5 Natural & Non-Natural Acne Treatments

At one point all and sundry were attempting to find approaches on how to be completely acne-unfastened. right here are a few herbal and no longer so herbal acne treatments which are demonstrated to be effective.

1. Witch Hazel Astringent

This astringent comes from the plant with the same name. it's miles extensively spread from nova scotia in canada right down to texas and florida. simply steam the twigs of this plant and voila! the extract you get from it serves as your astringent. don't forget to chill it although. what?s accurate about this is that it takes place evidently or even the process it has passed through is all natural. you can be confident it's miles less harsh compared with commercially-produced astringents.

2. Commercially Produced Astringents

There's no doubt that astringents we should purchase over-the-counter also are effective. there are plenty of versions to select from with additional elements that promote higher skin. the most effective disadvantage is it may be a bit harsh because of the chemicals added to produce this formulation. use them with more care as they are able to dry the skin.

3. All-Herbal Remedies

Kitchen and acne are two enemies we might not be aware of. scout your kitchen for stuff like oranges and lemons, sparkling garlic and uncooked potatoes.

- Oranges and lemons just want to be squeezed on cotton balls. observe the extract on      affected regions and wash it after about 20 mins.

- Sparkling garlic is used an awful lot less complicated. simply get rid of its peeling and rub it on your face.

- As for raw potatoes, peel them and rub its flat floor in your face.

The herbal extracts from these end result and greens can assist reduce the redness on the equal time can clean the skin.

4. Oral antibiotics

For intense instances, antibiotics are prescribed. those medicinal drugs are orally taken to reduce the quantity of micro organism inside and around pores and skin follicles. in addition they lower the exasperating chemical substances that the white blood cells produce. lastly, antibiotics lessen the awareness of the loose fatty acids discovered in sebum, additionally growing an anti inflammatory movement. consult your dermatologist for the proper antibiotic and dosage.

Tetracycline is still the most usually prescribed antibiotic for acne remedy. most of this antibiotic need to be taken on an empty belly. also, this shouldn?t be used by pregnant girls and kids beneath nine. commonly, the beginning dose is initially 500 milligrams twice each day and is continuously taken until prescribed, or until a good sized losing off of lesions is visible.

Erythromycin comes near 2d and can be prescribed to pregnant women. but, it could purpose nausea and even disenchanted belly. in comparison to tetracycline, that may simplest kill micro organism, erythromycin has each anti inflammatory and bacteria-killing residences. additionally, this antibiotic wishes to be taken in a meals-crammed tummy. you could speak other possible antibiotics along with your docs regarding the results and side-consequences of each.

5.Topical Treatments

Externally carried out lotions are also tested powerful for pimples treatment. however, it outcomes to drying and flaking however it is stated to be the only remedy for excessive zits. benzoyl peroxide is one very not unusual and effective topical zits treatment.

Tips for Healing and Concealing Acne Scars

If you have acne, you probably just want it to go away - and in the meantime, you may be trying to cover it up with various types of make-up. However, the wrong techniques or combination of techniques could worsen the condition. Here are some tips on how to help heal and conceal your acne.

Healing

First, you'll want to embark on a healing regimen for your acne. You and your dermatologist can work together to formulate a plan that may involve topical lotions, cleansers, or oral medications. You may decide to go with a combination of these. Or, you may choose a natural, at-home approach and work on healing your acne with homemade cleansers, topical treatments, and nutrition. 

Concealing - Can You Wear Make-Up over Acne?

Some people worry that wearing make-up will make their acne worse - and, depending on the individual, some substances can indeed worsen acne. As a general rule, choose make-up that is hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free, and oil-free. However, for those whose acne accompanies dry skin, a moisturizing make-up may be of benefit. It should allow your skin to "breathe" and not be a thick, mask-like cover. Your dermatologist can recommend make-up for your skin type, too.

For concealers, you can choose between liquid and stick-type concealers (the latter looks like flesh-colored lipstick). There are also "healing" concealers available that contain substances that are supposed to help heal acne. Generally, if you have large areas to conceal, a thick, liquid type concealer might work better than a stick. For those with a few blemishes, sticks can give excellent coverage.

What's the Best Technique for Concealing?

To conceal your acne effectively, you'll need a light base and a concealer. Powder is not necessarily essential, although some people like to use it.

The first step is to cleanse your skin with whatever cleansing product you use to heal your acne. Pat, don't rub your face dry.

