Posts Tagged ‘skin care’

Can Eating Salmon Really Give You A Flawless Face?

Posted in Health & Fitness on January 10th, 2010 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Faye Spencer
Source: isnare.com

For years doctors have been telling us that eating junk food doesn’t cause acne, and you probably know at least one person who eats candy and chocolate non-stop and still has lovely skin. But recently the medical establishment has begun to give serious consideration to how what we eat impacts our health, and our appearance.

One of the most prominent spokespeople for this cause is Dr. Nicholas Perricone, whose “Wrinkle Cure” system touts salmon as a skin-saving miracle food. What started as a fringe trend–eating fish to get a smoother face–has now blossomed into a popular diet plan, and millions of men and women have given it a go. Even Oprah has sung the praises of this pink-orange fish on her talk show. What’s the reason for the popularity of the so-called salmon diet? Simple: it works.

Why Salmon?

Salmon, along with tilapia, trout, herring and sardines, are rich in a substance called omega-3 fatty acids. Don’t balk at that term–these fats are terrific for you. In fact, they are crucial to the growth and functioning of our organs, and they supposedly help to diminish dangerous inflammation within the body. (It’s that inflammation that can trigger a host of conditions we’d rather avoid, like acne, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.) Among the different types of fish, salmon is one of the richest, chockfull of good-for-you fats and other healthful substances that keep your body functioning like a well-oiled machine.

Did you know that humans are not able to produce omega-3s? That’s why it’s so important that we obtain them from the foods we eat on a daily basis. When you eat plenty of salmon and stick to a healthy overall diet and lifestyle, you will begin to see dramatic changes in your skin’s appearance and texture. Your skin will become smoother, plumper and more moisture-rich. Blemishes will fade and you’ll regain the glow you may have had when you were a teenager. Your eyes will likely become brighter, your hair shinier and stronger, and even your mood cheerier!

How Much Should You Eat?

Make salmon (or other fatty fish) a regular part of your meal plan. Aim to have fish about 10 times per week, whether in the form of a morning omelet, a lunchtime salad, or a dinnertime fish filet. Top your whole wheat bagel with lox for a delicious and healthy “booster shot” for your skin. Grill salmon plain and top with a mango relish. There is virtually no limit to what you can do with this delicious and versatile ingredient!

Round out your nutritious lifestyle with plenty of leafy greens and antioxidant-rich fruits, such as berries. A handful of nuts is also a great addition to your daily diet plan. And don’t forget to keep the water bottle on hand–drinking plenty of water helps to flush the body of toxins and get your skin looking gorgeous.

Healthy Eating Healthy Skin

Posted in Uncategorized on December 15th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: P. Smythebr
Source: isnare.combr
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Healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, and having great skin all go hand in hand. Everything builds off of your diet. If you are not eating right you will not have healthy skin, it just is not possible. Okay if you are a teenager you might be able to pull it off, but those unhealthy eating habits you develop as a teen will creep up on you in your mid-twenties to thirties.

Fortunately it is never too late to change your diet and shave 10 years worth of damage off of your skin. The first thing I want to talk about is your water intake. If you are like most people you do not drink nearly enough pure water. Let me just throw some quick numbers at you:

Muscle is about 75% water.

Blood is about 95% water.

Bone is about 45% water

Add it all together and over half of the human body is comprised of water! It is an essential element for every nook and cranny of our bodies. So why do we deprive ourselves of this crucial element? If you do nothing else but up your water intake you will have more energy on a daily basis, your skin will take on a healthy glow, your thinking and other cognitive skills will improve, your internal organs will function at a much more efficient rate, and you will increase your life expectancy.

Now with all of those benefits don’t you think you should just go ahead and drink a couple more glasses of water per day?

The next thing I want to talk about is processed foods, microwave meals, and fast foods. This is the trifecta of doom for anyone trying to improve the quality of their skin. Believe me I understand that with a crazy hectic schedule it can be hard to actually make a healthy meal. What I would suggest is that you set a goal for yourself to make a good home cooked meal at least 3 times per week. It does not have to be anything to complicated – Grilled or baked chicken with a nice spinach salad is easy to make, does not require a lot of effort or time and is loaded with nutrients that our skin craves. In fact doing nothing but drinking more water and upping your intake of spinach will have a tremendous impact upon the quality of your skin.

