Acne Magazine : Skin Care, Tips, Treatment Reviews

I have to say, as far as cheapo acne cleansers, I did like the Avon True Porefection cleanser, which was the consistency of a mudd mask, but frothed into a cool lather.  I’m not sure if that’s what I like about it most lol.   But anyways, I did like it, and it smelled clean and fresh and seemed to work on my skin.  I didn’t notice any difference in my acne blemishes, but I did like the way it made my skin feel after I was done washing, because it wasn’t too tight and it felt as though it was deep cleansing.

Now, in sharp contrast to my generally good review of True Porefection cleanser, I did not like the Avon Clearskin line at all.  I tried their cleanser, which was a gel-like cleanser which frothed up.  I noticed a bleachy and somewhat “medical” smell to it right away, and thought to myself “this is going to dry the crap out of my skin, isn’t it?”  Well sure enough, my hunch was right, and this stuff did dry the crap out of my skin.

Not only that, it seemed to make my acne worse.  I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an adult or not, but when I used it a couple years ago, it definitely did not agree with my skin.  So, I’m not a fan!

I forgot to mention one of the best and most noticeable benefits of home microdermabrasion kits.  Most people who use the good home treatments, and use it religiously twice a week (which I think is ideal – one may not give you as noticeable results, in my humble opinion), notice a great improvement in the visibility of their pores.

Most people report that after about 6-8 treatments, they have a noticeable improvement in the appearance of their pores, especially where most people have the biggest pores, which tends to be right around our noses.  For me, it is the right side of my nose if you were facing me, which also happens to be the same side of may face where I tend to get the most pimples (go figure – those oil glands must be active little buggers on that side of my face).

The reason that microderm tends to refine our pores is that a big reason for the appearance of our pores is the fact that dead skin cells get lodged in opened pores, which leads to them appearing larger.  Not only that, it helps to slough these off as well as smooth over the bumpy, opened appearance of these misbehaving pores.

I have to say, after using my home microderm kit, I’ve noticed a substantial difference in the visibility of my problem pores by my nose.  But that’s only when I’m using it consistently.  The results do tend to fade if I slack off a little.  Plus, these treatments actually feel good, and leave my skin looking refreshed after each use, so it’s a little bit of therapy for me too – call me crazy!

A common prescription given by dermatologists for the treatment of acne vulgaris is the use of a product called retinoids, which may also be used as anti aging agents due to their ability to slough off dead skin well.

What are Retinoids?

Retinoids are actually somewhat natural (although changed in the process of becoming medical treatments) substances which are derived from common vitamin A, that are used to unplug follicles and pores in order to help clear up acne. 

Retinoids Can be Used Topically and Internally (medication)

There are two types of retinoid uses, based on how they are applied and delivered. There’s external (topical treatments such as creams and gels) and oral (an orally taken medicine). The best known externally applied retinoids are Retin-A, Differin and Tazorac, while the orally taken retinoids list is headed by the popular and ever so controversial Accutane.

Retinoids are actually derived from vitamin A, and they attempt to control the oil glands in the face by controlling their secretion of sebum (pore clogging oil). This primary effect is what makes retinoids effective against acne in some individuals.

The long-term (4-6 months) decrease in oil secretion means that hair follicles are less likely to clog and turn into acne lesions (whiteheads and blackheads, and the painful “under the skin kind of acne that we all hate). However, about one fourth of the patients who use Accutane or other drugs based on isotretinoin (the medical name for accutane) may relapse and require additional treatments – which means additional exposure to the physical and mental threats that Accutane has been linked to such as depression and birth defects in children conceived while a patient is on Accutane.

But the biggest drawback of retinoids is the long list of side effects, which sometimes makes retinoids look like a bigger problem rather than a cure. Retinoids are used only under the close supervision of a dermatologist or physician precisely because of these somewhat severe side effects.

If a patient needs more than one treatment, the doctor will always insist on letting a few months pass between the treatments in order to give the patient’s body a chance to recover from the last treatment.

The most common side effects are dry skin and nosebleeds. Many patients have also reported liver problems, while a few complained of depression. However, the scientific community is still split on the issue of depression as it cannot be “scientifically proven” – although we all know we’ve heard the stories.

More seriously, isotretinoin is known to cause birth defects, which is why female patients have to use two separate forms of birth control or vow abstinence during the treatment. Pregnant women are not allowed to use anything but the mildest treatments.

The bottom line is that retinoids are a good idea if one can cope with the side effects. This begs the question: why not use something just as effective, but without the side effects.

Acne treatment systems, such as ClearPores which is one of the medical alternative acne treatments most highly recommended by me, are also popular because of their success in dealing with the condition, but lack the extreme side that makes retinoids a possible liability to use.

