Alternative herbs that are used as a natural acne treatment are traditionally used to cleanse the tissues in the body’s systems.  These herbs work to detoxify the body and rid the body of impurities that cause acne from the inside out.  Because a natural acne treatment will work on the internal bodily systems, it will not replace any treatments that you are using as a topical or over-the-counter method.  However, these natural acne treatment methods may just work indirectly on your body in a way that your regular products will not.

Alternative herbs and natural acne treatment methods have a tendency to be quite gentle in how they affect the system.  Because of this, natural acne treatment methods are most efficiently used as a treatment method for the long term.  You will not experience overnight results, but natural acne treatment methods will not only improve your acne in the long term, but improve your overall health as well.  These natural acne treatment methods are very good for chronic inflammation issues that directly involve the skin.

A very common combination of herbs used as a natural acne treatment is the combination of Echinacea, blue flag, yellow dock, and burdock.  This combination is mixed and infused with boiling water for a tea.  Honey can be added for taste, and this tea should be consumed three times daily.  Other herbs that work well towards a natural acne treatment are poke root, cleavers, figwort, and red clover.  Another tea you can make for a natural acne treatment is sarsaparilla, burdock, and dandelion.  These herbs are combined in a very similar manner and infused with boiling water to make a tea. 

If you are looking for a natural acne treatment method that is topical, there are many choices you can make in this regard as well.  Tea tree oil is a very common herb used as a natural acne treatment that is topically applied directly to your blemishes.  This is a wonderful natural acne treatment if you have sensitive skin.  Fresh cabbage juice also works very well as a natural acne treatment when it is applied directly to your inflamed areas and is also very effective for those that have sensitive skin.

You can also make a face wash that works as a natural acne treatment as well.  Blend chamomile and calendula with boiling water as a tea.  Before you use it, let it cool, and you want to keep this in the fridge for your daily wash. You can spray this on your face, or dab it onto your blemishes regularly.

All of these ingredients for a natural acne treatment method are readily available at your local health food store.

The theoretical basis behind acne urine therapy is that the urine from the body contains a host of hormones and antibodies that are good for our overall health.  The materials in the urine also include a wealth of minerals and vitamins that our body has gotten rid of because the internal systems do not require them.  Thus, using acne urine therapy is a means of putting to good use the materials that are beneficial, but not currently being used by the body at the internal level.

Acne urine therapy is something that you can do yourself in the privacy of your home without anyone every even knowing that you use this treatment.  The process involves a collection of your urine into a sterilized cup. The best time to collect your urine is with your first morning urine, as the most antibodies and materials will be found in this collection.  You then perform your acne urine treatment by applying the urine directly to your affected blemishes.  You can do this several times throughout the day, and some have been known to leave it on overnight.  To preserve your acne urine treatment, you can put it in a sealed container and keep it in the fridge to use it later in the day.  You don’t want to use one collection for more than a period of one day, and if you continue with your acne urine treatment, you should have a fresh collection every day.

Acne urine therapy is known to have an exceptional healing effect when it is applied directly to your skin.  Acne urine therapy is also a very good toner for your skin.  This acne urine treatment is sterile once it has been collected, and thus it also contains antiseptic properties.  If you have a healthy diet and do not use allopathic medicine or chemical drug therapy, acne urine therapy can be a very beneficial means of cleansing your skin and attacking your acne blemishes.

Acne is the result of a number of changes that occur in the body, and is very often attributed to excessive hormonal fluctuations that trigger the production of acne causing bacteria.  One way that acne Vitamin E treatment works is as an antioxidant that eliminates free radicals working in human systems.  Many clinical trials have been conducted that suggest a strong relationship between acne and Vitamin E.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology has recently reported that Vitamin E works towards the prevention of trapped oils in the pores of the skin.  This prevention of trapped oils thus decreases the chances of struggling with painful acne inflammations.  Acne Vitamin E treatment works to reach the surface of the skin by being secreted from the pores.  Thus, if trapped oils from the skin can be cleared, acne Vitamin E treatment can reach the top layers of the face to prevent acne breakouts.  Acne Vitamin E treatment in this study then was found to act more as a preventive treatment for acne lesions, rather than a treatment plan once breakouts have occurred.

