miercuri, 21 septembrie 2011

7 ways to heal acne scars

  1. Drink lots of water: Drinking water is one of the most recommended measures to reduce acne scars. It improves blood circulation in your body and increases the chance of wound-healing-ability to your body. So, you should drink at least 7 to 8 glasses of water everyday, each glass should be around 300ml.
  2. Apply honey: It is believed that honey is a great skin builder and wonderfully heals scars. You can directly apply honey to acne scars and leave it to settle for about 10 minutes. There after rinse your face with cold water.
  3. Eat tomatoes: Tomatoes are rich source of vitamin A and has excellent healing properties to reduce appearance of scars. You can eat fresh raw tomatoes everyday to help heal and decrease the appearance of acne scars.
  4. Apply Aloe Vera gel: Gel or juice of Aloe Vera is highly useful in fading of acne scars. You can grow Aloe Vera plant in your home and apply freshly taken pure Aloe Vera gel to your scar. Otherwise many branded cosmetic companies manufactures pure Aloe Vera gel, so you can choose the best cosmetic companies to get Aloe Vera gel.
  5. Drink lemon juice: Lemon essentially contains good amounts of citric acid, which is a part of AHAs group that has amazing properties to reduce acne scars. Drink lemon juice as often as possible or as much as you want to get rid of acne scars.
  6. Apply ice cubes: This is one of the easiest and simplest ways of healing acne scars. Even though it may not give you immediate results, regular application can give you effective results. Apply ice cubes on acne scars for at least 10 to 15 minutes everyday.
  7. Reduce stress level: Stress is one of the major causes for acne and it might also disable the healing process of acne. Try to stay away from stress as much as possible. If it is not possible for you, at least explore different stress management techniques to eliminate stress.

Cure acne naturally

  • Apply a honey mask to your face once or twice a week - Honey has antibacterial properties so it is great for disinfecting and healing minor blemishes. It is also gentle on sensitive skin.
  • Wash twice a day with acne soap - You should wash your face twice a day with a sulfur based soap designed for acne. Once when you first wake up in the morning and then, right before you go to bed at night. Be extremely gentle to your skin when washing - do not scrub or use any sort of rough cloth. Overwashing your skin will actually stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, thus increasing your acne.
  • Keep your hair off your face - If you have long hair or bangs, pull your hair off your face. Your hair contains oils as well, and will contribute to your breakouts. You'll also want to wash your hair everyday and after workouts
  • Take a potent multi-vitamin - Acne can be a sign that something is wrong on the inside. Your skin depends on nutrition. It is a vital organ that is usually neglected. If your body is not receiving the right nutrition, it will fight back. One common way it will rebel is to produce excessive sebum, clogging pores, and reducing the ability for your skin to heal and fight bacteria (see Acne Prevention Vitamins)
  • Include chromium in your diet - Chromium is well known for weight loss diets. But it is also excellent for healing infections on the skin. Taking a chromium supplement once a day will help heal your pimples quickly and prevent future breakouts.
  • Eat carrots for beta-carotene (Vitamin A) - Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production. This vitamin is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins. Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne?
  • Avoid wearing makeup - Leaving makeup products on your skin only contributes to clogging your pores, causing more pimples and blackheads. If you feel you must wear makeup, be sure it is water-based.
  • Do not pick or squeeze your blackheads and pimples - As tempting as it may be, do not squeeze, scratch, rub or touch your pimples and blackheads. Do any of these actions, actually increases the sebum production. Plus, when you squeeze, you are actually rupturing the membranes below your skin, causing infection and sebum to spread underneath your skin. The result is more pimples.
  • Wash your pillow case every other day - Your face lays on your pillow case every day. Your pillow case absorbs the oils from your skin and reapplies the dirt and oil. Thus causing breakouts. Keep your sheets and pillow cases clean.
  • Eat foods rich in zinc - Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil-producing glands of the skin. A diet low in zinc can actually cause acne breakouts.

Heal acne naturally

Cut back on eating refined carbs (bread, pasta, etc). Also, cut back on eating sugar (any sugar, a little natural sugars might be okay).
Take fermented foods (saurkraut, kefir, goat cheese, or natural yogurt) and/or take a good pro-biotic and enzymes.
  • Stop using your cleansers, face creams, makeups, etc. If you are going to use these, get natural products.

  • Eat more veggies! They clean your blood of toxins that cause the acne.

  • WATER! Get 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water.

  • Move around. Trampoline is a great way to move your lymphatic system. Running or jump roping is also good.

  • Take a multivitamin each day.

