Everyone wants clear and acne-free skin. Unfortunately, a lot of people have various skin disorders, and many flock to drugstores to buy the latest miracle cure for that naturally beautiful skin.

Three facts to keep in mind when shopping for acne products

1. The cosmetic industry makes billions of dollars from the public quest for great skin. Do not be fooled by the advertising hype.

2.  There are many factors that contribute to the clogging of pores: like dehydrated skin, improper cleansing, excessive oil production, excessive build-up of dead skin cells, hormones, excessive sweating, dirty work or play environments, genetics, makeup, fingers on the face, allergic reactions, a diet high in sugar content and many others.

3. Most skin impurities are due to clogged pores, so the best way to have that beautiful skin is to unclog your pores.

A few words of advice to keep your pores clear

• Avoid oil-based products such as facial lotions, wash and cosmetics. Look for products that are “non-comedogenic,” it means it will not clog your pores.
• Do not wear tight headband, baseball hat, and/or helmet when you exercise or play sports, and make sure you wash the sweat-soaked things each time you wear them.
• Keep the skin hydrated and moist so your cells can function properly. Moisturize your face with mild, non-comedogenic moisturizers to keep it hydrated. Moisturizing is a necessity.
• Cleanse your pores with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. Do not try to scrub harshly or you will strip and damage your skin. Even after rinsing your face, if you do not remove the remainder of cleanser and loosened debris residues, you are only going to imbed that debris deeper into the pores as you layer serums and moisturizers on top. The absolute best way to perform this deep pore cleansing is with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. There’s no need to harm your skin by vigorous scrubbing or harsh acids, simply wipe with toner damp cotton balls until the last cotton comes away perfectly white.
• Astringents, Salicylic Acid, retinoic acids, and glycolic acids all work to prevent pores from clogging. Be aware of some active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide - these ingredients can cause major side effects.

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Acne won’t go away? Turn to laser treatments!

Beauty starts with your skin. If regular routines are not enough, the best and the safest way to take your acne treatments to a different level is to go to an aesthetic physician for laser treatments.

A question about the use of carbon solution to enhance laser skin treatments was recently raised at a medical panel discussion.

Years ago there was a belief that if a physician applies carbon based solution to the patient’s skin, an enhanced result can be achieved in any laser skin rejuvenation treatment. Some practitioners even claimed being successful in removing grey and blonde hair by the application of a carbon gel.

I have not seen any conclusive clinical or anecdotal evidence that the technique may work. A quick review of latest research on the subject has produced a report on a study by a Chinese group (LEE, MEI-CHING et al) in Taiwan, which shows that the carbon gel application does not make any difference in laser skin rejuvenation.

The researchers used the 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser with and without exogenous topical carbon solution application for facial skin rejuvenation, which has become very popular in Southeast Asia in recent years.

The group evaluated the efficacy of the YAG in improvement of pore size, sebaceous secretion, skin texture, and skin tone of Asian patients. They also observed whether there is any enhancement of application of topical carbon solution applied to the right side of the face before the laser therapy.

This split-face study showed significant improvement in skin rejuvenation effect. However, there was no difference in improvement of the skin texture between the side with the carbon solution and the side without it. The study concluded that topical carbon solution application did not enhance laser efficacy.

I can only add, that the treatment of the right cheek – the one with the carbon gel on – must have been a lot more painful for the Chinese ladies.

It’s a popular trend among teenagers and those in their 20’s. We’re talking about tattoos, and more than a third of young people under 25 have at least one, according to the Harris Interactive Poll. But what happens when you no longer want that permanent art on your body?

Here is a report from Honolulu

With tattoos’ popularity (about 45 million Americans sport this permanent body art), there is a growing niche among doctors who perform tattoo removal surgery. Thanks to laser technology, the process is less painful than it used to be.

How does laser tattoo removal work?

The laser pulverizes the ink particles and the body’s immune system “eats” these particles, takes them deeper into the skin and eventually removes them from the body.

Does laser tattoo removal hurt?

The reality is, of course, a lot more complicated than the report referenced above, as 100,000 Americans get their tattoos removed each year. Pain and suffering, multiple (12-20) laser sessions, scabbing of the area, hypopigmentation (white lines and spots on the skin) are very common.

• Laser tattoo removal pictures
• Laser tattoo video