An additional study in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology noted a link between the amount of Vitamin E in the blood and the presence of acne.  Here researchers compared Vitamin E levels in the blood of patients that were struggling with acne but had gone untreated.  They compared Vitamin E levels with a number of participants that were considered healthy and did not have acne.  It was found that the healthy participants had higher levels of Vitamin E in the blood than did the participants struggling with acne.  This led researchers to conclude that lower Vitamin E levels in the blood can cause an outbreak of acne, and that acne Vitamin E treatment would be an effective solution.

Acne Vitamin E treatment can be a very effective solution and can be taken internally to work at the overall system level, or it can be applied directly to the acne lesion.  Acne Vitamin E treatment is also very beneficial in the prevention of scar tissue and to make the healing process more efficient.  While acne Vitamin E treatment may not be the most effective solution for treating current acne lesions, it can be very beneficial as a prevention method and as well as reducing the likelihood of scarring.

Green tea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat a number of medical conditions.  Acne green tea treatment has only recently become one of the two leading herbal remedies for the treatment of acne.  The secret lies in the way the green tea is made.  Many teas are fermented in their production process, whereas green tea is instead steamed once it has been harvested.  This procedure ensures that the leaves of the green tea will not undergo oxidation, as they would in the fermentation process.  The steaming process ensures that the active ingredients of Camellia Sinensis and Polyphenol are retained in the tea leaves.  These two ingredients are known to be powerful antioxidants, and thus lies the secret in acne green tea treatment.

Acne green tea treatment is also known to serve many other functions – acting as an anti-bacterial agent and will consequently decrease the amount of hormonal fluctuations in the body.  When hormone fluctuations are in overdrive, the production of excess oil results, and as do clogged pores which are the source of acne lesions. Because acne is caused by excessive hormonal fluctuations, acne green teat treatment can be a very effective solution for the treatment of acne.  

Green tea also contains many powerful antioxidants that make acne green tea treatment very effective.  Antioxidants are known fighters in the body’s war against free radicals, and it is these free radicals that are the culprits behind tissue and cellular damage.  When this cellular damage occurs at the skin level, acne breakouts are more likely.  Thus, once again, acne green tea treatment can be a very viable solution for those that struggle with acne regularly.

Because acne green tea treatment is found to be so effective, it is not only being suggested as a drink, but acne green tea treatment is also found in many topical products and creams that are used specifically in the treatment of acne.  Acne green tea treatment is also a good choice as green tea offers little to no side effects in the treatment of acne.

For a long time, dermatologists have used procedures known as facial peels and dermabrasion to heal scarring that are caused by acne. In fact, in mild cases, these treatments are still being used. For many people, these are very effective treatments; however, severe cases of acne will still require additional services. In these cases, laser acne treatment is a recent development that has shown significant improvement. Laser acne treatments work below the surface of the skin to stimulate the growth of collagen and tighten the skin that exists underneath the scar tissue. The additional collagen growth plumps up the scar tissue, thus, reducing the appearance of the acne scarring or eliminating it altogether. The end result is one that lasts much longer than traditional dermabrasion techniques.

Laser acne treatments are also known as laser-resurfacing techniques. These laser acne treatments use high-energy lasers to eliminate the skin tissue that has been damaged through acne scarring. The three kinds of laser acne treatment are Smoothbeam laser, VBeam laser, and Fraxel laser.

The Smoothbeam laser is a technique that is performed with a local anesthetic on the affected area. A cooling spray will be applied to freeze the area to ensure that your laser acne treatment experience is a comfortable one. The advantage to this laser acne treatment is that you will not experience the common side effect of redness of the face after this treatment, as you would with some of the other treatments.

The VBeam laser acne treatment technique is the most effective treatment for any form of acne scarring because it combats all types of acne. This treatment works directly on the blood vessels underneath the scar tissue and is very effective on red scarring.

The Fraxel laser acne treatment technique is the most advanced treatment of the three and focuses primarily on eliminating the older skin cells on the surface. The precision of this laser acne treatment makes it the most effective of the three treatments because it targets only the acne scar area without traumatizing the surrounding areas of the skin.

