Sometimes people turn to alternative treatments for acne treatment in order to avoid some of the side effects of traditional therapies. These side effects may include excess redness or drying or reactions to the chemicals in those medications.
In addition, there is concern that people may develop resistant bacterial infections due to such frequent exposure to the antibiotics in many prescription acne treatments.
At the same time, alternative treatments may carry their own risk and studies do not point to their conclusive effectiveness. WebMD reported from the American Academy of Dermatology that a certain over the counter oral “natural” acne supplement contained over 200 times the safe level of selenium, which could cause serious toxic effects.
Check with your health provider before embarking on any alternative acne treatments especially if you are already on a traditional regime. While alternative treatments may not work for everyone, below are a few of the ones that have been shown to offer some benefits:
· Tea tree oil is a popular topical acne treatment made from the oil of a tree native in Australia. WebMD cites a 1990 study that compared 5 percent tea tree oil against 5 percent benzoyl peroxide and researchers found after three months the response against acne to be similar with less side effects of dryness, irritation, itching, and burning.
Tea tree oil is well tolerated by adults though it can cause an allergic dermatitis reaction in some. It is never to be taken internally.
· Manuka honey is from New Zealand and has shown in studies to have anti-bacterial and wound healing properties. Because of this research, manuka honey has gained in popularity for the treatment of wounds in hospital and clinics. This benefit has been transferred to a belief that it can also help acne despite there not being definitive studies to prove this claim.
· Topical 4 percent niacinamide gel was found in a study reported by the University of Maryland to improve acne in 41 patients studied. The study did not have a placebo group which is a limiting factor in knowing how effective niacinamide is. However, the study did cite other controlled studies that compared niacinamide against clindamycin gel, where results of both gels were found to be equally effective.
· Oral supplements: Zinc is thought to contribute to wound healing and reduce inflammation, which can help heal acne outbreaks. Vitamin A is supposed to have similar properties to the retinoid drugs. Care must be taken to not take excessive doses of either supplement due to side effects.
· Brewer’s yeast has been reported in having antimicrobial action so may be effective against bacteria that cause acne.
Overall, other self-care activities may help with acne breakouts that don’t involve medications or supplements. Remember to change your pillowcase every night. Wash your face only twice a day.
Avoid wearing make-up but if you do, make sure you remove it before bedtime. Take showers and wash your hair regularly to remove excess sweat and oil that can contribute to acne breakouts.
Sources:
Acne. Mayoclinic.com. Web. 24 Dec. 2011.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acne/DS00169/DSECTION=causes
Alternative Treatments for Acne. WebMD. Web. 24 Dec. 2011.
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-alternative-...
Acne. University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Web. 24 Dec. 2011.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/acne-000001.htm
Kaymak, Y. MD et al. An Investigation of Efficacy of Topical Niacinamide for the Treatment of Mild and Moderate Acne Vulgaris. J Turk Acad Dermatol 2008; 2 (4):jtad82402a. Full article: http://www.jtad.org/2008/4/jtad82402a.pdf
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles
Edited by Jody Smith