December 18, 2007

Using Herbs As An Alternative Acne Treatment

You can find herbs, herbal remedies, and products infused with herbs just about anywhere these days. Health food stores, drugstores, your local market, even the cosmetics counter at the department store all have products that contain herbs and botanicals.
 
Actually, natural means, "occurring in nature." By the way, cyanide and arsenic are found in nature and so are hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornados. So, I'd say that the label natural is virtually meaningless.
 
Besides, many of the so-called "natural" products also contain many other "unnatural" chemicals including preservatives, dyes, stabilizers, and fragrances. In fact, if a product was truly natural, you probably wouldn't want to use it anyway. It might not stay fresh; it might smell really bad, and it might not penetrate your skin where it has to do its work.
 
There is a budding interest to study plants that contain antimicrobial substances that may help eliminate P. acnes Here are a few of the more promising candidates:
 
  • Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil (derived from the tea tree plant native to Australia) has long been regarded as a topical antiseptic in Australia. A laboratory study found that certain active components of tea tree oil effectively slow the growth of P. acnes. The oil's proponents claim that even severe cases of acne have been shown to benefit from it.
  • Green tea cream: This herbal treatment is derived from the medicinal portion of the green tea leaf. Its advocates believe that the leaf is as effective as benzoyl peroxide in treating acne.
  • Calendula: Commonly known as pot marigold, you can buy this popular ornamental plant for your garden at most nurseries in the spring. Its orange flowers can be made into tinctures, lotions, and creams. Acne suffers are encouraged to wash their skin with tea made from the flowers. If marigolds don't clear your acne, try planting them in your backyard.
The following herbs have been considered to have general antiinflammatory properties and claims have been made that they may be helpful in the treatment of acne:
 
  • German chamomile
  • Witch hazel
  • Licorice root
  • Flaxseed and flaxseed oil
  • Black currant seed oil
  • Evening primrose oil
  • Echinacea
  • Goldenseal
Many cosmetic counters make statements about the botanical and natural ingredients that are found in their products. A variety of vitamins, minerals, and herbs can be quite appealing to those who seek a natural treatment for their acne. Green tea has become a popular ingredient in many cosmetic and health products: moisturizers, cleansers, bath products, shampoos, toothpastes, and perfumes.
 

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December 17, 2007

Using Acupuncture As An Alternative Acne Treatment

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment often used to relieve pain. But many people have seen therapeutic effects by using it to stop smoking, lose weight, and to improve acne. Your chi, or energy, travels through the body by way of invisible meridians. Acupuncture works by using tiny needles to stimulate these pathways at specific pressure points in order to restore the balance between Yin and Yang.
 
Tiny sterile needles are inserted into the skin at specific points on your body. The needle is left in place or stimulated either by twirling it, by using a heat preparation known as moxa, or by an electric current. An acupuncturist may also prescribe an herbal formula for a person to take in addition to the treatment.
 
Although there have been no well-designed studies evaluating the use of acupuncture for acne, there have been several reports that auricular (acupuncture applied to the ear) and electroacupuncture (acupuncture delivered by an electrical current) therapies may have lessened the inflammatory component of acne. But, on the whole, acupuncture is an unproven acne treatment.

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Home Remedies For Acne Scars- Easy On Your Wallet, Tough On Scars

Many people roll their eyes when someone mentions home remedies for acne scars. This is understandable; after all, acne itself can be difficult to treat and many people end up spending a lot of money on creams and treatments that may or may not work. For those who have been unlucky enough to get acne scars, the answer usually lies in laser treatments which can cost a fair amount of money. Given all these complications, it's hard to believe that you can treat acne scars with materials in your own home.

 But the truth of the matter is that there are a number of good home remedies for acne scars. Acne scars can indeed be treated with a few simple ingredients from around the house, a little patience and a little discipline. By learning more about your acne scars and how they can be treated, you can quickly embark on home remedies for acne scars which are both inexpensive and effective.

What You Have And What You Need

The first step is to understand how acne scars are formed. The scars appear after the acne has cleared and the skin has healed; remember that acne often ravages the skin just like an abrasion does. Some scars are called depressed scars and are formed when the skin heals in the form of a little gouge in the skin. Depressed scars are of three types; ice pick scars are not very deep and look as if the skin has been punctured. There are also the box car scars which are oval in shape and are not very deep either. There are also rolling scars, which look as if the skin has been rolled. Some acne will result in raised scars, known as keloids.
 
