For many females, hormonal acne can appear as small bumps, almost appearing to be under the skin, that come out during periods of hormonal change.  Usually associated with their periods, this only adds to the overall “pleasure” of this time of month.   The concern with this type of acne is that exposing your skin to a rigorous or damaging acne product can actually make the issue worse rather than better, and that is not the result we are looking for.  Treatment is not difficult, but it does need to be followed to the letter to achieve the results that you desire. 

To begin with, finding the right cleanser is paramount.  Now you may think you have the best cleanser and you may think that you have tried cleansers that sound similar.  If you want to resolve this problem, you need to be sure to get facial cleansers that contain, not only these active ingredients, but also ensure that you are using products of documented quality.  To begin with glycolic acid is a must, this is going to be a large part of the treatment, but it is not the only thing needed.  You must combine that glycolic along with a powerful and proven anti inflammatory, anti bacterial ingredient.  Most scientific evidence points to Resveratrol, an ingredient found in the skin of grapes, as the premier ingredient to accomplish, although there are others out there to choose from. 

The combination of glycolic acid and resveratrol takes a different approach to the treatment of acne.  It repairs the skin’s natural healing process, allowing it to better deal with the hormonal changes that occur during menstruation.  While there may not be many products to choose from with this particular combination of ingredients, most that do combine it, have a well documented track record. 

For those of you that are currently treating your skin with a different acne treatment, that’s fine, complete that treatment, as it is important to give products time to work.  However if you are not happy once the treatment is done, move on to try this approach, you will be pleasantly surprised with the results that you achieve.

To begin with you should be looking for a facial cleanser that contains the active ingredient glycolic acid.  Now, many of us have tried cleansers that have contained glycolic acid, and in many cases those products did not deliver what we had hoped for.   As I said, this is only a starting point for your solution, so bear with me and follow along, you may be pleasantly surprised if you do. 

Oily skin is a bi product of a few processes that are taking place within your skin.  Those processes are magnified by the symptoms of acne.  Swollen, inflamed skin can trigger a oil product response as can an unhealthy balance of essential oils present within your skin, or the production of a particular enzyme.  In order to remedy oil skin, you must look to maintain the health of your skin at the same time that you hope to cleanse away the excess oils.  Find a facial cleanser that not only contains glycolic acid but the following ingredients and you are on the path to your oily skin solution.  

Chamomile extract is a proven anti inflammatory ingredient and it is known to calm and soothe the skin.  By relieving irritation you can reduce the amount of oil being produced by your skin, not to mention chamomile blocks free radicals and toxins from penetrating the skin.  Aloe Vera is another ingredient we are used to hearing in skin care but not as a treatment of oily skin.  Aloe Vera can be used to kill bacteria and fungus on contact making it a nice addition to a facial cleanser if oily skin is your objective.  Tangerine Oil is another ingredient that will go a long way in the reduction of oils present within the skin.  Tangerine Oil is a natural antiseptic so it is perfect for this, but it also sponsors new skin cell growth which is an essential aspect to treating this problem long term. 

A final ingredient that has been proven to be highly effective is Resveratrol.  Its use in acne is now fairly well documented and a few facial cleansers include it in their acne prone facial cleansers.  But when it comes to removing oily skin its combination with the ingredients mentioned above has proven to be not only highly effective but a one of a kind cleanser.

As we mentioned there is clearly a relationship between the foods that we eat and how it affects our skin, but there is no one diet that is sure to eliminate acne in all people, and all skin types.  It’s just not going to work like that.  There are, however, many basic guidelines for you to consider when you are choosing your diet.  We strongly recommend that you pay attention to the foods that you eat if you wish to improve your situation, and this is a great starting point for those of you that do not know which steps to take. 

Eat foods that are high in protein.  By having a high protein diet, you will reduce the amount of a particular enzyme that produces oil and clogged pores.  By focusing on ensure that you are maintaining protein levels you can often times regain control of oily skin.  Keep in mind that you also want to monitor your carbohydrate in take as well making sure to keep it below the 40-45% zone. 

