Acne - Causes, Symptoms And Treatments

Acne is a common skin problem for most teens and many adults. Acne occurs when the skin's follicles become blocked with sebum and dead skin cells. The overproduction of sebum in the skin provides an environment ready for the bacterial overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria. This overgrowth of bacteria causes inflammation, leading to inflamed lesions. Acne lesions range in severity from blackheads (open comedo) and whiteheads (closed comedo) to pustules, papules and cysts. Acne generally appears on the face, chest and shoulders, but may also occur on the back, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Why some people get acne and some don't is not fully known. Factors that are known to be linked to the occurrence of acne are: hormonal activity (puberty, pregnancy), family history, hyperactive sebaceous glands, stress, low skin exfoliation leading to the accumulation of dead skin cells, anything that activates skin inflammation like scratching, bacteria on the skin and the body becoming allergic to this bacteria and use of anabolic steroids.

There are many myths about what causes acne. A common myth is that acne is a result of dirty skin. However, pimples and blackheads are not caused by dirt. Acne is caused by a combination of over-production of skin oil, excess dead skin cells and bacteria. A blackhead is dark in color because it is open to the air and oxidation causes the color change. Respectively, a whitehead is closed to the air and therefore has not noticeable color.

The myth of whether certain foods cause acne is still being debated. Science has not come up with any clear cut answers; however many people will find a connection between the foods they eat and breakouts. Trying to figure out what foods cause acne to become worse is tough, because the outcome of eating a certain food and resulting acne will vary greatly among people. What food causes acne to become worse in one person will not affect another. So what this comes down to is avoiding some of the generally bad foods for your body and putting in more healthy food. So avoid sugary and fatty foods, foods rich in iodine and dairy foods. Add more fruits, vegetables, green tea and meats that contain good essential fats to your diet.

So what can you use to treat your acne? While there is no real cure for acne, managing all the triggering factors is key to keeping acne under control. Those triggers include dead skin cells not exfoliating, excess sebum, P acnes bacteria, and inflammation. Also, the treatments used depend on the severity of the acne.

The first important trigger to control is the bacteria on your skin. Control the harmful bacteria and infections are less likely to start that result in pimples. To control bacteria, use a topical bactericidal agent like Benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is very effective against P acnes bacteria for many people. Also most tests show that p. acnes do not become resistant to benzoyl peroxide, so if it works for you, it should continue working. Other topical anti-bacterials that can be tried include: tea tree oil for a natural solution, colloidal silver, triclosan, and chlorhexisine gluconate.

Topical antibiotics can be used to control skin bacteria in a more targeted way. Topical antibiotics also usually cause less damage and inflammation to the skin sometimes making them a better choice for people with more sensitive skin. Topical antibiotics are usually as effectual as antibiotics taken orally with fewer side effects. Topical antibiotics include: erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin.

Oral antibiotics are effective and good to use when acne is affecting a large part of the body. They can help to get the bacteria under control and then allow topical treatments to take over. Oral antibiotics are easy to use but can have side effects such as colitis, diarrhea, dysbacteriosis. Moreover, long term oral antibiotic treatment is not practical as a bacterial resistance may develop. Oral antibiotics include: erythromycin and tetracycline.

Next, you need to control the production of sebum. Products that control sebum production include topical retinoids such as tretinoin (Retin-A), tazarotene (Tazorac), and adapalen (Differin), and oral retinoinds such as Isotretinoin (Accutane). Both types of Retinoids improve acne by decreasing oil production and altering the lifecycle of epithelial skin cells. Topical retinoids can increase breakouts during the first weeks of treatment and also cause dryness, irritation and sensitivity to sunlight. Oral retinoids are usually used as a last resort because of their side effects.

To keep the follicles and pores from becoming blocked with the oil, dead skin cells and bacteria; exfoliation can help. Salicylic acid is commonly used in acne products and it works as a skin exfoliator. Other AHA's and BHA can be used for exfoliating acne prone skin. Remember, you are trying to avoid skin irritation, so do not use microdermabrasion scrubs or anything to harsh on your skin. Besides removing dead skin cells, exfoliation can improve the penetration of other topical treatments.

