Acne is a disease in which the hair follicles on your skin become clogged and infected. This results in one of the three types of acne lesions to form.

The production of excess sebum is the culprit. It causes the follicles to become blocked. The medical community is still uncertain as to what triggers this excess production. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous oil gland and everybody needs a small amount to achieve healthy skin. Sebum helps protects the skin from harmful bacteria by washing it away.

Types of Acne Lesions:

The three types of acne lesions are whiteheads & blackheads (also known as closed and open comedones respectively), papules & pustules, and cysts.

Whiteheads as the name suggests, look like white bumps. They form under the skin and never reach the surface. This makes them very hard to eliminate. Blackheads grow upward and break the skins surface. This enlarged follicle and the oxidation of the dead cells, sebum, and bacteria have a black color, hence the name.

Papules form when a whitehead burst and the bacteria spreads to the surrounding tissues under the skin. This causes your body’s immune system to increase its fight on the infection making the inflammation worse. They appear as small, firm, red bumps. Pustules form as the body’s immune system continues to fight the infection by sending pus to the area. They appear similar to a papules with the addition of a yellowish white head.

Cysts are the third and final type of acne lesion. They form when a pustule worsens and expands further down under the skins surface. They appear red or purple and are very painful. This is the most serious of all types of acne lesions.

Types of Acne:

Acne can not only be classified by the types of acne lesions, but further broken down by acne type; depending on what types of lesions you have. People whose acne consists of whiteheads and blackheads would have what is called comedonal acne. A mix of blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules acne lesions is called acne vulgaris and is the most common type of acne. The third type of acne is called cystic acne and it is when someone has all three types of acne lesions with numerous cysts.

Who Can Get Acne:

While most people associate acne with teens, anybody can experience some type of acne at any age. That said certain groups of people are more likely to experience acne. They include teens, people under stress, people who have a family history of the disease, people taking certain drugs and adult women.

Mark MacKay is a researcher, marketer, and former Acne sufferer. For more information on Acne Myths, Causes, Types of Acne, Acne Treatments, Skin Care, Adult Acne, Teen Acne, Acne Discussion forum, latest research articles and much more visit Mark’s Acne Explained web site at http://www.acne-explained.info.

If you’re currently suffering from acne, you are not alone. Over 90% of people will have acne sometime in their lives. A high percentage of those will carry their acne condition into their adult lives.

Acne is mostly classified as a “personal problem”, meaning that it can have effects in your personal life. It can have a major affect on dating, relationships, self esteem, and many other nuances that make you who you are. While I agree that it does have a huge affect in these areas, for adults it can also be what I call a “professional problem”.

Since many people think that the only people who are constantly plagued by acne are teenagers, the thought of acne has been closely coupled with adolescence. When a professional business man or woman enters a room and is suffering from acne, he or she is looked upon as unprofessional, and all those traits that are normally associated with adolescence.

This is common human nature, and it is not your fault. While knowing it is not your fault provides very little comfort, you will be glad to know that there are things you can do to help your acne…right now!

Below is a small list of things that you can do to help rid yourself of acne. It is my philosophy that acne should be cured naturally, and believe me, there are definitely natural acne cures out there that work!

1. You should be using a chemical free skin cleanser every day. By cleaning your skin, you can help eliminate new blemishes from forming. Cleaning your skin every day is the best thing you can do to achieve healthy, acne free skin.

2. Try to keep your hair and hands off of your face. Both your hair and hands contain dirt and oils that can clog your pores and let bacteria grow. While this is not a cure for acne, keeping your pores clear will be instrumental in clearing your acne.

3. Drink lots of water, and eat a healthy diet. While there are no clear connections with acne to a person’s diet, your skin is the largest organ on your body and keeping your body healthy will naturally keep your skin healthy. Drinking lots of water will keep your skin hydrated while also flushing away toxins.

