Archive for October, 2009

Finding the right cystic acne treatment for you can be a very hard task. Every month the cystic acne treatments selling session is estimated in millions of dollars. Most of the people who suffer from this skin disorder are running from treatment to treatment just to find out that nothing is working. This situation can get you frustrated, out of money and basically with no cure for your acne.

There is no magical formula that will cure cystic acne in 3 days; in fact curing acne can take few months and even up to one year if done correctly. You have to beware of all those products available in the market that promising quick fix for severe skin disorders. I don’t say that they are fraud but you have to use extreme caution just because the possibility that this treatment might not be suitable for you and even make you condition worse.

We all have different skin, therefore acne treatment that would be good for a person with oily skin will not be good for a person that have dry skin. The most useful thing to do is to consult a professional doctor who will give you prescription that is effective for you. Prepare for a long run, your cystic acne condition will get worse before it’s get better so don’t be frustrated if something doesn’t works as you expected after few weeks. Quitting in a middle of the treatment is not a good option.

If you would like to learn how to get rid of acne, than you have to learn about a healthy lifestyle as well. There is no point in using antibiotic, creams and other treatments if you don’t exercise, don’t eating healthy food and keep using the wrong makeup for you. Curing cystic acne is possible with the right knowledge, guidance and of course patience.

What is Acne Vulgaris? This is a medical term used to describe most cases of acne. It really isn’t as bad as it sounds! Vulgaris doesn’t mean that the acne is vulgar, only that it means that it is common.

Be aware that there are many factors that contribute to acne. First, research indicates a propensity for acne may well be inherited. Parents who had acne in their teenage and young adult years may have children who are likewise prone to having acne in their teen and young adult years.

Next, clogged skin pores are certainly a major contributing factor for acne out-breaks. When pores become clogged with an excess production of sebum and mix with dead skin cells or makeup that isn’t sufficiently cleaned from the skin, problems start to develop. When skin pores are clogged, bacteria are produced and pus starts to form causing a pimple, a white head or a black head.

The most commonly accepted causes for acne are hormonal imbalances. Hormones in boys and girls may become unbalanced during puberty, during menstrual cycles, when starting or stopping birth control pills, during times of extreme stress, and at other times as well.

All of the above situations can cause the body to over produce a male hormone which causes the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. The sebum combines with dead skin cells to block pores and acne develops. So, basically, it still comes back to blocked pores.

Other causes for acne include a lack of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that the body needs to maintain a healthy skin. Vitamins A, E and B6 are especially important in maintaining healthy skin as are zinc, essential fatty acids (EFA), Chromium and Selenium.

Most diets of teenagers and young adults do not contain these vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in sufficient quantity to maintain healthy skin and to help prevent the onset of Acne.

Acne: The 8 Stages:

Full blown, Stage 8 acne doesn’t usually develop overnight. Acne is progressive condition. Acne is one of the diseases that are so common that it is sometimes just disregarded as a serious problem…like the common cold. It has been estimated that 95 of people will have at least a mild case of acne at some point in their lives.

Acne, much like the common cold, is usually treated by the sufferer with over-the-counter medications that alleviate the symptoms of the disease in the belief that it will simply go away all by itself….eventually. And, it usually does but not always.

Most people throughout their life will have the occasional pimple, zit, white head or black head.

Although these pesky little outbreaks do seem to appear at the most inopportune times, they really aren’t a serious problem that requires medical attention. A little over-the-counter acne facial wash to help prevent another outbreak will usually take care of the problem. It isn’t a big deal. This kind of acne is referred to as Stage 0 and really nothing to be concerned about unless the acne progresses to subsequent stages.

Acne stages are graded from 0 through 8. Zero is the least severe and 8 is the most serious of the stages. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: There will be white heads and black heads with some mild inflammation. The outbreaks will start to occur more frequently. Using products that contain Benzyl Peroxide are in order.

Stage 2: There will be some papules in addition to the white heads and black heads. Papules are skin lesions that are solid and raised but usually small. This is still considered to be a very mild case of acne. Treatment can be continued using over-the-counter products that contain Salicylic Acid.

