Heredity plays a prime role. The central role of pubescent hormonal change in acne was well demonstrated by a practice that was at its peak between 1650 and 1750 in Europe. Some male singers were castrated before they entered puberty. This was done for the sole purpose of keeping their voices high enough so they could continue to sing the soprano and alto roles in the choral music of the time. None of these castraii, as they were called, developed acne because they never went through the hormonal change so characteristic of adolescence and so necessary for sexual maturation.

Occasionally, an eight- or nine-year-old girl will develop a case of acne, while not beginning to menstruate until up to two years later. This is not an exception to the relationship between acne and the hormonal changes of puberty. Instead, it indicates that puberty can sometimes come on very gradually, with the early changes being those involved in producing acne, while the later ones are necessary for full pubescent change and maturation to take place.

Most cases of acne are mild to moderate, but sometimes deep nodules and cysts appear, and these can lead to scarring. Males usually have worse acne than females. This is probably due to the higher levels of testosterone in their systems. There are a lot of different treatments for acne. Many are drying agents. There are also prescription strength creams, gels, and lotions. These may contain benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, or combinations of the two. Tretinoin (Retin-A) was first marketed as an acne medicine but has since gained greater fame for its effectiveness against wrinkles. But, its mode of working is the same for both uses. It acts by peeling off the unwanted cells, while it generates healthier cells to replace them. This increased skin turnover helps clear up the inflammatory acne lesions.

However, oral antibiotics are still the mainstay of acne therapy. Antibiotics act to decrease the skin bacterial count, which in turn decreases the number of inflammatory lesions. Oral tetracycline is the antibiotic most commonly used. The oral antibiotic treatment of acne is often a long-term affair, and questions have been raised about the undesirable impact of long-term antibiotic use on other aspects of health. One issue that has been raised concerns the effect on immunity to other diseases. But with millions upon millions of acne patients having used antibiotics for long periods, no evidence has been produced that indicates they have any increased susceptibility to disease. As with any treatment, side effects can occur with oral antibiotics. These include vaginal yeast infections, upset stomach, and sun sensitivity.

Also, long-term antibiotic use can result in bacterial resistance, necessitating a switch in the antibiotic used. Another drug that is prescribed for acne is 13-cis-retinoic acid, known best by its brand name, Accutane. This powerful drug, taken orally, is a synthetic vitamin A derivative that acts by an unknown mechanism to decrease oil production. This leaves the skin and mucous membranes of the nose, lips, and eyes very dry, but it also dries the acne very effectively. Deep cysts and nodules can be eliminated and smaller lesions can improve as well. The limiting factors regarding Accutane therapy are the side effects. Dryness of nose and lips can lead to nosebleeds and fissures. Hair loss, blurred vision, headaches, and bone pains are less common side effects but not unheard of. Blood tests may demonstrate liver abnormalities and marked elevations of serum lipids and cholesterol.

The side effect of greatest concern to women, however, is Accutane’s potential for causing birth defects. Its manufacturer thought this problem had been made clear when the drug first came out in 1981. However, several lawsuits later, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came within a hair’s breadth of yanking Accutane from the market. The company now provides strict warnings about this potential side effect by warning women of child-bearing age of the importance of not getting pregnant while using this drug. Some women, quite naturally, worried what might happen to their babies if they got pregnant after they had stopped Acutane.

Would the effect of the drug linger on even after its use had been discontinued? The manufacturer tried to address these fears in a report published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. This study observed several hundred women who had gotten pregnant after they had ceased taking Accutane. The report claimed that there was no increase in fetal abnormalities in these women. In assessing these results, however, one must adopt a healthy skepticism, since this study was conducted by the drug manufacturer and not by an independent research team.

The treatment of acne is not limited to oral and topical medicines. Certain physical techniques are also used and found to be quite helpful. Acne surgery-the careful extraction of whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules-helps to clear the pores and prevent formation of deeper lesions. Cold quartz lamps offer gentle heat, which helps to peel off fine layers of the impacted keratin in the pores. A light spraying with liquid nitrogen accomplishes the same thing. The technique of acne peels is a bit more involved. It removes more layers of keratin and the upper epidermis. But its deeper effects lead to better and longer-lasting results. Finally, intra-lesional injections of steroids-injections right into the nodules and cysts-can be used to quiet them down.