4. Don’t pick at your acne! Picking at your acne causes an unnecessary transfer of oils that may cause deeper acne lesions that may lead to scarring. The best way is to get your acne under control using a natural acne treatment every morning and every night.

There is a short list of things you can do to treat your acne. While these things may even clear your acne completely, you will find a bounty of free information on natural acne cures that will aid you in conquering your problem. You can find these solutions at http://natural-acne-cures.blogspot.com

Jonathan W. was a long time sufferer of bodily acne until he finally cured it using natural treatments. He reveals all about it on his blog: Natural Acne Cures. He also suffered from stretch marks created during growth spurts and from obesity. He has taken care of this issue and reveals how he resolved it at: Rid of Stretch Marks.

Cystic acne treatment is best tackled after a clear understanding of acne and its roots. There are many forms of acne - a skin condition that is often referred to as having pimples or zits. Acne is caused by bacteria that develop in the follicles of your skin, most often your facial skin. Acne can be mild or severe, its discomfort ranging from moderately annoying to scarring, with psychological repercussions.

Cystic acne is acne in its severe form, where the acne has formed cysts that are filled with pus. This cystic acne can scar your skin, especially if you pick at it or squeeze the pus from its cysts.

The best starting point for your cystic acne treatment is a clear skin methodology which is the standard treatment for any type of acne. This regimen is very specific and often results in noted diminishment of acne. This cystic acne treatment requires specific supplies. Benzoyl peroxide is the primary ingredient in this cystic acne treatment, but you must start with a low dose of this in your cystic acne treatment as it can have a harsh effect on your skin and cause redness.

You’ll need a good over the counter cleanser for your cystic acne treatment. This cleanser should be gentle and not too drying. You don’t want to strip your skin of all its oils. Experts suggest that you never use standard bath soap.

Next on you list of cystic acne treatments is a face moisturizer. This must be used every day to counteract the reddening and drying effect of the benzoyl peroxide part of your cystic acne treatment. The best choice in moisturizer would be a sunscreen that is not comedogenic and also has moisturizing effects. Eucerin Skin Renewal, for example, is terrific at prevent your skin from flaking, although you may not want to use it until you’ve been treating your cystic acne treatment for two or more weeks. It contains lactic acid and can sting your skin when first used in conjunction with the benzoyl peroxide.

Make a 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide cream or gel part of your cystic acne treatment. If your face is generally quite sensitive you should apply the benzoyl peroxide only once a day for the first couple of weeks of your cystic acne treatment, gradually increasing its use as your skin learns to tolerate it.

Should your skin become crusty or otherwise indicate an allergy to benozyl peroxide (though rare, it does happen) of course you would discontinue its use as part of your cystic acne treatment.)

Don’t dispair! You can fight back against cystic acne.

Mark Walters presents acne cures, remedies, treatments and instruction on his web pages at http://www.acnerescue.com

It was known that acne was basically caused when the pores are choked by sebum. These sebum oils which in the normal context would drain to the surface get blocked and bacteria start to grow. These bacterial formations could be termed as whiteheads and blackheads. Whiteheads are formed when the bacteria and sebum are trapped below the skin surface. In the same manner blackheads are formed when the trapped sebum and bacteria are slightly open to the surface and turn black due to the melanin, the skin pigment.

The most common type of acne is the acne vulgaris and the other types of acnes are known as comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts. Acne is formed also due to the hormonal changes which are very common during puberty. During the developing years the hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands which makes excess sebum and with this sebum there is clogging of the pores which leads to acne. It can also happen during pregnancies when the mother goes through hormonal changes. After a period of time, may be by the time one reaches twenties, acne disappears. Other reason for developing acne is by eating oily and greasy food. Too much of aerated water as well as chocolates can be harmful for the skin.

It is also believed that another factor which causes acne is heredity or genes. As these genes are passed on from the parents to the child the conditions of acne are also passed on from the parents. In many cases school aged boys and girls have acne problems as it is part of their family history. Use of various numbers of drugs also causes such problems. Make-up which has not been cleaned properly leads to creation of acne. It has affected people of the age-group of 12-24 which would sum up most of the adolescent and teenage years of the person.

