Students Of Success

What you put on your skin is as important as the food you eat. Chemicals that come in contact with your skin can be absorbed into your bloodstream. Many of the ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products are toxic, even though they may not cause any reaction on the skin. Some cause cancer. Some of the most commonly used ingredients combine with other ingredients to form cancer-causing substances. Here’s a list to help you choose safer and healthier cosmetics and personal care products:

1. Read the List of Ingredients

Most products are labeled to “sell” rather than provide accurate information about the product. The sales pitch on the label doesn’t tell you anything about the safety and quality of the ingredients in the product.You need to read the ingredients list rather than the label for more accurate information about the product.

The ingredient list may not be easy to find and it may be so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read it because that’s not what the manufacturer wants you to see. The ingredients are required by law to be listed on the product label in order of quantity. The ingredient present in the largest quantity is listed first, the ingredient in the smallest quantity is listed last.

2. Check the Ingredients for Safety

The cosmetics and personal care industry is very poorly regulated. There are more than 12,000 ingredients that can be used in cosmetics and personal care products and most of them have not been adequately tested, many not tested at all. The manufacturers are not required to prove the claims they make about their products or to test them for safety. Many products contain cancer-causing ingredients along with ingredients that enhance absorption of the product through the skin into the bloodstream. To make sure the products you’re buying are safe, check the ingredients against a reliable safety list.

3. Beware of Words That Are Used to Sell Rather Than Provide Accurate Information

Many of the words manufacturers use on labels to promote their products do not have “official definitions” so they can be used to mean anything that the manufacturer wants. These terms are very often misleading.

Some words to watch out for include:

Natural — may contain all natural ingredients, a few or none at all

Hypoallergenic — may be tested or based upon manufacturer belief; no proof is required

Fragrance free — means no detectable odor; fragrance ingredients may still be added

4. More is Not Better

Choose products with fewer ingredients, not more. Besides the fact that most ingredients have not been adequately tested, those that have been tested have only been tested individually, not in combination with other ingredients. Nobody knows the effects of the many different ingredients used in thousands of different combinations, the effects of using numerous different products, one on top of the other, or the effects of repeated use of ingredients or products over time.

5. Buy From Companies Truly Committed to Healthy Products

As consumers are becoming more conscious of using safer and healthier products, many manufacturers are tapping into that consciousness and producing pseudo-healthy products. The label looks like the product is natural and healthy, but if you read the ingredients, that’s not the case. On the other hand there are companies dedicated to producing safe and natural cosmetics and personal care products. Many of these are small companies that were started because of the lack of availability of healthy products and many of them use organic and food grade ingredients.

We live in a toxic world and there are some things that we have no control over, like air pollution. However, we do have control over what we put into our bodies and what we put on our bodies — if we just take the time to educate ourselves and make safe and healthy choices. With the increasing number of chemicals in everything these days, it’s important for everyone to become health conscious. Taking control over what you put into your body and on your body will affect your quality of life and may just be a matter of life and death!

Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. is “The Ingredients Investigator.” She has been researching ingredient safety since 1991 and is the author of three books, including the new, second edition of DYING TO LOOK GOOD. To learn more about the safety of ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products, visit DyingToLookGood.com.

Ever wonder how stage actors or movie characters get that eerily captivating look in their eyes? Sure, there is always the CG and special effects route in the movies. Certain lighting schemes can invoke various feelings on the stage. However, the majority of the time, that intrinsic look is a result of theatrical contact lenses.

Given the right situation and storyline, theatrical contacts can transform your viewing experience from observer to active participant. In suspenseful thrillers, theatrical contacts can just flat out scare you. In the world outside of theatrics, they also do a pretty great job of terrifying children of all ages around Halloween as well.

Theatrical contact lenses come in a wide assortment of themes and colors. Many rock musicians wear theatrical contacts that black out the pupil making the eye appear to shun light. The white out theatrical lens gives off that angry look popularized by the Hulk in the old television series. Other popular themes include bloodshot contacts and various animal associations such as zebra, jaguar, and the always popular cat pupil.

