While researching for material to write about tonight, I stumbled upon this article from acne magazine about horrible home remedies for acne.  It got me thinking about some of the things that I’ve been told would help me with my acne.  Things like:

-          Honey – smear a bit of honey on your acne before you go to bed each night.  For me, this just resulted in extra love from my dog, and very sticky pillows.  It didn’t do a thing for my acne, good or bad.

-          Eat apples and carrots – One home remedy said to eat an apple or carrot three times per day to “soothe your skin.”  All this did for me was make my jaws hurt, and make me really sick of carrots.  I didn’t mind eating the apples all the time, but a person can only eat so many carrots.  This “cure” was another flop – but at least it didn’t do anything to make my acne worse.

-          Nutmeg and unboiled milk – First of all, I had no idea what unboiled milk was.  Isn’t it all unboiled? Second, after 3 weeks and no change, I figured it wasn’t worth it to keep testing it.  Maybe I should have used skim milk? J

So – what is the weirdest ritual that you have used to eliminate acne?  Let me know in the comments – especially if you found something that worked great.

-          Jason

What are your options to fix the scarring?

1 – Don’t worry about it.  You fought, and one, the battle with acne.  You have it under control, and you aren’t bothered by the marks that dot your cheeks.  You call them battle scars, and you are so comfortable with your own inner beauty that a few marks on the surface don’t mean a thing.

2- Cover them up. There billions of dollars spent every year on treatments for acne, but even more money is spent on makeup you can use to cover up the scars.  If this is the technique that works best for you, check this article to make sure you aren’t causing yourself more problems.

3- Chemical Peel. You can choose to go to your dermatologists or medical aesthetician where they can help remove the scarring, one layer of skin at a time.  Depending on the severity of your scarring, you might be looking at 6 treatments, with 3 weeks between them.

4 – IPL Intense Pulsed Light – A new technology that stimulates the body’s collagen production, helping it heal naturally.

This list is by no means comprehensive.  Think of it as a pointer to help your find more information about acne scarring, and how to live with it.

-          J

OK, you’ve got red blotches all over your face.  You’ve had them since you were a teenager and they won’t go away.  You’ve tried every acne cream out there, yet you still feel like the employee of the month at any fast food restaurant.

If you are treating your rosacea the same way you treat acne, you probably aren’t ever going to get rid of it.  First off, a bit about the two conditions.

What is acne?

When the pores on your face, neck, back, chest, or shoulders get plugged, pimples or cysts can appear and this is commonly known as acne, or medically as acne vulgaris.  These pimples, whiteheads or blackheads, are usually seen on teenagers (apparently almost 100% of people aged 12 – 17 have had some form of pimples), but there are some folks that are afflicted by acne into their 40s.  Though acne usually isn’t lethal it can be emotionally, or physically, damaging. The pores can become infected, and might result in scarring.  There are some therapies that can be used to mitigate the scarring, but it is much more effective to use proactive treatments to avoid this situation.  Most people will see their acne symptoms disappear as they get older.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes blotchy redness and swelling, usually limited to the face, but it has been known to affect the neck, ears, chest, back, and scalp. There have been some cases where rosacea has affected the eyes, resulting in a bloodshot appearance, burning/itching, and swelling of the eyelids.

People that suffer from rosacea tend to blush or flush very easily.  The symptoms of rosacea can resemble a sunburn or acne, and this redness affects approximately 14 million Americans.  Where acne is normally seen in teenagers, rosacea can be commonly found on adults between 30 and 50, and often in women during menopause.

The causes of rosacea are not fully known, with theories ranging from heredity, to skin mites, to bacteria.

Some famous people that suffer from rosacea include: Bill Clinton, Rosie O’Donnell, Mariah Carey, and W. C. Fields.  Field’s distinct nose is a classic example of rosacea, clearly demonstrating the skin damage that can occur from this condition.

How do you treat rosacea?

Though the cause is still unknown, there are some treatments that have been shown to improve the symptoms on those suffering from rosacea.  The first step is to consult your doctor to ensure that you are suffering from rosacea instead of acne.  If it’s determined to be rosacea, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, like tetracycline or doxycline, to help minimize the flare-ups that occur.  You can help your doctor by keeping a log of your flare-ups to help identify possible triggers so you can avoid them in the future. Some more permanent treatments for rosacea include laser or electrosurgery, where the blood vessels on the face are reduced so they become less visible.

Another problem with the similarity between the two afflictions is that some of the treatments that you would use to prevent acne can actually exacerbate your rosacea.  People that are suffering from both conditions at the time same time should be seeing a medical professional to help them determine the best course of action.

Like acne, rosacea isn’t harmful to your health, but it can cause a lot of psychological grief. If you are suffering from rosacea, consult your dermatologist to find the right options for you.

- Jason

 OK, so this might not be the most appetizing post, but it is one that anyone with skin can benefit from reading.

You’ve got a pretty good idea about what a pimple looks like, what it feels like, and why you want to get rid of it – but do you know what a pimple actually is?

The fine folks at Clearogen have given us an excellent primer on these minor skin complications that everyone has, and no one wants.

 How is a pimple formed?

