Got Acne Scars? Here`s How To Cure And Prevent Them Now
May 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Diseases And Conditions
Apart from the irritation and trauma that a sufferer has to face because of acne, there is yet another element which causes him as much, if not more, agony. This pertains to the scars that acne often brings in its wake. Trying to prevent these and then trying to eliminate them once they have appeared, is a cause of great concern to the concerned individual. The reason for so much concern is that while acne is thought to be a temporary condition, the lesions and scars which form are perceived to be of a more permanent nature.
There are, no doubt, treatments available these days which are quite effective, but some types of acne cause deep scarring which aren`t possible to cure. This is why, to avoid the psychological trauma and the expenses of trying to treat the lesions and living with the disfigurement, it is so important to avert acne scarring.
What I will try to do here is to talk about the various types of acne scars and to give you advice on how to treat them. But primarily, I will guide you on how to prevent these scars in the first place by eradicating the root cause of your acne.
The Causes and Types of Acne Scars and their diagnosis
Studies indicate that acne scars mostly come about as a result of severe acne which causes nodules and cysts to form in the deeper layers of the dermis. Other causes include damage caused to the skin by picking or popping acne, infection, cystic acne which works its way deep into the dermis and overgrown skin tissues.
It has also been found that some people, irrespective of the type of acne they contract, are more prone to the process of scarring. And acne scars sometimes occur because the body`s wound healing process sometimes goes askew, whether it be an improper deposit of collagen or the formation of new capillaries or a warped response to the inflammation or anabolic and catabolic phases: all these are meant to be part of the body`s natural healing phase.
Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that, if you do not wish to be permanently scarred by acne, treat the damage as soon as you can.
In essence, acne scars are of two types. Scars which have formed due to an increase in skin tissue formation and those which have formed because of a loss of skin tissue.
Scars which form because of an increase in skin tissue:
Where there are increased skin tissues, the most commonly found acne scars are Keloids scars. These scars are more likely to be found on people with dark skins and appear when an excess of collagen is formed by cells as part of the healing process. These scars are usually smooth and are shaped irregularly.
Scars which form because of the loss of skin tissues:
Acne spots: the skin surrounding these scars generally turn brown or red. In most cases they gradually fade away by themselves or after the application of some topical scar treatment. A similar fading away can be noticed in the case of post inflammatory hyper pigmentation but the use of MSM has often hastened the process.
Ice-pick lesions: as the name suggests, these acne scars look like ice which has been riddled with an ice pick. Most commonly they appear on the cheeks and the scars can sometimes be deep and sometimes superficial. These scars are more difficult to get rid of than acne spots.
Depressed fibrotic scarring: these scars mostly form as a result of deep nodules and are white and rigid. They are characterized by steep sides and sharp margins.
Atrophic scar macules: scars of this variety are generally soft, small and white and are distensible.
Other types of scars include rolling acne scars which come about because the surface of the skin gets stuck to the subcutaneous layer. Also, there are boxcar scars which are characterized by vertical edges and round indentations.
Treatment of Acne Scars
Just as the discoloration that accompanies an acne attack fades away slowly, so do most acne scars. However, some scars prove more difficult to smoothen away and require some manner of treatment whether it be topical treatment or surgical cosmetic intervention.
Different scars require to be tackled differently. And there are even scars which require to be treated using a combination of more than one elimination method. A large number of treatments exist for smoothening over scars and these include: pulsed laser technology, dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, punch techniques, collagen injections and creams.
Collagen injection involves injecting collagen or fat under the skin. This treatment is generally administered in the case of soft scars, whether deep or shallow. However, the effects of collagen are not long lasting and injections have to be repeated every 6 months. Also, it should be noted that collagen has some adverse side effects and allergic reactions could also develop.
Microdermabrasion is where tiny particles are passed through a vacuum tool with the purpose of scraping the external top layer of the skin. This process, which is only effective with mild scarring, acts as a stimulant and enhances the growth of new cells.
Laser resurfacing is a treatment involving the flattening and resurfacing of the skin layer by the use of laser thus making the scars more even with the surface of the skin. This, to an extent, camouflages the scars. However, this method often causes undesirable side effects such as infection, a reddening of the skin and can sometimes even aggravate the scars. Studies have indicated that laser treatment works better on newly formed scars rather than on old ones.
Punch grafting means slicing open the acne scar right up to the fat layer and stitching it up by means of a small skin graft.
We give you the recommended treatments for the various types of scars acne brings in its wake. Post hyper pigmentation marks are best tackled with MSM or Alpha lipoic acid acne cream. Dermabrasion or laser resurfacing is the suggested treatment for ice pick scars. Flat or thin scars should be dealt with by administering Collagen injections, which should not be used for ice pick scars. Keloids acne scars can be brought under control with steroid injections, silicone gel dressing, crytotherapy or pulsed laser treatment combined with carbon dioxide laser vaporization (where the keloid scar is not too red or too thick).
