:Clear Skin Blog

Well, I figured I’d give the acai berry supplements a shot myself to see firsthand how well they work. I’m in fairly good shape, so I wasn’t expecting to shed a lot of pounds, but I must admit that my diet hasn’t been the greatest recently, and frankly I just wanted to see if I could notice similar results to B5. The first week was fine, then the trouble started.

It started out as a slight pain in my abdomen, but over the course of the next week, the pain got a lot worse. By week three I was barely able to sleep at night because of the intense stomach cramps that started wracking my body. There was a sharp, throbbing pain in my abdomen that radiated out to my lower back. One night it kept me up until 7:30 in the morning. Not fun.

At first, I was skeptical that the acai berry supplements had anything to do with my pain. I don’t have many allergic reactions to vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc. However, the time frame matched up, and now that I’ve laid off the supplements, the pain is leaving. A little googling led me to discover than apparently a number of other acai berry users have experienced the same thing.

This is not a well publicized side effect, and I expect it is fairly rare, but it’s a pretty brutal if you get it, so I’d just like to caution any acai users that if you start to feel stomach pain, stop taking the pills immediately.

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So Opera is at it again and the latest craze in health supplements is here: acai berries. If you’ve visited many websites recently, you’ve probably even seen a few banner ads for acai weight loss supplements. Acai berries are notable for a few reasons. Like so many other supplements, they are packed with antioxidants. Acai berries are said to possess even more antioxidant power than blueberries and blackberries. That’s well and good, but you know how I feel about antioxidants (when it comes to treating any real ailment, don’t expect much). More interesting are the other benefits of acai, namely its purported ability to both decrease your appetite and increase your metabolism. That certainly sounds like a powerful combination for weight loss. Some users have even noted that their skin tone improved, which caught my attention.

The claims of increasing your metabolism in a fashion that enhances your skin tone made acai sound quite similar to another supplement that I’m rather familiar with - vitamin B5. So I got to looking at how acai brings about these effects. Sources that actually explain *how* the acai berry works are pretty rare, but it turns out that the berry’s ability to improve your metabolism stems from the fact that it delivers a healthy dose of omega fatty acids (including omega 3’s, 6’s and 9’s).

While the acai berry contains these fatty acids, it does not provide them in a readily available form. It is much harder for your body to obtain these ingredients from acai, compared with sources such as fish oil, for example. This begs the question: If you want a more powerful metabolism boost, why not just take fish oil?

The unique thing about acai is that it also helps decrease your desire for food, thanks in part to its high fiber content. This is pretty unusual in a metabolism booster. Most products that have the same effect make you more hungry, not less. For instance, many vitamin B5 users notice an increased appetite as their metabolism ramps up from taking B5.

In any case, acai berries are certainly a powerful supplement with some great health benefits, but whether they’re the answer for you depends on what you’re looking for. If it’s mainly the metabolism benefits, you will probably get stronger effects from fish oil or vitamin B5, but considering the whole package, acai berries are still a nice option, just don’t expect dramatic changes overnight like some of the ads out there claim.

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For the longest time, topical acne treatments more or less ignored the real cause behind most acne, that being excess skin oil. You’d hear about how one acne cream or cleanser would give you clear skin thanks to how well it killed bacteria or removed surface dirt, factors which are mostly irrelevant when it comes to really stopping breakouts. Well, now it seems some products are actually getting it, talking specifically about how they eliminate excess skin oil from your pores….but there’s a still a problem with their methods.

I was recently watching a commercial for the Murad acne complex, which specifically noted how its deep-cleaning cleanser pulled the oil right out from your pores. Less oil is good, right? Well yes, but the key word here is “less”. The goal is to normalize your oil levels, not eliminate them altogether.

The problem with topical cleansers is that they strip away your skin’s natural level of defense. Acne is caused when your glands produce too much oil too fast. The oil becomes pressurized in your pores, hardening into acne pustules. Too much oil is a bad thing, but not enough oil can also be harmful. Too little oil leaves your skin dry and vulnerable, more easily irritated and more susceptible to sun damage. It can lead to premature aging and all kinds of effects you don’t want. And simply put, it’s not natural. Your body naturally tries to protect your skin with a safe level of oil. Constantly stripping it away is not a healthy way to treat your skin.

