Acne

Groshan Fabiola asked:


All of us most have had chicken pox when we were children. Why is that? Well, the answer could not be easier: because it is a children’ s disease. There are people that may not have suffered from chicken pox when they were kids, but their number is very low.

Chicken pox is very contagious, but it poses no serious threat if you have it when you are a child. However, things get more and more complicated if you get chicken pox as an adult. The risk of complications is much bigger, especially in pregnant women. Once you have had chicken pox, you can not suffer from this disease again.

The history of chicken pox begins somewhere in the year 1600, when an English doctor mistook this disease with small pox. Only 167 years later, light was shed in chicken pox cases. At that time, another English doctor demonstrated that small pox was different from chicken pox.

There was also some confusion about the name chicken pox. Some said that this disease was named this way because the blisters that you have on your skin when suffering from chicken pox actually look like the person was peaked by chickens. However, there is another theory on the name chicken pox that seems more plausible. Because the disease does not pose any grave danger on the patient, it can be described as a smaller version of another disease called the pox. So the smaller version is the “chicken ” version, thus the name chicken pox.

You will also have some symptoms when suffering from chicken pox. However, many of the symptoms are very similar to those of the flu. Fever, headache or the loss of your appetite are some of the symptoms that you will suffer from when having chicken pox. Together with those, there are also the trade mark signs of chicken pox: itching, blisters filled with fluid and crusts. When suffering from chicken pox, the bad thing is that these blisters may appear all over your body and if not treated well, they may leave signs.

Although, chicken pox is a very easy and not complicated disease, there is always the risk of complications. They may appear if this condition is not treated accordingly. The best thing to do when you child has chicken pox is go to the doctor right away and find out what is to be done.

For more information about chicken pox or even about treatment for chicken pox please review this page http://www.chicken-pox-center.com/



OLIVER

Nikhil Abraham asked:


Its going to be spring season soon and with the advent of summer , there will also be an increase in the number of chicken pox cases.

Here are a few facts that need to be kept in mind regarding this disease.

Chicken pox is caused by the varicella virus – a type of a herpes virus. There are a number of types of herpes viruses known to infect humans and varicella is one of them.

Symptoms are fever and itchy rash.

Rash typically starts with 2-4 days of fever with starts in the face and trunk area and then spreads outwards . Body ache and fatigue to varying degrees is also a feature.

Rashes then become pus filled blisters which burst and then scab over. They appear in crops , and it is characteristic to see many different types of rashes at different stages.

Though in most cases in children , chicken pox manifests only mildly as described above , on occasion it can be serious and life threatening as well. The risk for this is substantially more in adults.

It is spread by droplets – coughing or sneezing from infected persons , and fluid from chicken pox blisters/ rashes. So this can be about a week to ten days before rashes appear and up to ten days after the scabs fall.

Chicken pox can occur more than once . This is rare though and usually one infection is enough to confer life long immunity.

Prevention

Vaccination is a good idea particularly for adults in whom chicken pox runs a more serious course. Moreover, since it isn’t possible to predict who will get a harmless , serious or even fatal form of the disease, it is always better to prevent than to treat now that the vaccine is readily available.

No vaccine is 100 percent effective. But even if one does land up with the disease, its course is known to be more benign and less complicated than in unvaccinated people. There are less number of rashes – and fever is less/absent .

Treatment

Chicken pox , like most other viral illnesses , is often self limiting.

So treatment would be directed primarily at improving symptoms as long as they last. It is of primary importance to maintain good hygiene to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the pustules or rashes.

Other lotions / tablets to control itching are also useful. Traditional practices such as neem compresses are useful.

Paracetamol is used for fever , bodyache etc. Chicken pox is one condition wherein aspirin absolutely should not be given to children for pain relief since it can result in permanent brain damage. (In any case, unless specifically recommended by a doctor , aspirin or its derivatives should not be administered to persons less than 16 years old.)

Treatment in the form of specific anti-viral antibiotics is not necessary and is required only in complicated cases or if symptoms are very severe or if the patient is an adult.



MOHAMMAD

Mike H. Walden asked:


Do we need to treat back acne at all? That is the question many ask because they say that since the back is hidden under the clothing and the acne goes away by itself, what is the point is seeking treatment? After all, they say, back acne does not get exposed. But have you considered what would happen at the gym or at the beach where you have to take the shirt off - and the back acne would be very much there for all to see. And it can cause a lot of embarrassment.

But there is some good news for all back acne sufferers who have wanted to get a permanent cure for so long. Care to listen about me for a while? I have myself suffered from acne on the face and the back and have tried to get rid of it - but it did not work. And so I started my own research and after 7 years of dedicated experimentation, I have finally been able to find the long cherished permanent solution. I am glad to say that my acne, including those at the back are now gone.

This report reveals here all my findings. I have discussed here the causes of acne and also gone on to differentiate between acne on the face and back acne. And finally I will show you the solution that really works.

Everything you need to know about back acne

Back acne makes it presence felt in various ways. There is the big cystic acne that goes deep into the skin and then there are the simpler blackheads and whiteheads. It can be annoying and painful - but the problem is, cases of back acne are more than those in other parts of the body. They can also be more difficult to treat.

Why does back acne happen? Many believe that the toughness of the skin on the backside has something to do with this. The presence of a high number of sebaceous glands may also play a role - this is because the gland makes excess oil and this oil in turn causes back acne. This leads to the large nodules that can be quite painful.

So what is it that causes back acne?

There seems to be as many theories as there are people. Some say that acne on the back gets formed when there is an over exposure to the sun that dries up the skin and when the sebum tries to compensate this, it leads to acne as the hair follicles get blocked. Lack of nutrients is yet another factor that has been blamed. However the fact is, the real causes are all internal.

