Acne Magazine : Skin Care, Tips, Treatment Reviews

If you’ve ever read anything about the detrimental effects of steroid use, as in the non-legal type of use that some athletes and body builders use, which is the kind that is the worst since it is not medically supervised and these guys have no idea what they’re getting, then you know that the side effects are anything but savory, and it’s a wonder that anyone would actually willingly submit themselves to such torture just to get a bigger, more muscular body, even if their profession depends on it.  Not to mention, ew, guys who are on steroids just look gross to me!

My personal opinion aside, it’s a good thing that steroids have been cracked down on.  Even the professional WWE wrestlers are now pretty much going to have to be clean, and you see a lot of them slimming down and reducing their muscle tone if you watch that kind of stuff, so it’s obvious that they’re not willing to risk their careers any more just to look bigger, plus I have an inkling that they might be getting periodically tested for them.

One of the many unsavory side effects of steroid use, and this includes medically necessary and non medically necessary steroid use, is that it causes awful back acne.  It can alos cause terrible facial and body acne, but one of the more common places for steroid-driven acne to show up is on the back.  Back acne is particularly hard to treat because it is on an area of the body that is hard to reach.  Have you ever tried to apply a zit cream to your back, and specifically in the places where you need to?  It’s tough!

It’s no wonder that so many have a harder time treating and keeping back acne under control than they do acne that is on their face and other easily reached areas.  Often times prednisone, which is prescribed to patients for a variety of reasons causes back acne and has people who havent’ thought about acne in years searching for ways to treat acne that magically pops up on their back, shoulders, and sometimes chest.  Hormonal acne is very hard to treat, see this recommended hormonal acne treatment for more information on that.
Steroids cause massive acne because they cause imbalances in the female and male hormones in the body, and this disruption literally causes the skin to erupt.  If you saw some of the pictures of men who have broken out in back acne specifically from steroid use, the cases are many times severe and need serious treatment to help them.  They are often large, inflamed, red and puss filled acne lesions that are deep and painful, because they are so hormonally based.  In short, steroids are bad, don’t ever think of doing them if not for reasons that are medical and (hopefully) temporary.

If you want teeny, tiny pores and are tired of seeing those large pores around the nose area – the side of the nose are the worst, I know, then there are some products that you can use that help to smooth and refine the skin, including enlarged pores, that will help to lessen the appearance of these pores.  There are also, of course, procedures that you can go and have done which are not only expensive, but are also required on an ongoing basis for the results to stay as they look today.

These procedures include microdermabrasion, which is commonly used for everything from wrinkles to old acne scarring.  Microdermabrasion uses microfine crystals that are blown out of a machine at high speeds, then the machine sucks up these crystals, along with any dead skin cells that it has collected, and leaves you with a clean finish, and less dead skin cells.  It speeds cell turnover and also renews the skin’s outer layer by blasting it away.  It’s like sandblasting, only for your face, or think of it as a powerwash. You can also see refined pores and less appearance of enlarged pores when you get regular microdermabrasion appointmens.

It also can unfortunately drain your bank account at anywhere from fifty to one hundred dollars a pop.  Add into that the fact that many spas also may include or expect gratuities for their technicians, and you have a potentially very expensive beauty habit.  There are also chemical peels, which run about the same in price.  These refine the pores by stripping away dead skin cells and also tightening the skin, which makes pores appear much smaller pretty quickly.

However, you can do both microdermabrasion and chemical peels in the comfort of your own home for a lot less money. See our acne scarring products page for a great home microdermabrasion complex that works fantastically on the skin.  Other treatments that can help to tighten the pores are pulse light therapy and deep peels.  Let us know if you have any other techniques that work to tighten and lessen the appearance of the pores.  It is, after all, one of the hallmarks of great skin.

I definitely advocate that anyone who has acne look in to buying, or at least looking at and considering, the inexpensive ebook that tells people how to get rid of acne in three days, and for life, by following a certain prescribed regimen of lifestyle combined with some dietary restrictions as well.  I like this program because it was written by a guy who actually did just what the name of his book is – he got rid of his acne, essentially, in three days with his special program.

