Submit your skincare questions to Dr. Agnes, CEO of Herborium and natural medicine expert
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.
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.
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?
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!
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).