Acne Light Treatment – an Acne Cure

Posted by admin on December 20, 2009 under Treatment For Acne | Be the First to Comment

Acne light treatment is rapidly becoming a popular acne remedy because it is a fairly easy and a drug-free way to help heal blemishes. As you know, many topical medications contain strong ingredients that damage sensitive skin, resulting in peeling, redness, and increased sun sensitivity. Ouch ! But, Blue light (not the beer, if you are a Canadian) therapy is widely regarded as an excellent alternative to most acne medications. Some individuals have expressed concern over the safety of this procedure, becuase this procedure used to use ultraviolet (UV) light that was harmful to the skin. Fortunately, modern Clearlight treatments have been FDA approved and free of UV dangers.

The FDA approved blue light therapy for acne in August of 2002. In studies, two 15-minute exposures a week for a period of four weeks produced a 60 percent reduction in acne in 80 percent of patients. Reported remissions from acne lasted as long as three to eight months. The first approved system of treatment, ClearLight, is now available through dermatologists. This method involves a new therapeutic blue or red light that uses what is called Acne PhotoClearingTM – APCTM technology. It targets and destroys the surface of the acne and quickly and easily repairs it. It is also known to be effective in clearing inflamed acne in one month.

So how does blue light therapy work?

Basically, patients are exposed to a low intensity blue light source (405 nm to 420 nm) for 15 minutes twice per week for 4 weeks. Each session costs between $50 and $150, making a full course of treatment an average of $800. But, wouldn’t you know it, acne light treatment is considered cosmetic and is therefore not covered by insurance.

Another form of acne light therapy that is used more and more is known as pulsed light and heat energy (LHE) therapy.

LHE therapy uses both light and heat to eradicate the root causes of acne. Very much like blue light therapy, LHE therapy uses light to destroy acne-causing bacteria. It also uses heat to reduce the production of sebum and to help shrink sebaceous glands. It is an attractive option for many acne sufferers because it promises fast results. Usually, improvement in the symptoms of acne can be seen in as little as 30 days. Not surprisingly, this is becoming popular because it is a fast treatment, with most sessions done in just over 10 minutes. The FDA has approved LHE therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate acne.

While different kinds of light therapies may seem attractive, they can also be expensive, and may not be covered by most health insurance plans. If you are looking for an answer that is milder and less expensive, consider the many herbal therapies that are available. Some acne sufferers swear by certain herbal supplements, including black currant seed oil, evening primrose oil and others. Follow the instructions on the bottle or ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice. Also, never take any herbal medication if you are taking prescription drugs as their could be side effects. Consult with your Pharmacist or Doctor first.

Visit a skin specialist or dermatologist for more information on acne light treatments.

Oral Acne Treatments – Know The Effectiveness Of Oral Medicines

Posted by admin on December 18, 2009 under Clear Acne | Be the First to Comment

Oral acne treatments ensure an acne free face and body. Oral acne treatments always make use of various kinds of capsules and antibiotic pills that can well fight acne-causing bacteria and controls inflammation caused by acne. Apart from these oral acne treatments, there are various oral acne medications that can eliminate acne completely, reduce blemishes and scars, and control any further burst of acne. All these oral acne treatments along with the medications promise you with a clear, acne-free and glowing skin.
Use of antibiotics
Oral acne treatments include the use of antibiotics like Minocycline, Doxycycline, Azithromycin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin and Trimothoprim. Another very useful and effective oral medication is Isotretinoin that has the same molecular structure as that of Vitamin A. These oral acne treatments include medicines reduces the effect that fatty foods can impose on our body. Deep-fried foods or fatty foods leads to further burst of acne, so one should have a balanced diet as well as these oral medications to reduce fat content and eliminate acne.
Oral acne medications include consuming Accutane that provides long-term results for an acne free skin. These oral medicines actually help to control the secretion of oil thereby unclogging the pores underneath the skin surface. In case of treating severe cases of acne, the oral acne medications are combined with topical agents for enhanced results. The oral contraceptives often decrease the level of androgens, thereby decreasing oil secretion and reducing acne. But to compensate the intake of high-dose medicines, one should also have proper balanced diet comprising fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables.
How do the oral acne medications work?
Other typical oral medications that you can consume include Retin-A, Cyproterone Acetate, Clindamycin, Adapalene and Sodium Sulfacetamide. All these oral medicines can reduce the sudden bursts of acne and acne scars in both children and adults. You should take these capsules as directed with fat-containing foods [like 2% or whole milk]. The fat in the foods helps the acne germs to be fully absorbed thereby promising you acne-free skin. Pregnant women, however, need to use two reliable forms of contraception while taking this medication. The daily dose for normal people is determined at 0.5 to 1 mg per kg of your body weight.
All of these oral medications act as an anti-androgen thereby reducing the formation of acne and acne scars. Isotretinoin is an approved oral medication that prevents the maturing of sebaceous glands. It is these sebaceous glands that produce different oil and influence the lining of the hair follicles to produce acne bursts. Other medications help change the composition of oil to prevent the pores from clogging up with bacteria and pus.
Oral acne medications are truly most effective therapies that can reduce acne, however severely they affect your face and skin. They also reduce the risk of intense scarring. However, you should take the doses as prescribed by your doctor. Regularly undergo blood tests and blood pressure monitoring tests to make effective use of these medications and avoid any side effects.
Treat acne to enjoy a fresh, healthy and acne-free skin.

