Regarding neem and acne there is some good news and some bad news for you.

• The bad news: neem is not a miracle cure for acne.
• The good news: acne can be treated, and acne can be successfully treated with neem.

If used correctly neem can work wonders. But only if used correctly!

More and more websites are springing up, pushing the use of neem for acne. Neem acne soap, neem lotion and neem cream, and also the internal use of neem capsules, neem powder or neem tea (can be made from powder or neem leaves), the all supposedly work wonders.

Always remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Neem is a powerful antibacterial herb and it can indeed be very helpful with acne. People do report great results when using it. But don’t run out now to grab the next available neem soap bar and that mega savings pack of neem capsules. There is a bit more to it.

Acne is a complex medical condition. Everybody is different, every case of acne is different, and sometimes it can be a bit tricky to figure out the best treatment.

This section will help you to understand your acne, to assess your own situation, and to decide if and how you should use neem for acne.

• Neem Oil and Acne: what is acne, how is it treated, and where does neem oil fit into this?
• Neem Soap for Acne: acne and skin care, and why using neem soap for acne can backfire.
• Neem Capsules and Acne: neem capsules are the most frequently reommended neem acne cure. Why?
• Neem Powder and Acne: different ways to use neem powder for acne.
• Neem Acne Home Remedies

I will be on the road until October 15.
Until then I will not be online anywhere near as much as usual and will only be able to process urgent email. Please feel free to make a submission via the form below during that time. Just be aware that it may take a very long time until I get to read it!

Your Experiences With Neem And Acne

Have you used neem oil or other neem products to treat acne at home? Other readers would love to hear about your first hand experiences with neem.

Both good and bad experiences are more than welcome. It’s easy to share your experience with us. Just fill in the form below. You can also use the form to ask a question.

Check below the form to see what others have said or asked.

What Other Readers Have Said And Asked

Click below to read about other readers’ experiences and questions about neem and acne.

Aspirin like substances in neem You mentioned that neem has aspirin like substances. If the aspirin like substances in neem have the same affects as aspirin (made out of salicylic …

I’ve tried it all, but only Margo Soap with Neem Oil helped my acne I’m 28 and since early teenage years I’ve been fighting acne. I’ve tried all sorts of products, but nothing ever helped my skin – only cost a lot of money….

Neem paste and acne skin I am using neem and water paste on my skin. It is now removing my old acne scars on my back especially.

It helps to remove acne, acne scars and pimples….

Neem oil for treating pimples and acne Regarding the use of neem oil for treating pimples:
How can I use neem oil on skin? Should I directly apply it on the face and wash off after some time?…

Just neem soap and neem oil for whiteheads? Hi, I have whiteheads on my face. They are not pimples or big lumps. I wonder, if I just use neem soap and neem oil, is it gonna help my condition?

Thank …

Alternative Remedies For Acne: Neem Water And Neem Paste Regarding the use of neem leaf as an alternative remedy for acne: I’m a mild acne and blackheads sufferer and I am interested in using natural/herbal products …

Neem pills for acne I am 27 years old and have had acne for 5 years. It came on suddenly after a youth of no acne. I googled natural cures and found Neem. I have been buying …

Return from Neem For Acne to Discover Neem Oil

Zinc is an anti-oxidant which plays a critical role in keeping skin healthy by protecting skin against UV radiation damage, catalyzing the healing of wounds, maintaining cellular integrity and decreasing the relative

risk of skin cancers.

Zinc is present in every tissue type in the body. However, concentrations of zinc in the epidermis of healthy skin is five times greater than in the dermis. Zinc is essential to enzymatic activity and function by stabilizing the integrity, form and activity of enzyme molecules. Zinc is important to proper immune system function which also determines skin health. Zinc in divalent ion form, applied topically to the skin provides antioxidant protection to the skin. In other words it prevents sun damage. Zinc can be found as an active ingredient in many sunscreens.

When used specifically for acne treatment, zinc has a positive effect on the regulation of oil gland secretions. This in turn slows or eliminates entirely the blockage of pores with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells which are the cause of pimple formation.

