Acne is the most common skin disorder known today. In United States alone, nearly 60 million people are infected with acne, where 85 per cent of teenagers suffer from it.
Skin experts and practitioners recommend several natural acne treatments. Here are some that we have compiled just for you.
Wash your face twice a day (thrice at most) with gentle and unperfumed 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 itching your skin with your hands. 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.
Avoid the temptation to pick, prick and squeeze your acne. This will send the infection deeper into the skin and can cause severe scarring.
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. Benzoyl peroxide is best at killing P. acnes and may reduce oil production. 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.
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, do not hesitate to consult your dermatologist.
How to have clear pores
Everyone wants clear, impurities-free skin. Unfortunately, not all of us were blessed to have the model- look beautiful skin that we always wanted. People are always bombarded with those various skin disorders and we are always flocking to our drugstores to buy the latest miracle cure for that naturally beautiful skin.
Fact number one. The cosmetic industry makes billions of dollars from the public quest for great skin. They use the money to advertise and perpetuate their products. Do not be fooled by the hype.
Fact number two. There are many factors that contribute to the clogging of pores: like dehydrated skin, improper cleansing, excessive oil production, excessive build-up of dead skin cells, hormones, excessive sweating, dirty work or play environments, genetics, makeup, fingers on the face, allergic reactions, a diet high in sugar content and many others.
Fact number three. Most skin impurities are due to clogged pores, so the best way to have that beautiful skin is to unclog your pores.
Avoid oil-based products such as facial lotions, wash and cosmetics. Look for products that are “non-comedogenic,&r dquo; it means it will not clog your pores.
Do not wear tight headband, baseball hat, and/or helmet when you exercise or play sports, and make sure you wash the sweat-soaked things each time you wear them.
Keep the skin hydrated and moist so your cells can function properly. Moisturize your face with mild, non-comedogenic moisturizers to keep it hydrated. Moisturizing is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing.
Cleanse your pores with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. Do not try to scrub harshly or you will strip and damage your skin. Even after rinsing your face, if you do not remove the remainder of cleanser and loosened debris residues, you are only going to imbed that debris deeper into the pores as you layer serums and moisturizers on top. The absolute best way to perform this deep pore cleansing is with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. There's no need to harm your skin by vigorous scrubbing or harsh acids, simply wipe with toner damp cotton balls until the last cotton comes away perfectly white.
Astringents, Salicylic Acid, retinoic acids, and glycolic acids all work to prevent pores from clogging. Be aware of some active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, these ingredients can cause major side effects.
So there, those are ultra easy steps to eliminate or lessen your problem, start today. Beauty starts with your skin.
Hello, my name is Lisa. I’ve been suffering from acne since my teen years and it’s always been a curse on my life. People used to stare at me wherever I went and it was absolutely awful. Many people have no idea what it is like to be stared at. To have others look at you like you are a freak or some kind of cheap entertainment. In school I was the object of so many jokes and pranks I really can’t remember how many times I left school in tears. Acne made me lose my self esteem and confidence. I was staying in my room most of the time and I was even afraid to go shopping with my family.
I spent many mornings crying in front of the mirror and wishing that acne would suddenly go away. My parents have always been kind and supportive, but that just wasn’t enough. No amount of kindness from my parents’ part could make people stop staring at me in the street. It got so bad that I lost interest in school and sunk into depression. I had also tried a lot of remedies and cures for acne hoping that one of them might work and rid me of acne once and for all. When all the cures had failed, I felt that I was caught in a nightmare from which there is no escape. I felt I was doomed to be the “girl with a bad case of acne” for the rest of my life.
By the time I found ClearPores I had no hope left. I was sure that there can be no cure for my acne and that I would be stuck with it forever. When I first went through the ClearPores website I thought: “Yeah, right, just another company promising the moon. Been there, done that”. It was my mother who insisted that I should try this anti-acne system and I thought I might as well do it. I guess I was ready to try anything at that time. Imagine my surprise when I realized that ClearPores was actually working and that my skin was getting clearer everyday. I was amazed to find that an anti-acne system I didn’t trust to do anything more than empty my pocket was actually working.
It’s been six months since I used ClearPores for the first time and I really can’t believe how good my skin looks. Most of the pimples are gone thanks to the deep washes and herbal supplement. And the protective cream is keeping my skin free of new pimples at all times. ClearPores is like a dream come true and now I can get out of the house whenever I want because people don’t stare anymore. I’ve never been so happy and full of energy in my life. Everybody who’s suffering from acne should try ClearPores.