If you are trying to find the particular contact used by your favorite monster in the latest horror movie, you may be out of luck. Most movies have special effect contacts specially designed to fit the character’s needs. However, if you search around deep enough, you may stumble across a generic knockoff that generates the same effect.

Although there are a variety of companies that manufacture and sell theatrical contacts, the two most popular brands carried by most opticians are CooperVision’s Crazy Lenses and CIBA Vision’s WildEyes. CIBA Vision also makes the immensely popular FreshLook line of color contacts.

It is important to note that the same rules for purchasing, wearing, replacing, and caring for regular contact lenses also apply for theatrical contact lenses and cosmetic lenses. This means that you must have a prescription to purchase them. Even if you don’t need vision correction, you must still go to an optometrist to be examined, prescribed, and fitted for all styles of contact lenses including special effects contacts.

If you are looking for a fun way to breathe new life into a character, transform your production without costly cg effects or simply terrify kids this Halloween season, look into purchasing a pair of theatrical contact lenses. There are numerous varieties to choose from. Talk to your optometrist about ordering your new pair of special effect contact lenses today.

Mike Schwartz is the owner of the popular web site Best Contact Lenses Online His site provides useful tips, resources, and reviews to help you make the best decision when purchasing contact lenses on the Internet.

Many times, when a doctor determines a case of Male Pattern Hair Loss, he will prescribe Propecia, a popular hair loss treatment which has a variable success record.

Technically, Finasteride is the primary active ingredient and compound in the brand name drug, Propecia. Propecia has been noted as a successful treatment used to prevent Male Pattern Hair Loss, but its success record depends upon the source of information.

The Propecia home page, produced by the company itself, claims that nine out of ten men treated with the drug have improved or at least maintained hair.

Propecia is also the only pill that treats Male Pattern Hair Loss that has been approved by the FDA. The company claims that they put the drug through five years of experimental research prior to making it available to the general public in 1998.

It is interesting how some drugs gain FDA-approval and others that produce equally effective laboratory trials do not get the highly lucrative stamp of FDA approval. Perhaps Propecia had more aggressive lobbyists working the angles in Washington to lend it more support with the Federal Drug Administration.

It should also be seriously noted that the FDA does not have a spotless record
in releasing safe drugs to the general population. Their stamp of approval grows more questionable each season as new drugs promoted by lobbyists from major drug companies gain approval. A stamp of approval from the FDA is not without its political implications or influences.

All of the above reflects several facts that you should realize, as a patient and consumer of a drug, which was only tested for five years prior to its availability. Propecia has had negative results in 2% of its users, due to the hormonal imbalance. It is also a drug that can cause irreparable damage to an unborn male fetus. For this reason, women of childbearing age should have absolutely no contact with this drug in any form.

Propecia’s reputation within the established, traditional medical community may be excellent and shining, but when there is no guarantee of its success. as is the case with Propecia, you will be glad to know it isn’t the only proven-by-test treatment on the market, and not even the most effective one, either.

The company claims that most men experience positive results when they have taken the drug between three and twelve months. It is only productive for two areas of the head: the top of the head and the middle front area. It has not been useful in maintaining or growing hair at the temples or in a receding hairline.

While the company home page on the web claims that nine out of ten men experience positive results with Propecia, not all studies have reached the same conclusion.

According to Consumer Review.net, a popular and trusted website that reviews many brand name hair loss treatments and rates them according to their reported success, Propecia’s record is not so great. The Consumer Review says that 66% of the men who have taken it for Male Pattern Hair Loss reported positive growth. It presently costs around $230 for a three-month supply.

The latest news on Male Pattern Hair Loss reveals: there are cutting-edge alternative treatments that work very well. These are the ones strictly organically produced from flora and fauna of living earth. And they have a higher success rate than 66%.

Alice Hunter is a freelance writer who became extremely interested in the subject of hair after her husband started losing his. This has lead her to conduct thorough and exhaustive research. Be sure to check out her other articles at http://www.hairgrowthportal.com if you’d like to learn more about natural hair growth methods.

