Acne Magazine : Skin Care, Tips, Treatment Reviews

All About Acne and How to Treat This Skin Condition

Input from an AcneMagazine Reader

Filed under Acne Skin Care by

Thanks a lot! It feels good to have someone understand what I’m going
through. Most people don’t know and will never understand how badly
it affects my self-esteem.

I’ve ordered the Zenmed Dermacleanse system and I should receive it
within a week or so. Hopefully it will aid in getting my acne under
control.

Any other tips you’d recommend for my face?

Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to write me back an
honest and in-depth answer. I really appreciate it. Great job on the
on-line magazine too!

XXXXX

Acne Magazine Response :

Hi Angie.  Sorry it took me a while, it’s been busy!  Well, you’re welcome, it’s no problem.  I really like hearing everyone else’s stories, because I struggled with acne for so long and literally prayed that it would just go away in my teens, when clear skin was so important. 
The only other tips I can think of are to really try to avoid popping pimples before they are fully ready.  This has caused almost all the acne scarring on my face. If you wait until they are fully surfaced (I know, this is really hard to do), before you GENTLY extract them, the risk of scarring is so much less.
Also, avoid overdrying or overwashing.  Lots of people with acne think that the more vigorously they scrub or the longer they suds up their face, the better.  Actually this can just aggravate your skin more. 
I HIGHLY recommend that you try to avoid sugar and caffeine whenever possible.  I have found that these have always been my two personally biggest acne triggers, and it is proven that sugar and caffeine are inflammatory to the skin, and acne is partially an inflammatory skin condition, so it really does make perfect sense. 
That’s about it.  The Dermacleanse capsules are great.  Just give them time to work.  They don’t work overnight, but over time, I’ve loved the results, and the calmer look of my skin.
Good luck XXXXX!  Thanks for reading!
January 29, 2007 at 10:06 pm Comments (0)

Natural Acne Treatments : Alternative to Accutane Reader Question

Filed under Miscellaneous Alternative Therapies by

A reader had a question about alternatives to traditional acne treatments : Please read :

Reader Question :

Hi,

I just visited your website for the first time today and, for the most
part, I found it really helpful. It’s really hard for me to trust the
reviews of acne products on their actual websites and I feel that you
bring a much needed honest opinion about many of the products.

Now, onto my question. I have had acne since I was around 13 or so (I
am now 21) and I have gone to many dermatologists to aid me in finding
a solution to my mild case of cystic acne. So far, very few topical
and oral medications have produced any results and if they have, the
results never last. Because of this, my current dermatologist wants
to me to try accutane. I am very afraid to try it and I simply cannot
afford it.

I want to try some sort of herbal medication, such as Acnezine,
Clearpores, or the Zemned Dermacleanse herbal capsules, all of which
you have given positive reviews. Of these three, which, in your
honest opinion, has worked the best? I would like to order one of the
three as soon as possible, but I’m not sure which one to get.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this rather long but
desperate email.

AcneMagazine.com Answer :

Hi XXXXX.  I understand, trust me.  I was on many different antibiotics as a teen, and on through my twenties I also suffered acne, bordering on cystic acne.  My favorite product, and actually one that I am on now because I had a recurrence of acne (I’m now 32, and need follow up treatments every once in a while – it seems my oil glands are overproductive again due to stress and hormonal imbalances right now), is the Dermacleanse system from Zenmed. 

The Dermacleanse capsules in particular, I find are superior for treating acne naturally.  You do have a waiting period, and I’ve found myself that my acne actually has gotten worse during the first week to three weeks while on the product, but after about 3-4 months, I noticed a great clearing of my skin, a new smoothness, that I can only attrribute to this system. 

I did use it once before, about five years ago, and experienced similar results.  I recommend you check it out, definitely – here’s a link if you want to hear more info - Dermacleanse Review.

 

Good luck in whatever you choose, whether it be Accutane, or any other dermatological treatment, or natural acne treatment Angie!  I know what you’re going through……

 

Please bookmark AcneMagazine.com for more updates, tips and information on acne skin care. 

