Category: Acne

Does Evening Primrose Oil Treat Or Prevent Acne?

What is evening primrose oil?

The evening primrose is a yellow flower that grows in parts of the U.S. and Europe. In the past, the plant was used to heal wounds and keep hormones in balance.

It may help heal because it has a lot of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA). GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid that helps reduce inflammation very well. Based on what we know about GLA, it seems likely that EPO could be a very effective way to treat acne.

Read on to find out how EPO works, what kinds of acne it may help the most, how to add it to your skin care routine, and more.

How does it work?

EPO pills and creams work by bringing the ratio of fatty acids in your body back into balance. The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid chains your body needs are almost impossible to get from food alone.

GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid, is found in large amounts in the evening primrose plant. When your body breaks down GLA, it makes a chemical called dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). And research shows that when the amount of DGLA in your body goes up, inflammation goes down.

This means that EPO may have a natural effect on inflammation, which can cause or make some acne symptoms worse.

We don’t know much about how well this works compared to acne medicine that you have to get from a doctor. More clinical trials are needed to find out how well EPO may work over time to fight different types of acne.

Does it help with acne-prone and oily skin?

When it comes to acne, especially hormonal acne, the GLA is really the hero. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is a powerful anti-inflammatory and does a great job of balancing hormones. Research shows that GLA helps keep hormone levels in check by controlling the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormone-like chemical messengers that help keep hormone levels in check and affect how the body handles inflammation.

What does this have to do with skin? In one study, taking 3 500 mg soft gel capsules for 12 weeks made the participants’ skin look more elastic, moist, resistant to fatigue, and even firmer. Not only do these things make you look better overall, but they can also help with acne. Breakouts, oil, and inflammation are often caused by dry skin and a lack of moisture. Not to mention that more elasticity and firmness means better texture, which is something that people with acne often complain about.

Experts agree: “This is the one omega-6 fatty acid that could help your skin in a specific way.” The seeds of evening primrose are the main source of this fat. Topical and dietary GLA oils have been studied for inflammatory skin conditions. One study in healthy women found that both GLA-rich borage oil and flaxseed oil (which is high in omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid) had positive effects on skin health, such as less redness and better hydration. Molly Knudsen is a registered dietician nutritionist with a master’s degree. And, as you may know, hydration is important for oil production. In fact, skin that is too dry may produce too much oil to make up for the lack of water.

One reason why taking evening primrose oil is helpful is because our bodies can’t make GLA on their own. So the only way to get its benefits for your skin is to take it as a supplement.

How to use it

When EPO is used to treat acne, most people take supplements. Before adding a topical solution to your routine, you might want to start with supplements and see how they work.

People who shouldn’t take these supplements, like kids or women who are pregnant or nursing, might be able to use topical EPO instead.

Evening Primrose Oil Supplements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t have any rules about supplements (FDA).

Only buy from companies you know and trust. Doing research on the brand and reading reviews can help you figure out if a product is worth trying or not.

You should also follow the directions on the label for how much to take. The typical amount of a supplement is 1,300 milligrams (mg), which is taken once a day.

Talk to your doctor before using a product with a dose that is much higher or lower than what is recommended. They can make sure that the recommended dose is the right one.

Possible risks and side effects

Some people who take EPO have mild side effects like a headache or an upset stomach.

You can lower your risk of side effects by starting with a low dose and slowly working your way up to the full amount. It might also help to take the supplement with food.

It’s not clear what the maximum amount of EPO a person can take can take. All of it depends on how much of the supplement’s active ingredient, GLA, is in it. Even though there isn’t a clear upper limit for GLA, the most that has been studied is 640 mg per day.

Before using it, you should talk to your doctor if:

You’re pregnant.
You’re having a baby.
You have had cancers that respond to hormones in the past.
You take medicines to thin your blood, treat depression, or lower your blood pressure.

Also, talk to your child’s doctor before giving EPO supplements to your child.

Products

Before you start taking a supplement, you should always talk to your doctor. They can talk to you about your personal risk of side effects and how they might interact with other drugs you are taking.

Your doctor might also be able to suggest a good brand of supplement.

EPO supplements are usually sold at drug stores and natural food stores. They are also easy to find at many online stores.

Some popular choices are:

Evening primrose oil is made by Puritan’s Pride.
Evening primrose oil made by Nature’s Bounty
GNC Evening Primrose Oil for Women
Evening primrose oil is made by Blackmores.

Topical Evening Primrose Oil

EPO can be put on the skin. Just be sure to look for oil that is pure.

Before adding the product to your routine, you should also do a patch test. This lets you find out how your skin will react to the product and reduces the amount of irritation that could happen.

To test a patch:

Put a dime’s worth of the product on the inside of your forearm and rub it in. Put a bandage on the area.

After 24 hours, check the area again. If you don’t have any redness, swelling, or other pain, it should be safe to use the product elsewhere.

If your patch test goes well, you can add EPO to the other things you do to take care of your skin. You can use it however you want.

EPO can be used to:

A spot treatment for specific spots
A serum for inflammation all over the body. part of a solution for cleaning oil
part of a solution that keeps skin moist.

If you’re trying to treat a breakout that’s already happening, you may find that a spot treatment works best: You only need to put a drop or two on the affected area and rub it in. You can add a few more drops if you want to cover a larger area or if you need to.

You can also combine EPO with other ingredients that help fight acne for the best results. Rose and rosehip oils are great places to start if you don’t know where to begin. Find out about these and other face oils that help fight acne.

As a general rule, you should put on daytime oils after sunscreen and before makeup. On days when you use EPO, don’t put moisturizer on your skin. The oil and moisturizer could make your sunscreen less effective.

If you want to put oil on your face at night, you should do so before your moisturizer. You can even use EPO instead of your usual moisturizer or add a few drops to your moisturizer for extra benefits.

Possible risks and side effects

When using topical EPO, some people may feel a little bit of irritation. Before putting it all over your skin, you need to do a patch test to see how your skin will react.

Even though it is usually safe to use EPO as is, people with sensitive skin may find that pure EPO is too strong. When EPO is mixed with another oil, like jojoba oil, in a 1:1 ratio, it can help stop pain.

Some people may also get more acne when they add EPO to their routine. This is called “purging.” It can be annoying, but it can happen with any new product you add to your routine. Most cases of purging end in about six weeks, which is also about when you should start to see improvements from topical care.

If you are allergic to evening primrose or other plants in the Onagraceae family, you shouldn’t use EPO on the skin.

Even though topical EPO doesn’t usually have the same risks as oral EPO, you should still talk to your doctor before using it if any of the following applies:

You’re pregnant.
You’re having a baby.
You have had cancers that respond to hormones in the past.
You take medicines to thin your blood, treat depression, or lower your blood pressure.

Again, talk to your child’s doctor to find out if a topical EPO product is safe for your child to use.

Products

Remember to do a patch test before you use a new product all over your skin.

