Monday, February 13, 2012

Acne - How to Prevent and Eliminate Acne Easily?

brewers yeast

Most people can recognize and diagnose acne themselves. Acne is a kind of catch-all term that basically refers to eruptions on the skin that are caused by the effects of hormones on sebaceous glands. The face and upper neck are the most commonly affected, but the chest, back and shoulders may have acne as well. The upper arms can also have acne, but lesions found there are often keratosis pilaris.

About 85% of all teenagers will have acne to some degree. A teenage body is suffused in raging hormones, and those hormones are responsible in a large part for acne. There are treatments today for teenage acne that can help keep the acne under control. It's very important to keep their faces clean. Bar soaps or washes may be used and vary from 2 to 10% in strength.

Built-up oil of the skin can block the passages of these pores, so standard washing of the face could wash off old oil and help unblock the pores. Clean your face at least twice each day, morning and evening. The other thing that can be done that will help to prevent acne is eating a healthy diet. Food cannot cause acne outbreaks but the lack of certain nutrients can.

Take foods that are high in zinc such as brewers yeast, whole grains, Brazil nuts, and pumpkin seeds, as zinc gluconate has been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne. It is widely accepted as fact that one the most important factors in fighting acne is complete and correct facial cleansing twice daily, along with good balanced diets.

Sulfur and Acne

rotten egg smell

One of the oldest medications currently in use for acne is Sulfur. Sulfur and acne treatment go back to the tubes of popular ointments used in the 1950's

Before the invention of antibiotics there were few affective drugs other than sulfur for infections. Even after the development of the many drugs that were considered to be miracles, there are still limited uses for sulfur drugs.

The primary use of sulfur in acne treatment is as exfoliating or pealing agent. It is often used as one of the ingredients in the skin toned medicated concealers. It is in use in adult acne treatments today as an alternative to harsher less appropriate treatments.

When used with a treatment regime it is used last as a leave-on ingredient. This is an important distinction to keep in mind. Some ingredients in acne treatments have to be used briefly and washed off. Others are best used for hours before being rinsed off. However these are often very mild acne treatments.

The same ingredients in fact are often used in two or more products that are used consecutively. The same substance would in this case serve more than one purpose.

Sulfur takes its place among a handful of over-the-counter acne treatments that are used with FDA approval. It is an amazing and abundant element which can be found in natural occurrences particularly sulfur springs. Sulfur has a rotten egg smell and gives a yellow or orange appearance to surrounding ground when found in water.

It has been used for many other uses for many years and can also be found in common household products like matches. The continued popularity of this ingredient is its own recommendation.

Sulfur acne preparations have out lasted fifty years of the most daunting assembly of prescription and nonprescription drugs to hit pharmacy shelves.

Can Aloe Vera Gel Help Remove Acne Scars

removal of acne scars

Aloe Vera has various medical properties that are very effective in the removal of acne scars. It helps remove acne scars by acting as an immune booster and an anti-inflammatory agent. It is also used to reduce infections to regenerate skin and is thus able to rebuild scarred areas. Aloe Vera can be purchased either as a cream, gel, soap, or liquid or can also be bought in the raw form, such as a plant. These plants do not need much care, they can practically grow anywhere and they are not bothered by the sun. Some people have attested that it is the best solution for the treatment of acne scars they have ever used.

By using soaps or gel based aloe vera products you will drastically reduce the risk of infection and inflammation to the affected areas, although it may not be cleared up all together but it will certainly remove symptoms such as flaky skin, redness or swelling. It can also be used in liquid form by cutting off a piece of the pulp from the plant and applying it directly to the affected area in order to absorb more oil. After using this liquid you should wash your face with an herbal based soap and after this you can apply an aloe vera cream to the acne, this method gives you the benefit of all the medical elements of the aloe vera making your skin look healthier and free from further breakout,

Gels when applied to the face forms a thin mask that helps protect the skin from dust and other natural elements that may be harmful to the skin. It can be used either day or night, although some people prefer to apply it at night and wash it off early in the morning. This method makes it act as a toner, to tighten the skin, making it look fresh and giving it a younger appearance when used on a regular basis.

