Frequently Asked Questions About Acne

Myth #1: Having pimples means you have acne.
No. Having pimples does not equal having acne.

First, it helps to know if you really have the disease
known as acne or you just have pimples or problem skin.

The term acne is being thrown around these days like its an epidemic. Its not. It is hard to define acne because acne is considered to be a disease that is controllable but not curable. A few pimples do not make a disease. Almost every teenager in America gets pimples. Does this mean that every teenager in America has an incurable disease? No, they don't and most likely, neither do you. Most people have what's called hormonal pimples, teen related problem skin, stress induced problem skin or just clogged pores (comedones). They dont really have the skin disease known as acne.

Occasional pimples and blemishes occur naturally and they're common. It does not mean you have acne. In the case that you have had chronic prolonged pimples for many years that won't go away no matter what you do, then you may have acne and if you have cystic acne you will for sure know it. The majority of people have what's called problem skin pimples, not acne. Either way, LEROSETT® is the best option because its good for your skin long term.

What is Acne?

Acne is a disease and a pimple is an infection of the sebaceous hair follicles that starts because of a clog or a micro-comedone seeding. At the base of each hair follicle is a sebaceous gland which produces sebum (oil). Under normal circumstances, the sebum travels along the hair follicle to the skin. In Acne, the normal transport of the sebum is blocked, which leads to oil build up, providing an enriched breeding ground for bacteria. As the bacteria grow, the follicle enlarges. This results in mild pimples from comedones (blackheads, open comedones, or whiteheads, closed comedones). Pimples turn into acne when the problem becomes chronic and long term.

What they won't tell you in the infomercials

There is no cure for acne, NONE! Some acne products kill bacteria but thats not the cause of acne, some can cut oil production but thats not the cause either, we don't know what causes acne. There is good news, we do know what causes pimples. Pimples are caused by a clog "comedone" in the follicle/pore usually from dead skin cells and other impurities. Why one persons follicles/pores get clogged more than another persons we don't know, its a combination of multiple factors.

Treating and removing pimple causing clogs may need to be done long term, every month and maybe for years. This is why you should only use products that are healthy and good for your skin because no one knows the long term side effects of most acne drugs. The main problem is your skin can become acclimated to acne drugs, they can become less and less effective and can cause more damage than the disease itself. You can't cure acne but LEROSETT® can remove the pimples and symptoms so know body but you knows you have acne.

What are the main causes of acne, problem skin and/or pimples?
• No one knows what causes acne, but we know what causes pimples and that's what people really care about, visible pimples. Clogged pores block the oil from getting out and bacteria will start to grow causing a pimple. Food does not cause the problem but it can irritate it and make it worse.
• Clogged pores, micro-comedones, seeding (Dead skin cells, dirt, oil and a long list of things will clog pores. The wax from fabric softener sheets can clog pores and cause acne if you sleep on a pillowcase with a wax residue left from fabric softeners).
• Hormones(Change the amount of sebum oil that is produced in the hair follicle). LEROSETT® normalizes sebum production minimizing and preventing the cycle of acne.
• Retention Keratosis.(This actually refers to the lining cells of the sebaceous duct not shedding properly and staying in place for a longer period of time. This builds up like rust in a pipe until the duct is closed or blocked. When this happens, it sets occurring events that proceed to inflammation or an irritation underneath the surface of the skin. If one imagines that the sebaceous duct were a small stream that was plugged up, it causes a backup of everything upstream from the direction of flow. LEROSETT® strong keratolytic effect prevents Retention Keratosis).
• Bacteria (Bacteria and infection are part of it, but bacteria grow in the pimple and become a problem because the pore was clogged to begin with. Even if 100% of the bacteria were killed, your acne would still come back because your pores will still be clogged. Antibiotics and anti bacterial drugs do not unclog your pores).
  