If you only want to use pure EPO, some popular choices are:

Evening Primrose Oil by NOW Solutions
Evening primrose oil from Botanical Beauty

Some products combine EPO with other ingredients to get the most benefits. Some popular choices are:

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizing Treatment Mask
The Dermalogica Barrier Repair Moisturizer
SkinCeuticals’ Renewal Overnight Dry Mask

In Conclusion

EPO is a common acne treatment with a low risk of side effects.

Pure EPO and products made with it can be bought at your local pharmacy, health food store, or online. Be sure to only buy from brands you know and trust, and read and follow all instructions on the package.

If acne home remedies or over-the-counter products aren’t working, talk to your doctor or dermatologist about trying proven acne medications that you can only get with a prescription.

If you do decide to try EPO, give it time. Even in studies that were successful, it took up to 12 weeks for the participants to start to see results.

Can Activated Charcoal Treat Your Acne?

Activated charcoal is a common ingredient in face masks, and for good reason. Activated charcoal is porous, so it draws out bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and other dirt from the skin. Since activated charcoal is inert, it can also be used to clean people with sensitive skin or allergies.

What exactly is activated charcoal?

Right now, it’s everywhere. From teeth-whitening to what’s popular on Instagram and celebrity endorsements, there’s a lot to talk about. Activated charcoal has made a big splash and will be around for a long time. What is it, though?

Hot gases are mixed with things like coconut, nutshells, and bamboo to make an ingredient called “activated charcoal.” As a result, you get something that works hard to soak up toxins and dirt. You can find it in cleansers, face masks, and scrubs. The most important thing to know is that it really works to make the skin look and feel better. It’s also black, which isn’t too hard to get used to.

Activated charcoal for skin benefits

Acne

When oil, dead skin, or bacteria get stuck in the pores of your skin, you can get acne. Many of us still do it when we’re in our twenties. A face scrub or mask made with activated charcoal should catch any bacteria and dirt in your pores and wash them away.

Activated charcoal not only gets rid of the toxins already in your pores but also calms inflammation and kills bacteria, so it can help reduce acne at home.

Content chosen at random: how charcoal face masks clean pores.

Oily skin

You probably already scrub and wash your face every day as part of your skincare routine. If your skin is still oily, it’s not working. An exfoliator with activated charcoal will remove excess oil, giving your skin a deep clean and getting rid of dirt and bacteria at the same time. Putting cream on oily skin is probably not a good idea. That’s easy to understand.

More cream means there must be more oil. But you should try a face cream or mask that has activated charcoal in it. It will work with the exfoliator to remove dirt instead of making it worse.
The content that was chosen Find out how activated charcoal can make your normal, oily, sensitive, or combination skin look better.

Blackheads

It is annoying and hard to get rid of blackheads. There are ways to get rid of them, but we all have them. If you use a cleanser or wipe with activated charcoal on your T-zone and chin every day, they will start to clear up. It’s one of the best ways to get rid of toxins, dirt, and extra oil.

Cleansers and wipes are great for everyday use, but a face mask with activated charcoal will really get rid of them. You’ve probably seen this on Instagram: they pull the toxins out of your face.

Six easy ways that activated charcoal can help your beauty routine were chosen.

Itches and bites

It can be a nightmare to get bitten or stung. Not only do they itch, but they also don’t look good when some skin is showing. Activated charcoal can reduce both the itching and the swelling, which is what you need.

Just put a paste of charcoal on the area, and the bite will no longer hurt. The charcoal will also absorb and draw out any infection. It also helps ease pain by reducing swelling and inflammation. As it cleans deeply, it will get rid of any bad things in the wound, and then it will help new cells grow and reduce scarring.

Acne-fighting natural face mask

Putting on a face mask made of earth and plants is a big step toward healthier skin (and a healthier planet). Researching skincare products is important because some common ingredients can irritate or hurt skin.

Chemicals in synthetic products can cause pimples and other skin problems, but there are many natural skincare products that are gentle on skin. Products with activated charcoal help get rid of toxins, not add more.

The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it takes in a lot of what we put on it. Activated charcoal is safe to put on the skin because it is not absorbed or broken down by the body. Synthetic products are taken in and then end up in the bloodstream, where they affect our health as a whole.

What are the downsides of charcoal skin-care products?

Charcoal takes away oil and dirt from the skin, but sometimes it does its job too well and takes away moisture as well. Dr. Zubritsky says that this can make the skin more likely to get dry and irritated. So, if your skin is usually on the dry side, you don’t need to use charcoal as part of your skin care routine. Instead, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) will help remove dirt from the surface of your skin by exfoliating it.

On the other hand, Dr. Zubritsky says you shouldn’t use these ingredients with products that have charcoal in them. Dr. Gohara agrees with this advice and says that adding charcoal could even soak up those actives, especially retinol, making them less effective.

Overall, charcoal isn’t bad for skin, and Dr. Zubritsky says it “has little to no risk of causing allergic reactions.” “However, most skin care products don’t just contain charcoal; they usually have other ingredients that could be allergenic,” she says. “Before using any new skin care product, you should always do a patch test.”

Is Witch Hazel Effective for Acne and How Should It Be Used?

What Is Witch Hazel?

The witch hazel plant is a flowering shrub with the scientific name Hamamelis virginiana. It grows mostly in North America and Asia. Its bark, branches, and leaves are turned into a clear liquid that can be sold by itself or added to other things.

Witch hazel is native to North America. Native Americans used it to treat everything from sore muscles and dysentery to bug bites and rashes. Today, it is widely advertised as a possible way to treat acne.

The most recent studies show that witch hazel can be used to treat acne. This is because it helps with three of the main causes of acne: oily skin, an overgrowth of bacteria that can cause acne, and inflammation.

Benefits

The ability of witch hazel to get rid of extra oil

Witch hazel is an astringent and an antiseptic, which means that it can tighten skin cells to make pores smaller and remove oil from pores.

But make sure to check that list of ingredients twice. Some astringents have alcohol in them, which makes them things you should never use.

Even if your skin is oily, alcohol can dry it out too much. This can cause irritation, which can lead to inflammation. Since inflammation is one of the main reasons people get acne, it’s best to stay away from it as much as possible. If you want to try witch hazel, you should use it in a toner for acne or astringent that does not contain alcohol. Our Clearing Tonic is a product that is safe to use and has witch hazel in it.

Witch Hazel can reduce bacteria on your skin

There is some evidence that witch hazel can kill bacteria on the skin, but it doesn’t seem to work very well. When compared to benzoyl peroxide or even natural ingredients like tea tree oil, this is especially true.

If you mostly have pimples or cysts, you can use witch hazel on the pimples, but as we said above, you should also use an acne treatment with other ingredients that work well together to fight P. acnes. For instance, the Exposed Body Wash fights acne with witch hazel, salicylic acid, and pro-vitamin B5.

Witch Hazel is an anti-inflammatory agent

There are many different ideas about how witch hazel can help with acne inflammation. One is that its astringent properties stop inflammation-related blood flow that is too high.

But it’s also possible that these same properties could dry out and irritate the skin, which would make the inflammation worse. If your skin care routine also includes a moisturizer, like the Exposed Expanded Kit does, using witch hazel to treat acne might work better.