I like this program and book because it does not just advocate a pill or a special face wash, but rather it tells you how to approach treating your acne successfully and for good, through lifestyle habits which can make or break good skin.  So many people have reported that this program has given them new hope that there is a way to successfully, naturally get rid of their acne, and as a lifelong answer to this dilemma which seems to afflict so many teens and an increasing amount of adults with adult acne.

Acne Free in 3 Days is very inexpensive, especially considering that you have it for life and go back and refer to it any time you need to, it’s the “gift that keeps on giving”.  For those that have tried everything, including topical products, supplements, certain dietary restrictions, facial masks, facial and body creams and lotions and gels, and medical treatments that just don’t work, or only work for a little while and then stop being effective, this is the answer that people can always come back to, start adhering to, and see immediate results. 

I have reviewed this program here Acne Free in 3 Days review, so if you’d like to check out the review in it’s entirety, go there and you can read more about it and see if it’s something that seems like it may be up your alley.  Like I said, I feel that it’s an extreme value for the money you pay, and it can be used in conjunction with most other programs and products that are used to treat acne. 

Ok, I finally had to replace my Beurer soft light restorative skin care laser that I really liked because i dropped it and it broke.  I ended up settling on a new one, because of course I had to try something that looked newer and better, ’cause that’s part of my job, to report these things to my dear readers , so I settled on the Starlite soft red light laser for skin rejuvenation.

I settled on teh Starlite skin laser because it is advertised as being a better value and more effective than “other leading home lasers” because it is a more concentrated stream of soft red light which is supposed to be able to penetrate deeper into the skin tissue and be more effective at healing the skin (acne), helping soften scars, and rejuvenate collagen production and circulation, all of which are excellent for the skin.

Not only is it supposed to help acne and acne scarring, but it is also supposed to dramatically smooth and soften wrinkles and lines and age spots on the face with continued use.  I will be reporting to you shortly on how this new laser is working.  Price isn’t bad either – $109 with free shipping!  The only thing I can tell you I won’t like in contrast to the Beurer laser is that this one doesn’t come with a free battery charger, and instead of two AA batteries, it takes three AAA batteries, and does not come with the free charger, which kind of stinks. 

I’m on a diet now, and have been since January 5th officially.  This diet includes not eating any sugar whatsoever, unless it’s the natural kind that you find in fruits and some vegetables, or even in some breads.  Since I’ve been on it now for almost two weeks, I have already noticed a change for the better in my skin.  Not that my skin looked bad to begin with, I wasn’t breaking out too much or anything, amazingly even after I just threw caution to the wind for what seemed like an eternity when it came to what I ate.

However, even so, my skin has a different, more translucent (in a good way, not a bad one) appearance to it.  It seems to have more of a healthy “from the inside” glow to it, and I’m also noticing a better tone and firmness to my skin as well.  Not that it’s all diet related, but I think it mostly is.  I also think it’s attributed to the fact that I’ve gotten back into doing my yoga practices on a regular basis, as well as am working out at the gym at work on a fairly regular basis so that I’m getting that natural flush and increased circulation in my skin, which is always good for the skin no matter what age you are.

Good circulation allows you to flush out toxins that can affect the skin’s appearance, but it also can help your skin maintain elasticity since circulation helps collagen to hold on, and oxygen to flow freely through the blood, which is critical for the skin to have that natural, healthy glow to it. 

My diet now consists of precisely this.  I have low fat, low sugar vanilla yogurt, about one cup, with either diced blueberries or strawberries and slivered almonds on top every morning.  I also add two low fat turkey sausages or low fat Bob Evans sausage links to this, rounding out a nice, low fat, high protein, fiber and omega 3 breakfast that helps me start my day.  It also regulates the blood sugar, which is good for the skin and the hormonal balance that can make or break acne problems.

