Acne Vulgaris, translated as ‘common acne,’ is the most common type of acne. It is better known as blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules or cysts.

Blackheads – Occur in partially blocked pores. Dead skin cells, bacteria, and sebum (the substance that causes oily skin) drain to the surface of the skin; the pigments are exposed to air, which causes the black color. Blackheads can take a long time to clear up.

Whiteheads – Contained beneath the surface of the skin, the trapped sebum, dead cells and bacteria are completely blocked in the pores.

Pustules – With the appearance of a red circle with a white or yellow center, this form of acne is more often called Pimples or Zits.

Nodules – Much larger than other forms of acne, nodules form hard lumps beneath the surface of the skin which can be painful and last for several months. Highly susceptible to scarring, this form of acne is recommended to be treated by a dermatologist.

Cysts – Similar to a nodule, this form of acne is filled with pus. Like nodules, cysts can be very painful and lead to scarring if untreated. Cysts should be treated by a dermatologist.

Acne Conglobata – More common in males than females, this rare form of acne vulgaris is extremely disfiguring. Large lesions form on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs, sometimes accompanied by numerous blackheads. Acne Conglobata can cause severe psychological as well as physical suffering, damage to the skin and permanent scarring. This condition can last several years.

Acne Fulminans – A sudden case of Acne Conglobata, with a fever and aching joints. Generally treated with oral steroids.

Gram-Negative Folliculitis – A bacterial infection which causes pustules and cysts, this form of acne may be caused by long-term treatment of acne with antibiotics.

Pyoderma Faciale – Affecting only females usually between ages 20 and 40, most commonly in women who never had acne before, this type of acne consists of painful pustules, cysts and nodules on the face. Permanent scarring is potential. Generally clears up within a year.

Acne Rosacea – Notably affecting people over the age of 30, Acne Rosacea causes a red rash on the face. Pimples or other skin blemishes may also be present. This should not be confused with Acne Vulgaris as there are two different treatments for these types. Acne Rosacea occurs more frequently in women than men but is more severe in the men it affects.

Women go through hormonal changes many times in their lives. If you are suffering from a recent acne outbreak, it may be because of hormone changes going on in your body. When the body has a high androgen level, the hormone known as testosterone, it can cause acne outbreaks in the female body.

For mild cases, a number of over-the-counter products are available such as Clearasil or Oxy 10. These products often use benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or a combination of both. These act as an antibacterial cleansing agent and can be effective for less severe cases of adult female acne.

For severe or prolonged hormone imbalances, you may consider talking to a physician about hormone treatments. If hormonal imbalance is the cause of your acne, a doctor can help identify and diagnose the problems. Hormone treatments can be effective against even the most severe cases of acne found in women. The treatment inhibits the androgens from stimulating the oil glands, thus cutting down on excessive oil that can cause clogged pores and hair follicles. A blood test and often a prescription for oral medication are required for hormone treatments, so it is only available through a doctor. They can be very effective treatments, however, even to the point of stopping the acne before it even occurs.

One last-resort option is a prescription medication called Accutane. It is a concentrated form of vitamin A.  Vitamin A is an effective nutrient that strengthens the protective tissues in the skin. It helps repair and maintain the cells that mucous membranes are made of. It also inhibits the body’s production of sebum, a kind of oil that the body produces in the sebaceous glands. When the body produces too much sebum, the pores and hair follicles can become clogged. Accutane should be used when other treatments have been tried and failed because it has some side effects such as possible complications during pregnancy or birth defects.

Another option may be birth control pills. Hormonal pills such as OrthoTryCyclen and Estrostep are standard prescriptions that often help prevent acne outbreaks. They are not always totally effective in clearing up blemishes and at times must be used in combination with other forms of treatment. Again, a physician is the best person to consult with in helping to determine what the best options may be. When taking any kind of hormonal birth control pills, women must remember to follow health restrictions that come with use of the pill, such as not smoking cigarettes.

Remember, whatever level of acne a woman has can be treated and helped. The first step in acne prevention is to consult a doctor or dermatologist. If you are ready for beautiful skin, it is very attainable with some effort and care.

