'The Pill' Can Help Ease Period Pain

Many doctors already prescribe oral contraceptives 'off-label' for this purpose, experts note.

TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2012 (HealthDay News) —There's more evidence that use of the oral contraceptive pill can help ease the cramps, bloating and other pain some womenexperience during their period.
Some previous research, as well as anecdotal evidence, have suggested that the Pill could help women with painful periods, but a 2009 review of all available research concluded there was limited evidence for such a conclusion.
The new findings, from a Swedish study that has been running for 30 years, show that women who used the combined birth control pill (estrogen plus progestin) suffered less severe pain than women who did not use the Pill, the researchers said.
Their study findings appear online Jan. 18 in the journal Human Reproduction.
Experts estimate that pain associated with menstrual periods accounts for 600 million lost working hours and $2 billion in lost productivity in the United States each year.
One expert in the United States noted that doctors have long used the Pill to help ease such symptoms.
"Many obstetrician/gynecologists have used oral contraceptive pills to help alleviate menstrual pain, otherwise known as dysmenorrhea," said Dr. Jenifer Wu, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "This is technically an off-label use of these commonly prescribed medications," she added.
The Swedish researchers noted that younger women typically suffer more from painful periods than older women. And while they did find that symptoms eased somewhat with increasing age, the effects of age and Pill use were independent of each other and use of the Pill had a greater effect overall.
The study included three groups of women who turned 19 in 1981, 1991 and 2001. Each group included 400 to 520 women, who were asked about their pattern of menstruation and menstrual pain, reproductive history, contraceptive use, height and weight.
The women provided this information at ages 19 and 24.
"By comparing women at different ages, it was possible to demonstrate the influence of [the Pill] on the occurrence and severity of dysmenorrhea, at the same time taking into account possible changes due to increasing age," Dr. Ingela Lindh, of the Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, said in a journal news release. "We found there was a significant difference in the severity of dysmenorrhea depending on whether or not the women used combined oral contraceptives."
Dr. Steven Goldstein, an obstetrician/gynecologist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said: "The study results are not surprising. It's gratifying to see researchers documenting scientifically what practitioners have been seeing for a very long time. The amount of discomfort from a woman's period with a combination birth control pill is a fraction of what it is without the Pill. There is a diminution of pain from the Pill."
For her part, Wu believes that "doctors should include a discussion of all the benefits and risks when presenting birth control options, and the improvement of dysmenorrhea is a significant benefit to oral contraceptive pills."

Your Guide to Birth Control Methods

There are a number of birth control options available today. From abstinence to sterilization, birth control methods also include barrier devices and hormonal choices. Learn about the pros and cons and the birth control effects of each as you make your selection.

There are many birth control methods available, so many in fact that you may feel overwhelmed by all the options. To better compare the choices, first learn about the various birth control effects and what’s involved in using each technique or product. Next, talk to your doctor to get a clearer picture of the benefits and drawbacks of each method.
Keep in mind that while all birth control methods are intended to prevent pregnancy, some help prevent sexually transmitted diseases as well.
Birth Control Method No. 1: Abstinence
Abstinence is the most effective of the birth control options — if it’s practiced at all times. This birth control method means that you do not engage in vaginal intercourse or any activity that would allow fluid from the penis to be near the vagina.
Benefits:

• Guaranteed to prevent pregnancy
• Prevents sexually transmitted infections if there is no genital skin-to-skin contact

Drawbacks:

• Some couples may find it difficult to carry out over the long term.

Birth Control Method No. 2: Ovulation Timing
This method involve paying careful attention to various body changes that suggest ovulation is about to take place and avoiding sex for a set window of time around that projected date. The most common timing methods include measurement of body temperature with a very sensitive thermometer each morning to look for changes that signal ovulation and daily observation of changes in cervical mucus consistency.
Benefits:

• No need to use a physical barrier method before sex
• No medications with the potential for birth control side effects

Drawbacks:

• Requires a high level of motivation, discipline, and understanding
• Potential for failure even if all of the above are present

Birth Control Method No. 3: Barriers
Barrier birth control methods prevent sperm from reaching an egg. Options include:

• Condoms. Latex condoms cover the penis and have a receptacle tip to collect sperm. There are also female condoms that a woman inserts into her vagina before intercourse. A single condom can only be used for one act of intercourse.
• Diaphragm. A diaphragm is a latex dome that goes in the vagina and covers the cervix. Your doctor has to fit and prescribe it. It is inserted before intercourse, left in for a period of time afterwards, and can be cleaned and reused.
• Sponges. These are doughnut-shaped rounds of foam that contain spermicide and are inserted before sex. Each sponge can only be used once.
• Cervical caps. Similar to a diaphragm, they are small domes made of latex or plastic that fit over your cervix. They must be fitted and prescribed by a doctor, and they require yearly replacing.

Barrier methods are more effective when combined with spermicide, a gel that kills sperm to maximize pregnancy prevention.
Benefits:

• You have control over when you use barrier methods.
• Latex condoms can also prevent some sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.

Drawbacks:

• If condoms break or rupture, they lose their protective birth control effects.
• It can take some practice to use barrier methods correctly.
• Certain barrier methods, such as sponges and cervical caps, cannot be used during menstruation.

Birth Control Method No. 4: Birth Control Pills
Hormone combinations that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) are available in pills that have to be taken every day. There are many different brands and formulas, allowing you to find the one that works best for you.
Benefits:

• Reliable pregnancy prevention when used correctly
• May control unpleasant PMS symptoms in some women
• Usually results in a shorter, lighter menstrual period — some doctors prescribe birth control pills which can be taken continuously for several months, allowing a woman to have only a few menstrual periods per year.

Drawbacks:

• Best if taken every day at the same time
• Birth control side effects can include nausea, weight gain, and headaches.
• Increased health risks for women age 35 and older who are smokers
• Very rare serious side effects, including blood clots and stroke
• No protection against sexually transmitted infections

Birth Control Method No. 5: Injections
Hormone-based birth control is available in a shot given every three months by your doctor or a nurse.
Benefits:

• No worry about daily pills
• No menstrual period

Drawbacks:

• Birth control side effects include weight gain and a temporary decrease in bone density.
• Fertility may not return for up to a year after you stop taking the shot.
• No protection against sexually transmitted diseases

Birth Control Method No. 6: Intrauterine Devices
Also known as IUDs, these are T-shaped devices that your doctor places inside your uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterine lining.
There are two types of IUDs: hormone delivering and copper. Those that contain hormones change the lining of the uterus to reduce the risk of implantation of a fertilized egg, if that should occur. The copper IUD also prevents fertilization and implantation through the release of copper into the uterus.
Benefits:

• Protection against pregnancy begins the moment the IUD is in place.
• Women using the hormone IUD may have their period symptoms improve or may stop getting their period all together.

Drawbacks:

• Possibility of cramping, spotting, and vaginal discharge after IUD insertion
• The IUD may be expelled from the uterus.
• The IUD could possibly tear the lining of the uterus.
• Rarely, the uterus and fallopian tubes may become infected after insertion.
• Copper IUDs can cause an increase in period pain.

Birth Control Method No. 6: Patches
Birth control hormones can be delivered through a skin patch. These patches can be worn on any part of your body and must be changed every week for three weeks. You then skip the fourth week, causing a period of bleeding, and then start the next three-week cycle.
Benefits:

• No worries about using a daily method
• You can get the patch wet without a problem.

Drawbacks:

• You must move the patch to a different spot on your body when you replace it to avoid skin irritation.
• Less effective in preventing pregnancy among women who weigh 198 pounds or more

Birth Control Method No. 7: Sterilization
Sterilization means that you or your partner will no longer be able to have children. In women tubal ligation or tubal sterilization prevents the egg from passing through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. In men, a vasectomy prevents sperm from moving into the ejaculate.
Benefits:

• You will not have to worry about future pregnancies or using other methods of birth control.

Drawbacks:

• Difficult to reverse.
• A few days to recover at home after the procedure are required.
• Anesthesia, which carries its own risks, is used during the operation.
• No protection against sexually transmitted diseases

Birth Control Method No. 8: Vaginal Ring
Birth control hormones can be delivered via a vaginal ring, which is placed at the upper end of the vagina. You will wear it for 21 days, take it out for seven, and then start again with a new ring.
Benefits:

• No worries about daily pills

Drawbacks:

• Rarely, it can slip out of the vagina and then requires that you use a back-up form of contraception.
• No protection against sexually transmitted diseases

There are a lot of birth control options available to you. Work with your doctor and your partner to find the method that is most comfortable for your personal lifestyle.
Learn more in the Everyday Health Sexual Health Center.