  If you fight acne long term using antibiotics or anti bacterial drugs, you risk creating super acne or drug resistant bacteria. Long term use of these drugs can lead to thinning of skin, speeding the aging process and many other negative side effects that may not be known until years later. If you can prevent the seeding of the hair follicle, you can prevent the clog preventing the bacterial growth, thereby preventing the infection that turns into a visible pimple.
  
  Can supplements help with acne?
  Some supplements can reduce the amount of sebum or oil that is produced and that can have a positive effect on your acne. However, everyone reacts differently to minerals, vitamins, etc. Even if the supplement does reduce some sebum production, internal supplements will have no effect on external clogs or the comedones that clog the follicle and starts the pimple.

Acne is a result of an imbalance of two or more factors in skin physiology relating to the sebaceous gland and duct system. Almost always with acne, there is also a related occurrence called Retention Keratosis. This actually refers to the lining cells of the sebaceous duct not shedding properly and staying in place for a longer period of time. This builds up until the duct is closed or blocked. Hormones play an indirect but active part in Acne. Acne is caused by a side effect of hormones rather than hormones causing Acne directly. Testosterone produces Androgens, which can attack sebaceous glands and cause them to become inflamed or enlarged. In people who are acne prone, that will cause the gland to rapidly increase the production of oil. Pores can become clogged with dead skin, oil and bacteria leading to the formation of pimples. In women, fluctuations in estrogen during the menstrual cycle can cause the sebaceous glands to become more sensitive to the androgens. During puberty, the skin cells lining the follicle shed more quickly, which increases the likelihood of the pores becoming clogged. The clogged pores, filled with oil provides an ideal environment for the rapid growth of the skin bacteria; Propionibacterium Acnes (P. Acnes) which secrete chemicals into the skin that stimulate an inflammatory response. All these things in conjunction with each other result in lesions, or Acne breakouts.

What can I do today to keep my acne or pimples from getting worse?
• Ice can reduce inflammation. If you have a red, inflamed lesion, then put some ice on it and hold it there for 1 to 2 minutes. The most effective method for an infected pimple is to accelerate the process. By applying LEROSETT® as a spot treatment directly to the pimple overnight, you can turn a 7 to 10 day pimple cycle into a 2-3 day cycle.
• Stop eating peanut butter, peanuts and/or peanut oil. Peanuts contain a hormone in them that can make acne worse. Switch to unsalted almond butter. It doesn't have the same effect as peanuts.
• Relax and be patient! Acne cannot disappear overnight. The best way to combat acne is to know your skin, choose appropriate products according to skin type and be consistent with your skin care regimen.
• Get unionized salt to use at home. Iodides irritate the follicle walls and breaks you out.
• Stop using fabric softener in both the washer and the dryer. Fabric softener leaves a waxy residue on cloth - that's the softness that you feel. Unfortunately, that wax is getting on your skin while you sleep on that soft pillowcase and it's clogging your pores. Also, change your pillowcase regularly to avoid transferring bacteria to your skin repeatedly.
• We are constantly adding dirt, oils and impurities to pores causing clogs that seed pimples. Start using LEROSETT® aggressively every day and you will soon achieve clear skin.

It is common to confuse acne and pore related problem skin
with other skin conditions that LEROSETT® will not remove.

Do you have red bumps that won't go away with acne products? This is very common, it's folliculitis and it's a fungal or yeast infection often related to antibiotics. If it comes and goes that's another clue its not acne, acne is chronic, it doesn't come and go. LEROSETT® can help smooth skin, detox, feed nutrients and remove redness and swelling but you need an anti-fungal to remove folliculitis.

