Healing Acne the Natural Way
by Michael Russell
Treating acne problems is no ordinary feat. Some people may respond to conventional treatments while others don't. Some may produce noticeable improvements after a period of treatment only to have the problem recur at some future time. Topical preparations of benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur are among the most common over the counter medications for mild inflammatory acne. Moderate to severe cases are treated with prescription drugs - topical or oral, or a combination of the two. Conventional treatments with topical or oral preparations, while proven effective, may cause certain side effects. Negative reactions to acne medications may include itching, headaches, muscle pain or hair loss. Some reported incidence pf dizzy spells, upset stomach or skin irritation, discoloration, scaling, peeling and burning sensation. Some medications (tetracycline) affect tooth and bone development in unborn fetuses while others (tetracycline, minocycline) tend to decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Researchers even reported that one acne medication called isotretinoin may even cause birth defects if taken by pregnant women! You might really want to get rid of that acne, but now that you are aware of the possible side effects of certain medication, can you take the risk? A considerable number of people now prefer alternative methods of treating acne. While these methods may treat the problem at a slower pace, they are considered less dangerous. Please read on. Who knows? You may want to consider these methods in going about your acne problem.
Herbal Medicine. There is a variety of herbal medicine available to fight and ward off acne. You can use either black currant seed oil or evening primrose oil supplements. Taking three 500 milligram capsules a day for about three months produces noticeable improvement.
If you are a tea drinker, you may want to try calendula, echinea, goldenseal or tea tree oil or you may go with the Chinese herbalists' recommendations and use a combination of cnidium and honeysuckle flower to treat the condition.
If you feel, however, that stress contributes to your acne outbreak, counter it with an aromatic cup of lavender or chamomile tea. If this does not sooth your nerves, nothing else will!
Vitamin Therapy. A lot of vitamin preparations may be used in the fight against acne. Taking a daily supplement of 30 to 50 milligram of Zinc may aid in reducing the inflammation of the lesions. It may also contribute in the faster healing of the damaged skin.
Vitamin A preparations helps minimize the production of sebum and keratin. Sebum, as we all know, is the natural lubricant produced by the body for our skin and hair. Reducing sebum production may minimize clogging of the pores, which is believed to be one of the major causes of acne. Please note, however, that taking mega doses of Vitamin A may cause side effects. This includes headaches, fatigue, joints and muscle pain, among others. Consult first with a qualified practitioner before deciding to take mega supplements of this vitamin.
Other vitamins that may support the body's natural defense system in warding off acne include chromium (by helping the body in breaking down glucose), vitamin E (an antioxidant) and vitamin B6 (aids in the metabolism of hormones).
There are still a lot of other alternative treatments for acne. Keep reading for more on the second part of this article.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Acne
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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