Everyday numerous acne suffers
turn to alternative methods
to treat their acne. The two
main reasons for the growing
popularity of such treatments
are; people looking for medication
with less harmful side effects
then tradition acne treatments.
Secondly are the people who
have been unsuccessful with
the various over the counter
and prescription options.
Generally alternative treatments
are not regulated by the FDA
and hence you will not receive
much guidance from medical
doctors on their use. Word
of month and the alternative
medical community is the main
source of information on such
options.
For teenage girls and women
herbs that balance hormone
levels such as chaste berry,
black cohosh, dong quai, evening
primrose, wild yam, and red
clover are quite commonly
tried. Herbalists believe
that these herbs balance the
female sex hormone estrogen
and will counterbalance the
hormone androgen. Since androgen
is believed to trigger excess
sebrum production, which can
cause hair follicles to clog
and acne to form, acne could
be prevented or reduced.
Herbs that are thought to
help reduce inflammation and
infection can be used for
both male and female acne
suffers. Echinacea, licorice,
dandelion root, and burdock
are all thought to contain
properties that help with
the above by killing bacteria.
The herbs salvia and red peony
are also used sometimes to
help acne suffers improve
their skins ability to heal.
Vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic
acid is a commonly used vitamin
to treat acne. It become widely
popular after Dr. Leung a
Hong Kong acne expert published
a paper on its effectiveness.
His paper was based on the
theory that acne sufferers
are deficient in vitamin B.
The result is excess sebum
production, the root cause
of clogged hair follicles
leading to acne. Dr Leung
also tested his theory through
a clinical trial where 100
acne suffers were given 10g
of B5 daily, after six months
Dr. Leung's test group had
a ninety percent success rate.
Topical treatments such as
tea tree oil and seaweed,
which are both believed to
have powerful antibacterial
properties are also widely
regarded as being effective
on acne inflammations. Tea
tree oil comes from the ti
tree in Australia and seaweed
from the oceans.
A common belief is that controlling
stress reduces the severity
of acne. So anything you can
do to alleviate stress will
help. Many acne suffers turn
to exercise for stress relief,
yoga being very popular. Aromatherapy
can also be used in stress
relief, along with acupuncture,
and meditation.
While the predominate reason
many people turn to alternative
acne treatments is to reduce
the harmful side effects of
tradition medicines the reverse
may actually be true. Caution
should be used before trying
any alternative treatments.
They may have adverse side
effects not common known due
to the lack of regulations
on most alternative treatments.
About The Author
Mark MacKay is a researcher,
marketer, and former Acne
sufferer. For more information
on Acne Myths, Causes, Types
of Acne, Acne Treatments,
Skin Care, Adult Acne, Teen
Acne, Acne Discussion forum,
latest research articles and
much more visit Mark's Acne
Explained web site at http://www.acne-explained.info.
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