Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Selecting Brands For Acne Treatment

I once used this X stuff, then Y, tried that twice, then I tried Z. Now I am using a variation of Y. Nothing seems to work. I have recently seen advertisements of a new product. Should I try that? Are you also one of the brand hoppers? Many of us choose a medicine for acne after hearing about it from our friends, or forums or advertisements. We try many products and may find that nothing works. For some the first product they try clears the acne. What is the way out for the frustrated population?

Active Ingredient Is The Key-

Most of us choose by brand names. But it is the active ingredient that does the treatment. Next time you buy any brand look at the name of the active ingredient. You may realize that the last product you used also had the same active ingredient. So it is the same thing under a different brand and packing. It will make no difference. If you are changing your treatment, it is necessary to select another active ingredient.

The common active ingredient for acne treatment are-

Benzoyl peroxide

Salicylic Acid

Azelaic Acid

Topical Antibiotics

Topical Retinoids

Nicotinamide

Sulfur and Resorcinol

Alcohol And Acetone

Out of these the most common are- Benzoyl peroxide and Salicylic Acid is most popular. They are founds in creams, gels, washes, pads and all other types of uses for acne.

Next time whenever you buy any treatment for acne, read the label. Find out the ingredient and its strength. Another factor that may change the result is the vehicle for the ingredient. A vehicle is the neutral part of the product. For example if you buy a cream with 5% strength of Benzoyl Peroxide, the rest 95% is vehicle and other chemicals used for formulation. If the vehicle is different the results may be slightly different in short term. Gels may act faster than creams, but only in the short term. Long-term results are same for both creams and gels. New vehicles such as micro spheres are also being used now to help medication penetrate skin faster. Look at he ingredient and the vehicle and decide to buy the product after that.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

For all types of acne treatments click - acne treatments.

To find more information, articles and tips about acne, skin care, STDs, skin diseases and conditions, skin treatments, procedures, skin care products, etc visit http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CD_Mohatta

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Monday, January 28, 2008

Acne Alternative Treatment

In the 21st century along with the supreme development of technology, medical science too has progressed considerably and in recent times alternative medicine has emerged as one of the most effective means of dealing with various ailments from allergies, headaches and heartburns to even skin problems like acne. One of the reasons why alternative medicine has found favor increasingly amidst individuals is because it does not take into account the use of conventional medical procedures, drugs and surgeries and rather depends upon the healing power of natural ingredients and methods to ensure a healthy body and a healthy mind.

In the presence of alternative medicines, individuals are more prone to opt for these natural products in order to deal with acne formations as natural ingredients are always considered to be a much safer option compared to the medicines and drugs prescribed for acne treatment. Acne is caused as a result of excessive secretion from the sebaceous glands when the oil is unable to pour out through the pours of the skin. Acne may also be caused as a result of the hormonal imbalances in one's body while stress factors may also be a contributing cause. In all cases it is necessary to remember that acne is a very common skin problem observed in teenagers. While it can subside easily in its milder forms, in case of larger inflammations and serious infections, healing may take considerable time.

There are various forms of alternative treatment modes available currently for curing acne. The mode of working of these alternative treatment modes include firstly the study of the symptoms and their cure followed by eradication of the scars. Chinese herbal treatments are considered to be extremely beneficial in aiding acne treatment while there are various other natural treatment options like yoga, ayurveda, acupuncture, stress reduction sessions, breathing techniques, diets, herbal blends, massage and even homeopathic acne treatment is steadily gaining ground as an effective option for curing acne. These components increase blood circulation and aid the removal of blemishes. Chinese herbal treatments used in conjunction with vitamin supplements and western medicines are considered as ideal for acne treatments. Fresh food and vegetable consumption is highly regarded by medical practitioners in aiding acne treatment and also helping in the overall functioning of the skin cells. Tea tree oil is also considered to be an effective means of treating acne as it reduces swellings and gets rid of bacteria.

Find the best natural acne treatment online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Prahalad_Singh

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Acne Treatment - Isotretinoin The Best Medicine

Isotretinoin is considered to be most effective medicine for severe acne and other acne that does not respond to common acne medication. It is available in form of capsules to be taken orally and the trade name of Isotretinoin in the USA is Accutane. Isotretinoin is a retinoid. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. Isotretinoin is chemically known as 13-cis retinoic acid. Isotretinoin is a drug of choice for acne patients who may have lost hope about cure of their acne.

