High Tech Treatments For Acne The Top Five

Are you one of those people who have tried all kinds of topical and oral medications and have found that their acne does not respond to any of these treatments?  You need not despair.  Here are five high tech treatments that make use of laser technology to effectively treat the most severe cases of acne:

1) Blue Light Therapy - This is perhaps the best-known light therapy for acne.  The skin is exposed to low-intensity blue light that kills Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.  This is a painless procedure that is usually done in a series of sessions.  Generally, the patient undergoes eight sessions over a four-week period.  Every session takes about 15 minutes.  Some side effects include dryness, swelling and pigment changes on the treated areas.

2) Pulsed Light and Heat Energy Therapy (LHE) - The skin is exposed to pulses of light and heat.  This treatment destroys the P. acnes bacteria and shrinks the sebaceous glands, which reduces oil production.  One of the side effects of this therapy is temporary redness of the treated site.

3) ALA and Light Therapy - The effectiveness of this therapy is still being investigated.  This treatment is a two-step process.  First, a 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) solution is applied to the skin.  ALA increases the skin's sensitivity to light.  The solution is left on the skin for 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the severity of the acne.  Next, the ALA is removed and the skin is treated with light therapy.  Since ALA causes the skin to be more sensitive to light, the patient should use sun protection for 48 hours after treatment.  The side effects include temporary folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles which is similar to acne) and temporary darkening of the skin.

4) Diode Laser Therapy - This works by destroying sebaceous glands in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, without harming the layer on the surface.  This treatment could be painful, but topical analgesics can control the pain.  Side effects of this treatment include temporary swelling and redness.

5) Photopneumatic Therapy - This treatment removes oil, dead skin cells and other blockages in the pores through a vacuum suction.  Then, blue and red light therapy is applied to kill P. acnes and reduce inflammation.  A session takes about 15 to 30 minutes.  This treatment does have some side effects.  It can cause pigmentation problems particularly in dark-skinned people.  Temporary redness may occur and on rare occasions, purple spots may appear.  Acne may worsen early in the treatment, but eventually improves when the treatment is continued.

You may discuss these treatment options with your dermatologist who can further explain the benefits and risks of each type of treatment to you.  Laser treatments are pricey and may not be covered by your insurance.  However, if you are willing to pay the price, it may be well worth it.

Acne Scars How To Get Rid Of Them

Acne scars are very unsightly and could make you feel less confident about how you look.  The good news is you can actually get rid of them!  This article discusses the different treatments used in removing acne scars so that you can have a clearer, smoother skin. 

However, before you try any of the methods about to be discussed in this article, here are some things that you must do.  First, allow your skin to heal itself.  Wait for at least year before you undergo any treatment for acne scars.  Unless the acne scars are deep, most scars will disappear by themselves.

The other thing that you need to do is to wait until your acne breakouts are controlled.  If you do not wait until your acne clears up, you will end up getting more scars and wasting your money and time on treatment.  Thus, patience is a virtue even when it comes to having your acne scars treated.

As mentioned above, there are many remedies for acne.  Some are cheap but effective.  However, severe acne scars require a more expensive and more invasive procedure.  So what options do you have? 

1) NATURAL CURES - You may not need to leave your house to find a cure.  Olive oil is known to be an effective remedy for acne scars.  Lemon juice has also been found to work.  Vitamin E is effective as well.  If you are not squeamish, you can try urine.  Collect your first urine of the day midstream.  However, make sure that you do not have urinary tract or genital infection.  These natural treatments cost next to nothing and are convenient.  However, these remedies are proven to work only on light scars.

2) DOCTOR PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS - You can go to your dermatologist and ask for a prescription if you have light to moderate acne scars.  Usually, the doctor will prescribe a topical cream which may be a little expensive.  Some topical creams may be too harsh and could irritate your skin.  Try the cream for a few days to see if your skin can tolerate it.  You may need to apply sun block during the day because the cream may cause your skin to develop sensitivity to sunlight.

3) EXPENSIVE AND INVASIVE SOLUTIONS - Laser treatments, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy and chemical peels are some of the most expensive treatments for acne scars.  However, if you have deep, pitted acne scars, one of these methods may be your best and last hope.  These methods remove a layer of damaged skin and encourage the lower layers to grow.  In some cases, a beam of light is targeted directly through the top layer of skin and works through the underlying layers that have been damaged.

The suitability and effectiveness of each of these treatments will depend on the severity of your scars.  While quite a number of people have had success with these acne treatments, none of them are successful 100% of the time.  Before you undergo any kind of treatment or procedure, you must know how long you can reasonably expect results, the number of sessions you need and how much the treatment costs.  This information will guide you in choosing the best treatment for your acne scars.