  • Do this three times a day:
    • Get the things you need. You will need a face cloth, a hand towel, soap (bar or liquid), and working water (hot and cold).
    • Wet down your face cloth with hot water. The water has to be so hot, the face cloth steams. Be careful not to burn your hands, though! When the face cloth is steaming, wring out the water, and place it on your face. This will open your pores. Repeat this process twice. Make sure your eyes are closed, unless you enjoy pain.
    • After opening your pores, quickly wash down your cloth again with hot water and put soap on it. Then scrub your entire face, but concentrate on the infected areas. Let the lather rest for about 40 seconds. While waiting, wash your cloth down again with hot water thoroughly.
    • Wipe the lather from your face thoroughly. Make sure none is left over.
    • Rinse the cloth with cold water. Make sure the cloth is VERY cold. Then place it on your face. This will close your pores. Dry your face with the towel, but don't rub, just dab the water off.
  • vineri, 16 septembrie 2011

    home remedies for acne

    Orange Peel- Orange peel is effective remedy for acne. Take some orange peel and grind it with some water. Apply this paste around pimples and wash after some time.
    · Toothpaste- To cure acne, one can apply toothpaste over acne at the night time and wash it after 15 minutes. The most considerable thing is that the toothpaste should not be of gel form, it must be herbal toothpaste as gel toothpaste can give way to itching or irritation.
    · Neem Leaves- Wash your face with lukewarm water. Now take some paste made by crushing some fresh neem leaves. Apply the paste over face. Leave it for15-20 minutes. Wash the face. This natural remedy is helpful to cure acne.
    · Mint Juice- Take some fresh leaves of mint and extract juice from it. Apply this over face every night as it is the wonderful treatment for acne.


    · Papaya- Papaya is an excellent fruit and also has medicinal values too. Take juice of raw papaya and apply it over swelling acne or pimples. It is very good remedy for acne.
    · Nutmeg (Jaiphul)- Grind some jaiphul with some unboiled milk. Apply this paste over acne affected area and leave it for 1-2 hours. It is a magical remedy for acne as it helps to remove pimples and also remove marks.
    · Almond- Mix almond powder with water to prepare paste. Apply over acne affected area and leave till it dried completely. Rinse it off.
    · Sandalwood Powder- Sandalwood and rose water both can prepare the best home remedy for the acne. Take 1 spoon of sandalwood powder and mix some rose water to it to make a paste. Now, apply this paste over the acne affected area and leave for 15 minutes. Wash with water.
    · Cinnamon Powder- Mix honey and cinnamon powder to prepare paste. Apply this paste over face after washing before going to sleep. Next morning wash the face with warm water. If this remedy is used on regular basis for two weeks it shows magical values.
    · Groundnut Oil- Take a tablespoon of groundnut oil and a tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix it well and apply over the face as it is helpful in preventing acne, blackheads and other skin problems.
    Cumin Seeds- Take some orange peel and grind it well with some water. Now apply this paste over the face. Wash after some time. It is one of the best and most recognized home remedy for pimples.
    · Cucumber- The juice of cucumber is very effective. Grate some cucumber and apply it over the face, near eyes and neck region. Leave it for 15 minutes. Wash it off with water. It is an excellent home remedy for acne as well as blackheads.
    · Rose Water- Mix some rose water with lemon juice in equal proportion. Apply this over face with the help of cotton ball. Leave it for half an hour and wash thoroughly. If this is repeated for 20-25 days then it helps to get rid of acne problem.
    · Yogurt- Take1 tablespoon, 1 tablespoon of sour cream and 1 tablespoon of grinded oatmeal now mix 3-4 drops of lemon juice in it. Mix them well to prepare paste. Apply this over face and wash after 10-15 minutes as it is a superb remedy for acne.
    · Fenugreek Seeds (Meethi)- Take some fresh leaves of fenugreek and grind them to prepare paste. Apply the paste over the acne affected area every night. Wash it after every 10-15 minutes. Wash the face with warm water. It is an excellent remedy for acne.