Acne Scars – 6 Best Treatments For Acne Scars

Posted by admin on December 1, 2009 under Treatment For Acne | Be the First to Comment

Acne affects most people in the world. And while some people recover from it without any consequences, some do get permanent scars. Topical medications can treat some mild scars. Most acne scarring are healed with combined surgical procedures, medications and skin resurfacing.What Causes That Stubborn Scar?
After healing, an acne lesion can leave a red mark or a hyperpigmentation on the skin. This is just a post-inflammatory change and not actually a scar. The redness happens as the skin goes through healing, which usually takes 6-12 months. If no acne sprouts in that particular area, it can heal normally. If it is still present after a year or more, it may be considered a permanent scar.
Acne scars actually are the effects of 2 types of response of the tissues to acne:
(1) Increase of tissue formation
(2) Tissue loss
Acne Scars that are caused by tissue formation are actually the result of a buildup of collagen in the skin. These are most commonly called keloids. Keloids tend to be genetic while scars that are caused by tissue loss are the most common type of acne scars.What Can Help?
Tretinoin can help heal scars. It speeds up the healing and remodeling of the skin. It also assists in the healing of hyperpigmentations. Aplha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA) also helps the remodeling process of the skin. As long as it is appropriately formulated and have the right concentration with the right pH, it will be very effective.
Also, a person should seek treatment for scars either to remove or lighten them. Or maybe the person can include it in the overall procedure of skin rejuvenation.
It is very important for both the patient and the dermatologist to discuss the procedures as to the treatment of acne scars. Choosing a skin rejuvenation process is based partly on the result that the patient wants to accomplish. These are just some of the procedures that dermatologists use to treat acne scars:
1. Chemical peel can treat small to large acne scars and can also be effective when it comes to removing blackheads and whiteheads. Repeated peeling is recommended to improve some extensive or deep scars.
2. Laser or resurfacing of scars is a relatively new technology but can only be effective in some patients. It can be used to treat scars that are complex in nature.
3. Dermabrasion can reach deeper skin layers than a chemical peel.
4. Excision surgery can remove the affected entirely.
5. Soft-tissue augmentation can treat scars that are caused by tissue loss. It involves injections of collagen under the scars which raises them to bring it to the surface.
6. Intralesional steroid injection for keloids on the other hand is a procedure where direct injection is done into the keloid acne scars. It can be mixed with surgery to reduce scar size. This can only be done by a dermatologic surgeon.
It is a good thing that acne scars can be effectively treated nowadays. Now, you can say goodbye to a life with acne.

Acne Treatment: the Acne Fact Sheet

Posted by admin on November 20, 2009 under Treatment For Acne | Be the First to Comment

Blemishes. Zits. Pimples. Bumps.

No matter what you call it, nearly everyone has had to deal with acne breakouts at least one time in their life. For some women, dealing with acne is a daily struggle; however, even if you only have to deal with the occasional eruption, acne can be a painful experience.

Many different factors are considered by researchers to be the cause of acne, but a specific cause is still unknown. Factors such as increased hormones, heredity and even the use of some medications have all been attributed to triggering breakouts. In the case of women, it is often the changing levels of hormones in the 2 to 7 days prior to the beginning of a menstrual period that will trigger or worsen an acne flare-up. This combined with skin irritation (caused by rubbing, squeezing or picking at blemishes), pressure from tight clothing (in the case of body acne), pollution, and hard scrubbing can cause acne to worsen.

