Three Simple Steps to Acne-Free Skin

Derma Cleanse treats acne from the inside out using herbal ingredients and popular acne treatment, salicylic acid.  Among the many anti-acne treatments, Derma Cleanse is the only product that beats the root cause of acne.

• Step One: Cleanse. Wash face with Derma Cleanse herbal cleansing gel containing herbal ingredients from sage, coltsfoot, chamomile, cucumber and wild thyme, aloe vera and five vitamins.

• Step Two: Clear Acne. Use Derma Cleanse herbal gel with astringent, salicylic acid similar to acne treatment brands like  Clearasil, Oxy, or Stridex.

• Step Three: Detoxify. Take Derma Cleanse herbal capsule with various ingredients from honeysuckle to dandelion which will slow down the spread of acne-causing bacteria, regulate stress as well as maintain a balance of the female and male hormones.

Cheap and Effective Way to Get Rid of Pimples

A single pack of the Derma Cleanse System can cost almost a $100, but it can be bought on a discounted price of less than $80. Most acne sufferers though may be dubious that the product is truly effective and works on all types of acne. Those who have tried the product though have given testimonies on Zenmed website and on Facebook on how successfully Derma Cleanse has solved their acne problem within days of using the product.

What makes Derma Cleanse product unique is that it combines natural ingredients with proven astringent without causing irritation to sensitive skin. For those who’ve tried Derma Cleanse, this product they say prevents acne, clears the face and heals damage left by the blemishes.

Do acne sufferers wear cosmetics too? Certainly they do and most acne sufferers do not realize that in their desire to hide their acne, they worsen it by using the inappropriate cosmetics to their face. When this happens, the only quick fix is to stop using the product.

The common cosmetic products available can be quite oily and contain synthetic oil that triggers acne. According to the National Institutes of Health, the greasy cosmetics can exacerbate the clogging of skin pores. Lanolin is a common cosmetic ingredient that causes acne. It is a fatty acid that can penetrate deep under the skin and results to comedonal acne. Other comedogenic substances found in make-up are Isopropyl Myristate in cosmetic foundations and D & C dyes.

How worse can acne cosmetica look? Acne from cosmetics appears small, pinkish bumps on the cheeks, chin and forehead which can persist for a week or even months. But it doesn’t mean that people with acne should never use cosmetic products at all. There are cosmetics that are noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic. You just have to choose products with oil-free labels which will not clog your skin pores or worsen any existing acne problem. If you apply heavy foundation to conceal any blemish or cream products for the cheeks and eyes, the Roche Pharmaceuticals warns against using them. Instead, you can opt for powder blush on or eye shadows which are less likely to trigger acne.

Hair sprays and gels can make you look fashionable but they are greasy and can clog skin easily. Those who use hair products will notice that acne grows near the hairlines where hairsprays and gels come in contact with the skin pores. When spraying on hair, keep hair away from the face. The hair has natural oil and after a while, you can feel greasy as the hair spray or gel sets in and clogs your skin.

The Nemours Foundation recommends that acne prone people must carefully read labels when buying any facial or hair products.

Far from being a gridiron anomaly, this type of acne — known as acne mechanica — affects everyone from soldiers carrying gear in hot weather to violin players who may use chin rests for hours at a time. Anywhere there is heat and friction, acne mechanica has the potential to form.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are four factors that lead to the formation of acne mechanica:

1. Heat
2. Covered skin
3. Constant pressure
4. Repetitive friction against the skin

While athletes mostly get this condition, it may also develop from tight-fitting clothes. Some women even get acne mechanica along their bra strap lines.

The American Academy of Dermatology warns that certain traits may make people more pre-disposed to contract acne mechanica. For example, people who are more susceptible to non-facial acne (such as on the chest and back) seem more likely to develop acne mechanica. People who work in hot, humid conditions or have ‘sandpaper acne,’ which is basically small, rough bumps, are also good candidates for developing acne mechanica.

There are some simple things you can do to avoid acne mechanica, such as avoiding tight-fitting clothes and showering right after athletic activities. Be careful to thoroughly wash areas where you may have worn tight-fitting athletic equipment or may have experienced prolonged friction. Also, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing a cotton undershirt during athletic activities, which will be effective at absorbing sweat and reducing friction.

Acne mechanica is usually simple to treat through over-the-counter products or by eliminating the cause of the acne mechanica, such as removing a headband or loosening a chin strap that may be a little too tight.

Tazarotene is also the widely prescribed topical medicine for psoriasis because of its effectiveness as a psoriasis treatment as published in Medical News Today. The gel type tazarotene is preferred for treating acne, while the cream product is used by psoriasis patients.

