Azalaic acid, if you’ve never heard of it, you are not alone.  Millions have thought that benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid were really the only ways to treat acne, even though there are now many other options.  But Azelaic acid works under the brand name Azelex as a prescription treatment, and it is generally used in a 20% concentration topical cream.  It works by killing bacteria in the skin, much like benzoyl peroxide and clearing and preventing acne that is specifically caused by bacteria.

It is prescribed to clear up acne and prevent new outbreaks, and it can actually also reduce acne inflammation.  It often works to clear mild to moderate outbreaks, but it doesn’t necessarily work for acne that is infected by bacteria.  Some studies, though they are limited, show that it can work as well as benzyl peroxide, tretinoin, and antibiotics.  But the actual results are still up for question.  It generally takes 1-2 months for acne to even start disappearing.

In terms of side effects, azalaic acid can cause burning, stinging, dry skin, and redness just like benzoyl peroxide.  You should not use it on areas that don’t have acne, but rather as a spot treatment.  But you should also keep in mind that not all cases of acne are actually caused by bacteria.  In fact, there multiple other causes.  And this particular product is not approved for children under the age of 12.

While azalaic acid is technically effective against some cases of acne, we do recommend other options.  If you have bacterial acne, we would suggest tea tree oil.  It is actually as effective as benzoyl peroxide, more effective than azalaic acid for many, and it comes with no side effects including burning, itchy, or red skin.  You can also get it in over the counter options and when combined with other types of acne fighting ingredients, you can often get a full effect.

Originally marketed as a birth control pill called Yasmin, they have since changed the name to Yaz and marketed as a birth control pill that could also reduce the symptoms of PMDD and hormone related acne in women.  Women have found many different ways to deal with acne, this is just the newest one, and of course it depends on the type to determine what will work.

Some women have managed skin complications by changing diet and exercise habits as well as increasing fluid intake.  But others have turned to external scrubs and washes, pills such as Accutane, etc.  And others have already started using other birth control pills that don’t necessarily claim to treat acne on the box, but have seemingly worked for some. 

Yaz is manufactured by Bayer, and they also claim it will improve skin in general.  They claim it can target premenstrual dysmorphic disorder or PMDD, and they have apparently obtained FDA approval to make these specific claims.  It has been recently approved by the FDA in the treatment of adult onset acne.  It has the normal birth control ingredients.  But in addition, they provide a 24 day dosing of active hormonal ingredients in addition to the norm to control symptoms of PMDD and improve the general appearance of the skin.  It still uses the standard 4 days of placebos or sugar pills to be used in balance with the active pills.

Some Yaz users have reported side effects including nausea, vomiting, changes in weight, and headaches.  But all these side effects are common to birth control pills in general.  But either way, women seeking any kind of birth control pill should disclose a complete medical history to their physician.  Those women who smoke or have pre-existing liver disorders should not take Yaz.  For those women who did not previously suffer from acne, the skin changes may be significant, noticeable, and unfamiliar to the user.  However, for those women suffering from acne connected to hormonal fluctuations, Yaz can be a viable treatment option.

There are some vitamins and minerals that are known for fighting acne or causing acne when found to be deficient in the body.  The first main one is vitamin A.  It has been used both internally and externally to increase the turnover of dead skills and even to significantly lower the production of sebum, sometimes stopping it entirely.  It can help to strengthen the protective tissue of the skin, and the skin is therefore more able to fight the occurrence of acne.  It is also known to be a strong antioxidant, ridding the body of free radicals and harmful toxins that could potentially cause some cases of acne.  Therefore, it can clear the skin of many problems, not just acne, at least in theory.  It is usually taken in combination with carotenoids, which can strengthen its effect against acne.

Second, vitamin E has been used as a powerful antioxidant in fighting bacteria and the buildup of toxins and free radicals.  It can lead to the cessation of acne in some individuals and it can also promote tissue repair and the healing of skin cells.  It can also increase the oxidation of lipids and the formation of free radicals. 

As you can see, both vitamin A and vitamin E can work as antioxidants, kill off bacteria and free radicals, strengthen the skin to a healthier and happier state, and prevent future breakouts.  Vitamin A has attributes entirely of its own, as does vitamin E, and in combination with each other, these can promote a stronger acne fighting effect than they would in and of themselves.

But there is a third vitamin that can be effectively combined with these 2.  It is known as zinc, and it is actually one of the most important vitamins used to attack and fight acne.  It has many different uses, and it can cause acne breakouts on its own when deficient.  Therefore adequate amounts of zinc and promote healthy skin and combat current acne problems or help to combat future problems.  It works as an antioxidant, helping to fight free radicals and toxins, and it also is very proactive in helping to prevent future breakouts as a whole.  It can regulate the oil glands, not stopping sebum production all together, which could actually be harmful to the skin as your skin needs some sebum glands, but helping it.  Finally, it can promote healing in the tissue and therefore prevent nasty scarring, also promoting a generally healthy immune system. 

