Can Vitamins Fight Acne?

Author: Yvette Chau
Source: articleage.com

Many women have questions about benzoyl peroxide and pregnancy, as well as other common over-the-counter acne ingredients. Although these products are typically considered “safe” since they are available to you without a prescription, you still need to be cautious, especially during pregnancy.
The most common ingredients found in over-the-counter-remedies (topical form) include:
-benzoyl peroxide,
-salicylic acid,
-retinol,
-alpha hydroxy acids, and
-resorcinol and sulfur.
OTC Benzoyl Peroxide
Questions about benzoyl peroxide and pregnancy safety remain a concern. BP works by killing acne bacteria deep within the skin and is found in concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% in topical creams and gels. There are also prescription forms of BP or combinations of BP with other active agents that you can get from your doctor.
Here are the two sides of the debate for benzoyl peroxide and pregnancy safety:
Benzoyl peroxide is commonly used: Currently, there are no case reports about benzoyl peroxide and birth defects in research studies. So far it appears there is a low risk to the unborn child.
However?
Benzoyl peroxide is a category C drug: So far, there have been no studies on humans or animals that show risk correlations between benzoyl peroxide and pregnancy. This means the risk is still unknown. About 5% of each topical dose is absorbed systemically. It is unknown if BP passes into breast milk.
Make sure you consult with your doctor about taking BP safely.
Salicylic Acid
This medicine may be absorbed through the mother’s skin. Like benzoyl peroxide and pregnancy, there are no studies of topical salicylic acid and pregnancy showing risk to a fetus. Topical salicylic acid has not been studied in pregnant women.
Only oral salicylic acid (aspirin) studies in animals show that birth defects occur at very high dosages. But oral salicylic acid is unrelated to the topical form.
Generally, the absence of harmful feedback of topical salicylic acid means that the risk to an unborn child is low.
Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin A, which in high doses can be dangerous to pregnant women. Based on 1980 U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamin A in the diet that is a combination of retinol and beta-carotene, pregnant women should not exceed a daily total of 2665-3000 units of retinol (900mcg). Breastfeeding mothers should not exceed 4000 units of retinol (1200mcg). Again, confirm with your doctor regarding a healthy amount for you.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Resorcinol and Sulfur
Resorcinol can be absorbed through the mother’s skin, but none of these ingredients have proven to be a risk in pregnancy.
Always read the labels on the products to see if they are pregnancy-safe. If you feel uncomfortable about a product, never second-guess yourself. See your doctor. Your caution will pay off for the health of your baby as well as your own.
Yvette Chau is a freelance writer based in Edmonton, Canada specializing in the area of skincare and acne treatment. Undergoing failed treatments herself before finding a solution for her own skin problems, she offers information and advice to others on http://www.your-best-acne.treatment.com/

Author: Robert Kyle
Source: ezinearticles.com

If you are dealing with light to moderate acne, there are many over the counter products that could be effective. Unfortunately, there is no “single” over the counter treatment that is the best for everyone. Everyone has different needs for their skin to be maintained at the optimal level and treating acne is no different. However, there are several basic types of over the counter treatments that could be your best treatment for acne.

1. Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is traditionally one of the most common acne treatments available. It is often found in many types of cleansers, creams, and lotions. Benzoyl Peroxide is effective because it kills “Propionibacteria acnes”,which is the bacteria that causes acne in the first place. It also is effective at unclogging pores and decreasing the inflammation of the skin that is commonly associated with acne.

2. Salicylic Acid

Salicylic Acid has been found to be beneficial because it corrects the abnormal shedding of skin cells and ensuring the skin cells are shed effectively. This property allows salicylic acid to reduce pore blockages which prevents acne breakouts. This method has been proven to be particularly beneficial for people with blackhead and whitehead problems.

3. Sulfur and Resorcinol

Sulfur and Resorcinol are often combined in acne products because they compliment each other very well. Resorcinol prevents comedones because it prevents dead skin cells from building up. The exact benefit of sulfur remains unclear, however it has been proven to help treat and even prevent acne for more than 50 years. Combined, these to ingredients are very effective at reducing the total amount of oil that is produced by skin cells.

4. Alcohol and Acetone

Alcohol and Acetone are also a common combination that is found in many over the counter acne products. Alcohol functions as an antimicrobial which can reduce the bacteria that causes acne. Acetone works in conjunction with alcohol by removing excess oil that covers the skin. Combined, alcohol and acetone have been proven to get rid of excess oil and decrease pore blockages.

Many people decide in haste to attack their acne with a multitude of treatments at the same time. The end result of doing this is often a high level of skin irritation including excessive dryness, redness, and even peeling. By starting with one treatment at a time, you will be able to choose a combination that can effectively treat your acne.

There are also many different “all-in-one” packages or kits that are also available over the counter. While they do not inherently do a better job than building a combination on your own, many people prefer them because they are designed to work together and can take the guesswork out of combining treatments. While there may not be a product that is best for everyone, there is a best over the counter product for you.

Robert Kyle is a writer on how to remove acne scars using natural remedies and laser treatment.

Author: Ryan Y
Source: ezinearticles.com

So undoubtedly you’ve heard of benzoyl peroxide and that it can cure acne and all sorts of things. So I’m going to give an overview and pertinent information about BP.