For raised scars, the best way to treat them is to very carefully remove the excess skin and immediately moisturize the skin so that it can heal quickly and uniformly. For depressed scars, the depressions need to be filled with collagen. This is the basic way to treat these scars so if you come across any acne-scar removal product that does not contain collagen, you can be sure it will not work for you.

Kitchen Cures

Some of the best home remedies for acne scars can be found right in your own kitchen. For instance, some acne can leave scars which are mild but dark. In order to lighten them, all you need to do is wash your face and dab lemon juice on the scarred area. Let it sit for about ten minutes and then rinse your face. Be advised that lemon juice does make your skin more sensitive to sunlight so make sure you use a sunscreen if you are going outdoors.
 
You can give yourself your own microdermabrasion treatment by mixing some baking soda with filtered water, dabbing the mixture onto your scars and washing it off after one minute. This should be followed by a massage with a little olive oil to help the skin retain its elasticity. Fresh fruits are great for building collagen from the inside and can also be used as a wonderful exfoliating agent when applied on the skin as a fruit smear. Last but surely not least, make sure you drink lots of water regularly to keep your body clean. Make sure you follow this regiment patiently and regularly. Set aside time so that you are dealing with acne scars and helping your skin heal on a regular basis. You'll find that these home remedies for acne scars will help your skin heal in a way that's healthy, inexpensive and effective.

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December 15, 2007

Understanding TCA Chemical Peels

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels are sometimes used for lightening areas of pigmentation. TCA penetrates more deeply than AHA and BHA and creates more active peeling, especially at higher concentrations. This method also carries a greater risk of scarring. As a result, lasers and light therapies have mostly replaced these deeper peels for the treatment of acne and scars.
 
TCA peels are medium-depth peels and should only be done in a doctor's office or in an outpatient surgery center, because they produce deeper penetration and destruction of the skin and must be used with great caution. TCA peels often don't require anesthesia (because the solution itself has a numbing effect on the skin).
 
When the TCA is applied, you may at first feel a warm or burning sensation, followed by stinging. Following the application, the skin develops a "frosted" appearance within a few seconds and the treatment is diluted with cool water.
 
Significant swelling may occur depending on the potency of the TCA that was used. Swelling should diminish after the first week and the skin will generally heal sufficiently to resume normal activities in approximately seven to ten days.
 
You shouldn't have such a medium-depth peel if you have dark skin. Furthermore, wait at least a year or more after being treated with isotretinoin (Accutane) before having such a peel.

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Understanding AHA and BHA Chemical Peels

The two most commonly used chemicals for peels are the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and the beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). Procedures using these chemicals are commonly referred to as "lunch hour" peels because they're the mildest of the chemical peels and show few after-effects; some folks get them on their lunch hours and are ready to go back to work right away. Both of these acids are also found in many over-the-counter cosmetic products, such as moisturizers and sunscreens, but when a medical professional performs the peels, concentrations are much higher.
 
Lactic acid, a trendy AHA found in many over-the-counter products and prescription moisturizers, is hardly ever used for in-office peels. Lactic acid is not a "fruit acid" like other AHAs, because it comes from milk.
 
The two most commonly used acid peels are
 
  • Glycolic acid: Glycolic acid, an AHA, peels off dead layers of the skin and, typically, requires no downtime. These peels are performed every two to four weeks in a series of four to eight essions.
  • Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid, a BHA, is oil soluble and can therefore penetrate oil-plugged pores. When used as in-office peels, these treatments can hasten the response of acne to treatment by reducing the amount of sebum being trapped in your hair follicles. It is repeated at two- to four-week intervals. Typically, you combine this treatment with oral or topical acne medications.
The application of AHA and Beta peels are relatively fast and simple. No sedation or anesthesia is required, because you only experience a slight stinging when the solution is applied. The treatment usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes, but the concentration of the chemical solution or the length of time of the treatment may vary. After treatment, apply generous amounts of moisturizer.

