Submit your skincare questions to Dr. Agnes, CEO of Herborium and natural medicine expert
Although it may sound counterintuitive, some natural oils may help to fight oily skin and improve breakouts. There is much talk about coconut oil and whether or not it's effective in helping acne prone skin, so here are the facts.
Acne, especially large and chronic cysts or pimples and blackheads that we squeeze or pop, may damage skin tissue permanently, forming acne scars. The only real way to make sure that you do not get acne scars is to PREVENT acne from forming and to break the acne cycle.
There is however a condition that may follow acne, but is NOT permanent, that sometimes is confused with acne scars; this condition is known as Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH).
PIH is the medical term for skin discoloration resulting from an inflammatory injury to the skin tissue. It is the skin's natural response to inflammation. PIH is a flat area of discoloration on the skin ranging from pink to red, purple, brown or black, depending on your skin tone and depth of the discoloration.
In short, yes - most acne may be traced to fluctuations in hormone levels, especially androgens (male hormones also known as testosterone), and their power to over stimulate sebaceous glands. As acne results from inflammation caused by sebum clogged hair follicles (pores) and bacteria, ruling out the factors that cause over production of sebum is very important.
Treatment will help your body to negotiate or even eliminate the hormonal imbalance.
Oils produced by your skin's sebaceous glands are necessary to keep your skin healthy and supple. We would all be scaly and more like alligators without these oils! But as often in life, too much of a good thing is not good either - like the over-production of sebum (skin oil), which may lead to acne. Additionally, being too shiny is also a beauty problem that affects the way we look and our confidence. And since we often use make-up to camoflage blemishes, having very oily skin can interfere with make-up application and coverage.
Dermatologists agree that the most effective way to manage oily skin is to cleanse your face both morning and night, and to use oil absorbing masks. You need to use a gentle cleanser since harsh soaps can trigger the skin's protective reaction, and can increase oil production further. For the same reason, stay away from rubbing and buffing your skin; use a pat and dry system to limit the possibility of stimulating more oil secretion.
Before you begin to enjoy a daily skin care routine designed to provide you with healthy skin, please note the following general guidelines.
General Guidelines
It's hard enough to fight acne. But what is a person to do if these breakouts leave long lasting marks and scars on the skin? Acne scars result from constant damage to the skin due to acne pustules and papules, pimples/zits, cysts etc. Each pimple is associated with an inflammatory reaction, which causes local tissue damage when combating bacteria trapped in the clogged pores of the skin. On top of this, if you squeeze or pop pimples, this damage may be even more substantial.
When you get a cut on your skin, a scab starts to form, which actually helps it to heal. Acne pimples that become inflamed are like little cuts that need to heal; with chronic acne, repeat pimples and inflammation don't give enough time for the skin to heal properly. Therefore, the FIRST thing that must been done to break the cycle of creating new scars and marks (acne marks are also acne scars but less deep) is to PREVENT acne. This will allow collagen production and new tissue to rebuild your skin (at least partially) and as a result, make scars less visible, and marks vanish. So, PREVENTING NEW ACNE FROM FORMING IS THE FIRST CRUCIAL STEP TO GETTING RID OF ACNE SCARS AND MARKS.
Natural medicine has been used by people of all cultures for centuries. In some regions (cultures) such as China, India or Japan where natural medicine actually thrived for thousands of years, it has become a well-documented experiential body of knowledge. As different types of grapes have been grown and used on various continents to make different types and different quality of wine, a rich variety of different species of plants and herbs have been used around the world to treat similar ailments.
Modern natural medicine uses natural herbs and plants together with other natural ingredients based on principles and discipline of modern science, using testing, research, analysis, innovation and sophisticated equipment. But a "smart" modern natural medicine does not forget or deny the centuries of experiential knowledge of its grandfather - instead it learns from it, and then confirms it or rejects it based on the scientific data.
Ever think about why the most popular acne treatments became so widely used?