Every kind of acne including acne on the face, back, neck, cystic acne or that on the shoulder begins to appear when either there is an imbalance in the hormones in the body or when there are too many toxins in the lymph and the blood.

The factors that many believe such as the toughness of the skin or the presence of all these innumerable sebaceous glands do not matter at all for back acne. At the most they can make the symptoms worse. So do not make the same mistake that so many do of applying loads of moisturizer on the back and not taking off that shirt at the beach fearing sun exposure. While it is true that these measures might reduce the symptoms, but the back acne itself will not be cured.

How is back acne different than the ones in other parts of the body?

The way the back looks and the fact that it is different to the face is not really the reason why back acne and ****** acne is not the same. The external difference has nothing to do with it, and so the number of sebaceous glands or the toughness of the skin does not matter. As mentioned before, there might be a slight difference on the symptom of the back acne, but that is it - the cause of the acne remains.

The basic difference is on the inside. While back acne happens mostly due to the high level of toxins in the body that cannot get out, body acne and ****** acne on the other hand can be accounted more to the hormonal levels and their imbalances.

Thus obviously, the level of toxins is more crucial in back acne than in ****** acne. Yes, hormonal balance still plays some part (because this is a factor in all kinds of acne), but this is mostly restricted in back acne. It is much less dominant here.

The only back acne cure

Since the causes are all internal - the cure is also to fix all these internal factors that are causing the acne to form. And this is the case with any type of acne. The internal root causes need to be identified and neutralized for any cure to happen.

And since the level of toxicity plays a key role in back acne, the focus should also be to bring it down because this is a more crucial factor for back acne than hormonal imbalance.

The holistic approach is the best solution because it can take on all the causes of acne effectively. The holistic approach can solve both the external (that worsen the condition) as well as the internal factors. The lifestyle changes help too. Back acne is gone quickly and you are sure to love your healthy skin.



FLOYD

Kerwin Chang asked:


Frequently Asked Questions About Acne

Acne is a very common disease. People who have it tend to have similar kinds of questions about it and its treatment. This section addresses some of the common questions asked by people with acne. Please remember that your dermatologist is always the best source of specific information about your individual health issues, including acne.

Questions and Answer does follows:



What causes acne?

The causes of acne are linked to the changes that take place as young people mature from childhood to adolescence (puberty). The hormones that cause physical maturation also cause the sebaceous (oil) glands of the skin to produce more sebum (oil). The hormones with the greatest effect on sebaceous glands are androgens (male hormones), which are present in females as well as males, but in higher amounts in males.

Sebaceous glands are found together with a hair shaft in a unit called a sebaceous follicle. During puberty, the cells of the skin that line the follicle begin to shed more rapidly. In people who develop acne, cells shed and stick together more so than in people who do not develop acne. When cells mix with the increased amount of sebum being produced, they can plug the opening of the follicle. Meanwhile, the sebaceous glands continue to produce sebum, and the follicle swells up with sebum.

In addition, a normal skin bacteria called P. acnes, begins to multiply rapidly in the clogged hair follicle. In the process, these bacteria produce irritating substances that can cause inflammation. Sometimes, the wall of the follicle bursts, spreading inflammation to the surrounding skin. This is the process by which acne lesions, from blackheads to pimples to nodules, are formed.



I wash my face several times a day. Why do I still get acne?

Many people still believe that acne is caused by dirty skin. The truth is, washing alone will not clear up or prevent acne. Washing does, however, help remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells. Many people use all kinds of products, including alcohol-based cleansers, and scrub vigorously, only to irritate the skin further and worsen their acne. Washing the skin twice a day gently with water and a mild soap is usually all that is required. However, acne is actually caused by a variety of biologic factors that are beyond the control of washing. For that reason, you should use appropriate acne treatments for the acne.



Does stress cause acne?

Stress is commonly blamed for the development of acne. Stress can have many physiologic effects on the body, including changes in hormones that may theoretically lead to acne. In some cases the stress may actually be caused by the acne lesions, not the other way around! If the acne is being treated effectively, stress is not likely to have much impact on the majority of people.



I never had acne as a teenager. Why am I now getting acne as an adult?

Usually, acne begins at puberty and is gone by the early 20s. In some cases, acne may persist into adulthood. Such types of acne include severe forms that affect the body as well as the face (which afflict males more than females) and acne associated with the menstrual cycle in women. In other cases, acne may not present itself until adulthood. Such acne is more likely to affect females than males.

There are several reasons for this. As females get older, the pattern of changes in hormones may itself change, disposing sebaceous glands to develop acne. Ovarian cysts and pregnancy may also cause hormonal changes that lead to acne. Some women get acne when they discontinue birth control pills that have been keeping acne at bay. Sometimes young women may wear cosmetics that are comedogenic-that is, they can set up conditions that cause comedones to form.



What role does diet play in acne?

Acne is not caused by food. Following a strict diet will not, clear your skin. While some people feel that their acne is aggravated by certain foods, particularly chocolate, colas, peanuts, shellfish and some fatty foods, there is no scientific evidence that suggests food causes or influences acne. Avoid any foods which seem to worsen your acne and, for your overall health, eat a balanced diet–but diet shouldn’t really matter if the acne is being appropriately treated.



Does the sun help acne?

Many patients feel that sunlight improves their acne lesions and go to great lengths to find sources of ultraviolet light. There is no proven effect of sunlight on acne. In addition, ultraviolet light in sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer and early aging of the skin. It is, therefore, not a recommended technique of acne management, especially since there are many other proven forms of treatment for acne. Moreover, many acne treatments increase the skin’s sensitivity to ultraviolet light, making the risk of ultraviolet light exposure all the worse.



