Alternative Medicine For Acne - Does It Work?

Herbal Medicine

There are various herbs you can use for treatment, cure, and prevention of acne. The main thing to remember when using herbal remedies is safety. If you are buying ready-made herbal remedies, consider who you’re buying from. Are you buying from a reputable seller? Is it certified safe and tested by the US Department Food and Drug Administration?

It’s good if you want to make your own herbal remedy but make sure you’re able to follow directions accurately. Wrong quantities can lead to overdose and other medical complications. Insufficient quantities will naturally lead to ineffective acne solutions.

Tea tree oil is one of the most commonly used herbs for acne treatments. It may contain anti-microbial effects which can reduce inflammation of acne especially in severe cases. Continued use over a three month period can lead to dramatic results. It also has properties that can remarkably slow the growth of the P. acnes bacteria. Researchers have shown that tea tree oil have lesser side effects compared to benzoyl peroxide. Thus, it’s possible not to suffer from dryness, burning, itching, and stinging - all common reactions to acne treatments.

Evening primrose oil or black currant seed oil is effective when taken thrice a day in the form of 500mg capsules. In three months, you can expect your acne to clear up. You can also try a concoction of cleavers tincture and nettle.

Echinacea, goldenseal, calendula, flaxseed, licorice root, witch hazel, and German chamomile are all considered effective against acne as well. If it’s stress that’s causing you acne problems, consider relaxing with a cup of lavender tea.

Aromatherapy

The right scent can make your problems and illnesses go away. This is the primary claim of aromatherapy and they have suggested solutions prepared for your acne problems as well.

Similar to its use in herbal drinks, tea tree oil also has a scent considered beneficial for solving acne problems. Tea tree oil was used as the primary ingredient in researches focusing on the effectiveness of aromatherapy for acne control, prevention, and treatment.

Compared to traditional treatments, aromatherapy shows slower results but it does have lesser side effects as well. Aromatherapy, depending on the ingredients used, may also have antibacterial properties to prevent acne growth. A good example of this is farnesol.

Other excellent herbs for aromatherapy treatments for acne are ylang-ylang, sandalwood, palmarosa, myrrh, lavender, and jasmine.

For back acne, choose three to four of the herbs recommended above. Make sure you can extract its essential oils then create a 5% solution with it while mixing in two tablespoons of aloe vera gel. Put it inside a dark glass spray bottle. Shake well before having someone spray it on your back.

Acupressure

This age-old Chinese technique can also be applied for treating acne. According to acupressure theory, the body is made of various pathways. Massaging or performing certain actions on certain pathways can promote healing.

For facial acne, you can try dry-washing your face. Start by rubbing your face warm with both your hands. Next, use four fingers to wipe your face downwards. Circle back and move upwards. Do ten cycles of this before repeating it for another ten in reverse.

Acupuncture

Here are several suggestions on using this alternative treatment for acne. You’ll have to be familiar with the positioning of points in your body to follow the massage procedures below. Each massage point should only take up a minute of your time daily.

Try pressing and kneading gently the point situated above your nose bridge (Ex). Do the same on another day for the points on your cheek and beneath your pupils (St3), under your cheekbones (Si18), and at the bottom of your skull (Gb20).

Other alternative medicine and treatments for acne that are worth considering are homeopathy, juice therapy, yoga, and reflexology.

Flor Serquina is a writer and also a wife and a mother who has a great interest in maintaining the healthy skin of the members of her large family. For more information visit her website, where she discusses various subjects such as alternative medicine for acne, best birth control for acne and light therapy for acne.

The site features well-researched articles on the different types of acne, their causes and their treatment. There are reviews of the varied approaches to acne, including laser surgery for acne scars, home remedies, different brands of acne soaps and face wash, over-the-counter acne medications as well prescription medicines.

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Acne Scar Type - Acne Scar Treatment

Scarring is the most horrible postimpact of acne. It not only devastates one’s external appearance, but also leaves a traumatic aftermath in the victim’s mind. Knowing acne scar types is an important issue because acne scar treatment, to a large extent, depends on its different categories. This acne scar type is also known as hypertrophic scars. Meaning of the term hypertrophic is overgrowth or enlargement. Keloids are formed due to overgrowth of collagen. Formation of collagen is otherwise a normal reaction of the skin to an injury which sometimes exaggerates abruptly and gives rise to bulge-like formation all over the skin surface. Each bulge measures around 1 to 2 mm in diameter and some are even larger in size. It has been observed that the tendency of keloid formation is transmitted through families, or in other words, they are genetically transmissible in nature. Therefore people who bear instances of keloid scar in their family are more susceptible to this type of strange growth of tissue. It is uncertain as to how long the keloids would persist; they might remain unchanged for years or even diminish in size over time.