You may have heard that chocolate or candies cause acne, but there is very little evidence to go along with that.  In reality the foods that you want to avoid are those that are high in saturated fat.  Sure chocolate is high in saturated fat, but it will not cause acne any more than the saturated fats found in meats, dairy and poultry.  We obviously need to find a balance between our protein intake and our saturated fat intake, doing so can be the answer you are looking for. 

Design a diet for yourself, keeping in mind the balance of protein, carbs and saturated fat that you are shooting for.  This process will most likely be a bit of trial and error, however by following the guides you will be able to find a diet that makes your acne better, if not control it all together.    Keep in mind that certain vitamins such as vitamin A and Zinc have helped with acne and should be supplemented along with your newly designed diet.  Green tea is another product that has proven to help, with regular consumption.  The key is to stay patient and consistent with your diet, avoid foods high in salt content and remember that this is only part of the process of eliminating acne, you will need a top of the line acne treatment to combat the bacteria on the surface layers of your skin.

While many of these approaches to acne treatment are used and in many cases effectively, there is one thing in common with all of them.  They are reacting to the conditions present within the skin.  For example, working to eliminate excess oils already present within the skin will most likely help treat an existing breakout, however it doesn’t actually address eliminating the production of the sebum itself.  And while working to eliminate acne causing bacteria has proven highly effective, it is also reactionary in nature, and many ingredients that accomplish this goal do so with many side effects.  (some all natural ingredients have proven to do eliminate acne causing bacteria without the harsh drying and damage)

While the scrubbing and cleansing away of acne is an age old ritual, the latest beliefs within the scientific community is that working to soothe the skin and eliminate inflammation actually helps the overall skin health, and ultimately the elimination of acne.  It is almost counter intuitive at first, to not be so focused on the scrubbing or cleansing, an instead allowing the active ingredients to penetrate the skin and go to work.  As you know, acne can cause a red swelling of the skin, and it is what makes acne so visible to others.  That inflammation is caused by irritated tissue.  Causing further irritation to the area, will only result in prolonged and more severe breakouts.  What the skin needs is to be able to restore itself to a healthy condition, so that it may heal the acne at their source, the imbalance within the skin.

By soothing inflamed skin with detoxifying cleansers and active ingredients designed as anti inflammatory, you are allowing your skin to heal rather than cause further irritation.  Further irritation can be from scrubbing or using ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, that may provide an initial improvement to the skin, but causes further irritation to the skin, which ultimately leads to breakouts.

The key is to think about acne prone skin much like an accident waiting to happen.  If you allow your skin to be irritated or inflamed then acne will breakout with abundance.  But if you are using a daily regimen that allows for the cleansing, treating AND soothing of the skin, you will find the balance that you have been looking for.   As much as we try to force our skin into balance with every product known to man, the reality is that we need to simply restore the health of our skin.  Doing so will bring about the balance and clear skin that so many of us are desperate to achieve.

Acne is frustrating enough without having to waste money on cleansers that do not help, or worse make the breakouts increase.  In most cases, this is about the quality of the cleanser itself, the active ingredients included in the cleanser, and often times consumers choosing the wrong product for their skin type or condition.  For this reason, many consumers grow impatient and ultimately frustrated, feeling as though they will never find an answer for their acne.  The key to finding the right product is to know what to look for, and which ingredients you want to see used.

Glycolic Acid, as an active ingredient, is such a smart starting point for an acne cleanser because of the fact that it works on all acne types and is suitable for all skin types as well.  Now not all glycolic cleansers are created equal.  If you have tried a glycolic cleanser in the past and feel that it did not do the trick, this may be because it was a lower quality cleanser or perhaps the formula of that particular brand was inferior.  There is no doubt that you want your cleanser to use glycolic acid if you are suffering  from acne, the question is which brand to look for.

