Chapped lips and skin flaking with Roaccutane !

As you may already know, these are the most common symptoms experienced with Roaccutane. The drug aims to stop sebum secretion completely and thus, as a result, this will cause the skin to be less moisturised. Drying of the skin occurs and this leads to the formation of little cracks which are most prominent in the mucous membrane areas ( such as the lips and nasal passages).

The best thing to do is to apply a hypoallergenic aqueous based moisturiser to the face and use vaseline for the lips (or any other kind of lip balm). That will hopefully alleviate the symptoms you are experiencing.

Thanks

Does oily food make acne worse or is it a myth?

Fatty acids come from the break down of fat that is either stored in our body or from food that we eat as part of our diet.

Sebaceous glands, secrete an oily substance (sebum) which gives the skin an oily appearance. Eating fatty food, increases the amount of free fatty acid circulating in the blood. High levels of fatty acids, have been thought too increase secretion of sebum, making the skin oily.

Some studies have shown , that a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruit, vegetables and lean meat can be very helpful in decreasing oily skin and as a result, decreases the breakouts of acne!

Although this topic still remains contraversial, it would be in any person’s best interest to decrease the levels of saturated fat in the body; this decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke as well as decreasing the risk of acne breakouts.

My skin is getting red and itchy after every session…

This is quite a normal response in many people who have microdermabrasion. It seems like you may be one fo them OR that your skin is naturally sensitive.

In general, it is sometimes helpful to apply some aloe vera gel on the face in the evening; this gel acts as an anti-inflammatory and will cool down the skin and help get rid of the redness and itching.

If you find that the redness and itching persists, then you should please stop any future microdermabrasion sessions and please consult your local physician or dermatologist.

Hope that helps!

Does water help to combat acne and give better skin complexion?

Water is life!!!

We need water to live and seeing that 2/3 of our body is made of water, it’s a very important substance to drink!

Now, many beauticians and physicians believe that by drinking water, one can purify the skin and bodily organs. The thought process comes from the fact that water helps to flush out toxins. In some cases, water will help to re-hydrate dry skin and help to make the skin look more “alive” and shiny, but on the other hand, water alone cannot help to get rid of acne.

The way acne occurs is through the over production of sebum leading to oily skin which harbours bacteria (Propionibacterium acne) responsible in causing acne to develop.

So, remember, water alone cannot cure acne but it can help to an extent in keeping your skin healthy and well hyrdated!!!

Does Vitamin B5 really work?

High doses of Vitamin B5 ( about 5g a day), has been shown to significantly reduce the levels of visible acne. A company called Evolution X produce an anti-acne capsule formula called VILANTAE. Many forums have rated this product 3-4 out of 5 in terms of its efficacy. Evolution X has confidently certified that VILANTAE is the only product on the market that is second to Roaccutane!

Many people I know have tried it out and a majority have stuck by the treatment regimen and obtained marvelously clean skin!

Vitamin B5 helps to break down fatty acids. The more of it you take, the more fatty acids you break down meaning that the less you store and hence, less is secreted through the skin. Decreased sebum secretion decreases the chance of acne formation…

The good thing about VILANTAE or Vitamin B5 is that it is a water soluble vitamin, so whatever the body does not need, it will excrete out through the urine; meaning that it is potentially very safe.

Hope that answers your question!

What microdermabrasion home system do u recommend?

As you may already know, there are many efficient home systems out there (Loreal, Neutrogena, Dermanew, Mary Kay, etc.) and they all perform the same task and get the same job done.

At present, the Dermanew system is very popular amongst the consumers and is selling like hot cakes; not saying the others are not. But the feedback we get is that Dermanew are doing well at the moment. This is most probably because they have had good feedback from those consumers who have sensitive skin; the Dermanew systems are very “kind” to people with sensitve skin.

The best advice I can give you is to look for a system that you can afford and that the consumables aren’t that expensive; at the end of the day, all these systems do the same job. But, if you have sensitive skin cast a glance on the Dermanew systems!

How long do the results last for?

It is recommended that 1-2 sessions per week of microdermabrasion ( home systems and professional machines) are sufficient in keeping your skin smooth and revitalised. Having 1 or 2 treatments a week does not allow dead cells to form on the stratum corneum and therefore keeps vibrant young looking smoother skin at the surface.

Sometimes, it is worth trying to have a break in between weeks, i.e. perform the process every other week. Some people with delicate skin cannot tolerate weekly microdermabrasion procedures. Taking a break will help your skin to adapt to this exfoliating procedure.

Can Roaccutane be used in conjunction with microdermabrasion?

Well, Roaccutane works by shutting down the sebacaeous glands of the skin. During this process, the skin epithelieum is less protected and tends to become sensitive. Therefore, it has been recommended by world class dermatologists that microdermabrasion is safer to use 3-4 weeks after Roaccutane treatment has been terminated.

Can I still use Retin-A®, Renova® and Alpha Hydroxy Acids?

Many people get confused over what type of additive they can use with their microdermabrasion…

However, microdermabrasion eliminates the need for these products — why use harsh chemicals on you skin when you can use safe, effective home microdermabrasion instead?!

Yes! It’s true that many people still don’t realise that microdermabrasion can be used solely BY ITSELF, and the use of extra products will not improve or accelerate the process of skin resurfacing… get that into your heads people!!

The Real Risks of Accutane…

Hey guys!

I know alot of friends and family who are taking accutane to treat their acne, and I’m sure you’ve heard of this popular drug! This treatment can be effective but it should only be used with the utmost caution and careful instruction from your family doctor or dermatologist.

Most importantly, if you are pregnant or if there is even the slightest chance that you might become pregnant, do not consider accutane acne treatment as it can be harmful to the fetus.

Apart from pregnancy complications the accutane acne treatment has other side effects such as conjunctivitis also known as ‘pinkeye’. You may also experience severe dry skin, crack lip, nose bleeds and joint pain. Night driving can become risky while taking accutane as the medication is known to decrease night vision.

Take care people! There are other ways of getting rid of acne out there!

Accutane is not a one-night wonder!