☛ Resources ☚

Skin

• Overview of the Skin
• Skin & Stress
• Skin: An In Depth Analysis
• Sunscreen FAQs
• Choosing a Sunscreen pdf

Acne

• Benzoyl Peroxide Explained
• Salicylic Acid Explained
• Acne Scars Explained
• Acne Scars Treatment
• Acne.org Forum
• Acne Product Reviews

Natural & Homemade Acne Treatment Supplies

The following products are available online at various retailers, such as Amazon and/or Walmart. 

• Spring Valley 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil
• Nature's Answer Calendula Extract
• Celebration Herbals Organic Calendula Flower Tea
• Nature's Answer Alcohol-Free Green Tea Leaf Extract
• Stash Tea Premium Green Tea Bags
• Dr. Bronner's Organic Castile Liquid Soap Baby Mild
• The Soap Works Liquid Glycerin Soap
• Suvorna Comedone Extractor 

Diet

• List of Low Glycemic Foods
• Glycemic Index Look Up
• Low Glycemic Fast Food Guide
• Low Glycemic Restaurant Guide
• Lean Protein Sources
• Omega Fatty Acids Explained
• Sweeteners Explained
• Commercial Dairy Substitutes

Medical

• When to See a Dermatologist
• Find a Dermatologist
• Understanding Depression
• Depression Screening

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Teen Acne

Puberty

Puberty is the term used for the period when adolescents become capable of reproducing. During puberty, there is an increase in the body's production of androgenic (male) hormones. This increase is due to the enlargement of sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands are responsible for producing sebum. Sebum is the oil produced that is responsible for lubricating and waterproofing the skin. Acne is created within the pilosebaceous unit. The pilosebaceous unit includes the sebaceous gland, hair shaft, and hair follicle. When the pilosebaceous unit does not expel the sebum as it should, the hair follicle becomes clogged. This clogged hair follicle can develop into any number of acne lesions. These acne lesions include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. For more information, see the "What is Acne?" post. 

Males

Although acne occurs at the same rate in males and females, males have more severe cases of acne. This could be because males have more male hormones. Also, males have larger pores and more sebaceous glands than females. Unlike females, males cannot wear makeup to cover up their acne breakouts. Teen males are more susceptible to depression as a result of severe acne.  Depression is a serious medical condition that should not be ignored. Visit iFred.org if you are you know someone who are showing signs of depression.

Females

Females enter puberty before males. Therefore, females often experience acne breakouts earlier in their lives than males. Females can have acne breakouts anytime. However, the worst breakouts may occur around the time of menstruation. This is due to testosterone being at higher levels than estrogen and progesterone.  

Find out about acne treatments:

• Natural Acne Treatments
• Commercial Acne Treatments

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Acne

Here are links to information about Acne:

• What is Acne?


• Causes of Acne


• Teen Acne


• Adult Acne

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Types of Acne

Understanding what acne is and how acne is formed should be the first step in treating acne. When we learn how acne is formed not only can we treat acne, we can also prevent future breakouts.

Acne Defined

Acne is an inflammatory and chronic skin condition that is formed when the pores of the skin becomes clogged with excess oil (sebum) and dead skin cells. These clogged pores will often become infected and inflamed and may develop into any number of acne lesions.

Pilosebaceous Unit

Before we further discuss acne, let’s look at where acne is formed, the pilosebaceous unit. The pilosebaceous unit is composed of the hair follicle, hair shaft and sebaceous glands. A properly functioning pilosebaceous unit does not cause pores to become clogged or inflamed. A malfunctioning pilosebaceous unit will often produce clogged pores.  

Blackheads

Blackheads are a form of comedones. Comedones is the medical term for clogged pores. Blackheads are produced when sebum and dead skin cells are trapped in the pores of the skin. It’s important to note, blackheads are not trapped dirt. Blackheads have an opening on the surface of the skin. When the clogged pore is exposed to air, its contents become darker.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads are another type of comedones. They are formed just like blackheads. They too are trapped sebum and dead skin cells. However, whiteheads do not have an opening on the surface of the skin. Therefore, its color remain white.