Safe and effective natural remedies for acne

(NaturalNews) Instead of opting for potentially harmful mainstream acne medications, try safe and effective natural remedies for acne problems. You may find your acne and associated problems such as redness and light scarring completely gone or greatly improved in as little as two weeks or less.

Natural Acne Remedies

Lemon juice, tea-tree oil and aqueous cream

Before going to bed, bathe or shower and shampoo. Next, apply lemon juice over your face (this will itch for a minute or two).

Rub in a small amount of pure tea-tree oil. Then, apply a thick layer of aqueous cream to your face and leave on overnight, lying on your back if you must. Or, after about half an hour or so, rub the cream in.

Help this and other remedies along by eating three kiwifruit and about 3/4 cup of raw carrots daily.

Oatmeal, vinegar, raspberries, egg, sea salt

Pour some oatmeal into a small bowl. Mash up some raspberries and mix them with about a teaspoon of sea salt and the oatmeal. Add about two tablespoons of vinegar and one egg and mix with a spoon until it makes a pasty mix. Wash your face with an exfoliating scrub (such as apricot scrub) or exfoliate with a loofah. Steam your face and then apply the mixture thickly. Leave on for about 30 minutes or until the mixture is somewhat dry and starts to crumble off. Rinse with cold water.

Honey and cinnamon
Take three tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of cinnamon and make a paste. Put it on the affected area and apply it in circles. Leave it on while you sleep and wash it off in the morning

Lemon juice, H2O2, willow bark, aloe, echinacea and goldenseal
Mix in a bowl or container some lemon juice, a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, willow bark powder, echinacea and goldenseal. Mix together and use this solution as an astringent. Apply w/ cotton balls or tissue and leave it on your face to dry. Once it dries, put aloe vera on your skin. Do this twice daily after first washing your face.

Fresh basil leaves
Take a small handful of fresh basil leaves (available at most grocery stores). Let the leaves simmer in two cups of water for about 15 minutes and then put the mixture in the refrigerator to chill. Apply the mixture to troubled areas or your entire face with a cotton ball. Gets rid of acne and also helps with any existing scarring.

Egg white
Dab a little egg white on pimples and leave it on overnight or sometimes apply it all over your face or affected area. You'll likely notice results the next morning. Pimples/zits are reduced or gone, and your skin feels great.

Apple cider vinegar
Soak a cotton ball in cider vinegar and add salt to the cotton ball. Apply to infected area and hold there for as long as you can. This should instantly reduce the swelling. Works well for large cystic acne as well.

Other natural acne remedies include:

* Topical and oral colloidal silver.

* Orange peel pounded well with water.

* Turmeric facial mask.

* Cucumber leaves or grated pieces.

* Cucumber and water mixed in a blender

* Rubbing the acne with a fresh cut clove of garlic.

* Clove based face mask or a paste of fenugreek (methi) leaves.

* Zinc supplements or a multi-vitamin with zinc.

Note: A healthy diet and lifestyle, including stress management are also essential.

For related articles, see:

"Natural Fruits, Foods and Remedies Give Smoother, Younger Skin"
http://www.naturalnews.com/028720_skin_nutrition.htm

"Use Nature to Safely and Effectively Lessen and Eliminate Old Scars"
http://www.naturalnews.com/029902_scars_removal.html

Sources included:

http://www.tbyil.com/Acne.htmhttp://www.everydayhealth.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_deficiency


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036217_acne_natural_remedies_tea_tree_oil.html#ixzz1zJKM6I1T

Diagnosing Acne

How Acne is Diagnosed, Grades of Severity, and Common Acne Look-Alikes

Most people can easily self-diagnose mild acne, which can be treated at home using over-the-counter products. However, if you are unsure if what you are experiencing is acne, or if your acne seems severe, see your dermatologist. Acne is diagnosed by a simple visual inspection by your doctor. There is no test for acne.

Grades of Acne

When diagnosing acne, dermatologists classify it into four grades. They evaluate the types of comedones present, amount of inflammation present, breakout severity, how widespread the acne is and what areas of the body are affected. Grades of acne are classified as follows:

• Grade I - The mildest form of acne. The skin will display blackheads, whiteheads or milia, and occasionally minor pimples. There is no inflammation. Grade I acne can usually be cleared with over-the-counter treatments.
• Grade II - Considered moderate acne. A greater number of blackheads and whiteheads are on the skin. Papules and pustules are more frequently found. Grade II acne may also be treated with over-the-counter products. However, if there is no improvement after six to eight weeks, consult your doctor.
• Grade III - Moderate to severe acne. The difference between Grade II and Grade III acne is the amount of inflammation present. Papules and pustules will be more numerous and there will be a greater amount of redness and inflammation found on the skin. Nodules are often present. This type of acne should be evaluated by your dermatologist.
• Grade IV - The most severe grade of acne, the skin will display many pustules, nodules, and cysts. Blackheads and whiteheads are numerous. There is pronounced inflammation, and breakouts likely extend to areas other than the face. Grade IV acne, also called cystic acne, must be treated by a dermatologist.

The Birth Control Pill's Bonus Effects

Taking birth control pills may improve acne along with symptoms related to your period, such as pain and menstrual irregularity.

Although most women don’t take birth control for acne relief alone, better skin could be one of the many benefits of using oral contraceptives. And there are other surprisingly positive birth control effects of the Pill, such as a reduced risk of death from certain cancers and improved period symptoms.
Birth control pills are available as a combination of two hormones — estrogen and progestin — or progestin only. They work by regulating your hormonal cycle for three weeks out of the month. The hormones prevent ovulation and also change the lining of the uterus to prevent pregnancy. For most formulations, your period is actually withdrawal bleeding that occurs during the week when you’re not taking these hormones.
A recent analysis of 39 years of data from over 46,000 women found that those who took birth control pills at any point in their lives were less likely to die early from certain cancers or from heart disease.
Birth Control Pills and Cancer Prevention
The possibility that using birth control pills can prevent certain cancers has been established in multiple studies.
“Birth control pill use for five years reduces the risk of ovarian cancer,” says ob-gyn Concepcion Diaz-Arrastia, MD, director of gynecological oncology and associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine. The benefits may also extend to reducing the risk for uterine cancer.
Birth Control Pills and Acne
Women who have problems with acne may find clearer skin as a result of taking the Pill. Combination oral contraceptives have been shown to ease both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts. The best results of birth control for acne are likely to come from oral contraceptives that contain estrogen or decrease the effect of a woman’s own low levels of androgens, male hormones that cause acne. Some oral contraceptives have been approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate acne, but results vary — not every woman will get a break from breakouts because of birth control pills. [5]
Birth Control Pills and Menstruation
Taking oral contraceptives can help women who are struggling with period problems. “Oral contraceptive use may also be beneficial for women with endometriosis or irregular or painful periods,” notes Dr. Diaz-Arrastia. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may find that their periods become regular and that they have fewer ovarian cysts while they are taking birth control pills.
Taking the Pill can make your periods more regular, lighter, shorter, and less painful. For some women, it can also relieve migraines and mood swings associated with your period.
Birth Control Pills and Endometriosis
Women with endometriosis can get relief from the pain and bleeding symptoms with the help of oral contraceptives. A recent study found that at least 2 milligrams of diegonest (a progestin) daily eases symptoms of endometriosis. Other studies have shown that women who take oral contraceptives after surgery for endometriosis are much less likely to see a return of symptoms.
There are positive birth control effects beyond avoiding pregnancy from taking the Pill. Talk to your doctor about these benefits as well as your individual health needs to find out whether oral contraceptives are a good choice for you.
Learn more in the Everyday Health Sexual Health Center.

The Birth Control Pill as an Acne Treatment

Women taking oral contraceptives may experience a positive side effect of the birth control pill — it also serves as an acne treatment. Find out how the birth control pill can help you manage acne.

