Acne Products That Work

Acne products that work include a wide range of natural and chemical treatments.

Acne products can actually help individuals to find a way to get through their acne trouble. For those that are looking for a solution, for the solution that will finally help you, there are several things that you can do to find it. Acne products range from the all natural products to the laser treatments and even to chemical treatments. Which one will work for you? That may be the hardest question of all because these acne products may work better for you then they will work for someone else.

Natural Products First

The best thing that you can do for your acne is to treat it with natural acne treatments first. These are one of the best ways to go simply because your body knows how to handle and digest natural products much more so then chemical ones. And, there are fewer side effects when you are working with natural acne medications as well. There is a wide range of choice here including products that contain a wide amount of vitamins and minerals. This may include such things as zinc and chromium.

Acne Medications

Sometimes it is necessary to deal with the acne medications on the market too. You may want to seek the advice of your dermatologist before spending a fortune on acne medications though. For example, you may want to take the time to find out what exactly is causing your acne. Once this is done, you will find out that which way to go. You may need antibiotics to treat the infections on your skin but you may also need supplements to help turn off the over producing oil glands in your skin as well.

Acne medications can be purchased through the web with great ease. You will find a wide range of products that work well at acne control. For many, acne products that are geared towards their specific needs provide them with the best acne medication available. The good news is that there are many more option for you to rely on.

Acne Prevention Tips and Home Remedies

Any skin disorder that is very apparent can prove extremely embarrassing and a trying experience for the sufferer. Everyone who is prone to develop acne would love to know a dozen effective ways to prevent it in the first place. Who wouldn’t want to save face and another month or longer worth of painful self-consciousness? I have listed a number of practical ways to prevent another acne breakout from embarrassing you, and if despite your honest efforts acne still rears its ugly head, I also suggested a few effective steps for treating acne, naturally.

Acne Prevention Tips

Use a honey mask on a weekly basis. Honey is considered as a disinfectant and a great way for healing pimples. It can also kill bacteria found in your skin.

Cut your hair short if it’s long. Hair has oil. When you are moving, dust particles often culminate in your hair, and as your hair touches your face, neck, or forehead, it can provoke acne or worsen an affected area.

Take a powerful multi-vitamin twice every day; the biggest organ—your skin
—requires proper nutrients to stay healthy.

Take vitamin A daily. It both protects your skin and prevents acne. Plus, vitamin A reduces sebum production.

Avoid over washing and rubbing or scrubbing your skin excessively. Acne is not caused by not washing or by having dirty skin.

Some people, especially students, have claimed that their acne grows worse when experiencing stressful situations. Advise: if it’s in your power, cut down on stress.

Drink 8 glasses of water everyday. Water helps to clean and hydrate the skin.

Avoid alcohol-based creams and lotions.

Either change or wash your pillowcase everyday.

Eat food rich in zinc. A deficiency in zinc may cause acne breakouts.

Add a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables to your daily diet.

When you are undergoing much stress, breathe deeply. It has been discovered that there exists a direct connection between acne and stress.

Exercise regularly, for it helps your blood to circulate and to remove toxins.

Eat a well-balanced diet to reduce the reoccurrence of acne.

Choose your cosmetics very carefully. Sometimes what you wear to disguise acne can actually turn out to be the root cause of a skin disorder.

Acne Home Remedy Tips

Put ripe tomato pulp on your pimples, and keep them there for as long as one hour. Next, wash the treated areas.

Apply the juice of raw papaya on your swelling pimples.

On and around your pimples apply fresh garlic. Pimples will fade away when this treatment is used regularly, not leaving a mark.

Drink wheatgrass juice; it can remove acne.

Create a paste from orange peel by grinding the peel in water. Then, apply this paste on and around your pimples.

Acne Prevention Tips

Effective acne prevention requires using the right treatments, and adjusting product use and hygiene habits. If you want to know how to get rid of pimples, and deal with other skin problems like oiliness and blackheads, take a look at these great tips from the acne prevention experts at Nature’s Cure.

Oily hair can aggravate acne, so stay away from oily products like pomades or hair spray, especially if you want to get rid of pimples on your forehead.