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December 14, 2007

Understanding AHA and BHA Chemical Peels

The two most commonly used chemicals for peels are the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and the beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). Procedures using these chemicals are commonly referred to as "lunch hour" peels because they're the mildest of the chemical peels and show few after-effects; some folks get them on their lunch hours and are ready to go back to work right away. Both of these acids are also found in many over-the-counter cosmetic products, such as moisturizers and sunscreens, but when a medical professional performs the peels, concentrations are much higher.
 
Lactic acid, a trendy AHA found in many over-the-counter products and prescription moisturizers, is hardly ever used for in-office peels. Lactic acid is not a "fruit acid" like other AHAs, because it comes from milk.
 
The two most commonly used acid peels are
 
  • Glycolic acid: Glycolic acid, an AHA, peels off dead layers of the skin and, typically, requires no downtime. These peels are performed every two to four weeks in a series of four to eight essions.
  • Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid, a BHA, is oil soluble and can therefore penetrate oil-plugged pores. When used as in-office peels, these treatments can hasten the response of acne to treatment by reducing the amount of sebum being trapped in your hair follicles. It is repeated at two- to four-week intervals. Typically, you combine this treatment with oral or topical acne medications.
The application of AHA and Beta peels are relatively fast and simple. No sedation or anesthesia is required, because you only experience a slight stinging when the solution is applied. The treatment usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes, but the concentration of the chemical solution or the length of time of the treatment may vary. After treatment, apply generous amounts of moisturizer.

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Using Chemical Peels As An Acne Treatment

Chemical peels have become popular as anti-aging, facial rejuvenation procedures; however, they're sometimes used to treat acne as well. In this procedure, a chemical acid solution is applied to your skin, causing the skin to peel off so that new skin can regenerate. Some of the peels have fancy names, extravagant prices, and are associated with overstated expectations.
 
The peels work on wrinkles by loosening the glue-like substances that hold the dead cells on the surface of your skin together, causing them to peel off (exfoliate). This allows the skin to renew itself and thus lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and balance out skin pigmentation.
 
Chemical peels also produce a similar exfoliating action in your hair follicles where the sticky dead cells congregate and block your pores, causing acne breakouts.
 
Chemical peels are probably not effective for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of acne. They seem to work best in the elimination of blackheads and whiteheads (comedonal acne).
 
Peels for acne are generally superficial and less apt to cause complications such as pigmentary changes to the skin. Deeper peels, with stronger concentrations of acids, are sometimes used to treat acne scars. Superficial peels don't penetrate below the upper layers of skin and can sometimes also help to even irregular skin tones by lightening the dark spots of acne. Finding the treatment that is right for you depends on your skin type, the activity of your acne, your degree of scarring, and of course — as with all cosmetic procedures — your ability to afford it, because most, if not all, health insurance plans don't pay for them.
 
With chemical peels, persistent redness, permanent color change, and scarring are possible, especially with the deeper, high-concentration peels. Reactivation of cold sores has also been seen. Most importantly, if you or anyone in your family has a history of keloids or other types of significant scarring tendencies, these procedures are probably not for you.
 
Not only can peels reactivate cold sores, they can cause them to spread over your entire face. If you have any evidence of active herpes blisters, don't have any sort of peel (or microdermabrasion, regular dermabrasion, or laser abrasion).
 
It's important to protect your skin from the sun after any chemical peel. Ask your doctor to recommend a sunblock with both UVA and UVB protection, and apply it daily for at least four weeks after the treatment.
 
Occasionally, a topical retinoid such as Retin-A is used to pre-treat the skin by thinning the skin's outer layer. This preparation allows for deeper penetration of the chemical solution. The pre-treatment period may take up to a month before the chemical peel is actually performed.
 
Chemical peels can be administered by a doctor, a nurse, or an aesthetician. Most states limit aestheticians to lower concentrations of these acids. The lower concentration peels that are much less potent than those used in doctors offices have little, if any, effect on acne.

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December 13, 2007

Ultraviolet Light - Acne Treatment Friend Or Foe?

