Posts Tagged ‘acne vulgaris’

The Right Diet For Acne Prevention

Posted in Health & Fitness on November 21st, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Adam Ali
Source: ezinearticles.com

If you’ve ever suffered from acne when you were a teenager or even now as an adult, you might have already heard about some acne myths. Some people claim that oily food is the main culprit for the development of acne because of the ‘grease’ it contains. Even eating chocolates or junk food like pizza become suspects in the development of acne!

But that’s all there is to it: they’re just myths. So what exactly is the relationship between your diet and acne? In general, there is no one main culprit which can be pinpointed for the development of acne. It’s actually a combination of many factors including your diet, stress, the overproduction of sebum in the glands, hormonal changes and it may even be hereditary – although there is little evidence of that. The point is that the foods that you are eating can hardly be blamed for the development of acne. However, modifying your diet may prevent it from occurring in the future.

Modifying Your Diet to Prevent Acne

If there’s one truth to the myths regarding the relationship of food you eat and acne development, it is probably that if you have bad eating habits, it may aggravate the condition. Since acne is one of the most common skin disorders, modifying your diet in such a way that it will become healthier will be a good step towards eliminating acne – or at least preventing it from getting worse.

Let’s say that you are already suffering from pimples. If you combine that with putting undue stress to yourself, not having enough sleep and having an unhealthy diet – then you are not doing yourself any favors. So how exactly can you modify your diet in such a way that acne can be minimized or even prevented?

Here are a few tips. First, make sure to have a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. There are certain types of fruits and veggies which give good benefits to the skin – make sure to pack a lot of these items when you fill up your grocery cart.

Also, keeping your diet as varied as possible is a great way to prevent acne from occurring. Some fish greatly help in acne prevention like sardines, tuna, salmon and halibut. Not only will these keep your complexion acne-free, they are also good for your heart. Also look for foods which are rich in vitamins B2, B3, B5 and vitamins A and E; all these help promote healthy skin.

As a general rule, make sure to have a healthy diet which has a balanced level of proteins, fat and sugar. By following these tips, you can be on your way towards being totally acne-free, simply by modifying your diet. So what are you waiting for? Stock up on these food items and keep your skin looking fresh, youthful and unblemished!

In case you can’t get enough vitamins from food, it’s helpful to take supplements like vitamin B5 acne pills. For further information on acne, please subscribe to our ClearSkin blog .

Understanding Cosmetics and Acne – Sound Advice

Posted in Health & Fitness on November 7th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: W. Darren -
Source: isnare.com

Teenagers are often the new targets of cosmetics companies. Whether the cosmetic companies are peddling new lines of lipsticks or new perfumes or new face powders, those aged 16 and above are often the new ?clientele?. Companies often appeal to the youthful idealism of the younger crowd, linking the idea of wearing makeup to beauty, contentment and overall happiness. Eventually, some of the teenagers believe the mantra, and flock to the stores to buy the different beauty products.

Cosmetics for Skin Care – Is It Safe for Acne?

Let?s face it, if we just rely on what advertisers say about cosmetic products out there in the market today, we would end up buying each and every one of them, because they all purport to be the best in their categories. Do a random search on the Internet and you will see what we mean. So many promises, and no evidence that it will work as promised.

If you want to use cosmetic products to help improve your acne, then the following should be taken into consideration. Remember, not every cosmetic product is safe for acne-ridden skin. If possible, consult your doctor about using anything aside from what has been prescribed to treat your acne.

1. Cleansers – some mild cleansers may be able to help by removing excess oils on the very surface of the skin. This would allow for less bacteria to move about. However, cleansers of this type have no bearing on the infected lesions themselves, whose main problems lie well beneath the surface of the skin. The lesions are tips of little icebergs- the war is on the sub-dermal level.

2. Moisturizers – if you live in a very cold and very dry region of the country and the dryness is making your acne itch, you may try applying small amounts of moisturizer during the coldest and driest parts of the day. Remember to check whether the moisturizer doesn?t have any oil in it. If it does and you apply it to your already problematic acne, then chances are your acne will get worse.

