The best criteria to choose Acne skin products

Top 5 hints and tips…

When it comes to an effective treatment for your acne, you want a product that will really work and that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. However, because of the intense market clutter, finding the anti acne skin care product may seem like an impossible task.
The following hints and tips would serve as your easy, at-a-glance guide to help you make your mind while choosing among different skin care products that are used to treat acne.

Is it recommended?
The FDA's new good manufacturing practices ruling, for example, attempts to ensure that the natural or herbal supplements:
Are produced in a quality manner and meet all the recommended safety standards
Are free of all the contaminants or impurities
Are accurately labeled as per the recommended guidelines

Therefore, you should choose an acne-care supplement according to the same FDA-recommended guidelines.


Is it clinically backed?

Remember, this is an era of evidence-based medicine and you are supposed to consider evidences, pure facts and real testimonials, not claims. Accordingly, go for a complete, multi-component anti acne supplement that contains ingredients which are clinically backed by a number of trials and studies and have been recommended by full-fledged health experts and physicians for a non-prescription use.

Is it fully compliant?
Compliance of a medicine or some specific product can be defined as its suitability to most of the people taking it without causing any significant undesirable side effects. The most effective skin care system for people with acne should, therefore, be considered as highly suitable and compliant for people of almost age groups and genders. In other words, it should be capable of giving best and fast results in young adults, middle aged and elderly men and women equally.


Is it safe?
It is quite logical and understandable that ideally, an anti-acne supplement or program should be free of the typical “allopathic” medications’ side effects. You should, therefore, do your research when planning to take any kind of such skin care supplements or systems. A simple of way of doing this is read the authentic testimonials, and see if the product has been approved by some major international and credible authority on health. Similarly, user compliance and tolerance is another important issue to be considered while choosing skin care program or multi-component system to cure acne.

Is it affordable & economical?
Any skin care system or product for people with acne cannot be considered as a top one until and unless it takes good care of your pocket because of its accessibility and affordability. Accordingly, you should choose a product that offers the best value for money i.e. gives you more for less.

Conclusion
While you can find many brands of both natural or herbal and over the counter anti acne skin care creams, lotions, supplements and oils, there are hardly few which even work and come any close to whatever they promise. Most importantly, even the most frequently bought and used products have their own share of undesirable effects and unwanted interactions within the body. The key here is, therefore, to select the safest and yet more effective natural skin care system that will comprise of multiple components and will, therefore, address the acne problem on multiple levels.

Understanding different skin types…

What type are you?

Vibrant, beautiful skin has always been considered an important part of health. But in today’s modern environment, soft, smooth, flawless skin can be difficult to achieve and even more challenging to maintain. Your skin’s health is largely determined by diet, lifestyle habits, and sun exposure, which can sabotage healthy skin and leave lasting effects on skin strength, resiliency, and appearance.
In the early 1900s, four different skin types; dry, oily, combination, and sensitive, were identified and characterized by Helena Rubinstein. Each of those skin types is characterized by its own features and specifications such as:

Dry Skin (Xerosis)
This skin type is characterized by a dull gray-white color, rough texture, and an elevated number of ridges. The oily secretion of the sebaceous glands, which contains wax esters, sterol esters, cholesterol, di- and triglycerides, and squalene is believed to protect the skin from environmental influences and, when production is lower, contribute to dry skin. When the body’s natural oily layer on the skin dries out, the skin is unable to produce enough oil and moisture for the body to replenish the amount being lost. For the most part, the skin is able to replace that which is lost, but sometimes the body's efforts are not enough and the skin needs more protection.


Oily skin
Sometimes also known as acne prone skin, Oily skin is particularly common in adolescents and young adults. At this age there is a dramatic increase in sebum production under the influence of the hormones. Oily skin is characterized by the abundance and nature of the sebum excreted at the skin surface by the sebaceous gland, target organ of androgens. It is most frequently encountered in adolescents and young adults. Excess of sebum gives the skin a shiny appearance, particularly on the forehead, the sides of the nose and the chin. In severe cases, various forms of acne can develop. An oily skin is also thick, well moisturized and covered with a protective oily film.

Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is more common, with more than 40% of people claiming to have such skin. Sensitive skin is generally considered as skin which is easily irritated and probably has a genetic element. Some people with this condition cannot tolerate contact with any cosmetic products, however well-formulated they may be. Sensitive skin can be associated with a medical condition called atopy, where people have an inherited predisposition to eczema, hay fever and asthma. About 15-20% of the population has the genetic ability to develop eczema, asthma and hay fever.

Combination skin
Also known as “mixed” type of skin, this skin form is considered variable when exposed to different external and internal factors such as weather, climate, medicines intake, diet consumption etc.,

Acne Laser Treatment – How Does It Work?

