For example, both Derma Cleanse and Derma Pure are widely recommended anti-acne products that are highly effective, but nevertheless, they are still based on natural ingredients.

As a general observation, the more severe the outbreak of acne is, the harder it is likely to be to shift it, and therefore, in these circumstances, it may be that some of the natural ‘home remedies’ recipes might be less effective.

This may mean that you need to turn to stronger commercially produced medicines in order to reduce the adverse effects of your acne, particularly if scarring seems likely.

This is something that just has to be accepted, but it does not necessarily mean that you have to turn to highly aggressive chemical based products for relief.

Wherever possible, using products that are based on natural home remedies for acne ingredients is always the best resource (for the treatment of any medical condition, not just acne) because almost invariably, the side effects of using such treatments are limited or non-existent.
With natural ingredient based products, you know in advance what you are getting and what the adverse effects are going to be (which is none).

Using chemical based products, however, you have no real way of knowing what the side effects will be and especially if you are likely to have to use the product in question for any length of time, this should always be a primary consideration.

There is no doubt that some vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements can help your fight against acne, although it is unlikely that any are going to enable you to ‘cure’ it completely!

For example, vitamin A can help your anti-acne fight, and zinc also appears to have a very positive effect.

There are also some theories that acne is a result of a deficiency in vitamin B5, based on the idea that your body needs this to help metabolize the harmful fats in your diet.
The supporters of this theory suggest that in order to metabolize fats properly, your body needs Coenzyme-A, which is also necessary for the synthesis of hormones. Coenzyme-A is created within the body from a combination of cysteine, adenosine triphosphate, and vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid as it is otherwise known.

Of these three, the one that is most commonly lacking is vitamin B5, and from this it follows that your body cannot make enough Coenzyme-A to satisfy all of its requirements.

In this case, the metabolization of fats takes precedence over the synthesis of hormones, and in this way, too many hormones remain unsynthesized. So, there is a need (according to this theory) for additional vitamin B5 to be taken in as a way of redressing the balance.

The problem with this theory is that most proponents recommend extremely high dosages of B5 in order for the plan to be effective, with between 10 and 20 grams a day (note, that is grams, not milligrams) being the most widely recommended dose. There are many reports that, if taken in the dosages suggested, Vitamin B5 is actually more harmful than beneficial.

For example, several (albeit non-scientific) studies have indicated that excessively large doses of B5 can lead to chronic fatigue, constant headaches and a general inability for the body to heal itself in the normal way.

The proponents of the theory counter-claim that, since Vitamin B5 is a water soluble vitamin, any unused excess will be secreted by the body, so there is no risk involved. While this is true to a certain extent, the fact is that the doses recommended by the supporters of the Vitamin B5 for acne theory are just too high for this to happen in reality.

Your body simply does not have the capability of processing such massive amounts of any vitamin that quickly, and so the vitamin B5 will remain in your body long enough to cause the kind of problems that seem to be most commonly associated with it.

Most importantly, it is important to understand that everything that happens inside your body is about maintaining a healthy balance, and that the more balanced your system is, the more healthy you are.

For example, your body needs both calcium and phosphorus to stay healthy, but it needs them in balance with one another. Get the balance wrong, and it is every bit as bad for you as not having them at all.

Too much phosphorus, for example, and your body will start leeching calcium from your skeleton as a way of topping up your calcium store to maintain the correct balance between the two. This will obviously weaken your bones, making them far more susceptible to damage
and breakages.

It is a similar story with vitamin B5. If you try to take in excessively high levels of any particular B vitamin, your body will react by attempting to leech all the other B vitamins out of your body to maintain the correct balance.

So, your body ‘sucks up’ vitamins B3 and B6 from wherever it can find them, for example, and as these are key vitamins for controlling and regulating the levels of energy in your body, hence you get the feeling of being permanently tired. So, it appears that the vitamin B5 acne treatment theory is simply not correct and that, if anything, taking vitamin B5
in the dosage that are most commonly recommended by the supporters of the theory is likely to be more dangerous than beneficial.

Furthermore, homeopathic cure methods generally rely on encouraging the body to heal itself, rather than using invasive practices (such as surgery) or aggressive medicines and potions.

Adopting a homeopathic cure for acne is therefore an extremely safe and effective treatment option.

For this reason, it is easy to understand why there is growing popularity for homeopathic acne cure solutions. While this method of attacking acne enjoys variable levels of success – it works for some people, but not for others (usually those who are most severely affected) – this growing popularity is largely based on the fact that there are few or indeed no side effects.

