Treating Acne With Facial Masks

The style of diet and lifestyle followed by a person affects the quality of skin. Only the skin which is healthy inside will show healthy outside. Bad eating habits alone, however is not the only reason why a person develops pimples, but yes, it is one of the major causes.

The market of anti acne products is growing as more and more people take on to ready-made mixture of herbs and chemicals to fight acne. There are many effective and easy-to-make anti-acne masks which you can yourself make with the ingredients easily available in your kitchen.

Oatmeal, the king of beauty secrets, along with tomatoes and honey makes for a good facial mask to tackle acne. Avocadoes, yogurt and tomato together constitute an effective anti-acne mask. Chamomile and lime mask is also held to be extremely beneficial. Also you may try cucumber, lemon and kaolin mask. Both egg white and egg yolk are very useful. Strawberries, though mentioned in the end are the most effective of all naturally available products.

No doubt, these are natural ingredients and will cause you no harm at all but still it will be an act of intelligence if you consult a specialist before becoming your own doctor. Self treatment of pimples can further worsen your already severe problem. Another thing, if the acne face mask gives you even the slightest hint of irritation or burning sensation, rush to the doctor without demur. It is, although recommended that you first test the mask on a smaller part to check if it causes any sensation rather than applying it all over.

Experts suggest that acne masks must be applied a minimum of twice in ten days. A person having to deal with acne may also consider the idea of using a facial scrub. Scrubs have proven results to show their effectiveness.

Why Should I Look Out For Parabens and Sulfates? (Pt 2 of 2)

Fight Those Nasty Pimples With Anti Acne Masks!

Acne is the curse of teenage. Have you been one of those teenagers who have been struggling to get rid of those volcanic eruptions on your face that have the general tendency of appearing just on the day when you have to attend a very important party? Then you surely know how it feels when you have to hide them with either too much make up, or with the same sort of hairdo that you were so avoiding. So you have to do something about it. Or would you just sit back and let this Acne spoil all your pictures? Here’s how to fight back!

Equip yourself with the best of products available in the market and give your cruel acne a run for their lives! You should choose according to your skin type, the best possible products that contain minimal chemicals and harsh preservatives. Anti acne facial masks are an effective way to cure your acne-prone skin. Some people don’t believe that home made facial masks do any good to the skin. This is a mistaken belief. Home made remedies are much better than the products you buy from the market because they are free from chemicals that harm your skin furthermore. Herbal ready to use anti acne facial masks are available in the market. They ensure that one gets the purest of herbs together with the safety guarantee of the company. Some anti acne masks have exfoliating agents in them and simultaneously cure and exfoliate the acne prone skin. Before the application of these masks, if you steam your facial skin a little, it is very helpful for the pack to penetrate deep inside the skin as it unclogs the blocked pores of the skin and cleans it of any sort of dust, dirt, and pollution, which are a reason to acne problems.

Three Most Effective Acne Facial Masks

The basic cause of acne differs from one person to other. As such, the treatment part also is different for different people.

Let us take a quick look at the three most effective acne facial masks:

Baking soda is the chief ingredient in most acne facial masks. Some people mistake baking soda for baking powder. Make sure that it is baking soda and not baking powder. There is a great deal of difference between the two. Mix baking soda with either water or milk. Apply on the whole facial skin and not on the affected part alone. While the mask is on, you may indulge yourself in other household chores. Once the mask dries, wash it off with fresh tap water. This facial mask is a widely used mask to treat adamant acne. There are however, some people whose skin is sensitive to baking soda. These people must not indulge in baking soda facial masks. Other people who have quite sensitive skin must also avoid giving this mask a try. Who knows if it shoots back?

Another common acne facial mask is basil and fuller’s earth mask. Many people around the world have used it and benefited from it. This antimicrobial facial mask is way too easy to make. Soak some basil leaves in hot water for say 15 minutes. Add this water to half a cup fuller’s earth. You may add rosemary leaves if you please. Mix it to form a thick paste. This mask is favorable for almost all forms of acne. It does not contain any allergic component and is hence suitable for all skin types.

Oatmeal mask is the hot favorite of most people. Mix oatmeal powder with water. Add Aloe Vera gel. An easy kitchen facial mask is ready. Oatmeal is known to fight mild to moderate forms of acne.

