Acne is a term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples and even deeper lumps (csyts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20's - even into their 40's - can get acne. While not a life threatening condition, acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. When severe, acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring. Even less severe cases can lead to scarring.

- The American Academy of Dermatology

Types of acne 

Acne lesions range in severity, and are divided into two categories. Non- inflammatory lesions and Inflammatory lesions. (A lesion is a change in the structure of the body's tissue and could be external like a cut, or internal like an ulcer ) 

Non-inflammatory Lesions
Closed Comedos (whiteheads) and Open Comedos (Blackheads): I am sure that the terms "whiteheads" and "blackheads" are familiar to you, but what exactly are they? A comedo is a sebaceous follicle (in laymen's terms a pore) clogged with oil, dead cells, tiny hairs, and in the case of an inflammatory lesion, bacteria. If the plugged follicle (or clogged pore) stays below the surface of the skin, the lesion is called a closed comedo, or whitehead. They usually appear on the skin as small, white bumps. If the plug enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin, it's called an open comedo, or blackhead. If you have ever seen one extracted it looks white and wormlike with a dark tip. The dark tip is caused by oxidation.  

Inflammatory Lesions
Papule: When a blackhead is not extracted, bacteria enter the follicle and become inflamed. It appears as a small, pink bump that can be tender to the touch, or many small bumps that are almost sandpaper like. 

Pustule: Pustules are small and round lesions like papules, but are inflamed and filled with pus (just like its name). They do not contain as much bacteria as you would think, but their red base and whitish center look very irritated. The pustule is fragile and could leave a scar or progress into a cyst if not properly taken care of. 

Nodule or Cyst: When a pustule is not properly extracted, (mainly by pickers who can't stop picking-you know who you are) it can burst within the skin's tissue. White blood cells attack the bacteria that have been released by the pustule and form a pus filled lump called a nodule. A nodule that is severely inflamed is a cyst. These are large and very painful lesions in the deep layers of the skin. They often last for weeks, almost always leave scars, and should never be extracted or picked at. 

Systemic Acne: A severe bacterial infection that produces several inflammatory lesions including nodules and cysts.

The following statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. 

The alternative view of acne
In alternative medicine, Acne is viewed as a symptom of something else going on in the body. When it is hormone-related, it involves the action of the hormone testosterone on the sebaceous or oil glands. Overproduction of testosterone is unable to be processed by the liver, which is the primary organ that eliminates waste. The skin is the secondary elimination organ. When there is an over production of testosterone like there is during puberty, the skin is responsible for its elimination, but the testosterone causes the skin to produce excess oil and slows down the shedding of the cells. Other issues going on in the body that can cause acne symptoms are allergies, stress, poor digestion, and the inability to process fats.

 The importance of detoxification
Detoxification is the process of removing the physiological effects of harmful chemicals. Those who practice alternative medicine agree that acne is one of many signs showing a need for detoxification. Other signs can be constant fatigue, excess mucous, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and yeast/candida infection. There are many different diets and systems that help detoxify your liver and gastrointestinal tract. Taking herbal supplements is the most convenient form of detoxification for those with a busy lifestyle. It is important to find a supplement with herbs like Burdock Root, Dandelion, and Milk Thistle that increase the flow of bile, which is a necessary component in liver cleansing.

what is ph balanced?
Have you heard the term "ph balanced" but always wondered what it means or why it is necessary? It refers to a scale used to determine how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The scale is from 0-14, 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. The ph of lemon juice is 2, while the ph of baking soda is 9. This is most important when it comes to acne, because our skin has a layer of oil with a ph of 4.5 to 6. This layer of oil, called the acid mantle, protects our skin from bacteria. Most soaps are high in alkaline because higher alkaline products help soften the skin. A higher alkaline skin creates a better environment for bacteria to survive, so it is important for those suffering from acne to use a more acidic product.

What is exfoliation and why is it important?
Exfoliation is the process of shedding dead skin from the pores. This naturally occurs every thirty days in people younger than 20 years old, but slows as we age. One of the problems with acnaic skin is that it is unusually thick and when it sheds it blocks the pore. When dead skin clogs the pores, it prevents oxygen from entering the pore and fighting bacteria. Manual or chemical exfoliation helps acnaic or oily prone skin speed this process and creates room for the oxygen to penetrate the pores. Granular exfoliants are too harsh for acnaic skin, causing irritation and activating oil (sebaceous) glands. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) loosen the top layer of dead cells, primarily composed of keratin (a protein), while proteolytic enzymes dissolve this keratinized layer. 

  Will moisturizer make my skin oily and clog my pores?
This is a common misconception made by many of our clients. The classification of "dry" skin refers to skin that is lacking in oil. The classification " dehydrated" refers to skin that is lacking water or moisture. Our skin is thirsty. Acnaic skin is always dehydrated. It has a problem producing Hyaluronic Acid which holds 100 times its weight in water. Besides producing oil due to excess testosterone, our skin will also produce excess oil because it is lacking in water. Moisturizer products with Hyaluronic acid help hold water in the skin in order to add moisture which in turn will slow oil production.

The importance of masque
Some masques have a detoxifying effect when using clays that draw out toxins from the pores. There are several ingredients that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) have approved in the treatment of acne. One of the most popular ingredients, sulphur, is also often used in masques to loosen and dislodge blackheads from the pores. Tea tree oil has shown significant improvements to acnaic skin in clinical trials by killing bacteria, and zinc has been shown to strengthen the skin's immune system and regenerate tissue.