Stage 3: Stage 3 is the same as stage 2 but with more frequent occurrences.

Stage 4-5: Pustules begin to appear. Now, it’s time to schedule an appointment at a dermatologist.

Stage 6-7: Nodules and cysts are forming. Scarring is going to start happening at this stage. Your dermatologist will begin to take more drastic action.

Stage 8: Breakouts are almost continuous and include nodules and cysts. There are modern technologies that will help and your dermatologist will advise you.

Acne Skin Care:

As we know, our hair follicles secrete sebum. Sebum makes its way up the hair follicles to the skin pores where it lubricates and protects the skin. Sometimes there are oil glands which get overworked, get enlarge, and produce too much sebum. The sebum can get trapped in the hair follicle.

When this happens the pores get clogged and black heads or white heads form and the bacteria start to multiply at an alarmingly fast rate.

Once you understand this process, you can see the reasoning behind the advice about caring for skin that has black heads, white heads and pustules on it.

The first piece of advice about caring for acne infected skin is to never pick at the pimples. Don’t try to pop them and drain them. This will not cure them no matter what anybody tells you. Popping them will only serve to make them worse…not better.

However, there are things that you can do that really will help.

The first thing you can do is to wash your face with a mild soap or a sulfur based soap. Wash your face with just your finger tips. Don’t ever use a wash cloth as it holds germs and bacteria. Rinse your face with clean water several times to ensure you remove all traces of soap, and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub your face with the towel and never use the same towel twice without it being clean.

Take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement every day and drink at least 8 full glasses of water (not soda) every day. The vitamins and minerals will supply nutrients that are absent from most diets and the water will help to hydrate the skin as well as to flush toxins out of your system.

If you use over-the-counter acne medications, be certain that you follow the directions carefully and that you use a good sunscreen when you are outdoors as some acne medications make the skin more prone to sunburn.

Adult Acne:

Acne is not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Once a person survives the teenage years, you would think that they don’t have to deal with the embarrassment of acne any longer, right? Well….not exactly.

The sad truth is that about 25 of women will have acne at some time in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. Although there has never been a real cause established, it is believed that most adult acne is caused by the same thing that causes teenage acne…hormonal changes.

A doctor will sometimes prescribe hormonal treatments that will clear a case of adult acne right up. As with teenage acne, adult acne is not caused by diet. Stress has often been cited as one possible cause of adult acne but that assertion has never been verified.

Treating adult acne is a bit more difficult than treating teenage acne. Adults have the concern of drying out their skin that teenagers don’t normally have to deal with. Adults don’t want pimples; but, they don’t want wrinkles, either. A dermatologist should be consulted if the acne is long lasting or is severe.

There are many treatments that are available to adults who suffer from acne. Most of the effective treatments are only available by prescription. Adults should not use over-the-counter acne medications that are intended for the treatment of teenage acne. These products tend to dry the skin and adults need to be concerned about wrinkling as well as acne.

A case of adult acne is not a happy occurrence to say because those ugly bumps always seem to occur at the most inopportune times and while a teenager may be embarrassed by acne, an adult is even more devastated.

Fortunately, there are treatments and a dermatologist has a lot of weapons in his arsenal to fight adult acne.

Acne Scar Removal Options:

Life hardly seems fair sometimes! First, a teenager or a young adult must suffer through acne, treat it, and have to live with it…sometimes for years. Then the acne is gone; but, the scars are there as a painful reminder of the mental and emotional agony the acne sufferer had to endure.

You’re right, life doesn’t seem fair; but, acne is one of those sad facts of life that some if not most of us have to deal with. The good news is there is help; unfortunately, it isn’t free or cheap!

There are two basic procedures that are used to remove ugly pits and scars left over from a bad case of teenage or young adult acne. Laser resurfacing is the least expensive of the two available acne scar removal procedures. Dermabrasion is the second procedure.

Laser resurfacing can be done in the dermatologist office instead of a hospital so that provides a much greater financial savings. A laser is used to remove the top layer of skin and also to tighten the middle layer of skin.