Acne, as you may already know, is a very severe skin disorder that affects thousands of people from all over the world. It not only affects the surface of the skin but also the inner layers of the skin. Acne usually occurs on the face, neck, chest and back, and it starts during the adolescence period.

During the past several years, a good number of acne experts and skin care professionals have conducted many studies on how to prevent the formation of acne. And fortunately, these skin care specialists have come out with certain acne skin care tips that can be of great help for fighting acne. I have selected the three simpler yet most powerful acne skin care tips that you can follow in order to have a healthier skin. These are mentioned below:

Acne Skin Care Advice# 1: You Should Always Clean Your Skin Very Gently

First of all, personal hygiene is very necessary for fighting acne. So as what most experts usually suggest, you should gently clean your skin with a mild cleanser at least twice a day. This simple acne skin care step is deemed important for fighting acne since washing your face or the other affected areas will wipe away the acne-causing bacteria found on the skin. Also note that although you are sometimes told to scrub your face, scrubbing is not a good acne skin care move since it will just trigger the development of acne, worsening the condition. In addition to this acne skin care step, it is worth noting that astringents are not always suggested unless the skin is very oily. And, they must only be applied on the oily spots.

Acne Skin Care # 2: You Should Refrain from Frequently Holding Your Skin

Another helpful acne skin care tip is to avoid frequently handling of the skin. Don’t pinch, pick or squeeze your pimple since it will only worsen the condition. Many of the people have considered this acne skin care step as one of the most important acne skin care pointers knowing that it may only cause infection and scars formation. As this acne skin care tip holds, you should avoid rubbing and touching your skin lesions if possible.

Acne Skin Care # 3: Always Choose Cosmetics Carefully

This last acne skin care tip holds that people who are being treated for acne must change some of the cosmetics they use. Note that in order to avoid the onset or the development of acne, the cosmetics you plan on using like the foundation, blush, moisturizers, and eye shadow should be oil free. Aside from that, this acne skin care tip also holds that you must avoid oily hair products for they may cause closed comedones. Therefore, those products that are labeled as noncomedogenic should be applied.

It is a fact that many of us are very conscious of our skin condition. And as such, we are always wanting to have a fresh, good-looking skin as much as possible. Unfortunately, many of us also fail to come to the conclusion that simple steps are the best ways to accomplish this goal. We often are blind enough that we don’t see what’s really right or wrong for our skin. We often fall in so much frustration and desperation that make us go buy any high-priced beauty products that in the end just turn out to be a waste of time and money, and even worsen our acne. Hopefully, the above mentioned acne skin care tips will be a good start to help you enhance your skin condition.

There are various factors causing acne. Some of them are the hormonal activities like the menstrual cycle and increased output of hormones from the adrenal glands. Accumulation of dead skin cells, bacteria in the pores, skin irritation or scratching, use of antibiotic steroids, use of medication containing halogens, lithium, barbiturates or androgens, and exposure to high levels of chlorine compounds can also cause acne.

Ace treatments can be done with the help of benzoyl peroxide, proactive solution, antibiotics, tretinion, isotretinion, contraceptive pills, salicylic acid, adapalene, laser treatment, blue light treatment and herbal remedies. 90% of adolescents have acne. Acne can be treated in various ways. Exfoliating the skin, using topical bactericidals, topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, hormonal treatment, external retinoids, oral retinoids, and phototherapy are some of the methods of treating acne. The non inflammatory acne can be treated with azelaic, salicytic acid, topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide. The mild inflammatory acme can be treated with topical antibiotics. Isotretinion and topical retinoids are used to treat moderate inflammatory acne. Contraceptive pills with cyproterone can be used by females with virilization to treat severe inflammatory acne.

Acne often leaves a scar behind. There are various scar treatments to remove the mark –

·Dermabrasion – A high-speed rotary wire brush or diamond-coated fraise is used to remove the top layer of the skin to make the scar look less pitted. This is done by a cosmetic surgeon.
·Microdermabrasion – It involves blasting tiny crystals at the skin and rubbing the skin with a rough tool.
·Laser resurfacing – The top layer of the skin is burnt off by a laser.
·Punch excision – A punch tool is used, with the help of which the scar is excised, and the edges are sutured together.
·Chemical peels – Glycolic, salicylic, or lactic are applied to the skin to get a smoother layer in an acid peel.
·Subcision – A deep pool of blood is created under the scar by detaching the scar from deeper tissue. This blood helps form a connective tissue under the scar, thus levelling it with the surface.
·Dermal filler – An injectable filler is used to fill up the scar.