What is the best way to treat acne?

Everyone’s acne must be treated individually. If you have not gotten good results from the acne products you have tried, consider seeing a dermatologist. Your dermatologist will decide which treatments are best for you. For more information about the types of acne treatments that are available, and for basic acne treatment guidelines, please see Acne Treatments in the main part of AcneNet.



What kind of cosmetics and cleansers can an acne patient use?

Look for “noncomedogenic” cosmetics and toiletries. These products have been formulated so that they will not cause acne.

Some acne medications cause irritation or pronounced dryness particularly during the early weeks of therapy, and some cosmetics and cleansers can actually worsen this effect. The choice of cosmetics and cleansers should be made with your dermatologist or pharmacist.

Heavy foundation makeup should be avoided. Most acne patients should select powder blushes and eye shadow over cream products because they are less irritating and noncomedogenic. Camouflaging techniques can be used effectively by applying a green undercover cosmetic over red acne lesions to promote color blending.



Is it harmful to squeeze my blemishes?

Yes. In general, acne lesions should not be picked or squeezed by the patient. In particular, inflammatory acne lesions should never be squeezed. Squeezing forces infected material deeper into the skin, causing additional inflammation and possible scarring.



Can anything be done about scarring caused by acne?

Scarring is best prevented by getting rid of the acne. Dermatologists can use various methods to improve the scarring caused by acne. The treatment must always be individualized for the specific patient. Chemical peels may be used in some patients, while dermabrasion or laser abrasion may benefit others. It is important that the acne be well controlled before any procedure is used to alleviate scarring.



How long before I see a visible result from using my acne medication?

The time for improvement depends upon the product being used, but in almost all cases it is more a matter of weeks or months instead of days. Most dermatologists would recommend the use of a medication or combination of medications daily for 4 to 8 weeks before they would change the treatment. It is very important for patients to be aware of this time frame so they do not become discouraged and discontinue their medications. Conversely, if you see no change whatsoever, you might want to check with your dermatologist regarding the need to change treatments.



Would using my medication more frequently than prescribed speed up the clearing of my acne?

No–always use your medication exactly as your dermatologist instructed. Using topical medications more often than prescribed may actually induce more irritation of the skin, redness and follicular plugging, which can delay clearing time. If oral medications are taken more frequently than prescribed, they won’t work any better, but there is a greater chance of side effects.



My topical treatment seems to work on the spots I treat, but I keep getting new acne blemishes. What should I do?

Topical acne medications are made to be used on all acne-prone areas, not just individual lesions. Part of the goal is to treat the skin before lesions can form and to prevent formation, not just to treat existing lesions. Patients are generally advised to treat all of the areas (forehead, cheeks, chin and nose) that tend to break out rather than just individual lesions.



My face is clear! Can I stop taking my medication now?

If your dermatologist says you can stop, then stop–but follow your dermatologist’s instructions. Many times patients will stop their medication suddenly only to have their acne flare up several weeks later. If you are using multiple products, it may be advisable to discontinue one medication at a time and judge results before discontinuing them all at once. Ask your dermatologist before you stop using any of your medications.



Does it matter what time I use my medication?

Check with your dermatologist or pharmacist. If you were taking one dose a day of an antibiotic, you could probably take it in the morning, at midday or in the evening, although you should pick one time of day and stay with it throughout your treatment. With oral medications prescribed twice a day or three times a day, you should try your best to spread out the doses evenly. Some antibiotics should be taken on an empty or nearly empty stomach. For optimal results with topical treatments, you should strictly follow your dermatologist’s recommendations. For example, if instructed to apply benzoyl peroxide in the morning and a topical retinoid at bedtime, it is important to follow these directions strictly. If the two were applied together at bedtime, for example, you could decrease the efficacy of the treatment because of chemical reactions that make them less effective.



I have trouble remembering to take my oral medication every day. What’s a good way to remember? What should I do if I forget a dose?

This is a common problem. Many patients try to associate taking their medication with a routine daily event such as brushing teeth or applying makeup. It also helps to keep the medication close to the area where the reminder activity is carried out.

In most cases, if you miss a day of your oral treatment, do not double up the next day; rather, get back to your daily regimen as soon as possible–but there may be different instructions for different oral medications. Ask your dermatologist or pharmacist about what to do if you miss a dose of your particular medication.



I have been using topical benzoyl peroxide and an oral antibiotic for my acne and have noticed blue-black and brown marks developing on my face and some discoloration on my body. The marks are especially noticeable around acne scars and recently healed lesions. Is this a side effect of medication and is it permanent?

It is not possible to make general statements about side effects of medications that apply to individual cases. A dermatologist should be consulted. The ****** marks and body discoloration described by the patient in this case do fall within the range of side effects of some antibiotics.



Unique patterns of pigmentation are sometimes seen in acne patients treated with certain oral antibiotics—particularly minocycline. The pigmentation patterns that appear may include:

* Localized blue-black or brown marks in and around acne scars and in areas of previous acne inflammation

* A “muddy skin” appearance that may cover much of the body

* Diffuse brownish pigmentation of the feet and lower legs.

The pigmentation side effect gradually disappears after the therapy is discontinued.

Any side effect of a medication should be noted by the patient and brought to the attention of the physician. While most side effects are temporary they should be discussed with the physician and monitored.



My doctor is prescribing a topical retinoid for my acne. He said a retinoid is a substance related to vitamin A. If the drug is related to vitamin A, shouldn’t vitamin A dietary supplements be helpful in getting rid of acne?

