Algae extract in acne & skin care

A perfect all-rounder…

Algae extract is a natural (herbal) botanical extract that is obtained from a variety of natural resources especially seaweed, fungi and other mushrooms. With its powerful ability to retain moisture, this natural extract keeps skin moisturized while providing increased protection against harmful irritants and substances in acne.

General skin benefits of algae extract

Skin experts, naturists and even dermatologists now consider algae extract as a potent, active substance that can be used to normalize the skin’s moisture content and provide suppleness to the epidermis (upper most layer of the skin).

It is also rich in iodine, which is diffused through the skin to stimulate the metabolic processes, resulting in cellulite reduction and slimming.

How algae extract works?

It is believed that algae extract works by helping skin maintain its youthful appearance by inhibiting the formation of the enzyme collagenase, which causes the degradation of collagen. Therefore, it actually prevents further breakdown of collagen which naturally leads to increased and optimal quantities of collagen in your skin.

What is collagen?

Collagens are important proteins for the skin, as they are essential for structure and function of the extracellular matrix in the dermis (the middle layer of your skin). Thinner and wrinkled skin, the typical sign of normal aging, or sometimes acne, is the consequence of reduced collagen.

Special benefits of algae extract in acne

It improves skin immune system, free radical scavenger, skin restructuring, wrinkle reduction and tissue renewal. It also provides protective film.

·         Pure algae extracts also work to inhibit skin irritation and reduce oxidative stress to skin cells.

·         It also hydrates, conditions and helps normalize moisture content in the skin.

·         It also promotes skin clarity, prevents the appearance of spots and discoloration in acne.

Additional bonus of using algae extract

Algae extract aids in diminishing the visible signs of aging, such as lines and wrinkles. Helps build skin’s collagen network, increase firmness and stimulate cell renewal. Its naturally fine colloidal particles and absorbent properties significantly enhance its deep cleansing.

Chamomile

A clear-cut choice in acne

Introduction & background

The use of chamomile as a medicinal plant dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. The name "chamomile" comes from two Greek words meaning “ground apple” for its apple-like smell.

The ancient Egyptians considered the herb a sacred gift from the sun god, and used it to alleviate fever and sun stroke. In the sixth century, it was used to treat insomnia, back pain, neuralgia, rheumatism, skin conditions, indigestion, flatulence, headaches, and gout. In Europe it is considered a “cure all”, and in Germany it is referred to as “alles zutraut”, meaning “capable of anything.

The unique, innovative skin & acne-related benefits of chamomile

Chamomile is used on the skin for many different problems including acne, poison ivy, chicken pox, diaper rash and other kinds of rashes.

It is also used for eczema, hemorrhoids, and cuts and scrapes. The following benefits will help you understand the importance of use of chamomile on skin:

• Chamomile is considered as cooling, soothing and refreshing agent for skin.
• Acting as an emollient, it provides valuable moisture to the skin.
• Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties give it the ability to neutralize skin irritations, making it ideal for sensitive skin suffering from pimples, papules, pustules, blackheads or whiteheads in acne.

Quite interestingly, many skin afflictions (including acne) such as acne have a strong emotional component (emotional stress). Chamomile provides emotional calming and balance as well.

Is acne curable or controllable?

What options do you have on the table…

Acne is one of the most frequently occurring skin disorders that can affect people of all races, genders and ages. With millions of people affected with acne worldwide each year, the most important questions for the acne sufferers are “Can I successfully treat this problem or will I ever be able to get rid of acne completely?”

The good news, however, is that while acne is still considered “medically incurable”, there are some good natural ways of “controlling acne permanently and completely”. The following review focuses on different treatment options available for those who suffer from acne.

Medical therapy

Depending on the severity and type of acne you may be prescribed a medicine to be applied topically, taken orally, or both. Some of these medicines commonly include:

1-    Topical retinoids for treating comedones (blackheads). However, they have limited benefit for inflammatory lesions such as pustules or cysts.

2-    Topical antimicrobials (Benzoyl peroxide) help to reduce skin bacteria and provide good results in mild acne (pustules/pimples) but can be irritating to the skin.

3-    Antibiotic therapy is generally done in moderate to severe acne.  Topical antibiotics (e.g. Cleocin-T, Benzamycin) are often helpful for mild cases of acne.  Oral antibiotics (tetracycline, erythromycin) have been used for years but have various side effects.

Surgery

If you have scarring, your dermatologist may suggest surgery to help heal acne lesions and remove scarring. A laser can reshape scar tissue and reduce redness. Dermabrasion is a type of surgery that can remove surface scars and reduce the depth of deep scars. Another option is to transfer fat from one part of the body to the face. In some cases, a single treatment can help scarring. But for lasting results, several are often needed.

Can more serious forms of acne be treated?

For more serious forms of acne that do not respond to OTCs or natural treatments, you should work with your doctor to find the best treatment.

All in all, while it is true that there has been no “medical cure” available for acne to date, various other options are rapidly emerging in the market with promising results. If you want to try one of such options, you must do your own research to find what will suit you the best.

Large Pore Treatments – Home Remedies

Enlarged pores can cause your complexion to be very unattractive and unsightly. The two main causes of larger pores are your age and unfortunately genetics. Large pores are likely to run in your family, so if you have an immediate family member who suffered with large pores when they were young, the chances are you will too.

Pores are imperative to skin to provide it with natural oil keeping your skin’s moisture up so it remains soft, supple and youthful looking. Pores become a problem once they become inflamed or blocked with dirt and bacteria making them expand more than normal and resulting in noticeable pores. If you were born very oily thick skin, your pores will be more conspicuous.

