Friday, July 31, 2009

How To Get Rid Of Blackheads Using Both Natural and OTC Treatments For Acne

Many of us are asking, how to get rid of blackheads? We all know that acne has been one of the most chronic skin conditions that affect the lives of millions of people for a very long time for both young people and adults.

Acne greatly affects the lives of many people. There are natural and over the counter remedies for blackheads and pimples available.

One of the most suggested acne prevention guidelines is to never pop, squeeze or pick at your blackheads and whiteheads.

One of the best type of natural remedies for acne is by washing the face tenderly with a mild soap or sulfur soap at least two times a day. This can help prevent the onset and spread of whiteheads and blackheads. This is one of the best ways on how to get rid of blackheads because it’s so simple to do once you get into the habit.

Some acne experts considered the act of giving anti-acne products enough time to clear up the blackheads as one of the best acne prevention moves to take on how to get rid of blackheads. Just try to remember that this acne technique can take a number of weeks or even months to clear up your skin.

Several of the acne prevention specialists also suggest certain nonprescription topical medications for the acne prevention of whiteheads.

One of the acne prevention agents that are often used these days that are over the counter is known as benzoyl peroxide. This acne medication is actually the active ingredient in a number of the over the counter acne topical treatments for pimples.

There are other acne agents and products that are available when asking how to get rid of blackheads and prescribed antibiotics that can help kill the acne bacteria which lead to blackheads and whiteheads. In particular, a prescribed acne prevention medicine called accutane is available for treating the severe and nodular acne types.

Acne is a common skin disease that can be triggered by some factors like contact with an oily substance, use of particular acne medications, and the secretion of hormones known as androgens. About 80% of the worlds population today is affected with pimples and most of them respond to certain acne medication to achieve healthy looking skin without blackheads and whiteheads.

There is a wide variety of acne medications that are natural for acne relief.

These are known and are classified as herbal acne medications, homeopathic, and traditional.

In terms of the herbal acne medications, it is worth noting that certain herbs out there are noted to be great fighters of blackheads and whiteheads. Echinacea and poker root are known as great herbal acne home remedies because they have anti-inflammatory properties that help to get rid of both whiteheads and blackheads.

Aside from the herbal acne medications, there are also the homeopathic acne medications that are specifically used for some forms of severe acne. The acne patients with pustules and blind boils on the face, back and neck are many time treated with homeopathic acne medications like the Kalibrom. Some of the experts sometimes suggest taking selenium internally for this form of homeopathic acne relief. This is often used for people with oily skin, pustules and blackheads.

There are some traditional acne remedies that can be of great help for fighting pimples and blackheads. These are basically the over the counter and prescriptions as mentioned earlier in this article. However, they are known for having unfavorable side effects. A very good example of traditional acne medications is the use of benzoyl peroxide.

It’s best to try a few different home remedies to see which one works best for your type of skin when asking how to get rid of blackheads.

Grab Hundreds Of Secrets To Clearing Your Skin Absolutely Free! Subscribe to our newsletter and Receive a Free 5-part email report. Acne Home Remedy Scar Treatment Click Here!
http://acne.mywisdombase.com

Monday, July 27, 2009

Acne Alternative Medicine - Traditional Chinese Medicine For Acne

Studies and researches have been conducted to discover the ultimate treatment for acne. However, its causes and reactions to certain medications are still unreliable as they vary from person to person. This is the main reason why more and more people are looking into natural products and acne alternative medicine to treat the skin condition.

One alternative medicine for acne is Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years, and it's no surprise individuals are starting to embrace its healing properties as an acne alternative medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine often utilizes herbs and food sources to alleviate acne symptoms.

Diagnosis:

How is diagnosis done? In Chinese acne alternative medicine, the examiner will attempt to pinpoint the source of the condition and then recommend a treatment that corresponds to that source. There are two major factors believed to cause acne, and those are Heat and Dampness.

Inflammation Caused by Heat: in this case is associated with over exertion and excessive stimulation in the body that eventually causes inflammation. When there is too much friction or hostility in the body, it is claimed that hormonal imbalances occur and therefore cause breakouts and lesions. Pimples, rashes, infections, redness and inflammations characterize heat.

The Dampness: pertains to having too many fluids in the body, such as when water retention, indigestion, swelling and inflammation occur. It can be described as a balloon continuously being filled with water, which eventually results in swelling and rupturing. In this sense, dampness can be associated with sebum accumulation and bacterial growth. Pimples, pus, swelling, cysts and fluid expulsion characterize excess dampness.