Protein and fish – Your diet is not complete and you will never have the beautiful skin you crave if you do not take in enough protein or eat enough fish. Protein is a major building block of our bodies, especially our muscles. Increasing your lean muscle mass may not contribute tremendously to your overall skin quality, but it will give you a long, lean and really sexy look that will cause jaws to drop when you walk by.

Fish is loaded with omega-6 which is an essential element (and one which most people are deficient in) for maintaining healthy skin. If you want to have beautiful skin try to incorporate a serving of fish into at least 3 of your meals every week. This will not only take care of your omega-6 requirement, but fish is also very low in bad fats and will give you plenty of good protein.

Following these tips alone and doing nothing else will get you the greatest skin of your lifetime.br
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Health, wellness and beauty go hand in hand. Diet is a crucial element if you want to have beautiful skin. It is also essential for your overall health. Find out my 2009 diet plan rankings by a href=http://www.cafeadvice.com/dieting rel=nofollowClicking here./abr
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Importance of Your Skins pH

Posted in Uncategorized on December 11th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Danny Siegenthalerbr
Source: articleage.combr
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One of the most important roles of our skin is to protect our insides from the external environment, acting both as a barrier and a filter between outside and inside. In addition, the skin is involved in regulating our bodys temperature, like when we have a fever or were physically working hard, we tend to sweat, which is the bodys way to attempt to lower the temperature.
Another important role of our skin is to protect us from harmful substances entering our body, and in eliminating toxins. This takes workload off our Liver and Kidneys to filter out by-products from our bodys metabolism. The skin also breathes!
Hormones, Sweat glands and pH
The pores of our skin are made up of a combination of oil and sweat glands (sebaceous and sudoriferous glands) helping to keep our skin healthy and elastic. An excessive sebum secretion is often associated with oily skin and acne. This is particularly common in adolescents as the increased levels of sex hormones stimulate sebum production and secretion. When in balance, the combined excretion of oil and sweat from the skins pores has a pH of about 5.5.
The Acid Mantle, Age and the importance of the skins pH
This slightly acidic layer, also referred to as the Acid Mantle, is our bodys first defence mechanism against bacteria invading it and is not a favourable environment bacterial growth to occur. This defence layer develops at puberty, which is why children are more susceptible to disease, viruses and fungal infections such are ringworm. The pH of childrens skin is closer to neutral (pH 7).
At puberty, however, we start to produce more hair on our bodies. Hair follicles have an associated sebaceous gland or glands which become active as hair growth increases, causing changes in the skins pH. The hormones that control sweat also become active and the whole surface of a teenagers skin is totally different to that of a young child. This is our bodys way to increase our defence system.
The pH of normal, healthy human skin is somewhere between 4.5 and 6. However, this varies with age. Typically, newborns have a pH closer to neutral (pH 7) that quickly turns acidic in order to protect young childrens skin.
In the late teens to early 20s, our Acid Mantle is well developed and provides good protection against potentially harmful, external environmental factors. Our skin usually looks healthy, heals quickly when injured and seems to take care of itself.
With increasing age however, the skins pH becomes more and more neutral, and thus more susceptible to bacterial growth. This reduced acidity kills fewer bacteria than before, leaving the skin susceptible to bacterial growth and infections. The skin weakens as a result and begins developing problems with increasing age. (Interestingly, the pH value rises beyond 6 when a person actually suffers from a skin problem or skin disease.)
The aging process of the skin causes biochemical changes in collagen and elastin, the connective tissues underlying the skin, which give the skin its firmness (collagen) and elasticity (elastin). The rates of loss of skin firmness and elasticity differs from individual to individual, depending on their genetic makeup, general health, over exposure to the sun, skin care regime, or lack there of, and other factors.
As the skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier; the underlying fatty tissue begins to disappear resulting in the skin beginning to sag. Our skin is less supple, and wrinkles begin to form. At this stage, our skin is more easily injured, heals more slowly and tends to dry out more quickly.
The role of pH in Acne
As outlined above, the skins pH is important and maintaining a slightly acidic pH of around 5.5 is critical.
The skins pH value is one of the major contributors to acne and other skin problems. Propionibacterium acnes is a bacteria that normally lives on the skin and is a normal bacteria found in all persons regardless of the presence or absence of acne.
However, in individuals prone to acne, the number of P. acnes is greatly increased. It has been found that the growth of this bacteria is very much dependent on the pH value of the skin and its growth is at its minimum at the normal skin pH of 5.5. A slight shift towards the alkaline pH would provide a better environment in which it can thrive.
Importance of the skins pH: Dos Donts
One of the major culprits that radically alter the pH of the skin, is soap. Ordinary, commercially available soaps are highly alkaline (pH range 9-11) and raise the skins pH to be much more alkaline. This can be adjusted by using products such as Wildcrafted Herbal Products Wild Herb Toner or Milk of Roses Toner, depending on your skin type. These toners restore normal pH of the skin and thus provide an environment not conducive to the growth of bacteria. In addition, soap dries out the skin, because of its high alkalinity.
Thus if you choose to use a commercially available soap, you must restore the pH of your skin to prevent loss of moisture and the excessive growth of bacteria. It is important to remember that this applies to the entire surface of your skin, not just the face.
Instead of using ordinary soap, you need to use products such as the Skin Renewal Gel from Wildcrafted Herbal Products, which cleanses your skin, removing dead skin cells and leaving your skins pH as it is meant to be. Following this with the use of a Toner will close the open pores, preventing blackheads and loss of moisture from the skin.
Other factors influencing your skins pH
Another factor that helps in regulating your skins pH is the presents of microflora on your skin. Staphylococcus epidermis is involved in the breakdown of fatty acids, and is therefore partly responsible for the acidic pH of skin. The use of ordinary soap, not only changes the pH of the skin to be more alkaline, effectively removing the protective acid mantle, but also kills the bacteria responsible for creating, at least in part, the acidic pH of your skin – a double whammy.
It is therefore of great importance to have a good skin care regime in which high quality, natural skin care products are employed. There are a couple of simple steps to take before buying a particular brand of natural skin care products.

