Acne Cosmetica

This is a mild form of acne common when using cosmetic products. Certain cosmetic products are more likely to induce acne than others – especially those that are not marked non comedogenic. In this case, anyone who wears the cosmetic products is susceptible to acne, even if they aren’t normally. This type of acne appears as small red bumps on the cheeks, chin, and forhead. It usually persists well after you stop using the cosmetic products, but does go away eventually.

Dandruff (Sebborrheic Dermatitus)

Dandruff often occurs along with acne. The underlying mechanism is similar to that which causes acne, with skin cells attempting to fight off P.ovale fungus. Climate, genes, diet, hormones, and stress all play a role. In dandruff, this process is accelerated, and dead skin cells are shed at an excessive rate. The symptoms which follow are very well known – an itchy, flaky scalp. Also as with acne, shampoos containing zinc or salicylic acid are helpful to the condition. Overwashing is not a factor, but excessive scratching can make the problem worse.

Eczema (Dermatitus)

This is a red rash which spreads quickly and is usually itch, swollen, and blistery in appearance. There are two main types: 1. Atopic dermatitus is an allergic reaction, similar to asthma and hay fever. It commonly occurs in early childhood. 2. Contact Dermatitus is an allergic reaction to contact with chemicals or other irritants. Anything the patient contacts which he or she may be allergic to is included: chemicals, rubber, preservatives, metallic objects, perfumes.

Eczema can be chronic, often occuring on hands, eyelids, and neck for long periods of time. Affected skin is often darker than surrounding skin, and may be thicker from excessive scratching. Chronic eczema is most often genetic in nature but can be caused or exasperated by factors in the environment.

Enlarged Skin Pores

As hormone and sebum production increases in teen years, so does the size of skin pores. The normal process of aging then causes pores to appear even larger. Genetics largely determines how big skin pores of an adult will be. Any irritation to the skin, such as picking at acne, causes pores to become damaged and permanently larger.

Epidermal Cysts

This is a nastier version of acne which occurs in deeper layers of skin than the usual pores. Often, the sac is filled with a whitish pus which doesn’t go away. Small cysts can remain untreated, but larger cysts may become painful quickly. In this case, a dermatologist is recommended – as the only treatment is to excise the affected skin.

Favre-Racouchet Syndrome

This false acne syndrome is characterized by large blackhead like spots called coalescent comedones by the eyes and upper cheeks of the face. It is usually caused by significant sun damage over a period of years, although genetics can be a factor as well. These comedones do not go away, their only treatment is surgery or retinoids.

Keratosis Pilaris

This condition consists of many small, red, hard bumps in patches. They are found behind your arms, on the shoulders, the buttocks, front thighs, and cheeks. They usually don’t cause pain and get worse in the Winter months.

How Does Stress Cause Acne

When your body is under stress, a whole host of hormones are released by your adrenal glands and endocrine system. These hormones then go on to cause inflammation in the tissues throughout your body. In the case of your skin, the inflammation may break pores which are already clogging with sebum. Your bodies immune system reponse then causes the common red, irritated, pus filled acne zit that we’re so used to seeing.

Another possible way stress causes acne is that stress increases sebum production itself. While this factor has not been demonstrated in any studies, some of the hormones which are released under stress are known to affect sebum production – such as the androgens. And of course more sebum means more clogged pores.

Finally, the hormones released by your body under stress impact the immune system itself. It is said that these hormones can reduce immune system response by as much as 40%. This means that bacteria will have plenty of time to collect in pores and cause acne before the immune system can respond.

Factors which Increase Stress in Everyday Life

During our busy lives, it is often difficult to tell when we are under stress. But the signs are still there – stress is often accompanied by a range of emotions. These include:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fear
• Low self confidence

And many others. When you are feeling stress of this nature, it’s helpful to take a break from whatever you are doing and just relax. There are also physical forms of stress in our lives which are less obvious. These include anything which taxes our body:

• Lack of sleep
• Overly busy lifestyle
• Sedentary lifestyle (not enough exercise)
• Smoking, Drinking (alcohol), Drugs
• Too much Exercise (with too little rest)

How to Reduce Your Stress Levels

There are four primary ways in which you can reduce your levels of stress. By practicing stress reduction techniques and healthy lifestyle habits each day, we can dramatically reduce stress and acne.

1. Diet

The role of diet in acne has been explained in many recent studies. It is now known that sugar is actually a stressor on the body. It causes inflammation through hormone production as the other acne stressors listed previously. In addition to sugar, diets high in starch may also play a role. Any ‘junk’ food item has the potential to stress the body.

