Acne Diet - is There an Acne Cure Diet That Works?

Ask any medical doctor if there is a connection between diet and acne
and almost all of them will claim there is none. Quoting from the
Journal of the American Medical Association: "Diet plays no role in
acne treatment in most patients…even large amounts of certain foods
have not clinically exacerbated acne".

With years of medical education and clinical experience behind these
claims, how can we the simple folks who suffer from acne challenge
these statements and think otherwise? The answer is: doubt. Doubt, if
its stays in the borders of reason, can open many doors otherwise will
stay forever shut. Believe it or not, doubt can change reality. Doubt
can cure your acne and doubt can even save your life.

Fact is, countless of acne sufferers have reported that their acne
seemed to get worse when they consumed certain foods and saw dramatic
positive change over their acne condition when they eliminated the
same foods from their diet and when certain foods with specific
nutritional value were incorporated into their diet.

So why do dermatologists so stubbornly insist that diet does not cause
acne? The answer: you can't make a profit promoting a healthy diet. At
least not as much money as you could make by selling drugs and over
the counters. There is a huge pressure upon doctors coming from the
drug and pharmaceutical companies to prescribe expensive medications
and lotions that create dependency. The truth is, that your doctor is
in a way, a hostage by the trillion dollar drug companies. Did you
know that the drug companies, who have no interest in producing
something that they cannot control financially, sponsor most medical
schools?

The right diet, although not a solution by itself, can, in many cases,
dramatically reduce inflammation and even completely clear one's acne
(if you're one of the lucky ones who's acne is triggered by allergic
response to food). Promoting a clear skin diet simply means less
profits for the drug and pharmaceutical companies.

The truth is that conventional medications will never cure your acne,
simply because they are pre-designed NOT to fix the internal cause of
acne. They are pre-designed to deal with the external symptoms of a
disease as they create more and more dependency and more dependency
means making more money all at our expense and ignorance.

The Theory That Diet Doesn't Cause Acne Is A Myth

The dogmatic theory that diet does not cause acne and that acne is
merely an incurable genetic disorder was based upon two dated
researches published in 1969 and 1971 that were aimed at studying the
connection between diet and acne.

These studies were the foundation of the 'acne symptoms treatment
strategy', meaning, because acne is a genetic disease that cannot be
prevented, the only way to deal with acne would be to tackle its
symptoms (bacteria, inflammation, puss, redness, greasiness), by
applying creams, antibiotics, taking prescription drugs and over the
counters.

Surprisingly enough, years after the above studies were published,
clinical trials and in depth researches experimenting the acne diet
link have found that the studies from 1969 and 1971 had came to the
wrong conclusions and were in fact seriously flawed.

Recent studies have clearly found a significant connection between
diet and acne. It appears that the wrong diet is now thought to be one
of the leading acne contributing factors that can negatively affect
hormonal regulation and the natural process of toxic elimination,
which can seriously aggravate one's existing acne.

Diet Shapes Who You Are (Including Your Acne)

In the same way that crashing waves shape beach cliffs and just like
the wind shapes the canyon walls, slowly and methodically over time,
so does eating shapes and effects our physic, our internal system, our
physical and mental being, from the organ down to the cellular level.

The idea that an object foreign to our body that is inserted by the
food that we eat, has no effect on us, or has no impact on chronic
conditions such as acne is absurd. Diet is the primary thing that
affects and shapes who we are.

Diet has cumulative effect on our bodies, and that includes our skin
condition and acne, which is a manifestation of a chronic internal
problem slowly shaped and built by the wrong daily dietary choices
over the years.

Acne Diet and The Kitavan Islanders

While in the U.S, more than 80% of teenagers between 16 and 18 have
acne and more than 17 million Americans suffer from some form of acne,
there is an interesting evidence that native people that live and eat
in traditional ways, have significantly lower to no occurrences of
acne.

In 2002, Dr. Cordain and his colleagues published a landmark study
that examined 300 people living in the Kitavan Islands off the coast
of Papua New Guinea that showed that none of the islanders had even
one blemish on his or her face. Similar to the Kitavans, no case of
acne had been observed when the same experiment had been conducted
upon the South American Indians called the Ache, living in a remote
jungle in eastern Paraguay.

The natives of Kitavan and the South American Indians had no access to
the latest over the counters, topical creams or conventional acne
medications and they had no dermatologist to consult with. The only
vast difference between them and American or European citizens is
their diet.

Acne Diet and Sugar: The Sweet Poison

Aside from the fact that sugar is a 100% pure chemical with zero
nutritional value, recent studies have clearly shown a connection
between the consumption of sugar and the aggravation of acne.