Zinc, because of its anti oxidant properties, also plays a role in repairing the scarring and skin blemishes caused by acne. Acne treatments that contain zinc not only retard the over-production of oil but also help to heal damage that has already occurred.

Since zinc is also key to maintaining an optimally functioning immune system, topical application of zinc can be expected to prevent acne by aiding in the formation of new healthy skin cells. The skin is in fact the largest immune barrier in the entire immune system. Using zinc to ensure the integrity of this defense system cannot help but augment overall physical health.

If the partial blockage becomes complete, excess sebum can’t escape. The bacteria “Propionibacterium acnes” (short form P. acnes) that are normally present on the skin are trapped in the pore as well. They make an enzyme that breaks down sebum into a substance called “free fatty acid.” Free fatty acid is very irritating stuff, and can cause swelling, redness and pus formation. This is called a whitehead ( closed comedo ) .

Similar but a bit more serious formations are called pustules (pus-filled yellowish bumps), and nodules (firm, larger inflamed swellings below the skin).

Acne vulgaris is the medical term for common acne, which is comprised of open and closed comedones.

If the inflammation is deep and severe, or if the spot is manipulated or squeezed, the pus can burst deep into the skin tissues rather than onto the surface. Swelling and pain take place as the body’s activated defence mechanism sends bacteria-fighting white cells to the area. This deep-rooted inflammation and infection results in cyst formation. Cystic acne is the most severe and stubborn of all types of acne, and carries the biggest threat of scarring.

Acne Rosacea mostly appears in middle-aged adults. It is characterized by flushing of the face, and the formation of inflamed bumps on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. The redness on the face sometimes misleads people to think that excessive drinking causes this type of acne. Actually, drinking has nothing to do with the eruption, but is believed to magnify the symptoms. The exact causative factor for this disorder is not known.

For some adults, Acne Rosacea never goes away. Over time, the development of Rhinophyma , or a bulbous nose, can occur, particularly in men.

Perioral Dermatitis is almost exclusive to young women. The presence of tiny papules (red bumps), pustules (pus-filled yellowish bumps) and scaling with intense itching are signs of perioral dermatitis. It is usually localized to the surrounding area of the mouth and on the chin, or extend to involve the eyelids and the forehead.

Some causes of Perioral Dermatitis are due to the use of fluorinated toothpaste, facial creams, or irritants such as strong benzoyl peroxide or cinnamon in the area.

The use of steroids could cause Corticosteroid Acne , among other side-effects to the body. Nasty cases of pustular acne on the face, chest, back, arms and thighs, together with cessation of menstruation, development of body hair, thinning of scalp hair have been reported with the taking of dehydroepiandrosterone. This drug that is supposed to help reverse the effects of aging, increase metabolism, aid in weight loss, help increase energy, among other things, is easily available over-the-counter. Extreme care should be exercised when using this product.

Acne Excoriee des Jeunes Filles is a condition commonly seen in young girls. In this case, minimal acne lesions on the face are exacerbated by neurotic squeezing and pressing of the pimples, trying to rid the contents with the fingers. As a result, hyperpigmentation and stellate contracted scars occur, while often the original underlying acne has healed.

We have listed above the most common acne-type skin disorders. For a more complete list and their images, see Links to Acne Images.

Oral contraceptives have many benefits for control of bleeding during the menstrual cycle. They also have side effects and complications that make their use unsatisfactory. Almost a third of women who discontinue birth control pills do so because of bleeding problems. Then what kind of bleeding can you expect when using birth control pills? A recent supplement to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999;180:s275-306 had several articles about oral contraceptives and bleeding.

Does birth control pill use lessen abnormal menstrual bleeding?

Oral contraceptives reduce the overall incidence of bleeding problems by about 50% from what occurs in non-contraceptive users. The rate of heavy menses in the general population is about 2.4%. In women on birth control pills it drops to 1.2%. Irregular menses goes from 1.3% normally to 0.5% in oral contraceptive users. Intermenstrual bleeding (breakthrough bleeding as a recurrent problem) decreases from 0.5% to 0.3% in women who have been on oral contraceptives over time.

How much breakthrough bleeding can I expect when starting oral contraceptives?