Anti-Acne Benefits of Green Tea

What is Tea?

Tea is the common name for the Camellia sinensis plant. It is the agricultural product of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes (the portion of a plant stem between nodes) of the plant that are prepared and cured by various methods. “Tea” also refers to the aromatic beverage prepared from the cured leaves by combination with hot or boiling water.

Tea is known for its stimulant qualities largely attributed to caffeine. Today, herbal teas are known to have many health benefits, preventing a variety of conditions, from heart disease and cancer, to gum disease, skin aging and weight loss. The major types of tea include black, green, oolong and white, differing by the method of harvesting and processing.

The beneficial properties of tea are attributed to polyphenols. The polyphenols found in tea mainly belong to the subtype called catechins. Polyphenols or catechins are better known as antioxidants that fight free radicals. Free radicals are damaging to skin and body by attacking healthy cells. Green tea has more catechins than black tea; white tea is almost as rich in catechins as green tea but is different in composition and less well studied.

So How Is Green Tea Good For My Skin?

There have been number studies of skin benefits of green tea. One of these studies show protection from skin cancer by demonstrating topical green tea formulations can reduce sun damage.(1) Another fascinating study in 2003 was conducted by Dr. Stephen Hsu of the Medical College of Georgia Department of Oral Biology. His findings determined green tea was able to rejuvenate old skin cells at the end of their life cycle.

A quote from Dr. Hsu’s paper explained, “…we report here for the first time, that at certain concentrations, EGCG or a mixture of the major green tea polyphenols stimulated aged keratinocytes to generate biological energy and to synthesize DNA, possibly for renewed cell division.

Therefore, green tea constituents may be useful topically for promoting skin regeneration, wound healing, or treatment of certain epithelial conditions such as aphthous ulcers, psoriasis, rosacea, and actinic keratoses.” (2) Dr. Hsu went on to comment he was “so surprised” to discover EGCG actually reactivated cells that had migrated toward the surface of the skin to ‘die’.

Green tea appears to manipulate sun damage protection by fighting free radicals and reducing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays. Therefore, green tea enhances sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen. To boost sun protection, apply a green tea formula under your sunscreen to elevate the level of sun protection. It is best to combine green tea with zinc oxide-based sunscreens because zinc oxide is chemically inert and should not react with green tea (which some chemical sunscreens might do, especially in sunlight).

Topical green tea is also very beneficial for sensitive skin types by reducing inflammation and irritation in the skin. Wrinkles, skin sag and other signs of aging have been shown to benefit from Green tea. The tea’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenols slow down signs of premature of aging

Green Tea and Pimples

A green tea and pimples study suggests it to be as good as benzoyl peroxide cream in treating acne conditions with fewer side effects. Scientific research has shown that green tea fights bacteria, inflammation and reduces stress. Perhaps it would be an excellent candidate for treating acne?

In the study, conducted by Dr. Jennifer Gan-Wong from the Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines, 108 participants were divided into two groups. One applied benzoyl peroxide cream and the other green tea extract cream twice daily for 12 weeks. Subjects were examined and photographed each week by dermatologists. The researchers noted the green tea cream seemed to lighten patients’ skin color and improve the overall appearance of their complexion.

The preliminary data suggests that green tea cream causes fewer side effects than benzoyl peroxide. Patients in the green tea group reported fewer cases of dry skin, itching and allergic responses.

Use green tea at home to boost your skins health, appearance and reduce signs of aging by freezing freshly brewed green tea as ice cubes and use them as a toner. Let them start thawing first before applying directly to the face to avoid irritation. You can also drink green tea or take green tea extract in capsules to benefit from the anti oxidant properties. The polyphenols will reach your skin via the bloodstream in sufficient amounts.

Using green tea in your skincare routine has definite proven benefits to slow skin aging, reduce acne and protect your skin from cancer among many others. Just be aware of the products you choose. Like most antioxidants, green tea polyphenols are oxidized and can lose their active constituents when exposed to air.

