Best Acne Treatment and Acne Information

Looking for best acne treatment and acne cure? You arrived just to the right place for appropriate acne help and acne information. After a short introduction of the basics about what causes acne, how to prevent acne and types of acne - such as acne vulgaris, adult acne, cystic acne, acne scars, acne rosacea etc. - you will find a wide selection of natural acne treatments such as home acne treatment, aromatherapy acne help, homeopathic remedies for acne, and natural acne remedies...

Nearly every teenager has acne at some stage which mainly affects the face, chest and back. But, seriously what causes acne?

What Causes Acne?

The basic cause of acne is the blockage and inflammation of the grease glands in the skin. Our skin contains grease (sebaceous) glands that secrete an oily substance (sebum) to keep the skin supple and moist. If the exits from these glands become blocked, sebum bursts into the deeper layers of skin. Sebum is here highly irritant and causes inflammation, which can become infected. The result is pus filled spots (acne vulgaris) and the classical tender, purplish lumps of cystic acne. Sometimes it looks similar to skin boils especially acne cysts. When the lump heals, acne scar and pigmentation may be left behind.

 

What Causes Acne Really?

• The main cause of acne, are male sex hormones (androgens) which, goes for men and women as well. Under the influence of androgens – the best known is testosterone among them – cells at the exit of grease glands overgrow and block the outlet. At puberty, androgens pour into the blood and reach their highest levels in both sexes. In girls they are even higher than estrogens. To make matters worse, androgens cause overproduction of sebum so sebaceous glands are stretched to bursting and some do so. Sometimes acne persists into adult years, causing adult acne, which is more difficult to treat. Hormonal imbalance, relative androgen and testosterone excess may cause acne at any time and age.
• Skin bacteria play also an essential role in formation of acne – the most important bacteria are called Propionibacterium acnes. They get into the ducts of grease glands where they produce chemicals and cause even more inflammation. This does not mean that acne is contagious: it is definitely not.
• Digestive problems and/or unhealthy diet are also vital causes of acne. Many people experience, that after a fatty, fried, rich meal acne spots flare up. Others observe, that eating chocolate or chocolate ice cream or drinking hot chocolate makes acne worse. Drinking too many alcoholic drinks also may activate acne. Accumulation of toxins is obviously one of the most important causes of acne. A vegetarian diet, free of junk food and manufactured meat products with unlimited consumption of mineral water is one of the best acne treatments.
• Acne can also be triggered by some medicines: steroids (corticosteroids), hormonal treatment, the contraceptive pill, antiepileptic drugs (barbiturates) and antidepressants. Medicines are common causes of acne.
  Stress is also usual factor to activate acne.
• Acne can also run in families. Often happens, that predisposition to acne is inherited in families – therefore cause of acne might lie in your family.

Skin anatomy

Types of Acne

Depending on the location we can distinguish different types of acne:

• face acne: mostly on the forehead, nose and chin;

• back acne: mainly on the upper back, on the shoulders and around the neck;

• chest acne: mainly in the centre of the chest;

• scalp acne: often along the hairline;

• genital acne: caused by clogging of apocrine glands mainly triggered by sweating, called Hydradenitis suppurativa medically.

Depending on the appearance we can speak about various types of acne:

• blackheads which are open comedones: the top of accumulated sebum in the follicle opening oxidise and appears gray or black
• whiteheads which are closed comedones: the follicle opening is clogged with trapped sebum and sealed by normal colored skin,
• acne vulgaris: different kind of pimples and blemishes (papules, pustules, nodules) which are pus-filled and inflamed firm spots below the skin
• cystic acne: tender, hard, purplish lumps often larger, and fluid-filled inflammatory swellings deep in the skin
• acne scars: after healing of cystic acne small, depressed pits (acne scars) and pigmentation is left behind
• acne rosacea: features redness (caused by dilatation of small blood vessels) and acne pimples mainly on the cheeks and forehead, common in women in middle life

 

How to Prevent Acne?

Best acne treatment is prevention: basic personal hygiene and a few diet rules are able to prevent acne in many cases. But not in all cases, of course. Therefore, find safe and time proved home remedies for acne...

 

Acne Information: Diet tips for acne help

Diet can play a vital part in improving or worsening acne therefore a wise diet is able to prevent acne. Cut down on the foods, which might encourage sebaceous gland activity. Best acne treatments are proper nutrition and healthy diet, which are able to bring balance into sebaceous gland activity and clear up acne quickly. It is true and fast acne help in many cases. After a few days of raw, vegetarian diet with consumption of plenty of mineral water your skin looks fresh and clean again.

 

Acne Information: What to avoid?

• fried, fatty, greasy, high-fat foods
• red meat, burgers, all manufactured meat products
• chocolate, ice creams, sweets, too much white sugar (high-glycemic foods)
• iodine enriched table salt and too much salt
• sweet, sugary, fizzy drinks and caffeine
• alcohol
• few recent studies found, that partially skimmed milk and milk products (especially cheese) worsen acne

 

Acne Information: What to eat in abundance?

• high fibre foods (whole grain cereals, wholemeal bread, pasta)-low glycemic foods
• fresh raw fruit, vegetables, salads, especially cabbage
• fresh unsalted vegetable juices
• omega 6 fatty acids (linoleic acid) rich foods (fresh, cold pressed: safflower oil, sunflower oil, corn oil; pumpkin seed, soybeans, walnut)
• unlimited amount of mineral water

As individual sensitivity varies for different types of foods, you have to find your own diet rules. Experiment with different kind of foods and make your own diet list.

Learn about Acid Reflux Diet.