Glycolic acid is derived from all natural sources and therefore it is most suitable within a well balanced all natural formula as well.  While many skin care companies will offer all natural claims, only a few have respected reputations within the industry.  Look for cleansers that combine active ingredients like Resveratrol to add the bonus of eliminating acne causing bacteria at the same time that it washes away excess dirt and oils.

The best acne cleansers are usually made by brands that offer some of the best acne treatments available on the market.  Read some of the consumer review sites out there and other consumer advocacy sites like this one and find brands that consistently rank among the best.  From there you can quickly scan the ingredient list and see if this particular product suits your needs.  Glycolic acid and resveratrol are two of the best ingredients to combine, and are often called detoxifying cleansers , and will shorten the list up rather quickly from there, making your decision that much easier.

While our opinion is just that, we derived our views based upon non-emotional criteria.  Look at the science and the studies behind these types of products and you too will see some of the world’s most prestigious universities and most respected scientists standing behind the use of these two ingredients above all else in an acne cleanser.  If it’s good enough for them, I feel confident in passing the referral along to you.   Read about the most proven glycolic cleansers and best acne treatment available on the market today.

If you’ve tried most of the acne treatments on the market, you already know this, and are probably ready to give up.  Don’t.  This article will explain exactly why most acne treatments don’t work, and in doing so will reveal a special breed of product aimed at eliminating acne that might finally end your suffering.

The Biggest Problem with Acne Treatments on the market is in their perception of what must be done to the skin in order to keep it clear.  The vast majority of acne treatments out there seem to be thinking, “Hey, lets kick the crap out of any bacteria (good or bad) in the skin and blast it with harsh chemicals… this will surely make the skin clear, fresh, and calm.”   When you read it like that, it sounds ridiculous, but that is EXACTLY WHAT BENZOYL PEROXIDE TREATMENTS DO.   The skin of an acne sufferer is usually sensitive.  Usually acne sufferers have red irritated looking skin as a result of their acne… how could this be improved by putting harsh chemicals on it?  The answer:  It can’t.  In fact in many cases, acne treatments with Benzoyl Peroxide may actually be killing off the acne causing bacteria, but the harshness and other side effects (discussed below) make the skin look worse than it did… thus making the consumer BELIEVE that their acne is getting worse.

So exactly what is so BAD about Benzoyl Peroxide?

There are 3 terrifying reasons why not to use Benzoyl Peroxide:

The first and foremost is that it produces “Free Radicals” in the skin.   This is the same thing that happens when you have unprotected time in the sun.  The same way that free radicals from sun damage have links to cancer, SO DOES USING BENZOYL PEROXIDE.  Each time you apply a product with Benzoyl Peroxide to your skin, you are doing the same damage as you would be if you laid in the sun until your skin burned.  Nice, huh?

The second reason is that the FDA warns us not to.  Yes, it’s hard to believe even though the FDA has removed benzoyl peroxide from the “safe” list, it is still being pushed on unknowing consumers.  In the 1990’s the FDA slashed benzoyl peroxides rating from “category 1” to “category 3” which means “safety unknown”.   Well why haven’t acne products switched away from using the dangerous Benzoyl?  It costs more, that’s why.

The third reason is that benzoyl peroxide SLOWS DOWN THE SKIN’S ABILITY TO HEAL.  This is related to the free radicals.  Now, doesn’t it make sense that skin should heal as fast as possible when recovering from the damage and red irritation from an acne breakout?  Of course it does… yet people continue to apply acne treatments with Benzoyl Peroxide and continue to be disappointed.
Check out this article for more info about the dangers of Benzoyl Peroxide.

Well what the heck are my choices?

Good question… and it’s hard to find an alternative, since almost every acne treatment you read about or hear about on TV contains Benzoyl.  Don’t believe for a minute that the celebrities who endorse these big name products actually use it… It’s a paid endorsement.