Mantaining a good hygeine with proper diet and medications help to reduce the occurance of acme, thus boosting your confidence level and self esteem.

Unfortunately adult onset acne doesn’t always respond to even the best acne treatments or acne products available at your corner drugstore.  Acne products that are sold over the counter usually contain a little medication, which does little to help the cystic acne that most adults suffer from. Cystic acne can cause deep scars meaning that not only must the sufferer purchase acne skincare treatments; they must also purchase acne scar treatment products as well.

Cystic Acne isn’t always easy to treat. It can be a result of hormonal imbalances the stem from conditions such as Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome or even Insulin Resistance.  Since acne products don’t treat the medical conditions that often are the cause of adult acne, becoming acne free isn’t easy.  Adult acne treatment just isn’t as simple as applying an over the counter cream or slew of acne products on a few pimples every night.

The best acne treatments for adult onset acne are all inclusive; they clean, hydrate, and protect.  Some dermatologists recommend changes in diet to help adults become acne free, but diet alone, without the help of some form of adult acne treatment, usually won’t clear things up. Just washing your face with acne skin care products doesn’t usually work either. In fact using too many acne products can actually make the problem worse.

The best acne treatments are those that are gentle yet effective, all inclusive, and simple to use.  Finding adult acne treatment that meets those standards used to be difficult, until two Stanford dermatologists set to work to create a line of acne products that not only treat adult acne, but in doing so, help to prevent the onset of acne scars.  Their product, Proactiv Solution, has transformed the world of acne products.  It has been called one of the best acne treatments by doctors and their patients because it really tackles the problems of adult onset acne.

Proactive Solution is more than just a topical treatment.  It is an acne management system that gets to the root of the problem and not only heals the acne that you have, but also prevents future outbreaks. Most of the acne skin care treatment options on the market today are more interested in treating existing acne, but do little to prevent your acne from returning. This means that the chances for acne scars is increased and costly acne scar treatment products or even surgery might be in your future.

Proactiv Solution is just that: a Proactive Solution! The best defense is a strong offense and Proactiv Solution penetrates deep into your skin to immobilize bacteria.

Even though Proactive Solution is designed to be used everyday, it is gentle on your skin. Unlike other chemical laden acne treatments that make your skin dry and flaky, Proactiv Solution is formulated with soothing botanicals like allantoin, panthenol, aloe, and chamomile.  It hydrates your skin and leaves it feeling smooth and delicate.

Because Proactiv Solution helps to treat acne before it becomes evident on your skin, it is a great prevention for acne scars and expensive acne scar treatments.  Used just twice a day, the formula is a great way to not only restore your skin to its former glory; it is a great way to keep it healthy.

Proactive Solution is easy to use. The three step process works together to annihilate acne. You simply wash with the exfoliating renewing cleanser, unclog your pores with the revitalizing cleanser, and then attack bacteria by smoothing on the repairing lotion. The whole process only takes a minute or two each day, but the result is acne free skin for good.

Even women that suffer from cystic acne caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome are reporting great results from using Proactiv.  Before this revolutionary treatment was designed, women that suffered from PCOS were forced to try and hide their acne with heavy makeup, but using Proactiv is actually helping many women to smile at the face they see in the mirror each day.

Adult onset acne is never easy to deal with. It is hard to cope with a condition that you never expected to face once you left adolescence. It no longer needs to be something you spend a lot of time worrying about. With the power of Proactive Solution in your court, clear skin is closer than you think.  Not only does it clear your acne, helping to prevent further outbreaks and ugly scarring, it leaves your face feeling soft, supple, and hydrated, unlike over the counter ointments that leave your skin red and dry.