Next, gently apply your base make-up in a thin layer, taking care not to scratch or rub your acne in the process.

Now comes the concealer. If you are using a stick-type concealer, some sources recommend going with a green-colored one (since green is the opposite of the red-colored pimples you're trying to conceal). If you use a greenish concealer, apply it first.

Then, dab concealer on the blemishes. Don't rub it in; instead, blend it into your skin tone by gently patting or dabbing with your fingertip.

If desired, finish with a light layer of translucent powder.

Prevention is Better than Cure

It is difficult to find a commercial product that will cure acne or even clear it up for a prolonged period. If you can prevent acne from growing on your skin in the irst place, this is a far more effective way of dealing with the issue.

There are numerous things you can do to aid this, and some of the most effective of these are as follows:

Wash your face twice a day. Do not scrub, and do not use a harsh cleanser. These practices will simply cause your acne to get worse instead of better.

Wash towels and pillowcases regularly. These can harbor bacteria and are regularly close to your skin.

Get regular exercise. This increases blood circulation and allows your skin to get a regular supply of oxygen. 

This is a doubly good way to prevent acne, as it is a stress reliever.

After the exercise, take a shower. Sweat is one of the major causes of grime which can get trapped in pores and cause acne Keep your hair clean and away from your face, especially while you are sleeping.

The hair catches all manner of grime simply by being so dense, and also has its own natural oil supply. For the same reason, try to avoid using gels which will replicate the oils you are trying to minimise around your face.

Drink plenty of water. This helps detoxify the body and hydrates the skin, which allows dead skin to fall away and be replaced by smooth, blemish-free skin.

Should you pop a pimple?

One of the most common pieces of advice that we receive as children and adolescents is “don’t squeeze it/pick it, you’ll just make it worse!”.

Frequently this is extremely good advice, as picking at a blemish is likely to spread it further and create a wider surface area of exposed skin ripe for infection. Picking should not be part of your skin care regime.

However, there is a place for popping pimples or zits every once in a while, once they have “crowned” – just make sure you do it at the right time and in the right way, or expect it to come back bigger and bring friends.

After a shower or a bath is the ideal time to pop a zit, It is at this point that the skin is able to breathe and will be less affected by a small prick with a needle. Make sure the needle has been sterilised and then gently pierce the surface. 

Taking two pieces of tissue paper, cover your index fingers or thumbs and push firmly down on the sides. This part is most enjoyable when done in front of a mirror, as it allows you to see the popping with your own eyes.

Drain as much pus as you comfortably can, and stop if you see blood. Some spots, however ready and ripe they may look, will not pop at this stage. 

Whatever you do, don’t force it. It will hurt, and even if it does pop it will leave a scar. Play the waiting game, and you will be rewarded.

Getting Rid of Adult Acne

When you kissed goodbye to your teens, it wasn’t just the end of an era of freedom and happiness. No, for many of us the end of adolescence was marked more by the departure of the majority of our skin problems. It is pretty galling when they then return as we enter our thirties and prepare to enjoy the decade that should be our prime.

Having to spend time getting rid of the acne and blackheads all over again feels like such a waste of time when you have an adult life to lead. No matter – with what you learned as a teenager and what you know now, this time you can beat it once and for all.

Spotting acne before it goes too far is the first thing you need to do. Generally the first outward sign of an acne breakout is the appearance of blackheads. As oil and dead skin collects in the pores of your skin they mix with bacteria and air and turn black.

These can be removed with a good exfoliant, massaged across your face gently but firmly. Pore cleansing strips are also excellent for getting out the pesky hard-to-get ones.

Additionally, now that you are an adult you may have a bit more cash in the bank. This could well be put to good use at the spa, where trained beauticians will give you a facial that clears away the bad stuff on the outside.

As for the bad stuff inside, stress and hormonal imbalance are your enemies. Look for a de-stressing method, and speak to your doctor about options for stimulating or retarding the production of a troublesome hormone.

Causes of adult acne – Why, after all these years

Causes of adult acne – Why, after all these years?

Adult acne seems like the most unreasonable thing that mother nature can throw at you as you move into your late twenties and thirties. 

As trade-offs go, having to hold down a job and pay bills is probably a fair price to pay for not having your teen acne bringing you down. But then adult acne shows up and all of a sudden you have the worst of both worlds. 

What is going on? Your voice broke years ago, you aren’t getting any taller and you’ve stopped blushing at the most inopportune of times. So why are you all of a sudden dealing with blackheads and zits again? 

