Acne and its Treatment

Acne is a menace. However, it’s not something that cannot be tackled. There are loads of acne skin care products around. We can classify acne skin care products into 3 broad categories –

1. Preventive or general acne skin care products

A honey face mask can be used to help clear up acne breakouts and other skin problems. Simply mix together a paste of honey, milk, plain yogurt, and lemon juice, apply to the face, and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Many people swear by the honey face mask as an acne treatment.

2. Over-the-counter, specialised acne skin care products

A paste of cinnamon and honey can be beneficial as an acne treatment. Combine ground cinnamon with a dab of honey to form a paste and apply it to the acne. Cinnamon is a natural antiseptic and honey is a natural antibiotic. Together they can relieve and cure a breakout.

3. On-prescription acne skin care products.

One thing that can ensure acne stays away is that you are not trying an acne treatment long enough. Many people are incredibly impatient and expect immediate results. There are no magic cures for acne, so once you start a treatment, give it ample time to work. If you do give it a while and see no improvement, then move on or ask your dermatologist.

The general acne skin care products are the ones that are used as acne-prevention measure. These include cleansers, make-up removers and similar products that help prevent acne. In the real sense, these acne skin care products are just those that should anyway be part of your daily routine. However, some of these are more oriented to act like an acne skin care product. These acne skin care products act against the causes of acne e.g. limiting the production of sebum/oil and preventing clogging of skin pores. Basically, these acne skin care products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and hence hamper the growth of bacteria that lead to acne. The general acne skin care products also include exfoliation products like skin peels. These work towards removing dead skin cells, hence reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development.

Sometimes natural skin care remedies can be used in the place of strong ointments for skin care. Lemons are a great natural acne treatment. Lemons act as an astringent that can shrink acne due to its high acid level. It can also reduce oil levels in the skin. Just apply lemon juice to the skin and let it work for 15 minutes, then wash off, and you'll see effective results.

Then there are specialised acne skin care products that are available over-the-counter i.e. without the need of a prescription. These include products like vanishing creams which extract the extra oil from the skin. Most of these acne skin care products are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne). You should start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5%) and see how your skin responds to it.  Alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are also popular as acne skin care products. You might have to try a few, before you zero-in on the acne skin care product that is effective for you. If nothing seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist.

Benzoyl peroxide cream or gel applied directly onto the affected skin twice a day is a proven acne treatment. Benzoyl peroxide prevents dead skin cells blocking hair follicles and kills bacteria on the skin that can cause blocked follicles to become infected. Unfortunately, benzoyl peroxide makes skin more sensitive to ultra-violet light, so during treatment you should avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.

On-prescription acne skin care products are the ones that are prescribed by a dermatologist. This can include ointments that can be applied on the affected area or oral antibiotics or just any topical treatment. Dermatologist could also suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules.  However, never try to squeeze or do this by yourself, it can lead to permanent damage of your skin.  Your doctor could also prescribe a hormone-based treatment (since hormonal changes are also known to cause acne). Such acne skin care products are known to be very effective in some cases.

For high-powered acne treatment, try adding the "super food" maca to your diet. Maca is a Peruvian root that contains a large number of nutrients and vitamins, including fatty acids, amino acids, magnesium, iron, iodine, and calcium. The combined power of these components is thought to help regulate hormones and promote a healthy body, including healthy skin and nails. Maca often comes in powdered form and is taken as a supplement, but it can also be found as a juice or an extract.

So, with all those acne skin care products, tackling acne is not that difficult.

Acne – Types, Causes And Treatments

Acne Vulgaris, commonly referred to as pimples, is an inflammatory disease of the skin. This condition is very common in puberty. As one reaches their early twenties, it either disappears or decreases.

Acne begins because of the comedo, an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil and bacteria. The comedo is invisible to the naked eye and is present beneath the surface of the skin. When it gets the right condition, it grows into an inflamed lesion. The oil produced from the skin helps bacteria to flourish within the swollen follicle.

Non-inflammatory acre are of two types – Closed comedo or white head, and Open comedo or black head. There are 4 types of inflammatory acne –

· Papule – It is the mildest form that appears on the skin as a small, firm pink bump.
The best tip to avoid acne is to keep your face clean. Acne forms from oils that build up on the skin and cause irritations. If you clean your face once or twice a day you can wash away these oils and avoid acne and keep your face looking great. 

· Pustule – They are small round lesions containing visible pus. They may appear red at the base and yellowish or whitish at the center.

· Nodule or Cyst – Large and painful, they are pus-filled lesions lodged deep within the skin. The nodules may persist for weeks or months with the contents hardening into a deep cyst. Both nodules and cysts often leave deep scars.

If you're looking for a natural way to get rid of acne, try this. Peel an orange and then flatten out the orange peel with a rolling pin. Then apply the flattened peel to your acne. The natural compounds in the peel should help to clear your skin up. Best of all, you can have a healthy snack while you do it!

· Acne Conglobata – This severe bacterial infection develops mostly on the back, buttocks and chest.

The chief causes of acne are hormones like androgen, production of extra sebum, follicle fallout, bacteria and inflammation. For controlling acne, you can carry out the following steps –

One way to reduce acne is to actually reduce your caffeine intake. Coffee and tea and other items that are high in caffeine can elevate stress levels, which will in turn cause breakouts. Try to drink decaf if possible. By eliminating the caffeine in your diet, you are more likely to have clearer skin.

· Avoid excessive washing of your skin. It can leave the healthy skin dry, thus irritating the acne prone areas. Over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production.

· Avoid alcohol products to tone your skin. Alcohol is a strong astringent that strips the top layer of the skin causing sebaceous glands to produce more oil.

If you would like to reduce the size and color of your untimely breakouts, you may want to just try ice. The cooling effects will actually subside the swelling so the pimple is not as visible. Try icing before bed and you will wake up with a smaller, less noticeable pimple.

· Do not squeeze or pick the acne with fingernails, pins or any other thing. It forces the bacteria deeper into the skin and often leaves a permanent acne scar.

· A wash is required after exercise. The heat and moisture trapped against the skin creates an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria.

If you are currently using products to help with the treatment of acne, remember to take into account the frequency of your application. Excessive application of acne products can actually exacerbate the problem, causing more acne in place of the clear skin you are trying to achieve. Follow the instructions, and with patience you will be on your way to better skin.


· Consume food rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B-2, Vitamin B-3, Vitamin E and Zinc like eggs, nuts, liver, milk, fish and leafy green vegetables.

· Proper sleep and a life without stress and emotional anxiety can reduce acne.

If you are a girl with acne, you should get birth control pills. Birth control pills regulate the hormones in your body and for most people, they reduce your acne considerably in just a few months. Ask your doctor about what kind of birth control pills has the best result on acne.

· Wear little make-up while exercising. Avoid garments that are made exclusively with nylon.

Laser surgery is often used to reduce the scars left behind by acne. Treating acne with azelaic acid, salicylic acid, tropical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide is also common. A large number of people started trying herbal acne treatments over the traditional medications by using teas, oils and herbal creams.