Many doctors prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics like Septra, Minocycline, Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Erythromycin and Clindamycin to treat acne. The rationale being that the antibiotic will decrease the growth of bacteria in pores clogged with sebum. This process is designed to control and even decrease the symptoms of acne. And since effects are visible, it easily becomes a product of choice. The problem is that those results will not last (even the period of improvement is different for each person); and to keep the results going will require long term use of antibiotics that carry different types of short term and long term health concerns and adverse effects. Additionally, antibiotics really do not treat acne; they do not stop factors influencing the over-production of sebum. Instead, they only moderate inflammation that would not occur in the first place, without overstimulation of the sebaceous glands. So again, treating acne (meaning "getting rid of" for longer term) is a whole different matter.
Cucumber has 96% water content that is more nutritious than regular water, which helps in keeping the body hydrated and body temperature regulated. It also helps in flushing out the toxins from the body.
Cucumber also contains vitamins A, B and C and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and silica - all are very beneficial for your skin. Facial masks containing cucumber juice can be used for skin tightening. Additionally, the ascorbic acid and caffeic acid present in cucumbers can bring down the water retention rate, which in turn diminishes the puffiness and swelling under the eyes and works as a mild exfoliating agent.
Our cucumber mask is a great natural helper for acne prone skin as it works both as an astringent and moisturizer, especially for oily skin. The honey and oats also included in the mask will nourish and revitalize your skin, and will help with dark spots. But since cucumber works as an exfoliator, DO NOT USE THIS MASK BEFORE SUN EXPOSURE! It is best to use it in the evening before going to bed.
It's Friday night. Summer is in a full bloom, and your friend just called about this great beach party tomorrow. Instead of being excited, you get that sinking feeling...and the only think you can think about is how you're going to handle taking your shirt off with all of those pimples on your body.
Body acne is similar to facial acne in both symptoms and general treatment rules, but it may be more difficult to control and get rid of, and therefore will require some special attention. Body acne is most commonly found on the back (and is also sometimes called "bacne"), chest and neck but blemishes can appear anywhere with exception of the feet and palms. Back and body acne affects both men and women, teens and adults, but body acne is much more common, and often more severe, in males.
What do you do when your pre-teen child is unhappy and defiant, feeling depressed or alienated because she or he has PIMPLES? And they are only 9 or 10 years old! The situation obviously cannot be ignored, so how do you treat children with PRE-TEEN acne safely?
Most people associate acne with the teenage years and accept acne as a normal part of growing up. More recently, pre-teen or pre-adolescent acne is gaining more attention from pediatricians, dermatologists and of course pre-teens along with their parents. In fact, in May 2013 the American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS) published guidelines for the "Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Acne" which was subsequently endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In part, this increased attention to pre-teen acne (ages 8-12) results from observations that this younger age group is now experiencing acne.
A study published by Lucky et al revealed acne lesions in 78% of 365 girls ages 9 to 10.
After a holiday weekend of indulging in carbs, sugars, alcohol and sun exposure, are you worried that zits and flareups will come fast and furiously?
Is this one of the most unbelievable things you've ever heard? Well my friends. Believe it.
The answer may surprise you, but YES - a healthy sex life has many health benefits including improving your skin and actually helping in some instances to fight acne.
Acne is a manifestation of an internal imbalance that most often is routed in a hormonal imbalance, specifically in the imbalance of sex hormones (androgens/testosterone, estrogen and progesterone).
Most of us are led to believe that if we lather on sunscreen in the morning and then stay out on the beach all day long, our skin is protected. Unfortunately, this is incorrect. Learning about proper sun protection and sunscreens will not only keep you and your skin safe, but it will also keep you from getting flare-ups.
Acne is a part of many teen lives - unfortunately. And they will do anything to get rid of it - who wouldn't!? HOWEVER, there are some important safety alerts both smart teens and their mothers need to know before choosing an acne treatment. Reason being that MANY of the most commonly prescribed regimens do have side effects you need to know about. Weigh the benefits and potential dangers - after all, an educated consumer is a safe consumer.
Here are some of the potential treatments you need to be alerted to.
