Acne Cleansers _ Do They Work and How Do I Maximize Benefits?

It has often been said that acne is caused by unclean skin and can therefore be remedied by extensive cleansing. However, it has been proven that poor hygiene is not the cause of acne and that overzealous scrubbing with harsh cleansers may do your skin more harm than good. There are numerous skin care products on the market today, each claiming to be the one that will get rid of your acne and leave your skin clear and bright. So which cleansers are the best for your skin? And how should they be used to see that your skin is as healthy as it can be?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is caused by several factors, usually occurring simultaneously. It may be the result of overly productive sebaceous glands. These glands are attached to the hair follicle and produce sebum, an oily substance which will produce a blemish if trapped in the follicle. Acne may also emerge if naturally occurring bacteria multiply at an abnormal rate and clog the follicle. Another common cause of acne is severe irritation caused by dead skin cells shedding too quickly, or by the release of toxic, inflammatory substances through the skin.
Due to the range of potential causes linked to acne, typically it takes a bit of trial and error to pinpoint the exact culprit in any individual case. While you and your dermatologist are discovering the cause of and cure for your acne, it is important that you treat your skin with care. The best product for your skin is the one that gently cleans away surface dirt and oil without irritating or drying out the skin. Use a mild soap twice daily to cleanse your skin and pat dry with a clean, soft towel. Not only is excessive washing unnecessary, it can actually be harmful to your skin, and harsh cleansers may worsen acne. Avoid cleansers with alcohol which will dry your skin, making it more vulnerable to breakouts. Ask your dermatologist what he or she recommends for a gentle cleanser. Most importantly, pay attention to the effects certain products have on your skin, keep those which promote a healthy complexion and throw out those which dry out, chafe or otherwise irritate your skin.
If you haven't yet read about it on this site, three-step kits are much more effective that other forms of treatment as they take the necessary means to fighting acne, instead of simply placing products on your skin and hoping for the best. Here's how they work:
Step 1: Exfoliation - this removes the outer layer to dead and dirty skin, exposing the bacteria that causes acne. Simply placing acne products on your skin without exfoliating is like trying to get inside a room without opening the door
Step 2: Toning - this cleans the exposed healthy skin and pores that are prone to acne
Step 3: Restoring/Repairing/Preventing - this step kills the bacteria and keeps it from coming back.
Many top dermatologists agree, when done daily, this approach is safe, effective, and won't dry out your skin. Use of a microfiber cloth decreases your chances of letting oil remain on your skin, leading to re-infection of acne bacteria
Many dermatologists agree that if you continue this process, even after it has completely cleared up your acne, that you can be acne free for the reat of your life.
It is important to treat your skin gently and with care. Although it may seem that fiercely scrubbing your skin will alleviate acne, it is essential to remember that it is not caused by poor hygiene and it will not be cured by vigorous washing. Mild daily cleansing combined with a dermatologist approved acne treatment is the key to success in treating acne.

Where On The Body Do People Get Acne?

Acne forms in areas that contain large quantities of sebaceous glands, such as the back, shoulders, neck, face, and hair. No matter where on the epidermis (outer layer of skin) that acne may form, it is generally very easy to treat.
Acne is considered a teenager’s condition, but it doesn’t discriminate based on age or sex or race. Acne occurs when the normal route of sebum to the skin surface is blocked by dead skin cells, bacteria, hormones, and excess oil have hardened to form a plug. This blockage leads to swelling and the development of blackheads, whiteheads, or red lumps that are tender and painful. Other factors that contribute to outbreaks of acne include:
- Emotional Stress- Fatigue- Humidity- Environmental pollutants- Friction- Cosmetics
There is no cure for acne, but it is completely treatable. Because acne forms on the skin, hygiene is an important factor in helping to prevent outbreaks as well as minimizing the ones that occur.
Eating fatty foods or chocolate doesn’t cause acne, but the accumulated dirt and excess oils in the hair lying against your face can exacerbate the condition. Friction, caused by tight straps, clothing or even hair, may also aggravate an area of the skin and cause acne. It is not unusual for women to suffer acne outbreaks along the lines where bra straps rest.
In mature women, outbreaks of acne often occur along the hairline and jaw line where hair brushes against the skin. An important part of acne prevention and maintenance involves washing the hair two or three times a week as well as the skin with a mild cleanser. Harsh cleaners or abrasive ones may aggravate the skin and actually promote acne outbreaks.
Because acne has been related to menstruation in women, it is not unusual for outbreaks to occur in the two to five days leading up to the onset of menstruation. Tying hair back from the face to sleep at night may help alleviate the amount of time oil residue in the hair rests against the skin and decreases opportunity for plugged pores to occur.