Isotretinoin is generally prescribed for 16 to 20 weeks and the end of the prescription sees considerable inmprovement in most of the patients. Isotretinoin may cause many side effects and should be strictly taken under medical supervision. It can cause birth defects in fetus. Therefore women should take precaution of not getting pregnant while taking Isotretinoin. Isotretinoin may also be used for some other conditions that include- folliculitis, seborrhoea, chloracne and other diseases that look like acne.

Usage-

Nodular acne that does not get treated with other medications is treated with Isotretinoin. Any other acne that does not respond to medication is also treated with Isotretinoin. The rate of success with Isotretinoin is very high. In the beginning some people see deterioration in their acne but that slowly disappears. Isotretinoin is commonly prescribed for 16 to 20 weeks and if needed it is repeated after a gap of eight weeks.

It is believed that Isotretinoin works by shrinking the sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production. Isotretinoin is an anti-inflammatory medicine and shrinks the acne by reducing sebum substantially.

The strength of dosage of isotretinoin depends upon the severity of acne, body weight, other treatments being used at the same time etc. Your doctor is the best person to decide about the dose. Normally the treatment begins with small dose and as body adjusts to isotretinoin the dose is increased. Doctors also monitor the cure during this period and if they find that patient is not responding, they may stop the therapy. As isotretinoin needs fat to help its absorption in body, it is taken after food. Follow your doctor's advice about these.

Side Effects

The common side-effects of isotretinoin are dry mouth, dry nose, thinning of hair, fatigue, dry skin, red itchy eyes, sore lips, etc. If you experience any other side effects such as muscle aches, difficulty in walking, depression, vomiting, etc. Talk to your doctor immediately. Discuss about side effects with your doctor before beginning of the treatment with isotretinoin and report any expected or unexpected side effect immediately. Note that you may not be able to wear your contact lenses for some time in the beginning of treatment with isotretinoin. You should not donate any blood while you are taking isotretinoin and for one month after you stop taking it. Please talk about do's and don't with your doctor. You also must inform your doctor about any medicine or vitamins you are taking.

Isotretinoin and Pregnancy-

Isotretinoin can cause serious defects in the fetus. Therefore you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant. You should also tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are already breast-feeding. You will have to test yourself for pregnancy before you begin isotretinoin and continue getting tested while taking Isotretinoin. Your doctor will explain the details to you. If you get pregnant while taking isotretinoin you should stop taking it and call your doctor immediately. You must adopt two reliable methods of birth control for one month before taking isotretinoin, continue with two methods while taking isotretinoin and till after one month of stopping isotretinoin. You should talk to your gynaecologist and dermatologist in detail before taking isotretinoin.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

For more information about how to have good skin that looks young and blemish free , please visit- http://www.acnedoctor.us/ This site is dedicated to make you look good. For keeping yourself looking good find out more about the acne that causes damage to our skin. To treat acne scars please visit acnedoctor.us

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CD_Mohatta

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Foods and Herbs That Help Cure Acne

Acne is a skin condition that usually affects individuals starting around puberty up to early adulthood. The intensity and length of the condition however depends on each individual. There are many different treatments for acne which entails chemically based medication, and all kinds of herbal acne treatment and certain foods.

Herbal

Some people prefer herbal acne treatment methods instead of the chemically based medications for acne. In all cases, an herbal treatment is based solely on botanicals which are organic and have little or no adverse side effects on people. The use of alternative medicine to treat acne has many different methods.

Tea

Many herbal acne treatments come in the way of drinking tea. Tea is a beverage made from plant components which usually focus on leaves, flowers and other plant parts. Tea as an herbal treatment is most effective in a combination of nettles and cleavers. If your acne is stress related, drinking chamomile tea or lavender tea can help to calm you down and relieve stress as well.

Capsules and Pills

Herbal acne treatment ingesting capsules blackcurrant seed oil and also those of evening primrose seed oil are also effective herbal treatments. These are most effective if taken in accordance to the prescribed strength depending on the severity of the acne break outs.

Applications

Aloe Vera is also used as an antibacterial and astringent application for acne. This helps to control the eruptions by keeping the facial skin clean and free of irritants. Another herbal treatment is tea tree oil. It is usually watered down or diluted before direct application of facial skin. This treatment also helps to heal oozing or infected pimples.