The chances are that you fall into one or more of three categories. The main three causes of adult acne are hormones, stress and genetic predisposition. 

Hormonal imbalances can be caused by a number of different factors, some of which are environmental and others which are down to more specific factors. Either way, it can trigger a case of acne. Alternatively you may be experiencing a great deal of stress in the workplace or in your personal life. 

Stress causes the overproduction of stress hormones, which are a guaranteed way of causing acne. Finally, genetics are known to play a part in causing adult acne – if your parents, or one of them, were prone to it then you may well be too. 

In fact, if even one of your parents was a sufferer of adult acne, the chances that you will be as well quadruple. Hardly fair, is it?

Side effects of Acne Medication – is it worth the risk

Side effects of Acne Medication – is it worth the risk?

There are numerous acne medications available to the consumer in this day and age. The choice ranges from gentle medications which seek to promote the production of natural defences against the causes of acne, to very powerful chemical compounds which are often characterised as “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut”. 

If you have the room to swing a sledgehammer, and you really want to eat a nut, then maybe these are for you. However, the side effects are enough to make anyone think twice. Isotretinoin is one of, if not the most powerful anti-acne compounds available today. 

Better-known by its commercial name, Accutane, it is used as a last resort almost exclusively in cases of cystic acne. It has been proven to get results, but at a cost. Pregnant women, or those who are planning a pregnancy, are advised to steer clear as it can cause birth defects such as hearing and visual impairment, facial disfigurement and mental retardation. 

In addition it has been linked with depression, muscle aches and hair thinning among other problems. Birth control pills have also been indicated as a good way of treating acne due to their activity on the hormonal imbalances that can plague a sufferer. 

However, oral contraceptives have been linked to depression as well as an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes or breast cancer. It should be noted that this increased risk may still place you very low on a list of “at risk patients”, and consultation with a doctor should give you all the information you need in order to medicate safely.

Can Acne Be Cured ?

Can Acne Be Cured ?

For those who suffer from acne, the number one question that may be bothering you is, can it be cured? Because acne varies from individual to individual, the answer is general yes - depending on the treatment approach and type of acne. Here are some of the possible "cures" for acne, from natural home remedies to more medical approaches.

Probiotics

Some proponents of natural health - particularly those who practice traditional Chinese medicine - believe that the skin reflects the state of the digestive organs.

According to this view, acne is evidence that the body is trying to rid itself of toxins that have accumulated due to poor digestion and elimination. For this reason, probiotics are sometimes suggested as a form of acne cure for those who take a more natural approach to health. Probiotics are said to improve digestive health, which is then reflected in the skin.

Diet

Some interesting evidence has come to light that connects diet and acne. Most notable is the possible role that insulin plays in skin health - studies show that high levels of insulin correlate with the presence of acne. Diets high in sugar and refined grains tend to increase the body's insulin levels (sometimes causing "spikes" in blood sugar followed by "crashes"). Thus, a diet that does not cause increased insulin - such as the one that includes whole grains, lean protein, and a little sugar - could help cure acne.  

Nutrition

Some health experts point to vitamin and mineral deficiencies as causing or worsening acne. Vitamins A, B-complex vitamins (especially B6), E, and C are vitamins that are said to be especially important for skin health. Chromium and zinc are considered important minerals. So making sure you get these important nutrients via supplements or foods might prove to be a beneficial step toward curing your acne. 

Homemade Cleansers

Some people have success treating their acne with homemade cleansers. Here are a couple of ideas.

* Mix 1/4 cup of Greek-style plain yogurt (or strained plain yogurt) with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Gently massage into skin and rinse with lukewarm water.

* Crush an aspirin tablet and add it to 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt along with 1 teaspoon honey. Use as a cleanser twice a day or as an occasional mask.

OTC Cleansers and Treatments

There are some cleansers and topical treatments available over-the-counter (OTC) that may help cure acne. Experts recommend cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide.

Antibiotics

Sometimes, your dermatologist may feel that antibiotics are warranted to treat your acne. For some people, a course of antibiotics does act as a cure, because once the infection has cleared up, the skin can recover.

Steroids

For very inflammatory acne, such as cystic acne or nodules, doctors may prescribe steroids. These are either injected or applied topically. Steroids reduce inflammation and help stop the cycle of acne formation.

Ice Pick Scars – The Most Common Acne Scar

The Most Common Acne Scar

 There are four major types of acne scar which affect acne sufferers in a major way.