A change in hormonal patterns in adolescent girls as well as adult women leads to acne. For some it starts before the menstrual cycle and acne starts showing up on your face or any other part of the body. Constant rubbing and squeezing can lead to some of the worse forms of it. Tight sweaty clothes and many environmental changes also lead to acne. Skin itching, burning, steroids also cause acne.

The proper skin care would mean a total no-no for all the acnes in the world. Healthy eating and exercise helps in maintaining the body and to give glowing skin. It is recommended that people with acne should use a gentle cleanser and avoid all the strong soaps and rough scrub pads. Avoiding sunburn and suntan may be temporary benefits. Excessive exposure to sun is not good which might lead to other problems like dryness of skin as well as skin cancer. If you are using cosmetics, see to it that you use the proper ones so as to not to accelerate the level of acne. There are ingredients used in it which may be harmful and should be checked before using it.

If the acne you have is very chronic then you should get treated by dermatologists who can help you clear all the acne. The extremely severe cases are the ones which are taken to the dermatologists. The treatment would help in taking out the scars and lesions and prevent new lesions from forming. The treatment would help in removing the bacteria which is settled under the skin. This would not be needed if proper skin care is taken. The unwanted use of hormonal pills, maybe from steroids to increase your weight is not needed.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the acne related problems

Nature has a powerful way of healing the body, and when it comes to helping you eliminate your blemish breakouts, a natural acne treatment may be the only solution!

Growing up as a child we were always taught to eat our fruits and vegetables, take our vitamins, and drink lots of water to stay healthy. So when it comes to taking care of our skin, why does society turn to quick skincare fixes, like the over-the-counter topical solutions that are loaded with medicinal ingredients we can’t even pronounce correctly?

Natural acne treatments have been around for many years, and in most cases the ingredients can be found in products sitting in your kitchen cupboards, such as honey, green tea, Echinacea, Avocado, sunflower oil, and possibly even jojoba.

Using natural products for your acne treatment may be a new experience, or you may have used other natural treatments that didn’t include certain effective ingredients in your cream cleanser, or topical solutions, whichever the case may be, I will explain each natural product and briefly tell you their features and benefits.

Your Skin’s Natural Health Starts With An Effective Skincare Combination!

Some of the top skincare companies online have taken many of the helpful ingredients, such as the herbs, fruits, and oils mentioned above, and have combined them to create a perfect balance of acne products that are safe for most, if not all skin types.

Below we have provided a list of natural healing ingredients, and where they are most beneficial in the battle of blemishes, and the healing of your acne condition. However, please keep in mind that although these oil extracts and herbs are natural substances, they may not be proven to work as they’re intended, or provide the value added features that are claimed in each and every skincare product. Concentration levels play a large part in the effectiveness, and should be made aware of when choosing your desired product.

Natural Antioxidants:

There are a number of select herbs and plant extracts that offer your skin natural antioxidants such as the Burdock root, Green Tea, Irish Moss, Kelp, Olive Leaf Extract, Walnut Seed extract, as well as Witch Hazel, Sage, Vitamin C, B, E, K, Balm Mint, Chamomile, Linden Flower, Grape Seed, and Pine Bark.

There has been a range of small to significant amounts of research on the items above, and one thing that has been established in the researches are the fact that they all offer antioxidant agents that can be beneficial in your select skin care products you choose. They will help in getting rid of many of the impurities in you skin, and assist your skin in healing naturally.

Natural Antibacterial:

In many of your natural skincare product you will find properties included such as Cinnamon, Neem, Tea Tree oil, and Echinacea. These items are known to have natural forms of antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Unlike many of the herbs and spices above, many of them may not have proven effects other than the Tea Tree plant. It has been proven to be effective against bacteria that cause blemishes, and usually the concentration level should be around 5 – 10% to show results. However, most skin care products only offer less than 1%, which is considered ineffective.

