Finding a truly effective treatment for acne has turned out to be very hard. We still don’t have a excellent understanding of what causes acne, let alone which pimple treatment is the best. You might hope the knowledge of pimples has improved greatly in the past 90 years, but that is how long we have used our most common acne solution, benzoyl peroxide cream and gel.
In truth, most acne remedies, whether non-prescription or by prescription, are not very excellent except for very mild acne. What about treatments based on a holistic acne remedy? Generations of dermatologists and pharmaceutical companies have tried to deny the link between diet and acne. The most recent studies have determined that this stale way of thinking is past its due date. (Source: Berra B, Rizzo AM. Glycemic index, glycemic load, wellness and beauty: the state of the art. Clinics in Dermatology. 2009:27:230-235) The interest in low-glycemic eating that was spawned with the fantastic success of the Atkins diet for weight loss, has revealed the link between acne and diet that was known within the world of holistic medicine but ignored (like Atkins and his diet) by doctors everywhere. Atkins was ignored until his methods were undeniably successful. Is advance coming for the science of acne?
The fantastic discovery is that the way that our bodies react to androgen hormones is what causes acne and some foods (high-glycemic foods especially) affect our androgen hormones. Maybe the secret pimple remedy we have been searching for is eating properly.
Let’s take a look at each conventional acne remedy to see if one of them may be right for you.
Oral and Topical Antibiotics
The huge threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria has been caused by the overuse of antibiotics. Dermatologists shouldn't routinely prescribe antibiotics because of this. In fact, the P.Acnes bacteria that infects blackheads and whiteheads and turns them into red, swollen pimples is now often found to be resistant to antibiotics including erythromycin. To live healthily, we need "excellent" bacteria in our bodies but antibiotics eradicate all bacteria indiscriminately. Antibiotics are not an effective acne treatment because they don't affect androgen hormones which are the actual cause of acne. My personal experience is that antibiotics are a hassle to use, and have small effect. I would not bother with them..
Gels and Creams Containing Benzoyl Peroxide
This acne remedy is really quite useful if you only have mild acne but is less effective if you have a more serious acne condition. If you have mild acne, you can try out a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel or cream which you can buy over the counter from your local pharmacy. You do not need, and should not use stronger concentrations (including prescription strength) because studies have demonstrated that they are in no way more effective than 2.5%, but they make more money for doctors and drug companies while being more irritating for your face. You can improve the effectiveness by wiping your skin first with a salicylic acid pad. You must spread the product thinly over the areas where you get acne, not only on your existing pimples, and you must continue to use it or else your pimples will come back. Still, I reckon, benzoyl peroxide is a valuable acne remedy if you only have a mild acne problem.
Hormonal Acne Medications
If you are a woman, you might find the solution with an estrogen-containing birth control pill such as Yasmin, or alternatively, a hormonal medication such as spironolactone. Much like the holistic treatments, these methods will directly affect the androgen hormone issue that causes acne. Talk to your dermatologist to find out if a hormonal medication is right for you.
Accutane: Serious Medicine
This is one of the best-known miracle acne cures. The numerous unfortunate side effects that come from Accutane make it a remedy of last resort, even though it is quite effective. Potential side effects include thinning hair, bleeding gums, liver hurt, pain, depression and birth defects. The fact that Accutane does not work straight away is another thing to keep in mind. You might feel like you need to hibernate for the six months to a year it takes to clear your acne because your complexion will appear much worse over that time. Your face and lips will be extremely dry and sensitive. This product was recently taken off of the American market because of the serious side effects. Do I recommend Accutane? It is hard to endorse a product that has such potentially perilous side effects. I reckon that someone who is considering Accutane should first try a holistic dietary acne remedy if they want to clear acne. What is there to lose?
Holistic, Natural Acne Remedies
With the latest research suggesting a certain link between diet and acne, the time to try a holistic pimple treatment based on food has arrived. These programs have helped many people take control of their acne problems without doctor's bills or drugs. These treatment programs are cheap and worth a try especially if you are thinking of going on Accutane. A natural acne regimen might work more quickly than Accutane, and since they are guaranteed to work (or your money refunded), it is a excellent thought to at least test them out before committing to a powerful drug.
The one side effect of an acne diet is fantastic health. With the latest evidence starting to support the effectiveness of treating pimples through diet, acne sufferers who adopt a holistic acne program may find that they have a lot in common with the early devotees of the Atkin’s diet who, in spite of the naysaying from the so-called “experts,” lost an dreadful lot of weight! Proof is in the results. One day, they might be saying “I told you so.”
Other Acne Posts :
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment