Large pores are confusing and upsetting for many people. Hopefully this post will help you get your head around this situation.


When oil and debris plug up a pore, it mechanically dilates. That’s it, there is no other complicated process. When the emotion is removed from the situation, it becomes as straight forward as any other physical dilation. Blackheads, pimples, and oily skin all have the ability to enlarge pores. If the offending agent is completely removed, the currently dilated pore will do one of three things:


It will either retract back to its original size, partially decrease in size, or remain fully dilated. The amount of retraction and healing is usually dependent on skin type, age, and how long the offending agent was in place.

For example, Let’s say you have a large single blackhead in your back for 4 years. If this large old blackhead is removed, chances are it’s going to leave a visible hole. It’s the concept of “wear and tear” similar to older skin or heavy piercings weighing down the skin.


FAQ: What can I do to treat my large pores?!?

While there are many things you can do to improve the cosmetic appearance of your pores, the first thing I recommend is to grieve over the real wear and tear you have just endured. Enlarged pores are similar to 3D scars in that they need to first be grieved over, and then they can be unemotionally and skillfully worked on.


The biggest mistake I witness in the attempt to fix enlarged pores is the lack of understanding of the “offending agent” as mentioned above. You see, if your skin is still active with blackheads, pimples, or even just oily without bumps, you are not yet ready to focus on your wear and tear. Exactly like acne scarring, it’s a stepwise process of first obtaining total inactivation and then cleaning up the aftermath. Any other order of operations will cause repeated failure, frustration, and money wasted on expensive cosmetic procedures.




I’ll outline how to approach the treatment of enlarged pores:

1) You must first gain total control of your oil, blackheads, and pimples. The pores will never start retracting until the dilating force is totally controlled. This control can be obtained in many ways but know that partial inactivation may not cut it in regards to the appearance of pores.

2) You’ll need a daily cosmetic routine that will act to remove the top layers skin around each pore. This will effectively make the hole less visible. (see illustration below) I have designed a special kit for this situation called the exfoliation kit for sensitive skin. It is only intended for those who are in total control of the activity. If not in total control, see the starter kits for acne bootcamp first.

3) If you are still not satisfied with your pore size after you have properly grieved, gained total inactivation, and have a masterful daily cosmetic routine, there are many professional procedures that can be added into the routine. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, lasers, and surgery are all examples of things you can indulge in if you still can’t find aesthetic satisfaction.


My experience has been that people are not mastering numbers 1 and 2 above. Rather, they are spending thousands of dollars on procedures that are less effective when the other elements are not yet in place. Try to focus on the concept of a “stepwise process”.




(Use the cone illustration below to understand how the appearance of inactivated pores can be improved. When the top layers of skin are safely removed, the orifice diameter gets smaller. Imagine the top sections of this cone being removed at the horizontal lines)



Did that illustration help?




Unlike active skin and inflammation, when working on cosmetic issues it is important to stay non-urgent. There is no rush to get a dangerous or expensive cosmetic procedure. It’s important to grieve over the small trauma that has already occurred and it’s important to set goals that are based in relative improvement with the aim of achieving the threshold of aesthetic satisfaction.

hope this helps,
-Dr. Neal




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Since the inception of the video gallery in 2007, people have asked me the seemingly simple question, “What is the cause of Acne?”

I will answer this age old question today in such a crystal clear manner that this question will forever be put to rest. Once this inquiry is fully resolved, people will then be able to grieve properly over their current situation and move forward in their pursuit of total inactivation and satisfaction.


So without further delay, I present to you:


Dr Neal’s Clinically Derived, Non-Theoretical, Firm Stance on the “Cause” of Acne:


1) Understanding Humanity:

To understand the “cause” of acne, you will first have to understand that there is no cause, no cure, and no magical source of your acne. The “cause” of your acne is your humanity itself. Every single person is prone to acne in some degree on a bell shaped curve. The condition you are suffering from is the same condition that people were emotionally reacting to in the 1950’s. It was battled throughout our history and has forever been mentioned in association with humans walking on this planet.