Some people think that witch hazel might be a pain reliever because it has antioxidant properties. In an interview with Prevention: Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, said in an interview with Prevention:

“Witch hazel has chemicals in it called tannins that fight acne by being both an antioxidant and an astringent.”

An antioxidant is a good ingredient for skin care because it fights molecules called free radicals and makes your immune system stronger.

Some free radicals are normal, and they help the oxidation process go faster, which can help fight pathogens and infections. But when free radicals and antioxidants are out of balance, oxidative stress can happen, which is bad for the body. This often causes inflammation all over the body, which could make acne worse.

Because of all of these things, witch hazel is a good way to treat skin inflammation.

Does witch hazel really help acne?

In its pure form, witch hazel has properties that can help clear up acne. It is a natural astringent that helps dry up the extra oil (sebum) on the skin, which is a common trait of skin that gets acne.

Studies have shown that witch hazel can help ease mild to moderate acne symptoms by reducing inflammation.

With these anti-inflammatory properties, the signs and symptoms of inflammatory acne may get better. Because it is astringent, it could help with noninflammatory acne by drying up whiteheads and blackheads, which are blemishes that often show up with this type of acne.

Tannins in witch hazel help to close up pores and reduce the amount of oil on the skin. Two in particular, hamamelitannin and gallic acid, target inflammation to help soothe and calm skin that is irritated and inflamed from breakouts.

Another topical treatment, witch hazel toners, is good for the skin in many ways and can help ease acne in the following ways:

Getting rid of the inflammation caused by acne breakouts.
Acne spots will dry out and the skin will tighten.
To clear pores, you need to remove dirt, makeup, and oil from the skin’s surface.
Red, irritated skin can be soothed.

Still, there have been reports of bad side effects, mostly based on anecdotal evidence and sometimes contradictory.

Some people say that witch hazel is a good way to treat dry skin, while others say that it makes their redness, irritation, and tightness worse.

When you have dry skin, your body may respond by making too much oil, which can clog your pores and make acne worse. Since everyone’s skin is different, it’s best to try witch hazel for a short time to see how it affects your skin and keep an eye on your acne.

How to Treat Acne with Witch Hazel

You can use pure witch hazel, which you can get at the pharmacy, or a toner that has witch hazel in it, to treat acne.

Toners with witch hazel for acne

The inflammation that comes with acne can be treated with witch hazel toner. Toners that are drying and have a lot of tannins can help people whose skin is oily and prone to acne the most.

It’s easy to use witch hazel toner every day as part of your skin care routine.

Use a gentle face wash and warm water to clean your face.
Put a small amount of witch hazel toner on a cotton ball or pad.
Start in the middle of your face and move outwards and upwards with the cotton ball.
Use your favorite moisturizer.
Don’t change how you take care of your skin.

Who Can Use It?

People with oily or acne-prone skin should use witch hazel. Its astringent and pore-tightening properties help fight acne’s inflammation and oil overproduction. It can also help clear out pores that are clogged, which is a major cause of acne.

It works for both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne, but it works best for inflammatory acne because it takes care of the inflammation that cysts and pustules cause.

If your skin is dry or sensitive, you should avoid witch hazel because it can dry it out even more.

If you use it too often, it can also make oily skin too dry. Use it in moderation.

Witch Hazel Side Effects

Witch hazel is thought to be safe, but some people may have an allergic reaction to it. Always test a new product in a small area before you use it all over.

If you have skin irritation, you may be putting on too much witch hazel. If your skin gets red or irritated, use it less or stop using it.

Witch hazel toners that have alcohol in them could dry out skin that is already dry or is already sensitive. If you don’t want to hurt your sensitive skin, choose a toner that doesn’t contain alcohol.

Can witch hazel make acne worse?

It can, yes. If your skin is too dry, your sebaceous glands may produce more oil to make up for it, which can cause blemishes to show up more often. Acne can also get worse if witch hazel is too harsh for your skin and irritates it even more.

In Conclusion

Witch hazel is a natural astringent that can help people with mild to moderate acne. It also helps reduce inflammation. Most people think it is safe, but some formulas with alcohol could irritate or dry out the skin.

Witch hazel can be used on its own, or it can be found in toners and other skin care products. Even though it can’t cure acne on its own, it can help relieve symptoms like inflammation, redness, and irritation. It can also dry up oil and make spots smaller.

It’s easy to use witch hazel as part of your skin care routine. Side effects are unlikely, but if you start to feel more irritated or see signs of an allergic reaction, stop using it and see a dermatologist.

If witch hazel doesn’t work for your skin, there are other natural options like aloe vera, AHAs, BHAs, benzoyl peroxide, vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc.

Does Hemp Seed Oil Work For Acne?

Once upon a time, people thought that acne was mostly a problem for teens. Acne in adults, on the other hand, is becoming more and more common these days. Even though acne can happen to both men and women, hormonal changes in women are more likely to cause oily skin and breakouts. If you have this problem, you’re not the only one: Approximately 85% of women and 15% of men have acne.

And if you are one of them, you know how hard it can be to get rid of acne. Even though there are a lot of acne treatments on the market, it can be hard to find the right one. No two people are the same, and each skin tone has a different reaction. Because acne is hard to hide and sometimes seems impossible to treat, it can be very frustrating to have it. Adults with acne can also have low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety as a result of trying to get rid of a problem that won’t go away.

So when you hear that hemp seed oil for acne is the latest miracle cure, you might be a little skeptical. But hemp seed oil has a lot of qualities that make it different from other acne treatments you may have tried in the past. It is made by cold-pressing the seeds of the hemp plant. It is full of healthy vitamins and fatty acids and doesn’t have any cannabinoids like THC or CBD. Hemp seed oil is thought to keep your skin’s natural oils in balance, which could be the key to getting rid of acne.

Is Hemp Seed Oil an Effective Acne Treatment?

With so many different things that can cause acne, what can hemp seed oil do to help? Hemp seed oil is good for your skin first and foremost. It’s all natural, gives your skin a lot of moisture, and is full of antioxidants and vitamins that are good for it.

When it comes to hemp seed oil for acne, it has special benefits that help your skin instead of hurting it. Here are a few reasons why hemp seed oil is getting a lot of attention as a possible acne treatment.

Sebum balancing

Hemp seed oil can give your skin a lot of rich, deep moisture without making you look like a disco ball. Yes, pimples are caused by too much sebum, but flaky, dry skin can also block pores. Even if you have oily skin, you still need moisturizer because your skin needs water to renew itself and heal from breakouts. Hemp seed oil controls how much sebum your oil glands make, which makes it a good choice for any type of skin.

Anti-inflammatory properties

Hemp seed oil contains Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) and other omega-6 fatty acids that are good for the skin. GLA is unique because it has an anti-inflammatory effect that can stop acne from getting worse. Vitamin E is another moisturizing agent that works as an antioxidant to protect your skin from damage caused by the environment. It also helps your skin barrier stay healthy and calms inflammation.