Studies have shown differences in breakthrough bleeding rates in the first 3 months of women starting birth control pills ranging from 10%-55%. Even the same pill in different studies has widely varying rates. The rates are so high that routine advice upon starting the pills is to ignore the breakthrough bleeding for the first 3 months of use; then if it persists let the doctor know.

Does the bleeding get better the longer I take the pills?

Yes. The intermenstrual bleeding rate drops to about 10-15% in the 4th and subsequent cycles and in most studies does not seem to lessen after that. This is still a high percentage of bleeding so it causes many women to discontinue the pills.

What causes bleeding while on the birth control pills?

The most common cause of bleeding on oral contraceptives is unknown. It is theorized to be due to atrophic bleeding due to low estrogen. In other words, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is quite thin and subject to abrasion just from normal activity.

There are three other factors known to be associated with increasing the bleeding rate on pills: chlamydia infection, smoking and not taking pills. In one study, women with intermenstrual bleeding on birth control pills had a 29% incidence of chlamydia while oral contraceptive users without intermenstrual bleeding had a 11% incidence of infection versus 6% in non-pill users. Several studies have confirmed an increase in intermenstrual bleeding associated with chlamydial infection on pills.

Cigarette smoking has been known to be associated with anti-estrogen effects. While new users have less and less intermenstrual bleeding with each cycle of pill use, non-smokers decrease breakthrough bleeding at a much faster rate than smokers. By the 6th month of pill use, smokers still have about twice the rate of spotting as do non-smokers and heavy smokers (>15 cigarettes per day) have an even higher incidence of breakthrough bleeding.

Missing pills is an obvious cause of breakthrough bleeding. Missing one pill only slightly raises the incidence of bleeding but by the time 3 pills are missed, over 80% of women will have some bleeding if not a full menses. Many women who miss pills (noncompliance) fail to tell their doctors about that and as a result may undergo therapies and changes in pills that are not really needed when in fact the best therapy would be to do nothing but take the pills more regularly. From 25-33% of women miss more than one pill in a cycle.

How is intermenstrual bleeding on the contraceptive pill best treated?

The best treatment in the first 3 cycles of pill use is just reassurance that the bleeding problems are very likely to decrease and disappear with continued use. If the bleeding is distressing or continues after 3 months, the best treatment is to take estrogen for 7-10 days during the first part of the cycle to build up the endometrium and make it more resistant to sloughing. Unfortunately most physicians do not try this treatment first but rather switch the brand of pills in hopes that that will decrease bleeding. There actually are no scientific studies that test different strategies to arrest breakthrough bleeding on the birth control pills so we do not really know the best treatment for this.

Do some brands of birth control pills make acne worse?

At the current time there is only one brand of birth control pill that has FDA approval to be used to prevent acne (Ortho Tricyclen ). Truthfully all estrogen containing oral contraceptives decrease sebum production which in turn usually decreases acne. Many studies have shown up to 70% reduction in acne counts on the face, chest, neck and back. Levonorgestrel containing pills tend to decrease acne less than other progestins in pills but overall there still is a reduction even with the more androgenic progestins. The decrease in acne is directly proportional to the decrease in serum testosterone. The pill does this by increasing sex hormone binding globulin which inactivates some of the circulating testosterone.

Some women will develop or have their acne worsen on the pill. In fact acne is is often listed as a side effect of the pills. Studies consistently show about 5% of women develop acne when starting pills.

What is the best regimen for taking oral contraceptives?

There are several principles that improve oral contraceptive compliance:

• Women should develop a daily routine for taking pills so that each day, taking pills will be as regular as brushing their teeth. Women without a daily routine forget or miss pills 3 times more than those with a daily routine.
• Be familiar with the literature included with the pills. Know about how the pills work and what to expect when first starting the pills.
• Know what to do if a pill is missed. Take the missed pill or pills as soon as you remember and then continue on to finish the pack if full menstrual bleeding has not started. If bleeding the equivalent of menses has started, just wait as if you finished the pills and start a new pack of active pills after being off 5-7 days. Use back up contraception if you miss more than one pill.
• Plan a backup contraceptive method. Be prepared with condoms and foam or indulge in abstinence until being back on the active pills for one week.

