Posts Tagged ‘from-the-inside’
Chocolate a Way to Get Rid of Acne
It could not have been more than five minutes after I posted best way to get rid of acne, that I received an email from my friend Clark who was writing to tell me about chocolate as an acne treatment. Since it wasn’t a good time for me and Clark is somewhat of a practical joker I didn’t pay much attention and put it off to the side to take a look at later. Clark lives in Hershey Pennsylvania so my first thought was this is his way to boost chocolate sales in a downturned market. Well today I finally around to following up (actually it totally slipped my mind) and clicked on some links in the email that takes me to information for a company in England called Frutel’s. I poked around some of the company literature and sure enough they are pitching chocolate as a way to get rid of acne.
Let me preface myself here. I am by nature a very critical person. It probably started when I was a little kid and took thinks apart for no other reason than to put them back together. As I got older and started to see things through more educated eyes, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was living in a world where people were constantly selling and being sold to. When I developed acne issues I got a front row seat on the consumer roller coaster.
Initially I thought I’d go to the doctor and bada bing I would get rid of my acne. When the results were unsatisfactory to say the least the Doc tinkered around with some more pills and potions, told me to lay off the fried foods and candy and my mom and dad were now making the doctor’s car payments. It was starting to appear the doctor was not trying to cure my acne as much as setting me up on the acne product purchase plan. I just wanted to let you know a little something before I get back to the Willie Wonka acne chocolate bar.
From a promotional advertising point of view I love the idea of a chocolate as a way to get rid of acne. With the exception of all fried foods, I can think of no other food that is more associated with the cause of acne than chocolate. To take that perception and twist it as a way to get rid of acne is brilliant in my humble opinion. I also can appreciate what appears to be their company philosophy that acne has to be treated from the inside out. Pimples and zits are the symptoms of an out of whack hormonal and dietary system. Acne isn’t the problem it is the result. The question becomes whether adding vitamins and minerals to chocolate is the solution.
While chocolate will not cause acne I am at a loss to find its nutrition specific acne fighting benefit. Without getting all technical on its molecular structure and its nutritional value there really isn’t a specific reason to include this food per the discussion of this post. While I grant eating chocolate has a certain emotional and euphoric benefit it would appear that in the case of getting rid of acne, its main reason for being are promotional and commercial. The other aspect of these products is vitamin and mineral supplements. While vitamin and mineral deficiencies can and do causes hormonal change as well as a host other problems. Is it really necessary to put it in chocolate and charge a premium? Can’t I just run down to the corner and grab the latest Flintstone chewable’ and be done with it. Also I would be interested in how the heat in the processing of this chocolate delectable affects their potency.
All in all it seems to me to be a big waste of time and money. The best way to get rid of acne is to get your vitamins and minerals by eating a healthy diet. If you want chocolate there is always the Hershey bar.
Is there a treatment for teen acne?
Teen acne affects just about 90% of the world’s population…so chances are if you’re around puberty age, you’re gonna see some pimples or blemishes start to appear on your face. But don’t worry, treatments are available.
Acne in teens affects self-esteem and with severe cases teens don’t even want to leave their homes. Its effect is more on the inside than on the outside, causing emotional stress to many.
It hits teens so hard because the body starts to produce hormones called androgens at puberty. Boys produce more of them and tend to have more severe acne than girls. Androgens make the body’s oil glands work harder and produce extra oil. It combines with dead skin cells and seeps into the pores. This causes tiny hair follicles to swell. Researchers note it has nothing to do with your diet or how often you wash your face. That means that chocolate is not the culprit!
Preventing teen acne is easier than treating it and the first step is to make sure your face is clean…if you can try to wash twice a day with a mild cleanser. Don’t wash more than that, as that could send a message to your glands to produce even more oil.
You should avoid cleansing products containing alcohol, because it strips your skin’s top layer, which means your glands produce more oil and you end up with dry skin and the promise of more blemishes. Thus alcohol-free cleansers are the way to go.
Good advice for preventing acne in teens is to keep your hands away from your face. Even resting your chin in your hands is not a good idea because the bacteria causing acne is present on your skin all the time…but it’s not an issue until it gets trapped inside a hair follicle.