How to Use Tazarotene

How do you use tazarotene for acne? Before applying tazarotene, make sure to wash your face with a cleanser that is mild and non-irritating to your skin. Gently dry your skin and wait for 20 to 30 minutes before applying a thin layer of tazarotene to affected areas.

Tazarotene must be used once a day at nighttime only. Using more than what is recommended may be harmful to your sensitive skin. The treatment can last for 8 to 12 weeks to see results; however in a month use results can already be observable as reported by the National Institutes of Health.

Tazarotene Side Effects

Are there any side effects when using tazarotene? Like any topical products for acne, the most common side effects are skin irritation, itchiness or rashes, and a burning sensation if skin is sensitive. Watch out for any rashes to appear and immediately consult your doctor.

Some reported cases of skin irritation when using tazarotene can be linked to the weather such as sunburn or windburn. The NIH advises that you see your doctor if you observe any unusual rashes on your skin.

Tazarotene Warnings

If you have been diagnosed previously to be allergic to vitamin A or retinoids like isotretinoin (Accutane), tretinoin, acitretin and etretinate , then you must mention it to your doctor or dermatologist so he will not give you tazarotene for acne. This will minimize the possibility of experiencing side effects of tazarotene.

Pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers are not allowed to use tazarotene for acne. Some serious prenatal defects can result from tazarotene use. If you are breastfeeding, your infant can be also be affected.

But do not despair. There are various ways to leave your teen stage without other people noticing you’ve been badly scarred by acne. Several treatments can improve your appearance and restore that blemish-free look that you want.

Four effective treatments have been identified by the Nemours Foundation for teenagers to solve their acne scarring problems.

• Laser resurfacing. If you like smoother skin in 10 days, laser resurfacing is a good option. The laser removes the top layer of your damaged skin and tightens the midlayer. There is no discomfort or pain as local anesthesia is applied before the procedure starts.
• Dermabrasion. This isn’t a new procedure at all. Using a brush or a rough-edged diamond wheel called burr or fraise, the outer layer of the skin is taken off or leveled. This is called planing or abrading. This is a surgical procedure which may injure the skin and cause bleeding but after the wound heals, the damaged skin is replaced by a new skin layer. The healing will take at least 3 weeks.
• Microdermabrasion. Similar to dermabrasion, this technique also removes the outer layer of the skin that has been scarred. However, it’s non-invasive and more commonly done as a cosmetic procedure. It abrades less deep using an exfoliating machine or cosmetic scrubs which are milder than abrasive tools. It definitely heals faster in 2-3 days.
• Surgery. If acne scars are large and deep, doctors may recommend surgery to remove them.

Nemour advises that consulting a medical professional about your teenage acne scarring is the best step to improve your appearance. Using topical products can still result to skin irritation.  Because the procedures are for treating acne scars, never undergo any of these methods when your acne is still fresh and breaking out; these are effective only when you are acne-free.

Rosacea can occur in 1 among 20 Americans. According to rosacea statistics from the National Rosacea Society, an estimated 14 million Americans are affected by this skin disorder.  Although rosacea is a common skin problem, doctors believe that the number of adults with rosacea may significantly be greater if only people are aware about this skin problem.

Doctors have admitted that rosacea is under diagnosed because many confuse its symptoms with adult acne.  Rosacea manifests symptoms that are similar to adult acne.

• Flushing or blushing
• Persistent facial redness
• Small and solid papules and pus-filled bumps or pustules
•  Enlarged and visible blood vessels characterized by red lines in the face

Some rosacea patients may also suffer from irritated eye including red and swollen eyelids and styes. Facial skin may also be dry and rough with red patches developing on the area affected. A burning sensation is felt when face starts to swell (edema) and skin begins to thicken and enlarge, and tightness on the face develops. The signs of rosacea may occur in other parts of

When treating any kind of disorder, doctors would look for the cause. Unfortunately, according to the National Institutes of Health, the cause of rosacea is still unknown. Medical studies conducted on rosacea simply explained that some people might just be susceptible to dilation of the facial blood vessels resulting to the redness of the face.

The NIH noted that women in their menopausal stage are prone to develop rosacea although men can also manifest the disorder as they grow older. Rosacea is most common among women in the 30 to 60 age range than among men. A Swedish study on the prevalence of rosacea in the female and male genders noted that among the 809 subjects under study, only 5% of the men while14% of women suffered symptoms of rosacea. Fair skinned people have higher incidence of developing rosacea and people originating from the northern, eastern European & Celtic regions are more at risks.

