The reason this is important is because curing acne can take weeks to accomplish and any acne treatment program claiming overnight results or success is most likely at the scam end of the scale.

Similarly any acne treatment program that addresses acne entirely by treating your skin is also severely misguided and will only result in disappointment.

Acne certainly shows itself on the skin but the cause of acne is definitely not the skin itself. Simply washing, scrubbing and generally banging away at the skin can only be viewed as a treatment of symptoms… not causes.

It is this overall focus on the skin by most acne treatment programs that tends to make choosing an effective program seem difficult. There are so many to choose from and so much conflicting information.

Naturally most people who are suffering from an outbreak of acne are desperately seeking some kind of treatment option that will deal with the acne NOW! It is this desperation that the skin based acne treatment programs are trying to take advantage of.

Home Acne Skin Care

So right now let’s get the basics of acne skin care out of the way so you can look deeper for a more permanent cure to your acne.

Your skin is a perfect location for bacteria to live and the truth is that we all have the acne causing bacteria on the surface of our skin nearly all the time.

The trick here is to try to make it so that your skin pores are not suitable places for that acne bacteria to multiply. If you can do that you will be able to decrease the chances of acne gaining a foothold in the first place.

There are three factors you need to cover:

1. Reduction of Bacteria.
2. Removal of Dead Skin.
3. Removal of Excess Oil.

In a nutshell that’s all that the expensive acne products you see everywhere are offering. They may use big technical terms and unpronounceable “medical sounding” product descriptions but the bottom line is that is all they are offering.

All you need is an anti-bacterial wash specifically designed for acne skin. Any good quality product used twice per day will do everything that it is possible to do for you as far as treating your skin goes.

Now that’s out of the way let’s cut to the chase on the real causes of acne and the correct targets for treating acne comprehensively.

Acne is caused by a hormonal imbalance where the body, regardless of whether male or female, is producing too much of a specific male hormone. The result of this is over production of oil in the pores resulting in blockages and infection.

Your body may have any number of conditions present for acne to occur as a result of the hormone levels being out of balance.

This is where it gets difficult to isolate a specific cause because in most cases it is a combination of causes centered around the general theme of hormone imbalance.

Here is just one example to give you the idea.

Let’s say you have a pre-existing hormonal imbalance due to puberty, pregnancy or some medical condition. This results not only in acne but reduces your body’s ability to process food.

This in turn, leads to nutritional imbalances reducing your body’s ability to fight infection resulting in blocked pores becoming infected.

All of the above is causing you worry so your stress levels go up resulting in more hormonal imbalance which then leads to overproduction of oil on the skin.

And around and around it goes!

The real problem here is to isolate which factors are at play with YOUR acne and in YOUR life and in what order of importance they need to addressed.

It is never just one thing, it is always a combination of things with a greater importance placed on diet, hormones or stress.

The only way to sort this puzzle out is by finding and sticking to a complete acne treatment program.

Not only must it recognize these points in a way that will allow you to solve your own acne puzzle it must also provide clear action steps to take to cure your acne once and for all.

You take a look here for some of the Best Acne Treatment Programs

This is nto seen as a way to get rid of commenting on the current posts in this blog but just a way for us to all talk and I will try to get in everyday and answer any questions that I have the knowledge to answer.

Right now I have setup three forums. They are:

• Acne Products
• Acne Treatments
• Food and Acne

I hope you have a chance to check these out and if you have any questions please let me know.

Bill

If you are looking for an effective acne treatment without side effects, try one or more of these five acne home remedies. These are quick to prepare and useful for those who have tried everything on the market. The ingredients are already in your kitchen! But first, do you have any of the following habits?

Are you a prey to excessive use of scented lotions, hair sprays or perfumes? Try to stop using them for a while and see if the acne starts to clear up. These products can often be harmful to your skin and cause it to flare up. Try using a different shampoo like “Head and Shoulders” or “Tresemme” which has Vitamin B.

