogmatic theory that diet does not cause acne and that acne is merely an incurable genetic disorder was based upon two dated researches published in 1969 and 1971 that were aimed at studying the connection between diet and acne.

These studies were the foundation of the ‘acne symptoms treatment strategy’, meaning, because acne is a genetic disease that cannot be prevented, the only way to deal with acne would be to tackle its symptoms (bacteria, inflammation, puss, redness, greasiness), by applying creams, antibiotics, taking prescription drugs and over the counters.

Surprisingly enough, years after the above studies were published, clinical trials and in depth researches experimenting the acne diet link have found that the studies from 1969 and 1971 had came to the wrong conclusions and were in fact seriously flawed.

Recent studies have clearly found a significant connection between diet and acne. It appears that the wrong diet is now thought to be one of the leading acne contributing factors that can negatively affect hormonal regulation and the natural process of toxic elimination, which can seriously aggravate one’s existing acne.

Diet Shapes Who You Are (Including Your Acne)

In the same way that crashing waves shape beach cliffs and just like the wind shapes the canyon walls, slowly and methodically over time, so does eating shapes and effects our physic, our internal system, our physical and mental being, from the organ down to the cellular level.

The idea that an object foreign to our body that is inserted by the food that we eat, has no effect on us, or has no impact on chronic conditions such as acne is absurd. Diet is the primary thing that affects and shapes who we are.

Diet has cumulative effect on our bodies, and that includes our skin condition and acne, which is a manifestation of a chronic internal problem slowly shaped and built by the wrong daily dietary choices over the years.

Acne Diet and The Kitavan Islanders

While in the U.S, more than 80% of teenagers between 16 and 18 have acne and more than 17 million Americans suffer from some form of acne, there is an interesting evidence that native people that live and eat in traditional ways, have significantly lower to no occurrences of acne.

In 2002, Dr. Cordain and his colleagues published a landmark study that examined 300 people living in the Kitavan Islands off the coast of Papua New Guinea that showed that none of the islanders had even one blemish on his or her face. Similar to the Kitavans, no case of acne had been observed when the same experiment had been conducted upon the South American Indians called the Ache, living in a remote jungle in eastern Paraguay.

The natives of Kitavan and the South American Indians had no access to the latest over the counters, topical creams or conventional acne medications and they had no dermatologist to consult with. The only vast difference between them and American or European citizens is their diet.

Acne Diet and Sugar: The Sweet Poison

Did you know that sugar is a 100% pure chemical with zero nutritional value? Recent studies have clearly shown a connection between the consumption of sugar and the aggravation of acne.

When you consume any form of refined carbohydrates (white sugar, white flour, white rice) here’s what happens: right after you insert that ’sweet poison’ into your body, it rapidly spikes up your blood sugar levels. Your body needs to bring those levels down so it secrets a surge of insulin, other male hormones and an insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1. The excretion of these hormones overwhelms your liver and your internal system in general. The excess of male hormones encourages the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum oil: The greasy substance that encourages the p.acne bacteria to grow, resulting in the aggravation of your acne.

Acne Diet and Dairy Products: Got Milk? Got Acne

Milk (all dairy products included) is the most harmful, mucus forming, allergenic and acne aggravating food you can find. If you thought sugar can aggravate your acne, here’s another major nutritional player in the formation of acne: behold the miracles of milk. Surprised? I thought so. After years of constant brainwashing by the media, who can blame us for thinking milk is good for strong bones and healthy teeth? The truth is: every sip of milk contains 59 different raging hormones, (which trigger the hyper-production of sebum oil resulting in more acne), saturated animal fat, steroid hormones, dead white blood cells, and cow pus in abundance!

Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows 750 million pus cells in every liter of milk (about two pounds) produced in America? Think about it, the next time you pop a pimple.

Scientific studies already point the finger at milk as one of the worst acne aggravating foods: “As pointed out by Dr. Jerome Fisher, ‘About 80 percent of cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are throwing off hormones continuously.’ Progesterone breaks down into androgens, which have been implicated as a factor in the development of acne…Dr. Fisher observed that his teenage acne patients improved as soon as the milk drinking stopped.”

If there’s one element you should remove from your diet in the quest for clear skin make it this one. Not only will you see an immediate improvement over your acne, you’ll feel a huge weight has been lifted from your body. If you worry about calcium intake, don’t! Milk being acidic forming food creates a leeching effect where calcium is taken from your bones to balance the acidity. Milk actually deprives your body from its calcium resources. Green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds are not only excellent sources of calcium they also have the powers to help you fight your acne symptoms.

