Why I Swore off Acne Medications

There are over 50 million people in America alone who suffer from acne and sadly this permits for exploitation from the many marketers and impostors out to make a fast buck at the expense of the vulnerable and desperate.

Now, I was once in the category of the frantic and susceptible, in my desperate attempts to get rid of my acne-both as a teenager and a young adult- but not anymore.

After adopting the use of drug-free methods of curing my acne such as a drastic change in my diet, facial massaging and other basic hygienic steps such as changing my pillow-cases daily, having a towel that was exclusively for my face etc, I have since swore off the use of acne medications as I am of the firm belief that most don’t work and may actually aggravate an already debilitating situation.

Now friends, I tried it all (well everything except plastic surgery) Proactive, Clearasil, Neutrogena, Benzoyl peroxide medications…you name it, I tried it and from my experience, nothing worked.

Why The Best Acne Treatment May Be a Change in Diet

Western medicine is notoriously sophisticated when it comes to drug formulations and targeted medicine approached from a perspective based in deductive science.  It has, however, been largely a failure when it comes to being open to solutions to medical problems which come from outside the realm of deductive science. That is why for years western medicine failed to draw ties between diet and acne.  Medical development, and treatments for acne sufferers, has progressed significantly within the last 15 years alone.  Yet the problem of acne has remained largely uncurbed, until recently. 

In the past few years empirical studies first trickled and are now flooding in indicating that there are links between acne and diet.  The basic premise of the research is that eating refined carbohydrates and sugar is the ultimate culprit for many individuals’ problems with acne.  The scientific theory holds that when carbohydrates and sugar are metabolized they lead to an increase in insulin and an insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1 production.  This growth factor then causes male hormones to begin being produced in the body in much greater quantities.  These growth hormones lead directly to an increase the amount of sebum produced.  Sebum is the grease-like substance that comes out in your pores which people often describe as ‘oily skin’.  Sebum then clogs your pores and ultimately causes to an accumulation of bacteria in those pores which cannot escape because of the sebum. This of course ultimately leads to acne. 

Scalp Acne Problems - A How-To Guide

Scalp acne, the mildest form of which is also known as scalp folliculitis, occurs more frequently than most people realize. Just about everyone knows what acne is and that it commonly breaks out on the face, chest, arms and on the back. But acne also appears on other parts of the body as well, and unless you're someone with acne in one of these 'other' areas, you may not have realized this. Scalp acne and those similar to it, are often triggered during periods of great stress. This irritating scalp condition usually develops when the scalp becomes oilier than usual, for example when the hair isn't washed as frequently or when hair care products that contain a considerable amount of oil are used. Scalp acne can be very itchy and therefore makes it very difficult for those who have it to leave it alone. In its mildest form, the pustules are small, crusty, and they're sore. They appear mainly on the upper forehead at the hairline. A person can have just a few pustules or there can be many. A more severe form of scalp acne called acne necrotica miliaris is characterized by inflamed larger papules with black-colored crusts. This form of acne can leave behind scars that resemble those resulting from Chicken Pox. There is an even more severe form of scalp acne that primarily affects adult African-American men, but can actually affect anybody, regardless of race or sex. This extremely rare condition is a combination of large cysts and smaller pustules and papules that grow to be very large. Treatment for Scalp Acne Mild forms of scalp acne can be treated the way most other acne is treated. Keep the affected area clean by using a product that contains salicylic acid. Remember though that these products can cause excessive dryness so use only on affected areas. For better control, apply using a cotton wool or ball. Since oily hair is a contributing factor to scalp acne, it is imperative to use shampoo that's formulated for oily hair. Hair care products designed specially to treat seborrhea have also been used with reasonable success. And since many people use more than just shampoo on their hair, it's a good idea to check the labels on all hair care products and make changes as necessary. Never attempt to treat the more severe forms of scalp acne without consulting a dermatologist or doctor first. One thing that should not be used to treat scalp acne is any product that contains benzoyl peroxide. That's because when peroxide comes into contact with hair, it can change the color of the hair and result in a 'less-than-desirable' look! Those who have chemically-textured hair (for example those with perms) or color-treated hair are most prone to hair trouble when benzoyl peroxide comes into contact with hair.