Many skin care professionals won't
use benzoyl peroxide on their acne clients

We chose LEROSETT® for our acne clients because we wanted a result oriented product for acne without using benzoyl peroxide. The reason for no benzoyl peroxide is that clients who had used it were now experiencing hyper-pigmention and thinning skin, so we really felt strong about weaning them off of benzyl peroxide. When switching them over to LEROSETT® we and our clients have found great success in their battle against acne, even troublesome adult cystic acne, which for us has helped build a strong trust between us and our clients.
Heather Ramsey and Jennifer Neves-Alainn Tu Salon and Spa, Sacramento, Ca

I have been using Benzoyl Peroxide for 25 years and it has wrecked my skin in so many ways. I am a very fair skinned person and my skin was looking very old and ugly--but still with breakouts. LEROSETT has changed that. I have been off of BP for over a month now and my skin is smoother and clearer than it has ever been. At first my break outs sped up, but cleared faster and with less inflammation and redness than ever before. It has broken a huge cycle of frustration for me that I thought I would never get out of. This stuff is GREAT!
Caroline Jensen, Huntsville, Al

Why some acne drugs may not be the best
option, especially if you only have pimples.

• Common acne drugs have been linked to cancer genesis and in some cases a free radical-generating tumor-promoting agent.
• 90% of all the acne drugs used today are the same as in 1952.
• Acne drugs are less than 60% effective and can cause further irritation.
• Acne drugs can cause premature aging and thinning of skin.
• Warnings say do not use acne drugs on skin that is irritated, infected, or reddened. (This describes acne. Image on right shows acne drug irritation)
• Acne drugs cause resistant bacteria, risking failure of important antibiotics.
• Do not use common acne drugs when pregnant or nursing.
• Acne drug makers, like Accutane, have paid millions in damages.






Link to U.S. National Institute of Health:
Effects of Benzoyl peroxide the
most popular acne treatment in America.







A Simple Way to Understand
Pimples and LEROSETT®

Oil production and bacteria play a part but pimples are really all about clogs. It's the clog in the follicle/pore that stops the oil flow, bacteria grow and you have a pimple. Most acne products kill bacteria. LEROSETT® removes clogs, that's why a mask is better at removing pimples than topical liquids. The 1st week of LEROSETT® use you are removing the clogs that will become pimples in a few weeks, the same in the second week of use, and so on.

Clogs are stage one of a pimple. Bacterial growth, redness, swelling and pain is stage two. Stop stage one and there will be no stage two! Pimples usually come in 2, 3 and 4 week cycles and different parts of your face can be on different cycles. You want to prevent the next cycle by preventing clogs today. This is why LEROSETT® is effective regardless of skin type because all pimples start from a clog. This is also why bacteria killing drugs don't really stop future pimples or work for all skin types because bacteria is not what causes a pimple, its just a side effect.

As a general rule, the longer you've had pimples and the deeper they are, the longer it will take to get them out and achieve clear skin. If you've been using harsh drugs on your skin, this may add time to the detox and clearing process. Some acne drugs may help clear pimples temporarily, but you must keep using them every day, long term, risking potential skin damage to stay clear.

LEROSETT® is different. You use LEROSETT® several times a day during the initial clearing phase, then only a few times a week to stay clear. Unlike other products, LEROSETT® is very good for your skin too. You use less and less LEROSETT® as time goes by, not more and more and your skin gets softer, smoother and healthier in the process.

That's Why So Many Professionals Prefer LEROSETT®!










Dermatologists say the bacteria that causes acne is developing resistance to over prescribed acne drugs.






Is Acne curable?

There is no cure for Acne. However, it can be controlled and prevented through treatment and proper care of the skin. Treating Acne can be very tricky, there are many Acne treatments on the market that all claim to be better than the last. The main ingredient in most of these products is Benzoyl Peroxide. These ingredients are sometimes effective in getting rid of Acne, but they can be very damaging to your skin and are only meant to be used for a week or two. These treatments work by killing some bacteria, long term use of these products will cause thinning of the epidermis and excessive drying. This is counterproductive and will actually cause breakouts. This fact leads to the theorizing that this is why acne products use these drugs. Like caffeine or alcohol, you get hooked. Salicylic acid is like alpha hydroxy acid its an exfoliant and does not have the same problems as anti bacterial products.