By Tiffany Oney and Rachelle Dupree

References:

(1) Green Tea Polyphenol Treatment to Human Skin Prevents Formation of Ultraviolet Light B-induced Pyrimidine Dimers in DNA (2000). Santosh K. Katiyar, Anaibelith Perez and Hasan Mukhtar. Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 6, 3864-3869, October 2000.

(2) Green Tea Polyphenols Induce Differentiation and Proliferation in Epidermal Keratinocytes (2003). Stephen Hsu, Wendy B. Bollag, Jill Lewis, Qin Huang,

Baldev Singh, Mohamed Sharawy, Tetsuya Yamamoto, and George Schuster. Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics. First published on March 27, 2003; DOI: 10.1124/jpet.103.049734

Zinc Oxide Skin Care Reduces Acne Breakouts

You may have first seen zinc on a summer day at the beach or your local swimming pool. Lifeguards traditionally use the thick, white cream to cover their nose and cheeks to prevent sunburn. You may have learned then, that it was the strongest sunblock available – it just wasn’t very attractive.

In the eighties, zinc sun protection got a makeover, with bight neon colors. Applying wacky colors all over your face was fun and it blocked out the sun’s rays. Almost completely, and it stayed on - almost too well.

Today, thankfully, formulations have improved and zinc is no longer the eyesore it once was. It does, however, still protect your skin from sun damage and wrinkles and recent findings have shown zinc offers anti-microbial benefits that also reduce acne and breakouts.

So, what exactly is zinc and how does it work?

Zinc is a natural mineral, minced and refined to a fluffy white powder. Zinc becomes Zinc Oxide after the mineral is oxidized. Oxidation allows the mineral to be slightly changed giving it new properties. Zinc Oxide is used widely in cosmetics and natural skin care products and is quickly replacing the use of Titanium Oxide in sunscreens.

Because zinc is completely natural, it is an excellent ingredient to use in natural skin care products and beauty treatments. Before many of its

beneficial properties were known, Zinc Oxide was initially used in cosmetics as a whitening agent to moisturizing lotions, facial creams and most sunscreens.

Zinc Oxide has been the ingredient of choice for sunscreens, sun protection and cosmetics. Zinc Oxide is categorized as a physical sunscreen, therefore SPF labels are not given to the mineral. SPF or sun protected factor only relates to chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens such as PABA and Oxybenzone absorb the suns rays; where as Zinc Oxide actually blocks the rays. While some chemically-based sun protection products include zinc, they can not claim zinc as their primary component and must be labeled as such.

How does Zinc Actually “block” the Sun’s Rays?

Zinc Oxide works much like a diamond to bend (or refract) light. It is the only known element that can block both UVA (aging rays) and UVB (burning rays). Zinc Oxide has been approved and labeled by the FDA as safe for the skin as sun protection. It is important to note that Zinc Oxide is not an organic compound as it has undergone oxidation. Zinc Oxide should be 20 to 25 percent of ingredient in cosmetic or sunscreen to properly inhibit sun damage to the skin and prevent wrinkles from forming. As we all should know by now, one of the primary causes of aging skin and wrinkles, is the sun.

If blocking sun rays, preventing wrinkles and aging skin weren’t enough, pure zinc has also been found to be very effective in the treatment and care of acne prone skin. Zinc regulates production of oil glands and hormone levels, two main triggers of acne. Zinc also helps absorb Vitamin A which promotes healing and fights bacteria. As with any acne treatment results may vary depending on diet and other environmental factors. It is always important to consult a dermatologist prior to any acne treatment. Zinc is commonly used in ointments for diaper rash, minor scrapes and burns, dry scalp and irritated skin.

In addition to the benefits on the skin zinc helps maintain many healthy body functions. Zinc plays a role in strengthening the immune system by assisting white blood cell development, protecting the body form infection. Lack of zinc to the body can result in a week immune system. As zinc plays a vital role in the immune system it is imperative to acquire the proper amount of zinc while pregnant. Zinc helps reduce inflammation and infection. Proper amounts of zinc in a diet have shown to contribute to proper growth, strength, and endurance. Zinc is also involved in stimulating many enzymes which play an essential role in metabolism. Zinc has been found to benefit the inside and outside health of our bodies and can be found in many topical creams, like Vivoderm’s zinc repairing cream, as well as in many nutrient rich foods.

