A serious acne treatment involves a complete regimen (with the emphasis on complete): hygiene, medications, diet, enough sleep, stress control, proper makeup, running away from cigarettes and alcohol, nutritional supplements, exercise, etc.
If you are a young man or woman who hate acne with a passion, then show it by being determined to do whatever it takes to get rid of those bothersome blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples, and be able to maintain a healthy skin for years to come.
There’s no holy grail when it comes to acne treatments or products — only unholy. Just because a certain product works miracles on some dude or dudette, doesn’t mean it will work the exact same way on you.
Today’s acne medications are absolutely fantastic, but they come with different ingredients, and in various combinations, and strengths, therefore anticipate a period of trial an error with any new acne remedy you purchase before seeing yourself jumping up and down with delight for having found the right one for your skin.
Equally as important (specially if you are stuck with sensitive skin) is the need to allergy test your skin before applying any cream, lotion, gel, or foam on your face or body. Apply the medication to a very small area of the skin at first and watch for any local allergic reaction or sensitivity during the day. Read all labels before using. It is all common sense stuff.
If you don’t see a reduction in the number or severity of pimples within 3 weeks of constant treatment, you must try another acne product containing either a higher concentration of the same active ingredients, or one with different ingredients altogether.
Dealing with this skin disorder requires patience and determination. Any acne treatment must be ongoing and given time to work because it can never make existing blemishes heal or disappear in one day, it can only prevent new breakouts from forming.
One piece of good news is that it is unnecessary for you to waste money in your search for the perfect acne product, which by the way, doesn’t need to be the most expensive one out there. Take advantage of companies offering trial periods and money-back guarantees found under the product sections in this website. We have made it easy for you to discover awesome acne products that can make the treatment of this harmless but embarrassing skin disorder something to write home about.
Mission Impossible: do not pop up zits. It takes a lot of self-control, I know, but it is part of any facial acne treatment advice given by dermatologists. If you just can’t resist the urge, at least do not use your fingers or fingernails. There are tools made for that purpose alone, otherwise you risk pushing material deeper into the skin where it can become infected, or tear delicate tissues leaving a permanent scar in the process.
Do not pick at scabs either. Scabs are an important part of the healing process. Pulling a scab off before the healing going on underneath them is complete, only prolongs the time the redness around the area will be noticeable.
SKIN TYPES
Before choosing any of the many over-the-counter (OTC) topical acne products available today, you must consider the type of skin your are dealing with, as each type presents a special challenge, and requires a different approach. Your skin can be either dry, oily, combination (oily and dry), normal, or sensitive. Acne-prone skin is usually oily or combination around the face, neck, back and shoulders, while sensitive skin is mostly dry.
Dry skin: when dealing with acne and dry skin, wash face twice a day, but no more often than that. The use a mild cleanser is necessary. In cases when the skin is very dry, wash your face with a cleanser at night (when it is the dirtiest), and with only water in the morning to prevent removing natural oils, which lubricate and protect the skin against harmful bacteria.
Apply moisturizer at least twice a day preferably right after washing while the surface of the skin is still damp to seal in moisture. Look for moisturizers containing dimethicone, grape seed oil or petrolatum, and antioxidants for better water retention and lubrication. Reapply moisturizer any time your skin starts to feel tight.
Flaky skin can be exfoliated with facial scrubs containing AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), either glycolic or lactic acid. Use acne-treatment products specifically formulated for dry skin and apply only to those areas affected by zits. Lotions, creams, and ointments are better than foams, gels, or alcohol based products for this type of skin. Remember to always end cleansing or treating by applying generous amounts of moisturizer.
Oily skin: anyone stuck with oily skin needs to treat acne with oil-free and non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores) acne products containing either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to keep breakouts under control. Do not attempt to wash your face more than 3 times a day, preferably twice, otherwise it can not only over dry the face encouraging flakiness and pore clogging, but it can also be outright counterproductive, as oil glands may begin pumping up even more oil to lubricate areas of dry skin.
You can exfoliate your skin once or twice a week but without over scrubbing. Exfoliating more often than that is unnecessary and can easily irritate delicate skin. Avoid any acne products containing coconut oil, cocoa butter, or cinnamon and only water based moisturizer or sunscreen.
