In the quest for quick, effective treatment of acne, many different methods have evolved. Acne treatment today can range from simple topical concoctions to prescription medications, expensive acupuncture sessions, laser treatments, and even surgery. It is our philosophy that although many of these options are great for treating blemishes that have already appeared on the surface of the skin, the only way to effectively treat chronic skin complexion disorders is not only from the surface aspect, but also from root cause of the problem which is almost always linked to an internal imbalance. Before going into the 2 part treatment philosophy, we will look at some of the more popular topical options first.

Take a walk down the skin care aisle of any local pharmacy and you’ll see that there is an overwhelming display of topical blemish treatments to choose from. Keep in mind that the majority of acne treatments available in retail locations are designed to be used by adolescents who are going through hormonal changes that are causing their sebaceous glands to be overactive. A vast amount of acne sufferers actually have dry skin and so it is not always a good idea to simply walk down the skin care aisle and expect to find your miracle treatment sitting there staring you in the face. With such a wide range of products to choose from, it is nearly impossible to decipher one from the next. Look closely, and you’ll notice that many of these treatments use the same active ingredients. Benzoyl Peroxide, Sulphur, and Salicylic Acid are among the most commonly found active ingredients.

• Benzoyl Peroxide: This is one of the most commonly used ingredients in over the counter treatments. It is best used when treating mild cases of acne. The negative aspects of this ingredient are that it can take 2-3 weeks before you begin to see results, it can cause contact dermatitis, quite frequently there are people who have an allergy to it, and it bleaches clothing and fabrics on contact.
• Sulphur: Another common topical treatment is sulphur (also spelled sulfur). Sulphur is used to dry out, and reduce the size of large acne blemishes. Sulphur can be overly drying however, and can also cause quite a range of skin irritations.
• Salicylic Acid: Salicylic Acid has proven itself to be effective in treating acne blemishes, oily skin, changes in texture, and even some pigmentation disorders. Salicylic Acid is safe and effective for all skin types. Salicylic Acid works by encouraging the dead skin cells to shed at a normal rate so that the chances of these cells being stuck in a pore and causing a blemish are greatly reduced. As well as treating any current blemishes, Salicylic Acid also works as a preventative on areas that aren’t currently breaking out. Besides being highly effective, the great thing about this ingredient is that there are no harsh side effects. At worst, few people may experience mild dryness that can be handled with the application of a moisturizer. Another great thing about Salicylic Acid is that it will not bleach your clothes or furniture!
• Accutane: Accutane is the prescription Doctors recommend for severe acne. Click here to learn more about Accutane.

Because acne is not generally caused from surface complications, it makes sense to treat acne from the inside, where the root of the problem is, in conjunction with topical treatments that promote healing and prevent any new blemishes that may be caused from outside sources. Many medical professionals choose to fight acne with oral antibiotics, and although this can be a very successful method, it often means years of continuous treatment, and acne may return once the medication is stopped. Aside from just the amount of time that may have to go into this treatment, there are side effects. Studies have shown time and time again that continued use of antibiotics can result in antibiotic resistance. This means that as the body gets used to the constant presence of antibiotics, it begins to grow immune to its effects. It is quite possible then, that if a person who has been taking antibiotics for an extended period of time becomes ill and requires antibiotic treatment, the treatment will not help with their illness because of the resistance developed during the lengthy dose of antibiotics being used to treat their acne. This can be a very dangerous and even fatal side effect of extended antibiotic treatment. Besides the resistance that comes from antibiotic drug treatments, there is also the damage that occurs to the intestinal flora. Antibiotic drugs are designed to kill bacteria, the problem is that they don’t specify between the good bacteria that is found throughout our body’s intestinal tract (intestinal flora), and the bad bacteria that they are being taken to get rid of. What ends up happening is that although the antibiotics have killed the bad bacteria which was causing either illness or infection, the body is left depleted of the good bacteria. Lack of intestinal flora can lead to yeast overgrowth, chronic infections, poor digestion, fatigue and allergies. We recommend that along with our Derma Cleanse System, a supplement of Acidophilus should also be part of a daily routine. Acidophilus promotes healthy intestinal function which contributes to good liver function and helps in the fight against skin problems. Another good reason to take acidophilus supplements is to replace any intestinal flora that may have been lost due to overuse of antibiotics, either through acne treatment, or extended illnesses throughout life.