Natural Anti-inflammatory:

Your acne condition may include inflamed pimples, and many natural acne products will include ingredients such as Cucumber, Licorice extract, Oatmeal, and Willow Bark extract. These items contain anti-inflammatory and also soothing properties, and the Willow Bark root is known to offer relief to your pain caused by inflamed blemishes. It contains salicin, which your body converts to salicylic acid, and provides the same effects of aspirin.

Natural Oil Absorbing:

If you have done your research, you would know that a build-up of excess oil on your skin and in your pores are a major contributor to acne conditions on you skin. Many natural properties such as the Konjac Root known more as a dietary fibre benefit, and Charcoal, which is derived from baked wood, and is mainly made up of carbon, are both beneficial in providing oil-absorbing features. The Konjac Root is added to many skin care products, where the Charcoal is normally offered in a form of a facial mask.

Natural Emollient’s and Skin Soothing Properties:

While herbal products contain many natural facial treatment ingredients to help eliminate pimples and blackheads on you skin, you will normally find a combination of acne ingredients with a mixture of natural emollient’s and skin soothing properties.

Such natural ingredients you can find will range from the well known Aloe Vera, which is more known to promote the healing of wounds, to many others such as Avocado, Jojoba, Sunflower oil, Mimosa, Allantoin, Coconut, and AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), which is derived from various plants sources, or from milk. These natural items offer your skin a soothing effect, and/or provide anti-irritant properties.

Acne treatment products that contain chemicals that you just don’t feel are right for you it’s good to know that nature has its way of offering natural healing options to get rid of your acne blemishes. It is important to really understand how these natural remedies, or fully developed products work, and it is also necessary to know the true values of herbal and plant extract concentrations in the acne solution you’re using. Even though many of the treatment terms claim their offering top treatment ingredients, you must know that certain natural properties are no good to you at very low concentrations, and wind up being another disappointment in your search for a quality natural acne fighting product.

About the author: William is the owner and the author of “1st In Acne Skin Care Products” available at http://www.1st-in-acne-skin-care-products.com A great source for Natural acne products! Find information and tips on finding quality natural acne treatment products, facial cleansers, and many pure detoxifying products that will help you naturally get rid of your stubborn acne blemishes, blackheads and whiteheads, all in one convenient location.

1.) Can you get (catch) acne from other people?

Answer: While certain types of acne do contain a bacterium, it is located in the hair follicles under your skin and can not be transmitted through contact. So no, touching or kissing someone with acne will not cause you to develop acne.

2.) If both my parents had acne does that mean I will develop acne?

Answer: Studies show that heredity does play an important role in determining who develops acne. So children of parents who had or have acne are at a grater risk then others. It should be noted that as with any disease just because you have a family history, does not guarantee you will get it; only that you have a much great chance then someone with no family history.

3.) Does eating or drinking certain foods cause acne?

Answer: Over the years studies have suggested everything from chocolate, candy, fried foods, sugar, drinking water, orange juice to milk can cause you to develop acne or make existing acne worse. However their is no scientific evidence to support any such results. There are so many factors effecting acne development that it is very difficult to isolate any one cause. So whether or not to avoid certain foods or drinks is really just an individual preference. If you find your skin reacts negatively to certain foods, then just don’t eat or drink it.

4.) Does dirt on my skin cause acne?

Answer: Having proper hygiene will help with healthy skin. However dirty skin will not cause acne, but anybody with acne should be extra vigilant in having a good cleansing routine. Over washing can irritate your skin and make it more vulnerable to infection. Washing with a gentle cleanser will help reduce skin cell build up and keep your skin looking at its best. So find a balance and try not to over wash.

5.) Does stress cause acne?

Answer: Stress has been shown to make acne worse, not directly cause it. So if you suffer from acne you should be aware of how you react under stress and develop ways to help manage and keep it under control. This will not only help with controlling your acne but also benefit your over all health.

