Acne Magazine : Skin Care, Tips, Treatment Reviews

Since there were so many comments on my baking soda for acne post, I figured I’d follow up on it and say that I think I may have jumped a rush judgment, or at least I think I may have left it on my skin to long, which resulted in the red, irritated mess of a patch of skin that I ended up with after trying it. So many others have said that using baking soda here and there as an occasional acne clearing remedy has really worked for them, that I wanted to get more comments from readers who have tried it and loved it or tried it and found that it really just didn’t work for them.

There is also another staple that everyone usually has around their house that can also come in handy as part of your natural skincare routine, and that is sugar. My best friend since high school has used a sugar scrub on her face now for years, and her skin looks great. She uses sugar simply to exfoliate her skin since it’s granular in nature, and it’s not irritating or drying like table salt or other granular substances would be to the skin, and she loves it. Not to mention, the roughly twenty cent price tag on a good scrub down with table sugar is definitely appealing as well.

Baking soda is supposed to work well on acne lesions and also to help exfoliate and de-bacterialize the immediate area. It acts as sort of an antibacterial agent because of it’s ability to kill small organisms due to it’s volatile properties, and yet it is natural, so it is gentle on the skin as long as it’s not left on the skin for too long (as what I probably did). It can also be used as a paste to put over one single zit, but not a zit that has been popped already since this may just cause additional irritation.

Some people say that baking soda actually helps redness go away, but that was not my personal experience. Baking soda is definitely worth a try though, especially since you have so little to use by putting it on your face since it’s so cheap.

This is a question that often comes up when people are asking about proper diet in the fight against acne, and it’s a very good one because acne has a lot more to do with acne than (unfortunately) many dermatologists would have you believe.  I can comfortably say that diet makes all the difference in the way my skin looks personally, and I have a feeling that this is true for almost everyone else as well. It’s like that old saying goes “you are what you eat”.  Well, your skin “is what you eat”, and reacts well or not so well to the foods that you put in your mouth and the nutrients that are subsequently absorbed by the body.

I can tell you what makes me break out, what makes my skin look dull and bloated and not colored so well, and what foods seem to really boost my skin’s overall radiance, resilience, and overall beauty and clarity.  For me, there’s no question that my diet has everything to do with how I appear on the outside.  Your diet an be your best friend or your worst enemy when it comes to beauty and your skin.

Here are some of the foods on my good food list, that I swear tend to make my skin more breakout resistent, and much more well toned looking, as well as more defined.  I have a much better clarity and color when I eat these foods in abundance :

Lemon juice in my water

Limiting Caffeine

Lots of omega 3 rich nuts, fish and olive oil.  I even put a little olive oil in my I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray butter, to add a little extra omega 3 power to it since I use this on my veggies with dinner because it has no fat.

Broccoli, spinach, kale, onions, green beans, almonds, salads with dark leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers

Lots of berries.  My favorites are blackberries and blueberries, loaded with nutrients, brimming with antioxidants.

Low fat or fat free dairy, but not too much.  I love a good light yogurt and maybe some fat free cheese, and while I think high fat dairy is bad for the skin, I believe low fat dairy is fine.

Bad foods for acne and skin :

Sugar or anything with a lot of sugar in it.

Lots of refined carbs such as chips, pretzels, sugarys sodas and drinks

Alcohol

Coffee and caffeinated beverages.

Fatty meats.

Fatty dairy.

Too much mixing of food groups during meals.  I believe this causes a lot of acidity in the system, which lead to inflammation.  An example of bad food combining would be pizza with the works.  You’re combining meats, cheese, bread, and veggies.  A good example of good food combining is chicken breast with broccoli and a salad.

We have a new page here at AcneMagazine.com that is CHOCK FULL of excellent natural and home made (of course, wallet-friendly too usually), acne treatments that pamper the skin and make you feel like you’ve treated yourself to a nice spa visit, only in the comfort of your own home and with much less money.

There are lots of natural ingredients that have proven excellent for the skin’s tone, clarity and suppleness, and although I still highly recommend an herbal oral acne supplement as well, or even a homeopathic acne treatment on top of treating your skin topically since the root of acne occurs inside of our bodies, not outside, I think that treating yourself to these home made acne treatments is not only fun, but eye opening.

I’ve talked a lot about my earlier years and experimenting with various acne remedies that I made myself at home, but none were with the savvy that some of these recipes come with, and the knowledge about how the ingredients soften the skin without irritating acne prone skin.  Enjoy! 

Well if there was ever a tip that I said didn’t work for my acne that tons of people disagreed with me on, it’s the tip to use baking soda on new acne lesions.

This is an article I wrote about some of the more unusual acne treatments I’ve come across in my research and years as a struggling teen with acne, as well as my later adult years when the net was more of a information highway   Enjoy! 

I would have given anything to enjoy the pristine complexion that so many of my friends seemed to enjoy when I was a preteen and well into my teen years, and yet the answer remained elusive to me until I was an adult and learned about all of the excellent alternative acne treatments I could use as well as how my diet and lifestyle could clear my skin. 