Acne is not only the number one skin-enemy of teens, but now it affects adults at great lengths too, prompting thousands to seek out alternative and effective ways to banish acne for good. Although acne involves physical pain only in the most severe cases, the condition usually has a negative psychological impact because of its high level of visibility.

Unfortunately, acne is right on your face for everyone to see, and sometimes we even get it on our backs and chests, which are very visible in the summer when we wear less clothing. People with terrible acne tend to exhibit more outwardly signs of self consciousness and lack of confidence, since every glance in the mirror is a reminder that the skin is working against us and not with us. 

Clear Pores is a comprehensive acne treatment system that actually works in tandem with your body’s chemistry to calm the skin internally, via an all natural supplement, and then treats your skin topically, with a special cleanser and a protective cream. 

Their websit boasts many before and after pictures of successful use from clients, and literally PAGES of testimonials.  That is why I recommend the Clear Pores system so highly.  See here for multiple testimonials and reviews : Clear Pores Customer Reviews and Testimonials

This may seem a bold or trite statement to make, but in a world obsessed with physical perfection and social interactions, acne can be a sometimes unbearable burden which affects us emotionally, physically and socially.

Early breakthroughs in the use of various substances and the large number of patients willing to try anything has been the basis of finding new methods of curing acne, whether permanently or temporarily.

One of the best ways to fight mild cases of acne is to speed up the natural exfoliation process of your skin. Exfoliation is the process by which the topmost layer of your skin, which contains many dead cells, is removed by mechanical or chemical means. Clearing away dead skin helps prevent the clogging of pores by a combination of excess sebum and dead cells. 

Not only that, but exfoliation is the number one recommendation to get rid of acne scarring such as ice pick scars, pock marks and depressions in the skin. 

Exfoliation is not meant in the visible sense of the word, since you won’t see skin peeling away as in the case of shedding. The topmost layer of your skin is too thin to be seen with the naked eye.

The recommended procedures for speeding up the exfoliation process feature the use of mechanical means or chemical means. Salicylic Acid is actually the most recommended exfoliation agent, since it also helps to unclog pores whose openings have already been obstructed by sebum and dead skin cells.

Over-the-counter Salicylic Acid solution or cotton pads soaked in Acid should be available in every pharmacy or drugstore. You can safely and easily use these at home to take care of acne flare-ups. If you want a complete and comprehensive system that employs the use of this pore-unclogging acid, you can try the ClearPores system.

The effective comprehensive system combines the cleansing and pore-purifying power of  salicylic acid and alcohol SD with herbal acne pills as well as a protection cream in order to get rid of acne now and prevent further inflammation and flareups in the future.

The herbal acne fighting pills kill bad bacteria which tend to multiply in clogged pores, while the deep facial and body washes open up the pores to release pent up dirt, grime and oil that causes blackheads and those all too familiar whiteheads.  Finally, the acne protection cream acts as a protective environmental shield for your skin.

The thing I like most about this acne cleansing system is it targets multiple areas of acne fighting, including deep cleansing treatments, daily gentle cleansing and internal causes of acne (with the pill) , ClearPores is not a single product, but a full solution designed to destroy acne with the utmost effectiveness.

Just a side note about microdermabrasion for acne.  You probably should not get this process done if your acne lesions are still in the process of healing – meaning that if you still have active acne vulgaris, ie open wounds and lesions, you probably will not want to undergo the microdermabrasion process, because it may tear them up.

Instead, microdermabrasion is more of a process which helps to erase old acne scars and bring smoothness and clarity, as well as pore perfection to your face AFTER you’ve already conquered the active acne breakouts for the most part.  If you have one of two zits, that probably won’t matter, since the technician can work around those, I’m just talking about people who have acne pretty bad, and widespread throughout their face.

I saw some before and after pics of what these new mineral based foundations can do for your skin, and although I’m not really a follower of the Bare Minerals or Bare Escentuals makeups yet, I am nonetheless intrigued by the before and after pictures of women with blemishes, circles and discolorations who, after they applied the foundation, looked as if they had flawless skin.

These mineral makeups are supposed to be very light, so I think they would get the thumb’s up for use with acne prone skin due to the fact that they are noncomedogenic in nature, and are in fact an all natural makeup.

Also, I have several friends, young and old who have given the makeup nothing but rave reviews. Most women say, they were so used to using a regular foundation, which provides instant gratification ie instant coverage, vs. the mineral makeup, which is a powder form foundation.  Since the powder goes on so inconspicuously, so does the coverage, but reportedly once it sinks in, it looks flawless.

I’ll have more to report once I start using a mineral foundation.  Right now, I’m trying to use up my current foundation, which is Revlon Skinlights, mixed with L’Oreal foundation for combination skin.  I really like the effects of that, but I’m always willing to try new things in makeup and cosmetics too.