Check it out!
our e-book on birth control pill problems
Other Related Articles
Continuous Oral Contraceptive Pills for Cramps
Which Birth Conrol Pill for Me?
Continuous Bleeding on Birth Control
Weight Gain and Fluid Retention on Oral Contraceptive Pills
Menstrual Seizures and Progestin Only Contraceptives
Timing Advice for Contraceptives
Self Administered Emergency Contraception
Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risks
Side effects of Depoprovera in teens

The way to clear skin

Although the statement, “Your type of skin depends on your genes,” is true we should not give up hope of getting a clear skin. You cannot change your skin type but through proper care and treatment you can make it to look its best.

Diet to clear skin

The type of diet you follow has an impact on your skin. A diet high on fried and fatty food would lead to the outbreak of pimples. You should avoid chocolate, food and drinks, which have a cocoa base, fatty fried food and starchy food like cakes, biscuits, sweets and jams. A diet high in protein is encouraged as it is considered a pimple fighter. You can include fish, poultry and egg white in your diet. You should also drink lots of water. Fruits and salads can be a blessing for your skin.

The effects of the sun

Sun causes the maximum damage to your skin. Intense exposure to the sun can produce symptoms of ageing. The sun dehydrates your skin and causes freckles, marks, pigmentation, spots and wrinkles. The cure lies in protecting your skin from the sun. You should avoid long and direct exposure to the sun. You should always use a sunscreen before leaving the house.

Tips to get clear skin.

1. You should never leave make up on overnight.

2. Always exfoliate your skin daily using a delicate scrub. A popular and effective home recipe is to use a tablespoon of sugar or oatmeal.

3. Regularly give yourself facials. Try using natural masks.

4. You should never forget to moisturize your skin.

Conclusion

Your skin reflects your mind. When you are happy, an inner glow makes your face shine the way no cream could. So enjoy life, be happy, follow the tips and have fun and confuse your admirers with your age.

The Smoothbeam laser is widely used to treat acne scars on the face, chest, arms and the back.

The safety and effectiveness of the Smoothbeam laser in the treatment of acne scars has also led to its use in the treatment of facial lines and wrinkles.

The Smoothbeam laser is patient compliant and easy to use. The advanced laser technology has led to the development of a cooling system at the tip of the laser. This has led to minimal or no pain when the laser is activated. Further the lasers’ narrow beam is focused and protects the normal skin from damage.

The Smoothbeam laser is very safe treatment and may be used in individuals of all races, skin types and ethnic groups. Even though the Smoothbeam laser can be used in all ages, it is typically reserved for use in adult men and women.

The Smoothbeam Laser has been most widely used in the treatment of acne and the acne related scarring.

In the majority of cases of acne scarring, the Smoothbeam laser can help improve/erase the scars. In some cases, the treatment can help reduce the intensity of the large scars.

The Smoothbeam laser treatment is done as an outpatient and can be performed by any health care professional with training in the use of lasers.

The Smoothbeam laser is generally regarded as safe but some side effects do occur. The most common side effects include:

– Skin discoloration. In some individuals with fair skin, darkening or hyperpigmentation of the skin can occur. In some dark skinned individuals, lightening or hypopigmentation of the skin can occur. In both cases, the skin discoloration may fade but can be permanent.

– Redness. Mild redness is common after the laser treatment. This usually subsides over the first 24 hours

– Swelling: Mild swelling is also common when large areas of the skin are treated. Application of a cold compress and elevating the head for the first 24 hours generally decreases the swelling

– Scarring is a rare complication of the Smoothbeam laser

Despite all the technical advances in the Smoothbeam laser, the laser is not completely painless. Most individuals claim that a hot sensation is felt when the laser is fired. Some individuals can tolerate this and others can not. For those who are not tolerant of pain, the physician may apply a topical local anesthetic 20-30 minutes prior to the procedure. This usually obviates the pain

You’ve heard for years that zinc is a very important mineral for acne sufferers.

Several studies confirm that zinc dramatically improves acne symptoms. Some studies even suggest that zinc acne treatment is more effective then the drug tetracycline.

Yet other studies seem to suggest zinc does nothing for acne.

What’s the real scoop?