Acupuncture: The use of acupuncture in the treatment of acne has not been scientifically evaluated but there have been reports that two acupuncture procedures have reduced the symptoms of acne: auricular acupuncture (acupuncture applied to the ear) and electro-acupuncture (acupuncture using a mild electrical current).

Herbal medicine: Some herbs are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and, for that reason, they may be helpful in the treatment of acne (as well as other skin conditions):

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) and flaxseed oil
Tea Tree Oil

The herbs that help reduce acne inflammation do so by reducing the amount of the P.acnes bacteria produced by the body as a reaction to clogged pores. Tea Tree oil has been favorably compared to benzoyl peroxide in the reduction of P.acnes and is said to have fewer side effects (stinging, itchiness and dry skin).

Homeopathic remedies: Homeopathic professionals evaluate the individual (their physical, emotional and intellectual makeup) before prescribing a treatment and then tailor the treatment to the individual. While homeopathy has not had the benefit of many scientific studies, professional homeopaths have found that certain homeopathic treatments reduce certain symptoms of acne:

Belladonna works best for people who are experiencing “hot” areas on their face or those who have pus-filled acne blemishes.

Calendula is used to treat pus-filled blemishes or blisters.
Hepar sulphur is useful for pus-filled blemishes that are painful.
Kali bromatum is used for deep acne blemishes, especially those on the forehead.
Silicea is used for deep, pus-filled acne blemishes.

Mind and body medicine: Mind and body approaches to the problem of acne are primarily through the practices of biofeedback, cognitive imagery and hypnotherapy.

Biofeedback and Cognitive Imagery: Biofeedback and cognitive imagery are relaxation therapies used because emotional stress can have an aggravating effect on acne. Biofeedback techniques train the individual to control some internal processes such as heart rate and muscle tension. Cognitive imagery (also called guided imagery) involves the use of mental pictures to relax and evoke helpful physical and emotional conditions. Together, when used properly by a person who has mastered the techniques, these methods have been shown to lessen the severity of acne breakouts.

Hypnosis: Hypnosis works pretty much the same way that biofeedback and cognitive imagery work, by relaxing the patient. The obvious difference is, of course, in the case of hypnosis, a professional practitioner is controlling the process.

Ayurveda: Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine originated in India. Ayurveda focuses primarily on diet and lifestyle. Each person, as we all know, is unique and Ayurveda treatments recognize this by tailoring recommendations to the individual.

The practitioner of Ayurveda observes the individual and applies knowledge he or she has learned through ancient texts that document the ‘energetic forces’ (called Tridoshas) that influence everything in nature — including, of course, humans. Ayurvedistic remedies tend to be herbal; for example, the one Ayurvedic preparation that has proven best for acne relief, a preparation called “Sunder Vati” is an herbal remedy that consists of Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Holarrhena antidysenterica and Embelia ribes.

Kampo: Kampo is a Japanese version of traditional, ancient Chinese medicine. A Kampo treatment for acne, the treatment called: Keigai-rengyo-to (TJ-50), has proven effective in some cases. TJ-50 consists of seventeen herbs that have combined anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Among there herbs are: Skullcap root (Scutellaria lateriflora), Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Mint (Mentha arvensis), Angelica root (Angelica archangelica), Peony root (Paeonia lactiflora).

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements: It has been pretty well proven that, at least as a general proposition, diet has no effect on acne but there are certain foods that effect certain people in certain ways. There are many reports from individual acne sufferers that certain drinks or foods (it seems that nuts are particularly suspect) make their acne worse. All that can be said about this is pay attention to what you eat and how it affects you over the next few days.

There are different types of acne scars which causes severe damage to your skin

Ice-pick scars are mainly seen on the cheek and are mostly small and can be shallow or deep. These can sometimes be hard or soft to touch. The soft scars can be worked upon by stretching and the same cannot be done to the hard ice-pick scars.

Depressed fibrotic scars in comparison to ice-pick scars are very large which has sharp edges and steep sides. The metamorphosis of ice-pick scars leads to depressed fibrotic scars with the passage of time.

Soft scars as the name suggest is soft to touch and like a mountain erupts from the skin. They are small, circular and very linear in shape.