If your hair is long, wear it pulled back or consider a shorter style that keeps it off your face, neck and shoulders if acne prevention is important in those areas. Be sure to pull your hair away from your skin when you sleep so that pimples don’t develop overnight.

Use «noncomedogenic» (won’t clog pores or cause blackheads) or «nonacnegenic» (won’t cause pimples) cosmetics and suntan lotions.

Avoid using moisturizers on acne-prone areas to get rid of pimples you have there or practice good acne prevention; if you do use a moisturizer, make sure it is not acnegenic.

Use topical treatments, such as Nature’s Cure medicated spray, anywhere that you tend to get breakouts for acne prevention — don’t just spot-treat existing blackheads and pimples. The pore-clogging process happens two to three weeks before any blackheads or blemishes become visible on the skin. Since the salicylic acid acne medication in the body spray is an exfoliant, it helps to remove the dead skin that combines with oil and dirt to form those nasty blackheads and whiteheads that can get infected and become pimples.

Wash the skin gently with a mild soap or cleanser and warm (not hot) water once or twice daily. Hot water and harsh cleansers can further irritate your skin and undermine your acne prevention efforts.

It’s tempting to try to scrub away acne, but that’s not how to get rid of pimples. Scrubbing too hard or too frequently can actually make your acne worse and promote scarring by increasing inflammation or rupturing cysts under your skin, making bacteria spread.

Don’t pick acne or blackheads on your face or body. It can permanently scar your skin. If you must pick, immediately apply a topical antibiotic to help stave off infection.

Since stress can trigger acne, try to avoid stressful situations, resolve stresses by talking to friends/family or a professional, and be sure to eat right and get enough sleep. Sometimes the stress of having acne and trying to figure out how to get rid of pimples can make things worse. But if you take action toward acne prevention with these tips, you can diffuse some of that stress.

Exercising regularly can also help reduce stress and it increases blood circulation and oxygen penetration to the skin, which may help with acne prevention.

Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to help «detoxify» the body from the inside out.

Avoid hot, humid environments such as poorly ventilated kitchens, gyms, or tropical climates and stay away as much as possible from cooking grease or machine oil that can contribute to blackheads and clogged pores.

If you work out, bring along pre-moistened alcohol towelettes to wipe sweat off your face, back and chest. Use towels to cover neck and chest areas to prevent coming in direct contact with the equipment.

If you want to know how to get rid of pimples on your body, you need to realize that bumps on chest and back can be caused by tight fitting workout clothes that trap moisture and heat, so wear loose-fitting all-cotton clothing when you work out.

Wear loose fitting clothing whenever possible and try to avoid friction against the skin caused by helmets, straps, backpacks or handbags.

Sweat combines with skin oils to trap dirt and bacteria in your pores, causing blackheads and pimples, so it’s important to shower as soon as possible after you work out or sweat profusely.

Clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup. Since bacteria is one of the key causes of acne, anything that keeps bacteria from touching your skin will help in acne prevention.

Acne Prevention- Natural Cures

There are several natural cures for acne that you may want ot try before spending money on treatments. Many of these are cures that have been passed down from generation to generation. They are broken down into 2 categories. The blackheads category is more for prevention than curing an outbreak of pimples. This is the category you should use most because, the most important factor in acne control is early prevention. The second category, acne cures is used if an outbreak has already occurred.

Before starting any of these treatments, you must first be sure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients that are used. All of these treatments are intended to be used along with your normal skin cleansing. You should wash your face twice daily with a mild soap and water. When wshing your face you should be gentle, as harsh scrubbing can cause severe outbreaks of acne.

Blackheads

Mix lime juice and milk in a 1 to 1 ratio. The milk should be allowed to come to room temperature before mixing. Once mixed this is used as a cleanser in problem areas, where the skin may be oily. Use every other day under normal circumstances.

Mix neem leaves and tumeric powder into a very thin paste this can be used to gently wash the face. Use every other day.

Boil 2 teaspoons of Funigreek in a gallon of water, allow to cool to room temperature. This can be used every other day as a facial wash.

Acne cures

Make salt and vinegar paste. Apply directly to pimples wait 30 minutes and wash face. This can be done nightly if needed. This works because the salt and vinegar have natural abilities to draw liquids out of the skin, thus it draws the trapped oils out of the pimple.