People with acne are usually not aware that if 100% of the bacteria was killed, your acne would still come back. Bacteria is a side effect of your pores becoming clogged again, causing an infection and the bacteria starts to grow all over again. Another risk is increased sensitivity to UV Rays from the sun, which can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. This is a documented fact. When looking for an Acne treatment, it is best to look for products that are nutrient rich (do not have water, oil or synthetics as the main ingredient). If you consider that your skin can only absorb a small percent of what you put on it, you want to make sure that the products you use are high quality and are loaded with nutrients and anti oxidants. Most over the counter Acne treatments are water based and won't do much for your skin since they have no nutrients.

Why does my acne keep coming back?

Almost all acne products have drugs like benzoyl peroxide and sulfur that temporarily dry out pimples. These drugs are only created for short term use (a week or two). Your skin will then naturally compensate for the lost oil, creating more oil, and causing your acne to come back, most likely worse than before and often with noticeable skin damage. Even if a drug or anti-biotic killed 100% of all the bacteria, your acne would still come back. The condition that causes acne is pores clogged with oil, dead skin cells and impurities.

Your skin care regime is critical, so you must be consistent. If your skin clears and you stop your skin care regime for just a day, microcomedones can start in your pores and you won't know it. It could take a month or more but that clogged pore will come back to haunt you as a pimple. Stopping your skin care regime is one of the main reasons your acne comes back.

We are happy to advise a skin care regime that will work for you, just click Contact Us or go to our chat window for assistance.




What is the difference between a dermatologist and an esthetician?

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who can prescribe drugs. An esthetician cannot prescribe drugs but is trained in skin care and is more hands on providing treatments such as facials, peels, etc., and physically removing pimples.

Acne Facts
There are many things to consider when you are struggling with Acne. Certain things in your day to day life can be causing your Acne and you don't even realize it. Keeping these things in mind and making appropriate changes in your lifestyle could make a huge difference in your skin.


• Be sure to get enough sleep every night and maintain a low level of stress. Stress can stimulate the adrenal glands, which promote oil production. This will cause clogged pores and breakouts.
• Stay away from foods, vitamin supplements and sports drinks/bars containing iodides. Iodized salt, seafood, fish, seaweed, fast foods and dairy products are the big contributors to breakouts rather than greasy food and chocolate as most people tend to think.
• Don't pick at your breakouts. Some pimples will need to be extracted at some point, but should be done at the appropriate time. If you don't know how to extract puss from an infected pimple seek the help of an esthetician. Picking can cause bacteria to spread and also leave you with skin damage and scars. LEROSETT® will prevent scars when applied immediately after a pimple extraction. LEROSETT® clay will absorb remaining infection and close the opening overnight, preventing a scab and thereby preventing the acne scar.
• Stay away from high androgen foods. These are found in peanuts, peanut oil, peanut butter, corn oil, wheat germ, shellfish, organ meats (i.e. liver, sweetbreads and heart). These contain hormones that exacerbate acne.
• Pay attention to ingredients in your cosmetics. It may say "oil free" on the label, but there can be other ingredients that clog pores, or they may use synthetic oils which are equally as harmful. So is there make-up that doesn't clog pores? Ask yourself this question. If your skin is like a honey comb full of holes, how can you put something on your skin like makeup and not have that makeup go into the holes and cause clogged pores?
• Limit sun exposure and use a sunscreen. Although sun exposure causes desirable scaling and drying, it also damages the follicle, exacerbates hyper pigmentation, causes skin cancer, and premature aging. Sun exposure can cause "solar acne" later in life, as well as "Acne Majorca." Warm climates with heat and humidity can exacerbate acne.

Does Poor Hygiene Contribute to Acne?