It is not always easy to know which treatment will work best. As with a great deal in medicine, individual differences between patients require a certain amount of judgment and experimentation. Nevertheless, this overview lets you know what is available so that you can inquire whether certain approaches that haven’t already been used in your case might be worth a try.

The discoverer of Retin-A, calls this condition “postadolescent acne.” It tends to occur with greatest frequency in hard-working professional women in their twenties and their thirties and forties as well. It is a low-grade, persistent acne, in which whiteheads predominate, accompanied by a sprinkling of pustules. Premenstrual flares are typical. It is not known why some women develop new cases of acne in their twenties who never had it before. One theory has it that chronic stress, which leads to enhanced secretion of adrenal gland androgens (a type of hormone), might make the skin secrete more oil than usual. That causes the pores to plug up, which can result in acne.

But, as with most conditions that are attributed to stress, people (patients and physicians alike) sometimes dismiss other possible causes only later to have it discovered that the cause is biological. Nevertheless, reducing stress is generally a wise thing to do. It can be helpful both in the prevention and in the treatment of many conditions and diseases, whether or not the primary cause is stress or something biological. Another thing to bear in mind is that many people experience considerable stress and don’t develop acne in their twenties. So, if stress is involved, it is not the whole story.

Birth control pills with a high estrogen content may improve acne; but those with low estrogen content tend to worsen acne. Birth control pills can affect the skin in other ways, too. They may bring on a condition known as melasma, the “mask of pregnancy” characterized by brown patches on the cheeks and forehead. The melasma may linger for months or years after the birth control pills are stopped. If birth control pills are given post partum (after the birth of a baby), some pregnancy-related diseases may flare up.

The one clear-cut statement that can be made about acne and pregnancy is a happy one. For those whose acne gets worse during pregnancy, there is a marked improvement after delivery. The major dilemma that acne in pregnancy poses is over whether or not to treat it. Since nobody ever died of acne, and pregnancy is a time to be cautious with medications, many physicians and patients opt for a very conservative approach. On the other hand, since permanent scarring can occur from bad acne, some physicians advocate a more aggressive approach. A decision then has to be made concerning what that treatment approach should be.

Some antibiotics used to treat acne, such as tetracycline and minocycline, are contraindicated during pregnancy because they discolor the baby’s teeth and bones. But others, such as penicillin derivatives or erythromycin, are usually regarded as safe. Other treatments, like topical benzoyl peroxide and topical antibiotics, are considered by most experts to be safe to use in pregnancy. Retin-A is a bit more controversial, but there have never been any reports of problems with its use by pregnant women. In fact, a 1993 study in the respected British medical journal Lancet showed that using Retin-A during the first trimester of pregnancy was not asso- ciated with any increased incidence of congenital abnormalities. The powerful drug Accutane is absolutely contraindicated and should never be considered in pregnancy. It is known to cause death or malformations in the fetus.

We may get up in the morning and wash our skin with a soapy cleanser that feels like it really gets it clean and dry and then we leave the house without any kind of moisturizer or protection for our skin and that’s really a huge mistake. Our skin has its own barrier and keep that barrier healthy is key to having an acne free complexion. So, simply put, avoid drying your skin out, avoid using alcohol or strong astringents on the face or even things like witch hazel in its pure form.

Aestheticians often suggest helpful ways to reduce or eliminate acne scars by using various types of acne medication. One of the easiest things to do is to never get an acne scar to begin with, following a proper acne diet and using the right kind of acne soap can help you avoid this.

You never want to pick at a blemish or cause your skin to bleed or pick a scab and then go out into the sun without any protection. That is going to cause that area of the skin to hyper-pigment and may lead to a scar. So how you want to get rid of a scar if you do have a scar is use exfoliating products that are going to help to basically slough off that surface layer of dead skin and use some lightening products. There are many products made specifically for acne scar removal. Some of them have an ingredient called hydroquinone which is a skin lightening agent that also helps to inhibit pigment from forming within the follicle.

It is often recommended that a product like this be used twice daily in a small amount and pat it directly on the acne-affected area. Then let it soak into the skin and follow up with a sunscreen. You always want to make sure that you follow up with a sunscreen.