Other options for treating acne can include combination birth control pills, phototherapy using red light or blue light and photodynamic therapy, and laser treatments which have all shown efficacy in the treatment of acne.

The grade and the severity of the acne help to determine what combination of treatments should be used. The objective with acne treatments is to avert skin scarring and psychological distress, and to shorten the time a person is living with acne. Mild acne can first be treated by gently washing the area twice daily with warm water and soap and over the counter products. If you have moderate acne, consult a dermatologist before the acne gets out of hand.

Although acne can be very depressing for those afflicted with it, doctors say that most acne is entirely treatable. Therefore, it is very important to try to resolve acne as soon as you can. With most acne treatments, the acne can become a little worse before improvement occurs, but it is important to stick with the treatment.

Your results can be greatly improved by following these tips:

Use oil-free, non-comedogenic skin care products and cosmetics

Avoid cream based cleansers when you have oily skin

Do not over wash or scrub your face excessively as you do not want to irritate your skin. Excessive washing will not cure acne.

Do not pop, poke, pick, scratch your pimples, whiteheads or black heads. Touching your face will only spread bacteria.

Use a mild cleanser with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Switching acne products often will not help. Stick with a product routine for at least one month to see if it works.

If you acne is progressively getting worse, don't wait, see a doctor.

Eat a healthy diet. Tomatoes, garlic, vitamin C and A are all very good for the skin.
Some natural home remedies:

Apply raw papaya juice to affected skin

Apply cucumber juice to the affected skin.

Good basic skin care is the start to ridding yourself of acne. Then finding the right combination of products, whether over-the-counter or prescription, and sticking with a good routine are crucial to success. The key thing you need to understand before using any acne product though, is that the same products do not work the same for every person. Acne is very manageable and should not be suffered by anyone. Taking care of your skin can make all the difference in the fight to treat pimples and zits.

For more skin care information, visit http://www.better-skin-care.com

Julie Roberts is the publisher of Better-Skin-Care.com

Acne Treatments Online - Curing Your Acne Easily With The Information Available Online

Never before has it been so easy to get rid of your acne today.

Today you can find an abundance of information online such as Acne Blogs, Message Boards, and all those Acne Websites and Acne Products out there. But the only problem is... How do you sort out what will really work for YOU and what won't?

Most acne sufferers start out by using acne creams, lotions, and ointments. If that doesn't work, you might end up visiting a dermatologist for prescription meds such as accutane, antibiotics, or more creams. Other acne sufferers turn to many websites touting various supplements available... B5, Omega-3 fish oil, anti-oxidants, and other pills for acne. And then there's numerous acne ebooks as well.

Back when I had acne many years ago, I tried one over-the-counter product after another, followed by several acne home remedies. None worked for long.

Eventually I stumbled upon a series of books which centered around health, nutrition and healing. It was only then that I began to see a profound difference in my skin. And it lasted too. Through the years I found out what worked and what didn't, and later went on to share my findings with others with equally exciting results.

Here's 2 main points I often share that have helped acne sufferers get on the right track:

==> The FIRST thing you MUST do is DISRUPT THE STEP-BY-STEP, DAY-TO-DAY, CYCLE OF ACNE.

If you're not doing that, then most likely you're not going to make much of an impact on your skin... no matter what you're currently doing. You have to intentionally INTERFERE with the ongoing, insidious cycle of acne that's happening right now, right inside your skin as we speak!

A famous boxer was once asked what his secret was in winning nearly every fight of his career. Here's what he said: "I figure out my opponent's game plan as quickly as possible and then I do everything I can to DISRUPT that game plan of his. And once I've done that, then I use what skills I've learned over the years to finish him off." And then he added, "I never just came out swinging."And that's exactly what you'll need to do to conquer your acne as well. You're going to have to DISRUPT acne's 'game plan,' -- the acne cycle -- in order to have a chance at having clear, acne free skin.

See, if you attack your acne that way, it has no other choice BUT To Die Out! It Can't Do Anything Else! It Can't Function Any More Inside Your Skin.

The problem is, most people just come out and start 'swinging away' at acne ... hoping for the best!

