Best Facewash for Acne and Healthy Skin: SebaMed Review



ACNE KRYPTONITE

A little over a year ago my mom had gone to Costco where they were having a big product demo and picked me up a bottle of this face wash called Sebamed, for sensitive skin. With things like "same pH as healthy skin - 5.5" written on the bottle it sounded great, even though I had no idea what the hell pH was; it was just the fact that I didn't have healthy skin and whatever magical concoction was in this bottle did! The Sebamed itself is this weird marbally, metallic green looking liquid; it smells a little a funky to me, but I know some people actually like the smell a lot.

I have pretty sensitive skin and the first couple of times I used Sebamed it dried it out just a little bit but oddly my skin felt good still, like it could breathe. I use about three pumps every morning when I shower and it lathers up super good; it gets really bubbly and feels great on your pores, healthy feeling. Just be sure to rinse your face really good because if it gets in your eyes it doesn’t burn but it’ll make them red and dry for an hour or two.

 

The results for me were fast at first and then slowed down after a few weeks, but progress was always moving in a forward direction so I didn’t mind one bit; on top of that my skin felt amazing too! I can’t say or explain enough the difference you’ll feel in your skin after using this product; your skin feels fresh, it feels healthy, it feels like it can breathe, and that I believe is not only due to excellent formula but the pH balance in Sebamed as well. I continued with it washing both day and night for about 10-12 weeks until I was pretty much clear and acne free; now days I just wash in the morning and my skin is strong enough to take care of itself at night. I remain acne free 90% of the time while using Sebamed and when I do get a pimple or two, that’s all I get, just a pimple or two and they go away quickly; they never get bad either though, no redness or inflammation with Sebamed.

Overall I have to give Sebamed a 9/10 for being such a great product, not just for clearing up my skin but just for the overall skin healthiness it gives you! As a matter of fact Sebamed isn’t even marketed on its bottle that it’s an acne wash at all; the word acne or blemish is nowhere to be found! I know a lot of people including myself who have used harsh “acne washes” in the past were scared to stop using them for fear of the acne coming back, but with Sebamed you don’t have to stop using it! It’s actually better for your skin if you continue to use it rather than something else. You can even use it as a healthy body wash for your skin (I personally never have) it says it clearly on the bottle “Liquid face and body wash”. The only reason I give it a 9 and not a 10 is because it is a little pricier than other washes, but you really do pay for a great quality product! I know you can find it at CVS and I'm pretty sure most every other store that has cosmetics too now; also Costco has it sometimes, and everything at Costco is always bigger and better!

I know Sebamed now has a few other products out there like creams and lotions as well as other washes I believe, but I am yet to try any of them out. So if you’re looking for the next thing to try in tackling your acne or just want a nice, healthy, and gently wash for your skin give Sebamed a try, you won’t regret it!

 

-          JPC

PIMPLE PLANET Episode VI: Return of the Blogger

Hello everyone!!!
Well after a long and unexpected leave of absence, I'm back and with good news too! My skin has cleared up a crapload since I last left you guys; I'm pretty much clear except for some light scarring and a pimple or two i get every now and then...

That doesn't mean that I'm not going blog about acne or pimples anymore, hell no! My skin clearing up was my motivation to come back on here and to start blogging again about the thing that was once such a big part of my life. Having acne was such a pain in the ass but also very much a blessing too; now that I'm acne free I feel more confident than ever, I feel so grateful to have good skin, but I am also humble about it too. I like to relate it to the stories you here about when people have near death experiences and live; they always talk about how they have such a new found love and meaning towards life!

Also acne is just an interesting topic in general, it can be gross, it can be amusing, and it can be sad as well. So i hope with this blog that some of you can get at least a little something out of it in the posts to come, and don't forget your comments and feedback are always appreciated! Talk to you soon everybody!

- JPC

Acne Fighting Super Foods

Here are a few foods you should know about that can help your skin out a lot. I also cannot stress enough that drinking water (and plenty of it) and minimizing consumption of sodas and juices can help your skin, your health, and the way you feel tremendously! I got this article from ezinearticles.com check it out!


 "Treating acne using foods and herbs can be a great way to deal with acne. While some people might not think that it's possible to cure acne by just eating some herbs and change the course of a diet, based on my first hand experience, it is really possible doing so. This article will show you some of the best foods for acne and herbs that can really help dealing with the skin disorder.


1. Carrots are great for your acne and skin.


Carrot, which contains a lot of fibers and vitamin A as well as other vitamins and minerals, is really a must eat food. Why? Because the fibers in carrot can help detoxifying your body and the huge amount of vitamin A really is helpful to acne. The lack of vitamin A alone can cause acne, and when your body gets enough of vitamin A, it is possible to treat your acne condition really effectively.


So from now onwards, try to include more carrots in your meals and diet.


2. Ginger and garlic


Ginger and garlic are the world's best natural antibiotics. They both improve your immune system when consumed, and their anti inflammatory properties also mean that the swelling and redness caused by acne can be reduced to a great extent.