To determine the best approach to treating it you can use a process of elimination to target the source rather than simply the symptom(s). At home you can ensure that your skin carer regimen is right for you acne. Typically, this will begin with a gentle cleanser, not one that is drying or that contains soap or alcohol. After you cleanse (twice daily) you want to use a toner that is hydrating. You will want to put this pure moister directly into the skin, it is not oil or anything like that. Following the application of the toner you will want to apply an oil-free moisturizer.

The reasons for using the toner followed by the hydrating moisturizer is because your skin, if it has acne, is getting surges of oil or sebum sent to the skin’s surface. and when we dry our skin out it sends a signal to the oil glands, that are already working overtime, the skin surface needs more oil. Proper hydration of the skin with the moisturizer will help to prevent this process. It also keeps the barrier function of your skin intact. It’s kind of like a brick and mortar concept – the bricks are our skin cells and the mortar is the moister that holds it all together. So when you remove that moister our barrier that is protecting our skin is compromised. This allows bacteria to enter the skin’s surface which , of course is a cause of acne.

So to review, you want to make sure that you are treating your skin gently, you want to make sure that the ph is balanced and that your skin is hydrated. Please read more on a proper acne diet, acne medication and acne scar removal techniques.

Can our diet affect our facial appearance?

Diet can affect our looks in several ways. Acne can contribute to the aging of the skin by increasing the breakdown of elastic and collagen tissue and recent studies have shown that excess carbohydrates (such as white sugar, chocolate and sweets) can exacerbate this condition. It has been shown that by lowering your intake of refined sugars by about 10 percent, you can decrease the action of those hormones responsible for making the skin oily and this in turn can reduce acne and the possible scar that may follow it.

Researchers involved in these studies also commented that in societies where very little processed food is eaten acne is extremely rare. It is also certainly well known that crash or obsessive dieting can make the face look more drawn and gaunt with the increased lines and a generally older appearance because of the loss of some of the supportive fat under the skin. Even well-known popular diets such as the Atkins diet can have this effect because they will produce the classic early signs of rapid weight loss. In the early fat-burning (ketotic) phase of the Atkins diet many people look grey, pallid and generally older and unhealthy.

Obesity, on the other hand, also takes it toll on facial appearance. It increases jowl size, creates a double chin effect and also causes extra fat pads under the eyes. These all combine to produce an older looking individual.

These are just some of the ways that our faces can be directly affected by what we do (or do not) eat. It is therefore important for all of us to follow sensible eating guidelines, not only for our overall health but also to benefit our facial appearance and avoid blemishes, pimples etc.

One of the first things that comes to mind when looking at eating habits is quantity. In general, in the developed world food portions are far too generous from a health as well as facial aging point of view. This is particularly noticeable in parts of the United States, where obesity has becomea major problem. Interestingly it is less evident in southern California, possibly because there is such a strong emphasis there on looking yuouthful, fit and attractive.

Another important factor is how well balanced our diet is. Let’s take a look now at the various food type, and how they can affect our skin.

Carbohydrates
These may be divided into simple ‘fast-acting’ carbohydrates and complex or ’slow-release’ carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates (found in sweets, chocolate, jam and desserts) release energy quickly into the body, often leaving us with a post-sugar ‘crash’ or a feeling of tiredness. They will thus indirectly affect appearance and skin ageing through obesity. There has also been research to suggest that they may exacerbate acne and possibly acne scars.

Complex carbohydrates release their energy more slowly and are therefore more beneficial for good health. They are found in whole grains and fresh fruit and vegetables which also contain vitamins and antioxidants, important for healthy and youthful-looking skin. With all their numerous benefits, therefore, these foods should constitute around 50 percent of your diet (although Atkins diet devotees will disagree as far as weight loss is concerned).

Protein
Proteins are an essential part of our diet. They provide us with the essential amino acids which are needed to build cells, including those in the skin. because the skin, hair and nails are highly active (they produce and turn over cells very quickly) it is very important to ensure that they are ‘fed’ enough proteins to keep them healthy. Proteins also play a vital role in the formation of collagen and elastin which, as we have seen, are essential for youthful-looking skin.

Good sources of protein include lean meat, fish, eggs, cheese, beans, peas, soy and lentils, and such foods should constitute between 15 and 25 percent of your diet, for general health, good muscle tone and for your skin’s needs. The Atkins and similar diets recommend a higher protein intake but it is unclear exactly how safe this balance is in the long term.