American Idol judge, Simon Cowell, periodically remarks about the “it” factor when assessing contestants. It seems to be one of those nebulous, undefined and subjective attributes one either has or doesn’t have. And it falls into the category of you-know-it-when-you-see-it. He’s right. You do know it when you see it and that’s true in the workplace, too.

Some people call it passion. And while that’s part of it, it goes beyond the intense driving focus associated with passion. When I think of the hundreds of people I’ve hired in my career, there was one spark that yielded an unwavering yes decision; one spark that made me stop interviewing and put together a compelling offer; one spark worth searching unrelentingly to find.

What’s that spark? Desire. Not a person’s desire for the job, although interest and enthusiasm is always a plus. But their intention or aim; their desire for greatness. I use that word carefully. I don’t mean greatness in the context of being a great or famous or distinguished person, or climbing a hierarchy to achieve status, power or influence.

Rather, the desire for greatness I’m referring to is tied to the seeds of possibility sprouting through their talents and abilities. You see, these people with the “it” factor desire to live their life’s potential. They aren’t out to win. They’re out to become the unique person they are, to the fullest extent of their gifts. It’s that desire that fuels their drive, motivation and persistence. It’s that desire that keeps them learning and growing and stretching. It’s that desire that makes them exceptional.

You see, most of us don’t desire our own greatness. We cheat ourselves from becoming ourselves. We squander our unique gifts by copying other people’s approaches and styles. We mimic others’ successes thinking that if we follow their path or do what they do, we’ll end up at the same destination. But emulating others doesn’t unleash our individual uniqueness.

People with the “it” factor know the only path to their greatness is one of their own making. That’s why you know them when you see them. These are people who stand out like a tulip in a rose garden. Russian-born choreographer George Balanchine defined them well when he said, “I don’t want people who want to dance. I want people who have to dance.”

But here’s the thing. The “it” factor is not a limited edition attribute. The desire to live our own greatness is available for each of us if we tap into it. It’s a personal choice we can make. That’s what winning at working is all about: finding your it factor.

(c) 2006 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Nan’s complimentary biweekly eColumn or Podcast at http://www.winningatworking.com Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a columnist, writer and speaker. Visit http://www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at info@nanrussell.com.

Not long back, the concept of dental treatment was limited to removal of teeth and replacement with dentures. But with new advancement in the field of dental sciences, there’s hardly any need for removal of teeth if the problem gets diagnosed and cured at a proper time. Today, there are number of specializations in the field of dentistry, each dealing with a different aspect of the tooth problem.

There is prosthodontics dealing with replacement of teeth with beautiful crowns, bridges and dentures, orthodontics alignment of irregular teeth and jaws with invisible and visible braces, periodontics treatment of gum problems, specialized problems of children’s teeth et al. Besides all this, stress is being laid on cosmetic dentistry and smile designing which includes enhancement of facial aesthetics with new dental procedures such as bleaching and veneering of teeth.

Bleaching is a process that involves whitening of discolored or dark teeth by means of chemical agent. This procedure can be performed either in the dental clinic or even at home. In the clinic, the procedure involves application of a bleaching agent on the teeth and making appropriate sized impressions of the teeth of the individual patient then loading of trays with chemicals for their application on the teeth for one to two hours. Depending upon the degree of discoloration and cosmetic results desired by the patient, the procedure is repeated.

The other new advanced procedure involves application of a bleaching agent directly on the teeth by the dentist, without any use of trays and without repeated sittings. This procedure can be completed in just one or two sittings of 30-45 minutes.

Another technique is prescribed by dentists for use by patients at their homes. This involves making of individualized trays of a patient followed by loading of the trays with the chemical agents by patients as per their dentist instructions and then keeping them in the mouth usually for a period of six to eight hours. The total treatment time is usually 15-20 days. The advantages of in office bleaching technique are that it is totally under the dentists control, the soft tissues of patient are protected and it has the potential of bleaching teeth very rapidly and successfully.