Women who are already taking birth control pills may notice a side effect that they enjoy — clear, smooth skin. “Oral contraceptive pills work well for mitigating acne,” says Amy Derick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Barrington, Ill.
While the connection between birth control pills and acne may not be obvious, changes in hormone levels in women can often trigger acne outbreaks. These changes — during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause — affect oil glands in the skin. When these glands produce excess oil, called sebum, it can clog the pores and lead to unsightly pimples and blemishes. “Hormonal acne usually manifests as deeper bumps around the mouth and jaw line,” explains Dr. Derick.
The birth control pill contains hormones, which, in addition to preventing pregnancy, work to slow excess sebum production by the skin's glands. With less oil to clog the pores, skin becomes clearer and acne can improve.
However, oral contraceptives are rarely prescribed as a sole acne treatment — they often works best when used in conjunction with topical acne treatments like retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, or an oral antibiotic. A dermatologist typically won't prescribe an oral contraceptive to manage acne until these topical treatments have been tried and failed.
Which Birth Control Pills Work Best to Prevent Acne?
There are three types of oral contraceptives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acne in women who don’t have health risks that would prevent them from taking an oral contraceptive. They are:

• Estrostep (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol). Estrostep also increases SHBG and decreases testosterone. It's indicated for the treatment of acne in women at least 15 years of age or older who have started menstruating, whose acne cannot be controlled with topical acne treatment, and who want to take an oral contraceptive for birth control. It's also recommended that the woman plan to use the oral contraceptive for a minimum of six months.
• Ortho Tri-Cyclen (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol). Ortho Tri-Cyclen affects hormones in the same way as the other two contraceptives. Studies have shown that it can be an effective treatment for acne vulgaris. It is indicated for the same women and reasons as Estrostep.
• YAZ (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol). This combination oral contraceptive increases levels of sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG, and decreases testosterone levels. YAZ is effective on moderate acne and is indicated as an acne treatment for women age 14 and older who have started menstruating, but only for those who want to use an oral contraceptive for birth control. A note of caution: The FDA issued a letter or warning to the makers of Yaz in September 2009, so be sure to speak to your doctor and pharmacist about potential risks associated with this drug.

What You Need To Know About Taking Birth Control Pills
Women who take an oral contraceptive as acne treatment must meet the FDA's requirements; there are some women who shouldn't take an oral contraceptive because of an increased risk of side effects. These include women who:

• Smoke
• Have high blood pressure
• Are older than 35
• Have migraine headaches

Oral contraceptives can produce minor side effects, like:

• Constipation or diarrhea
• Vomiting or nausea
• Bloating or abdominal cramping
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in menstruation
• Soreness or swelling of the breasts

More serious side effects of oral contraceptives may include:

• Feeling weak or numb in a limb
• Difficulty breathing
• Vision loss or double vision
• Feeling faint or dizzy
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Fatigue
• Skin rash
• Increased risk of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, or breast or liver tumors

Only you and your doctor can determine if oral contraceptives are the right choice to help control your acne.

Control for Acne

For women, acne, especially severe acne, can lead to embarrassment, anxiety, social isolation, and permanent skin scarring. Severe acne can even lower the chances of employment in some industries.
Dermatologists have been using birth control pills to treat acne for decades. However, only three pills have actually been approved by the FDA for treating acne.
In general, birth control to treat acne is often advised for healthy women who also need contraception. It is typically started after other acne treatments, such as topical creams, have failed to clear up the skin.Here is information about the risks and benefits of taking birth control pills for acne. It can help you talk with your doctor so you can make an informed decision about what's right for you.

How Does Birth Control Treat Acne?

As every teenager knows, there's a clear relationship between hormones and acne. Some women experience premenstrual flare-ups of acne as their hormone levels shift during their cycle. And for some, acne simply persists through the years, even after menopause.
Acne is triggered by an excess production of sebum. Sebum is an oil made by glands in your skin. Along with skin cells, sebum can clog pores and promote the growth of bacteria that contribute to acne. Androgens, a group of hormones that includes testosterone, stimulate your skin to produce sebum.
A woman's ovaries and adrenal glands normally produce a low level of androgens. Higher levels of androgens can lead to excess sebum. Taking birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progesterone lowers the amount of androgens in your body. This results in less sebum and less severe acne.

Types of Birth Control to Treat Acne in Women

The last decade has seen an explosion in new types of birth control. But so far, only three types of birth control pills have been approved by the FDA for treating acne. All three are "combination" oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progesterone. In fact, birth control pills that contain only progesterone can actually make acne worse.
Each type of birth control pill used for acne contains a low dose of the same form of estrogen. But each one uses a different form of progesterone.
The FDA has approved the following types of birth control for acne:

• Ortho Tri-Cyclen uses estrogen combined with a progestin called norgestimate. A progestin is a synthetic, or man-made, form of progesterone. The pill is available with different doses of progestin.
• Estrostep uses estrogen combined with a progestin called norethindrone. The pill is available with different doses of estrogen.
• YAZ uses estrogen combined with a progestin called drospirenone.

Studies have not shown a major difference among these three pills in terms of how well they treat acne.

Acne and Aging Skin

Okay, so you're a grown up and you outgrew your acne years ago, but all of a sudden you are starting to see acne blemishes again. You're too old for this! You may even have grandkids. What is going on?
If you have read the other articles on this site, you already know about the causes of acne, but in case you dipped in here first, we'll give a quick overview.
Acne is an inherited disorder of the sebaceous follicles (pores) in which they shed too many dead skin cells at a time, creating tiny plugs that grow larger as they work their way toward the surface. If you have the inherited tendency for inflammation, you get pustules and papules and sometimes cysts. If you don't, you get blackheads and whiteheads. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
During puberty, when our hormones are raging, our androgenic hormones act on the sebaceous (oil) glands causing them to produce a lot of oil. Androgenic hormones are the male hormones—testosterone is one. But girls produce them too, just not as much. Oil added into the mix of dead skin cells makes them stickier and more likely to clog up the pores. The extra oil backs up behind the plug, making a breeding ground for the naturally occurring p. acnes bacteria in our pores and they run wild.
The effect of androgens on the sebaceous glands is why boys usually get worse acne than girls do. The estrogenic hormones have a mitigating effect on oil production, so sometimes birth control pills that are high in estrogen will be prescribed for acne.
If you had acne as a teenager, but outgrew it, you outgrew your production of oil, but not your tendency to shed extra skin cells. The skin does slow down the production and sloughing of skin cells as we age, but those of us with acne tendencies still shed more than our non-acneic counterparts.
You may have noticed in your twenties and thirties that you would get breakouts around the time of your period. It is those hormones again. Your body produces a lot of estrogen leading up to your period as it builds the lining of your uterus and prepares an egg for release from the ovary, but then the estrogen level drops off if the egg is not fertilized, causing the lining to shed and you get your period. Without the protection of the high estrogen levels, a woman's androgens can cause extra oil production, leading to the blemishes you were getting around your period.
As you go through perimenopause and menopause, the estrogenic protection is lost for longer periods of time, until finally it is lost permanently. In some women who had acne when they were young, this can lead to a recurrence.
But don't worry. The Acne Treatment Center understands. We have treatments and home care that will work for more mature skin, and, many of our treatments are wonderful at reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a win-win situation. Bye-bye blemishes, and so long wrinkles! Give us a call today and let's get started.

Home Cures For Acne - Eliminate Your Acne With These Killing Tips

Acne is a common skin trouble which is why various home remedies for acne ar starting up all over the internet. Adolescents are the first victims of acne and nearly everyone can make it.

Acne is a general character of skin disease which comes out in the kind of zits. For serious types, dermatologists and different skin specializing doctors prescribe antibiotics. Going to the doctor is expensive so home remedies ar preferable.

Home remedies for acne solve for all people because it applies Easy and affordable methods. Most of these methods as well accept utilizing natural ingredients which can easy be got in your house. Hither ar several of the remedies:

Shifting your Diet

What you consume may conduce to the cause of your acne. several analyses claim that oily foods are a leading cause of acne. Try to consume better, non-greasy foods rather of the common junk foods. Jump the chocolate and consume more fruits and veggies instead.

Holding it Fresh and Simple     
Maintain your face and body clean always. Dump your highly-fragranced soap for an unscented one. Thither ar unscented soaps intended for acne-prone skin, which ar accessible in your local drug stores.

Keep Off utilising exfoliators and scrubs as these can irritate the acne. Don't utilize too many products and try to Keep Off utilizing makeup. numerous products may non be okay for you and can cause breakouts to your skin.

utilising Natural remedies

Special of the wonders of home remedies for acne is that it requires using natural remedies to heal acne. It's guaranteed healthy unless you ar allergic to it. Almost all home remedies include the use of food that can be promptly seen in your kitchen.