 

Little did I know at that time, mostly because the internet was not nearly as sophisticated, and barely used at all back then, the plethora of acne cures, treatments, ointments, creams, lotions, devices and diet and lifestyle plans that could clear up my acne if I’d only had the benefit of enlightenment that this vast network of information could have shown me. 

 

However, today is today, and I’m pretty much acne free, so there’s no use crying over spilled milk as they say.  Nowadays, I’m reading about some very interesting, very unorthodox treatments for acne that have seemed to work for many individuals, of course to varying degrees, and thought it fun to share some of the more unusual treatment methods with you here today. 

 

The most interesting and certainly dubious if ever there was one, acne treatment I’ve read about, is one that is not an acne treatment at all, but rather one of those happenstance “discoveries” of a totally unrelated substance to acne treatment that is found to be a good topical antidote to acne.  It’s actually a sexual lubricant used in Cambodia for condoms commonly used by those in the sex trade for protection against STD’s called Number One Plus.  

 

Many have testified that this lubricant, when applied topically to acne problem areas, actually dries up acne lesions fairly quickly.  There is really no explanation for how someone happened to find this out, but I suppose we can just use our imaginations on that one!

 

Another interesting and unusual acne treatment I’ve heard of throughout my years of research is the topical application of toothpaste to acne lesions.  I tried this one and it didn’t work for me, but my own father swore that it helped him clear up acne spots when he was in his teens, and I did also have one friend who said this technique worked for her, but she emphasized that it had to be a white paste type, not blue or clear or a gel. 

 

Another err, interesting treatment that is supposed to be therapeutic for acne as well as other common skincare woes is one that is performed by an asian-inspired beauty salon that gives facials that are made with ingredients that include nightingale droppings.  Yes, you read that right – bird poop as an acne and skin care treatment!  Still, they swear that this stuff works, so who are we to judge unless we try it?

 

Here is one that I actually like and also believe it has merit and works as I had tried it back in my more experimental (and yes, I guess desperate) days.  It’s an egg white mask.  What you do is take the white of a raw egg, separated of course from the yolk, and you rub it on your face just like you would any other type of skin mask that you buy in a store.  You let the egg white dry on your face, then rinse it off. 

 

It leaves your skin feeling baby soft and smooth and is supposed to have soothing, therapeutic effects on skin that is affected by acne, which is often inflamed and irritated.  This is one of the best and cheapest ways to pamper yourself a bit and give yourself a little salon treatment without spending the money.  Just watch you don’t let the egg drip off your face! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is part two of  my “Cheap Acne Remedies” article which focuses on control factors in our diet that can dramatically improve our skin and our likelihood of further breakouts, including body acne breakouts – not just the face!  So enjoy, and remember to look for the full article soon in other online publications.  This is the smaller part so sorry for a such a measly post today, but if you want more of the meat of the article, read the prior post to this entitled Part I. 

We really can control the food we put in our mouth, even if we can’t control whether or not we have “good skin genes”, so stop thinking that your acne is out of your control, because as soon as you think that, you’ve lost part or all of the battle for clear, great skin!  Food is probably one of the best ways we can treat our skin to a better look, less acne and a youthful, toned and even look for years to come.  Thanks for reading as always everyone!

If you want to try to neutralize inflammation caused by eating foods that increase skin volatility as mentioned above, a good suggestion is to start drinking lemon water.  Not only is drinking lemon juice infused water a refreshing difference from plain old water, but water with about an eighth of a lemon (preferably organic) squeezed into it can help neutralize acidity in the body caused by acid-producing foods, which in turn limits inflammation.  Seriously, begin to drink lemon juice infused water for a few days and I’d be surprised if you don’t see at least a little difference in the way your skin looks.
 

If you want to get really adventurous, add a sprinkle or two of cinnamon, again prefereably organic, to your water, and you may also enjoy a bit of a revved up metabolism as well as a more stabilized blood sugar level, as research is showing cinnamon has excellent benefits for blood sugar stabilization.  Why do I mention blood sugar?  Well, because a stable blood sugar level helps to lower inflammation, and it also helps reduce the effects of stress and anxiety which can trigger higher levels of androgens in the body, which are the very hormones that cause acne. 
 

And there you have it, free or very cheap, easily incorporated, and dare I say “pleasant” ways to combat acne.  Not only do these suggestions help reduce breakouts, they are also generally beneficial to your health in other numerous ways.  Who says everyone needs a dermatologist or expensive skin care regimens to achieve pristine skin?  
 

 

What’s one of the easiest things we can control about our life?  Yes – our diet.  And granted, it’s not easy to be disciplined, but if you think about it, controlling our diet is a good way to make up for what we may lack in bad “acne genes”.  So here is part one of an article I recently wrote about controlling acne through diet.  Watch for it to be published in its entirety soon on other online media outlets! 