While dermatologists generally treat moderate to severe cases of acne, it is possible to treat a mild acne flare-up at home. Over the counter treatments that contain such compounds as benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur are often used to treat acne, but each works a little differently. When using over the counter acne treatments, always be aware of possible side effects such as skin irritation, burning or redness, which may lessen with continued use of the product. If symptoms persist or worsen, consult your dermatologist. You may need to consult a dermatologist to see which treatment type is best for your skin type, acne type and cycle of breakouts. Your doctor may also recommend a prescription medication to help control breakouts. This group of treatments include antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin, adapalene and azelaic acid. With all treatments, either over the counter or prescription, products may have to be used for 8 weeks or more before results are visible.

For women, a dermatologist may be able to determine whether acne is related to environment (factors such as pollution and skin irritation) or normal hormonal fluctuation. Medications such as low-dose birth control pills, corticosteroid drugs, and antiandrogen drugs may help control hormone-related acne flare-ups. The use of these types of drugs must be considered carefully, as side effects may vary greatly from person to person and sometimes include irregular menstruation, tender breasts, headache and fatigue.

The first step in any acne treatment should be prevention. By adopting a daily cleansing routine, acne breakouts can be greatly reduced. All skin types can follow these simple steps to help stop acne before it starts:

Clean Skin Gently. Using a mild cleanser twice a day and after strenuous exercise to gently clean the skin can help to reduce the chance of an acne flare-up. Using strong detergents or rough scrubbing pads may seem like the correct way to get a thorough cleaning, but these types of cleansers may actually worsen a breakout. Clean the face from under the jaw line to the hairline; use astringent only if the skin is excessively oily, and only on oily patches.

Avoid Touching the Skin. Squeezing or picking at acne blemishes raises the risk of developing scars or skin discoloration.

Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure. Women have long believed that allowing acne to “get some sun” can help in the healing process by drying out excess oil near the lesion. These benefits are only temporary, and medications to help with acne breakouts often react badly to sun exposure, making the skin more likely to burn.

Choose Cosmetics Wisely. Cosmetics that are noncomedogenic may help in preventing acne flare-ups, and all cosmetic products (including moisturizers, eye shadows and blushes) should be oil-free to help stop acne before it starts.

Treating acne breakouts can range from quick fixes to long-term regimens for skin care set by a dermatologist. With good skin care, acne can be controlled or prevented. Finding the right acne treatment may take time, as women have varying skin types and sensitivities; but with proper skin care and proper treatment of acne, every woman can have beautiful, glowing skin.

Home Treatments for Acne – Simple and Best

Posted by admin on November 17, 2009 under Home Remedies For Acne | Be the First to Comment

Acne is considered as one of the major skin problem teenagers are facing today. It may be caused due to depression or unhealthy diet. Although the causes may be many but junk foods, spicy and oily foodstuffs play an important role in causing acne. Lack of hygiene and digestive disorders also leads to acne. During puberty some hormonal changes causes imbalance in the body’s physiology which may also results in acne.

People are moving toward alternative health science for treating common health problems. These alternative treatments are very effective and also don’t have the side effects that allopathic drugs and cosmetic products usually have.

This article will emphasize on some easy to make home remedies for acne. One can easily prepare it from natural herbs, fruits and vegetables available in our home.

• Prepare a paste of fenugreek (methi) and apply it on acne or black head. Leave it for an hour or so. Then thoroughly wash the area with water or aloe vera juice.

• You can apply lemon juice mixed with rose water on the acne affected area. Continue this procedure for 15 days. It will help in getting rid of acne.

• You can also take triphala (composed of amla, haritaki and bhibitaki). It is very beneficial in treating acne.

• Rub raw garlic gently on the acne affected area. It will not only reduce the inflammation but also help you to treat acne naturally.

• Another important home remedy for acne is cucumber. Apply grated cucumber on the skin or the acne affected area. It has a very good result in treating acne, scars and black heads.

• Aloe vera is also a commonly used home remedy for acne. Drink aloe vera juice and your acne will go away.

• Similarly wheatgrass juice is also beneficial in treating acne. It not only helps you to get rid of acne but boost your overall health.

• Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Water plays a vital role in keeping good health of your skin. It not only prevents the occurrence of acne but also other skin disorders to.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. Nick Mutt is an active writer on alternative health and has published many ebooks on natural health. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Clinique Acne Solutions Concealing Stick

Posted by admin on November 12, 2009 under Clear Acne | Be the First to Comment

Here is a convenient Acne Solutions Concealing Stick that offers great coverage and healing power for blemishes at the same time. This salicylic acid-packed concealer not only covers but it also heals & clears the troubled spots.

