Initially researching the Zeno Mini Acne Clearing Device was a treat because there's a ton of opinions out there - this is a really popular product.

The most common thing I've heard from everyone is that this is something that works only on "particular" kinds of acne - people with with a lot of acne and not really someone who just has a pimple or two here or there.

So, if you don't have very serious acne you'll probably find going out and fidgeting with the Zino mostly a waste of time.

If you're wondering, "Will Zeno work for me?" I recommend you start off with the Zeno Mini. Not only is it a convenient travel size that you can keep in your purse, but the price is a lot less than the regular Zeno so if you find it doesn't work you're not out too much (you can always resell this little device on e-bay as well).

I was able to get my hands on this device, in fact I can't remember a time when I had been more excited to use something like this. I've never in my entire life actually been excited to see new pimples LOL. With the Zeno Mini in hand I was ready to vanquish these little suckers.

Although it didn't make make the pimples dissapear as quickly as I'd imagined, it did make them fade and not make them grow anymore. That solves one of my biggest problems right there - when I feel a new pimple coming on I tend to tamper with it and it actually gets BIGGER than if I had just left it alone.

Overall I'd say the Zeno Mini is a nice weapon to have in your acne fighting arsenal. Try it out and see if you like it.

See larger image Zeno Mini Acne Clearing Device, White (Health and Beauty) List Price: $89.00 USD Release date May 23, 2008.

More Reviews on the Zeno Mini

This is a review from the Amazon Vine program. If you're not familiar with Vine, it's basically a program where you get free stuff in exchange to leave an honest reviw. I've found reviews from Viners to be the best.

"Though the price-tag on the Zeno seems daunting, rest-assured, the product works!! In our instant-gratification society, this little wonder fits-in nicely. Blemishes subside rapidly and with no discomfort. (The tip of the Zeno becomes very warm but the sensation, for me, was not unpleasant). After two treatments (several hours apart), my blemish was virtually unnoticeable with the help of my mineral-foundation.

Now, it may interest you to know that I've used Renova for over six-years, so I was a little hesitant to use the Zeno (though I saw no contraindications in the booklet). (For those who are unacquainted with the product, it is a Vitamin-A derivative which must be prescribed by a physician or dermatologist ... while it encourages collagen growth, reduces fine-lines, and exfoliates, it also leaves your skin vulnerable to sunlight and various other elements.) I have used this product on two different occasions with no side-effects. (I am only speaking for myself, of course. So, be sure to take care if you are in a similar situation ... and if you have an adverse reaction, feel free to comment on this post so others can read it).

The Zeno is now a permanent part of my beauty "arsenal." Between the Renova, Bare Escentuals (as recommended by my dermatologist), and the Zeno, my skin is absolutely pristine and glowing. A minor miracle ... and, as one reviewer stated and I firmly agree, I wish this was available when I was a teenager!

Bottom-line: the Zeno is quick (two and half minutes per treatment), painless (for me), concentrated (it addresses just the area that requires healing), and really cute!! (Aesthetically speaking, it is super slick!!) In my opinion (and I am a tough critic!) the Zeno is entirely worth the investment!"

Erica J Dymond @ Amazon

"However, it does not work well on bigger pimples or old pimples....but the instructions warned me that it would not work on older pimples. It also does not work on blemishes, new or old. Although it does not help on many of these things, I actually HAVE found some good use for it that DOES work. Whenever I get a really big pimple, the ones with the nasty white puss, I can put the Zeno mini on it to soften the pimple so that it is easier to pop and has less of a blemish afterwards. OR I can pop a pimple and then use the Zeno mini to "cauterize" the open skin shut, making it so that the pimple is not open and waiting for more bacteria to come in AND so that it heals a little quicker....yes, closing it shut (for me) helps it to clear a little quicker and leaves a blemish for a shorter amount of time than if I did not use the Zeno mini."

Wendy Harris @ Amazon

"I have been using the zeno mini for about a week or so. Hard to tell if it helping, it doesn't make a dramatic difference from what I have experienced. Even the product manual says you have to treat the same pimple several times over a 24 hour period, so this can get expensive fast. It goes through batteries like crazy, if I would have known that, I would have purchased the rechargable larger Zeno. I give it 5/10. The cost benefit ratio is not compelling in my opinion."

Robbelliii @ realself

I first came across Yonka Juvenil from my friend who used to have terrible acne (worse than mine). One day her acne just stopped - poof, gone like magic. I asked her if she was doing anything different because her skin looked great and she recommended I try this.

It certainly is a pretty penny but the results you get are worth it. Called the "serious breakout solution" I guess you could say this like like Big Bertha of acne treatments. I'm using the Juvenil in conjunction with Yonka Creme 15 and I've never had better results from any other product ever.

If you're like me and you've tried everything there is on the market, then Juvenil might just be your last line of defense.

