Acne, (finally) my story

It was around the 6th grade when my problem with acne started. It was bad--really bad--and I have the photos and scars to prove it. No matter what I tried--acne pads, acne ointment, special facial cleansers, masks--nothing seemed to work. Even my prescription oral medication--you know, those pills that require you to stay out of the sun--seemed to do little in terms of improvement. The worst part was that other kids in my class did not understand. They looked at me and thought it was simply the result of poor hygeine. One of the boys in my class straight-up told me, "Why don't you just wash your face?" It was so ironic and so sad; they actually believed that the solution was something as simple as "just washing my face" and that for some reason, I just hadn't tried that yet. Little did they know that I washed my face compulsively. When you have a problem like that, believe me, it's a lot more difficult to go on living with the social and emotional problems that bad skin causes than to just pick up a washcloth and a bar of soap.

The truth was, for me, it was hereditary, and no matter what I did in terms of keeping my face clean, I was destined to have the problem. Everyone on my father's side had suffered from this family plague: my father, my uncle, and his children had all gone (or were going) through the same thing. It was horrible that people could look at me and think that I was just too lazy to wash my face. Didn't they know that if it was that simple we would have already done it? The truth is, if you don't have an acne problem as an adolescent, you're going to naturally assume that it's the result of your doing something right. Which is not always the case. Yes, cleanliness certainly helps, but sometimes (if the problem is hereditary) there is no amount of cleanliness that is going to solve the problem.

So as I said, I'd tried everything--every method and every product--under the sun. I'd even quit drinking pop and eating certain foods that were rumored to cause acne. Nothing worked, so I just lived with it. Finally, a package came in the e-mail from one of my mother's friends. She had sent me a medication--an ointment--that they sold over-the-counter in Canada, but not in the U.S. The chemical was nothing I hadn't tried before--it was benzoyl peroxide (which is available OTC in lower strengths in the US)--but it was much stronger than anything I had yet been able to get my hands on. Thus, I was hopeful and eager to try it.

It wasn't long before the ointment (in possible combination with the prescription pills that I was on), cleared up my acne (and just in time for high school). Who knows if it was the medication I was on or if it was just timing? I do tend to think that it was too big of a coincidence to have not been the medication, and I am tremendously grateful for my mother's friend's efforts.

My acne problem never went away completely (even now as an adult I have the occasional break-out), but it was a HUGE improvement from the blemish-riddled face that I had worn for three long and agonizing years prior to high school. And finally, those same boys who had teased me and told me to "just wash my face" began to get acne as well. Their hormones finally starting to kick in, they finally developed acne problems as well, despite that they were washing their faces (while in the meantime, my face had cleared up). I'd be lying if I didn't say that I had been secretly waiting for that moment all along. Finally, they would understand that when you're a teenager, the solution isn't as simple as just washing your face. Hormones and heredity are much more powerful than most chemicals and cleansers, and while it would have been nice to turn back to them and say "Why don't you just wash your face?" I bit my tongue, for it was a new-found understanding for them, that went without saying.

Is There A Single Acne Cure That Will Work For Everyone?

by Rosa Dawson

How do we go about preventing acne? Well to be honest if you don't have acne then you're probably not too bothered about preventing it. How about looking for a cure first of all and then looking for ways to prevent it coming back in the future?

Although it's common now to believe that it is not diet that brings about acne ("chocolate has nothing to do with it" scream the experts) it's interesting to note that Eastern countries don't have acne epedemics to the extremes that we in the West are used to.

One thing is clear; acne is not caused by dirt. It is caused when the oil in our body is not metabolized efficiently and dead skin cells become sticky and block the pores of the skin. Bacteria then enters into the pores and causes infection and inflammation.

So what can be done to prevent this happening? It seems obvious to stay away from McDonald's and other junk foods, yet our bodies may still produce oil.

Hygiene helps to control it, yet acne is not caused by a lack of hygeine, it comes about because of bacteria already present in the skin. The only true combatant, it seems, is to use a multitude of acne prevention methods at the same time.

Zinc gluconate and some antibiotics administered orally are both effective in treating the inflammation of acne, while insulin is also reported to have worked in the same way. No big studies have been done on the latter though, so proceed cautiously with this one. Some doctors have even recommended birth control pills as having limited acne, then again some say that they can cause acne!

Research is now being done on the use of lasers for the prevention of acne. Lasers have been used to treat the scars left by really bad acne, and it has recently been discovered that the follicle sac from which the hair grows, as well as the sebaceous gland that produces oil, can be burned away by the use of lasers.