As with any medical procedure, there will be some discomfort experienced for approximately 1 week after the laser acne treatment, and your clinician can provide relief. The most common side effect is extended redness surrounding the treated area.

One of the most commercially available options for acne scar treatment are topical treatments, such as vitamin E and cocoa butter cream. These treatments may claim to heal scars, but there is little evidence to prove that they actually do reduce the appearance of acne scars. Even commercially available treatments to reduce scars such as Mederma have little evidence to prove their efficacy.

Perhaps less drastic than surgery, but also less effective, is the option of steroid injections. When steroids are injected into a scar over a long period of time, it is possible for the scar to flatten out and have less-pronounced edges, making it generally less noticeable. This treatment only works in keloid scars, or those raised above the surface of the skin.

The other nonsurgical option for treating acne scars is by injection. By injecting bovine collagen into the skin below an indented scar, it is possible to actually raise the scar and flatten it into the skin. These treatments do offer instant gratification, but they do not provide a permanent fix. These treatments must be repeated every 6 months or so to maintain their effectiveness. For those who are allergic to cow products or those who are vegan, it is possible to substitute your own fat from a different region of the body for the bovine collagen.

Surgical options are drastic steps in dealing with such a minor problem, but they offer the most practical means of reducing the scar's appearance and making it less noticeable. These surgeries are generally done under a local anesthetic and are very effective in treating scars.

One class of surgical acne scar treatments is called the 'punch' procedures. The first type is called a punch replacement. In this procedure, a skin graft is taken from behind the ear to seal the gap left by a scar. The second type is the punch excision, where the pitted scar is simply cut out and allowed to heal. The third type is the punch elevation, when the actual scar is cut out and then, after a period of time, rises up and fills the void. These procedures, although surgical, offer more permanent forms of acne scar treatment than topical treatments or injections, and often the results are more effective. The problem with these treatments though is that they may take several weeks to heal, which makes them somewhat less popular as methods of acne scar treatments because their price and their effectiveness are both highly appealing.

When it comes to over-the-counter treatments, those that contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are considered to be the best acne treatments. Both of these have proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of mild acne, and they are safe for both children and adults. Combined together or used with other topical treatments often makes these the best acne treatments.

Benzoyl peroxide is used to destroy the bacteria that is the culprit behind the acne and is very often touted as one of the best acne treatments on the market. It has a dual function as both an oxidizer and an antiseptic, and it works to decrease the number of clogged pores. Using this daily should provide results in approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Benzoyl peroxide needs to be used daily, even when breakouts are not present. This is because it destroys only existing bacteria and does not increase your pore's resistance to the acne bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide can be purchased in many forms, such as cleansers, gels, lotions, and creams, and is purchased in concentrations of 2.5% to 10%. This allows several options for treatment, depending on your current acne condition, whether it be mild or severe. Benzoyl peroxide used at the highest concentration is considered to be one of the best acne treatments in nonprescription form.

Salicylic acid is also considered to be one of the best acne treatments and, used in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide, are the best acne treatments available over the counter. Salicylic acid works as a gentle acid to exfoliate and remove dead skin. The acid works to remove the top skin layer and open up the plugged pores. This will enable the development of new skin cells. In most cases of acne, salicylic acid unplugs the pore and works to prevent future breakouts. As with benzoyl peroxide, it must be used daily or its acne-fighting effects will stop with use. When this happens, the skin will return to shedding at an uneven rate, the pores will become plugged, and the acne will return. As an exfoliating agent, salicylic acid is considered to be one of the best acne treatments.

Knowing how the best acne treatments work is the key to both treating existing cases of acne, as well as preventing future breakouts. Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide are both readily available over the counter and are considered to be the best acne treatments without a prescription. If you use these products in conjunction, and on a daily basis, you will be well armed with the best acne treatments and your embarrassing episodes are sure to become much less frequent.