The two most common side affect of bleaching is temporary sensitivity of teeth and irritated gums. Go on; get a set of bright, sparkling teeth.

C Gates a veteran of the alternative medicine industry and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise on finger nail fungus treatment. More info: http://www.toenail-fungus-treatments.com/

Depilation refers to the process of removing visible hair above the skin.

Unlike other temporary hair removal options like waxing and sugaring, depilation does not take the hair out by the root so the hair removal lasts a few days at best. In this regard, it is a very short term method of hair removal.

Popular methods of depilation include shaving and the use of chemical depilatory creams or lotions that are applied directly to the unwanted hair and are then rubbed or rinsed off after a period of time resulting in the hair being removed above the skin.

Because it can refer to various methods of hair removal (ie. shaving, use of depilatory products like creams or lotions) discussing the benefits and considerations under one umbrella is difficult since various depilatories offer different pros and cons.

In general terms, depilation tends to be a cheap method of removing hair temporarily but is one that needs to be done regularly to achieve hair removal since the hair tends to grow back quickly.

If you choose to use chemical depilatory creams or lotions, you might find the smell of some products overpowering and may find that they irritate your skin. You also have to be careful when applying chemical depilatories to ensure you only remove hair that is meant to be removed!

When it comes to shaving depilation, you have several options at your disposal including manual blade razors and electric shavers. Both manual blades and electric shavers are technologies that are being improved all the time so you’re best to evaluate your options and determine what works best for you and your skin rather than simply relying on the opinion of others.

Temporary and permanent hair removal technology is evolving constantly and is relevant to both men and women who want to remove unwanted hair.

For more information on hair removal options, visit http://www.PermanentHairRemovalTips.com

In July 2004, Good Housekeeping reported a small study of then-available skin-firming or anti-cellulite creams. The Good Housekeeping Institute sent a small group of test subjects to a well-known New York plastic surgeon. The women saw the doctor before starting treatment, after two weeks and after four weeks.

They were instructed to use one of three cellulite creams daily on one thigh only, providing a very reliable control for comparison. For example, if a woman gained or lost ten pounds during the study, the study would still reveal if the cream alone had any effect.

At each appointment, thighs were measured at three points above the knee, photos were taken and dimply skin was graded on a scale from “very noticeable” to “none at all”. Unfortunately, GHI did not reveal the names of the two losing cellulite creams; but they did report that only Avon’s Cellu-Sculpt significantly reduced the treated thighs’ circumference. The average loss – after just one month – was ¾ of an inch. The point is – firming creams, at least the effective ones, really can have an effect.

Fast forward two years …

Avon Cellu-Sculpt still has the same great ingredients and is still one of the most popular firming creams on the market. The key active ingredients are: caffeine and cornstarch for temporary tightening; glycerine and glycosaminoglycans as moisturizers and, most importantly, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3 which stimulates growth of new elastin and collagen.

In the meantime, the search for cosmetically active polypeptides has progressed by leaps and bounds. With the introduction of tetrapeptides, we finally have an ingredient that addresses sagging, loose skin.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3 has been clinically shown to stop and even reverse glycation damage which causes skin to droop. Glycation is the process by which glucose links with proteins and causes them to bind together, thus stiffening tissues.

Glycation affects the skin’s support system – collagen, elastin and other proteins – and leads to wrinkles, sagging, uneven skin tone and loss of youthful contours.

Finally, in a class by themselves, are the neuropeptides. Neuropeptides are polypeptides that act as neuromodulators, neurotransmitters, neurohormones, and hormones. Probably the best-known proponent for the cosmetic use of neuropeptides is Dr. Nicholas Perricone. His previous anti-aging developments have met with broad acclaim and his three books have been on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Dr. Perricone explains his work with neuropeptides in his third book The Perricone Promise thus: “In The Wrinkle Cure and The Perricone Prescription, I introduced a major theme of my research: the Inflammation-Disease-Aging Connection. Because inflammation is a great contributor to accelerated aging, it has been an important focus of my ongoing scientific research. And we now know that neuropeptides and peptides play an important role in mediating inflammation.”