The Truth About Teen Acne
Most teenagers will experience acne at some point during their adolescent years. A number of factors contribute to teenagers having the highest incidence of acne. Many parents attribute acne to poor diet or lack of attention to proper skin cleansing and moisturizing. However, the real cause of acne is a hormonal imbalance related to adolescence that over stimulates the sebaceous glands.
A hallmark of teenage skin aside from the pimples is "greasy or oily skin".
The appearance of oily skin goes hand in hand with the increased appearance of acne. The oily skin is due to an over secretion of sebum (skin oil) by the sebaceous glands. This over production of sebum not only manifests itself as oily skin but can also lead to clogged pores that are seen as "white heads" and "black heads." Once the pores of the skin are clogged with sebum, they accumulate dead skin cells and provide a perfect breading ground for the growth of bacteria. This combination of clogged pores and growth of bacteria is responsible for acne.
Special thanks to Dr. Gilligan, Chief Scientific Officer at AcnEase, for collaborating with me today.
I would like to thank Dr. Gilligan, Chief Scientific Officer at AcnEase, for collaborating with me today.
In our quest to spread awareness about safe and effective acne treatments this June for acne awareness month, we're focusing on the ladies today! So ladies (and moms of teens!), listen up - not only will this information help you, but also your children or the men and women that you know with acne.
We understand that skin problems effect almost everyone growing up, but the fact that some of us experience acne in our mid-to-late 20's, 30's, 40's and even 50's or perhaps never fully outgrow acne breakouts, is hard to accept. It is estimated that over 30% of women and more than 20% of men ages 20 to 60 (and beyond) are troubled by acne. Over 60 million people suffer from acne in the USA alone, and another 70 million experience acne related breakouts in Canada and Europe.
It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. This cancer is also considered one of the most preventable cancers, so heed the advice on how to protect yourself!
Memorial Day weekend is approaching, and with the summer comes fun. Graduations, weddings, parties, barbecues, beach days - who wants to worry about what their skin looks like? You just want to have fun, enjoy yourself and look your best!
We're here to help you do just that with our new program.
Our new AcnEase Premier™ membership is for those who are fed up with trying to get rid of their acne, and want a proven way to effectively eliminate and prevent acne.
New and Improved AcnEase® Botanical Acne Treatment Has Increased Bio-Availability and is Easier to Consume
Between the USA and EU, there are 120 million acne sufferers.
Adult acne is on the rise, and the average age of an acne sufferer has increased over the past 10 years from 20.5 years to to 26.5 years of age. Many individuals are unable to resolve their acne problem for years, and then they become a chronic acne sufferer.
We're sure many of you can relate!
The bad sunlight (UVA rays) forces the skin to put up defenses by activating an immune reaction in the form of inflammation that is visible as sunburn. When you increase your body's immune system capabilities, combined with using natural sunscreens and/or protective clothing, you protect your skin from sun damage much more effectively.
So, your sun-protection has to involve both a topical and internal approach...with FOOD!
Sun is actually very important for our health. When your skin is exposed to natural sunlight (UV rays), your body produces an essentail nutrient, Vitamin D. Having the right level of Vitamin D in your body enables better bone health, psychological balance and even has the potential to assist in decreasing the risk of certain diseases.
On the other hand, sun radiation (UV rays) also damages the DNA of your skin and may result in the most serious form of skin cancer (melanoma) as well as cause dry or discolored skin, premature aging, brown spots and interference with acne treatment.
So how do you find a balance, and protect yourself against sun damage, especially when you have acne?
You put everyone else first. Now, it's your turn.
Order by 12 Midnight PST TONIGHT, and Receive a FREE* Bottle of AcnEase®
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Become acne-free naturally, and pamper yourself, Mom, Aunt, friend or family member with this special offer.
May is National Skin Cancer Awareness month, and throughout the month, we will be providing information on skin cancer and acne. Dr. Gilligan, one of our medical advisors and Company directors, joins me to today in helping you learn more about potential issues and prevention.