All-natural

Hemp seed oil is a natural, gentle way to treat acne that is different from most other treatments. You don’t have to worry about getting rashes, red, irritated skin, or peeling, which can happen when you use retinol products, peroxides, or acids. Hemp seed oil works well and doesn’t strip or dry out your skin. If you have acne as an adult, you probably have other skin problems like fine lines or a dull complexion. Hemp seed oil isn’t just a way to get rid of acne; it’s also part of a holistic skin care routine that helps your skin in general.

How to Treat Acne with Hemp Seed Oil

With its easy-to-use and eco-friendly dropper bottle, Hemp CBD Oil is simple to add to your daily routine. A teaspoon of hemp seed oil in your morning smoothie or chamomile tea before bed will help your skin from the inside out. Hemp CBD Oil can also be put on the skin without harm.

After you wash, scrub, and tone your skin, use hemp seed oil as a moisturizer.
Put on a homemade acne treatment face mask or a sheet mask with hemp seed oil and relax for at least 20 minutes.
Try oil cleansing at the end of the day to get rid of dirt and makeup. Mix hemp seed oil with another oil that doesn’t clog pores, like sweet almond or sunflower oil, and massage it into your face. Then wash it off with cleanser. Your skin will be left feeling clean and fresh. Use a moisturizer or more hemp seed oil to lock in the moisture.
Hemp seed oil can be used as a spot treatment for acne and scars.

Before putting something new on your face, you should always test it on the inside of your elbow.

If you’ve never heard of it before, now is your chance to try hemp seed oil as a treatment for acne. CBD is a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that is known to help cells heal and grow back. It’s great for skin in general and a soothing, natural cure for acne in particular.

Does Using Hemp Seed Oil for Acne Have Side Effects?

Since there is no THC in the oil, there is no risk of getting high. If you put the oil on your skin, it could cause some mild irritation. To stop this from happening, start with a lower dose and work your way up to the daily dose you should be taking. If you have specific questions about dosing, you should always talk to your primary care doctor.

In Conclusion

Hempseed oil is good for your skin in many ways, whether you put it on your skin or eat it. Many people can take advantage of these benefits.

Most people think it’s safe to use hemp oil, and it can help keep the skin moist from the inside out.

Start with half a teaspoon to one teaspoon of hemp oil a day and work your way up to more.

How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Acne

There are many things you can do at home to make your skin look better (praise Mother Nature’s dermatology skills, am I right?). A little extra glow with turmeric? Check. Avocado for a moisture boost? Yes, thank you. What about using apple cider vinegar to treat acne? Some people swear by it, even though it sounds weird and smells bad.

Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says that just because apple cider vinegar is not a scientifically proven acne treatment doesn’t mean it won’t work. It has a lot of things that dermatologists often suggest for acne (more on that below). “There haven’t been any specific scientific studies on apple cider vinegar for acne, but the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can kill bacteria and get rid of skin growths like warts and calluses.” In other words, it might help get rid of your bumps where they start.

Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of MMSkincare, agrees with this and thinks apple cider vinegar might help with certain types of breakouts. “I don’t think apple cider vinegar can actually cure acne, but I do think it can help whiteheads dry out.”

What are the skin benefits of apple cider vinegar?

For some types of skin, making an apple cider vinegar toner as a home acne remedy may help remove dead skin and keep acne at bay. For some people, though, it might not work, and if it’s not diluted, it could cause irritation. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is best for skin care and many other health-boosting uses both inside and outside the body, like putting it on your hair and scalp.

This is because unfiltered apple cider vinegar has something called the “mother,” which is made up of bacteria and enzymes that give the vinegar many of its health benefits. Even though there haven’t been any studies on apple cider vinegar and acne, it does have a lot of properties that have been studied and may be why it’s said to help with breakouts:

It may help balance the skin’s pH

If you’ve ever tasted or smelled apple cider vinegar, you know right away that it’s acidic—like, very acidic. On a scale from 0 (acid) to 14 (alkaline), the pH of apple cider vinegar is between 2 and 3. With an ideal pH level of 5.5, healthy skin with a strong and intact barrier is also slightly acidic. Skin with a damaged barrier, like that of people with eczema or rosacea, is usually more alkaline and has a higher pH level.

So, it makes sense that putting apple cider vinegar on your skin could help restore its natural, slightly acidic pH levels, but some dermatologists and research studies don’t support this. “It has been said that the lower pH of ACV may help rebalance the skin’s pH and improve skin barrier function in conditions like atopic dermatitis, where the pH is more alkaline,” says holistic board-certified dermatologist Keira Barr, M.D. “But [some] studies don’t back that up.”

It acts as a chemical exfoliant

Apple cider vinegar is also a good chemical exfoliant that works well. It’s naturally full of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which help get rid of dead skin. Some of these acids are the same ones used in our favorite toners and facial peels. Barr says that apple cider vinegar has “alpha-hydroxy acids” like lactic, citric, and malic acids.

When put on the skin, these acids “slough off the top layers of skin, making the skin look smoother and more hydrated.” We know that using chemical exfoliants regularly over time can also help even out and smooth the skin tone, which could make acne scars less noticeable. Barr says that this may be true anecdotally and in theory, but there isn’t good scientific evidence to back up ACV’s ability to fade acne scars right now.

It has antifungal and antibacterial properties

Even without exfoliation, these natural AHAs are still useful. For example, acetic acid “has antifungal and antibacterial properties that may help kill the acne-causing bacteria,” says Barr.

Research has also shown that both citric acid and lactic acid can kill the bacteria on the skin called Cutibacterium acnes, which used to be called Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes. This type of bacteria has been linked to the development of acne.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Acne?

Ava Shamban, M.D., a dermatologist in Beverly Hills and founder of Ava MD, says that apple cider vinegar has been used for a long time to clean and treat skin problems. If you like to make your own beauty products and get acne often, it might be worth a shot. “When ACV is fermented, a key compound called acetic acid is made, which is well known for being antibacterial and antifungal,” says Dr. Shamban. “ACV works well because of this acid and because it has a lot of malic acid in it.” Malic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid, which means it helps remove dead skin.

She says that the antibacterial, antifungal, and exfoliating properties of apple cider vinegar can help fight acne. She says, “Bacteria, sebum, dead skin cells, and other things that gather on the surface of the skin clog your pores, which leads to acne vulgaris.” “One of the most important things you can do to treat and manage acne is to try to reduce the number of bacteria on your skin or stop them from growing.”

Also, apple cider vinegar, which has an acidic pH of 2 to 3, can help restore the pH balance of the skin, which is another way to fight acne. The best pH for skin is 5.5, but things in the environment can throw it off, making it less acidic.

Dr. Shamban says, “The pH of skin is acidic, which is thought to help protect it from bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.” Your skin has an acid mantle, which is a thin layer that keeps viruses and bacteria from getting in through the top. Cosmetics and other things with a higher pH than the acid mantle can change the acid mantle’s pH and, by extension, its ability to protect the body.

