The best acne treatments will not cure your acne over the long term. Why? Because acne is not simply a skin disorder but a condition caused by changes in the body itself. Acne is an inflammatory condition which can’t be cured by putting harsh products on our face which may trigger more inflammation making the condition worse. We must understand the real cause of acne and treat it from the inside out. Also we need to know which are the best acne treatments which can help temporarily during a severe breakout.

To fully understand why treatments are only a band aid solution, we have to know what causes acne in the first place. Most cases of acne are caused by adrenal hormones secreted at the time of puberty. This causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, or sebum than usual. This mixes with dust and dead skin cells to form a plug which clogs the pores leading to pimples or comedones.

Closed comedones are known as whiteheads and open ones are known as blackheads. These combine with the bacteria on our skin and become inflamed and infected which leads to cysts and nodules. Squeezing blackheads can also lead to inflammation and infection so it’s important to keep you hands off if possible! Read more…

Body acne is the outward result of hormonal unbalance just like facial acne, therefore it should be addressed with the same frame of mind. The root cause of body acne is an excess of sebum blocking the follicles, combined with a high concentration of pores in the back, upper torso, neck and upper arms. However, while someone affected by body acne is also affected by facial acne, the opposite is not necessarily true, and it also affects more males than females.

For best results, acne treatment should address all aspects that lead to hormonal unbalance, the main cause of acne in general. As androgens are over produced, one of the consequences is an excessive release of sebum in the pores. This, combined with desquamation, causes blockage, creating a perfect environment for the acne bacteria (the Propioni Bacteria). There are different reasons why this occurs, ranging from stress, to lifestyle, to insomnia, to being overweight, and to diet.

What most acne treatments do is addressing just one factor, thus failing to deliver consistent results and leading to disappointment. For instance, drugs like Benzoyl Peroxide pads to rub on the parts affected or even Accutane only cure the symptoms locally and temporarily, come with side effects and lead to dependency. They may be useful, but can not be considered an effective and permanent body acne treatment. Read more…