Remember This: Until you know ALL the angles about acne, you can take every pill, herb, drug, oil, supplement, use every acne cream, lotion, ointment, soap, gel, mask, drink green vegetable juices, eat apples and organic food, cleanse your liver and intestines all you want to, etc., etc., ...

But Unless You Actually "Short-Circuit" Acne's Game Plan FIRST - Everything You Attempt To Remedy It With, Is Nothing More Than Just A Temporary Fix At Best!

So how does one actually go about "DISRUPTING" this insidious cycle of acne?... By using creams, lotions, ointments, masks? ... Well, that's one way. I call that surface-to-surface contact. For a percentage of acne sufferers, it'll work. It does interrupt -- not disrupt -- the acne cycle somewhat, but only at the surface. For many acne sufferers however, it does little good.

How about using antibiotics or accutane?... that's attacking acne on the inside, right? True, but instead of "disrupting" the cycle of acne, it actually "scrambles" it... temporarily. Again, it does work for some, but not all acne sufferers...

Now supplements and herbs, ah-ha... that's the key... eh? Well, herbs can be 'iffy' and supplements are usually deemed safer than drugs but a word about supplements...

Fish oils, GLA, B5, antioxidants, etc. These seem to be the latest weaponry against acne. But they usually artificially 'manipulate' the acne cycle, for the time being, as long as you take them... and can be costly in doing so. They do help some acne sufferers, and frustrate many others. In fact, they tend to work best if and when certain dietary changes are implemented.

And that's where I've seen the most dramatic changes come from, in my experiences while interacting with acne sufferers... food or diet. And it's not really all that complicated, once you understand a few basics. And that's how I like to keep things... basic ... simple.

==> Step 2 is... You Got To Connect All The Dots... Now what do I mean by that? It's kind of like a checklist. Just like what a car mechanic does to figure out what's causing a certain problem with someone's car, you have to know all the areas to check out, in order to know exactly where the origin of the problem lies. Otherwise, you're just "swinging away," hoping and praying it'll work this time.

Is it hormones? Is it your genes? Is it the wrong kind of foods for YOU? A food-intolerance? An adverse reaction from the wrong kind of supplement? Candida? Are you experiencing a stressful situation? A skin cream reaction? Etc.

Acne... One Size Does Not Fit All.

One thing about acne... ONE size certainly does not fit ALL. It's "multi-factorial," to borrow a phrase from one dermatologist. So don't let someone on some acne website boil everything down, and make you believe that acne has ONE, and only ONE cause. They'll usually give you some 'schpeel' about "the true cause of acne" which ends up being nothing more than an over-simplification of a few factors, i.e., "the liver," or "inflammation."

Hey, that's like an auto-mechanic that gives each an every car he sees a run-of-the-mill, general tune-up, without ever trying to actually solve the real problem that some of cars might have. "Well, the last car just needed a tune-up... so why not just give every car that comes through the shop, a tune-up?" See... that wouldn't work, right? It might do the trick for maybe some of the cars... but not the rest.

Now, it kind of works the same way with acne sufferers... what helps one acne sufferer, doesn't always mean it'll help all the other acne sufferers. That's why some creams and lotions will work for a certain percentage of acne sufferers, but not all. Same with using drugs to fight acne. For some, it'll work, but not all... Same with supplements...helps some, not all.

But they're not going to tell you that! You end up, finding out the hard way. But it doesn't have to be that way anymore. Now, acne is more of an individual thing. Each case is a little different than the other, and should be treated as such. Again, 'one size should not fit all.' It all depends what stage you're at with your skin problems.

Now, sometimes, all you might need is a topical treatment and your skin will be fine. But if you've already been through the mill of creams, lotions, supplements, diets, and ointments without much improvement, you may need specific, individual treatment.

So ask yourself, where do YOU stand right now?

Try Jim Iannelli's popular 'Acne-Free In A Weekend' Challenge. It's FREE to Download at [http://AcneFreeinaWeekend.com] No creams, lotions, or pills needed. Learn step-by-step how to clear your skin naturally, using streaming audio and video tutorials. And it even costs less than plain old acne ebooks. Go to [http://www.Acne-Free.com] to find more information.