Extra Info on Yonka Juvenl

See larger image Yonka Juvenil (Health and Beauty) List Price: $39.00 USD New From: $47.00 In Stock

I was right! The pumice isn't very harsh at all and in fact its barely even noticeable when you actually apply it to your face - good news for us with sensitive skin. Before this I was big on Philosophy's Microdelivery Wash but this product works a lot better.

More About the DDF Pumice Acne Scrub

These days acne for me is just a harsh memory. I've been using the DDF Glycolic products for a little over 3 months now. Within the first 4 days I saw some pretty amazing results: the old pimples were drying out and nothing new was showing up. After a full week I knew it was the real deal, I was ecstatic to say the least!

More Info on DDF Glycolic

See larger image DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex 8.45oz (Health and Beauty) List Price: $32.00 USD New From: $30.30 In Stock

See larger image DDF Glycolic Exfoliating Wash 8.45 fl. oz. / 250 ml (Health and Beauty) List Price: $35.00 USD New From: $32.00 In Stock

See larger image DDF Glycolic 10% Exfoliating Moisturizer 1.7 oz. (Health and Beauty) List Price: $50.00 USD New From: $40.70 In Stock

However; for women who are in even the very earliest stages of their pregnancy, drugs like Accutane in particular, simply aren't an option. It's important to bear in mind that as it pertains to pregnancy and acne, drugs that are deemed relatively safe can have long term effects on unborn children that still remain unknown.

Common Acne Treatment Drugs

(Accutane) should not even be considered in even the most severe cases of pregnancy and acne. In fact it is recommended that women who feel that they might become pregnant should stop taking this drug one month beforehand. Fact: fully 25-35 percent of pregnancies where Accutane exposure occurs in the first trimester do result in birth defects.

(Retin-A) also carries a warning regarding pregnancy and acne on its label. Although no known birth defects have resulted from its use, the fact remains that an unacceptable level of this drug will pass from the mother to the infant being carried in the womb.

(Tetracyclene) is an antibiotic that is commonly prescribed for acne. Once again this is another drug that should not be taken during pregnancy, as it has been shown to inhibit bone development. Another side effect on children who were exposed to this drug as infants, is a yellowing of the teeth.

Pregnancy and Acne - Safety and Prevention

The risk to unborn children presented by Accutane is so great that doctors who prescribe it to women in their childbearing years commonly recommend that two forms of birth control be used simultaneously. It's just that dangerous to unborn children.

Prior to taking Accutane, all doctors will also require that a pregnancy test be taken at least one week before hand. It's also highly recommended that women who are being considered for Accutane undergo counseling to learn how various birth control methods can fail.

Also because the skin of the back is so much thicker back, acne in general tends to be more stubborn to treat. This is the very reason why so often an acne sufferer can experience results with a treatment on their face, yet come up empty handed when the same product is applied to their back, chest or butt.

Use stronger measures on thicker skin

A good chemical exfolaint can be the first step in a winning back acne treatment regimen. Always remember that the more powerful an exfoliant is, the less often you'll be able to use it. Consider a weaker or even a natural home made exfoliant that can be used every three days or so in the shower.

The skin on the back tends to have more oil glands per square inch then the skin on your face. Also once again back skin is much thicker as well. Both these factors mean that a topical treatment with a higher concentration of benzoil peroxide can be used and far more easily tolerated. Consider going with a full 10%.

Enhanced light and laser therapies do produce results. Thicker skin with more oil glands mean that back acne treatments of this type should always be a top consideration. These types of treatments work by zapping oil glands, which in turn lessens their ability to produce the excess oil that's causing the acne.

This procedure is noted for being quite painless and thus requires no anesthetic. However; in some instances a mild topical anesthetic can be applied, if it is requested. Also, although it's commonly believed so, there is no evidence that a topical non invasive procedure of this type in any way stimulates collagen production.

On the other hand, it has been demonstrated in controlled studies that microdermabrasion can have a positive effect on acne infection but it must be performed regularly to do so. However; this treatment should never be done on a person with acne who has taken the acne drug Accutane within the previous year.

Various Methods of Performing the Procedure

A woman undergoes microdermabrasion treatments

Then there are other systems that use a direct contact surface to physically sand away the dead skin cells that have built up on the outer surface of the skin. New systems that use a wand with an abrasive surface that are none the less, still controllable and safe enough such that they can be performed without anesthesia in a non medical setting.

With so many new systems and machines available there is no one set standard in the industry to go by regarding their use and the results they deliver. This is why it's always in ones best interest to have any microdermabrasion treatments performed by a qualified aestheticism. As it stands right now, crystal microdermabrasion is the most popular method being requested and performed.

Chemical Peel or Microdermabrasion Treatments?

There's a good handful of reasons why people in general consider having the top layer of dead skin cells removed from their face or other body area. As indicated above, doing so can in many cases can lead to a reduction in the severity of an acne condition. Also with dead skin cells removed, the skin becomes brighter in tone as wrinkles are also greatly diminished.