Over 17 million Americans are believed to suffer from Rosacea. It also affects 25 times more men than women, and usually occurs in individuals over 30 with a light complexion. The symptoms of Rosacea may vary from heat and alcohol sensitivity to facial redness, pimples, teary and itchy eyes and even GI reflux. The medical world is not sure what really causes this chronic inflammatory skin condition, and there is no treatment for it. However, there are some important and efficient ways to control the symptoms, especially during the spring and summer, including our natural balancing botanical therapeutic® product that can help to control all of the symptoms of Rosacea without any adverse side effects.
Acne is not just a skin disease - it is often a "soul" disease as well. The psychological and social impact of acne is a growing and serious concern that can have severe short and long-term emotional side effects - but the good news is that these symptoms can be controlled!
Acne affects adolescents at a time when they are developing their personalities. A growing number of adults are suffering from acne (the average age of an acne sufferer increased during the last ten years from 20.5 to 26.5 years old). Adults with acne have a larger probability to get chronic acne, which forces them to deal with this issue for a long time, and address it together with all the other adult challenges he or she faces.
Dramatically Improve Your Skin Condition While Celebrating Earth Day!
The most precious resource on Earth that is essential for our life is NOT gold, platinum, uranium, diamonds or even crude oil. It is WATER.
Every day we must replace 2.4 litres of water (over 2.5 quarts or 81.15 fluid oz.); some through drinking and the rest from the foods we eat. So, on this Earth Day, use this precious resource RESPONSIBLY.
Men, because of the dominant male hormone, testosterone, have thicker skin. So they - especially younger men - are more likely to have excessively oily skin. When this happens, acne incidents are usually more prevailing, more persistent and difficult to get rid of.
Based on subscribed stereotypes, many men chose a regimen that may actually be harming their skin instead of helping it. Here's how to tell if you're one of those people, and how to steer clear of the #1 skincare mistake that men make that may make their breakouts worse.
Our Friday Favorites are designed to provide you with a round-up of some of the behind the scenes topics we discussed this week with acne sufferers, and also our top finds across the web which will help you live an acne-free lifestyle. Living a healthier lifestyle helps AcnEase® do its job by rebalancing your sebaceous glands to produce a normal amount of oil...giving you an acne-free complexion long-term!
During the winter, our skin gets dryer - and dry skin is not healthy skin. A normal response to help dry skin symptoms is to use products that contain oils. Doing this may produce a serious problem for acne prone skin - clogged pores and an entire inflammatory cycle of "producing" the pimples or cysts.
Over-dry skin may also be a manifestation of invisible inflammation in deeper layers of the skin. So, instead of one problem you may actually have two if you allow your skin to get too dry due to environmental factors like wind, cold, indoor heating, hot showers etc. or because of prolonged use of certain ingredients in your skincare products such as salicylic acid or alcohol.
PLEASE NOTE: Contrary to popular belief, over-drying oily skin to deal with acne is not an efficient way to treat acne.
There is reason to believe that for most skin types, with the exception of dry and sensitive skin, some level of exfoliation may be beneficial. It can help to remove dead skin cells, helping to unclog pores, remove dry, dark, and flaky skin resulting from photo-aging, and stimulate collagen production to help skin regeneration.
As with many things that are "in" at the time, we seem to go overboard. Too frequent and strong chemical peels may lead to sensitized, irritated and over-dry skin. And too vigorous and frequent abrasive exfoliation can lead to skin inflammation. The COST of the procedures can take a toll on you too!
So your skin is FINALLY clear and your pimples, cysts, blackheads and whiteheads have diminished. And you couldn't be happier!
But wait, can they come back? How do you decrease the probability of seeing those pesky zits again? And if they show up, how do you "terminate" them quickly?
Since acne is a manifestation of an internal imbalance that leads to overproduction of sebum (skin oil) by the sebaceous glands, the factors that were responsible for this overproduction of sebum may return. But you are not helpless!
A message from Dr. Agnes:
Hey guys. It's no secret that male acne is difficult to treat. But while you're working on treating your acne with AcnEase®, there are ways to make it look better, and have people focus on you instead of your zits.
Maybe you've thought about applying makeup before or maybe the thought never crossed your mind. Either way, know this. These days, makeup isn't just for women. An enormous amount of men actually apply makeup to their faces daily, and you wouldn't even know!
