Many people believe that Neem, if used properly, is the natural acne cure they have been looking for.  But, is Neem really good for treating acne and can it help cure it?

Neem has been around for over 4500 years and is native to India and Pakistan.  It grows in tropical and semi-tropical climate.

In East Africa Neem is often referred to as the tree of 40 because it is said to treat 40 different diseases.

In India, the tree is known as the “Divine Tree”, “Heal All”,  “Nature’s Drugstore”,  ”Village Pharmacy” and “Panacea for all diseases”.

What’s Special About Neem?

Products made from Neem have proven medicinal properties, some of those properties being anti-fungal, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-infertility, and sedative.

In Ayurveda medicine it is commonly prescribed for skin disease such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Because of Neem’s antibacterial properties – neem supplements can be taken to improve skin conditions such as acne.

Research regarding Neem

Department of Microbiology, King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, India.

Findings:  Neem showed statistically significant effects in suppression of two important cells that cause inflammation and contribute to the cause of acne.  Suppression of these cells caused an anti-inflammatory response to occur. Which means that the use of Neem can help with acne outbreaks and reduce inflammation associated with it.

You can find Need in most health food markets or you can get an acne product that contains Neem such as  ZenMed’s Dermacleanse acne treatment.  Although results may vary, your acne probably won’t be cured by using it alone.  It is becoming increasingly popular to use Neem as a natural acne treatment solution. Used in conjunction with other natural acne remedies this treatment can go a long way in reducing your existing acne outbreaks and preventing new acne from forming.

One form of acne that is common in both men and women is chest acne or body acne.

In the past, acne  used to be deemed as a disorder that only teenagers got.  This picture of acne has slowly declined with the changing lifestyles of today.

Studies report that over 50% of female adults suffer from various forms of acne.  Some of the problems include cysts, blackheads and blemishes.

Teenage acne is often due to hormonal issues and hereditary.  As adults hereditary and hormones are not the only cause. Adults also get acne from stress, toxins in the environment, cosmetics and medications.

Women are also more prone to acne as compared to men because of the increased changes in hormones during menopause.  In comparison only 40% of adult males suffer from acne.

Usually adult acne is caused by the cells in the epidermal layer of the skin shedding and becoming clogged in the pores. As a result the oil that is produced in the sebaceous glands can not be released because of the clogged pores.  When oil builds up under the skin it creates a situation where bacteria under the skin can grow.

Chest and body acne is likely to occur when perspiration is trapped by synthetic types of clothing.  Sometimes external factors such as pollution and the environment can cause acne to occur in  areas other than the face as well, but most of the time it’s due to constrictive clothing and humidity.

Tip: The best way to prevent body acne is to wear breathable fabrics like cotton so that the sweat from the body can evaporate.

If body acne is something that is bothersome you can try washing off with an acne cleanser that is specifically made for the body such as Dermacleanse’s Body treatment system by ZenMed. This type of system is designed to heal existing acne and prevent new acne from forming.  You can use this product on your back, shoulders and chest.  When it’s used twice a day it is an effective form of acne prevention.

A common question that get’s asked regarding acne care is…” What is a zit or pimple made of?”

First you have to learn what a pore is and then some common structures in the skin.  A pore consists of a hair folicle and sebaceous gland.

The sebaceous glands help healthy skin to function by removing  oil, dirt, and old skin cells  from the skin.  However, if there is too much oil the sebaceous gland can get blocked up and clogged.

Basically, a zit can be seen when the oil in the gland begins to swell.  It takes about 14-21 days for a zit to surface.  What you see when it ruptures is usually a combination of oil, dead skin cells and bacteria.  If the bacteria spreads to surrounding skin it can get red and inflamed and requires treatment to resolve.

Check out the “Ultimate Acne Guide” for more information on the causes and treatment of acne.