Pores can never really be shrunk per sé, but they can be made a lot less prominent. Age, exposure to too much sunlight and a decrease in the skin’s elasticity can cause the pores to dilate. When your skin thickens, tiny cells collect around the edge of the pores which gives them an enlarged appearance. Blackheads promote large pores as when the pores become blocked with dirt and bacteria; oil within the pore starts to collect which makes the width of the pore expand.

There are no permanent methods of shrinking large pores but cleansing the pores of all the excess dirt, debris and bacteria will reduce their visibility greatly.  Listed below are some excellent, natural home treatments for pores that anyone can implement to reduce the appearance of open pores.

·         Apply tomato juice onto the skin regularly with a cotton wool ball for about 20 minutes. This effectively helps to reduce the size of the pores by shrinking them.  Tomato juice mixed with calamine powder or sandalwood powder helps to tone up the skin helping reducing the size of the pores. It will also help to reduce the production of sebum resulting in smaller pores.

·         Whipped egg white mixed with a little lemon juice when applied as a face pack is excellent for improving skin tone, complexion and helps to reduce pore size. 

• Mashed papaya applied on the skin helps in toning the pores. You can directly apply a mashes papaya on your skin or can put it on cotton wool and gently cleanse the skin. When you are ready to remove the papaya simply rinse your face with luke- warm water.

·         Honey is very medicinal and has many health giving properties and is excellent for the skin.  Honey reduces oiliness in the skin and helps to tone up the pores. It can either be used as part of a facemask with a little lemon and sugar added to it or applied straight to the skin and massaged gently before rinsing off after a few minutes.

A quick an fuss free way to minimise pores, especially If you are going out and do not have much time is to rub an ice cube wrapped in a cloth over the offending area. This quickly shrinks the pore and reduces the production of oil temporarily for a few hours.

Tea Tree Oil Acne Treatment Facts

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

Tea Tree oil is extracted from the Melaleuca altermifolia tree which is native to Australia. The oil is extracted by steam distillation of the leaves of the tree and has been traditionally used by Australian aborigines for centuries. 

It has become so popular that nowadays it is grown literally all around the world and revered for its antibacterial, antifungal and anti -viral properties and has a wide variety of uses. Tea Tree oil has a very distinctive strong smell and is greenish yellow in appearance.

How Can It Help My Acne?

Tea Tree Oil is a very powerful and popular acne remedy. Its potent antibacterial and anti-fungal properties helps kill the bacteria that causes things like athlete’s foot, cold sores, ringworm and so it is highly effective at banishing acne blemishes. It is far less caustic than some acne treatments and 100% natural too.

 Tea Tree Oil can be used in many forms in soaps, facial washes, in blemish sticks and it is usually applied topically to the affected areas. Tea Tree Oil should not be used undiluted, if bought in its natural form.  Applying Tea Tree Oil onto pimples and leaving it overnight will give a definite reduction the next day making it an ideal quick treatment.

How Do I Use Tea Tree Oil?

If buying Tea Tree Oil in its natural form it should not be applied to the skin full strength, it should be diluted in an oil such as olive, apricot, almond or avocado oil. 1 ounce (2 tbs) tea tree oil to 4 ounces (1/2 cups) or more of the oil of your choice.

Some people suffer sensitivity to Tea tree oil so it is best not to immediately apply all over your face, apply to a small area and see if you get any adverse reaction.

 If not then you can topically apply the Tea Tree to the blemishes, it is best to avoid using it all over the face unless you are using a facial wash or treatment with Tea Tree Oil extract in which case it should be gentle enough to use.

Once or twice a day is all that is needed to treat acne with Tea Tree Oil, any more than that could irritate the skin.

Tea Tree Oil

Botanically known as Melaleuca alternifolia, Cheel or tea tree (Family: Myrtaceae) is a small tree native to Australia. The leaves of the plant used medicinally are the source of valuable therapeutic oil. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of leaves. The main constituent in tea tree essential oil is terpin-4-ol, present in concentrations of 40% or more. Tea tree oil is effective against a wide range of organisms including twenty seven of the 32 strains of P. acnes. It has good penetration and is non-irritating to the skin.

What Tea Tree Oil Is Used For

• Tea tree oil is often used externally as an antibacterial or antifungal treatment.

• Tea tree oil is used for a number of conditions including acne, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, wounds, and infections.

• Other applications for tea tree oil include use for lice, oral candidiasis (thrush), cold sores, dandruff, and skin lesions.

Special role of tea tree oil in almost all skin disorders

Tea Tree Oil is considered a universal remedy for acne, eczema, skin infections like herpes, wounds, warts, burns, insect bites and nail mycosis.

According to a recent review on the use of plants in cosmetics, Tea Tree Oil is widely employed in skin care for the treatment of sores, blisters, spots, rashes, warts, burns and acne.

Studies & research that prove effectiveness of tea tree oil in acne treatment

One study performed at the Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia (published in The Medical Journal of Australia) revealed tea tree oil`s ability to perform just as well as a common over-the-counter acne treatment, without the side effects.

This clinical trial was done on 124 patients to evaluate the efficacy and skin tolerance of 5% tea-tree oil gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne when compared with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion.

The results of this study showed that both 5% tea-tree oil and 5% benzoyl peroxide had a significant effect in ameliorating the patients` acne by reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions (open and closed comedones), although the onset of action in the case of tea-tree oil was slower. Encouragingly, fewer side effects were experienced by patients treated with tea-tree oil.