Dietary vitamin A is essential to good health, especially vision. It has healthful effects in the skin. Large doses of vitamin A for the treatment of acne is not recommended on grounds of safety. The retinoids and retinoid-like substances used as topical treatments for acne are prepared especially for their potent effect on the shedding of cell lining in the sebaceous follicle. Their use should be monitored by a dermatologist.

Dietary vitamin A has multiple health effects in the human body. Vitamin A is essential for good vision. Extreme vitamin A deficiency can result in blindness, usually accompanied by dry, scaly skin. Vitamin A overdose that far exceeds the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 5,000 IU can have effects nearly as catastrophic. Extreme vitamin A overdose can cause the skin to blister and peel—an effect first seen in early North Pole explorers who nearly died after eating polar bear liver that has an extraordinarily high vitamin A content.

Topical retinoids are usually prescribed as a treatment for moderate to severe acne. Side effects are chiefly dermatologic, including redness, scaling and dryness of the skin, itching and burning. These side effects can usually be managed by adjustment of the amount and timing of retinoid applied to the skin. Dose adjustment must be discussed with the dermatologist who prescribed the treatment.



Are there any acne treatments specifically for people with dark skin? Are there any treatments specifically harmful to dark skin?

There are no acne treatments specifically for use on dark skin. Acne treatments are generally as safe and effective on dark skin as on light skin. Some treatments for acne scars may cause temporary lightening of dark skin.

Acne is a common skin disease that has the same causes and follows the same course in all colors of skin.

Very dark or black skin may be less well-moisturized than lighter skin. Topical anti-acne agents such as benzoyl peroxide that have a drying effect on the skin should be used under the supervision of a dermatologist. Benzoyl peroxide also is a strong bleach and therefore must be applied carefully to avoid inadvertent decolorization of a patch of hair, towels or clothing.

Darker skin has a tendency to develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (excessive skin darkening at places where the skin was inflamed). Severe inflammatory acne may result in dark spots. The spots resolve over time; a dermatologist may be able to recommend cosmetic measures to make the spots less apparent until they resolve. Some acne treatments, such as topical retinoids and azelaic acid, may also help fade the discoloration.

Removal of acne scars by dermabrasion or chemical peeling may cause temporary lightening or darkening of dark skin in the areas of treatment. Scar treatment should be discussed with a dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon before it is undertaken.

Alterations of melanin (dark pigments that give the skin its color) pigmentation such as vitiligo and melasma are not related to acne, but they may be present simultaneously with acne. The diagnosis and treatment of melanin pigmentation disorders such as vitiligo requires a dermatologist with knowledge and experience in treating these conditions.



Is acne that appears for the first time in adulthood different from acne that appears in adolescence?

Acne has a specific definition as a disease of sebaceous follicles. This definition applies to acne that occurs at any age. However, it may be important to look for an underlying cause of acne that occurs for the first time in adulthood.

Current understanding of the causes of acne vulgaris is described in the Main Text section Why and how acne happens. In brief summary, acne vulgaris develops when excessive sebum production and abnormal growth and death of cells in the sebaceous follicle result in plugging of follicles with a mixture of sebum and cellular debris and formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). Bacteria in the follicles—chiefly Propionibacterium acnes, the most common bacterial colonist of sebaceous follicles—may contribute to the inflammation of acne by release of metabolic products that cause inflammatory reaction. The pathogenic events, which cause disease, in the sebaceous follicle are believed to be due in large degree to changes in levels of androgenic (male) hormones in the body—a circumstance usually associated with growth and development between ages 12 and



Some acne investigators believe that although this understanding is generally correct, there is more yet to be learned about the causes of acne vulgaris.

Acne that appears after the age of 25-30 years is (1) a recurrence of acne that cleared up after adolescence, (2) a flare-up of acne after a period of relative quiet—for example, during pregnancy, or (3) acne that occurs for the first time in a person who had never previously had acne.

Acne that occurs in adulthood may be difficult to treat if there are multiple recurrences. Some patients with severe recurrent acne have undergone repeated courses of treatment with the potent systemic drug isotretinoin.

Acne flares in association with pregnancy or menstruation are due to changes in hormonal patterns.

Acne that appears for the first time in adulthood should be investigated for any underlying cause. Drugs that can induce acne include anabolic steroids (sometimes used illegally by athletes to “bulk up”), some anti-epileptic drugs, the anti-tuberculosis drugs isoniazid and rifampin, lithium, and iodine-containing drugs. Chlorinated industrial chemicals may induce the occupational skin disorder known as chloracne. Chronic physical pressure on the skin—for example, by a backpack and its straps, or a violin tucked against the angle of the jaw and chin—may induce so-called acne mechanica. Some metabolic conditions may cause changes in hormonal balance that can induce acne.

Some lesions that appear to be acne may be another skin disorder such as folliculitis—infection and inflammation of hair follicles—that require different treatment than acne. Acne that appears for the first time in adulthood should be examined and treated by a dermatologist.



My 15-year-old daughter has what I would describe as a very mild case of acne. She has made it much worse by constant picking and squeezing. She looks in the mirror for hours, looking for some blackhead or blemish she can pick or squeeze. Does she need psychological counseling?

Excessive picking and squeezing of otherwise mild acne is a condition called excoriated acne, seen most often in young women. A dermatologist may provide effective counseling.

The typical person with excoriated acne is a person—often a young women—who is so distressed with her appearance due to acne that she literally tries to “squeeze the acne out of existence.” The acne is often very mild, but the person’s face may constantly be covered with red marks from squeezing, and open sores where lesions have been picked open.

The word excoriate means to scratch or abrade the skin. Excoriated acne is a medically recognized condition that should be discussed with a dermatologist. Occasionally giving in to a temptation to squeeze a blackhead is not defined as excoriated acne. Hours in front of a mirror, squeezing and picking every blemish, is a definition of excoriated acne. A dermatologist may be able to counsel the patient regarding a course of treatment in which the patient can participate, but keep “hands off.”



