Thursday, January 28, 2010

Alpha Lipoic Acid for Acne - Antioxidants In Action

Acne is a type of skin disease occurring at the sebaceous follicles of the skin. It usually appears on the face, neck and back. The follicles secrete a natural substance, called sebum, and this mixes with dirt and dust. This then causes the follicles and its surrounding tissues to become inflamed. It's a good thing to know that a such a substance as alpha lipoic acid for acne may hold a solution.

Getting To Know Acne There are two types of acne, either inflammatory or non-inflammatory. For the non-inflammatory type of acne, there is the closed comedo (whitehead) which appears as small, whitish bumps on the surface of the skin. In this case, the plugged follicle does not surface on the skin. There is also the open comedo (blackhead) wherein the plug is slightly darker in appearance, which is due to melanin buildup. This time the plug enlarges and becomes visible on the skin surface.

For the inflammatory acne types there are papule, pustule, nodule or cyst, and acne conglobata. These skin diseases range from a small, pink bump, to an inflamed bump that contains visible pus, to an acne with severe bacterial infection.

What Is Alpha Lipoic Acid? Tagged by some as the "universal" antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid is used widely for its ability to cure and prevent various diseases by neutralizing free radicals in our bodies and protecting the cells from damage. Free radicals are substances that cause damage to the cells. Some common sources of free radicals are fried foods, smoking, exhaust, and pollution.

What Does Alpha Lipoic Acid Do? The main function of the alpha lipoic acid is to boost the levels of gluthathione, which is responsible for dissolving toxic substances in the liver. Alpha lipoic acid can be easily absorbed into the blood stream, and is found in vegetables and meats.

Because alpha lipoic acid is both water and lipid soluble, it is able to reach all portions of the cell. This exceptional ability to work itself within the cell helps the body rid itself of toxins present in the body. It also works effectively in fighting inflammation resulting from acne lesion on a cellular level, curing them before they develop into a more serious type of inflammatory acne.

Another beneficial effect that can be derived out of the alpha lipoic acid is its ability to preserve and protect vitamins C and vitamin E levels in the skin, which can decrease steadily with constant exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

More Benefits Alpha lipoic acid can boost energy production in aging cells, enhancing their ability to repair cellular damage and expel waste products within the cell. This process has been used to treat aged skin because alpha lipoic acid is made up of 1% lotion.

Another effect of the activity of alpha lipoic acid is its ability to prevent and reverse scar formation due to acne. This is due to the skin renewal properties present in alpha lipoic acid that is why it has been used as an ingredient of facial creams to help diminish scar formation.

These are just some of the benefits that can be derived from alpha lipoic acid for acne, which has been widely used as an acne treatment formula. Clinical studies have also proven that the alpha lipoic acid does not have adverse effects, even at high doses.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Healthy-Skin-Today.com. She provides more information on topics such as alpha lipoic acid for acne, Murad acne treatment and Proactiv acne medicine, which you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.