Fats
These are an important source of energy and are also important for healthy skin. They allow the skin to produce its own fats, or lipids, which act as an effective barrier against water loss (and therefore dry, scaling skin), making the skin feel smooth and supple.

However, care should be taken to eat the right kind of fats. It is best to eat fewer saturated fast (in red meat, butter and ice cream) and trans fats (in margarine and processed foods) Around 15 – 25 percent of your diet should be made up of ‘good’ fats including omega-3 fats from oily fish.

Essentail Fatty Acids
Because these cannot be manufactured by the body, it is vital that they form a part of our daily diet. They are found in foods such as vegetable oils, nuts and cereals. The most common EFAs are linoleic and arachidonic acid and they are necessary for the normal working and functioning of the skin – forming, as they do, a key part of the skin barrier, as well as helping to control the speed at which healthy cells are produced.

EFA deficiency is not common and is unlikely to occur other than in cases of bowel disease, where there is a decrease in the absorption of fats and other nutrients, or in eople suffering from severe starvation.

I think the most important and exciting discoveries that have ever been made by dermatologists was learning that inflammation is at the root of disease. This seemingly simple concept has revolutionized methodologies for devising effective therapies to treat inflammatory-based diseases – from acne and acne scars to aging and everything in between.

And so, when we contemplate what the future may hold in developing new therapies for treating and preventing acne, we now know that the foundation of these therapies must be anti-inflammatories. In my opinion, ant-inflammatories are not confined to one specific therapeutic agent. I am speaking of the entire spectrum – a completely holistic approach that consists of placing the body in a overall anti-inflammatory state so that its susceptibility to disease is greatly diminished. This means following an anti-inflammatory lifestyle of:

• Eating an anti-inflammatory acne diet.
• Taking supplements with anti-inflammatory activity.
• Applying topical anti-inflammatories.
• Maintaining low levels of stress.
• Practicing a regular exercise routine in moderation.

In addition, new delivery systems are extremely exciting. For example, the transdermal delivery of glutathione represents an important step in helping us to maintain adequate levels of this critical tripeptide. Adequate levels of glutathione are absolutely necessary to treat and prevent all types of diseases, including acne.

All too often traditional therapies are designed to treat a specific condition without looking at the overall person affected by the condition. Often these therapies fail because they do not address the underlying condition of which the disease is just a symptom, When it comes to acne and removing acne scars, this means that while there may be an initial clearing of breakouts, the acne lesions will eventually return if the underlying cause has not been treated.

The body is incredibly complex – composed of trillions of cells that make up our vital organs. At one time the prevailing wisdom held that some master organ (for example, the endocrine system or the brain) was responsible for most communication with the cells. The reality is not that simple. We now know that there is an elaborate messenger system above and beyond hormones and nerve cell impulses. When cells talk to other cells, messengers within the cells control all functions, from energy production to control of the DNA.

Inflammation can be created or controlled by this highly structured intercellular messenger system, and the treatment options for the future for acne and acne scar prevention will revolve around understanding and controlling the information system of the skin cells. These messengers, some of which are called transcription factors, and the tiny strings of amino acids known as peptides and cytokines, will be the magic bullets dreamed of by physicians since Hippocrites. By understanding and manipulating this vast new cellular communication network we hold the keys to an acne and disease free future.

Read more about how to Remove Acne Scars, Acne Medication and effective Acne Soap.

You also want to avoid using too much product, when it dries it might have a tendency to look slightly cakey. Some people prefer to use the creamier products that they can touch with their fingers, the reason being that it can provide you with more control than when you are using a brush. Another bonus of the creamy blemish concealers is that when they are applied with the fingers the heat in your fingers will keep the product more liquid for a longer period of time.

Typically to begin using these acne coverage products you rub a small amount between your index finger and thumb until the product is warm. Dabbing the product onto the skin will give you a much more natural look than rubbing it in a circular motion. It may take a bit longer than rubbing but the end result will be far superior and much harder to see once applied over blemishes, scars, pimples and acne.

It is also highly recommended that before trying one of these acne concealers that the first time you want to buy one of these products, that you go into a department store and have your skin color professionally matched by a make-up artist. It would probably only take about ten minutes and you’ll know what color your skin is. This will allow you to buy acne coverage products more cheaply in the future – online.

