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AcnePimples, zits, even volcanic eruptions- acne has been given various terms by different people over the ages. What’s for sure - anyone who ever had acne would know the pains of not having clean, clear skin.
Acne is most common among teenagers between 11 to 18 years old, usually clearing up when the teenager reaches adulthood. However, many unfortunate people continue to battle acne throughout their lives.
Having acne is bad enough, but what’s worse is the resulting scars- both physical and mental. Scarring as a result of injured skin from scratching or pinching acne can last for a lifetime, as with the psychological scars resulting from ridicule and lowered self-esteem.
As such, scientists have dedicated a lot of time researching acne to determine the causes, prevention and management of acne. More importantly, education and awareness programmes are necessary to educate the public that acne is a medical, not merely a beauty or aesthetic problem!
- Cleaning your skin twice daily is essential to remove excess oils and dead skin cells that can clog your pores. Wash up every time after an exercise session, since sweat can clog your pores. However, remember not to over-wash your skin as it will dry up your skin and stimulate extra oil production, resulting in more breakouts. Use a mild and gentle cleanser to avoid drying your skin.
- Avoid facial scrubs during a breakout, as it can cause inflammation and worsen your skin condition. Choose a gentle formula with small and smooth grains.
- Choose skin care products that are labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic, which means that they will not clog pores. If you use a toner, avoid strong astringents with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol which will dry the skin. When the skin is dry, sebaceous glands will produce more oil, which will create more acne.
- When using hair spray or hair gel, keep it at a distance to minimise contact with your face. Some hair products contain oils and ingredients that can clog skin pores and make acne worse.
- If you have acne on your chest or back, avoid wearing tight clothes as they will rub against your skin and cause irritation.
- Avoid touching your face with your hands, as your fingers may contain germs which makes acne worse. Never pick, squeeze or pop your pimples - this will force the bacteria deeper into the skin, causing inflammation and infection which results in deep scars.
Treatment for acne
Treatment for acne varies from one person to another, depending on the cause of the acne. Hygiene is crucial, so remember to clean your face with a gentle cleanser twice daily.
It also helps to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes having a healthy diet, drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily, exercising to remove body toxins and managing stress levels.
For severe acne, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist or doctor for advice and medication. Treatment for acne includes:
Over the counter topical applications:
Benzyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is used in treating mild cases of non-inflammatory acne. It works by killing P. acnes and reducing acne swelling. Benzoyl peroxide is safe for use in children and adults.
Benzoyl peroxide is used in treating mild cases of non-inflammatory acne. It works by killing P. acnes and reducing acne swelling. Benzoyl peroxide is safe for use in children and adults.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is another mild acid used in treatment of acne and oily skin.. It sloughs away dead skin cells, unclogs skin pores and encourages skin renewal with its keratolytic effect.
Salicylic acid is another mild acid used in treatment of acne and oily skin.. It sloughs away dead skin cells, unclogs skin pores and encourages skin renewal with its keratolytic effect.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)
AHA, an effective and well-tolerated substance found in many beauty products, has mild anti-seborrheic activity that works well on inflammatory lesions in moderate acne. It reacts with the upper layer of the epidermis by dissolving the underlying skin, regulating and normalising the function of the epidermal cell. This reduces acne scarring and hyperpigmentation, giving the skin a much smoother look and feel.
AHA, an effective and well-tolerated substance found in many beauty products, has mild anti-seborrheic activity that works well on inflammatory lesions in moderate acne. It reacts with the upper layer of the epidermis by dissolving the underlying skin, regulating and normalising the function of the epidermal cell. This reduces acne scarring and hyperpigmentation, giving the skin a much smoother look and feel.
Prescribed treatment:
Tretinoin
Tretinoin is derived from Vitamin A and is used as topical application to treat comedonal acne or whiteheads and blackheads. It promotes the extrusion of the plugged material in the skin follicle, hence increasing skin cell turnover and preventing the formation of new comedones. However, care should be taken to minimise exposure to sunlight or sunlamps during use. For long-term use, the safety and efficacy in the treatment of other disorders have not been established.
Tretinoin is derived from Vitamin A and is used as topical application to treat comedonal acne or whiteheads and blackheads. It promotes the extrusion of the plugged material in the skin follicle, hence increasing skin cell turnover and preventing the formation of new comedones. However, care should be taken to minimise exposure to sunlight or sunlamps during use. For long-term use, the safety and efficacy in the treatment of other disorders have not been established.
Antibiotics
For moderate to severe acne, your doctor may prescribe topical antibiotic creams such as tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline and erythromycin. Some users may experience side effects such as photosensitivity, upset stomachs and dizziness.
For moderate to severe acne, your doctor may prescribe topical antibiotic creams such as tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline and erythromycin. Some users may experience side effects such as photosensitivity, upset stomachs and dizziness.
Oral contraceptives
When treatment with antibiotics or topical applications are not effective, your doctor may prescribe oral contraceptives (containing a combination of hormones -estrogen and progestin). Oral contraceptives suppress androgen production, hence regulating hormonal balance and preventing acne from developing. Some women may develop side effects such as brownish blotches and hyper-pigmentation on the skin.