    ASPIRIN MASK FOR ACNE

    You heard about the great mysterious aspirin mask and now you're checking out to see what's all this fuss about, right?
    Well it's totally true that using an aspirin face mask has helped many many people to get their acne under control. It's one of the most effective means available
    And the good part is that with a relative cheap bottle of aspirin you can make quiet a few masks; that's just a few cents per treatment! Now tell us that that isn't better than all that expensive branded label stuff that is thrown at you all over the placE.
    Aspirin contains a very effective type of salicylic acid; this is the kind that gives the deep down cleansing your skin needs to get or stay blemish free. In some people it even helped to quickly heal existing blemishes and kept them from coming back
    On top of that it is also a great exfoliator, sloughing off dead skin cells and so preventing your pores from getting clogged. This is what makes your skin feel silky soft and smooth afterward
    Finally, all this together with its anti-inflammatory properties make aspirin a unique and world-class ingredient in your acne treatment regime

    ANTIBIOTICS FOR ACNE

    Acne can be a real pain, especially if nothing seems to solve the problem.  It is for this reason that some people suffering from acne may try using antibiotics as an alternative when nothing else has seemed to work.  This can be effective for a number of reasons. However women who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant need to be careful when taking antibiotics during pregnancy.  Most general oral antibiotics are not safe medication to take during pregnancy however there are a few exceptions.  Here are a list of what you should and shouldn’t take.

    How and why do antibiotics work to treat acne?

    Antibiotics work to decrease the amount of bacteria that is in and around the hair follicle.  They also work to reduce irritation that the chemicals in white blood cells create.  Antibiotics have also been found to be effective in treating acne because they reduce the concentration of fatty acids in the sebum as well as reduce inflammatory responses.

    What are some of the most commonly used antibiotics to treat acne?

    Erythromycin

    Erythromycin is one of the most common antibiotics used to treat and prevent acne. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce redness and kill bacteria.   The dosage of Erythromycin varies but is typically prescribed as 250-500 mg twice a day.  This medication can and should be taken with food as common side effects include upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, stomach pain, and mild skin rash.  Erythromycin is safe for pregnant women to take however women should discuss taking the medication with their doctor in detail beforehand.  Make sure to include a detailed and updated list of any other prescriptions, vitamins, dietary supplements, etc. you may be taking and never take more than the recommended dose.  If a person experiences any of the following symptoms they should seek medical attention immediately: Severe skin rash, itching, hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, wheezing, yellowing of the skin or eyes, pale stools, dark urine, vaginal infection, fatigue or unusual tiredness.

    Doxycycline

    Doxycycline is another popular antibiotic often used to treat acne.  It is most often used on patients who did not respond to erythromycin.  The dosage of Doxycycline usually begins at 50-100 mg twice a day and should be taken with food because it can cause upset stomach and nausea to occur.  Although the antibiotic has been effective in treating many patients suffering from acne, it is important to note that it has been shown to cause harm to the fetus.  If you think you may be pregnant contact your doctor. Doxycycline cleanser is also found in breast milk of mothers who are breastfeeding, so it is important that one does not breastfeed while taking this medication.  Doxycycline has been assigned to pregnancy category D by the FDA due to the fact that animal studies have revealed evidence of embryo and fetotoxicity which included toxic effects on skeletal formations.  There are many other cons to taking the drug if you are pregnant.  It can cause discoloration in the baby’s teeth.  It is for these reasons that Doxycycline is often only prescribed during a pregnancy when there are no other alternatives and the benefits outweigh the risks.  Please discuss the use of this antibiotic with your doctor if you are or suspect that you may be pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant.

    Oral Retinoids

    Oral Retinoids are extremely dangerous and not safe to take during pregnancy.  Some examples of Oral Retinoids that one should avoid if they are pregnant include Isotretinoin.  Isotretinoin is often used to treat patients who are suffering from cystic acne.  Although it has been found to be quite effective in treating cystic acne it has also been banned from being used during pregnancy as it causes malformations to the fetus.  The drug also increases a woman’s chances of miscarriage and infant death.  For any woman who is planning on becoming pregnant they should stop taking the drug at least a month before trying to conceive.  For anyone who is on Isotretinoin who is pregnant should discontinue use at once.
    These are only a few of the antibiotics one should or shouldn’t take when trying to treat acne and if possibly pregnant.  For further information or concerns please talk to your physician or dermatologist.

    HOMEMADE ACNE MASK FOR OILY AND ACNE PRONE SKIN

    A typical acne face mask that also battles oily skin. The brewer's yeast stimulates circulation while the tomato absorbs excess oil from your skin
    The lemon exfoliates and yogurt cleanses, soothes and nourishes
    What do you need:
    • 2 tablespoons Tomato juice
    • 1 tablespoon powdered Brewer's Yeast
    • 1 tablespoon Plain unflavored Yogurt, with active cultures
    • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
    How to do it:
    Mix all ingredients in a bowl until you have a nice and smooth paste
    Spread the paste gently and equally with a facial mask brush or spatula on your clean face and neck; keep the eye area clear
    Now lie down, relax and leave the mask on for 15 minutes
    Then wash it off with warm water and a soft warm wash cloth, end with a splash of cold; pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Finally apply a moisturizer, this way you "seal" your skin to keep the water inside