When used alone, all these ingredients can promote the cessation of acne.  However, when used together, they only compliment the effects of each other, promoting a greater fight against acne by also approaching it from 3 different directions instead of just one possible problem.

Acne affects a multitude of people.  You may see a 20 year old Caucasian boy or a 50 year old Hispanic woman who both suffer from acne.  It varies from person to person on how long it lasts among other things.  Teens are the ones most likely to suffer from acne.  But it does not necessarily discriminate by age, race, gender, eating habits, etc.  85% of young adults currently suffer from acne while 25% suffer from permanent scarring.  It is a problem that, as far as we can tell, will always exist somewhere in society.  But here are a few reasons why you should consider other alternatives before making the dreaded trip to your doctor or dermatologist.

1. You can get many of the same things over the counter

Take for example benzyl peroxide or retinol.  You can get those in relatively high concentrations in a multitude of over the counter products.  And many times, you will find that your skin isn’t necessarily equipped to handle the amounts you will find in those products.  Prescription medications only use higher concentrations, which are often unnecessary.  The major exception to this rule is Accutane, and it is controlled for a reason.

1. Antibiotics don’t always work

Some dermatologists will tell you that they will clear up your acne and all with a completely safe and effective formula.  This is not entirely true.  Antibiotics can be used for a multitude of problems.  But their effectiveness wears off over time, and they can very well interact with your body’s systems and other medications, causing digestive problems(ie killing all bacteria good and bad in your stomach, which is harder than you think to replenish), diminishing your body’s natural absorption of vital nutrients, and other problems.  Acne is a temporary problem, one which in most cases goes away after adolescence or early adulthood and which will only flare up after that with serious hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause.  There is no reason to suffer long term side effects in most cases.

1. You will often be told to avoid things that have little application for most

A healthy diet can contribute to greater health and healthier skin in some cases.  Likewise, keeping bangs off your face can keep sebum from getting onto your hair and then getting back onto your face in an endless cycle.  But the sebum comes from the skin, not so often from the hair, and that is a common misconceptions that some dermatologists even follow.  There are some foods that could cause greater acne breakouts, but they are not the sole reason for your breakouts, and for some avoiding them will not do anything.

1. You will spend a lot more money!

Unfortunately, prescription medications are not guaranteed to work for every person just as over the counter treatments are not guaranteed to work for every person.  The difference is you will be spending a substantial amount more money for a prescription than you would for an over the counter product, and prescriptions are generally guaranteed to have side effects.  Copays for one doctor’s visit may cost you as much as a month’s supply of some over the counter treatments.

1. Your options are limited

While the over the counter market for acne treatments is always developing, always expanding, always searching for new horizons, it seems the prescription market has become stagnant.  They have done so much research and they have found a number of treatments which studies show to work for a number of people.  So they have stopped developing, stopped searching, and chosen not to bother with ingredients that they could not sell as prescription products.

Not all acne is the same as you may think.  Debris gets into the pores, and forms comedomes, also known as a blemish or acne.  There are without question different types of breakouts, some are not inflamed, and different types are found through different skin types, some on one set of skin.  There are some times when an individual may have comedomes and there is no inflammation or redness.  But if bacteria gets in there, comendones that were previously uninflamed become an ugly, huge, red pimple.

1. Soft, closed comedones

These will produce some bumpiness on the skin, and they are generally not red or painful.  They form when debris becomes trapped in the pores by piled up dead skin cells.  It tends to have soft oil, and if you simply exert a bit of pressure, it brings the oils to the surface, keeping the skin soft and smooth and free of acne.

1. Hard, closed Comedones

These are hard and closed and are known as milia.  They tend to look like whiteheads, and they are not painful or red.  They are often found in the eye area.  They develop the same way as the soft closed comedones, but the content is more like sand or sebum, not oils or puss.  It could clear up on itself.  But your dermatologist could also make a small incision to release the milia.

1. Open Comedones

This comedone is popularly known as a blackhead.  You can see an open black or brown area on the skin, and it means the sebum has mixed with bacteria and dirt.  There is a buildup of sebum, skin cells, dirt, and other parts.  It is also exposed to oxygen, which is part of what turns it black or brown.  You can use blackhead extractors, reducing possibility of infection or scars.