Using acne cure homeopathic methods is no more likely to generate immediate results than it is for any other medical condition. Homeopathy is a form of treatment that takes time to work, and there is no getting around that fact.

The advantage of homeopathy, however, is that addresses all medical problems as symptoms rather than causes in themselves, and thus takes into account all aspects of an individual’s health and general wellness before coming up with answers. This is as true of homeopathic acne cure as it is of any other condition, as acne cure using homeopathic methods primarily focuses on the root cause of the condition rather than trying to cure the complaint at ‘skin level’.

This is the reason why it is likely that a good homeopath may seem concerned about other aspects of your life that are apparently totally unconnected to your acne. They may, for example, ask about whether you suffer from stress as a part of your daily routine, and of course, as we have already established that your family history is an important contributory factor, they will most likely query you about that as well.
They will most probably want to know about your life in general and all about the environment that you work, live or study in, before he decides on the best form of treatment for you.

He may prescribe some form of homeopathic medicine comprised of naturally occurring ompounds such as:
• graphite;
• silicea;
• hepar sulfuricum;
• calendula;
• kali brichomicum; or
• sulphur.

One point that you will often see raised by companies that make conventional drugs and medicines is that acne cure homeopathic medicines comprised of compounds and elements such as these have generally not been subjected to extensive clinical and scientific testing. And, while this is to a large extent true, it is a fact that certain homeopathic ‘cures’ do seem to have beneficial effects for many sufferers from acne without any adverse side effects.

Homeopathy addresses acne as an outward sign or a manifestation that there is a deeper problem that needs dealing with. For that reason, you will never hear a homeopath prescribe ointments or creams, because this is only tackling the problem at the most superficial surface level, which is definitely not what homeopathy is all about.

The secret of homeopathy is that it adopts an entirely holistic approach, and views the whole person (the patient) both inside and out when they are seeking a cure or appropriate treatment for any condition that you have. It is all about discovering the root of your problems, rather than scratching at the surface. That is why it is extremely unlikely that a homeopath will treat what is, for you, a debilitating and scarring condition (both mentally and physically) as just another case of a few pimples!

So, taking advantage of the services of a homeopath is a great option for curing your acne, although you should accept that it is not going to be successful in every case. Nevertheless, because homeopathy targets the root cause of your acne, even if it does not cure it completely, it is extremely unlikely to do you any harm, and there is likely to be a complete lack of unpleasant side effects of acne cure homeopathic as well.

Not all natural herbal cure remedies are to be taken internally, although all Chinese medicines that we looked at before are. A different one that is taken orally is one which can help pre-empt the skin inflammation that is most commonly associated with acne. This is made up of equal proportions of herbal extracts taken from sarsaparilla, cleavers, yellow dock and burdock root.

These herbs are considered to be strong blood and lymph cleansers, and one-half a teaspoon of this mix three times daily should have a good effect, especially when it’s combined with a healthy diet.

Other natural herbal acne cure treatments can be applied as creams and potions that are used to the effected areas of the skin as a way of reducing the acne-induced inflammation.

This is especially an effective tactic once combined with the application of a warm compress to the skin early, as this serves to open the skin pores, which gives the acne cure herbal acne treatment remedy the best chance of working its therapeutic powers on the affected skin area.

We have already recommended that garlic, potatoes and lemon juice used to the skin can aid in reducing the worst effects of acne.
There are a few more commonly applied herbal acne cure remedies, although it should be observed that the effectiveness of using these treatments varies from person to person, and will depend to at least some extent on the severity of the acne that the sufferer has.

The worse the condition is, the more draconian and aggressive the technique of acne treatment adopted is probably going to have to be. Applying herbal acne treatments remedies could never be described as aggressive, and so, while they completely merit trying (there is nothing to lose, after all, as there are no side effects), there is no guarantee that they will work in any individual case.

Red clover root can be used to infected skin areas because it shows certain steroidal effect, which means that it’s very effective for reducing swelling and inflammation. In a similar fashion, echinacea and poke root are sought after for their anti-inflammatory features, as are raw papaya and fresh mint.

All of these are effective antidotes to the inflammation and swellings caused by acne.

Other combinations of herbals that can be externally used to affected areas after the practical application of a warm compress which are known to work well for some people are:
• ground orange peel in water;
• lemon juice with cinnamon;
• honey and cinnamon;
• nutmeg powder with fresh (unboiled) milk;
• ground ginger with milk;
• boiled neem leaves;
• salt and vinegar; and
• turmeric and vinegar paste.