Safflower Oil

Fresh safflower oil is good for moisturizing the skin. This can be used to heal vulnerable lesions that are a issue of acne. It won't clog and annoy your pores as it is a easy character of oil.

applying Toothpaste

The toothpaste's main constituent, peroxide, dries up and remedies the acne. Simply splash a small measure on the acne after cleansing your face. Simply be sure not to utilize it to open wounds or popped out acne.

using Tea Tree Oil

The good attributes of tea tree oil run from being antibacterial drug, cleansing and anti-fungal which realise it a strategic cure for acne induced by bacteria. Pure tea tree oil is really powerful so you need to cut it with water initial. Apply it to the acne utilising clean cotton.

Why Some Acne Treatments Don't Work

Now think about the acne remedies you've seen or tried. Most of them are promising to dry up the oil. Some of them are promising to kill the bacteria. Killing the bacteria will solve a part of the problem. Drying up the oil will solve part of the problem. But you have to start by getting rid of the excess skin cells. Those excess dead skin cells are the root of the problem.
Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
Retinoids were originally developed to address the excess skin cell problem. They cause the outer layers of skin to slough off and the cells to be less sticky in the process. Used correctly they will help lift those impactions right out of your skin. But if used incorrectly, they will irritate the heck out of your skin, and do nothing for your acne. Some formulations will even make your acne worse.
A brief detour here: If you are an inflamed retinoid user, or you tried retinoids and had to stop because they made your face too uncomfortable, I am not saying you did something wrong. You simply had no way of knowing how to use a retinoid correctly. Most doctors prescribing them don't take the time to explain, or in some cases don't know, the proper way to use retinoids. And it certainly isn't written on the package! Take a look at the article on this site about retinoids, and you will find a description of the proper way to use them. You have to use a slow break-in period to allow your skin to adapt to them. And make sure your retinoid doesn't have isopropyl myristate or one of the other notorious pore-cloggers. The cream form of Retin-A does!
But even used correctly and in the right formula, retinoids do not address the oil or the bacteria part of the problem. There is one product that does a remarkable job of addressing all three factors that contribute to acne. It's called Benzoyl Peroxide.
Benzoyl Peroxide dries up oil, and like it's cousin, Hydrogen Peroxide, it kills anaerobic bacteria by flooding them with oxygen. But unlike its cousin, which stays on the surface, the Benzoyl portion of the molecule draws the Peroxide portion deep into the pore where it can flood those anaerobic p.acnes bacteria with oxygen. But most remarkably of all, Benzoyl Peroxide, or BPO, causes mild exfoliation and makes those sticky dead skin cells unsticky! It is amazing to see how those plugs soften right up after a couple weeks on BPO. Used consistently, BPO stops those plugs from forming in the first place.
Oh goodness! I can hear the screams from here. You tried Benzoyl Peroxide and it didn't work! You tried Benzoyl Peroxide and you're allergic to it! You can buy Benzoyl Peroxide at Target so why do you need the help of an acne specialist?
To the first scream my answer has four parts.

• First, you were probably using the wrong BPO. Most formulations of BPO have ingredients in them that will clog the pores. By nature BPO is drying, and manufacturers worry that people won't like to have their skin feel dry, so they add creams or lotions to counteract this effect. Many of the creams are clogging, and of those that aren't, most contain fatty acids that prevent the BPO from getting into the pore to do its work. So just because a product contains five or 10 percent BPO does not mean it will help your acne.
• Second, even with the right formula, you have to be religious in your use. The night you skip is the night a microcomedo forms. You may think you got away with it, because the lesion won't surface for weeks or even months, but it will surface.
• Third, your skin will adapt to the BPO. So even the right BPO used consistently will stop working over time, and you need a way to increase its action, probably more than once.
• Fourth, while BPO is the best acne medication ever developed, it isn't the whole answer to acne skin care.

To the second scream I'd say, less than 1% of the population is actually truly allergic to BPO. Were you ever patch tested, or do you think you're allergic because your face got red and irritated when you tried it? Chances are pretty good, in fact I'd say it's 99% likely, that you are not allergic to BPO.
If you were patch-tested and really are allergic, we can still get you clear without it at The Acne Treatment Center, but it might take a little longer. If you only think you are allergic because your face got red and irritated, you probably didn't use a break-in protocol (who knew?) to allow your skin to adjust.

Consult an Acne specialist

To the third scream, I will tell you that an acne specialist will design the whole answer to your acne skin care, not just give you the right BPO. She will provide professional treatments that will help clear you up faster and allow your home care to work more effectively. These treatments include professional exfoliation and extraction. She will design the right home care for you, including the right break-in period for BPO and retinoids, after testing your skin for sensitivity, and she will be able to judge when you need to increase the action of your products. She can judge when your skin is getting too dry for lesions to heal and when it isn't dry enough. She will keep track of your progress to be sure you are moving forward and she is always just an email or phone call away when you have questions or concerns about your skin.

An Overview of Natural Acne Treatments

In looking for quality assurance today, many people believe that if something is considered natural it will be both better and safer than something considered synthetic. This belief makes sense. We want our foods to be organic, free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers, because these substances have been shown to build up in our bodies and potentially lead to cancer and other disease. We want our chickens to be free-range, our beef to be grass fed, and our milk from cows that haven't been fed hormones. Because we have read about the coming plague of "superbugs" we would rather our farm animals not be routinely fed antibiotics. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
So when we hear the word "natural" it fits with all these expectations. Natural equals good, right?

Natural does not equal Safe

Unfortunately, just because something is natural does not make it safer, more efficacious, or better than a synthetic substance, particularly in skin care.
There are two reasons for this. First, while we have assumptions about the word "natural" there are no regulations of how it is used in labeling. Anything a manufacturer wants to label as "natural" can be. But even if there were regulations, how exactly could you define "natural"? Is olive oil natural? How about mineral oil? Most people would say yes to the former, but no to the latter. Yet mineral oil comes from the earth just as much as olive oil does. Even the ingredients in plastic come from the earth.
Second, botanicals, substances derived from plants, are the major ingredient in most skin care products labeled natural. Botanicals in natural acne treatments are far more likely to cause allergic reactions than their synthetic counterparts. Botanicals also break down faster than synthetics and the very plant material that is considered natural harbors fungi and bacteria, and therefore requires more preservative ingredients to keep natural products stable.
Botanical oils are also comedogenic – contributing to the development of comedones, those plugs that lead to acne lesions — so have no place in acne treatment.

Do Natural Acne Treatments Exist?

Sometimes people think of home remedies as "natural acne treatments" and may turn to these in frustration when the treatments they have received from a dermatologist or an over-the-counter acne remedy doesn't work. These home remedies can include lemon juice, toothpaste, vinegar, garlic, mint and even urine. While they may be natural, none of them will get rid of acne. A couple of them will dry up pustules, but that isn't going to solve your acne problem.
There is no single product, natural or synthetic, that will get rid of acne. In fact, not even a single group of products, natural or synthetic, will be the ultimate remedy for acne.
Instead of looking for a natural acne remedy, look for a remedy that works. What works is working with an acne specialist: someone who understands acne, knows your skin, can monitor your condition, can determine which products your skin needs and can coach you on how to adjust your home care as your skin adapts and gets used to products.

Treat Cystic Acne

By its very sound, cystic acne seems scary. In the standard grading of acne it is considered the most severe, and it is the type most likely to leave scars. But in simplest terms, cystic acne is inflamed acne.
All acne lesions start with what scientists call "microcomedones" which are microscopic plugs made up of dead skin cells. People who have the inherited tendency for acne shed more skin cells inside their pores than their acne-free counterparts. These dead skin cells are sticky and form these little plugs that grow larger as they work their way to the surface of the skin. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne

The sebaceous gland secretes oil into the pore, which mixes with the dead skin cells, piling up behind that plug and creating a perfect environment for the rapid growth of the naturally occurring bacteria (p. acnes bacteria) in the pores.
In people who do not have the hereditary tendency for inflammation, these plugs come to the surface in the form of blackheads or whiteheads, what is called non-inflamed acne.
However, sometimes before these plugs reach the surface they grow too large for the pore, and in people who have the inherited tendency for inflammation, they burst the walls of the pore releasing the oil, dead skin cells, the plug, and bacteria into the surrounding tissue. The immune system responds to this by sending white blood cells to fight the infection and you get a classic pustule — a pimple or "zit" to most of us.
When a number of these lesions are clustered together, so that a lot of material is released into the surrounding tissue, the immune system doesn't just send white blood cells to combat the bacteria, it sends an enzyme to try to dissolve the plugs of dead skin cells. Unfortunately the plugs are too tough for the enzyme, but the surrounding tissue is not. The enzyme eats away at healthy tissue which allows all the pus (dead white blood cells), bacteria, and dead skin cells to pool together in cysts. The enzyme's destruction of healthy tissue is also what causes the classic pitting of acne scars.
The immune system sends more inflammatory material to the site, resulting in greater and greater inflammation. Classic cystic acne skin is warm or even hot to the touch.