2. Exercise

Exercise is a proven technique to reduce stress. By exercising, your body balances hormone production and neurotransmitters. This improves your mood, regulates digestion, balances blood sugar, improves circulation, and boost immune system activity. You’ll feel much better and your body will be in much better shape to confront stress and acne.

3. Meditation

This ancient art from the east is more than just chanting while in a sitting position. Meditation has proven effects on both the brain and body. Another technique highly effective in managing mood and reducing stress, meditation can be practiced every day without danger of overexertion.

4. Sleep

This is one of the most critical factors in our society today. More people than ever get too little sleep. Yet a lack of sleep can cause as much stress as any of the previous factors. Sleep impacts everything – our mood, our levels of stress hormones, our bodies ability to repair itself. When we miss sleep or get irregular sleep, we are asking for a breakout. Not to mention increased risk of diabetes and mental illness.

Regardless whether stress causes acne or just exasperates it, know that you can dramatically improve the complexion of your skin by following a healthy lifestyle. Reducing stress in combination with good washing habits can reduce acne almost 100%.

Onset of puberty

The main acne hormones are the class known as Androgens. These include Testosterone, DHEA-S, Andro, DHT. They are also precursors for the female sex hormone estrogen. At puberty, the body goes into full production of these hormones. As they stimulate the sebaceous glands into producing more oil, the conditions for acne are set.

Acne During Menstration

Another time hormonal acne tends to rear its ugly head is during or just before menstration. The female body produces increased quantities of multiple hormones during this time which stimulate the sebaceous glands. Of course, the result of more oil tends to be more clogs and hence more acne.

Hormonal Acne During Pregnancy

For much the same reason that acne increases during mentration, acne during pregancy can be a problem. Unfortunately, this is the time when its hardest to treat. Many common treatments such as sacylic acid and oral pills are unsafe for baby. This means you’ll have to use natural treatments such as vinegar.

During Menopause (Female Hormones and Acne)

Like pregnancy and menstration, Menopause is a time of significant hormonal fluxuation. Therefore acne can almost be expected. Fortunately the normal treatments which are available can be used without harming anyone.

Adult Male Hormones and Acne

In males, there are fewer periods of dramatic hormone changes than in females. The most likely causes of changes in males would be related to high stress or unusual physical activity. Unfortunately this means that adult males who suffer from acne will likely have the problem until their middle ages.

Treatment of Hormonal Acne

For adults who suffer from acne that do not respond to normal treatments, there are a new range of ‘hormonal’ treatments available. For women, this can be as simple as taking a contraception pill. For males and females, there are various ‘anti’ androgens now being marketed. This treatment tends to be complex, however, as hormones regulated many things in the body. The potential for unwanted side effects is also high.

A better way to treat acne is through natural means. Many people throughout the Internet are coming together and discussing various dietary supplements (such as zinc) which have helped them tremendously. So while you may not be able to eliminate acne entirely with just one shot, you can certainly reduce it significantly without harming yourself.

Does Milk Cause Acne?

Not the least of these connections is milk and other diary products to increased acne. For a variety of currently theoretical reasons, milk and dairy products have been found to be associated with an increase in acne amongst both teens and adults. And while the major acne factors – heredity, nationality, and socio-economic status – retain their significance, many people are finding they can greatly reduce acne by reducing or eliminating dairy.

How Milk and Dairy Cause Acne

There are currently several potential reasons for why milk and dairy might be associated with an increased acne risk. While current scientific studies have not been able to isolate these causes as definite, they are considered significant risk factors when observed alone in the body.

Insulin Resistance

The first factor by which milk and diary could increase acne is like eating too much sugar. Milk and especially other dairy products have recently been found to impact blood glucose levels after consumption in much the same way as sugar. Further studies have associated them with increased insulin resistance. Of course, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin and thus the body’s chemical balance is tipped further in favor of acne.

(Milk Increases Insulin Resistance? – PCOS info)
(Acne Linked to Milk – AllCreatures.org)
(Milk Drinking associated with Insulin Resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome)

Hormones

The second factor believed associated with milk and dairy’s increased acne risk are the infamous group of hormones known as androgens. In addition to these, milk contains IGF (Insulin-like growth factor) and thanks to new FDA regulations more of BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone). Some of these hormones are found naturally in pregnant cow milk. Others are formed in our bodies as the byproducts, or added by cow growers (usually factory farming corporations) to enhance production and counter poor growing conditions.

The effects of these hormones includes increased sebum production, increasing skin cell regeneration while reducing apoptosis, reducing immune system function, and more.