You also want to make sure that you are using a quality oil-free moisturizer, this will help to hydrate and protect the skin surface. Acne-prone skin usually has a tendency to be a little bit more oily so you want to use a hydrating moisturizer, your make-up will go on a lot smoother and you will avoid problems with your concealer sticking and caking to the flakes of the skin. You can follow this link to learn more about removing acne scars or how to prepare a proper acne diet as well as treat your skin condition with the correct acne medication.

Presently available medical techniques for acne scar removal fall into 3 general categories:

1. Scar removal and revision
2. Filling in depressed scars
3. Contouring the surface of scars

The most common of these procedures, are:

Dermabrasion

Is a common cosmetic medical procedure where a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon uses an electrical device to remove the surface of the epidermis of the skin (the stratum corneum). Dead skin cells are removed by abrasion (sanding), resulting in the skin looking smooth and fresh.

In addition to its use for acne scar removal it can also be used to remove dark spots on the skin as well as to treat skin that has been damaged from sun exposure. Patients often experience pain with this procedure and often require a general or topical anaesthetic.

The skin is usually very red and raw-looking after the procedure, it normally takes several months for the surface tissue to regrow and heal completely. Dermabrasion is considered most useful for scar removal where the scar has risen above the surrounding skin surface, and less effective on sunken or deeply pitted scars.

When first developed, the dermabrasion procedure made use of a small, electric dremel-like sander. Recently, CO2 (carbon dioxide) or Erbium:YAG lasers have become more common replacements with fewer risks. This newer type is referred to as Laser Dermabrasion and is much easier to control and gauge, and is practically bloodless compared to older styles.

Recovery time after laser dermabrasion is usually minimal and there is most often no need to take extended time off of work. This technique is not for everyone as its results are highly dependent on the characteristics of the patient’s skin.

Ideal candidates for laser dermabrasion are considered those who have healthy and fair non-oily skin. The results on patients with darker olive, black or brown skin may be higher pigmentation. In these cases it is important to consult with your physician or qualified technician prior to beginning any treatment.

Microdermabrasion

This technique removes the outermost layer of dead skin layer in order to fade more superficial facial scarring. A vacuum system is used to deliver aluminum oxide crystals through a tube and handpiece. The technician can determine the depth and rate of abrasion at which crystals are applied to the skin’s surface.
On average, patients require 4 to 8 treatments spaced 2 to 3 weeks apart. The method involves very little recovery time and is said to be a ‘lunchtime’ treatment. Moderated to severe acne is not known to respond well to microdermabrasion.

Collagen Injection

Purified bovine (cow) collagen can be used to fill in, and therefore raise, sunken scars to the same level as the surrounding skin. Collagen injections do not produce permanent results. Because they are made of natural protein, collagen will break down over time into amino acids and be absorbed by your body. In many cases, the effects of the injection will last anywhere between 3-6 months, although in some patients the effects of a single injection may last up to 2 years. There is also a risk of allergic reaction for these products with some patients.

This method is suitable for patients with a few acne scars with shallow shoulders (edges). Collagen is not considered suitable for narrow ‘ice-pick’ scars. It is a less expensive option, usually a .5 cc costs about $125.

Popular skin-filler products for this procedure are Resylane and Cosmoderm.

Steroid injections

A long-term course of steroid injections into scars may help to improve the appearance (by flattening and softening) of keloid or hypertrophic scars.

hypertrophic scars – are defined as raised fibrous lesions that do not extend beyond the edges of an initial injury and may demonstrate partial resolution on their own. They are common after thermal (heat-related) injuries and other injuries to the deep dermis.

keloid scars – raised and ill defined growth of skin in the area on and around the damaged skin. Keloids result from an overgrowth of dense fibrous tissue that usually occurs after the healing of a soft tissue injury. The scar tissue usually grows beyond the borders of the original wound, does not normally regress on its own and tends to re-occur after excision. Keloid scars are the more serious type, since they can continue to grow indefinitely into larger, tumorous (although benign) growths.

The steroid is injected into the scar itself; since very little is absorbed into the blood stream, side effects of this treatment are minor. However, this sort of steroid treatment can cause thinning of the skin. The procedure is often repeated at 4-6 week intervals.

