Thursday, February 14, 2008

Acne Scar Treatment

Acne Scar Treatment

From old wives tales to internet legends home remedies for acne abound Theyre easy enough to find but do they work Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules about home remedies for acne Some people have in fact had excellent results using common household ingredients Others however havent had the same luck Since there are no real studies done on home remedies it is difficult to measure their success Still certain ingredients are recognized as having acnefighting properties Menthol found in peppermint and spearmint has cooling and soothing properties It is also known for its ability to kill germs and is a common ingredient in mouthwash It can also be found in many cleansers and toners including Murads Clarifying Cleanser Witchhazel is a shrub that blooms in cooler months It also has highly effective astringent qualities Witch Hazel extract is available in bottle form at any drugstore This common ingredient is found in many toners including the one made by Proactiv Citrus fruits such as lemons and limes feature several ingredients that make them effective in the fight against acne Vitamin C a natural antioxidant is essential in the formation of collagen Citric acid is also an effective astringent and antioxidant In addition citrus fruits are a good source of flavonoids yet another naturally ocurring antioxidant Although not widely recognized for its uses beyond spicing and seasoning food cinnamon actually has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties This could explain the spices presence in many home remedies for acneDue to its natural sugar content honey acts as an antibacterial and antimicrobial It also reacts with body fluids creating a form of hydrogen peroxide Even doctors have recognized the antiseptic qualities of honey using it to treat wounds and burns Since many common kitchen ingredients do have medicinal qualities perhaps some people will have success using home remedies to treat acne Keep in mind though that overthecounter and prescription strength acne treatments feature only small amounts of the natural ingredients Most have long and complicated lists of ingredients that have been formulated through years of scientific research Still as long as you are not allergic to any of the ingredients you have nothing to lose by trying Here is a partial list of recommended home remedies for acne

Honey and Cinnamon Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder Apply the paste to the face each night at bedtime
Toothpaste Simply apply a dab of mint toothpaste over existing pimples and allow to dry overnight Do not use gel
Orange Peel Mix pounded orange peel with water and rub the mixture directly on the acne
Lemon Juice Lemon juice can be applied directly on the blemishes
Lemon and Rose Water Mix equal parts lemon juice and rose water and rub the mixture directly on the skin
Mint Rub mint juice over the skin
Witch Hazel Mix witch hazel with water Apply mixture with a cloth or cotton ball over the entire face
Cinnamon and Lemon Mix equal parts cinnamon powder and lemon juice Apply the mixture directly on pimples
Cinnamon and Milk Mix cinnamon powder with milk and rub on affected areas
Garlic Peel garlic cloves and rub over the skin
Aloe Vera Rub aloe vera juice directly over affected skin
Cucumber Grind cucumber to a paste and apply over entire face Rinse after 30 minutes
Acne is a problem that affects many people but fortunately there are a variety of acne treatment products and methods available to help

Mild acne can often be treated with overthecounter remedies Home Acne Treatment
For many people with mild acne or those who suffer from periodic breakouts or blemishes home remedies for acne can be very effective Everyday products such as lemon juice mint and cinnamon can be applied to blemishes to help diminish and dry them Aloe Vera and cloves of garlic may be able to help blemishes the composition of these plants promotes healing

Other home treatments include dabbing toothpaste on blemishes overnight or applying witch hazel over the affected areas As with any treatment the results of home solutions vary If your acne doesnt improve with home treatment you may want to try a stronger natural or overthecounter product

If you prefer natural skin care you may want to try one of the many products available today that are based on natural substances or a natural method of treating your acne

Tea Tree Oil
One popular acne treatment is derived from tea tree oil Found in both a concentrated form as well as in many acne facial washes and other products tea tree oil promotes healing and has natural antiseptic properties that have proven effective for a variety of individuals

Buying Natural Acne Remedies
Many skin care lines market and distribute natural acne remedies including the following