January 27, 2007 at 10:57 pm Comments (0)

When Zits “Crust Over”

Filed under Acne Scarring by

I know this is a gross topic, but bear with me, I know you all will know exactly what I’m talking about if you’ve had acne in your life, especially the deeper type of acne which becomes almost cystic in nature, which is usually (at least in my case) derived from hormone fluctuations or stress.  Have you ever gently squeezed one of your zits, and it came out perfectly? 

No crusting, no bleeding, maybe very little, and it barely left a red mark?  That probably meant the zit was ripe for squeezing (gently mind you).  The other 90% of the time, unfortunately, we squeeze our zits before they are ready to be extracted, and what does this result in?  A red, crusty mess. 

The issue here is that when you squeeze one that still is deeply rooted and hasn’t come to the surface fully, there will be a lot of watery-type oozing coming out of it, in fact so much that you could probably keep a compress on it for a while and still have fluid coming out of it an hour later. 

This fluid will keep on coming, so you might as well only blot a few times.  This is the clotting stuff – this is what makes the zit crust over and creates an aesthetic nightmare for about 3 days or more.  What can you do to help it look a little better?  Just try washing with a gentle salicylic acid cleanser or some sort of natural alternative acne treatment, and then put a nice thick coating of moisturizer on it (I know, counterintuitive, but you need to get the crustiness and dryness to go away).  Then, hopefully, if you’re lucky, an acne scar won’t result (we hope!)

January 25, 2007 at 12:12 pm Comment (1)

Should You Go on the Pill Just to Help Treat Your Acne?

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Well, lots of younger women wonder if they should go on the birth control pill for the sole purpose of helping to control their acne.  There are a few problems with this thought, obviously.  First of all, going on the pill should be done for the main purpose of what it is intended for : preventing pregnancy. 

Sure, some women who have highly irregular periods or have other feminine problems may be put on the pill by their doctors simply because there is no better way to give their hormone the necessary control and manipulation, but that is an extreme situtation.  Going on the pill has definitely proven to improve acne cases, but that should just be looked at as a fringe benefit of someone going on the pill, not really the end result or ultimate goal. 

The birth control pill not only has proven beneficial to some with acne, but in some cases, it actually can make acne worse, although admittedly it usually does the former.  There are other considerations that a woman should take when going on the pill.  First, the pill should not really be taken by smokers, as if you are a smoker and are on the pill, this can increase your risk of certain types of heart disease.  For some women, the pill just straight up does not agree with them. 

Some women can get migraines, feel constantly bloated, hate the water weight gain that comes with it, and experience other unpleasantries while on the pill.  So, going on the pill really is a bigger decision that some think, and the fringe benefit of improving acne should be consdered lightly.  Also don’t forget, there are some herbal acne supplements that can help control hormones as well, it’s not just the pill.    

January 23, 2007 at 11:54 am Comments (0)

Sulfur in Acne Products?

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I know when we hear the word “sulfur”, we usually think of that unpleasant smelling odor that emits from things like eggs when cooked, sewers, and other unmentionables, if you know what I mean. But, it turns out, sulfur is actually a very good ingredient for acne products – especially acne soaps and cleansers.

Actually, some of the major over-the-counter brands of anti-acne products like Clearasil and other big names, contain some percentage of sulfur in their ingredient list for their acne cleansers.

To my knowledge, you can even buy certain soaps that contain a larger concentration than usual of sulfur, although I always prefer to use a creamy cleanser or a clear cleanser rather than soap, because no matter what anyone says, I believe liquid cleansers are much more gentle than any soap on any person’s face, acne or not.

Sulfu is primarily known as one of the best natural acne treaments for cleansing because it penetrates pretty well, and deep cleans, helping to ensure you keep healthy, clear pores.

January 21, 2007 at 4:01 pm Comments (0)

Hands Off the Face!

Filed under Skin Care Tips by

Some people think that the idea of touching your face or leaving something pressed against it for too long will cause acne blemishes is a myth. Well, it actually isn’t. As a matter of fact, most dermatologists will tell young teens to try not to touch their face (my dermatologist did when I was a kid).

The reason rouching your face a lot or leaning on your hands, or otherwise putting your face in contact with some other object for an extended period of time will lead to zits is that your face will sweat, and oxygen is not hitting your face, so bacteria can start to form very quickly, and infiltrate your skin’s pores, helping to clog them faster and leading to a localized zit right where you had been touching it.