Particular symptoms of acne can pinpoint the source of heat or dampness. With acne alternative medicine, it is believed that discovering the source of heat or dampness can help you find its corresponding treatment.

Causes of heat:

- Overworking or excessive physical activity - Emotional stress such as anger or jealousy - Over-activated hormones - Heat from the environment

Causes of dampness:

- Insufficient flushing of waste and toxins through urination and perspiration - Impaired digestive functions - Water retention in the body - Humid or very moist environment

Treatment:

What is the primary goal of Chinese acne alternative medicine? The goal of Chinese acne alternative medicine is to either stimulate or calm the body. Stimulation is associated with "hot" foods such as chili, black tea, basil, chives and cherries. Sources of food that are stimulating are used to treat acne symptoms that are caused by dampness in the body.

Calming treatments, on the other hand are associated with "cooling" foods such as cucumber, agar, egg white, banana and gluten. The food sources used in this acne alternative medicine are supposed to counteract heat in the body that causes the acne symptoms mentioned earlier.

How does this usually treat acne? Traditional Chinese treatment is an acne alternative medicine and has no scientific proof on how they can treat acne. Though, cases have shown that its utilization of natural herbs and foods may have an indirect and positive effect on the general wellness of the body. Effectiveness varies among individuals and treatment may take a certain amount of time to work. Before jumping into any acne alternative medicine, always consult your health care provider first.

Learn about the latest acne alternative medicine. Check the leading website for the best acne treatment system and get rid of your acne for good.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Acne Treatment - Past to Present

The first acne treatments developed by Dermatologists, way back in the 1800s, differ little from some over-the-counter medications you can pick up today in almost any drugstore. Sulfur was used, along with other irritants, to dry out the skin causing the blemish to peel and loosen impaction in clogged pores.

By the 1940's and 1950's drying lotions included anti-bacterial ingredients along with sulfur. The main problem with sulfur was that, although it did get results, it normally tended to lose efficacy with prolonged use. It's been shown that the skin quickly adjust to the active ingredients.

It wasn't until the use of the first antibiotic, penicillin, in acne medications that more effective antibacterial treatments came into use. However, penicillin turned out to have very little effect on acne, although it would circulate in the bloodstream it would not get into the skin. Fortunately, other antibiotics were discovered (namely tetracycline) that did penetrate into the skin. This medication, along with clindamycin and erythromycin became the preferred acne treatment for several decades.

Benzoyl peroxide has been in use for the treatment of acne since the 1920's when it's treatment efficacy was discovered by Jack Breitbart of Revlon laboratories. It became available as both an over-the-counter treatment and through prescription (at higher strengths). Its long lasting popularity is credited to its antibacterial properties and its affects as a peeling agent. Benzoyl peroxide also limited the secretion of certain oils that contained fatty acids known to contribute to acne flare-ups.

Vitamin A acid (Retin-A) was developed in the late 60's and became another important acne treatment when it came to the market in the early 1970s. Vitamin A helps acne by normalizing exfoliation inside the follicle which helps to reduce the formation of blackheads, whiteheads and other acne lesions. However, many patients have experienced significant swelling and redness in the first few weeks of use, this causes some patients to stop using it.

This has been a problem with many traditional acne treatments, they can cause extreme irritation and are proinflammatory. It seems contradictory that the cure is similar to the problem - both were inflammatory.

Building on the discovery of vitamin A, the retinoic acid derivative isotretinoin was released in 1982. Known by the trade name Accutane it has been proven effective for the treatment of an extreme form of acne known as cystic or nodular acne. It is normally taken over a 20 week course and for those affected by severe cases it has proven nothing short of a miracle. However, it has a number of possible severe side effects such as: a sudden inability to see at night (so night driving can be dangerous), intra-cranial pressure, inflammation of the liver and severe birth defects.

Oral contraceptives have also proven effective for women with acne. They work by normalizing hormonal surges that can cause acne.

Alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid and citric acid are other over-the-counter acne treatments. They proved effective at increasing the shedding of skin cells, this helps to clear out blocked follicles. They are also popular for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition to these, acne patients have been subjected to some other unusual treatments in search of a cure. Over 50years ago X-ray was used by German physicians to treat their acne patients. It was considered extremely effective at drying up the oil glands, it was even used to remove facial hair. Fast forward to today and this therapy, used on many thousands of patients, is known to have caused multiple skin cancers and cancer of the thyroid in these patients from the radiation.