Like acne, rosacea can have devastating effect on the person. A research by the National Rosacea Society reported that 70% of  rosacea patients admitted that their self- esteem has decreased . 41% of them tried to avoid any social activity including skipping work due to their condition.

Topical ointments and antibiotics work in treating rosacea. The NRS observed that using antibiotics worked because of their anti-inflammatory component. Laser and non-invasive procedures may also be effective for severe rosacea. Blushing or redness of the face can be controlled by avoiding abrasive products on the face. It will also help if stressful situations are handles and resolved. There’s cure to rosacea; the only important thing is to get treatment before the condition worsens.

More or Less

The main cause of acne development is hormonal imbalance. During puberty, the teenager produces androgen hormones. The androgen hormones cause the body to stimulate oil or sebum production. If the body has more androgen hormones, more sebum clogs the pores and teen acne break out become a nuisance.

Adults, on the other hand, have deficient hormones in the body especially progesterone. At a certain point in adult’s life, the progesterone level decreases. Diet and busy lifestyle are also among the reasons for lowered progesterone levels. The Dermatology Times noted that deficiency in this important hormone can also trigger the overproduction of oil by the sebaceous glands.

It’s all about balance, like the yin-yang principle. If the body maintains a normal level of androgen and estrogen, the skin reflects a smooth and blemish-free complexion. The body needs a balanced hormone levels to avoid adult and teen acne. A rise or fall in major body hormones can bring a noticeable effect on a person’s skin.

Same Cure Won’t Do

A misconception exists when adults treat their acne as they treat teen acne. What may be effective acne treatment in your youth can not be used to cure your adult acne. You may have popped your pimples when you were just 13 years old and it disappeared, but extracting your pimples with your bare hands may just worsen the problem if you’re 55. In your teen, common acne problems are whiteheads and black heads but adult acne includes papules, pustules and cystic nodules where clogging of the pores are skin deep. This was what Dr. Brandith Irwin emphasized in a WebMD interview.

Over-the-counter treatments are available to treat acne. Teens can try various topical creams and find out what is effective to them. However what worked for teen acne like benzoyl peroxide may be too harsh for an adult’s sensitive skin and may result to dryness. Adult skin needs skin products that include moisturizer or soother. If acne is caused by progesterone deficiency, progesterone cream can be used. Experimenting with treatment for adult acne is risky, so a prescription from your dermatologist is an easier option. Doctors usually suggest an aggressive approach to adult acne. Unlike teens that can still outgrow their acne, adults can be affected by acne even in their senior years.

Azelaic Acid Forms

Azelaic acid are sold in the market in gel and cream form; gel to treat rosacea and cream for acne. Popular brands of azelaic are Azelex and Finacea.

How Does Azelaic Acid Work?

The National Institutes of Health attributes the curative strength of this acid is due to its ability to penetrate the pores of the skin. When it gets deep into the skin, it kills and prevents the growth of bacteria that causes acne. Excess keratin production can block pores and cause acne; therefore it works to reduce keratin.

Azelaic Acid Dosage

Because the facial skin is very delicate, this acid should not be used liberally. A thin layer must be applied on the affected areas two times a day after washing with a mild cleanser; one in the morning and another at night. Indications of improved skin condition will show usually after 4 weeks of regular application according to NIH, but some people can get results in shorter time.

Azelaic Acid Side Effects

There will always be side effects when using azelaic just like any topical products. Skin irritation, itching or rashes for people with sensitive skin are the most common side effects. Persistent rash problems should not be ignored when using this acid; you can stop the application and consult your skin doctor at once.

Although azelaic acid is safe, pregnant women and children are cautioned from using it. According to the Mayo Clinic, even without clinical findings on the adverse effects of this acid to pregnant women, it is best to consult the doctor before beginning an acne treatment using azelaic. Remember that the chemical can be absorbed in breast milk as it penetrates the skin.

For best results, use azelaic acid together with an antibiotic regularly. Be patient and do not seek immediate results.

According to the National Institutes of Health, cycline antibiotics differ from each other in some ways so doctors may prefer one over the other. The American Academy of Dermatology believes that most dermatologists would advise acne sufferers to take doxycycline and minocycline for acne beginning with a higher dose of 100 mg daily and tapering it down as acne slowly disappears.