I couldn’t find an alternative either, until I read about the study that Oxford University did (yes, THAT Oxford).  They discovered that Resveratrol, the all natural ingredient that was praised on Oprah and Barbara Walters for weight loss and overall health, actually KILLS ACNE BACTERIA BETTER THAN BENZOYL.  And with NONE of the side effects.

Here is a link to an article that talks about the Oxford Study on a New Acne Cure.

The BIG KEY to SUCCESS is to find a product line that doesn’t contain benzoyl peroxide, but that DOES contain an all natural ingredient like Resveratrol that is Powerful and Potent enough to kill the bacteria just as well (or even better).   Plus, that this ingredient is all natural and doesn’t have side effects.

the best solution we found

We found one such product, which is the Dermajuv Acne Treatment System.  Their product line not only contains resveratrol, but also contains about a dozen other powerhouse ingredients that are proven at curing acne, and calming the skin, returning it to its beautiful state.

Resources:
Study on the dangers of benzoyl peroxide
Oxford University Study on Benzoyl
Review of the Dermajuv Acne Treatment System

Benzoyl Peroxide has more side-effects than it does benefits.

in so many products, which are heavily promoted in advertisements has numbed the public to the blatant side effects that Benzoyl Peroxide has. We are going to discuss in this article four major problems that benzoyl peroxide creates in the skin, and we will also suggest a potent all natural alternative.

The first thing that benzoyl peroxide does which is tremendously dangerous is the fact that it produces free radicals in the skin. Free radicals are also created when we spend time in the sun unprotected. Free radicals damage the skin by causing premature aging, decreasing the skin’s ability to heal, damaging the overall health of the body, and that’s not even the worst part. The worst part about creating free radicals in your skin is the links between free radicals and cancer. Can you believe that major name brands promote their acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide, knowing that they could be indirectly contributing to cancer? It’s shocking, but it’s true, and the FDA made a point of telling the world about this in the late 1990’s.

The FDA statements about benzoyl peroxide are the second major problem with using products which contain it. In the late 90’s benzoyl peroxide was rated by the FDA as a “category I” ingredient, meaning that it was safe to use. However, after researching a little further, they discovered the serious side effects of the free radicals that it caused in the skin, and changed the rating from Category I to Category III, which is “Safety is unknown”. Because it is used in cosmetic products which don’t require the same regulations be followed, acne product manufacturers have been able to continue selling products that contain benzoyl peroxide. Why wouldn’t they just change from using Benzoyl Peroxide to using a better ingredient without all the side effects? It costs more, that’s why.

A third very important reason to avoid benzoyl peroxide is that the free radicals in the skin make the skin’s ability to heal irritation and wounds SLOW down. In other words, what should take a few days to heal, might take weeks or longer. In the case of acne, the skin is often red and irritated as a result of the acne breakouts. This redness and irritation needs to be HEALED by the skin, in order for it to go away and become less noticeable. Skin that has been treated with benzolyl peroxide, however, fights off the redness and heals itself at a much slower pace than untreated skin does. This is why many people who use a benzoyl peroxide treatment report that their skin actually looked worse and more irritated after a week or so of use. So, even though the bacteria is being killed by the benzoyl, the irritation and injury to the skin is healing so slowly that the skin looks worse than it did before.

The last reason we will discuss why benzoyl peroxide should be avoided is the over-drying of the skin that it causes. The skin loses its ability to produce natural oils and healthy moisture within it. This means that the skin often flakes and increases in irritation, because it doesn’t have the necessary moisture to stay healthy looking. So, although the benzoyl peroxide might be killing the acne causing bacteria, the skin is now flaky, dry, and also more red and irritated.

So what can you do to get rid of acne without all these nightmare side effects? The first thing to do is use an acne treatment that INCREASES the skin’s ability to remove toxins, and contains ingredients which INCREASE moisture and health. You still need to make sure the acne treatment is able to kill the bacteria that causes acne, however there are some ingredients out there which CAN kill the bacteria, and do it in a safe manner with no side effects. Resveratrol, is one example that was recently discovered in an Oxford University Study. While this is not the only natural ingredient that can kill acne bacteria, it is a very exciting development, due to the potency with which it works, and the overall benefits to the skin.

