Best acne medication.

Ask any number of dermatologists if poor digestion is a cause of acne, and you're likely to get the same answer from each: No.

This is precisely why dermatologists don't always cure acne, says Andrew Rubman, N.D., a naturopathic physician and founder of the Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicine in Connecticut. "Acne has generated an entire industry of high priced dermatologists and an incredible laundry list of very potent and expensive medications, including topical and oral antibiotics," he says.

Yes, these medications can control acne, as long as you continue to use them. But, says Dr. Rubman, many cases of acne could be cured-cleared up for good-by improving the health of the digestive tract.

The gastrointestinal (Gn tract is the body's primary organ of elimination, he explains. When your intestines are loaded with "pro-inflammatory substances" -biochemical toxins generated by the saturated fat in animal products and the hydrogenated fat in processed foods as well as by refined sugar, coffee, and alcohol-he believes that the body looks for a "second venue"
to get rid of the debris. It often finds that dumping ground in the sebaceous glands, the oil-secreting glands that generate pimples when they're blocked with gunk.

When the GI tract is cooled down with anti-inflammatory fats-the fatty acids that are found in foods such as cold-water fish, nuts, and seeds-Dr. Rubman believes that it can eliminate the pro-inflammatory substances without sending them to the skin. And that can clear up adult acne.
That's why he gives all his patients with adult acne a supplement that provides a balanced combination of all the different fatty acids. What's more, he says, this supplement is especially effective in clearing up a particularly irritating form of adult acne: the breakouts that happen each month right before a woman's period.

FATTY ACIDS:
For Premenstrual Breakouts "Most of the adult acne patients I treat are women in their midtwenties to mid thirties who have cyclical acne-who always break out 2 to 3 days before their periods," Dr. Rubman says. He gives them a supplement called Perfect Oils, manufactured by Nutritional Therapeutics, which supplies a therapeutic balance of fatty acids from borage, fish, and flaxseed oils. Typical patients take two or three soft-gel capsules a day,with food.
"I have had absolutely amazing results with this supplement," he says. "Not only does the acne go away, but as the GI tract functions better, the women's hair and nails get stronger, they have fewer problems with irregularity, they sleep better, and their libidos are stronger. They get all kinds of benefits."

VITAMINS AND MINERALS: An Anti-Acne Program
Many other nutritional supplements can help heal acne and prevent outbreaks, according to Earl Mindell, Ph.D., a pharmacist and nutritionist in Beverly Hills. Here are the vitamins and minerals that he recommends.

. Beta-carotene: This form of vitamin A may help protect the skin from bacteria, which contribute to acne. Take 15 milligrams daily.
. B-complex vitamins: These are thought to help you cope with stress, which can contribute to skin problem. Take a daily high-potency B-complex supplement that supplies 100 milligrams of most of the B vitamins.
. Vitamin C: It is considered essential for the health of collagen, a component of the skin. Take 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day. . Vitamin E: This nutrient can help the body assimilate vitamin A. Take 400 international units a day in a dry form, which is better absorbed, says Dr. Mindell. . Zinc: This is believed to be one of the most important minerals for healthy skin. Take 15 milligrams daily.

ACUPRESSURE:
Clear Up Congestion Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees acne as a problem with chi, the energy that keeps crucial components of the body and mind (like blood and emotions) moving freely. Acne occurs when the flow of "liver chi" is stagnant or blocked, says Jason Elias, a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine in New Paltz, New York.

Four acupressure points are particularly effective for premenstrual acne, says Elias. Stimulating the points SP6 and SP9 releases congestive energy that causes menstrual problems, he says, while stimulating LV3 and LV4 helps release toxicity in the body. (For the exact locations of the points, see An Illustrated Guide to Acupressure Points on page 638.) Twice a week, sit in a chair and use your thumb to make circular movements in a clockwise direction in and around each point for about 1 minute. Press hard enough to cause slight pain, but not so much that you want to stop.

HERBS: A Formula to Eliminate Toxins
Herbal remedies, both Chinese and Western, can help heal acne and prevent recurrences by cleansing the lymphatic system, Elias says. He recommends a formula that combines equal parts of the tinctures of nine herbs: red clover, burdock, yellow dock, dang gui, milk thistle, cleavers, schisandra, echinacea, and licorice.
Bring 1 quart of water to a boil and add 1 ounce of combined tinctures. Turn off the heat and steep for 30 minutes. Drink two cups a day for up to 3 months. You can refrigerate the unused portion for up to a week. Along with lymphatic cleansers, the formula contains herbs that are thought to support the liver, nourish the blood, and fight infection-all factors that are crucial in healing acne.

HYDROTHERAPY: An Herbal Steam Bath for Your Face
A weekly steam bath for your face can open and drain the pores, helping to heal acne and prevent new outbreaks, Elias says. Adding the herb yarrow to the steaming water is very healing to the skin, he says.
Using 1 teaspoon of loose tea or a tea bag, prepare an 8-ounce cup of yarrow tea, steep for 30 minutes, and add it to a basin of steaming water. Lean over the basin for 5 to 10 minutes, holding a towel over your head as a kind of hood to keep the steam on your face. Your face should be close enough to feel the steam (about 12 inches away) but not so close that it burns.
If your acne is severe, use a steam bath two or three times a week, says Elias. If you get acne every now and then, use it once a week to help prevent outbreaks.