There are various conflicting articles on the topic "does aloe vera help remove acne scars", so it really depends on which site you visit you will definitely not get the same answer. Some say that it does not cure acne but just helps reduce the intensity of the scarring, by regenerating the skin and making it possible to rebuild the skin tissues which would give you the result of a younger, smoother looking skin.

Acne Breakouts - How to Stop Them Forever

excess skin cells

Millions of teenagers suffer from acne each year. Acne can be an embarrassing condition and always manages to pop up when least expected and most unwanted. By creating a regimented skin care system you will be able to help prevent acne breakouts from forming and taking over your life. Here is a guide to improve your skin and decrease the severity of your acne breakouts.

Your best bet for fighting acne breakouts is not to focus on the pimples that have already erupted on your skin. The best way to fight acne is to prevent it from erupting in the first place. This is the best way to minimize any acne scarring.

Your first step in a regimented skin care system is to exfoliate while cleansing. This step should be performed both morning and evening. If your cleanser does not already contain exfoliating beads you will want to use a wash cloth while cleansing to exfoliate the skin. Acne can be caused by excess skin cells clogging the pores. By properly exfoliating you help to keep your pores open and remove acne causing bacteria.

After exfoliating, your second step will be to use a 2% salicylic acid treatment. You can easily find these treatments at any drug store. Apply this treatment twice a day which will not only help to remove excess skin cells, but it will also help to keep acne causing bacteria away from your skin.

While on this acne treatment it is important to moisturize because excessive drying may occur. However, it is important not to use an oil based moisturizer which will clog your pores. Today, there are moisturizers on the market that are designed to moisturize your skin and help fight acne at the same time. This is a good choice for a facial lotion.

The third step in creating an acne fighting skin care regimen is to apply sunscreen. You should look for an oil free sunscreen that will not clog the pores. While most people know that the sun can cause wrinkles and skin cancer, you may not realize that the sun actually causes acne breakouts. That is why it is so important to protect your skin from the sun whenever you are outdoors, even if it appears to be cloudy.

If you have given this skin care system an honest try for a couple weeks and there are still stubborn acne breakouts that will not go away, it is time to visit a dermatologist. Prescription medications are harsher than over the counter treatments and therefore more effective, but they may also have more side effects. Two good prescription treatments are Accutane and Retin-A. Both of these treatments will make your skin even more sensitive to the sun, so it is important to protect yourself with sunscreen (at least SPF 30), a hat and sunglasses.

This acne fighting skin care system will only work if it is used religiously. That means morning and night everyday, whether or not acne is present. This system not only works to fight breakouts that have already erupted, but it also works to prevent acne from forming so you never have to worry about a pesky zit again.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Fat, Fiber, Yeast, and Acne

eating fatty foods

If you grew up in the 20's, 40's, 50's, 60's, or 70's, chances are you were told constantly that eating chocolate and eating fatty foods in general caused acne. Surprisingly, over the decades scientists have adduced little or no evidence that high-fat foods, in and of themselves, cause acne.

Cholesterol is a building block for testosterone, but the body's supply of cholesterol is mostly made by the liver. Eliminating fatty foods generally has very little effect on either the amount of cholesterol in circulation or the progress of acne. Among high-fat foods, chocolate and nuts are frequently singled out as causes of acne. They are not. The tyrosine in chocolate, gelatin, and nuts can aggravate herpes, but does not affect acne.

Another recommendation that people used to make that you do not hear as often nowadays is to take fiber (not that Metamucil was ever all that popular among teenagers). In addition to the evidence from some comprehensive research from Holland it is also known that fiber absorbs waste estrogen in the intestines, which prevents the hormone from being absorbed through the intestinal wall back into the bloodstream, where it can be converted into testosterone. While taking fiber does not hurt, there is no evidence that it produces specific improvements in acne. Nonetheless, if you choose to use fiber, always take fiber supplements separately from other supplements and medications. Fiber keeps medicine from being fully absorbed.

One old favorite, however, has met the test of time.