Diet Is Only One of The Factors That Cause Acne

Dairy products and sugar are not the only acne aggravating foods. The two above cannot sum up the list of western made acne triggering foods. There are several other foods you should clearly stay away from if you ever wish to clear your acne. The good new is that there are tons of other foods such as essential fatty acids that are not only excellent for your skin, they can actually help you clear your acne, by re-balancing your body and promoting to an acne-free environment.

The right nutrition plays an important part in the complex process of acne formation. When doctors claim there is no link between diet and acne because certain individuals can eat specific foods and get acne while others eat the same foods and don’t, these doctors have failed to realize that there are several factors involved in the formation and aggravation of acne and diet is only ONE of them.

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Acne Cures – 3 Products You Must Have to Control and Eliminate Acne on Face, Back, and Chest

Acne cures come a dime a dozen these days. Everyone has their own idea of what works, what doesn’t, what product you should buy, what foods you should eat.

There’s some validity to lots of claims, but in my experience, lots of acne cures aren’t helpful at all. Some have even made my condition worse.

But there’s hope! There are some acne helps that stay the same no matter how many new ideas make their way to the marketplace. Here are three acne solutions that can help you find the one that’s right for you.

1. Benzoyl Peroxide: This has worked for me in some form or another for a long time. In fact, it’s one of the most recommended products for most acne sufferers. Benzoyl peroxide can come in 2%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% strengths. More are probably available, but these are the most popular. In the beginning, the one that worked best for me was the 10% kind, and I still recommend it for heavy acne. However, I’ve worked down to a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide solution.

2. Head and Shoulders Shampoo with Pyrithione Zinc: The kind of shampoo you use often dictates how much acne you will suffer from. Much of this is due to harsh chemicals found in fancy shampoo fragrances. Even if you don’t suffer from dandruff, your skin can benefit from the zinc in the shampoo, as this is a bacterial killer that can help control your acne.

3. Salicylic Acid: Although you shouldn’t use salicylic acid on your face (at least not in high amounts), it is great for your chest and back. There are sprays available at places such as Clinique that both girls and guys can use to control body acne. It’s usually not too high-priced, and it lasts a long time.

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Acne Scar Treatments – Three Acne Scar Treatments That Will Resurface and Improve Your Skin For Good

There are three popular acne scar treatments you should know about if you suffer from acne scars. They are not necessarily inexpensive treatments, but they are effective, depending on how severe your scars are.

1. Microdermabrasion: This is the least expensive of the three treatments. Microdermabrasion is available at most dermatology clinics, and is good for resurfacing your skin and helping to get rid of existing acne. It’s really only recommended for mild acne scars, as it’s not a deep-down treatment by any means. You can expect to pay around $80 per treatment of microdermabrasion.

2. Dermabrasion: This treatment is more expensive than microdermabrasion and can be very painful. If you need dermabrasion, chances are your scars are quite severe. I would not recommend this treatment for only mild scars. The scary thing about dermabrasion is that your skin can actually bleed after the treatment, and it is very painful to undergo. Choose this option only if you have deep pockmarks that the doctor or dermatologists believes will be improved with dermabrasion. You can expect to pay over $100 for a dermabrasion treatment.

3. Laser treatment: Many people equate the feeling of laser treatment to the snap of a rubber band hitting your face multiple times. It is less painful than dermabrasion, and doesn’t typically lead to bleeding after treatment. This acne scar treatment generally costs around $300 per visit, and can help mild to severe scars, although it won’t take them away completely.

Last, but not least, if you are trying to get rid of acne scars and prevent more from showing up, you can’t do it without the help of a three-day acne diet.

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Top 5 Natural Acne Cures – Homemade Acne Treatments That Will Work Wonders For You

There are several cosmetics and products in the market that are made of several chemicals, which is exactly why they must be excluded from treating acne. In order to fight acne, in today’s world, it is better sticking to the Natural products or remedies, which are comparatively less harsh on the skin. We can find many of such natural remedies everywhere around us, which makes it equally difficult for anyone to choose the best amongst them all. Discussed below are the top 5 natural cures for acne.

The first in the league is the Olive leaf extract method. It is a very ancient natural method of treating acne. It is a 2,000 year old technique and it descended from ancient Greece. We all know that olive leaves is of several uses. It can be used to cure fever, cough, infections and other diseases. Hence, it is the best homemade remedy for acne and other skin related diseases.

The next method is known as Tea tree oil method. The oil contained in tea plants is called Melaleuca oil, which is gold in color. The application of tea tree oil in curing acne is gaining a lot of popularity these days. The tea tree oil helps in the removal of skin defects and faults. It also replenishes the overall skin texture and controls the growth of new acne. This method is tested and proven to be a major contender against all the other products that are available in the market today.