6.) Can you develop acne once you are out of your teens?

Answer: The simple answer is yes. In fact many people who never experienced acne as a teen can develop it in their 30, 40, and 50’s.

7.) Does make up or sunscreen make acne worse?

Answer: Certain products that are overly greasy and thick can plug the skins follicles leading to the development of acne. Not all products affect everyone the same way, so while you many develop acne using one product someone else may not. If you are prone to acne you will need to be extra careful with what you put on your skin. Try to always use oil free products and also test a small amount on a patch of skin for a few days before using it all over.

8.) Will exercising affect my acne?

Answer: While it is still unclear why this happens, vigorous exercising that causes your body to heat up and sweat does seem to cause acne to get worse for certain people. One theory is that exercise increases the production of sebum, the oil that when to much is produced can lead to acne.

9.) Can a facial help with acne?

Answer: There is no easy way to answer this question. The term facial is used to describe everything from an over the counter product you buy from a drug store and do it yourself to something done at an expensive spa for hundreds of dollars. The bottom line is anything that might irritate your skin can make your acne worse.

10.) Why does my acne stop responding to my current treatment?

Answer: Acne medication, like all medications can become less effective over time as your body builds a resistance to them. It might be necessary to use acne treatment regiments on a rotational basis for optimum effectiveness.

Mark MacKay is a researcher, marketer, and former Acne sufferer. For more information on Acne Myths, Causes, Types of Acne, Acne Treatments, Skin Care, Adult Acne, Teen Acne, Acne Discussion forum, latest research articles and much more visit Mark’s Acne Treatments Explained web site now.

Every day numerous acne suffers turn to alternative methods to treat their acne. The two main reasons for the growing popularity of such treatments are; people looking for medication with less harmful side effects then tradition acne treatments. Secondly are the people who have been unsuccessful with the various over the counter and prescription options. Generally alternative treatments are not regulated by the FDA and hence you will not receive much guidance from medical doctors on their use. Word of month and the alternative medical community is the main source of information on such options.

For teenage girls and women herbs that balance hormone levels such as chaste berry, black cohosh, dong quai, evening primrose, wild yam, and red clover are quite commonly tried. Herbalists believe that these herbs balance the female sex hormone estrogen and will counterbalance the hormone androgen. Since androgen is believed to trigger excess sebrum production, which can cause hair follicles to clog and acne to form, acne could be prevented or reduced.

Herbs that are thought to help reduce inflammation and infection can be used for both male and female acne suffers. Echinacea, licorice, dandelion root, and burdock are all thought to contain properties that help with the above by killing bacteria. The herbs salvia and red peony are also used sometimes to help acne suffers improve their skins ability to heal.

Vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic acid is a commonly used vitamin to treat acne. It become widely popular after Dr. Leung a Hong Kong acne expert published a paper on its effectiveness. His paper was based on the theory that acne sufferers are deficient in vitamin B. The result is excess sebum production, the root cause of clogged hair follicles leading to acne. Dr Leung also tested his theory through a clinical trial where 100 acne suffers were given 10g of B5 daily, after six months Dr. Leung’s test group had a ninety percent success rate.

Topical treatments such as tea tree oil and seaweed, which are both believed to have powerful antibacterial properties are also widely regarded as being effective on acne inflammations. Tea tree oil comes from the ti tree in Australia and seaweed from the oceans.

A common belief is that controlling stress reduces the severity of acne. So anything you can do to alleviate stress will help. Many acne suffers turn to exercise for stress relief, yoga being very popular. Aromatherapy can also be used in stress relief, along with acupuncture, and meditation.

While the predominate reason many people turn to alternative acne treatments is to reduce the harmful side effects of tradition medicines the reverse may actually be true. Caution should be used before trying any alternative treatments. They may have adverse side effects not common known due to the lack of regulations on most alternative treatments.

