Integrative medicine acne treatment combines conventional medicine medications with proven alternative medicine therapies to offer patients the best of both medical worlds.
1. Topical medications which are applied on the skin
2. Systemic medications which are taken by mouth
1. Diet therapy
2. Aromatherapy
3. Herbal medicine
4. Stress Management
Foods with GI of less than 70 do not cause these blood sugar surges and are therefore beneficial for persons with acne. Examples include vegetables like broccoli, cucumber and spinach as well as fruits like apples, pears and cherries.
Conventional Medicine Acne Treatment
The treatment of acne with conventional medicine can be divided into:1. Topical medications which are applied on the skin
2. Systemic medications which are taken by mouth
Topical Acne Medications
Topical Retinoids
Topical retinoids like tretinoin (Retin-A) and adapalene (Differin) are derived from vitamin A. These medications have anti-inflammatory properties which enable them to reduce the inflammation associated with acne. They also normalize the shedding of skin cells which helps reduce the pore plugging that causes breakouts. Topical retionoids also prevent acne lesions by reducing the amount of sebum (oil) produced by the skin.
Topical Antibiotics
Antibiotics like erythromycin (Eryacne) and clindamycin (Topicil) are also applied on the skin to clear acne. These medications which also have anti-inflammatory properties, are also effective against the bacteria associated with acne known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide (Panoxyl, Oxy-10) is another antimicrobial applied on the skin to treat acne. This medication which can be purchased over-the-counter reduces inflammation, P. acnes population and the pore clogging caused by dead skin cells.
Systemic Acne Medications
Oral Antibiotics
Antibiotics like doxycycline and minocycline are taken by mouth to treat acne because in addition to controlling the population of P. acnes, they also reduce inflammation.
Oral Retinoids
Though these vitamin A derivatives reduce inflammation, oil production and normalize the shedding of skin cells just like their counterparts which are applied on the skin, oral retinoids like isotretinoin, are used for much more severe forms of acne.
Alternative Medicine Acne Treatment
Evidence based treatment of acne with alternative medicine can be divided into:1. Diet therapy
2. Aromatherapy
3. Herbal medicine
4. Stress Management
Acne Diet Therapy
Low Glycemic Index Diet
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that a low glycemic index (GI) reduced the symptoms of acne. This finding is attributed to the fact that high GI foods like cakes, pasta and breads made from white flour raise blood sugar levels which results in the pancreas producing more insulin. The increased insulin levels then stimulate oil glands on the skin to produce more oil which clogs the pores and causes acne breakouts. Foods with GI of less than 70 do not cause these blood sugar surges and are therefore beneficial for persons with acne. Examples include vegetables like broccoli, cucumber and spinach as well as fruits like apples, pears and cherries.
Acne Aromatherapy
Tea Tree Essential Oil
A study which compared the effects of 5% tea tree essential oil with 5% benzoyl peroxide found that both were effective for treating patients with mild to moderate acne. Though study participants who used tea tree essential oil were found to develop less side effects, person with high risk factors for tumors that require estrogen in the body like some breast cancers should avoid using it since it has effects which are similar to those of this hormone.
To make your own 5% tea tree remedy mix 5 ml of tea tree essential oil with 95 ml of organic aloe vera gel in a dark jar since light and heat reduce the potency of essential oils. Tea tree essential oil can also be mixed with argan oil which does not clog the pores to make an acne treatment oil. These tea tree gels or oils should be applied to the affected areas after cleansing.
Acne Herbal Medicine
Green Tea
A study found that applying a 3% green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract on the skin reduced the production of sebum by the skin. Two other studies found that a lotion with 2% green tea extract reduced the symptoms of mild to moderate acne in adolescents and young adults.
To prepare your own green tea acne remedy, steep 2 tablespoons of green tea leaves in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain the tea leaves and use the cool tea to cleanse the acne prone areas.
Acne Stress Management
Meditation
Emotional stress has been linked to more severe acne in a study that evaluated adolescents with mild to moderate acne. This link is thought to be due to the
stress hormone cortisol.
Effective stress management is should therefore be a key component of any acne treatment program. This can be achieved by regularly practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and abdominal breathing during high-stress periods.
An integrative medicine acne treatment model is therefore the best way of managing this common skin disease since the complementary therapies cover the bases missed by conventional medications. A good example is meditating to reduce stress since acne prescription medications cannot help a person relax.
In addition, the benefits of managing stress effectively and adopting a low glycemic index diet are accrued not just by the skin, but by the whole person and they can thus help prevent stress and diet related illnesses.
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