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Articles by Dan Kern

Over-the-Counter Treatment Ingredients

Listed Alphabetically Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) What It Is: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid are the most common alpha hydroxy acids used in skin care formulations, in creams and gels in 10% or lower strength. For all intents and purposes, glycolic acid is the type you will likely find at a drugstore. (Learn …

Hives (Urticaria)

Hives, Also Known as Urticaria, Are Itchy Welts of Various Sizes on the Skin, and Are Not Acne The Essential Info Hives, also known as urticaria, are itchy, usually red or pink, welts of various sizes on the skin. They develop usually within minutes of contact with an allergy trigger (i.e. a particular food, medication, animal, …

Genetic Treatments for Acne

Genetic Treatments for Acne May Be a Real Possibility in the Future, but None Exist Today, and None Are Currently in Development The Essential Info Genetic treatment aims to fix or replace defective or missing genes that cause a disease. To date, genetic treatments exist for only six life-threatening diseases, and researchers are hard at …

Can I Take Oral Antibiotics While I Use the Birth Control Pill?

Most Doctors Are OK with Prescribing Them Together as Long as You Use a Second Method of Birth Control The Essential Info Doctors sometimes prescribe both birth control pills and antibiotics at the same time for women who suffer from acne, and there are cases in which antibiotics might lead to breakthrough pregnancy (pregnancy while …

Can Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Help with Acne?

Perhaps. Apple Cider Vinegar May Help Moderate Hormones Through Reducing Blood Sugar Spikes after High Glycemic Food Intake. The Essential Info People have been using vinegar medicinally for thousands of years, and information which indicates that vinegar is therapeutic for a variety of bodily ailments is accumulating. The available science suggests that ingesting a small …

How Fatty Foods Affect Acne

Currently, There Is No Evidence That Fatty or Oily Foods Cause or Worsen Acne The Essential Info Increased production of skin oil, which is made of different types of fat, contributes to acne. Since skin oil is made of fats, and some foods contain fats, researchers wonder if fatty and oily foods are linked to …

Does Salicylic Acid Make Your Skin More Sensitive to the Sun?

Probably Not, but until More Research Confirms This, Err on the Side of Caution and Wear Sunscreen While Using Topical Products with Salicylic Acid The Essential Info Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that is found in many products for acne-prone skin. If you have looked at the back of acne treatment products at the drugstore, …

How Does Jessner’s Solution Help Clear Acne?

Jessner’s Solution Exfoliates the Skin, Reduces Inflammation, Decreases Bacteria, and Clears Clogged Pores The Essential Info Jessner’s solution is a chemical peel made of: Like other chemical peels, Jessner’s solution can help clear acne. However, research has found that a 30% salicylic acid peel may be slightly better at clearing acne than Jessner’s solution. The …

How Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) Help with Acne

Beta Hydroxy Acids Exfoliate the Skin, Reduce Inflammation, Decrease Skin Oil, Reduce Bacteria, Decrease Hyperpigmentation, and Promote the Penetration of Other Acne Medications The Essential Info Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are acids that are topically applied to treat a variety of skin conditions, including acne. Salicylic acid is the only widely-available and widely-used BHA. Salicylic …

How Are Acne and Depression Related?

There Is a Correlation Between Acne and Depression The Essential Info Acne has negative effects on mental well-being, and clearing up acne makes people feel better. That much is known. But what about depression? Research shows us that acne and depression often occur together, which means they are “correlated,” but there is not a clear …