Make a paste out of roasted and ground pomegranite seeds with fresh lime juice. Apply directly to pimples.

Apply a paste of 1 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of room temperature milk directly to pimples allow to stay for 1-2 hours and rinse.

All of these natural are general acne prevention and cure techniques and may not work for specific skin conditions. Using these natural cures for acne can help you control it, if for some reason these do not help you should look in to over the counter remedies. Many of the medications today are targeted to specific types of acne breakouts.

Acne Prevention — Some Basic Strategies that Work

Is it possible to take some basic preventive measures to thwart acne outbreaks? What kinds of preventative maintenance should you do to cut down on your acne?

Let’s quickly scan some of the most effective strategies, shall we?

The first, most obvious, and most important measure to help prevent acne is to have a healthy lifestyle. It is too easy to neglect this, but don’t do it! Eat three good meals a day, get the proper rest at night, and drink a minimum of eight glasses of water a day. Don’t let stress control you even if you do have a frantic and unpredictable lifestyle.

Now that the first one is out of the way, let’s move on to the rest.

Make sure you are cleaning your face every day and for best results, twice a day. Use a mild cleaning bar or liquid that also minimizes sensitivity and irritation. Use various mild scrubs or exfoliants that remove the outer layer of the skin and opens pores. The products that contain fine granules or salicylic acid make it a mild peeling agent.

Reducing oil is an important step in preventing outbreaks of acne. You can’t stop your oil glands from forming oil but you can get rid of the excess oil on your skin. This will help in keeping the pores open and lessen the shine that often accompanies oily skin. A gentle astringent can wipe away excess oil and are easily found where cosmetics are sold.

Pharmacies now carry strips under various names that you can use on your forehead, nose or chin, or wherever you notice blackheads to pull out all that unpleasant material from your pores. Remember, this is oil and not dirt. They are inexpensive and while they aren’t as effective as a professional pore cleaning, they are safe and effective.

Killing bacteria is an important part of the therapy to minimize or prevent outbreaks of acne. Antibacterial cleansers can be found in over-the-counter products. They usually contain benzoyl peroxide. Topical or external applications can be applied to the affected area to kill surface bacteria. You can find these in the form of gels, creams, and lotions.

When using moisturizers, use oil-free moisturizers that also contain an antibacterial agent. If you use make up, use oil-free foundation. A thick coat of make up can block the pores and cause acne to flare up.

Apply a honey mask once or twice a week. Honey is great for disinfecting and healing minor blemishes and takes it easy on sensitive skin.

Avoid wearing excessive make up. Also, be sure it is water based.

Drink eight full glasses of water per day.

Keep your hair off your face.

Take a good multivitamin.

Take a chromium supplement once a day.

Eat carrots; they are rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin A. Both are essential in repair tissue of the skin and mucous membranes.

When you sleep at night, be sure you are sleeping on a clean pillowslip that no one else has used. Pillowslips absorb oil during the night and acne can be irritated. If you have long hair, keep it pulled back during the night as the oil in your hair can also transfer to your pillowslip and to your skin.

Don’t pick or squeeze your pimples -no matter how tempting! This can’t be said too often.

These are just a few simple measures you can start to follow right away. Don’t look for extreme remedies when a simple solution is all you need. For many acne cases, when following these simple strategies you will begin to see gradual steady results in just a few days.

Acne Prevention: Should I See A Dermatologist

Acne is a skin infection that may be considered as one of the worst things that can happen to a person, especially during the teenage years. Aside from the obvious physical damage it can do, one would also have to contend with things such as the social impact and the psychological damage that it could bring. A person may even have to deal with scarring and inflammation even after the acne is gone.

As with most other medical ailments, it is always a good idea to test first on what medications are available in the market. Depending on how sensitive a person’s skin is, one would want to try benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as possible treatments for this specific skin infection. One might also consider using both, but at different times in a day. If no improvement is visible after a certain period (typically from six to eight weeks should be enough), then this would be the time that one might want to consider seeking professional help.

A dermatologist would definitely know more about this type of skin infection and how one might handle this problem, not to mention knowing what specific treatments one might need to use if an over-the-counter product just isn’t doing the job. One might want to know that prescription treatments are generally more potent and more expensive than the usual medications.