Acne scar types that are caused by loss of tissues are more common in nature than keloids. Unlike an overgrown tissue, in this case the existing tissue is damaged or lost giving rise to a dented look of the skin surface, and this is they are also called as pitted scars and resemble much like the scars that are caused by chicken pox. This type of common acne scars are further assorted into a few other subcategories.

Ice-pick scars: Ice-pick scars are steep and shallow in appearance. They are identified by jagged edges and steep sides. This type of acne scars is either hard or soft to touch. Soft scars have an advantage over their harder counterpart which is that they could be stretched in an attempt to fix the scar while the skin of hard scars can not be stretched. Ice-pick scars are more common on the cheeks.

Atrophic macules: This is yet another acne scar type that might appear both in face and body. The ones that appear on face are very tiny in size, while on back they take larger shape which might extend up to 1 cm or even larger. They are soft to touch, and usually have a slightly creased base. The blood vessels that lie right under the scar make it more visible by giving it a bluish appearance. However, the color changes in time and it gradually becomes bluish or ivory white and is hardly noticeable on skin surface.

Follicular macular atrophy: Follicular macular atrophy is atypical to chest and back. Therefore people, who are more prone to body acne, are rather susceptible to this type of scarring. These soft scars look much like underdeveloped whiteheads since they too are slightly whitish in color and appear like slightly raised bumps on the skin surface. Perifollicular elastolysis is another term in which they are often known. This acne scar type is rather persistent in nature which might last even for years.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for Acne Treatment. She also writes articles for Blackheads.

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Tags: Acne, Scar, Treatment

Top Ways to Get Rid of Acne Scars

Acne scars range in severity from minor scarring to serious scars that can be disfiguring. Even minimal scarring from acne can have devastating results on your emotional state. The good news is scars that were once a life sentence are now very treatable in many men and women who suffer from acne scarring. Even better news is that there are a few avenues to explore when it comes to removal of acne scars.

Microdermabrasion

Best suited for relatively mild cases of acne scarring, microdermabrasion removes the top most layers of skin in order to reveal the smooth layers beneath the skins surface. This minimizes the severity of minor acne scars in most cases. In some cases, it can remove all signs of acne scarring. If you suffer from acne scars that are holding you back but do not have a lot of money to spend in search of a cure, microdermabrasion is a great beginning that is financially possible for the average household to afford. An added benefit of microdermabrasion is that it actually works to stimulate the body to produce new healthy skin cells and natural collagen. This leads to a healthy glow and skin that is able to repair some of its own damage.

Collagen Injections

Another popular, though slightly more expensive than microdermabrasion, treatment for acne scars is collagen injections. With this treatment method, collagen is injected into the scars in order to fill in the area leaving the texture of your face much smoother. Collagen injections may be painful but the pain is generally mild, limited to the injection site, and fairly short-lived. Many patients are able to receive collagen injections during the course of a typical lunch hour, which means that the recovery time is extremely short with this procedure.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are used for much more than just acne scar removal though they can be quite effective when used for this purpose. This is a much more involved process for treating acne scarring than microdermabrasion as it removes multiple layers of skin rather than the top layer. What this means is that chemical peels are able to reach down to the root of the problem in many cases rather than glossing over it as collagen injections may do. Chemical peels can be adjusted to suit your specific needs making them an excellent choice for men and women with varying severities of acne scarring.

Laser Resurfacing

This is the most aggressive treatment that is commonly used to treat acne scarring. Laser resurfacing goes deep beneath the surface of the skin. The deeper the scarring the more treatments may be needed in order to gain optimal results. Just as there are deeper results that can be anticipated with laser resurfacing there are also greater risks involved and a lengthier recovery time. This is often considered a last resort and reserved for the most severe cases of acne scarring.

If you are struggling with confidence as a result of acne scarring, then perhaps it is time to discuss these treatment options with your physician.

Matt Anderson helps you to find the acne cream treatment that works. See his review site for the best rated acne treatment cream products, acne scar removal treatments, and diet acne skin care tips that work.

