:Clear Skin Blog

While recently browsing some resources and reviews that discus vitamin B5 acne treatment, I’ve noticed a bit of consfusion. Some authors out there mistakenly make the assumption that vitamn B5 treatment is all about combating acne by preventing a deficiency in vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). They come to the conclusion that, since B5 deficiency is rare, such a strategy is probably a waste of time and money, and is unlikely to do anything for you. These reviewers usually skim the information pages of sites like Acne-Vitamins, but don’t actually make any effort to understand the research.

Vitamin B5 acne treatment is not about preventing a deficiency.

Yes, vitamin B5 deficiencies have been linked to acne, but these deficiencies are fairly rare. The reason, as some authors point out, is that dietary sources of vitamin B5 are plentiful. It’s no lie. Good sources of vitamin B5 include: beef, pork, chicken, fish, wheat, oats, sunflower seeds, broccoli, corn, mushrooms, potatoes, squash, avocadoes, green beans, grapefruits, raspberries, watermelons, and more….You get the picture. Vitamin B5 is in almost everything, so how could you have a deficiency? You probably already get a sufficient supply from your diet. But here’s what they fail to mention:

If you have acne, you need more than just a “sufficient” supply of vitamin B5. You need a treatment-level dose.

Vitamin B5 acne treatment isn’t about making sure you get your recommended daily allowance of B5. It’s about giving your body a surplus - providing enough B5 that you can both produce hormones (which B5 fuels) and metabolize skin oil (which B5 fuels), without the later getting left out due to your body prioritizing hormone production. If you have a surplus of skin oil, you likewise need a surplus of vitamin B5 to counteract it, and you’re not going to get that from just your diet. A supplement like Clear5 is the easiest way to get your oily skin, and thus your acne, under control.

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I must confess, despite running Acne-Vitamins, I have actually been cutting down on my vitamin supplements lately. Sure, I still take the essentials like vitamin B5, but for many of my other vitamin needs, I’ve found that eating berries can be both a more effective and more delicious solution. And among those berries, blueberries have become my go-to berry of choice. Here’s why:

Blueberries don’t only taste great, they are also frequently ranked as the one of the healthiest foods in the entire human diet. Considered by many nutritional experts to be the highest natural source of antioxidants, blueberries have an advantage over typical supplements in that their vitamin contents are easily absorbed by the body, much more so than with tablets or capsules. They are rich in fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin (vitamin B2). Blueberries also provide a great defense against free radicals, ensuring your skin looks younger, longer.

But enough with the science. What keeps me coming back to blueberries isn’t just that they are good for you. There are plenty of “power foods” that are great for your skin, including other berries. One of the great things about blueberries is that they’re simply practical. Blueberries are a fairly low-profile berry, easily found at the grocery store, and usually cheaper than alternative berries. I love raspberries too, but blueberries are less expensive, keep longer, and are easy to mix with a variety of other foods.

The usefulness of blueberries can be seen in how many skin care products actually use blueberry extract in their ingredients. Their skin care benefits are no secret. They are even found in topical creams and facial masks. Some users also take blueberry extract supplements, but I would recommend sticking with the berries themselves for best results.

So the next time you get the urge to snack, put down the chips and reach for some blueberries instead. You’ll have healthier skin and will likely lose a few pounds as well. Blueberries may not replace the power of a high-dose single supplement, and they won’t clear your skin from a serious breakout, but they’re a great natural multivitamin and an easy (and tasty) healthy skin food that won’t break the bank or steal hours of your life.

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Keratosis Pilaris is anything but rare. It is a skin condition that effects 40% of us, and is frequently mistaken for acne. Taking a look at it, it’s easy to see why so many make this mistake. Keratosis Pilaris (KP) appears as small, rough red bumps that most commonly form on the back of your upper arms, though it can crop up in other areas of the body as well. Similar to white or blackheads, your pores are usually visibly clogged, with tiny pustules surrounding your hair follicles. Other common problem areas include your thighs and chest.

If you’ve tried to treat KP with typical acne treatments, chances are you’ve found that they don’t work (of course, most of those treatments don’t work for acne either, but that’s another story…). There is no cure for KP, and while it is harmless and often less visible than a bad acne cyst, it can still be unpleasant to live with. One giveaway that separates KP from acne is that KP bumps don’t go away. Most acne blemishes will heal and eventually vanish if the pustule is removed, but KP is stubborn. Even if you pop a KP bump, it will come right back, right in the same place, over and over and over.

