Dr Bar’s Acne treatment program:
359 San Miguel Dr. Suite 200
Newport Beach Ca 92660
Here’s some resources and readings to help clear the acne, if you have any questions blog or call me for a private consult.
Best of luck and See you soon:)
Dietary Changes to improve acne:
Although topical treatments may produce quick results, they often have side effects, may dry out the skin, and don’t address the root causes of acne. So, for a long-term strategy, it is better to treat acne from the inside out through dietary changes.
Since diet plays such a large part in acne problems, the first step to alleviate the problem is to make the necessary dietary changes. Without doing this, your chances of improvement are greatly reduced.
• A high-fiber diet of whole grain breads and cereals, bran, legumes (beans, lentils and split peas) and lots of fruits and vegetables is a good way to minimize eating the wrong foods. Often skin problems are rapidly improved when more fiber is added to the diet.
• Reduce your consumption of junk food and limit your total fat intake to no more than 20% of calories. Cut out hydrogenated oils.
• Eliminate sugars. Skin glucose tolerance is significantly impaired in acne patients and eliminate refined carbs.
• Drink 8 to 10 cups of water a day.
• Reduce (or eliminate) milk consumption. The hormones contained in milk can aggravate acne.
• Avoid chocolate, tea, and coffee.
• Avoid foods containing trans fatty acids.
• Avoid fried foods.
• Eliminate sodas and artificial sweeteners.
• Eat foods with zinc to get enough to satisfy the remedy listed below. Foods containing zinc include oysters, herring, wheat germ, sesame seeds, liver, soybeans, sunflower seeds, egg yolk and lamb.
These are some supplements that I recommend
Acidophilus Take acidophilus either in capsule or liquid form 2-3 times a day.
Brewer’s yeast tablets taken after every meal has worked for some people. It contains chromium which is an essential mineral involved in the processing of sugar. Take 2 teaspoons of brewer’s yeast daily.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are composed of linoleic and linolenic fatty acids and should be taken to help reduce or eliminate inflammation. Individuals with acne are often deficient in these important nutrients. The omega 6 fatty acids are found in evening primrose oil (take 500 mg three times daily), black currant seed oil, and borage seed oil. A tablespoon of fish oil daily will be helpful. Pure cold-pressed flaxseed oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids you can add it to your cereal.
Vitamin A will help reduce sebum production and is important in maintaining healthy skin. Take 10-15,000 I.U. (not beta carotene) and 400 I.U. of vitamin D daily. For severe cases of acne you may need to increase the intake to 25,000 I.U., but do this only with medical supervision as it may cause side effects.
Vitamin B-complex Take a B-complex supplement daily.
Folic acid (a B vitamin) 10 mg daily, especially if your acne erupts at the outset of your menstrual cycle. Take along with B-6.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) has been used successfully in China. Dosage is 10 grams daily (divided into 2.5 grams doses) plus a cream containing 20% pantothenic acid by weight, applied four to six times daily. After 2-3 days there was a dramatic decrease in the amount of oil secretion, and the acne was brought under control in a few weeks’ time. Severe cases needed 15-20 grams of pantothenic acid daily, and the time needed was up to six months.
Vitamin B6 will help restore normal hormone balance, especially testosterone and estrogen, which contribute to flareups. Take 50 mg three times per day. Women should start a week before menstruation and continue for a week afterward, as a minimum; daily would be preferable.
Vitamin C helps promote healing and cellular repair, enhances the immune system, and is beneficial for skin health in general. Start with 500 mg daily and increase to 1-3,000 mg or to bowel tolerance over a week or two.
Vitamin E boosts the effectiveness of certain enzymes (glutathione peroxidase) needed for good skin health and enhances the absorption of vitamin A. Take 400 IU per day. It is more effective when taken with selenium.
Zinc, an essential mineral, is more effective than antibiotics for wound healing, inflammation control, tissue regeneration and healthy skin in general. To see results you may have to take zinc for one to two months, and it should greatly reduce the recurrence of acne once the body chemistry is in balance. Zinc may be used topically or take 50 mg with each meal. Zinc picolinate is readily absorbed. If you don’t see any results after a month or so, increase the level to 100 or even 150 mg with each meal. You should have very positive results within three months. Many teenage diets are high in the junk food category, which is very low in zinc. I
Natural Remedies:
Aloe Use aloe vera juice or gel to counteract infection and promote healing. Use the ointment on pimples and sores. For acne scars, using aloe vera juice morning and night for as long as necessary (perhaps six months or longer) will help reduce the scars and improve skin complexion and color. It is drying, so if you have dry skin, use an aloe-based moisturizer. The pulp of the aloe vera plant is an excellent skin cleanser. Break off a portion and rub the pulp directly on the skin.