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Tags: Top, Ways, Acne, Scars

How to Avoid Body Acne When Shaving Your Body

People shave parts of their bodies for many reasons, but many develop body acne after shaving. Men's chests and backs are particularly sensitive to developing body acne after shaving, especially when shaving for the first time.

Here are some tips that could help in keeping body acne to a minimum. The area to be shaven should be clean. It is therefore better to shave in the shower and wait until the hairs have become soft. Apply shaving cream to small areas and use a fresh shaving blade. Shave in the direction of the hair growth. It may be hard to determine what direction the hairs are growing in (particularly when shaving body hair for the first time), but after the hairs start growing back you will have a better idea.

To minimize acne due to ingrown hairs and stubble, treat the shaven area once or twice daily with a skin care product containing salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid), which will gently exfoliate the skin. Products containing alpha-hydroxy acids are also a good choice. If the area that was shaven becomes red right after shaving, an ice pack can be applied to the area for 5-10 minutes to help reduce swelling of the skin.

Avoid shaving the same area on a daily basis. This will only increase the acne and skin irritation and results in more ingrown hairs and stubble. Sea water has a positive effect on body acne, so go in the water when you are on the beach.

Shaving unwanted body hair will not make the hair grow back thicker, it just appears that way since the hair closest to the hair follicle is thicker. When the hair grows longer, the tip of the hair becomes thinner.

Some alternatives to shaving:

Depilatory Creams
To remove hair from arms, legs and backs, depilatory creams may be a good alternative to shaving. Most depilatory creams contain hydroxide and hair is removed by breaking down the keratin protein in hair. Skin is very sensitive to hydroxide and therefore depilatory creams should not be used on a daily basis. Use of depilatory creams may result in less body acne due to less ingrown hairs and stubble compared to shaving. Use of depilatory creams makes the skin very sensitive, so avoid using any skin care product for 24 hours after hair removal.

Laser Hair removal
If permanent hair removal is something you desire and you can afford it, laser hair removal may be the right choice. To remove all hairs growing in different growth cycles, you will need to be treated at least 3 times plus some follow up visits to treat stubborn hairs. The area to be treated should be shaven 24 hours before laser treatment, so that only actively growing hairs are being targeted by the laser. Since the laser targets melanin pigment, people with darker hairs and lighter skin are the best candidates for laser hair removal.

The author is senior editor for reverta.com For more information about body acne go to: Body Acne Spray

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Tags: Body, Shaving, laser

Acne Scars - How to Reduce Acne Scars Safely

Acne itself can cause a lot of distress among it's sufferers but it isn't just the visual impact of the blackheads and red patchy skin that can cause emotional distress. Acne causes long term scarring that potentially can stay with you for life. Even if you have successfully treated the Acne or if it clears naturally through time, it can still leave distinctive acne scars.

Acne scars are formed when the skin tissue naturally tries to heal itself and doesn't necessarily fit the appearance of surrounding skin. Acne is a condition that damages the skin by naturally occurring bacteria attracting white blood cells to the follicle. These in turn produce a certain enzyme which damages the wall of the follicle.

The intensity of the scars appearance is dependent on various factors such as how severe the Acne was or a drastic attempt to remove it such as an acid based treatment. However, it can just be that your skin scars quite easily. Acne scars differ from person to person. Where for one individual the scars can fade, another's last a lifetime.

The best method of reducing Acne scars is to try to prevent them before they occur. Acne is best treated in the early stages before the area is too inflamed as this can result in less scarring overall. Do not be tempted to 'pick and pop'! This drastically increases your chances of getting scars so try to live with them in full glory and get them treated professionally.

There are three main types of Acne scars. 'Soft scars' are small and blend into the skin, 'Ice Pick' scars are small but depressed into the skin and 'Depressed Fibrotic' scars are both large and deep. All scars differ in size, depth and color and will be more visible if the scar coloring differs greatly from your natural skin tone.

Once you have these scars, it can be very difficult to remove them. Some people may choose to wait for them to naturally fade on their own rather then try any further medical tampering but if you decide to do this you should be aware that the scars may not fade at all.

If you decide to remove your scars with treatments, make sure you are aware of the dangers and hazards of each method before you start, consult your GP for advice on how to remove Acne scars before you get stuck in with chemicals and surgery. Bleaching agents are available for dark scars and topical resurfacing agents for scars that have affected the skin surface. Why not try a home remedy for acne before attempting a chemical solution.