Foods

When it comes to a discussion about what foods help cure acne the actual discussion is more about what foods to avoid, or cut back on, to help curb the appearance of acne. There are a few pieces of advice that can be given when it comes to what foods help cure acne and part of it is about what foods to avoid and the other part is actually about what foods help cure acne. You can do yourself a favor by paying attention to what you eat when it comes to acne but it is equally important to remember that acne affects different people in different ways.

Dairy

It has been proven that some females are affected by dairy products and the presence of dairy products in the diet of a woman that cannot handle it can result in acne. If you consume dairy and notice acne then try cutting out the dairy, with consultation from a doctor of course and see if that helps.

Refined Sugar

There is a long standing debate about whether or not refined sugars and almost all of the processed foods Americans eat are causing acne. For a long time the answer seemed to be that these foods did not directly cause acne and it was difficult to determine whether or not they actually added to existing acne problems. However, in the absence of hard medical data you can take observational data and come to some conclusions.

In parts of the world that did not eat processed food acne almost did not exist. Then when those parts of the world started to get processed foods, either through development of their civilization or as aid from other countries, acne would start to flourish. Now many doctors are agreeing that processed foods and foods with excess sugar are contributing to acne.

Fruits and Veggies

It is always like your mother told you, eating your fruits and vegetables are what foods help cure acne. They are not the only foods that can help cure it but in a discussion about what foods help cure acne fruits and vegetables top the list. The vitamins and minerals that are found in fruits and vegetables make them great treatments for acne and if you can eat them raw then that will help a lot because raw vegetables retain those important vitamins and minerals.

You can also change the oil you cook with. Switching to olive oil might actually be another element in the list of what foods help cure acne. Olive oil might not cure acne but using it can definitely reduce the effects of acne on your skin.

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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Acne Treatment and Creating Beautiful Skin

Researchers estimate that more than fifty percent of women between the ages of 25 to 58 have some form of acne. Unfortunately, over-the-counter treatments don't work for about one in four of these women.

The causes are many; smoking, over exposure to the sun, stress, and the passage of time. However, there are ways to combat persistent acne, and give you a clear and flawless complexion.

Start with the Basics

There are five steps that should be performed to keep your skin healthy. Just remember to cleanse, exfoliate, repair, moisturize, and protect. Great skin will follow.

Begin the process by cleansing and exfoliating using a deep cleaning facial scrub product. Then use a treatment cream for acne, oily or dry skin. Finish up with a moisturizing sun block with a minimum SPF of 15.

To reinforce the point; don't avoid exfoliation. A buildup of dead skin cells can cause itchiness and rashes, especially in unpredictable or dry weather. Scrub daily with a puff, a loofah, or a grainy exfoliator to help sweep rough skin away. Afterward, use a moisturizer to lock in the softness of your new skin cells.

Change Your Habits

Be careful of using different cosmetic lines at the same time. With more and more beauty products containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), salicylic acids, antioxidants, and retinoid, mixing a cleanser from one line with a daytime moisturizer from another, then a night cream from yet another, can lead to over-exfoliation and irritation.

Also, try performing twenty to thirty minutes of aerobic exercise three days a week. Exercise will increase blood flow, which will cause more nutrients to be brought to the skin. This will give your skin a natural glow.

However, shower as soon as possible after your workouts. The extra perspiration can lead to a build up of oil, causing problems of acne to worsen.

Don't ignore incidental sun exposure. Walking from your car to the mall in the sun may not be as damaging as spending hours baking on the beach. But just a few minutes of exposure here and there can bring on problems just the same. Be sure to use a daily SPF lotion formulated for the face.

Be Consistent

Skin care products are not inexpensive. You can decrease your need for them by looking for natural alternatives. However, these alternatives must be done on a daily basis for them to be effective.

Drinking water is a primary example of a natural alternative that will spare your bank account. If enough water is taken in, the body will be cleansed of toxic elements, reducing the development and spread of acne.

Great looking skin is a very real possibility. It needs to be nurtured with love and care. Give your skin the time and tools it needs to flourish, make good lifestyle changes, and keep at it on a daily basis. Then your skin will reward you for your efforts with a flawless complexion that might make even the biggest celebrity pause with envy.

Don Stevens writes on skin care and related issues. You can learn more by visiting my blog, Celebrity Style Skin Care.

http://celebrity-skin-care.blogspot.com