Acne Remedies & Treatments - Are They Worth The Bother?

By Melba Buchinski

Acne is known to be one of the most common afflictions of the skin that burdens the lives of a growing number of people around the world these days. Acne is the scientific term for what is commonly known as pimples, whiteheads, blackheads or nodules that occur alarmingly on our face, chest, shoulders or upper back. There are many causes for this skin condition but it is generally believed that acne is a result of an overproduction of sebum, which is a waxy substance that lubricates the skin.

In order to handle this unfortunate condition, many acne sufferers respond to different acne solutions in various ways. Acne remedies can be classified by by using the following categories: conventional, herbal, homeopathic, unclassified.

When it comes to the conventional acne remedies, it is interesting to note that tretinonin, a prescription drug, which is derived from vitamin A, is known to work by changing the maturation of the oil production glands. In this way, it can sometimes dry up the current pimples and inhibit others from happening. A side effect however,an unfortunate side effect for this type of conventional treatment for acne is that it can have an annoying burning or drying sensation associated with its use.

There are a few antibiotics that can be used to deal with inflamed acne and the prescription drug Accutane is one of them. Accutane is actually one of the most potent conventional acne remedies developed so far and it can all but wipe out the condition. A word of caution however, accutane is also the riskiest conventional treatment for acne since the use of this drug might result in headaches, itching, hair loss, muscle pain and possibly even birth defects. Therefore, it should only be used as a last resort.

Herbal acne remedies are available in most local health outlets. Evening primrose oil is one of the best-known herbal acne remedies in the market today. It is usually taken via three 500-milligram capsules per day for three months or until the acne becomes less of a problem. Some herbalists suggest Echinacea, calendula, tea tree oil and goldenseal as other productive herbal acne remedies that can help to eliminate or prevent acne from forming.

Homeopathic acne remedies are available in most towns or cities nowadays and many acne sufferers respond well to this type of treatment. A word of caution however, in cases of severe or acute acne, the guidance of a registered and qualified homeopathic practitioner is highly recommended for safe treatment.

If you suffer from itchy acne it has been suggested that taking Kali bromatum will help ease this unpleasant condition. You can take it six times every day until you notice a marked improvement. Kali bromatum is one of the most highly recommended acne remedies nowadays and many sufferers report fantastic results.

One of the latest and most popular trends medically nowadays is the acne blue light therapy. Many researches and studies have been conducted on this technique and many have found that this new method of dealing with acne is extremely successful.

The main purpose of acne blue light therapy is to annihilate the acne-causing microorganisms. Blue light gets to the center of the microorganisms responsible for causing the inflammation that pumps out minute molecules known as porphyrins. Many studies have recorded that when these prophyrin are exposed to particular wavelengths of light, they emit free radicals that annihilate the microorganisms. Consequently, without the microorganisms around to trigger inflammation, the acne then becomes less of a problem.

Acne blue light therapy is used to be 100 percent natural and non-invasive. It is also free from drugs and lacking any form of destructive aftereffect. Many experts say that acne blue light therapy is safe for people of all ages and can be used daily, even at home. There are mild and temporary after effect such as dryness, swelling of the treated areas and pigment changes.

Ordinarily, eight sessions are given over a period of four weeks with each session lasting for about 15 minutes. Most experts assert that acne blue light therapy is more productive for inflammatory acne lesions and may not be suitable for sufferers who suffer from nodulocystic acne. This process does not utilize ultraviolet (UV) light which is known to have possible detrimental after effect.

Finally, there are many ways to prevent and to deal with acne. What works for one sufferer might have no effect on another. The particular kind of acne needs to be confirmed before a suitable type of treatment can be used. As always, it is best to consult a dermatologist or physician before trying any acne remedies.

Melba Buchinski is a skin care consultant specializing in the treatment of acne on the face and upper body areas. She has made available 11 free audio books about acne and its remedies at her website www.acne-audio.com