When you consume any form of refined carbohydrates (white sugar, white
flour, white rice) here's what happens: right after you insert that
'sweet poison' into your body, it rapidly spikes up your blood sugar
levels. Your body needs to bring those levels down so it secrets a
surge of insulin, other male hormones and an insulin-like growth
factor called IGF-1. The excretion of these hormones overwhelms your
liver and your internal system in general. The excess of male hormones
encourages the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum oil: The greasy
substance that encourages the p.acne bacteria to grow, resulting in
the aggravation of your acne.

Acne Diet and Dairy Products: Got Milk? Got Acne

If you thought sugar can aggravate your acne, here's another major
nutritional player in the formation of acne: behold the miracles of
milk. Milk (all dairy products included) is the most harmful, mucus
forming, allergenic and acne aggravating food you can find. Surprised?
I thought so. After years of constant brainwashing by the media, who
can blame us for thinking milk is good for strong bones and healthy
teeth? The truth is: every sip of milk contains 59 different raging
hormones, (which trigger the hyper-production of sebum oil resulting
in more acne), saturated animal fat, steroid hormones, dead white
blood cells, and cow pus in abundance!

Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows 750
million pus cells in every liter of milk (about two pounds) produced
in America? Think about it, the next time you pop a pimple.

Scientific studies already point the finger at milk as one of the
worst acne aggravating foods: "As pointed out by Dr. Jerome Fisher,
'About 80 percent of cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are
throwing off hormones continuously.' Progesterone breaks down into
androgens, which have been implicated as a factor in the development
of acne...Dr. Fisher observed that his teenage acne patients improved
as soon as the milk drinking stopped."

If there's one element you should remove from your diet in the quest
for clear skin make it this one. Not only will you see an immediate
improvement over your acne, you'll feel a huge weight has been lifted
from your body. If you worry about calcium intake, don't! Milk being
acidic forming food creates a leeching effect where calcium is taken
from your bones to balance the acidity. Milk actually deprives your
body from its calcium resources. Green leafy vegetables, nuts and
seeds are not only excellent sources of calcium they also have the
powers to help you fight your acne symptoms.

Diet Is Only One of The Factors That Cause Acne

Dairy products and sugar are not the only acne aggravating foods. The
two above cannot sum up the list of western made acne triggering
foods. There are several other foods you should clearly stay away from
if you ever wish to clear your acne. The good new is that there are
tons of other foods such as essential fatty acids that are not only
excellent for your skin, they can actually help you clear your acne,
by re-balancing your body and promoting to an acne-free environment.

The right nutrition plays an important part in the complex process of
acne formation. When doctors claim there is no link between diet and
acne because certain individuals can eat specific foods and get acne
while others eat the same foods and don't, these doctors have failed
to realize that there are several factors involved in the formation
and aggravation of acne and diet is only ONE of them.

The Final Verdict On The Acne Diet Connection: How To Finally Overcome
Your Acne Challenge

Acne is a complex condition that is triggered by several underlying
factors. The only way to neutralize your acne condition is to tackle
all these acne-contributing factors-holistically. Since the wrong diet
is only one of these acne-triggering factors, in most cases no special
diet can cure acne.

There is a however, a tight connection between diet and acne
formation. Dietary factors can trigger and aggravate your existing
acne. Avoiding the wrong foods such as milk, sugar and hydrogenated
oils, and eating cleansing and hormonal balancing foods such as green
leafy vegetables and essential fatty acids, can help your skin heal
itself from the inside out and dramatically reduce your acne symptoms.

There are also several important dietary principals that you must
understand and follow if you ever want to cure your acne for good.

Taking responsibility over your body and adhering to these dietary
principals along with taking the necessary steps to tackle all acne
contributing factors, holistically, will not only cure your acne
permanently and give you the flawless acne free skin you deserve,
following these principals will also significantly improve your
overall health, mental well-being, look and feel.

_By: *Asit*_

*About the Author:*

For the latest acne information, treatments and product reviews,
visit: http://www.manomanju.com/acne [1]

Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress

Links:
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Is There an Acne Cure Diet That Works?

Acne Diet and The Money Factor: You Can't Sell a Healthy Diet

Ask any medical doctor if there is a connection between diet and acne
and almost all of them will claim there is no connection. Quoting from
the Journal of the American Medical Association:

"Diet plays no role in acne treatment in most patientseven large
amounts of certain foods have not clinically exacerbated acne".

With years of medical education and clinical experience behind these
claims, how can we the simple folks who suffer from acne challenge
these statements and think otherwise? The answer is: doubt. Doubt, if
its stays in the borders of reason, can open many doors otherwise will
stay forever shut. Believe it or not, doubt can change reality. Doubt
can cure your acne and doubt can even save your life.