When treatment with antibiotics or topical applications are not effective, your doctor may prescribe oral contraceptives (containing a combination of hormones -estrogen and progestin). Oral contraceptives suppress androgen production, hence regulating hormonal balance and preventing acne from developing. Some women may develop side effects such as brownish blotches and hyper-pigmentation on the skin.
Isotritenoin
Your doctor may prescribe isotritenoin as treatment of severe cystic or nodular acne. Isotretinoin is a synthetic form of Vitamin A, which is taken orally. It inhibits sebaceous gland function and keratinisation. It is contraindicated in female patients who are pregnant or are planning for pregnancy because it can cause severe birth defects.
Your doctor may prescribe isotritenoin as treatment of severe cystic or nodular acne. Isotretinoin is a synthetic form of Vitamin A, which is taken orally. It inhibits sebaceous gland function and keratinisation. It is contraindicated in female patients who are pregnant or are planning for pregnancy because it can cause severe birth defects.
Recommended products
EXFOLIAC Advice
- Cleanse face first before application to eliminate impurities on the face
- Apply skin care products that are specially formulated for your skin type in order to produce targeted action.
- EXFOLIAC products help to correct and conceal imperfections, moisturise and mattify your complexion throughout the day.
- The sun is a false friend, so always protect your skin from the sun! Sun exposure darkens your skin, giving you a false impression of improvement. Major acne eruptions tend to take place several weeks after sun exposure.
Daily Personal Care
- Foaming Cleansing Gel
- Facial Scrub
With AHAs
How to use…
Apply EXFOLIAC Cleansing Gel in the mornings and evenings to dampened skin (face and broad areas) and gently massage it using circular strokes, while avoiding the eye contour area.
Apply EXFOLIAC Cleansing Gel in the mornings and evenings to dampened skin (face and broad areas) and gently massage it using circular strokes, while avoiding the eye contour area.
EXFOLIAC Facial Scrub can be used 2 to 3 times a week as an alternative to Cleansing Gel. Apply to dampened skin and gently massage, while avoiding the eye contour area. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
Skin Care
- Cream 10
- Cream 15
- Lotion
How to use…
Apply EXFOLIAC Cream 10 or 15, depending on your skin requirement, in the morning and evening to a cleansed and dried face. EXFOLIAC Lotion can be applied with a cotton ball to problem-prone areas (face, torso and back). Your skin will become visibly smoother and clearer in just one month.
Apply EXFOLIAC Cream 10 or 15, depending on your skin requirement, in the morning and evening to a cleansed and dried face. EXFOLIAC Lotion can be applied with a cotton ball to problem-prone areas (face, torso and back). Your skin will become visibly smoother and clearer in just one month.
- NC GEL
With Niacinamide(NC)
How to use…
Apply EXFOLIAC NC Gel directly on blemishes. Use twice daily after applying EXFOLIAC Cream 10, Cream 15 or Lotion. EXFOLIAC NC Gel reduces the appearance of blemishes and promotes their elimination.
Apply EXFOLIAC NC Gel directly on blemishes. Use twice daily after applying EXFOLIAC Cream 10, Cream 15 or Lotion. EXFOLIAC NC Gel reduces the appearance of blemishes and promotes their elimination.
Moisturisation/Correction:
- Soothing Moisturising Cream
- Reconstructive Moisturising Cream
- Mattifying Moisturising Cream
How to use…
Apply EXFOLIAC Soothing Moisturising Cream evenly on cleansed and dried skin. It will be instantly absorbed by the skin, giving you a smooth and comfortable feeling.
For sensitive and dry skin, apply EXFOLIAC Reconstructive Moisturising Cream evenly to a cleansed and dried skin. It works to restore the cutaneous barrier to eliminate irritation and skin tightness.
Apply EXFOLIAC Soothing Moisturising Cream evenly on cleansed and dried skin. It will be instantly absorbed by the skin, giving you a smooth and comfortable feeling.
For sensitive and dry skin, apply EXFOLIAC Reconstructive Moisturising Cream evenly to a cleansed and dried skin. It works to restore the cutaneous barrier to eliminate irritation and skin tightness.
For uneven skin tone, apply EXFOLIAC Mattifying Moisturising Cream every morning to your cleansed and dried face and neck. It conceals skin imperfections and gives your skin a smooth, even finish.
SUN PROTECTION:
Fluid Sun Cream 25
How to use:
Apply evenly to the skin 30 minutes before sun exposure. Repeat application frequently to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
*Certain products in the EXFOLIAC range contain AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids or fruit acids) that may sometimes cause slight tingling sensations at the beginning of treatment. Do not use on children under three years of age. If problems persist, consult your pharmacist or dermatologist. Avoid contact with eyelids and mucous membranes.
Skin with imperfections | Hygiene | Care | Corrector |
Minor | Foaming Cleansing gel Facial Scrub | Cream 10 | Soothing Moisturizing Cream Tinted Mattifying Cream |
Established | Cream 15 NC gel | ||
Established in broad skin areas | Cream 15 Lotion NC gel | ||
Severe | Foaming Cleansing gel | Consult your dermatologist or attending physician | Reconstructive moisturizing cream |
References:
- Nemours Foundation
- US National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- www.answers.com
- Wikipedia
Before the invention of electricity, humans relied on charcoal as a main source of fuel and energy. Charcoal was later found to have various other industrial and medicinal uses, making it one of the most amazing creations of Nature ever!