The use of medicated pads, pore strips, and facial or peel-off masks is also recommended to maintain the skin’s pores free from excessive oil and dirt. Check the “How to Get Rid of Blackheads” section for information on pore strips and peel-off masks
Combination skin: this type is the most common and requires the most careful approach as you are facing opposite sides of the spectrum. Typically, the cheeks are dry to normal, while the nose, forehead, and chin tend to be oily. This calls for the use of a mild cleanser to wash the face twice a day and a water based moisturizer afterwards making sure there’s no excessive dryness around the cheeks and eyes.
As far as acne remedies go, it’s best to use a spot treatment formulated for combination or oily skin, and apply only to zones where acne is present as some medications may be too harsh for dry areas of the face. Medicated pads are also useful and convenient in this case. If you are experiencing no pimples, just blackheads or whiteheads around the so called T-zone (area that extends from the forehead down to the nose and chin) the use of pore strips will target these areas effectively.
Normal skin: this is the type of skin that everybody would love to have – without acne, of course. It is neither too dry or too oily. In order to keep this delicate balance you must use a gentle cleanser once at night, and a moisturizer twice a day.
If you are suffering from mild acne, mainly black and whiteheads, it’s better to employ pore strips and facial or peel-off masks once a week to remove hardened oil from pores instead of daily astringents. Strips and masks are most effective after a facial steam which softens and loosen the sebum.
In cases of moderate acne use medications for normal to oily skin only. Do not apply more than once a day in order to maintain the balance between moisture and essential oils.
Sensitive skin: when dealing with sensitive skin and mild acne, there’s no need to wash your face more than once daily. Always choose acne products that are free of alcohol, fragrances, or acids that may be irritating. Instead look for those products containing all herbal ingredients like chamomile, aloe, green tea, or tea tree oil. Apply a cream-based moisturizer morning and night to prevent irritation.
If your sensitive skin is suffering from moderate acne instead of mild, then you may need to look for topical acne products containing salicylic or glycolic acid, but in the lowest concentrations possible.
Before your acne treatment and prevention program can be declared a success, it is necessary for you to have a complete understanding of all the causes associated with acne, and take the following measures consistently. Note that each of the measures below are the exact ones your hated pimples would love for you to ignore. Don’t hate your acne, make your acne hate you.
-
Skin hygiene. Wash acne-prone areas very gently no more than twice a day (three times max if dealing with oily skin) with a sulfur based soap or a gentle water-based cleanser, and pat dry with a clean towel.
Washing removes excess dead skin, oil, toxins, and bacteria, but washing more than twice daily can be counterproductive since it dries out the skin and only encourages an increased compensatory oil production.
Shower after any strenuous exercise as sweat left on the skin attracts bacteria that can turn blackheads into whiteheads or worse: pimples.
Wash and shampoo your hair daily, as oily hair contributes to facial oiliness. After a shower, never use the same bath towel to dry up body, hair and face.
Use a separate face towel (or paper towels) to pat your face dry after washing. Ideally, you should have a towel for the hair as well. Yes, have separate towels for the body, hair, face, and hands. It’s better to have a bathroom full of towels than a face full of you know what.
Wet towels are breading ground for bacteria, so make sure you air them dry and wash them or change them every 3 days. Wash or change your pillow case (which accumulate grease) every other day, and the sheets every week.
Attention men: a note here on shaving. Always wash your face with warm water and a mild soap before shaving to soften hairs and open pores. Use an electric razor to minimized cutting your acne, a machine easy to clean and maintain. Avoid pressing the razor hard against the skin, just let it glide over. If you must use a safety razor, change it often to have it sharp, and always shave with the grain of your facial hair (e.g. hairs on jaw and cheek grow down, so shave down). Shave as gently as possible and only when necessary.
For a large number of different brands of cleansers and soaps made to fight acne by controlling the amount of oil or bacteria on your skin, please go to either CLEANSERS. If you prefer to search by brand name, please check under BRANDS on this website. You’ll find plenty of natural or regular products for all kinds of skin and acne types.