Extremely severe acne does not always respond to treatment. Medicines such as antibiotics cannot safely be used for months on end and often stopping the medicine results in the spots coming back and the user can become resistant to the antibiotic so over time it does not work anymore. Over the counter creams are often caustic and very harsh to the skin which may irritate the acne and can cause premature lines. If the acne is very extreme it needs aggressive treatment, some of these treatments can contain retinoids and or birth control pills, side effects are likely and taking these medications long term can be harmful and again, the spots can return if the treatment is stopped. One treatment that is very effective is laser acne treatment.

What is Acne Laser Treatment?
There are various different acne laser treatments but typically a carbon dioxide laser light I shone on the skin to target the bacteria that causes infection that leads to acne, it naturally encourages the skin’s natural repair. It burns away the sebaceous gland which produces the oil and burns away the follicle sac from which the hair grows. Not only is the acne significantly reduced but scarring caused by acne is reduced. Acne can be cured successfully with laser treatment sometimes in just a couple of sessions.

How Does Acne Laser Treatment Work?
Acne laser treatment works by heating the top layers of skin over and around the acne damage, this helps to kill off the acne bacteria, reduce the redness and halt the over-activity of the sebaceous glands so the oil production is reduced so less spots will occur. Laser treatment can also help to minimise the appearance of scarring by remodelling the top layers of skin and making tiny holes in the damaged tissue only so the undamaged areas of skin aid in the healing. Collagen production is replenished underneath the damaged area.

What Are The After Effects Of Acne Laser Treatment?
Some people (but not all) will suffer some form of minor side effect. Roughness of the skin, discolouration and swelling of the area that has been lasered has been reported. Some people may experience a tingling or hot sensation during the procedure, others liken it to having an elastic band pinged across the skin but generally any discomfort felt during acne laser treatment is minimal.

How Much Does Acne Laser Treatment Cost?
Prices for Acne laser treatment vary, in the UK prices can range from £150-350 but it depends on your individual circumstances, i.e.) how advanced the acne is and where you are having the treatment.  Doctors are reluctant to perform this procedure on any kind of health insurance as it can be extremely expensive as most people need a few sessions and even then there is always the possibility that it may not work as well as hoped so it is normally a very last resort when no other treatment or medication has helped.

Birth Control Pills – Can They Treat Acne?

Oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills are not just used for their namesake. For years specific kinds of oral contraceptive pills have been used as acne treatments. They are not usually prescribed as a preventive measure more of a long term solution, usually if all other treatments even antibiotics have not been successful in treating a woman’s acne or if a woman wants a form a birth control and happens to suffer from acne. Though in some people, one side effect of these types of contraceptive pills are that it can actually cause acne but if a birth control pill is prescribed for acne this is less likely.

How Do They Work?
Oral contraceptive pills are a combination of progestin and oestrogen. They modify the natural female reproductive cycle and hormonal patterns. Most birth control pills contain Ethinyletradiol as the oestrogen ingredient. Birth control pills reduce the amount of testosterone in the body,  a high amount of testosterone in the body can lead to breakouts but when the supply of testosterone is cut off the amount of oil that the sebaceous glands produce are reduced and the pores do not become as blocked. Certain birth control pills such as one called Yasmin, contains progesterone that limits the amount of androgen hormones in the body so reducing the chances of breakouts. It is best to make sure the type of oral contraceptive you are taking is suitable for the treatment of acne as some formulations can increase testosterone levels in the body making you more prone to acne.

How Do I Take Them?
Oral contraceptive pills are normally taken every day for three weeks. On the fourth week you do not take any pills, this is where the woman usually has her period (menstruation). It can take weeks and sometimes months for the pills to take effect so you should not get impatient, it is important to stick to the treatment even if it at first it appears to be worsening which can sometimes happen.

What Are The Side Effects?


The side effects that are most common while taking oral contraceptives are:
Feeling sick or being sick
Tender breasts
Weight gain
Mood swings
Bleeding between periods
Some side effects are more serious and include:
Blood clots
Strokes
Gallstones
Headaches
Increased blood pressure
Depression

Mild side effects usually settle down once the body adjusts to the medication but if you experience any of the serious side effects or the side effects persist you should stop the medication immediately and consult a doctor.

The Whole Truth RegardingTeens With Acne

Teenagers are the most common age group suffering from acne. Androgens, a hormone that begins production at puberty, is a major cause of acne. Unfortunately for males, they tend to produce more androgens and develop more severe acne than females. Extra oils that contribute to acne, are also produced at puberty. These oils mixed with dirt and dead skin cause the pore blockage which causes acne. Some females will get break-outs around the time of their monthly period. This is caused by the hormone fluctuations caused by menstruation. Fortunately for females with hormonal break-outs, birth control can help to maintain a steady level of hormones.