Mark MacKay is a researcher, marketer, and former Acne sufferer. For more information on Acne Myths, Causes, Types of Acne, Acne Treatments, Skin Care, Adult Acne, Teen Acne, Acne Discussion forum, latest research articles and much more visit Mark’s Acne Treatments Explained web site now.

While it is true that acne most commonly appears during the teenage years, it is just as true that a large percentage of individuals suffer from adult acne. In fact, figures show that as much as 25 percent of men and 50 percent of women in their twenties up to their fifties still experience pimple flare-ups. Adult acne can have just as much negative psychological effects as adolescent acne – perhaps even more so. The stress of having a career or raising a family is bad enough. Having to deal with an unsightly skin problem at the same time would be even worse.

Adult acne can be caused by several things, one of which is mental stress. The body can react to stress by increasing the secretions of the skin’s sebaceous glands or by releasing more hormones from the adrenal glands. Oils from the sebaceous glands can block pores, while a greater amount of hormones in the body can cause hormonal imbalance – both of which can give rise to acne flare-ups or exacerbate an existing acne condition.

It is not surprising that women suffer from adult acne more than men do, since women are more prone to hormonal imbalance. It is known that changes in hormone levels can occur during menstruation and pregnancy. But men, too, are subject to hormonal changes, though not to the extreme level that most women undergo. In any case, hormones play a great role in the occurrence of acne in adults.

Lifestyle and environmental factors also contribute significantly to the emergence of adult acne. A diet that is poor in the necessary vitamins and minerals can wreak havoc on how the body’s organs functions. The skin, being the largest organ in the body, needs nutrients in order to work effectively. If the skin is unable to metabolize or secrete the waste products that it needs to because of poor nutrition, acne can result. Habits such as smoking and drinking can also affect the skin’s condition and its resistance to diseases like adult acne.

What is the best way to deal with adult acne? Like many other ailments, prevention is the key. Make sure that a proper diet is being followed; get enough rest; try to find ways to alleviate stress; maintain proper hygiene to prevent dust from accumulating and blocking the pores. Washing the face once or twice a day and using hypoallergenic or noncomedogenic cosmetics and other personal care products can go a long way towards preventing adult acne.

Treatment options abound for persons with adult acne, however mild or severe their condition may be. Dermatologists may recommend anti-acne medications to be taken in conjunction with other skin care products. More severe cases – such as those involving infection – can be treated with antibiotics to prevent complications. Very severe cases of adult acne have several therapeutic regimes, such as microdermabrasion and laser surgery. A person suffering from adult acne, whatever the level of severity, should consult a dermatologist or other qualified professionals to get the treatment option that is the most suitable for him or her.

Patricia Tyler is the editor of http://www.acne-community.com - the web site for learning more about and discussing acne treatments and many other acne topics.

Since the skin is the largest organ on the body and it assists other major organs in the human body with eliminating waste, one of the best acne treatments is diet which has many home remedies for acne in the foods that we eat. If you are unhealthy inside it will be reflected in your skin.

Acne occurs when the natural oils that the skin produces clogs the pores of the skin. Normally acne is prevalent in the onset of puberty when the body starts to produce hormones, it has also been known to be a problem for women during pregnancy. Since acne is a problem for people world wide, there are many forms of acne treatments, acne products and acne medications on the market.

A natural treatment for acne is diet, which some say can be an acne cure and for many is the best acne treatment. When I was a teenager I had severe acne and tried using what were considered the best acne treatments at the time.

Retin-A was one of the most popular prescription acne medications on the market at that time. Noxzema skin cream and Clearsil were two of the most popular acne products used among my friends and I. I learned the hard way that Alcohol should not be used as a home remedy for acne and with severe acne cutting back on processed foods replacing them with a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables. I thought that diet as a natural acne treatment was going to be bad because until that point I lived junk food.

Using diet as a natural acne treatment was not as bad as I had thought it would be. There are so many foods that act naturally as a home remedy for acne and are often the best acne treatments. At first I thought that it would be easier to just remember when to use acne medication or the other acne products that I was using at the time rather than to give up on junk foods.

