Acne VulgarisI hate spending unnecessary cash and would rather go to the
pharmacy to get acne remedies to avoid paying the doctor's
consultation bill. Unfortunately, my acne got worse, to the
point that is scared the wits out of anyone who saw me.
For the sake of my family, I finally forked out the cash and
consulted a doctor about it. My family members are the ones who
have see me everyday and it was freaking my husband out. I only
have to see myself when I brush my teeth, though I can do quite
a good job without the mirror if necessary :-)
The diagnosis was a relief. I've got acne vulgaris, not rosacea,
that lifelong skin problem that requires constant medication to
keep under control ( lots of $$ down the drain).
Acne Vulgaris is caused by bacteria infecting clogged skin
pores. 2 ways to treat that is to unclog the pores and to kill
of the bacteria. It affects mainly teens and most people outgrow
it by the time they reach their twenties. Unfortunately I'm not
like most people. I'm in my late thirties and am still plagued
with acne, so I tell my peers I still have youthful, teenaged
skin. Hey, the glass is half full or half empty. You choose your
point of view right?
Anyway, I spoke to 3 doctor's (all general practitioners)
about my acne problem.
The first gave me a 10 day course of antibiotics.
Tetracycline and its variations are used to treat acne. I got
doxyxycline. 1 100mg capsule to be taken every morning. He
also gave me combiderm to apply on my skin. My skin began to
clear. As the pimples shrunk, I saw the scars left behind.
Pockmarks that look like pin pricks. Serves me right for being
so cheap. Should have seen the doctor earlier, rather than rely
solely on off the counter remedies.
Unfortunately, I fell sick by day 6. Really bad cold and
couldn't sleep at night. Each time I was falling asleep, I felt
like I was drowning in phlegm. It was off to a clinic for help
again ( a different one than the first as this was more
convenient). This time, the doctor gave me a course of
antibiotics and told me to stop the antibiotics given by the
first doctor and use his to treat the cold instead. I protested.
What he said was an eye opener. To treat acne with
antibiotics, you have to be prepared to take it for 6 months
everyday, or you're wasting your time and money. Take it for 10
days, it'll clear and then the bacteria will be back with a
vengeance. Take it for the entire 6 months duration to kill off
the bacteria population and prevent it from coming back and hope
your body's defenses can keep the problem under control when you
finally go off the antibiotics. Sometimes it works for good,
other times it wouldn't.
After I'd recovered from my bout of flu, I consulted our
family doctor about acne. I told him what the first doctor gave
me. He was surprised. Combiderm is used to treat allergies, not
acne. Anyway, he gave me a
benzoyl peroxide cream with 4% concentration. I started
using that yesterday. Too soon to see the results yet. There is
a large new painful pimple surfacing on my cheek, so that'll be
a good test on the effectiveness of this treatment.
Benzoyl peroxide treats acne by killing the acne bacteria. It
does this by forcing oxygen in the skin. As the acne bacteria
cannot live in the presence of oxygen, benzoyl peroxide makes
the environment hostile towards the bacteria, killing off the
acne bacteria, clearing away the pimples. 
Bioelements Breakout Control 1 oz. 2.5% benzoyl peroxide lotion in a lightly hydrating base. Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic. Fragrance-free, contains no mineral oil, artificial colorants or animal by-products. 1 oz. GreatSkin Monthly Specials – Huge Savings on our most popular products. New Offers every month. 
Improves problem-prone skin and prevents future breakouts. Reduces inflammatory acne lesions by 51% and non-inflammatory acne lesions by 33%. A safe and effective alternative to benzoyl peroxide. Utilizes 1% Salicylic Acid in a base containing 5% Glycolic Compound. 1.7 oz. GreatSkin Monthly Specials – Huge Savings on our most popular products. New Offers every month. 
