Perhaps by now, you have tried just about every cream in the market specific to acne treatment, but without success. So, how about trying some natural acne treatments that work? Perhaps they could help more than all the over-the-counter products you’ve been using.For instance, how about trying one of the following natural acne treatments that work?

Acne ice treatment - If you apply ice to your acne, it can help your swollen pores close and prevent bacteria from entering your skin. You need to use ice in conjunction with pimple or acne cream to see good results. To use ice, wash your face and hands with acne soap and rub a few cubes over the infected area until your face feels cold. The ice will reduce the swelling and make your medication work better. Once you apply your medication, cover a few ice cubes in soft cloth and rub over your pimples.

Baking soda - Use baking soda as a scrub to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin that can clog pores and lead to acne. Make a mix of baking soda in water and massage it into your skin for a few seconds. Then, rinse it off and dry your face with a towel.

Sugar and olive oil - Dissolve sugar in warm water and add olive oil to the solution. Sugar’s anti-bacterial action will expedite cleaning your acne blemishes.

Apple cider vinegar - You can choose between using apple cider vinegar or plain vinegar to clear your face by diluting it in water in a ratio of1:8. Its kills any acne that causes bacteria and balances your skin’s pH, besides absorbing extra oil on your face.

Tomatoes - Apply mashed tomatoes to your face and leave on for about 10 minutes, and wash it off. Do this once a day and you will see results in two weeks.

Oatmeal - Oatmeal is a good scrub besides also being able to absorb extra oil and extracting impurities from the recesses of your skin. Cook oatmeal and allow it to cool, and then rub it over your washed skin. Let it remain there for a while, treating it as a mask and then rinse off. If done regularly, you will notice
good results.

Lemon juice - One more natural acne treatment that works involves using lemon juice as a substitute for vinegar. Being rich in citric acid, it can be a good exfoliator and can retard the appearance of acne spots and fade old inactive acne.

Tea tree oil - This is antiseptic in nature and can serve to kill bacteria, if used directly to acne spots.

Olive leaf extract - This helps strengthen the liver which is important, because a healthy liver removes all the dirt from our blood from excess hormones. And as you know, clean blood only means healthy skin.

In these few ways, you can restore both health and beauty to your acne-filled skin. Wouldn’t you like to try one of these tried and tested natural acne treatments that work?

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Acne refers to plugged pores, pimples, cysts and nodules that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, upper arms and upper legs, according to the dermatology academy.

While acne isn’t life-threatening, it is disfiguring, can lead to permanent scarring, and is an emotional and social burden.

Acne is caused by changes in hormones, heredity and skin type. Hormones that cause physical maturation also cause sebaceous glands of the skin to produce more sebum, or oil. Male hormones have a greater effect on sebaceous glands than female hormones.

During puberty, the cells of the skin that line sebaceous follicles (the glands with a hair shaft) shed more rapidly. When the cells mix with the increased sebum, they can plug the opening of the follicle and the follicle swells with sebum.

When the skin bacteria called P. acnes multiplies in the clogged hair follicle, the skin becomes inflamed. Sometimes, inflammation spreads to surrounding skin, forming blackheads, pimples and nodules.

Teenagers with parents or a parent who had acne are more likely to get acne themselves. In addition, teens with oily skin have a greater risk of acne than teens with drier skin.

Types of acne

When the plugged follicle (called a comedo) is open, it is called a blackhead. When it’s closed, it’s called a whitehead.

Papules and pustules are commonly called pimples. A papule is a cellular reaction to acne, resulting in small, slightly elevated solid lesions. A pustule is a dome-shaped lesion containing pus.

A macule is the temporary red spot left by a healed acne lesion.

A nodule is a solid lesion that is inflamed, extends into deeper layers of the skin, is painful, and may cause tissue destruction resulting in scarring.

A cyst is a large pustule that is inflamed, extends into deeper layers of the skin, is painful and can result in scarring.

When patients suffer from acne, they are recommended to use a mild cleanser. An inexpensive, non-drying soap used daily is the best way to clean the face. Doctors tell them not to scrub their skin and to avoid harsh cleansers. Most “acne soaps” contain salicylic acid, which can be drying to the skin and can make inflammation worse, especially when combined with medication. Many patients discontinue medical treatment, not realizing it is the soap that is causing irritation.

Patients also give up on using medications because it generally takes at least four to six weeks for them to take effect. It is important for teenagers to understand that their skin may get worse before it gets better. Encourage your teen to “hang in there” and use medicines as prescribed. If skin becomes too dry, it is best to try a non-comedogenic moisturizer, that is, one that does not block pores. Neutrogena and Cetaphil products are quite good, but one can also look for “non-comedogenic” on the label of your preferred moisturizer. Also, one should ask his or her doctor if medication can be taken every other day.

For mild acne, topical antibiotics such as keratolytic are usually prescribed. A keratolytic is an agent that decreases the shedding of skin cells that causes comedones to form. One that is available over-the-counter is benzoyl peroxide. It is available in several strengths (2.5% to 10%), so use the lowest strength that is effective. This medicine also comes in a prescription body wash, which is great for treating larger areas such as the back or chest. Other keratolytics include adapalene and topical tretinoin. These are available by prescription in varying strengths and vehicles such as creams and gels.

If acne becomes more red or inflamed, a topical antibiotic such as clindamycin or erythromycin may be added to treatment. These agents will reduce the amount of pimples on the skin’s surface and decrease inflammation. Many topical antibiotics now come formulated with benzoyl peroxide. Creams or gels with this additive can be used once a day and have been shown to decrease bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.

If acne is cystic, most doctors will recommend an oral antibiotic. The most common include doxycycline, minocycline or erythromycin. An eight-to-12-week course of treatment is recommended for maximum benefit.

Because hormonal changes continue into adulthood, that may impact acne. For example, ovarian cysts and pregnancy may cause hormone changes that lead to acne. And some women get acne when they discontinue birth control pills because those pills help keep acne under control.

Acne that appears for the first time in adulthood should be checked by a doctor. Some drugs and industrial chemicals may induce skin problems. Chronic pressure on the skin - by backpack straps or a violin tucked under the chin, for example - may induce a form of acne.

Patients suffering from severe acne should visit a dermatologist, who will most likely prescribe a course of oral isotretinoin, a more serious medication. Be advised that pregnant women should never take isotretinion.

Posted in: acne | Comments(9)

I recently caught the end of an over the counter acne treatment commercial claiming to work better than Proactiv Solution. I have used the latter for years and love it, but wouldn't mind saving some money!!! The problem is, I can't remember what the new brand is. . . .
Thanks for your input!

A Dermatologist will be your best bet, you will be amazed at what they can do for you.

Posted in: acne treatment | Comments(2)

I got rid of most of my acne using St.Ive's apricot scrub thingy. Now I'm using it for my pimples, and it's working, but much slower than the acne. What is the difference between pimples and acne, and is there a way to get rid of pimples faster?

Pimples are just one infection of a single pore.

Acne is numerous infections in multiple pores.

Because pimples are a single infection, they are worse infections than acne itself which is why it takes long to rid yourself of them.

Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll look great!
And whatever you do, DON'T pick you pimples……it will leave a scar.

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