Beauty Box: Blackheads, Comedones, Acne, & Pore Problems

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Blackheads, Comedones, Acne, & Pore Problems

Question
I have LARGE pores that show up very badly on my nose and some under my eyes. I was wondering if you have any products or suggestions for me that I can use to help minimize and tighten my pores so that they are not visible. And I also get a lot of breakouts still on my forehead and some on my cheeks under my eyes. If you have any products, concerns, or suggestions you can give to help prevent breakouts and help minimize pore so that they are not visible PLEASE e-mail me back at Sunny434@aol.com THANKS A LOT-Jessica

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi, before tightening up your pores, you first need to clear them of the clogged debris. Once your pores are cleared and clean, you will also have lesser breakouts. Our products work very well in gently and effectively removing clogged debris. All our cream formulations are also non-comedogenic, except those containing makeup powder and color pigment oxides. However, with effective cleansers, you don't even have to worry about them. Your best bet now is to get hold of a set of our samples, and you'll see the wonders happening right before your eyes. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
How can I stop this outbreak of pimples that keep coming on.

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi, you need to keep your skin clean and clogged-free. However, to achieve them you need real effective cleansing products that cleanse gently yet thoroughly, and yet do not rob your skin off freshly secreted fluid oil. What needed to be removed are hardened plugs of deposits. Abstain from soaps and soap base products. Soap contains salt that will harden clogged deposits further, thus rendering them more stubborn and more difficult to remove. Soap will also emulsify away your precious fresh oil secretions which are needed to bond your skin's newly-shed dead cells together to form that protective acid mantle. You further need a good set of toner, day cream, night cream, mask, etc.. that are non-comedogenic(i.e. products that do not contain high wax content), and are well balanced with adequate active ingredients to "fine-tune" your skin and bring back your clean, fresh, youthful, silky, and baby-soft complexion. Above all of the above, you need to lead a healthy hygenic lifestyle. Change your pillow case nightly. Bacteria attracted to old pillow case can multiply in great numbers and can pass on to your face when you lie on it. Sleep adequately, and drink plenty of water too. Try not to over stress yourself. For now, you will most need a set of effective products to keep your pimples under control. Get hold of a set of our samples now, and you'll not regret. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Anything I can do to help decrease oily condition and decrease sizs of pores especially on nose from too many years of squeezing?

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi, If your enlarged pores are due to many years of squeezing, they are likely indentations, which will take a longer time to treat. I believe what you squeezed out were comedones (or blackheads in layman terms, although they may not necessarily be black). There's no necessity to resort to squeezing if you have an effective cleanser that can soften, dissolve and remove daily waste deposits, and have a good range of daily/ nightly care products that do not contain high wax contents in them. As for oily condition, most people were either recommended soap-base cleansers by beauticians/aestheticians/physicians, or resorted themselves to using soap to rid off their oily condition. Soap will emulsify away surface fluid oil, and harden the clogged oily debris, thus causing more accumulation of stubborn blackheads. When the surface skin oil is being harshly removed by soap in this manner, the sebaceous glands will physiologically multiply its oil production to compensate the sudden oil loss, thus leading to a condition where the skin is even more oily, yet coarse. Get hold of a set of our samples and see your skin condition improved within a week. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. (Note: the actual contents of the form is removed from here to save space). Regards: Pierre

Question
I have blackheads around my cheekbones and its driving me crazy, this just started several months ago and i don't have any idea what has caused this sudden change, growing up I never had any trouble with blackheads or acne, which was rare. Why all of a sudden now? Is it my age or what kind of make-up that I use?

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi, blackheads are debris from environmental dirt, stale dead cells, salt, waste and bacteria from sweat, hardened wax component from comedogenic creams(that is cream made from standard formulation which contains high wax component), Colored Iron Oxide pigments from makeup colors/creams. Blackheads can form due to any of the following reasons: 1. Your skin becoming oily suddenly, thus trapping more dirt. 2. You started using new cream(s) or makeup item(s) that contain high wax content and Iron Oxides. 3. You have been using a soap-base cleanser which hardened the deposits on your skin and within the pores. Soap contains salt and salt hardens any oily deposits found on your skin, but emulsify away fresh liquid oil on your skin, thus causing it to dehydrate, and becoming coarse. 4. You have been using a cream/milk cleanser that are not effective in dissolving and removing daily soiled deposits of waste and dirt. Instead, this cleanser may even contain high wax content, which deposits the wax in the pores rather than removing waste deposits from them. Well, I urge you to get hold of a set of our samples to resolve your problem. (Nore: the actual form content is removed from here to save space). Regards: Pierre

Question
Hi, I'm 14 years old, and I really want your help! Well I'm not sure the difference between a scar and acne. Are they both the same? Oh, and will u send me a copy of the article? thank you.

(submitted by alias: Nikhi3657@aol.com)

Answer
Hi, I believe by now, you must have already received your email copy of our beautytips. Well, to your question, acne are inflamation of the hair pores. It appears red and swollen, and can have pus when they are about to heal. Pus are dead bacteria. Scars (I supposed you mean post acneic scars) are left-over stain marks after the acne have subsided. They may be pinkish or dark tiny patch marks. Although some may appear to be hyperly pigmented with dark melanin cells, some are actually blood clots from damaged blood vessels caused by squeezing and fiddling. Depending on your own body's constitution, some scars may disappear on their own over time, while some may not. Squeezing and fiddling them will often leave permanent scarring. I advice you to get hold of a set of our samples. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. (Note: The actual form contents have been removed from here to save space) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Yes I have had acnefor a long time and i have tried a million things my doctor gave me medicine twice that did not work at all and now i am using which Hazel which is working but my face is not clearing up like i want it to can you please help me out thanks Love Ruthie

(submitted by alias: Ruthie)

Answer
Dear Ruthie, to clear up your acnes you need to do a few things as follows: 1. Apply something that has anti-phlogistic properties to stop the spread of the acne bacteria, but should not at the same time dehydrate the skin. 2. Use only good effective cleansers(absolutely not soap) that can really remove the current clogged debris and daily deposits of dirt, staled dead cells, salt and waste from sweat, by gently dissolving them. 3. Use toners without alcohol. Alcoholic toners dehydrate skin and cause it to rupture, thus allowing easy bacterial invasion. 3. For all other day/night creams, use only those that are truly non-comedogenic(i.e. not containing high wax content). The best bet for you is to get hold of a set of our sampleset, and you'll not regret. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
I recently noticed that my pores are much more enlarged than before, around my cheeks and nose. I'm not sure what to do about this. I use daily face wash and recently started using a pore cleansing wash, but it doesn't seem to help. Is there an efficient way to effectively tighten my pores? Thank you.

(submitted by alias: Tom)

Answer
Hi Tom, I believe your daily face wash and your recent pore cleansing wash are both soap base. Soap base cleansers will cause your surface oil and oil within the pores to harden. Since there are always debris on the surface skin and within the pores, they too got hardened. When clogged debris are hardened, and couldn't be cleared daily, they accumulated more and at a much faster rate over time. These accumulated clogged debris expanded and caused the pores to enlarge as well. To tighten up your pores, you need first to clear them of the clogged debris. To clear the clogged debris you need good effective cleansers that work by gently softening and dissolving them, and without robbing your skin of its natural oil secretion. You need also other skincare regime items that are non-comedogenic(i.e creams that do not contain high wax content in them). Try our sampleset, and you'll see fast amazing results. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
I HAVE DRY DEHIDRATED SKIN NO LOTION WORKS I USE NIVEA VISAGE FACIAL NOURISHING I HAVE CHANGED PRODUCTS SEVERAL TIMES. I ALSO GET BLACKHEADS AND I BREAK OUT WITH READ PIMPLES THAT ARE UNAPPEALING THEY USEUALLY ARE NOT BIG JUST RED. I HARDLY EVER WEAR FACE MAKEUP. I JUST CAN NOT GET RID OF IT AND IT IS A REAL ANNOYANCE. PLEASE HELP WHAT SHOULD I USE?

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi, you most likely must have been using soap as your daily/nightly cleanser to cleanse your face, and/or have used some other treatment products that dehydrate your skin. Stop using soap amd any other product that is dehydrating your skin. Soap causes hardening of oil and debris and leads to more clogged pores. Clogged pores trapped bacteria, and led to breakouts. So, your problem can be resolved with a good set of daily/nightly skincare products that cleanse effectively by dissolving those clogged debris, yet not dehydrating your skin, and not hardening fresh oil secretions and debris(which comprises dead cells, dirt, salt from sweat, waste and bacteria from sweat, etc.), AND that truly moisturizes your skin without adding deposits to your clogged pores to get them more clogged. Most creams from other companies contain a high wax content. When the water content from the cream evaporates, leaving the solid wax component as deposit, the pores got more clogged. Get hold of a set of our samples now, and you'll soon regain your youthful baby-soft complexion. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Hello. I would like to know what treatments/products you would suggest using for my skin problems. I have a pigmentation problem on the right side of my face that has worsened progressively over the past five years. It started as a small spot on my cheek and has increased to most of the right side and has moved to my forehead. I have had numerous glycolic peels, used Renova, RetinA and other bleaching cream. I think all of these things have just worsened my skin condition and made it extremely sensitive to any sunlight and resulted in more acne type problems. I do take birth control pills, but the pigmentation problem started and progressed long before I started taking them. Your recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Laura

(submitted by alias: laura)

Answer
Hi Laura, with your current condition, the first thing you must avoid is exposure to the sun. Use a good sunscreen with SPF 8 to 15 is sufficient. Do not use one that's higher. Sunscreens with higher SPF can cause lots of other complications to the skin. To know more about SPF please visit http://www.pierre-chenxu.com/salon/beautybox/spf_us.html Artificial peels often caused more harm than good. After a fresh peel, the skin temporarily appears soft and fair, but actually, it is due to the dissappearance of some of the epidermal sub-layers which have been peeled off. With the loss of some sub-layers, naturally the skin has a much thinner epidermal skin, thus less protective capability against the sun's harmful UV rays. I advice that you stop receiving such treatment altogether. Birth control pills can also cause a hormonal imbalance in your body over time, and leading to some melanin cells to over-multiply themselves. Although your pigmentation problem started and progressed long before you started taking them, it does not necessarily mean that it is not one of the current additional causes to your pigmentation problem. If, after having avoided the sun and having used a good sunscreen for some time, there's still no improvement, then the primary cause of your pigmentation now is due to the pills. Of course your skin peels and past exposure to the sun are most likely the early causes to your pigmentation problem, but your pills could have become a later problem contribution source. Bleaching creams can only work, provided the source of the problem can be controlled. Nevertheless, all other daily/nightly skincare products used also play a role to some extent in your resulting skin condition. I urge you to try our samples. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. (Note: Actual form contents are removed from here to save space) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
HI IM A 16 YEAR OLD MALE I AM IN THE 10TH GRADE AND I HAVE HAD ANCE ON MY FACE AND BACK SINCE THE 5TH GRADE AND ALL THESE YEARS I HAVE GONE TO THE DOCTORS FOR IT AND HE GAVE PILLS I TOOK THEM FOR 2 MONTHS AND THE ANCE WENT AWAY ON MY FACE BUT NOT MY BACK I TOOK THE PILLS AGAIN AND THEY DIDN'T WORK. IM IN FOOTBALL BASEBALL AND ALL OTHER SPORTS PLEASE HELP ME I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOTHING WILL WORK THANKS DAVE