For lunch, I will usually have a sandwich made with low calorie wheat bread, tuna fish with low fat mayo, or low fat low sodium turkey slices, spinach leaves, tomato and low fat mayo or some sort of mustard.  I finish this off with a big bowl of veggies like green beans or broccoli to fill me up.  Then, for dinner, I eat a small portion of lean protein, such as ground turkey or chicken, and tons of veggies.  For example, tonight I ate a chicken stirfry which mostly was composed of veggies, not meat, with a dash of olive oil in it. 

I also eat two snacks a day, usually a mozzarells string cheese stick and some fruit like grapes.  All the veggies, fruits and lean low fat proteins reallly made for a great skin combo! 

Cleanser is so very important for those of us who have acne prone skin.  If we choose a cleanser that is too harsh, we end up with dried out skin that ends up becoming even more oily because we’ve overstimulated our oil glands into producing too much because our skin tries to overcompensate for being overly dried and irritated. 

Conversely, if we choose a cleanser that is too rich, oily and emollient, we barely even get the makeup and excess dirt and sebum that’s on the surface of our skin off, and risk creating more conditions for a breakout and a big zit since the skin’s surface is too moisturized.  Examples of cleansers that are too rich for acne prone skin might be any cleanser that is targeted for aging or dry skin, that contains heavy mineral oils or any type of thicker emollient.

My favorite cleansers to use are the clear kind, preferably enriched with vitamin C, because I love the fresh finish it gives to the skin, and it tends to work as a nice finisher, tightening the skin after washing.  However, you want to be careful not to use too much cleanser.  The more you lather up, the more drying the cleanser will be, of course unless you are using an extremely heavy cleanser, which I don’t recommend in the first place.

Not to mention, you’re wasting precious money if you over do it on the cleanser portioning, so make sure you use a dollop that is no larger than the size of a dime – a flat dime, not a big fat one.  Sometimes even a pea size squirt of liquid cleanser is enough, it really depends on the ability of your cleanser to lather.  Also, make sure you don’t lather for too long, do it just long enough to get the dirt and makeup off, then rinse with warm water – never hot, and you won’t over strip and irritate your skin, leaving that natural protective barrier intact.   

 

There will be a new review of a product called Vilantae that I’ve been researching and reading about for a few days now that piqued my interest when I happened to hear about it when reading something that was not really purposefully related to the treatment of acne.  It’s supposedly a product that helps to shrink the skin’s pores and reduce the amount of sebum that is produced after a person takes it for so long, but they also offer topical products that sound interesting. 

Since we review all kinds of acne products here, and I especially love hearing about new ones, please post below if you or anyone you know has had any experience with the Vilantae products, but I will also be adding a review for this one shortly as well. 

With the holiday season just passed, if you are of age and you enjoy the occasional cocktail, you know how much the temptation to over do it on the cocktails can be over the holiday season.  Stress runs high, we have presents to buy, things to cook, decorations to put up, family that we don’t necessarily want to see, money that we may not have being spent, and functions so numerous that we can barely keep track of our own schedules. 

So, it makes sense that the nightcap that you used to have every so often becomes an almost nightly occurrence between the stress of the holidays and the constant events that seem to cater to drinkers.  Or you may be totally disciplined and not prone to this, if you are, all the more power to you!  And forgive me if I sounded like a cynic, it’s just that was the way my holiday happened to play out for me this past season, but that doesn’t mean that’s how it is for everyone lol.

Alcohol definitely doesn’t harm your skin too much when it is taken in moderation, however, it most definitely can aggravate acne and cause and make worse breakouts.  Alcohol is metabolized like sugar in the body.  This means that it can act as a pro-inflammatory agent in the body, which, like sugar, can definitely aggravate acne breakouts, especially in those that are prone to acne in the first place or have sensitive skin.

I happened to notice that when I was indulging a bit too much in alcoholic beverages and an assortment of cocktails, red and white wine, and beer, that my pores seemed to get huge over the few weeks the indulgence occurred.  I also noticed that my coloring wasn’t as good, and my skin seemed to take on a more blotchy look than usual. 

You can definitely still have the occasional drink or two, but if you continue to do that, be prepared to at least make sure you are eating the right anti inflammatory foods during the day so your body is equipped to fend off the excess sugar intake of alcohol.  And also make sure you give your body a break, maybe take a few nights off during the week, and limit the alcohol to only a night or two on the weekends if you can help it. 

