AcneBulletin.com

From glossy magazine ads to the television, people today are bombarded with how to be beautiful and how to stay beautiful schemes and products. We look at the supermodels and the celebrities and asked ourselves why we are not born with flawless, perfect skin like theirs. We look at them. Then to the products they endorse. Then to the mirror to examine ourselves. Then we sigh. Beauty, indeed, comes with a price.

As we struggle to keep our skin clean and clear, we jump from one acne product to another hoping that along the hunt we would spot a jackpot. There are times when we get lucky; having found the acne product that suited us right; while there are times when we have tried every acne product available in the market but none worked. Most of the time, it can really be frustrating but we don’t have to give up the hunt yet.

Some of the acne products that we should look for must have salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a mild acid that encourages the peeling of dead skin cells. This also helps unclog the pores to prevent lesions. It’s safe, effective treatment for mild acne, oily skin, and textural changes of most skin types. Salicylic acid is present in most acne products such as lotions, creams, and medicated pads. Some side-effects of using acne products with salicylic acid are dryness and irritation. Make sure that the salicylic acid content of the acne product is 0.5%-2% so as not to dry the skin. If irritation occurs, lessen the frequency of use of the acne product. If the irritation becomes severe, discontinue use.

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Acne is caused by increased oil production which is broken down into fatty acids by bacterial enzymes which causes skin inflammation. Thus, pimples rupture. We all hate to have acne but it’s an occurrence that most of us can not avoid. Although it is more prevalent during adolescence, acne can occur at any age.

It sucks really but, we don’t have to feel so down about it. There are million and one ways to treat acne. The most popular are by using acne products. But as much as it can kill germs that cause acne, it can also kill our budget. So why don’t we keep our money where it should be and kill the germs that cause acne by discovering the natural acne treatments?

One way to naturally treat acne is through monitoring diet. A diet based on whole, unprocessed foods is a natural acne treatment. Eating at least five servings of vegetables and at least one serving of fruit per day will help prevent acne. Foods containing omega-3 oils such as ground flaxseeds and sardines should be increased. Also drinking at least 8 glasses of water everyday will be a big help.

Vitamin A intake is also a natural acne treatment. Vitamin A helps reduce sebum production. However, high doses may increase risk of decreased bone density, birth defects, and headaches.

Zinc is also a natural acne treatment. Zinc in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate helps prevent acne. It also helps heal blemishes, reduce inflammation, and reduce androgenic hormonal effects on the skin. This natural acne treatment also contributes to tissue healing and regeneration.

Another vitamin that is a natural acne treatment is Vitamin B6. This vitamin may help premenstrual or mid-cycle acne.

Acidophilus, – friendly bacteria -is also a natural acne treatment which can be found in yogurts with live culture.

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Another alternative for acne treatment are prescription medicines.
There are two forms of acne treatments under this category: topical treatments (skin) and oral treatment (tablet/capsule).

Topical treatments that can be prescribed are as follows:

・Azelaic acid, an alternative to benzoyl peroxide

・Topical retinoids. It is an acne treatment that is Vitamin A based. This is rubbed on the skin once or twice a day. At the onset, it may cause peeling and soreness but eventually settles down. A disadvantage of this particular acne treatment is that it makes the skin hypersensitive to sunlight. So be careful in using it.

・A topical antibiotic lotion that controls Propionobacterium can be applied to the skin for a duration of six months. Propionobacterium is a kind of bacteria that thrives normally on the skin. This is the main cause for acne infection and is responsible for the redness and swelling of a spot.

Available Oral acne treatments are as follows:

・For inflammatory acne, an antibiotic tablet can be taken for 3-4 months and you can experience some remarkable beneficial results within four to six months. Since tablets cannot prevent the pores to be blocked, benzoyl peroxide is often also prescribed.

・For women, a combined oral contraceptive pill, containing estrogen and progestogen, can substantially minimize acne symptoms. This particular acne treatment is called hormone treatment.

・Isotretinoin is an oral retinoid which exists both in topical and oral form. This is used for severe acne infections. It dries up oily secretions. There are side effects though which includes dryness of the skin and sometimes headaches.

The above are acne treatments available for your choosing. However, I suggest that you consult with your dermatologist first because acne treatment reactions or effectiveness depend on the each individual’s skin. No two individuals react the same to a given acne treatment. Which means that an acne treatment which is found to be effective on one person does not necessarily mean it’s going to be effective on you.

Remember that acne responds well to early treatment. So to prevent scarring have your acne treated as soon as acne starts showing up.

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To have acne is almost synonymous to having your worst nightmare come true. But not all nightmares really last and having an acne is not the end of your social life or anything, for that matter. It is a problem that has solutions. In fact, there is a wide range of available acne treatments that could surely end your nightmare.

First, the three basics.

1. Always wash your face with an anti-allergenic soap or anti-bacterial facial wash. But be careful. Don’t wash your face too much or it will remove most of the natural oil in your face. Your skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition.

2. Avoid touching your face all the time.

3. And most importantly, avoid pricking on your acne for it may lead to scarring.

Here are available acne treatments you can choose.

Non-Prescription remedies

You can treat acne by using non-prescription remedies. These are over-the-counter products that can treat acne. Facial products that have benzoyl peroxide are known to be effective in treating acne. It dries the skin and encourages the skin to shed the surface layer of dead skin to form a new skin layer. It also has an anti-bacterial action that can prevent any infections to occur on your skin.

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We have discussed before some of the primary causes of acne. However, I would like to reiterate that everybody would have acne at one point in his or her life. Knowledge of the best acne treatments will help avoid worsening and may even erase marks left by acne.

Some of the basic but considered best acne treatments include the very basic skin care regimen – washing of your face. Wash your face with a mild soap or gentle skin cleanser twice a day. This will ensure that dirt will not clog your pores and thus will not invite production of acne.

Avoid food that may cause acne. It is a known fact that “prevention is the best cure” thus, the best acne treatment is to avoid food that cause acne.

Teenagers are often victims of stress-related and chemical-related acne. The best acne treatment for this is to exercise. Exercise is the best stress management tool. If you fail to manage stress, acne will start to show, this is what makes acne worse. You feel more stress seeing this little bump in your face, you try to treat it by going to the drug store and buying advertised acne creams. Your young face is not ready for this harsh chemical and as a result, you acne become severe. You miss the big day and want to cage yourself. You think that life is unfair. No, it is not. You just fail to ask advice from people who know better than you do – the dermatologist.

I have said it earlier and I will say it again “prevention is the best cure”. This is specifically true when it comes to dealing with acne. The best acne treatment is to avoid what causes the acne. Keeping your skin clean is another safe bet in the best acne treatment arena. Exercise is the best acne treatment regimen, but apart from it, exercise is good for your general well-being. Moreover, a dermatologist is a teenager’s best friend, do not self-treat acne especially before a big day like a dance or a date.

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