Fact is, countless of acne sufferers have reported that their acne
seemed to get worse when they consumed certain foods and saw dramatic
positive change over their acne condition when they eliminated the
same foods from their diet and when certain foods with specific
nutritional value were incorporated into their diet.

So why do dermatologists so stubbornly insist that diet does not cause
acne? The answer: you can't make as much money as you could make by
selling drugs and over the counters. There is a huge pressure upon
doctors coming from the drug and pharmaceutical companies to prescribe
expensive medications and lotions that create dependency. The truth
is, that your doctor is in a way, a hostage by the trillion dollar
drug companies. Did you know that the drug companies, who have no
interest in producing something that they cannot control financially,
sponsor most medical schools?

The right diet, although not a solution by itself, can, in many cases,
dramatically reduce inflammation and even completely clear one's acne
(if you're one of the lucky ones who's acne is triggered by allergic
response to food). There are less profits for the drug and
pharmaceutical companies when promoting a clear skin diet.

The truth is that conventional medications will never cure your acne,
simply because they are pre-designed NOT to fix the internal cause of
acne. They are pre-designed to deal with the external symptoms of a
disease as they create more and more dependency and more dependency
means making more money all at our expense and ignorance.

The Theory That Diet Doesn't Cause Acne Is A Myth

The dogmatic theory that diet does not cause acne and that acne is
merely an incurable genetic disorder was based upon two dated
researches published in 1969 and 1971 that were aimed at studying the
connection between diet and acne.

These studies were the foundation of the 'acne symptoms treatment
strategy', meaning, because acne is a genetic disease that cannot be
prevented, the only way to deal with acne would be to tackle its
symptoms (bacteria, inflammation, puss, redness, greasiness), by
applying creams, antibiotics, taking prescription drugs and over the
counters.

Surprisingly enough, years after the above studies were published,
clinical trials and in depth researches experimenting the acne diet
link have found that the studies from 1969 and 1971 had came to the
wrong conclusions and were in fact seriously flawed.

Recent studies have clearly found a significant connection between
diet and acne. It appears that the wrong diet is now thought to be one
of the leading acne contributing factors that can negatively affect
hormonal regulation and the natural process of toxic elimination,
which can seriously aggravate one's existing acne.

Diet Shapes Who You Are (Including Your Acne)

In the same way that crashing waves shape beach cliffs and just like
the wind shapes the canyon walls, slowly and methodically over time,
so does eating shapes and effects our physic, our internal system, our
physical and mental being, from the organ down to the cellular level.

The idea that an object foreign to our body that is inserted by the
food that we eat, has no effect on us, or has no impact on chronic
conditions such as acne is absurd. Diet is the primary thing that
affects and shapes who we are.

Diet has cumulative effect on our bodies, and that includes our skin
condition and acne, which is a manifestation of a chronic internal
problem slowly shaped and built by the wrong daily dietary choices
over the years.

Acne Diet and The Kitavan Islanders

While in the U.S, more than 80% of teenagers between 16 and 18 have
acne and more than 17 million Americans suffer from some form of acne,
there is an interesting evidence that native people that live and eat
in traditional ways, have significantly lower to no occurrences of
acne.

In 2002, Dr. Cordain and his colleagues published a landmark study
that examined 300 people living in the Kitavan Islands off the coast
of Papua New Guinea that showed that none of the islanders had even
one blemish on his or her face. Similar to the Kitavans, no case of
acne had been observed when the same experiment had been conducted
upon the South American Indians called the Ache, living in a remote
jungle in eastern Paraguay.

The natives of Kitavan and the South American Indians had no access to
the latest over the counters, topical creams or conventional acne
medications and they had no dermatologist to consult with. The only
vast difference between them and American or European citizens is
their diet.

Acne Diet and Sugar: The Sweet Poison

Did you know that sugar is a 100% pure chemical with zero nutritional
value? Recent studies have clearly shown a connection between the
consumption of sugar and the aggravation of acne.

When you consume any form of refined carbohydrates (white sugar, white
flour, white rice) here's what happens: right after you insert that
'sweet poison' into your body, it rapidly spikes up your blood sugar
levels. Your body needs to bring those levels down so it secrets a
surge of insulin, other male hormones and an insulin-like growth
factor called IGF-1. The excretion of these hormones overwhelms your
liver and your internal system in general. The excess of male hormones
encourages the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum oil: The greasy
substance that encourages the p.acne bacteria to grow, resulting in
the aggravation of your acne.

