acne skin care

There is no clear account of the number of people suffering from acne. But the sale of medicines for acne is on the increase and this suggests that there is an increase in the number of people having acne. Acne is caused mainly due to the clogging of the oil generated by the skin. This clogging is initiated by a particular type of bacteria. Most treatments and ointments available for acne concentrate more on removing the scars. This means that the bacteria responsible for acne still remain there. This has led to people looking for alternative acne treatment. Most of the alternative acne treatment mainly tries to eliminate the bacteria responsible for acne.

One of the greatest advantages with the alternative acne treatments is that they are devoid of side effects. There are several herbal combinations that have proven track record of curing acne. Once such herbal combination is the paste made of basil leafs and sandalwood. Another popular alternative acne treatment is the application of the paste made of strawberry leaves. There are several other herbal combinations available in the market that can effectively cure acne.

The main reason for the cause of acne is the deficiency of essential vitamins needed for the skin. Deficiency in Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Pantothenic Acid can lead to acne. Taking large amount of vegetables, fruits and vitamin supplements can cure acne. There are several cures of acne in naturopathy. Herbs, skin cleansers and vitamin supplements are the main treatments for acne in naturopathy. Another advantage of alternative acne treatment is that they are less costly.

Acne light treatment is another new alternative acne treatment. In this method ultraviolet rays are used to clear the acne. Alternative acne treatment requires cent percent dedication from the patient. Unlike other form of treatments, some of the alternative acne treatment requires strict following of the regiment. It is wise to take professional opinion before opting for any of the alternative acne treatment.

Acne treatment is changing very fast. Research is continuing around the world to find acne treatments that can treat acne at the initial stage. At the later stage of acne growth, the chances of acne scarring become very high and therefore scientists are devoting efforts to treat acne painlessly at the beginning itself. The following are the latest treatments for acne that are being used to get clear skin.

Blue Light- P.acnes bacteria is responsible for inflammation in the sebaceous glands causing acne. Blue light of low intensity destroys this bacterium. This is a painless procedure, which normally lasts for fifteen minutes per sitting. The interval of days for each treatment may vary and will depend on your doctor. Some side effects such as swelling, dryness and pigment change may occur because of blue light. By killing the bacteria, blue light treats acne quite painlessly.

Green-yellow light and heat energy- this combination of pulses of green-yellow light and heat energy is supposed to kill the P.acnes bacteria and shrink sebaceous glands. By shrinking the glands, sebum production decreases.with reduction in sebum, acne shrinks and dries out. It is the sebaceous gland that is the place where acne forms. By shrinking it, sebum production decreases and acne formation reduces.

Diode laser- this laser can destroy the sebaceous glands. Diode laser does not harm the outer layer of the skin. This kind of treatment can be painful and can create redness that is temporary and can also produce some swelling that is also temporary. The pain of laser can be reduced with application of anesthetics on the skin during the treatment. By destroying the sebaceous glands, acne can be controlled effectively.

Microdermabrasion and chemical peeling- these treatments can be used to treat acne with other traditional therapies. Both these procedures are used to remove the dead skin, open the pores and accelerate growth of new skin. Traditionally these procedures have been used to remove scars, sun damage, fine wrinkles etc. They are now being tried to treat acne.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article

Given that acne is by far the most common disease in the world, I’m constantly surprised at the amount of misinformation there is about acne treatments. There are so many commonly held believes regarding treatments, which have no scientific or medical validity, but continue to be passed on from individual to individual. More worrying is the possible consequences of trying some of these options. Here are list of common acne treatments that categorically do not work:

1.Household cleaning products, even when diluted, should not be used to treat acne. There can be severe adverse reactions including chemical burns from pursuing this route

2.Similarly cleaning powders are ineffective for acne

3.Washing up liquid does not work for acne

4.Home facial saunas will do nothing for your acne, but will certainly aggravate, already sensitive skin

5.Sticky tape left on the skin overnight and removed in the morning will certainly remove dead skin cells and excess oil, but is likely to damage the sensitive skin, and may cause an allergy to the glue

6.Prolonged exposure to the sun or using a sun bed will not help your acne, and can be dangerous if you are also taking oral medication of certain types. For example taking certain antibiotics in tablet form, will make your skin highly sensitive to sun light

7.Sudocrem is an excellent treatment for nappy rash, but highly ineffective for acne, primarily because it contains a mixture of greases and oils which are bad for acne

8.Taking high doses of vitamin A or B will not directly help your acne, and may cause other side-effects

9.Squeezing your spots is universally not recommended in combating acne. Doing so will prolong and spread the acne to other parts of the affected area

There are many other ‘not recommended’ acne treatment regimes, many of which will worsen an already difficult condition. Avoid these shortcuts and stick with a programme overseen by your medical professional, or one which is based on solid scientific and medical evidence. If you do this, you'll succeed in overcoming your acne condition.

Peter Vine is a successful online publisher of Acne-Treatment-Expert.com
He provides practical advice and the latest information on all aspects of adult acne treatments, which you can readily research on his website.

At one point all of us have been trying to find ways on how to be completely acne-free. Here are some natural and not so natural acne treatments that are proven to be effective.



1. Witch Hazel Astringent



This astringent comes from the plant with the same name. It is widely spread from Nova Scotia in Canada down to Texas and Florida. Simply steam the twigs of this plant and voila! The extract you get from it serves as your astringent. Remember to cool it though. What’s good about this is that it occurs naturally and even the process it has undergone is all natural. You can be assured it is less harsh compared with commercially-produced astringents.



2. Commercially Produced Astringents



There is no doubt that astringents we can buy over-the-counter are also effective. There are lots of variants to choose from with additional ingredients that promote better skin. The only downside is it can be a little harsh because of the chemicals added to produce this formula. Use them with extra care as they can dry the skin.





3. All-Natural Treatments



Kitchen and acne are two enemies we may not be aware of. Scout your kitchen for stuff like oranges and lemons, fresh garlic and raw potatoes.



- Oranges and lemons just need to be squeezed on cotton balls. Apply the extract on affected areas and wash it after about 20 minutes.



- Fresh garlic is used much easier. Just remove its peeling and rub it on your face.



- As for raw potatoes, peel them and rub its flat surface on your face.



The natural extracts from these fruits and vegetables can help minimize the redness at the same time can clean the skin.



4. Oral Antibiotics



For severe cases, antibiotics are prescribed. These medications are orally taken to reduce the amount of bacteria inside and around skin follicles. They also decrease the exasperating chemicals that the white blood cells produce. Lastly, antibiotics diminish the concentration of the free fatty acids found in sebum, also creating an anti-inflammatory action. Consult your dermatologist for the right antibiotic and dosage.



Tetracycline is still the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for acne treatment. Most of this antibiotic should be taken on an empty stomach. Also, this shouldn’t be used by pregnant women and children under 9. Usually, the starting dose is initially 500 milligrams twice daily and is continuously taken until prescribed, or until a considerable dropping off of lesions is visible.



Erythromycin comes close second and can be prescribed to pregnant women. However, it can cause nausea and even upset stomach. Compared to tetracycline, which can only kill bacteria, Erythromycin has both anti-inflammatory and bacteria-killing properties. Also, this antibiotic needs to be taken in a food-filled tummy. You may discuss other possible antibiotics with your doctors regarding the effects and side-effects of each.



5. Topical Treatments

Externally applied creams are also proven effective for acne treatment. However, it results to drying and flaking but it is said to be the most effective treatment for severe acne. Benzoyl peroxide is one very common and effective topical acne treatment.