Well my friend, listen closely because I’m about to clear up the zinc acne mystery for you.

After reading this report you will know why zinc acne treatment is SO effective for acne symptoms sometimes and why it doesn’t work other times.

And you’ll have the KEY missing piece to the zinc acne treatment puzzle. You’ll know exactly how to get CONSISTENT and DRAMATIC results with zinc acne treatment.

Pay attention, because zinc is one of the natural acne treatments you definitely should look into.

What is zinc?

Zinc is a mineral found naturally in foods. It’s crucial for so many functions in your system.

In fact zinc plays a key role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in your body. It also is crucial for your immune system. Without optimal levels of zinc in your system white blood cell count and T-killer cell count (immune system stuff) drastically drops…hampering your immune system.

This is why zinc has proven again and again to lessen the severity and duration of colds.

But what does zinc have to do with acne?

The zinc acne relationship

As explained in the special report, The TRUE Cause of Acne acne is caused by hormonal imbalance combined with congesting blood toxins.

Well my friend, it turns out zinc plays a very KEY role in hormonal balance. Zinc IN CONJUNCTION with a few other key nutrients helps to balance out hormonal production.

The end effect of the hormonal balancing of zinc acne treatment is that if USED properly, and if used with these other key nutrients zinc acne treatment will actually NORMALIZE your skins oil production.

In addition to that, it will help your body kill off any over growths of acne bacteria. But in all my experience with it that is the least important aspect for acne sufferers.

Zinc inhibitors

But that’s not the whole story…

It turns out there are some substances that will drastically impair the action of zinc in your system. And some actually “deactivate” zinc in your system.

If these substances are in your system then all the zinc acne treatment in the world will do nothing for your acne.

This is one of the major reasons so many of the zinc acne treatment studies showed such a dramatic improvement for acne symptoms in one study, yet showed NO improvement in other studies.

It’s because the zinc acne treatment researchers didn’t understand that zinc is working IN CONJUNCTION with other key nutrients, and they didn’t understand that zinc inhibitors were blocking the zinc acne treatment from working.

And believe me…it took me years to figure it out myself. Zinc acne treatment worked SO WELL sometimes yet not at all other times. It wasn’t until years later that I was able to piece together this mystery.

How to use zinc acne treatment effectively

Well first remember, that zinc does not act independently. Zinc will only be effective at normalizing hormone production and normalizing skin oil if used in conjunction with the zinc co-factors explained in the program.

In addition to that, you need to be aware of zinc inhibitors and avoid them.

Next, you need to ingest OPTIMAL levels of zinc in your system.

Zinc is found in foods such as egg yolks, fish, legumes, soy lecithin, sunflower seeds, and whole grains.

You should always try to get your nutrition from foods, but here’s the rub…

Zinc is a mineral (not a vitamin). And foods will only have as much zinc in them as they soil they were grown in had.

And conventional farming methods use fertilizers that do NOT contain zinc. As a result most foods have little to no zinc.

The same goes for animal food sources of zinc. The resultant food will only have as much zinc as the diet of the animal had.

It’s pretty hard to get it from your diet alone these days. It’s a very common deficiency.

Since it’s such a key mineral for acne sufferers, and pretty inexpensive, this is definitely one of the minerals I would suggest you consider supplementing with.

I’ve researched and experimented with zinc acne treatment to death. And I can tell you from all my research and experimentation that there are only 2 forms of zinc that consistently work for zinc acne treatment…EVERY other form of supplemental zinc did not work accept these 2 forms…

What are they?

Zinc gluconate and Zinc Monomethionine (otherwise known as Opti-Zinc).

And of the 2 I strongly favor Opti-Zinc (Zinc Monomethionine). Don’t waste your time with any other form of zinc.

How to use Opti-Zinc for zinc acne treatment

If you read all the studies on zinc acne treatment, generally they were using in the range of 30-100 mg a day.

And it is often suggested that zinc should not be taken in excess of 100 mg a day.

But here’s the twist on that…

Copper is a competing mineral for zinc. Excess copper hinders the action of zinc in your system.

And with the widespread use of copper piping and birth control pills (very high in copper), copper toxicity has become more and more common.

