Some people may think that you just have to let acne run its course. This is not true, in this day and age there is a number of ways to treat acne and there is no type of acne that cannot be treated. Even though acne is thought of mostly as just a cosmetic disease that will not cause health problems, acne can be very damaging in other ways. Acne can cause problems for a person both physically and mentally. No one needs to go through their teenage or adult lives feeling embarrassed about being seen in public. There are a number of great acne products available to the public both non-prescription and prescription. Severe acne can also lead to scarring and make it difficult to completely overcome acne. Luckily in this day and age it is also possible to treat scarring to the point it is completely or almost entirely disappeared.

1. Never pop, squeeze, or pick acne. Popping and squeezing pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, and cysts tends to make acne worse. All this does is make the acne last longer. This can make it difficult to see clearer skin no matter what treatment you are using. Trying to get rid of a pimple by popping or picking also can lead to scarring, which can be permanent.
2. Avoid abrasive soap, facial scrub, toner, astringent, and masks. These can irritate the skin, and irritated skin is more likely to break out. Irritated skin also makes it more difficult to tolerate acne medication. A mild cleanser used twice a day to wash the skin is actually more effective for controlling acne and preventing breakouts.
3. Do not scrub your skin clean. While scrubbing away oil and grime may seem like a good idea, scrubbing actually irritates acne-prone skin. Irritating the skin generally leads to breakouts.When washing the skin, use lukewarm (not hot) water and gently apply a mild cleanser with your fingertips. Washcloths and puffs tend to be too abrasive. Limiting washing to twice a day can help reduce irritation and dryness.
4. Wait 5 to 15 minutes to apply acne medication. Applying acne medication right after you shower or wash your face can irritate the skin and lead to breakouts. Wet skin is most absorbent. To avoid irritation, dermatologists recommend waiting 5 to 15 minutes before applying acne medication.
5. Use only oil-free skin care and hair care products. Makeup, hair gel, and other products used by people with acne-prone skin should not contain oil. Oil tends to clog pores and lead to breakouts. Look for products that are labeled “oil free,” “nonacnegenic,” or “noncomedogenic.” This means the product does not clog pores.
6. Apply acne medication before makeup. Wearing an oil-free makeup is fine, but make sure it does not prevent the acne medication from working. Makeup should always be applied after topical acne medication.
7. Continue using the medication when skin clears. To keep skin blemish free, most people with acne need to continue using at least 1 acne medication. If you have been using an over-the-counter product, you may be able to taper your use to a few times a week.
8. Gently cleanse skin after sweating. Sweating, especially under a hat or helmet, can aggravate acne-prone skin. Gently cleansing the skin as quickly as possible afterwards can help prevent breakouts. When cleansing the skin, avoid the temptation to rub or scrub sweat from the skin. This can irritate the skin and cause breakouts.
9. Give acne-fighting products enough time to work. As a rule of thumb, it takes 6 to 8 weeks before you begin to see an improvement. Improvement does not mean blemish-free skin, but a noticeable difference. It generally takes about 6 months to see completely clear skin.

How it Works

Can a change in diet and a few supplements really “annihilate” a chronic acne problem as Quince guarantees in his e-book’s ad? Can anything 100% rid an acne problem within 7 days? Highly unlikely. While there is some truth to the importance of nutrition and proper supplementation, it seems careless of Quince to claim that one’s severe and chronic acne condition can be completely reversed in less than one week.

The Ultimate Acne Solution bases a lot of its reasoning on the idea that acne is a result of an imbalance of hormones within the body. Due to the imbalance, there is an overproduction of sebum (oil) which leads to acne. Reality is that a hormonal imbalance is something that takes time to correct. While it is possible for nutrition to positively influence the balance, it will require time to first heal the current blemishes and then restore the balance within the body’s system. Simply put, there’s no way this is happening within 7 days.

E-book Contents

Quince guides the reader through a diet plan and supplement list to destroy and prevent acne breakouts. He even goes as far as to state there is one particular food that anyone can eliminate from the diet in order to never experience acne again. Because each body is unique and experiences different reactions to different foods, it is perhaps an overly strong statement to assume that removing one food from the diet is going to make every single person’s acne disappear forever.

Of course, Quince’s diet and supplement plan seems to be a healthy and nutritionally sound program, although it may be a stretch to say it will do what he says it will do. The author seems to shun all prescription and over-the-counter topical treatments, which is surprising considering he promises such great results in a short amount of time. The internal aspect of healing acne is very important, but one must give attention to the surface of the skin as well in order to experience healing and restoration of the skin tissue.

Conclusion

It would be wonderful if a small change in diet and popping a few supplements would 100% turn-around a chronic acne condition in 7 days, but this is one e-book claim that is simply too good to be true. While one can certainly benefit from improved nutrition, to conquer current and future acne problems it requires a system that deals with the internal and external body and will give you the support you need for long term success.

How it Works

The Proactiv system is designed to be used the same way, in the same order each day, morning and night. Beginning with the Proactive Cleanser, the tiny beads in the product exfoliate dead skin cells and remove impurities from the skin. The next step is the Revitalizing Toner which works to soothe the skin following exfoliation and prepares pores for the lotion. The final step is the Repairing Lotion. The user applies the lotion after the toner has dried completely, and the lotion is supposed to heal blemishes and prevent future eruptions.

Because skin types and acne conditions vary from person to person, it is unlikely that Proactiv’s system will cure all. People with sensitive skin will likely experience a reaction to the prescription grade benzoyl peroxide, which is the key ingredient in both the cleanser and repairing lotion. It might be a better plan for a person with sensitivities to try one or the other, rather than both benzoyl peroxide-containing products, but because they are sold as a kit, this is difficult.

Ingredients

Ingredients for the Renewing Cleanser include ground apricot pits to create the beads for exfoliation, as well as the 2.5 % benzoyl peroxide and other inactive ingredients. A primary concern with this ingredients list is the rather rough ground apricot pits that can be too harsh for more sensitive skin types. One should utilize caution when applying the cleanser to the skin so as not to tear or irritate the skin’s surface with the beads.

The Revitalizing Toner is alcohol free and contains witch hazel, water and some flower and fruit extracts. The fragrance of the toner is somewhat strong and may be a problem for sensitive skin, especially those who experience problems with fragranced products.

Benzoyl peroxide makes the list again in the Repairing Lotion; Proactive identifies it as milled, prescription-grade. There are other chemicals rounding out the ingredients, causing some concern about the harshness of the lotion.

Conclusion

Proactive has gone a long way based on celebrity endorsements, which have played the most significant role in making it a top seller. A quick look at consumer reviews reveals many unsatisfied customers who feel the system is ineffective and the price too high. Of course, there are some who have experienced positive results through Proactiv, but rarely are these individuals who have sensitive skin issues. Overall, Proactiv will continue to be a popular acne treatment.

Tags: Acne Treatment , Acne  Treatments , Acne Treatments That Work, Proactiv, Proactiv Solution