Free Severe Acne Tips - Free Tips Reveal Severe Acne Remedies And Treatments That Work

A severe acne condition can affect all facets of an individual's life. This article will give free severe acne tips plus reveal severe acne remedies and treatments for people of all ages.

The onset of severe acne can lower a person's self-esteem severely and also be the cause of much embarrassment and humiliation. Severe acne is mainly characterized by severe inflammation, deep pus filled cysts and a lot of damage to the skin, whether it be the face or back. As a result of severe acne, it can best be treated with treatments and remedies which can on occasion be undertaken for even a number of years.

There are three acne scar classifications. These classifications include rolling, boxcar and ice pick. As the name suggest, ice pick acne scars are sharp and very thin. The skin actually takes on the unattractive appearance of looking like it has been sliced with a knife. Ice pick acne scars are very deep scars and extent into the deeper layers of the skin.

The next classification of acne scars is boxcar acne scars. These differ from ice pick scars as they are round pits. This type of acne scar has been shown to get good results from laser resurfacing and dermabrasion procedures.

The final classification of acne scars are rolling acne scars. These type of acne scars are usually as a result of folds in the skin and can usually be treated by breaking up the bands that create the skin fold in the first place. These acne scars are frequently treated by an incision in the skin

There are a number of remedies for severe acne available on the market. These severe acne remedies include prescription medications and other more expensive treatment methods. Below is a rough guide of some of the more well-known remedies and treatments for people with severe acne that are recommended by doctors and dermatologists.

Severe Acne Remedy Number 1 - Draining and Surgical Excision. This acne remedy is believed to be one of the best available, though of course it is a costly alternative. This severe acne remedy came about when dermatologist realized that large cysts weren't responding to more general acne treatments. This form of severe acne treatment is said to be able to eliminate acne cysts altogether. Another term for this treatment is "acne surgery". This surgical acne treatment is conducted by highly trained dermatologist under very sterile conditions. However, as I have already stated, not every individual would be able to afford this treatment option.

Severe Acne Remedy Number 2 - Another well recognised and highly regarded treatment for severe acne is isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is a drug used for severe acne conditions. It comes in pill form and is a synthetic retinoid. The recommended dosage for this acne remedy is once or twice every day for up to a 20 week period. It is thought to be one of the most effective remedies for severe acne conditions as it is believed to be the only remedy for severe acne that actually attacks all four factors of acne which include inflammation of the skin, blocked skin pores, oil production and P. acnes.

Go to http://www.Be-Acne-Free-In-3-Days.com to learn how an acne sufferer of 10 years cured his severe acne condition in just 72 hours.

Severe Acne Remedy Number 3 - This acne remedy involves an injection of interlesional corticosteroid. This treatment came about as a result of its effectiveness in limiting acne inflammation which can result in scarring. This severe acne remedy is used and is another highly regarded treatment to promote acne healing. This acne remedy is said to be very effective in its ability to melt acne cysts for a 3-5 day period.

Check out the website below to learn how to cure your severe acne condition in as little as 72 hours.

Copyright 2007. Do you know it's possible to be acne free in 3 days? Learn how a 10 year acne sufferer cured his acne condition the natural way in just 3 days, without wasting his money on expensive acne medications and over the counter acne treatments and how you can be acne free in as little as 3 days too. Plus get FREE Instant Access To The Five Basic Secrets For Clearing Your Skin Now. Download your FREE copy now at http://www.be-acne-free-in-3-days.com and start living a life without acne forever!

Acne Treatments That Don't Work

The majority of acne products don't work. Every month, more and more companies decide selling acne products to acne sufferers is very profitable, so they quickly come up with a product, mix a few chemicals, add a little benzyl peroxide, and label the product as a guaranteed cure to acne.

It's true. Acne treatment companies are making a killing, selling us acne suffers promising products that don't work. More and more of these come up each day hoping to earn a shilling from the pot. Acne suffers are so vulnerable, because we are constantly desperately searching for the latest acne treatment products that work.