Licorice root extract is another renowned natural remedy. These roots and extracts have immense medicinal value and have in use for the past 1,000 years. These roots are very helpful in reducing stomach pains and curing fevers, whilst the licorice extract is used to cure acne and plummeting inflammations.

Green tea extract is a world famous, effective home remedy for acne. It safeguards the skin from the irritating sensation and also prevents any infections from the acne-causing bacteria. It also eliminates dead skin cells, which wanes acne and gives a flawless skin.

Finally, Aloe Vera extract is the last in the league of the top 5 best home remedies. Aloe Vera is readily available and acts very well against acne. It has a very special content that actually drives the immune system, which helps the skin to become healthy and fights all sorts of skin imperfections, defects and breakouts. It also heals scar tissues at a very fast pace.

These five homemade techniques are best substitutes to all the other acne products. Make sure you take utmost care in selecting and performing the medication. Have enough knowledge about acne and the various available treatments to make the right choice for the best natural acne cure.

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3 Lifestyle Changes You Need to Make to Find an Acne Cure – Read Now, Before It’s Too Late!

Trying to find an acne cure can be a daunting and frustrating task for any teen or adult suffering from acne. Too many products on the market today promise to clear up your face, back, and chest with ingredients that can be harmful to your skin and often prove ineffective.

It is important to note that there is no such thing as an acne cure. I don’t want to be the one to burst your bubble, but acne is not a disease that can be cured; it can merely be treated or controlled. However, there are certain methods and lifestyle changes you can make, both in the way you wash your face and in the way you eat, that can work effectively in treating your acne like a magical acne cure.

Here are three simple lifestyle changes you can implement into your daily life that will help you control your acne:

1. Cleanse, but do not over cleanse: If you’re suffering from acne, one of the most dangerous things you can do to your face is to cleanse it too much. When you cleanse your face, you are washing away oils your body needs, as well as the excess ones it doesn’t need. When you cleanse your face with abrasive materials, or when you cleanse it too often, you will find yourself getting even MORE pimples and breakouts. Why? Because your pores are going into overdrive to replace the oils your face desperately needs to stay normally moisturized.

So how often should you cleanse your face? Most dermatologists recommend you cleanse your face no more than twice a day, usually once in the morning and once at night before going to bed. If you just have a few breakouts, but don’t normally get acne, you can simply cleanse with a gentle bar soap, such as Dove. If you have recurring acne, you should think about looking into an inexpensive acne care system. Personally, I use Proactive, but I’ve also used Clinique’s facial soap and have seen results as well.

2. Pay attention to what touches your face: Take special note of where your acne occurs on your face. Is it all over; is it on your cheeks, in your T-zone, or just on your forehead? Certain habits you might have often dictate where your acne pops up. For instance, if you find yourself leaning your chin on your hands at your desk at work or school, chances are that you’ll suffer from acne on your chin. If you wear a baseball cap every day, you’ll likely get a lot of acne on your forehead.

If this is the case, start making an effort to stop doing these things, at least until your acne subsides. Start wearing your hat only a couple times a week, instead of every day. If you have bangs, take care that you don’t use scented hairspray or use heavily perfumed shampoo to wash your hair. Simple changes such as these can help stop your skin from getting irritated, thus relieving some of your acne problem.

3. Change your diet just a little: You’ve probably heard doctors tell you on TV that you shouldn’t eat chocolate, French fries, and deep fried or caffeinated foods if you’re looking for acne cure. While there is some justification for this, cutting out all bad foods won’t completely give you an acne cure. However, you should keep an eye on your diet and regulate your daily intake of these nasties. Don’t drink too much pop (”too much” means you shouldn’t even be drinking one can per day), and watch it on the fast food, boxed Little Debbie treats, and chocolate milkshakes. What you eat really does affect your skin, and when you overeat unhealthy food, acne will be just one of the diseases you’ll suffer.

Making these simple changes in your lifestyle could mean the difference between a clear face and one that needs an acne cure. By following these guidelines, you will be well on your way to improving the look of your skin and ridding yourself of painful, embarrassing acne.