There are a few things to consider when a visit to the dermatologist is needed:

l if over the counter treatments do not have any positive effect on the acne problem;
l if a person has more than one sign of skin infection, such as whiteheads, blackheads, or red spots;
l if the acne appears not just in the face, but also throughout the body;
l if scars are visible on areas where one previously had acne;
l if there is pus filled spots on one’s face that is painful when touched or tampered with;
l if there is continuous inflammation in the face; and
l if this skin infection starts to limit one’s social interactions.

A person with acne should keep these points in mind whenever he decides to seek help from a dermatologist. Communication with one’s dermatologist is important so that a person undergoing treatment can fully discuss the nature of the problem and the ways to continue the treatment at home. Discussions with the dermatologist should be as thorough and accurate as possible. It may be quite embarrassing for some but the consequences of skin infection can be so serious that no one should neglect getting all the information about acne treatment. In addition, one may need to bring a history of their previous acne records so that the doctor or dermatologist can prepare allergy-free treatments and other anti-acne products.

Treatment of acne is not only a medical issue but a matter of great importance to one’s self-esteem and personal hygiene. Acne is not only unsightly but also causes embarrassment and a certain degree of social anxiety. But a person with acne need not despair since a lot of treatment options are now available to heal those unsightly inflammations and scars.

Acne Prevention — Lifestyle and Diets

Lifestyle

Is your lifestyle causing your acne? Certainly not. But the way you live affects your whole body, including its largest organ: the skin. The place you work, the hours you keep, the ways you play — all of these can take a toll on the epidermis, especially in those who are prone to acne. Following are a few everyday acne triggers you might not be aware of, and a few things you can do to avoid them.

Comedones on the job. Since some part of your skin is always in contact with your environment, it’s important to pay attention to the substances with which you come into contact on a regular basis. You may be exposing yourself to comedogenic (pore-clogging) substances on the job without even knowing it; while these substances are not the cause of your acne, they can aggravate it. For example: the airborne grease in a fast-food restaurant can create an invisible film on your skin, clogging your pores. Most industrial oils — the kinds used in cars, in factories, on bicycles — are comedogenic as well.

Acne & Sleep — Sleep and your skin. The simplest good deed you can do for your skin may surprise you: sleep! Scientists and mothers around the world agree that a good night’s sleep — at least eight hours — can do wonders for your complexion. How? A healthy, well-rested body has the resources to build a strong immune system. While a robust immune system won’t prevent acne altogether, it can help fight infection so your lesions clear up more quickly. Luckily, your body isn’t picky; uninterrupted sleep in the daytime is just as beneficial. So if you work late, sleep late — and try to maintain a regular schedule.

Acne & Sun — Savvy sun worshipping. While it’s true that small amounts of sun exposure may initially improve acne, don’t be fooled; the benefit is temporary. Consistent sun bathing will dry your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Also, skin that has been exposed to the sun has to slough old cells more frequently; when you combine the extra oil and extra dead cells, you create the ideal environment for comedones, or blocked pores. So if you work (or play) in the sun, it’s important to protect your skin with sunscreen. Look for oil-free products that provide at least an SPF 15 protection level from UVA and UVB rays.

Acne & Stress — The stress connection. Not surprisingly, stress often has a starring role in the ongoing acne drama. “Ninety percent of my patients complain about what stress does to their skin. It has a huge impact, and it’s becoming a bigger problem every day,” says Katie Rodan, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University.

How can stress — emotional anxiety caused by any number of factors in your life — show up on your face? The connection is purely chemical. When you become tense, your adrenal glands go work, flooding your bloodstream with the hormone cortisol. This triggers the sweat glands in your face to produce more oil. When your sebaceous glands go into high gear, there’s a higher probability that this excess oil will mix with dead skin cells and clog your pores, trapping bacteria inside. The result? More acne, primarily inflamed papules rather than blackheads or whiteheads.