Cystic acne generally clears up quickly with our treatments

The good news is that cystic acne generally clears up quickly with the protocol we use at The Acne Treatment Center. We treat cystic acne with a combination of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory topical products to calm the existing inflammation and to keep it from returning. We also recommend certain supplements to use along with your home care which have been clinically proven to reduce inflammation. These include omega 3 fish oil, vitamin B-5 and zinc monomethionine. We can help get rid of the dark spots left behind and get you looking your best. But it is best to not wait. If you have cystic acne call us today and let's get started. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne

Antibiotics for Effective Acne Treatment?

Since 1897, when the renowned French dermatologist Raymond Sabouraud first noted that material from acne lesions contained bacteria, it has been assumed that killing that bacteria would clear acne. What M. Sabouraud did not realize is that all pores, whether afflicted with acne or clear, contain those same bacteria.
Bacteria does not cause acne. The excess shedding of skin cells within the pores causes acne. Bacteria does play a part in the inflammation process, but oral antibiotics can only provide 20 to 30% of the solution to your acne, and most oral antibiotics can't reach your pores where the problem is anyway. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne

In addition, their continual use creates a host of other problems.

Effects of long-term use of antibiotics for acne

The side effects of long-term acne antibiotic use are legion:

• interference with the useful bacteria in the digestive and reproductive systems, which can lead to recurring nausea, heartburn, and yeast infections;
• severe sun sensitivity leading to hyperpigmentation and discoloration,
• dehydration,
• staining of the teeth,
• thinning hair,
• birth defects and
• a possible link to breast cancer.

Furthermore, the overuse of antibiotics for acne is leading to the development of what scientists are calling the "superbugs:" bacteria that will be completely resistant to all antibiotics in existence. The advent of such strains will take us back to health care as it was prior to World War II when people died from initially minor infections.

• Do you really want to risk all that for something that isn't really going to cure your acne?
  One famous acne specialist, Kathryn Khadija Leverette, puts it this way, "If tetracycline can arrest venereal disease within ten days, why are you still breaking out after all these years?"
  

  The right approach to clearing acne

  The right approach to clearing acne is topical, both professional treatments and a home care regimen, that exfoliate without irritating and include a topical antimicrobial that delivers oxygen into the pores. Notice I said antimicrobial, not antibiotic. P. acnes bacteria are anaerobic bacteria. They cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. So getting rid of them is as simple as introducing oxygen molecules deep into the pores.
  Because skin types and conditions vary greatly, different topical products need to be tested on the individual to check for sensitivity and efficacy. Some skin types and conditions can get noticeable results in several days and get fully clear in a matter of weeks. Some will take several weeks to get noticeable results and a few months to clear completely.
  If you have acne, seek out a professional who specializes in acne and doesn't just dole out prescriptions. The risks are minimal and the results outstanding. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne

Acne Treatments That Work Effectively

No doubt you have tried a lot of things to clear up your acne. You have probably been to the dermatologist, spent hours talking with people in white coats at department stores, and lots of money trying products on the aisles of the drug store and Wal-Mart. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
But since you are reading this, I'm betting nothing has worked. Is there anything that does? Yes, actually, but it isn't a magic pill, or magic cream, or magic potion. It is a process, and one works best if you have the help of an acne specialist, and it works 95% of the time. And, unlike some products that work for a time and then stop, this process keeps working and keeps your skin clear.

What is Acne?

To get started you have to understand what acne is and what it is not. Acne is not a result of the wrong foods, of not being clean, or of having impure thoughts. That one still makes me laugh, but trust me, there are many people who used to believe that. It doesn't come from sexual frustration or sexual excess. In short, your acne is not a result of something you are doing wrong. It is not your fault.
Acne is a hereditary disease of the sebaceous follicles – the pores. Hereditary. That means like your curly hair and your green eyes, you got it from your parents. Thanks, Mom!
What's going on with those pores? Three things, but it always starts with one.
Number one. The lining of our pores is just like the surface of our skin; it sheds cells in the process of renewing itself. When you have the tendency for acne, it sheds too many of those cells. Normal skin sheds about one cell layer a day. Acne-prone skin sheds up to five cell layers a day! In acne skin the cells are sticky, so they form tiny little plugs that scientists call "microcomedones," deep in our pores.
Number two. In most acne cases, the sebaceous glands – those oil glands inside our pores – are secreting a lot of oil. This is especially true during puberty when our raging hormones act on the sebaceous glands.
In people who don't shed those extra skin cells, this extra oil production just results in a shiny nose. In those who do shed extra cells, the oil mixes with the dead cells and causes more cells to stick to the microcomedones as they work their way toward the surface. The microcomedones grow larger with the extra cells, becoming what the scientists call "comedones." If you've ever heard the word "comedogenic" it means producing comedones.
It can take 90 days from the first formation of a microcomedo until it reaches the surface. So any product that promises to clear acne overnight is lying. The blemishes you see today started back quite a while ago.
Number three. Everyone's pores, acne and non-acne alike, harbor naturally occurring bacteria. Unfortunately, the scientist who first discovered these bacteria discovered them in an acne sufferer and concluded that they caused the acne, so named them for the disease. To this day that bacteria has "acne" in its name (p. acnes bacteria), which reinforces the idea that it causes acne. It doesn't. But in the case of acne sufferers, the combination of oil and dead skin cells creates a perfect environment for the bacteria to grow rampantly, which contributes to the acne problem. However, if it weren't for the dead skin cells and the oil, the bacteria would be harmless.
So if you think about this trio of factors, you will start to understand why so many acne treatments don't work. To conquer acne, you have to deal with all three, but which one do you think is the most important to deal with? It's the excess skin cells. You have to figure a way to get them out of the pore without forming those plugs.

Are Pimples Acne?

My son doesn't have acne! He just has those regular teenage pimples, you know, that all kids get."
"I don't have acne. I just have these hormonal breakouts that happen at that time of the month."
"I don't know why my daughters have those awful acne pimples. I never had acne. Plenty of blackheads and those bumps under the skin, but no acne, thank heavens!"
"I have never had acne. I get congested pores, but who doesn't?"
Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
When you call yourself "The Acne Treatment Center" you hear it all. To many, "acne" really is the worst four letter word. Better to say "pimples" because it sounds so innocent. Occasional breakouts, complexion problems, blackheads, congested pores, whiteheads, bumps, pimples. Hate to be the one to tell you, but they are all acne. Unless they are something worse, but that's another article.

Acne is a hereditary condition in which the sebaceous follicles (that's "pores" for the rest of us) shed too many dead skin cells at a time. The body can't keep up. These dead skin cells mix with the oil, or sebum if you are keeping score, produced in our pores and make tiny little plugs that gradually – and I do mean gradually, it can take 90 days!—work their way to the surface.
Acne is of two types, inflamed and non-inflamed. If you have the inflamed type, these plugs will cause your pores to form pimples and sometimes cysts. If you have the non-inflamed type, they will form blackheads, whiteheads (don't confuse them with pustules or classic pimples) and bumps. This type is less noticeable, but the skin feels bumpy and doesn't look healthy.
Without those extra dead skin cells, you won't get pimples, you won't get blackheads, you won't have complexion problems, or congested pores, or occasional bumps, or hormonal breakouts. You can have really oily skin and you will be perfectly smooth if you don't have the extra dead skin cells.
A lot of people think acne is caused by bacteria. Everyone's skin harbors a bacteria that is important to the well-being of our skin. It eats dead skin cells and sebum. It has the unfortunate name of propionibacterium acne, or p.acnes for short. It was given the "acne" portion of its name by a scientist in the 1890s who first found it in the pus from a pimple and concluded it caused acne.
You can use all the methods of pimple treatments out there for killing that bacteria, but unless you get rid of the extra skin cells, you're still going to have acne. It will generally be the non-inflamed kind, so the pimples will be mostly gone, until you stop taking the antibiotic to get rid of pimples and then the inflammation will come back and so will the pimples.
Kat Leverette, founder of Oakland's Urban Skin Solutions and one of the top Acne Specialists in the world, likes to say, "If Tetracycline can cure venereal disease in ten days, why , after taking it for three years, do you still have acne?"
And this doesn't even begin to address all the problems you are creating for your body and the world by being on antibiotics for that long.
So how do you get rid of the extra skin cells?
Exfoliation.
Wait! Before you grab your wash cloth or your apricot kernels and start scrubbing, you need to know it is exfoliation inside the pores! Your washcloth can't reach there. All the scrubbing in the world isn't going to help. In fact, it is going to make it worse because irritating your skin prevents it from healing.