If you have high levels of copper in your system then you will need to take zinc in as high as 300 mg a day for before you will get results with zinc acne treatment.

If you do not have excess copper in your system then 50-100 mg a day will work like a charm if used in conjunction with the zinc co-factors explained in the program.

How do you know if you have a copper toxicity?

Good question.

If you take birth control pills then you are at a very high risk. If you drink tap water from copper pipes that is not filtered or purified in some way then you’re at a considerable risk.

If you have a Caucasian blood line and your nipples are brown (not pink) then you have a SEVERE copper toxicity.

In addition to that, someone skilled in a muscle testing procedure known as applied kinesiology can quickly test you for a copper toxicity non-evasively. It’s a simple procedure you can learn your self with a little practice.

Zinc acne treatment effective, yet not enough to cure acne

While zinc is a very KEY mineral for normalizing hormone production realize that hormones are one half the acne puzzle…congesting blood and lymph toxins are the other half, and zinc doesn’t do anything to fix that.

So you need to use zinc acne treatment as part of a more comprehensive program to balance your hormones and purify your blood. Checkout the Acne Cure E-Tutorial to discover how.

Continue –Â

• Previous Entry: B5 Acne Treatment Exposed
• Next Entry: Acne and Diet Factors

Comparing the Zeno and Claro Acne Treatment Devices: Treating Acne can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you are like me and have adult acne. I am in my 40s and still breaking out. Fortunately, there are a couple of good treatment devices on the market that work rather well on standard pimples, and also have some effect on cystic acne, even through they are not marketed for use on that type of problem. I have written about both items separately in the past, but though a comparison chart would be helpful for readers who are considering purchasing an acne treatment device, but can’t decide on which one to try.

The Zeno Acne Treatment Device (link is to previous review) uses heat to kill bacteria and dry up acne, while the Claro Acne Clearing Device (link is to previous review) uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to kill bacteria.

Zeno Claro Treatment Mechanism Heat Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Acne Types Treated Pimples, Pustules

Does not treat: Cystic Acne Whiteheads
Blackheads

Pimples, Pustules, Areas of Inflamed Acne

Does not treat:
Cystic Acne
Blackheads

Treatment Time 2.5 minutes Two six second treatments with a brief pause between treatments. Comfort Comfortable heat. Must hold the device in place for 2.5 minutes. Comfortable heat. Ease of Use Very easy. Device is easy to place and hold. Generally easy. Sometimes lining up the device or keeping it in contact with the skin is difficult. Effectiveness Moderately effective. The device works best on new acne and on mild acne. Clearing is hastened, but not complete within 24 hours. Not as effective on highly inflamed or severe acne. Had no meaningful effect on cystic acne (device is not marketed or recommended for use on cystic acne). Very effective on new and mild acne, giving clearing within 24 hours. Greatly assisted clearing on difficult and heavily inflamed acne. Cystic acne was lessened but not cleared (device is not marketed or recommend for use on cystic acne). Rechargeable Yes Yes Product Life Varies among models. The Zeno I reviewed lasts for 90 uses before a replacement tip must be purchased. 800 six second treatments. Pros Easy to hold and use, very portable, comfortable. New Hot Spot Model is quite affordable. Quite effective and comfortable. Cons Less effective on severe acne, takes 2.5 minutes for each treatment. Sometimes difficult to line up and keep in place, must wait one minute between each cycle of 2 treatments. Price $150 (90 treatment model). Replacement tips run between $25-$35.

A New Zeno Hot Spot model offers 80 uses for $40.

$250 (800 treatments)

Between the two devices, I personally prefer the Claro, but I stick the Zeno in my bag when traveling because it is smaller and more portable. Zeno also has a new Hot Spot Acne Treatment Device that retails for around $40 and is good for 80 treatments. I have not tested that model, but it seems like a more affordable way to try out a Zeno device.

Shopping for an acne treatment device? You can buy the Zeno or Claro below:

Note: The Claro portion of this review is based on a product that was given to me by a representative of the company. I purchased the Zeno on my own.  For more, please see my disclosure page.