You may have heard of the N-Lite laser treatment. It was recently shown in a popular daytime TV show in the UK with a guest who claimed it was the only thing that had completely cured her. This led to widespread acclaim for N-Lite and hundreds of new clients for the company.

Naturally, since this TV appearance, many people have used their services with varying results.

The fact is that there is no one cure that will handle everybody's skin type. The only way to beat acne is to mix and match different treatments, internally, as well as on the skin's surface, until you find the one cure that works for you and you alone.


Author Bio

Rosa Dawson is an author on www.preventingacne.info a complete guide to acne cures, treatments and all the latest news for acne sufferers.


Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Acne and Green Tea

by Elaine Clay

Green tea is used by the Chinese as a traditional medicine to treat many ailments including acne and to improve general well-being. But does it provide an effective herbal alternative to modern medication?

The answer seems to be 'Yes'. There are only two herbal treatments that are known to be effective in treating acne and green tea is one of them.

In a recent study by Jennifer Gan-Wong, M.D. a green tea cream was trailed against a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution on people suffering with moderate to severe acne. The results from this research study showed that green tea was just as good in treating acne as the benzoyl peroxide.

But benzoyl peroxide dries out skin causing itching or allergic reactions. Unlike green tea that has the added advantages of natural anti-bacterial properties and antioxidants, particularly epigallocatechin gallate which is 200 times more powerful than vitamin E at fighting free radicals.

Green tea also helps to reduce inflammation, hormonal activity and aids in detoxification - which is all good news for acne sufferers.

Green tea extract is an extremely versatile herbal supplement - it can be administered topically, often being used in creams, taken as a in the form of a pill or incorporated into your diet and drunk as a tea.

This last method is very popular (Green Tea with Honeysuckle is often known as 'Pimple Tea' in many Chinatowns) when drunk after a meal it aids digestion and helps to detoxify your system, getting rid of the toxins that can cause acne. Tip: don't drink it with sugar, this will neutralize the worthwhile effects of the tea.

It seems that taking green tea for acne is a win-win situation... It has many beneficial properties which promote good all-round health with little or no known side effects and for the price, it's definitely a herbal treatment that's worth trying.

Author info:

Elaine Clay is the owner of Acne-Treatments-Online.com :: Get articles and information to help you find proven and effective acne solutions available online to treat and get rid of your condition safely and naturally. Feel free to use the above article on your web site or ezine. Provided that it is published in its entirety, including my resource box above and a "live" clickable link to: http://www.acne-treatments-online.com

Acne Scarring - What Are My Treatment Options?

by Adam Sharp

Acne Scarring can have serious effects on a person's self-image and emotional state. Fortunately there have been significant advances in the treatment of acne-related scarring in recent years. It is important to note that nothing will completely heal the majority of scars.

Laser Therapy

Using lasers to treat scars is a new technology, but is one of the most promising options for severe scarring. The lasers remove the scarred skin, and encourage growth of new skin in its place. After treatment, the skin will be pink and swollen for a week or so. During this time, bandages need to be kept over the skin to prevent infection. It takes months for the skin to return to normal, but most people will see less noticeable scars and smoother skin. Laser scar treatment can be quite expensive, however.

Surgical Therapy (Dermabrasion)

This form of scar treatment uses a motorized burr, which usually contains diamond particles. Diamonds are very strong abrasives when in a powder-form. A scab will form once the procedure is completed. Once the wound is healed, a smooth pink layer of new skin will appear. Multiple treatments are often necessary, and each one can cost $1500.

Creams and Gels

There are many topical treatments that claim to reduce the appearance of scars. Some contain Vitamin E and other nutrients. Mederma is a popular brand name. Many people report that it can improve scars in as little as 8 weeks for new scars, or 6 months for older scars. Results with topical ointments like this will vary from person to person.

Collagen Injection

This is a temporary fix, where the patient's own body fat or collagen is injected into the scar site. This works well for some people with deep-pitted scars. The material injected serves to raise the skin, and reduce the pitted appearance, and wrinkling from the scar. However, this procedure needs to be repeated every 6 months and can be expensive.

Author Bio

Adam Sharp writes about acne at his website, http://www.adult-acne.org.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Share Your Experiences

If you have any experiences with acne products, cleansers, or acne in general--if you have struggled with and/or overcome acne--this is the place to tell your story. What has worked for you? What didn't work? What is your story? Do you have any tips or insights for those currently struggling with acne? Please feel free to share any and all experiences here.