Adult acne treatments must be MUCH more concious about side effects and skin damage that older skin can't heal from.

Adult acne sufferers are an interesting demographic in the skin care industry.  Their skin has gone through most of the hormonal changes and yet, they are either still suffering from acne, or they are only beginning the process that many consumers deal with during adolescence.  While the treatment of the acne itself is fairly similar regardless of the age of the consumer, there are many other things that adult consumers should take into consideration prior to choosing an acne treatment.  The author examines the ideal approach to manage adult acne without sacrificing the overall health of their skin, at their age.

As you grow older your skin is more sensitive to many of the damage that we incur on a daily basis. Our skin is no longer able to heal itself as well from all damage not just acne breakouts.  So when adult skin begins to breakout or is suffering from continued breakouts, the ingredients they use to treat the acne becomes much more important than it is during adolescence.  Many acne treatments use chemical based ingredient to treat acne, which will reduce the appearance of acne, however for adult skin, it causes many problems up to and including severe premature aging or even tumors.

Adult acne sufferers need to look in a different direction than many other consumers with acne.  They need to be sure that they are using an all natural remedy, that actually heals and treats the skin, not strips it of its overall health.  The number one most widely  used acne treatment ingredient is Benzoyl Peroxide.  For adults that use products with this ingredients, Benzoyl produces free radicals with every application, meaning that the treatment of acne is comparable to 6 hours in the sun unprotected from UV rays.  It’s just not to do that to your skin once or worse twice daily.

For adult acne sufferers, the solution rests in the hands of the all natural ingredient Resveratrol. Resveratrol was named as the number one most effective treatment for acne by Oxford University regardless of the age of the user.  But its use on adult acne has gained even more recognition based upon many of the therapeutic and healing aspects of this all natural ingredient.   Resveratrol treats and eliminates the bacteria causing the acne, while soothing the irritated, inflamed tissue.  But it also protects the skin from the environmental damages that can cause further skin conditions.

As an adult, you need to balance the treatment of acne, with the management of the overall health of your skin.  Not paying special attention to the overall effect of acne treatments can lead consumers to trade out one unsightly skin condition for another, more permanent one.  Take the time to research the products you purchase prior to using them, the damage you save your skin can result in years of healthier, more vibrant skin.  Do not swap acne for wrinkles, just because it seems like the more pressing of two issues.  With ten minutes of time and a touch of diligence you can find the most effective acne treatment, one that does not sacrifice the long term health of your skin to provide results.

Facial scrubs are good to exfoliate, but can be too irritating for acne treatment.

amount of attention that the average consumer now spends on skin care products. Whether it is wrinkle creams, acne treatments or just the search for an everyday cleanser, consumers are now focusing on these decisions more than they ever have before. Both men and women have become interested in skin care and while the majority of products sold are daily types of products such as cleansers and facial scrubs, consumer awareness is still fairly low. While consumers fumble through the trial and error of finding effective skin care, they often come across facial scrubs. The question becomes are facial scrubs effective, should they still be used, and if so, in what capacity? The author examines this growing debate, and advises consumers are the pros and cons of using facial scrubs.

Look, we all know that exfoliation is a big part of healthy skin. Dead or damaged skin cells that remain on the skin can lead to that grey appearance common with aging as well as generate wrinkles and even acne. So we must find a way to exfoliate our skin, the question becomes whether or not we are supposed to use facial scrubs to do so. Facial scrubs started to show improvement in the skin of users a few years back. They allow consumers to achieve that goal of exfoliation while still providing nourishment. At the time, metrosexuality was still a popular behavior by men and women are always looking to achieve beautiful skin.