Identify the skin type(s) on the face. There are usually two or more. One skin type is usually isolated to the T-Zone (forehead and nose), the other applies to the rest of the facial skin.

Carefully select your natural skin care products. It is not good enough to choose products, which add natural ingredients to an otherwise non-natural base cr?me or lotion, as is the case in many supermarket brands. READ the label carefully, ask questions and if you are buying the products on-line, make sure there is a guarantee that allows you some time to evaluate the products before they need to be returned for a refund.

Look for manufacturers that have qualified herbalists or naturopaths on staff. These people generally do not support the use of artificial ingredients because it goes against everything they teach their patients, friends and family. – For the most part, its a pretty good indication that the products are pure, when natural therapists are in charge of the formulation of the products.br
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Causes Of Adult Acne: Seven Reasons Why Acne Appears After 30 Years Of Age

Posted in Uncategorized on December 4th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Alex Firbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
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Adult acne is a form of common acne that can occur to people over 30 years of age. It is not uncommon for people who had no acne as a young person to found that they are having breakouts.

Acne appearance in an adult could have a number of causes.

The following are seven causes of adult acne:

1. Frequently the acne that one had as a teenager resurfaces later in adulthood. It is not always obvious why this occurs, but it is one reason for acne presence in adults.

2. In women, acne often reappears during pregnancy. This could also be true in the case of women during their menstrual period.

3. Something unusual is going on. It is smart idea to talk to a dermatologist or your family physician.

More possible causes of adult acne:

4. Particular medications can provoke acne. These medications include anabolic steroids, lithium, anti-tuberculosis drugs rifampin and isoniazid, anti-epileptic drugs and medications that contain iodine.

5. Constant physical pressure on the skin. Whether wearing a helmet or carrying a backpack, such pressure against the skin can cause breakouts.

6. Chlorinated industrial chemicals are another possible cause. Working in particular types of industrial environments can cause acne-like symptoms or even chloracne – a job-related skin disorder caused by constant exposure to chemicals, such as chlorinated dioxins.

7. Metabolic changes are yet another cause of adult acne. With changes in the hormonal balance of the body, such as those present during menstruation or pregnancy can cause acne in adults./pbr
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Oil Me Up

Posted in Uncategorized on November 29th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Hannah Hempenstallbr
Source: ezinearticles.combr
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Ever since the days of Cleopatra, humans have been obsessed with beauty. A clear complexion speaks a wealth about you: it gives the instant impression of inner health and makes you look clean. But how easy is it to maintain a glowing complexion when the air is filled with pollutants, the food we eat is largely processed, and most skincare products are filled with chemicals that are advertised as being youth giving but in reality are probably doing us no good whatsoever.

The answer, is oil.