You already know that your skin is made up of tiny pores, the tiny openings in your skin that allow oil and sweat are excreted from the glands below the skin.

When a pore gets plugged, either with dirt, dead skin, or makeup, the sebum (the oil that your sebaceous glands produce to keep your skin young looking and supple) gets trapped, and this prevents your hair follicles from growing.  This causes your skin to break out in pimples.  Your body is always fighting for you, so when a pore gets clogged, usually one of two things will happen.  Either pus forms to help push out the bacteria from the dirt, dead skin cells, or makeup, and this results in a whitehead pimple, or if the bacteria isn’t present a blackhead will form.

How do you get rid of pimples?

The best solution for dealing with whiteheads or blackheads, zits or blemishes, is to actively keep your skin clean.  Regular washing with an antimicrobial face wash is the key to having a good healthy skin.  Make sure you use the right wash for your skin type.  If you’re skin is too oily, and you use a treatment that is designed to help dry skin, you are probably going to make your pimple problem worse.  And try not to use any cleaners that are alcohol based.  They will dry out your skin, which might give you temporary relief from a pimple, but they can result in damaging the skin, which could lead to more pimples in the future.

Wash your skin twice a day, once when you get up, and once when you go to bed.  Doing it more than twice a day can cause your skin to dry out, which might trigger your skin to produce more oil, which will result in more pimples if your pores are easily blocked.

How old are you when you stop getting pimples?

Depending on who you are, you might not like this answer very much.  Some people might have pimples for most of their life.  Typically, you are more prone to pimples when you are a teenager, with hormones playing havoc on your body.  Menstruating women might also suffer more frequent pimple problems for the same reason.  Men with facial hair can be more susceptible to pimple production, but the facial hair can often camouflage the symptoms.  Many people will grow out of the conditions that result in pimples, but by developing good skin habits early on, you can live a virtually blemish free life.

So, there you have it.  A bit of background info on what causes pimples.  In future posts, we are going to explore some of the ways that you can minimize acne, we’ll debunk a few myths about pimples and acne, and we will look at some of the ways that you can treat the scars that acne can cause.

If you have any questions or suggestions for us here at clear.ca, feel free to leave a comment.

 -J

Belisi RX Instant Skin

After trying being tempted in by their $1.00 free trail, I decided to try out Belisi RX Instant Skin Tightening Lotion for two weeks.

Developed by the team at Belisi Fashion Line under Peter Belisi, I found Belisi RX to be very effective was with facial skin tightening. I’ve tried a number of home remedies for skin tightening, none of which had the ability that Belisi RX did to tighten face skin and tighten neck skin. Belisi RX is formulated with a combination of twelve anti-aging and skin tightening ingredients – including Green Tea – which I found had a very quick and noticeable effect which got better as the days went by.

Using Belisi RX is fairly easy – if you’ve ever used another skin cream or applied makeup, you’re all set. Simply dab a small amount of the lotion on your fingers and rub it in the areas where you determine that you need the skin tightening action to work. That’s it, it’s very simple! I don’t recommend you use it too often in a day;  it is  better to apply it when you need it – heading to the office, out to an evening event, etc. – and to ensure to apply it every day for the long-term benefits.

Belisi RX is a worthwhile investment in your skin – whether you’re dealing with advanced wrinkling and loose skin or if it’s something that has just started to become noticeable. Belisi RX works as it should – ask my wrinkles! – and helps smooth and tighten the skin on your face and neck, which you will notice immediately upon use and will get better as time goes on.

I can safely say that this is one of the better  anti-wrinkle / skin tightening  lotions available on the market today.

I’ve struggled with this dilemma many years. In my early 20’s, I used tanning beds and was amazed at how dark I could get. I could never quite get that dark in natural sun (being a type 2c). So it felt wonderful being brown for the first time. Then when all the anti-UV propeganda began to surface, I stopped and basically stayed “sun smart” the next 10 years. I think having done so is what’s kept my skin looking super young. But recently, that urge to get some UV exposure has returned and I’ve spent the last couple of years battling with that urge (because for me it feels SO good!). But then I consider I had my “fun” back then in my 20’s and now it’s time to be responsible and salvage what I’ve still got (at 41).

Since you’re still so young and you can avoid doing any damage (you’re already off to such a good start!), I’d HIGHLY recommend you try the self tanning route first. Or get a proper airbrush tan done by a technician. You may find that’s all you need to give you the colour boost you’re craving. If that’s still not enough and you really want the UV exposure, then be sure to eat plenty of antioxidant-rich food, drink green tea, and take the internal supplement “Heliocare” which helps guard against damage.

If you DO opt for UV, then use a strong sunscreen on the face/neck/chest and match them up with self tanner &/or bronzer.

Finally, it’s interesting that you say YOU don’t have a problem with your pale skin, but it’s the teasing from others pressuring you to become tan. Realize those folks will come & go, and may not even be in your life in another 10 or 20 years when your skin begins to show signs of sun damage. So if you decide to tan, it should ONLY be because YOU prefer the look and not to please others. Realize that more and more people are opting to remain pale and it’s not such an anomaly anymore. These days it really is “anything goes.”