A common misconception about teens with acne is that they have bad hygiene or eat a lot of greasy food. This is only a myth, and proves untrue for most people. Wash your face twice a day, especially after exercise, to get rid of excess oil. Avoid harsh soaps that can irritate and damage skin. Never pick your face because this could lead to increased irritation and life-long scarring.

Stress can be a cause of acne for teens. Unfortunately, this is an inevitably stressful phase of life. Teens with acne suffer from the emotional side of acne just as much as the physical side. Your face is the first thing that most people see when they look at you. Low self-esteem is a problem that almost all teens with acne will battle with. Depression over acne can cause withdrawal from social interactions, decreased attendance in school, and general avoidance of family and friends. Some teens develop social anxiety that can interfere with every aspect of day to day life

Some teens with acne decide to purchase topical cleansers from the store when they first start to develop acne. Sensitive skin will not react well with most over-the-counter treatments. It can cause itching, redness, burning, and general worsening of the condition. If the acne does not clear up after a few weeks of usage, you should consult a dermatologist. He/She can prescribe a more effective antibiotic that is more suited to the individual problem. Everyone's skin if different so it may take more than one try to find what is right for you.

Common treatments suggested for teens with acne are Benzoyl Peroxide and retinoids. Benzoyl Peroxide kills acne causing bacteria and is used topically. Retinoids, such as Accutaine or Roaccutane, unclog pores and helps the process of skin renewal. There are side effects with using retinoids, such as depression, so usage is closely monitored by a dermatologist.

Acne is not the end of the world. It is completely normal and so common that people really don't look down on others for not having perfect skin. Some teens with acne grow out of it before they finish high school. Others will grow out of it by the time they reach adulthood. Almost every case of acne can be treated effectively and if acne scars happen to form, there are also treatments available to reconstruct the smoothness of your skin.

Best Treatment on Acne

Best Way to Prevent Acne

In most cases, the teenage years are when most people experience the greatest amount of acne.  This is due to hormone level fluctuations and increased sebum (oil) production.  The perfect recipe for acne!
So, what is a teenager to do?  Prevention is the name of the game when it comes to acne and teens.  Unfortunately, because there is no cure for acne, prevention and control are the only things a teenager can do to control acne.

The first step, is to get on a proven acne prevention routine such as the one discussed on our acne prevention page.  The next step is to utilize products that minimize acne you may already have and reduces the likelihood of future outbreaks.  Those really are the two most important things a teenager can do to combat acne. If these steps do not work, then a visit to the doctor or dermatologist may be in order.  Stronger treatments like antibiotics and Accutane may be needed- only a doctor can know for sure.
 For most teens though, simply following the cleanse-treat-protect routine combined with using high-quality acne treatments will be effective in minimizing acne.

There sure is a lot of confusion out there regarding acne prevention.  Some people say to scrub your face all day, eat the right foods, avoid sweat, exercise, and on and on.  Unfortunately, these have nothing to do with acne prevention. he numbers really tell the story when it comes to adult acne.  25% of men between the ages of 25 and 44 experience acne.  With women the numbers are even higher- nearly 50% of all women between the ages of 25 and 44 get acne. These numbers tell a story many adult's do not want to hear.  It's not just teenagers who get acne.  Many adults will get recurrences in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Another important fact about adult acne is that it is more likely to leave permanent scars.  This is because as skin ages it loses collagen, which is responsible for skin's elasticity.  So, with less collagen, it is harder for skin to "bounce back" after the tissue damage that acne can cause.

Acne prevention is best accomplished by following a skin care routine that incorporates three basic steps.  In one form or another, the skin must be cleansed, treated, and protected.  As long as these steps are followed, a person's acne should improve.

Acne Prevention Step 1:  Cleansing

Due to what we know about how acne is formed, it is pretty clear that it makes sense to gently cleanse your skin on a regular basis.  This doesn't mean scrubbing a way at your face 5 times a day.  It means using a good cleansing product to gently wash away dead skin cells and impurities.  Also, it doesn't hurt if your cleanser contains proven acne fighters like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Acne Prevention Step 2:  Treatment

For optimum acne prevention, the skin must be treated with something that minimizes bacteria (like benzoyl peroxide) or slows down the shedding of skin cells (like salicylic acid).  There are many fine manufacturers of these products who will provide guidelines as to how long these products should remain on the face and how often they should be used.

Acne Prevention Step Three:  Protection

The last step in acne prevention is protection.  By protection, we mean that the face should be properly moisturized and protected from the sun's damaging rays.  There are a great number of quality moisturizers available that contain sunscreens in them.  Another thing to keep in mind, many acne treatments tend to dry out the skin a bit making moisturizers extra important.

There you have it, a simple 3 step plan for acne prevention.