What can you do? Of course, you can’t eliminate stress from your life — it’s part of being human. But you can minimize its damage by leading a healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet and at least seven hours of sleep every night will help you build a stronger physical foundation; if you’re well fed and well rested, you’re less likely to feel irritated by the events of your day. Try to get some exercise every day, even if it’s just a walk around the block at lunchtime. It’s also important to take time out of every day to relax — read a book, take a bath, practice yoga, or do whatever makes you feel happy and calm. It’s an important step towards overall good health, and therefore the health of your skin.

Diets

Don’t eat that — you’ll get zits! We’ve all heard it; from parents, friends or even the family doctor. But the fact is, even after extensive study, scientists have not found a connection between diet and acne. Not chocolate. Not french fries. Not pizza.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “A healthy diet is important for improving raw materials for healthy skin,” but they also note that greasy or sugary foods do not cause acne.1 Likewise, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concurred, “Diet plays no role in acne treatment in most patients…even large amounts of certain foods have not clinically exacerbated acne.”1 Of course, that doesn’t mean you should make a habit of eating foods high in sugar or fat. The skin is the body’s largest organ, so what’s good for the rest of you will be good for your skin, too.

Acne Prevention & Diet — Nutrients for healthy skin. There are a number of nutrients found in everyday foods that are known to promote a healthy body — and therefore healthy skin. Get wise to these substances, and you’ll increase your chances of conquering your acne.

Acne Prevention & Diet — Vitamin A. Naturally occurring Vitamin A, or retinol, is found in fish oils, liver and dairy products. The Vitamin A produced by plants is known as Beta-carotene, and is found in yellow/orange fruits and vegetable such as carrots, yams, apricots and cantaloupe, as well as green vegetables like parsley, kale and spinach. Extremely high doses of Vitamin A are toxic, so don’t overdo it.

Acne Prevention & Diet — Vitamin B-2. Stress has been known to aggravate existing cases of acne, and Vitamin B-2 is often helpful alleviating stress. Foods with a high concentration of B-2 include whole grains, fish, milk, eggs, meat and leafy green vegetables.

Acne Prevention & Diet — Vitamin B-3. Found in peanuts, eggs, avocados, liver and lean meats, Vitamin B-3 improves circulation, promoting healthy skin. It also reduces the cholesterol level in the blood and helps you metabolize protein, sugar & fat — increasing your energy through proper utilization of food.

Acne Prevention & Diet — Vitamin E. Vitamin E is found in almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, broccoli, wheat germ and vegetable oils. A powerful antioxidant, it protects your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of the body’s metabolism.

Acne Prevention & Diet — Zinc. Even in trace amounts, the antioxidant zinc is known to boost the immune system, improving overall health — which of course is reflected in the skin. Zinc can be found in eggs, whole grains, nuts and mushrooms.

Acne Prevention & Diet — Know your own triggers. Since acne is different for everyone, there may be certain foods that cause flare-ups in your skin. Clearly, these foods should be avoided. You may also want to check your vitamin supplements for their iodine content; while normal amounts of iodine have not been shown to affect skin, amounts greater than the RDA of 150 mcg may aggravate your acne.

Overall, use your common sense. Drink lots of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet — but don’t be afraid to indulge your cravings every now and then.

Acne Prevention — Hygiene and Medication

Proper Hygiene

One of the most common misconceptions about acne is that it’s caused by dirt. It’s not! Acne is caused by a combination of factors you can’t control, like your hormone balance and the natural pace of your skin’s renewal system. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can control that may help you keep your acne in check. Begin by following these simple suggestions for healthy-skin hygiene.

Acne Prevention — Tip #1: Don’t over-wash. Since dirt is not causing your acne, excessive scrubbing and washing won’t make it go away. Try to limit yourself to two washings per day — anything more than that can leave your healthy skin dry, and your acne-prone areas irritated. Habitual over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production, which could result in more breakouts.

Acne Prevention — Tip #2: Skip harsh scrubs. It’s okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains. Avoid products with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate or even tear your skin and further aggravate your acne.

Acne Prevention — Tip #3: Say no to alcohol. If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol. A strong astringent, alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. The result? Dry, red skin — and possibly more blemishes.

Acne Prevention — Tip #4: Don’t squeeze or pick. Squeezing or picking your blemishes — with fingernails, pins or anything else — can force bacteria deeper into the skin, causing greater inflammation and infection. You’ll also increase the damage to the surrounding skin, so the blemish is more likely to leave a permanent acne scar.