The dermatologist will use a local anesthetic to help reduce the procedure pain. It usually takes several days for the skin to heal after a laser resurfacing procedure is completed. Very often, multiple resurfacing treatments must be done to achieve the desired results.

The second procedure used to remove acne scarring is called dermabrasion. In this procedure, a rotating wire brush is used to remove the top layer of skin. The body continually produces new skin and the new layer will be smoother than the layer that was removed. It usually takes between 10 days and 3 weeks for the skin to heal after a dermabrasion treatment. Once again, multiple treatments may be required to eliminate the scarring.

Acne may seem to be a devastating condition but with proper skin routine, vitamins, and over the counter products, most cases will not be severe. Remember, proper cleansing goes a long way towards minimizing outbreaks, so don’t be afraid to cleanse your face 5 – 6 times a day of more if needed.

Fight acne by being smart. Take as many preventative steps as possible to avoid situations that create the opportunity for acne to develop. If acne does afflict you, acne treatment Just click

- Homemade Skin Care Remedies – Face Masks and Facials -

Stop paying high prices for you skin care masks and facials.

With the economy slowing and purse (or wallet) strings getting tighter, high-priced skin care may not be at the top of your spending list. Don’t fret, however, there are many homemade skin care remedies you can whip-up at home to give yourself (and skin) a spa-like experience.

Want to make yourself look and feel better without dropping big dollars at the spa or on pricey body scrubs or masks? Then, make yourself a great face mask right in your own home! Here are some homemade skin care remedies that will help cleanse, smooth and refresh!

What Do Face Masks Do For Your Skin?

The greatest advantage of home facials is that you are using natural ingredients that are excellent for your skin. Oily skin, for example, gets cleansed and exfoliated with the appropriate face mask. In general, this inexpensive beauty treatment removes dead skin cells, excess sebum and tones, making your face look bright, healthy and firm. A good face mask makes you feel fresh and confident and leaves your skin looking lovely.

Face Masks You Can Make At Home

Here are some delightful masks that you can easily make yourself using ingredients that are readily available at home or at the supermarket.

• Vegetable Mask – Try this great vegetable mask to refreshen and add nutrients: Mix half a tomato that has been crushed after taking out the seeds and skin with a teaspoon of mashed cucumber, 3 crushed mint leaves, 3 teaspoons of oatmeal powder and 2 teaspoons yoghurt. Keep it on your face for about ten minutes for fresh, healthy looking skin.
• Fruit & Cream Mask – Another good face pack is a mixture of watermelon, papaya and cream left on your skin for at least twenty minutes. A mixture of bananas, avocado or strawberries, and cream and lemon juice also invigorates the skin.
• Cleansing Mask – A cleansing mask that is good for any type of skin is a mixture of half a tablespoon of yogurt, one teaspoon lemon juice, one tablespoon powdered yeast and a teaspoon each of carrot juice, orange juice and olive oil.
• Almond and Milk Moisturizer – Almonds soaked in milk overnight and ground into a paste cleanses and moisturizes the skin, while honey helps to remove blemishes. Enlarged pores can be reduced by applying a mixture of orange and lemon juice to the face. Dark circles under the eyes can be reduced with tea bags or a piece of cotton dipped in cucumber juice.
• Spa Special – Simple masks include a mixture of oatmeal and water, left on the skin until dry, a mixture of dried, soaked and mashed apricots with a little skim milk powder, a mixture of yeast, lemon juice and water, and a mixture of honey, egg white, lemon juice and yoghurt.

Mixing olive oil and lemon juice well is very good for older skin. It replenishes oils and hydration and helps even skin tone. For a light application, you can even leave it on overnight.

Try out some of these homemade skin care face masks – you’ll be delighted with the effects.

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- A Dedicated Guide to Anti Aging Skin Care Treatments -

In the presence of many skin treatments like, oral pills, laser treatments, and other exercising techniques to lift skin; using an effective cream is still the cheap, long term way with generally more effects. Because of the glamorous world and fast life style, anti aging skin care treatment is becoming an anxiety especially in women.

