:Clear Skin Blog

Baking soda has many uses, but most people have probably never thought about using it for clear skin. I hadn’t even heard of it myself until after researching about the use of toothpaste as an acne spot treatment. However, it seems that baking soda is in fact one of the most well-recommended alternative acne treatments since tea tree oil.

Baking soda works by neutralizing the pH levels in your skin, reduces swelling, dries and dislodges the bacteria in your pores, and assists in the expulsion of underlying bacteria (some users notice bacteria leached from deep within your pores and pulled to the surface). It is typically used either as a scrub or a mask, and is prepared similarly in both scenarios.

All that is needed is baking soda and water. Users should slowly add water to a few tablespoons of baking soda, mixing the solution into a thick paste. After rinsing your face (preferably with warm water, which will cause your pores to open), the baking soda paste is applied. Those who use it as a scrub will want to gently rub the paste into your face, exfoliating dead cells, and then rinse it off immediately afterward. Conversely, those using the paste as a mask should gently smear the paste over your face, and then let the mask dry before rinsing it off. Depending on your skin’s pH, you may start to feel a burning sensation, in which case you should go ahead and rinse off. Follow with cool water and pat dry. Take care to keep the solution out of your eyes.

As an acne solution, the benefits of baking soda are more likely to be felt from the mask, as it provides a longer time period for the baking soda to penetrate your skin. As a powder baking soda is very fine, and so it may not be the best scrub for the simple purpose of exfoliation. However, in either case it is a very cost-effective solution, since you can purchase a large box of baking soda relatively cheap, and it should last you a long time. How much of an effect baking soda will have on preventing acne and preserving clear skin is uncertain, but the neutralization of pH levels may help at least mild acne sufferers in this respect.

Some users see results faster than others, but many appear to see improvement within the first week. Baking soda is not an overnight solution, but judging from the reviews it can help those who stick with it. Just keep in mind that it may pull existing acne bacteria to the surface, so new users sometimes see the equivalent of an initial breakout (similar to the pore-tightening effects of vitamin B5). Follow with a moisturizer if your skin feels overdried.

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Relating to my last post on toothpaste and acne, I found a study done by dermatologist Dr. Milton A. Saunders on an unusual cause of acne for some individuals. This dermatologist had approximately 65 patients with isolated acne-like eruptions which occurred near the corners of the mouth, sometimes fanning out towards the cheeks and chin. After considering possible causes for this distinctive type of acne formation, the only common factor among the patients was the use of fluoride toothpaste, which the dermatologist hypothesized might have been present in saliva that leaked from the corner of the mouth during sleep, seeping into pores and resulting in these small skin eruptions.

With no other clear skin treatments producing the desired results, Dr. Saunders decided to have these patients attempt switching their current toothpaste to a non-fluoride-containing alternative. Within a month, 50% of the participants had been cleared of the eruptions. The other 50% were found to be using additional dental treatments such as whitening strips. However, once these treatments were changed to alternative products using baking soda and a different commercially available mouthwash (Scope), the result of clear skin again followed. Interestingly, some participants in the study later decided to later resume using fluoride-based toothpastes, and without exception, these individuals noticed the return of acne-like eruptions in the same areas.

The exact reason for this connection between fluoride and acne is still unclear, but if you suffer from eruptions that specifically crop up along the corners of your mouth, changing your toothpaste to a non-fluoride-based alternative may indeed help you maintain clear skin.

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In the quest for clear skin, people are willing to try some pretty strange things. Sometimes these unorthodox treatments even work. One of the more unusual acne treatments out there is using toothpaste as a spot treatment. Can smearing toothpaste on your zits actually help? Yes, but there are definitely better alternatives.

The pasty white varieties of toothpaste are the ones most likely to show some actually results on your skin. These are composed primarily of calcium carbonate and floride salts, which can facilitate the drying out of the applied area, and presumably reduce inflammation. Many brands of toothpaste also contain baking soda, which can clean out your pores and eliminate bacteria quite effectively. Keep in mind that almost anything which dries out the skin can temporarily aid with the appearance of acne. However, getting control of your skin requires more than just drying out trouble areas, which can lead to new acne blemishes in the future - and other spot treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and tea tree oil are typically much more effective at actually killing P. acnes bacteria.

If you’re really looking for an alternate acne spot treatment, toothpaste may work, but I would recommend skipping the toothpaste and just buying some baking soda instead. A pure baking soda paste will most likely work better, and does not contain all the unnecessary ingredients found in different brands of toothpaste.

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With “got milk” ads a frequent sight in the media, could this age-old beverage actually be a contributing cause to acne for many people? Some dermatologists think so. If you’re struggling with a stubborn case of acne, cutting down on dairy products may in fact be a smart move.

The primary cause of acne is widely recognized to be hormonal. In particular, the hormone 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone (DHT) plays a specific role in activating oil glands. It so happens that cow’s milk is rich in hormones and includes progesterone, which is easily converted into DHT in the body. As early as the 1960’s, a study conducted by Dr. Jerome K. Fisher found a correlation between acne sufferers and higher dairy intake, and a more recent study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Feb 2005) found teenage girls who drank multiple servings of milk or skim milk each day to be 22-44% more likely to suffer from acne.

