Treating Acne with Alternative Therapies

Pimples, outbreaks, zits, blemishes—regardless of the name use, acne is a challenging problem that may be difficult at times to treat. A common ailment, about 80% of people worldwide will suffer from acne in some form in their lifetime. If you only get the occasional pimple, it is more an annoyance than anything else. For those who suffer large or frequent breakouts, it can become an obsession that can impact their self-esteem and even their psychological well-being.

The majority of those suffering from acne will use harsh over-the-counter products or traditional antibiotic therapies from their doctors. Today, more options are readily available than ever before. There are several alternative therapies worth a try for treating acne.

Blue light therapy is reserved for acne sufferers who have experienced very little success using other treatments. Blue light therapy eradicates propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), that pesky bacterium that starts the whole acne process. P. acnes makes tiny molecules called porphyrins that help produce the bacterium causing most types of acne outbreaks. Blue light therapy focuses on the porphyrins, which when exposed to blue light, produce free radicals that destroy P. acnes.

Blue light therapy is quickly growing in popularity as an acne treatment due to its non-invasive nature and because it is free of drugs and chemicals. Most topical medications contain chemicals that can cause redness, solar sensitivity, and peeling in sensitive skin. If you think you might like to try blue light therapy, check it out. Light therapies were not considered completely safe in the past, and some have been concerned about blue light therapy’s safety due to the use of ultraviolet light. Today’s blue light therapy has been FDA approved and does not use UV light.

Blue light therapy is given in gradual doses. For example, you may make appointments for eight sessions over a time period of four weeks. Sessions are generally short, about fifteen minutes. A dermatologist or other skin specialist will have more information, or may be able to provide you with blue light therapy themselves.

Pulsed light and heat (LHE) therapy is also used to treat acne. LHE utilizes both light and heat to prevent acne. Similar to blue light therapy, LHE uses light that destroys bacteria that causes acne. Unlike blue light therapy, LHE also uses heat, which reduces your skin's production of sebum and helps shrink the size of the sebaceous glands. This is another option that is gaining popularity because it gives quick results. Improvement can usually be seen in as little as 30 days. Sessions of LHE therapy are about ten minutes long. LHE therapy has been approved by the FDA to treat mild to moderate acne outbreaks.

Easy and quick though they may be, light therapies can be expensive, and may not be covered by your medical insurance. If you are still looking for a mild alternative therapy that is less expensive, you may want to look at the herbal therapies that are widely available. Herbs have a long history as being therapeutic. Some companies produce a topical herbal application for acne. Others find success using single herbs. Black currant seed oil and evening primrose oil are two therapies that seem to produce results for other acne-prone people. The usual dose is three 500-milligram capsules every day for the control of outbreaks. If you want to try different herbs, keep a record of what you take and how effective they are to narrow down what works for you and what doesn’t.

Acne sufferers have had success with certain vitamins and minerals as well. Vitamin A is especially good for maintaining a healthy complexion. Vitamin A controls sebum production, and is needed to produce keratin. This is a very strong vitamin, and you must be careful not to overdose. Ask your doctor or a nutritionist about an appropriate amount of vitamin A. Other vitamins good for your skin include vitamin B-6 and vitamin E. Zinc is a mineral needed by your body for healthy skin. About 30-50 mg of zinc every day is appropriate for many afflicted by acne.