Rainwater Hair Conditioner Tea Tree Oil 18 fl oz from Nature's Gate Rainwater Herbal Tea Tree Oil Conditioner A pure and gentle hair conditioner made with the softest water, Tea Tree Oil and pure extractions of Comfrey, Goldenseal, Arnica, Balm Mint, Soap Bark, Chamomile, Nettle, Rosemary, Hops and Watercress, and Panthenol. A gentle conditioner with Tea Tree Oil, Comfrey, Nettle and Goldenseal extracts to help control flaking and dryness caused by excess oils on the scalp. Rainwater Tea Tree Oil Hair Conditioner leaves hair with healthy body and shine. Ingredients Water Extract of Melaleuca Alternifolia Extract (Tea Tree Oil), Stearalkonium Chloride, Glycerin, Safflower Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Extracts of Comfrey, Goldenseal, Arnica, Balm Mint, Soap Barkrey, Chamomile, Nettles, Rosemary, Hops and Watercress, Panthenol, Natural Fragrance, Diazolidinyl Urea. 
Rainwater Shampoo Tea Tree Oil 18 fl oz from Nature's Gate Rainwater Herbal Tea Tree Oil Shampoo A pure and gentle shampoo made with the softest water and a coconut oil base with Tea Tree Oil and pure extractions of Comfrey, Goldenseal, Arnica, Balm Mint, Soap Bark, Chamomile, Nettle, Rosemary, Hops, Watercress and Panthenol. Excellent non-medicated dandruff-control shampoo blended with Tea Tree Oil and other effective botanicals to help control flaking and itching. Rainwater Tea Tree Oil Shampoo is a gentle, pH-balanced herbal antiseptic formula. Ingredients Water Extract of Melaleuca Alternifolia Extract (Tea Tree Oil), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide Dea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Extracts of Comfrey, Goldenseal, Arnica, Balm Mint, Soap Bark, Chamomile, Nettles, Rosemary, Hops and Watercress, Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein, Panthenol, Peppermint Oil, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Chlorophyllin.
Tea Tree Oil, Organic Essential Oil 1 oz, NOW Foods Tea Tree Oil - Organic, Non-GE Spicy and warm, this timeless essential oil was originally used to render skin healthy and firm. When burned, Tea tree oil produces a rich, minty aroma that can transform the simple act of breathing into a rejuvenating, blissful experience. Life moves fast. Slow it down a bit with this delightful organic oil from NOW®. Organically grown and processed in accordance with the California Organic Foods Act of 1990. Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International. Warnings: Natural essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used with care. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. In case of accidental ingestion, call a doctor or poison control center immediately. For external or aromatherapeutic use only. Natural color and aroma variations may occur in this product. About Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Fun fact: During World War II, Australian cutters and producers of tea tree oil were exempt from military service until enough of this precious essential oil was accumulated for use in first-aid kits. Well-known for its antiseptic and germicidal properties, tea tree oil has been used therapeutically by the aboriginal people of Australia for centuries. Named by Captain Cook's crew, it was introduced to Europe around 1927. During World War II, Australian soldiers carried tea tree oil in their first-aid kits as a treatment for skin injuries. Even though tea tree oil has a long history of use therapeutically, it is a relatively new addition to aromatherapy. Despite being the new kid on the block, tea tree oil has become a staple for many aromatherapists around the world because of its versatility and wide-reaching benefits. Mixes well with: Basil, bergamot, citronella, clary sage, clove, eucalyptus, geranium, ginger, juniper, lavender, lemon, marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, pine, rosemary, rosewood, tangerine, tea tree, thyme, and ylang ylang. Extraction method: Steam or water distillation. Parts used: Leaves and twigs. Safety Information: Can be used neat, however it's best to do a patch test first. Limit usage to the problem area, and avoid the surrounding skin. Do not massage directly on or below a varicose vein.
Though my skin can't take benzoyl peroxide at higher concentration, lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide worked without that scaly irritation. A natural pimple zapping alternative is tea tree oil which kills the bacteria directly.
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