Acne No More

Acne No More is not an acne treatment.

Rather, it is an eBook that a writer created that claims to teach others how to holistically (read: not medicinally) clear their acne from the inside, using a variety of secret tips and tools supposedly developed by a medical researcher and nutritionist, and health consultant.

It should be noted right in the beginning that a quick search of Google Scholar shows that the author (Mike Walden) does not appear to have any articles published in any major journals, at least about acne, nor does the name "Michael Walden" yield any results.

Of course, this is not to say that the author couldn't have written papers under a different name, or researched for a private company, but it's not a bad idea to have a little bit of doubt about the efficacy of the claims when research experience cannot be proven and is not provided.

Below is an introduction to the Acne No More system, as well as information about the effectiveness of Acne No More.

Acne No More Review

The idea behind the Acne No More eBook is that there are natural ways to reduce acne.

Research has shown that benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and antibiotics are all useful for curing acne, but the vast majority of the population prefers the idea of treating most health issues – including acne – with natural products.

There are several natural solutions for acne as well that have been verified by the research (Vitamin A, for example) but the book doesn't necessarily promote the idea of alternative topical treatments. Rather, it's focused on the idea of cleansing the causes of acne internally.

There is evidence that it's possible to reduce acne through internal means, rather than placing something on your face.

However, it's important to note that acne is caused by bacteria on the skin. When something (hormones, usually) causes your pores to grow and oil to build upon your skin, that bacteria has a chance to thrive, eventually clogging pores and leading to inflammation (acne).

The author disagrees with the idea that reducing bacteria is an important part of reducing acne, which is an unusual claim. Numerous published studies and anecdotal experiences have shown that clearing bacteria does improve the appearance of acne.

The problem generally isn't clearing the bacteria – the problem is that the methods of clearing the bacteria are not always ideal, with some causing skin irritation or other side effects.

Nevertheless, the idea behind the system is a series of actions and lifestyle choices that are promoted as stopping the problems that cause acne from the inside.

Claims Made by the Author

Exaggerations in marketing are a well-recognized practice and one that even companies that provide excellent products are wont to do. Still, the following claims are fairly dubious:

• 95% of All People Who Treat Acne End Up Worse Than When They Started!
• Acne Drugs (Such As Accutane or Antibiotics), Lotions, Creams, and Ointments Don't Work and Can Significantly Aggravate Your Condition.
• All men and women who used this method … [had] their existing Acne was gone within weeks and often within days and had never returned

We know that many acne treatments work because genuine research has shown that they work. This includes antibiotics, which – while they're not necessarily the best treatment choice – do at least reduce acne.

We also know that acne cannot be cured in days because it grows beneath the skin for weeks before it reaches the surface, and once it's growing it can't be stopped.

It's also incredibly unlikely that 95% of all acne sufferers end up worse than when they started.

These claims are suspicious, and not backed up by the research evidence.

Review of the Acne No More System Components

Acne No More is a comprehensive non-medicinal acne system, with numerous tips and strategies designed to treat acne.

Yet many users report problems with the Acne No More system – mainly, the incredible amount of fasting, dietary changes, and weight loss that is a part of that system.

There is very little research evidence that diet affects acne in any way, with the possible exception of high glycemic carbohydrates and dairy products. There are some vitamins and minerals that appear to relieve acne, but few changes to your diet that can prevent acne from being formed.

So it seems unusual to have serious dietary changes as a part of any acne cleansing system. Also, fasting and serious changes can be unhealthy. Some users report losing more than 20 pounds of weight on the acne system, and that amount of severe weight loss rarely comes without a health cost – especially when it is not due to exercise and balanced eating.

Consider many of the components of the Acne No More system:

• Juice Cleanse
• Skin Detoxing
• Greatly Reduced Fat Intake
• Raw Food Dieting

Juice cleanses are notoriously unsafe and while many people believe they purge the body of toxins, the truth is that compared to placebos, these cleanses tend not to affect the skin.

In an article titled "debunking detox," biologist Harriet Ball writes:

Detox is marketed as the idea that modern living fills us with invisible nasties that our bodies can’t cope with unless we buy the latest jargon-filled remedy. Last year we investigated scientific claims that are plastered on everything from sandwiches to devices that supposedly protect you from radiation. Our new investigation into detox products has convinced us that there is little or no proof that these products work, except to part people from their cash and downplay all the amazing ways in which our bodies can look after themselves!

This is not to say that there isn't some benefit to the idea behind detoxing – namely, that there are likely to be chemicals and germs and bacteria in the body that make the body perform less efficiently than it does otherwise. Rather, the idea that juice cleanses (or any other detoxing herb or supplement) will remove whatever these toxins are is likely to be false, since there is little proof that these toxins exist, let alone evidence that any type of unusual dietary change can remove them.

There are certainly some components of the Acne No More system that are valid. For example, the author recommends stress reduction techniques, and research evidence has shown that stress exacerbates acne. Ergo, learning to control your stress is beneficial for acne.

But many of the claims about toxins causing acne are simply not confirmed in non-bias research, and the serious weight loss and dietary changes seen in the Acne No More system are worrisome.

Possibly Dangerous Cause of Acne Reduction

The weight loss component is something that should be studied further, especially before referring to the Acne No More system as safe.

Studies have shown that severe caloric restriction (fasting) can actually decrease acne because the body stops producing as much oil, and the bacteria are unable to grow. Of course, these types of diets are extremely dangerous, and end up hurting your body far more than they help.

One wonders if some of those that have undergone the Acne No More system has seen results for this reason.

Overall Impressions of the Acne No More Review

Without studies that confirm the system is not only effective but also safe, it's impossible to recommend the Acne No More System.

One of the problems with most unconventional acne treatments is that very few have been researched in a lab, using thorough analytical techniques and carefully controlling every variable.

The Acne No More eBook may work, simply because there's no research to prove it doesn't. But there is also no research to prove it does, and the lack of research into the safety of the Acne No More system makes it very hard to recommend under any circumstances.