The internal home remedy for acne prescribed by my doctor and mother turned out to be for me the best acne treatment used along with all natural acne products like tea-tree oil. To my surprise I enjoyed this change in diet and in a short time I felt like it was an acne cure that was noticeable with in the week.

My mother was happier that I was eating something besides chips and was also happy with what we thought was an acne cure. She was also happy that she did not have to spend a lot of money on acne medications or worry about which over the counter acne products were the best. Who would have thought when I drank naturally sweetened juices and lots of water that it would be a natural acne treatment. My breakouts were far and few in between all because of using diet as an acne treatment turned out to pretty much be an acne cure for me.

There are so many acne treatments on the market today that profess to be the answer to all of your problems but the truth of the matter is you will have to find the best acne products or try to find the best home remedies for you by simply researching on your own.

Some people will require acne medications because more serious illness are the reason for their acne problem. Home remedies for acne through diet can alleviate many of your outbreaks because we truly are what we eat. If the eyes are the window to the soul then the skin is a reflection of your overall health so the beginning of a real cure starts from within.

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Is it really possible to get clear skin without using cleansers? Most people will probably tell you no. However, chances are that if you look at a lot of the people you know with clear skin, you’ll find that many of them do not have to use cleansers. In fact, a lot of people with clear skin seldom do more than rinse their face with water. Maybe all those cleansers you’re using to try and fight acne are not really the answer.

A few years ago I was living in the dorms at my college, trying everything to win the battle against acne that had plagued me for so long. I’m a guy, but my list of skin care products was well beyond what most girls I knew possessed. I had a full selection of acne products, including antibacterial soaps, creams, wipes, toners, pore cleansers, and more. I treated my face at least three times per day with the system I developed, and managed to keep my acne from getting too horrible, although it was never really gone. The worst were the large cystic lumps that would occasionally pop up, and nothing really worked against them.

What would drive me crazy was that while I slaved away at trying to keep my face halfway presentable, my roommate who barely washed his face always had clear skin! There were people in that dorm with perfectly clear skin, whose personal hygiene habits would make baboons cringe!

Even back in high school, I remembered staring into the mirror while washing my face with a three-step system and wondering: “does anybody else really have to do this?” There had to be a better way.

Determined to find a real, long-term clear skin solution, I turned to the source of all random knowledge and gossip: the internet.

Visiting acne message boards, I found plenty of unorthodox treatments, but a lot of them sounded too much like the temporary fixes I had already been using. The only one that really stood out was vitamin B5.

The testimony I had heard from B5 users sounded almost too good to be true, and the fact that these people were talking about a generic vitamin rather than a name brand product made the testimony that much more interesting. The doses required were large, but since the vitamin was water-soluble and had no side effects, I decided it was worth the trouble. My father also happens to be a doctor, and he confirmed that B5 was harmless before I started using it.

My results were fast, and different from any acne treatment I had used before. After four days, my face began to feel less oily and I noticed the redness in my acne diminishing. Many of the smaller zits I had just disappeared. I did not get clear skin all at once, but within weeks I simply ceased to get new zits, and surprisingly, my face stayed that way. I know it sounds corny, but I really felt like I had discovered this big secret that I wanted to share with world.

After a few months I was able to reduce my dosage of vitamin B5 and still keep my skin clear. The tons of skin care products I had accumulated began collecting dust, and my only regret was how much money I had wasted on all those temporary treatments. It just felt great not having to worry about a system of cleansers. I rinsed my face in the morning and at night, and that was it. In a word, I was “normal”.

So if you’re looking for a real acne solution, my advice is to skip the cleansers and give B5 a shot. Having clear skin without cleansers is not as crazy as it sounds, it’s actually the most natural solution out there.

Don Amodeo is a former acne sufferer and webmaster of Acne-Vitamins.com, which offers vitamin B5 acne products and a free guide to vitamins for acne. This article may be republished provided that the author’s information and all active links are left intact.