Acne Diet and Dairy Products: Got Milk? Got Acne

Milk (all dairy products included) is the most harmful, mucus forming,
allergenic and acne aggravating food you can find. If you thought
sugar can aggravate your acne, here's another major nutritional player
in the formation of acne: behold the miracles of milk. Surprised? I
thought so. After years of constant brainwashing by the media, who can
blame us for thinking milk is good for strong bones and healthy teeth?
The truth is: every sip of milk contains 59 different raging hormones,
(which trigger the hyper-production of sebum oil resulting in more
acne), saturated animal fat, steroid hormones, dead white blood cells,
and cow pus in abundance!

Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows 750
million pus cells in every liter of milk (about two pounds) produced
in America? Think about it, the next time you pop a pimple.

Scientific studies already point the finger at milk as one of the
worst acne aggravating foods: "As pointed out by Dr. Jerome Fisher,
'About 80 percent of cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are
throwing off hormones continuously.' Progesterone breaks down into
androgens, which have been implicated as a factor in the development
of acne...Dr. Fisher observed that his teenage acne patients improved
as soon as the milk drinking stopped."

If there's one element you should remove from your diet in the quest
for clear skin make it this one. Not only will you see an immediate
improvement over your acne, you'll feel a huge weight has been lifted
from your body. If you worry about calcium intake, don't! Milk being
acidic forming food creates a leeching effect where calcium is taken
from your bones to balance the acidity. Milk actually deprives your
body from its calcium resources. Green leafy vegetables, nuts and
seeds are not only excellent sources of calcium they also have the
powers to help you fight your acne symptoms.

Diet Is Only One of The Factors That Cause Acne

Dairy products and sugar are not the only acne aggravating foods. The
two above cannot sum up the list of western made acne triggering
foods. There are several other foods you should clearly stay away from
if you ever wish to clear your acne. The good new is that there are
tons of other foods such as essential fatty acids that are not only
excellent for your skin, they can actually help you clear your acne,
by re-balancing your body and promoting to an acne-free environment.

The right nutrition plays an important part in the complex process of
acne formation. When doctors claim there is no link between diet and
acne because certain individuals can eat specific foods and get acne
while others eat the same foods and don't, these doctors have failed
to realize that there are several factors involved in the formation
and aggravation of acne and diet is only ONE of them.

_By: *Alisia Friend*_

*About the Author:*

To read more about how to get rid of acne please read my blogs at:

http://www.howtogetridofacnescars.findtipshere.com

http://www.acnejeans.findtipshere.com

http://findtipshere.com/

have a nice day :-)

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Frequently Asked Questions About Acne

Frequently Asked Questions About Acne

Acne is a very common disease. People who have it tend to have similar
kinds of questions about it and its treatment. This section addresses
some of the common questions asked by people with acne. Please
remember that your dermatologist is always the best source of specific
information about your individual health issues, including acne.

Questions and Answer does follows:

What causes acne?

The causes of acne are linked to the changes that take place as young
people mature from childhood to adolescence (puberty). The hormones
that cause physical maturation also cause the sebaceous (oil) glands
of the skin to produce more sebum (oil). The hormones with the
greatest effect on sebaceous glands are androgens (male hormones),
which are present in females as well as males, but in higher amounts
in males.

Sebaceous glands are found together with a hair shaft in a unit called
a sebaceous follicle. During puberty, the cells of the skin that line
the follicle begin to shed more rapidly. In people who develop acne,
cells shed and stick together more so than in people who do not
develop acne. When cells mix with the increased amount of sebum being
produced, they can plug the opening of the follicle. Meanwhile, the
sebaceous glands continue to produce sebum, and the follicle swells up
with sebum.

In addition, a normal skin bacteria called P. acnes, begins to
multiply rapidly in the clogged hair follicle. In the process, these
bacteria produce irritating substances that can cause inflammation.
Sometimes, the wall of the follicle bursts, spreading inflammation to
the surrounding skin. This is the process by which acne lesions, from
blackheads to pimples to nodules, are formed.

I wash my face several times a day. Why do I still get acne?

Many people still believe that acne is caused by dirty skin. The truth
is, washing alone will not clear up or prevent acne. Washing does,
however, help remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells. Many
people use all kinds of products, including alcohol-based cleansers,
and scrub vigorously, only to irritate the skin further and worsen
their acne. Washing the skin twice a day gently with water and a mild
soap is usually all that is required. However, acne is actually caused
by a variety of biologic factors that are beyond the control of
washing. For that reason, you should use appropriate acne treatments
for the acne.

Does stress cause acne?

Stress is commonly blamed for the development of acne. Stress can have
many physiologic effects on the body, including changes in hormones
that may theoretically lead to acne. In some cases the stress may
actually be caused by the acne lesions, not the other way around! If
the acne is being treated effectively, stress is not likely to have
much impact on the majority of people.

I never had acne as a teenager. Why am I now getting acne as an adult?