Natural oils can work wonders for skin health and not only do they help regulate your sebaceous glands, but some of them contain anti-aging properties that could put many high end cosmetic companies out of business – and theyre a lot less expensive. Ideally you want to avoid lathering chip fat on your face, but feed it with cold-pressed organic oils like sweet almond, rose hip or avocado. Sounds like a great salad dressing (which it probably is), but the beauty of using oil as skincare, is that not only will it remove the most stubborn waterproof mascara within seconds, but it can help keep your cheeks, chin and neck perfectly plump while soothing the delicate eye area – all in one swipe!

Of course, before you head to the health food shop and part with your hard earned cash (natural oils range between $4.50 – $40), glowing skin relies on using the right oil. Teenagers with pimple-prone skin should steer clear of avocado, macadamia or hemp oil and stick to lighter oils with naturally healing elements, like sweet almond. Those with mature skin or people wanting to reduce stretchmarks will benefit from using a combination of blends to moisturize and reduce redness at the same time. All you need to do is work out which oil is most beneficial for your skin type and start looking forward to regaining your natural beauty…

Jojoba Oil
Best for: Problem Skin
Jojoba (pronounced yo-hoba) is the closest oil to our own natural sebum which means it absorbs really well and is ideal for people with acne. Because of its natural properties, jojoba can help to clear pores by removing grime, leaving your face feeling super soft and pimple free. Essential oils can be added to create a powerful anti-acne blend, but even used alone, this oil can help treat the most troublesome skin types due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Sweet Almond Oil
Best for: Everyday Moisturizer
Used by many massage therapists as a carrier oil, almond oil is fairly light and absorbs beautifully into the skin. It can be used as an all-over body moisturizer or purely on the face alone. Pressed from the almond kernel, this nut oil has no aroma but is filled with natural anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties. If your skin is classed as combination or normal, this is the one for you.

Rose hip Oil
Best for: Anti-aging
Hailed for its anti-aging properties, rose hip is so much more that that. Just a couple of drops of this youth potion can help reduce wrinkles and after a few weeks of using it every day, you should begin to see some plumping of the skin. Great for reducing scars and stretch marks, rose hip could be described as the mother oil, as its great for mums – and grandmums!

Avocado oil
Best for: Eczema and Mature Skin
Eating avocado is well known to provide the body rich essential fatty acids that can help to keep skin looking healthy and young. But the oil itself is great for regenerating the skin and can soften even the toughest elbows and knees! The anti-itch properties make it a hit for those with eczema and psoriasis and its rich texture make it perfect for combating the signs of aging.

The beauty of oils is they can turn an everyday facial routine into a day spa experience, simply by adding a few drops of essential oil which are full of skin-boosting properties. (A general guideline for blends is 1 drop of essential oil per 4ml of carrier oil.) Weve put together some of our fave blends so why not treat yourself to a steam facial and finish off with a natural oil moisturizer that will last for ages and have your friends wondering how come you look so good…

Dry/Mature skin
Avocado/Rose hip
Blend with: Frankincense, geranium, sandalwood, rose

Acne/blackheads
Sweet almond oil/jojoba
Blend with: Ylang ylang, tangerine, sandalwood, lemon

Eczema/psoriasis
Avocado/hemp
Blend with: Sandalwood, lavender, rosemary, patchouli

Burns
Sweet almond
Blend with: Lavender, frankincense, tea tree, sandalwood, Neroli

Itching
Sweet almond/jojoba
Blend with: Patchouli, myrrh, lemongrass/citronella

Scarring/stretch marks
Rose hip
Blend with: Palmarosa, frankincense, German chamomile, everlasting, myrrh

Knowing that oil doesnt necessarily create blemishes but can actually help get rid of them can change your life, and finally discovering an anti-aging treatment that doesnt cost the earth or involve surgery can be liberating for both your skin and your wallet!

Of course dont just believe what we say, try using a natural oil on its own, or create one of the blends above that suits your skin type. After 12 weeks of use look in the mirror and see if you notice a difference? Depending on your skin to start with, you could well be amazed at the results.

Natural beauty – its oil in a days work…

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pa target=_new href=http://www.lemondrop.com.au rel=nofollowhttp://www.lemondrop.com.au/a/pbr
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What To Do When It Comes To Dealing With Acne

Posted in Uncategorized on November 26th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Andre Hollinshedbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
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Most people have to deal with acne at some point in life. But the ones who suffer the most are usually teenagers. Acne can begin as early as 12 or even younger for most people.