(submitted by alias: XTREMED16)

Answer
Hi, I believe your acne is caused by the puberty process. Although your skin will naturally become oilier, never use a soap and any other cleansers that dehydrate your skin. Abstain also from any drug that works by destroying your sebaceous glands, or gland activity. What you need is keep your skin fresh and clean and adequately moisturized. However, to achieve the above, you need a real good and effective set of skincare products that cleanse and moisturize without robbing your skin's natural oil. When your skin dehydrates it will rupture and became open ground for easy bacterial invasion. Get hold of a set of our samples now, and you'll not regret. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version Sampleset Request Form below here for your completion. (Actual form contents are removed from here) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
I have oily skin and am always getting pimples. What kind of products should I be using to treat the acne, yet won't cause my skin to overdry?

(submitted by alias: stonie)

Answer
Hi Stonie, most skincare product manufacturers thought that acne are caused by oily condition(which is not always the case BTW), and thus, they produce topical anti-acne products, which are standard formulations anyway, given them Free by suppliers, that treat acne only by drying them out. Even for most oral medication, they often work by either destroying the sebaceous glands, or destroying the gland activity. As such, I do not know of any product(oral or topical), that treat acne without drying/overdrying the skin, except products from our own line, which are uniquely formulated by myself. Not that I'm trying to sell my own products, but what I just said is true. Our topical anti-acne product is #90-O which does not dry up the skin. However, for best result what other daily/nightly skincare products you use for cleansing, toning day protection/moisturizing, night moisturizing, masking, etc. are also important determinants. As such, I suggest you get a complete set of our samples. When you are satisfied with our product quality and efficacies(which we are confident you will be) you may then order the actual retail sizes. For your convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version sample request form below here for your completion. (Note to save space, the actual form contents are removed from here) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
i've had a problem with cystic acne since seventh grade. i believe it may be genetic because both my sister and my mother have the same problem. i've been on numerous oral antibiotics and have used many different topical medications. recently, i was on accutane, 80mg, up to 3 times a day. unfortunately, i was unable to finish the treatment (i was on it for about 4 months). my face is incredibly clear now, except for one trouble area. my left cheek, in the same spot, tends to develop cysts right before my periods. this past week, i had another reoccurence. i went to my dermatologist, and i got injections on two separate occasions. finally, when it didn't get any better, i squeezed it. i have done this before so i used extreme caution. i poked the apparent point with a steralized needle and then squeezed out all the puss. now, i have a very dark mark in that area. i was wondering if this could possibly be just a bruise from ruptured blood vessels under the skin, or ! is it a discoloration at this point??? it has been about 4 days, and it seems to be getting a little better every day. i have lustra to use of my scars, but it irritates my skin, and turns the whole area red. so now, i don't know what i can use on these dark areas. i still have marks from previous cysts in the very same area, so it covers more of my cheek than it would if it were just that one cyst. so, how soon can i expect this mark to disappear? is it a bruise or a discoloration at this point? and what products can i use on it which will help fade the marks without irriating my skin? thank you, kat

(submitted by alias: kat)

Answer
Hi Kat, antibiotics should not be taken on a long term basis, because your body will become immune and your dosage will have to be increased over time. Your own body's defence system will also become less and less active, since an outside defence force(that is antibiotics) is doing the defence for the body. Try changing your pillow case daily. Often bacteria from your hair and acne get onto the pillow and multiply. When your clean part of the face rested on it from night to the next morning, trillions of bacteria could have transferred from the pillow case onto your skin, and sensitize it, leading to outbreak. Check if you often sleep with your left cheek on the pillow. Squeezing is bad practice. It will inevitably leave scars. Scars from squeezing are ruptured capillaries, not depigmentation or hyper-pigmentation of your melanin cells. It can heal over time. It can also be speeded up with our product : #99 Herbal SR Cream 0.42 FL.OZ.(12ML) at $27.70 per jar. However, for fast amazing results, it is best to use our complete set of skincare without mixing with any other product not from our line. I recommend the following products for your current condition: UNIT Prod. PRICE Code Description Oz. (ML) (US$) ----- ----------- ----- ----- ----- 10/F Anti-Acne Refreshening Fluid 4.59 130 $35.70 14D Ginseng DeepCleanse Lotion 4.59 130 $26.70 31-O Sage Purifying Scrub 1.41 40 $20.70 317 Ginseng Comedo-Remover Gel[Sensitive] 2.32 60 $25.70 59 Herbal SR Mask 1.41 40 $39.70 69 Collagen Toner 4.59 130 $32.70 99 Herbal SR Cream 0.42 12 $27.70 90-O Herbal AC-Cream (Anti-Acne) 0.49 12 $25.70 For your order convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version Price-list and order forms below here. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
i am a blackmale and a virgin.i was wondering if my acne is caused by me being a virgin.i want to know why does my head has acne? i want to know why does my head itch? i have tried different shampoos but it seems to not work.will you please tell

(submitted by alias: hblll)

Answer
Hi, no, it has nothing to do with your virginity. Yours is likely caused by your puberty. Though rare, acne can be found on scalp, chest, back and neck. For acne on these places, they are treated the same way as acne on the face. Itching on any part of the body is caused by sensitizing action on the skin. Sensitizing action occurs when the skin is too Dry, too oily, bacteria trying to penetrate skin, or is peeling. Shampoos do not treat acne. Perhaps, you may want to try our #90-O and our complete sampleset. BTW, just incase you might want to order our sampleset and #90-O, I have pasted a copy of our text version price-list and order forms below for your convenience. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Hi, I generally have good skin except for my nose. About 8 months ago I developed a really bad cyst on my nose. It was very large and by the time I got to a dermatologist it ruptured. Needless to say it left a a scar. I'm not concerned witht the scar. I'm concerned about the pigment- ation. I'm black and have medium brown complexion. The scar on my nose is very dark and visible. My doc gave me a lightening gel with AHA in it. SO far it is not working. It is lighter than it was intitially but overall it hasn't really worked. What do you suggest I do? I just want to lighten the surrooundin skin, thats's all. Is there a different preocedure for treatment when a person has a darker complexion to begin with? Thank you for your time. Arthur

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi Arthur, post-acneic pigmented scar is actually different from Melasma kind of pigmentation. Post-acneic scar is more like wound scar caused by clogged capilaries. On the other hand, Melasma kind of Pigmentation is caused by an increase in production of melanin cells within an area of the skin that causes that area to appear darker. Lightening works by bleaching melanin cells, and it's not the correct treatment method for post-acneic scars(which are clogged capillaries). The following product in our line is indicated for post-acneic scars. #99 Herbal SR Cream 0.42Fl.Oz.(12ML) at $27.70 a jar. However, for fast amazing results it is best that you use the complete set of our skincare products without mixing with any other product(s) not from our line, and stop using soap on your face altogether. You may purchase only the #99 first and request a sampleset as well for the other items, so that you'll have the complete set for your daily/nightly routine. For your order convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version Price-list and order froms below. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Up until 5 months ago, I had beauitful skin. For the past 5 months I have suffered from monthly cysts on my face. My skin has turned extremely dry as well. I was put on Ortho Tri-Cyclen and thought the problem has been solved. However, I just broke out with another cyst in the middle of my cycle. I am not interested in treating the cyst with sterroids or anitbiotics. Note: the cycts eventually open, but it is more of an under the skin issue that is very large and PAINFUL. Any natural remedies that you can recommend?

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi, 5 months ago did you suffer from any illness, or emotional stress, or have you applied any products or gone for any facials that could be the likely cause to the cysts outbreak? Nevertheless, do be extra careful on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. I remember giving the same caution to someone else just last week. Incase you missed that answer, let me repeat this here. Ortho Tri-Cyclen works by lowering your body's hormone production. As such, only acne that outbreak during puberty may be helped, because acne during puberty is almost always caused by a sudden increase of the body's hormones. If you must take oral contraceptives, then Ortho Tri-Cyclen seems to be a better choice amongst other pills, since it can also at the same time help reduce your hormone production. However, do note the following risks it may cause: 1. Blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks. The risk is even higher if you are over 35 and a smoker. 2. Some studies have reported an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer among women who use oral contraceptives. Women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant should avoid pills. However, if you don't need contraceptives in the first place, then you don't need Ortho-Cyclen to treat your acne, even though it is popularly recommended to people who are unresponsive to topical anti-acne medication. There's no need to treat acne by reducing hormonal activity. Increased hormonal activity usually causes an increase of glandular activity, producing an excess of oil. It is this excess of oily secretions that caused the pores to clog, trapping bacteria, dirt, stale dead cells, and all other debris. This leads to blackheads. If not treated it then leads to acne. So, if one has a method to prevent the oily secretions from trapping that debris in the pores, then there'll be no clogged pores, thus no acne. To prevent the oily secretions from trapping debris, you simply need good effective cleansers that can really remove stale dead cells, dirt and all other debris daily. The problem is that most cream cleansers in the market do not really clean. They even deposit waxes into the pores to clog them. Some people ended up using soap, trying to rid the excess oil, not knowing that soap causes skin to dehydrate instantly, thus activating the sebaceous glands to multiply their oil production internally to compensate the loss of the surface oil. Soap also contains salt, which will harden any oily debris, thus clogging the pores even more. When the increase oil production inside the pores could not flow out due to the hardened debris clogging them, it can also lead to acne. The dehydration caused by soap also leads to skin rupture, thus allowing easy bacterial invasion into the skin, and leading to acne too. If you are also using soap. I advice that you stop immediately. You may try our whole range of products, but you need not buy the actual retail set now. Just request a sampleset. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version sampleset request form below here for you to complete. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Hi, I am very skeptical at this point, as there are so many skin care products which claim to be "the cure" or solution to acne. However, I am not one to give up and as I read the beautybox, I read that someone had my exact condition. I break out during times of stress and during and around my cycle. I also have really dry skin from the benzoyl peroxide and going without moisturizer because I am afraid I will break out more. For a few years I was on a treatment which used 10% benzoyl per., and 4 or 2% sulfur. I had to ice my face every night after using a granular pumic cleanser for 3 minutes. Then dry and immediately apply the benzoyl peroxide/sulfur lotion on my cold face. This really was my only break through in clearing up all of my acne. But I noticed I got very wrinkled and dry. The only reason I stopped this treatment was because in order to be able to buy the product, the patient must go in for regular extractions at the clinic. I didn't think I needed them any more so I stopped going. So they wouldn't sell me the product. Well, at least my skin is not so dry anymore. But I do break out more now again. Basically, instead of throwing my money down the drain, I would really like to try your products first. Please give me insructions and products based on my conditon. If you have any questions, please email me. Your site looks reputable and I hope it is a blessing that I've stumbles upon it. Thank you. Regards, Mary

