See also Skin Problems

Although many adults are victims of acne, it is primarily an affliction of the teen years. Affecting 30 percent of teenage females and 44 percent of the males, acne is the most common skin disease of adolescence. One out of every five patients who consults a dermatologist has acne. In most of these cases, a chronic skin infection also exists.

Although there are as many as eleven different forms of acne, the condition is basically a dysfunction of thesebaceous (oil-producing) glands of the skin—often the result of bacterial contamination, hormone imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, emotional stress, or poor hygiene. Any combination of these factors can give rise to the condition. Common medical treatments for various forms of acne include vitamin-A therapy, antibiotics, benzylbenzoate, topical cleansing, chemical peels, and dermabrasion. All of these treatments are effective to a degree, but putting the friendly bacteria to work on the problem provides additional help.

In 1964, Dr. R.H. Siver reported on his work in a paper entitled, "Lactobacillus for the Control of Acne," whichwas published in the Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey. Dr. Siver states, "Lactobacilli are a safe,simple, 80 percent effective treatment for acne, especially in boys and girls under the age of 18." Dr. Siver documented an improvement in patients suffering from acne who were taking lactobacteria for agastrointestinal condition. The eight-day course of treatment included two or three tablets of L. acidophilus and L.bulgaricus daily, taken with milk, followed by two weeks without supplementation. When necessary, the courseof treatment was repeated again. In most cases, improvement was seen within the first two weeks.

Dr. Siver was not surprised to find that acidophilus and bulgaricus quickly cleared up the intestinal afflictionstroubling his patients, but the fact that the skin conditions cleared up as well was unexpected. No doubt thiseffect can be attributed to the general cleansing action of the friendly bacteria.

Dr. Siver reported an 80 percent success rate in treating over 300 cases of patients with acne. Of the patientsranging in age from 18 to 25, half had what he termed "reasonable success." The other half, all under age 18, had what Dr. Siver called "excellent results."

Russian and Bulgarian doctors have successfully used topical acidophilus or bulgaricus pastes to treat acne for decades. You can make a similar paste—start by mixing 1 level teaspoon of L. bulgaricus powder with enoughfresh aloe vera (scraped from the inside of a leaf) and distilled water to form a smooth, spreadable paste. Afterwashing your face, gently pat it dry with a clean towel. Apply the Probiotic paste to the entire face and neck area. Leave the paste on for twenty minutes or longer before rinsing it off gently with a clean washcloth and warm water. In addition to clearing up acne, this paste speeds gentle facial exfoliation, while smoothing and softening the skin’s texture. It also tightens pores and softens lines and wrinkles.

Take 1 capsule each of L. acidophilus and B. bifidum (or 1/2 teaspoon each powder), along with 1/2 teaspoon L. bulgaricus powder mixed in 6 to 8 ounces unchilled filtered water, two times daily. May be increased to 2 capsules L. acidophilus and B. bifidum, and 1 teaspoon L. bulgaricus, three times daily.

Instead of the above regimen, take 1 or 2 combination capsules that contain all three super strains in an oil-matrix carrier, once a day.

Apply topical homemade Probiotic paste, once a day for at least two weeks, depending on the severity of the acne.

For maintenance, continue taking the above oral regimen two times daily, and continue using the Probiotic paste twice a week. Also apply Probiotic face cream daily in the morning and evening.


NOTE: The information contained on this site is based on the training, personal experiences and research of the author, Natasha Trenev. It is intended for educational purposes, and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or replace medical care.Mention of any research organization or individual researcher should in no way be construed as an endorsement of thissite or of any of the techniques therein. Because each person and situation are unique, the author urges the reader to checkwith a qualified health professional before using any procedure in which there is any question of appropriateness. It is a sign of wisdom, not cowardice, to seek a second or third opinion.