Usually, acne begins at puberty and is gone by the early 20s. In some
cases, acne may persist into adulthood. Such types of acne include
severe forms that affect the body as well as the face (which afflict
males more than females) and acne associated with the menstrual cycle
in women. In other cases, acne may not present itself until adulthood.
Such acne is more likely to affect females than males.

There are several reasons for this. As females get older, the pattern
of changes in hormones may itself change, disposing sebaceous glands
to develop acne. Ovarian cysts and pregnancy may also cause hormonal
changes that lead to acne. Some women get acne when they discontinue
birth control pills that have been keeping acne at bay. Sometimes
young women may wear cosmetics that are comedogenic-that is, they can
set up conditions that cause comedones to form.

What role does diet play in acne?

Acne is not caused by food. Following a strict diet will not, clear
your skin. While some people feel that their acne is aggravated by
certain foods, particularly chocolate, colas, peanuts, shellfish and
some fatty foods, there is no scientific evidence that suggests food
causes or influences acne. Avoid any foods which seem to worsen your
acne and, for your overall health, eat a balanced diet-but diet
shouldn't really matter if the acne is being appropriately treated.

Does the sun help acne?

Many patients feel that sunlight improves their acne lesions and go to
great lengths to find sources of ultraviolet light. There is no proven
effect of sunlight on acne. In addition, ultraviolet light in sunlight
increases the risk of skin cancer and early aging of the skin. It is,
therefore, not a recommended technique of acne management, especially
since there are many other proven forms of treatment for acne.
Moreover, many acne treatments increase the skin's sensitivity to
ultraviolet light, making the risk of ultraviolet light exposure all
the worse.

What is the best way to treat acne?

Everyone's acne must be treated individually. If you have not gotten
good results from the acne products you have tried, consider seeing a
dermatologist. Your dermatologist will decide which treatments are
best for you. For more information about the types of acne treatments
that are available, and for basic acne treatment guidelines, please
see Acne Treatments in the main part of AcneNet.

What kind of cosmetics and cleansers can an acne patient use?

Look for "noncomedogenic" cosmetics and toiletries. These products
have been formulated so that they will not cause acne.

Some acne medications cause irritation or pronounced dryness
particularly during the early weeks of therapy, and some cosmetics and
cleansers can actually worsen this effect. The choice of cosmetics and
cleansers should be made with your dermatologist or pharmacist.

Heavy foundation makeup should be avoided. Most acne patients should
select powder blushes and eye shadow over cream products because they
are less irritating and noncomedogenic. Camouflaging techniques can be
used effectively by applying a green undercover cosmetic over red acne
lesions to promote color blending.

Is it harmful to squeeze my blemishes?

Yes. In general, acne lesions should not be picked or squeezed by the
patient. In particular, inflammatory acne lesions should never be
squeezed. Squeezing forces infected material deeper into the skin,
causing additional inflammation and possible scarring.

Can anything be done about scarring caused by acne?

Scarring is best prevented by getting rid of the acne. Dermatologists
can use various methods to improve the scarring caused by acne. The
treatment must always be individualized for the specific patient.
Chemical peels may be used in some patients, while dermabrasion or
laser abrasion may benefit others. It is important that the acne be
well controlled before any procedure is used to alleviate scarring.

How long before I see a visible result from using my acne medication?

The time for improvement depends upon the product being used, but in
almost all cases it is more a matter of weeks or months instead of
days. Most dermatologists would recommend the use of a medication or
combination of medications daily for 4 to 8 weeks before they would
change the treatment. It is very important for patients to be aware of
this time frame so they do not become discouraged and discontinue
their medications. Conversely, if you see no change whatsoever, you
might want to check with your dermatologist regarding the need to
change treatments.

Would using my medication more frequently than prescribed speed up the
clearing of my acne?

No-always use your medication exactly as your dermatologist
instructed. Using topical medications more often than prescribed may
actually induce more irritation of the skin, redness and follicular
plugging, which can delay clearing time. If oral medications are taken
more frequently than prescribed, they won't work any better, but there
is a greater chance of side effects.

My topical treatment seems to work on the spots I treat, but I keep
getting new acne blemishes. What should I do?

Topical acne medications are made to be used on all acne-prone areas,
not just individual lesions. Part of the goal is to treat the skin
before lesions can form and to prevent formation, not just to treat
existing lesions. Patients are generally advised to treat all of the
areas (forehead, cheeks, chin and nose) that tend to break out rather
than just individual lesions.

My face is clear! Can I stop taking my medication now?