Dermatological surgery can also be a solution to consider but make sure you are aware of the risks of this kind of drastic treatment before you consider it. Unfortunately, even with surgery, there is no guarantee that you will rid yourself of Acne scars 100%, so why not try to use a more gentle acne solution before using any drastic treatments?

Stop wasting your time and money! Get Acne Treatment Reviews before you start any acne treatment to achieve clear skin fast.

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Tags: Acne, Scars, Reduce, Scars

8 Ways To Effectively Prevent Your Acne

Acne vulgaris is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands) and hair follicles. This leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions that is commonly called 'pimples or zits'. Acne can occur on the face, neck, back, chest or shoulders. Outbreaks of acne can be very terrible to the affected people. Severe outbreaks of acne can even lead to stays in hospital and can be devastating not only physically but also emotionally.

When acne is breaking out, it may appear as if you would never receive any relief from it, it seems as if it is getting worse every day. Acne normally presents itself in a variety of possibilities that make it difficult in getting rid of acne. It may appear in the form of a few whiteheads or blackheads, on the face, chest or back. When you observe one or two pimples you seem to feel that all is well and may relax. However know that it is at this time you need to take steps to get rid of the little acne and prevent new ones that might come in full force.

There are some things that you can do that would keep your acne away. Note that some of these steps have to be carried out continuously and are really very simple. Some of the steps might work for you and some may not. The only way you would know if any one works is to try it. You have nothing to lose except your acne.

Here are 8 ways that you can try to prevent your acne. They can be part of your everyday routine.

#1. Take vitamin supplements daily for the improvement of your general health and improving your skin. Eat a healthy diet everyday with lots of fruit and vegetables. Most fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function properly. Drink lots of water, it flushes your system which is important in getting rid of impurities present in the body. Drinking lots of water also helps in improving the elasticity of your skin.

#2. Use mild soaps to wash. However do not over-wash; since acne is not caused by dirt it will not go away due to excess washing and scrubbing. Use soaps that are pure Castile or pure glycerin based. Do not use deodorant or fragranced based bars. It is good to exfoliate to remove the dead skin cells but do not use harsh scrubs and over scrub.

#3. Keep your forehead and bangs or long greasy hair away from your face and neck. The additional oils from the hair products that you use would cause more oil to get to your pores of your face and neck.

#4. Do not smoke and try to stay away from smoking zones. Smoking/smoke produces free radicals that are harmful to your skin and body.

#5. Refrain from putting your hands on your hair and then on your face. Do not pick or squeeze your pimples.

#6. Sunlight may initially help your acne but it is not permanent. Consistent sun exposure/sun bathing would dry your skin and cause your sebaceous glands to produce more oil and cause skin to shed more old cells leading to a breakout of acne. If you can avoid being exposed to the sun, use oil-free sunscreen/products that have a SPF factor of at least 15 and are effective against UVA and UVB rays.

#7. Sleep for at least 7 hours a day. It helps improves your physical health and fights acne and helps your skin. This is because having a healthy, well-rested body helps build a strong immune system which not only helps you prevent acne but fights infection. So sleep well.

#8. Find an acne treatment that works and stick to it. Most people expect an acne cream or treatment to work within 3 days of using it without acknowledging the fact that the pimple or acne took about 2-3 weeks to appear and would not go away so easily. So when using an acne cream/treatment for the first time be prepared to use it for about 2-3 months before declaring that it is not effective. Most acne treatment available involve the use of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. include Revitol® Acnezine cream and spot gel, Proactiv® solution), Salicylic acid (Murad Acne complex®) or vitamins and antioxidants (Revitol® Acnezine skin antioxidant capsule which is aimed at tackling acne from inside the body).

Remember the best way to get rid of acne is to prevent it from appearing while effectively taking care of the present ones.

For more information on acne and products that effectively treat and prevent acne check out http://Acnespotfree.blogspot.com or http://Acnespotfree.wordpress.com Learn how I got rid of my acne.

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Tags: Effectively, Prevent, Acne

Best Acne Cream Treatments

I just ran across this list of active ingredients that are common to different acne treatments. Most of us are used to seeing Clearasil and Proactiv but to know what these products contain is at least as important as the ads that they have on TV.