Activated charcoal as a medicinal treatment was so effective that Professor Touery, a scientist with the French Academy of Medicine, drank a lethal dose of poison in 1831 together with activated charcoal to prove how potent charcoal is as a decontaminant.
Long before he did so, activated charcoal had already been used by medicinal practitioners for various conditions ranging from food poisoning to burns to haemorrhage to bad breath. With the advent of modern medicine, activated charcoal became less popular in retail, but in hospitals and medical healthcare facilities, its presence remained just as strong.
Today, activated charcoal is still an effective treatment for gastrointestinal discomfort such as diarrheoa and food poisoning, and as a disinfectant. What’s new is that it is now available in easy to take tablets, unlike the brackish powdered water prescribed to patients in the past.
Read more…
The history of medicinal charcoal
How does charcoal work?
Recommended products:Ultracarbon
The history of medicinal charcoal
According to Charcoal Remedies, a well-recognised book on the use of medicinal charcoal and its applications, charcoal has been used for medicinal purposes since 1500 BC in Egypt. Initial use had been to absorb the unpleasant smells from putrefying wounds and from the intestinal tract. Hippocrates and Pliny, ancient physicians, are known to use charcoal to treat epilepsy, vertigo, severe anaemia and anthrax.
By the 1700s, activated charcoal was already widely used for excessive bile excretion and control of odours from gangrenous ulcers. Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786) discovered in 1773 that charcoal absorbs gases. In 1785, the pharmacist and chemist Johann Tobias Lowitz (1757-1804) publicised the observation from the 15th century stating that charcoal or carbo ligni has the ability to decolorise dyed solutions. Special incineration and pulverisation procedures were used for pharmaceutical purposes.
One century later, charcoal was being used in all naval, military, and civil hospitals around Britain for severe haemorrhage, open wounds, bleeding noses, dysentery, gangrene, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal problems and more. Pulverized charcoal were sprinkled on wounds to cleanse septic wounds, stops tissue destruction, and promote granulation at wound surfaces.
In the 20th century, there were already many written records of using activated charcoal for medicinal purposes, whether externally or internally. The British Pharmaceutical Codex, a handbook written by pharmacists for the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, noted that charcoal was used internally in obstetrics and gynaecology, for intestinal disorders and as an antiseptic, and as a deodorant and absorbent for wounds externally. Clinicians also observed that charcoal was an excellent antidote for food poisoning.
By then, charcoal was available not just in the form of powders but also as lozenges and charcoal biscuits. Charcoal tooth powders were also available, for use against bad breath.
Even in the 21st century, activated charcoal continues to be extensively researched for more pharmaceutical and medical benefits. It is now indispensable in every modern hospital, being used in various applications ranging from charcoal masks, air scrubbers, liver and kidney dialysis machines, breast cancer markers, drug poisoning, wound dressings for burn victims and more.
How does activated charcoal work?
Despite its wide usage, most healthcare practitioners in the early days had no idea how and why charcoal worked so well even when other treatments have failed. Scientists later discovered that the secret lies in the adsorption properties of charcoal.
Adsorption is a process where toxic substances such as solids, liquids or gases pass through fine charcoal particles. As charcoal is not digestible or absorbable into the bloodstream, it stays in the gastrointestinal tract and is removed together with the toxin when the person has a bowel movement.
Charcoal is said to be ‘activated’ when it is ground to a very fine particle size to increase its adsorptive capacity. This process increases its overall surface area, increasing efficacy with minute amounts.
Activated charcoal does not bind to certain substance, such as lithium, strong acids and bases, metals, alcohol, inorganic minerals (sodium, iron, lead, arsenic, iodine, fluorine, boric acid) and hydrocarbons.
Indications:
Acute diarrhoea, prevention of absorption in oral intoxications and acceleration of elimination in intoxication with substances subject to enterohepatic circulation.
Acute diarrhoea, prevention of absorption in oral intoxications and acceleration of elimination in intoxication with substances subject to enterohepatic circulation.
Dosage:
Diarrhoea: 2-4 tablets 3-4 times daily.
Intoxications: 0.5/1kg body weight.
Adults; 2-4 tablets per kg body weight, Children; 3-4 tablets per kg body weight.
Diarrhoea: 2-4 tablets 3-4 times daily.
Intoxications: 0.5/1kg body weight.
Adults; 2-4 tablets per kg body weight, Children; 3-4 tablets per kg body weight.
Composition:
1 tablet contains 250mg of medicinal charcoal
1 tablet contains 250mg of medicinal charcoal
Available at all leading pharmacies and clinics. For more information, please consult a pharmacist or doctor.
References:
- www.emedicinehealth.com
- www.charcoalremedies.com
- www.earthclinic.com
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Education Center, Purdue University
- British Medical Journal, October 7, 1972