Wrinkles and aging signs, clearly if it’s pre-mature, can show a lack of self care, a bad eating routine, stress and other factors. It also shows an internal disorder or malnutrition. This article well help you find the best anti aging skin care treatment for yourself.

First and foremost, drink lots of water; hydrate yourself because there is no alternative to drinking water. It not only helps in reducing blemishes and moisturizing your skin, but also acts as an anti toxin and removes noxious materials from our body.

Eat a balanced diet which also contains the proper amount of vitamins and minerals because deficiency of any one of them or many of them can lead to skin disorders like dryness, blemishes, patches, wrinkles etc. Fresh fruits and green vegetables can provide us with the essential nutrients we need. Include them in your diet.

Always wear a sunscreen while going out in the sun because direct exposure to the sun affects the complexion, dehydrates the skin, and can cause sun burns and ultimately, it is the major cause of pre-mature aging, wrinkles and fine lines. Use a sun screen that is made up of natural extracts and has an SPF of at least 15.

Home remedies can also have a dynamic effect as an anti aging skin care treatment. Use lemon extracts, rose water and milk baths. It will help your skin in healing and becoming more resistant towards heat and dryness.

Vitamin C and a protein known as collagen are excellent for skin healing and restoring the elasticity of the skin and are proven to control pre-mature wrinkles and aging signs whilst making skin firm. Similarly, elastin is also known to protect the skin against sagging. There are many products available which contain these ingredients, look out and find one for your skin and apply them every morning and evening.

The products which you can use in your anti aging skin care treatment should always include natural ingredients like Phytessence Wakame, Cynergy TK and CoQ10, among many other antioxidant agents which assure you a younger and fresher skin and only in less than two weeks. Since they are all natural extracts, there are no side effects from the substances.

If you follow them regularly, flawless and glowing skin is only a couple of months away.

John Gibb is a dedicated researcher of skin care health and products. He shares his research on his website – Natural Skincare. If you have unwanted wrinkles, fine lines and damaged skin, visit – How to achieve the best looking skin naturally now to learn about the skin care line our editors personally use and recommend.

We have personally been using these products with excellent results.

Acne redness is not much discussed like other acne problems has scarring, pimple problems and other more severe acne problems are, but acne  redness is an issue that should be discussed with the same importance.

If you want to get rid of acne redness, reading this article can help you get started in your acne treatment program. Unfortunately a large percentage of the population suffer from acne at some point in their life. Acne redness can be particularly embarrassing as it gives the face (or other affected area) a permanent flush and is very noticeable. Many people still suffer from acne redness even after the spots have disappeared – this can be due to scarring or irritation of the skin. There is hope though and various treatments ranging from natural treatments to even surgery – but I advise the natural approach if possible!

To get rid of acne redness you will need to tackle the acne itself first and do your best to tackle the root of the problem. Acne is usually brought about by hormonal increases, lack of skin hygiene but can also be caused and aggravated by nutritional deficiencies, food allergies, intolerances, poor diet and bad skin care. Acne redness can be made worse by picking of spots and skin agitation. Very often one can benefit from increasing skin hygiene by properly cleansing the skin twice daily with an antiseptic wash and avoiding squeezing spots! There are some effective skin care products for acne which can help but this is only a surface handling – to resolve acne for good, you need to dig a bit further and get to the true cause of the problem. Also, avoid harsh skin products which may be drying out your skin too much and causing further agitation and redness of the skin.

Often seeing a nutritionist and dermatologist can help but these can be expensive and sometimes it is hard to find good specialists. Another suggestion is to try one of the information products available on how to tackle acne naturally at home. These often include education on what successful nutritional and skin care steps to follow.

