What to do about Acne

Not sure what causes acne or what to do about it, read on...

Posted 05/03/2007

Acne is a common skin condition that is estimated to affect between 40 and 50 million Americans of all ages. The three factors that contribute to acne are increased oil production, a bacteria called P. acnes ( Propionibacterium acnes) and clogged pores. The excess oil causes the dead skin cells to stick together, which leads to a clogged pore, also known as a blackhead or a whitehead. Then the P. acnes bacteria moves into the pore, causing inflammation which turns into redness and pus. In order to prevent acne, we must kill the P. acnes bacteria, decrease oil secretion and unclog pores. So, let's address each of these needs individually in a home care regimen.

Step 1: KILL the BACTERIA! A-Cute Derm makes an excellent antiseptic cleanser, B-Kleer Antiseptic Wash, that kills the P. acnes bacteria, in addition to killing Staph, E. Coli, and Pseudomonas. This cleanser is non-drying and skin friendly.

Step 2 (optional): UNCLOGGING! A-Cute Derm's B-Kleer Antiseptic Wash can be used in addition to the A-Cute Derm Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansing Lotion 2.5 or A-Cute Derm Benzoyl Peroxide Cleaning Lotion 10 for more serious cases of acne. The benzoyl peroxide that is in the A-Cute Derm Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansing Lotion products dries the skin and causes exfoliation, which helps prevent clogged pores. The Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5 contains 2.5% of benzoyl peroxide and the Benzoyl Peroxide 10 contains 10%. A-Cute Derm Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansing Lotion is not recommended for anyone with sensitive skin.

Step 3: UNCLOGGING! The use of a Glycolic Acid is a very important part of controlling acne. Glycolics are excellent for cleaning the pores and exfoliating. This helps to prevent clogged pores. Anyone who is new to using glycolics, should start with either the A-Cute Derm B-Kleer Ultra 8 pads or the A-Cute Derm Clear Skin Therapy. After using 2-3 bottles of these products, your skin is then ready to move to a stronger concentration of glycolic acid and you can then move up to using A-Cute Derm B-Kleer Ultra 20 Pads or A-Cute Derm Ultra 20 Advanced Rejuvenating Gel. When starting with a glycolic acid, it is best to start with using it at night and then gradually increasing it to using the glycolic in both the evening and morning. It is important to wait until your skin is dry before applying the glycolic acid. Otherwise, the wetness of your skin combined with the glycolic can cause a slight stinging feeling.

Step 4: FACIAL MASKS can DECREASE OIL! Used 1 to 2 times a week, A-Cute Derm's B-Kleer mask and Clay Mint mask are very effective for decreasing oil. The Clay Mint Mask dries the pores and reduces shine, absorbs oil and has antibacterial peppermint. The B-Kleer Mask is for more advanced acne. It also absorbs oil and impurities. It is excellent for spot treating breakouts.

Step 5: DECREASE OIL! Although it might seem counterproductive, one of the best ways to decrease the oil is to use a moisturizer. An excellent day time moisturizer is A-Cute Derm's Protect SPF 20. It is a light moisturizer that is good on acne prone skin and the added sunscreen will help prevent malasma and future skin damage (a.k.a. skin cancer and wrinkles). Sun protection is a very important step, but especially if you are using a glycolic. Glycolic thins the skin, so a good sunscreen is essential. A-Cute Derm's Ultra Lite Moisturizer should be used in the evening, when sunscreen is not necessary. This moisturizer is very lite and will not cause breakouts.

Step 6 (optional): Makeup! Check your makeup! Make sure your products do not contain oil, which will defeat the purpose of decreasing the oil!

There has always been discussion about the foods we eat causing acne. How could it not have some effect, right? How well we take care of ourselves with what we are eating will show in our skin. Some recommendations for food types to avoid are: high glycemic foods (high in sugar/carbs), dairy products, iodine (check your salt), and beer. Some foods that would be very beneficial are Vitamin A rich foods, Omega-3, Zinc, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants (blueberries, cranberries, pomengranates, tomatoes, basil, spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, broccoli, leeks, red peppers, corn, peas, collard greens, turnips, mustard greens) and green tea. It is also very, very, very important to be drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. If your body is not hydrated enough, your skin will show it quickly with acne, rashes, and dry/wrinkled skin. Water helps flush out the body of toxins. If there isn't enough water to help flush the toxins, the body will start trying to push them out through the skin.

A-Cute Derm products are pharmaceutical grade. We offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so it is risk free to try A-Cute Derm products. It will only take a few days to see the difference that the pharmaceutical grade products developed by dermatologist, Esta Kronberg, will make for you. For a more detailed view of Acne Skin Care regimens, take a look at our Acne Skin Care Program and Advanced Acne Skin Care Program. Or you can also look for skin care programs for other skin types. And we are always available to help. Please don't hesitate to Contact Us with any questions.

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