Herbs as chamomile, juniper, dandelion root, bergamot and witch hazel are all experienced to possess superior astringent qualities also.

This means that they can be used to the skin with a little water in order to thoroughly clean skin, thereby reducing the surface dirt and toxicity, which then improves the general condition of the sufferers skin in turn.
Herbal ‘tea’ paste
Combine the following ingredients together into a paste and apply to the infected acne areas of the skin:
• 2 parts Red Clover;
• 2 parts Dandelion Root;
• 1 part Echinacea root;
• 1 part Alfalfa leaf;
• 1/2 part Capsicum.

It’s best-known to do work wonders for some people, so give it a go, as there’s nothing to lose by doing so – obviously there are no side-effects of Herbal Acne Cure – and everything to potentially gain by doing so.

Clogged or very large pores, oily or very dry complexion and bad skin hygiene do not cause acne but they interfere with the healing process of the skin and make your external acne environment more prone or “susceptible” to acne.

Taking care of your skin on a daily basis by incorporating simple and easy to follow protocols may not only enhance the healing process of your existing acne it will also balance your skin ph levels, making it smooth, even toned, radiant and healthy looking.

Although there are many types of cleansers available for different purposes (exfoliation, clean, medicate), washing your face twice a day using a gentle antiseptic and anti-bacterial 100% natural soap like tea tree oil soap, or Cetaphil soap can help reduce inflammation, swelling and redness and significantly improve the overall appearance of your skin without the irritation, allergy reactions and over-dryness that over the counters like Benzoyl Peroxide can cause.

Washing your face should always come after a good 5 minutes steaming routine. After the steaming, follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Use lukewarm water to get the soap wet.

2. Apply the soap to your face using your fingertips in a circular motion.

3. Wash your face gently and pat your skin dry using a cotton towel.

If your sebaceous glands are producing too much oil (due to hormonal imbalance that should be fixed internally), then you probable have excessively oily skin and large pores. To tackle that problem externally, do not use alcohol and water astrigent, instead use soap like Neutrogena clear pore oil Controlling astrigent or even better apply an all natural mask made of bentonitre or egg whites.

An extremely dry skin can also be treated internally through balancing oil secretion protocols and dietary changes and supplementation, including the regular intake of 10 glasses of pure water on a daily basis. As for the external care, applying lots of good quality moisturizer such as 99% Aloe Vera gel while avoiding harsh and un-natural external care products; can significantly reduce your dryness.

Warning: Excessive washing of the face can cause mild to moderate irritations and increase redness and inflammation, defeating its own purpose.

If you have sensitive skin, the best practice is to test each product prior to using it, using dollar size amount on your chin, regardless of its quality or the nature of its ingredients.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, Download: Acne No More ….

By working with your skin and not against it you pave the way to an enhanced healing of the skin. Your skin will look and feel better; it will become more even toned and vibrant.

On the other hand, by constantly doing the following, you are weakening the natural protecting capabilities of your skin, you are slowing the healing process of your skin, and are making your skin look bad and making your acne worse:

1.Smoking

Besides lung cancer, heart disease and early aging of your skin (e.g. wrinkles), smoking causes the contraction of the small capillaries and blood vessels of the skin, thus depriving your skin from the essential oxygen I needs for the creation and maintenance of healthy cells.

2. Using Topical Steroids

Over the counter or prescription cortisone based creams, especially the potent types, can eventually thin your skin and worsen your acne condition in the long run in addition to the irritation, redness and other side effects steroid creams can cause. Moreover, topicals by definition address the symptoms of acne (inflammation, itching, puss), they do not treat the root cause of the disease. Nevertheless, taking care of your skin externally is highly recommended but should be performed gently using pure natural ingredients such as diluted tea tree oil.

3. Taking Antibiotics

Antibiotic treatments like tetracycline aggravate your acne in the long run and also severely damage your internal system in the process. Antibiotics destroy all the bacteria in your system including the good, probiotic bacteria like acidophilus that have many essential qualities that promote clear skin. One of these qualities is the ability to protect your digestive tract from parasites and fungus (that constantly stress and damage your liver, one of the most important organs responsible for the healing process of your skin).

4. Shaving with Four-In-One Razor blades

Never use these four-in-one razor blades when shaving especially if you have large bumps and painful cysts. The reason is that blades that guarantee the “closest shave” will cause severe irritation and will damage your skin. Always use a single blade when having “live” acne.

