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.

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.

Why 99% of Acne Treatments Fail

The frustrating TRUTH is that the vast majority of acne treatments on the market just DON’T WORK.

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.

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

Stick to ONE Acne Treatment

Those of us who have suffered from acne breakouts or worse the scars that result from them, we understand the importance of finding an effective treatment.  We have also found out that jumping from one product to another can cause further breakout and

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.

Oxford Study Points To New Acne Cure

We have all heard about the miraculous benefits of Resveratrol, the molecules in red wine that have been seen on TV on major shows like Oprah, Dr. Oz, Barbara Walters, and the like. This compound has such miraculous properties when it comes to anti-aging that Oxford University decided to study it further. As it turns out, they uncovered a dramatic cure of acne vulgaris (Acne), without all the scary side effects that Benzoyl Peroxide has.

Rather than just take our word for it, if you want to read the actual study on Oxford’s research site, you can see it here: Get the Resveratrol Acne Cure Study

The main discovery of the study is that Resveratrol was effective at killing ALL the various types of skin bacteria that cause acne.  Additionally, at proper doses, it performs better on curing the acne than the most popular (and most dangerous) alternative, Benzoyl Peroxide.  Read more about the cancer links and dangerous side effects of Benzoyl Peroxide.

The bottom line is that by using a specialized acne treatment that contains Resveratrol, properly refined, you get a great cure for your acne, PLUS you get the side-benefit of giving your skin all the anti-aging benefits that Resveratrol is already famous for.  Perhaps the best part, however, is that you can finally say goodbye to using products with Benzoyl Peroxide.

Take Note However: Please don’t take this article as the “Green light” to go running out and buying any skin cream with resveratrol in it, or to take resveratrol pills in hopes of curing your acne.  Creams or pills that are not SPECIFICALLY designed for acne treatment may, and probably do, have other ingredients in them which can cause a reaction in your acne or pores, and possibly make your acne worse.   You want to be SURE to treat your acne with a properly engineered ance product.

At this time, we came across only 1 Acne Treatment, consisting of a facial cleanser and an acne cream which features Resveratrol. Designed exactly for the purpose of curing acne and improving acne-prone skin, the Dermajuv Acne Treatment System uses many ingredients that calm, sooth, and cleanse the skin and combine it with the key ingredient, Resveratrol.  Believe it or not, it is competitively priced, even though it is the pioneer of this kind of acne cream.