I unintentionally tested this principle many times in high school. Sure enough, the side of my face that I tended to always lean my palm on when I’d get bored would have acne all along the bottom of the chin where my palm would hold my head up – EVERY TIME! So, there really is something to this. Try to keep your hands off your face if you can, every little bit helps.

January 19, 2007 at 5:15 am Comments (0)

Renova

Filed under Medical Acne Treatments by

What is Renova? Renova is a topical acne treatment product that is currently available only by prescription. It is actually a derivative of vitamin A, and is a close relative to Retin-A, since it is also aimed at achieving the same thing topically on skin with acne.

Renova is actually primarily marketed, like it’s close sister, as an anti-aging topical, not really so much as an acne fighter, but like Retin-A, it accomplishes both things. The anti aging abilities of Renova are that it targets mottled skin and uneven skin tone, and helps to shed away photodamage on the skin (sun damage, age spots, etc.).

For acne, Renova’s goal is to help speed cell turnover, and for this reason, it helps with acne because it prevents the pores and hair follicles from clogging, so that there are less acne lesions. It also helps with skin roughness, as it helps to slough away years of roughness.

I would think the downside to Renova, like Retin-A, which I’ve used for acne in my younger years, is the fact that it dries the skin out.

January 17, 2007 at 2:26 pm Comments (0)

What is Resorcinol?

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I had actually never heard of this solvent that can sometimes be used in topical acne treatments, until I read about it online the other day, and naturally had to do some research to see what the stuff was.

Resorcinol is a compound that can actually go by several other names, including but not exclusively these : m-dihydroxybenzene, 1,3-benzenediol, 1,3-dihydroxybenzene, 3-hydroxyphenol, and m-hydroquinone.

You may actually recognize these now if you look at some of your OTC acne cleansers or even some prescription topical acne treatments, although this is usually not the exclusive acne treating ingredint in topical applications, rather a complementary ingredient in them in addition to more centrally focused acne treatments.

Resorcinol is commonly used in the medical field as both a disinfectant and an antiseptic. It can also be used for cosmetic purposes such as a dandruff agent in shampoos, or as a sunscreen in other cosmetics. Used alone, I’d venture to say resorcinol would be beyond drying!

January 15, 2007 at 7:21 pm Comments (0)

Sebum Production + Bacteria = Acne

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The biggest hallmark of acne cases is that the person who has acne has an issue with their sebaceous glands producing too much oil. But this alone does not actually manifest those red bumps, whiteheads, and blackheads that you see on your face. Oh no, there are some things that work together to produce those blemishes!

One such other culprit is bacteria. When your skin produces too much oil (sebum), it makes it more likely that nasty bacteria can make itself at home in your enlarged pores. The outcome is a small inflammation, known as a zit, a comedone or a lesion, however you prefer to say it, and whether it is a whitehead or blackhead type.

Not only does sebum allow bacteria to collect more easily in the pores and produce swelling and blackheads, but it can also plug up hair follicles, and this can result in a cyst.

These are those painful, under the skin zits that make you wish they’d come to the surface so you can pop the nasty things! It’s the kind of zit where you seriously contemplate leaving the house for anything.

So, you see, acne is a combination of sebum production and the things that can get trapped and clogged because of this over abundance of something that was really only intended in nature to help moisturize and protect our skin. Go figure!

January 13, 2007 at 11:51 am Comments (0)

The Causes of Acne, a Recap

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Acne impacts much more of the population than you probably think, at one point or another in their life. It’s been estimated that as many as 4 out of 5 people will have some sort of issue with acne by the time they are 25 years old, so that means that 80% of the population will suffer from acne in mild, moderate and/or severe form at some point in their lives.

So, it is a worthwhile quest to find out what the causes of acne, or can be for each individual, so we can better assess our risk factors and help to mitigate our acne breakouts by seeking out the proper kinds of alternative acne treatments.

Below is a list of KNOWN acne causes. It is by no means all inclusive, but it does include all of the current, scientifically accepted reasons for acne, although I have a few that I’d add in there myself like caffeeine, sugar and stress.

Here they are:

Hormones

Bacteria

Some medications

Heredity

January 11, 2007 at 10:02 am Comment (1)

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