Body Acne

Body acne is just as distressing as facial acne, but these two kinds of acne are different from each other.  The pores on your body are different from the pores on your face, which is why body acne and facial acne should be treated differently.  Acne could develop on your back, arms, shoulders and, sometimes, your buttocks.  If you have body acne, you might be too embarrassed to wear a bathing suit or a revealing dress that would have otherwise looked perfect with your figure. 

Here are some tips that you can follow to get rid of body acne:

1) TAKE A REGULAR SHOWER.  After sweating heavily, wash the areas of your body that are prone to acne.  Use a wash cloth to gently scrub the affected areas.  Do not scrub too hard because the lesions might get irritated and get further inflamed.  Never rub your skin when you dry yourself with a towel. Instead, gently pat your skin dry.

2) USE PRODUCTS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR BODY ACNE.  Showering and cleansing are not enough to get to rid of body acne.  You need a specially medicated body wash to help you get rid of acne.  You may use a body wash with benzoyl peroxide or sulfur.  You can also use a clay-based mask on the affected areas of your body once or twice a week, preferably after you shower. For best results, use masks with added ingredients like tea tree oil.  Do not use lotions and heavy creams on affected areas.

3) ALLOW YOUR SKIN TO BREATHE.  Wear a breathable fabric, such as cotton or linen, that lets your sweat evaporate.  Avoid wearing very tight clothing or heavy back packs because these will trap sweat which aggravates acne.

4) MIND YOUR HAIR.  If you have a problem with body acne, you may want to keep your hair short. But if you must wear it long, wash it often and make sure that it is really clean.  You can keep it away from your back by tying it and keeping it up.  Rinse your hair well after shampooing and using conditioner.

5) DO NOT SQUEEZE OR PICK AT THE ACNE LESIONS.  Never do this especially with dirty nails and fingers and not even when your hands are clean.  Squeezing or picking at the lesions will just spread the bacteria and inflame the skin.  Picking body acne may cause scarring which could be another problem.

6) MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BEDDINGS ARE CLEAN.  Change your bed linens regularly.  Make sure that your mattress is dust free.  Vacuum it if it accumulates dust.

7) IF ACNE PERSISTS, SEE YOUR DERMATOLOGIST.  It takes about six to eight weeks to see whether your anti-acne regimen works or not.  If it does not, perhaps your dermatologist could recommend some medication or a procedure that could get rid of the problem.

Body acne could rob you of self-confidence.  However, it is curable and preventable. Follow the tips mentioned above and you may soon be able to wear the bathing suit, the tank top or that revealing dress that has been long kept in your closet.

Acne Cure From Home

Need an acne remedy that is both cheap and readily available?  You may just need to raid your kitchen to find one.  Below is a list of acne remedies that you can find in your kitchen.  This article explains how these cures work and how you can use them.

1.  GARLIC - Garlic has antiseptic properties and is said to kill Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.  It is also a detoxifier.  Applying garlic juice to your face and eating a few cloves of garlic may clear up your acne. 

To use garlic as a topical treatment for acne, squeeze out the juice from two garlic cloves using a garlic press and a cheese cloth.  Apply the garlic juice on your face using a Q-tip or a ball of cotton.  Pay attention to the problem areas.  However, you can also apply the garlic juice to clear areas of your skin to prevent future breakouts.  Leave the garlic juice on your face for about five minutes before washing it off.  Do not wait too long before you rinse it or your skin might burn.  

Eating three cloves of raw garlic a month can purify your blood.  If the smell of garlic bothers you, you can soak the cloves in milk for about 30 minutes before you eat them.  The garlic would be less pungent, but it would still be just as effective. 

2.  TURMERIC - Turmeric has antiseptic properties.  It is also effective in getting rid of acne scars.  You can mix a pinch of turmeric with a teaspoon of coriander or mint juice.  Wash your face thoroughly and then apply the mixture to the affected areas.  Leave it on overnight and wash your face the following morning.

3.  APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - Apple cider vinegar contains alpha-hydroxy acids and other beneficial acids.  These acids unclog the pores by dissolving the sebum.  The bacteria stay under control because they are unlikely to breed in unblocked pores.

Mix two parts of apple cider vinegar to three parts of water.  Soak a cotton swab with the mixture and apply it directly to the skin.  For best results, use 100% organic apple cider vinegar. 

4.  OATMEAL - Oatmeal is one of the most widely-used home remedies for acne.  It keeps the skin blemish-free.  Its astringent properties draw oil and impurities from the skin. 

You can use oatmeal either as a facial mask or a facial scrub.  To use oatmeal as a facial mask, apply some lukewarm cooked oatmeal to your face.  Leave it on for about 15 minutes or until it becomes slightly crusty on the surface.  Wash off the mask with lukewarm water.