So, how do these companies do it? The most common approach is to take Proactive, remake their three-step treatment, and market it as a different brand and label the treatment as "better than Proactive." We've all seen this common marketing scheme. Other companies come along, take a few two dollar vitamins here and there, place them into a bottle, and market the pills as "kills acne inside out," and they sell it for forty dollars. These acne products have very low success rates and have come to dominate the acne treatment market. Affiliates are promoting these rip-off products hoping to earn a share from the million dollar pot - and guess what? These affiliates never suffered from acne in their lifetime and they're recommending us acne treatments.

There are a few e-books (digital "books" emailed to you) out there today which also claim to cure acne. These authors claim that if you detoxicate your body for three days (or in essence, starve yourself for three days), you'll be completely acne free. All you need to do is to eat apples and drink many glasses of water everyday, and you'll be free of acne. This is a very promising statement, but in reality, starving yourself for three days doesn't equal becoming acne free. Your acne will probably slightly diminish, but it will come right back after you start eating again. Acne is somewhat related to diet, but to completely cure acne requires a consistent healthy diet kept over a period of a year. Definitely not three days.

Almost, not all, of the acne products claiming to treat your acne inside out "naturally" don't work. They send you a load of vitamins and foreign herbs which may smell nice, but they are just giving a placebo effect - they make the skin healthy and soft, but do not treat acne. Their success rates are very low, and they treat only the mildest of mild acne situations if they actually work. It's obvious why these treatments do not work - they are vitamins, not acne treatments.

An effective acne treatment is one that:

#1: Keeps pores clean - clogged pores lead to acne

#2: Kills skin bacteria - bacteria causes inflammation in acne, which leads to moderate/severe acne

#3: Solves the problem inside out - no, it's definitely not vitamins and herbs

Thankfully, each year a decent acne treatment does get produced which involved years of research. Electronic acne treatments have taken a leap over acne creams and medications - these devices took years of research to perfect. Zeno and blue light therapy (light bulb) are both highly researched devices that are commonly used to treat acne.

The main purpose of electronic devices out there today is to kill the bacteria that causes inflammation in acne. Bacteria often get trapped in the pore, which provides a favorable location for the bacteria to reproduce. This causes inflammation in the pimple. By killing off the bacteria, this prevents the acne from getting worse, allowing the pimple to quickly heal when the pore is clean again.

Why should you use electronic devices when acne creams "do the same thing?" Benzyl peroxide in acne treatments should kill bacteria, but after applying benzyl peroxide to the face for a few months, the bacteria that causes inflammation in acne start to resist it. By using blue light therapy or Zeno, you can provide an uninhabitable environment for the bacteria, specifically p.-acne, which kills 99.9% of the bacteria within a week. Benzyl peroxide's effectiveness is never this high.

There are a few topicals currently on the market that doesn't use benzyl peroxide to kill the acne causing bacteria. These products are more worthwhile to purchase, and if these acne treatments help treat your acne, they will work for much longer than any benzyl peroxide product out there.

Overall, you just shouldn't try out new acne treatments that nobody has used. There are no new miracle acne treatments being produced, so don't get your hopes up. Be sure to research the chemicals used in acne products, and make sure the chemicals in your acne treatments aren't skin irritants - these lead to further breakouts.

Learn more about acne. Find the best acne treatment

Acne Spot Treatments

Posted on 20. May, 2010 by admin in Acne Treatments

The market for acne spot treatments has grown immensely in recent years and it can be hard to figure out which one you’re most suited to. To analyze them all and decide which one is the best on your own would be impossible; and so this guide should help you pick the best acne spot treatment.

Even with a guide, you must decide for yourself which treatment is for you – perhaps based upon your personal preference, the location of your acne and it’s type, and possibly any allergic reactions you may suffer. Because of this it’s probably a good idea to do your own research into the products before you go out and take any.

Whilst taking any of the treatments, you must make sure you are having regular showers, on a steady basic and balanced diet and that you aren’t picking at your acne. If the wounds are open the treatment could work differently so it’s best to leave your spots alone and not pick them, to save them getting infected.

Pronexin is a treatment that has done well with many critics due to its quick results and flexibility in targeting specific acne or an area in general. It is actually a scrub rather than a spot treatment, but has made it into the guide as a worthwhile treatment nonetheless. There are many natural products in it which combine together for a very fast effect and powerful clean.