Papules

Papules are small and round elevations formed on the skin. They are hard to the touch and they can be tender. Papules do not contain pus. They are caused by a break in the follicle wall that becomes inflamed.

Pustules

Pustules are small raised bumps on the skin. They are about the same size as papules. However, pustules contain pus. Pustules are formed when there is a break in the follicle wall triggering an increase to white blood cells. The pus in the lesion is a mixture of dead white blood cells, skin cells and bacteria. Pustules look similar to whiteheads, but they have a reddish ring at their base indicating inflammation.

Nodules

Nodules are similar to papules. They too are caused by a break in the follicular wall and are hard to the touch and can be tender. The difference between a nodule and a papule is nodules are bigger and penetrate deeper in the skin.

Cysts

Cysts are large painful lumps that contain pus. They form deep within the skin’s layers. Cysts form when there is an infection at the site of inflammation.

Acne Lesions Classification

Acne lesions can be classified as comedonal or inflammatory. Blackheads and whiteheads are comedonal lesions. The remaining acne lesions are inflammatory.

Acne Classification:

Currently, there is not an universal classification for the severity of acne. Here is a commonly used scale. This scale is based on a count of comedonal, inflammatory and nodulocystic lesions.

Mild Acne:

Mild acne is classified as having less than 20 comedonal lesions, less than 15 inflammatory lesions, less than 2 nodulocystic lesions, and less than 30 total lesions.

Moderate Acne:

Moderate acne is classified as having 20 to 100 comedonal lesions, 15 to 50 inflammatory lesions,  3 to 4 nodulocystic lesions, and 30 to 125 total lesions.

Severe Acne:

Severe acne is classified as having more than 100 comedonal lesions, more than 50 inflammatory lesions, more than 4 nodulocystic lesions, and more than 125 total lesions.

Summary

After reviewing the material on this post, you should be able to identify the different types of acne lesions. You should also be able to classify acne lesions. Lastly, you should be able to rate the severity of your acne breakouts.

Learn more about acne


Additional Resources

Visit the "RESOURCES" page for additional tools and information regarding acne.

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Healthy Fats

What are Healthy Fats?

Healthy fats are those that do not raise cholesterol levels. Fat is an essential nutrient that the body uses for many critical functions. Healthy fats provide the body with essential fats that help to keep our skin healthy.  The human body does not make healthy fats. Therefore, healthy fats must be obtained through the diet. Being the Acne Slayer Blog focuses on acne and skin care, the focus is on omega 3 fatty acids which have been proven to be beneficial to fighting acne.

  

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 fatty acids provide the human body with anti-inflammatory benefits. Acne is an inflammatory disease. Arming the body with a diet full of anti-inflammatory foods is an excellent strategy to combat this chronic disease. Perhaps the most important benefit of omega-3s is they have been shown to control the production of leukotriene B4. Leukotriene B4 is a molecule that can increase sebum production and cause inflammatory acne breakouts.  

Fish & Seafood

Fish and seafood are excellent sources for omega-3s. Fish choices rich in omega-3s include salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines and albacore tuna. Seafood choices rich in omega-3s are oysters and mussels. Also oysters are packed with zinc! For healthy servings of fish and seafood, prepare it baked, broiled, grilled or poached. An acne fighting diet should include two servings of fatty fish or seafood weekly.

Nut& Seeds

Walnuts have the most omega 3 fatty acids than other nuts. Therefore walnuts should be the top choice when consuming nuts. Nuts are high in fat and consuming fats whether healthy or unhealthy should be restricted. Therefore eating walnuts in moderation will provide a good dose of omega-3s. Flax seeds have more omega-3s than other seeds. Sprinkle these favorable seeds over steel oats or salads for a full punch of omega-3s!

Beans

Beans do not have as much omega 3 fatty acids as nuts and seeds. But some varieties contain a fair source of omega-3s. Beans are also full of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Plus beans are also a low glycemic food! Therefore, beans are an excellent addition to an anti-acne diet! Kidney, Great Northern and navy beans are some good choices.

Fruits & Vegetables

Fruits in the berry category have the most omega-3 fatty acids content. These include avocados, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Vegetables also contain amounts of omega-3s. The best choices include dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and watercress. Brussel sprouts also contain omega-3s.

