Herbal Facial Masks for Acne Treatment

There are many Anti-Acne facial masks on the market today. They can come in all forms and types to help clear current acne breakous and heal old scars from previous acne erruptions.

If you are concerned about sensitive skin issues and want a treatment that is effective yet also gentle, you should check out herbal facial masks.  Many drugstore anti-acne facial masks may contain harsh chemicals or parabens that might not be safe for your skin or can actually cause more damage.  Harsh chemicals like salycidic acid and benzoil peroxide can actually increase redness and inflammation and increase your chances of breakouts and acne erruptions.

If you use a skincare regime, try to find ingredients that will gently cleanse your skin and allow inflammed tissues to regenerate naturally, without shocking them into submission.

Natural ingredients like Chamomile, Marshmallow, Confrey, Calendula and other herbs are the best way to papmer acne-prone skin and relive redness. Acne erruptions are caused by excess oil and clogged pores, so you want to find an acnti-acne mask that will also help pull the dirt and oil out of the clogged pores - clay based masks work well.  if you can, look for an all-natural option or a 100% herbal option to meet both requirements, to heal skin herbally and remove toxins.

Acne scars can also be produced from using treatments that are too harsh or abrasive on the skin. Your skin’s natural lipid barrier is there to protect you from infection and bacteria. Each time you wash it away with harsh scrubs or chemicals, you are changing the PH of your skin and limiting its natural ability to heal.

So, the next time you are thinking about an acne-treatment, go for the herbal facial mask or herbal options and treat your skin with the kindness it deserves.

Facial Masks and Herbal Facial Treatments

Facial masks are one of the oldest beautifying treatments. For beautiful, glowing, fresh skin a facial mask is the easiest way to see immediate results. Once you have determined your skin type and the herbal face masks or facial treatment that is best for you, you simply apply it, leave it on for ten to twenty minutes, then wash off. There are many different types of face masks - each having a differnt effect of either nourishing, anti-aging, anti-acne, healing, cleansing or astringent. Using facial masks made from natural ingredients is easy to do and can be very effective.

What is a Facial or a Facial Mask?

A facial is a procedure involving a variety of skin treatments, including: steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, masks, peels, and massage. Facials are normally performed in spas but can also be found in beauty salons.

Herbal Facial Masks

A facial mask is a creamy mask applied to clean or smooth the face. It often contains minerals, vitamins, and fruit extracts, such as rosemary or cucumber. There are different kinds of masks for different purposes; some are deep cleansing for cleaning the pores, healing acne scars or hyper-pigmentation, or brightening for a gradual illumination of the skin tone. The perceived effect of a facial mask treatment can be revitalizing, rejuvenating or refreshing and can serve temporary or long term benefits depending on its usage.

Masks are generally washed off with tepid water, wiped off by a damp cloth, or peeled off by hand. Duration for wearing a mask depends on the type of mask and the directions specified by the product itself. The time can range anywhere from 5 minutes to overnight. Those with sensitive skin are advised to test out the mask on a small portion of the skin in order to check for any irritations.

Masks can be found anywhere from drugstores to department stores and can vary in its shape and form. They include clay form where it is thicker in consistency and will dry to pull out impurities from the pores, a creamier form that stays damp to hydrate the skin, a sheet style where the paper mask is dampened with liquid to tone and moisturize the skin, and lastly, an in between clay and cream form that includes small sandy beads for exfoliating the skin. These different forms are made to suit different skin types such as oily or dry, as well as the different needs of the skin, whether it be moisturizing, cleansing, or exfoliating. Clay and mud masks suit oily skin while cream based masks suit dry skin types.

Be sure to analyze your skin type before using any type of facial mask.

Natural Acne Treatments Vs Leading Pharmaceuticals

In June 2009, the pharmaceutical giant Roche Holding AG, pulled its Accutane acne medicine from the U.S. market after juries awarded at least $33 million in damages to users who blamed the drug for bowel disease.

According to Bloomberg.com, “Roche notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today that it was withdrawing Accutane after a “reevaluation” of its product lines showed it faced serious challenges from generic competitors, company officials said in a statement.”

This is just another in a long list of recent health concerns over pharmaceutical skincare treatments and the serious health risks they may pose.

As the natural skincare movement gains popularity, many consumers are discovering their old over the counter acne treatments can have potentially harmful chemicals that would be best to avoid. In response to these concerns, many have made the switch to all-natural acne skincare treatments. While some are convinced that natural remedies can’t be strong enough to fight stubborn acne. If you are convinced a more powerful acne medication is the best option, read on to find out what approach is right for you to become acne free.

Effective Natural Acne Treatments and Ingredients

There are various home treatments and natural ingredients that have been proven to be effective in treating mild to moderate cases of acne. Some of these may include:

· Massage essential oils into your skin at night such as Tea Tree Oil, Bergamot Oil, Clove Oil, Lavender Oil, and Rosewood Oil. Wash your face clean in the morning with pure soap and water.

· Acne starts within the body, not just at the surface of the skin. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of water to help detoxify your body and help clear acne.

· You can exfoliate and clear pores with an oatmeal mask once or twice a week. Cook oatmeal and while it is still warm, apply to your face, allow oatmeal to dry and then wash away.

There are many varieties of at home solutions, some of which are effective, and some not. Those with more serious cases of acne however, such as cystic acne, usually turn to stronger over the counter acne treatments.

Over the Counter Acne Treatments

Over the counter acne products tend to be more powerful in fighting acne because each product works differently to target causes of acne. Certain products function by killing Prionibacterium acnes (P.acnes), the bacteria that creates inflammation. Other medications reduce sebum output and renew skin. Other products function by using combinations of these things. Acne medication treatments work in different ways depending on their active ingredient. Here are some common active ingredients that acne products contain.

*Benzoyl Peroxide works to eliminate P. acnes and reduces excess oil and dead skin cells. It is available in different strengths that come in products in certain percentages.

*Salicylic Acid prevents pores from clogging by slowing the process of skin cell shed within hair follicles. It also helps fight whiteheads and blackheads.

*Alcohol and acetone are found in astringents and cleansing washes. They clear your skin of dirt and oil.

These medications might be more powerful in treating acne but they often come with more side effects such as dryness, sensitivity to sun, stinging or irritation, redness or peeling.

There are many natural options that are now available that give you the opportunity to fight acne with powerful results but without the unnatural chemicals that may cause unwanted side effects. The top natural acne treatments have been proven to be as strong as leading pharmaceuticals, yet a perfect compromise between gentle home remedies that don’t show results and powerful but irritating over the counter products.

When it comes to the next generation of acne treatments, the most promising products are natural blends to specific herbal constituents–like Rosemary, Marshmallow, Aloe Vera, Lavender, Fennel, Angelica, and Green Tea – that evade irritating side effects. Vivoderm Laboratories offers a natural acne mask that reduces sebum output, controls inflammation, unclogs pores, and moisturizes skin. It also serves as an acne scar treatment as it regenerates skin affected by redness and scars. Many herbs also contain natural antiseptic properties to attack acne-causing bacteria. This anti-acne treatment removes dead skin cells and repairs blemishes without drying out the skin.

The bottom line is to always be aware of chemicals you expose yourself to and make the choice that is best for you. If chemicals are in any way a concern for you - opt for a natural solution that treats the root causes of acne, not just the symptoms and become acne free – naturally.