Used to treat mild, moderate and severe acne, the effectiveness of over-the-counter medications lies in the product's active ingredients. The active ingredient benzoyl peroxide reduces acnes; whereas, salicylic acid helps correct abnormal skin shedding. To choose what to use look at what the ingredient is expected to fix. I have included common active ingredients used in over-the-counter acne medications sold in the United States. Check with your dermatologist or pharmacist before combining acne products.

Alcohol and acetone

Found together in some over-the-counter medications used to treat acne, acetone works as a degreasing agent and alcohol has mild antimicrobial properties. When used alone, acetone tends to have no effect.

Benzoyl peroxide

The mainstay of over-the-counter acne treatment, benzoyl peroxide works to clear up acne by reducing acne and removing dead cells from the skin to prevent comedones. Use of benzoyl peroxide should be continued after acne clears to prevent new lesions from forming. It was one of the first agents found to be effective in treating mild acne and has been used in acne treatment for decades. The principal side effect is excessive dryness of the skin, so be sure to follow directions and not use more than stated unless otherwise instructed by a physician. Care should also be taken when applying it to avoid the bleaching effect. Benzoyl peroxide has been known to bleach hair, sheets, towels and clothing. For this reason, an old shirt should be worn after applying benzoyl peroxide to acne on the back or chest. Benzoyl peroxide is available over-the-counter as a lotion or gel.

Herbal, organic and natural products

Over-the-counter products labeled "herbal," "organic" or "natural" are marketed as acne treatments but their effectiveness has rarely been tested in clinical trials. The value of such treatments is generally unknown.

Resorcinol

A popular ingredient in over-the-counter acne medications, resorcinol controls small acne lesions and is frequently combined with sulfur in products at the drugstore.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is effective in treating non-inflammatory acne lesions, salicylic acid helps correct the abnormal shedding of skin cells and unclog pores to resolve and prevent lesions. Salicylic acid does not have any effect on sebum production or P. acnes. Like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid must be used continuously. Once stopped, pores clog and acne returns. Salicylic acid is found in many over-the-counter acne products, including lotions, creams and pads. It may be irritating to the skin.

Sulfur

Sulfur has been used for more than 50 years in combination with other agents, such as alcohol, salicylic acid and resorcinol and is found in many over-the-counter acne medications. While long used to treat acne, it is not known how sulfur works to clear acne. Due to its unpleasant odor, sulfur is not frequently used alone as an acne treatment.

Bill Nadraszky is passionate about health and fitness. You can find more information about the best acne treatment by reading a review that I recently wrote.

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Tags: Cream, Treatments, Best

Tips to Find the Best Treatment For Acne Scars

For each individual acne can range from mild to severe, but those who suffer from severe cases also have to contend with the scars that acne leaves behind. It is important to avoid pinching or squeezing acne since this can lead to permanent scars. This is why you should prevent the formation of acne scars by choosing the best treatment for acne scars.

To do this you should consider was treatment for acne scars exist today. When it comes to rolling scars such as those that cause the skin to roll the best treatment is subcutaneous incision.

The purpose of this treatment for acne scars is to break up the fibrous scar tissues. Several sessions of this treatment are required in order to get the desired results. Bruising may appear at first but it will disappear after about a week.

Some people think the best treatment for acne scares of all types is dermal fillers which can even help prevent the formation of acne scars. These dermal fillers can use several substances like fat, hyaluronic acid derivatives, collagen and micro spheres with collagen.

Dermal fillers injected under the scare to raise it to the level of the rest of the skin so the skin can have a smoother look and feel. However, this is not a permanent solution and will need periodic injections for maintenance.

Again, one of the best treatment for acne scars today is laser surfacing. This method has also been used to treat other common skin problems such as age spots and wrinkles. The laser removes the first layer of skin so that it can be replaced during healing by healthier skin.

Many have been satisfied by this form of acne treatment. For many people, it has become the best treatment for acne scars that are very deep and it has been recommended by many medical professionals due to its high rate of success.

However, here is one of the best ACNE success stories you will ever read. It is about a lady called Elizabeth Stanton: Read how she battle serious acne on her face, body and many years of social depression. Here is the good news: Elizabeth overcame and now enjoys shinning skin, admirable beauty and excellent career. Read her captivating story now...

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Tags: Tips, Treatment, Acne, Scars