How to Use It

We’ve already said that apple cider vinegar is very strong and can cause chemical burns. Because of this, it should always be mixed with water before being put on the skin. In general, one part apple cider vinegar to four parts water is a good ratio. Consider adding it to your skincare routine in the following ways:

It can be used as a toner. “We live in a world full of beauty products,” says Sophia Roe, a natural beauty expert, holistic chef, and member of The Vitamin Shoppe Wellness Council. “Many people use more than one cleanser, mask, etc. This can weaken the skin’s natural defenses over time. ” Once that happens, you leave your skin vulnerable to things like breakouts and dry skin. “Using ACV as a quick toner is a great way to restore the skin’s natural defenses, remove excess dirt, and help fight acne,” she says. Ginger King, CEO of Grace Kingdom Beauty and a cosmetic chemist, agrees. “Because it is acidic, it has been used as a toner,” she says. However, it is best to dilute it, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Try it as a spot treatment: Valerie Grandury, founder of Odacité, says, “Apple cider vinegar is great at killing the bacteria that cause acne, and it also helps reduce the look of pimples and scars.” She says to use it as an overnight spot treatment by mixing a little bit with a powder mask like Odacité Synergie Immediate Skin Perfecting Mask ($64) until it forms a poultice, then putting it on the blemish and leaving it on overnight.

Make your own facial cleanser. You shouldn’t put apple cider vinegar directly on your skin, but mixing ACV with water makes a simple and effective facial cleanser that you can make yourself.
Use it as a skin scrub: ACV is great for gently removing dead skin because it contains malic acid. To get the most benefits, take a bath with a cup of apple cider vinegar and warm water. It only takes 15 minutes to get soft skin.

Who shouldn’t use it?

Those who already have dry skin may find that an apple cider vinegar toner is too drying. If you put apple cider vinegar on an open wound like a pimple or pustule that has come to a head (or been popped), it might also hurt. If you have very sensitive skin or a lot of acne, your skin barrier is usually broken, so it’s best to talk to a dermatologist before using any DIY mixtures on your face, whether they contain ACV or not. “Putting ACV directly on the skin can be very bad, especially for people with very sensitive skin,” says Barr. “If it is put on the skin at full strength, it could cause redness, irritation, and severe chemical burns.”

In Conclusion

In short, research has shown that the acidic compounds in apple cider vinegar, which include powerful alpha-hydroxy acids, work to both remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and kill the bacteria that cause acne. Some of the other claimed benefits of apple cider vinegar, like its ability to fade acne scars and restore balance to skin with a damaged barrier, are less clear. But you’ll hear a lot of first-person stories about how great it is. Just think about how you’re going to use it.

How to Get Rid of Chest Acne Fast

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions that lasts for a long time. In fact, acne will affect almost everyone at some point in their lives. Dr. Arathi Rana of U.S. Dermatology Partners in Sherman and Paris, Texas, says, “Most people get mild acne when they’re teenagers. A lot of pregnant women get acne, and a lot of people get acne when they’re stressed. ” Most people get acne and pimples on their faces, but acne can happen anywhere on the body, even on the chest. Acne on the chest can be painful, and it can be hard to treat because the area is often covered, which traps sweat and oil on the skin. Your dermatologist can help you get rid of acne on your chest. ” Find out more about how to get rid of chest acne from Dr. Rana in this blog or by getting in touch with us today.

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What Causes Chest Acne?

Acne can happen on any part of the body when oil, dead skin cells, and other things get stuck in the pores of the skin. Bacteria also build up inside the clogged pore, which leads to painful, red pimples. Acne breakouts can include blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, pustules, and nodules, among other types of pimples. Changes in hormone levels that happen during puberty make it more likely that a teenager will get acne. But people can also get acne as they get older. Most acne shows up on the face, but it can also happen on the chest and anywhere else on the body where oil glands are.

Most of the time, acne on the chest is caused by the same things that cause acne on the face: changes in hormones, too much sebum oil, slow turnover of skin cells, and so on.

In addition to these common reasons for acne, chest acne can also be caused by the following:

Using skin care products that keep water in (humectants, occlusives, emollients, and other moisturizing products)
Some clothes can hold oil and sweat against the skin, which can lead to clogged pores, and fabric can rub against the skin and cause irritation and inflammation.
I sweat too much, especially when wearing clothes that don’t let air in or hold moisture against the skin.
Using harsh chemicals like soap, laundry detergent, and other hygiene or cleaning products
Using drugs like corticosteroids or testosterone, which can change how hormones work,
Foods and drinks with a lot of sugar are often linked to chest acne.
Dehydration makes skin drier, which makes more sebum oil and makes it more likely that pores will get clogged.

What are the Best Ways to Get Rid of Chest Acne?

According to Dr. Rana, the first step in making an effective acne treatment plan is to find and understand the underlying causes of your chest acne. Once you know which skin care products, stress, and other things cause your condition to get worse, you can take steps to stop them. From there, you can work with your dermatologist to come up with a skin care routine that will clear up your current breakout and prevent future ones from happening.

People with chest acne should work with their dermatologist to make a skin care plan that works for them. However, anyone can take the following steps to treat chest acne:

When you sweat or get dirty, clean the area around the pimple with antibacterial soap.

Switch from thick, cream-based moisturizers to non-comedogenic lotions to keep your skin moist without causing breakouts.

Apply topical acne treatments to blemishes

Most people with chest acne can get rid of their pimples with over-the-counter products. There are body washes, wipes, and spot treatments for acne that you can get at your local pharmacy. Patients with bigger pimples, cysts, or nodules that form deeper under the skin should see their dermatologist as soon as possible for treatment. If you don’t treat these more severe forms of acne properly, they can be very painful, make you more likely to get an infection, and may leave scars.

How Can I Prevent Chest Acne from Coming Back?

Dr. Rana says, “Once you get rid of chest acne, you should keep taking care of your skin to keep it from happening again.” With a thorough skin care routine and a few small changes to your lifestyle, you should be able to prevent acne or at least make it less severe.

Some things people can do to stop chest acne from getting worse are:

Take baths often, especially after you’ve sweated, and use gentle cleansers that don’t have perfumes or dyes. Use lukewarm water in your shower for the best results. If you can handle it, you might want to give yourself a quick rinse with cool water at the end of your shower to close your pores.
Don’t use cleaning or skin care products that have strong chemicals, perfumes, or dyes. Look for products with fewer ingredients that say right on the label that they can be used to treat or prevent acne. Products with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can often help clear up acne or stop it from happening.
Every week, you should exfoliate your skin to get rid of dead skin cells, speed up cell turnover, and keep skin cells from clogging your pores. Instead of using rough scrubs or abrasive products that can make the skin red and irritated when you have acne, try an exfoliant with azelaic or citric acid.
Limit your intake of foods with a lot of sugar, which have been linked to more and worse chest acne.
When it’s hot and humid, wear clothes that let air in and don’t hug your chest too tightly.

In Conclusion

Acne on the chest is a very common skin problem. Some people can get rid of chest acne by using over-the-counter medicines and making lifestyle changes. Some people may need to see a doctor to get rid of their acne.

Acne that gets worse or doesn’t go away should be checked out by a doctor to make sure it’s not another skin condition.

How To Treat Acne With Sulfur?

One of the oldest known ways to treat acne is with sulfur. Yes, sulfur. The same thing that makes the ends of matchsticks catch fire is also used to treat acne.