BP is obviously a member of the peroxide family of chemicals. Peroxides have neat effects like bleaching clothing, creating polyester fabrics, and whitening teeth. The main thing however that this article will focus on is BP’s acne fighting properties. Since BP is a peroxide, it has strong antiseptic abilities. It kills bacteria extremely effectively. BP is sold in topical creams, gels, face masks and bars varying in percentage range up to ten percent. An important fact to note is that there has been no clinical statistics to indicate that >5% concentration of BP has any effect on acne.

Benzoyl Peroxide works two ways against acne. Firstly, because of its strong antiseptic ability, it keeps bacteria to a minimum. This is of course good because it cuts down on infected comodones. The second helpful property of BP is in how it affects the skin. First-time users will notice that it has a severe drying effect on the skin. After a week or more of use the user will notice that there has been some skin peeling. This is known as the hardening effect of BP and is well documented.

The good part of this “hardening” is that your skin begins to shed its outside layers, so its basically exfoliating. Hardening is just your skin getting used to the benzoyl peroxide. After a few weeks users should notice the peeling and dryness will be cut down significantly from the beginning stages, although it shouldn’t go away completely. A good moisturizer will help immensely with the peeling and dryness. Something non-comedogenic (my personal favorite is Cetaphil) is what you need to keep your skin moisturized without clogging your pores. Also it is wise to invest in a non-comedogenic sunscreen to help your skin and cut down on sun damage while its under the effects of benzoyl peroxide. It is also important to remember that like most acne treatment products, your skin will almost certainly get worse before it gets better. Results are not immediate and you might not see results until after a few weeks.

A beginner user should start with a once-a-day application of BP. Once the irritation and peeling calm down the user can move up to twice a day if warranted. However, benzoyl peroxide is not a more-is-better product. More than twice a day and maybe even twice a day for some users will be too much. Excessive benzoyl peroxide use can cause extremely dry and irritated skin and can also lead to light chemical burning. A simple application process is to put a small amount on in the morning followed with moisturizer and sunscreen, and a small amount at night followed by moisturizer.

Benzoyl peroxide is a great and easy to use tool for fighting acne. Its simple in that you don’t need a prescription to get it and that it also works to some degree for nearly everybody. BP should be on every acne sufferer’s list of things to try to help clear their skin.

For more information about fighting acne and keeping your skin clear and healthy go to http://www.skinclearingremedy.com

Author: Amy Ou Yang
Source: ezinearticles.com

What is in the product?

Most topical acne treatment products contain the following active ingredients and are available in the form of washes, solutions, gels, lotions, creams, peels and ointment formulations:

Author: David Maillie
Source: articleage.com

What is common to the age group between 12 and 17 apart from teen tantrums and high school crushes? The answer has to be acne. All teenagers have it in some form or the other and some even carry it over into adulthood, with consequences severe enough to merit a visit to the physician. Americans spend an astronomical amount on acne treatment.
Acne is the generic term for clogged skin pores, pimples and deep-seated cystic or nodular lumps occurring mainly on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms.
Knowing its requisite cure also involves knowing the causes of acne. Over-productive oil glands and clogged pores are the main reasons behind these skin lesions. This is why they are common during puberty or during hormonal fluctuations.
Now clogged pores, which are caused by dirt and dust, result in the glandular oil not being able to escape. There is thus swelling in the area leading to the skin lesions.
Acne manifests itself in various forms of skin disorders. Blackheads (open comedones) and whiteheads (closed comedones) are amongst the most common and the least severe forms of skin scar. With bacterial infection, these may progress to skin inflammations like the raised papule, the pus-filled pustule or the hardened nodule.
There are several forms of medication, some preventive and others curative. Preventive medication stresses on keeping the skin squeaky clean to prevent the incidence of clogged pores. Antiseptic liquid cleansers like Cetaphil cleanse the skin without causing any irritation. In fact, these should form an integral part of your daily skin care regime.
Taking care of your skin also involves going slow on the make-up and also religiously removing any traces of make-up when retiring for the night. You should not prick a pimple as this leads to scar and the possibility of further infection.
Topical creams and lotions like those containing Benzoyl Peroxide, antibiotics like tetracycline and Vitamin A-based tretinoin and adapalene are considered effective for acne. In fact, Benzoyl Peroxide is a highly recommended and widely prescribed cream, which gently exfoliates the skin and prevents bacterial infection.
However these creams have a drying and itching effect and should be started in low doses.
Isotretinoin is commonly given as a medicine for the severe nodular and cystic cases. But recent research has shown that isotretinoin causes birth defects if taken during pregnancy and has even been linked to alarming side effects like psychological ailments, depression and suicidal streaks.
Popular medication also includes oral antibiotics that work well in advanced cases. However, these should be taken under strict medical supervision, as they are known to cause harm during pregnancy.
By far the best remedy for such skin disorders is the TCA Peel. A favorite with dermatologists around the world, this form of medication is the safest, easiest and doesn’t involve any side effects. The TCA Peels also work towards making the skin radiantly supple and thus younger-looking (for more information on TCA skin peels see the link below).
With the right treatment, acne aches will no longer pain you.
David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels and other for doctors offices and medispas. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com