Acne Prevention — Tip #5: Hands off! Propionibacterium acnes (the bacteria that causes breakouts) is a normal resident of your skin; it doesn’t lead to acne until it gets trapped inside the hair follicle. Excessive touching of your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores — where it can begin its dirtywork.

Acne Prevention — Tip #6: Work out, wash off. When you exercise, your movement generates heat; clothing and equipment cause friction. Until you shower off, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin, creating an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria. So whenever you can, shower off immediately after exercising.

Acne Medications

Acne Prevention Treatment — Find a regimen and stick with it. Most cases of mild acne can be improved with «over-the-counter» products, or products that don’t require a prescription from your doctor. There is a wide range of treatments available, and there’s a good chance one of them will work for you. If you start treatment before your acne gets severe, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding physical and emotional problems down the road. But if your acne gets worse or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a dermatologist. Here’s a quick listing of the most common products used to treat acne — click on the links that interest you for more information on that course of acne treatment.

• Benzoyl Peroxide: Kills the bacteria that causes acne.

• Proactiv® Solution: A dermatologist formulated Combination Therapy® acne management system. Click Here and receive 2 free bonuses when you try Proactiv® Solution Risk-Free for 60 Days!

• Salicylic Acid: Unclogs your pores and encourages skin renewal.

• Tretinoin (Retin-A®): Promotes healthy sloughing.

• Antibiotics: Kill bacteria and reduces inflammation.

• Oral Contraceptives: Help regulate hormone levels.

• Anti-Androgens: Inhibit the body’s production of acne-causing hormones.

• Isotretinoin (Accutane®): Treatment for severe cystic or nodular acne.

There are a number of prescription medications known to cause acne. If you routinely take any of the following drugs (or drugs like them) and have problems with acne breakouts, you may want to consult your physician to discuss an alternative treatment with fewer side affects. But try to keep it in perspective, your health comes first!

Anticonvulsants (like Dilantin) are prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy and other kinds of seizures. Most medications in this family list acne as a common side-effect.

Corticosteroids (like Prednisone) are often used to treat asthma and other chronic lung diseases. Like cortisol, a natural steroid produced by the body during times of intense stress, corticosteroids can stimulate sebum production and lead to blemishes.

Disulfuram (or Antabuse) is prescribed to help chronic alcoholic patients who want to remain in a state of enforced sobriety. When mixed with alcohol, this drug causes a range of unpleasant symptoms intended to discourage further mixing. Unfortunately, regular use of Disulfuram (even when not drinking) can cause acne in some patients.

Immuran. Like other immunosuppressants, Immuran is used to suppress the immune system in patients awaiting an organ transplant. It can help prevent organ rejection; it can also suppress your body’s natural ability to fight the bacteria that cause acne.

INH (or Isoniazid) is typically used to treat tuberculosis, or TB. Thought to be largely eradicated, TB experienced a resurgence in the late 1980s among the homeless population and in patients suffering from AIDS. It continues to be a problem today.

Quinine is prescribed as a precaution against — or treatment for — malaria. If you’re traveling to a part of the world where malaria is a risk, be sure to ask your doctor about alternative solutions.

Thyroid preparations. Some thyroid medications (such as Thiourea and Thiouracil) are known to trigger acne. These preparations are used to stimulate the thyroid gland in patients with low thyroid function. Large amounts of iodine, which also helps to regulate thyroid function, can also cause breakouts.

Acne Prevention — Do and Dont’s

As stated in the previous pages, pimples are not the result of poor hygiene nor are they caused by foods. Having said this, you can aggravate your pimples and worsen your condition. So pay close attention to the information on this page so as to not deteriorate your condition further.

Do’s

• Use skincare products that will not ‘clog pores’, they are usually described as ‘oil-free’ and/or ‘non-comedogenic’ on the package.

• Skin care should include: a mild cleanser and application of a non-comedogenic sunscreen on sun-exposed surfaces.

• Gently wash your face twice a day using mild face cleanser and pat dry.

• When you are washing your face, be sure you take the time to remove all of your makeup.

• Be patient! Treatment may take a few weeks to start having useful effects.