This topical approach does nothing to effect either oil production or oil metabolism. Once again, you’re treating the symptoms and not the problem. A topical treatment cannot take away “just enough” oil to leave your skin how it naturally should be. They don’t work like that. In the end, it takes an internal treatment to maintain your skin oil at healthy levels. If your body is pumping out too much sebum, that means you have to either decrease oil production with a prescription treatment such as Accutane, or increase oil metabolism with vitamin B5. In these cases, topical solutions aren’t a solution at all.

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Castor oil is a popular ingredient in skin care and acne soap bars, noted for its moisturizing properties. However, when used by itself, it can often be more effective than the products that contain it, as these often include other synthetic ingredients that can cause more harm than good.

A natural vegetable oil, castor oil comes from the castor bean. Like many herbal oils, its medical use predates modern medicine. Traditionally, castor oil has been used to soothe and treat skin disorders, burns, sunburns, and minor cuts. Due to its molecular weight, this natural oil is able to penetrate deep into the skin, more so than most store-bought moisturizers.

For best results, it is recommended to apply 100% pure castor oil directly. The oil itself can feel a little thick (and even sticky). This is natural, but keep in mind that you don’t want clog your pores or seal in any unwanted bacteria, so be sure to begin by washing your face thoroughly beforehand and patting dry. Apply castor oil lightly over blemish spots (or dry skin areas), allow the oil to seep in for about 30 minutes, and if needed, gently rinse off any that remains. Unlike tea tree oil, castor oil has almost no scent, so you can use it at any time of the day without attracting attention.

By itself, castor oil is a powerful moisturizer, but not an all-in-1 acne cure. As with any moisturizer, applying it too thick can cause problems for your skin, so don’t overdo it. It also makes a great ingredient if you are into crafting homemade soaps. While castor oil will not prevent the root causes of acne formation, it can help existing blemishes heal faster with less risk of scarring, as well as keep your skin cells moisturized and supple, reducing the risk of acne that can be brought on by dry, irritated skin.

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The trend of colon cleanse treatments has become a big part of the natural health market in recent years, despite the fact of how unnatural these solutions are. The general line of reasoning is that a layer toxins and waste becomes caked up along the insides of our intestines due to the foods we eat, and this layer then contributes to everything from obesity to acne. The most popular use of colon cleanse programs is for weight loss, but acne is another problem that the treatment is touted to cure.

To state it plainly, colon cleansing is by and large a scam. There is no medical evidence for the build-up of a “waste layer” inside the intestinal walls, certainly not for any real length of time or of any consequential volume. It is true that many foods include pesticides and preservatives that can deliver toxic chemicals to the body when ingested, but as with any ingredient found in foods, the contents are either absorbed through the receptor molecules of the intestinal wall, or flushed out of the body. They do not stay caked up along the inside of your intestines for years. If that were true, you would do more than gain weight - you would become very ill and possibly die.

When it comes to acne treatments, the argument is that these waste products accumulated in your intestines are expelled from the body by way of your pores. Can the body expel waste through the pores? The answer is yes. Your sweat, for instance, is full of waste chemicals expelled by your skin cells. However, acne pustules are quite different in composition. Acne is not simply composed of waste toxins. The pustules that form under your skin are hardened clumps of skin oil that result when excess sebum is pressurized. This sebum then attracts bacteria (the P. Acnes bacteria feeds off it). What you eat can make a difference in sebum production, but this has to do with the insulin effect, not some mysterious layer of toxins building up in the intestines.

My advice is to stay clear of these products. Beside the unscientific claims, they typically show a lack of understanding about the acne formation process. If you want to keep your insides clean, the natural answer is simply to drink enough water. Your body knows well how to flush out unwanted substances as long as it is kept hydrated. It can of course do you well to watch what you eat and avoid a diet of highly processed foods, but forcing a draino-solution through your intestines will do more harm than good. These treatments often eliminate receptors and good nutrients along with any toxins that might not have passed through your bowels yet. And keep in mind that no foods stay in your intestines for long, certainly not years. This is a myth, and one that most GI doctors (of which I have one in the family) simply laugh at. Natural cures that work don’t contradict real science.