When combating existing acne, the main goal is to form an environment that is nonconductive to the growth or survival of the existing infection cells. This can be done with minor surgery involving lights of a certain wavelength. These lights ionize the compounds that are existing inside the infection cells and create free radicals that effectively destroy the infection from the inside out. This treatment, although experimental, is considered to be extremely safe, because we are already exposed to low quantities of these wavelengths of light from the sun on a daily basis. Another method of acne treatment that kills existing infections is the use of topical bactericides such as benzoyl peroxide. These also kill the infection cells and prevent the infection from spreading. Along this same line of thought is the use of topical and oral antibiotics that kill the infection. Regardless of which form of acne treatment that you pursue, it is imperative that you first discuss your options with a doctor, preferably a dermatologist. Active acne treatment, the actual killing off of existing acne, is simply a matter of making it impossible for the existing cells to live.

Much of acne treatment, though, is done before an actual breakout occurs. This means washing your face daily with a specially marked acne soap, which will clear out oil from the pores. This oil is what allows the debris to "stick" in a pore, and is, therefore, one of the main causes for clogged pores that lead to acne. These soaps also have an added ingredient, such as salicylic acid, that will work as a mild chemical peel. This additive encourages the outermost layer of skin to be simply sloughed off and into the sink rather than into the pores. The same "sloughing off" is also achievable through the use of a scrub. These acne scrubs have some sort of abrasive material inside of them that makes it easy to peel away the outermost layer of skin that is the most likely to fall into the pores.

In addition to the scrubs, there are other ways to prevent excess dead skin from falling into, and clogging, a pore. This is done by exfoliating the skin and physically forcing the skin off. This can be done with a scrub, but if you can't find a sponge to fit your needs, it would be to your advantage to exfoliate nonetheless. This, when combined with another form of acne treatment, will greatly reduce the risk of any future breakouts.

It is important to remember that no one acne treatment will suit all people. This means that you have your own special condition, and that the most effective way to handle your acne is to discuss it with a professional, such as a doctor or a dermatologist, who will prescribe a treatment that is specific to your skin.

The Accutane acne treatment and, more specifically, the active ingredient (isotretinoin), is derived from the common fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin A. The specific compound used in the Accutane acne treatment is derived from the acidified form of this vitamin, giving Accutane the acne-combating properties of vitamin A, without several of the adverse effects.

Although it is not exactly known how the Accutane acne treatment system does so, it alters the process, by which DNA is copied, and results in a smaller sebaceous gland (pore) and, therefore, a lower production of Sebum, the oil that accumulates on the skin. With smaller pores and less oil production, the dead skin cells are far less likely to stick inside of a pore and clog it, forming a blackhead. By shrinking the size of the pores and by decreasing the amount of the oil produced by them, Accutane acne treatment is able to reduce significantly the occurrence of clogged pores, or acne.

The dosage for the Accutane acne treatment is very important. It is usually prescribed as a function of weight (between .5 and 2 mg of Accutane per kilogram of body mass per day) A normal treatment will last anywhere between 4 and 6 months, but, in extreme cases, when heavy acne is observed after the treatment has ended, Accutane can be prescribed again 2 months after the original prescription ends. Because of the highly nonpolar nature of the compound used in Accutane, it is highly soluble in fat. This means that it is best absorbed into the bloodstream after a high-fat meal, because the fat molecules will provide a path for the dissolved isotretinoin to be absorbed into the bloodstream. The dosage and timing of the Accutane acne treatment can greatly affect the overall efficacy of the product.

As with many drugs, Accutane acne treatment does come with some potential risks. The most common side effects of Accutane are related directly to the decreased production of sebum in the skin. Such side effects are dryness of skin and lips, itch, rash, peeling skin, and fragile skin. There are also some side effects that are related to the decreased production of sebum in the eyes, such as conjunctivitis, dry eyes, and a reduced tolerance for contact lenses. Also, because fats and albumin are used to transport the isotretinoin molecule found in Accutane, these levels may be slightly raised. Less frequently occurring side effects can include severe acne flares, mood swings, or fatigue. Although only exhibited in a very small portion of users of Accutane, there was an increased rate of depression and suicide. Last, the active drug used in Accutane acne treatment is classified as a "FDA Pregnancy Category X," and its use during pregnancy usually results in a miscarriage. Notable drug interactions include vitamin A supplements, as well as a certain drug that used in fighting cancer and autoimmune diseases, known as methotrexate.