A lot of people are still unsure of what causes acne. Most think that it comes from eating too much chocolate. Some causes for acne can be from a variety of things.

A lot of people are allergic to different things. The thing, which they may be allergic to, could be causing their skin to breakout. Our bodies react differently to different things. For instance if you try on a certain kind of cologne, you may not experience any kind of breakouts.

But if I come and put on the same cologne and start to breakout that shows that I was allergic and may have very sensitive skin. And so its different for everyone. Now there are ways of minimizing the risk. You may have heard people say that stress can cause acne.

Studies have in fact shown that stress and anxiety can cause acne and other symptoms.
I know its not easy but try and lead a peaceful, joyful, stressfree life. You are trying your best to find a cure that can be very effective to treat your acne.

When looking for something to help clear your skin I recommend looking for a regimen with natural ingredients because they usually work very well and they leave you with no side effects.

Do you wash and clean your face on a daily basis? Does it seem as if nothing works? Maybe you should consider washing your pillows, sheets and covers more often than usual. You are washing and cleansing your face, which is good, but now that your face is clean you may still have dirt, oil and bacteria in on your pillow, sheets and covers.

And so that may be something you would want to do.

I wish you the best in your search./pbr
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Skin Care Acne – Difference Between Adult Acne and Teen Acne

Posted in Health & Fitness on November 23rd, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Emily Walters
Source: ezinearticles.com

Due to hormonal changes among adolescents, they often face skin abnormalities such as acne. Resultantly, a lot of teenagers are looking for skin care acne options. However, acne is not restricted to teenagers only. It is a different story that adult acne is not as widely known. If we speak in terms of figures, around 25% men and around 50% women today are facing acne which is a matter of concern for these people.

There are a number of theories about the possible causes of acne; however, none of them have been proven authentic yet. One of these theories suggests that stress is the chief cause of acne among teenagers as well as adults. Stress leads to bodily changes and temporarily alters the hormonal balance which becomes the cause of the skin abnormality.

The skin care acne solution and treatment programs of adult acne are similar to those of teen acne. However, since the causes are mostly unknown, prevention and care are not that easy which is why such a wide variety of different types of products are available in the market today.

Many people suggest that the cause behind acne among women is layers and layers of makeup they wear every day. The makeup mixes up with sweat and dirt and consequently damages the skin pigmentation. Often, you are able to identify the cause yourself if it is too obvious. For instance, if you just had a big fight with your spouse and are under a lot of stress while suddenly you see red zits appearing on your face, you can know that it is because of stress.

While doing skin care acne treatment, never use harsh soaps or intense cleansers because adult skin is far more prone to skin problems than younger skin. Just stick to the old mild cleaners and try to follow a skin care acne treatment program for teens, however, be a bit more cautious. Chemical treatments of acne usually cause the skin to become very dry and dehydrated, therefore, make sure that you keep it hydrated enough.

True, acne is frustrating, but I’d like to show you a resource that will get rid of your condition for good.

Find the best treatment for acne, and get your fresh skin back.

Getting read of acne it is one of the most difficult tasks, because it can appear out of nowhere. Luckily there are special methods that will help you to get rid of acne in just 2 days. It is a method that will bring your life around.

Get a more detailed review of the product that helped me get my normal life back in just 2 days by fallowing this link: Acne Free in 2 days.

The Daily Battle Against Adult Acne

Posted in Health & Fitness on November 22nd, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Jenny Riley -
Source: articledashboard.com

The prevalence of acne and pimples is generally thought to be problems of the teenage and prepubescent strata of the population, but it is not unusual to see minor cases of adult acne.

And this is normally the situation faced by many adults who scaled through their teenage period without any visible sign of acne that plagued their mates, only to discover to discover that they have been afflicted by adult acne at a stage in they assumed they are free from acne foe ever.

For these set of people, the embarrassment and confusion that results from this is better left unsaid, and the recurring question they keep asking themselves is isn’t acne supposed to be an adolescent problem.

Established facts however points otherwise, adult acne is more common than what people imagined. Statistics show that nearly 40% of acne medications in America are bought and used by a class we thought are free from the condition- adults.

There are several reasons why acne occurs, and the most common one many associated as the primary reason- poor hygiene- is nothing but a myth. The main causative agent for almost all acne, and that includes adult acne is as a result of hormonal imbalances or blockages of pores on the skin.