Atrophic macules are small but when it happens to surfaces the face it becomes very big. Over a period of time they may turn blue and dry out to be less conspicuous. Follicular macular atrophy is usually seen on the chest or back of a person. These look similar to whiteheads which can be seen slightly raised above the surface.

Home treatments to remove scars are

• Use of sandalwood paste on the scars can help in getting the scars fade away
• Sandalwood paste mixed with black gram paste also helps
• Rubbing ice cubes helps in tightening your skin and making it young
• Sandalwood paste mixed with rose water kept overnight on your scar also helps, if it does not make your skin dry
• Acne pores can be tightened by applying cucumber juice
• Rubbing sliced tomato on your skin helps in closing the open pores and saves you from oily skin
• The other treatment may include skin surgery, skin grafting and laser treatment too

14 Days Acne Cure has one major problem. It is too full of detail. I was a chronic sufferer my self and when I first came across the 14 Days Acne Cure system, I laughed inside claiming that this is jut too good to be true.

Since I was already going nowhere with the acne medicines I was using and because of the really testimonials and success stories, I decided to give this a fair try for such a low price, compared to the expensive acne cleansing solutions that don’t give permanent results.

…I downloaded the main 14 Days Acne Cure book immediately after payment, and started to read. I was looking to find a bunch of crap but actually there wasn’t. It is about 68 pages long and full of everything you need to know about acne causes, types and treatments.

The main meat though is the real chapter – The 14 Days Acne Cure Formula. It is a really easy to follow formula but it takes a bit of hard work and self control. You will have to sacrifice particular kinds of food, go on detox diet for certain days and stuff like that.

The main thing I learnt from the 14 Days Acne Cure system is that Acne is merely a signal for a much deeper imbalance inside the body. I can’t say what kind of imbalance but all I can say is that this imbalance is what causes you to get sick and make you suffer from certain problems so many times.

…With the 14 Days Acne Cure system, Casey Gentles claims to cure this imbalance once and for all, and thus acne, a mere signal will simply disappear.

Although this sounds too vague, I personally gave it a try. It has been 8 months now and I have yet to see a bump on my face. My acne disappeared in exactly 29 days leaving two to three scars behind which eventually faded away using some of the methods Casey  mentions about getting rid of acne scars at the end of the 14 Days Acne Cure Book.

So if you are one of those who can take the time to get off the comfort zone and decide to give the holistic approach a fair try with a few sacrifices, you will probably enjoy acne free skin very soon.

I had a severe case of Acne and my acne was cure in 28 days or so. What acne do you suffer from?

14 Days Acne Cure should work for even the worst cases of acne, so why not give it a fair shot. If it doesn’t work, you can still claim a refund within 8 weeks.

I hope it works for you like it worked for me and hundreds of other acne sufferers who have tried it.

CLICK HERE to check out the 14 Days Acne Cure system yourself.

Fresh juices have antibacterial action and contain digestive enzymes that help you digest protein and fat.

Because of the vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, pure water, and nutrients that juices have, they have the power to cleanse your body of toxic wastes.

Here are some juices to drink that will keep your face free of acne.

Apple juice

Drink at least 2 glasses of this juice every day.  Apple juice has a high level of minerals and vitamins, which makes it ideal for skin health.

Apricot – berry juice

Mix equal parts of apricot and berry juice and add a little honey to taste.  Drink one cup in the morning.  Place the other two glasses into a thermos and drink one more glass at noon and one at dinner.

Cherry juice

Cherry juice is a powerful drink, because it has so many minerals.  It will make your body more alkaline by neutralizing acid waste in the blood, in the lymph liquid and wherever it goes.  It will also help keep you regular.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is one of the best juices you can drink for your skin health.  It contains many minerals, which will eliminate acid waste.  Lemon juice will help constipation, liver disorders, reduce mucus accumulation, improve digestion, reduce infections, and help to clear skin disorders like acne.

One way I use lemon juice is to squeeze the juice of one lemon into 16 oz water and drink it during the day.

Melons

Melon juice is also an excellent drink for acne.  It is almost a perfect food in that it has many vitamins and minerals.  It is most helpful with constipation, kidney disorders and skin disorders.