According to the American Zinc Association, zinc seals and protects the skin. “Zinc is essential for healthy skin. As a drying agent and astringent, zinc oxide has been used for generations to soothe diaper rash and relieve itching. And zinc is a natural sun screen, protecting chapped lips and skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Zinc sulfate is effective in treating some cases of acne. And in a water-based solution, zinc sulfate helps remedy cold sores. Zinc also improves healing of wounds, like surgical incisions, burns and other skin irritations. Used as an anti-inflammatory, zinc soothes skin and skin tissue. Poison ivy, sunburn, blisters and gum disease are all improved when treated with zinc. It is even a natural insect repellent. And zinc stimulates the transport of Vitamin A from the liver to the skin, helping to protect body tissue from damage.”

So, remember, if you are interested in protecting your skin from the sun, preventing wrinkles and aging skin and reducing your acne breakouts – zinc might just be the all in one treatment for you. Look on the back of cosmetic and food labels to see if you are getting the benefits of zinc in your diet and beauty routine

Is Gluten Causing Your Acne?

What is gluten and what does it have to with my acne?

Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley. Therefore, it is found in most types of cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family, however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans, and sunflower seeds.

Does it feel like nothing helps with your acne? You eat healthy, you live healthy and you’ve tried everything, but nothing helps. Your acne just won’t budge. You may suffer from gluten sensitivity and it may prevent you from curing acne.  In extreme cases, some people suffer from a disease called celiac disease, which impedes the digestion of gluten. Individuals with celiac disease must eat foods that do not contain gluten in order to prevent illness. If improperly treated, celiac disease can be fatal.

Gluten sensitivity is one of those hidden and hard to detect causes behind many health problems. And something you might not think of in a million years. It also happens to be the reason many acne victims struggle to get clear skin.

If you are badly sensitive to gluten, you could have a perfect diet and live the healthiest life but won’t get clear because of regular exposure to gluten.  To make matters worse, gluten is everywhere. You can find gluten in nearly all processed foods. And even in items you wouldn’t think of, such as lipsticks, shampoos and vitamins.

Gluten - Acne Connection

Acne is a result of blood sugar problems and chronic inflammation. These trigger hormonal reactions that lead to increased sebum production, blocked pores and overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria. For a more detailed explanation, please see: what causes adult acne.

Gluten contributes to acne in two ways.

First, it causes damage to the small intestine, which could lead to nutritional deficiencies and an increased toxic body load (through leaky gut syndrome).

The second link between gluten and acne is inflammation. People with gluten sensitivity cannot digest gluten effectively. As a result they absorb incompletely digested protein molecules. The immune system treats these as invaders. As it attacks these ‘invaders’ the white cells release histamine, which increases inflammation. Inflammation increases insulin resistance in the nearby cells.

Insulin resistance leads to blood sugar problems, which is linked to acne.

As this happens once in a while, the body can deal with it. But most people are exposed to gluten 3 or more times a day. This, coupled with other inflammatory agents, spreads inflammation all over the body. Suddenly cells all over the body start becoming insulin resistant.

First, most people are not aware of their gluten sensitivity. Even fewer are aware of its link to acne and other skin problems. Since gluten lurks in many foods and it’s very easy to get exposed to it — even if you try to avoid it.

For many medical professionals, the dangers of gluten extend to celiac disease and not much further. Celiac disease is clear-cut allergic reaction and as such, is easy to diagnose. Subclinical gluten sensitivity is entirely different. First, most people show no outward signs that could be linked to gluten. Second, the immune system doesn’t produce standard antibodies after gluten exposure. So gluten doesn’t show up in standard allergy tests. Doctors specializing in gluten sensitivities can detect it with special tests [1].

Gluten sensitivity could be the most common food allergy as it is estimated that around 40% of the population is sensitive to gluten. With most food allergies, it’s reasonably easy to avoid exposure. Usually you just have to read the labels carefully. Not so with gluten. Thanks to modern food processing you can find gluten in most processed foods.

