Help from our readers:

I’ve just started using Proactiv for a few days now, cuz i’ve been getting pretty bad acne. But for the past day or so it’s been irritating and drying out my skin. It’s helping my acne, but when I use it, the area by my jaw and my chin starts 2 hurt bad. Help please? Should I keep using Proactiv?

Given what we now know about medications and prescriptions, a lot of people have been turning to natural remedies for all ailments including acne.

The population has been slowly turning away from expensive medications, creams and ointments to cure various skin conditions and turning to preventative care and alternative healthy treatments.

Because of acne’s ‘popularity’ in all ages, both sexes and every race it is no exception to people exploring natural home remedies. One such remedy is in the healing and soothing properties of green tea.

About Green Tea:

While many teas are fermented, green tea is instead steamed shortly after harvest. This prevents oxidation of its leaves and loss of anti-oxidant properties. Because of this processing difference Green Tea is valuable for many ailments - not just acne.

Camellia Sinensis, proper name for green tea extract, contains a high content of Polyphenol (a key antioxidant). The antioxidents help the body fight free radicals that cause cell and tissue damage.

Green tea serves many purposes. Creams and tinctures are used as anti-bacterial aids.

Green Tea also assists to moderate hormonal activity. And, since acne is often caused by an increase in hormones, which produce excess oil that clog your pores, green tea is valuable in the aid of controling acne breakouts.

Green tea also has very few potential side effects especially when compared to other acne products and medications.

A mixture of green tea with Honeysuckle is called acne tea in China but it’s primary purpose is to rid the body of toxins.

Green tea is readily available and can be purchased in most herbal or holistic stores. You can also buy it online (as with anything these days).

Drinking green tea helps cleanse your body from the inside out. Using green tea creams helps cure and prevent acne from the outside in. No matter how you use it, green tea serves many purposes, and is a viable alternative to prescriptive medications.

Though often misdiagnosed as acne, rosacea is, in fact, not acne.

Rosacea affects thousands of people in the U.S. alone, mostly those over the age of 30.

Controling this condition - which generally appears as a red rash confined to the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin - is for the experts. The redness is highly sensitive and often accompanied by bumps, pimples, and skin blemishes.

The reason Acne Rosacea is so commonly mistaken for acne, is due to those pimples and blemishes.

Furthermore the redness is also linked to the fact that blood vessels may become more visible on the skin.

Acne Rosacea has been shown to be more prevalent in women than in men. However when found in men the condition tends to be more severe. read the rest »

If you are a parent with teenage children you know how much acne affect everything about your teens’ moods, social skills, self-esteem and confidence.

Although it may seem trivial to some, acne can affect a teen’s self image as well as overall social life. In severe cases it can lead to depression and withdrawal.

You should let your teenager know that you are always available for a chat, consultation, and that you are willing to take every measure to help him or her with any problem that affects their persona, even acne. Talking about your own experience with breakouts during the teenage years may help them relate and quite possibly, give them a healthier perspective on the condition. read the rest »