:Clear Skin Blog

Ginseng is a popular add-in in teas and topical lotions used by practitioners of natural medicine for centuries. You’ve no doubt seen it advertised on a number of products, but what does it actually do - and can ginseng actually enhance the health of your skin?

Ginseng is one of the more popular herbs used in Chinese Medicine. The scientific term for Asian Ginseng is “Panax Ginseng”, which comes from the Latin “panacea”, meaning “cure all”. Ginseng’s use in Traditional Chinese Medicine has likewise been very broad. Like most herbal treatments, there is controversy in the medical community over whether ginseng is actually helpful in the myriad of cases it’s used for, as there is little in the way of actual research studies available. This isn’t likely to change any time soon either, as ginseng can’t be patented and so there is little reason for anyone to invest the money needed to conduct serious research.

While the degree of its benefits is uncertain, there’s no denying that ginseng is a healthy addition to your diet. Ginseng is perhaps best known as an adaptogen, meaning that it helps the body manage stress. It also has antioxidant (bacteria-fighting) and anticarcinogen (cancer-fighting) properties, and stimulates enhanced circulation of your red blood cells (which helps with wound healing). Ginseng’s stimulant properties are the reason it has become such a popular ingredient in energy drinks, although its role in actual energy release is debated (as a side note, one of the most popular side effects is also an inability to sleep - ginseng may provide too much stimulation for some). Ginseng supplements have been found to inhibit cancer characteristics in animals, but similar tests have not been done on humans, although traditional use includes this purpose. Ginseng has also shown an ability to increase libido and copulatory performance.

With these kinds of benefits, it’s no surprise that ginseng has become one of the most popular herbs found in commercial health products. Unfortunately, since ginseng is so widely used, it’s hard to say exactly how effective it is with regards to specific health concerns such as acne. Unlike B5, there aren’t a whole lot of users out there posting in forums and sharing their experiences. Ginseng’s benefits, such as its anti-stress, antioxidant and circulation-enhancing properties are all traits that could potentially help acne sufferers, so adding some ginseng to your diet (perhaps added in with another already helpful drink, such as green tea) may be worth a try.

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A new update to our clear skin testimony page today. As always, it’s good to hear from customers who are seeing positive results from Clear5. Since most acne sufferers are used to relying upon constantly having to apply creams and cleansers, it’s often quite a surprise to find that vitamin B5 acne treatment - which doesn’t require any topical application - works so well. Anyways, while we appreciate the continued positive feedback, I’d definitely encourage our users out there to send us any feedback at all. If you’re not seeing the results you’d hoped for, we can often help out by providing some honest advice.

On a side note, I’d like to talk about submitting before-and-after pictures, as we’ve received a number of pictures this year that aren’t exactly publishable. If you plan to submit pictures to Acne Vitamins, please make sure the lighting is clear enough that we can actually make out your skin. Close-ups of your face are best, just turn off the flash. Also, try to avoid pictures taken too long apart in which your complexion looks totally different. We’ve received a few sets where people have had a dark summer tan in one picture and then look like they’ve spend more time in front of the computer than me in the next (I really need to get away from this thing ^_^). Just consider our ability to actually use your photos when submitting them.

For those who had trouble ordering earlier today, sorry about that! Our webhost for the shopping cart decided to undergo some huge server update or something, and it basically brought the site to a crawl (or a dead stop for some). Everything is back to normal now. I know I always complain about Netfirms and yet still use them, but if this happens again I may really switch. We got a number of emails from customers who couldn’t order thanks to slow loading times and pages simply timing-out, and then Netfirms emails us with the idiotic “try clearing your browser cache” advice for the technologically illiterate (I’m surprised they didn’t ask me if the computer was plugged in…). You’d think a company would at least have the decency to apologize when their service fails to perform, rather than playing dumb and trying to pass it off as being your fault when their servers aren’t working as they should be.

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It always happens. Whenever you have a successful (at least financially) acne treatment such as Proactiv Solution, dozens of imitators are sure to follow, often with nearly identical formulas featuring just enough variation to keep the lawyers away. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly not unique to the acne treatment market, but is often especially visible here. And since these products are often cheaper than the established brand names, they can present a real choice to consumers.

The first thing to understand is that drugs are drugs. The FDA keeps a tight watch on these substances, and if two products both state that they use 2.5% benzoyl peroxide as the main active ingredient, you can be sure that the substance is of the same quality and effectiveness. Tylenol may have a different brand name than generic acetaminophen, but they are both the same substance.

Because of drug regulations, products that use the same active ingredient in the same concentration and quantity are going to have about the same effectiveness against acne. Thus, for the average acne sufferer, the generic brand is going to work about the same as the brand name. But what about all those non-active ingredients? In most drug-based acne treatments these have little effect in actually combating acne, but they may help protect the skin in other ways. For instance, aloe is a popular add-in for the purpose of moisturizing the skin against the otherwise harshly drying effects of ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

So for drug-based treatments, a generic product that closely imitates the brand name will generally work just as well, but what about for natural treatments such as vitamins and herbs? In principle, the same should hold true. However, this isn’t always the case. Unlike with drugs, the FDA does not regulate natural vitamin-based or herbal treatments. Each state or country can have different manufacturing standards, and so the concentration and purity of substances may vary.