Avoid the obvious, such as breads, pastas and pastries, and you’ve cut out the biggest sources. But did you know there can be gluten also in cheese, butter and teriyaki sauce? Many processed foods contain vegetable starches and other additives that may contain gluten. So gluten could be lurking in close to 90% of the items in your local supermarket. Outside of grains, most food products contain only small amounts of gluten, but for people with severe sensitivities even these can make it difficult to cure acne.

As a rule, don’t assume anything. If the food is not raw and fresh fruit or vegetables or does not clearly state gluten-free (wheat-free is not enough), it may contain gluten.

Also be aware that it’s not just the food items that contain gluten. Your toothpaste may contain gluten. Same with your shampoo. And what about that new lipstick you (or your girlfriend) have. That also may contain gluten. Finally even the capsules of your nutritional supplements may contain gluten.

Gluten is one more reason to avoid both processed foods and chemical-based personal care products.

Coping with Gluten Sensitivity and Curing Acne

There are two parts to getting over gluten sensitivity and eventually curing acne. First is to avoid gluten. When you stay away from gluten you avoid triggering the immune system and inflammatory response. Study the resources at the bottom of this page for sources of gluten and see how you can cut them out of your life.

Second is to bring your body back to a state where it’s not so sensitive to gluten anymore. Gluten causes problems because of two reasons:

1) Undigested protein molecules leak from the digestive track into the bloodstream

2) The immune system is ‘on the edge’ because of chronic inflammation

As you heal the digestive tract and bring down the inflammation levels you become less sensitive to gluten. You may never fully get over the gluten sensitivity, but at least it doesn’t trigger such a strong reaction anymore.

Reducing inflammation is the second part in coping with gluten sensitivity and curing acne. A healthy diet and lifestyle are the only viable solutions. Antioxidant supplements may help, but they cannot overcome the harmful effects of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.

Fighting inflammation is not just about diet. Proper sleep, maintaining a positive attitude (or at least avoiding stress) and steering clear of chemicals and pollutants are equally important. Regular exposure to sunlight also has an anti-inflammatory effect. So if you’ve been struggling with persistent acne that, despite all your efforts to eat and live a healthy life, hasn’t budged, gluten might be the missing piece.

Try a gluten-free diet and the other suggestions in this article for at least one month and see how your skin reacts.

Links for more information on sources of gluten:

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten…)

(http://www.celiac.com/articles/182/…)

(http://www.celiac.com/articles/181/…)

(http://www.celiac.com/articles/183/…)

(http://gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringaut…)

Restoring Your Youthful Appearance

Facial rejuvenation is the term used to encompass all forms of restoring a youthful appearance to the face. It includes the broad categories of:

* Injectables (Botox® & fillers) (See BotoxFacts.ca for additional uses of Botox®);
* Resurfacing procedures (laser treatment, microdermabrasion & chemical peels);
* Surgical rejuvenation (brow lifts, eyelid surgery; facelifts, nose jobs, face and chin augmentation, and neck lifts);
* Topical tretinoin and tazarotene which reverse sun damage and enhance collagen production. The normal changes associated with facial aging are the result of both:

* intrinsic (age related fat and bone loss known as atrophy, and skin laxity for example) and
* extrinsic factors (like ultraviolet light / sunlight, chemicals, and smoking).

These factors contribute to biological changes associated with age and create predictable patterns of facial change. An over-simplistic analogy is mimicked by the changes in the helium balloon your child wouldn’t let you throw away. With time there is loss of internal volume (gas in this example) and as a result the covering loses its taught shape, luster, and becomes wrinkled. Moreover, there is a marked change in shape of the entire structure. Naturally, similar changes on your face can be highly distressing especially since many available treatments are being promoted.

Physicians can treat facial aging three ways: through reduction (making the skin “fit”), augmentation (“stretching” the skin back to normal) or a combination of the two.

When it comes to choosing a rejuvenation procedure, the severity of the facial aging must be considered. Here’s a review:

* Wrinkles (individual fine or deep rhytids) are managed well by Botox® or injectable fillers. Although other agents are touted to produce similar results, Botox® is currently unsurpassed in its ability to soften or eliminate wrinkles caused directly by the action of underlying muscles of facial animation. (Botox Facts has more information for you)

* For wrinkles that may not be contributed to directly by facial movement or for depressed scars; superficial or deep fillers (ranging from collagen, hyaluronic acid and poly-L-lactic acid to silicone particles and bone cement and even your own injected fat). These can also be used for wrinkles, scars, and soft tissue augmentation (most commnly lip augmentation).