If your dermatologist says you can stop, then stop-but follow your
dermatologist's instructions. Many times patients will stop their
medication suddenly only to have their acne flare up several weeks
later. If you are using multiple products, it may be advisable to
discontinue one medication at a time and judge results before
discontinuing them all at once. Ask your dermatologist before you stop
using any of your medications.

Does it matter what time I use my medication?

Check with your dermatologist or pharmacist. If you were taking one
dose a day of an antibiotic, you could probably take it in the
morning, at midday or in the evening, although you should pick one
time of day and stay with it throughout your treatment. With oral
medications prescribed twice a day or three times a day, you should
try your best to spread out the doses evenly. Some antibiotics should
be taken on an empty or nearly empty stomach. For optimal results with
topical treatments, you should strictly follow your dermatologist's
recommendations. For example, if instructed to apply benzoyl peroxide
in the morning and a topical retinoid at bedtime, it is important to
follow these directions strictly. If the two were applied together at
bedtime, for example, you could decrease the efficacy of the treatment
because of chemical reactions that make them less effective.

I have trouble remembering to take my oral medication every day.
What's a good way to remember? What should I do if I forget a dose?

This is a common problem. Many patients try to associate taking their
medication with a routine daily event such as brushing teeth or
applying makeup. It also helps to keep the medication close to the
area where the reminder activity is carried out.

In most cases, if you miss a day of your oral treatment, do not double
up the next day; rather, get back to your daily regimen as soon as
possible-but there may be different instructions for different oral
medications. Ask your dermatologist or pharmacist about what to do if
you miss a dose of your particular medication.

I have been using topical benzoyl peroxide and an oral antibiotic for
my acne and have noticed blue-black and brown marks developing on my
face and some discoloration on my body. The marks are especially
noticeable around acne scars and recently healed lesions. Is this a
side effect of medication and is it permanent?

It is not possible to make general statements about side effects of
medications that apply to individual cases. A dermatologist should be
consulted. The facial marks and body discoloration described by the
patient in this case do fall within the range of side effects of some
antibiotics.

Unique patterns of pigmentation are sometimes seen in acne patients
treated with certain oral antibiotics—particularly minocycline. The
pigmentation patterns that appear may include:

* Localized blue-black or brown marks in and around acne scars and in
areas of previous acne inflammation

* A "muddy skin" appearance that may cover much of the body

* Diffuse brownish pigmentation of the feet and lower legs.

The pigmentation side effect gradually disappears after the therapy is
discontinued.

Any side effect of a medication should be noted by the patient and
brought to the attention of the physician. While most side effects are
temporary they should be discussed with the physician and monitored.

My doctor is prescribing a topical retinoid for my acne. He said a
retinoid is a substance related to vitamin A. If the drug is related
to vitamin A, shouldn't vitamin A dietary supplements be helpful in
getting rid of acne?

Dietary vitamin A is essential to good health, especially vision. It
has healthful effects in the skin. Large doses of vitamin A for the
treatment of acne is not recommended on grounds of safety. The
retinoids and retinoid-like substances used as topical treatments for
acne are prepared especially for their potent effect on the shedding
of cell lining in the sebaceous follicle. Their use should be
monitored by a dermatologist.

Dietary vitamin A has multiple health effects in the human body.
Vitamin A is essential for good vision. Extreme vitamin A deficiency
can result in blindness, usually accompanied by dry, scaly skin.
Vitamin A overdose that far exceeds the Recommended Dietary Allowance
(RDA) of 5,000 IU can have effects nearly as catastrophic. Extreme
vitamin A overdose can cause the skin to blister and peel—an effect
first seen in early North Pole explorers who nearly died after eating
polar bear liver that has an extraordinarily high vitamin A content.

Topical retinoids are usually prescribed as a treatment for moderate
to severe acne. Side effects are chiefly dermatologic, including
redness, scaling and dryness of the skin, itching and burning. These
side effects can usually be managed by adjustment of the amount and
timing of retinoid applied to the skin. Dose adjustment must be
discussed with the dermatologist who prescribed the treatment.

Are there any acne treatments specifically for people with dark skin?
Are there any treatments specifically harmful to dark skin?

There are no acne treatments specifically for use on dark skin. Acne
treatments are generally as safe and effective on dark skin as on
light skin. Some treatments for acne scars may cause temporary
lightening of dark skin.

Acne is a common skin disease that has the same causes and follows the
same course in all colors of skin.

Very dark or black skin may be less well-moisturized than lighter
skin. Topical anti-acne agents such as benzoyl peroxide that have a
drying effect on the skin should be used under the supervision of a
dermatologist. Benzoyl peroxide also is a strong bleach and therefore
must be applied carefully to avoid inadvertent decolorization of a
patch of hair, towels or clothing.