Do you have a habit of wearing a cap or a hat everyday? Do away with it because you are probably allowing the flaking skin and dirt to fall directly on your face. Keep your face clean and let it breathe.

Do you take drugs like Accutane, Tetracycline or a contraceptive medicine to get rid of acne?  Is it working or is it making your skin dry and irritated? Replace these with internal supplements like Vitamin C, zinc and/or fish oils. These may not give immediate results but are effective home remedies for acne. They may work better than the chemical drugs prescribed or bought off-the-shelf.

If you have eliminated these habits try the following effective home remedies for acne:

1)    No mixture, no paste, just plain and simple honey can work wonders. Honey is a natural antibacterial that can kill germs.  Apply honey on the affected areas and put a piece of tissue over it (to keep from smearing it on your pillow). When you wash your face in the morning the astringent effect will sooth the eruptions.

2)    Rub raw garlic on your face (only if you are home alone!)  Do it several times a day and you will slowly heal the sensitive areas. This is one of the more reliable home remedies for acne.

3)    Lemon juice is another option you have as a treatment. Just apply it on the affected areas and leave it overnight. Sounds too good to be true? It works wonders and is another of the effective home remedies for acne.

4)    You could also apply a paste of fenugreek leaves (these can be bought at a health food store or online) on the infected areas. Wash it off after it dries on your skin.

5)    The last, but the most important tip, is to drink at least 10 glasses of pure water a day. This is a pre-requisite for any acne treatment and will keep your skin moist and supple.

These home remedies are convenient and useful. Most of these can easily be prepared and, more importantly, they don’t ordinarily produce any harmful effects on the skin.

As an extra for women, hormonal treatments are available for acne. An efficient method is to take birth control pills. They have a combination of estrogen and progesterone that helps in the reduction of acne. Some pills may have side effects and the dosage must be regulated for several months. It’s best to consult a physician and find the most suitable one for you. Try these homeopathic treatments before you invest heavily in cosmetics or drugs, these five natural acne home remedies may work best for treatment.

Good skin care plays an important role in treating acne. Following these skin care guidelines unless your dermatologist instructs otherwise can help improve treatment results:

1. Do NOT pop, squeeze or pick at acne.
This can make acne worse by spreading inflammation. With medical treatment, removing lesions is rarely necessary; however, when comedo removal is needed, it should be performed by an experienced healthcare professional.

2. Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild cleanser and pat dry.
Acne is not caused by poor hygiene, and vigorous washing and scrubbing will not clear your skin. In fact, all that scrubbing can irritate your skin and make acne worse. The way to clear acne is with appropriate acne products and good skin care.

3. Use noncomedogenic (does not clog pores) cosmetics and toiletries.
When buying cosmetics and other products that you will use on your skin or hair, be sure to look for ones labeled noncomedogenic. Makeup, sunscreen and toiletries that are not likely to cause acne state that they are noncomedogenic on the product.

4. Avoid aggravating your acne.
Oily hair, sporting equipment that rubs against your skin and airborne grease all can irritate and make your acne worse. Ways you can avoid these situations include:

* If you have oily hair, keep it off your face and wash it daily.
* Avoid using hair care products that contain oil, such as pomades and gels.
* Wear cotton clothing or moleskin under sporting equipment to avoid skin-to-equipment contact.

5. Give acne products enough time to do their job.
Ask a dermatologist (or pharmacist) how much time is needed for each particular product to work. This way you will know when you can expect to see clearing and not stop using the product(s) before you see results. As a rule of thumb, it takes 6 to 8 weeks before you begin to see an improvement.

6. Use medications as directed.
Using more medication than directed will not improve results. In fact, it can make acne worse by aggravating the skin. Be sure to read all labels and use accordingly or as instructed by a dermatologist.

7. Avoid excess exposure to sunlight, and do not use tanning booths or sun lamps.
Contrary to popular belief, tanning does not clear acne; it simply masks acne. Tanning also increases one’s risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Additionally, some acne treatments can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and ultraviolet light from tanning booths and sun lamps. If you have acne, it is important to protect your skin by following sun-protection practices, such as wearing sunscreen and avoiding sunburns.