No. Dirt and surface oils cannot cause acne. This misconception probably comes from the fact that blackheads look like dirt stuck in the openings of pores. The black color is not dirt but simply oxidized keratin. In fact, the blockages of keratin that cause acne occur deep within the narrow follicle channel, where it is impossible to wash them away. These plugs are formed by the failure of the cells to separate and flow to the surface in the oil created there by the body. So standard washing of the face could wash off old oil and help unblock the pores. However, scrubbing your skin hard and frequently will actually make your acne worse. It will irritate the skin and cause your acne to be more inflamed. The best approach to hygiene and acne is to use a gentle face wash twice a day and be consistent with your skin care routine and acne treatment.

Can Changing My Diet Help Prevent Acne?

Maintaining a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water will help you maintain clear skin. Several nutrients and vitamins are known to help skin. With sufficient amounts of these vitamins in your day to day diet, your skin will be equipped to fight off acne and inhibit the overproduction of oil. Vitamin A: Retinol is the naturally occurring form of Vitamin A. It is found in fish oils, liver, and dairy products. Vitamin A in plants is found in yellow/orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, yams, apricots and cantaloupe, also vegetables such as parsley, kale and spinach. Retinol is known to help with cell turnover and will help skin stay smooth and acne free. Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It protects your cells against free radicals, which are cell damaging by-products of our metabolism. Vitamin E also helps the immune system and skin repair process. Natural sources of Vitamin E can be found in almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, broccoli, wheat germ and vegetable oils. Vitamin B-2: Vitamin B-2 is helpful in alleviating stress, which in many cases can contribute to acne. Foods with B-2 include, whole grains, fish, milk, eggs, meat and leafy green vegetables. Vitamin B-3: Vitamin B-3 improves blood circulation that will, in turn, promote cell turnover and healthy skin. Resources of Vitamin B-3 include, peanuts, eggs, avocado, liver, and meats. Zinc: People with Acne have been shown to have lower systemic levels of Zinc than those without acne. Zinc is an antioxidant that can boost the immune system. Zinc can aide in the removal of damaged tissue cause by acne, so the healing and repair of Acne requires Zinc. Not only is Zinc vital for the skin's repair functions, it also inhibits oil production. Zinc can be found in eggs, whole grains, nuts, mushrooms and especially LEROSETT® .

Who Gets Acne?

Anyone can get Acne. While it is most common in adolescents and young adults, an estimated 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 have had an Acne outbreak at some point in their lives. Most people out grow their Acne by the time they reach their 30's, but many struggle with it for their entire lives or don't have problems at all until they are older. Women who are pregnant or menstruating are more susceptible to breakouts due to hormone fluctuations. Studies have shown that genetics may play a part in whether one person is more Acne prone than another. If your parents had Acne, then there is a greater risk that you will struggle with it as well.

How Should People with Acne Care for Their Skin?

Your skin is the largest organ you have and like any organ, skin needs nutrients. For real results your skin care products must be based on nutrients. If you only use skin care products that are water based (1st ingredient on the list is water) you skin won't heal properly. Only Gunilla of Sweden® uses hydroponically grown, 100% organic Aloe as the base component in every product.

This means that even before any of the dozens of intended active ingredients that are added, like natural collagen, revitalin or elastin come into play, your skin has already received all 8 essential amino acids, and 11 secondary amino acids from our exclusive hydroponically grown aloe base component. In addition, our nutrient rich 100% organic botanical base component has over 100 vitamins like A, B, B2, B6, B12, C, and 20 mineral co-factors, such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium as well as 20-30 unique antioxidants like tocopherols, superoxide dismutase and flavonoid compounds that promote the natural self-repair mechanisms needed to heal mature and environmentally damaged skin.

Clean Skin Gently: Rough cleansing can aggravate Acne. You should wash your face twice daily with a mild cleanser, as well as after heavy exercise. Make sure to spend at least 2 minutes gently rubbing the cleanser on to the skin in a circular motion. This will give the skin time to absorb the ingredients of the cleanser.