(submitted by alias: Mary)

Answer
Hi Mary, I fully understand your feeling and sentiment. Many others felt the same way. Yes, stress and menses cycles are quite common breakout causes for the ladies. Benzoyl peroxide dehydrates skin, especially with 4% concentration. That's high. It treats acne by drying them up, thus creating dehydrated and wrinkled skin. 2% sulphur is still acceptable, but a lower concentration is safer if the product also contains Benzoyl peroxide (and at 4%!). Granular Pumice cleanser is certainly not indicated for your skin. If you were to view the granular pumice with a 30 times scope, you will see that these pumice grains look very coarse with jugged rough edges. So, what this cleanser does is sand-papering your skin. Unlike a block of wood, our epidermal skin is a delicate living organ, and is as thin as the thickness of a normal writing paper. Sand-papering it in this manner certainly damaged the epidermal layer, and can cause delayed pigmentation too due to the friction and harsh removal of several layers of the epidermal cells. You are fortunate to have stopped. Long term usage would certainly bring forth more complications. OK, Mary. Do try out our sample set first, and order the retail sizes only after you are convinced of our product quality and efficacies. For your convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version sampleset request form below here for your completion. (Note: To save space here the actual form contents have been removed) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Hi, I was just wondering if you can help me clean my forehead. I have some pimples and i want to get rid of it. Do you know by any chance of i can remove it! Or which product helps me. I play a sport which is outrriger canoe and i sweat alot. I would be pleased if you can help me get rid of this pimple problem. Thanks! Thank You, Nicole

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi Nicole, It's alright to sweat a lot, so long you drink sufficient amount of water. However, if your canoe sport exposes you too much to the sun, then it's not too healthy. While sweating helps flush out your body waste, bacteria and toxic substances(in a way also helps clear you pores of debris), the Sun's UV-B rays cause delayed pigmentation, and both the A+B rays cause skin dehydration and prematuring aging(even leading to skin cancer in later years). If you have to be exposed, do use a good sunscreen with SPF 8 to 15 maximum. You don't need one higher than 15. To know why, please view the Q&As on SPF at: http://www.pierre-chenxu.com/salon/beautybox/spf_us.html Alright, although I say sweating is good, it can also lead to skin complications if it is incorrectly handled. You see, sweat contains bacteria, salt, waste and the body's toxic substances. If left on the skin for too long, the bacteria will multiply, and together with the toxic substances they sensitize the skin, causing it to inflame and redden, and itch, causing an urge to scratch which would result to skin rupture. when skin ruptures it became open ground for easy bacterial invasion, eventually leading to pipmles. Salt from the sweat also causes the surface oil on the skin and within the pores to solidify. Eventually, pores become clogged with hardened debris comprising dead cells, staled oil, bacteria, toxic substances, dirt, etc. Skin became coarse and blackheads became prominent. When they are not cleared they will also eventually lead to acne. With your condition, you need our complete set of products to see fast amazing results. Stop using soap immediately, because soap contains salt. Also do not mix our products with any others not from our line. The good news is that you need not commit any purchase of the full retail size now. Get hold of our sampleset first. So you have very minimal risk. For your order convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version sampleset request form below here for your completion. (Note: To save space, the actual form contents have been removed from here) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
i've had a problem with cystic acne since seventh grade. i believe it may be genetic because both my sister and my mother have the same problem. i've been on numerous oral antibiotics and have used many different topical medications. recently, i was on accutane, 80mg, up to 3 times a day. unfortunately, i was unable to finish the treatment (i was on it for about 4 months). my face is incredibly clear now, except for one trouble area. my left cheek, in the same spot, tends to develop cysts right before my periods. this past week, i had another reoccurence. i went to my dermatologist, and i got injections on two separate occasions. finally, when it didn't get any better, i squeezed it. i have done this before so i used extreme caution. i poked the apparent point with a steralized needle and then squeezed out all the puss. now, i have a very dark mark in that area. i was wondering if this could possibly be just a bruise from ruptured blood vessels under the skin, or is it a discoloration at this point??? it has been about 4 days, and it seems to be getting a little better every day. i have lustra to use of my scars, but it irritates my skin, and turns the whole area red. so now, i don't know what i can use on these dark areas. i still have marks from previous cysts in the very same area, so it covers more of my cheek than it would if it were just that one cyst. so, how soon can i expect this mark to disappear? is it a bruise or a discoloration at this point? and what products can i use on it which will help fade the marks without irriating my skin? thank you, kat

(submitted by alias: kat)

Question
I recently purchased the Wondergel product and the sample kit. I am very excited about the product after my first use and I'm planning to order a a complete set that's suitable for my skin type. However, I have 3 questions: 1. As a sample, I was given the Anti-Acne refreshing fluid, which doesn't seem much like a cleanser. It doesn't lather or cream so I don't see how it is deep cleansing my skin. How can this product be effective at daily cleansing of the skin? 2. I'm also using the Chamomille Anti U-V day cream (74-P) as a sample. How does this product moisturize since it doesn't feel very smooth when I apply it..also, why is it colored brown, can you order it without the coloring? 3. I purchased the Wondergel blackhead remover? Does using this product take the place of the daily cleanser. The directions don't really say, but I felt more comfortable washing my face with the anti-acne fluid, then applying the wondergel. Is this correct or should I be applying the Wondergel on uncleaned skin? Thanks for such great skin care products, Jennifer

(submitted by alias: Jennifer)

Answer
Hi Jennifer, did you not receive an email Usage Instruction that shows you the daily and nightly routine? If you did not receive it, please let me know your order number or the name you ordered your product and/or sampleset under, so that I can track your order record and send you the Usage Direction. The Anti-acne Refreshening Fluid is indeed a cleanser, although it does notlather. Products that lather are soap-based or they contain soda and high emulsifier contents, which will rob skin of fresh oil secretions which are actually needed to bond the dead cells together to form that vital acid mantle for protection. You clean it without wetting face and hand. Just pour the fluid on a cotton pad and wipe face. For makeup removal, do the same. Pour fluid onto cotton pad and wipe away makeup. Removing lip color from the lips is the most difficult, compared to removing other colors from the face. So, try removing your lip color from your lips first, and you'll believe that this fluid indeed is a very effective cleanser. Make sure you don't mix it with water. It is not a soap. Simply pour on cotton pad and wipe. After wiping, remember to rinse with water. Then follow up with the toner included in your sampleset. Use it for daily and nightly routine cleansing. Try for a few days, and you'll see your complexion gets cleaner, smoother, silkier and softer with each passing day. This is a day cream with anti-UV action. It is made brown to double up as a makeup foundation for the ladies, since most ladies always like to apply a clored makeup foundation after a day cream. For non colored moisturizer, you can use #84, #86, #87 or #89 both for day and night. I believe you should have one of these in your sampleset. Just apply it after cleansing and toning. No. Wondergel Blackhead Remover is a deep cleanser that removes lots of surface dead cells. Use it about three times weekly. It keeps blackheads away. Using this item with the rest of your sampleset properly according to our Directions without mixing with any product not from our line will see fast amazing results. I assure you. I hope you do not use the refreshening fluid with water to wash your skin. It doesn't work that way. Refer to the steps I described above - that is pour on a cotton pad and wipe, then rinse with water afterwards. Do not apply the Wondergel and leave it on the skin. It is not a day or night cream to be left on. Simply squeeze out about 2 cm in length and apply immediately on your dry face, then massage with dry fingers immediately too. Within a minute you will see lots of dead cells and surface dirt forming into tiny lumps on the skin surface. Wipe away with a tissue, then remember to rinse with water, and towel dry your face. Next followup with the toner, and the night cream. Hope the above explanation helps. Do email me again should you need further clarifications. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Thank you soooooo much for your answer! I appreciate it very much! There are not many people like you that are willing to do more than push people into buying their products. It seems to me that you are interested in helping people though education first and then through products that you have developed which seems great to me. I couldn't believe how quickly you responded to my question. Your email gave me chills as I read it. I feel that maybe someone might have finally found a solution to my skin problems. You are so wonderful for helping me out! I am going to place my order for the samples right away. If they are anything like you say, I will place a normal order soon after. I have no doubts that you product(s) will help me but I have spent so much on junk off of tv and from prescriptions that I want to make absolutely sure. I have no problem spending money on quality products such as yours. I am so excited! I can't wait! Unfortunately, I only have 4 weeks of school left so I might not be able to have that wonderful complexion before schools out, but look out next year (hopefully)! I am going to take your advice and find out if my skin is sensitive to anything. I am also going to have to take further steps on why my face is so sensitive to heat. I wake up in the money with a white face and as the day goes on, it turns red and becomes hot. My one dermatologist told me it is just heat sensitivity but I never remember having this problem before. I think it might be somehow related to all the products I have put on my face. Maybe they have somehow messed up my skin and is now causing it to overheat as the day goes on. Anyway, thanks again for all your help! I am looking forward to getting your samples and I will definitely keep in touch with. Thanks! Oh.. Before I forget would you be so kind to answer just two more short questions? 1. I stopped exercising about 6 months ago because I heard perspiration leads to clogged pores. Especially for somebody like me that has a hard time washing their face after working out because of my skin sensitivity. Should I start exercising again or should I hold off? 2. Do your products help clear up acne scars? Thanks again! Your friend.... Name Withheld