Covering Up and Causing More Damage:

With so much focus being placed on the way a person looks today, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in our image. Acne can be devastating to a person’s self image. Many females suffering from acne try to hide their condition with makeup which may seem to be a good short term “fix”, but is in reality, nothing more than an acne aggravator. By using foundation and cover-up to conceal acne outbreaks, you are actually encouraging the inflammatory response by not allowing the dead cells to shed through the pore openings, and at the same time, further clogging pores with the makeup itself. If you absolutely have to wear makeup, we suggest that you use a product that specifically states that it is non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores), or non-acnegenic (won’t cause acne). It is also important to wash any makeup off with a mild soap or cleanser as soon as you are able to so that your pores are given the chance to ‘breathe’ again. Sunscreens and moisturizers can often contain a variety of oils and comedogenic ingredients. We recommend that you look for products that are labeled “Oil Free” to help eliminate some of the harmful products in your daily routine. At ZENMED™, our line of skin care products are formulated to be both non-acnegenic and non-comedogenic.

The Evils Of Acne Self-Surgery:

Whether or not you have a blackhead, a small whitehead, or a deep seated cyst – PICKING IS NEVER OK! It may seem harmless enough to scratch the top off of a little whitehead or pop it gently with the head of a pin, but the truth is that even these apparently harmless activities can lead to serious problems. Just squeezing a blackhead can cause serious consequences. When you pick at a pimple you run the risk of two major problems arising. First there is the chance that you will cause permanent scarring. Just the tiny hole caused by a pin prick can leave a scar that will last a lifetime. Anytime you choose this method of draining a pimple, you are breaking the surface of your skin. Even the seemingly innocent little squeeze of a blackhead can leave scarring. Aside from causing scarring, picking at a blemish can also lead to further breakouts and infections. When a pimple is squeezed or pricked with a pin, the material that comes out contains bacteria; the bacteria can spread to other parts of your body. As soon as you squeeze a pimple, the bacteria from within is now on your fingertips. Small amounts of the bacteria are transferred to other parts of your body every time you move from picking one pimple to another. As well as the bacteria that is released from picking a pimple, there is also a good chance that by squeezing a lesion, you are also forcing small amounts of the bacteria containing pus deeper into your skin. When bacteria reaches this deeper level, it becomes a cyst, or nodule. These infections can be extremely painful and last weeks or even months. Considering that this much damage can be caused simply by innocently scratching at a tiny pimple, we strongly suggest that you do pick at acne under any circumstances.

It has long been believed that there is “right way” to drain a pimple or squish a blackhead – this is simply not true. It doesn’t matter if the pus is visible on the surface of the skin, or if the lesion can be felt just under the surface…THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY!

If you are in a position where you’re experiencing a breakout right before a big date, or an important meeting, contact your dermatologist or family physician for help rather than resorting to self-surgery as he/she might have a quick method to reduce the appearance of the inflammations temporarily so that you can go out in confidence.

Stop The Inflammatory Response– Beat The Cycle!

Even though we have learned that acne is not a disease that we have control over through our eating habits or our regular activities, there are some things that can be done in conjunction with treatment that can help to decrease the chances of experiencing large inflammatory responses. Many factors are to blame for our body’s natural reaction to clogged pores. We’ve already learned that the inflammation that is seen when a pimple becomes visible is actually the culmination of our body’s immune system fighting the bacteria that has grown as a result of a plugged follicle. Now what we will discover is that there are a few simple things that we can do to help control this reaction.

Although our diet does not directly affect the skin’s ability to shed dead cells at a natural rate, our eating habits can change the way our body reacts when a pore does become clogged. When starchy foods enter the body, they are rapidly converted to sugar. This rise in blood sugar can be directly related to an inflammatory response. To minimize the chances of this happening, there are certain foods and beverages that should be avoided when suffering from acne, as well as some foods that when eaten can help combat the inflammatory response.