Can the rate of secretion or the composition of sebum be altered by diet? If it can, shouldn’t alteration of diet be considered a treatment for acne?

Diet has never been proven to have a role in the cause or treatment of acne. Dietary manipulation may have a role in the treatment of some scaling diseases of the skin, but not in the treatment of acne.

Dietary cause is one of the most persistent myths about acne. Foods, such as chocolate or greasy foods, do not cause acne, but certain foods seem to make some people’s acne worse. The following can bring on or worsen it:



Hereditary factors



An increase in male hormones found in both males and females



Menstruation



Emotional stress



Oil and grease from cosmetics, work environment

No food has been shown to be effective in preventing or treating acne. A healthy diet is, of course, necessary for good general health.



Shouldn’t I just try to eliminate sebum from my body?

No. When it isn’t blocked in your pores, sebum helps keep your skin healthy.



Why does acne usually start at puberty?

No one knows for certain. What is known is that the sebaceous glands that produce sebum get much larger at puberty than they were before.



Why does the skin around a pimple turn red?

This redness is caused by the body’s inflammatory response. Inflammation is a sign that your immune system is working to fight an infection. However, the inflammatory response doesn’t always work perfectly, and can even be the cause of scarring.



If my skin turns red, does that mean that I’m going to have scars?

Usually, no. Even when there will be no permanent scar, the aftereffects of the inflammatory response can leave the skin red for months, sometimes for more than a year.



What are free radicals?

Free radicals are byproducts of oxidation in your body. We all need oxidation to occur as part of our life process, but there is concern that the buildup of unrecycled free radicals contributes to many conditions, including skin damage. Antioxidants, including several of the active ingredients in Acuzine, help prevent the buildup of free radicals.



JONAS

peterhutch asked:


Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella virus. Most cases occur in children under age 15 but older children and adults can get it. It spreads very easily from one child to another. Symptoms include an uncomfortable, itchy rash, fever and headache. The rash is like blisters and usually appears on the face, scalp or trunk Chickenpox is a mild, but highly infectious disease that most children catch at some point. It is most common to catch the disease between March and May. It takes 10-21 days for the symptoms to show after you have come into contact with the virus. This is called the ‘incubation period’. What causes chicken pox? Chicken pox is caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) A person who has chickenpox can transmit the virus for up to 48 hours before the telltale rash appears and remains contagious until all spots crust over. How do you catch chickenpox? The viral infection is transferred from one person to another through direct contact with the broken chickenpox blisters and through airborne droplets. Symptoms of Chickenpox Chickenpox causes a red, itchy rash on the skin that usually appears first on the abdomen or back and face, and then spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, nose, ears, and ********. The chickenpox rash usually appears less than two weeks after exposure to the virus and begins as superficial spots. These spots quickly turn into small liquid-filled blisters that break open and crust over. New spots continue to appear for several days and may number in the hundreds. Itching may range from mild to intense. After a chickenpox red spot appears, it usually takes about 1 or 2 days for the spot to go through all its stages. This includes blistering, bursting, drying, and crusting over. New red spots will appear every day for up to 5 to 7 days. How Does Chickenpox Spread? Chickenpox is contagious, meaning that someone who has it can easily spread it to someone else. Someone who has chickenpox is most contagious during the first 2 to 5 days that he or she is sick. That’s usually about 1 to 2 days before the rash shows up. So you could be spreading around chickenpox without even knowing it! Diagnosis of Chicken Pox The diagnosis of varicella is primarily clinical. In a non-immunized individual with typical prodromal symptoms associated with the appropriate appearing rash occurring in “crops”, no further investigation would normally be undertaken. If further investigation is undertaken, confirmation of the diagnosis can be sought through either examination of the fluid within the vesicles, or by testing blood for evidence of an acute immunologic response. Chickenpox Treatment Cool compresses applied to blisters may give relief, as may calamine lotion. Lotions containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl) should not be used — erratic absorption through open skin lesions may occur and be associated with toxicity due elevated blood levels. Most of the treatment for chickenpox focuses on relieving the annoying itch of chickenpox blisters and preventing broken blisters from getting infected from scratching. Oatmeal baths and calamine lotion can help to reduce the itchiness. Trim fingernails to decrease the risk of infection and scarring from scratching.



JULIO

Tim Orlando asked:


Your pimples are like a signboard. It is the first thing everybody sees when they look at your face. If you are like most acne sufferers the moment you pass by anything that reflects an image you tend to take a peep at your “pimples laced” face.

If you are reading this then it is only safe for me to assume that you are tired of all the annoying little pains that comes with having acne on your skin. If you suffer from acne it is most likely that your self esteem has taken some “bashing” all because you have those little monsters growing off your face.

It is only normal for everyone especially young adults like us to be concerned about the way we look, after all we all live in an age where appearance seems to be so important in umm “everything”. Well not everything but a lot of things, one of which is social interaction.

Although I never really had problems with teen acne, when I was 17 years old, I started having pimples on my face but they were just one or two appearing sometimes once a week. That was not really a problem. Fast-forward to when I turned twenty and my face was like a “battle field”.

How Many Times have you been disappointed with an acne product?

You must have tried some products that have cleared up some of the pimples on your face, but if you were like me you would later find out that some of those “topical” acne treatments actually lose their intensity to fight your acne problem after a while.

What do Acne sufferers display!!!