5. Picking Your Skin (popping and squeezing included)

Never, never and ever touch, pick or squeeze your blemishes, regardless of how temping and “safe” it may seem. By doing this unprofessionally, you make your acne worse by aggravating your existing inflammation and pushing the puss deeper and wider into the skin. There are in fact very effective and safe ways of dealing with small whiteheads or blackheads but I would strongly recommend leaving that to the professionals if you care for your skin and wish to prevent further scarring.

6. Taking excessive amounts of Vitamin A

Vitamin A from natural sources (green leafy vegetables and beta carotene fruit and veggies) and in small quantities can significantly enhance the healing process of your skin but when taken excessively it can seriously damage your liver and cause severe health problems and side effects.

7.Use over the counters for your Rosacea

That one is a no-brainer. Taking over the counters that by definition make your skin red and irritating is definitely not something you want to do when surfeiting from rosacea. If you suffer from rosacea, always consult your dermatologist prior to applying over the counters on your already inflamed and highly sensitive skin.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, visit: #1 Best Selling Acne Guide …

The recent proliferation of quick fix acne cures, miracle cures, and instant acne formulas, has caused consumers to wonder if these alternatives are actually worth their hopes and hard earned cash. Can there be an overwhelmingly easy to follow and quick acne treatments that produce results in days?

The difference between simple and easy

If someone has mild to moderate acne that is uncommonly triggered by allergy to certain foods, then they can often begin to cure their acne very quickly and easily, relative to their previous disappointing results. All they have to do is improve their nutrition by eliminating these acne-aggravating foods and a quantum leap can often be made.

With that distinction made, let me state unequivocally that achieving permanent clear skin is never really “easy”. There is always effort and discipline involved, as there is with any worthwhile achievement. Endlessly searching for an easier way, a fairy tale Acne Cure Quick fix, a miracle cure, a holy grail, is a misguided quest and it will lead you nowhere.

Curing acne quickly is very simple, but for most people it is not easy. There’s a big difference between simple and easy: “Simple” means the process is not complicated – if you do x and y you’ll get the desired result. “Easy” implies that something can be done with little or no effort. Anyone who tells you they’ve discovered an “easy” or “very quick” way to clear acne is simply and boldly lying.

You can only reap what you sow

Achieving lasting clear skin requires two things:

1) You must be willing to put some effort

2) You must be patient

The problem with many people is that they are terrified from anything that appears to involve some work. They’re always looking for short cuts. As soon as they see something that promises to cure their acne “quickly,” “easily,” “effortlessly,” “while they sleep,” and so on, they whip out their wallets and take the bait.

Make no mistake; people who are prone to acne and have beautiful clear skin, especially celebrities and famous models, have worked very hard to get where they are. Many famous people with acne prone skin who now have flawless complexions have made a sacrifice to get there.

It’s an absolute law of the universe that you can’t get something for nothing. Your acne will fade away and your skin will become clear and glowing in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put in. You can only reap what you sow.

The 5 crucial components to an effective Acne Cure Quickly and clear skin plan

An effective clear skin program must have five crucial components:

1. Internal and external cleansing

2. Internal strengthening and rejuvenating

3. Hormonal balancing

4. Lifestyle optimization

5. Goal setting and motivation

Except for those with acne triggered by allergies to food, it‘s extremely difficult (if not impossible) for most people to achieve permanent clear skin in days and without effort.

So there you have it. You have a solution. It’s simple (just follow the steps) but it’s not always easy. From here you decide what to do with your acne and your health. Like everything, in the end, it all comes down to your choices.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, Download: #1 Acne Treatment Guide …

Propionibacterium acnes, or p acne bacteria, the bacteria we all have on our skin is an essential life form. Like all life forms it fights to survive and sustain their lives. Surprisingly, these microscopic creatures that conventional medicine taught us to believe are the cause of acne, are actually a small part of the acne puzzle and a vital player in sustaining our inner balance and the health of our skin.

Acne bacteria are not contagious and everyone has acne bacteria on their skin, regardless if the individual suffers from acne or not. Streptococcus bacteria, for example, exist in everyone’s throat, but it doesn’t always cause a strep throat or tonsillitis. The reason is that similar to the acne bacteria these bacteria will not trigger the formation of a strep throat (or acne in the case of the acne bacteria) unless the specific condition or the right “environment” is created.