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Overview of Acne Cures

Eighty percent of the people suffered from some form of acne in their life, People between the ages of 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks at some point. Close to 100% of people between the ages of twelve and seventeen have at least an occasional whitehead, blackhead or pimple, regardless of race and ethnicity. More than 40% of adolescents have acne severe enough to require some treatment. In most cases, acne starts between the ages of ten and thirteen and usually lasts for five to ten years. Acne normally goes away on its own sometime in the early twenties but, acne can persist into the late twenties or thirties even beyond. Some people get acne for the first time as adults. Acne lesions are most common on the face, the neck, chest, back,shoulders and upper arms and legs. Acne affects young men and women about equally. Americans spend over a hundred million dollars a year only for over-the-counter acne treatments. Acne is the most commonly diagnosed skin disorder in the United States. CAUSES OF ACNE AND ACNE MYTHS Acne treatments are developed every day, but a cure for acne has not yet been discovered. No one knows exactly what causes acne. Hormones stimulating the sebaceous or oil glands of the pores by dead skin cells, bacteria living in the pores breaking down the oil and causing inflammation probably play a role. Another factor could be genetics, family history with acne. If other people in your family had acne, you may be more likely to develop it too. There are many myths about what causes acne. Contrary to what you may have heard, acne is not caused by dirty skin .According to studies conducted at Stanford University, washing the face once or four times daily did not change the condition of acne. Also, based on the finding of those studies,, regular exercise can be encouraged for patients with acne. There is no evidence that stress causes acne, but it can make it worse. The Stanford survey also found that poor diet and decreased sleep can negatively affect acne and that drinking more water could improve the quality of the skin. ACNE IS CURABLE AND TREATABLE Having acne isn’t a pleasant experience. Are there any ways to get rid of acne naturally that actually work? In fact, using natural products can be a quick and easy way to reduce your acne or even eliminate it altogether. Eating a balanced diet always make sense. Nutritious foods can help keep you healthy, and your skin will benefit from getting enough vitamins and minerals. Acne, eczema, dry skin can be healed through healthful foods and supplements. Vitamins A, B, C, E and zinc are all necessary for healthy skin. Excessive amounts of processed. fatty and fried foods, fatty red meat . junk foods and sugar contribute to acne. It is important here to mention that acne could indicate an acidic condition in the blood. If this acid is flushed from the system, the skin will start looking and feeling better. A diet rich in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, healthy oils and grains along with more water intake could reduce acne outbreaks. Best is to filter your water and it is as pure as bottled water. Start by increasing the amount of water you drink. This will help to detoxify your body. With the state of tap water nowadays, it’s probably best to filter your water. This is cheaper than buying bottled water and it is at least as pure. Jug style water filters are easy to use and many are designed to be kept in your fridge so that your drink is cool as well. Water helps rehydrate your body, which is around 50 to 60 percent water depending on your age. Water also helps flush away the different toxins that accumulate in your body and helps your body to naturally carry out detoxification. Next up, start taking flax seed oil on a regular basis. Although it’s not technically an acne cure, it helps heal your skin and many people have reported having less acne symptoms once they’ve started adding flax seed oil to their regime. It’s also a great natural moisturizer. Don’t pick at your acne! This is easier said than done, but resisting the temptation to pop your pimples as much as possible is a good move in order to avoid scarring and spread the infection. There are many natural supplements that can help you out . Those natural remedies are enhanced with selected herbs and nutrients including multi-vitamin with vitamin A and Zinc. Those homeopathic Acne formula can heal existing pimples and prevent the emergence of new pimples. Take action now in order to control, prevent and enhance your skin. Gilles Coulombe B.A. B.LL D.S.A. For more information, go to My Site

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Using an Acne Forum to Find the Best Acne Cure

If you suffer from various acne problems you are sure to look for the right treatment option to treat your acne. In addition to acne treating products, there are also many forums on the internet that prove effective in helping you cure acne.

There are many forums on the internet, which you have to browse through to find the best forum. However remember that when browsing, you are sure to find some negative opinions on certain matters.

This is because an option that worked for one person will not work effectively for another person. There are also some people on the forums, trying to sell their miracle cure either as their own product or as an affiliate marketer.

Basically, acne stems from various conditions and issues. You may find that poor diet, a change in the environment, stress and even mild allergic reactions can induce an acne attack.

So when you go looking for the right acne cure forum, it is better to use the forum where there are people suffering from problems that are similar to yours. This is because you will be able to discuss similar conditions and problems that you all are going through because of acne.

You also have to understand all information that is propagated through the acne forum. This is to ensure that you don’t try out solutions that will only worsen your problem. Like there are some astringent face creams which cause problems on skin that is more than raw.

Also ensure that the free acne cure forum has an environment that you are comfortable in. this is where you have to state your symptoms, your experiences in your worst outbreaks, problems you have undergone and all the treatment options you have tried.

Remember that many a time, meeting other people and discussing your problems work at getting rid of your problems. The same point is implemented in acne cure forums where you discuss your problems to reach the best solution to treat and cure it.

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