KP can occur at any age, and often goes hand-in-hand with dry skin. Keeping your skin properly moisturized can at least help diminish its appearance. This doesn’t just mean using a topical moisturizer. Drinking plenty of water is always the place to start when it comes to dry skin. Get those 8 glasses of water per day. Furthermore, supplementing with vitamin E and/or fish oil (or better yet, krill oil) can be a powerful way to keep your skin healthy and supple.

Proper exfoliation can also be somewhat effective against KP. I’d stay away from salicylic acid. Glycolic acid appears to give many KP sufferers better results. Just remember not to nuke your skin too bad (apply twice per day at the most!). Warm showers and a textured bath sponge can also make a difference. However, DO NOT just scrape at your skin with your fingernails. This will often lead to scarring, and can get you the exact opposite result that you want.

If you’ve got KP, stay calm. With the right steps you can minimize its appearance. Get desperate and take the wrong steps, and you’ll make it worse. I’d start with a daily krill oil supplement and regular (gentle) scrubbing in the shower every morning. It’s not acne, so don’t treat it as such, and for heaven’s sake don’t attack it.

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Sure, your skin may be mostly clear, but let’s say you’ve got acne that just keeps cropping up in one or two trouble spots on your body. What do you do? Well, the first thing is to realize that locational acne may not be caused by the typical acne causes, and as such, the usual treatments may not solve your problem. Even vitamin B5 may not be enough if you are doing something on the outside to clog up those pores.

Locational acne can take many forms, but there are a few problem areas common to many acne sufferers. For instance, many people whose faces are otherwise clear, still get stubborn breakouts along their hairline or jawline. With these type of problems, always start out by asking: How am I treating that part of my body differently?

For hairline acne, consider the styling products you use on your hair. You might not have realized it, but hair gel can most certainly clog your pores. If you slather it on thick and don’t wash it off along your hairline, acne can crop up there. Consider using gentler, non-comedogenic styling products and just easing off on your applications.

Shaving is a common cause of irritation for men’s skin along the jawline. In fact, this can contribute to acne along your neck and cheeks as well, even if you don’t suffer from acne blemishes along the typical areas of your T-zone. Keep in mind that a lot of this is not traditional acne at all, but scar tissue and ingrown hairs. You may need a more skin-friendly shaving regimen. Learn to shave with the grain rather than against it (or consider dry shaving), and switch to a less harsh aftershave lotion. I’ve written several guides on this subject, so you may want to check the search bar.

Locational acne isn’t limited to your face. Perhaps the most infamous area is the dreaded back acne (or “bacne”). Again, ask yourself what that area of your body is exposed to. Do you sit all day with your back glued to the back of a chair? Yes, keeping your pores pressed against sweaty fabric can lead to blockage. Do what you can to minimize that pressure, and remember to exfoliate. Areas like your back can often get fewer opportunities to shed dead skin cells than other areas of the body. Get yourself a back scrubber with some texture and use it regularly in the shower, scrubbing gently but firmly, to make sure those dead cells aren’t hanging around longer than they need to.

Remember that even seemingly innocent products, like toothpaste, can irritate your skin when they get where they aren’t supposed to be (blemishes in the corners of your lips? Try using a non-fluoride toothpaste). Always keep an open mind when considering your acne problem. Once you narrow down the cause, almost any acne affliction is treatable, and clear skin may be easier to achieve than you think.

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Sure, vitamin B5 acne treatment will solve most people’s acne problems within a few weeks, but what happens if you’re one of those who either doesn’t respond to acne vitamins or has blemishes that have alternative causes. While rare, these problems can occasionally crop up and prove a real hindrance to your peace of mind. Acne is bad enough when you know what’s causing it. When you don’t, well that’s even worse.

So you’ve got a stubborn acne problem and the traditional solutions aren’t working. What steps should you take to narrow down what’s causing your acne? Let’s first narrow down the type of acne: is it locational acne (a certain trouble spot on your body) or general acne (everywhere)?

If you suffer from widespread general acne - the type that effects both your face and body and just doesn’t seem to stop, the first things you should consider are your diet and general hygiene. Do you eat a well-balanced diet? Are you getting enough leafy green vegetables (you should - those veggies are a great source of skin-healthy vitamins, more readily absorbed than in typical supplements)? Maybe you’re eating something you shouldn’t be. Eat a lot of dairy products? Dairy foods are a problem for many people with acne-prone skin. Try cutting down on them. Processed grains are another potential area to cut back. Eat more berries and other fruit, and, as always, drink a lot of water.