Darker skin has a tendency to develop post-inflammatory
hyperpigmentation (excessive skin darkening at places where the skin
was inflamed). Severe inflammatory acne may result in dark spots. The
spots resolve over time; a dermatologist may be able to recommend
cosmetic measures to make the spots less apparent until they resolve.
Some acne treatments, such as topical retinoids and azelaic acid, may
also help fade the discoloration.

Removal of acne scars by dermabrasion or chemical peeling may cause
temporary lightening or darkening of dark skin in the areas of
treatment. Scar treatment should be discussed with a dermatologist or
dermatologic surgeon before it is undertaken.

Alterations of melanin (dark pigments that give the skin its color)
pigmentation such as vitiligo and melasma are not related to acne, but
they may be present simultaneously with acne. The diagnosis and
treatment of melanin pigmentation disorders such as vitiligo requires
a dermatologist with knowledge and experience in treating these
conditions.

Is acne that appears for the first time in adulthood different from
acne that appears in adolescence?

Acne has a specific definition as a disease of sebaceous follicles.
This definition applies to acne that occurs at any age. However, it
may be important to look for an underlying cause of acne that occurs
for the first time in adulthood.

Current understanding of the causes of acne vulgaris is described in
the Main Text section Why and how acne happens. In brief summary, acne
vulgaris develops when excessive sebum production and abnormal growth
and death of cells in the sebaceous follicle result in plugging of
follicles with a mixture of sebum and cellular debris and formation of
comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). Bacteria in the
follicles—chiefly Propionibacterium acnes, the most common bacterial
colonist of sebaceous follicles—may contribute to the inflammation
of acne by release of metabolic products that cause inflammatory
reaction. The pathogenic events, which cause disease, in the sebaceous
follicle are believed to be due in large degree to changes in levels
of androgenic (male) hormones in the body—a circumstance usually
associated with growth and development between ages 12 and

Some acne investigators believe that although this understanding is
generally correct, there is more yet to be learned about the causes of
acne vulgaris.

Acne that appears after the age of 25-30 years is (1) a recurrence of
acne that cleared up after adolescence, (2) a flare-up of acne after a
period of relative quiet—for example, during pregnancy, or (3) acne
that occurs for the first time in a person who had never previously
had acne.

Acne that occurs in adulthood may be difficult to treat if there are
multiple recurrences. Some patients with severe recurrent acne have
undergone repeated courses of treatment with the potent systemic drug
isotretinoin.

Acne flares in association with pregnancy or menstruation are due to
changes in hormonal patterns.

Acne that appears for the first time in adulthood should be
investigated for any underlying cause. Drugs that can induce acne
include anabolic steroids (sometimes used illegally by athletes to
"bulk up"), some anti-epileptic drugs, the anti-tuberculosis drugs
isoniazid and rifampin, lithium, and iodine-containing drugs.
Chlorinated industrial chemicals may induce the occupational skin
disorder known as chloracne. Chronic physical pressure on the
skin—for example, by a backpack and its straps, or a violin tucked
against the angle of the jaw and chin—may induce so-called acne
mechanica. Some metabolic conditions may cause changes in hormonal
balance that can induce acne.

Some lesions that appear to be acne may be another skin disorder such
as folliculitis—infection and inflammation of hair follicles—that
require different treatment than acne. Acne that appears for the first
time in adulthood should be examined and treated by a dermatologist.

My 15-year-old daughter has what I would describe as a very mild case
of acne. She has made it much worse by constant picking and squeezing.
She looks in the mirror for hours, looking for some blackhead or
blemish she can pick or squeeze. Does she need psychological
counseling?

Excessive picking and squeezing of otherwise mild acne is a condition
called excoriated acne, seen most often in young women. A
dermatologist may provide effective counseling.

The typical person with excoriated acne is a person—often a young
women—who is so distressed with her appearance due to acne that she
literally tries to "squeeze the acne out of existence." The acne is
often very mild, but the person's face may constantly be covered with
red marks from squeezing, and open sores where lesions have been
picked open.

The word excoriate means to scratch or abrade the skin. Excoriated
acne is a medically recognized condition that should be discussed with
a dermatologist. Occasionally giving in to a temptation to squeeze a
blackhead is not defined as excoriated acne. Hours in front of a
mirror, squeezing and picking every blemish, is a definition of
excoriated acne. A dermatologist may be able to counsel the patient
regarding a course of treatment in which the patient can participate,
but keep "hands off."

Can the rate of secretion or the composition of sebum be altered by
diet? If it can, shouldn't alteration of diet be considered a
treatment for acne?

Diet has never been proven to have a role in the cause or treatment of
acne. Dietary manipulation may have a role in the treatment of some
scaling diseases of the skin, but not in the treatment of acne.