They are, in order of regularity: ice pick scars; boxcar scars; rolling scars and hypertrophic or keloid scars.

The most common of these is the ice pick scar, it is not difficult to work out how this kind of scar got its name – in short, it looks as though the sufferer has been attacked with an ice pick or a similarly sharp, thin instrument. Ice pick scars are characterised by their depth and their narrowness.

Some people say that ice pick scars look like a hyper-large open pore.The way that an ice pick scar is formed explains its unique appearance.

Usually a result of cystic acne, the scar develops after a cyst, or other rooted, inflamed blemish works its way up from the inner layers of dermis. Al the skin tissue in its path, and nothing else, is effectively burrowed away, leaving behind this long and deep scar. If seen as a cross-section diagram, an ice pick scar looks like a deep, narrow ravine.

Treatment is available to improve the appearance of ice pick scars, if not remove the scarring entirely.

The most popular metjhod of treatment is a form of surgery known as punch excision. A small tool is pressed into the skin like a cookie-cutter in order to pull away individual scars.

The wound, scarcely any wider than the original scar, is then closed using surgical stitches or skin glue. Once it has healed, the skin looks a great deal more normal.

Box Car Scars – The Aftermath of Inflammation

Box Car Scars – The Aftermath of Inflammation

Although not as common as ice pick scars, nor as  pronounced, box car scars are a familiar type of acne  scar, most frequently found after an inflammatory acne  breakout. 

In comparison with ice pick scars, box car  scars are a good deal wider and though not quite as  deep as ice pick scars they do give the skin a  somewhat pitted appearance. Usually a box car scar will be round or oval in shape and have steep sides.   

They are recognisable for the amount of tissue that is removed to make them. The box car scar is created when an inflammatory  breakout of acne strikes, destroying some of the collagen which gives facial skin its rubbery, flexible texture. 

Where the tissue is effectively burned away by the inflammation, the skin is left without support and develops a sunken look. 

There is no set level of severity for a box car scar, and it is recognised purely by its shape. They can consequently be fairly superficial or very severe depending on the severity of the breakout and the amount of tissue destroyed. 

To treat a box car scar, it is possible to use punch excision, although the nature of that form of surgery is more suited to ice pick scars. Instead, punch elevation is a more frequent choice for surgeons. 

This style of surgery involves cutting out the base of the scar and lifting (or elevating) it to a point where it is level with the surrounding skin. It is then held in place using surgical sutures until it heals, leaving the skin looking much less pitted

Rolling Scars – A Rare Form of Acne Scar, But Unpleasant Nonetheless

A Rare Form of Acne Scar

Although the majority of scarring caused by acne, particularly facial breakouts, falls into the  categories of ice pick or box car scarring, there are other forms of scar which can afflict the acne  sufferer.

One of the two other major forms of scar is the rolling scar, which is characterised by a rolling appearance, almost like a wave breaking across the skin.

The skin around it will look absolutely normal, which throws the scarring into an ever clearer view.

It is a form of scarring that causes discomfort and embarrassment.

It is caused when a fibrous band of tissue forms  between the top layer of skin and the subcutaneous tissue as a result of weakening of the connection.

These fibrous bands exert a pull on the epidermis and cause it to cling to the deeper structures of the skin. The aesthetic result of this pull is that some of the skin appears sunken while that around it is where it would usually be.

This creates the familiar,wave-like appearance which, when moving, appears to be as the name would suggest, rolling across the skin.In order to get rid of rolling scars on the skin, the most popular method of surgery is called subcision. 

This name comes from the Latin terms “Sub”, meaning underneath and “incisio”, meaning to cut.

The practice of subcision involves cutting underneath the skin’s surface and inserting a needle which is used to cut out the fibrous tissue that his holding down the top layer of skin when this is done, the epidermis is freed and able to move independently

Home Acne Remedies - Acne Vulgaris

Home Acne Remedies - Acne Vulgaris

Although there is a big market for specific acne treatments, and it continues to grow, there is no  product currently available that will fully clear the problem up on its own without having major side  effects.

As has been shown by clinical studies, there are dangers involved in taking any of the most  effective medication for the problem of acne vulgaris. 

The best strategy is to take a holistic approach  designed to deal with the internal problems which cause the external breakouts, and deal with the  problems externally as they occur.

There are, however, some home remedies which will suffice as short-term measures to deal with the external problems. 