One of the concerns that many people bring up about acne is how to cover it up. Most commercial brands offer concealers and foundations that cover up the unsightly marks, but leave your pores clogged. These types of cosmetics are called comedogenic and are more often than not oil-based. Oil-based cosmetics and acne does not work well together.

The starter kit contains three perfect solutions to answer your acne concerns. The first solution is a cleansing foam. This first step is to help your skin and pores to be washed of all the dirt and oil it has accumulated over the day. The second step is an exfoliant that comes in a lotion form. Exfoliation is an essential step to help clear dead skin and allow new skin to breathe. The last step is using a moisturizer, necessary to keep your skin’s essential oils and to prevent from drying.

The Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System offers its consumers a head way to a clearer skin. Acne affected skin need not worry of its condition with this product. With the starter kit, you can test for yourself if you have any untoward reactions to the product or if the product does not work for you. But this hardly happens as Clinique Acne treatments are designed to be hypoallergenic and work effectively on clearing acne infested skin.

Clinique Acne Treatments: a Great Solution to Great Skin

Posted by admin on November 10, 2009 under Clear Acne | Be the First to Comment

There have been many moves to treat acne, a distressing dermatological condition. What’s hard about acne is that not one single solution can treat all types of acne. However, if there are different solutions to choose from, all acne problems of varying types now have an answer.

Clinique Acne solutions have done just that. Their skin care products have evolved greatly, making sure to answer every skin woe. One of the concerns that many people bring up about acne is how to cover it up. Most commercial brands offer concealers and foundations that cover up the unsightly marks, but leave your pores clogged. These types of cosmetics are called comedogenic and are more often than not oil-based. Oil-based cosmetics and acne does not work well together.

Fortunately, Clinique Acne solutions have formulated innovative acne products such as the concealing cream that covers your pimples and helps eradicate them in the process. These types of concealer and foundation have been specially formulated for acne prone skin. Other than cosmetics, Clinique Acne solutions have come up with a wide variety of products to help control acne. One of these products is the healing gel. The healing gel works as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is cool and specially formulated to help constrict the blood vessels causing the pimple to redden and swell.

There is also a great product that Clinique has introduced to its consumers. The Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System offers its consumers a head way to a clearer skin. Acne affected skin need not worry of its condition with this product. What’s great about it is that it comes in a starter kit convenient to the buyers. This starter kit is good for 4 weeks use. With the starter kit, you can test for yourself if you have any untoward reactions to the product or if the product does not work for you. But this hardly happens as Clinique Acne treatments are designed to be hypoallergenic and work effectively on clearing acne infested skin.

The starter kit contains three perfect solutions to answer your acne concerns. The first solution is a cleansing foam. This first step helps your skin and pores to be washed of all the dirt and oil it has accumulated over the day. The second solution is an exfoliant that comes in a lotion form. Exfoliation is an essential step to help clear dead skin and allow new skin to breathe. The last solution is a moisturizer, necessary to keep your skin’s essential oils and to prevent from drying. Clinique Acne Products are available at reasonable prices and are oil-free. You don’t only get good clear skin; you also get to save as well with Clinique’s innovative acne products.

Acne Scar Treatments – Three Acne Scar Treatments That Will Resurface and Improve Your Skin For Good

Posted by admin on November 7, 2009 under Treatment For Acne | Be the First to Comment

There are three popular acne scar treatments you should know about if you suffer from acne scars. They are not necessarily inexpensive treatments, but they are effective, depending on how severe your scars are.

1. Microdermabrasion: This is the least expensive of the three treatments. Microdermabrasion is available at most dermatology clinics, and is good for resurfacing your skin and helping to get rid of existing acne. It’s really only recommended for mild acne scars, as it’s not a deep-down treatment by any means. You can expect to pay around $80 per treatment of microdermabrasion.

2. Dermabrasion: This treatment is more expensive than microdermabrasion and can be very painful. If you need dermabrasion, chances are your scars are quite severe. I would not recommend this treatment for only mild scars. The scary thing about dermabrasion is that your skin can actually bleed after the treatment, and it is very painful to undergo. Choose this option only if you have deep pockmarks that the doctor or dermatologists believes will be improved with dermabrasion. You can expect to pay over $100 for a dermabrasion treatment.

3. Laser treatment: Many people equate the feeling of laser treatment to the snap of a rubber band hitting your face multiple times. It is less painful than dermabrasion, and doesn’t typically lead to bleeding after treatment. This acne scar treatment generally costs around $300 per visit, and can help mild to severe scars, although it won’t take them away completely.

Last, but not least, if you are trying to get rid of acne scars and prevent more from showing up, you can’t do it without the help of a three-day acne diet.

