A New Look at Natural Acne Treatments
There's a confusing array of product claims and treatment
methods for acne that make it difficult for acne sufferers to
determine their best course of action. The fact that there are
several forms of acne, including cystic acne and the common acne
vulgaris, complicates the picture. While the medical community
does not have a cure for severe acne, there are a variety of
products that will subdue moderate cases of acne and provide the
sufferer with clear skin once again. Among these effective
products are natural acne treatments that provide viable
alternatives to the use of antibiotic medicines and ointments.
Natural remedies are derived from plants that have been used for
generations because of their medicinal properties. The
prestigious National Institutes of Health recently formed the
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Health to
evaluate the efficacy of herbal remedies by funding controlled
scientific studies. Herbal remedies can be effective natural
acne treatments.
Antibiotics are frequently prescribed for acne because there is
a known bacterial component to cases of acne but certain herbs
like Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolio) have known antibacterial
properties as well. A soap made from Echinacea and other herbal
ingredients is a viable antibiotic facial cleanser that helps
fight and clear acne. This type of soap is also used for eczema,
psoriasis, and acne rosacea. Scientific studies show that
Echinacea helps the body provide the proper enzymes at the
cellular level to protect cells against invasion by bacteria.
Echinacea's ability to aid in wound healing is beneficial not
only for acne but also for insect bites and burns.
Echinacea is the hardy purple coneflower that is a staple of
roadside plantings and home gardens. A more exotic and expensive
herbal acne treatment is tea tree oil. There are over 300
species of tea tree but only one species (Melaleuca
Alteronifolia) found in New South Wales, Australia is known to
have antibacterial properties. Tea tree oil is derived from the
leaves of the tree and is four to five times stronger than
household disinfectants in killing bacteria. At the same time,
tea tree oil is gentle to the skin. Tea tree oil is effective in
killing the bacteria even in pus and will cause the body to
eliminate pus from inside a pimple. Tea tree oil also acts as a
mild local anesthetic which reduces discomfort and also helps to
eliminate the red irritation from the skin, improving appearance
and reducing acne social problems. Tea tree oil is readily
available from herbal suppliers and is simply applied to the
affected area with a Q-tip. Tea tree oil is used sparingly.
Witch hazel is not just a brand name but an actual herb
(Hamamelis virginiana) that is still recommended as a topical
astringent and natural acne remedy. When using these topical
acne treatments it is important to be gentle. While it seems to
make sense to attempt to vigorously scrub away the offending
acne, both medical doctors and herbalists recommend a gentle
face washing with even just the fingers as the best approach.
Scrubbing merely dries the skin and causes it to produce more
oils that are implicated as one of the causes of acne. Don't
over-wash either; specialists recommend washing the face just
twice a day.
Along with topical products, herbal dietary supplements can be
beneficial as a natural acne treatment as well. Burdock root
(Arctium lappa) has long been used to treat boils and abscesses
and is an acne treatment. One of the reported properties of
burdock root is that it will bring problem-causing agents out of
the bloodstream, thus potentially making a condition seem to
worsen rather than improve. However, the theory behind its use
states that it is simply eliminating toxic elements from the
body and providing healing properties. When used as an acne
treatment, herbalists recommend that topical burdock root be
applied as well as taking a supplement that contains burdock.
Burdock is typically combined with dandelion root (Taraxacum
officinale) and golden seal root (Hydrastis Canadensis). Golden
seal root was once used to prevent pitting of the skin caused by
smallpox. Herbalists also recommend red clover (Trifolium
pratense). All of these ingredients are implicated in improving
skin conditions. Be sure to take these supplements only in the
dosage indicated by the manufacturer or your herbalist.
Diet plays an important role in overall health and maintenance
of healthy skin. A balanced diet that is rich in vegetables and
fruits provides the necessary vitamins and minerals to support
clear skin. A diet containing lots of vitamin A may lower sebum
production and excessive sebum is one of the contributing causes
of acne. The various B vitamins, especially vitamin B-6, can be
beneficial as it is needed for proper metabolism of steroid
hormones and sexual hormones are implicated in acne. Zinc is
promoted as a cure for acne but there seem to be as many studies
against zinc supplements as there are ones that promote zinc as
an acne treatment. These vitamins are available as supplements
but again, more isn't always better; follow label dosing
instructions.
There are plenty of old wives tales surrounding diet and acne
outbreaks. Chocolate and fried foods have long been blamed for
acne but there is no evidence to support this. However, the link
between acne and dairy products is being subjected to scientific
studies. A study published in the medical journal Dermatology in
early 2005 found a link between teen acne and consumption of
dairy products. For those whose acne is aggravated by dairy
consumption, eliminating dairy products promotes clear skin.
Another misconception is that acne is caused by dirt because the
pores are clogged. Thinking that dirt is a cause of acne prompts
sufferers to possibly over-wash the face and further aggravate
the acne condition. Wearing make-up doesn't cause acne either;
look for modern cosmetics that are non-comedogenic (won't clog
pores), oil-free (water-based) and hypoallergenic (no added
fragrance).
Acne isn't just a teen-age condition and adults suffer from acne
as well. The natural acne remedies have provided relief from
acne symptoms for people of all ages.
About the author:
Nathan James offers information and advice about the best acne
treatments and skin care at the Top Acne Treatments website.
Visit http://www.top-acne-treatments.com for more information
about dealing with acne.
Nathan James
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