According to Dr. Perricone, neuropeptides provide the benefits of the above polypeptides as well as provide powerful anti-inflammatory (i.e. anti-aging) activity and maximum hydration to the skin.

We surveyed the market for creams that contain some or all of the ingredients you want for maximum firming. Then we ranked them for their firming effectiveness. The ideal firming cream would contain ingredient(s) from each category below.

Key Ingredients to Look For in a Cellulite Firming Cream

A. For Temporary Skin Tightening

Though the skin tightening effect is what most people are looking for in a firming cream, the effect is regrettably temporary. It’s literally like putting starch on fabric; and many of the temporary tighteners are starches. Look for cornstarch, hydrolyzed soy flour, hydrolyzed wheat protein, etc..

Starch is a natural polymer or combination of many sugar monomers. Working in similar fashion to natural starches are synthesized polymers. These include acrylates, acrylate crosspolymers and lauryl methacrylate.

Astringents are another class of temporary skin tightener. They work by removing oils and soap residue from the skin, leaving the skin smoother and tenser. Examples are alcohol, propylene glycol, witch hazel, and salicylic acid. Astringents are generally drying. If you already have dry skin, you may want to avoid firming lotions that contain them.

Anti-edema ingredients are yet another type of temporary skin tightener. They tighten the skin by reducing abnormal swelling and inflammation within the cells. Examples are aminophylline, caffeine, chamomile, centella, grapefruit, ivy, laminaria (seaweed) and rosemary.

B. Both Temporary and Restorative

Probably the most popular, but also most under-rated, skin care ingredients are good moisturizers. Many people don’t realize that the benefits are not just temporary. Keeping the skin well-hydrated not only feels good temporarily but also supports the skin’s matrix against collapsing with the passage of the years.

Recent studies suggest that skin moisturizers also accelerate the recovery of irritated or injured skin. The skin is the body’s largest organ and its first line of defense. The skin acts as a physical barrier against infection and injury. In a study from the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden, a moisturizing cream was tested for its effect on damaged skin with excellent results, including far less water loss and enhanced barrier recovery.

Better, more effective moisturizers are developed every year. Current top picks are: hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans; and imidazolidinyl or diazolidinyl urea. Other excellent moisturizers are collagen, elastin, glycerin, glycogen, glucose, polysaccharides, amino acids, cholesterol, lipids, ceramides and lecithin.

The above are all Natural Moisturizing Factors or NMF’s. For maximum benefit, NMF’s need to be combined with emollients such as silicone, lanolin and other animal oils, mineral and plant oils (shea butter, cocoa butter, petrolatum), cyclomethicone, cholesterol, stearates, mystirates, palmitates or triglycerides.

C. Turn-Back-the-Clock Restorative: The Polypeptides

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3 (PP-3), Palmitoyl Tetra- (or variously Tera-) peptide-3 (PT-3), and Neuropeptides are truly active anti-aging ingredients. PP-3 stimulates the growth of new collagen and elastin to plump out wrinkles and dimpled skin from within. PT-3 stops and reverses glycation damage, thereby lifting the skin and refining body contours. Neuropeptides have been developed that do the work of PP-3 and PT-3 combined, as well as hydrate and fight inflammation that accelerates the skin’s aging.

For a comparison of ten popular cellulite firming creams or for more information on effective skin care products, visit ==>http://www.ageless-beauty.com/skin-care.html

By: Jean Bowler. For the latest in skin care products and cosmetic procedures, visit http://www.ageless-beauty.com/antiaging-skin-care.html

Think you already know what this subject is all about? Chances are that you dont, but by the end of this article you will!