Apple cider vinegar/lemon juice Clean your skin and apply either lemon juice or apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball. The acid in these kitchen remedies helps flush out the pores and keeps the skin looking beautiful. Vinegar acts as an astringent and helps remove excess oil, kills bacteria, and normalizes the skin’s pH. This remedy should work quickly.
Basil For acne that hasn’t responded to other remedies, brew 2-3 teaspoons of dried basil leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 20 minutes; let cool; apply to affected area with a cotton ball.
Carrot Juice The essential oils in carrot juice will aid digestion and help stop acne.
Cucumber Liquify a peeled cucumber in a blender and apply the juice to the acne. Another variation of this remedy is to drink four or five cups of cucumber juice daily for a week. This is said to purify the blood and lymphatic system, resulting in a clearer skin.
Grapefruit seed extract This extract is a powerful all-around antimicrobial product and is an excellent disinfectant. Make a solution of 4-40 drops in four ounces of water and apply to the affected areas with a cotton ball two or three times a day.
Neem oil Neem (Azadirachta indica) is valued in Ayurvedic medicine for its varied healing properties due to its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral capabilities. A cousin of mahogany, neem is a tropical evergreen tree native to India and Myanmar. Over 60 medicinal uses have been documented for neem so far – such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, dandruff, athlete’s foot, ulcers, ringworm, and gingivitis, to name a few. For acne, apply a 2% neem oil-based cream to the affected area and take 2 neem leaf capsules daily to speed the healing. Neem oil may also be used by mixing 1 tablespoon of neem oil with 1/2 cup of a carrier oil such as almond or olive, and applying to the affected area with a Q-tip or cotton ball. If you have sensitive skin or if irritation occurs, dilute the neem with more of the carrier oil.
Oatmeal As for measles and other skin irritations, people have used oatmeal to conquer acne. Apply some cooled, cooked oatmeal to the whole face for fifteen minutes, then wash off. Oatmeal is an astringent and seems to draw oil and impurities out of the skin, keeping it clean and blemish-free. This method may take a week or two, but should have good results.
Oil of oregano Put a few drops in a glass of water and dab on the acne using a cotton ball. Oil of oregano is a very strong disinfectant, so if you start to get redness on your skin, stop using it for a few days then use a more diluted solution.
Sugar Wash your face and make a poultice of white sugar with a small amount of water; dab on the affected area. Sugar has an antibacterial effect.
Witch hazel In the morning wash your face with a gentle cleanser. If you have oily skin, rub a cottonball saturated with witch hazel over your entire face. It is an astringent and will help dry the skin and shrink the pimples. Next, spread a thin coat of a 2% salicylic acid product (found in drugstores) over your whole face. Its deep penetrating action will help unclog oil-clogged pores. Repeat the cleansing and witch hazel steps, then dab 2.5% benzoyl peroxide over the entire face to kill bacteria.
Herbal
Amaranth Make a tea from amaranth seeds and use as a face wash. To make the tea bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil, add 2 teaspoons of seeds, cover and simmer for five minutes; remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of leaves (if available) and steep for 30 minutes.
Basil To treat affected area, obtain a basil-based oil from your health food store and apply it as directed. Another way is to get the actual herb and make an infusion. To make an infusion, put two to four teaspoons of dried basil leaves in a cup of boiling water, steep for 10 to 20 minutes, cool, and apply to the acne.
Burdock The herb burdock (Arctium lappa), is effective in treating acne and is the most important herb for treating all forms of chronic skin problems. To make the tea, bring 1 quart of water to a boil, reduce to simmer, add 4 teaspoons of cut, dried root; cover and let simmer for 7 minutes, then remove from heat and let steep for 2 more hours. Use as a skin wash.
Calendula can be made into tinctures, lotions and creams. Look for products containing this herb. Make a tea of calendula and wash your face.
Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) It has antibiotic properties and helps stimulate the immune system. Take one of the following three times daily: tea from dried root (2-4 grams); tincture (6-12 ml or 1.5-3 teaspoon); fluid extract (1-2 ml or 0.25-0.5 teaspoon); solid powder of 8-12% alkaloid content (250-500 mg.).
Tea There are several other herbs that can be made into a tea and taken internally or used as a wash. Besides aloe and burdock, calendula, chickweed, dandelion, red clover, white oak bark, yellow dock, cayenne, echinacea, ginseng, redmond clay, sarsaparilla, and valarian may be used.
Tea tree oil derived from the leaves of the native Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree contains antiseptic compounds that are a very effective skin disinfectant. Depending on severity, use 5-15% solutions twice daily. It is as effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide and is less drying, although it may take a little longer to work.
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