• Remember that all of the treatments only work by preventing new spots and that all treatments have to be tried for at least four months before you decide whether they are helping.

• Some acne products can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and ultraviolet light from tanning booths so use protective clothing and sunscreens and avoid tanning booths.

• If irritation, dryness and peeling occur, an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer can be used.

• If your skin is getting too irritated, red or dry while undergoing a topical treatment, then start using them every other day. It takes time for your skin to adapt to your new medicines.

• If you have long hair that touches your face, be sure to wash it frequently enough to keep oil away. Also wash your face after you’ve been exercising hard and sweating a lot. And try not to touch your face throughout the day.

Dont’s

• Avoid thick, greasy make-up over affected areas. Some make-up is acceptable but try to choose «non-comedogenic» cosmetics if possible.

• Resist the temptation to squeeze your acne. This can cause the area to spread and become more inflamed and therefore more likely to scar.

• Do not use harsh soaps when washing face. Vigorously washing and scrubbing will irritate your skin and only make your acne worse.

• Avoid things that may aggravate your acne such as oils, airborne grease, irritating clothing etc…

• Avoid covering yourself with thick layers of make up, and if you do, wash it off as soon as you can, certainly do not leave on overnight.

• Avoid strongly fragranced or alcohol based products.

• Avoid from hair sprays or gels, try to keep them away from your face, as they can also clog up pores.

• Acne isn’t really helped by the sun, either. Although a suntan can temporarily make acne look less severe, it won’t help it go away permanently. So don’t soak up those rays — either under the sun or from a tanning bed — in an effort to help your skin.

• Avoid wearing hats or headbands that rub on your forehead, since this can also make acne worse.

• Avoid touching your face a lot, as your hands have oil on them and this can make acne worse.

IMPORTANT
Individual pimples can take up to 2 or 3 months to form even though they may appear to «pop-up» overnight. Thus, although there is often some initial improvement in the first few weeks after starting a new treatment, it takes at least 2-3 months of regular use before you can assess the full benefit of any acne treatment.

Acne Prevention

Acne is not the same as having a few zits, or a few pimples appearing on your face. Acne can even spread to different parts of the body, including your neck, your back, and your chest, and can be a very embarrassing skin condition. Those who have severe acne should most certainly seek the advice of a dermatologist for possible treatment options. For those who do not have acne, most of the time, you can prevent it from ever occurring. The following paragraphs will take a look at a few ways to prevent this skin condition.

Diet

Most people do not realize it, but our skin is the largest organ that expels waste from our bodies, in conjunction with our intestines, bladders, and colons. Because of this, how we eat will be reflected in by the condition of our skin. By eliminating unhealthy foods from our diets, we are decreasing the amount of toxin being expelled from our pores. Thus, we can help prevent an acne outbreak from development by eating a healthier diet. Nutrients recommended to add to your diet to help with acne prevention include:

• zinc
• vitamin A
• vitamin E
• vitamin B6

Each of these vitamins and minerals can aid in the prevention of acne in their own way. While zinc, especially in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate, can reduce the androgenic hormonal effects on our skin. Vitamin A can help reduce sebum production. Vitamin E helps protect skin cell membrane from damage, as well as helps maintain healthy skin my eliminating harmful free radicals from our bodies, that can often be generated during physical activities. Vitamin B6 helps prevent premenstrual acne, and reduce the sensitivity to the effects of testosterone. By adding foods rich in these vitamins and nutrients to your diet, you can reduce your chances of getting acne.

Exercise

Getting regular exercise can also help prevent acne. When we exercise, we are increasing the blood flow to our skin, and providing more oxygen to our skin cells. Sweating moderately also cleans our skin pores from the inside out, also aiding in the prevention of acne. Regular exercise and moderate sweating are excellent ways of helping to prevent acne, but taking a shower immediately afterwards is very important.

Detoxification

Detoxification is the process of removing harmful toxins from our bodies. Many different types of cleansers are available to help prevent acne, including:

• colon cleanses
• liver flushes
• enemas

When there is a toxin build up in vital parts of our digestive system, the toxins begin to excrete themselves from our skin pores, increasing the chances of an acne outbreak. By eliminating the build up of toxins, we are helping to prevent acne.