Moisturize: Make sure that you are using an oil free moisturizer to replenish your skin. Acne treatments almost always have a drying effect and the sebaceous glands will produce extra sebum to try to compensate for the dryness. This is a big contributor to breakouts because people with acne prone or oily skin are usually hesitant to use a moisturizer.

Avoid Frequent Handling of the Skin: Avoid rubbing or touching skin lesions. Squeezing, picking, or popping pimples before they are ready to be extracted can lead to scarring and dark blotches.

Avoid Sun Damage: Many people believe that being in the sun can help clear up acne. The truth is that it only makes the skin appear darker, therefore the redness of acne lesions are less visible. Acne medications can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Sun damage can increase your risk of skin cancer and also cause premature aging.

Choose Cosmetics Carefully: Cosmetics such as foundation, blush, eye shadow, and hair care products can easily be a contributor to acne breakouts. You must read the ingredients and make sure there are no pore clogging elements in what you are putting on your skin. Look for non-comedogenic and oil-free products.

What Do I Need To Know About Prescription Acne Medications?

Oral or topical antibiotics are the most popular treatments for Acne among Dermatologists. There are two reasons that should make you wary of these treatments. One, the overuse of antibiotics is a common worry these days because of the creation of resistant strains of bacteria as well as the long term health risks. These risks range from increased frequency of common colds to a dramatic increase in the risk of breast cancer. The second reason is that it is mostly ineffective. Even if we had an antibiotic that could kill 100% of the bacteria, you would still have an acne problem. The condition that causes acne is caused by pores clogged with dead skin cells. The normal action of bacteria in the pores does have something to do with acne, but not as much as most people think. Oral antibiotics only provide 20 to 30% of the needed acne solution. There are many risks to using antibiotics to treat acne: side effects such as recurring nausea, heartburn, interference with the useful bacteria in the digestive system, frequent vaginal yeast infections for women, possible permanent staining of the teeth, increase in colds, and possibly a link to breast cancer. A frequently used oral prescription is isotretinoin, brand name Accutane. FDA warnings about birth defects, liver damage, skeletal damage, and severe depression are well warranted. It is a very dangerous drug and has recently been recalled by its manufacturer due to the drug causing Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, birth defects, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

I'm an adult, why acne now?

It is becoming more and more common for young women who had no problems during their teen years to develop acne between ages 30-35. There are probably many reasons. One significant reason is related to the use of birth control pills. Birth control pills utilize two hormone groups that are synthetically made to mimic the ovarian cycle/ovulation processes that are normally at work only during pregnancy. Specifically, birth control pills trick the ovaries into thinking the woman is already pregnant and ovulation does not occur. The synthetic hormones in most birth control pills have strong Androgenic (male hormone) side effects on sebaceous gland production of oil in the skin. Another possible reason for the 30 year-old onset of acne might relate to hormone adjustments after a pregnancy, nursing a child, or simply experiencing the stressful lifestyle so prevalent today with all the demands and time limits we impose on ourselves. Men may still have acne symptoms at age 30, but it is unlikely that acne will develop then for the first time. We are all still subjected to stress, and men may skip the gentle cleansing of facial areas after sports, etc., so acne can still be a problem.

Do all ethnic groups battle acne?

People in every ethnic group may have acne. The genetic component is still in effect. Each parent's family tree will have some effect on a specific persons acne. Significant factors include whether or not the skin is oily and the thickness of skin. Other factors, such as sun exposure, makeup and skin care products used, may influence breakouts as well. Blue eyed, lighter complexion persons usually have thinner and more dry skin as a rule. That group probably has less acne problems than some other groups.

If my mom or dad had acne, will I?

If your mom or dad had acne you may have a higher likelihood of developing acne at some time in your life than your best friend. This doesn't necessarily mean that you will have acne. In fact, you may never have acne. If your mom had acne, I'll bet she can share some secrets with you of things she tried that may have helped the symptoms of her acne.

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