So muster up the courage, and take your buddy or partner with you to the cosmetics counter if you're feeling like you need a little cover-up - you'll be glad you did (especially when those holiday photos begin to surface!).
Treating acne takes time, dedication and perseverance, as there is no miracle cure that will allow you to regain clear skin overnight. While we are waging our war with pimples and cysts however, we still want to look and feel good about ourselves. So let's talk about make-up that does not spoil your results (or your progress with AcnEase®), but will make you feel secure without using products and techniques that may slow the healing process or actually accentuate your blemishes.
For those with acne prone skin - especially with chronic acne (acne lasting 3 or more years, or re-occurrs over the years), what you put on your skin repeatedly and long term is very important.
There are two chemical substances that can be found in most topical acne products that need to be used with caution - especially while used longer term to try to control chronic acne: Salicylic Acid and Alcohol.
Spring is almost here, and before you know it, summer will be upon us. Don't wait to take your shirt off to get rid of your body acne. If you start now, by then, you will have made some clear skin to show off! Here are our top tips on how to say "goodbye!" to body acne.
Cause of Body Acne Women and men that have active physical lifestyles tend to suffer more with body acne primarily due to androgens that are the main stimulator of sebaceous glands. Acne results from the over secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands and inflammation that follows too much sebum clogging the pores and mixing with acne bacteria that will cause inflammation known as pimples, cysts, lesions, etc. More acne occurs where the skin surface has a greater concentration of sebaceous glands, and where perspiration is more prevailing. The most common sites for acne are, therefore, the face, back and chest.
What is Male Hormonal Acne?
Teenagers aren't the only ones who get acne - it can can effect adult men of all ages. The average age of the acne sufferer in the US increased during the last decade from 20.5 to 26.5 years old.
Are You a Statistic?
Acne is a manifestation of internal imbalance that leads to overproduction of sebum (skin oil) by sebaceous glands. This extra sebum together with dead cells and dirt creates an ideal condition for bacteria what in turn will cause an inflammation that presents itself as ACNE (pimples, cysts, blackheads, whiteheads etc).
AcnEase® Acne Help Center designed for acne sufferers of any age and skin type to easily locate the right treatment option for relief of their particular symptoms.
AcnEase's 3-step "smart-system" is available for use on AcnEase.com, and affords acne-sufferers a personalized approach to finding the appropriate AcnEase® all-botanical acne treatment regimen that is right for them, in seconds.
It seems that two practical beliefs about possible connections between food and acne gained some new research supported legitimacy Studies conducted by Jennifer Burris, MS, RD, of the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University confirmed that eating foods with a high glycaemic index (GI) like sugars and simple carbohydrates and drinking milk not only aggravates acne but in some cases may even trigger it too. According to a 2007 Australian study, young males who were put on a strict low GI diet noticed a significant improvement in the severity of their acne. Since it is expected that eating High GI foods cause a spike in hormone levels including insulin, which is thought to instigate sebum production, the results were not so surprising.
Although there are many factors that can contribute to acne, little do many know that where you live not only contributes to skin problems, but it requires a personalized skincare regimen.
Depending on where you live, there are some important steps that you can take to greatly improve your skin's health. But in general, no matter where you live, it is imperative to learn how to really clean acne prone skin without chemicals and how to moisturize acne prone skin if you want clear skin for good.
Unfortunately, cystic acne can affect anyone. Cystic acne, or nodulocystic acne, is the most severe form of acne vulgaris. Deep, inflamed breakouts develop on the face and/or other areas of the body. The blemishes themselves can become large; some may measure up to several centimeters across. Although many people use the term "cystic" to describe any type of severely inflamed acne, only those who develop cysts truly have cystic acne. They feel like soft, fluid-filled lumps under the skin's surface. Cysts can be painful as they originate deeper in the skin than typical pimples and may also commonly produce scarring.
Contrary to common belief, squeezing an acne cyst can cause an even deeper infection and more painful inflammation spreading under the surface of the skin which can last much longer and lead to the development of additional cysts.
