Hormonal Acne

If you are like many women out there that suffer from periodic acne, you may have experience with hormonal acne.  Usually prominent during, or surrounding monthly menstruation, hormonal acne can be extremely bothersome and frustrating.  This particular type of acne can be the only time that many consumers must struggle with acne, or it can be increased flare ups of already existing acne.  Regardless of what the reason is, consumers are eager to solve the problem and rid themselves of acne.  The solution may be far more simple that you could have imagined.

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.

Oily Skin Remedies

Acne can cause a series of conditions within the skin, some of which are more bothersome than others.  Of all of them oily skin is among the most annoying, and one of the most difficult to remedy.  The feeling of oily skin stays with you all day and most cleansers seem to fail when faced with the challenge.  There are a few key ingredients to look for in a facial cleanser that can help this issue, however there are not as many brands to choose from as you may like.  The author examines oily skin and offers tips to consumers who are hoping to remedy their annoyingly stubborn oily skin. 

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.

The Acne Removal Diet

We have all heard claims that there are diets that acne suffers can adopt in an attempt to heal their acne.  Many of these diets have proven to be more hype than anything else, however it is hard to deny that there is a connection between the foods that we consume and the condition of our skin.  In order to make a little better sense of this we thought we would outline some basic guidelines to help those of us who suffer from acne to follow, at least when it comes to our diets.   

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.

Soothe Irritation, Eliminate Acne

There are many different approaches to the treatment of acne.  Some focus on slowing the production of sebum, others attempt to dry out the skin.  Some acne creams have been proven to be effective by attacking the bacteria present in the skin that actually causes the acne breakouts in the first place.  But recently acne treatments have begun to use more effective treatments, focusing on the removal of inflammation within the skin, and the results have been astounding.  We wanted to take a closer look at some of these treatments and offer some insight as to why this treatment may or may not be the right choice for you.

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.

Experts Recommend Glycolic Cleansers

As is the case with most skin care products these days, facial cleansers are growing more and more specific with each passing day.  What was once just a product to wipe away dirt and oil, perhaps some make-up, has changed into anti aging and anti acne cleansers.  With so many options to choose from, many consumers are often lost in the chaos, and wind up wasting hard earned money on products that simply do not serve their needs.  For this reason industry experts are doing their best to increase consumer awareness so that they can better choose the right product for their particular situation.  In keeping with this trend, we thought we would share a bit more information with consumers who are looking for cleansers that work with all acne types, from the mildest breakouts to the most severe cases.

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.