Answer
Dear XXX, That's not true. Perspiration is a good way to flush out toxic substances and waste from the skin. When you exercise, your body temperature rises (just like a running engine). The pores on your skin regulate the body temperature, by opening to release heat when the temperature rises beyond the normal body temperature at 36.9 degrees Celcius(or 98.4 degrees Farenheit), and constricting to retain heat when the temperature drops below 36.9 degrees Celcius. So during exercises, your pores open up to release heat, and in the process also excrete lots of sweat, thus flushing out together with it lots of bacteria and body waste, and toxic substances. Some clogged deposits in the pores will also be flushed out, though not all. The problem is, if you don't clean your skin properly and quick enough, then the toxic substances and the body waste and bacteria from your sweat will start to irritate your skin, especially in your current sensitized condition. Some of the staled waste and bacteria, together with the environmental dirt will even get back into your pores, and start to clog them. So what you actually need is a good and effective non-sensitizing cleanser, and have your skin cleaned up as soon as finished your exercise. If you need to exercise for a long period of time, then it's advisable to have a wet towel to wipe away your sweat as frequently as possible. You should continue to exercise, but clean away your sweat as frequently as possible with a clean wet towel. We have a product (#99) which is for treatment of acne scars. Regards: Pierre

Question
Hi! I am on the third dermatologist regarding my face and NONE of them have been able to help. Everyone tells me that none of them have ever seen skin as sensitive as mine. I started off using Dove twice a day and that dried my face out to unbarable extremes. My skin turned red, cracked, burned, etc. So, then I was told to try basis acne soap. I tried that and it did the same thing after a few days. I then tried the basis sensitive skin facial wash and that just tore up my face. My skin actually peeled off even though the bottle called for a dime size amount and I used less! So I figured I would just give up and not wash my face at all because of the actual pain I was going through after washing my face. I stopped and then started getting more pimples than before but my skin at least felt nice! So, I finally found something that I could use on my skin that wouldn't bother it. It is called natureessence facial scrub with apricots. This works great because it exfoliates my skin while keeping it soft afterwards because it contains no soap properties. The only problem I had was that the scrub did nothing for my acne. My face felt nice but I have acne. My current dermatologist said to use Klaron. This keeps my skin soft but it turns it really red and doesn't do much for the acne either. I stopped using that and just recently started using Differen gel with water to spread it out. My skin is now very dry again. Plus, I still have acne too! So I am stuck! I have all ready had 3 AHA skin peels which is about the only thing that doesn�t bother my skin but it doesn�t seem to be doing much for me. They never dry my skin out even though they are suppose to. This makes me wonder if it is something that is in my water. But my parents have great skin! I don't know what to do. I have tried every acne product off tv infomercials and those all dry out my skin too. In fact, now (I don't know if this has to do with the cold weather or because of all the stuff I have put on my face) if I just take a shower with warm water, my face dries out. Yes, you heard me right. Water alone dries out my face now. I don't seem to have many options. My skin is still breaking out even though I am on an oral antibiotic. I think am just going to go back to the facial wash and say the heck with the acne. At least my face won't be burning like it is as I am currently writing this letter. I need help!

(submitted by alias: Brandon)

Answer
Hi Brandon, I feel sorry for your predicament. Well, what you have experienced, many others have been through also, all because of unscrupulous practices of most skincare product manufacturing companies that are only after sales and money, and not consumers concern at heart. You are right - if none of the products actually did you any good, and instead caused you pain and further problems, you are better off using nothing at all. BTW, it is also advisable for you to find out if your skin is actually allergic to certain ingredient(s). An allergy to certain ingredient(s) may not be sensitive to other ingredients, but only to the particular ingredient(s) that contains the allergen(s) the skin reacts to. However, once your skin becomes sensitized, it is ruptured. Experiencing burnt sensation is a sign of hyper dehydration, and any product that removes it's surface oil will only make it worse, not better. Stopping the use of soap is a wise step and is the most important step to embark on. All cleansers that lathers(irrespective of whatever fancy names they are labelled - such as those you mentioned) must not be used, because they most likely contain surface active agents(surfactants), a material that emulsifies away fresh surface oil. Fresh surface oil are most vitally needed to hold and bond our surface dead cells together to form that protective layer called acid mantle. Also be extra careful of toners. Most conventional toners in the market use a very high alcohol content to act as preservatives against water-borne bacteria. This is so, because conventional toner formulae (i.e. standard toner formulations provided free by chemical suppliers to skincare product manufacturers)usually contain anything between 5% and 25% alcohol, since toners contain a very high water content as the base. It is not easy to formulate toners without using alcohol as preservatives. However, with very special, unique and costly manufacturing techniques they can be excluded altogether. Toners containing high alcoholic contents will further dehydrate the skin. With a condition such as yours stop using them too, unless no alcoholic content is present. And water does cause dehydration too, especially on skin that is already dehydrated, such as yours. Water has an average of pH7, while our skin is best at pH4.5 to 5.5. For normal skin our oil secretion will emulsify itself with our sweat water to form the protective acid mantle which has a acid pH of 4.5 to 5.5. What you need now is to keep your skin moisturized yet not clogged. The problem is that, unfortunately, most standard moisturizer formulations contain high wax content that will clog the pores, and trapping more bacteria within the pores, thus leading to more acne outbreaks, and a more clogged and unclean skin. You will of course also need a good anti-acne product that has good anti-phlogistic properties to rid the acne bacteria, but not dehydrating the acne sore further. Remember, any drying action on the skin only causes it to rupture and become an open ground for easy bacterial invasion. However, unfortunately again, most anti-acne preparations in the market using standard formulations suppressed the acne by drying them up. This treats one problem in the expense of another - i.e. subsiding the acne by drying them up, but in so doing, rupturing and opening up the skin for more bacteria to infiltrate!!! Your best bet now is to get hold of a set of our Free samples. I am sure you will experience a near instant positive change to your skin, like many others have already testified. Nevertheless, if you are confident enough through the vast number of our customers' testimonials and their high vote of confidence in us for our products and services, you may even want to place order for the actual retail items, as the samples will last you between 10 and 15 applications averagely. For your order convenience, I have pasted below a copy of our text sampleset order form, as well as a copy of our text retail prodict matching order form for your completion. (Note: To save space, the actual form contents are removed from here) Best Regards: Pierre

Question

(submitted by alias: hey you)

Answer
Hi, your problem is quite similar to many others who wrote me. I urge you to read up the current Q&A in our BeautyBox database under the category of "Blackheads, Comedones, Acne, & Pore Problems" and "Dry/Dehydrated Skin" to get a good insight on what to do and what to avoid. First and foremost stop using all your current products, and get hold of a set of our samples, and you'll see the difference in your skin complexion after each application. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our sampleset request form below here for your completion. We offer free samples by uniquely matching a set for your skin. Infact, we encourage potential customers to try our samples first, despite the fact that we have over 95% satisfied customers (incase someone happens to be among that remaining <5%). The sampleset comprises 5 to 7 items(depending on your skin condition), to be used for your daily and nightly routine. This is to provide you an opportunity to use exclusively only our line of products, without mixing with other competitive products, in order to achieve fast positive results. You need only pay US$10 for postage and handling. The sampleset will be shipped via registered air parcel directly from Singapore. However, you need first to provide us with info of your skin condition, either online at: https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm OR alternatively, by completing the text version sample request form I have pasted here below. Note: To save save here I have removed the actual sampleset request form contents. Regards: Pierre

Question
Dear Pierre, I wrote you before and had asked advice on acne and cystic acne in particular. I saw an infomercial for ProActiv and sent away for it. I've been using it for 1 1/2 now and not much has changed, especially no sign of disappearance of the cysts. I've been seeing a dermotologist for 6 months now and he has me on Brevoxyl 8% wash. It's been drying my skin out at times, but others it hasn't. I really need a wash that will clear my face and wash away the dirt and bacteria. My skin is oily naturally, but dry recently and I dread to use moisturizer because it only worsens the cysts. It clogs my pores. Is there a wash that I can ask him to put me on that will lessen the dryness. I recently just went on Accutane within this past week. I have tried everything else to clear the cysts and tighten the pores, but nothing has worked. From Retin-A, Tetracycline, Benzomycin, to OTC products. So, my only hope is for the Accutane to tighten the pores and clear the cysts in my chin. My chin is the only really bad section. Cheeks, forehead and nose with the exception of blackheads in my nose is fairly clear. I hope you can recommend something to use to wash my face that won't dry it our essentially opening it up for bacteria invasion and rupturing occuring. Thank you, JIm

(submitted by alias: Jim)

Answer
Hi Jim, I suggest you stop wasting your money and precious time on all those trial and error products. Products advertised in infomercial are often found to be jsut gimmicks. Nevertheless, you have tried and you know ProActive just doesn't work as claimed. Brevoxyl 8% contains 8% of benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. Benzoyl peroxide has been reported to be a kind of tumor promoter - so do be very careful. Easily more than 5% uers can also have excessive erythema and peeling. It appears to contain a high content of wax material, most likely stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, or some others which will easily clog the pores. Although it is claimed that it is a non-soap cleanser, I believe some of the ingredients used are also most commonly used in soaps which help produce the lather. These can likely be Potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium lauryl sulphate, or acetates or sulphonates, or their derivatives. All these will simply cause dehydration no matter what they claimed. Take a look at their ingredient listing to find out if any of the above ingredients are used. Note that it is a fact that most cleansers in the market that require working to lathers with water are drying and will cause skin rupture; most moisturizers and other creams in the market contain a high content of wax-based materials that will easily clog the pores. They all use standard formulations obtained free from their chemical suppliers. Retin-A, Tetracycline, Benzomycin, have all been known to produce side effects and drying of the skin in many cases. It will do you better to stop using them. That is why we never trusted such formulations, which we could easily obtain for free, and saving us huge amount of time and money. However, we choose the most difficult task to conduct our own research and development of unique herbal formulations to treat various skin problems specifically, and over 95% of our customers have been very satisfied. Is there a product that cleanse well and yet doesn't cause any dehydration to skin? Moreover, is there a moisturizer that moisturizes and yet doesn't cause any pore-cloggings? You bet! The best bet now for you is to get hold of a set of our sample products and you will see and feel the instant difference after each application. For your convenience, I have pasted a copy of our text version sample request form below for you completion. We offer free samples by uniquely matching a set for your skin. Infact, we encourage potential customers to try our samples first, despite the fact that we have over 95% satisfied customers (incase someone happens to be among that remaining <5%). The sampleset comprises 5 to 7 items(depending on your skin condition), to be used for your daily and nightly routine. This is to provide you an opportunity to use exclusively only our line of products, without mixing with other competitive products, in order to achieve fast positive results. You need only pay US$10 for postage and handling. The sampleset will be shipped via registered air parcel directly from Singapore. However, you need first to provide us with info of your skin condition, either online at: https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm OR alternatively, by completing the text version sample request form I have pasted here below. Note: To save space, the contents of the actual form is removed from here. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
I recently spoke to a skin care specialist who told me that Ortho Tricyclin (birth control pills with the ability to ward off acne) would actually make my skin more susceptible to UV RAYS.. Is this true? The pharmacist told me not to be concerned about that, but I am because I have no idea who to believe. Also, how can i get rid of Milia? I have it along my jawline and nothing seems to work.