Prevention of Scars after Acne
Ideally, acne scar treatments should be tried as a last resort because they are highly expensive and have too many side effects. The best approach would be to first try and get rid of the acne. This will work only if you identify the imbalance in your system which is causing the acne. Try to cure it by using natural methods and avoid taking topical acne treatments, medication that is available over the counter or steroids.
Once you have corrected the internal symptoms that caused the acne, you will notice the acne disappearing gradually without leaving any scars.
Moreover, you will be saved the expenses and harassment of taking treatments that cannot cure the acne permanently.
We already know that acne and its resultant scarring are not a skin problem but are caused by internal imbalances. Once that is fixed there will be no acne and consequently no acne scarring.
If you succeed in nipping the acne forming process from its roots then you will not have any acne scars to deal with either. In this way you will be permanently free from acne and acne scars and enjoy a flawless complexion forever.
Acne Bacteria: Does It Really Cause Acne?
May 1, 2009 by admin
Filed under Diseases And Conditions
Propionibacterium or acne bacteria is not the root cause of acne, so destroying it can, at best, help you to bring down the swelling that a ripe pimple causes. It cannot prevent acne from forming as it does not play much of a part in the creation of this condition.
The Acne Problem Lies Way Below The Skin.
Practitioners of conventional medicine describe acne as a skin inflammation. This condition is caused largely by factors on the skin surface, the principal one being an excess of sebum and keratin being produced by the oil glands.
The excessive oil blocks the pores of the hair follicle and this leads to the growth of bacteria. As the growth of bacteria increases, small pimples appear, both on the surface of the skin and directly underneath. The ones above the surface are called blackheads and the ones below the surface are called whiteheads.
In reality, the cause of acne lies way below the surface of the skin. It`s not the immediate signs that you have to tackle, not the inflamed skin, not the investigations of the skin type, not the excessive production of oil, nor the clogged hair follicles or the bacteria on your skin; none of these. Acne is formed because deep rooted factors develop an environment which is conducive to its formation and growth.
Acne is a condition, NOT a disease.
Whatever else acne might be, it is certainly not a disease, just as many of the medical conditions found in the western world are not really diseases. Acne RESULTS from a disease and the acne condition is the body`s way of telling you that all is not well. Don`t ignore this message as the balance of your body is at stake.
I wish to warn you that you should not take the words of conventional practitioners of medicine as the whole truth and start treating your acne as a skin ailment and nothing else. The problem can only be found in the deeper recesses of the body.
If you are afflicted with acne, please understand that the real cause of it is an imbalance that has occurred in your body`s system. The rashes and pimples are the outward manifestations of a much deeper problem which you MUST tackle if you want to be rid of your acne and lead a healthier life.
You will obviously wonder why doctors insist on labeling acne as a malfunction of the skin. The reason is that they can make more money by making you buy the worthless antibiotics and lotions.
The truth about acne bacteria:
Acne bacteria or propionibacterium, to give it its technical term, is something that every human being has on his skin. This bacterium is a life form which fights for survival and is beneficial for us. So the malignant organisms which conventional medicines try to eradicate are really very important for our good health and well being.
You may be surprised to know that acne bacteria, so long as it is in tune with the balance of your body, help you repel other bacteria which are way more harmful for you. It exists in all human beings, irrespective of whether they have acne or not and is the major reason for the flexibility of your skin.
The secretions from our sweat and sebaceous glands are what the acne bacteria feed itself on. This is normal for everyone whether they have acne or not.
Acne bacteria do NOT cause acne and is not contagious. Obviously, as otherwise every single individual would have contracted acne since the bacteria is in all of us. Then why is it that only some unfortunate souls land up being afflicted?
The case is the same with streptococcus bacteria which everyone has. Then why is it that everyone doesn`t get tonsillitis or a strep throat? The reason is that, like acne bacteria, it will not strike unless the conditions in the body are right and a specific environment is fashioned.
It is the environment which counts (the acne triangle of oil-toxins-bacteria).
The environment that creates acne is one where there is an overproduction of sebum oil, mainly due to an imbalance in hormones, and this excess mixes with congested toxins which come out through the skin. This mixture is dangerous as it causes bacteria to develop and grow disturbingly fast. The condition which is thus created is the standard one for an acne sufferer: pimples and nodules which are inflamed and pus-filled.
This condition, described above, where the bacteria grows in leaps and bounds because of the admixture of excess sebum oil and blood toxins, has to be prevented. Merely killing the bacteria is not sufficient because it will grow again when the above condition is recreated. So the ONLY way to stop acne permanently is to go to the root of the problem and ensure that this condition is not allowed to happen.
So antibiotics which kill acne bacteria, such as benzoyl peroxide, tetracycline or monocycline are not permanent cures because they do not tackle the root cause of the acne.
Then What Really Causes Acne?
You will, by now, realize what it is that makes acne bacteria grow so drastically and what environment brings on acne. But all this is only what happens on the surface. What we have to know in order to permanently stop acne from happening is the root cause of the hormonal imbalance and the blood toxins that cause the nexus between oil, toxins and bacteria in the first place.