The degree of proneness is originally set up by both your inherited skin type and your development, both in-utero and as a child.
The people on the left side of this curve are less acne prone and the people on the right are more acne prone. The bell curve is made to show how poplulations have averages and extremes. Notice there are less people who are at both extremes. There are very few people on the far left who have never noticed a pimple in their life and there are few people on the right that had to come to this practice after failing accutane more than 4 times. The middle of the curve represents those with mild pimples occasionally who are more easily satisfied with any age-old topical preparations. It is this average majority that is responsible for minimizing the emotional effects and difficulties of acne. The reality is that, regardless of motivation, nutrition, fitness, and hygiene, it is easier for some people to beat than others. Period.


Grieve and deal with this reality and do whatever is needed to fix your specific situation. As proven by the video gallery, there is no location on the bell curve that is not treatable to total inactivation and satisfaction. (See the post-accutane playlist on the home page for examples of very resistant cases)




2) Aggravating Factors:

Now that you understand your own humanity and understand that acne has been around since the dawn of mankind, we can unemotionally discuss all the aggravating factors of acne that are often times misconceived as “causes”.


Stress:



What is stress?? I like to use plain language so I’ll just define it for you from the top of my head. To further your investigation, you can look up other people’s poetic interpretations as well. In my mind’s eye, Stress represents a true biochemical/physiological reaction that can’t be properly contained or harnessed by someone’s physical or emotional coping skills or resilience. This chemical reaction can come from physical trauma, fear, loss, anger, work, medical illness, or anything that is distressing emotionally. The reaction can also occur with over-excitement or manic reactions that can’t be fully contained.


The subtle buzz of stress is the most powerful aggravator of acne in my experience. It has the power to take someone on the far left side of the curve and blaze them open with a huge breakout. A stress induced flare of someone from the left side of the curve usually sounds like this clinically, ” I never had acne my entire life until I got divorced at 34. Since then, my face and my life have been a mess.” Although stress in this example is the main aggravator, the cause is still the person’s humanity. It just got flared up by stress.

When someone further to the right side of the bell curve is stressed, it usually sounds like this clinically, “I have always had acne to some degree but since I’ve been cramming for finals this week, my acne is much worse than ever!!”

To make matters worse, the emotional stress of dealing with acne also directly aggravates the situation and thus we have one of the toughest, downward spiraling conditions known to mankind.


Nutrition:



For many good reasons, there is much talk and passion in the world of Nutrition these days. Rather than get everyone manic on the magic food or food restriction that will “cure” you, I like to place this aggravating factor within the conversation of stress above. Think of it this way, having great nutrients decreases the workload and stress of the body’s maintenance and eating unconsciously and recklessly causes more stress on the functioning of the body. When you think of the art of nutrition in terms of stress inducing and stress relieving, you will start to understand how the body works. There is no one magic food and there is no one demon food. Think like an artist and consciously paint every detail of your life under manual control rather than by habit.

Avoiding foods you know aggravate your skin is a good idea for now, but always know that a person in real control of the activity can eat anything they want without consequence or fear. The only dietary recommendation I made for every patient in the video gallery was, “do the best you can to make good lifestyle choices.” Many people continued to eat unconsciously and still became completely inactivated here. Furthermore, many ultra-conscious healthfood enthusiasts have come into the office with full faces of active acne. (and expectedly, they were baffled by the situation)

Go figure, food is not the “cause” of acne. This is further proven by studying the eating habits of people with healthy skin. You’ll find countless individuals with beautiful skin that have very poor nutrition. (check out the skin of the homeless population. I observed these individuals for years when I worked in the Hospitals of New York City)

Food is simply a potential aggravator for those who are not in total control of the overall situation. Those who desire a great life full of energy, a balanced mood, and disease prevention are cleverly making good food decisions every single day. I feel much more energetic when I eat nutritiously.


Fitness:



Think of fitness or lack thereof in the same context as the stress topic above. Those who are in great cardiovascular shape are more resilient to every stressor of life. Those who are sedentary are vulnerable to every common stressor of life. I can’t emphasize this enough. if you are not breaking a sweat every single day of your life, prepare yourself emotionally for all the predictable chronic conditions that are headed your way sooner than later. Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, and impotence will come to all who are sedentary. That is a promise. It’s so painfully predictable.