It is important to know that as long as the acne bacteria stays in balance with your internal system, acne bacteria will “mind their own business” and will defend the body from colonization of harmful bacteria. Acne bacteria feed themselves from the secretions of our sweat and sebaceous glands, and in a balanced biological state, sustains the flexibility of our skin.

Acne is an environment that forms only when the production of sebum on the skin is excessive. This excessive production of oil is triggered mainly by hormonal imbalance.

When blood toxins (usually blood toxins that are expelled through your skin) are mixed with this over production of oil, the p.acne invades the hair follicles and starts to multiply. The P. acne multiplies by feeding themselves of the oil using enzymes. As part of this feeding process, acne bacteria produces free fatty acids that irritate the skin. The body calls the white and red blood cells to defend itself. The red and white blood cells often cause an inflammatory response, that results in the familiar symptoms of acne: swelling, pus, whiteheads, nodules and pustules.

Killing the acne bacteria using antibiotics is a fruitless and destructive approach. Taking antibiotic is destructive because it upsets the natural balance of the P.acne in our body, eradicates the good probiotic bacteria and enables the intrusion of harmful bacteria to skin. Taking antibiotics is fruitless because constant intake of antibiotics will eventually cause the p.acne to become resistant to antibiotics. It is a fruitless approach also because it doesn’t stop the environment that caused the P.acne to multiply.

The only way to stop acne permanently is to neutralize the acne environment (when the bacteria multiplies and feeds on blood toxins and excessive production of oil). To stop acne, you must balance oil secretion and discharge your body from accumulated toxins and control the nutritional, hormonal, psychological and environmental triggers.

The secret for permanent clear skin is therefore, neutralizing all the factors that form the acne environment while keeping the p. acne bacteria at an optimal balance.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, Download: #1 Acne Treatment Guide …

Most dermatologists and other western medicine followers have already answered that controversial question by claiming that acne, among other diseases simply cannot be cured.

There are 2 reasons for that:

1. Most dermatologists don’t even know what the real cause of acne is. It’s amazing but true. They are highly familiar with the symptoms of acne and they specialize in tackling the ‘on the surface’ symptoms, but unfortunately they cannot tell you what the internal conditions are that cause your acne to form in the first place. If you don’t believe me just ask your dermatologist.

2. Most doctors work in conjunction with the pharmaceutical and drug companies and the latter is not motivated, so to speak, at discovering a cure for Acne or Aids or Cancer – simply because hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on finding cures for the symptoms of diseases. Why? simply because their global aim is to make more profit by creating consumer dependency. By applying medications and creams that deal merely with the symptoms while ignoring the source or the internal cause of the disease, acne will never be cured. The average acne sufferer will become more and more reliant on drugs that temporarily calm the symptoms and that means steady income for the drug and pharmaceutical companies.

There’s a lovely metaphor describing acne among other chronic diseases and the way modern medicine deals with these afflictions: If you manage to kill all the mosquitoes around a stale pond using chemicals, for a little while there will be no mosquitoes.

But since the source of the problem (what causes the mosquitoes to appear) is still there – the stale, disgusting pond where mosquitoes can find food and fertile ground for laying their eggs – mosquitoes will always come back!

The same thing happens with your acne!

Without eliminating the source of your acne condition, you will never get rid of your acne. Without fixing the internal problem that is causing your acne, you may find temporary relief, but your acne will always come back until you do something fundamental to eradicate the cause from within…until you make the pond (your body or internal system) a place where ‘mosquitoes’ cannot exist.

Ultimately, every disease results from a breakdown within your body. All major diseases and chronic conditions are warning signs of something very fundamentally wrong inside. Deepak Chopra refers to this as “The violation of simple laws of nature that make our body function.”

The very surprising truth is that you are lucky for having acne. Let me explain…Acne, like constant headaches, irritable bowel syndrome or dandruffs is only a small message from your body that something is wrong internally and should be addressed and corrected.

Now, there are two choices you can make – you can:

1.Ignore that message – big mistake! The internal imbalance that caused your acne will, in most cases, turn into a chronic condition. Now instead of just having acne you’ll start having other hormonal imbalance or toxic overload related symptoms in addition to acne. Because the internal problem is not fixed, the disease symptoms get more and more intense.

2.Listen to your body and start fixing the internal problem that causes your acne to appear in the first place; you will not only get rid of your acne you will also achieve beautiful, healthy, even toned clear skin complexion, re-balance your body and prevent future hormonal or toxic overload related conditions.

The simple truth is…you are out of balance. We now live a ‘far-from-natural’ lifestyle. There are over 300 synthetic industrial chemicals present in our bodies that did not exist 50 years ago. We are filled with toxins from the food, and medication we ingest and use.