The problem became known to many fairly rapidly that these scrubs can be irritating to the skin with regular use. Many consumers could not use these facial scrubs more than once a week without displaying irritation. The exfoliation would work, but your skin was left without receiving the nourishment it needs daily. Into this gap in the skincare industry stepped a whole new breed of facial cleansers and scrubs, ones that changed the landscape, and determined the winner to this debate.

As facial cleansers have grown more advanced over the years, one of the most important things that they have accomplished often goes unnoticed. The gentle exfoliation of the skin has become a science all to itself. The best facial cleansers will gently remove the dead skin cells, excess dirt and oils, just like facial scrubs do, but it did not irritate the skin. In fact, they delivered the skin all the nourishment and conditioning it needs to look its best daily, something that facial scrubs can seldom do. Ingredients like Glycolic Acid and others lead the way as active ingredients in these cleansers, gently removing what’s necessary, without blindly irritating the skin.

If you are weighing your options between a facial scrub or a therapeutic facial cleanser, odds are you will benefit most from the cleanser. Facial scrubs do deliver exfoliation, but they are non-specifically scrubbing all areas of your skin. The latest facial cleansers are far more advanced. They can deliver the same level of exfoliation without the scraping and scrubbing of the outer layers of the skin. This leaves the skin irritated with regular use. If you wish to remain using a facial scrub, we suggest that you use it only a few times a month, and leave the daily cleansing to a facial cleanser. The results you achieve will be far superior this way.

Finding the best acne treatment can be hard but with knowledge you can do it.

for the treatment of acne than singular ones, but how does a consumer know which one to choose?  The author examines the latest and most effective acne treatments, uncovering a simple process for consumers to purchase the best acne treatment system.

Due to the popularity of acne creams and the ever increasing demand from consumers of all ages, many acne companies will go to any lengths to make you believe that their product is the best.  It is important for us, as consumers, to keep this in mind, and not be convinced with little or no evidence or even documented results.  Consumers are commonly persuaded by celebrity endorsements or other paid endorsements as they wish to identify on some level with those personalities.  But unfortunately, that does not always translate into the most effective acne treatment, and consumers are often left frustrated and in some cases with even more damaged skin.

Now that you have focused on your objectivity, it is time to start rationally making a decision about our acne treatment of choice.  What are the things we are looking for?  Effectiveness is a must, we would like it to work fast, it must be safe to use and it should fit into our budget.  Basic criteria like theses are a must before investing any money in a skin care product, especially one in the acne industry.  We must examine each aspect individually in order to determine which product is right for us.  What better place to start with than effectiveness?

When it comes to determining whether or not a product will work, it is important to start by looking at the ingredients.  When it comes to active ingredients the most commonly known one is Benzoyl Peroxide.  The problem is that this ingredient is very harmful to your skin, and it should be avoided at all costs, having proven to generate free radicals in the skin and even cause tumors in some testing.  The most highly rated active ingredient for the treatment of acne is Resveratrol.  This active ingredient, made famous by its ability to improve heart disease, has made its way into skin care recently as it is an anti oxidant, and anti oxidants help protect against premature aging.  But it is not that aspect of Resveratrol that has its use in acne treatments today so celebrated, it is the fact that Resveratrol takes an unparalleled two prong approach to defeating acne that no other ingredient can do.  Resveratrol not only soothes and relieves the inflammation that makes acne so unsightly and helps protect against acne scarring, but it also eliminates the acne causing bacteria.  The higher the presence of Resveratrol in the skin, the lower the levels of acne causing bacteria, says a study by Oxford University.  The study has catapulted Resveratrol to the top of a short list considered by dermatologists and experts worldwide as the best active ingredient for the treatment of acne.

Once you have identified which products have the best ingredients in them the list is much shorter.  You have made sure the product is safe as well as fast and effective, so now you only need to find a brand that fits your budget.  While this may not be as fun as hoping to look or act like celebrities, getting the results you have wanted for years can provide plenty of satisfaction.  Stay objective, know what ingredients to look for, and more importantly which ones to avoid, and spend within your budget.