So, it’s that time of year already.  Yep, the time for your new year’s resolution!  I think I almost always have the same one, and it’s not to lose weight and eat better, although those are constant resolutions for me throughout the year, but it’s to be more organized and efficient so I can get more work done. 

I’m starting off my new year’s resolution for 2009 by listening to the Steven Covey audio book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which I’ve already read years ago, but thought it might offer a great refreshing reminder of how I can be my best super self and get things done more quickly and efficiently, making life a little easier and less stressful.  It is true, you will have less stress if you can just increase efficiency and decrease lack of organization!  Hey, that’s also good for your skin (stress reduction), so I guess you’re really getting a two in one resolution. 

So, what if your resolution is to have better, clearer skin in 2009?  What are some of the actions you can take to help that resolution succeed?  Well, I’m going to share with your three key points that I think lead to a clearer complexion and a more glowing appearance to your skin.

1.)  And it’s not really intentional that I just talked about this, but number one is to keep stress as low as possible in your life.  Stress triggers breakouts and other skin conditions, even rosacea and acne rosacea can be aggravated by excess levels of stress. Managing stress helps not only prolong life and stave off numerous health problems, but you will see tranquility and peace of mind in a person’s skin.  It’s like the saying that beauty comes from within.

2.)  Pay meticulous attention to your skin care routine.  This means no skipping the face washing at night, using a gentle yet effective cleanser and other high quality skin care products, and making sure you do a weekly treatment on your skin without fail.  Good treatments to do weekly can be light chemical or acid peels, home microdermabrasion and other exfoliation treatments, and therapeutic masks.  Other great at-home treatments can include handheld softlight lasers, and other products such as the dermawand, other light therapies, and heat activated or thermal facial treatments.  The list goes on forever, you just have to find one that fits your skin type and skin care goals. 

3.)  Eat right, eat right, eat right!  Eating the right foods is crucial for your skin.  If you eat tons of bread, refined sugars and processed foods, it surely will be reflected in your complexion.  On the other hand, if your diet is chock full of omega 3 fats like olive and flax oil, whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables with lots of fiber, and fruits with tons of vitamin C and other powerful antioxidants, then your skin will glow from the inside. 

You may have seen one of more of Clearasil’s ads that have been out now in their “Clearasil May Cause Confidence” campaign.  Heck, you may have even laughed at the absurdity of them.  One shows a teenaged boy with a very clear face at his friend’s house.  His friend leaves the kitchen and it’s just his friend’s mom and him. 

The teen proceeds to hit on his friend’s mom saying he’s really good company and how it’s a shame that Mr. So and So left her.  It’s actually pretty funny because it’s so absurd.  It’s really nothing worse than you’d see in one of Judd Apatow’s funny and immensely popular coming of age movies like Superbad, and I have to give kudos to the marketers at Clearasil for thinking up such a clever premise for their new campaign.  After all, isn’t that what treating teenaged acne is all about – boosting confidence? 

And we all know situations that occur where teens hit on older adult women, so it’s laughable, and not to be taken too seriously as if to say your teen will hit on married women and do inappropriate things if he gets clear skin with Clearasil.  The absurdity of that is plainly obvious. 

This is just my opinion though, and I’m well aware that parents are outraged over this because it steps over an inappropriate line.  Well, a lot of things do in this day and age, and yoru teenagers will be exposed to it, regardless of how sheltered you try to make their lives.  It’s a matter of proper parenting in teaching them the difference between right and wrong, appropriate and inappropriate. 

In another ad for the Clearasil May Cause Confidence campaign a teen girl who apparently has used Clearasil is sitting on a couch with a presumed boyfriend whom her mother, dressed in a dress suit, is showing naked baby pictures to.  The girl, with a sly confident smile says “you should see me know” to which her mother uptightly stutters out oh no I don’t think so.  Over the top?  Yes, of course it is, but again, nothing you don’t see in these bawdy teen movies, which by the way, teens flock to.