-
Facial scrubs. The regular use of facial exfoliators is essential to keep pores clear, the skin clean and acne free. Facial scrubs are effective in removing dead cells, and reducing oil buildups, but harsh or grainy scrubs like those with apricot and almond shell fragments must be avoided.
Exfoliant products containing 1% or 2% BHA (beta hydroxy acid), not only remove dead cells on the skin’s surface, but deeper as BHA penetrates the lining of the pores. The most commonly used is salicylic acid.
If you are sensitive to BHA, try products with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) instead. This is a naturally occurring acid found in citrus fruits and sugar cane, which may not be able to penetrate below the skin, but still does a good job eliminating dead cells and augmenting the skin’s ability to exfoliate. The two most common are lactic and glycolic acid.
You can find an enormous list of scrubs (with or without BHA and AHA) under SCRUBS – STRIPS – SHAMPOOS and , or by different brands under BRANDS.
Warning: do not use any facial scrub more than once a week; every two weeks for sensitive skin. Always apply gently, never rub skin hard as it may result in more oil being released.
Acne Medications. There are many prescription
(POM) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications available in the United States for the purpose of treating acne, both topically like gels, creams, lotions, ointments, foams, or medicated cleansing pads, and orally like selective vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, herbs, and of course antibiotics and contraceptives.
The main ingredients found in topical OTC acne products come in different concentrations (1%, 10%, etc) and the most common are:
Salicylic acid: helps in the shedding of dead skin cells.
Glycolic acid: exfolianting agent.
Resorcinol: reduces excess oil.
Sulfur: used in combination with resorcinol to cleanse oily skin.
Benzoyl Peroxide: kills P.acnes bacteria.
Alcohol: kills bacteria.
Acetone: cleanses skin oil.
Tea tree oil: natural antimicrobial oil.
Some of the POM topical acne medications are:
Dapsone: (aczone) reduces inflammatory lesions).
Clindamycin: decreases inflammation, kills acne-causing bacteria.
Sodium Sulfacetamide: opens clogged pores by inhibiting bacterial growth.
Azelic Acid: reduces inflammation, kills P.acnes.
Erythromycin: antibiotic.
Topical retinoids: unclog pores like tazarotene, tretinoin, and adapalene (or differin).
Interlesional corticosteroid injections: for cystic acne only.
Among oral prescription medications for treating acne we find:
Tetracycline: antibacterial, reduces inflammatory lesions.
Minocycline and doxycycline are both derivatives of tetracyclinegood for the control of papules and pustules.
Isotretinoin: (accutane)for severe acne only.
Erythromycin: antibiotic.
Oral contraceptives: Estrostep fe, yaz 28, and ortho tri-cyclen.
Over the counter oral acne products may contain one or more vitamins like A, B, E, and C plus minerals like Zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, and healthy herbs. As a whole, they provide essential nutrients for your skin and immune system; they help in balancing hormonal levels and in detoxifying the body, which tends to reduce skin oil production.
In almost all cases, over-the-counter acne products are less costly than prescription medications, even if you don’t take into account the cost of an office visit with a dermatologist. Also, non-prescription products can be ordered online, which makes it extremely convenient.
-
Cosmetics. Avoid wearing any type of heavy foundation makeup. Only those tagged “noncomedogenic” (non-obstructing) should be used, and pick powder (without mica) cosmetics over creams (except concealers) as they are less irritating.
Wash your face before applying any makeup and also after removing it. Always clean brushes and applicators with soapy water after each use and never go to bed with makeup on.
To find a great variety of cosmetics for acne prone skin please go to MAKEUP.
- Clothing & accessories. Things like hats, headbands, helmets, tight fitting jeans, bras, shorts, underwear, or any sports headgear that cover part of your face or body can cause excess friction, pressure, and heat, which constricts pores and can trigger or aggravate zits in that area. This is a form of acne known as acne mechanica. Sexy outfits are… well sexy, but if too tight they may cause trouble — in more ways than one.
Young athletes and soldiers are particularly vulnerable and without options. Try wearing loose-fitting clothes or a t-shirt underneath made out of natural fabrics (avoid lycra) to reduce friction. After exercising, use a clean towel to remove sweat off by blotting — do not wipe it off. Get out of wet cloths and take a shower as soon as you can.