Lasers and other Light Therapies for Acne

Since 2002 several new light therapies for acne have been under development. Some show promise, but all have drawbacks. The reviews on all are mixed.

Blue Light Therapy

Several studies have shown that low intensity blue light administered a couple of times a week for 10 to 15 minutes may target the p. acnes bacteria, the naturally occurring skin bacteria that proliferates in acne sufferers. The theory is that p. acnes bacteria harbor porphyrins which when exposed to visible light become chemically excited and release an oxygen singlet. Since p. acnes is anaerobic, the oxygen kills it. In clinical trials, the results have been inconclusive. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
Originally blue light treatments were performed in a doctor or other practitioner's office twice a week. Then a model of blue light was developed for home use and the protocol was increased to twice a day. A study published in March 2009 by the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, The Clinical Efficacy of Self-applied Bluelight for Mild-moderate Acne suggested that overall improvements on average showed a decrease of up to 40% in the number of lesions by day 28 of the treatment.
If you've been reading other articles on this site, you already know that targeting p. acnes bacteria is only 1/3 of the acne issue, and not the most important third. So it isn't too surprising that the results of a therapy that only targets bacteria would only show up to a 40% decrease in lesions. And I don't know about you, but 2 to 14 hours a month of doing nothing but holding a blue light to my skin doesn't sound like my idea of time well spent, particularly not for up to a 40% decrease in lesions!
The study also showed that blue light is also not appropriate for individuals with nodulocystic acne (cystic acne) which worsens in the presence of light.

Diode Laser Therapy

It has been noted that a diode laser can shrink or destroy the sebaceous glands which produce the oil that contributes to acne without harming the epidermis. It is by no means pain-free, but it has been shown to work for some individuals, particularly those whose acne is primarily oil driven.
In February of 2004 Dermatologic Surgery published a study of 19 patients with inflammatory acne on their faces who were treated with the 1450-nm diode laser to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using this laser to treat facial acne. Every patient saw a significant reduction in acne lesions. After one treatment, lesion counts decreased 37%. A 58% decrease was seen after two treatments, and lesion counts decreased by 83% with three treatments. The researchers found that the pain associated with diode-laser treatment is well tolerated with a topical anesthetic. Side effects in this study were limited to temporary redness and swelling at the treatment sites.
The study sited here was very small. Most "treatment" studies are, as it is hard to fund them. The FDA has different rules for accepting treatments as opposed to drugs and there isn't one manufacturer that stands to profit significantly from a treatment protocol, so there isn't a wealthy source willing to pay for large studies. Because the studies are small, they aren't statistically significant, which means the results might not bear out for a larger population.
Yet even if they held true, the results may not be as impressive as they sound. If you started with 50 blemishes, you would still have eight or nine when the treatment was complete. What happens next? The study does not imply that improvement continues or how long the achieved improvement was maintained. We know from the experience of Accutane, which also works by cutting sebaceous production, that for many, over time the blemishes return. Stopping sebum does nothing to halt the shedding of excess skin cells, so you haven't eliminated the cause of acne.
A quick survey of review sites reveals that many patients are not satisfied with laser treatments they receive for acne. Typically laser treatments are expensive and the long term side effects are not yet known.

IPL Therapy

A combination of intense pulsed light and heat energy has been shown to both reduce the size and productivity of the sebaceous gland, and target the p. acnes bacteria. A small study in Israel in 2002 as reported in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy (June 2004) showed nearly 90% of the 19 participants had some reduction of lesions after undergoing twice a week treatments for four weeks and then follow up visits one and two months after treatment was completed. No significant side effects were reported. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne

Dermatologist or Esthetician for Acne?

When people realize they need help with acne, often their first thought is to see a dermatologist. Occasionally people think of heading to the esthetician. Which is the better choice? The answer is that they really need to think of finding an acne specialist.
Simple Tips to Manage your Acne

Why Choose a Dermatologist?

A dermatologist spends four years in medical school studying the anatomy and physiology of the human body and doing clinical rounds in teaching hospitals learning about a wide variety of disease and injury treatment. After completing his/her MD, the dermatologist-to-be spends four years in a dermatology residency program to become, in the words of the American Academy of Dermatology, "a physician who has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric and adult patients with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, mouth, external genitalia, hair, and nails, as well as a number of sexually transmitted diseases. Dermatologists have extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin, contact dermatitis, and other allergic and non-allergic disorders and in the recognition of the skin manifestations of systemic (including internal malignancy) and infectious diseases. The dermatologist also has expertise in the management of cosmetic disorders of the skin such as hair loss and scars."
If you have a suspicious mole or other sign of skin cancer, an allergic reaction, or an infectious disease of the skin, there is no question that you should seek the advice of a dermatologist.
But do you notice what is missing from the AAD's description? There is no mention of acne anywhere on that body's website. There is no reason a dermatologist couldn't become an acne specialist, but for some reason few of them do. Ironically, it is the single most commonly seen condition by dermatologists, but most have not made it a priority to study the various modalities that have proven successful by acne researchers. They generally use a very limited protocol when treating acne patients. When confronted with acne, dermatologists typically write prescriptions for antibiotics, retinoids, Benzoyl Peroxide or Accutane® with sporadic results. Elsewhere on this site you will find articles addressing each of these acne treatments.

Why Choose an Esthetician?

An esthetician spends 600 hours in an esthetics program studying treatments to improve the appearance of the skin, along with basic anatomy, physiology, and histology of the skin and its supporting structures. Acne is discussed in the classic esthetics textbooks, but it is not emphasized, and it is possible to pass most state licensing exams without answering more than one or two questions about acne.
Estheticians typically go to work in a spa or salon environment where the majority of their clients are seeking treatments to improve their appearance or to relax and feel pampered. The salon or spa will usually have a preferred line of professional products they use in treating clients. Most professional product manufacturers carry a line of acne care products, and an esthetician in a spa or salon will be encouraged to use those when confronted with acne, regardless of their proven efficacy.

What is an Acne Specialist?

An acne specialist is a licensed esthetician who has gone beyond the state licensing requirements and studied the work of the world's foremost acne researchers to learn the complex causes and treatments of acne. S/he has studied what ingredients in skin care products contribute to clogged pores, what environmental factors contribute to irritation and inflammation, what dietary components do and do not exacerbate acne, and what treatment modalities show the most consistent success. The acne specialist avails herself of current clinical research and treatments available today, and networks with other specialists around the country and around the world to learn what is working and what isn't and why. The acne specialist is trained to examine and test each client's skin for sensitivities and tolerances, to build a custom treatment plan for each individual, and to work together with that individual until his/her complexion is clear.
As of this writing the acne specialist is not a state designation, but they do exist, and for most acne sufferers they are the best hope for finally clearing their acne.

Why Acne Scars Form

Acne Scars
One of the most heartbreaking aspects of acne is that it can form scars, both physical and psychological.

