Saturday 24 November 2012

Acne cure regimen

  • Effective
  • Detailed
  • Acne treatment guide
The Regimen is a 3 step process, using common drugstore products. You may have even tried these products before. But, when used precisely as outlined below, the combination is incredibly effective.
First, carefully read through The Regimen until you are comfortable with the process.
Next, follow the finding supplies link to make sure you get the right products. If you get your products at the drugstore, be absolutely sure to print out my guide to buying drugstore products for complete instructions on how to avoid comedogenic ingredients.
Once you have your supplies, print out the checklist and take it into the bathroom with you and follow each step exactly as outlined.

Guidelines

  • The Regimen should be done 2x a day,
    every day, 10-12 hours apart.
    1.   Do it every day
  • Follow the steps precisely as outlined.
    I cannot make this point strongly enough.
    2.   Follow precisely
  • Use a feather-light touch during all three Regimen steps.
    3.   Be gentle
  • Start with a small amount of benzoyl peroxide once per day and slowly ramp up your dosage.
    4.   Start slowly
  • Ramp up to the full dosage of benzoyl peroxide. When in doubt, use more!
    5.   Use a lot

Cleanse

  • Vital: When washing, your fingers should gently glide over your skin.
    [Medical research shows reducing irritation is vital to clear acne.]
How
Why
splash
splash

A.

How
AM
Allow a gentle stream of warm water from your showerhead to gently splash across your face. Do not rub or scrub.
PM
Gently splash your face and neck with warm water from your sink. Do not rub or scrub.
Why
This preps your skin for washing. Avoid very hot water because it can scald the skin, which can be irritating. Touching the skin as little as possible is vital to reduce irritation.
shave

B.   Men: Expand for shaving guide

dispense

C.

How
Dispense two full pumps of cleanser.
Why
Using two full pumps of cleanser will allow you to generate a generous lather.
lather

D.

How
Generously lather up hands with cleanser. Be vigorous and take the time needed to get a good lather going.
Why
The more lather you generate, the more easily your hands will glide across your skin, thereby reducing irritation.
wash

E.

How
Gently wash problem areas with yourbare hands for 10 seconds or less. This may seem different from what you’re used to, but absolutely do not wash for longer than 10 seconds.
Do not use a washcloth.
Why
Cleansing is necessary because it removes surface oils which allows the Treatment to penetrate, but you can easily achieve this goal with bare hands and only a few seconds of washing. Washing for this short a period of time reduces irritation and is one of the most important steps in The Regimen.
Note: Washcloths are far too irritating and should be completely avoided.
splash
splash

F.

How
AM
Allow a gentle stream of water from your showerhead to splash across your face until the cleanser is rinsed away. Do not rub or scrub.
PM
Gently splash your face and neck with warm water until the cleanser is rinsed away. Allow the water to do the work. Your hands should barely touch your skin. Do not rub or scrub.
Why
Remaining exceedingly gentle, barely touching your skin as you perform The Regimen, is necessary to achieve completely clear skin.
towel dry

G.

How
Using the tips of a soft, absorbent towel, gently pat your skin dry, barely touching your face with the towel. Allow any remaining moisture to evaporate on its own. Never rub or scrub your skin dry.
Why
When you stay extremely gentle and let the towel do the work, you are again taking necessary steps to avoid irritation.
wait

H.

How
AM
Wait until your skin is completely dry. This takes around 10-15 minutes after a shower.
PM
Wait until your skin is completely dry. This takes around 5 minutes after washing your face in the sink.
Why
Letting your skin dry completely allows the Treatment (Step 2) to absorb. Do not begin Step 2 until your skin is completely dry.
Important Notes
start slow
HowBe exceedingly gentle. Your fingers should gently glide over your skin while washing.
WhyIt is important not to irritate your skin. Medical research is conclusive that the reduction of irritation is absolutely vital to clear acne.
start slow
How
Do not use soap on The Regimen. A tell-tale sign that a product is "soap" is when there is no list of ingredients on the package.
Why
Soap can strip and overdry the skin. Soap also tends to leave a residue on the skin which can aggravate the skin’s natural barrier.
Step 1: Video Guide

Treat

  • Vital: The full amount of Treatment (4mL) must be used AM & PM.
    [For full efficacy benzoyl peroxide must be applied generously in 2.5% concentration]
How
Why
wash hands

A.

How
Wash and dry hands.
Why
This helps remove any oils that may have accumulated on your hands. Exposure to oils can aggravate acne.
dispense

B.

How
Dispense two full pumps (4mL) of Treatment. See dosage chart below.
Why
Using an extremely generous amount of benzoyl peroxide is the heart and soul of this regimen. When in doubt, use more!
Note: This refers to only after you have worked up your dosage to the full amount (4mL). Start slowly!
dosage instructions

Important: Expand for dosage chart

apply bp

C.