Starchy foods that should be avoided include white breads, bananas, potatoes, pastas, peas, corn and sugary foods like cakes and sweet treats. All of these foods contribute to the onset of an inflammatory response (or pro-inflammatory). Caffeine, tobacco and alcohol are also contributing factors to the inflammatory response. Foods that can be eaten as often as you like include dark green, leafy vegetables like romaine lettuce, spinach and leeks. A safe way to gauge whether or not a fruit or vegetable is specifically beneficial to an acne sufferer is to look at its color. Generally, the deeper and brighter the color of a fruit or vegetable, the better it is for the skin. Things like blueberries, cantaloupe, plums, carrots, peppers and squash are great to reduce the inflammation associated with acne. Besides just fruits and vegetables, there are other foods that are anti-inflammatory and a healthy part of everyday living. Turkey, oatmeal, yogurt, nuts and eggs are great sources of protein and have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking water has always been touted as the way to maintain healthy skin, and as much as it may just seem like something your mother used to say to make you drink water, the truth is that it actually is great for your skin. When clear fluids are consumed, they are digested quickly and flushed through our liver, kidneys, and bladder. The more often this flushing happens, the less likely it becomes that toxins have a chance to build up in the system causing liver malfunction that leads to hormone imbalance, and ultimately, acne, or an increase in already present acne. Green tea is also an excellent fluid to have in the system on a regular basis. One of the very best foods that can be eaten to help reduce acne is salmon. Salmon and other pink fish contain Omega 3 fatty acids which are amazingly effective in the battle against acne.

A recent discovery shows that people who stick to a strict low, or no fat diet, are twice as likely to suffer from acne as those who eat a healthy diet containing protein, carbohydrates, and fatty acids. When eaten as part of a healthy diet and in recommended proportions, there is no risk of weight gain as a result of eating foods rich in these nutrients.

Stress is also a huge contributing factor to the inflammatory response. When we become stressed our body produces adrenaline, our blood sugar and amino acid levels rise, causing our hormone levels to fluctuate, and the inflammatory response kicks into overdrive. Considering that stress has become an everyday occurrence in most people’s lives, this can be a hard cycle to avoid. If we can remind ourselves to take a deep breath every once in a while and try not to let the “little things” get to us as often, we can greatly reduce the chances of experiencing stress related breakouts.

Over exertion through exercise has much the same effect as stress does in regards to the way that our system responds. A regular exercise routine is, of course, a great addition to a healthy lifestyle, but when exercise is sporadic and intense, the body is thrown into the same vicious cycle of raised adrenaline, blood sugar levels and amino acids that occurs when stress is experienced. If you have an exercise routine keep it regular, trying not to cram a weeks worth of physical exertion into an intense three hour stint at the gym once a week. Even getting out for a half hour work out three times a week is better than one two hour work out each week.

Balance is key when trying to naturally combat the inflammatory response. A balanced diet, a balanced mental state, and a balanced exercise routine are all essential to gaining and maintaining a clear complexion.

Treat Scars Fast:

Acne scarring is one of the most devastating effects of having acne as it is often as physically marring and emotionally upsetting as the acne itself. No matter what type of scars form, the cause is generally the same for all. Scars form at the site of an injury to tissue. They are the visible reminders of injury and tissue repair. In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body’s inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle. When tissue suffers an injury, the body rushes its repair kit to the injury site. Among the elements of the repair kit are white blood cells and an array of inflammatory molecules that have the task of repairing tissue and fighting infection. However, when their job is done they may leave a somewhat messy repair site in the form of fibrous scar tissue, or eroded tissue. White blood cells and inflammatory molecules may remain at the site of an active acne lesion for days or even weeks. In people who are susceptible to scarring, the result may be an acne scar. The occurrence and incidence of scarring is still not well understood, however. There is considerable variation in scarring between one person and another, indicating that some people are more prone to scarring than others. Of course the best way to avoid scarring is to treat acne early on, but when scarring does become a factor, it is vital that it be addressed with treatment as soon as possible. The longer you wait to treat scarring, the more likely it is that the scarring will be permanent or not as easily reduced. Several treatment options are available dependant upon the type of scarring that is being treated. First let’s talk about the different types of acne scarring.