The compounds that make Pueraria Mirifica different from any other phytoestrogen containing plants in the Family Leguminosae are Miroestrol and Deoxymiroestrol, which possess maximum estrogenic activity among the known phytoestrogens due to structural similarity to estradiol, Miroestrol was actually the first compound secluded from this stand by a group of German chemists in 1940, but the stand had been mistakenly reported then as Butea Superba. It was later on classified as a new stand called Pueraria mirifica open Shaw et Suvatabhandu.

The isolation and identification of deoxymiroestrol from the delve of Pueraria Mirifica has just been reported in the February 2000 rise of the Journal of physical Products, The authors proposed that since deoxymiroestrol is certainly oxidized to miroestrol, deoxymiroestrol, not the previously reported miroestrol, is more likely to be the actual substance constituent of Pueraria Mirifica.

However, it is very likely that the two phytoestrogens coexist in the delve of this plant. As exposed below, the substance structures of two compounds are very similar to that of estradiol, the foremost human estrogen.

To understand the next part of this article, you need to have a clear grasp of the material that has already been presented to you.

In addition to miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, Pueraria Mirifica also contains other chemicals that belong to isoflavone and coumestran groups of phytoestrogens, e.g., Genistein, Daidzein, Daidzin, Genistin, and Coumestrol that are commonly found in soybeans (Table 1). However, the estrogenic activity of Miroestrol and Deoxymiroestrol is greatly more effective than that of soy isoflavones.

What is profit effects of substance composition from Pueraria mirifica ?

While Soya and Alfafa contains low quantity and low estrogenic of the phytoestrogens, many researches piercing out the profit effects of those chemicals, especially to act as a forceful Anti-Breast Cancer, Anti-Prostate Cancer, Anti-Colon Cancer, Anti-Cardio-Vascular disease via the fall of blood cholesterol and also Anti-Menopausal Syndrome. The phytoestrogens in the Pueraria Mirifica ( White Kwao Krua) is more concentrated and superior efficacy. By this distinguish property, biotechnology application has exposed up for this herb.

Find out more by reading our other articles on this topic and other subjects we have written related to it.

Pueraria Mirifica Pills KWAOTIP THAI FDA. G. 187/42

Kwaotip is a premuim grade Thai traditional herbal formula derived mainly from White Kwaotip Krua (Pueraria Mirifica). After many years of research from Dr. Wichai Cherdshewasart, the studies indicated that this herb shows estrogenic and rejuvenate effects to the female body especially at the breast, hip, facial skin, body skin, hair and vaginal epithelium. Thus elevate the appearance of the female secondary sexual characteristics and also the skin beauty.

ALL Natural Dietary Supplement

Hight Phytoestrogen (especially isoflavonet):

*Increases sensitivity and vitality

*Promotes silky shiny hair ,keeps hair pattem bone calcium accumulation

*Enhances breast and skin appearance

*Serves as a anti-wrinkle agent

*Enhances physical and mental ability

*Serves as a fountain of youth

Ingredients: Pueraria Mirifica and other herbs (60 capsules per box)

Recommended Dosage: Take 2 capsules after breakfast and dinner.

Precautions: - Not for women under 20 years old.
- Women with developing cyst at the ovary, breast, and uterus.
- Pregnant women and breast feeking mother should avoid taking this product.
- Women who are taking birth control pill should not take this product.
http://www.phuketherb.com/pueraria-mirifica.html

Suwat Munpan is the webmaster of the Pueraria Mirifica, natural breast enlargement and healthcare product review and advice website To Free BREAST SPRAY $ 40 at www.phuketherb.com/pueraria-mirifica.html

Unlike other issues that affect women, cellulite seems to be one area where confusion reigns supreme. The matter of how to get rid of cellulite is one that requires patience and time, but above all else you need to have the best in cellulite information. This is due in part to the fact that cellulite is not something that will go away on its own. Moreover, cellulite will continue to be a problem unless something is done about it. That means that you will have to take the steps to deal with the problem head on. There is no side run action when it comes to this particular problem. Cellulite must be dealt with in a certain way or you will fail in the fight against it to be certain. Thankfully there is a lot of information on how to get rid of cellulite so making the point is very easy when you take the time to do a little research.