Tetracycline

• Dosage: The antibiotic tetracycline is capsule or suspension (liquid) form taken  in 500 mg twice a day, or in 250 mg four times daily on an empty stomach. The dose is gradually decreased to 250 mg twice daily until acne disappear.
• Benefits: Perhaps the most popular among the cycline antibiotics, doctors prescribe tetracycline to treat moderate to severe acne and all other forms of bacterial infections including pneumonia and anthrax exposure.
• Side Effects: Upset stomach, diarrhea and stomach ache are common side effects when taking tetracycline. The medicine also can cause you to easily get sunburn. Rare and uncommon side effects include loss of vision and lethargy. Tetracycline must not be given to pregnant women because it might retard the infant’s skeletal development.  Children under 12 years old may also suffer from teeth discoloration during teeth growth.

Doxycycline

• Dosage: This comes in capsule, tablet or liquid form and is taken on a 100 mg dosage daily or 50 mg twice daily and after meal to avoid dizziness.
• Benefits: The antibiotic doxycycline is easy to be absorbed by the body thus it works faster in destroying the bacteria that causes inflammation of acne.
• Side Effects: Compared to the most prescribed tetracycline, doxycycline is more expensive and is prescribed when patient do not respond to tetracycline. All other vitamins and minerals or supplements like iron and calcium including antacids must be stopped because they hinder the body absorption of the drug. Because it’s a cycline, side effects are very alike with tetracycline. NIH recommends the use of sun protection for possibility of getting sunburned.

Minocycline

• Dosage: The antibiotic minocycline is in capsule, tablet or liquid form which can be taken by 50mg to 100 mg twice daily on empty stomach. There are also brands of minocycline that cannot be taken with milk or dairy product intake. Ask your doctor which brand is best to use with milk.
• Benefits: Minocycline has been found to reduce redness, swelling and tenderness or accne breakout by an average of 60%.
• Side Effects: Stomach ache and bowel-related symptoms including headache, vertigo, and nausea can be experienced if dosage is high.  If used on long term treatment, minocycline can cause bluish discoloration on the gums and teeth.  Some reviews indicated that minocycline can have two serious though rare side effects: hypersensitivity to the antibiotic can cause lupus erythematosus /hepatitis which causes severe joint pains, and  pseudotumor cerebri which is characterized by fluid accumulation around the brain causing headache and vision problems.

All cycline antibiotics taken orally cannot be administered to women using contraceptives because it can make the birth control ineffective. These antibiotics can also cause candida vaginal yeast infections among women with acne. It is always best to discuss with your doctor the side effects before taking the antibiotic.

Actimine is the result of a study which highlights the effects of vitamin supplements in clearing the skin from acne. The study is based on various publications from recent researches conducted on acne treatments.

Actimine is manufactured by Progressive Health Neutraceuticals and sold over-the-counter at $ 59.95 for a month supply. Actimine is available within USA although the company also ships overseas for an added cost ranging from $9.95 to $37.95.

Actimine Ingredients

Actimine is the first ever vitamin-based anti-acne product designed to work together with other common acne treatment regimen. This herbal supplement comes from natural ingredients that target the primary cause of acne. These are vitamins and minerals enhanced to meet more than just the 60% daily dietary allowance. The following are the primary ingredients in Actimine that helps you get rid of pimples.

Vitamin E and Selenium Combined

Deficiency in Vitamin A is affected if Vitamin E supplement is low too. Actimine combines Vitamin E and Selenium as an antioxidant and helps the  enzyme glutathione perozidase in preventing inflammation of the skin. This enzyme function to help the skin build resistance to pollution.

Zinc

Zinc is a nutrient that is part of the metabolic processes related to proper human body functions and healthy skin. One of these functions is the metabolism of testosterone which aids in decreasing the amount of oil production in the skin.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a skin vitamin that works effectively when blended with Selenium and Vitamin E to reduce sebum productions and prevent keratin buildup. Sebum and keratin are the causes of stubborn and tender pimples.

Methylsulfonyl Methane and Gum Guggul

Flow of nutrients and minerals to promote cellular permeability is facilitated by methylsulfonyl methane and Gum Guggul. In a clinical trial study of 20 patients, improved skin health was observed using Gum Guggul instead of oral antibiotics like tetracycline.

Actimine is taken three capsules daily, either before or after meals. It’s a vitamin supplement which means that a capsule containing Vitamin A, Vitamin E, selenium, zinc, methylsulfonyl methane and gum guggul will not only benefit the skin but the entire body system.

Progressive Health Neutraceuticals, the company that makes Actimine, offers a 180-day money-back guarantee for unsatisfied customers. It is a free, no risk trial to test if the product works with acne. If acne is caused by deficiency in important skin vitamins and minerals, then Actimine is the answer.