Resist the temptation to squeeze pimples because that usually creates more of a problem with teen acne. You may end up pushing bacteria deeper into the skin, causing the zit to last longer and look worse than if you had left it alone.
Another piece of advice is to shower right after physical activity that caused you to sweat. Take off the sweaty football or hockey helmet as soon as you can and don’t hang around in your team jersey after the game. Heat and friction combined with sweat can cause teen acne problems, so run to the shower!
Try the over-the-counter acne treatments until you find one that works for you. Then stick with it and use it regularly. One of the newer treatments for teen acne is called Acnezine and it is a special antioxidant formula that can fght blemishes from the inside out. You might want to look into this type of remedy if Clearasil and similar products don’t seem to do the trick.
If you have a severe case of acne and treatment is not working, make sure you consult a dermatologist. He or she will be able to determine the severity of the problem and suggest the right treatment option for your teen acne.
Acne Treatment Reviews
We have conducted acne treatment reviews in order to bring you the most important information regarding various treatments and their effectiveness. Experimenting with products can be time consuming, expensive, and pointless if you fail to find a successful remedy. Knowing what the cause of acne is and how each individual remedy treats it may make your decision much easier than letting a dermatologist make the decisions for you.
Our acne product review shows that topical over-the-counter treatments, such as Clearasil and Oxy, are harsh on the skin and require continued use in order to keep their effect. They will often make the condition of the skin worse rather than clearing or preventing breakouts. This is due to the ingredient Benzoyl Peroxide, which has been shown to be the cause of blistering, burning, swelling, and increased skin inflammation in its users.
Accutane is a very effective treatment against severe cases of acne that are unresponsive to other treatments. Our acne treatment reviews show that taking this medication requires much consideration toward the benefits compared to the serious side effects that may occur. The acne product review specific to this treatment also showed that many users suffered from depression and thoughts of suicide. Females are required to also take birth control when using the product due to the significant chance of birth defects developing or possibly even death in the unborn child.
Laser treatment is an option that is highlighted in the acne treatment reviews as being effective in improving the appearance of skin and eliminating breakouts. A yellow laser is used to destroy the bacteria that is beneath the skin’s surface. Pimples are unable to form from the oil build up alone. However, there have been no conclusive studies to show the safety of the procedure, specifically in the long-term. Although it will improve the condition now, it may cause worse problems later in life.
A natural cure acne review proves that it is ostensibly the only option that is free from side effects. Natural treatments can clear your skin from the inside out. Vitamins, antioxidants, a good diet, and regular exercise effectively reduce the signs and symptoms of troubled skin. Any natural cure acne review will emphasize how your internal health plays an intricate part in the condition of your skin.
Antioxidants are found in many vitamins, such as Vitamin E. They fight off the negative effects of free radicals, which are biproducts created from your own metabolism and digestive system, so that they cannot attack your healthy cells. Acuzine is a new natural treatment that has proven effective in the acne product review. It contains all natural ingredients that work together to improve the condition of the skin and reduce the appearance of scars.
Acne treatment reviews are the most useful tool in making decisions regarding your skin. It is important to avoid any remedy that may make your condition worse or cause long-term negative effects. Our natural cure acne review considers Acuzine to be one of the best treatments available to clear up and prevent future breakouts. If you have found yourself getting nowhere with remedies that you have tried before, consult acne treatment reviews to gain an understanding of what may provide you the best success.
What are the types of acne?
Many people want to learn about the different types of acne, a condition that affects the skin of mostly the face, chest and back of teenagers and adults worldwide. As you may already know, it can range from mild to severe and appear in various forms.
Acne can be generally categorized into three groups. Acne vulgaris is the most common form that plagues the skin, and is usually considered mild to moderate in severity. Whiteheads, or closed comedones are formed when a pore is completely blocked and the oil (or sebum), bacteria and dead skin cells are trapped under the skin causing a white appearance on the surface.
Blackheads, or open comodones, are formed when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells to escape to the skin’s surface. The dark color is the body’s melanin reacting with oxygen in the air.