When you are looking for information on how to get rid of cellulite you should first understand all of the cellulite information that is available to you. For one thing, cellulite is a naturally occurring part of the body’s process of fat break down. The cellulite comes into play when the body has too much fat stored and that causes problems in the whole process. When there is too much fat the body does not know what to do with it so it just allows it to store up in case it may need it for energy. Well, the fact is that your body does not need that much in the way of reserve so then the fat starts to become enlarged and then it gets too large it attaches itself to the outer wall of the skin causing the cellulite dimples that are the most common symptom of this affliction.

The simple fact about cellulite information is this. If the problem is natural then you need to fight it with natural weapons. This is the very basis of how to get rid of cellulite. When you have this problem it is mostly caused by an unhealthy lifestyle as far as diet and exercise are concerned. To properly combat cellulite you need to maintain a healthy diet and also take part in as much exercise as possible. When you maintain this type of living there is a much greater chance that your body will be able to fight off the fat cells that morph into cellulite.

There are a plethora of acne medications currently on the market. Some of these are prescription medications, such as accutane. Others are over the counter chemical compounds, such as benzoyl peroxide. There are even herbal based acne medications, such as tea tree oil. However, many of them are not as effective as advertised.

Part of the problem with finding the right acne medication is that there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to acne. Different people respond differently to the various medications and treatments. However, there are several acne medications that have been clinically proven to be effective in treating acne, and these are the medications that will stop acne for most people.

Prescription Acne Treatments

Of the prescription medications, Accutane is one of the best. It is a chemical derivative of vitamin A, and is often referred to as the “miracle drug” for acne. Accutane is most effective in the treatment of severe cystic acne, and not to be taken lightly. For some people, the many side effects can be worse than the acne itself. However, this is one treatment that works.

Retin A and Renova are also prescription medications. These are topical derivatives of vitamin A, and are also good at clearing up fine lines, wrinkles, and slight skin discolorations. One of the biggest downsides is sunlight and other topical acne treatments must be avoided while using either of them. However, they are proven to reduce acne.

Birth control pills and antibiotics round out the acne medications most commonly prescribed. Birth control pills are used exclusively by women to help regulate hormones, and therefore lessen the hormonally related acne that many women experience. Antibiotics work by attacking the acne causing p.bateria as it grows deep in skin pores.

Over the Counter Acne Treatments

There are some over the counter acne treatments that work well. The two best are benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid.

Benzoyl peroxide works by penetrating the skin pores, and eliminating the acne causing bacteria that grows deep in the skin. Benzoyl peroxide is the most commonly used acne treatment because it is affordable, easily available, and nearly as effective as most prescription medication.

Salicylic acid works by removing the top layers of dead skin cells. This helps the skin renew itself faster, and decreases the chance for pore blockage and a subsequent acne breakout.

Herbal Acne Treatments

The vast majority of acne treatments fall under the heading of “herbal” acne treatments. The reason is because of the lack or regulation for herbal products. This can be very frustrating to the general consumer, because it is impossible to tell which herbal treatment will work to stop acne, and which ones will do very little at all.

Of every herbal treatment available, there are only 2 that are currently proven to stop acne. Tea tree oil will help get rid of acne, and so will green tea cream.

Tea tree oil is an oil derived from one tea tree plant that is unique to Australia. For several hundred years it was touted as a cure all, until penicillin was introduced to fight bacteria. However, tea tree oil has seen a recent revival due in part to study conducted in 1990 that proved it is as effective in treating acne as 5% benzoyl peroxide. Furthermore, it had none of the side effects that benzoyl peroxide does.

Green tea cream has been validated more recently, at the 2003 American Academy of Dermatology conference. It was proven that green tea is as effective in treating acne as a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution. Though the study has not been corroborated yet, it demonstrated that there is another herbal treatment besides tea tree oil.

These are some of the acne medications proven to work. For those who are experiencing acne, any of the aforementioned treatments would be well worth trying.

Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and the editor of http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com