In the past, sulfur was called “brimstone” and was used to treat a wide range of skin problems, such as dermatitis, dandruff, rosacea, and warts. It is still used today in skin care products.

Sulfur is a natural substance that has a distinct smell. I think of the smell of rotten eggs. Today’s sulfur skin care products don’t smell nearly as bad as they used to.

There are both prescription and over-the-counter acne treatments that have sulfur in them.

How Sulfur Works

If you put sulfur on your skin, it will dry out and peel. Even though it sounds bad, if you have acne, this is good for your skin.

First, sulfur makes skin less oily. Second, it helps the skin get rid of dead skin cells better, so pores don’t get clogged, which is the start of a breakout. Sulfur also kills bacteria, so it helps keep the Propionibacterium acnes that causes acne in check.

Sulfur Is Best for Mild to Moderate Acne

Sulfur is best for blemishes that aren’t too bad or acne that isn’t too bad. It doesn’t work well for severe acne or cystic breakouts. But it works well for both comedonal acne and acne that is painful. So, sulfur can help your skin if you have red bumps, blackheads, or a mix of the two.

Many skin care products, like soaps and cleansers, lotions, masks, and spot treatments, contain sulfur. It’s also a common treatment for acne at a lot of skin spas and salons.

Most sulfur treatments also have resorcinol or sodium sulfacetamide in them. These ingredients make the treatment work better by making it more anti-inflammatory and moisturizing.

Acne treatments that use sulfur can be used on their own or with another acne treatment. If you do this, it can help your acne clear up faster.

Use a sulfur cleanser you can buy at the store in the morning and a benzoyl peroxide lotion at night. Or, if you go to a dermatologist, he or she might give you a combination of a topical retinoid and a sulfur-based drug.

What types of acne can sulfur treat?

Most likely, sulfur works best for acne that is not too bad.

Whiteheads and blackheads are often the signs of mild acne. Sulfur gets rid of both the buildup of oil and the dead skin cells that cause these comedones.

Moderate acne includes papules and pustules, which are types of inflammatory acne that cause red spots on the skin.

If your acne is mild, sulfur may not be enough to help. But when used with other acne-fighting ingredients like sodium sulfacetamide, it may be helpful.

For severe acne like cystic acne, which usually needs to be treated by a dermatologist, sulfur is not likely to help. The dermatologist may give you medicine or suggest surgery to get rid of the cysts.

Sulfur is a great option for sensitive skin

Is benzoyl peroxide making your skin break out? Does the sight of Retin-A make your skin turn bright red? Your new best friend might be sulfur.

This ingredient for treating acne is usually easier on the skin than many other acne treatments. It’s not the best acne treatment, and there are many other products that work better and faster.

Sulfur is a great way to treat acne if your skin can’t handle the side effects of most other treatments.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of sulfur are skin that is dry, peeling, red, and itchy in a mild way. When you first start treatment, they tend to be worse. If your skin is very sensitive, start slowly and increase the amount you use until you reach the recommended dose.

Some products still have that unique sulfur odor. This is especially true of products made with natural ingredients or for people with sensitive skin, because they don’t usually have extra fragrance ingredients that cover up the smell of sulfur.

If you don’t like the smell very much, try a different brand. The smell can be very different from one thing to the next.

How to Use Sulfur to Get Rid of Acne

Adding sulfur to a larger plan for treating acne could make your products work better. Sulfur gives the skin some stability. It keeps bacteria and inflammation at bay and keeps oil production in check, so it can help you treat existing breakouts and stop new ones from happening.

Sulfur face mask

One of the easiest ways to use sulfur’s healing properties is through a topical product like a spot treatment or face mask.

Sulfur spot treatments for acne use a concentrated dose of sulfur to break down and remove dead skin cells, dry up extra oil, and calm down irritated or inflamed pores.

In a consistent skincare routine

As was already said, sulfur, like any other acne-fighting ingredient, works best when it is used with other acne-fighting ingredients. By sticking to a skincare routine, you can get the benefits of many natural ingredients that are good for your skin and work at the same time.

You can sign up for a monthly subscription to one of our skincare kits, which means that everything you need for a good skincare routine, like toner, cleanser, spot treatment, probiotics, and more, will be sent right to your door.

Our acne-fighting skin care kits are guaranteed to work. That’s because we mix sulfur with other ingredients that we chose carefully based on modern research that has been reviewed by doctors.

In Conclusion

Since the beginning of time, sulfur has been used to treat acne. Today, it is easy to get without a prescription or over-the-counter.

Sulfur can kill germs, remove dead skin, and get rid of too much oil. It is not too harsh and can be used on sensitive skin.

Sulfur may work best for acne that is not too bad. Products with sulfur and other ingredients that help fight acne may be able to treat moderate acne.

If you want to learn more about sulfur as a treatment for acne, you should talk to a pharmacist, doctor, or dermatologist.

how to use tea tree oil for acne treatment

Best Use Of Tea Tree Oil For Acne Treatment

How Does Tea Tree Oil Help Clear Up Acne?

The leaves of an Australian tree called Melaleuca alternifolia are used to make tea tree oil, which is a natural antiseptic. Tea tree oil is a great way to treat your skin, especially if you have oily skin that is prone to acne. This is why tea tree oil for acne is thought to be the best natural treatment. A DNA test kit can tell you how likely it is that you will get acne. Even though tea tree oil has been shown to help with acne, not many people know how it works.

Acne can’t take over a person’s skin if one of the things that makes it happen isn’t there. Tea tree oil for acne can stop the growth of Propionibacterium acnes when it is put on the skin. This is why this essential oil is so helpful in the fight against acne.

Tea tree oil for acne contains substances that stop the growth of microorganisms. It has powerful antibacterial properties called terpenes, which are a type of volatile oil that work against Propionibacterium acnes to kill the bacteria that cause acne and reduce the number of acne outbreaks.

Several studies have shown that tea tree oil for acne works just as well as some of the most common acne treatments used by dermatologists. Research shows that tea-tree oil has a lot of terpinene-4-ol, which makes it a much better butt acne treatment than commercial products like benzoyl peroxide. Antimicrobial activity is caused by terpinene-4-ol, and this kills the bacteria on the skin that cause acne.

Tea tree oil is not safe to eat, but it is fine to put on the skin. Also, tea tree oil doesn’t cause cancer, which you can’t say about many commercial acne treatments that are full of chemicals. So, it can be used as often as is necessary.

Tea tree oil for acne can get into the pores of the skin and help clean it. By getting deep into the skin and opening up the pores, this essential oil can help clear out the sebaceous glands. Since acne usually starts in the pores, any acne treatment needs to get there.

Tea tree oil for acne is the best solution, especially for oily, acne-prone skin, because oily, dead skin cell plugs will repel water but not oil. It will also kill the acne-causing bacteria that live in the hair follicles, making acne even less likely to happen. This process of disinfection helps dry out whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples, which helps the skin get back to normal.