Acne remedies are a dime a dozen these days, and some of them like Zenmed’s acne line as well as the natural antioxidant acne formula Acnezine are highly recommended, but there are also other things you can do to significantly curb your acne without buying anything.  The very word “acne” conjures in many people’s minds either past or present struggles with self image, embarrassment and feelings of helplessness if they’ve ever suffered this skin condition, or are currently suffering varying degrees of acne. 
Our skin’s appearance is very important, and it seems to have been only made more important by the emphasis of “great skin” in beauty magazines, tabloids and other media outlets that our society has become so enthralled with.  It’s no wonder that the skincare industry has enjoyed growth and profits in leaps and bounds over the past fifteen to twenty years.
So, what can you do, besides enlist the help of an expensive dermatologist or spa specializing in skin care to help combat acne and prevent new breakouts on your own, for next to nothing, or better yet, free?  Well, we will start off with focusing on things you can change in your diet to get rid of or dramatically reduce acne breakouts, since diet is more key for your skin’s appearance and health than most people may think. 
There are many schools of thought on what to avoid and what to include in the diet if you are to attain and maintain clear skin, however, one thing remains pretty clear, and that is the avoidance of sugary foods and caffeine.  I cannot tell you how many times I myself have experienced major periods of breakouts that I can directly attribute to the consumption of sugar or caffeine in excess. 
Sure, it’s ok to have a sweet snack (a small one!) here and there, and not suffer the consequences of a few new pimples, but by and large it is prudent to either strictly limit sugar or try to eradicate it all together.  Sugar has many destructive properties that are generally bad for overall health, but it’s recently been proven to help accelerate the aging process of the skin, and also to lend a hand in the inflammation of skin cells. 
Inflammation is a direct cause of acne, since it is by definition an inflammatory skin condition, so we can safely say that sugar is indeed a category of food to be avoided in the quest to be acne free, oh and also to keep your skin young too!  OK, enough about sugar, now let’s move onto to another culprit behind acne.  Caffeine can have similar effects on the skin to sugar, since it actually may increase inflammation, especially in some people who are more caffeine-sensitive than others (like myself). 
With all the super caffeinated beverages out on the market today, it’s no wonder we’re all not walking around with broken out faces.  I suspect that teens especially are susceptible to the caffeinated drink rage, which is unfortunate because they may be unknowingly aggravating their skin and causing breakouts at the age where they are more apt to break out anyways. 
Caffeine can also produce an uneven and “bumpy” texture of the skin.  Beverages aren’t the only culprit either, since there are many supplements, pills and diet aids that contain stimulants that will break your skin out faster than you can say “energy”.  Caffeinated drinks and other products containing stimulants should be avoided if you want to avoid bumpy, broken out skin. 
 

There have been a lot of correlations made between good skin and omega 3 fatty acids, and I must say that I do believe that this correlation has some merit, at least for my skin personally.

I have to share this healthy recipe, which I believe is an excellent skin health booster, as well as good for your appetite, getting your daily dose of fiber and antioxidants, as well as a healthy helping of protein.  I’ve been making these healthy little breakfasts for my boyfriend and I for the past two weeks, every morning, and I swear it’s also helped my skin, besides keeping me full for hours, which is a virtual miracle with my sometimes voracious appetite. 

It’s got a lot of ingredients at first glance, but trust me, once you start keeping this stuff around, much of it is freezable or can be stored in dry storage, so it lasts a while.  The only perishable is the bananas, but if you want you can even cut up banana and freeze it, or when it’s about to turn brown, put it in the freezer peel and all, and peel it and use it when you’re ready.  Actually, you may want to freeze it, it’ll add more volume to your healthy skin smoothie!

Here’s my recipe for the healthy skin smoothie.  Oh, also the reason I call it a healthy skin smoothie is that it contains milled flax seed, which contains lignans and omega 3 fatty acids, both of which are wonderful and therapeutic for the skin, as well as anti-inflammatory in nature – double bonus for us acne sufferers, or acne rosacea! 

Ingredients of the healthy skin smoothie – this makes 2 nice sized smoothies, you can cut this in half too for one :

Milled golden or regular flax seed. About 4 tablespoons.  It’s fine, so it’ll blend well, and it will also add a nice bulk to the smoothie and fill you up fast.

Banana – one whole. 

Soy protein powder, plain, or you can use whey powder, but I prefer soy powder for health reasons.  2 scoops

2-3 packets of Stevia natural sweetener.  No artificial sweeteners please.  Defeats the “health” of this smoothie recipe.

2 cups of Carb Control yogurt in Vanilla Creme.

1/2 to 3/4 cup organic orange juice

Berries of your choice – strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are my favorite, and all have an abundance of antioxidants, especially the blueberries.  Great for skin! 

Acai berry smoothie packets – Original.  One packet.  You will only find these at a natural foods store, they are in the frozen section.

Put all your liquids in first, the yogurt and OJ, blend, then add all the rest of the stuff and blend with about one full drinking cup of ice. 

Voila, natural skin care treatment in a glass!  You will stay full for a few hours, and you will be doing something great for your skin, your acne, and your body and mind. 

 

Acne is the most noted and problematic for people in their teens, but it can occur in individuals in their twenties and thirties too. There are some simple steps you can take to keep acne under control and discourage new pimples and blackheads from forming.