Are these tips all you need to prevent acne? If not you should be interested in a proven method to rid you of your acne. Then read my review of the book Acne No More. Another great product I have reviewed is Acnezine.

Basically, retinol is a vitamin A derivative. Vitamin A is beneficial for your skin, your vision, and your bones too. But to understand how retinoids control acne, it helps to know a bit about how pimples form in the first place. It’s a combination of factors that begin when the skin cells lining the hair follicles die and begin to slough off. Sometimes these cells get sticky, clump together, and plug up your pores, thus giving rise to pimples. Retinoids put a stop to this chain of events by bringing these cells back into balance and preventing them from sticking together. The cells are then free to slough off normally. In short, retinoids keep your pores open.

Retinoids also have anti-aging properties, another bonus for adult acne sufferers. The vitamin A derivative increases the amount of collagen in your skin, a protein that keeps your skin youthful and elastic. You may notice your skin looks more smooth and vibrant after using retinoids for a while.

Unfortunately, retinoids also have negative side effects. They can dry and irritate your skin at first, and may even worsen acne for a short time. To avoid stressing out your skin, you should begin by applying a topical retinoid no more than once a week, and gradually increase the number of applications each week. In most cases the skin will get acclimated to the retinol cream and won’t be irritated by it. Applying moisturizer can also offset the drying effects. Retinoids can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so applying a sunscreen is a must.

There are several different types of retinoids, including Differen, Retin-A, and Tazorac. Although most are applied topically as a cream or ointment, there is a retinol that can be taken orally. Isotretinoin (more commonly known as Accutate) is the most effective retinoid treatment of all. In fact, for many patients it stops acne indefinitely. However, Accutane is infamous for its side effects. It can cause birth defects if women take this medication while pregnant. It can also dry out your lips and nose, and cause nosebleeds. In rare cases, it has been linked with joint soreness, liver complications, and suicidal thoughts. For these reasons, it’s wise to work closely with a physician when taking an oral retinoid such as Accutane.

If you’ve been struggling with acne and feel like you’ve tried everything, a retinol may be just what you need. Retinoids are especially effective when combined with other acne treatments, such as a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment. Ask your dermatologist if retinoids are right for you.

Acne is caused by blockages in the hair follicles. It is usually most apparent on the face, back and chest. Even though you might think that as a woman you do not have hairs on your face, back or chest, in fact you do, although they may be so tiny and thin that they are invisible.

Hormonal changes during puberty cause higher levels of sebum, a natural oil that keeps the skin moisturized. Suddenly, more of this is produced, especially on the face. This leads to oily skin problems and blocked follicles when the sebum collects there and mixes with other natural substances like keratin. If the follicles are open to the air, the collected sebum oxidizes and appears as a blackhead. If they are not, it forms a lump with a white or yellow appearance – a whitehead pimple – that may or may not become infected. In other cases, the inflammation is deeper and only a red lump or cyst is visible.

Since acne is caused by blockages in the skin, we could say that the best makeup for acne prone skin is none at all. But that is probably not what you want to hear when you are young and interested in improving your appearance. Anyway, there are no guarantees that your acne will clear up just by not wearing makeup. Plenty of boys get acne without ever wearing any makeup at all!

Nevertheless it is true that if you are not careful in your selection of makeup products, you may find that you are adding to the problem of blocked pores and inflamed hair follicles, so you get more blackheads and pimples.

Concealing makeup can be very helpful if you have a lot of skin redness. It can also cover breakouts of pimples, hiding the most unattractive aspect of pimples. You can find many skin creams that are specially designed to both conceal and heal pimples. These are the best makeup for acne prone skin when it comes to concealing the signs of acne.

But you will probably also want regular makeup that you can use all over the face or at times when you do not have an acne breakout. What is the best makeup for acne prone skin at these times?