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Related posts

• Zeno Acne Treatment, Zap Your Zits! (9)
• Claro Acne Clearing Device Review (6)
• Can You Reuse the Zeno Tip? No! (7)

Most cases of pregnancy acne are triggered by the huge hormonal fluctuations that occur within the body. Many women report acne becoming its worst during the second trimester and gradually improving after that. For women who typically have clear skin, acne usually disappears sometime after delivery, although it may last longer if the mother is breastfeeding.

Treating Your Acne During Pregnancy Good basic skin care will help keep the skin healthy. Cleanse the face morning and night with a gentle cleanser, such as Dove or Neutrogena. Avoid toners or astringents if they seem irritating. The skin is oftentimes more sensitive during pregnancy, so any skin care products you choose should be mild. Always follow up with a light moisturizing cream, preferably fragrance free.

If your acne is worsening, or you have been battling acne since before your pregnancy, you may feel the need for an acne treatment medication. For the health of your developing baby, you must be selective in the product you choose. While some treatments are safe, certain medications should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

Treatments Considered Safe While the treatments below are considered safe to use during pregnancy, you should talk to your doctor before using any acne medications, including over-the-counter products.

Some treatments recommended during pregnancy include:

• Benzoyl peroxide
• Salicylic acid – in low concentrations only
• Erythromycin

Treatments to Avoid Many acne treatment medications can harm a developing fetus and must be avoided during pregnancy. Let your dermatologist know you are pregnant before being treated for acne.

Treatments that must be avoided during pregnancy include:

• Accutane (isotretinoin) Commonly known by its trade name Accutane, isotretinoin has been linked to severe birth defects in babies whose mothers took this drug while pregnant. Isotretinoin also increases the chance of miscarriage.
• Topical retinoids Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should not use the topical retinoids Differin (adapalene), Tazorac (tazarotene), and Retin-A (tretinoin). The effect of topical retinoids on a developing fetus has not been studied thoroughly. As such, they should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Tetracycline Oral tetracycline, as well as its derivatives doxycycline and minocycline, can interfere with normal bone growth as well as discolor teeth of a developing fetus. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should not use these antibiotics.

This list should not be considered comprehensive. Always talk to your doctor before using any acne treatment medication while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Long story short, I finally found something that works. I swear by Dan’s products. It took about 60 days before my skin was under control, but if you hang in there it works great (even on my sensitive skin).

As for the Inside:
I take Vit B, Vit A, Vit C, Vit E, Salmon Oil, and Zinc. I would just make sure you are taking pure and high quality vitamins. I take GNLD vitamins, what works the best for my skin is the:

-Vit A
-Vit C
-Zinc

Works great for my skin… not to mention I have more energy and the Zinc is great for your immune system and my hair and nails are stronger too!

As far as foods, I just avoid fast foods and drink a lot of water and it doesn’t seem to affect my skin whether or not I have dairy or not.

As for the Outside I swear by the Acne.org Cleanser, Treatment, Moisturizer, Jojoba Oil and I just started the AHA+, it’s great.

I tried using the Cetaphil but it dries out my skin too much as well as the Differin, it was a disaster- my skin was so flaky. So if i didn’t have acne i had a peeling face.

So here is my daily Regimen:

Morning:
Inside:
Vit B, Vit A, Vit C, Vit E, Salmon Oil, and Zinc (make sure you take Zinc after you eat, otherwise it will upset your stomach)
Outside:
Acne.org Cleanser
Acne.org Treatment
Acne.org Moisturizer with three drops of Jojoba Oil

After my face is completely dry and absorbed the moisturizer, I put on my makeup Bare Essential Bare Minerals.

Evening:
Rinse off as much make up as possible with water
Acne.org Cleanser
Acne.org Treatment
Acne.org Moisturizer with three drops of Jojoba Oil
Every other night AHA+ before (a little bit of) Moisturizer (less than usual because there is Moisturizer in the AHA)

I hope this works for you. Hang in there though and don’t get frustrated it takes at least a month to begin to see improvements.

When I first came on this site i thought it was just going to be another failed attempt for something to work and when it did begin to work i almost didn’t believe it was going to last, but it has. I’m so thankful that I found this site. I hope you will find something that works for you. Maybe this will be it!