Orange and grapefruit

Prepare half and half of orange and grapefruit juice using a hand juicer.  The flavor is extremely tasty.  The combination of these two fresh fruits will give you a powerful start in the morning.  They will give you a vitamin C boost with plenty of flavanoids and minerals.

These combined fruits will cleanse your intestinal tract, help in blood disorders, liver disorders, lung disorders and skin infections.

Orange and lemon juice

Mix 3 parts of orange juice with one part lemon juice.  Add a little water and honey and put into a thermos.  Drink the juice all day long for glowing skin.

Lemon juice helps the skin to rejuvenate and grow new skin.  It helps the skin to flake off old skin and improve the skin’s metabolism.

Other juices to drink

There are many other fruit juices to drink.  Here are a few more.

*   Peach juice
*   Pear juice
*   Pineapple juice
*   Prune juice
*   Strawberry juice

Try to use organic fruit when making your juice.  It is better to make your own juices since most bottled juice contain no life force or natural live enzymes.  Drink the juices soon after you juice them.  If you want, put them in a thermos for later in the day.  If you can’t make your own juice, the buying bottle juices is second best for clearing your acne.

Cleansing
In order to prevent or alleviate acne, you need to keep you skin nourished from the inside and clean on the outside. People who suffer from acne need to be especially careful about the methods and products used to cleanse the skin.

Choose gentle herbal facial cleansers and moisturizers, and use them at least twice throughout the day to remove debris, oil, perspiration, and pollutants that have built up on the skin. There are several products on the market that are made exclusively for acne-prone skin. These products are designed to reduce the incidence of acne breakouts. The best product available is Oxy-Skin™. A non-oily face wash that contains tea tree oil or echinacea can also help to slow or halt the development of acne. Excessive washing will not help reduce acne, and in fact it can actually aggravate it. Rather, wash your face twice a day in the morning and evenings and rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Moisturizers and Cosmetics
As with facial cleansers, be sure to choose moisturizers and cosmetics that will work well with your skin type. Avoid oily cosmetics or any facial products that contain socetyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, parabens and sodium chloride, as these ingredients can cause acne. Cosmetics are a major cause of acne breakouts for adult women. Wear the least amount of makeup you feel comfortable with, to avoid irritation to your skin and allow your skin to receive an ample supply of oxygen.

Hands Off!
As hard as it can be to resist, picking or squeezing at pimples or blemishes will really only make them worse. In fact, it can cause open sores that lead to infection. Normally, a pimple will last any where from one to four weeks. But it will go away on its own. And picking or squeezing it will not make it go away any faster.

Herbal Acne Remedies
Herbal remedies can be very useful in the treatment and prevention of acne. Chamomile, lavender, juniper, bergamot, dandelion root, and burdock root can all be used to reduce toxicity in the skin and improve its overall condition. Other herbs like echinacea and poke root have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce the swelling and reduce of the blocked oil gland. Red clover may be beneficial for its estrogenic action and witch hazel has excellent astringent properties and may be very effective for cleansing acne prone skin.

Homemade Acne Remedies
In addition to store bought herbal and conventional acne preparation. There are several recipes that you can make at home to treat your acne prone skin.

Poultices: You can make a poultice out of several natural ingredients and apply it to the affected area. Here are a few poultice combinations that are useful in the treatment and prevention of acne. Unless the directions state otherwise, apply these poultices directly to the acne affected area and wash off thoroughly after twenty to thirty minutes.

•Ginger and milk
•Honey and cinnamon (Use this poultice at night and remove it the next morning with warm water.)
•Ground orange peel and water
•Salt and vinegar
•Turmeric and vinegar
•Lemon juice and cinnamon
•Ground sesame seeds and water (This poultice is especially effective at reducing inflammation.)

Topical Acne Treatments: You can use the following treatments to target specific acne related problems like swelling or redness.
•Rub fresh garlic on acne at frequent intervals to acne to reduce both redness and swelling.
•Use the juice of a fresh, raw papaya to relieve swelling acne.
•Rub fresh mint juice over acne to shrink inflamed acne.
•Drink wheat grass juice to prevent and cure acne.