How to Get Rid of Zits - Clear up Acne From the Inside

Oct 7
11:40

2009

Erica Jennings

Erica Jennings

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The secret of how to get rid of zits is to attack your problem from the inside. There's no use slathering lotions and potions all over your face if you ignore the true cause of acne: androgen hormones. This is what you need to do if you want to clear up acne from the inside.

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Whoever discovers how to get rid of acne the easy way is going to make a lot of money!  A quick search of the internet shows new methods to clear up acne surfacing practically every week. Lotions,How to Get Rid of Zits - Clear up Acne From the Inside Articles potions, electrical devices, skin care systems - the list goes on and on. But do any of these solutions to get rid of zits really work? Probably not. Even if they say "clinically proven" you might find it very difficult to get a copy of that clinical report. "Tested by doctors" means just that; not that doctors actually had good things to say about it! If you want to know how to get rid of your zits, the first thing you have to do is understand what causes acne. Only then can you evaluate whether a product being pushed on you truly presents an opportunity to clear up your acne.

Acne is not caused by dirt or bacteria on the surface of your skin. This is why special "acne cleansers" and "medicated washes" might be a waste of time and money for you. For acne sufferers, the problem is on the inside. Specifically, almost all acne is triggered by androgen hormones. These hormones cause skin cells inside the tiny hair follicles on your face, neck, chest, back and shoulders to "slough off" and clog pores. Once the pores are clogged by these cells, sebum, a natural oily substance that normally coats and protects our hair and skin, builds up, and swells the area causing whiteheads and blackheads. Then, bacteria on the surface of the skin can infect these blackheads and whiteheads, causing inflamed red zits.

An important thing to note here is that acne does not require bacteria at all. You can have swollen lesions before there is any infection. Bacteria makes things worse but the condition is already present. That's why products that target bacteria don't work particularly well to clear up acne. When you ask your dermatologist how to get rid of zits and you are prescribed an antibiotic cream or even pills, don't be surprised when they do very little. If you take this one bit of advice you will save a lot of money on those so-called acne skin care solutions that don't go after the true cause of your problem.

If cleaning your face isn't the answer, how do you get rid of acne, pimples and zits? The only way to get acne to clear up is to attack the problem from the inside. Either by going after the hormones that trigger the "sloughing off" of skin cells within the hair follicles, or by reducing the amount of sebum (also hormone related, by the way) produced by the sebaceous glands inside the hair follicles.

 Some women are able to get rid of acne and zits through hormone therapy. The high doses of estrogen found in early birth control pills reduced the production of androgen hormones by the ovaries and was very effective when used to clear  acne.  Today's lower dose birth control pills are not as effective but might still help some women. Of course, stopping the birth control pill will mean a return of your pimples. You should talk to your doctor to find out if brith control pills are right for you.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists are also used to treat hormone imbalances in women. Buserelin, nafarelin, and leuprolide are examples of this type of medication. These also work by stopping androgen production by the ovaries. One drawback is that since they basically replace the functioning of the ovaries, women may experience the onset of menopausal symptoms as well as bone loss and headaches caused by lack of estrogen.

Another way to get rid of zits is to use products that reduce sebum production. Some women may take a drug called Spironolactone which reduces sebum production by 30% to 50%. Unfortunately, this drug has many undesirable side effects including irregular menstrual cycles, stomach bleeding, rashes, and interference with anti-depressents to name just a few. Women who opt for this type of treatment must be monitored closely by their doctor.

Accutane is often called the "miracle drug" for acne sufferers. Accutane is very effective in clearing up acne because it reduces sebum production and also seems to stop the "sloughing off" of the skin cells that block pores in the first place. Accutane should only be taken as a last resort by severe acne sufferers because of the risk of serious side effects. Accutane is a powerful drug. Besides making your face worse for up to six months before you see any improvement, you should expect extremely dry cracked lips and sensitive skin. Women must be on the birth control pill because of the risk of birth defects. Liver damage is also possible so you must be monitored by a doctor and undergo regular blood tests. Accutane does work for many people. Again, it is a last resort to be used only if other methods have not achieved the desired results.

Today there are several "holistic" programs that are quite effective at rebalancing hormone levels and attacking the root cause of acne. These programs require that users adopt specific diets that have been proven to have positive effects on regulating androgen hormones. These programs are an inexpensive solution for someone trying to find out how to get rid of acne and pimples but who is not ready to turn to hormone therapies or Accutane. An added benefit is that holistic programs usually lead to improved overall health in the acne sufferer. An example of this type of program is Acne No More by Chris Walden.

Is there a fast way to get rid of zits? Unfortunately the only ways to do so take time because they work from the inside out. Remember not to pick, squeeze or do anything to your face that will inflame an existing zit. It will take longer to heal. Normally pimples clear in 5-7 days, so patience is your best friend. Use a powder or water based foundation makeup to cover a zit and then wait for it to go away while you turn your attention to a longer term and hopefully permanent acne solution.