Though an additional reason why adult acne occurs may be due to the oil of the sebaceous glands, or faulty closing of the hair ducts on the body, especially the face.

The good news however is that almost all cases of acne can be treated. This should serve as a soothing balm to most adults, who embarrassed by the onset of adult acne, use any medication they can lay their hands on at the local drug store.

This has been proved in several cases to worse the situation, because most of the medications were produced solely to combat acne in young people. Thus they may not have the ability to act on adult acne.

While there might be no significant difference in form and appearance between adult acne and the regular one, if you are afflicted with adult acne, a smart move will be to consult a dermatologist.

This skin physician will be able to explain what caused the adult acne in the first place. Once the diagnosis has been made, the physician can then suggest a prescription drug that can eliminate the condition permanently. But in reality, any adult that is afflicted by adult acne need not be embarrassed by the problem.

As stated earlier, the prevalence of adult acne is more common than imagined, so the best option still remain going to a dermatologist to eliminate the condition instead of resorting to self medication and spending a fortune in the process, nor forgetting the anxiety and fear that are sure to happen when you discover the onset signs of acne.

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.

How You Can Avoid Acne Playing Havoc With Your Pregnancy

Posted in Home & Family on November 1st, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Author: Louise Forrest
Source: download

You have just been given some great news and are completely blown away. You are pregnant and delighted beyond words. Now you can have the baby you have been longing for! Your mind goes into overdrive as you visualize all that you are going to do with your baby.
It will take a little time to come back to earth and realize that you have plenty to get through before your baby becomes a reality. There is another life taking shape in your body, and it is going to take its toll in more ways than one. You can expect to go through a number of changes, many of which will not be particularly pleasant. Remember that your life is going to change in several ways, the baby is just one part of it.
You will have to endure pregnancy and all the physical and emotional changes that come with it for nine long months. Through all this time, you are going to have to take care of two people, yourself and the baby that has given you so much joy. No matter how well you think you are prepared, you are in for a few surprises and they may not all be pleasant ones. Like for example acne.
Slow down it is only acne. Acne is one such surprise that may catch you off guard in your present mood, possibly somewhat similar to euphoria. You are probably watching yourself carefully; keen to spot signs of the new you that you feel must surely be evident by now. Should acne worry you all that much? Not really, acne should not be a cause of much worry.
Acne spoiling your party? What you see is probably the last thing that you would expect. Is that a spot right there on your forehead? Look a little closer and you will probably find more. Well, like it or not, you are looking at acne, one of the grim realities of the happy state of pregnancy. Just when you thought had the world at your feet, you come face to face, quite literally, with acne. As if you have not got enough to deal with already.
Acne bring back painful memories? Your mind goes back to your adolescent years and your struggle to get past the acne that troubled you as a teenager. It was certainly a relief to beat your acne problem at the time. Little did you know that acne would haunt you again. But do relax, there is no need to worry, look at all that you have to be happy about.
After all, you did know that having a baby would change your life forever. Now the best thing you can do is to look after yourself so that you have a safe and comfortable pregnancy, with a healthy and happy baby at the end of it.
Keep your spirits up and your acne can wait. Do not let your acne upset you too much. It is a very small part of all the experiences that you are going to have as a mother to be. Much more important is the fact that because you are pregnant, there maybe certain medications etc. that could have harmful effects on your unborn child.
These include estrogen and isotretinoin, both of which can cause birth defects. Other preparations you should avoid are retinoids such as tazarotene, adapalene and tretinoin, often used as skin ointments, particularly if you are planning to breastfeed your baby. Other substances that could have harmful effects are oral tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline, which have been associated with damaging permanent teeth and retarding healthy bone development. Home remedies may perhaps be the best bet to treat acne and the least harmful way of treating acne
Do not let your acne consume you. Live as normal a life as possible and remember that it is not unusual for acne to develop at any time during your pregnancy. While bathing and washing, it is always better to use a mild soap, which is easy on sensitive skin. Take care to dry your skin gently but thoroughly. Remember that too much cleansing will create new problems by irritating your skin. Make sure you get enough exercise and have a nutritious diet.
As long as you observe these few simple rules, you should be just fine. Do not get too obsessed with your acne, there is no reason why you should not have a normal pregnancy. Take it easy and you will find that acne problem will settle down in due course. Keep smiling!
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