3. Papaya.

Papaya is also a very good fruit to have when you have acne. It helps with your digestion and enables your body to remove those unwanted toxins that create chaos in your body to be removed easily and effectively, and by doing so, it helps with your acne. Papaya also contains papain, an enzyme that is used to fight inflammation. By eating more papaya, you are effectively reducing the inflammation, swelling and redness caused by acne, making your zits less visible.

4. Diet Changes

Change your diet to a better one, and you stand a great chance to treat your acne completely. Avoid foods that are oily and contain a lot of food additives. Eat in more foods that are high in fiber and vitamins. Drink more water to flush the toxins out of your body. With those toxins flushed and removed, your immune system will be improved and your hormone secretion will be regulated, making your acne to disappear faster than you can imagine."

Blame Biology for Your Acne

I’ve been seeing this commercial a lot lately for this acne treatment cream called Epiduo. I don’t know too much of anything about it, or how well it works, but I did want to point out it’s standpoint on acne. The commercial is all about growing up and maturing into an adult (puberty basically). It shows how it can bring good things, like giving you boobs if you’re a girl, and if you’re a dude you’ll get muscles and so on. But one thing that comes with all of the good is acne, so the whole point of the commercial is don’t blame yourself for your acne “blame biology”! So for most people no matter what they do are just going to have some sort of acne during the puberty/growth period. Some people might get mad when they hear these because it makes them feel hopeless. Others might feel relieved as they can eat or do whatever they want and know that although acne sucks it will go away soon. Now, although your acne is caused because your growing doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do to minimize outbreaks and keep your skin healthy! Today we know more than ever about things and treatments that work the best to fight and try and cure acne. So if your acne bothers you to the point where it affects your daily life and how you act I strongly recommend seeing a dermatologist. Who knows maybe you’ll get put on Epiduo!

-jc

Accutane Update Day 63

Im on the third day of taking the 40mg Accutane which was upped from the original 20mg, and so far so good! My skin is looking and feeling like its starting to tighten up again, and as for the problems that I mentioned in the previous have subsided a lot. I think they’ve all gone away because I started taking some melatonin chews to help me sleep at night, and being well rested is helping me stay in a really good mood! The only thing now is that I smashed up my right ring-finger really bad to the point where I think it might even be broken! So I’m bummed out cause I can’t play games, I can’t lift weights, I can’t really do anything with my right hand because my finger is throbbing so bad! I uploaded a video of my finger to youtube, check it out!




Take it easy everyone, I'll update you on my progress in a few days!

Can Masturbating Cause Acne?

Almost everyone does it (whether or not they’ll ever admit it.), some more than others especially if you’re a teenager/young adult going through puberty or with raging hormones. This is another one of the acne topics that has mixed speculation. I hear or read from people and even professionals that masturbating in any way or form can’t cause acne, but there is also a flip-side where they say that it does. So like everything with acne it comes down to you and your personal experiences. One thing that is for known for sure is masturbation can help relieve anxiety and stress and that it can be healthy in ways!


Check out this article I found from acne.org.

“Does masturbation cause acne?

History: There is no specific scientific evidence linking masturbation and acne. However, for hundreds if not thousands of years, societies around the world, in their attempt to prevent young people from engaging in premarital sex, have latched onto the myth that sex/masturbation and acne are in some way related. Let’s take a moment now to look at modern science and see if we can help unravel this controversy.

What does research say?: As of 2009, there are no published studies attempting to link masturbation or sex with acne. Until researchers produce those studies, let’s take a step back. We do know that hormones and acne are linked, particularly when it comes to increased levels of androgens such as testosterone. So let’s look at how arousal and the sex act affect hormone levels. First, it’s worth mentioning that we know far more on this topic when it comes to animals such as rats and monkeys than we do about humans. Science is spotty in the area of human hormonal production and sex. According to a study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, “…small differences in methodology and data interpretation may easily produce contrasting results.” A survey of the evidence bears this out.

What the evidence shows: Several studies show very small increases in testosterone after orgasm in both men and women, while others show statistically insignificant differences. Studies specific to arousal show from very small increases in hormone levels to insignificant changes. However, even when changes are apparent, levels return back to baseline within minutes. As you can see, we have little if any compelling evidence. To complicate matters even more, a study in the Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE in 2003 showed a marked increase in testosterone on the 7th day of abstinence, which the authors posit is possibly due to sperm formation and maturation.

Conclusion: We simply do not know whether masturbation or sex is related to acne, or for that matter human hormonal balance. More research is needed. Current research tends to point toward very small hormonal changes after arousal or sex, if any. Whether these changes are beneficial or detrimental for acne remains unknown.

My common sense hypothesis: We know that humans with high androgen levels tend to experience more severe acne symptoms. We also know that humans with higher androgen levels tend to have a higher sex drive. This may explain why some people who are more sexually active, with themselves or partners, may at times experience more acne symptoms. Whether abstinence would increase or decrease acne in such individuals is up for debate.”



