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.

Many people think acne is contagious or can be caught by kissing.

there are many aspects of this discussion that can certainly be perceived as contagious, there are many other aspects that would contradict that thought process.  The author takes a closer look that this social perspective and offers a simplified, yet factual summary to help improve consumer awareness on the topic.

To begin with acne is caused by a number of conditions within the skin, each with their own role in breakout.  Many people commonly associate breakouts with high concentrations of dirt and oils within the skin, but there are other factors as well.  Dead skin cells often clog the skin’s ability to detoxify itself and furthering the problem.  But the largest cause of acne breakouts is bacteria.  Bacteria grows within the skin causing breakouts, this condition is worsened by excess oils and dirt and of course dead skin cells, but most acne is caused by the bacteria itself and not the other conditions.

When people think of acne spreading, we do not exactly think of it as contagious.  We think of it as our skin being in prolonged contact with someone else’s skin perhaps from kissing or other contact.  Others also have concerns about sharing wash clothes, etc with someone with acne as they believe that excess dirt, oils and toxins transfer in this manner and cause breakouts.  Both of these thought processes may seem logical, if not rational, but could this really be the cause of breakouts on others?

The reality is that your skin must have the bacteria growing at a certain level for this to actually cause an inflammation.  For example, if you are struggling with acne and have acne prone skin, having your skin come in long contact with another’s dirty, oily skin may cause a breakout.  The excess dirt and toxins may transfer to your skin and inflame an already existing problem, but it is unlikely to cause a breakout all on its own.

While part of acne treatment is certainly keeping your skin cleansed and free of toxins, there are many other aspects to the treatment.  Treating the acne effectively means treating it at its source and the source is the bacteria.  That means that acne cannot really be passed along from one person to the other unless that person’s skin was already prone to an acne breakout.  While avoiding contact with oils and dirt is probably a good practice, it is important to realize the difference between irritating and existing condition and causing the breakout itself.

There can be significant benefits to finding one acne treatment and sticking to it for the long haul.

increased inflammation within the skin.  This can be from a new acne cream itself, or the facial cleanser or daily skin care routine that you employ day in and day out.  For this reason it is important that consumers take the time to research the brand and quality of products they are choosing to use, from the acne cream down to the cleanser with which they wash their face.  Once settled on and comfortable with the brand of choice, consumers must stick to that treatment to maximize results and not bounce from product to product, as it will only result in further inflammation and increased breakouts.

Hearing that a facial cleanser is an important part of your daily skin care routine is nothing new to acne sufferers, but sticking to the same one may be.  By choosing your facial cleanser wisely, consumers can actually treat many of the conditions of their skin while they cleanse away excess skin cells, dirt and oils.  Cleansers that are specifically designed for acne are the best to choose from and if you are not sure if the product you like is one of them, it is most likely not.  Acne cleansers will be clearly marked and will advise consumers of the ingredients being used to eliminate or reduce the breakouts of acne, and if yours does not, you need to take a closer look at choosing another product.

The best way to find a facial cleanser that will work on your acne breakouts is to first find the best acne cream.  By identifying the best acne cream first; which active ingredients they use, and which acne products are receiving the best reviews from consumers who have used them, consumers can feel confident that they have found an excellent product line.  Be SURE TO AVOID products that include Benzoyl Peroxide, as this chemical based ingredient both generates free radicals in the skin as well as causes tumors in the skin.  Instead, look for acne creams that use ingredients such as Resveratrol.  This all natural ingredient was proven to be the most effective acne treatment in a study by scientists at Oxford Univeristy.  With an endorsement like that, it is hard to recommend that you use any other ingredient.

By focusing on the acne treatment first and assuring yourself you have found the highest of quality brands, you can then look at the cleansers and other products that lend themselves to the daily routines each of us employ.  By focusing on quality first, the best acne treatments and then worked your way back to the rest of the product line, consumers know they have chosen the best of the best.  This confidence is important as experts do not recommend that you switch and change products often during the treatment of acne.  Breakouts can increase or become unmanageable with this behavior and consumers must work to protect against causing more irritation to the skin.  Take the time to research the products you choose, and don’t rely on nonsense celebrity endorsed products.  Once you have decided, stay the course and see these product lines through.  Consistent treatment with the same active ingredients will not only produce better results, it will also reduce the amount of future breakouts consumers must endure.

There is a right way to pop a pimple without further irritating your acne.

heal and force yourself to tolerate the unsightly legion.  While that is very easy to say, it is much harder to walk into that important business presentation or attend a first date with a puss-colored zit on full display.  While we should all do our best to wait until a pimple is “prime” to pop, there are many cases where popping the pimple is actually therapeutic in the healing process.  For those of you who have trouble resisting the urge to squeeze your zits and pop your pimples, you should be sure that you are doing it correctly, as to cause no further damage that could ultimately results in acne scars.