1. Micromedones

These are common, but too small to see without a microscope.  So you may not actually know if you have them.  It is the beginning of acne, basically meaning that dirt and oils have gotten trapped in the skin by dead skin cells.  To get rid of these, you want to reduce the buildup of oils and dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. So use a regular exfoliator and cleanser, and you will be able to get rid of quite a few if not all of these problems.

            Acne has been known to afflict adults, but mostly teens and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24.  It does not pick and choose by sex, geographic location, etc.  It happens to every kind of person in every part of the world.  It tends to occur in conjunction with hormonal changes, stress, poor skin care habits, bacteria, etc. 

            But some women are now turning to a new acne solution known as non contraceptive anti androgen options.  Ortho Tri-Cyclen is popularly known as a birth control pill, made up of progesterone and estrogen.  It works to decrease testosterone levels, which have been connected to many bouts of acne in women.  You should not take these obviously if you are a man.  But in women, acne lesions decreased by 50% with tri-cyclen.

            Essentially speaking, excess androgens and testosterone in women can significantly increase sebum production in women and therefore clog pores and cause acne.  This birth control specifically reduces ovarian androgens, improving acne specifically in women.  It also increases the circulation of binding globulin, which can decrease the levels of free testosterone in the body.  Side effects can include irregular menstruation, tender breasts, headaches, headaches, and fatigue.

            Another unconventional product used to treat acne is known as Aldactone.  It is generally used to treat edema while avoiding potassium depletion and simultaneously reducing blood pressure.  It has been used to actually treat potassium deficiency and hormonal disorder of hyperaldosteronism.  It binds itself to the androgen receptors and blocks true androgen from binding. 

            If you use this drug, you can suffer from low blood pressure, irregular menstrual cycles, spotting, high potassium, and it should only be taken under the direction of a doctor.  You should also avoid high potassium foods like bananas.  Because it affects the androgen, this product can also prevent acne in women or reduce it by about 50%.  In short, this provides contraceptive and acne fighting benefits without water retention. 

            In this growing industry and world, there are many different products emerging promising to fight acne while also providing other benefits, in this case while working as oral contraceptives.  They are unconventional, but for many they work.    

            Acne can happen for a number of reasons, including stress and hormones.  We find that it is more common in teenagers and pregnant women, but realistically we can all suffer from it.  And for the most part, different treatments have different effects depending on your skin type.  But some have found that natural masks and at home treatments can be the best treatments for them.  This could be because the ingredients are affecting the skin, or it could have something to do with the time taken each week to relax and take a breath.  So we have found a few natural masks that can be used once to twice per week to revitalize and soothe your skin, possibly helping you to fight acne.

1. Baking Soda-Bran Pack
   1. Mix ¼ cup oatmeal or bran with 2 teaspoons baking soda
   2. Add water as needed and make a thick paste
   3. Apply over the face, avoiding the eyes
   4. Leave on for 15-20 minutes
   5. Then rinse gently with warm water off
2. Garlic Mask
   1. Peel and crush 8 cloves garlic
   2. Apply to face, staying away from eyes
   3. Leave on 10 to 15 minutes
   4. Wash off with warm wash cloth
3. tomato-honey mask
   1. mix ½ teaspoon camphor lotion, ½ teaspoon honey, and ½ teaspoon tomato juice
   2. apply to face, staying away from the eyes
   3. leave on for 15 minutes
   4. wash with luke warm water, then rinse with cold immediately after
4. milk-lime peel
   1. boil ¼ cup whole milk
   2. let cool and then mix with juice of one fresh line and 1 teaspoon glycerin
   3. apply to face, avoiding the eyes
   4. allow to dry and then peel off or wash off with warm water

            Sebum: a substance which can build up in your pores and contribute to greater rates of acne.  It may sound funny if you’ve never suffered through it.  But for those suffering from sebum related acne, it is far from entertaining.  It acts as an irritant, clogging your pores and causing pimples, pustules, blackheads, whiteheads, etc.  It is comprised of glycerides, fatty acids, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, squalene, and wax esters, not exactly appealing to most people.

            Sebum is not a completely horrible thing.  It does prevent your skin from losing quite as much water, and it protects the skin from infectious bacteria and fungi.  It can reduce body odor, and some even say it can regulate the immune system.  However, when sebum production gets out of control or rises in connection with hormones or other factors, that is when it becomes a bad thing.

            Sebum can be found in every hair follicle across the entire surface of our skin and bodies.  The sebaceous glands around these hairs produce sebum, and in the right amounts, it can keep our skin soft and smooth.  But when bacteria grows, it traps sebum below the surface, keeping it from performing its essential functions.  This results in a clogging of the pores, and it results in acne.