High-chromium yeast enhances the ability of insulin to carry sugar out of the bloodstream and into cells. Yeast beta-D-glucan stimulates the activity of macro phages, the white blood cells that are responsible for eliminating bacterial infections.

Yeast is also thought to enhance the elasticity of the skin, and is used in many cosmetics. There are no reports of side effects from using yeast. Yeast may even increase the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments for acne.

Acne Hormones - Natural Acne Hormone Balancing Treatments for Clear Skin

male and female hormones

Can you treat a headache or stomach ache externally, without somehow manipulating your natural bodily functions internally (aka popping a pill)? NO! Then why would you try to treat acne that way? Many acne treatment systems today such as Proactiv, target acne only from the outside, and do not address the issue interanally, as it should be for lasting and dramatic results.

If you are really serious about treating acne and really eliminating it at it's source (ie the hormones that cause acne), then you owe it to yourself to try a natural acne hormone treatment which is specifically designed to equalize hormone imbalance and purify the skin from the inside out using special blends of herbs, botanicals, and/or natural compounds such as Vitamin E and Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Why Go Natural?

Because many people who have not been responsive to conventional acne treatments, or their effectiveness has worn off due to long term use, experience superior results with natural acne treatments.

Acne can actually be caused by two different hormones in women. It's usually an overabundance of androgens (male hormones) or estrogens (female hormones). In men, it can also be caused by imbalances in male and female hormones. This hormonal imbalance triggers the breakouts by over-stimulating the oil glands on acne prone areas of the body, which then results in a clogging of the pore, hence that thing we all know and love - the pimple.

Antioxidants are also very potent as hormonal equalizers, as well as "blood purifiers", and their properties foster an environment for mending skin eruptions as well as preventing new breakouts and promoting a healthy glow and skin tone.

Most natural acne treatments are designed to do two things:

1.) Help correct hormonal imbalances related to acne breakouts.

2.) Reduce inflammation and swelling, and pave the way for fast skin repair where breakouts have recently occurred.

Some other tips you can follow to help prevent unsightly breakouts are:

1.) Drink plenty of water. This helps to cleanse the system, and results in clearer, more hydrated skin.

2.) Avoid caffeine and caffeine-containing products like chocolate or supplements containing caffeine or other stimulants.

3.) Relax. Try a calming exercise for when you get stressed out. Stress triggers breakouts for many individuals.

4.) Avoid harsh cleansers or toners - these can only aggravate acne and cause further irritation and redness.

5.) Use a light, non-comedogenic (non pore-clogging) sunscreen. While it is true a suntan may camouflage breakouts, it mostly aggravates them by forcing further oil production due to its drying effects. Try using a good facial self tanner instead.

If you follow these few simple skincare principles, and combine them with a high quality acne treatment targeted to balance hormones and internally "cleanse", you really can't lose. Your complexion will thank you!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Acne - Simple Tips For Acne

many different ways

I know there are so many of you guys out there who are struggling with Acne. I know it's really tough to have it and it will affect you on so many different ways. I will give you some simple tips here which will most likely improve your acne.

* Make yourself a honey mask and put this on your face a couple of times a week. Honey has some great effects on your skin like disinfecting and healing.

* Wash your face 2-3 times a day with a proper acne soap. It's very important that you don't "rub" your skin, just gently wash it.

* As you probably know carrots are good for a lot of things, it's also good for your skin. Try to eat carrots as much as you can. It's a lot of Vitamin A in carrots and as a matter of fact, if your body don't get enough that can actually be a reason to acne!

* Try to always have a clean pillow, you're sleeping 1/3 of the day and if your face is in direct contact with something dirty during that time your face will get dirty pretty fast, even if you washed it before you went to bed.

I hope you will find some of these tips helpful and that your acne will get better! There are a lot of things to do to cure acne in a natural way, these are just some tips that is very easy to do! Please take every tip serious if you really want to get rid of your acne.

Everybody is unique and different methods work for different persons. I can't guarantee that this will cure your acne but to cure acne I believe that the best way is to cure it the natural way. I believe that it's worth a try, it was for me.