Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Clear Pores system claims it can heal acne from the inside out in three easy steps. But are the promises made by the Clear Pores systems based on scientific evidence?
Summary:
The Clear Pores system claims it fights acne “from the root.” Acne doesn’t really have roots, but the internal causes of acne inflammation can be remedied by probiotic treatment.
Some of the ingredients in Clear Pores herbal supplement provide “prebiotics” or food for the probiotics, or friendly bacteria, that can train the immune system to respond to bacterial inflammation with a minimum of inflammation.
The Clear Pores cleanser is a good choice for acne-prone skin.
The Clear Pores protection team is mild enough not to cause irritation, but probably too mild to remove the skin debris that clogs pores.
Clear Pores is not a bad choice.
Step 1. Fighting Acne “From the Root”
The first phase of the Clear Pores acne control system involves fighting acne from the inside out to combat acne “from the root.” Acne, of course, does not grow “roots.” Acne is a condition that begins when the linings of pores shed more skin than the pore can expel, trapping oil and bacteria inside. The combination of cellular debris, acne bacteria, and excess skin oil can clog the pore and cause a whitehead or blackhead. Or the immune system can attack the acne bacteria with inflammation and cause a pimple.
The Clear Pores people tell us that acne breakouts are also aggravated by internal factors, such as stress, hormone imbalances, sluggish digestion, and liver dysfunction—and they are absolutely right. But will the Clear Pores herbal formula actually correct the internal imbalances that can manifest as skin problems? Let’s take a look at the ingredients in their herbal pill.
Dandelion root stimulates flow of bile from the liver, increasing frequency of bowel movements. Regular elimination helps maintain colon colonies of Lactobacillus bacteria, which train the immune system to respond to minor bacterial infections, such as acne, with less inflammation.
Burdock root contains chemicals that interfere with the action of an enzyme known as collagenase, which breaks down collagen under the skin. This can help prevent the spread of the most aggressive forms of acne.
Aloe vera is a laxative when taken orally. This complements the action of dandelion root.
Echinacea purpurea stimulates T-cells to fight bacteria. In the case of acne, however, it reduces the amount of inflammation the immune system releases to fight the infection, reducing inflammation of the skin.
Yellow dock contains compounds that fight staph infections—but these compounds are only released when the herb is treated with alcohol. If the herb is just dried and encapsulated, it does not have this effect.
Sarsaparilla is a traditional remedy for skin infections.
And most companies add additional herbs to their formulas that have little or no therapeutic benefit just to ensure that they are not violating another company’s patent
Will the Clear Pores herbal formula actually help resolve acne? It contains the right herbal ingredients to help balance the metabolic processes that go awry in acne. However, this part of the formula wont’ work unless you have probiotic bacteria in your system. You can get them by eating yogurt with live cultures (in the United States, by eating Stonyfield Farms or Activita), or by taking a probiotic supplement in addition to the Clear Pores herbal supplement.
2. Cleansing the Skin to Prevent Future Breakouts
The makers of Clear Pores recognize that nobody can rub, scrub, or cleanse acne away. Their cleanser offers gentle ingredients that remove excess oil and makeup from your skin without damaging pores, and does not include ingredients that can harm your skin.
The primary ingredients in the Clear Pores cleanser are water, glycerin, and glycerol stearate. Water rinses away dirt, but it also provides moisture to your skin. The skin forms an almost water-tight barrier, but applying any amount of water on your skin allows it to travel through tiny channels in the skin that act as microscopic wells to provide moisture—but only for an hour or two at a time before the moisture is depleted.
Glycerine (which is also known as glycerol) prevents sensitive skin from drying out. It’s extremely non-toxic, and even safe to be used in making candies and liqueurs (in small amounts, since it absorbs water and has a mild laxative effect). Glycerol stearate is an emulsifier that keeps the glycerine and water mixed. It’s also a natural product made by the body itself, which makes it a great way to dissolve sebum in pores.
There is nothing in the Clear Pores formula that can dry out your skin or cause additional inflammation. Clear Pores cleanser is a sensible and safe way to cleanse sensitive skin.
3. Giving the Skin a Healthy Glow
The Clear Pores Protection Cream is advertised as protecting the skin from future breakouts and giving it a healthy glow. It contains the right ingredients for this purpose, glycolic acid to strip away clumps of dead skin cells from the linings of pores and the surface of the skin, and salicylic acid to break up oily sebum and ease irritation. These ingredients open pores and stimulate the production of collagen under the skin. Healthier capillaries give the skin an attractive glow, makers of the product promise, and freely draining pores are far less likely to become clogged and form blemished skin.
The makers of Clear Pores definitely chose the right ingredients for giving skin a healthy glow and keeping pores open. The problem with making an acne product is always choosing the right amounts of glycolic acid and salicylic acid, enough to rejuvenate the skin, but not so much as to burn the skin. The Clear Pores Protection Cream adds potassium hydroxide to buffer the skin-stripping ingredients, probably erring on the side of safety. The pH of this product is higher than other products that have a more immediate effect on the skin.
What can you expect if you use Clear Pores products?
If you eat yogurt (dairy or soy) with live cultures regularly, or if you take a probiotic supplement, the herbal formula actually will help clear up your skin over 1 to 2 months.
The cleanser is great if you have fair, dry skin that tends to form pimples. It’s not the best cleanser for darker, oilier skin that tends to form blackheads.
The protection cream is exactly right if you have sensitive skin. If you don’t tend to get redness and irritation when you use skin care products, however, you probably could use a stronger product.
Clear Pores won’t clear up your skin overnight. And if your skin gets worse while you are using the system, your skin problem may not be common acne. Rosacea might actually get worse if you use this system. But Clear Pores is a good choice for people with fair, dry skin who can wait 1 to 3 months for most of their pimples to go away. If you also have a problem with acne scarring, you may get better results by using a system that includes microdermabrasion, such as Exposed Skin Care.