-
Diet. “An apple a day keeps the pimples away” No kidding! A good acne diet should be simple and balanced. The experts recommend the following:
Eat/drink plenty of: Water, fresh fruit juices, vegetables (except potatoes), fresh fruits, whole grains, eggs, nuts, wheat germ, wheat brand, liver, mushrooms, yams, sunflower seeds, salmon, sardines, and low fat milk.
Reduce: sugar, salt, white bread, white rice, fish (except salmon, sardines, albacore tuna). Avoid: Ice cream, chocolate, coffee, cheese, whole milk, red meat, sodas, packaged snack foods, margarine, and fried or spicy foods. Forever? No. For as long as you suffer from moderate to severe breakouts in order to maximize the benefits of any topical acne medication being used. However, a balanced diet for life will result in better health, zits or not.
Teenagers from certain primitive populations show no cases of acne, which prompted a study seeking an explanation. Imagine, entire populations with no acne. Well, researches found that besides possibly genetics, diet is the major difference seen between these less modernized cultures and the West. They consume mainly fish, vegetables, and fruits. No dairy products, no foods with a high glycemic index (GI). GI measures the effect of foods on sugar levels in the blood, so the faster a type of food breaks down during digestion, the higher its GI index. And the higher the sugar levels in the blood, in combination with an overabundance of testosterone (like during adolescence), results in more sebum production than normal. It’s a bad deal!
The Western diet contains mostly high glycemic foods like refined cereals and grains, breads, snack bars, ice cream, sodas, potato chips, french fries, and anything generally classified as junk food.
Keep in mind that even if following a good diet, studies have shown that poor digestion can also have an effect on your acne since it forces the skin to become an eliminating organ for toxins that are normally handled by the digestive track.
Acidophilus is the term that describes a number of bacteria which promotes healthy human digestion by releasing chemicals that aid in process of digestion. It is recommended that you eat acidophilus-rich food like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha. However, the amount of acidophilus present in foods varies, so it’s better to include supplements of acidophilus in the diet. This is particularly true if you are your lactose intolerant.
Most toxins are normally expelled out via bowels and kidneys, but whenever these organs are overloaded with waste material, the body must find an alternative means of elimination, and that is the skin, which can consequently lead to face and body acne breakouts.
One way to help keep kidneys and bowels functioning at their best and the skin clear is by drinking at least 4 (8 oz) glasses of water a day — eight glasses are not necessary, since the food you eat has already some water in it. Don’t drink plain tab water though, since it contains chemicals. Try home water filters or bottled water and enjoy the benefits of clean, fresh water daily.
-
Nutritional supplements. Vitamins and minerals are both needed for a healthy skin, hormonal balance, and a strong immune system. Make sure you get the minimum recommended daily allowance of vitamins.
The American Academy of Dermatology reports that vitamin A is vital to the health of both your skin and your eyes. It strengthens and repairs the protective tissues of the skin and reduces oil production. It is recommended that you take 5k IU of vitamin A to help keep acne under control.
Also recommended by the Academy are daily intake of vitamins C (60 mg) and E (10 mg) for their antioxidant capacity which is important to maintain a healthy skin.
Vitamin E helps with the absorption of vitamin A as well.
Minerals like zinc and copper help combat germs and bacteria, and minimizes scarring by speeding up the skin’s healing process. Take 15 mg of zinc and 2 of mg of copper daily. Zinc supplements must be combined with copper, because pure zinc causes copper deficiency.
Omega-3 fatty acids work in preventing bacterial infection and inflammation by strengthening skin cell membranes. A daily supplement of omega-3 fatty acids is necessary if you don’t eat salmon, halibut, tilefish, tuna, swordfish, or shark at least twice a week. Flaxseeds, hempseed oil, and butternuts are excellent botanical sources of these fatty acids.
There are 3 particular digestive or pancreatic enzymes that can really help in reducing oil secretion by the skin. Nutritional supplements containing protease, amylase, and lipase should be taking regularly.
Avoid supplements or products containing additives that can be potentially harmful to your skin. Only purchase those from manufactures that are GMP (good manufacturing practice) compliant. A large list of dietary supplements can be found under DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS .
- Light Therapies. One of the latest therapies in the treatment of mild to moderate acne that has become popular is high-intensity, narrow-band blue light. It is a safe (FDA approved), non-invasive, quick, and painless procedure with minimal or no side effects. Today’s blue-light devices emit no ultraviolet (UV) light, which can damage the skin.
Clinical trials on light therapies have been limited, therefore long-term effects are still unknown, but recent studies show there’s good reason for optimism, particularly for those who have tried other acne treatment methods without much success. In time, with further research in perfecting the technology, light therapies may completely replace traditional acne treatments. Keep in mind, however, that this type of therapy has shown to be effective in treating mild to moderate inflammatory acne only, not for severe cases like the nodulocystic kind.
Blue-light therapy works by killing the bacteria (P. acnes) that thrive when excessive skin oil is being released and trapped inside hair follicles, causing inflammation, and resulting in a pimple. Light therapy is a process that takes several weeks to show the effects, it doesn’t eliminate bacteria overnight. It’s important to note the light successfully targets bacteria without affecting surrounding tissues.
Side effects of individuals with sensitive skin may involve minor swelling, redness, and dryness of the treated areas, but they all disappear quickly. Many patients are able to experience a noticeable improvement in pimple formation after two to four weeks of treatment – depending upon the severity of the condition.
The best news is that we no longer need to see a dermatologist or visit a high priced medical spa to have this therapy administered. Just a few years ago, only the rich and famous could afford blue light therapy treatments. Fortunately, the cost of manufacturing light producing devices has drop considerably, making this therapy much more affordable. Nowadays, there are many individual units for home use available in the market that produce narrow-band blue light specifically designed for the treatment of acne. These devices emit light in the wavelength spectrum range of 405-420nm, which is very destructive to acne causing bacteria – any light under 400nm is considered ultraviolet.
Some dermatologists feel that that the prolonged use of blue light alone may end up aging the skin. For this reason, there are units available which combine blue and red light at the same time. Red light has shown to have anti-aging properties, reducing wrinkles and very minor scars.
One thing we recommend is wearing eye protection when using any light emitting device, since the light is extremely bright, and can over time degrade the macro sensors in the eyes. Blackout goggles offer the best protection, but any FDA approved UV protective goggles do the job of lowering the light intensity avoiding any possible eye damage in the long run. Also, try to keep your eyes closed during treatments, but avoid falling sleep while at it.
Check various devices of this type under either LIGHT-THERAPY – REMOVERS.
For more information regarding the latest on high-tech acne treatments involving blue/red light, heat-based, or laser therapies read the following articles from annual meetings of the American Academy of Dermatology:
“New Treatments and Good Skin Care Helping Patients Control Acne and Rosacea”
“Studies Show Combination Laser Therapy Effective at Clearing Acne, Reducing Oil Production”
-
Homeopathic remedies. The term “homeopathy” is derived from two Greek words: homeo (similar) and pathos (suffering). Homeopathy was developed in the 19th century by a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) as an alternative to the standard medical practices of his day.
Classical homeopathy is based on the body’s ability to heal itself by the use of minute quantities of remedies that in larger doses produce effects similar to those of the disease being treated. These highly diluted preparations, which can cause specific symptoms in healthy individuals, are given as treatment to patients suffering the exact same symptoms.
Homeopaths take into consideration the patient’s physical, emotional, and mental condition. All are deemed important. Treatments are therefore tailored to each individual patient. In the case of people suffering from acne, a homeopath not only examines a patient’s skin but also inquires about their mood, their work, relationships, hobbies, etc.
Homeopathic remedies are extracted from natural substances derived from animal, plants, or minerals.
This field is surrounded by controversy, mainly because its basic concepts are not consistent with the current understanding of chemistry or physics. Some studies have reported positive findings, others shown little evidence of effectiveness beyond the placebo effect.
Homeopathic treatments are generally safe. They are regulated in the same way as nonprescription drugs. Only products for minor health conditions that go away on their own can be sold without a prescription. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires homeopathic remedies to meet standards for purity, strength, and packaging. Labels must indicate the problem being treated, list of ingredients, and safety instructions.
We have included a number of HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES in case there is any interest among our readers.