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Poor blood circulation can make a bad acne problem worse. Often, circulation is one of those factors that people don’t even realize, and yet can contribute to your skin’s health and appearance. When your blood isn’t circulating well, the results can be seen in a poor complexion, small wounds (such as irritated acne pustules) swelling excessively and taking longer to heal, and less efficient transport of good nutrients into your skin cells and unwanted toxins out.

So what can you do to promote healthy blood circulation? Taking the right vitamins and minerals can certainly help. Many essential vitamins, including (and especially) vitamins B5 and C, can work to enhance circulation. A daily multivitamin is a good place to start. Another fairly easy solution is simply making sure to get a little sun. A healthy dose of sun exposure (about 15 minutes, no sunscreen) will promote circulation and help with exfoliation of your skin cells as well.

One of the most obvious (and most healthy) solutions is exercise. Nothing gets your blood pumping like a good cardio workout. Of course, to have any lasting effect you need to make exercise a regular part of your lifestyle. Keep in mind that for this purpose it’s better to work out briefly every day, rather than to work yourself really hard, but less often. By maintaining a healthy level of circulation, you can keep your skin looking its best, and the rest of your body too!

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Economic conditions got you feeling down? Coping with acne is hard enough without any extra stress, so here are some recommendations for cheap, affordable acne treatments that shouldn’t put too much strain on your pocketbook.

First, let’s start off with a helpful natural treatment that’s both effective and affordable: tea tree oil. Now, at first sight, tea tree oil can appear to actually be a bit on the pricy side, considering that a small bottle can easily run over $10. But here’s the thing: that bottle will last you a long time, much longer than a tube of benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree oil is a great natural alternative to BP for those in need of a strong spot treatment.

Second, there’s a legitimate “acne home remedy” that’s easy to come by: baking soda. Baking soda is cheap, and with a little warm water it can be turned into a paste that is effective both as a cleanser and a spot treatment (don’t leave it on too long if covering your whole face, it can be quite strong). A simple baking soda solution works better than most over-the-counter cleansers.

Third, there’s my all-time favorite natural acne treatment, vitamin B5. Yes, yes, I sell a B5 treatment (Clear5), but seriously, it saved me a ton of money back when I first found out about it. B5 treatments themselves don’t cost that much, especially once you get past the initial period and only need to take a maintenance dose. But even more helpful is the simple fact that with less skin oil, you usually don’t need to take anything else at all, meaning no more money wasted on creams and cleansers. It easily cut my acne budget in half when I started using it.

Lastly, here’s a cheap acne treatment that you really can’t go wrong with: water! Drink more water! This often-overlooked element can make a powerful difference in the health of your skin. Simply getting those 8 glasses of water per day can protect your skin from damage, help it heal faster, help flush out unwanted toxins….the list goes on and on. Your body needs it, and it’s not going to break the bank, so don’t skimp on the water.

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If you’re in the market for a natural topical acne treatment that’s unlikely to cause much irritation to your skin, using a clay mask may be a good choice. Clay facial masks can take a bit more time and effort to apply than a simple cleanser, but in many cases they can work better, and if you’ve got the time, it can even be a soothing, relaxing experience.

Acne clay masks work primarily by pulling out the unwanted substances from your skin, drawing them to the surface where they can be easily removed and washed away with the mask. As it sounds, it’s a far less forceful approach than most antibacterial drugs. Oils, toxins, bacteria and other impurities are drawn up and into the clay like a sponge. Clay masks are also typically rich in minerals such as calcium, silica, magnesium and zinc - minerals which are often lacking in skin cells. These can nourish your cells and help provide a little defense against future infection. Another benefit is promoting exfoliation.

Clay masks are not an every-day treatment. To apply, first rinse your face with warm water (you may want to use a gentle, non-drying cleanser - but nothing too strong), then massage the mask liberally onto your skin. Relax and wait about 15 minutes, then remove the mask and rinse with cool water. It’s usually best to do this at night before bed, as your skin is better able to rejuvenate itself during sleep.

While clay masks can remove many impurities, they are not usually strong enough to draw out hardened plugs of oil and bacteria such as a matured blackhead. They may loosen these stoppers, but the mask is usually more effective as a preventive measure. Also, although they are typically gentle on the skin, using them too frequently can still cause some irritation (like anything that forcibly sucks away oil).