Then you have papules, tender, small rounded, red bumps that are inflamed without a head; pustules which are inflamed red circles with white or yellow centers, the common pimple or zit that is most identified with types of acne. More serve types are nodules and cysts. Nodules occupy a larger area of the skin than the other types of acne mentioned above. They are hard bumps under the skin’s surface. Cysts can be painful because they are pus-filled.
The second of the major types of acne is acne rosacea. It appears similar to acne vulgaris but affects most people over the age of 30. These types of acne cause a red rash on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. Papules and pustules can also accompany it, but blackheads are not categorized with this condition. Women seem to be affected by these types of acne more than men. If this left untreated, it can disfigure the nose causing swelling and the growth of excess tissue caused rhinophyma.
The last group is the most severe form and is rare and disfiguring. Acne conglobata is a condition that appears mostly in males from ages 18 to 30 years old. Numerous large lesions that are interconnected beneath the skin’s surface characterize the most severe form of acne vulgaris. This is accompanied with blackheads that are found not only on the face, but also on most of the body. Acne fulminans is a type of acne similar to acne conglobata but it includes a fever and aching of the joints. Pyoderma faciale is a severe type of acne that affects females from ages 20 to 40 years old. It is characterized by large, painful nodules and pustules and is confined to the face. Though it only lasts about a year, it can cause severe scarring and skin damage.
Mild types of acne can be treated with over-the-counter formulas that clear the pores of the skin, such as salicylic acid. Benzoyl Peroxide fights the acne bacteria in the skin and is also effective at controlling mild to moderate types of acne. A dermatologist might prescribe a prescription medicine such as Erythromycin to work at killing bacteria from the inside.
For severe forms of most types of acne or if other treatments have not worked, Accutane or Isotretinoin is prescribed. It is a pill taken orally that decreases the amount of sebum that the glands produce. It is taken for about 6 months and is known to clear skin of virtually all types of acne. But, severe side affects can occur, including birth defects; close observation by a physician during treatment is required.
Causes of Cystic Acne
The causes of cystic acne are an overproduction of sebum and a buildup of bacteria in the skin, which may be influenced by the male hormone androgen. Similar to common breakouts, acne is considered cystic when it is severe and causes deep, inflamed and painful legions.
Increased oil production and hormonal changes, such as are found in teenagers, prove too much for the skin to handle and the problem often becomes uncontrollable. Heredity can play a part in just how pronounced the problem is. If a parent suffered from severe acne, most likely the children will be more prone to cystic acne also. Nodules and cysts that produce inflammation and pus on the skin are common symptoms. These lesions can last for months and cause pain and damage to the skin.
Sufferers wonder how to get rid of cystic acne. A good starting point is getting medical assistance and guidance from a dermatologist. He or she might recommend acne surgery, which entails draining and extracting acne lesions. A dermatologist uses sterile instruments to extract imbedded lesions that have not responded to traditional treatments. Another answer to how to get rid of cystic acne is Interlesional Corticosteroid Injections. A dermatologist will inject a mild corticosteroid directly into an inflamed legion. This causes elimination of the cyst slowly over a period of a few days.
No matter what the causes of cystic acne, Isotretinoin can also work to clear up problem skin. Sold as Accutane, it is a prescription drug derived from a man-made form of vitamin A. It is a pill, taken orally, for a range of about 5 to 6 months that lessens the production of sebum in the pores. Accutane has many benefits as well as many side effects, so it’s important to learn about these before beginning treatment. But, this drug may be one answer to how to get rid of cystic acne. Accutane’s benefit is clear skin that lasts for years, sometimes with only one treatment. A second treatment may be taken if results are not as positive as the patient desires.
Another potential cystic acne cure is a product called Acuzine, which is a natural alternative to prescription meds such as Accutane and Retin-A. This is a special herbal formula with antioxidants that can treat problem skin from the inside out.
While the exact causes of cystic acne remain unknown, there are ways to safely and effectively treat the problem if you or your child experiences it. Speak to your dermatologist and find out how to get rid of cystic acne once and for all.