Arbonne
Burts Bees
ZenMed
Desert Essence
Treating Acne Through Diet

Although the claims that foods such as pizza and chocolate cause acne have been deemed as myths in recent times most skin care experts agree that a healthy diet rich in whole grains fresh fruit and vegetables and lean protein sources is beneficial to those with acneprone skin

Drinking at least 810 glasses of water per day is also recommended to help flush impurities from your body this may have a direct effect on acne as well. For people with moderate acne overthecounter acne treatment can often clear their skin Drug store acne remedies are sold in creams gels sticks washes masks and other forms but typically contain one or more of the following ingredients

Benzoyl Peroxide Benzoyl peroxide is considered a very effective acne agent It is an antiseptic agent that has a drying effect which is beneficial for getting rid of blemishes but may not work for those with sensitive skin Overthecounter concentrations are typically found in 10 percent strength or less
Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid unclogs pores and breaks down the cycle of bacterial growth that causes pimples
Sulfur Sulfur is used in acne masks spot treatments and other products to heal and prevent acne without overdrying the skin
Neutrogena is an overthecounter brand that is recommended by dermatologists

For acne that is severe or persistent and certain conditions such as cystic acne medical treatments may fare better than overthecounter products Physicians can prescribe benzoyl peroxide in higher concentrations which may provide the effectiveness some acne sufferers need

Other medical acne treatment includes antibiotic creams or pills tretinoin brand name RetinA and isotretinoin brand name Accutane Be sure to discuss the side effects of any acne treatment with your doctor first Accutane in particular has a severe side effect it has the potential to cause birth defects if a woman becomes pregnant while on the medication

Acne scar treatment is available to those who are plagued from unsightly marks from past breakouts The treatment you need will depend on the severity of scarring For light scars simply applying a concealer or using a noncomedogenic overthe counter scar treatment may be all you need

SkincareSince over 80% of the population suffers from acne there are many acne skin care options available to those in search of a clearer complexion Whether youre troubled by occasional breakouts or coping with a longterm skin condition there are skin care products available to help you look your very best

Acne is caused by dead skin cells and excess sebum clogging the pores in your skin The condition is thought to be hereditary If your parents suffered from acne youre more likely to be bothered by reoccurring blemishes than someone without this family history

While acne is most often associated with teenagers many adults suffer from this embarrassing condition In fact adults typically have a more difficult time treating their acne because they are more likely to have skin that is easily irritated by the harsh ingredients in some acne skin care products

Contrary to popular belief chocolate pizza French fries and ice cream do not cause acne However eating a wellbalanced diet rich in lean protein whole grains and fresh produce may help improve the look of your skin by reducing sebum production enhancing tissue growth and improving circulation

While a tan may temporarily minimize the appearance of acne the sun does not cure acne Sun exposure ultimately does more harm than good by leading to wrinkles and premature aging In addition some acne medications can make you more likely to sunburn in a short period of time

Since acne is not caused by dirt merely scrubbing your face will not improve your complexion In fact excessively rubbing squeezing or picking at your skin will only make your acne worse

Treating acne often requires a skin care regimen consisting of several different products For example you may use a cleanser to remove dead skin cells and an antiacne gel to control excess sebum production while fighting bacteria There are also acne treatment masks that can be used on a semiregular basis to open pores and clear debris

When youre shopping for acne treatment products look for medications that have been dermatologist approved These products are less likely to cause irritation flakiness or redness in your problem skin

Patience is a key component of acne skin care Generally it takes at least two weeks to see results from an acne treatment product In most cases a significant improvement requires several months of regular use Dont give up your acne skin care regimen until youve given the products a chance to work

Common Acne Treatment Options
Did you know that Americans spend more than $100 million each year on overthecounter acne skin care medications Clearly acne sufferers have a wide array of choices to treat their condition However there are two just common ingredients found in most nonprescription acne skin care products Benzyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid

Benzoyl Peroxide works by killing acnecausing bacteria However it often causes irritation and dryness in people with sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid helps remove the debris that clogs pores while destroying the bacteria that causes acne It also helps improve collagen production and skin thickness

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