Go to acne scar removal for the latest on quick, safe and effective acne treatments. Also, find out how to avoid spending a fortune to remove acne scars.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Popular Acne Treatment - Green Tea Extract

Being able to cure acne naturally with items such as green tea extract has become hugely popular over the last several years. Natural acne remedies are generally much less expensive then traditional over the counter acne remedies and are likely to produce the same skin clearing results without creating any further irritation to your skin.

Green tea has been used as an acne remedy for many years. Its ability to rid the body of irritants is very effective in clearing the skin of blemishes. If you decide to use green tea to clear up acne do not add any sweeteners to your tea as in will negate all of the positive effects that the tea can provide your skin with.

If drinking tea is not your thing then you can select for a great variety of acne fighting products containing green tea tree extract. The most popular form of acne remedy containing green tea extract is skin cream. This type of acne fighting product is gaining popularity fast among consumers as it is very easy on all skin types.

A very popular method of combating acne with green tea extract is to pair it with green tea. This is very effective, as you will not only be ridding your skin of blemishes you will also be combating the irritants from inside your body that contribute to acne forming in the first place.

Another reason products containing green tea extract are so popular is that they are very assessable. You can find them everywhere from your local grocery store, health food store and even online.

Fighting acne using natural products will always be a pleasant alternative to consumers that do not want to risk the potentially bad side effects associated with most traditional acne medications. Green tea extract should be at the top of the list of natural acne remedies for years to come.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Which Acne Alternative Treatment Is Right For Your Acne?

If you suffer from acne then you already know that there are hundreds of acne alternative treatments being sold in stores and online. In fact if you do a search for acne alternative treatments using the Internet you will find a myriad of websites that are stuffed full of testimonies from former acne sufferers who have used the latest zit and pimple treatments in order to eliminate their irritating skin blemishes. Unfortunately what these testimonies can't do for you is guarantee the elimination of your acne because every individual that has acne could very well need a different type of acne fighting solution. The actual proof is in the pudding so to speak. You won't know 100% for sure if an acne alternative treatment will cure your blackheads until you actually try it out on your acne.

For many consumers that have successfully eliminated their acne it only came after they had gone through a lineup consisting of acne topical treatments, a dose of pimple fighting antibiotics and in the most serious acne cases a prescribed treatment using Accutane. If these are considered the traditional methods of treating your acne then what about the alternative or nontraditional acne fighting solutions? Can they effectively prevent an acne outbreak from happening on your skin? Just like the routine ways of fighting zits, you won't know if an alternative method will work until you actually try it for yourself.

Before trying any alternative acne treatment it is highly recommended that you become an educated consumer. You can accomplish this task by asking around with your family and friends, chances are one of them is suffering from acne or has recently cured their acne outbreak. Check to see if they used any type of alternative means or methods to clear their skin up. If they did, then use that combination of prescribed treatment on your own acne to see if you can duplicate the same results. I'm sure you already know this, but traditional acne remedies are rather expensive. Fortunately many of the active acne fighting ingredients are the same in the cheaper alternative solutions. It may be worth it to experiment with the lesser priced creams and zit cleansing solutions in order to cure your acne at a reasonable price.

One aspiring method of alternative acne treatment involves the use of a naturopath. This professional specializes in the use of gentle cleaners made from herbs and vitamins to treat you acne. In fact, they have been known to clear up acne by prescribing a simple treatment plan consisting of regular dosages of Vitamin A, which is what the more expensive Accutane is derived from.

Another very promising method of alternate acne treatment focuses on the use of red and blue ultraviolet rays of light. This regiment of light therapy treatment can be done in the comfort of your own home with a laser that safely emits the required light rays. For a more powerful application you can seek outside help from a trained esthetician who specializes in using a more power light emitter too cure your acne.

The reality is even if traditional means of curing acne don't truly work on your eliminating your unsightly skin blemishes you don't have to despair. There are many different acne fighting alternative treatments that you can easily and safely try out to see which one is right for curing your zits and pimples.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Clear-Skin-Solutions.com. He provides more acne clearing solutions, remedies and acne alternative treatments that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Benefits of Acne Laser Treatment over Traditional Cures

Acne laser treatment is often recommended for dealing with scarring when other treatments and remedies, especially cortisone injections, have failed to have an effect. Another lesser known treatment for acne scars is cryotherapy, which uses a process to repeatedly freeze the scars to gently reduce and shrink the scar tissue.