The most important thing to look for is a medicated foundation makeup. Non-medicated foundations are about the worst thing that you can apply to skin with a tendency to acne because they fill the pores with unmedicated product that adds to the problem caused by sebum. Foundations are designed to smooth the skin by filling any little holes that they find, so you really need to have some medication in there if they are not going to add to your problem.

Apart from foundation, most other makeup does not affect acne. Of course, it is important to cleanse the skin thoroughly at the end of the day and leave it free of makeup during the night. At that time and in the morning you can use a medicated anti acne wash. All of this should help you when you use the best makeup for acne prone skin.

Clearing acne is important, not only for right now but for the future too. In many cases acne produces scars that can last for a long time. If you have it severely, finding out how to cure acne can be important for your appearance for many years to come.

Of course, there are several types of medication that can be used to clear acne. These include gels and washes, antibiotics, hormonal treatments and prescription retinoids. However, some of these are more effective than others. Some have side effects, too.

If you have not found a drugstore remedy that works for you, you may want to consider how to cure acne naturally.

The good news is that there is a lot that you can do for your acne the natural way. You just need to make some simple changes to your lifestyle.

First, be sure that you are getting regular exercise and drinking plenty of water. Both of these measures will help to clear your skin by washing out impurities. Of course, you also need to keep your skin clean with an anti acne face wash. Do not forget to use this after exercising – the sweat needs to be washed away from your face as well as your body to prevent the ducts from becoming clogged, forming pimples or even cysts.

Second, consider your diet. As we said earlier, acne is found in around 90% of teenagers in the developed world: countries like the USA and Canada, western Europe, Australia etc. By contrast, it is rare in countries where the native population still follows an indigenous diet instead of eating western foods. Research has found that as a country like India becomes more developed, acne begins to appear more widely. It seems obvious that this is because the population has begun to adopt something more like an American diet, with higher quantities of milk products and sugar.

Research reported in the periodical Skin Therapy Letter (March 2010) showed that eating a diet with a lot of cow’s milk and a high glycemic load causes acne to worsen. So it seems clear that you may be able to discover how to cure acne naturally for yourself by consuming lower quantities of cow’s milk products and reducing the glycemic load of your diet.

What is glycemic load? It is the speed at which the food you eat causes a rise in your blood sugar levels. The food with the highest glycemic load is sugar in all forms (syrup, honey etc). After that come refined (white) grain products such as white bread, white rice and pasta. If you can cut these out of your diet and replace with refined grain products like whole wheat bread and pasta and brown rice, you would be taking a big step toward a healthier lifestyle that may have a beneficial effect on your acne.

The reason that whole grain products have a lower glycemic load is because the fiber that they contain slows down the process of converting their carbohydrates to blood sugar. The same is true of fruit. If you drink fruit juice, even freshly squeezed, there is no fiber and your blood glucose will rise quickly. It is much better for your skin if you choose to eat the fruit rather than juicing it.

It may not seem easy to make these changes and of course results are not guaranteed but it is well worth while. Not only might you see significant improvement in your skin, with fewer and less severe breakouts, but you are also likely to feel healthier and better about yourself if you follow these tips for how to cure acne naturally.

Some people think that popping pimples causes scars. In most cases, this is not true. Provided you do not keep picking at the scab that forms as a pimple is healing, there is no reason why it should not heal cleanly. Of course, if you do pick at the scab, then scarring may occur.

More often, scarring is caused by the skin’s own reaction to the inflammation of acne. As the lesion heals, collagen forms around it. Sometimes the collagen is deposited unevenly, leading to pits and bumps in the skin surface.

The most serious types of acne scars are ice pick (deep, narrow indentations) and box car scars (wider but less deep, like chicken pox scars). But it is also very common to have an area of redness with a slight lump that slowly fades – sometimes taking several months or even years to disappear completely.

