One Less Wrinkle in Adult Acne: The Anti-Aging Solution

Sept. 22, 2008 - PRLog -- Nothing works! This just dries out my skin! These are the two most common complaints women suffering with adult acne make about over-the-counter acne treatments.
For many women the treatment of chronic acne becomes a catch-22: over-the-counter acne treatments dry out the skin, increasing wrinkles, but moisturizers that combat wrinkling only make acne worse.  Alternative solutions are being developed.  Niora Naturals, for example, has demonstrated that alpha hydroxy-based anti-aging skin care can be effective against adult acne.

Acne is the result of two skin conditions, excessive oiliness and hyperkeratination1. Hyperkeratination can be summarized as excessive production of sebaceous material, or skin tissue that does not detach readily from the surface of the skin. This occurs on a microscopic level, and can clog pores.  Sebum, or skin oil, is trapped and dries within the pore causing blackheads and whiteheads. These in turn become infected and result in pimples and cysts.

Most over-the-counter acne treatments contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. They are designed to inhibit infection and to strip the skin of oil in order to keep pores clear. This can leave the skin painfully dry and accelerate wrinkling.

A lot of research has been done on hyperatination and alpha hydroxy acids2. Alpha hydroxy acids are excellent exfolliants and can effectively unclog pores by dissolving sebaceous material. They are have the advantage of being safe for over-the-counter use, and are mildly moisturizing. This takes care of one symptom, but alpha hydroxy acids do little about controlling excessive oiliness.

Alpha Clear(R) was developed in 1996 specifically to treat this oiliness issue. Alpha Clear is a two-step cleanser that moisturizes with lecithin-emulsified jojoba oil. Jojoba is extremely fine oil that can be formulated to dissolve dried sebum within the pores.  Alpha hydroxy acids are used to exfoliate remaining sebaceous material. This cleans, tones and moisturizes, and encourages the skin's natural ability to heal while normalizing moisturization. The skin remains exfoliated after treatment and its texture is improved, with reduced wrinkles and age spots.

In a study conducted by Niora, http://www.niora.com, over 90% of adult women who used Alpha Clear for twelve weeks experienced improvement in their acne. Significantly, improvement was accompanied  by increased skin moisturization and a youthful appearance of skin texture. In fact, 86% of the women found that Alpha Clear cleansed their skin so well that other products or medications weren't needed. "It is clear from our results that moisturizing the skin is a major factor in the success of treating acne," says George Tindall, founder and president of Niora. The logic behind Alpha Clear “is counter to conventional medical wisdom, because excess oils and other sebaceous material are what clog pores and lead to acne in the first place. This new concept turns the treatment of acne on its head." What Niora has done is show that an anti-aging skin care may be just the solution for adult acne.

Alpha Clear Adult Acne Treatment, http://www.niora.com/alpha-clear-adult-acne-treatment , was the first product to use natural, fruit-derived alpha hydroxy acids to effectively treat acne and the only acne treatment that works by moisturizing the skin. Alpha Clear can be used safely with treatments prescribed by dermatologists.

1. Antibiotic Resistance of Propionibacterium acnes in Acne Vulgaris Swanson, J K Dermatology Nursing; Aug2003, Vol. 15 Issue 4, p359-362

2. Hyperkeratinization, corneocyte cohesion, and alpha hydroxy acids EJ Van Scott, RJ Yu (J Am Acad Dermatol 1984 Nov;11(5 Pt 1):867-79)

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Niora http://www.Niora.com manufactures anti-aging skin specifically for sensitive and acne prone skin. Niora has made Alpha Clear, the acne treatment that moisturizes the skin since 1989.