How
Spread Treatment on your face very gently with your fingers. Do not rub. Just allow your fingers to glide over your skin, spreading it around and letting it absorb on its own. Applying this way may take a few minutes, and requires extra patience, but it will pay off. This should take no longer than 3 minutes. If after 3 minutes, the Treatment is not fully absorbed, allow the rest to absorb on its own.
Why
The more gently you treat your skin, the faster and more completely you will clear up. Allowing the Treatment to absorb on its own without rubbing is a crucial step in reducing irritation.
Adjustment Period: Dermatologists are well aware that the skin naturally becomes accustomed to benzoyl peroxide over a few weeks. During this time, benzoyl peroxide can cause redness, itchiness, and flakiness. These effects are temporary and should subside within a few weeks once your skin becomes accustomed to benzoyl peroxide.
avoid eyes

D.

How
Carefully avoid the area around the eyes
Why
The thickness of the skin near the eyes is about 1/10th as thick as the rest of the face and can be very sensitive to benzoyl peroxide.
wait

E.

How
Wait 5-15 minutes for your skin to dry. Do not rinse off the benzoyl peroxide. Once it is applied, you will leave it on the skin.
Why
Benzoyl peroxide oxygenates skin, and dries and peels inside the pore. It is important to give it the time it needs to properly medicate and treat acne.
Important Notes
start slowly
How
Start with only a small amount of benzoyl peroxide, gradually working up to the full amount (4mL) over 2-4 weeks.
WhyBenzoyl peroxide can cause redness and itchiness at first. These effects should subside within a few weeks.
tube
HowIf you're using a cream such as Neutrogena On-The-Spot rather than a gel like Acne.org Treatment Gel, apply to smaller areas of your face at a time. With a gel, it is possible to apply to the entire face at once.
WhyCream based benzoyl peroxide can tend to dry too quickly.
Step 2: Video Guide

Moisturize

  • Vital: Do not skip this step. Even if you have oily skin, apply moisturizer twice daily.
    [Applying a moisturizer containing jojoba oil will regulate the skin's oil production.]
How
Why
wash hands

A.

HowWash and dry hands.
WhyQuickly washing hands removes any oils that may have accumulated.
dispense

B.

How
Dispense two full pumps of moisturizer (a quarter sized amount). When in doubt, use more.
Why
Properly reintroducing hydration to the skin not only eliminates flakiness which benzoyl peroxide can produce, it also helps keep the skin balanced. Overly dry skin is irritated skin, so it is vital to keep skin in balance. Do not skimp on moisturizer.
moisturize

C.

How
Apply moisturizer very gently with your fingers much like you applied the Treatment. Don’t rub. Allow your fingers to gently glide over skin. This should take no longer than 2 minutes. If after 2 minutes, the moisturizer is not fully absorbed, allow the rest to absorb on its own.
  • After a while, if your skin is still flaky, apply more moisturizer.
Why
You guessed it…applying moisturizer this gently reduces irritation, which is a must to get skin 100% clear.
avoid eyes

D.

How
Carefully avoid the area around the eyes with the moisturizer as well.
Why
The moisturizer can pick up some of the underlying benzoyl peroxide and may irritate the sensitive area around the eyes.
makeup brush

E. Makeup: Expand for makeup guide

Important Notes
do not skip
How
To achieve total flakiness control, you can add 5-6 drops of jojoba oil to whichever moisturizer you are using.
Why
Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, and may help regulate oil production. Feel free to add jojoba oil to any moisturizer each time you use it.
do not skip
How
Do not skip this step. Begin moisturizing twice a day from your first day on The Regimen.
Why
Some people say, “I have oily skin, so I’m not going to moisturize,” but this is not a reason to avoid moisturizing. When you moisturize, especially with a moisturizer which contains jojoba oil, your oil production will come under control much better than if you avoid moisturizing. Moisturizing twice daily, every day, is an essential step to getting clear. This has been proven over many years and hundreds of thousands of Regimen users.
sun
How
During a normal day at work or at school, you should be fine with a non-SPF moisturizer. However, if you will be in the sun for more than 20 minutes between the hours of 10am-3pm, protection of the face/neck and other areas where you apply acne medication is prudent. Consider wearing a hat or applying a sunscreen in lieu of a non-SPF moisturizer. Dispense a quarter sized amount of the sunscreen and be sure to add 5-6 drops of jojoba oil for flakiness control since some sunscreens can be drying.
Why
Acne medication can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. SPF application is a complex issue. The sun is the main source of vitamin D, an extremely important hormone. Many doctors strongly recommend 5-20 minutes of sun exposure per day. However, excessive exposure can damage the skin.
Step 3: Video Guide

Avoiding Irritation

  • Vital: Leave your skin relatively untouched throughout the day — crucial to achieve clear skin.
    [Reduce/avoid physical irritants. If repeated contact occurs, apply extra benzoyl peroxide & 10% AHA to the area.]
Be aware of physical irritants:
  • picking at your skin
  • resting face in hands
  • napkins, tissues
  • hats, helmets, chin straps
  • greasy hair products
find the right products

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