(Dairy and Acne – Is there a Connection?)
(Got Milk? Got Acne?)
(Got Milk? Hope not..)
(Dairy Products and Acne Link Confirmed!)

Iodine

Our final theory in the link between dairy and acne is Iodine. This is a very common element in diary cow production. It is used to reduce infection by its introduction to cow feed, and to sanitize the cows’ udders and milking machinery.

Iodine acts as a constituent of thyroxin and triiodotyrosine in the body. These are hormones secreted by the thyroid gland which affect growth and metabolism. Through its interaction with the thyroid gland and resulting hormones, theoretically iodine can exert an effect on acne lesions.

(Does Iodine Cause Acne?)
(Iodine the Culprit in Acne from Milk Products?)
(Methods of Action for Iodine)

Allergies

As a possible contribution to the exasperation of acne, there is the fact that milk and dairy rank among the highest foods as possible allergens. These products are found in almost all of our modern processed diet, and can actually cause allergic reactions to other foods. Symptoms include wheezing, vomiting, hives, loose bowel movements, runny nose, and skin rash. Milk allergy actually involves the immune system, so this has further potential to contribute to skin surface conditions favorable to acne.

(Explanation of Milk Allergy)

While the reasons may still be theoretical, the link between milk, dairy, and acne has been made clear by the newest independent scientific research. Since modern dairy processing can so often be associated with other health risks, many people have found reducing or eliminating dairy for a period of several weeks worth trying.

Does “You Are What You Eat” Apply to Acne?

More free from the limitations of corporate sponsored hypothesis, however, modern science has a very different story to tell. What we’re actually finding now are very strong links between diet and acne. Currently the most visible of these links is the connection between sugar and acne. By creating studies based on the glycemic index of food, scientists have found overwhelming data that a wide variety of foods (and even eating habits) can dramatically increase skin conditions leading to all types of acne.

How Does Sugar Cause Acne

Foods which have a high glycemic value, or poor eating habits which cause a spike in blood glucose levels, are now known to increase acne via multiple mechanisms.

Sugar Causes Inflammation

The first and foremost way sugar causes acne is through inflammation of skin (and body) tissues. Insulin inflames body tissues reachable by the circulation system. This usually happens in combination with a host of chemicals like C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Insulin-like Growth Factor ( IGF), and IGFBP which in response to insulin spikes after a meal. The inflammation causes oxidation and interruption of cellular based processes which would otherwise ‘clean up’ skin conditions leading to acne.

(Sugar and Acne Connection – iVillage)

Sugar Increases Sebum Production

In addition to inflammation, the hormonal changes which result from a blood sugar spike in your body contribute to higher sebum production in hair folicles. They also increase cellular aging (death and regeneration). All this extra material ends up clogged in the openings of your skin pores. This of course in combination with acne producing bacteria results in a lesion.

(How Blood Sugar Fluctuations Cause Acne)

Sugar Suppresses the Immune System

Which brings us to our third way sugar causes acne. The sweeping chemical changes brought by a blood glucose level spike can impact the function of our immune system. It is known that a single tablespoon of sugar can reduce the efficiency of your immune system for as long as 6 hours. This is the final blow to your skin. As long as your immune system is impaired, your defense to Propionibacterium Acnes bacteria is lowered. Its numbers proliferate on the surface of your skin, and in combination with increased sebum and inflammation start forming acne lesions days, even weeks before they actually appear.

(Sugar Depresses the Immune System)

Sugary Foods and Bad Eating Habits Cause Acne

As long as you are eating sugary junk foods or consuming meals in a rushed ‘all at once’ setting, the primary conditions which lead to acne will persist. The biggest deception of early acne studies was to lead millions of people to the believe that expensive, dangerous medications are necessary to eliminate acne. This is simply not the case – well balanced meals eaten in a relaxed setting multiple times a day can do more to cure acne safely than any treatment offered by modern medicine.

Milk of Magnesia for Acne Treatment

MoM first gained popular use as a potential ‘household’ acne treatment in the early 20th century. Because of its alkaline properties, it tends to cause shrinkage of skin pores and a reduction of sebum production. Less sebum would theoretically result in a reduction of acne lesions, and its ‘pore shrinking’ properties make it a popular ‘base’ or ‘primer’ for makeup. MoM is reported by some people for its effectiveness as an acne spot treatment and an antibacterial.

When treating acne, the ‘plain’ Milk of Magnesia is usually recommended to avoid problems with mineral oil or other additives. This can be found in most common drug or grocery stores in the pharmaceutical section.