As for general hygiene, you know I’ve said repeatedly that, in almost all cases, acne is not caused by that little amount of dirt and bacteria on the surface of your skin. However, that doesn’t mean you should live like a total slob. If you are not regularly taking a shower, if you are not washing your face at least once per day (with a gentle cleanser), then you may be inviting trouble. It’s not just about the dirt. Washing helps you exfoliate dead skin cells - cells that may otherwise clog your pores.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe you’re washing too much. Some people get obsessive over skin care (you know who you are!) , and end up with drawers full of topical creams, cleansers and toners which they wash with 4 times per day, constantly irritating their skin and preventing the skin from accruing a natural, healthy level of protective skin oil. They may use overly harsh products and nuke their skin on a daily basis. This is just as bad as not washing at all. Here’s a hint: those people you see with clear skin? They’re not constantly washing their face with some 5-step system whenever you’re not looking. They don’t have to - and neither do you! Give your skin some time to breathe. Don’t wash more than twice per day. Don’t constantly fuss over your skin. Get away from the mirror. And when you do wash, make sure you’re using gentle products that won’t irritate.

Tune in next time for some advice on locational acne!

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I got a chance to visit the Strawberry Festival this weekend, an annual fair held here in the Tampa Bay area. It was a great time with plenty of events and lots of fresh strawberries (along with great weather, thanks to our cooler-than-normal temperatures this year). The freshly picked fruit was fantastic, and besides tasting great, it also so happens to be extremely healthy for your skin. In fact, there are a number of acne-fighting uses that strawberries can be applied to.

It should come as no surprise that, like most berries, strawberries are rich in antioxidants and key vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, B5, B6, B2, K, sodium, iron, folic acid, copper and magnesium (to name a few…). Think of berries as nature’s vitamin supplements. They’re packed with powerful nutrients, taste great, and are low in calories. Strawberries in particular are also a great source of those Omega-3s and alpha-hydroxy acids. As such, one way to apply the skin care benefits of strawberries is rather obvious: by eating more of them.

That said, some methods of using strawberries for healthy skin involve a little more creativity.

Did you know there are a bunch of recipes for topical skin care regimens that involve strawberries? Here’s a simple one: after washing your face (and the strawberry), simply slice the berry in half and apply it directly to acne blemishes or trouble areas of your skin. Those alpha-hydroxy acids will aid with exfoliation and speed the healing of blemishes. Do this for a few minutes, then wash and pat dry for a brighter, more evenly-toned complexion.

Other topical uses of strawberries include strawberry facial masks. There are a number of different formulas that you can find online, but here’s an easy one: combine a cup of strawberries with a cup of plain yogurt and 2 tablespoons of honey (a great natural moisturizer), blend, then apply the smoothie mask to your face for 8 minutes before rinsing and drying. Do this once or twice a week to help improve your complexion and also diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

As noted above, strawberries can help with more than just fighting acne. The nutrients packed into them are also great for preserving youthful, healthy-looking skin. And hey, even if you’re a guy like me and would rather just eat them all, you really can’t go wrong . They’re certainly better for you than that fried donut burger they were also selling at the festival…

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At long last, Acne Vitamins finally got our TV commercials going last month, and the extra work has kept me away from blogging for a while. The minute-long spots aired on stations like MTV, VH1, Style and Oxygen across the country, so hopefully some of you got to see them. We didn’t hire any celebrities , but the commercials focused on explaining how Clear5 works and why it is different - eliminating acne by enhancing the rate at which your body metabolizes skin oil, something which no topical cream or cleanser can do.

Hopefully we’ll be expanding to radio spots in the coming year. Thanks to all our customers who have tried Clear5 and helped spread the word! There are real acne solutions out there for those who are willing to look, and in this day and age, no one should have to live without clear skin.

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It can be hard selling vitamin treatments, as a lot of people tend to write off any treatment with the word “natural” in it as a scam. Unfortunately, people form these stereotypes because a lot of the products out there are just that. So how can you spot a fraud from the real thing? Well, one telling sign that you should always look out for is the infamous “big list of ingredients”.

People that know about vitamin formulation understand that having the right vitamins in the proper proportion makes all the difference. 400 mg of vitamin C may help you. 400 mcg of vitamin C will do absolutely nothing for you. Sadly, the average vitamin customer doesn’t know much about the science behind supplements, and there are no shortage of scam artists looking to take advantage of those customers. Thus, you get a lot of products on the market that try and throw in every vitamin, mineral and herb that could possibly help a certain affliction. These are the type of products that will never work. You might as well just throw your money away.