3. A Word About Acne Cosmetica – there are some instances that misuse of cosmetic products would lead to a skin condition that has very similar symptoms with acne vulgaris. Acne cosmetica, as the name implies, is the direct result of cosmetics and skin irritation. If it happens to you, simply stop using the cosmetic products.

Active Ingredients

Often, active ingredients are added by the pharmaceutical companies with good wishes and a lot of profit-making in mind. The FDA sheds light on some of these active ingredients and debunks their supposed positive effects:

1. Aloe vera – for all its healing properties, the FDA states that it would take much more aloe vera for you to reap the benefits of this succulent herb. Therefore, the miniscule amounts present in expensive face creams are next to useless.

2. Vitamins – some cosmetic products sound like multivitamins with the number of vitamins included in the cosmetic package. It might sound good, but the FDA warns that there are no conclusive proofs that vitamins or other micronutrients have any beneficial effects when applied topically to the skin.

Darren is an online medical researcher and webmaster of Acne Treatment and Acne Treatment Reviews. Featured article: “Acne Antibiotics and the Common Illnesses that they Might Cause“. Also, don’t forget to download your 70-page acne ebook for FREE.

What are the Types of Acne?

Posted in Health & Fitness on October 26th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: David Bloom
Source: articleage.com

Many people want to learn about the different types of acne, a condition that affects the skin of mostly the face, chest and back of teenagers and adults worldwide. As you may already know, it can range from mild to severe and appear in various forms.
Acne can be generally categorized into three groups. Acne vulgaris is the most common form that plagues the skin, and is usually considered mild to moderate in severity. Whiteheads, or closed comedones are formed when a pore is completely blocked and the oil (or sebum), bacteria and dead skin cells are trapped under the skin causing a white appearance on the surface.
Blackheads, or open comedones, are formed when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells to escape to the skin’s surface. The dark color is the body’s melanin reacting with oxygen in the air.
Then you have papules, tender, small rounded, red bumps that are inflamed without a head; pustules which are inflamed red circles with white or yellow centers, the common pimple or zit that is most identified with types of acne. More serve types are nodules and cysts. Nodules occupy a larger area of the skin than the other types of acne mentioned above. They are hard bumps under the skin’s surface. Cysts can be painful because they are pus-filled.
The second of the major types of acne is acne rosacea. It appears similar to acne vulgaris but affects most people over the age of 30. These types of acne cause a red rash on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. Papules and pustules can also accompany it, but blackheads are not categorized with this condition. Women seem to be affected by these types of acne more than men. If this left untreated, it can disfigure the nose causing swelling and the growth of excess tissue caused rhinophyma.
The last group is the most severe form and is rare and disfiguring. Acne conglobata is a condition that appears mostly in males from ages 18 to 30 years old. Numerous large lesions that are interconnected beneath the skin’s surface characterize the most severe form of acne vulgaris. This is accompanied with blackheads that are found not only on the face, but also on most of the body. Acne fulminans is a type of acne similar to acne conglobata but it includes a fever and aching of the joints. Pyoderma faciale is a severe type of acne that affects females from ages 20 to 40 years old. It is characterized by large, painful nodules and pustules and is confined to the face. Though it only lasts about a year, it can cause severe scarring and skin damage.
Mild types of acne can be treated with over-the-counter formulas that clear the pores of the skin, such as salicylic acid. Benzoyl Peroxide fights the acne bacteria in the skin and is also effective at controlling mild to moderate types of acne. A dermatologist might prescribe a prescription medicine such as Erythromycin to work at killing bacteria from the inside.
For severe forms of most types of acne or if other treatments have not worked, Accutane or Isotretinoin is prescribed. It is a pill taken orally that decreases the amount of sebum that the glands produce. It is taken for about 6 months and is known to clear skin of virtually all types of acne. But, severe side affects can occur, including birth defects; close observation by a physician during treatment is required.
David Bloom is an avid health enthusiast and a regular contributor to a variety of health websites. He is the author of Types of Acne and Treatment, a blog dedicated to the treatment of acne, covering conventional and natural remedies for clearing up blemished skin.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Bloom