Showering regularly can help treatment of acne that appears on the back and the shoulders. Gently exfoliating the skin once or twice a week with mild products can help remove dead skin cells and excess oils. Again, it is important to avoid abrasive products because they will just irritate and damage the skin, often promoting outbreaks rather than preventing them.
If acne is unsightly, uncomfortable or affects a person’s self-esteem, then they should contact a physician about the methods available for treating the acne. adult acne sufferers, especially those over the age of 25, should consult a dermatologist rather than relying on products that served them as a teenager.
Highly Recommended Treatment Option - Benzoyl Peroxide Kits
A common treatment recommended by dermatologists includes the use of three-step topical medications. Benzoyl Peroxide The three steps are defined a follows:
Exfoliation - remove the outer layer to dead skin
Toning - clean the healthy skin and pores that are prone to acne
Restoring/Repairing/Preventing - kill the bacteria and keep it from coming back
A three-tep kit we successfully built that conforms to all of these specifications can be found here - Tru-derma. If you continue to use this three-step process every day, there is a good chance you may never have acne again

Acne Treatment with Vitamin B-5

Vitamin B-5, or Pantothenic acid, is required by every cell in the body, including the brain cells. This vitamin is important for the synthesis of adrenal hormones, wound healing, normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, glucose metabolism, and the utilization of other vitamins.
It was the Chinese doctor Lit-Hung Leung who first proposed that pantothenic acid, or vitamin B-5, was essential and very effective in the treatment of acne vulgaris (common acne). EH conducted a study in which hundreds of patients of Chinese descent were included. These patients were given a daily dose of pantothenic acid and were asked to apply a cream containing pantothenic acid 3-4 times a day. In Dr. Leung's words, results were as prompt as they were impressive.
Pantothenic acid belongs to the vitamin B family, which is collectively known as the vitamin B Complex.. It includes Biotin, Cobalamine (B12), Folic Acid (B9), Inocitol, Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Pyrodoxine (B6), Riboflavin (B2) and Thiamin (B1). These vitamins promote healthy nerves, skin, eyes, hair, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and brain function.
The term vitamin is derived from two words, vital and amines. Vitamins are vital for life and these were thought to be amines. Although now we know that not all the vitamins are amines, they are organic compounds required by humans in small portions of our diet. A deficiency of some particular vitamin may cause certain diseases.
The B complex group of vitamins is extremely important for our body. It must be acquired through our diet, or supplements, to enable it to transform food into energy, maintain a strong immune system, balance many of the body's hormones, and perform other tasks.
The B vitamins work together and all the vitamins in the group are dependent on each other for performing their individual work in the body. If there is deficiency of any one B vitamin, it can create imbalance and deficiencies in others and thus hinder the bodyis ability to metabolize and assimilate them.
Surprisingly, the most common deficiency in the world today is that of folic acid. This deficiency is characterized by a bad mood and can cause deformities in unborn children. Deficiencies in vitamin B-12 or B-6 can produce the same symptoms, which makes it difficult to find out if the patient suffers from the lack of folic acid deficiency. That is why B vitamins are taken as a group, as vitamin B Complex.
If we take each B vitamin separately, we will find that each one has its own unique benefit. B-1 or Thiamin is needed to process carbohydrates to release energy. It also aids in the functioning of our nervous system, and helps maintain stomach acidity and a normal appetite. B-2 (Riboflavin) is needed for converting proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy. It is also necessary for healthy skin and eyes. B-3 (Niacin) is needed to release energy from food. It maintains the health of our skin, mouth and digestive tract. For normal mental functioning, niacin is necessary. It can increase blood circulation and help bring down high blood pressure. B-5, or pantotheic acid, helps in the functioning of the adrenal gland and thus balances hormonal activity, which makes it beneficial in acne treatment. It also helps in the formation of antibodies. B-6, Pyridoxine, is needed for the metabolism of protein, and helps maintain fluid balance, which is required for healthy red blood cells. B-12 is also required for red blood cell production. Folic acid is important for growth and reproduction of cells, particularly red blood cells, whereas Biotin is required for healthy skin and hair.
There are a few things which may lead to the deficiency of vitamin B. It includes consumption of sugar, white flour products, processed foods, alcohol, stress, environmental pollution, illness, malnutrition and inadequate digestion.
In dieters, and caffeine and alcohol users, vitamin B is not stored well and is rapidly depleted. This group of vitamins is important for the healthy condition of many organs. It provides healthy skin, bones, hair, and muscles. It is important for healthy mucous membranes, intestines and bowl functions. It provides relief from moodiness, irritability, insomnia and fatigue. B vitamins improve the functions of the liver and brain. Most importantly, in skin disorders, they provide relief from various skin conditions including rashes and dry and itchy skin.