One of these is white vinegar. Available freely in any supermarket and a staple product in many kitchens, it can be used as a facial application. After washing your face with mild soap, apply the vinegar using a cotton ball and leave it to sit for ten minutes before rinsing it off. If you have sensitive skin, beware the strength of the vinegar,and water it down if you have concerns. 

Steaming your face is also a worthwhile pursuit in  clearing the skin of any impurities. By pouring a kettle full of freshly boiled tap water into a basin,  then adding a few drops of essential oil, you can create a steam bath by putting a towel over your head and placing your head a safe distance above the steam after five minutes, you should then wash your face with cold water to rinse away any impurities which have seeped out, and help close the pores.

Hypertrophic Scars – Not Something You Need To Face

Not Something You Need To Face

 

 Among the many types of acne scar that can be found regularly among sufferers, the hypertrophic scar is unique in that it is rarely found on the face of a sufferer.

It is also rare in that it is not seen where tissue has been eaten away by a breakout of acne, but rather where there has been extra tissue created.

A hypertrophic scar – taken from the term “hypertrophy” which means an increase in the size of an organ due to overgrowth of cells – actually stands out from the skin rather than being sunken into it.

Most usually, hypertrophic scars are to be found on the torso of a male sufferer and look like a raised, firm bump of tissue.

Often, a hypertrophic scar will grow larger than the original wound and they happen as the result of an overproduction of collagen, the tissue that allows our skin to be flexible enough that we can manipulate it easily.

Hypertrophic scars are often confused with “Keloid” scars. Keloid scars routinely overgrow the area of the original injury,and may affect the ability to move the skin in the area where they grow.

In order to treat a hypertrophic or Keloid scar,cortisone is injected into the affected area,shrinking and flattening the scar tissue area.

The shrinking and removal of this scar tissue is also aided by a softening process involving the injection of Interferon. If you suffer a hypertrophic scar and cannot fund the surgery, it may not be that big a deal – they often decrease in size and improve in appearance over a short time.

Excoriated Acne – If you pick at it, it WILL get Worse

Excoriated Acne

 

When your mother used to tell you that picking at a cut would make it worse, she wasn’t kidding.

If you are still doing it to this day, however, then the chances are that you have a compulsive skin picking

disorder – apparently not that uncommon in this day and age.

But picking at a healed cut or spot is a big mistake. It can lead to a small scab becoming a large wound, and can very easily result in infection. The unsightly blemish that results is known as excoriated acne.

“Excoriate” means to strip the hide or skin off something. It is a word that is used figuratively as much as anything, often being used to explain the severe telling off that an unruly child might get from a parent.

But it does have a literal application, and the obsessive habit of picking at our skin is an example of how excoriation is a genuine problem. Anyone can develop excoriated acne, but it is more common among women.

Excoriated acne is the result of a desire to pick, squeeze, or scratch at blemishes, even creating new blemishes in some cases.

This leads to open sores which, when they scab over, are prime for picking again. It can be a very hard habit to break, sometimes only stopping when the skin ceases scabbing. At this point, what you are left with is open red sores and inflammation.

This is excoriated acne, and can be very unsightly and also potentially very unhealthy

Laser Treatment – The Fight Against Acne

Laser Treatment – Burning Acne Away Without Harming You?

 

The fight against acne is one that has been going on since the time of the Ancient Romans, and is one that is set to continue for a while yet. Acne is not a syndrome that takes the punishment lying down, and as a result the keenest minds in dermatology have as yet delivered only short-term fixes and imperfect solutions.

One way that is being looked at as a potential preventative against acne formation is laser technology. Currently used in the removal and reduction of acne scarring, it has been earmarked by scientists as a potential weapon in the “war on acne”

The idea behind this laser therapy is that the laser will burn away the follicle sac in which hair grows along with the sebaceous gland where the oil is produced, as a result causing oxygen to form in the bacteria, killing them at a stroke.

There are concerns, which may be obvious to those who understand how lasers work. The danger is that heat damage to the skin may cause long-term dryness and spots.

The United States Food and Drug Adminstration has approved the small-scale use of lasers for the treatment of acne, and results have so far been mixed.

Among other problems, it has emerged that some of the laser devices were affected by coolant failure, causing patients to suffer painful burning injuries.

The treatment is quite expensive due to its small-scale operation and as yet the technology has not been perfected. It is not being ruled out for potential future use, but laser treatment is, for now, not a solution that is broadly available.