If sweating and cardiovascular exercise is currently aggravating your acne, know that you are at risk of making a bad decision. If you mistakenly choose to give up sports for any reason, you have just condemned yourself to a lifetime of depression and furthermore, your acne will still not be in total control just by avoiding this activity. The solution is knowing that once in total control, you will be able to participate in any physical activity, even with sunscreen slathered all over you face. (see my surf videos in the blog)


Skincare Routines:



An inappropriate or poorly managed skin care routine can aggravate a current acne condition. Many people are making their acne worse every day while trying to fix their skin by themselves. Asking for assistance from a real expert can be critically important.


Unending List of Aggravators: Hormonal changes, the sun, the cold, the humidity, makeup, dirty air, dirty sheets, phones on the face, rubbing your face, and countless other activities are all aggravators only for skin that is already not in great control. Know that when your skin is in total control, you can have a massage therapist rub your face for hours, and you can mash your face into an old pillow case without fear or consequence.

Know also that women who are in total control of their skin can have menstrual periods without a breakout. Those who are only in partial control going into their monthly cycle are at risk of a “hormonal” breakout. It’s all just aggravation of plain old acne. (Learn more about the misconception of “Hormonal Acne”)




3) Improper or Delayed Treatment:



(The longer the skin remains out of control, the more stubborn the condition becomes)
After genetics and aggravating factors, the third main component that determines the stubborness of an acne situation is the amount of time spent active. Similar to all chronic situations like obesity and bowel trouble, the persistence of imbalance or active inflammation on the face can create a new setpoint for the skin that makes it more resistant to change. When your skin remains undertreated or mistreated for many years in a row, expect the skin to behave a little differently than it did 5 years prior. Not permanently, but for awhile until a new, more balanced, setpoint can set in. (i.e. it has to be inactive for awhile before behaving normally again)

I have witnessed this phenomenon of chronic conditions for many years. The Dermatology community has also observed this patten and I recall many other doctors saying, “For acne, treat swiftly and start treatment at the earliest stage possible”

See the post on “Troubled Skin” to see what years of both active inflammation and improper medical treatment can do to skin in general. The take home point of this third component is that skin that is left untreated or improperly treated will become a more stubborn case in the future. This is a time-senstive condition.






The Bottom Line:

1) There is no cause nor cure for any chronic condition of the human body. The goal is to achieve total inactivation, emotionally heal from the ordeal, and efficiently maintain the balance.

2) The 3 main components that make up an acne situation are: Hereditary, Aggravating Factors, and Duration of ongoing activity.

3) Now that you understand the “cause” of acne, you can focus all your energy on the battle towards inactivation without fear or distraction.

©2011 “What is the “CAUSE” of Acne??” by Dr. Neal Schwartz

As some of you may already know, this project is buzzing with evolution and growth every month. With each step forward, more and more ambitious visions arise and we are all witnessing the growth of a living, breathing movement. The case studies have received 9,130,507 views and another 14,000 are being viewed today. This post will address frequently asked questions about the practice as well as become a road map of what is coming in the next 2 years.

FAQ: I still don’t understand. why is The Acne Practice so expensive??


Many people often wonder why this program is so costly relative to other infomercial or drug store products. 30 years of acne marketing has created a standard genre of over the counter treatments that this medical project has nothing to do with. The reason people think the price is high is because they are comparing the program to product lines that have zero accountability. Even when they offer their gimmicky money back guarantees, they are not taking accountability for the emotional trauma and physical scarring they are directly responsible for. What is not understood is that this program is underpriced at this time. This project represents not only a new genre of treatment programs, but a completely new approach to medicine in general.


Rather than comparing it to a drugstore item, it will help to compare it to the costs of having a personal physician at your side every single day. We use email through disclaimers as the medium, and the support is directly from an expert who has obviously innovated a field of medicine. Given the level of accountability and expert time-sensitive support, 240-300 dollars for this type of program seems reasonable.
(The instruction manual itself is 27 pages deep and was created from years of clinical observation. Refills are 20-35 per product every 5-8 weeks as needed)

That being said, this unique setup begs many new questions that are meticulously being addressed in the evolution of this project.