Interestingly, if these findings are correct, they would provide an explanation for why foods such as pizza (cheese=dairy) have gotten a bad reputation among some acne sufferers. Skim milk is not an exception, and was actually shown to be more likely to coincide with acne in the second study. Despite these numbers, one should keep in mind that milk is an important source of protein and calcium for many people, so make sure you’re getting these nutrients from other sources (such as calcium-fortified soy milk) if you decide to cut off cow’s milk from your diet.

Besides the medical studies, the fact is that I’ve noticed quite a lot of testimony on the net from individuals who have reduced their dairy intake and seen clear skin result. This is an easy dietary strategy to try, so if you are consuming dairy products on a daily basis, consider reducing your dairy intake for two months. If this is indeed a contributing cause to your acne, you should see improvement in your skin over that time.

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Even though Acne-Vitamins had, up until recently, only accepted online purchases, we would still receive occasional mail from visitors who actually printed out the order page, circled the product they wanted, and included a check or money order. This honestly surprised me at first, but as it has kept happening I went ahead and designed a mail order form. Now those who would like to order our acne products via snail mail will at least have an easier time at it.

Yes, I know that enabling mail orders is one of those things I should have done earlier, but being an internet junkie, I guess I just assumed people would prefer the convenience of being able to order immediately online. You can now order from Acne Vitamins via our shopping cart or by filling out and sending in our mail order form. The online transactions are still far more secure than phone purchases, as no human ever actually views your number. In this age of identity theft, every bit of added protection helps.

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Among vitamin B5 users, taking an additional B-complex supplement is rather common. Even with the additional ingredients found in Clear5, long term users may benefit from a daily multivitamin or B-complex in order to get a well-rounded amount of related vitamins, and prevent the possibility of deficiencies (although vitamin deficiencies are more likely for B5 mega-dosers - as I’ve mentioned before, deficiencies are almost impossible to occur with Clear5). With this in mind, I’ve decided to start offering a new B-complex supplement made specifically with B5 users in mind.

Since a B-50 complex provides more than enough of most B-family vitamins (and getting more than this can actually conflict with B5), I chose that as the framework. A B-50 complex typically has digits of 50 down the line, but our supplement is also fortified with extra Biotin and Folic Acid, providing added insurance against deficiencies for B5 users. Many of these ingredients help with clear skin, but keep in mind that some of them (such as Niacin) can actually have negative effects for your skin of you take too much, so we recommend only one tab per day. A B-100 complex is really more than you need, especially of you’re taking Clear5 rather than mega-dosing.

On top of the normal B-number vitamins, you’ll also find other helpful ingredients such as Inositol and PABA. It’s a very complete formula with:

Thiamin
Riboflavin
Niacin
Vitamin B6
Folic Acid
Vitamin B12
Biotin
Pantothenic Acid
Choline Bitartrate
Inositol
PABA

I’ll be updating our ingredients page soon with the full supplement facts information. I just need to get around to making the new graphics ^_^. Our B-complex formula should be available next week in the shopping cart, so if you’re one of those who would prefer to get all your skin care vitamins at one place, I hope you’ll find it helpful and effective.

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For all you folks in the United States, have a safe and happy 4th of July! Since it’s a national holiday postal carriers have the day off, so all our orders that would usually be going out today will be shipped first thing tomorrow. Enjoy the day off and keep some of that clear skin diet advice in mind if you’re preparing for a big meal.

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So we know that certain foods can contribute to acne by decreasing sebum metabolism, while others rich in antioxidants can help protect against it…but what about beverages? Time to some up some of my recent blogs on what you should and should not be drinking. Keep in mind that moderation is the key, you don’t necessarily need to cut anything off from your diet entirely.

What helps for clear skin:
The two main drinks that are most beneficial for your skin are water and green tea. Water is the easy one. Drinking at least 8 glasses every day keeps your skin cells hydrated, strong and supple. Water also helps flush out those toxins and bacteria than can lead to acne. Green Tea takes a little more work, since it’s best when freshly brewed (pre-made green tea contains added sugar and preservatives that neutralize many of the benefits). However, the extra work is worth it. Green Tea is one of the healthiest things you can drink for your skin. It’s loaded with antioxidants, reduces inflammation, and can even lessen the effect of hormonal shifts.

What to avoid:
The main drinks you want to limit are our favorite addictions, alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol has the effect of sapping water from your skin cells, leaving your skin dry and vulnerable, and your blood cells dilated (thus the red flushing of the skin many notice when drinking). Its high sugar-yeast content also sets the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Caffeine is a stimulant that also poses many risks to acne sufferers. Caffeine artificially increases the production of stress hormones (that means your Coenzyme-A is being used to produce more hormones instead of metabolize sebum), negatively effects liver detoxification, and reduces your absorbance of healthy nutrients. Use moderation when it comes to these beverages if you’re having trouble with acne.

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