Although it works quickly, Pronexin is still a more long-term solution than the ’12 hours miracle treatment’. This will aim to remove a zit or spot within 12 hours of use, making it ideal for that night before a big event when a zit pops up right on the end of your nose and you cant stop worrying about it.

For a safe bet however, a spot treatment like Skin Medica will provide you with effective cleansing using natural ingredients, achieving clinically proven results. Because it is clinically proven it makes it to the list as a safe bet to get rid of your irritating acne no matter not it is.

Depending on whether you want short-term, long-term, ultra effective or steady treatments of your acne, there are many different treatments available – which you will have to ultimately choose between. Take any medication correctly and properly, consider consulting a doctor first and make sure you keep a regular diet and maintain your health correctly.

However, whichever one you choose will be a step towards actively tackling acne – rather than caving to the old method of just leaving your spots alone. In this day and age we can combat acne pro-actively, and it’s best to take care of your irritation head-on and not let outbreaks get to you.

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Acne Treatments That Work

Posted on 20. Jun, 2010 by admin in Acne Questions

Finding a treatment that works for acne is something that many are yet to do. You can read about various treatments that supposedly prevent acne, or might work, or work if you have really specific acne – but many acne sufferers have had enough, they want to know what will work for them.

The key to finding an acne treatment that works is to target your specific acne with treatments that are designed for it. Depending on whether you have inflammatory or non-inflammatory acne you may use different treatments. For example, acne facials are specifically used on non-inflammatory acne.

Inflammatory acne can also be benefited from facials, but you’re better off seeing a dermatologist and seeking full advice if your acne is moderate or more severe.

Seeing a dermatologist even with mild non-inflammatory acne can still be the right option, in order to identify what acne you have, how severe it is, and what can be done to combat it. An expert can offer your real technical and scientific advice rather than just home remedies and hearsay. They also have the power to prescribe antibiotics and medicines that you cant receive over the counter.

If you have really had enough of your acne, and it’s dense and unbearable, you can try something like Accutane. Accutane is a strong form of vitamin A that will calm the overactive oil glands on your skin and so therefore prevent outbreaks of acne. Accutane is so effective that it is usually taken as a last resort, following antibiotics, as a final wipe out to kill off acne indefinitely.

However, there is a reason for Accutane not being widely acclaimed and a sell-out. The side effects of such a straight out blockage are very severe, and no one pregnant should take Accutane. It is usually only available through special programs – to use it you will have to sign various documents, and so it may be worth trying a lot of other treatments before going to the doctor and asking about Accutane.

It is for this reason, that many try and go through a natural route of herbs and various fruit and vegetable pastes that you can find recipes for online or on the website. These treatments are often slower perhaps, but have been proven to work and to clear up the acne naturally and clearly without major side effects along the way. Accutane can cause serious problems even involving the heart, so it’s worth trying some herbal teas and strawberry leaves before you jump in.

Acne is something that can be quite severe and needs more attention than most care to give it. If you neglect your acne it can turn very serious, leave scarring and damage confidence.

It’s better to find a way to treat it, that works – be it seeing a doctor, getting an acne facial, taking antibiotic or using a natural treatment – and not have to worry about whether time will play its part.

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Are Natural Acne Treatments Safe?

I think the second most common acne treatment is vitamin A.  It comes in close second to benzoyl peroxide, and frankly it’s used in everything from the cheap products to the expensive products.  Most often, in the form of retinol, it causes redness, irritation, sun sensitivity, etc.  But in the form of Accutane of course, we all have heard about all the nasty side effects it comes with, not to be ignored in the least.  And interestingly enough, unlike benzoyl peroxide, they have actually manipulated it into hundreds of little sub forms that of course work in slightly different power gradients and ways in general. 

They all come with about the same side effects, it’s just the severity and the likelihood of suffering it that vary.  But honestly, it surprises me sometimes, because in most realms, the FDA just doesn’t regulate vitamins and minerals among other things.  But with the Accutane form of vitamin A, we understand why they have to.  And frankly, with some of the different prescription forms of vitamin A, there’s good reason why they do.  I guess it just goes to show that just because something’s natural doesn’t make it necessarily safe.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 11:46 pm and is filed under Acne, treatments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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