Used properly, acne clay masks can be a healthy addition to your clear skin regimen, and they leave your skin feeling smooth, invigorated and refreshed. If you want a natural, topical treatment that is a bit gentler than, say, tea tree oil, clay masks are a good alternative.

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As some of our regular customers may have noticed, we’ve decided to discontinue the custom B-complex formula at Acne-Vitamins.com. There were a few reasons for this, the biggest being that demand simply was not that high compared with our other products. The B-complex we offered was intended to serve mainly as a supplement to our vitamin B5 acne treatment for those who don’t get sufficient amounts of the other B-family vitamins. It did not make Clear5 more effective, and we never marketed it as such. Getting a healthy balance of all your daily vitamins is of course still important, so I would recommend simply taking a good quality multivitamin.

While the B-complex occasionally helped prevent initial side effects such as stomach discomfort, these can almost always be avoided by taking your Clear5 tablets with meals. Also, the B-complex, like any multivitamin, introduced more side effects for people who were sensitive to certain vitamins. A few of the B-family vitamins, such as niacin (B3), B6 and biotin can even cause acne for people who take too much of them, which is obviously the last thing we want (this is why we stuck with a B-50 formula - which is still a lot - rather than a B-100 formula, which you really shouldn’t ever need to take).

Lastly, there was the problem of customer confusion. Since the B-complex contained vitamin B5 and was cheaper, some customers expected that they could simply take the B-complex and still see clear skin. Unfortunately, this happens in the vitamin business a lot, with customers who buy products based on what’s on the label rather than an understanding of effective proportions. Whenever you’re buying vitamins, remember this: it’s better to get an effective amount of a few things, than to get an ineffective amount of everything. Vitamins work in proportions. Some are absorbed better with each other, while others compete for the same receptor molecules and hinder each other’s absorbance. Some vitamins you need a lot of to see results (like vitamins C and B5), while others you should take with caution. With many poorly made vitamins tablets, you actually absorb less than 40% of what’s on the label, even without competitive absorbance. I could go on and on, but basically, it pays to be educated on what you’re buying. You would have to take 10 normal B-complex pills to equal the quantity of B5 in just one Clear5 tablet, and that’s neither safe nor practical.

So I apologize for those who will miss the B-complex. But again, I would recommend that anyone interested simply pick up a standard daily multivitamin to fill in the blanks of whatever vitamins and minerals your diet may lack. Clear5 will work the same either way, but a healthy diet is always a good thing.

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When it comes to acne control, we hear a lot about what not to do. But what are some good habits to pamper your skin and stay looking your best?

1) Drink plenty of water. The recommended eight glasses per day may sound like a lot, but drinking water is the best way to keep your skin moisturized and supple, flush out unwanted toxins, and promote healing and healthy circulation. Too little water is a common cause of minor breakouts. Around this time of the year, a lot of people also suffer from dry skin, and drinking more water is often more helpful than any topical moisturizer.

2) Get enough sleep. The term “beauty sleep” has some truth to it. Much of your body’s tissue repair occurs while you are asleep. Getting enough sleep and keeping your sleep schedule consistent are two big factors in making sure your skin stays healthy and your skin cells get rejuvenated each day.

3) A little bit of sun is a good thing. Don’t buy into marketing scams that tell you never to leave home without the SPF 15. Too little sun is NOT good for your skin. 15 minutes a day of sun exposure provides your body with essential vitamin D and enhances circulation in your skin cells. Limited sun exposure does speed healing of minor blemishes, just don’t cross the line into trying to hide them under a tan.

4) Wash your face twice a day, but no more than twice. Always be gentle on your skin when routinely washing. Washing too frequently is a common error among stressed-out acne sufferers. Over-washing will only irritate your skin by constantly stripping it of its protective layer of oil. Excess oil is a bad thing, but *some* oil is a good thing. It’s a natural layer of defense for your skin.

5) Exfoliate now and then. There are several different ways to exfoliate that top layer of dead skin cells, but the best to use regularly is a scrub or paste. Avoid chemical peels that can have uneven or harsh effects. Use a coarse-grain scrub with decently large particles (fine particles can enter or scrape the sides of your pores). Exfoliation doesn’t usually need to be done every day, and you should always be gentle when applying an exfoliant, but used properly, these are a great way to safely strip away unwanted dead cells from the surface of your skin.

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