Oils

Flax seed, canola and olive oils are excellent choices for omega 3s. Flax seed oil has more omega-3s than canola and olive oil. Olive and canola oils are easily incorporated into an anti-acne diet because they can be used in cooking. Olive and canola oil are excellent for stir frying and roasting vegetables. Flax seed oil can be added to foods before or after cooking. Canola oil is less expensive than olive oil and can withstand higher cooking temperatures. Additionally, all three of these oils can be used in salad dressings.

Notes

Healthy fats regardless of the health benefits are still classified as “fats”. Therefore to avoid any adverse health effects they should be used in moderation.

For your convenience

The Acne Slayer Blog has taken on the task of compiling recipes that are loaded with healthy fats. Use the Acne Slayer Cookbook and take out all the guess work of an anti-acne diet. Download your copy now!
Before downloading, you will be asked to complete a brief offer.

Learn more about the Acne Slayer Approaches:

• Trigger Foods

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Adult Acne

How is Adult Acne is Formed?

Adult acne is formed just like adolescent acne. Acne is created within the pilosebaceous unit. The pilosebaceous unit includes the sebaceous gland, hair shaft, and hair follicle. When the pilosebaceous unit does not expel the sebum as it should, the hair follicle becomes clogged. This clogged hair follicle can develop into any number of acne lesions. These acne lesions include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. For more information, see the "What is Acne?" post. Adult acne is becoming more and more common.

Hormonal Disharmony

Acne can essentially be considered a hormonal disorder. Hormones play different roles during the life cycle. Therefore, adults can experience adverse reactions to hormones just as when they were teenagers.

Males

Males do not experience drastic hormonal fluctuations after puberty. Therefore, acne in adult males is usually derived from outside influences on hormone levels. Some outside influences could include diet, medications, or physical ailments. 

Females

Adult acne is more common in females than males. Females experience more hormonal fluctuations.Therefore, adverse reactions to these fluctuations are common.  Females are likely to have acne lesions due to pregnancies, menstrual cycles, peri-menopause and menopause. Females are also likely to have acne breakouts after beginning or discontinuing birth control pills. 

Find out about acne treatments:

• Natural Acne Treatments
• Commercial Acne Treatments

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Commercial Acne Treatments

Why Commercial Acne Products?

Perhaps, the main advantage of commercial acne products verses natural acne products is their convenience. Instead of experimenting with homemade acne treatments, consumers can rely on commercial formulas. Another advantage to commercial acne treatments is that consumer reviews are readily available online. The following is a brief description of a few of the popular acne care systems available. 

Proactiv+

Proactiv+ is a benzoyl peroxide based acne skin care line. The current Proactiv+ system has been revamped from the the original formula. The 3 step system includes an exfoliating cleanser, pore penetrating lotion, and a skin hydrator. Proactiv+ retails for about $40 for a 30 day supply. Proactiv+ offers automatic shipments on their website.

Neutrogena Complete Acne Therapy System

Neutrogena Complete Acne Therapy System is a benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid based acne skin care line. The 3 step system includes a salicylic acid based cleanser, a benzoyl peroxide based acne control lotion, and an oil free sunscreen. Neutrogena states that it is the number 1 dermatologist recommended acne treatment system. Perhaps, this is because it is the only popular acne treatment system that includes a sunscreen in its system. The Neutrogena system retails for about $25 for a 60 day supply. Visit Neutrogena's website to purchase online or to find a local retailer. 

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Control Kit

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne control kit is a benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid based acne skin care line. The 3 step system includes a benzoyl peroxide based acne cleaner, a salicylic acid based moisturizer, and a salicylic acid based spot treatment. The Clean & Clear kit retails for about $20 for a 30 day supply. Visit Clean & Clear's website to purchase online or to find a local retailer. 