FAQ: If Dr. Neal is painstakingly helping everyone directly, how is he going to keep up with all the email traffic??


This question has been thought about since the inception of the project and the demand has been met at this time using typists to speed along the communication. It should be well known that all emails are read, written, and sent by Dr. Neal alone.

FAQ: What will you do when you can’t keep up with the traffic even with multiple typists??


This is the question that has already launched the future of this practice and this movement.


Prediction: When this vision fully materializes, I am predicting that this project will be nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine as acne is still ravaging millions of people who are currently under professional treatment.


Here’s the movement and worldwide phenomenon that is coming in the next 2 years


1) Acne Analytics™
With the help of some clever programming, I have invented and patented a new software program that will allow clients, on their own, to assess their skin in a more detailed manner than any physician could ever do for them. This innovation in diagnostic evaluation is almost finished and will likely debut later this season.

2) The Interactive Video Version of Dr. Neal’s Acne Bootcamp™
This is a very ambitious project which is now in development. We are creating an interactive online program that will queue up videos of Dr. Neal addressing common concerns and fears for every skin situation possible. Full client accountability will be monitored in an account that tells Dr. Neal the exact level of online participation in the interactive program. If someone is following the program perfectly and still not satisfied, Dr. Neal will be automatically notified and will investigate which detail is being missed in the program. The details of this large scale project will slowly be unveiled as we get closer to completing it. The estimated time of arrival is mid 2012.

When executed with the same precision and passion as the office and home versions, the Interactive Video Version will be able to expand in ways that are not possible with Dr. Neal emailing everyone by himself. Dr. Neal’s expertise and artistry will be fully harnessed by the most sophisticated interactive health software ever developed.


With the new system, expanded manufacturing, and automation in place, the price of these kits will one day be more affordable for anyone who is suffering. Additionally, we can get all 400 videos subtitled in every language to bring this system to those Dr. Neal can’t communicate with at this time.


Again, there are no simple solutions to complex problems. This Interactive Video Version will take much artistic refinement to accomplish the 100% success rate that is acceptable in this practice. I have a specific plan of how this system will be laid down. stay posted. (the office version and the Home Version were generated from the same type of passionate energy)

3) Affiliate Centers
As many of you know, I have a dream of having an army of autonomously practicing aestheticians working from the confines of this successful program. Their role will be to simply speed up the healing after the program has inactivated the skin. Since this vision was introduced, I have spoken with many aestheticians all over the world. There are many passionate ones who are interested but they don’t yet see how they can survive on passion alone. In the future vision of the Interactive Video Version, affiliates will have exclusive distribution opportunities for the kits themselves. Those already enrolled have sealed their territory for future possibilities.

4) International Distribution
Customs fees are a drag on any client relationship. We are shipping internationally every day and have intentions of solving the inconvenience of custom’s fees. When the Interactive Video Version takes hold on a large scale, Distribution worldwide will be a real possibility. Expect this evolution by 2013.

for those of you who think I’m dreaming with an Interactive Video Version that achieves a 100% success rate, reaches everyone in every language, and can be obtained for an affordable price, check out my prior dreams below:


Dream of completely inactivating resistant cases of Severe Acne without oral medications: Done


Dream of making a high definition acne gallery so powerful that even the most hopeless soul can begin to see what is possible: Done


Dream of making an email-based Home Version work the exact same way as the office version worked: Done

I am dreaming. and when I act on these dreams, unbelievable things can happen…




get ready, this is exciting. In the final dream of this project, Dermatologists can leave the world of acne and focus back on what they are really great at. Diagnosing systemic disease, emergency skin reactions, removal of growths, cosmetic procedures, and much more. The chronic condition of acne will naturally leave the world of rigid diagnostic medicine and instead be viewed as a common human ailment that can be locked down by an unwavering definitive integrated program. A two month wait at your dermatologist’s office only to get a standard cocktail that has a 40% failure rate has become unacceptable and this worldwide vision is directly addressing a system that has proven to be mediocre at best.