(submitted by alias: Damienne)

Answer
Hi Damienne, this drug is actually called Ortho Tri-Cyclen. It works by lowering your body's hormone production. As such, acne that outbreak during puberty may be helped, because acne during puberty is almost always caused by a sudden increase of the body's hormones. If you have to take oral contraceptives, then Tri-Cyclen seems to be a better choice amongst other pills, since it can also at the same time help reduce your hormone production. However, do note the following risks it may cause: 1. Blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks. The risk is even higher if you are over 35 and a smoker. 2. Some studies have reported an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer among women who use oral contraceptives. Women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant should avoid pills. However, if you don't need contraceptives in the first place, then you don't need Ortho-Cyclen to treat your acne, even though it is popularly recommended to people who are unresponsive to topical anti-acne medication. There's no need to treat acne by reducing hormonal activity. Increased hormonal activity usually causes an increase of glandular activity, producing an excess of oil. It is this excess of oily secretions that caused the pores to clog, trapping bacteria, dirt, stale dead cells, and all other debris. This leads to blackheads. If not treated it then leads to acne. So, as you can see, if one has a way to prevent the oily secretions from trapping that debris in the pores, then there'll be no clogged pores, thus no acne. To prevent the oily secretions from trapping debris, you need good effective cleansers that can really remove stale dead cells, dirt and all other debris daily, The problem is that most cream cleansers in the market do not really clean. They even deposit waxes into the pores to clog them. Some people ended up using soap, trying to rid the excess oil, not knowing t hat soap causes skin to dehydrate instantly, thus activating the sebaceous glands to multiply their oil production internally to compensate the loss of the surface oil. Soap also contains salt, which will harden any oily debris, thus clogging the pores even more. When the increase oil production inside the pores could not flow out due to the hardened debris clogging them, it can also lead to acne. The dehydration caused by soap also leads to skin rupture, thus allowing easy bacterial invasion into the skin, and leading to acne too. All drugs will to some extent cause some side-effects. As to whether Ortho Tri-Cyclen will cause the skin to become more susceptible to UV-rays, I am not sure. Milia are not blackheads, and are more difficult to treat. They are salt crystals accumulated in sweat pores. The salt debris is as hard as a rice grain, and have no protruding heads like blackheads. Most aestheticians treat by pricking them with a needle. This is not advisable. Our cream-based scrubs work, but takes a longer time than removing blackheads. The salt crystal will be dissolved gradually over a period of a few weeks to a few months. This is so because the scrub cream cannot get into the sealed sweat pores as easily as into the open hair pores (where blackheads are found). I urge you to try our whole range of products, but you need not buy the actual retail set now. Request a sampleset, and I am sure you will experience fast amazing results. For your convenience I have pasted a copy of our text version sampleset request form below here for you to complete. (Note: to save space here, the form contents has been removed) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
I am currently on Accutane (10 weeks into my 20 week treatment) and although my skin shows improvement I still get several breakouts on my cheeks. These are not like the pimples I got before I started the Accutane treatment (unless they just seems worse when isolated), they are larger, harder, and take twice as long to heal. Just as one heals another one pops up in it's place and it gets VERY frustrating. I know I should be patient and hope for the best with my Accutane treatment because nothing else has worked in the past and I have tried tetracycline, monocycline, benzoyl peroxide (2.5%, 5%, 10%), salysilic acid (1%), benzamycine, differin, and retin-A. Is there anything I can put on these large, painful pimples to make them heal faster while I am on the Accutane treatment. Thank you very much, Sarah

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
Hi Sarah, you are not alone in experiencing these effects (or rather side-effects) of Accutane. Many Accutane users have similar experiences. BTW, Accutane is the brand name for the drug Isotretinoin for treatment of acne, but it can cause birth defects when taken by pregnant women. Accutane works by damaging the oil glands to reduce the oil production, thus secretions. I'm not in favor of such treatment method. Oily skin, although, is often the culprit leading to the formation of acne, the skin cannot afford to have the essential oil robbed off this way. Skin without sufficient amount of oil will cause the protective layer(Acid Mantle or Sebum) to damage. When this happen the skin ruptures, allowing easy bacterial invasion and thus, causing the condition to deteriorate. The real problem is not the oil secretions that needed to be stopped. It is a matter of how to keep the surface skin's oil fresh always, and rid off staled oil daily. As most skincare manufacturers use standard formulations obtained Free from their chemical suppliers, most creams and cleansers sold under different big brand names are about the same - poorly formulated and ineffective. These standard formulations use very high wax content to give body to the creams(that is to make the cream look more viscose) and to make the creams effective in preventing moizture loss(wax is a good water-proof agent) when applied on the skin. As such, these creams are one big contributor to the debris deposits that clogged the pores. Even cream and lotion cleansers are made in the same way. Instead of effectively removing stale oil and dead cells, they add on to them. As a result most people find that soap and soap-based cleansers seem to clean better. However, this is also incorrect. Soap makes a person feel fresher because something is felt being removed after a wash. But what is removed is the fresh oil secretion which is a vital component to make up that protective layer as explained above. Soap is an emulsifier ( surface active agent ). Water normally does not attract oil. With soap acting as emulsifier, it helps water to attract oil. So soap actually emulsifies away fresh oil secretions. What is needed to be removed (i.e. those staled and hardened debris formed and accumulated from dirt, waste and salt from sweat water, dead cells, bacteria, makeup powder, etc) remained, and even got worse in effect. They became harder, because soap contains salt. Salt causes oil to increase its viscosity. Another problem arises when soap is used. When skin is dehydrated by soap, the skin will physiologically activate the sebaceous glands to multiply their oil production. So, within a few hours the surface skin gets even more oily. The hyper oil production activity causees the oil ducts to be even more clogged as the clogged debris absorbed them. Thus, the debris gets thicker and more each passing day, and enlarged pores became evident. The net result of using products with these standard formulations only make one's skin coarser, more clogged, more blackheads, more skin rupture, and eventually more pimples and acne! Tetracycline, monocycline, etc cause skin to dry up. This causes skin also to rupture. I strongly suggest you stop using all these, and get hold of our complete set of samples. You will feel the big difference after using them. We offer free samples by uniquely matching a set for your skin. Infact, we encourage potential customers to try our samples first, despite the fact that we have over 95% satisfied customers (incase someone happens to be among that remaining <5%). The sampleset comprises 5 to 7 items(depending on your skin condition), to be used for your daily and nightly routine. This is to provide you an opportunity to use exclusively only our line of products, without mixing with other competitive products, in order to achieve fast positive results. You need only pay US$10 for postage and handling. The sampleset will be shipped via registered air parcel directly from Singapore. However, you need first to provide us with info of your skin condition, either online at: https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm OR alternatively, by completing the text version sample request form I have pasted here below. Best Regards: Pierre (Note: Actual forms are removed from here to save space)

Question

(submitted by alias: )

Answer
That was only the beginning. When skin is oily it attracts makeup powder, dirt, bacteria more easily, and together with the daily shedded stale dead cells can flow inwards into the pores and clog them. The deposits accumulate over time, and if you don't have an effective cleanser to remove them daily, that's it. The bacteria in the clogged deposits multiply rapidly, and when your health is weak at times with low defense activity from within your own body, the on-going battle between the bacteria and your weak defense system cause the red swelling to appear(those are pimples). After a while, they became pustules. Pustules are dead bacteria. That's a good sign, because it means that the bacteria have lost the battle, and the pimple will subside. However, because of the same on-going health and hygiene habits with the use of ineffective skincare products, new bacteria and other harmful deposits continue to be absorbed through the pores, and the problem usually aggravate over time. Worse, most skincare creams contain high wax content. Despite their big names, most of these companies use standard formulations obtained FREE from their chemical suppliers, just like FREE recipe books given to housewives by suppliers of cooking oil. That is why they are all about the same amongst the different big brand names. When the cream's water content evaporates the remaining solid Wax deposit aggravates the clogs, by causing the clogged debris to harden further. At this stage most people thought frequent cleansing with soap-based cleansers will rid the oiliness and the clogged pores, and controlling secretions. Most skincare product companies encourage and endorse such methods with the use of their standard formulations. Soap-based cleansers emulsify away fresh soft secretions instantly causing skin to dehydrate. The freshly secreted oil is much needed by the skin to BOND the daily shedded dead cells together to form that protective layer known as SEBUM or ACID MANTLE. Soap also contains salt which will readily cause the clogged oily deposits to harden further. When skin gets dehydrated, the bonding breaks, and the skin ruptures, thus becoming easy grounds for bacterial invasion and foreign matters to penetrate. What needs to be rid off daily are those hardened staled waste deposits, but soap-based cleansers won't remove them. They only made them harder and more difficult to remove over time. After each wash with soap-based cleanser, when the skin's freshly secreted oil is removed, the skin will physiologically react to compensate the loss oil by multiplying its sebaceous production activity, thus causing the surface to appear oily again within a few hours. During that few hours of transition time, the skin was in a ruptured condition and bacteria and foreign matters got in easily. When increased sebaceous activity caused the skin to become more oily hours later lots of those oil will also be absorbed by those clogged deposits on their way out through the hair follicles. Thus, the deposits get thicker as the absorbed oil became hardened through the same vicious cycle. So, the skin will appear oily but with enlarged pores, blackheads and acne over time, and your total complexion appears coarse and thick. If you do have great effective cleansers, you can continue to use makeup. However, if you were to continue with the current set of cleansers you have, then obviously makeup will aggravate the problem, although not using them will not help either due to the ineffectiveness of the cleansers and the comedogenic creams that are depositing waxes into your pores daily. I strongly urge you now to stop using all of them, and switch to using the complete set of our herbal products for your daily/nightly regime. I assure you that you will regain your baby-soft youthful and supple complexion soon! Even with the first application you will see and feel the great difference, and within days your family members and friends will notice the change in your complexion. Well, we do offer free samples by uniquely matching a set for your skin. Infact, we encourage potential customers to try our samples first, despite the fact that we have over 95% satisfied customers (incase someone happens to be among that remaining <5%). The sampleset comprises 5 to 7 items(depending on your skin condition), to be used for your daily and nightly routine. This is to provide you an opportunity to use exclusively only our line of products, without mixing with other competitive products, in order to achieve fast positive results. You need only pay US$10 for postage and handling. The sampleset will be shipped via registered air parcel directly from Singapore. However, you need first to provide us with info of your skin condition, either online at: https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm OR alternatively, by completing the text version sample request form I have pasted here below. And if you have enough confidence in our products through multiple great testimonials from our customers, and want to purchase the retail sizes right away, then use another form which I have pasted below the first. (Note: Actual forms are removed from here to save space) Best Regards: Pierre