can i prevent acne ?

Contrary to what you may have heard, acne is not caused by dirty skin, eating chocolate, or drinking lots of soda. Acne is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and an accumulation of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, which leads to inflammation in pores. Oil glands become stimulated when hormones become active during puberty, which is why people are likely to get acne in their teens. Because the tendency to develop acne is partly genetic, if other people in your family had (or have) acne, you may be more likely to develop it too.
Although there is no surefire way to prevent acne, there are several ways to help reduce the number and severity of your breakouts:
Washing your skin is essential (it helps remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells that can clog your pores), but washing too much can actually cause damage by overdrying your skin or irritating existing acne.
Remember to wash after exercising because sweat can clog your pores and make your acne worse. If you work around greasy food or oil or if you've been sweating from heat or because you've been working hard, wash your face and other acne-prone areas as soon as possible.
If you use skin products, such as lotions or makeup, look for ones that are noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic, which means that they don't clog pores.
If you can't live without your hair spray or styling gel, be sure to keep them away from your face as much as possible. Many hair products contain oils that can make acne worse.
If you get acne on areas such as your chest or back, avoid wearing tight clothes, which can rub and cause irritation
Treatments
For some people, over-the-counter (OTC) products work to help clear up acne. It may take some time to find one that works best for you — some may not do the trick and others may cause irritation. OTC acne products come in different strengths. The most popular OTC acne-fighting ingredient is benzoyl peroxide. Another ingredient, salicylic acid, can help to dry up pimples.
If you find over-the-counter products aren't working for you, it's best to seek a doctor's advice. A doctor can prescribe special gels or creams, pills, or a combination of both. It may feel a bit awkward or embarrassing to talk about your acne with someone, especially a stranger, but your doctor is trained to help get your skin looking its best.
What about pimples you already have? It's tempting, but popping or squeezing a pimple usually won't get rid of the problem. Squeezing can actually push infected material and pus further into the skin, which can lead to more swelling and redness (not what you want before a big date!), and even scarring, which can be permanent.
If you are taking a prescription acne medication, finish your entire prescription even if your skin clears up, unless your dermatologist says you can stop. If you stop too early, there's a chance your skin could break out all over again.
Eating nutritious foods can help keep you healthy of course, and your skin will benefit from getting enough vitamins and minerals. But the bottom line is that you don't need to be obsessive about what you eat or how often you wash your face to control acne. If you don't find an OTC product that works for you, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist for some advice on living through the acne years