It’s not enough simply to have beneficial ingredients. You have to have them in strong enough doses, with supporting ingredients that aid rather than diminish absorbency. Take an acne vitamin treatment that includes all the B-vitamins plus vitamin C. That might sound good on paper, but in order for this treatment to have enough of those ingredients to actually help you, each pill would have to be the size of your thumb. That’s not going to happen, so instead what you get is a worthless treatment that has trace quantities of a dozen different vitamins in concentrations too low to make any difference. There are a lot of ingredients that simply aren’t going to make any difference unless you take them in significant doses. And also, many vitamins actually compete for absorbance. Taking them together can lead to your body absorbing less of what you really need.

Vitamin frauds aren’t going away, because there’s always going to be some customer who looks at the label, notices “this product has X ingredient that the other product doesn’t”, and buys the product with the bigger ingredient list. But you don’t have to fall for this trap. When you see a supplement with an ingredient list a mile long, be smart. Be skeptical. Does it look like the product has a definitive active ingredient? If so, there may be hope. But if what you’ve got is basically just a cocktail of everything plus the kitchen sink that some website said helps with your affliction, then do yourself a favor and save your money. Look at proven products like Clear5 or 5-Hour Energy and you’ll notice that they keep the ingredient list to the essentials, providing strong doses of exactly the vitamins that make a difference.

I was once one of those gullible buyers, and several years back I even packed Clear5 with more ingredients than we have today (twice as many, and it cost the same price to produce, by the way). We found that the added ingredients actually made our product less effective, and we cut them. So remember, don’t be fooled by a product just because it has a long, seemingly impressive list of ingredients. If every vitamin under the sun is packed into a supplement that calls itself a treatment, it’s almost definitely a scam.

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As some of you have no doubt noticed, we are no longer offering the liquid vitamins for sale. There were a couple reasons for this, but the main ones are simply that the cost of production is prohibitive, and the demand just isn’t there. Surprisingly, many people know about the benefits of liquid vitamins, but few want to take them in a concentrated form. I can kind of understand this, given that they do have a strong flavor. It’s easier to reduce the vitamin flavor when the dose is less concentrated (as with products like 5-Hour Energy), but that solution only tends to work with products that give you an immediate result. I may experiment again with other delivery methods in the future, but for now we’ll be sticking with the more popular time-released tablets.

I apologize to those of you who were fans of the liquid formula (yes, we’ve gotten quite a few emails ^_^). We do still have some stock on hand, so for a limited time, if you order 6 bottles of the Clear5 tablets, just email us and we’ll switch them to 8 bottles of the liquid Clear5 at your request. This is while supplies last. Makes sure to specify your desired flavor and email us right when you place your order. For those switching to the tablets, don’t fear. They are easy to swallow, effective, tasteless, and have the benefit of being more portable than the liquid vitamins. And hey, we just lowered our prices (especially on the 6-bottle value pack), so now’s a great time to try them!

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As someone who’s had sensitive skin my whole life, I’m used to dealing with blemishes. Acne used to be the main problem. That is, until I discovered vitamin B5 acne treatment and my skin took a dramatic turn for the better. However, while acne is no longer a concern, the consequences of shaving linger on. To this day I have to be careful about how I shave, as otherwise I’ll be dealing with unsightly rashes and shaving bumps along my jaw and neck.

I met someone recently who gave me an unexpected tip that worked for him: use nothing. It sounds simple, and it is. Basically, you shave with the typical multi-blade razor of your choice, but don’t use shaving cream or gel beforehand. Also, peel off the strip at the front of the razor. That leaves just your skin, warm water and cold hard steel.

I’ve been trying this for a week or so, and surprisingly, it appears to work fairly well. You should still spend some time splashing/soaking your face with warm water to soften up those bristles, and it is important to use a fresh, sharp razor so as to avoid snagging. Note that you may not get as close a shave this way, but honestly, that’s part of the strategy. With modern shaving technology, you can sometimes get a shave that’s simply *too* close for people with sensitive skin. Hairs can get clipped beneath the skin level and the top layer of skin can get stripped away, leading to those hairs getting stuck when the skin regrows and blocks the budding hairs from poking through (hence razor bumps).

I expected to get a bunch of rashes from this, as shaving cream weakens the fibers of your hair and helps prevent pulling when you shave those hairs off, but so far so good. Ingrown hairs can often be feeding grounds for bacteria and actually turn into acne blemishes as oil builds up and pressurizes in those clogged pores, so avoiding them is always important. If you have a hard time shaving and have tried everything else, it may be worth it to try nothing at all.

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