Why Acne Scars Form

Acne is caused by the inherited tendency of the lining of the pores to shed too many skin cells at once, forming tiny, sticky plugs called microcomedones. These microcomedones begin working their way to the surface, gathering more dead skins cells and growing larger along the way. When they reach the surface they appear as a blackhead and are eventually expelled naturally.
Sometimes, particularly in people who have the inherited tendency, the plug grows too large before it reaches the surface and it breaks through the follicle wall, spilling the dead skin cells, the excess oil, and the p. acnes bacteria into the surrounding tissue. The immune system sends white blood cells to the site to deal with this invasion, resulting in inflammation. But the immune system doesn't just send white blood cells. It sends a digestive enzyme to try to rid the body of this hard plug of sticky, dead skin cells.
Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
The very outer layer of our skin is made up of remarkably tough, keratinized, skin cells and it is these tough skin cells that form the microcomedones and larger comedones. They are impervious to the digestive enzyme the immune system sends, but sadly, the surrounding tissue is not. The surrounding tissue gets eaten up by these digestive enzymes, which leads to the classic ice pick and box car acne scars so familiar to cystic acne sufferers.
These types of pitted or depressed acne scars often take a more aggressive medical approach to see results. To review what is available in the field visit http://www.acne.org/acne-scar-treatment.html.
Unfortunately for those who already have the scars, the best treatment for acne scars is still prevention. If your sons and daughters have inherited your acne, don't wait. Get them into treatment so we can head it off before the scars form.

Dark Spots

Sometimes people refer to the dark spots left when acne lesions heal as acne scars and these are much more responsive to treatment.
These spots are referred to as hyperpigmentation, or more accurately "post inflammatory hyperpigmentation" or PIH. PIH happens following any inflammatory wound and can be pink, red, purple, brown or black, depending on your skin tone. The inflammation causes the melanocytes to produce too much melanin and the discoloration remains after the lesion has healed.
Fortunately, areas of PIH are not true acne scars, and we can treat them very effectively. The chemical peels we use as part of the acne clearing treatment lift the dark spots as well. The dark spots usually take somewhat longer to go away than the lesions. We also incorporate appropriate home care into fading the spots, and encourage our clients to always wear sunscreen.

Non-Acne Dark Spots

As we age, darker areas form on our skin for lots of reasons. The most usual culprit is sun damage, but they also can form due to hormonal changes and sometimes trauma to the skin, leading to PIH.
We also have success in treating these other kinds of dark spots for people who haven't had acne. The treatment does require time and a bit of patience, as we gradually bring the color to the surface by lifting through chemical exfoliation, but you will be happy with the results. Simple Tips to Manage your Acne

Tips on Effective Usage of Topical Applications in Acne Treatment

While providing the tips on effective usage of topical applications in acne treatment the following has to be considered:

1. What are the different skin types and how do the choice of topical applications differ in each?
2. What are the common topical therapy available for acne treatment?
3. How to choose the most effective topical applications in acne treatment?
4. What are the main issues related to topical therapy in acne?

Simple Tips to Manage your Acne
Tips on effective usage of topical applications in acne is, as expected, related to the type, severity and extend of the acne. Age, sex and psychological factors also comes into play. The most important factor, though, I would say is the clinical acumen and experience of the dermatologist or acne physician. Hence it is very important that you consult your dermatologist before instituting any type of therapy. OTC products may save money for a while. But a wrong application can cause damage to the skin and cause flare ups of the acne. This, in the long run, will jack up your medical bills.
Hence go through the following tips on effective usage of topical applications in acne carefully and plan your therapy.

1. What are the different skin types and how do the choice of topical applications differ in each?

Learning about the different skin types is important before choosing the type of topical applications for the acne, especially the face. Read more about the skin types in acne and their care. This will help you in choosing the best line of treatment with the help of these tips on effective usage of topical applications in acne

1. What are the common topical therapy available for acne treatment?

Common topical application in acne are:

1. Topical Retinoids in Acne
2. Benzoyl Peroxide in Acne
3. Topical Clindamycin in Acne
4. Topical Erythromycin in Acne
5. 10% Sodium Sulfacetamide
6. Sulfur 5%
7. Alpha Hydroxy Acids in Acne
8. Combination Therapies in Acne
9. Cleansers in Acne
10. Moisturizers in Acne

1. Tips on effective usage of topical applications in acne treatment: How to choose the most suitable ones?
   
   • Depending upon the grading: Comedones respond better to Topical retinoids while in the presence of pustules, benzoyl peroxide or antibacterial topical applications are preferred. For extensive pustular or inflamed nodular lesions, systemic therapy should be instituted.
   • Depending upon the skin type: Dry skins and sensitive skins may not tolerate topical retinoids or benzoyl peroxide. A gradual desensitization schedule should be maintained in such situations.

4. Tips on effective usage of topical applications in acne treatment:Common Issues in topical applications in acne treatment

1. Topical Applications in Sensitive Skin
   • These patients cannot usually tolerate topical benzoyl peroxide or retinoid. For them topical antimicrobials or azelaic acid, and, sometimes, sulfur and salicylic acid applications are preferred.
   • Patients are also advised to avoid using harsh acne cleansers for washing.
   • To reduce the infection and inflammation 4-6 weeks of oral antibiotics like Erythromycin, Tetracycline, doxycycline or Minocycline are also advised.
   • If they have associated seborrhoeic dermatitis, use of anti-seb shampoos containing zinc pyrithione or ketaconazole on the face and scalp and avoidance of moisturizers are advised.
2. Treatment of Steroid AcneApplication of OTC topical steroids is a common cause for flare up of acne on the face and the body. Sometimes steroids used for dermatitis or other diseases like vitiligo may also cause steroid acne.
   Following are a few guidelines on the management of steroid acne

• Discontinuing steroid is the primary concern in steroid acne.
• Do not stop suddenly. Taper the steroid to lesser potency and stop with hydrocortisone. During the withdrawal, the patient may experience flare of the dermatitis, especially if the patient was treated for seborrhoeic dermatitis.
• A six week course of oral Tetracycline , and, if severe, minocycline is advised to treat steroid acne.
• Topically, metronidazole, erythromycin, clindamycin, or a sulfur product may be used to treat steroid acne.
• Antidandruff shampoos should be used concomitantly
• Avoid acne inducing moisturizers

Stop acne – how do i get rid of acne scars – hitting the source

scars is the next challenge we must face after acne. Some scars left by acne after it heals can be superficial scars; other scars left by acne can be deep scars. If an acne is not treated early with medication or any advance procedures that stops acne it can lead to scarring, these scars can sometimes be deep. If the scars left by acne are on the face, it can affect a person’s self-esteem, it can affect his or her social life, so it is very important to avoid acne scars, you can do this by treating your acne if it is juts starting to develop at an early stage, this way you can stop it from spreading and after it heal you can avoid acne scars.

Related Articles

How to stop acne breakouts – tips to stop acne while stopping breakouts to avoid scars

Use a medication that can remove acne scars, you may want to purchase a medication that has elements that can remove and get rid of acne and acne scars, this kind of medication is a great powerful medication to stop acne and remove acne scars, whether you have no more acne and is just left with acne scars you need this kind of medication because even if you are just using a medication that can only get rid of acne scars but can’t get rid of acne you are only doing the same thing over again, because the medication you have doesn’t have the power to stop acne but can only remove or erase acne scars.

It is very important that whenever you purchase any medication that can remove acne scars it must also contain the power to stop acne, because if it doesn’t have this kind of capability to stop an acne you will just be moving in circles, you can’t focus alone on how to get rid of acne scars, you need to also focus on how you can stop your acne, because if you stop your acne while erasing acne scars using any medication that has this kind of capability, you will be able to get rid of your acne and acne scars fast.
Purchasing such medication that has no power to stop an acne is risky because there is a big tendency that your acne may develop again, giving you more acne scars. You can’t just rely on medications that can only remove acne scars, because the more acne you will have the more scars you will have.

You need to focus on the source that produces acne scars and the source is acne. It is advisable to have this kind of medication that has double action effect it not only stop acne but will also remove all the scars left by acne.

An example of these elements that stops acne while erasing acne scars are the benzoyl peroxide and aloe Vera.

Benzoyl peroxide plays a vital role when it comes to stop acne, this element go deep inside the skin and kills all the bacteria to prevent it from developing, benzoyl peroxide can eliminate acne fast it can eliminate any kinds of can, prevent future breakouts and can stop redness on the acne affected skin, benzoyl peroxide is an outstanding substance when it comes to fight acne, it beats acne from the inside-out and it really works because it penetrates the skin deep.

Aloe Vera is known to remove, minimize acne scars or any scars on the skin. Aloe Vera has enzymes that regenerate skin tissues, it moisturizes the skin and it has an anti-inflammatory agents and anti-bacterial properties that fight infection. It is use to heal cut, psoriasis, pimples and many skin disorders.

