I just uploaded a new heat therapy page. This page discusses devices like Zeno and ThermaClear which claim to hasten the healing of active acne lesions through the application of heat.
My research into this topic as well as my personal experience leaves me highly skeptical to say the least. If you guys have tried either of these devices, especially ThermaClear, please leave your review. We only have one review of ThermaClear so far!
Acne.org does not advertise.
Most people find us on Google. The way Google ranks a web site is based on who links into that web site. Basically, the more links that come into Acne.org from around the Internet, the more easily people will continue to find us and get the info and support they need.
How You Can Help:
Thanks you guys! This will really help! If you have any questions on how to do this, feel free to contact me.
I have found no conclusive research linking vitamin D with acne, but then again, I have found no research signaling that there is not a link. This is true for, well, most vitamins and minerals. We can only make educated guesses at this point.
From a common sense perspective, it is logical to ensure adequate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D is one of the big ones. And since our bodies make vitamin D in the skin (by converting cholesterol), it’s interesting to look into how vitamin D might affect the skin itself, and in our case, acne. Recently, scientists have located vitamin D receptors in the skin, and they are hypothesizing that vitamin D may facilitate normal skin functioning, including playing a potential role in cell maturation as well as perhaps aiding in the fight against skin bacteria. No one knows for sure if, and to what degree, vitamin D might affect acne.
I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry. So how do we get the vitamin D that we need? Exposing the body to the sun for 15 minutes or so at least twice a week during the summer months makes for adequate supplies of vitamin D in lighter skinned people. The darker your skin, the more time that is required. However, in the winter, getting enough sun exposure can be tough. Food manufacturers often fortify dairy products and some juices, cereals, and breads with Vitamin D, so that can help. However, from what we’re learning about a potential dairy and acne connection, many of us are limiting our dairy exposure. Cod liver oil, salmon, and mackerel also provide some vitamin D. Since I personally don’t eat much dairy, bread, or cereal, and since I rarely intake salmon or mackerel, and do not supplement with cod liver oil, I choose to take a vitamin D pill once a day just to be on the safe side.
I hope the scientific community will look into the Vitamin D and acne connection more in the coming years. If I find anything more out about this topic, I’ll be sure to pass it along.
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Irritation can aggravate acne. If you’ve surfed around Acne.org you know that much. That means anything that comes into contact with the skin, especially stuff that rubs the skin can cause a breakout. Here’s a short list of things to be aware of:
- fingers (picking). This is the big culprit for most people!
- resting the face in one’s hands
- cell phone
- hats
- helmets
- chin straps
- kissing – probably worth it tho 
- nose blowing
I want to concentrate on nose blowing in today’s blog. I notice that whenever my allergies kick up, like they have in the past week, it is close to impossible to prevent some acne around my nose. Whenever I get sick, the story is the same. Frequent nose blowing can aggravate the skin and cause a breakout. To combat this as much as I can, I try not to “bear down” too hard with the tissue, and I try to keep my allergies in check. I also am extra careful in my BP application around the nose at such times, ensuring that I use plenty of BP and stay gentle.
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A member of Acne.org wrote us to let us know that she wrote to Olay complaining that they took away our beloved Olay Complete for Sensitive Skin with zinc oxide. She received the following response from Olay:
“I’m sorry to hear that you were not happy with the formula change made to the Complete SPF 15 products. Our goal is to produce high quality products that consistently delight our consumers and I’m sorry this wasn’t your experience. Please be assured I’m sharing your comments with the rest of our team.
It may be helpful to know there was a formula change in May 2009 for all Complete SPF 15 products with the exception of Complete Defense SPF 30 and Complete Plus. The changes include improved UVA protection with Skin Shield which is a combination of moisture, vitamins, and enhanced UV protection. Skin Shield is an Avobenzone and Octocrylene based sunscreen system with significant levels of both glycerin for moisture and active levels of niacinimide, a B3 complex.
However, although our newest formula with Skin Shield technology is safe and has strong UV protection, we realize the original sensitive version with its gentle formula better meets the needs of our Complete Sensitive users. Therefore, Olay will re-launch the original version of Olay Complete All Day Sensitive SPF 15 Sensitive Cream and Lotion! This will be widely available in April May 2010 and will say Classic Gentle Formula.”
I got an email from a member who wanted to let everybody know Dollar General is selling Gillette Trac II Plus cartridges for $1.25 for 6 blades. That’s cheap! He says they’re the real thing too.
The Trac II Plus is my favorite razor. The blades don’t come with the handle though. You need to get that separately. You can find out where to get those at the bottom of the recommended products page. I am totally unaffiliated with any of the companies that make the handles by the way.
For more info on all things shaving, check out the guide to shaving.
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Hilarity. A member of the boards contacted me a few months ago because he had bought one day of “shirt wearing” at IwearYourShirt.com, a web site where a couple of guys sell the privilige of wearing your company logo for a day. The member offered the day to Acne.org, and after looking at the website, I gladly accepted the offer. He asked for a Regimen kit in return, which I sent out to him.
If you’re in the Jacksonville, FL, or Los Angeles, CA area you might see these guys. I think it’s a great idea, and I love being part of home grown stuff like this
I’m working on seeing if there’s an automated way I can let you guys order a t-shirt/hoodie/sweatshirt from somewhere. I’ll let you know if I find a good option.
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Spot treatment: I’m thinking about calling this product, “This stuff works about 70% of the time.” How’s that for an honest name of a product? Seriously though, it is not a miracle. Nothing is when it comes to spot treatments. But from the feedback I’m receiving I’d estimate success hovers around 70%. And for me, I’ll take that when it comes to a spot treatment. I find it’s really nice to have something around that I can use as a weapon should I need it. I’m still awaiting some more input from the people I sent some to, but it’s looking good for this sample.
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New & Improved Non-SPF moisturizer: After lots of formulating and testing, I decided on a potential winner for the New & Improved Non-SPF moisturizer. It should have little or no sting, little or no tackiness, and still take care of flakiness if all goes well. Plus it has licochalcone so it should be particularly soothing to acne-prone skin. I sent out 30 moisturizer samples to moderators and a few product testers. I didn’t have enough to send it to all product testers this time. Feedback is coming in, mostly positive. I personally adore it. I do notice I have to use a little more of it than the current Non-SPF moisturizer, but my skin looks and feels great. If the moderators and testers give it a green light I’m ready to switch it over. This is a lengthy process which includes stability testing, reprinting labels, etc., but I’m eager to get that ball rolling.