Question
Dear Pierre, >I have now been using your products for several months and have noticed a great improvemen. I especially love the Wondergel, and have noticed a clarity of the pores on my nose for the first time ever. My concern is that my skin stays matt throughout the day when I don't wear foundation, but when I put on make up (to cover the redness from previous scars) my skin becomes oily within hours. I am using the mask you suggested for scars, and this is helping, but I still like a fair complexion and need foundation to achieve this. Do you have any suggestion regarding foundation, and do you produce such products?

(submitted by alias: Joanna)

Answer
Dear Joanna, I am pleased to learn of your improvements after using our products. Yes, we do produce foundation. I would recommend you the following products: 1. 76-P Ginseng Day Cream(skin color) 1.48Fl.Oz.(40ML) at US$35.70 a jar This product has natural skin foundation color. It also has Anti-UV action. 2. 089 Ginseng Skin Repair 1.41Fl.Oz.(40ML) at US$20.70 a jar. This product will expedite healing of your post-acneic scars and moisturize your skin to make it less matt. If you add another product to your order to make it to 3 items you will be entitled to a 10% discount. Perhaps, you may need to replenish one of the products you are currently using. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
yes i am 37 years old male i have bad blackheads around my eyes and forhead area do be for you say just bey you products i will tell you that i have had this problume for a bout 20+ years and i have seen many docters a bout it and used rener+ many other drugs and this does not help i even let doctors pop them and thay come back days latter skin doctors do not now how to get them gone for good so now i live with it !!! so what i am doing is asking companys like yours for help PLEASE THIS IS NOT A NORMAL CASE SO TO NOT TELL ME TO BUY YOUR PRODUCTS IT YOUR NOT SHUR THAT THAY WILL SOLVE THERE PROBLUME THANKS E KELLAHER

(submitted by alias: Kellaher)

Answer
Hi Kellaher, blackheads are deposits from dirt, waxes from most creams, your own dead cells, and hardened staled oil from your own secretions. So, they will never stop as long as a person lives. They will keep coming back. The solution is not to stop them from coming back completely. This is impossible. The solution is to reduce them drastically till they are almost invisible and not prominent. How do you achieve this? Well, first and foremost stop using soap to wash your face. Soap contains salt and will cause the oil deposits in your pores to harden. Soap will also dehydrate your skin and causes skin to rupture, thus allowing easy bacterial invasion, and skin also looks mouldy and coarse. Next, use only effective cleansers that do not contain high wax content. Most cleansers in the market contain high wax content. These waxes will deposit into your pores and clog them, only making your blackhead condition worse, instead of removing them. Cleansers that do not contain high wax contents are known as non-comedogenic cleansers. Our cleansers are all non-comedogenic. However, although there are non-comedogenic creams in the market, most do not seem to be able to truely and effectively remove unwanted dirt, deadcells and staled deposits. Our cleansers can perform these actions effectively, without robbing your skin of the necessary fresh oily secretions that are needed to hold your freshly shed dead cells to form that essential protection layer of acid mantle that gives your skin that silky, baby-soft complexion. Next, avoid day or night creams or any other creams that contain also high wax content. All our other products for daily or nightly application are also non-comedogenic. However, for long accumulated stubborn blackheads, you will need some weeks to remove them. With our products, even with the first application, you can see and feel the difference, although it will take weeks to clear such stubborn blackheads. OK. Don't worry. We are not asking you to buy our products right now. Well, we do offer free samples by uniquely matching a set for your skin. Infact, we encourage potential customers to try our samples first, despite the fact that we have over 95% satisfied customers (incase someone happens to be among that remaining <5%). The sampleset comprises 5 to 7 items(depending on your skin condition), to be used for your daily and nightly routine. This is to provide you an opportunity to use exclusively only our line of products, without mixing with other competitive products, in order to achieve fast positive results. You need only pay US$10 for postage and handling. The sampleset will be shipped via registered air parcel directly from Singapore. However, you need first to provide us with info of your skin condition, either online at: https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm OR alternatively, by completing the text version sample request form which I have pasted here below. Best Regards: Pierre NOTE: The sampleset request text version form is obmitted here to save space, but it has been emailed to you

Question
it seems the place where i get worst/all acne is where i shave now i think about it they started when i started shaving! there all mailny red ones except for bout 4 there not that big actaully. i can barly feel any acne actaully none but i can see it! maybe my cheecks become inflaimed from shaving? ive never squezed them or nothing i dont use soap i drink water i sleep well and the only thing i use is the tea tree oil acne clear which has got rid of all my pimple ones but not the red ones!!! i dont get any sunlight cause i dont go out /since i got acne oh yeh i also get them on my sholders/i can feel these ones AGHHHHH do u sell acutane there or do u know where i can get it? respond asap please

(submitted by alias: prime)

Answer
From what you described, yes, your inflamation is caused by shaving, and has aslo led to your acnes. It helps if you use an electric shaver. Incase if you still need to use a manual shaver, try shaving in the direction of hair growth, and not against the hair growth direction. This will minus off lots of friction that can be created when you shave in the opposite direction. Electric shaver eliminates lots of such frictions. Your body seems to produce lots of sebaceous secretions(oil) too that has caused the clogging of your back, and thus, have led to formation of acnes. We don't have accutane, and we do not recommend it because it has side effects. I would recommend our products # PS-N(Sage Peeling Scrub) and 031(Ginseng Purifying Scrub) for your back. These products will rid your clogged pores, and subside the acnes at the back. Best Regards:

Question
Do make up products such as powders block your pores? The reason I am asking is that no matter how well I cleanse, tone, wondergel, etc my pores are still clogged. Should I use blotters to absorb excess oil from my face when refreshing my make up after lunch? What can be done to eradicate blackheads for good and make sure they never come back? Could drinking water relieve clogged pores? When I used to go for facials my blackheads would be squeezed so much that it would bring me to tears- my face would be bright red and the redness would take afew days to godown? is this healthy? Are facials good for your skin? Are there any beauticians in singapore that offer facials using only Pierre Chenxu products? Is it possible topurchse yourproducts in the shops inSingapore? thankyou Ms Lee Ann Wilson

(submitted by alias: Lee)

Answer
Hi Ms Lee, Yes, makeup powder does clog the pores. However, if you do have an effective daily cleanser and an effective deep cleanser, like our 14, 14D, 10F, 17F, 011, 111, 211, 311, 31-O, etc., it should not pose a problem. Your other products are probably of high wax contents, thus continuing to deposit the wax solids to clog your pores. I urge you to submit a request for a complete set of our free samples. It is free, but you only need to pay for your own registered airmail postage of $10. You can submit your request by logging on to https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm Yes, you can use blotters to absorb excess oil. Blackheads can never be eradicated once and for all. It is a natural accumulation of dirt and other deposits such as dead cells, salt and bacteria from sweat, staled makeup powder, hardened wax contents from creams. It will continue to come back - and multiply if you don't have good and real effective cleansers, and if your daily application products are comedogenic(i.e. containing high wax and powder contents). However, it will be drastically reduced and kept under control if you have good and effective cleansers, and your daily application products are non-comedogenic. Drinking plenty of water does help to hydrate your body, thus also your skin, but will not relieve clogged pores. Never never allow anyone to squeeze your blackheads out by force. It will leave you permanent scars. Facials are good for the skin if the aesthetician is well trained and skillful, and is patient in treating the skin, and if the products used are of high quality and truly efficacious. If you are living in Singapore, I urge you to visit our salon at Blk 108, Hougang Ave 1, #01-1319 to have your skin analysed and have your facial done there. If you are satisfied with the facial, and convinced that there has been great instant improvement, you may buy the products at our salon. We did previously had our products sold through many other salons, but because of the ill habits of beauticians in mixing with other lower cost but dubious products(without the knowledge of customers), we stopped supplying them. Best Regards: Pierre

Question
How do I get rid of blackheads painlessly?

(submitted by alias: HomerN)

Answer
Hi, firstly, I must apologize for answering your question this late. Well, some days I got to receive over a 100 emails, and occasionally I do missed replying a mail or two. However, I made it a point to review my mailbox for any unanswered mails when my email traffic is less. And that's how I discovered your email. OK. There's actually no need to squeeze out your blackheads. Squeezing is painful, and will cause permanent scarring. Everyone has blackheads, and blackheads is a continuous problem, especially when even cleansers that are made to supposedly remove debris were found to be depositing them and clogging the pores even more. Yes, this is a fact unfortunately. Most cosmetics manufacturers use standard formulations given them free by their chemical suppliers. Those free formulations were not tested on efficacies, because that's not the chemical supplier's business. You may find it hard to believe, but it's a hard and sad fact. You will believe and agree only after having used both other competitive products and our products. Most standard cleansers are simple emulsion formulae which contain a high wax content to provide an attractive cream body. Waxes seriously clogged the pores. So the first and foremost step to get rid of blackheads painlessly, is to stop using cleansers that not only do not rid the skin of debris, but even added them onto it!!! We have spent painstaking years in researching and developing unique formulations that are able to clean the skin gently by dissolving the clogged debris effectively. Our Wondergel is a hit in the world market now in the beauty industry, to rid blackheads painlessly. However, if your blackheads have been accumulated for too long, and are very deeply imbedded, then additional items from our line need to be used as well, to speed up positive results. The good news is that you can request for a complete set of our Free samples, comprising 5 to 7 items, depending on your skin condition. You need only pay for the registered airmail postage. So, test before you actually purchase. Over 95% of our customers are satisfied with our product quality and efficacies. That's why we are so confident to provide samples freely. You may now visit our web site at https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm to submit your Free sample request online. To gain clear and precise knowledge on good and proper skincare, I urge you to also read up my article at http://www.pierrechenxu.com/facts.htm Best Wishes. Regards: Pierre

Question
I have mostly oily skin and sensitive skin that reacts to strong perfumes and creams. My face, neck, and back have been breaking out for over a year now. I have not changed my diet, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and cannot figure out the cause. I have never had acne problems before up until now. I have tried various products which cost me a fortune and did not see any improvements. I also went to a dermatologist who prescribed defferin. I have been using differin for about a year and notice that it doesn't prevent my acne it just eventually dries out the pimples. I am looking for something that will prevent acne and keep my face looking smooth and not dried out. Do you have a product that prevents acne and if so how can I be sure that it will work for me. I am now using cheap affordable soap for sensitive skin and witch hazel during the day. I wash my face twice a day, and I am still using differin at night. Thank you for your help!