-Dr. Neal

©2011 “An Optimistic Future: Big Plans for The Acne Practice. ” by Dr. Neal Schwartz

I’ve been reviewing over 20,000 emails from the past 2 years and have statistically calculated the success rate for The Home Version of this Acne Bootcamp. I’m extremely proud to say at this time we are running a 100% success rate in The Home Version when the following bootcamp parameters are met.


Here are the parameters that have thus far ensured a victory in The Home Version:

1) Victorious Clients have all emailed within 24 hours of generating concern without any delay or “harboring of concern”

2) Victorious Clients have all taken full accountability for #1 above if they are ever accidentally delayed or too busy to email.

3) When emailing, Victorious Clients have all filled out emails through the advanced email system in full detail.

4) Victorious Clients call the office if the emails are not making perfect sense.

5) Victorious Clients are emotionally committed to emailing 120 days in a row if they have any concern whatsoever and never give up or quit after a few emails.

6) Victorious Clients send focused before shots. (cropped photos are fine and they are never posted without written consent)

7) Victorious Clients fill out the Day 1 checklist before getting started with the products as instructed.

8. Longterm Victorious Clients don’t panic if they find a success and later have a relapse. they just simply follow the parameters above once again.

9) Reading and writing comprehension in English is expected at this time. (many clients have successfully used google translator but it’s important to know that language can play a role here. We are working on a seamless multi-ligual version for the future.

What is amazing about this technology and methodology is that I still possess every email that has ever been sent to me in The Home Version.

They can be searched up by name or email address and studied for the parameters above. There is not a single client in the last 2 years that has met the requirements above and not found total success. If you feel you have met the requirements above and have not achieved success, please email or call the office and we will search up the email history to review every detail of your program.

If you are a client who is aware that you have not met these requirements and are not yet completely inactivated, feel free to restart with the right mindset and requirements for victory. You can restart with an existing checklist mentioning your new intentions in this rigid program.




FAQ: How do we define Success??



Success in this practice has always been clearly defined as this:

1) You are 99-100% bump free and dark marks are fading. (**note: this does not mean a 99% success rate. This means a 100% success rate with success defined by this list)
(there is no excpetional 1% that is untreatable)

2) You are Emotionally healed from the trauma of acne and no longer scared of acne. A real sense of control.

3) You have zero fear or avoidance of specific foods due to acne issues. (you can eat healthy in general for reasons of energy, mood, and future disease prevention)

4) You are not scared of what will happen to your skin during your menstrual period.

5) You are not avoiding outdoor activities, the sun, the beach, or any social events due to your skin.

Here’s how you can ensure that you have a 100% chance of success in your bootcamp program:



Simply follow the parameters in this blog post and try not to negotiate them. If you follow them precisely, you will find victory. This is not a claim being made. Rather, it has been irrefutably proven in the largest and most detailed acne gallery ever assembled.


Here’s to the reality of a 100% success rate with one of the most stubborn conditions known to mankind.

When clients follow the parameters, The Home Version has proven to have the exact same success rate as the office version of the program. I’m pretty stoked about it.

-Dr. Neal

hello everyone,

I’ve been getting this question since the inception of The Acne Practice and I thought this post would help clear up some of the global confusion about acne and chronic conditions of the human body in general.

Here’s the reality:

There is no magical cause of acne. (read that twice)

There is no magical cure for acne. (read that twice)

There will never be. If I’m wrong about this, I’ll happily move on to another passionate chronic condition that ruins people’s lives.

With this understanding, one will also realize there are no magic single ingredients.
There are also no demon ingredients. None of the current FDA acne ingredients are the magical cause of cancer on our planet.


If you find yourself angelifying or demonizing single ingredients, consider you have become victim to the trauma of acne, prior failure, and the marketing machine of the 21st century.

The more a company convinces you that the ingredients are the magical secret, the more they can hype up the magic fruit they found on the far off reaches of the volcanic islands.

I’ll break down the marketing logic for you in full detail:

inaccurate premise #1 There is a magic cure for acne somewhere on the planet, we have just yet to find the secret source.

inaccurate premise #2 The fruit of the magical islands of _______ , (fill in Figi, Tahiti, Hawaii, or any other beautiful remote place), has a fruit that has magical healing powers. When applied to the skin, magic will happen.