To use oatmeal as a facial scrub, mix uncooked oatmeal with warm water.  The water should be enough to make the oatmeal damp, but not soaked.  Smooth the mixture all over your face.  Scrub your face with a soft washcloth.

5.  LEMON JUICE - Lemon juice has citric acid, which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA).  It sloughs off dead skin that can clog pores and promotes the growth of new skin cells below the surface.  It flushes out pores and makes them appear smaller so your skin feels fresh and clean.  It is also an astringent which dries up the acne lesions.

To use lemon juice to cure acne, just follow these simple steps.  Wash your face and pat it dry with a clean towel.  Squeeze some lemon juice into a cup or a small bowl.  Soak a cotton swab with some of the juice and apply it to the affected part.  You may dilute the mixture with water if it stings.  Leave it on overnight and rinse your face the following morning.  Apply it again and let it stay on your face the whole day. 

If the lemon juice burns if you leave it on, you can wash it off after 10 minutes with cold water.  You can also mix lemon juice with one tablespoon of honey and apply the mixture as a mask for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off.

Drinking lemon juice can also help.  Some people use this for detoxifying and internal cleansing.  It also has vitamins and minerals and helps clean the liver.  You can drink lemonade made from the juice of one lemon throughout the day.  Do not do this if you are allergic to lemons or if you have peptic ulcers.

6.  CUCUMBER - Cucumber also has astringent properties.  Cucumber juice gets rid of impurities and dead skin cells.  It also tightens pores so they are less likely to get clogged.  Cucumber relieves red, swollen acne and gives your skin a cool, soothing feeling.

Peel a cucumber and liquefy it in a blender.  Apply the juice to the affected parts and let it stay for 20 minutes before rinsing it off.  You can also use mashed or grated cucumber.  You can also drink cucumber juice to purify your blood.  Take four to five cups of cucumber juice daily for one week and see what happens.

7.  CARROTS - Acne medications, oral and topical, often have a form of Vitamin A in their formulation.  A good example is Accutane.  Although medications like Accutane have been proven to be effective in most cases, it is always better and safer to get Vitamin A from natural sources. 

Carrots are widely known to be an excellent source of Vitamin A.  Carrot juice cleanses the blood and helps clear the skin of acne.  It is also a great source of anti-oxidants that help delay aging and prevent cell damage.  You can eat carrots or drink carrot juice.  Carrots are best eaten raw because most of the nutrients it contains are destroyed by heat while cooking. 

Carrot may also be applied to areas affected by acne. You can make carrot paste by mixing just enough carrot juice with a teaspoon of sea salt.  Apply the paste to the affected areas by using gentle, circular motions and leave it on until dries.  Wash off with warm water and pat your skin dry.

Many people have avowed the effectiveness of these home remedies for acne.  However, there is no guarantee that they will work 100% of the time.  These acne cures are for mild to moderate acne and not for severe cases.  You must be very patient when you use any of these remedies.  You need to wait for three to four weeks before you can see any results.  Visit your dermatologist if your acne persists or has gotten worse since trying one of the remedies listed above.

Bacteria that Fights Acne Acidophilus

Bacteria can cause acne eruptions, but did you know that another kind of bacteria may actually help you get rid of acne?  It may sound strange, but studies reveal that as much as 80% of people treated with this microorganism had an improvement on their acne.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a friendly microorganism which is commonly found in our digestive tract.  It is a probiotic organism, a species of bacteria that is healthy for the living organism that hosts it.  It thrives in the gastric secretions of the upper digestive tract and bile, then travels to reach the intestinal tract where it could multiply, grow and colonize.  Acidophilus inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria.  Hence, people with acne may find taking acidophilus quite beneficial in alleviating their skin condition.

L. acidophilus is found in yogurt and other milk products.  It has been found that people who eat yogurt are less prone to acne.  However, the amount of L. acidophilus in yogurt and other dairy products varies and may sometimes be negligible, so dairy products are not a very reliable source of this probiotic organism.

One option is to buy acidophilus either in powder or in capsule form.  Both are available over the counter in most drug stores.  Acidophilus in capsule form is taken orally.  The powdered acidophilus may be mixed with water and applied directly to the acne lesions.

Is acidophilus safe?  Generally, yes.  However, anyone who has had intestinal damage, a weakened immune system or an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria is discouraged from taking acidophilus.  Some people complain of abdominal discomfort or gas, but this may be overcome as they continue to take acidophilus.

Acidophilus is a bacteria that naturally occurs in your body.  Most people who have ingested this probiotic organism have found that it is helpful in alleviating acne.  Will it work for you?  The only way to find out is to try it yourself.