Controversy Surrounding Milk of Magnesia for Acne Treatment

Although numerous people have reported positive results from its use, there are potential problems with Milk of Magnesia for treating acne. These stem from the fact that Milk of Magnesia is an alkaline by nature, and the PH balance of our skin is more acidic. The very nature of how MoM works therefore is by disrupting the skin’s PH balance – often for many hours. This can lead to excessive drying and a reduction in the skin’s natural bacterial defense. Another potential complication is with MoM’s use as an astringent – by shrinking pores it could theoretically exasperate the conditions which lead to acne – clogged pours. This in combination with increased bacterial activity would eventually lead to more acne.

The long term consequences of Milk of Magnesia as an acne treatment are therefore questionable. No doubt it can control oil, but does it actually encourage conditions favorable to acne? While long term reports of its use are unavailable – the scientific evidence suggests against it. One of the many other natural choices which have proven effective, such as vinegar, may be a wiser option for anyone considering long term acne treatment.

Treating Acne with Distilled White Vinegar

The typical white vinegar found on store shelves (in the USA) is the distilled variety, made most commonly from corn, but also from potatoes and wood. Unlike malt vinegars, the distillation process removes gluten along with other nutrients. It gets the name ‘white’ from the fact that coloring agents are removed by the distillation and filtering process.

White vinegar is commonly sold as a 5% acidic solution. This allows many people to apply it directly to their skin, or by mixing it with perhaps 2 or 3 parts water. Used in this way, white vinegar helps to create an acidic environment in skin pores – which is unfriendly towards acne bacteria.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne Treatment

Apple Cider Vinegar is quickly becoming more common for acne treatment. ACV owes its popularity to the many people who have found it not only effective for mild facial acne, but also stubborn bacne and other ‘difficult’ areas where other treatments may not be as effective.

Store Bought Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne

It should be known there are important differences between the various brands of Apple Cider Vinegar, however. The common store bought variety, often sold under brand names like Heinz, Fleischmann’s, or Castelo’s, is very often unaturally processed. This includes filtering, distillation, pasteurizing, and perhaps other treatments. These vinegars should not considered to be significantly more useful than white vinegar for acne – as the processing removes most benefits like extra nutrients.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne

Instead, you should buy raw ‘unprocessed’ Apple Cider Vinegar for treating acne. This can be found in health food specialty stores or for sale online. Common brands include Bragg, Eden, or Dynamic Health.

The most significant difference with raw ACV is the lack of pasteurization, filtering, distilling, or other processing leaves it with all the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. It is these nutrients which are believed to both help heal the skin and improve digestive health so the body can stay clear. You will commonly see ‘mother of vinegar’ floating within raw vinegar. This is the harmless bacteria which produces the healthful enzymes and nutrients – and is a telltale sign you are buying raw vinegar.

In actual use, many people have found either type of vinegar to be useful in treating acne. The main factor believed to be responsible for reducing acne is vinegar’s acidity. While raw Apple Cider Vinegar offers benefits as a dietary supplement, white vinegar for acne can be just as effective.

White Vinegar (common store bought vinegar usually distiled to 5% acidity)

• Vinegar helps to reduce the body’s glycemic response after a high carbohydrate meal. It does this by both reducing blood sugar spikes and improving insulin sensitivity in tissues. Both blood sugar spikes and the resulting insulin spike cause chemical changes in your body which suppress immune activity and increase tissue inflammation.
• Vinegar is a natural antibiotic, germ fighter, and skin conditioner. Acne starts in the pores of your skin. And by balancing PH levels, vinegar eliminates what would otherwise be favorable conditions for the growth of acne in clogged pores. Additionally, the acidity of vinegar acts as an astringent, and this both reduces excess sebum production and encourages exfoliation of dead skin cells.
• Vinegar improves the health of our digestive and waste removal systems. It does this on multiple dimensions: By acting as a natural detoxifying agent for the liver and kidneys, it helps them keep clear skin. By promoting natural bacterial growth in the intestine, it helps the immune system keep unwanted bacteria to a minimum. And finally by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, vinegar helps reduce inflammation in all affected tissues, including the small blood vessels at the surface of your skin.

Natural Apple Cider Vinegar (and other high quality natural vinegar types)

In addition to all the benefits of white vinegar, high quality natural vinegars such as apple cider vinegar offer a range of potent vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. These nutrients each offer unique benefits in reducing acne, especially if your diet happens to be short on any – which is very common in western diets.

The majority of these nutrients are contained in the ‘mother’, a milky string-like substance which floats around the vinegar. It is therefore vital that if you are to obtain maximum benefits from vinegar, you choose a natural, unprocessed variety. Many of the regular grocery store varieties have been filtered, pasteurized, and distilled – which makes them less desireable. As mentioned above in the white vinegar section, however, these can still be of benefit.