• Soft Scars: This type of scarring can occur on at any level of the skin, both on the surface and beneath the visible layer. These scars are generally not jagged on any edges and blend evenly with the surrounding skin. Soft scars are usually round or linear in shape and do not usually become large.
• Atrophic Macules: The size of this type of scarring can very depending where on the body it is present. On the face atrophic macules are generally small, but on the body can be markedly larger. These are soft scars and in Caucasian people, often become less visible as time goes on. These scars can appear to have a blue tint when they first appear due to the blood vessels lying just under the surface of the scar, but change to a whitish color as time goes on.
• Follicular Macular Atrophy: This type of acne scarring can often appear to look like small pimples that never broke the surface of the skin and in fact, are actually stubborn lesions. It is most commonly found on the back and chest and may often persist for months or years.
• Ice-Pick Scars: Ice-pick scarring is commonly found on the cheeks of an acne sufferer. They are usually small, with a jagged edge and steep sides, thus looking like a scar from an ice-pick. These scars may be shallow or deep, and may be hard or soft to the touch.

With a better idea of what the different types of acne scarring look like, let’s look at some of the popular treatments available today.

1. Surgery: One of the most common methods of scar removal surgery is for the scar to be cut out of the skin, leaving a hole that is then stitched back together. This is best for ice-pick scarring, but can often lead to worse scarring in those who scar easily.
2. Skin grafting: In extreme scarring, where an extensively large area of the surface is affected by various forms of scarring, skin grafting may be the suggested method of treatment. This of course means that the skin will be taken from a different part of the body and placed on the area where the scarred skin has been surgically removed. This can be extremely painful, take a long time to heal, and again, in those who scar easily, may lead to more scarring.
3. Laser Treatment: In this treatment, lasers are used to re-contour, or remove scarred areas depending on the severity of scarring and the type of laser used. Although often times it takes only one treatment to achieve permanent results, the redness caused from this treatment can last for months after the procedure has been done.
4. Autologous fat transfer: Fat is taken from one area of the body and injected into the sites where there are depressed scars, thus raising the scarred surface to match the surrounding skin’s elevation. Because fat is absorbed back into the body over time, this procedure generally needs to be repeated every 6-18 months.
5. Collagen injection: Collagen is a substance naturally produced by the body. In this form of treatment collagen is injected into areas where the scars are soft and depressed. This fills out the sunken areas. Collagen injections are quite expensive and require upkeep since the body re-absorbs the substance back into the system.
6. Dermabrasion: This is among the most widespread forms of acne treatment. Under anesthetic, a high speed “brush” is moved over the skin’s surface removing layers of skin. This treatment s not effective for all forms of scarring as in the case of ice-pick scarring it can often cause the scarring to become worse. Mild surface scarring can often be completely removed through this form of treatment. The healing time after this procedure can take weeks or even months depending on the level of surface removal required.
7. Microdermabrasion: This is a relatively new form of dermabrasion. In microdermabrasion, aluminum oxide crystals are passed through a vacuum tube and remove only the top surface layers of skin. This treatment is best when used on mild scarring that does not affect the deeper layers of the skin.
8. Topical Microdermabrasion: In this form of scar treatment, topical scrubs or solutions can be applied at home to achieve results much like those of surgical microdermabrasion. In good quality treatments results can be as successful as those in dermabrasion. Treatments are applied over a period of time to achieve desired results. There is little risk of making the scarring worse, and almost no healing time as this is something that can be monitored as the process is happening.

ZENMED™ Derma Cleanse® System

This revolutionary acne treatment works both internally and externally, to clear and prevent acne. Cleanse and detoxify with our scientifically advanced three step program designed to treat acne infection at its source. Our internal formulation goes straight to the root of acne infection, regulating hormonal imbalances and promoting overall purification from within. Nutrient rich topical formulations penetrate deep into the dermis lifting out dirt and toxins and helping to prevent future acne infection. Experience the sensation of clear and healthy skin with this inspired, three step approach. Restore balance to your body from the inside out.