I am very sure that we do not need any researcher or “shrink” to tell us what those little “pimples” can do to us socially. It seems mild to severe acne sufferers usually display one of the following:

*Low self-confidence

*Frustration

*Feelings of inadequacy

*Depression

*Refusal to socialize

*Low self-esteem

How do I know these? Well in case you forgot I just you told at age twenty my face was a “WAR ZONE”. Seriously it was. People looked at my face and cringed. The pimples were just too much. Enough of my own tales, this article was meant to educate you on the best acne treatments available to you and from now I will do just that. I promise

Types of Acne medications

Before we start looking for the best acne treatment to clear your up your face, you should have a basic knowledge of the types of medication available to you.

If your acne problem just began, I can guess the form of treatment you are currently using to combat the problem is a bastardized form of “natural acne treatments”. Yeah you guessed right!! - Washing your face like a “quadrillion” times in a day and also picking and “popping” your pimples. Hey in case you have not figured it out that routine will not work!!!

This is not to say that natural acne treatments which ensure proper skin care are not good or do not work, but hello! washing your face more than twice a day has adverse effects on your skin and could lead to even more breakouts (pimples).

Check acne skin to see a comprehensive way of reducing your acne breakouts by achieving proper acne skin care.

Okay aside the natural stuff, medications for your breakouts could be:

*Prescription medications

*Topical medications

*Oral medications

*Laser surgery – which is in its early stages to treat both acne scars and the pimple itself.

There are so many acne sufferers who use prescription medications for their acne problem. Products like accutane, Retin-A, Differin and Tazorac are quite popular and famous because of the large number of dermatologist and doctors who prescribe them to sufferers.

You have to consult with your dermatologist before you even attempt taking those medications. Although these prescribed medications work for some individuals, they could cause birth defects for pregnant women or nursing mothers risk causing severe complications for their babies.

Topical medications are the most popular form of acne medication for a large number of us having trouble with acne. It seems the two most common ingredients in most topical medications are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. These two ingredients in topical medications are very effective in clearing up your “pimple covered face”.

Using these topical medications that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which are usually in the form of ****** wash, lotion or gels thoroughly cleanses your skin pores. Products with the right amount of these active ingredients would usually prevent new pimple from forming on your skin to a certain extent, as they protect your skin surface against bacterial infections, which could have been as a result of so many factors like environmental pollution.

In case you did not know this, one of the causes of your acne problem has to do with your hormones being on overdrive. The male hormone testosterone, which is an androgen, is responsible for that.

What’s my reason for saying that? Well it is because of the oral medications now used for combating acne from the inside of your body. These medications work on stabilizing the hormonal imbalance in your body. In simple words these oral medications work on solving the main cause of your acne problem and not on patching up the ugly results that is seen on your skin surface. Although you can take accutane to combat your pimple woes if prescribed by your dermatologist, it comes with side effects that could be really annoying.

A Product like the acnezine system contains oral supplements which work inside the body to rid the system of all internal factors causing your break outs.

A new technique being used by doctors to erase scars left by acne lesions is Laser surgery. This involves the use of laser beams to burn out scar tissues, which enable your skin (if you ever attempt such technique, you are on your on, I didn’t tell you to do it.) to generate new, healthy tissues.

Few doctors have begun to use this technique to prevent acne from developing.

I do not know the side effects resulting from such techniques or even if there are side effects. Laser surgery is a new technique in removing acne so there is not much information available for now.

“If your acne problems have stopped and you are seeking ways to remove the scars left by the pimples, you should try Revitol’s acne scar remover, which is a lot cheaper than laser surgery.”

Which exactly is the best acne treatment

Okay I have been rambling about the types of medications and have not said the best acne treatments currently available to you.

Well there are a large number of useless products offering overnight cures, but that is not to say there are no credible products that are capable of ridding your skin of zits. Clear pores system seems to be the best system considering the level of combination treatment it provides which include:

*Facial/body wash

*Facial/body protection cream

*Herbal supplement

Another very wonderful product is the acnezine system, which I used to rid myself of acne. It consists of a Skin Anti-Oxidant Capsule that fight the root cause of your pimples breakouts from within and a moisturizing crème containing benzoyl peroxide (you remember that ingredient), which fights acne-causing bacteria on your skin.

A number of former acne sufferers have testified to the effectiveness of healthy pores, which is definitely among the best acne treatment available currently in the market.

For more information, tips and reviews on acne and the best acne treatment available to you, visit adult acne treatment. Now!!!



RIGOBERTO

Aakash Shah asked:


Acne is a skin disease that is caused by a type of bacteria called P.acnes. The oil that is produced by the glands in the skin attracts the dirt and hence provides a favorable environment for the bacteria to increase in number. This causes infection resulting in inflammation in the skin. Pimples are developed as a result and they look like small nodules on the surface of the skin. These pimples spoil the look of the person and also cause pain in some cases. Acne is commonly found in teenagers during the stages of their puberty. This type of acne will disappear naturally when the boy or the girl crosses the teenage. Acne is also found in adults of the age thirty and forty. For these people specific treatments have to be taken so that the complexion of the skin is maintained.

Various acne products are available in the market for curing acne. These medicines are either ointments that are applied externally or pills that are consumed internally. For teens these products are sufficient to cure their mild acne but they are not suitable for adults. Adult acne can be cured only with the help of dedicated treatment that involves various cosmetic therapies.

The actual cause for acne is still unknown while for teens acne is mainly caused by the hormonal changes in the body. The food habit also has a major influence in causing the disease. When people take items that contain more oil, the sebaceous glands are activated to produce more sebum. The excess secretion of sebum results in the formation of pimples causing acne. Acne will become severe if the symptoms appear on unhealthy skin. When dirt is allowed to settle down on the skin for a long time, it blocks the pores thus creating acne. It is always better to maintain a dirt free skin to prevent acne. Use of cosmetics is also a major reason for acne in adults. The creams that are used in the make up stick to the skin blocking the pores. As a result the dirt is clogged up in the pores and the bacteria multiply leading to acne.

