Antibiotics For Acne - Some Important Information

Are antibiotics for acne even worth it? This is the topic we are going to discuss today. First of all, let me explain how acne occurs:

1) Bad eating habits - there is no direct link between eating and getting acne. But I will tell you this: food can increase the possibility of you getting this skin disease. As of now, the only confirmed food type that can worsen the existing acne, are those that contain iodized salt.

2) Personal hygiene - taking care of yourself is really important. Your job is to make sure that your pores will not get clogged by sebum (an oily substance), dead skin cells and bacteria. Do not scrub your face, because this can only infect the affected area.

3) Stress - since during stress your body goes through some chemical processes, it's not really farfetched to assume that there is a link between being in stress and having acne, even if this link is very weak.

There are also some factors that need to be considered, like the environment the person is living in. I will discuss that and other things in my next article.

Now that we have established why acne occurs, let's talk about antibiotics.

How Antibiotics Work?

Antibiotics work on several fronts: they decrease the number of acne bacteria, reduce the irritating chemicals produced by white blood cells. Also, they decrease the concentration of sebum - an oily substance that is partially responsible for acne.

What Antibiotics Exist?

1) Erythomycin - this is a very commonly used antibiotic. It has many anti-inflammatory properties that not only kill the acne bacteria, but also reduce redness on the skin. It is usually taken with food - which is a huge advantage. As a rule, doctors prescribe 240-510 mg dosages twice a day.

2) Tetracycline - as of now, the most popular antibiotic in the world. Usually the dose is 450 mg twice a day, and continued until acne lesions have decreased. Unlike erythromycin, it has to be taken on an empty stomach. Also, it shouldn't be prescribed to pregnant women.

3) Doxycycline - this antibiotic is given to people who do not want erythromycin or tetracycline. It should be taken with food, and the dosage should be about 40-120 mg twice a day.

4) Minocycline - this antibiotic has been used for decades to fight acne. The usual dose is 45-95 mg twice a day. There are also some side effects - nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc.

5) Clindamycin - oral antibiotic that is not really that popular. It has a very severe side effect: it causes intestinal infections.

View the original article here

How To Get Rid Of Acne Without Antibiotics

Anyone that has ever suffered from acne will know what a devastating effect it has on confidence and self esteem. It seems like a catch twentytwo situation, acne triggers feelings of anxiety and depression which in turn makes the acne a lot worse.

According to Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine, acne is the result of too much heat and toxins in the body, or more specifically in the blood. The Chinese term for this is Yang, and in Ayurveda it known as Pitta. Excess heat in the system can be caused by a number of different things including stress, high hormone levels and even the consumption of certain foods. Acne signals an imbalance inside the body which needs to be treated internally to be truly effective.

The good news is that it is totally possible to treat most mild to moderate acne naturally and holistically, but it does take a degree of dedication and perseverance. Treating acne with natural therapies is not only effective, but it has no, or very minimal side effects unlike allopathic treatments. Natural acne treatments are gentle, effective and more importantly treat the underlying causes of acne instead of just treating the symptoms.

These are some tried and tested techniques to control and treat acne naturally.

*Neem is by far the best natural acne remedy I know of. A natural antibiotic that can effectively kill the bacteria responsible for causing acne, but to be truly effective it should be taken internally and also applied topically. A simple acne face mask can be made by mixing equal quantities of fullers earth and Neem powder with a little water and applied to cleansed skin.

*Regular internal cleansing treatments are a very useful tool in the control of acne. Helpful herbs for acne include Dandelion Burdock and Sarsaparilla. The easiest method of taking cleansing herbs is in tea form. Most supermarkets and health food stores sell cleansing herbal teas that are effective, and affordable.

*Reducing stress and finding ways to cope with stressful situations is also important. While stress may not directly cause acne, it definitely makes it worse. Deep breathing exercises can help acne in two ways, firstly by calming stress and inducing relaxation, and secondly by increasing oxygen levels in the blood which in turn detoxifies and cleanses the body by filtering impurities.

* foods that put a burden on the body should be avoided or at least reduced. The main culprits include caffeinated drinks, chocolate, alcohol and all processed/fatty foods.' You are what you eat' is a very true statement, if you are prone to acne, diet will make a positive or negative difference to your skin depending on your dietary habits.

* Most makeup and cosmetics contain large quantities of synthetic ingredients that can aggravate acne. The use of heavy foundations and moisturisers based on mineral oils can block the pores which can lead to breakouts and irritation.

* Plenty of pure, filtered water, is an excellent cleanser and detoxifier that flushes impurities from the body. Mixing a few drops of fresh lemon juice to fresh water increases its cleansing properties considerably.

Disclaimer: Please refer to your health practitioner prior to taking any herbal remedies for acne.

For 100 % natural, ethical skincare please visit http://www.aliveearth.co.uk/.

View the original article here