(submitted by alias: Nan)

Answer
Hi Nan, I can see that your problems were sparked off by serious clogged pores. Being oily, your skin is already proned to getting pore clogs. The creams you said your skin reacts to, are creams with conventional formulations which contian high wax contents. This again contribute to your clogged pores. Most cosmetics product also contain strong perfumes to camouflage the ingredients with strong odor or some waxy smells. The product and soap you are currently using all aggravate further by drying up your skin. When your outer skin is being dried up, the underlying sebaceous glands will be pysiologically activated to produce more oil to compensate the oil loss outside on the skin's surface. But when your skin is so clogged, the excessive oil production below your skin could not flow out, and begin to accumulate inside instead. When your skin's pores are clogged, staled dirt and bacteria also accumulate and multiply, thus causing your skin to be more sensitive and causing break outs. You just need to stop using all of your current products, and switch to using our complete set of herbal products which are alcohol, perfume, and coloring free, and they are all non-comedogenic, and effective. You need not buy a set now. You can get a free sample set comprising 5 to 7 items, depending on your skin condition. Simply visit https://web62366.securesites.com/ss45b/matsamp.htm and submit your skin info therein. You need only pay for the US$10.00 postage to get the samples shipped by registered airmail from Singapore. I am confident our products will help you solve most of your problems, like many others have already benefited from. Regards: Pierre

Question
I have tried everything. My blackheads are not improving. They have been there since I was 13 and started having occasional breakout. When I do breakout they are very red and I know I shouldn't pick them. I have stopped that because of my scarring. I can't stand the scarring. I wish it would go away. I hate the blackheads also. I have tried those pore strips that attach to the blackheads and pull out, but that doesn't get rid of them. I have dry patches now where the pimples are or have been. What can I do to get rid of the blackheads, minimize the scarring, and reduce the pimples I get?

(submitted by alias: Michelle)

Answer
Hi Michelle, Blackheads is an accumulation of dead cells, dirt, bacteria, salt(from sweat), staled oil secretions, staled waxes and other solid materials(eg: iron oxides) from cosmetics products, etc.. Unless you have a very good and effective cleanser, a range of non-comedogenic products, and a proper well guided routine to adhere to they will become worse each passing day. Do read up my article on Blackheads and Acnes at http://www.pierrechenxu.com/facts.html where you will find detail explanations on the causes and the correct remedies. Regards: Pierre

Question
Pierre, I have been using the Wondergell for about 2 weeks, yet it only seems to remove dead skin cells, unfortunately it does absolutely nothing for my blackheads. I am following the instructions perfectly so what am I doing wrong or is it there is something peculiar about my blackheads. Regards Will

(submitted by alias: Will)

Answer
Hi Will, Sorry to hear that your blackheads are still left intact. In most cases, blackheads, along with dead cells are effectively removed after each application. However, there are occasions where blackheads have been accumulated for too long, and became very hard and stubborn. It becomes worse if one was using in his/her skincare routine, other soap cleansers, or cleansers containing high contents of wax, as well as other day/night creams that contain also high wax contents. In such cases, we recommend that you stop using all other products, and switch to our natural non-comedogenic herbal range. However, you need not commit to purchase yet. We'd be pleased to send you a set of Free samples, comprising 5 to 7 items depending on your skin condition, and matched according to your skin type and problem. If you are interested to try out our samples, please email me your skin type, problems, current condition and previous condition, current products you are using, your current health and hygiene habits, and any other relevant info. In order to help us send the Free samples to you via registered airmail, you will need to bear the postage cost(which is $10.00), by sending a check or money order, or email your credit card info(card type, number, name on card, and expiry date) to: Andrew K Lee 203 Goldmine Lane Old Bridge NJ 08857-3330 USA alee2@idt.net Upon receipt, we'll match your samples within 3 days, but it'll take about another 7 to 10 days to reach you. Regards: Pierre

Question
Your products look very promising; I have had acne since I was 13 and have done 3 courses of Accutane, which works at the time of use and for a few months afterward. Then the acne comes back and it is currently very flared up. I use Dove moisturizing soap, and have tried most of the drugstore acne preparations such as Clearasil, Tea Tree Oil, etc., and several prescription items such as topical antibiotic ointments. None are effective. I have dry skin on cheeks; oily t-zone; acne on forehead, around nose, and lately, around the jawline. Your advice is appreciated. This is an excellent site.

(submitted by alias: Lynne)

Answer
Hi Lynne, Hope you are aware of the side effects of Accutane. There are many different methods offered for topical acne treatment. Most topical products treat them by drying them out(thus causing skin peeling). Results with such methods will, at most, be temporial, as the real root of the problem that causes the acnes was still not addressed. The acnes were merely suppressed. Thus, when they have a chance to return, they appeared flared up. Despite how much moisturizing ingredients are incorporated in soap, they remain a surfactant(surface active agent), although some are gentler than the others. It is the surfactants in soap that emulsifies the skin's surface oil(the sebum) away. After each wash, with the drying of the skin, the underlying oil and sweat glands will have to physiologically react by increasing their production of oil and sweat to compensate the loss. This inevitably causes the outer skin to appear dry(but temporarily), while the underlying skin is oily. (The drier outer skin will rupture, thus allowing increased bacterial invasion). Eventually, the oil will surface and give a more greasy appearance than before. The increased production of oil will thereby increase the risk of more clogged pores. Salt contained in soaps will also cause hardening of the clogged debris(commonly known as comedones or, simply, blackheads). Soap should never be used as a permanent daily cleanser in your skincare routines. During winter(or during drier months) the problem can be aggravated by using soaps. Clearsil is also known to be treating acnes by drying them out. Each time when the skin dries, it cracks. The sebum(that is the natural emulsion of sebaceous secretion and sweat excretion, known as acid mantle that is needed to provide a covering layer against penetration of any foreign matter) becomes unstable and breaks up, leaving no protection, but becoming a conducive area for bacterial growth and invasion. Tea tree oil, if not adulterated with low grade oils, can yield effective treatment without any known side effects so far. Topical antibiotic ointments may be used as temporory aids to prevent the spread of bacteria, but it should not become a part of long term routine in your skincare regimes. It will eventually reduce your body's need to defending itself, and you will become more and more dependent on them. Our herbal line of products do not treat acnes by drying them out. And we do not believe in just treating the symptoms alone. We get to the root of the cause, and advice you what you must or must not do, besides using our products. Should you decide to place your order of products with us, I will recommend a set to match your current skin-type and skin flaws. Regards: Pierre

Question
I have had acne for few years now, but recently it had taken a turn for the worse. I started on Antibiotics beginning of last year. Was given Doxcycline 100mg and Isotretinoin 20mg as well as vit E. Intially, there was no change but after a few mths, I broke out less and by March/april 97 my skin was more or less clear, the scars were fading. I had already stopped treatment around the beginning of the year. But in july, it started breaking out again, this time much worse, my cheeks were red and looked swollen and my forehead was also not spared. So i was put back on the antibiotics. It didn't seem to help, in fact it became worse, it's only now that the break out is not that often but it has left behind lots of red scars that just don't seem to clear. And i noticed that my pores have become bigger. Is there anyway to make the scars go away more quickly and how bout tightening those pores ? I have fair skin so it makes it more obvious, drink plenty of water, wash 4 times daily and stay out of the sun, try to use minimal make up but have irregular sleeping habits and eat everything.

(submitted by alias: ann)