So whether you do it 20 times a day (that’s gotta hurt!) or once a week, or even less, it all comes down to how your acne/skin reacts!



-JC

12 Ways To Ensure The Effectiveness of Your Routine

Are you convinced that your acne treatment (washes, cleansers, creams, medications, etc.) isn’t working or helping your acne at all? I for one will admit that if I didn’t start seeing results within the first few weeks of whatever it was that I was using I thought that it wasn’t working. Shortly after I would usually stop using it and move onto a different product, treatment, or whatever. Though I hear a lot now that no matter what it is that you may be using you should at the least try it for a full 6 weeks before deciding if it’s working or not. I mean for all I know maybe some of the stuff that I’ve tried in the past would’ve started working if I would’ve stayed with it for a few more weeks, but I really don’t think so. I could literally feel that it wasn’t working for my skin, and I could feel my skin’s condition worsening at times, but who knows maybe that’s what is supposed to happen. So I guess the point is don’t lose all hope if your treatment doesn’t start working right away… you have to think past all of the things you read and here and there about products that say things like that, “clears acne in just 3 days…” Things like that I just don’t think are possible, and if it does work I can almost guarantee that the acne will come back within a few weeks.


Here are some things that you can do to make your treatment the most effective that it can be! I got them from skincarephysicians.com, check them out…

“AcneNet Spotlight Article

12 Ways to Get Better Results from Acne Treatment

Effective Acne Treatment Often Requires More Than Medication

Do you wish that your acne medication left you with clearer skin? Better results may not come from trying the latest acne treatment or a stronger acne-fighting cream — but from making some simple changes.



For those seeing a dermatologist

1. Use your acne treatments exactly as prescribed. Acne only clears when the treatment targets everything that is causing the acne. Since most acne medications target only 1 or 2 causes, 2 or 3 products are often necessary. To see clearer skin, these products must be used as prescribed.



2. Stop using acne treatments not prescribed by your dermatologist. Using acne products that are not part of the treatment plan prescribed by your dermatologist can irritate your skin. Irritated skin usually leads to more breakouts. For best results, dermatologists recommend using only the acne-fighting products and medications in your treatment plan.



3. Speak up. Dermatologists do not want patients to feel confused about acne treatment. If you do not understand something, ask about it. If an acne treatment option not prescribed by your dermatologist interests you, be sure to mention it. Asking questions is often the answer to effective acne treatment.

For everyone treating acne, including those seeing a dermatologist

4. Never pop, squeeze, or pick acne. Popping and squeezing pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, and cysts tends to make acne worse. All this does is make the acne last longer. This can make it difficult to see clearer skin no matter what treatment you are using. Trying to get rid of a pimple by popping or picking also can lead to scarring, which can be permanent.



5. Avoid abrasive soap, facial scrub, toner, astringent, and masks. These can irritate the skin, and irritated skin is more likely to break out. Irritated skin also makes it more difficult to tolerate acne medication. A mild cleanser used twice a day to wash the skin is actually more effective for controlling acne and preventing breakouts.



6. Do not scrub your skin clean. While scrubbing away oil and grime may seem like a good idea, scrubbing actually irritates acne-prone skin. Irritating the skin generally leads to breakouts.



When washing the skin, use lukewarm (not hot) water and gently apply a mild cleanser with your fingertips. Washcloths and puffs tend to be too abrasive. Limiting washing to twice a day can help reduce irritation and dryness.



7. Wait 5 to 15 minutes to apply acne medication. Applying acne medication right after you shower or wash your face can irritate the skin and lead to breakouts. Wet skin is most absorbent. To avoid irritation, dermatologists recommend waiting 5 to 15 minutes before applying acne medication.



8. Use only oil-free skin care and hair care products. Makeup, hair gel, and other products used by people with acne-prone skin should not contain oil. Oil tends to clog pores and lead to breakouts. Look for products that are labeled “oil free,” “nonacnegenic,” or “noncomedogenic.” This means the product does not clog pores.



9. Apply acne medication before makeup. Wearing an oil-free makeup is fine, but make sure it does not prevent the acne medication from working. Makeup should always be applied after topical acne medication.



10. Continue using the medication when skin clears. To keep skin blemish free, most people with acne need to continue using at least 1 acne medication. If you have been using an over-the-counter product, you may be able to taper your use to a few times a week.



11. Gently cleanse skin after sweating. Sweating, especially under a hat or helmet, can aggravate acne-prone skin. Gently cleansing the skin as quickly as possible afterwards can help prevent breakouts. When cleansing the skin, avoid the temptation to rub or scrub sweat from the skin. This can irritate the skin and cause breakouts.



12. Give acne-fighting products enough time to work. As a rule of thumb, it takes 6 to 8 weeks before you begin to see an improvement. Improvement does not mean blemish-free skin, but a noticeable difference. It generally takes about 6 months to see clear skin.

Effective Treatment Possible

Tremendous gains have been made in acne treatment. Today, virtually every case of acne can be resolved. If these tips do not help clear your skin, speak with a dermatologist. “



Take it easy everyone!

-Jc