Laser treatment

This procedure uses laser technology to ‘burn away’ the surface of damaged skin. A single session of this treatment may be enough to get permanent results. Laser ablative surgery for scaring is now considered the gold standard in which the entire epidermis is removed by light and permitted to re-grow. Vascular lasers that target small blood vessels in the skin tissue can greatly reduce the redness of most scars 6–10 weeks after initial treatment. To date, they haven’t been proven effective in flattening scars, although it has been theorized that removing layers of skin with a CO2 or erbium laser may help with this problem.

Surgery

Some acne scars (ie ice picks) can be removed surgically and the wound sewn up, this process is called scar revision. A small graft (often taken from the back of the ear) can be used to repair the hole left in the skin after it is excised to the level of subcutaneous fat. This technique can result in the new wound regrowing a hypertrophic scar.

Autologous Fat Transfer

Using this technique, fat is transferred from another part of the body to the scar site. This fat is injected under the scarred area in order to lift the depressed scar. This technique is often used to treat deeply contoured skin defects caused by nodulocystic acne. Because the transferred fat may be reabsorbed into your skin tissue you may require additional treatment sessions – often after 6 to 18 months.

Punch Grafts

Using this procedure the acne scar is punched out to remove the scar, which is then replaced with unscarred skin (often from behind the earlobe). Punch grafts are often used to treat deep acne scars.

Chemical Peel

There are three categories of chemical peels used as acne treatments, the chemicals used are:

• Alphahydroxy acid (AHA) or glycolic acid
• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
• Phenol

AHA peels are the mildest; TCA peels are considered mid-strength; and Phenol peels are known as the strongest of the three types. Each type of peel has advantages and disadvantages.

Alphahydroxy, betahydroxy and glycolic acids do not require much recovery time. It is however, common for patients to experience some irritation, redness, dryness as well as possible flaking at the treatment site. These side effects will eventually subside.

TCA peels can penetrate deeper layers of skin tissue and the effects last longer than the milder treatments, although recovery time is usually longer. These peels can cause swelling, crusting and an increased sensitivity to sunlight.

Swelling and any pain are usually gone within one week and by 10 days the patient is usually able to return to their normal routine.
However, redness produced by a TCA peel may last up to three months and the newly formed skin layers must be protected with a high-SPF sunscreen to prevent hyperpigmentation and blotching. Although phenol is a stronger peel than TCA, TCA peels can still produce unintended changes to skin color.

Phenol peels can cause the affected area to become very swollen, sometimes to the point where the patient’s eyes are temporarily swollen shut. As a result, up to two weeks of at-home recovery are often required after a phenol peel.

Excessively strong chemical peels run the risk of de-pigmentation and scarring. After a phenol peel, new skin will begin to form after about a week. The treated area, which will be very red initially, will gradually fade over a period of weeks or months to its normal color. The results of a phenol treatment can last for many years.

The best candidates for chemical peel treatments are patients with superficial acne or acne scars. Individuals with very active or severe acne are usually not good candidates for chemical peels. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use this method to treat acne.

Fraxel

Uses a fractionated laser that removes smaller areas of tissue in a consistent and rapid pattern. The results are often not as good as the laser ablative technique but it often leads to less down time and is generally considered a safer technique.

Acne is caused in part by a hormonal imbalance. Both men and women have a hormone called testosterone. If you are prone to acne, testosterone causes your oil-secreting (sebaceous) glands to produce excess oil (sebum).

Additionally, dead skin cells that line the openings of your pores and hair follicles (the tubes that hold the hair) are not being properly shed and end up clogging the follicle.

These two effects (excess oil and clogged follicles) cause a build-up of oil in your hair follicles. This can cause blackheads and whiteheads to form. For some, acne does not progress beyond this stage.

However, for others it creates an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes to grow. Other chemicals and enzymes can also be produced at this point which cause further inflammation.

The following tips can help you get your acne under control:

Medication

Benzoyl peroxide is an over-the-counter remedy that can help to dry skin out and encourage shedding of dead skin. Both of these effects help unblock pores and reduce the chance of infection. Redness and peeling can result, especially when it’s first used. This should diminish if you build up your use gradually. Benzoyl peroxide has been known to clear up acne for many people. This home remedy for acne normally doesn’t show immediate results. It can take weeks, or even months, for significant results to appear.

Antibiotics have been proven helpful for inflammatory acne. They can be taken orally or used is a lotion, cream, or gel. They are normally taken daily for about three months, although it may take longer to see the best results. Various strains of bacteria are becoming more resistant to common antibiotics. These treatments won’t prevent pores from becoming blocked so treatments such as benzoyl peroxide are often prescribed at the same time.