* When you have wrinkles involving larger areas or if it’s related to sun-damage, the underlying problem commonly lies in the biological changes in the skin itself. Here rejuvenation methods such as laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels act to restore some of the lost intrinsic biologic properties of the skin and can provide a significant restorative change over these large areas. These treatments use light associated heat, physical sanding, or chemicals, respectively, to remove the surface layers of the skin and hence stimulate a regenerative-like process. Many common skin creams advertised to improve facial wrinkles contain glycolic or other acids used in light chemical peels to help improve the taughtness of your treated skin.

* As the severity of skin aging increases, injection and resurfacing procedures may be combined themselves or with surgical rejuvenation (possibly in a staged fashion).
* Surgical management of more severe forms of facial aging can be through an additive (implants), reductive (excisions or tucks), or combined approach. Modern rhinoplasties (“nosejobs”) are a good example where combined approaches of reduction by excision and

augmentation through cartilage grafting are employed. As these procedures typically address changes in the three-dimensional volume (deep structures) and in the skin (envelope or cover) they obviously provide the greatest extent of rejuvenation and can address the greatest degrees of facial change. That said, they do come with a limited amount of scaring and the possibly some temporary numbness. Often these scars, created in lines of election, are fine and highly acceptable with some rare exceptions.

* Topical tretinoin and tazarotene can improve fine lines and the general appearance of the skin. The down-side is that you need to continue to use these topical treatments in order to maintain its effect. Sometimes, tretinoin and tazarotene can be combined with the procedures listed above to enhance the effects.

Although you may hear more and more about treating aging skin with the procedures and products mentioned above, we all know that the best form of care is through modification of your exposure to the extrinsic “modifiable” risk factors, like sun exposure (See Skin Cancer Guide for more information).

By: Dr Bryce J Cowan BSc MSc MD PhD FRCS(C)

Acne Treatments You Can Trust

Acne prone skin is usually identified by having dark pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, redness, inflammation and painful irritation. Excessive secretion of sebum can block the hair follicle opening, between the sebaceous gland towards the surface of the skin. Usually sebum helps in removal of dead cells from hair follicles.

When you suffer from acne searching for the best acne cures can become an obsession. Ads for acne cures are everywhere, but the truth is not every acne remedy is good for your skin. The shelves at the drugstore are filled with acne pills, products that promise to clear acne and teen acne, and even some topical ointments that promise they are natural acne cures. Many women’s magazines even devote scores of articles to home acne cures or even an acne diet. When you are faced with so many acne remedy choices, it is hard to know what is best for your skin.

The truth about acne is that anyone can get it. Teen acne is more a result of hormones than what you eat, what you put on your face, or how clean you are. Don’t feel bad about yourself if you suffer from acne. There was nothing that you did to cause it. The hormones that your body produces have a lot to do with the acne that erupts on your face so most natural acne cures and home acne cures really don’t do all that they promise to do. An acne diet can help the way your body produces and processed oil beneath the surface of your skin. But diets alone and acne pills are not a magic cure all that simply makes acne disappear.

If you really want to clear acne from your face, you need to stop the formation of acne before it manifests itself in pimples. There is no cure for acne, so products that promise you easy acne cures aren’t telling you the truth. Instead of looking for acne cures, you need to start looking at acne prevention.

Prevention is the best acne cure. Look for an acne remedy that goes deep below the surface of your skin to kill bacteria before it has a chance to develop into acne. Solutions like this are much better for your skin than topical over the counter treatments, because they don’t wait for acne to form before it fights it by penetrating into your skin, stopping acne at the source.

It is best to find a treatment or product that is designed to be used everyday, so it is gentle on your skin. Unlike other chemical laden acne treatments that make your skin dry and flaky, look for natural or organic products formulated with soothing botanicals like marshmallow, calendula, aloe, and chamomile. Look for ingredients that will hydrate your skin, reduce inflammation and leave it feeling smooth and soft. Many so called acne cures found on the market today are much too harsh and using them every day can actually make your acne worse. Gentle treatments are actually good for your skin and won’t dry you out and cause further outbreaks.

