For centuries, acne has been the bane of human beings - especially teens. Acne affects over 40 million Americans. Acne has a far-reaching effect on individuals. Social withdrawal, lowered self-esteem, depression and lack of self-confidence are common among its victims. Hundreds of remedies have been tested over the years. These fall into three basic categories - commercial chemical and antibiotic cures, homegrown remedies and commercial herbal treatment. Most people agree that chemical-based formulas provide fairly good results. However, they require time to work, and the chemicals used in these products could damage the skin. However, they require time to work, and the chemicals used in these products could damage the skin.

Homegrown remedies are wide-ranging and at times bizarre. Desperate acne sufferers seeking overnight relief have concocted them. Most of the remedies recommended in this category use the contents of kitchen and bathroom ingredients and need to be tested by individuals to check their efficacy. Herbal remedies are fast becoming the treatment of choice. They score over their chemical cousins in being of organic origin and are free from damaging side effects. Basically, these herbal creams aim to restore skin oil production to its pre-acne levels, alleviate bacterial infections and remove skin blemishes. Commonly, these remedies contain a mixture of plant extracts. The active ingredients in these extracts come from grape seed oil, lemongrass essential oil, rosemary essential oil and lichen extracts, to name a few.

GREEN TEA: The Chinese rely heavily on green tea to fight acne. Studies indicate that creams containing up to 3% green tea produce results that are comparable to those of 4% benzoyl peroxide, an effective chemical antidote. Green tea helps fight acne by reducing inflammation and lowering hormonal activity and acting as an effective detoxifying agent.

TEA TREE OIL: Another cure that is rapidly becoming popular is tea tree oil. This natural oil is extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree found in Australia. Aboriginals have used tea tree extract for hundreds of years to treat just about everything. The curative power of this pill is credited to its anti-bacterial activity that is thought to be as good as salicylic acid.

ALOE VERA: Aloe Vera extracts are highly recommended in fighting acne and removing marks on the skin. Many believe that drinking Aloe Vera juice keeps the skin healthy.

Ironically, acne victims suffer not from a lack of cures but an over-abundance of remedies. Herbals cures are a safe bet as they do not damage the skin, yet with so many concoctions claiming to be the best, consulting a dermatologist is always advisable.

Acne Solutions provides detailed information about acne solutions, natural acne solutions, acne scar solutions, best acne solutions and more. Acne Solutions is the sister site of Acne Treatment Web.

Popularity: 10%

Surveys reveal that over 75% of people having facial acne also suffer from body acne as well. Of these 90% carry this infection on their back, neck, shoulders and chest. A small percentage has acne on their legs and abdomen. While facial acne is undoubtedly harmful to a person’s personality, body acne is no less damaging. Body acne makes it difficult for men to go shirtless in public and prevents women from wearing low cut dresses, sleeveless garments and swim wear. The impact and severity of body acne can be minimized by taking a few precautions and by using time-tested medications.

Body acne poses a greater challenge than facial acne. For one thing, the back is not easy to reach. Secondly, these parts contain a large number of pores that produce more oil and are more vulnerable to infections than the face. Thirdly, the skin on the back is thicker and does not respond to doses of topical or oral medications that work for facial acne.

Almost all commercial creams and lotions contain one of the three commonly used antidotes - benzoyl peroxide, a glycolic acid derivative or salicylic acid. These compounds unclog the pores and possess an anti-bacterial property that helps fight acne. Further, they help in reducing the oil content of the skin. While these compounds have produced promising results, they can over-dry the skin and care must be taken to use moisturizing agents to prevent this condition.

Supporters of herbal cures recommend creams containing combinations of extracts from a variety of herbs. These include neem, honeysuckle, yellow dock, dandelion root and sarsaparilla roots. They act as mild antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents and claim to detoxify blood. Body scrubs enhance exfoliation and are used to promote a healthy skin. Apricots are commonly used in these scrubs to provide roughage. Oral antibiotics and vitamins (B2, B3, A and E) are a useful adjuvant in battling acne.

Some simple health and hygiene measures go a long way in controlling acne. First of all, dermatologists agree that stress induces hormonal changes that in turn aggravate acne. Staying “cool” helps control acne.

Hygiene measures include regular body washes using antibacterial soaps, using moisturizing creams, using a soft towel to dry the skin, removing sweaty garments as soon as possible, avoiding pinching affected areas, exercising and getting enough rest. The best thing to do always is to consult a dermatologist before using any medication - oral or topical.

Acne Solutions provides detailed information about acne solutions, natural acne solutions, acne scar solutions, best acne solutions and more. Acne Solutions is the sister site of Acne Treatment Web.

Popularity: 10%

Most everybody has to deal with acne at one time or the other. Acne is especially noticeable during teen years when individuals are the most self-conscious about their looks and wish to make a favorable impression. The disfiguring effects of acne (especially on the face) are quite depressing and can greatly damage anyone’s self esteem.

Acne is caused by an imbalance in the skin’s physiology. Hormonal changes during adolescence trigger hyperactivity of oil producing glands in the skin. This oil and dead skin cells block hair follicles. Opportunistic skin bacteria then infect these follicles.

With so many commercial anti-acne medications to choose from, how does one know which medication suits him or her best? Different skin types react differently to medications. What works well for one person may not work for another. While it is always best to consult a dermatologist, below are a few popular medications used in the battle against acne. These drugs act on factors that cause acne — oil, dead skin and bacteria.

Accutane is an oral drug that acts on cells that produce oil and reduces their output by as much as 80%. However, Accutane affects all the cells in the body and could cause the mucosal lining in lips, mouth, eyes and vagina to bleed. It also causes significant birth defects and damages the liver.

Antibiotics help in controlling the infectious bacteria in an outbreak of acne. Erythromycin is widely used in topical applications. Continued use of antibiotics though results in the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Individual sensitivity to antibiotics should also be tested prior to use.

Retin A is a topical medication that is quite effective in reducing acne, but it does cause skin irritation, redness, itching and flaking.

Several masks that reduce the oil content of the skin are available. These include charcoal and oatmeal masks. One must be cautious in using these as they may cause over drying of skin.

Salicylic Acid, better known as aspirin, is an effective antidote. When used topically as a 1-2% solution, it promotes exfoliation of the epidermal layer of the skin, and minimizes plugging of follicles.

Precautions such as avoiding exposure to strong sunlight and intake of greasy food, controlling stress, personal hygiene and regular exercising go a long way in controlling the effects of acne.

Acne Solutions provides detailed information about acne solutions, natural acne solutions, acne scar solutions, best acne solutions and more. Acne Solutions is the sister site of Acne Treatment Web.

Popularity: 4%