4 Ways to Make Acne Medication More Effective

Posted by admin on under Clear Acne | Be the First to Comment

Research has given more information on the treatment of acne and the scars it can leave behind. These scars referred to can be emotional as well as physical. When the latest findings are combined with the right acne medication, the effectiveness of clearing acne is a simple task to undertake. The older ways to clear acne can still work with today’s acne medication. The wonders of science can now help to heal the scars. As with anything in life, the best way to rid the body of scars is to not have them to begin with.

Keep The Skin Clean

Research has made it clear that acne is not caused by dirt. It is bacteria which are spread from one pore to the other that does cause the problems. Clean face and hands will help prevent the spread of the bacteria to clear areas reducing the scars. Cleaning the skin two times each day with an acne medication product designed for individual skin types will remove the skin cells and keep the normal dirt and oil away. Hands are best kept way from the face especially in the areas where acne is already an issue. The hands can be used to clean the face but must first be cleaned properly themselves. DO not even squeeze acne as this causes damage to the skin as well as spreading of bacteria. The infection thus can create scarring.

Use The Acne Medication Properly

Never assume you know how to use any product until you have taken the time to read the instructions and understand them completely. Some directions for different products may be similar but could have slight variations that make the difference in clearing away acne. Improper use of any medication for any problem can cause dangerous, even deadly, consequences.

Ban Oily Skin Products

Oil based acne medication products for acne only serve to add to the problem because they clog the pores making things worse. Make sure to take time to read the labels on any product considered to assure it is water based. This is especially true for hair care products, cosmetics, and other products used on the skin. The water based items will be lighter on the skin and give you the same effective coverage the oil based products can.

From The Inside Out

Nothing today is truer than the fact that what you put into the body comes out through the skin. Myth told that chocolate and greasy foods were the cause of acne. This is not true today because of new research. However, it is true that cleaner food inside the body will prevent and help to clear acne on the outside. A healthy diet will give a better overall health picture to include the skin, digestion, and blood throughout the body. Proper water consumption along with a healthy diet will help reduce the acne already showing and will help to stop the breakouts in the future. No breakouts mean no more scars. 

Acne Medication – Which is Right for You?

Posted by admin on November 4, 2009 under Clear Acne | Be the First to Comment

If you are plagued by acne, you are more than likely also overwhelmed by the number of acne medications on the market. In addition to the cleansers, toners and astringents offered over-the-counter, there are also a variety of prescription medications that your doctor can prescribe for you.
You may wonder how many of the over-the-counter products are just hype and which ones can actually help clear your skin. With all the acne medication on the market, how do you decide which one is right for you?
First, don’t choose an acne medication based on its promise to clear your acne overnight, or even in a few weeks. Even if you religiously use a product, you may see little or no improvement for the first two weeks. After that, it may take as long as three months for your pimples to clear completely.
If you have mild to moderate acne, over-the-counter acne medication may be the answer for you. These medications often contain drying agents which help to dry up the skin’s excess oil. They can also contain anti-bacterial agents to help kill the bacteria that can make acne worse.
For those with severe acne problems, a visit to the doctor may be in store. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic cream or oral antibiotic which can help to kill the bacteria that causes pimples.
Retin A creams, which are formed from a derivative of Vitamin A, may also be prescribed. These creams can help the top layer of dead skin cells, which often block the pores and cause pimples, flake off.
For the most severe cases, an acne medication called Isotretinoin is used. This medication is taken orally and helps to dry up over-active oil glands. Since this drug has dangerous side effects, such as liver damage and birth defects, it is usually used only as a last resort. However, in most cases, when taken for four – six months, the capsules completely clear acne in the majority of patients.
Since hormones can also play a role in the formation of acne, birth control pills are sometimes prescribed for teen girls suffering from acne. The pills most prescribed by doctors as an acne medication include those that lessen the activity of androgens, the male sex hormones that are responsible for producing oil.
While still in the experimental stages, phototherapy is also being used to help clear acne. Specially built light bulbs which emit blue light, or blue and red light have been found to clear acne as well or better that the use of benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in over-the-counter as well as prescription acne medication. However, since this technology is relatively new, it is still quite expensive.
The type of acne medication you choose can depend greatly on the severity of your skin condition. For the occasional breakout, over-the-counter products may be all you need. For more severe cases, however, you may require a prescription cream or oral antibiotic.
Your doctor or dermatologist can help you pick a skin care regimen and acne medication that is right for you and will get you on your way to clearer skin.