Because chemical peels also deliver the same results, the decision has to be made between chemical peel and microdermabrasion treatments. So what's the difference, aside from the obvious procedural differences? The following a list of both pros and cons that highlight some important points that set them apart.

To begin with, chemical peels come in different strengths. In a non clinical setting you would be dealing with the mildest because there are regulations in place that dictate that stronger peels must be done by a doctor. In fact you can even now buy very affordable peel kits that can be used in your own home.

Another thing to consider, is that there will be some level of pain involved with even the mildest chemical peels, while the worst discomfort you'll experience with microdermabrasion treatments is a mild tingling. Also there's more recovery time with a chemical peel. Redness that can last as long as 1-2 weeks with even the mildest peels.

On the other hand, chemical peels tend to deliver much more immediate results than microderm treatments' that can take up to 6-12 sessions to deliver maximum results. Also microdermabrasion requires periodic upkeep treatments on a more frequent basis than chemical peels. Even so, one important benefit that microdermabrasion has over chemical peels is that chemical peels can't be done on skin that's close to the eyes.

So then whats different about this system because its makers and promoters claim in their literature that it came about as the result of a “special collaboration” between dermatologists and medical researchers. I'll tell you whats different. Absolutely nothing!

It's just another three stage system that relies on benzoil peroxide as its active ingredient. Ah! But there's salicylic acid in there too and it does kill acne causing bacteria, as well as exfoliate. Well guess what?? That's just the chemical name for (common aspirin), which brings me to my biggest gripe.

Four 2oz containers for $70??

That would be their price and container sizes. The kit sells for almost $70 and the containers in the kit are tiny! Of course there's no travel size.. Because if the containers in the kit were made any smaller, you could fit the whole package in a common envelope.

The irony is that Exposed acne treatment doesn't have to be this way. Benzoil peroxide does work and theirs even contains a micronized variety, as do so many others now. It's all marketing gimmickry. Jack up the price and people will think that its something special. Small containers will bring them back for more all the sooner.

Trust me. You can buy this kit if you want because it will in fact work. However; before you do, take a little time to check out others like Proactiv Or Obagi Nu Derm. These are both similar multi stage systems that cost about half as much and they have also been proven to work.

Take the young man who just hit puberty and has a job after school hanging over a hot grill, flipping burgers. His face is exploding with pimples and do you know what the cure is? You guessed it! All he needs is to do find a new job and also make sure that he uses a good facial cleaners for the next handful of years.

That's a simple example that's used to point up the fact that expensive acne remedies are being over prescribed far too often. Of course they have their place but did you know that there are other far more permanent remedies for even severe case of acne that don't involve having to shell out piles of money on expensive topical treatments?

Laser and enhanced light therapies are an excellent example of this. Yes they are more expensive than just quitting flipping burgers but they do work on even stubborn cases of cystic acne. These assorted types of therapies use various types of powerful light sources to actually “zap & fry” troublesome oil glands deep within the skin.

Some common drugs can be a direct cause of acne as well and getting rid of acne in those cases can be a simple matter of stopping using them or searching for an alternative. For women, it can be birth control pills and shots and for men it can be steroids. If you've started using either of these types of drugs just prior to the onset of your acne condition, than chances are these pills are the culprit.

Dairy products have also found to be linked to acne in a good percentage of cases. No one knows why for sure, but it's suspected that powerful hormones that are injected into cattle to boost milk production may be the culprit. If yours is one of those cases, getting rid of acne may be as simple as eliminating milk and dairy products from your diet.

Understand that acne remedy manufacturers are never going to talk about anything but a one point treatment plan. They want you to buy their products and talking about anything other than that might lead you to a permanent solution. Now what good is that to them? They have to sell products and they're counting on you buying them for a while.

Learn to Alleviate Stress in Your Life to Curb Breakouts

Stress is a big contributor to acne and in some people it can be a more significant contributor than in in others. The problem with stress, as it relates to acne, is that it often becomes a vicious cycle. Stress helps to cause breakouts and breakouts cause more stress. Addressing stress issues must be an integral part of a successful acne treatment regimen.

Learn How to Get Rid of Pimples By Adjusting Your Diet

What you eat may be contributing to your acne condition. In fact, did you know that in many acne sufferers a dairy product allergy is the sole source of the problem? If these people want to learn how to get rid of pimples, they need to learn how to get rid of milk and all other dairy products from their diet. Wheat products are another common source of food allergies.

New Multi-Stage Treatment Systems Do Work

The third area is your skin. If you suffer from acne, then you're going to have to learn how to treat your skin differently than the way other people treat theirs. Hey, does your skin look normal? Of course not! Then stop treating it like it's normal. Find one of the better multi-stage acne treatment systems like Proactiv or Obagi Nu-Derm and use it.

Now all this may seem like a plateful. However; in the balance, you really have no choice but to declare all out war and finally learn how to permanently get rid of pimples. It's not just your skin that's suffering. Your social life and even your professionally life are also taking hits while your life is ticking by. Get serious and you will begin to see results.