Tea tree oil for acne can also be used as a cleanser and a way to keep skin moist. It helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and makes it easy to get rid of grease and dust. When tea tree oil is put on the skin, it mixes with the skin’s natural oil. This keeps bacteria from eating the clogged pores. Without food, the bacteria that cause acne can’t grow.

When used on the skin, tea tree oil for acne can also help the skin heal faster. This essential oil can help stop the growth of bacteria that cause acne and make it harder for the skin to heal. Because of this, tea tree oil can help people who are stuck in a cycle of acne.

Tea tree oil can easily cut through dust and grease, and it can also kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and make wounds heal faster. Tea tree oil is known to help treat acne, but it is also thought to stop acne from happening again.

When put on the face, a drop or two of the oil mixed with distilled water can help clear up acne. But you can get the most out of this essential oil by putting a few drops in your bath, especially if other parts of your body are also hurt. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to use tea tree oil for acne that has been watered down.

What does the research say about tea tree oil For acne?

A review of 35 studies on alternative treatments for acne done in 2015 found that there is some evidence that tea tree oil can help with acne. Researchers say, though, that this evidence is not the best.

One study from 2006 found that tea tree oil for acne could both reduce inflammation and kill germs. This might help treat acne lesions that are painful and red, like pimples.

In 2016, researchers looked at how using tea tree oil for acne and resveratrol together could protect the skin from damage from the sun. Even though it wasn’t the point of the study, the researchers found that most of the people who took part had less oil and bacteria on their skin, and their pores were smaller. This might help get rid of acne.

In a study done in 2017, the people who took part put tea tree oil for acne on their faces twice a day for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the researchers came to the conclusion that tea tree oil can “significantly improve” mild to moderate acne without causing any serious problems. But only 14 people took part in this study, and it didn’t meet other standards for good research.

A study from 2018 found that using aloe vera, propolis, and tea tree oil for acne together can also help breakouts.

Overall, the research shows that using tea tree oil for acne might help it, but it’s not a cure-all.

How to Treat Acne with Tea Tree Oil

“Tea tree oil comes in many forms, such as a toner, moisturizer, wash, and spot treatment,” says Chang. However, for it to work, you need to use it twice a day for six to twelve weeks. You can buy one of these products (keep reading to find out which one the dermatologist likes best) or you can just use tea tree oil. Carqueville says that you can either use a cotton swab to put it right on the spots or mix a few drops into a moisturizer to spread it over a larger area.

You don’t have to use it by itself. You can use it with other acne treatments you may already be using. “Tea tree oil can be used with other creams and pills for acne to make them work better. Because P. acnes is becoming more resistant to antibiotics, people are trying to use non-antibiotic products like tea tree oil and a combination of acne-fighting products, “says Chang. Carqueville agrees, calling it “a great way to treat acne that doesn’t involve antibiotics.” No matter what, once your skin clears up, Nazarian says to keep using it to keep the results and stop new breakouts.

Tea tree oil isn’t just good for your skin; it can also help your scalp and hair. “Because it can reduce inflammation and kill fungi, it has been suggested as a treatment for dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis,” says Chang.

Possible Side Effects

Most people can handle tea tree oil well, but Carqueville points out that some people can have an allergic reaction to it. She says that if you are prone to allergies or have very sensitive skin, you should try it on a small patch first and stop using it if you get irritation, redness, swelling, or itching. Another sure thing? Nazarian says that if you are worried about how your skin will react, you should use diluted forms or products that are already made with a small amount.

In Conclusion

Researchers think that using tea tree oil for acne might help with mild to moderate acne. This is because it helps reduce inflammation and kills germs.

Even though it may not treat acne as well as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, trying tea tree oil for acne may be a good over-the-counter (OTC) alternative if you are sensitive to these ingredients.

If over-the-counter (OTC) products don’t help your acne, you may need to see a doctor to get a prescription. A dermatologist can help you find the best way to treat your skin problems. Some possible treatments are:

retinoids
oral or topical antibiotics
anti-androgen therapy
birth control pills

Tea tree oil shouldn’t replace what you’re already doing to treat acne, but it could be a good addition.

Do DIM Supplements For Acne Work?

What Exactly Is DIM?

If you’ve had hormonal acne, you know that there’s no easy way to get rid of it. And yet, there is a supplement that is starting to get attention because of how well it seems to work. Diindolylmethane, or DIM supplements for acne, is a compound that comes from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc. If you can’t get enough of it through your diet, you can also take it as a supplement.

Even though it might seem too good to be true that a compound from green vegetables could heal hormonal acne, some research shows that it could even work as well as prescription drugs. In fact, Morgan Rabach, MD, a dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical in New York City, says that it may work like Spironolactone, a prescription drug that dermatologists often recommend to treat hormonal acne.

DIM Benefits

Cheung says that taking DIM supplements for acne is good for you in more ways than just helping with acne caused by hormones.

Hormonal acne usually shows up on your chin and jawline, but it can also show up on the sides of your face and down your neck.

Cheung says that DIM supplements for acne can help, even though there is no scientific proof that they fix or cure hormonal acne. “When estrogen and testosterone are out of balance, it can cause acne. “DIM and I3C help keep this delicate balance, and higher levels of DIM for acne will block androgen pathways to reduce sebum production and acne,” she tells you.

May stop cancers caused by estrogen: More and more studies show that I3C, when taken as a supplement, may help stop the growth of cancers caused by estrogen.

Cheung says that DIM may help prevent breast, uterine, cervical, and prostate cancers because it helps keep estrogen metabolism and receptor activity in balance and speeds up cellular detoxification.

Cheung says that estrogen dominance can be caused by a liver that doesn’t get rid of toxins well or by being overweight, since fat tissue turns testosterone into estrogen. Estrogen dominance and its symptoms can also be caused by things like birth control, too much meat and dairy, plastics, and other toxins.

Cheung says that too much estrogen can cause irregular and heavy periods, weight gain, trouble sleeping, tiredness, depression or irritability, and a low libido. “DIM slows down the process of turning testosterone into estrogen, so you’ll have fewer symptoms of estrogen dominance.”

How Do You Choose The Right DIM Supplement?

If you search for DIM, you’ll get a lot of results. How do you know which one to put in your shopping cart? Jardim says it’s important to buy supplements from “companies that find the best ingredients and make sure the final products are high-quality by getting third-party certification.” Designs for Health DIM-Evail and Pure Encapsulations DIM Pro are a few of her favorites.

How to Use DIM Supplements for Acne

I’ve been taking oral birth control (microgestrin 1.5/30) for three years to help with the pain of endometriosis, which is caused by large cysts on my ovaries called endometriomas. I take birth control pills right after each other and skip the placebo weeks so that my endometrial lining doesn’t shed. This keeps me from getting my period. It’s a quick fix that has helped me with a very painful long-term problem.

I take two DIM vitamins every day, once in the morning and once at night. Since I started this routine, I haven’t had a single hormonal breakout. Cheung says to take 150mg every day and that the supplements should be taken for a long time because hormone imbalance will get worse with age and acne may come back if DIM’s effect of balancing hormones is stopped.