By fixing the internal condition that causes your acne in addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle (healthy diet & mindset, cleanse & detoxify, hormonal balancing etc.) you will put your body back into balance – holistically – your acne will cease to exist and you feel as healthy and attractive as ever!

It doesn’t matter what type of acne you have. Whether you suffer from: acne vulgaris, acne Conglobata, acne Rosacea, Acne Fulminans, Blackheads, Whiteheads, Papules, Pustules, Nodules or Cysts: The principles required to cure your acne are basically the same. The “holistic” ways of curing people have been around for thousands of years, and they absolutely work whether you have teen or adult acne; whether you suffer from acne on your back, shoulders or chest or if you suffer from female related acne such as menopause acne or acne due to monthly cycles.

Whatever your acne condition is, when you finally decide to stop making the same acne cure mistakes that have been holding you back and begin applying the holistic approach naturally to curing acne, you can literally choose to become clear and stay clear. You will have the power to make it happen.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, Download: Acne No More …

With its undoubting success at battling even the toughest cases of acne and ever-growing popularity among teens as a miracle drug, why is Accutane still considered the most controversial pharmaceutical on the market? The answer: a documented list of severe and sometimes permanent side effects.

Although some of the side effects associated with the use of Isotretinoin are mild and tolerable (dry lips, dry eyes, nosebleeds, extremely dry skin, increased sensitivity to the sun and thinning hair) there is in fact a long list of serious side effects that have been reported due to the use of Accuttane which persisted even after the drug therapy was stopped. Among those are: Severe aches and pains in the lower back and large joints, severe allergy reactions that include moderate rashes and difficulty to breath, vision problems, hearing loss, permanent liver damage, persistent migraines and headaches and skeletal hyperostosis which is an excessive bone growth that occurs along the sides of the spine.

But perhaps, the two most bothersome of all Accutane side effects are its potential to cause severe birth defects if taken by pregnant women or women that became pregnant while taking the drug and the suggested link between the intake of Accutane and the changes in mood, severe depression and suicidal thoughts.

Since, Isotretinoin can be harmful to the fetus, it should not be used during pregnancy and women should avoid pregnancy for at least a month after the use of Accutane. Additionally, because of its severe side effects, nursing mothers must avoid the drug completely.

Although researchers still argue whether Isotretinoin causes depression or not, Roche the manufacturer of Accutane, openly shares information claiming that Accutane and its generic, isotretinoin, can alter mood: “Synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, can negatively impact brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.”

The FDA website warns: “All patients treated with isotretinoin should be observed closely for symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts, such as sad mood, irritability, acting on dangerous impulses, anger, loss of pleasure … mood disturbance, psychosis, or aggression.”

Moreover, statistics show that between 1989 and 2003, there were 216 reported drug-linked suicides among U.S. teens younger than 18. Of these, 72 suicides were linked to Accutane (isotretinoin). The next highest number of suicides in that time period — 55 — involved Prozac (fluoxetine).

Accutane works by reducing the size and output of the sebaceous glands and thus stops excess oil production. The problem is that Accutane damages your skins sebum glands and liver function in the process. By the time you stop taking the drug, your skin oil glands will return to function but your liver will not be able to properly balance your hormones and prevent the over production of sebum.

Isotrteinoin also normalizes your keratinization (the shedding of dead skin cells), improves fat metabolism and reduces inflammation. But all of these benefits can be easily achieved using all natural dietary, supplementation and skin care alternatives and without the side effects. For example: Foods that are rich in Vitamin A and Beta Carotene can help reduce the secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands. Simple home made peels made of Papaya can easily replace the peeling action of Isotrerinoin and sleep optimization, and regular exercising including vitamin, C, E, Zinc and Colostrum can boost the immune abilities of the body and thus reduce inflammation.

Accutane is not the solution to acne. Not only does it treat the symptoms of the disease and not the internal cause, stopping your skin’s natural oil production, can in most cases, result in extra dryness combined with the acceleration of the skin’s aging process (yes! your skin will look older). Moreover, Accutane severely damages your liver function among other side effects, which in turn destroys your delicate inner balance and your natural healing abilities. Hence, it is doing the opposite of curing.

A long-term acne solution should address the internal cause of acne by tackling all acne contributing factors and neutralizing the acne environment – the only, safe, natural and effective way you could ever achieve lasting acne freedom.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, Download: Acne No More…