While choosing acne products you must know the ingredients of the product. Generally creams, gels and ointments are used as products for treating acne. These creams reduce the secretion of sebum and fights against the bacteria to cure acne. Doctors suggest the use of creams containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid for treating pimples as they are very effective. You must read the labels before buying the product to know what is included in the creams. Many of these creams will claim to have 98% nutrients for the kin and these nutrients will be present only in the outer layer. Some manufacturers may call their product as a natural one but actually these will be made of extracts from natural substances. You have to be careful while choosing these natural products. You can choose a cream that contains organic products. Organic products are safe for the skin and organic creams contain 95% organic substances and 5% water.

The acne products that are effective with one person need not have the same effect with the other person. This is because each of us has a different skin type and different products have to be used accordingly. For some people use of wrong acne products created harmful effects. For oily skin types gels should be used. If you have a normal skin you can choose any product that is found to be effective.

A good acne product must reduce the itchiness after applying over the pimples. You must not get irritation in the skin when you apply the cream on your pimples. If you have a pain or irritation then you must understand that the product is not suitable for your skin. Persons with sensitive skin should not try our acne products on their own. The product you buy must be feasible in terms of cost and cure. However none of the acne products are found to have immediate results. You need to follow the treatment for about 8 months to cure acne completely. You should not find discoloration in your skin after using the acne product. When you choose the right product for your skin you can cure your acne. Otherwise you have to visit the doctor for some other skin problem.

Scratching the pimples for clearing them off is a very bad habit that will intensify the problem. Many teenagers do this and they are left with permanent scars of acne. The modern medicine has therapies that can remove the acne scares completely.

Various home remedies are available as acne products. Vegetables and fruits must be taken in large quantities to nourish the skin form inside. Sandalwood oil is an ancient treatment for acne that is found to be very effective. Rosewood seed oil and tea leaves are also effective to cure the itchiness in the skin due to acne. Natural products in the kitchen are found to be effective against the pimples. But if you have already developed whiteheads and blackheads you must go for the medicines to cure acne. These home remedies are good for mild acne problems but for severe acne a dermatologist will prescribe medicines.

When you have symptoms of mild acne you must start using the acne products. Ayurvedic products are also found to be very effective. If your acne forms pustules and nodes it will become difficult to cure them with acne products. You must go for intensive treatments for removing the pimples. To treat the irregularities caused by the removal, various treatments like laser treatments are available that will let you regain your original complexion. However of you start treating acne at the early stages you can escape from the scars, otherwise you will have to spend more for removal of the scars. Teenagers can use the acne products for treating acne since they will have only mild acne, but for adults intensive treatments are required.



FREDRICK

Tim Orlando asked:


If you are a teenager or young adult, I am sure you would have noticed that only a small percentage of people are blessed with a perfect and radiant skin. You would agree with me, that not only are the majority of people not endowed with beautiful skin, a large number of young adults and teenagers are afflicted with the “monster” called acne.

Most dermatologists seem to conclude that more than 80% of the human population is prone to having the acne problems. Ever since the mass media decided to tout that only appearance matters in everything, there has been an increase in the number of adult acne treatments in the market recently. It also looks like products, which contain some form of herbal ingredients is demanded by a large number of teenage and adult acne sufferers. Before you go buying and using any remedy you should identify the type of acne problem that you have.

We all tend to feel that only the fat, pus-filled pimples that appear on our face is acne. In case you may not know, your acne problem is not only restricted to having pimples. If you suffer from the mild type, you might not be aware of other types of acne. On some occasions you might notice some bumps developing on your back or necks, such bumps are due to your acne condition.

Even though all kinds of acne problems start in the same way, which is having too much oil also known as sebum, which breeds bacteria, blocks the hair pores and forms skin inflammation which appear as bumps. The different kinds all vary in their seriousness and appearance. In this article let us classify the kinds of acne into three: acne rosacea, acne vulgaris, and the serious type.

The commonest kind of acne, which is acne vulgaris, is divided into the mild and the serious categories. The first classification of acne vulgaris is the whiteheads. These are formed due to the mixture of bacteria, too much sebum (oil) and dead cells. Whiteheads do not turn into brownish color chiefly because they are not really exposed and they are confined in the hair pores, which mean they cannot oxygenate. However they do turn into a yellowish lump on some occasions. The whiteheads that you see on your skin could also occur due to frequent cellular exfoliation that can block your hair pores.

Another classification of acne vulgaris is the blackheads, which are mixture a of dead cells, bacteria and sebum (oil). The difference between them and whiteheads is that they are only moderately blocked in the follicle. Because of that, blackheads are exposed to oxygen and as a result they turn to dark spots. Blackheads take longer time to be eliminated as when compared to whiteheads. Other acne vulgaris’s types are papules and pustules. Papules are recognized as small bumps that are usually inflamed. Never attempt to ***** these bumps as the may result in scars. Meanwhile, pustules are large, infected, pus containing bumps on the skin. You should never ***** these bumps also as they can cause severe acne scars.

Very serious types of acne vulgaris include cyst and nodules, which are larger than the types mentioned previously and are very painful. Nodules are big lumps located underneath the surface of the skin, while cysts are lumps filled with pus with an average size of 5mm. Cases of cystic and nodules should be attended to by a medical practitioner to prevent severe scarring and increase of the acne lesions.

The second kind of acne which is rosacea is like vulgaris; but one difference is that it only occupies a third of the face’s middle part, usually the forehead, nose and cheeks. A large number of people with rosacea are women in their 30s, but it seems men are usually the ones with the severe cases. It is usually characterized with rashes, swollen skin and in some cases; the blood vessels may become visible. Even though rosacea is usually mistaken for vulgaris, you should visit a dermatologist if you are afflicted with any on the above condition, in order to prevent it from become more serious like rhinophyma.