As for how long it takes to see results, Cheung says that you might see less oil and active cysts within a few weeks, but you’ll see the best results after a few months, when your skin goes through its natural cycles.

DIM Supplements vs. Prescription Acne Medications

Dermatologists often recommend spironolactone, which is a blood pressure medicine that is used off-label to treat hormonal acne in women, and isotretinoin as the best treatments for adult acne (you may know it by its brand name, Accutane). If you want to know how DIM supplements for acne stack up, it’s not easy to compare them. Angela Lamb, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says, “They are very different.”

She says that Accutane is a pill that is made from vitamin A and shrinks oil glands, while spironolactone is a pill that blocks androgens. Some people think of DIM for acne as a more natural alternative to spironolactone. Anecdotal reports show that it works to reduce breakouts, but it does so more slowly. Unlike spironolactone, which usually works in six to eight weeks, DIM supplements may take up to four months to work.

“The research is not very strong,” says Dr. Lamb, “but it seems that DIM for acne has a bigger effect on estrogen.” So, she “would not” compare it to a real androgen blocker (like spironolactone), but she does explain the reasoning: “Androgens do cause acne, so the idea is that the less potent form would cause less acne.”

Also, it’s important to know that a DIM supplements for acne won’t help much with comedonal acne (i.e., whiteheads or blackheads). Instead, this over-the-counter supplement tends to work best on papules, pustules, and acne that is caused by hormones. “In higher doses, DIM can block androgen receptors like those for testosterone by saturating the body’s tissues and stopping protein synthesis,” explains Dr. Engelman.

This stops the anabolic effects of testosterone on the body. When androgens and hormone receptors come together, it can cause imbalances in the skin that can lead to acne. By stopping that binding, the imbalances that can lead to acne are less likely to happen.

In Conclusion

Even though there are no official scientific studies that look at the effects of I3C or DIM for acne, there are many medical journals, including the ones listed here, that talk about how I3C and DIM for acne can control estrogen. Also, the Internet is full of articles and testimonies from women who swear that I3C/DIM cured their hormonal acne, and now I’m one of them.

Not only has it helped me with my hormonal breakouts, but it has also helped dozens of my friends, and many of them have said that all of their PMS symptoms, like sore breasts and bloating, have gone away as well.

Does Acupuncture For Acne Really Work?

When you feel like you’ve tried every drugstore remedy, every dermatologist-recommended cream, and every expensive potion, it’s only natural to be curious about the treatments that alternative medicine can offer. Acupuncture for acne, a form of ancient Chinese medicine that involves putting hair-thin needles made of stainless steel into key points on the body, is one alternative acne treatment for skin problems like acne that is becoming more and more popular.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, a healthy body will naturally slow down the aging process, both inside and out, says Ansgar Lee, a licensed acupuncturist and the founder of LES Acupuncture. “Each part of the face is related to a different organ in the body. This helps us figure out how to treat each person. For example, dark circles under the eyes can be a sign that the kidneys and adrenal glands aren’t working well.

How does Acupuncture For Acne Work?

Chinese medicine is based on the idea that everything needs to be in perfect balance for it to work at its best. So, whenever there is a “traffic jam” that stops that flow, it will lead to inefficiency somewhere else (in this case, your skin).

“The Chinese found these point functions by watching and noticing that different points had different healing effects,” says the author. It is thought that poking these spots with tiny needles will trigger “a response in the body that tells the body to redistribute these influxes of “resources” as needed to bring balance back to the body.”

how Does acupuncturist Work On acne?

Klein says that in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the part of your face where you get pimples (like your chin vs. your cheeks) can be a sign of what’s wrong. Auth says that acupuncture for acne can help with cystic acne that is red, swollen, and painful because it is a “natural anti-inflammatory that can help calm redness and speed up healing.”

Acne on the chin, jaw, and mouth is often caused by an imbalance in hormones or stress. It can get worse every month because of your period, pregnancy, or a condition like PCOS. Auth says that acupuncture for acne can “help regulate underlying hormonal imbalances that cause acne to flare up.”

Lastly, Auth says that blackheads and whiteheads can be caused by toxins and phlegm in the body. Acupuncture can help get rid of these things. “Skin follicles can get clogged up when we make too much sebum, which is also a major cause of blackheads and whiteheads,” she says. “In Chinese medicine, we focus on using acupuncture for acne points that help the skin produce sebum in a healthy way so it can control itself.”

Is acupuncture Effective At treating acne?

Researchers have found that acupuncture for acne can help with a number of skin problems, like acne. But there needs to be more research on a large scale.

Kempisty says that acupuncture for acne is often able to improve skin conditions because it improves vitality, circulation, and detoxification, among other things.

Still, remember that acupuncture for acne needs to be done on a regular basis. Acupuncture is likely to need to be done more than once at regular intervals to treat acne.

It’s also important to keep in mind that it can be hard to do studies on acupuncture.

Kempisty says that it’s hard to blind the clinician running the study because it’s hard to give fake acupuncture to a placebo group and it’s also hard to give acupuncture for acne without knowing you’re doing it.

Even though more and more research is being done, Kempisty also points to the fact that TCM has stayed the same to show that acupuncture works.

“We can use TCM and culture, which have been around for a few thousand years, to help us make clinical decisions,” he says. “Most licensed acupuncturists learn what works and what doesn’t work for skin problems through experience.”

Dermatologist’s Take On acupuncture as acne treatment

Mona Gohara, MD, a dermatologist, says that acupuncture for acne can help reduce stress, which can make acne worse. She first tries Western treatments, but she also says, “I often tell my patients to find their “zen zone” in the hopes that reducing stress will help acne and other skin inflammations.”

Some studies have shown that acupuncture can help treat acne, at least when used along with other treatments. In a study that compared acupuncture for acne to prescription acne treatments such as viaminate and tretinoin, it was discovered that reducing acne lesions by 30 or 50% did not depend on which treatment was used.

Dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD says that this is very interesting, but the study doesn’t explain how it was done. This means that the results usually have a lot of caveats, so the results should be taken with a grain of salt.

Dr. Rabach says that more research is needed to really figure out how acupuncture can help clear up acne. Even though she mostly recommends Western treatments that she thinks can treat and cure acne, Dr. Rabach says, “I am not against acupuncture, especially for people who won’t take traditional medicines.” Dr. Gohara doesn’t mind if her patients try new things, either: “You don’t have to stick to just one way to get better; try both.”

How Long It Will Take To Work?

Going to an appointment for acupuncture for acne is a bit different from going to a regular appointment with a medical doctor. Your acupuncturist will talk to you (pretty in depth) about almost every part of your life, from what you eat to how you feel to how you sleep. They’ll also take your pulse and ask you to stick out your tongue so they can look at it. Just so you know, they’ll use this information to figure out how to treat you.

Depending on the practitioner, the first appointment usually takes about an hour and a half and costs between $75 and $250 per session. Some insurance plans cover acupuncture, so you should talk to your insurance company first.

Like so many other things, acupuncture for acne needs to be done regularly, so you’ll have to keep going for a while to see results. “Most of the time, getting acupuncture once a week for one to three months can have powerful effects,” says Auth.