These are very important elements that you can use to get rid of acne and acne scars, if you follow this simple tips and advice, you will be able to free yourself from acne and the scars left by acne, and the best move you can do now, is to start treating you acne now.

Birth Control For Acne – Clearing Acne With The Contraceptive Pill

Sometimes doctors will often prescribe medications meant for birth control for acne sufferers who have a severe condition, there are many different types of these medications and they all usually have minor side effects, happily one of those side effects is helping to clear away acne, this is done by the way the chemical compounds in the medication work on body hormones.
One of the latest drugs to appear of this type is Ortho Tri-Cyclen and many women have reported quite a success rate after taking it for some time.Ortho Tri-Cyclen Side Effects
Generally it has only mild side effects such as, occasional nausea, headaches, slight stomach pain, and minor breast enlargement, have been reported when it is first taken, in most cases it has been successful especially in dealing with acne, only a few cases were reported where the condition actually grew worse.

Taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen can also lead to women feeling less emotional during their menstrual cycle, may have lighter periods and feel less cramping, several have reported slight weight loss.
Obviously these reported symptoms are just a cross-section of the feedback gathered, as no two people are alike there is always going to be some differences on what women experience when taking this type of medication and the effects may be more or less pronounced on your own body, obviously if your period symptoms get a lot worse or you acne flares up, you should stop taking the medication straight away and refer back to your doctor for further advice.

Cost Of Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Relatively speaking it is quite an expensive product compared to others, a months supply is generally around the $20 to $30 dollar mark, you should be away that there are also some generic products under this name and these will usually be cheaper, but they will not work as the well as the main brand, but as acne treatments go this is quite reasonable more so, if it works for you, it can also clear cystic acne that occur on some females as a result of hormone levels, and these are usually quite difficult to treat with conventional over the counter remedies.

ConclusionUsers should be aware that this is not a miracle cure for acne, you will not see instant results and it could take up to 90 days before you see a real improvement, but gradual clearing of the condition should be noticed before this.
As with any medications of this type you should not take them out of hand just because they may be available over the counter, always consult with your doctor first.
An important point to bear in mind taking medication formulated for acne is that if your condition is quite bad you may also be on a prescribed course of anti-biotics, if this is the case do not rely on the birth control pills to work for contraception, as they may cease to be effective when they are used in conjunction with certain anti-biotics

La contraception et l'acné

Voilà un sujet qui soulève la controverse. De nos jours, beaucoup de médecins, que ce soit votre généraliste, gynécologue ou dermatologue, conseil aux filles et femmes de tous âges d'utiliser la pilule contraceptive afin de se débarrasser de leur acné. Voici donc un article qui vous permettra de voir l'envers de la médaille en ce qui concerne ce traitement hormonal de l'acné.

Tout d'abord, avant de lire ce qui suit, veuillez prendre note que je ne suis ni médecin, ni spécialiste du système endocrinien. Je vous donne ici mon opinion basée sur des faits, mon expérience personnelle ainsi que le résultat de mes recherches sur le sujet. sachez cependant que je n'invente rien et que tout ce que je vous présente ici a été bien entendu vérifié et provient de sources fiables.

Commençons par répondre aux questions les plus couramment posées sur la contraception et l'acné
Est-ce que la pilule contraceptive peut effectivement me débarrasser de mon acné?

Oui. Il est vrai que les estrogènes contenus dans la pilule peuvent diminuer, voir faire carrément disparaître vos boutons. Cependant, il ne s'agit pas d'une solution miracle. En effet, vous ne guérirez jamais votre acné avec la contraception. Vous ne ferez que le calmer temporairement. Aucune femme ne prend la pilule durant toute sa vie et vous aurez un jours ou l'autre à cesser son utilisation, soit pour avoir des enfants, soit parce que vous en aurez marre des effets secondaires, soit pour une raison X, mais ce qui est certain, c'est que vous aurez à le faire. Et ce jours là, votre acné refera probablement surface, plus fort que jamais.

Comment puis-je quitter la pilule sans que mon acné revienne?

Cela peut sembler difficile, mais c'est tout de même possible. Il faut cependant un peu de préparation. Environ un mois avant de finir votre dernière plaquette, changer vos habitudes de vie. Vous pouvez retourner lire les articles précédents ( ici!) pour savoir par où commencer et ce que vous devez changer. l'important, c'est que vous commenciez à détoxifier votre corps et à adapter votre système digestif à un nouveau régime alimentaire. Dormez de bonnes nuits de sommeil, consommer beaucoup de légumes (surtout!) et de fruits, buvez beaucoup d'eau, remplacez votre café par un bon thé vert, diminuez (le plus possible!) votre consommation d'alcool et éloignez vous de tout ce qui vous causes du stress. Ce processus, si enclenché tôt, peut à lui seul vous évitez le pire. Vous pouvez également diminuer graduellement votre dose quotidienne d'anovulants en coupant une partie de vos comprimés à l'aide d'une lame de rasoir. Coupez-en un peu plus chaque jours jusqu'à ce que vous cessiez complètement de les prendre. Cela permettra d'éviter le débalancement hormonal qui suit très souvent la cessations de la contraceptions. Durant ce laps de temps, si vous avez un partenaire, n'oubliez pas d'utiliser un condom!

J'ai déjà quitté la pilule et maintenant ma peau est dans un état lamentable. Que dois-je faire?

Surtout, ne pas y retourner. Cela ne ferait que remettre le problème à plus tard! Il n'est jamais trop tard pour changer son style de vie et vous devriez commencer maintenant. Vous pouvez également prendre des supplément d'oméga-3 (l'huile de foie de morue est la plus recommandé). Je ne suis pas une fan de suppléments, je préfère de loin ajouter des éléments à ma diète afin de la rendre plus complète, mais il est très difficile de trouver dans les aliments une source d'oméga-3 qui soit facilement assimilable par l'organisme. Les graines de lins en contiennent, mais sous une forme qui nous est peu utile. C'est pourquoi l'huile de foie de morue est vraiment le meilleur choix. Elle contient également de la vitamine A et D, deux vitamines très utiles dans le traitement de l'acné (l'acutane est d'ailleurs un dérivé de la vitamine A). Les oméga-3 sont reconnus pour être des anti-inflammatoires naturels et vous ne trouverez que des bienfaits à son utilisation. Vous pouvez également consommer beaucoup de gingembre frais, car cette racine est une vraie mine d'or en ce qui concerne la régulation des hormones. De plus, les tisanes au gingembre, citron et miel sont faciles à préparer et sont tout à fait délicieuses. Vous n'avez qu'à rapper un morceau de 3 centimètres de gingembre dans une tasse et y ajouter de l'eau bouillante avant d'y incorporer une à 2 cuillères à soupe de jus de citron frais et une cuillère de miel. Laissez infuser 4 minutes et voilà! Finalement évitez à tout pris le soya, qui est un champion dans l'art de dérégler le système endocrinien. Évitez également le lait et le gluten. ( voir ce que vous mettez dans votre assiette ici). Et finalement, avec tout cela et un peu de patience vos boutons finiront par disparaître.

Je veux quitter la pilule mais j'ai tout de même besoin de contraception. Y a-t-il des options sans hormones?

 

Oui. Il existe un stérilet qui contient du cuivre et qui est très efficace pour empêcher les grossesses, car le cuivre agit comme un spermicide et le stérilet lui-même, de par sa présence dans l'utérus, empêche la nidification. Il ne contient aucune hormones et est une solution pratique, mais aussi très économique, pour les femmes qui désire un contraceptif très efficace qui ne contient pas d'hormone. Il existe également un autre type de stérilet (Mirena) qui lui libère dans l'utérus un type de progestérone, qui fait croire au corps que l'on est déjà enceinte. Bien que celui-ci contiennent également des hormones, elles sont libérés en quantité minimes, surtout comparé à la pilule. Ce type de stérilet est plus adapté pour les jeune-fille où les femmes n'ayant jamais porté d'enfant, car il n'engendre aucun risque de stérilité. Il s'agit également de la contraception contenant le plus faible taux d'hormones (mis à par ceux qui n'en contiennent pas du tout!). Il existe également d'autres moyens, comme le diaphragme par exemple, mais je ne suis pas assez à l'aise pour vous le conseiller puisque je n'en ai jamais porté. Comme je n'ai pas d'enfant, je porte en ce moment un stérilet de type Mirena