This nexus is created on the surface of the skin because of a process that is affected by changes within the body. These changes are nutritional, hormonal, environmental and even psychological.
Therefore, to ensure a permanently clear skin, you will have to counteract the changes in ALL the factors mentioned above so that bacteria does not multiply but is kept at an optimal level on your skin.
Vitamins For Acne: Do They Work In The Long Run?
April 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Diseases And Conditions
The “vitamins for acne industry” has reached such stellar heights in the United States today that I consider it to be my duty as a lifelong research worker to shed some light on the subject. It took me 7 long years to gather this knowledge.
To be honest about it, no vitamin for acne supplement can single handedly cure your acne irrespective of whether they consist of b5 overdose therapy, vitamin A or zinc or any that you may think of. The only sensible way out of this debacle is to go through this small treatise till you know how things stand. In the mean time, stay rest assured that downing a few vitamin pills every morning to get rid of your acne is as far fetched as getting an online ticket to the moon today and landing there next day. It is simply not that easy, my boy!
This need not necessarily mean that I am discouraging you to take this option to become free of acne. It is, nevertheless, true that some vitamins and minerals have properties that play crucial roles in the process of curing acne naturally. Also, if taken in the right proportion synergistically, vitamins can prove fairly effective in helping the system to clean itself of biological debris faster than prescription medications. They also help restore the long lost hormonal balance, bringing back the healing process of your skin much more rapidly than any other known resources.
Also, it is never safe to become your own doctor and start taking vitamin pills that you may think are suitable for you because such steps could lead you to some non-reversible side effects that are scarier than the acne. And the effects an overdose of wrong vitamins could be simply lethal. Go visit a qualified doctor, instead; let him examine your pathology and prescribe the right vitamin for you. All you have to do is to take those vitamins strictly as per his advice.
Despite the fact that this discourse is solely devoted to the issue of “vitamin for acne” I have a mind to discuss here the true relationship about the vitamin for acne supplement and the natural holistic method that cures acne naturally for good.
Vitamins for Acne: vis-a-vis their interrelationship with each other
Acne, as we know, is caused by a host of internal as well as external factors of which hormonal imbalance in the body and toxic build-up in the blood and lymph glands are of paramount importance. Since no vitamin supplement can tackle both the issues in its singular capacity, it, nevertheless, can help the body in releasing most of the toxicity and thus become internally cleaner. And the body sans all the biological debris can commence restoration of the skin more efficiently.
Yes it is true that there are some vitamins for acne that supply the nutrients that can regulate the hormones. In their absence, there is bound to be an imbalance in the hormone levels, and this naturally will lead to the formation of acne.
Studies have proved that most acne sufferers are deficient with those nutrients where the supplements can easily fill up the blanks. Of particular significance are some fatty acids in the form of vitamins that really work wonders in most people suffering from acne. Essential fatty acids can be included into the body through vitamins for acne supplements and also when you limit the intake of trans fatty acids like margarine, your condition can improve quite a bit.
The secondary causes that lead to acne can also be challenged by acne supplements. These supplements basically enable your body to fight the causes from the inside and they also strengthen your ability to fight the problem better.
Common Vitamin for Acne suggested
It has been seen that most people who have acne suffer from a deficiency in the vitamin A, zinc, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin C and B complex. And they can gain a lot from them.
This combination of vitamins is believed to have several beneficial properties that include stabilizing the hormones, fighting the free radicals, strengthening of the immune system, controlling the sebum production and improving the skin healing process. As an added bonus, they are said to have special properties in reducing stress, the major cause of hormonal imbalance.
MSM (natural sulfur) is yet another supplement vital for acne prone skin that provides the body with essential fatty acids like Omega 3, 6 and 9: all obtained from natural sources which contribute towards regulating hormone secretion and so can improve one`s acne condition overnight.
Nevertheless, people taking acne vitamins must follow three simple rules for better assimilation of the vitamins. These include (a) Taking the right amount of vitamins as prescribed by the doctor; (b) Taking the right combination of vitamins as prescribed by the doctor and (c) taking them exactly at the same hour as advised by the doctor. Only if this rule of three is strictly adhered to, one may expect the best results from vitamins for acne.
The final verdict in vitamin for acne
Yes, vitamin for acne supplements will let you cure the acne. While some of them provide the vital nutrients that let you speed up the recovery process, others are helpful when it comes to balancing the hormones: they also aid your body organs to remove the toxic materials. Other advantages of vitamin for acne are in collagen formation, skin repair, reducing stress and also in aiding the immune system to fight the problem.
But supplementation will not work alone. This is because acne is quite complicated and there are many internal factors that contribute towards the growth. And so, a complete strengthening and rebuilding is necessary. It needs to be also remembered that acne cannot be caused by a deficiency of vitamins, and thus supplementing them will not work to give you the cure.
Vitamin for acne work when you go for a more comprehensive program. Switch to holistic remedies because this approach can tackle the internal contributing factors. Holistic remedies, together with vitamins for acne are sure to give you an acne free life.





