Acne Information

Herbal Acne Treatments That Work


In the United States alone, there are over 40 Million people who struggle with acne. Many of these people treat acne using chemicals such as antibiotics, prescription drugs, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid.

However, there is a growing number of people who choose herbal acne treatments over traditional medications. Usually, herbal medications have far fewer side effects, and are not as dangerous as some of the prescription drugs.

The problem however, is that the United States does very little to regulate the herbal supplement industry. Unlike traditional chemical medications, herbal medications are not required to be clinically proven to work, or even to be safe. An example of this lack of regulation recently came to light with ephedra related deaths, and ephedras subsequent ban.

This lack of regulation results in many different acne products on the market. All of which claim to heal, prevent, or even cure acne with few, if any, side effects.

The truth is, there are very few herbal acne treatments that are scientifically proven to work. Traditional chemical treatments are still the most effective in stopping acne.

There are only 2 herbal treatments that have been clinically proven to help stop acne, tea tree oil and green tea cream.

Tea tree oil is a natural oil, derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia, a particular type of tea tree found exclusively in Australia. While it has been used from hundreds of years by the native aboriginals as a treatment for just about anything, it has only recently been accepted by modern medicine as being a viable anti-bacterial agent.

Even though tea tree oil has been suspected as an anti-bacterial agent for some time, A groundbreakings study was conducted in 1990 by I.B. Bassett, which compared tea tree oil to benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne. It was found that tea tree oil is as effective as a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution. It takes longer (6 weeks) for the tea tree oil to be as effective, but participants in the study reported none of the side effects associated with benzoyl peroxide, such as redness, skin irritation, or dry skin.

This study has helped tea tree oil become a recognized and legitimate herbal acne treatment. However, there is no need to purchase an expensive cream that contains tea tree oil. Just applying several drops of the oil directly on the acne has shown to be the most effective way to apply tea tree oil.

This was the only herbal acne treatment that had been proven to work until recently, when Dr. Jennifer Gan-Wong conducted a study that shows green tea can also effectively fight acne.

Dr. Gan-Wong compared a green tea cream with 3% green tea, to a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution, and found that the results in treating acne where the same for both the tea and the peroxide. These results were recently presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

These findings are relatively recent, and are not yet corroborated by additional independent studies. However, this evidence does demonstrate that the natural anti-bacterial properties of green tea can be effective to treat acne.

For those of you who are confused by the plethora of herbal acne treatments available, there really are only 2 that have been proven to be effective in fighting acne. Green tea cream, and tea tree oil. While many other herbal acne treatments may be good to moisturize the skin, or reduce oils, these are the only two that should be considered truly effective acne treatments.

Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and editor of http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Acne - Not Just a Teen Issue
Earthtimes (press release), UK - 3 hours ago
LOS ANGELES , May 22 -- While acne may traditionally be viewed as a teenage "rite of passage," results from a groundbreaking national survey released today ...


Contact acne a summer problem
Peterborough Examiner, Canada - 8 hours ago
Contact acne is not an indicator of poor health or a bad diet, and along with sunburns, it can cramp your style during the summer of love. ...


Acne prescription Solodyn recalled
KXAN-TV, TX - 12 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- A company known for making medication to treat acne has voluntarily recalled an antibiotic used to treat severe skin problems. ...


Best Syndication

Natural Acne Treatment & Detoxification Diets - Do they Really Work?
Best Syndication, CA - 23 hours ago
Natural acne treatments are gaining popularity among acne suffers of all ages, but do they actually work? One of the popular acne treatments continually ...


Best Syndication

Poor Diets Lead to Severe Acne Breakouts
Best Syndication, CA - 23 hours ago
Over the course of human history, our diets have changed dramatically, and today scientists have started linking diet to acne. I know what you're probably ...


Hormones, stress pop out zits on adults
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN - 13 hours ago
When mixed with certain acne creams or gels, it can cause irritation. Bathroom shelf: For men, it’s important to use a clean razor every time you shave. ...


Does the Truth Lie Within?
New York Times Blogs, NY - 5 minutes ago
He had acne, and most days he woke up too early, which left him exhausted. He wasn't depressed, but he wasn't always in the best of moods. ...


Dealing with needling nurses
District, GA - 3 hours ago
It all began when I was a teenager and had horrible acne all over my face. No medicine was working or clearing up my skin. I felt more and more insecure at ...


Antibiotic Used for Acne Could Prevent Emphysema Damage
FOXNews - May 16, 2008
Doxycyline – the antibiotic commonly used to treat acne, sinus infections and urinary tract infections – can also prevent tissue damage caused by emphysema, ...
Antibiotic may halt lung damage Irish Health
all 3 news articles


Get close to dermatologist results at home
DetNews.com, MI - 13 hours ago
In removing that top layer of skin, microdermabrasion can also reduce the appearance of brown spots, acne scars, fine wrinkles and large facial pores. ...

Acne - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.