Friday, July 06, 2007

Natural Acne Treatments



Natural acne treatments are mostly home-based acne treatment tips for treatment of acne. Natural acne treatments are simple to follow but produce great results against acne, pimples, spots and zits. Natural acne treatments are also effective against whiteheads and blackheads.

Acne is the most prevalent skin disorder in the world. In United States alone, nearly 60 million people are infected with acne, while 85 per cent of teenagers suffer from acne. Acne is the teenagers' scourge and natural acne treatments, their savior.

Skin experts and dermatologists recommend several natural acne treatments for the treatment of acne and acne's fallouts. Here are some natural acne treatments for your benefits.

  • Wash your face twice a day (thrice at most) with gentle and nonperfumed cleanser. Avoid using soaps as they contain harsh chemicals and ingredients that can damage your skin.
  • Avoid touching your face. Stop putting your hands by your face! I am often guilty of this resting my hand on the side of my head while reading. Also rubbing or bracing your chin is another common problem when thinking. Avoid rubbing, touching, or scratching your skin with your hands. Your hands affect your acne. Your hands contain a lot of bacteria that can cause acne flare-ups. It is probably one of the most difficult things to avoid since much of the hand to face contact throughout the day we are unconscious of. Make it a habit to avoid hand contact and be conscious of it during the day to avoid bacteria.
  • DO NOT pick, prick or squeeze your acne. This will send the infection deeper into the skin and can cause severe scarring and acne scars are a different thing altogether.
  • For mild to moderate acne, you can use over-the-counter topical ointments, solutions, lotions or gels that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or azelaic acid as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide. Acne treatment products like Clearpores and Healthy pores are recommended for acne treatment without unpleasant side effects. Resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur help break down blackheads and whiteheads. Salicylic acid also helps cut down the shedding of cells lining the follicles of the oil glands.
  • Topical antibiotic solutions and lotions can also be applied. Acnope skin care and anti-wrinkle cream is recommended.
  • Tea tree oil is a natural antibiotic and antibacterial agent and has a drying effect on the skin. It keeps the P. Acnes bacteria at bay along with decreasing facial oiliness, which makes this oil a worthwhile investment.
  • Sulfur helps to heal existing blemishes by unblocking pores.
  • Alpha or Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHA or BHA) works by keeping the skin exfoliated. Glycolic acid, the most well known of the bunch is a useful adjuvant therapy for mild acne. Mandelic acid, a lesser known one, but one that combines the keratolytic properties of glycolic acid, with natural antibacterial properties that help reduce the presence of P. acnes, may be considered a more effective alpha hydroxy acid in treating acne lesions. It is also much less irritating than glycolic acid, a factor that may be very important to those with sensitive skin who are unable to use other agents such as Retin-A, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, or salicylic acid. It is effective in treating mild cases of acne on its own, and can be used successfully with other therapies on moderate acne.

These treatments are usually effective for mild to moderate acne problems only. The effectiveness usually takes several weeks or approximately three to six months to be noticed. For more severe and serious acne conditions, combination acne treatment products should be used. Combination acne treatment products have been known to provide effective treatment for severe cases of acne. Such combination acne treatment products like Zenmed Derma Cleanse System and Clearpores Acne System use a combination of pills, topical creams, facial scrubs, gels and facial mask to attack acne right from its roots. Where natural acne treatments fail to stop acne, combination acne treatment products should be the alternative acne treatment option. However, your dermatologist will know what works best for you.

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