Home Remedies for Curing Acne

 

As the basic causes of acne are male hormone excess and overgrowth of certain skin bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) - best acne treatment features herbs with some hormonal activity and/or antibacterial properties such as garlic (Allium sativum), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), great burdock (Arctium lappa), heartsease (Viola tricolor). Taking one of these herbal acne remedies as supplements on a regular basis is safe and effective acne help. You have to take the chosen natural acne treatment minimum for one week to be able to assess the effect.

 

Natural Acne Treatments: HERBS

Great burdock (Arctium lappa): burdock root extract has strong antibacterial and estrogenic effects both useful for treating acne. For best acne treatment take burdock root capsules (350mg root powder) three times a day before meals with a glass of water. Cautions: do not give to children under 15 and do not take in pregnancy.

Garlic (Allium sativum): fresh or dried garlic bulbs have proven antibacterial properties and are used for fighting infection since biblical times. This antiseptic effect makes garlic extract to great natural acne cure. For natural acne treatment take garlic capsules (300mg) one-three times a day. Cautions: garlic is a natural blood thinner, therefore do not take before surgery or if taking anticoagulant drugs.

Heartsease (Viola tricolor): dried flower and leaves contain salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory compound, which is effective for acne as external compress or internal infusion/supplement. For acne help take 200-400mg dry extract a day divided into three doses, each taken before meals. Cautions: excessive use of heartsease can cause adverse skin reactions – so be careful with this natural acne cure.

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis): oil made from the seeds is extremely rich in essential fatty acids playing an important role in prostaglandin synthesis of our body. Prostaglandin's help to regulate the action of several hormones, like estrogens and have anti-inflammatory action. For best acne treatment take evening primrose soft capsules (500mg) two or three times a day with meals. Cautions: do not take evening primrose oil capsules if pregnant or breastfeeding or if you suffer from any form of epilepsy.

 

Home Acne Treatment

 

Herbal facial steamer for facial steam cleansing

Once a week oily skin that is prone to acne spots will benefit from the deep cleansing of effect herbal facial steam cleansing. It opens the follicles, softens dead skin surface cells, increases lymph and blood circulation and aids sweat glands to rid themselves of toxins. One of the best acne treatments.

Place the following herbs in a mixing bowl:

• 1 teaspoon of dried lavender (Lavandula officinalis)

• 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

• 1 teaspoon of dried elder flowers (Sambucus nigra)

and pour over 1-2 litres of boiling water. Bend over the bowl and steam the face for 10-15 minutes. Be cautious not to burn your skin with the hot steam. Always finish the treatment by splashing your face with cold water to tone and refresh the skin. Avoid steaming if you suffer from asthma, since the steam may trigger an attack.
After cleansing skin and opening pores with herbal steaming use aromatherapy honey mask as explained below.

 

Best Acne Treatment

 

Aromatherapy Acne Help

Acne can be successfully treated externally with different essential oils, which can reduce the amount of sebum produced and/or clear the infection due to their antiseptic effect. They can be used in several ways, as compress or facial spray (diluted and mixed well in water), massage (diluted in carrier oil) neat or in facial steamer.

The most effective oils for acne help include:

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): works antibacterial, soothing and healing, promotes the growth of healthy new skin. Apply lavender essential oil neat, using a cotton bud, directly to the spot.
• Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia): acts antiseptic and immune boosting apply mainly diluted onto your skin. You a might dab tea tree essential oil directly on to the blemishes twice a day.
• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia): is bactericidal, astringent and relaxing but should be restricted to winter because it is a photosensitiser.
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): helps to balance the secretion of sebum, is antiseptic, astringent and promotes speedy healing.

 

Home Acne Remedies

Best acne treatment with plain simple kitchen ingredients such as honey:

Honey Mask

Natural acne treatments with aromatherapy

Raw unprocessed honey is excellent for oily, blemished skin because of its antibacterial properties and its ability to moisturise the skin without making it oily. Cosmetic clay absorbs excess oil from the skin and draws toxins out of the skin. Lavender essential oil calms and soothes skin inflammation and helps heal blemishes. Geranium oil helps to balance the secretion of sebum. All the ingredients above make this honey mask an amazing natural acne cure.

Ingredients:

1. 2 tablespoons of raw unprocessed honey (best is Manuka honey)
2. 1 tablespoon of cosmetic clay
3. 2 drops of lavender essential oil
4. 2 drops of geranium essential oil

Combine the ingredients and mix into a thin paste (adding more cosmetic clay if necessary). Spread over clean and damp skin. (Wash your skin before application or use herbal facial steaming as written above.) Remove after 15 minutes with warm water.

Homeopathic Remedies for Acne

Using homeopathic remedies for acne is really simple and convenient. Individual sensitivity may vary to different remedies so it is advised to visit a qualified homeopath in order to get the best acne treatment with homeopathy. In general I can suggest following two remedies for acne help.

• Kalium bichromicum 12C: whiteheads, blackheads, acne vulgaris and deep scars. Acne spots can be painful and itchy. Pain is burning and stinging. Take 3 pills once a day for one week. Let the pills dissolve under your tongue.
• Hepar sulfuris 12C: big pus filled acne spots, boils, which bleed easily and are sensitive to touch. Splinter-like pains. Worsen from cold and better for warmth and heat. Take 3 pills once a day for one week. Let the small pills dissolve under your tongue.

Take homeopathic remedies for acne for one week just to check whether these natural acne cures help you or not.

Hope my selection of natural acne treatments above helps you to find the proper home acne treatment. Home remedies for curing acne are sometimes very simple. Feel free to combine different internal and external natural acne cures. Do not forget proper nutrition, as healthy diet helps to prevent acne which is the best acne treatment.

For more home acne remedies visit Home Remedies for Acne...

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