The term “hormonal acne” may be a misnomer since most acne can be traced back to fluctuations in hormone levels. A common misunderstanding is that men have testosterone and women have estrogen andprogesterone; in reality, both genders have a balance of all 3. The primary culprit in the formation of acne relates to fluctuations in androgens (male hormones) and in particular testosterone, DHEAS (dihyroepiandrosterone sulfate) and DHT (dehydrotestosterone).
The answer to this question is unequivocally YES.
If your skin is plagued by acne, blackheads or whiteheads, ranges from dry to oily, part of your daily skincare routine MUST include an appropriate moisturizer 2 TIMES daily - in the morning and in the evening - in order to help the skin stay hydrated and supple.
One of the most prevailing and potentially disadvantageous myths about cleaning acne prone skin is a belief that you need to use salicylic acid or alcohol based products to do it, and in addition, scrape the skin during vigorous exfoliation.
As the intentions behind this belief are good (killing bacteria that thrive in clogged pores), and some may even experience a temporary decrease in pimples, long term effects are certainly not worth it. A few of the adverse effects you may expect from this type of cleaning is dry, irritated, prematurely aged, sun sensitive skin, and an actual increase in inflammation due to skin abrasion.
STAY TUNED BELOW FOR RECIPES THAT ARE SURE TO "WOW" ON VALENTINE'S DAY!
In our society, a simple 3-letter word "fat" grew to become a notorious villain. The fact is, however, that to live a healthy life and to show off a beautiful complexion, we need to recognize the "good" from the "bad" fats.
Valentine's Day is both eagerly awaited and profoundly feared. One of the trepidations many of us feel is how to make sure that we look and feel most confident and attractive on this day. So if you see a zit popping out on your face just before V-day, it can be highly stressful.
Dr. Agnes helps you to alleviate those fears with her top 5 at-home quick fix acne care remedies.
Have all of these ingredients handy before you start so you don't scramble before you need to get ready for your night out.
So what other myths prevent men from having clear skin?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the unpleasant and sometimes painful skin breakouts of acne can affect 40 to 50 million Americans. Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can affect people regardless of age. Hormonal acne is practically acne caused by hormonal fluctuations. Acne can flare at any time, but people are particularly susceptible to it during certain phases of life, including, and perhaps most famously, during puberty and adolescence in general.
There are too many factors to list that can derail your good intentions. Not to mention that according to statistics, by February, the percentage of people who stick with their new year's goals drops by 65%!
We're here to help you not be one of those people!
Our 5 Fool Proof Ways on How to Stick with Your Resolution to Become Acne-Free for GOOD
So how do you do this? You must be realistic and honest with yourself. It's not easy to admit that your problem is actually severe; on the other hand - when you're tired of breakouts, you can be overly harsh assessing your condition as severe when it really is mild or moderate.
As a general rule, women's hormones tend to fluctuate more than men's, which helps explain why acne in women tends to be less constant and more erratic than acne in men. More than half of all adult women experience at least occasional breakouts. Approximately 60-70% of women battle with acne experience premenstrual flare-ups. Acne can occur throughout a woman's adult life: in early adulthood, in the late twenties and thirties, during pregnancy, and during menopause. While female adult acne can be frustrating to deal with, it can be prevented and effectively treated.
If you have adult acne and have fat around the middle i.e.: a large waist line or a big stomach, it could mean that you have a high insulin level — a symptom of pre-diabetes. Patients who have diabetes and acne often have difficulty getting their acne under control and in some cases, a bad case of acne can be one of the first visible signs of developing diabetes. Because the high blood sugar levels found in diabetes also have been implicated in acne formation, many clinicians are not surprised that the two could be related.
Sometimes people tend to confuse acne with cold sores. However, these are two different skin disorders. Even though, both skin conditions share certain common symptoms they have absolutely no similarity when it comes to causes and treatments. By closely observing the symptoms, you will be able to distinguish between the two conditions. However, when doubt remains, a visit to your dermatologist can lead to a proper diagnosis and a recommendation for appropriate treatment. Cold sores and acne require different treatments, and improper treatment can slow down healing.