Rosacea and Acne Treatment

If you've ever suffered from rosacea, then you already know what a debilitating affliction it is. I have had to deal with bad skin ever since I was a teenager, so I am very familiar with the shame and embarrassment that comes from having a face covered in a red rash. One unique characteristic about this skin problem is the fact that sometimes it doesn't clear up completely, and in extreme cases, can even lead to scarring. This happened to me, which meant that I was faced with the possibility of carrying around reminders of my skin troubles for my entire life. Fortunately, however, I discovered several rosacea laser treatments that have worked wonders.

Of course, my dermatologist had been mentioning the possibility of rosacea laser treatment to me for years, but financial difficulties prevented me from following through. Because my insurance company considered rosacea laser treatments elective cosmetic procedures, I would have had to pay for everything out of pocket and the expense was simply too great at the time.

Rid Your Skin Of That Acne

One thing to consider is the purpose for the skin clearing strategy. There are different approaches for acne treatment each with a specific purpose in mind. Two major reasons behind acne treatments are to clear the skin from lesions and breakouts and to treat scarring. These are the most significant inspirations for finding an appropriate approach.

The topical acne treatment is also designed to remove oils and bacteria that are present in pimples. The topical medicine pulls the dirt and oil out of the pores helping the affected area to dry up quickly. These medicines are also effective in reducing inflammation associated with many acne breakouts. The reduction of redness and swelling make the pimples less noticeable.

Dermabrasion is an example of a relatively simple approach to treating shallow scars. The skin is massaged with a rotating brush that removes the surface scars. The chemical peel is an acne treatment that removes scars using chemicals that slather off the scarred skin.

More invasive approaches include scar excisions that remove the scar and pull the healthy skin together and punch grafting. Punch grafting involves removing the scar with a surgical hole-punch. The open plug where the scar originally was is filled with a plug of new skin.

About Acne - What can you do to cure or alleviate acne?

Acne gives the combination of symptoms like greasy skin, white heads, black heads, pimples, inflammation and scar formation. Acne mostly affects young people in the age 14 - 25, but also sometimes older persons, like women in their menopause. Most teenagers experience outburst of acne, some only little, but for others acne may develop into a serious skin ailment with great cosmetic impact.


THE SKIN ANATOMY

To understand the acne process, some knowledge about skin anatomy and physiology is essential:

The skin has there layers: The outer layer called epidermis consists of epithelial cells. Under this lies the dermis consisting of connective tissue. At the bottom there is a layer called the hypodermis consisting mostly of fat cells.

The skin has narrow pores extending from the surface down to the top of the sub-dermis, called hair follicles. A hair extend from a growth zone in the bottom of each hair follicle and out at the skin surface. Around the hair in the dermis, there are small glands called sebaceous glands. These glands produce a fatty substance, sebum, which empty through the follicle opening and lubricates the hair and the skin.

Getting To Know Acne

Acne

This factsheet is for people who have acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes spots. Most people affected by acne are aged between 12 and 25.1 However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also suffer. There are many treatments available to help deal with the condition.
What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following:

    * blackheads (comedones)
    * whiteheads
    * red or yellow spots
    * greasy skin
    * scars

Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.

Acne affects people of all skin colours. The processes that cause acne are exactly the same in people with black or brown skin but the impact is altered by the skin pigmentation.

Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.

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Acne

This factsheet is for people who have acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes spots. Most people affected by acne are aged between 12 and 25.1 However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also suffer. There are many treatments available to help deal with the condition.
What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following:

    * blackheads (comedones) 2,3
    * whiteheads2,3
    * red or yellow spots2,3
    * greasy skin2,3
    * scars2,3