It pays to understand how an acne treatment that you’re considering works, and it can save you money - either by finding alternative products or by simply not wasting money on products that work identically to others you’ve tried and found ineffective. Take a look at the ingredients to make an educated decision.

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Vitamin B5 is probably the most effective acne treatment out there, but do you really need to take supplements in order to get enough of it to help with clear skin? Vitamin B5 is also known as pantothenic acid, a name which comes from the Greek word “pantos”, meaning “everywhere”. This refers to the fact that vitamin B5 is widely found in a great variety of plants and animals. Foods rich in pantothenic acid include organ meats (such as liver and kidneys), fish such as herring and cod, yeast products, ground peanuts, royal jelly and wheat germ. Moderate amounts are found in meats and vegetables too numerous to list. Chances are that if you’re eating at all you’re getting at least some vitamin B5.

The problem with relying on your diet for getting enough vitamin B5 for clinical purposes (such as to treat a disease like acne) is twofold. First, B5 is easily destroyed in the processes of either cooking or storing food. Heat denatures the pantothenic acid molecule, causing cooked food to lose most of the B5 before your body gets a chance to absorb it. Freezing and canning also lead to a loss of much of the B5 present in foods. The second problem is that the B5 compound is unstable even if it does manage to make it into your body. Supplements use calcium to stabilize the vitamin B5 molecule, which is why you often see B5 described as “calcium pantothenate” on ingredients section of the bottle.

Your body will still usually have no problem absorbing the minimum level of vitamin B5 required. But the main product of B5 - Coenzyme-A - is one of the most important and widely used catalysts in the body. Because Co-A is needed for so many functions, a considerable amount of B5 is required in order for B5 supplementation to have a real effect against an illness such as acne. For these reasons, it’s simply not realistic to expect B5 from food sources to be sufficient. You need the higher doses that only supplements can provide. That said, these aspects of vitamin B5 may play a role in why some cultures which rely less on frozen, processed foods (and cooked meats) typically have fewer cases of acne.

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Where as acne typically has to do with avoiding oily skin, excessively itchy skin is usually caused by dry skin related to a lack of skin oil. There are varying levels of itchy skin disorders, some that may simply go away after moisturizing, and others related to diseases such as eczema that can be very stubborn and long-lasting.

For most cases, effective treatment begins with picking the right moisturizer. Make sure to pick a product labeled as hypoallergenic to avoid unwanted reactions. The strongest moisturizers are thick ointments or oils, with weaker moisturizers usually taking the form of creams or lotions. A moisturizer should be applied multiple times per day, but the most important time to apply is after washing. Washing your skin has the effect of sapping oil from your pores, especially if using a potent soap - and leaves your skin especially vulnerable afterward. This is the time to add an extra layer of protection by applying a moisturizer. It’s also a good idea to simply avoid washing too frequently.

Despite the dangers of frequent washing, sometimes bathing can be turned into a positive means to treat dry and itchy skin. Such is the case with bath additives that can soothe the skin. Some of these include moisturizing oils, clays, and even baking soda. For the really serious, an oatmeal bath is especially helpful to moisturize and firm-up damaged skin.

Itchy skin is that much more likely to become swollen and infected (if it’s not already), so it is important to treat it before it gets worse. For more serious cases in which moisturizing isn’t enough, you may consider a 1% hydrocortisone steroid skin cream. This is generally applied for no longer than 1-2 weeks. Other prescription treatments are available, but require the advice of your dermatologist. Be sure to consult with your dermatologist if you think your itchy skin is a reaction to something in your diet or your topical skin care routine. Sometimes a bad reaction can have the effect of itchy skin, and topical treat simply cannot help with something that will keep coming back due to an internal reaction.

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I don’t usually cover herbs, as they tend to have less science behind them than vitamins and minerals, but there’s no denying that some of them - while not miracle cures - can certainly help with achieving healthy and clear skin. Besides, I need something new to write about .

Two popular herbal treatments for acne are burdock and sandalwood. Burdock is said to be one of the most potent herbs for treating chronic skin problems. It boosts your immune system and acts as a natural, mild diuretic, flushing toxins from the body. In Chinese medicine, burdock has traditionally been used to combat bacterial infections and inflammation, and is often recommended for dry skin. Burdock is usually taken internally, although it may be used to create a face wash as well. The most popular method is to brew a tea of burdock root by steeping a teaspoon of burdock in a cup of boiling water. Drink 1-3 cups per day. Burdock may also be taken as a pill, although burdock capsules have a lower a absorbance rate - or one could simply take 10-20 drops of burdock tincture. A facial wash can also be made by brewing a mixture similar to the tea, only stronger, but I honestly doubt the wash would work as well as the internal treatments.

Sandalwood refers to the bark of the Indian Sandalwood Tree, and is another treatment popular in India and Asia. It has antimicrobial properties and is known to cleanse and moisturize the skin. It has been used to fight acne, as well as aid in the healing of minor cuts and burns, and is popular for its pleasant scent and the soothing sensation it has upon the skin. Sandalwood is applied topically. It is usually purchased as a powder and used to make a paste by mixing with a few drops of water. The paste is then applied as a facial mask and left on for 20-30 minutes. For those that prefer less of an aroma, sandalwood may also be purchased as an oil and massaged into the skin. Besides acne, it’s also a helpful remedy for itchy skin and insect bites.

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