The first thing to do once you realize that there is no stopping you from popping this pimple before you leave the house is to slow down, take a deep breath and realize that there is a right way and a wrong way to do this.  The right way is a simple process that can actually help speed healing, the wrong way can result in acne scars and cystic acne, both of which are quite unsightly.  A deep breath allows you to step away from the mirror and prepare to do this correctly.

Ok, let’s start by cleansing both our hands and our face.  I am not asking for a complete facial scrub here, but a gentle cleansing and light pat down.  You want your skin to be clean, and do not need to further irritate the lesion causing additional breakouts.  Once you are clean, it’s time to clean a needle.  The best way to do this is with rubbing alcohol, it is usually handy and highly effective.

Now that you have sterilized a needle, gently prick the surface of the pimple or zit itself.  This does not need to be deep but must break the surface.  You are trying to provide an outlet for the infectious fluid to release through, so be sure to precise.  Once the surface has been pricked, you are ready to actually do the popping.

We all get a bit excited about this part of the process, no need to lie.  But while watching pimples popping can be intriguing, you must concentrate on what you are doing, and not whether or not it reaches the mirror!  Wrap your fingers in tissue, just a bit, and apply your fingers to either side of the pimple.  Press in both a downward and inward motion, equally with both fingers.  This should not need to be excessive force, if the pimple does not pop easily it is not yet ready and should be left alone.  That’s right, walk away, leave it alone.  If it does pop, squeeze steadily until all puss is gone and a clear liquid or blood appears.  Once you see either one, stop squeezing, you are done.

The process is actually very easy, but you would be surprised by the number of mistakes that people make.  It is very common to over work, or squeeze excessively on pimples or lesions of pimples.  This overworking of the skin can result in inflamed, tissue that develops into scar tissue leaving you with a permanent reminder of your mistake.  While popping pimples is not the best way to handle acne, it is a reality of life.  But just because we are going to pop them, does not give us an excuse to turn it into a sport!!  Take the time to follow these simple steps, you will accomplish your goal of removing the unsightly breakout and you will have taken no risk in long term damage.

There are different types of acne that may need different kinds of acne cream to cure them.

called acne vulgaris.  It is known to be a chronic inflammatory type of acne that has over active oil glands.  The hair follicles become filled with oil that cannot escape and then this leads to bacteria on the skin.  This type of acne starts at an early age and effects mainly the face and other parts of the body with blackheads, pimples and cysts.

Acne cosmetica is another type of acne that is caused from using excessive makeup on the skin.  Some ingredients in make up such as lanolin and other greasy ingredients can cause this type of acne to occur.  It starts out as small bumps and normally is not a severe type of acne.  This acne effects young and older women who wear heavy makeup.  If this type of acne occurs you will need to stop wearing your makeup or switch what you are using.

Another type of acne is called acne excoriee.  This normally occurs in young girls and starts out as maybe one pimple that when scratched excessively leads to scarring on the skin.  This sometimes is known to happen because of a nervous situation.  It starts out small but can worsen if it is scratched or picked at a lot.  One more type of acne is called cystic acne.  It is a severe type of acne that happens when a pimple breaks open under the skin and not on top of the skin.  This acne can cause pain and swelling as the body fights the infection.  It can start on the back, neck, arms, and shoulders.  This acne is easy to leave scarring if not carefully attended to.

One more type of acne is called occupational acne.  This acne effects people who work at a job that involves oil and grease.  It can cause blackheads to form in the skin that is sometimes hard to get rid of.  There are many types of acne that occur in people of all ages.  You should always find a safe treatment for your type of acne to keep it under control.

What you eat can effect your acne breakouts. Creams and treatments without proper diet could be a waste.

how severe your case of acne is and how soon it will clear up. It is thought that acne may also be an allergic reaction to certain foods or groups of food. The theory is that the body is trying to rid itself of toxins caused by an allergic reaction to the food. When your body starts to push the toxin from your body it presents itself externally with inflammation and acne papules.

Research shows that high glycemic foods can cause acne because these types of food cause the body to produce higher levels of insulin. This is especially true in males and especially teenage males that are going through major natural hormonal changes. Dermatologists recommend that you avoid foods in this group especially during times in your life where your body is going through major hormone changes. These periods include puberty, pregnancy and menopause. The foods in this group include many nuts, soft drinks with high amounts of sugar and carbonated water and most dairy products. You do not have to abstain from these foods but the intake of them should be limited.

On the other hand, there are foods that can help the body naturally rid itself of toxins and therefore decrease the effects and severity of acne. This group includes fresh fruit and vegetables, any food with whole grains and drink plenty of water and vegetable juices. The root cause of all acne is internal imbalances. The more you can do to decrease internal imbalances the less severe your acne will be. Other things that cause internal troubles that can lead to acne include stress, certain medications, disease and any other factors that change what is happening inside your body. The more you can do to lessen these factors the less you will suffer from acne. Take as much stress out of your life as possible do not take unnecessary medications and keep yourself as healthy as possible. If you do suffer from acne, consult a dermatologist for more treatment options.