So let’s look at how to get rid of acne scars. For serious scarring like ice pick, box car or rolling scars that leave the facial skin uneven, you will need to see a dermatologist or doctor. Depending on your individual case, you may be offered laser treatments, chemical peels or microdermabrasion. All of these treatments need to be carried out by a qualified professional. They are not things that you should attempt at home.

Perhaps you are interested in knowing how to get rid of acne scars naturally? One of the simplest things that you can do to reduce signs of acne scars is to apply lemon juice. This should be freshly squeezed from a lemon for maximum effect: bottled and other lemon juices have been heat treated and sometimes have other added ingredients. Lemon juice is most effective for superficial, red scarring, but it can help all pimples to heal cleanly.

The best way to prevent acne scars is to reduce the severity of your acne in general. This can be done with medications or by changing to a healthier diet, avoiding sugar and white carbohydrates, cutting down on dairy products and choosing organic milk products with lower hormone levels, and eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Most of us have diets that are nowhere near reaching the recommended levels of many vitamins. When you consider that some of the most effective acne medications are related to vitamin A, you will begin to see how important diet could be. Be aware, however, that an excess of vitamin A can be dangerous so random supplementation is not the answer.

You can check your own intake of vitamins and minerals by using a site such as fitday.com. Although designed for people losing weight, the calculators and diaries at sites like this can be useful for anybody wanting to improve the quality of their diet.

A diet that is healthy, balanced and high in vitamins and minerals can help to reduce acne breakouts, preventing more scarring. It may also help to the body to heal its existing acne scars. So diet, alongside treatment of existing scars, is of great importance in knowing how to get rid of acne scars.

In order to understand how blackhead clearing works, we must first look at what a blackhead is and what causes some people to have them, while others seem to escape without a single one.

Blackheads (or comedones, to give them their medical name) are caused by excess natural oil or sebum which collects in pores and hair follicles. This mixes with another natural product of our skin called keratin, to form a plug that blocks the follicle. If one end is open to the air, which is particularly common on the nose, this material oxidizes and becomes dark colored at the surface. This is what makes blackheads appear black.

When the same thing happens in a closed hair follicle, the material does not oxidize. In that situation it remains yellow or white, and is called a whitehead. Whiteheads can also contain some infected pus, which is less likely with a blackhead.

The cause of blackheads is usually hormonal. It is your hormones that control the amount of sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. Anybody with oily skin is likely to get blackheads, especially at times of high hormonal activity such as puberty or, for women and girls, around the time of menstruation.

So how does blackhead clearing work? There are many methods that you can use to clear the clogged pores and prevent a recurrence.

One of the most popular products for getting rid of acne, including blackhead clearing, is benzoyl peroxide. Another is salicylic acid. Many of the most successful commercial acne products include this as the main active ingredient. Check labels on brands in the drugstore and experiment to see which works best for you.

Salicylic acid is the main ingredient in aspirin, so you may want to try this as a simple home remedy. If your blackheads respond to products containing salicylic acid, you may want to try using an aspirin mask on your nose or other affected areas. Test this first on a hidden area of skin to check that your skin is not sensitive to it.

The simplest way to do this is to mix some soluble aspirin with a little water and spread it over the area. Leave to dry or overnight (but not the first time, in case of a reaction) then wash off with warm water. Used once or twice a week along with blackhead clearing products daily, you may find that this has a good effect on your blackheads.

You will not be able to stop your glands producing sebum, and in fact you would not want to, because this is the skin’s natural protection from the weather. It moisturizes the skin and keeps it looking young and healthy. However, you can do things that will prevent sebum from solidifying in the follicles and causing blackheads.

Products that include an exfoliant can be very effective in blackhead clearing. To both remove and prevent blackheads you will need something that you can use every day. This means that it has to be gentle, in order to avoid damaging the skin.

If you have large blackheads that you want to remove with an extractor, the best method is to exfoliate first, then give the face a steam bath for 5 minutes to open the pores. Extract the blackheads, then use an astringent toner or lemon juice to close the pores again. Afterward, you will need to establish a daily preventive for permanent blackhead clearing.