Individuals who suffer from any of the mentioned kind of acne usually experience a lot physical and emotional pain mostly caused by a number of embarrassing situations. Aside all the previously mentioned types there are more serious types of acne which include pyoderma faciale, acne fulminans, gram-negative folliculitus, and acne conglobata.

Pyoderma faciale is characterized by the severe types of nodules, lesions and pustules that are in large numbers on an afflicted person’s face. These “monsters” leave very ugly scars. This condition is prone to women aged between 20 and 40. Although these condition cause damage to an individual, they usually end in less than a year.

Acne fulminans is more prone to young men and it is usually accompanied with joint fever and ache. A person with this type has an extreme case of nodulocystic and is prone to severe scarring.

Meanwhile gram-negative folliculitus is classified as a bacterial complication of pustules and cysts usually resulting from an extensive treatment of acne vulgaris. This is a special case of acne and doctors and dermatologists do not know which of the sexes are prone to this classification of acne.

Finally acne conglobata is more common in young men aged 18 to 30. It is recognized as large lesions with blackheads occurring on the buttocks, back, chest, face, thighs and upper arms. This particular type causes severe and sometimes long-lasting damages on the skin, which include large and deep scars. Sufferers of this acne problem should run to a dermatologist for help.

Whatever type of acne you afflicted with, acne is a stumbling block to achieving the level of self-esteem and self-confidence you desire. The best time to treat your acne problem is now, in order to avoid any future damage on your skin. There are quite a number of acne treatments available, but there are only a few, which actually give excellent results. A skin care product like Clear pores is a very good option as it combats the root of cause all acne problems, which is usually due to chemical and hormonal imbalances in the body. Other options are the Acnezine and the Healthy pores acne system, which also include herbal supplements that fight acne internally and externally.

For more information on how you can rid your skin from all sorts of acne problems , visit adult acne treatment Now!!!



MYLES

Groshan Fabiola asked:


Chicken pox is a children’ s disease. Adults can get chicken pox as well, but only if they did not have it as they were children. It is a contagious disease, but it is not very serious. With treatment, chicken pox can be cured in almost a week.

However, there are some important things that should be known about chicken pox, so your child will not suffer from any complications. Here is a list of what to do or not to do in when your child is suffering from chicken pox:

1. Do not give your child aspirin when he/ she is suffering from chicken pox. Children should not receive aspirin because the risk of developing reye’ s syndrome is highly increased by this drug use. So when your child suffers from fever, because of chicken pox or any other reason, use acetaminophen.

2. Chicken pox is very contagious, so there is no point in trying to keep your family members in other places of the house. Almost two to three weeks after one of your children has been infected with chicken pox, your other kids will have this disease as well, if they have not had it before.

3. If you hear that other children that are close to your child have chicken pox, make sure that you look for signs of this disease in your child for about three weeks. This is the incubation period of chicken pox.

4. Do not send your child to daycare or school if he/ she is suffering from chicken pox.

5. You can send your child to school or daycare, if he/ she is suffering from a mild chicken pox. However, be sure to do that only after your child is well enough and can take part in all activities.

6. Watch your child very carefully and keep a strict hygiene if your child has chicken pox lesions that are open. He/ she could develop infections because of this condition.

7. If your child has chicken pox, you must tell the people in charge at school or daycare, so they can take proper measures.

8. Go with your child to the doctor and give him/ her the vaccine against chicken pox. This is a very safe vaccine. Children that are more than one year old can receive this vaccine.

So, here are some of the most important things to know about what to do when your child has chicken pox. Follow them and everything will be all right.

For more information about treatment for chicken pox or even about chicken pox please review this page http://www.chicken-pox-center.com/



PETE

Sharon Hopkins asked:


• Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: reflected by flushing and lasting redness this also includes visible blood vessels.

• Papulopustular rosacea: is determined by persistent redness with short-lived bumps and pimples.

• Phymatous rosacea: thickens the skin which results in increasing nose size due to excess tissue.

• Ocular rosacea: affects the eye and creates problems like dry eye, tearing and burning sensation, swollen or puffy eyelids, recurring sty’s, endangerment to your eyes causing loss of vision from cornea damage.

Causes of Rosacea

As the cause of rosacea is very much unclear, some speculations have been drawn to shed some light on this chronic skin condition.

• Blood Vessel Malfunction: Some problem with the blood vessel that may cause blood vessels to swell which leads to flushing and blushing.

• Hereditary and Natural factors: A genetic predisposition with the combination of natural or environmental component to create this skin infection.

• Specific Skin color: It can be stated that this condition affects lighter-complexioned skin more than the other skin type.

Aggravting Rosacea

Rosacea can get severe due to sunlight, physical or mental stress, headaches, sinus, pre-dominant allergic conditions, spicy food, extreme temperatures and alcohol. The aggravation may differ from person to person and sometimes would not even matter.

Signs and symptoms of Rosacea

• Flushing: This causes frequent blushing and flushing which is can be termed as the first sign of this skin problem

• Persistent Redness: It is a steady occurrence with people suffering from this problem. Your face turns red which is mainly mistaken as sunburn.

• Bumps and Pimples: Sometimes your face is covered with pus-filled pimples or small bumps. These may look like acne accompanied with burning and stinging sensation.

• Visible Blood Vessels: Many small blood vessels appear on your face.

• Other common signs are eye irritation or watery eyes, inflammation, dry skin, skin thickens, ****** swelling or swelling of eyelids.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.



MERLIN