There was a time that acne was routinely treated with ultraviolet (UV) lights. Acne sufferers would visit the dermatologist for their weekly dosage of sunburns from sunlamps. The results? It looked like they'd spent a long day at the beach — they'd be red and peeling for days afterward. The treatment did make acne look better for a time and may have had some benefit as a peeling agent. It also helped to blend skin tones and hide the acne lesions. But as we now know, repeated exposure to high intensity UV rays should be avoided. Frequent exposure to ultraviolet light can promote aging of the skin as well as certain skin cancers. The light sources used to treat acne today don't contain UV light.
 
As for the proponents of tanning salons, they contend that:
 
  • Exposure dries up acne and improves its appearance.
  • Using artificial tanning equipment, like beds and lamps, as well as natural sunlight, can protect you against some forms of cancer by increasing your vitamin D levels.
Dermatologists believe that artificial tanning equipment, such as beds and lamps, should be avoided particularly if you are at higher risk of sun damage.

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December 12, 2007

Future Acne Treatments

For longer-term results, it appears to be necessary to destroy the sebaceous gland as well as the bacteria. Various light sources are being tried in order to more deeply penetrate into the sebaceous glands. Technologies currently under consideration as potential acne treatment include
 
  • Intense pulsed light (IPL): These devices are similar to lasers, but they use a wider range of wavelengths as opposed to only a single beam of light. They employ a broad band of visible and near infrared wavelengths of light that block out other wavelengths. Pulsed light can deliver hundreds or thousands of colors of light at a time. Pulsed light machines use "cut off" filters to selectively deliver the desired wavelengths. These wavelengths can be customized to reach the specific targets such as blood vessels or other skin components that are being treated. IPLs can penetrate various depths into the skin, and by using longer wavelengths, they may able to affect the sebaceous glands' growth and activity. Long-term studies are necessary to see how effective they will prove to be.
  • Pulsed dye laser (PDL): Results for acne have so far been inconsistent. This laser is "tuned" to a specific wavelength of light. It produces a bright light that is absorbed by blood vessels. This laser is also being used to improve the appearance of acne scars and is effective in removing the enlarged blood vessels associated with rosacea.
  • Pulsed light and heat energy (LHE) therapy: This treatment combines pulses of light and heat, which researchers believe target both P. acnes and the sebaceous glands, two of the main causes of acne.
  • Diode laser: This laser uses infrared frequencies that are longer, invisible wavelengths. It appears to be effective on not only acne, but on the acne scars as well.

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December 11, 2007

Using Photodynamic Therapy To Treat Acne

Photodynamic therapy (PUT) involves applying a drug called a photosensitizing agent, which is then activated by exposure to a light source. Light sources used in PDT include visible (nonlaser) or laser light. This combined interaction of the solution and the light is what gives rise to the term "photodynamic therapy."
 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a nonlaser, narrow-band, high-intensity visible blue-light therapy for treating inflammatory acne. It works by killing the acne-causing bacteria, P. acnes.
 
The P. acnes that reside in your sebaceous glands produce chemicals known as porphyrins as a by-product of their metabolism. Visible light — in this case blue light — seeks out the porphyrins that are in the bacteria. This high intensity light activates these porphyrins and thus kills the bacterial cells. Researchers hope that the sebaceous gland is "knocked out" or at least slows down as a result of this procedure (as a sort of "collateral damage"); however, we don't have hard evidence to actually document that this procedure succeeds in accomplishing it.
 
A doctor, nurse, or technician applies a clear, painless solution, aminolevulinic acid (ALA), to your skin. ALA is a potent, photosensitizing agent that increases sensitivity to light. It's left on your skin for 15 to 60 minutes and allowed to accumulate in target cells — the sebaceous glands. An intense, visible light source (usually a blue light) activates the ALA. This takes about eight to ten minutes. The chemical reaction that occurs produces heat and the bacteria are destroyed.
 
Immediately after this treatment, if you go out in the sun — even for a few minutes — you can develop a significant sunburn and peeling. For about two days after the photosensitizing agent is used, keep your face from being exposed to strong, direct light. Be sure to use sun protection.
 
Other side effects tend to be mild and include temporary pigment changes, swelling of the treated areas, and dryness.
 
Many treatments may be necessary to achieve satisfactory results. Because this type of therapy appears to target only one cause, P. acnes, the acne may not respond in the long run. That's because the destruction of these bacteria is only temporary; they revitalize rapidly, so ongoing treatments are necessary.

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