Dietary cause is one of the most persistent myths about acne. Foods,
such as chocolate or greasy foods, do not cause acne, but certain
foods seem to make some people's acne worse. The following can bring
on or worsen it:

Hereditary factors

An increase in male hormones found in both males and females

Menstruation

Emotional stress

Oil and grease from cosmetics, work environment

No food has been shown to be effective in preventing or treating acne.
A healthy diet is, of course, necessary for good general health.

Shouldn't I just try to eliminate sebum from my body?

No. When it isn't blocked in your pores, sebum helps keep your skin
healthy.

Why does acne usually start at puberty?

No one knows for certain. What is known is that the sebaceous glands
that produce sebum get much larger at puberty than they were before.

Why does the skin around a pimple turn red?

This redness is caused by the body's inflammatory response.
Inflammation is a sign that your immune system is working to fight an
infection. However, the inflammatory response doesn't always work
perfectly, and can even be the cause of scarring.

If my skin turns red, does that mean that I'm going to have scars?

Usually, no. Even when there will be no permanent scar, the
aftereffects of the inflammatory response can leave the skin red for
months, sometimes for more than a year.

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are byproducts of oxidation in your body. We all need
oxidation to occur as part of our life process, but there is concern
that the buildup of unrecycled free radicals contributes to many
conditions, including skin damage. Antioxidants, including several of
the active ingredients in Acuzine, help prevent the buildup of free
radicals.

_By: *Kerwin Chang*_

*About the Author:*

Kerwin Chang writes for http://www.acnestuff.net [1] where you can
find out more about acne and other skin [2] care topics.

Caffeinated Content

Links:
------
[1] http://www.acnestuff.net
[2] http://www.acnestuff.net

Scar-Removal Techniques

There are several types of scars, and the most common of which
are keloids, hypertrophic scars, contractures, and facial scars.
Keloid scars are tissues that grow or rise beyond the wound or
incision. These itchy tissues develop after wound healing takes
place, when the body produces collagen.

Hypertrophic scars are like keloids that also take in a raised
appearance. Sometimes, differentiating one from the other is
difficult. The untrained eye may refer to hypertrophic scars as
keloids. A thing to remember is that hypertrophic scars do not
go beyond the boundary of the wound; instead, they limit
themselves on the wound area only.

Meanwhile, contractures are scars that usually develop when
there is loss of a large area of the skin, as what happens in
burns, and facial scars are scars that develop on the face.

The sad thing is, scars are permanent. Certain surgical and
non-surgical procedures, as well as natural remedies, may lessen
the severity of the scar, but at present, there is no
technological method that is so advanced to enable the complete
removal of scars.

Ideally, a scar should be treated as soon as it develops as it
increases its chance of responding well to the treatment of
choice. There are a variety of treatment options for the
different types of scars. For example, keloids and hypertrophic
scars respond well to steroid injections. If you are having
contractures, though, you will need a procedure called Z-plasty
or skin grafting. In Z-plasty, the scar is relocated to the area
where it can blend well with the color of the skin. In skin
grafting, skin from the injured part of the body is removed to
cover the area.

You can also go for laser surgery and resurfacing, however, its
effectiveness has not yet been established.

If you'd rather opt for something that is non-invasive, there
are some natural remedies to flatten the scar, lighten it or
disguise it so it becomes less noticeable. For instance, mix
sandalwood paste with black gray paste and rub it on your
affected area, or use ice cubs to rub your skin with. Also,
mixing cucumber with lemon juice, as well as the vitamins C and
E, fish oil, aloe vera gel, cod liver oil and coco butter are
great alternatives to the surgical scar removal procedures.

Other home remedies for scars:

Scars Home Remedies with Vitamin E:

Vitamin E in any form is and ideal solution for any skin
related complexities. Whether it is as vitamin E capsules or
plain and simple vitamin E oil, it is very effective in the
treatment of scars on the skin.

Smear a bit of vitamin E oil on the affected area everyday and
get astonished by the results within a few days. Having a
vitamin E capsule too would help in faster marginalisation of
the scar.

Natural Treatments for Scars with Tea Leaves:

Tea leaves are also very effective in the treatment of scars.

The alkaloids present in the tea leaves help heal the scars
faster. Soak a handful of tea leaves and then wrap them in a bag
and keep the same pressed over the affected area for sometime
regularly.

It is advisable to try these natural home remedies first before
going for invasive procedures. They are less risky because
natural methods are being employed, and they are definitely less
expensive, too.

About The Author: The author is the owner of
http://www.home-remedies-natural-cures.org/. For more
information about Home Remedies for Scars visit
http://www.home-remedies-natural-cures.org/home_remedies_for_scars.aspx.

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