            The big things to do are to clean your skin on a regular basis and don’t use cosmetics that have agents which may clog your pores.  But for some, it may take more than just cleaning your face and avoiding things that may contribute to more acne.  Others experience improved results by exfoliating the skin on a regular basis.  It helps to rejuvenate the skin as well as getting rid of dead skin cells.  Some have also chosen to use hormonal treatments.  Others have consulted a physician or dermatologist.

            Many stress over where they can go, what they can do, and who they can associate with when they have acne.  They feel self conscious and stressed over what people may think, and this stress may actually add to their acne problems.  So worry about the things you can control.  Fight your acne in the best ways you know how, and otherwise go out and live your life.  Eventually, everybody outgrows their acne.  So it may be a matter of waiting for that time or you may be able to benefit from different acne treatments.  It just depends.

            We’ve all heard of acne vulgaris, it’s the type most of us suffer from.  But there are a number of extreme cases out there such as acne fulimans, otherwise known as acne maligna.  If you have failed in treating another form of acne, acne conglobata, acne fulimans can make its debut.  Working against the immune system, acne fulimans elevates levels of testosterone, sebum production, and acne related bacterias.  If you are familiar with steroids, this is also part of why many steroid users suffer acne, though usually in less severe forms.  Acne fulimans however can be treated successfully with steroids, though usually those that raise estrogen levels rather than testosterone levels.

            It begins with pain and inflammation within the joints.  It continued onto the lymph nodes in the neck, swelling the lymph nodes to large proportions.  As the lymph nodes decrease in swelling, swelling will actually increase in other areas of the body such as the joints.  Appetite does not only decrease, it completely disappears at this point.  As such, many will suffer extreme weight loss.  Many will also lose muscle mass all together or at least severely atrophy due to the lack of nutrient delivery to the muscles.  Those with these severe reactions will eventually be unable to physically function if it goes untreated.

            Treatment with acne fulimans should be sought early on, or else extended periods of hospitalizations will be necessary.  The bones can suffer severe problems during this process, that could easily last a lifetime after.  Hospitals naturally test for these losses, because they already know appetite, weight, and muscles have severely decreased.  The digestive tract can also be permanently damaged.  Some will develop open sore similar to those of buruli ulcers or more familiar to many, becoming a leper.  They can be large enough to fit at least 2 fingers into.  They do crust up, and they can become extremely sensitive to the touch.  These crustings do have to be removed, and it can be impossible to sleep on the sides with these sores.

            Unlike some other severe forms of acne, acne fulimans usually manifests early, around the age of puberty or 13.  The best method of prevention or treatment is early recognition.  Otherwise, severe symptoms and ultimately hospitalization are likely to occur.

            Otherwise known as Melaleuca oil, Tea tree oil has nothing to do with green tea, black tea, white tea, etc.  It is essentially a pale golden color, and it has been used as an antiseptic and antifungal.  It has been popularly used for its cosmetic functions, and it has been recently introduced to the acne treatment market. 

            It was originally found in the eastern areas of Australia, used as a traditional medicine among natives from everything to coughs and colds to sore throats and skin ailments.  Reports of its antimicrobial effects were first published in the 1920’s by research Arthur Penfold.  It was popular for a time, and then its popularity declined after World War II.  It rose again to some popularity in the 1970’s.  They have since found that its effects are mainly based on an alement known as terpinen-4-ol.

            In recent studies, they have found that when applied to mild to moderate acne, 5% tea tree oil is comparable to 5% benzyl peroxide in its treatment.  The main difference is that this action comes without all the side effects.  It has been compared likewise to a placebo with statistically significant differences.  A few isolated studies have shown tea tree oil to work against herpes, cold sores, chicken pox, shingles, etc.  It has also been used by some as an all natural flea control element. 

            However, despite its relative safety on the skin, it should be noted that tea tree oil should not be orally ingested. It is toxic when swallowed and thereby causes drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, comas, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes.  So therefore, it can not be used in supplements as witch hazel can.  It is solely for external use.

            Those who have discontinued use with tea tree oil have often found it preferable to benzyl peroxide in another way.  Their acne stayed under control or only returned to its previous state if that.  With benzyl peroxide, it is common to experience severe bouts of acne with a cessation of treatment.  If you keep up a good skin regimen after using tea tree oil, even with periods of non use, you should not expect severe breakouts.

            Overall, when used correctly, tea tree oil is one of the best acne treatments to date.  It has no serious side effects when used topically, and many users have been extremely pleased with results.  It is highly recommended, and it has been around and in use for centuries.  We have found tea tree oil to be one of the best up and coming acne treatments on the market.