Just to be clear, acne laser treatment is a method of treating the scar tissue of an already existing acne condition, and not a treatment to help prevent the cause of acne in the first place. Prevention is always better than cure, but if you are suffering with severe acne, it may be a treatment method you could discuss with your doctor.

A Non Invasive Drug Free Treatment The treatment itself is a much less invasive process than any form of surgery, and when combined with other acne medications, like Isotretinion, it's possible to eliminate the scar tissue and rebuild your complexion and healthy skin tone.

Laser treatments involve short bursts of soft but intense light directed at the affected areas. The aim is to target the skin glands which results in the reduction of oil secretion from the skin and pores.

The technique used in acne laser treatments involves using a laser machine to shine intense light onto the affected area of the skin. This light then actually destroys the bacteria which is the main cause of acne. A side effect is that the light therapy also promotes the production of collagen which helps reduce any scarring.

Some of the major reasons that acne laser treatment is becoming very popular is that there are no known side effects, and the success rate is fairly high. Laser treatment has been in use for several years now, with very good results. After several visits to the dermatologist, you will start to notice a gradual reduction in the lesions and scars, and your skin should start to feel a lot smoother.

The process is also being found to be effective for treating acne vulgaris, which is supported by many clinical trials. Over seventy percent of patients treated this way responded in a favorable manner. The trials also showed that over twenty percent of patients showed a reduction of acne on over 90 percent of their skin area.

The success rate of acne laser treatments is also extremely good, with almost 100% of cases seeing positive results within a 12 week period - which when compared to anywhere between 6 and 8 months for oral treatments makes quite a difference.

Owing to the effectiveness of the procedure, many home use acne laser treatment products are entering the market, but before you go ahead and buy your own, it's well worth checking with your doctor to see if they can help.

Wendy Jones is committed to helping people promote and protect their health, and has been doing so for many years. Here Wendy talks about some helpful tips and techniques to combat acne. Read more about Wendy's acne laser treatment and Natural Acne Remedies

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Natural Acne Herbal Pills

Acne is common youth problem. Acne, however is a self-limiting condition, may require extra care and treatment in some cases. If the acne is primary and mild to moderate in nature, they can be treated with various natural and homemade remedies. Opposite to this, if they become stubborn and cross their normal size and shape, they may turn into abscess and require surgery as the only treatment option.

There are many excellent and fairly new acne pills available in the market that really clears off the acne through precise combination of herbal compounds and other pure natural ingredients. These acne pills are very successful in the market and often times permanent solutions to clear off acne on both; adults and adolescents.

People suffering from acne can really get benefit from these natural pills. The main principal that works for its efficacy is acne pills are taken internally, they work from inside-out directions, and therefore, they remove the toxins and harmful material from the blood and then go to skin or affected surface. This way, it treats root first and then the symptoms. On the other hand, topical ointments and applications work reversely. When you apply them on your skin, it penetrates the skin, cleans it up, and then finally reaches the blood. Many times, internal medications are more important as compare to the topical applications and therefore, here, internal medications of herbal acne pails work faster than general anti-acne creams.

If you combine the internal medication with internal natural herbal acne pills will be icing the cake and will do sure-shot for treating and healing the acne conditions. Natural acne herbal pills provide the skin soothing and calming atmosphere and here natural does not mean that you cannot include Vitamins. Vitamins are surely natural, some Vitamin like vitamin E has been used to treat various skin disorders, and so it can also be used in the treatment of acne. Natural herbal acne pills may contain some Vitamins in it that provides good texture and complexion to the skin
Another great ingredient you may find in acne pills is Aloe vera. This is globally known for its disinfectant properties. It also restores the hormonal level in human body, which could have been disturbed in acne condition.

Alpha lipoic acid and collagen are two other common but beneficial ingredients used in natural herbal acne pills. They also delay the aging process and therefore can also help in removing wrinkles from the face. Few of the most common names you may come across are chamomile, rosemary, horsetail etc. These all are used in various skin conditions since years and they often fall in category of treating the acne naturally or ‘traditionally’. There are references that these herbs were used even in 1700-1800 AD.

In short, the acne is the condition which firstly should be treated with primary treatment patter like homemade remedy, herbal cure and any other alternative therapy and if the acne do not respond to any of those (which will be rare case) then, one should go for advanced medical technology like laser.

Click here for 10 tips to get rid of acne naturally

Click here for Effective Acne Treatment

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_English