Tretinoin (ie Retin-A, Stieva-A) can be an effective treatment for acne. It is often applied once a day. Be sure to avoid the eyes, mouth and area under the nose. At first it may seem that this treatment is making your acne worse and may take several weeks to start working. You should avoid sunlight or use a strong sunscreen while using it as it can increase your risk of bad sunburn.

Isotretinoin (eg Accutane, Roaccutane) tends to be prescribed to people with severe acne vulgaris. There can be serious Isotretinoin side effects such as liver disorders and depression, severe birth defects and miscarriages. It should never be taken during pregnancy or even one month prior to becoming pregnant.

Try changing your soap

Your skin requires a certain amount of oil so it’s best to use a gentler acne soap and to not scrub your skin too harshly. Many skin cleansing products claim to wipe away dirt and oils. As long as you avoid contact with oils that your body doesn’t produce, you shouldn’t need these products. They can irritate your skin, damage your gland openings (causing them to close more tightly), and in the longer term cause worse breakouts.

Switch to a makeup that is not oil-based

The oils in these cosmetics can irritate your skin, clog your pores and damage a smooth complexion, especially if left on overnight. Oily sunblocks, body lotions, hair gels and sprays can also be a cause of acne outbreaks.

Also, take care to wash your make up tools often, including brushes and sponges. These items are known breeding grounds for bacteria. If you must use cover-up cosmetics choose ones that are water-based. As well, make sure to cleanse your face properly each night.

Avoid touching your Acne

Don’t Squeeze, pick, scratch, or rub your blemishes! this may lead to further outbreaks and even acne scarring.

Herbal Remedies

There are many less traditional home remedies for acne, including:

Calendula is known as a skin tissue healer and natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.
Lavender may be used as a disinfectant and anti-inflammatory on an open lesion.
Licorice, arnica , and allantoinare are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce redness.
Aloe vera has natural astringents with anti-bacterial properties that are known to lessen redness and swelling. It’s cheap, fragrance-free, fast drying and moisterising.
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that helps control oil production, heals lesions and helps with small acne scar removal without irritation or peeling. It has been compared to benzoyl peroxide in its apparent ability to reduce the P.acnes bacteria and is claimed to have fewer side effects (ie itchiness, stinging and dry skin).

Other alternative methods

Acupuncture – Involves no medications or their possible side effects.
Homeopathic medicine – Homeopathy is an alternative science that looks at the cause of a disease in order to treat it. It is not accepted by many mainstream doctors but is still claimed to be a very effective and healing treatment by many. It claims to have treatments for many ailments, acne among them. Drugs in western medicine frequently produce side effects, because they often target desease symptoms. Homeopathy, on the other hand, attempts to ease symptoms by putting the body’s systems into proper equilibrium. Homeopathic medicine supports the body’s own resistance, and therefore does not produce any side effects. Most homeopathic medicine uses natural products.

Mind/body medicine – T’ai Chi & Qi Gong and cognitive therapy techniques can be used to alleviate emotional stress that can have a worsening effect on acne. These techniques train patients to control certain internal processes like heart
rate and muscle tension. Cognitive or ‘guided’ imagery involves the use of mental pictures to relax and evoke healing conditions. When used properly with the help of an expert, these methods have been shown to reduce the severity of acne
breakouts.

Ayurveda – An ancient Indian form of medicine that uses natural herbs for treating of various ailments.

Kampo – An ancient form of Japanese herbal healing which is gaining popularity in the US. Its goal is to heal the body by balancing energy. Common Kampo treatments for acne and acne scar removal attempts to balance energy to promote the healing of skin. These methods also include antibacterial properties which can help lessen future outbreaks.

Diet

Conventional western medicine claims that acne is not affected by diet. Others say if you are unhealthy on the inside it will reflect in your skin. Many people claim that simple diet changes helped cure their acne. An acne diet can include replacing highly processed foods with a healthy diet full of lots of fibre-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains and cereals.

Although what you eat is not always related to an acne breakout, some people do have skin allergies to certain foods. Sushi, sea salt and shellfish for example are full of iodides, which may provoke acne breakouts. Others who suffer from acne report that certain drinks or foods such as nuts make their acne worse.