The other option is to resort to medication to handle acne but I do not advise this unless all other attempts have failed. There are various medications used to handle acne. One of the milder treatments is the oral contraceptive pill used to treat women with acne. This is used to re-balance a hormonal imbalance, although the vast majority of women do not have a hormonal imbalance but it is effective for those who do. Other treatments include antibiotics and medications such as Isotretinoin and Nicotinamide. Antibiotics can be effective but the body can only tolerate being on them for limited periods – so this may not be the ideal long-term solution. Some of the medications like Isotretinoin can have harmful side effects ranging from skin peeling to severe depression! Therefore, I advise you try a natural approach first and attempt to handle acne without drugs or harsh chemicals first.

Acne scarring can be another source of lasting acne redness and can be treated by certain surgical procedures like dermabrasion and chemical peels. These can be uncomfortable though and again, a natural approach may be able to help the body heal itself and reduce scars and acne redness. For instance, vitamin E is very effective in helping reduce scars but it is not the only natural treatment available. A nutritional and natural skin care program could go a long way in helping calm the skin down and heal scars and therefore reduce acne redness.

Acne redness can be reduced by reducing any acne one currently has and then taking further steps to handle any scarring and skin agitation if needed. Usually if acne is handled fast enough, the risks of scarring can be greatly reduced. A natural approach is best as it can assist the body to heal itself, and a total program which tackles the problem from all angles is suggested. It is best to avoid medications and harsh surgical procedures if possible.

Susan Brown is an expert in the field of acne treatments and recommends handling acne from a total approach to handle acne redness for good.

Click here to see which acne treatment she recommends the most.

Acne also known as acne vulgaris is a worldwide skin disorder and can affect many people’s lives notably for those who have harsh acne on their skin. These people tend to be less self-confident and lose their self-esteem and get frustrated easily when other people look at them. If only you knew in the first place why you get acne, you can easily tackle the problem to its roots.

While there are some factors that are out of your control primarily for teenagers concerning hormonal changes in their bodies which are one of the causes for acne development, there are other factors that you can control to prevent acne or reduce acne proliferation. There is no magical instant secret to prevent acne but rather a natural real secret which is found in just our lifestyle. Just how we live and eat can impact in the formation of acne without knowing. So if you change your lifestyle and improve it, you can prevent acne or simply reduce the effect.

Here are some 3 simple acne preventing tips.

(1) Stress

Stress has its role to play in the appearance of acne. When you’re under stress, your body produces more hormones than usual and as a result, more sebum. This sticky substance renders the skin oily and aids in the development of acne. While you can’t avoid stress completely, you can at least deal with it and try to destress yourself by means of relaxation, meditation, yoga, deep breathing, exercise, music, taichi, a warm bath etc… Don’t stress yourself too much as far as possible and even if you have, combat it by trying to relax your body every way you can. This will help in preventing or reducing acne.

(2) Exercise

Exercise is highly recommended just for the sake of staying healthy. But exercise does not only help in keeping fit but it can prevent acne as well. Regular exercises improve the blood flow to your skin and provides oxygen to your skin cells. Sweating is a good thing as your skin pores can be cleaned inside resulting in a healthier skin with less acne formation or acne disappearance. Like mentioned above, stress contributes to the over-production of hormones and exercise can rebalance them and as a result, acne is prevented or reduced.

As exercising improves fitness overall, the organs of your body will work much better and toxins will be released faster from your body along with the sweat. Toxins are among one of the culprits for acne outbreak and when you remain inactive physically, they can stay in your body. Also, drink lots of water when you exercise as the latter will remove the toxins from your body. Engage yourself in exercises like brisk walking, jogging, cycling and swimming.

(3) Diet

A poor diet is one of the major causes of acne. If you find yourself eating too many of the wrong types of foods, you might not be aware but there are great chances that these foods are contributing to your acne formation. Read my article specifically focused on diet and acne “Acne Diet – Acne Cure Diet Treatment”.

So now that you have these 3 simple acne preventing tips, pay proper attention to them and you can prevent or reduce your acne from now on. Good luck.

This article can be freely published on a website as long as it’s not modified in any way including the author bylines, plus all the hyperlinks must be made active just like below.

About The Author

Jean Lam used to struggle with acne for years until he discovered this 1 acne remedy which changed his life for good.