Natural Commercial Products

Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the active ingredients in most popular acne skin care products. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic have been known to cause adverse effects to some users. The following acne treatments active ingredients are natural alternatives to benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

Calendula

Calendula also called pot marigold is a plant that is a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide. Calendula has proven effective against bacteria, pain and inflammation. Kiehl makes a calendula based cleanser and toner. The cleanser and toner duo retails for $50 for a 30 day supply. The duo is available on their website. California Baby makes a great calendula based moisturizer. The moisturizer retails for about $15 on their website. 

Tea Tree

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia commonly called tea trees. TTO has been shown to have antiseptic and antifungal properties. The Body Shop carries an entire line of TTO based acne treatments. The line consists of products ranging in prices of $9 to $20 dollars. The products are available directly from their website. 

Green Tea

Green Tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Topical applications of green tea have been shown to reduce sebum production, fight against bacteria, and work as an anti-inflammatory. St. Ives makes green tea based cleansers. The cleansers retail for under $10. Visit St. Ives website to find a local retailer. 

Sunscreen

A good sunscreen provides protection from UVA and UVB rays. Due to the complex nature of sunscreen, it's best to use commercial products. Neutrogena currently have 2 sunscreen formulas specifically designed for acne prone skin. Neutrogena's sunscreens retail for about $11 and are available from their website. 




Dark Spots

It's important to know the difference between acne spots and acne scars. Scars are permanent demarcations that require treatment in a medical office. Spots often disappear without treatment. Stubborn spots can be treated with products containing hydroquinone and alpha or beta hydroxy acids. These skin lightening agents should only be applied to healed acne spots. Alpha Hydrox Spot Light Targeted Skin Lightener is a popular products for acne spots. Alpha Hydrox products are widely available through online and retail outlets. Most acne dark spots can be corrected with over the counter products. However, stronger strengths can be prescribed by a dermatologist. 


Do you want an individualized skin care regime?

See the blog post on natural acne treatments. 

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Natural Acne Treatments

Why Natural Acne Treatments?

The ingredients used in some commercial and pharmaceutical acne care products have been known to cause a long list of side effects for some acne sufferers. The most common active ingredients in commercial topical acne treatments are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Recently, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid have been reported to cause severe allergic reactions for some users. Also, the trend of people becoming immune to antibiotics is an issue of concern. If commercial products are causing adverse reactions, natural products may prove beneficial. Severe acne sufferers considering transitioning to natural products should do so under the care of a dermatologist.  

Medical Research 

There are tons of online testimonies from acne sufferers who would recommend a sleuth of natural acne treatments. However, this blog is dedicated to medically backed acne solutions. Natural products do not have to adhere to any legal regulations. Therefore, there is limited medical research on the efficacy of natural products. This post only focuses on the treatments that have been clinically researched and applied.

Comedonal Acne Lesions 

Comedo is the medical term for clogged pores. The comedo is a mixture of oil (sebum) and dead skin cells. The treatment for comedones should focus on unclogging pores.

Blackheads & Whiteheads

Blackheads and whiteheads are comedones. If blackheads and whiteheads aren't alleviated with a regular skin care regime as outlined in the “Skin Basics” post, manual extraction should be considered. 

Comedone Extractor 

A comedones extractor is a tool designed to manually remove blackheads and whiteheads. The tool has two ends. One head is designed to remove larger comedones. The other head is designed to remove smaller comedones. Application: Before using the tool, apply a warm towel over a freshly washed face to loosen clogged pores. Alternatively, the face can be steamed by covering the head with a towel and placing the face at a safe distance over a pot of steamed water. Or a face steamer can be used. After steaming, pat the face dry. Proceed to use the comedone extractor on stubborn blackheads and whiteheads.  When the extraction session is finished, sanitize the extractor by soaking in rubbing alcohol.

Inflammatory Acne Lesions

Most inflammatory acne lesions (papules and pustules) start as blackheads or whiteheads. Therefore, the best defense against papules and pustules is to treat whiteheads and blackheads promptly. 

Papules & Pustules

Inflammatory acne lesions originate from a clogged pore that has caused a break in the follicular wall. The break in the follicular wall will sometimes result in inflammation. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, pure Australian tea tree oil (TTO) can be used to treat inflammatory acne lesions. TTO should be made into a 5% gel solution. A 5% gel TTO solution can be made by mixing 1 tablespoon of pure Australian TTO with 9 tablespoons of organic aloe vera gel. Application: Dip a Q-tip in the 5% gel solution and apply directly to the inflammatory acne lesion. Rinse off after 20 minutes.