Therefore: Since we have harnessed the power of this magical fruit in our acne line, we have found the CURE for acne!!?!!

Perfect logic! …and totally inaccurate based on the inaccurate premises. (Reminder that logic is based on consistency, not accuracy)

Here’s another mistaken road people take with ingredient focus:

Premise #1: Acne Ingredient “A” makes me red and irritated

Inaccurate premise #2 Redness and irritation are the signs of a real skin “Allergy”

Therefore: I am allergic to Ingredient “A” for life.

Perfect logic, and completely inaccurate.

Here’s another:

Premise #1: All acne ingredients make me red and irritated.

inaccurate premise #2: Skin that can’t handle any acne ingredients must be special and different from all other people.

Therefore: Since I can’t use acne medications, I am doomed to have acne forever. My case is special and untreatable.

perfect logic! … and completely inaccurate. (see 135 videos including those with skin allergies)

Here’s another:

premise #1 I know everything there is to know about skincare ingredients.

premise #2 I still have active acne.

inaccurate premise #3 Ingredient knowledge is the key to healing

Therefore: Since I know everything and still have acne, my acne must be untreatable!!?!!!

perfect logic!! ….and classically inaccurate.

Here’s a question for you:

If ingredient focus is the key to clearing acne, why are there so many biochemists, skin care formulators, and self-proclaimed experts with active acne??
How is this possible??
They know everything there is to know about the science of skincare??

Maybe science has limitations in the world of chronic human conditions?? Think about it…

FAQ: then what is the cause, and how do I fix it??

Answer: The reason there is no single source is because the cause of acne is our own humanity. There are different degrees of family predisposition, but everyone can break if pushed hard enough.
Some families have a ton of it, others have less. Some people with no family history stress themselves out enough to be the first in the family to suffer. Some people have had it since puberty while other lose control for the first time in their 30’s. Its a combination of 3 main factors we will discuss in detail in a later post.

This same idea is true for all chronic conditions.

Rather than magic single causes and cures, try to keep in mind the idea of aggravating and alleviating factors for the following human conditions:

Acne
Gastritis
IBS
Chronic Fatigue
Depression
Obesity
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Hemorrhoids
All Chronic GI Ailments
Eczema
Hives
Tension Headaches
Low Back Pain
Acid Reflux
etc. (anything you see remedies for over the counter)

can you start to see what a human chronic condition is verses an acute affliction??

Chronic Conditions have no single magical cause and no single magical cure. The ailment companies of the world would rather you believe otherwise. How else would they hype up the special “juice” (see photo below)

(from 2003 to about 2007, countless patients of mine would go nuts over the healing power of this magic juice. Then somewhere along the line, I stopped hearing about it from patients…?
do you think they ran out of fruit on the magic island??


or maybe hype is what it is: A way of marketing to an unsuspecting audience who does not understand the nature of chronic human conditions.

In this practice, people like the products not because what they think they can do based on magical ideas, but rather how it feels on the skin. Creating base formulations is much more of an art than a science.
Also.., this practice was created specifically for those like myself with skin allergies and sensitivities and requires zero active acne ingredients for those who are extremely sensitive. Each kit comes with over 1000 possible combinations.

When you can break down this next sentence, you will undertstand why ingredient shopping is a classic mistake and you will understand the mission of this expansive medical project.

“Although there is no cure for acne, any chronic condition, or even death…., when one’s ailment becomes completely inactivated and time allows the mind to heal from the ordeal, one can truly become “cured”

This type of dramatic transformation has been captured countless times in HD to allow hopeless people to see what is possible. If still hopeless, I recommend watching them all.

Bottom Line:



Angelifying or Demonizing any ingredient for any chronic health condition is a simplistic and failure-prone perspective on both medicine and wellness. The single source/single cure mentality creates mistaken hopelessness and a powerful hype that companies love to harness for marketing.

when something becomes Angelic, “Yes!…, we have this special ingredient in our formulation!!”

and when something becomes demonized by unproven fear, “Oh no!!.., We never use that horrifying ingredient!!”

It’s classic. Hopefully this project will help clear things up.

take care,

-Dr. Neal










©2010 “What is the Magical Active Ingredient??” by Dr. Neal Schwartz