Answer
Hi Ann, Doxcycline has been reported by researchers to be quite effective in treating not only diseases with micro-organisms such as acnes, but also diseases not caused by bacteria, like osteoporosis, arthritis, and cancer. However, so long it is a form of antibiotics, long-term dependency will always lead to immunizations. There's no instant results for treatment of post acneic scars. Some of the bigger pores you mentioned could be actually post-acneic indentation scars. Washing your face 4 times daily, and if with soap, is not good. So as eating everything. Long term use of soap as a daily cleanser will cause the skin to dehydrate, crack, rupture, and becomes a free gateway to bacterial invasion. I have appended below here part of my answers to another person, the contents of which explains the negative effects of soaps. "No matter how much moisturizing ingredients are incorporated in soap, they remain a surfactant(surface active agent), although some are gentler than the others. It is the surfactants in soap that emulsifies the skin's surface oil(the sebum) away. After each wash, with the drying of the skin, the underlying oil and sweat glands will have to physiologically react by increasing their production of oil and sweat to compensate the loss. This inevitably causes the outer skin to appear dry(but temporarily), while the underlying skin is oily. (The drier outer skin will rupture, thus allowing increased bacterial invasion). Eventually, the oil will surface and give a more greasy appearance than before. The increased production of oil will thereby increase the risk of more clogged pores. Salt contained in soaps will also cause hardening of the clogged debris(commonly known as comedones or, simply, blackheads). Soap should never be used as a permanent daily cleanser in your skincare routines. During winter(or during drier months) the problem can be aggravated by using soaps" Isotretinoin is the chemical name for Accutane. It is a drug used in the treatment of acne by way of reducing(dryig up) oil secretions from the glands. It isn't a permanent cure for acne. What it does help is to buy time hoping that a natural physiological or hormonal change later will stop them from returning. What you are experiencing now with the returned outbreaks is part and parcel of Accutane's post-treatment symptoms and side effect. An article reported the following side effects frequency: 1. Chapped lips 90% 2. Dry skin and itching 80% - the use of daily alpha hydroxacids will help prevent this side effect to some extent. 3. Dryness of nose, mild nosebleed 80% 4. Irritation of the eyelids and eyes 40% - Vitamin E 400 IU each day may lessen this side effect. 5. Joint and muscle pains 15% 6. Temporary hair thinning 10% 7. Rash 7% 8. Intestinal symptoms 5% 9. Urinary symptoms 5% 10.Headache 5% 11.Increased sensitivity to sunburn 5% 12.Decreased night vision <1% Were you told of the side effects, and were you given a blood chemistry test before you were prescribed isotretinoin? The most damaging side effect is serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy. You should never take it while pregnant, and not to conceive during the isotretinoin course. Vitamin E is OK if you don't get exposed to the sun. It will cause severe peeling when aggravated by the UV rays. When used together with Doxcycline and Isotretinoin, it's too harsh. Do watch out your health too. What you eat does affect your health. Avoid sweetened food, such as candies, chocolates, and fried food. If you wish, I'd recommend you a set of our herbal products comprising 5 to 7 items with a detail Usage Directions Guide. We can send you these items as Free samples, provided you're willing to foot your own registered airmail postage cost, which is $10.00. Let me know if you want me to proceed. Meanwhile do note that it's good that you also observe the following Health and Hygiene Habits: Hygiene and Health Habits to observe: ==================================== 1. Make sure you have adequate sleep (go to bed before midnight). For a normal person, and with your condition now, you would require 8 hours a day. Do not stay till the wee hours, and then tried sleeping in the day to recover. Overstressing in the night, and sleeping in the day will cause your body heat to rise and your body system to be imbalanced. This will cause your acneic condition to deteriorate. 2. Try washing your hair daily. However, when you shampoo your hair, ensure that your face is not wet by the dripping shampoo draining down from your hair. The bacteria from your hair will worsen your acneic condition. The shampoo (being soap) will also cause dehydration to your skin. This further causes your skin to crack and rupture and avail itself further to bacterial invasion. 3. Avoid dusty and hot places, as well as places with chemicals or gas. 4. Avoid over-exposure to the sun or to cold air. Both extremes will cause further dehydration, skin ruptures, and bacterial invasion. 5. Change your pillow case often. Another alternative is to cover your pillow with a clean towel when you sleep, and change it everyday. This is to prevent bacteria from your hair from spreading to your already ruptured skin. 6. Drink plenty of water(not necessarily mineral water. Too much of minerals can also be contra-indicative). 7. Avoid fried food, rich proteinic food, and candies or chocolates which contain high sugar contents. 8. Take adequate amount of fruits like oranges, apples, etc., as well as vegetables. 9. If you are on anti-biotics, I advice you don't rely on it for long term. Your body will reduce its own capacity to defend itself against bacterial invasion, and eventually became overly dependent on the drug as the defense system. Regards: Pierre

Question
The pores on my nose appear to be enlarged. Is there anything I can do about it? Also it looks like all of the pores on my nose have blackheads in them. I just started using Wondergel to try to remove the blackheads.

(submitted by alias: Jim)

Answer
Hi Jim, Enlarged pores, are by and large, like in your case too, caused by clogged pores. Clogged pores are in turn caused by debris, oil secretions, salt from sweat, environment dirt and dead cells accumulated over some time. As the glands are more active around the nose area and as the nose is also more protruding than other facial features, and more frequently touched and fiddled, it tends to attract more dirt, and thus more blackheads. The correct treatment method is to rid the pores of blackheads first. Wondergel does treat effectively by dissolving and softening the blackheads, but you should also stop using soap which will cause more hardening of the blackheads, making them more stubborn. Once the balckheads are cleared, the pores will temporarily appear to be more open, as they have lost their elasticities after being clogged for too long, and will close immediately. However, once the pores are clean, that's the proper time to use astringent products to tighten the pores up again. We have astringent products for this purpose too. Do read up my article at http://www.pierrechenxu.com/facts.html in order to have the correct understanding and perspective of handling your problem. Regards: Pierre

Question
Hi. I'm a 28 yo male thats currently not using a skin regimen except washing my face and putting on some lotion. I used to go to a dermatologist in my teen to early college years and I was on Retin-A and Tetracycline. These did wonders for me and after using it for 4 years I stopped since my skin was clear and I rarely broke out. Now a few years later I am starting to break out occasionally maybe twice a month. My skin is a combination of oily in the T-Zone but dry to normal on my chin and cheeks. What skin regimen do you recommend I use for my face and for the REAL PROBLEM which is the excessive breakouts on the upper back of my body which has left some discolored scarring? I'd really rather not go back to a dermatologist or is that the best course to treat my back at least? Thanks for any help or advice you can give me.

(submitted by alias: Alden)

Answer
Hi Alden, In your teens during college years, it was common to have acne outbreaks due to sudden hormonal changes at puberty. Retine A and tetracycline caused acnes to dry up, and can be an effective in containing acnes for some people, like yourself. However, it will also cause skin dryness. With your current ocassional breakouts, you will need to handle it with great care. Acnes, like open wounds, are susceptible to easy bacterial invasion. If not properly managed, it can spread like wild fire, and causes scarring like what you're having at your back. I believe you wash your face with soap. This is not recommendable. Soap breaks down the skin's acid mantle, thus causing dehydration, and dehydration ruptures your skin. It becomes conducive for Bacterial invasion. Your glands will also be forced to multiply their oil and sweat production to compensate the moisture and oil loss, as such, and your skin will be more clogged and appear coarse as a result. I'd advice that you stop using soap. I'm not sure what kind of lotion you are using. Do note, however, that milk lotions if formulated with high wax contents can also promote pore clogging. When pores are clogged, the skin will become prone to having acnes. To contain acnes you need to keep your skin clean and hygienic at all times, yet not causing it to lose its oil/moisture balance. It is a difficult task, but not impossible. What you need is the right products, correct usage/application methods, and live a healthy life style with good hygiene habits. As for the breakouts on your back, it is caused initially by clogged pores too. The glands on our back are usually quite active. For most people, because the back are usually covered and protected with clothings most times the pores did not get clogged easily. If your back is exposed to the open air often(especially in environments that are dusty, humid, or with fumes, chemicals and gas), you will have a much higher risk of getting clogged pores, thus acne infections. Likewise, if you seldom scrub your back properly during your showers/baths the condition can be as bad. Moreover, you need to get adequate rest and sleep - 7 to 8 hours nightly. Do not take aftrenoon naps. It will cause your body temperature to to heat up unnaturally, and upsetting your body's system. I'd recommend you avoid bare backs. Always clothed when exposed to the external environment. Use a good body scrub to scrub your back daily, and apply a good anti-acne cream/lotion until your back is clear of acnes. If you want to use our line of products we can recommend you two items from our line as follows: 1. PSN - Sage Peeling Scrub 300ML $76.60 2. 090 - Ginseng Anti-Acne Cream 12ML $26.60 Unfortunately, we have no samples for the 2 items. However, for your face, we will send you a set of Free samples comprising 5 to 7 items, together with a detail usage directions guide. Normally, you will have to pay for your own postage for these samples, costing only $10.00. But if you are ordering the above two items for the body treatment, we don't mind sending these samples together, and we absorb all the postage costs. If you want us to go ahead to send you the samples without the order for the two items above, and agree to pay for your own postage(i.e. $10.00), please email me again. But you must agree not to mix with other products, and to stop using them altogether, in order to see fast amazing results. If you wish to order the above two items, and receive the Free sample set for your facial routine, please email me also, and indicate so. Regards: Pierre

Question
Hello, Until the age of 22, I had very clear skin. I used to have a couple of pimples every month which quickly cleared up. However, for the last seven years, my skin has been progressively getting worse. My entire face is dry/normal with the exception of my nose which becomes oily and shiny by the end of the day. Despite the fact that my skin is dry, I have plenty of pimples/pimple like things. I have small raised bumps under the skin on my forehead. Tiny white and black dots on my nose. Tiny white dots on my chin. Lots of pimples on my cheeks which appear periodically but do not clear up properly so that the skin is very bumpy and slightly scarred. I also have big pores on my cheeks. I never extract or even hardly ever touch my pimples. Am throughly fed up with the perpetual lousy state of my skin and would greatly appreciate any advice on solutions that will truly work. Thank you very much.

(submitted by alias: Lata)

Answer
Hi Lata, I'm not sure if you are a female. If you are, I believe that couple of pimples that appeared every month and cleared quickly were just the common outbreak caused by hormonal change during your menses. When acnes occurred, the skin is rupturedand is like an open wound, allowing easy bacterial invasion. However, when one was young and healthy, the body's own defence system was capable of defending itself against the bacterial invasion. But as one ages, and health started to deteriorate, the body becomes less capable of defending itself. So, personal hygiene and the correct use of cosmetics products, and the right products becomes an important issue to help counter acne outbreaks, and to ensuring a good healthy, and supple complexion. Noting your skin problem mentioned, I believe, like many others, you have been using the wrong products and doing the wrong skincare routines. You must have tried vigorously to rid the oil off your skin with soaps or cleansers that are prone to dehydrating your skin. When you do this, the outer skin will get dehydrated, and your skin will physiologically try to compensate the loss of oil and moisture(causd by your frequent cleansing to rid the oil) by activating the oil and sweat glands to multiply their oil and sweat production. This in turn will cause your skin to be dry externally while even more oily in the underlying layer, causing your pores to clog even more, thus resulting in a bumpy coarse complexion. If you would take my advice, I'd recommend that you stop using all your current products, and I'll send you a set of our unique herbal concoctions(comprising 5 to 7 items) as Free samples. You only need to foot for your own postage, costing $10.00, but you need pay only upon receipt of the samples. If you do want me to go ahead to despatch the samples please email me again. You can log on to http://www.pierrechenxu.com/facts.html to read on causes of blackheads I've written. Regards: Pierre

Question
I was on the Pierre Chenxu website and the wondergel certainly did peak my curiosity. I am very interested in a free sample and if the product works like it claims I will definitly purchase some from the web site. I am a 20 year old male with combination skin. I had severe acne, but went on accutane. Now my main problem is blackheads on the nose and a bit around the nose area. I have semi sensitive skin and need to wash my face 3 times daily due to excessive oiliness in the T-zone area. I use only fragrance/dye/alcohol/soa