The daily three step process has been found to work best to clear acne and keep it from reaching the surface of your skin. You simply wash with any gentle or renewing cleanser, sloughing off dead skin cells and allowing your fresh skin to glow. Next, you unclog your pores with an anti-inflammatory toner - refreshing and toning your skin. The last step is to attack bacteria by smoothing on a moisturizing or repairing lotion.  Zinc and Zinc Oxide has been shown to work the best for natural anti-bacterial properties.  It also is a great sun protector - keeping your skin from further inflammation and UVB damage.  The whole process only takes a minute or two each day, but the result is acne free skin for good.

Don’t be duped by the promise of chemical-laden acne cures that can’t deliver. There is no acne diet or super amazing bottle of acne pills that will cure your problem. True acne cures just don’t exist. Even though acne isn’t curable, you don’t have to live with it. You can fight acne and keep breakouts at bay. The best defense against teen acne and the stress that it can cause is a regular cleansing routine with natural products.

There are a few medications that a dermatologist can prescribe for acne. While they can help clear up the problem, they don’t indefinitely cure acne and they do cause many different side effects, including depression, liver damage, and even birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Taking prescription medication to control your breakouts is something that should be discussed with your dermatologist, but before you take such a drastic measure, doesn’t it make sense to give the simple process of using a daily cleansing routine?  It is gentle, inexpensive, easy to use, and good for your skin.

When you deal with acne, you don’t feel good about the way you look. paying close attention to the foods you intake and participating in a daily cleansing routine can give you back the good self image that acne takes from you.

Natural Skin Care Therapy Tips for Acne

Acne is not a new problem; people have been suffering from it for many thousands of years. In ancient Egypt for instance, oils were often used to soften and smooth the skin. It is only in recent times that people have begun to use acne creams made of chemical ingredients like benzyl peroxide, among others. These can not only have unwanted side effects, like the drying of healthy skin or the bleaching of clothing, but can be very costly.

It’s no mystery that our grandmothers seemed to know best. When it comes to health and skin, the more natural the ingredient, the better. Of course, there are times when natural remedies may not be as effective and that is Ok. However, just be aware of the natural options you have first, before you waste a lot of money on another product that doesn’t work. Many people today discovering the old-world secrets in caring for their bodies more naturally, and are turning to natural and herbal remedies, such as the following simple ‘kitchen cures’.

Acne Remedy #1: Make a paste of nutmeg powder and milk, and apply to your face in a thin layer. Leave on for up to an hour, or even overnight.

Acne Remedy #2: Take an orange peel and leave it to dry, and then grind it to a powder. Mix with water and apply directly to the pimple.

Acne Remedy #3: Applying garlic directly to a pimple can also be a great remedy, as garlic is a natural disinfectant.

Acne Remedy #4: Mix a spoonful each of fresh lemon juice and cinnamon. Apply to the acne overnight for several nights in a row to be effective.

Acne Remedy #5: Take fresh leaves of fenugreek and grind to make an acne remedy that is also said to be effective in reducing wrinkles. It should be left on for only fifteen minutes.

Acne Remedy #6: Papaya juice, which is high in natural enzymes, makes a wonderful acne solution all on its own.

Acne Remedy #7: Boil a cup of milk, and then allow to cool to room temperature, and add a spoonful of limejuice to make a acne face wash.

Acne Remedy #8: Mix rosewater, cucumber juice and lime juice in equal amounts. Apply to clean face and leave on overnight.

Chemical skin care ingredients you should avoid if you are acne-prone or have oily skin in combination with acne:

· Butyl stearate

· Cinnamon Oil

· Isotearyl isostearate

· Cocoa butter

· Jojoba oil

· Coconut oil

· Decyl oleate

· Myristyl myristate

· Myristyl propionate

· Octyl palminate

· Octyl stearate

· Peppermint Oil

· Isopropyl stearate

· Isopropyl, isostearate, myristate or palmitate

Try several of these natural remedies and see which one is best for you, be aware that it can take several days to have an effect. Make sure you use clean spoons and dishes to mix your remedies, and remember to wash your face as usual in between treatments.

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