Whether you take it internally, use it on your skin, or both, the medicinal properties of vinegar have been known since ancient times. Modern science is only now revealing what many have known for 6000 years, and profit motivated corporations haven’t helped its pace.

How Vinegar Works to Cure Acne

Although no conclusive scientific answer exists at this time, there are four primary methods by which vinegar is believed to reduce acne.

1. Vinegar lowers skin PH. The first and primary method by which vinegar reduces acne is by lowering PH in the pores of your skin. This is where bacteria first begins to multiply, after the pore becomes clogged by sebum, dead cells, and other debris. Since low Ph is unfavorable to the growth of bacteria, vinegar stops it at the source.

2. Vinegar Unclogs Pores Vinegar has been found to be rich in alpha-hydroxy acids. These acids control sebum production and assist in exfoliation of dead skin cells. Since sebum and dead skin cells are the first two components in the acne formation process, it follows that vinegar helps prevent acne from forming.

3. Vinegar Improves Health A third method by which vinegar can be of benefit to acne conditions is by improving your health. It does this mainly through your digestive system. Along with a range of vitamins and minerals which are absorbed upon consumption, vinegar has indicated an ability to reduce the glycemic load of carbohydrate foods. Combined with regulating intestinal bacteria and breaking up phlegm throughout the body – this results in waste being removed more efficiently from your body and a healthier immune response.

4. Vinegar Moisturizes and Revitalizes Skin In addition to being an acne inhibitor, vinegar can also make a good moisturizer. Moderate application results in a healthy glow, helps regulate surface PH balance, prevents dryness, and depending on the type – allows absorption of healthy vitamins and minerals.

What Results can I Expect with Vinegar?

So at this point, you wouldn’t be alone to think: what benefits could vinegar have in comparison to conventional acne medications if it’s so much cheaper? The reality is, a very large number of people have used it successfully to treat their acne for centuries. Many users find they can reduce bacne and facial acne by 90% in between 2 weeks to a month. In addition, when diluted with water acne can actually assist in the moisturizing process thereby reducing flaking skin and clogged pores.

Everyone’s response to the various acne treatments is different, and vinegar is included. A large percentage of people who try it find it works very well. Those who don’t often find their failure caused by using vinegar undiluted – so try mixing with (3 parts) water so its acidic properties do not irritate your skin. There are also many types, and natural apple cider vinegar is currently the most popular for acne treatment.

Its a terrible feeling waking up, walking into the restroom, and looking into the mirror to see your face broken out and looking bad. At some point in time, we’ve all confronted this situation. And if you’re like everybody else, the first thing which comes to mind is: “How do I rid myself of this real fast?!” Although it may be too late for a fast solution at that point, fortunately it is easily preventable in the future. Take precaution with a few simple methods to rid yourself of acne:

Form Daily Face Washing Habits!

In my early teens, I quickly realized it would be necessary to clean dirt & debris from my face and other skin daily to keep acne at bay. In my case, I found a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide liquid soap to be most effective. Many other topical treatments are available however, including salicylic acid (beta-hydrox).

The natural shedding of our skin cells combines with dirt to clog pores and form acne. A quick wash once or twice a day, perhaps combined with ‘pads’ or astringent, really helps to reduce and prevent the problem.

Prescription Acne Treatments

Tons of acne treatments are out there. Many of them work similarly, which is basically by treating your skin and oil from the outside in the form of soap, pads, liquid, etc.

There are also more complex treatments such as prescription drugs. Before considering this option, we should ask ourselves: “Is getting rid of a few more zits worth wrecking our body?” Because really, these drugs can cause very serious side effects in our systems. Prescription drug companies make a lot of money from these treatments and won’t soon advertise their problems, but you can still be aware.

Alternative Acne Treatment Methods Clear it Up Just as Fast!

We often look for something stronger when we find the simpler treatments don’t get rid of everything. In truth, however, proper washing methods combined with acne clearing soap can totally rid almost anyone’s face of acne. More information about these methods can be found throughout the Internet.

When you combine washing with exercise and a low-sugar diet, you can really clear your acne and feel better too. Junk food like soda/pop, twinkies, cookies, or anything else sweet and sugary should be ruthlessly eliminated! This is because for hours after eating a sugary snack, our immune system is depressed and acne forming bacteria are ’stronger’.

The exercising helps with our immune system too, along with increasing blood circulation in your skin.

Always give any option you choose time to work. You don’t want to read this, but acne can take 2 to 3 weeks before it totally clears. Once you have the best washing habit, however, it stays gone for good!