Nodulocystic Acne Lesions

Nodulocystic lesions are nodules and cysts. Nodulocystic lesions lay deep within the skin and are prone to scarring. The difference between a nodule and a cyst is a cyst contains pus. Pus is a sign of infection. Depending on the severity of some nodules and cysts, it may be best to seek a dermatologist's care for removal. The dermatologist might prescribe antibiotics or perform a procedure to remove the nodule or cyst. The most popular procedure is injecting the cyst or nodule with a steroidal solution. If a dermatologist's visit isn't possible, the nodulocystic lesion may be treated at home. Application: Apply a warm towel to the lesion as this should reduce swelling. Next, apply a 5% Pure Australian tea tree oil gel as described above. Leave on overnight. Complete this regime nightly until the nodulocystic lesion disappears.

Dark Spots

It's important to know the difference between acne spots and acne scars. Scars are permanent demarcations that require treatment in a medical office. Spots often disappear without treatment. Stubborn spots can be treated with natural and commercial products. One natural treatment for acne spots is lemon juice. Lemons contain alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHA is the active ingredient in professional grade peels. Application: Dip a Q-Tip into freshly squeezed lemon juice. Apply lemon juice directly to dark spots. Rinse off after 5-10 minutes. Complete this procedure daily or every other day. Results should be noticeable in a few weeks.

More Tips

Preparing homemade natural acne treatments requires the right tools and ingredients. Be sure to check out the resources section of this blog for suppliers.

Don't have time to make your own products? 

• See this post concerning commercial acne products.

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Hormonal Acne

Generally, acne can be considered a sign of hormonal disharmony. Hormones play a major part in the creation of sebum. Excessive sebum production is a tell-tale sign of an hormonal imbalance. The major hormones involved with excessive sebum creation are androgen (male hormones), estrogen, and insulin-growth factor. Testosterone and insulin-growth factor are the two hormones closely linked to acne.

Androgen (Male Hormones)

Although considered male hormones, androgen hormones are found in males and females. Androgen hormones include free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone abbreviated as DHT, dehydroepiandrosterone abbreviated as DHEA, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate abbreviated as DHEA-S. Excessive androgenic hormones in males and females have been shown to overstimulate the sebaceous glands.  

Estrogen 

Estrogen is usually found only in women. Estrogen is responsible for the development of female characteristics in the body. One of estrogen functions is to balance out male hormones. If estrogen levels are low, androgen hormones become dominant. When male hormones are dominant in women, this triggers an increase in sebum is production.  

Insulin-growth factor

Insulin-growth factor is a hormone produced in the liver. Insulin-growth factor is involved in the growth and function of almost every organ in the body. The hormone is similar in structure to insulin. Due to its similar structure to insulin, excessive insulin growth factor in the bloodstream can cause an increase in sebum production.

Other causes of acne

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Bacterial Acne

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)

Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes is the bacteria that is commonly linked to acne. The bacterium lives at the base of the hair follicle. P. acnes feeds on fatty acids found in sebum. Excessive amounts of sebum can cause an overgrowth in the bacteria. During the digestion of sebum, P. acnes, has been shown to create pore clogging byproducts.

P. acnes triggers white blood cells to the hair follicle. Enzymes created by the white blood cells breaks down the follicle wall. The break in the follicle wall causes its contents to spill into the dermis of the skin. The follicle becomes inflamed and triggers an occurrence of inflammatory acne lesions, such as papules, pustules, and/or nodules.

P. acnes is not only present on acne prone skin. The bacterium is also present in healthy skin. Therefore, the mere presence of this bacterium is not the cause of acne breakouts. The malfunctioning of the pilosebaceous unit is the ultimate cause. Keeping the production of sebum at normal levels is usually the key to prohibiting any abnormal reactions to P. acnes. 

Other causes of acne

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Causes of Acne

Here are links to information about the Causes of Acne:

• Bacterial Acne


• Hormonal Acne


• Other Causes

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