Archive for May, 2009

Skin Allergies and Ways to Get Relief From Them

Friday, May 29th, 2009
Nammy Mike asked:


e increase in the level of pollution ever day, people are suffering from a variety of skin allergies and rashes. The causes behind skin allergies are not only the rise of the pollutant levels in the air, but there are other causes. These causes include skin contact with gold, balsam fragrance, nickel, cobalt chloride and fragrances, to name just a few.

Nickel is used in buttons and jewelry, but someone can also have contact with cobalt chloride with the use of antiperspirants and hair dyes. Allergies can be defined as the malfunction of the immune system of a body which causes a hypersensitive reaction by the contact of a benign substance.

By carrying out an allergy test, one can easily discover the substance that could be causing the adverse reaction to the body. Skin allergies can also be a result of an intake of particular food items that might not suit your body type. Peanut oil is one of the most common ingredients that cause allergies.

There are various types of skin allergies that can attack a person. These include:

- Hives and Swelling: Hives, popularly known as ‘Urticaria’, is a rash that causes itching. The person can be attacked by this itchy rash at any age. Red bumps appear on the skin in various sizes and shapes and can last for a few minutes to a few hours. Scratching the rash also leads to bleeding and swelling. It is a common problem suffered along with the hives. The swelling is not irritating but it causes a tingling and burning sensation.

- Eczema: This skin allergy is normally experienced by young children. It occurs when a person scratches his skin. The rash has oozes and bumps and causes severe pain in case of severe scratching.

- Contact dermatitis: This type of skin allergy is caused when the body comes in contact with some harmful substance such as certain metals, cosmetics or hair dyes. Common body parts where this rash occurs are the neck, feet, hands and eyelids.

In order to find the main culprit behind your skin allergy, it is important to note and find out the main causes behind it. Suppose that you are allergic to coffee, it is better to switch over to tea or another hot beverage. Apart from eliminating the exposure or contact to the toxins, it is also important to re-build your own immune system so as to protect yourself from getting skin allergies.

Natural treatments should be opted for as they eliminate the risk of getting skin allergies completely rather than treating them on a temporary basis. The natural treatments use natural extracts so that there are no side effects and the cost of the medication is also reasonable.

Therefore, if you are facing the problem of skin allergies, start with an allergy test so that the main causes or toxins can be detected. As soon as you know the main culprit, stay away from it and opt for natural or other medical treatments.



RON

Chicken Pox in Babies

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Groshan Fabiola asked:


Chicken pox is a children’ s disese, however it is very unlikely that a child who has not yet had his/ her birthday develop chicken pox. While in the womb, the fetus will receive antibodies from his/ her mother to protect him/ her against the virus that causes chicken pox. This is the reason why, at least in his/ her first year of life, chicken pox will not develop. However, there have been cases of chicken pox even in children under one year old, but they are extremely rare. Furthermore, if babies under one will develop chicken pox, this will be a very mild condition.

At the age of one, babies will receive a vaccine against chicken pox. This vaccine will not prevent your child from ever getting chicken pox, but it will make the disease a lot milder. If your baby will get chicken pox, red, tiny, itchy bumps will be your first clue. In a couple of day’ s time, there bumps will change into blisters filled with fluid, which will eventually dry and fall off. As the chicken pox progresses, new waves of blisters will appear on your child’ s body. The areas that are affected by chicken pox are mostly the face, back and abdomen, but the rash may appear all over his/ her body as well. Some babies will have more than three hundred blisters on his/ her body, whereas other will only have a few. Chicken pox cases can be different from a baby to another. Furthermore, flu symptoms are some of the first signs that your baby may develop chicken pox.

When your baby has chicken pox, he/ she will be very tired and have a little fever. It is also possible that a runny nose or a cough may appear a couple of days before the chicken pox rash appears. This disease lasts about one week.

Chicken pox is very contagious, so if your baby has been near a person that suffered from this disease, then he/ she is likely to have been infected with the chicken pox virus. If your baby is healthy, then chicken pox does not pose any threats whatsoever. However, there are cases, very rare though, when babies can develop complications from chicken pox. Skin infections, encephalitis or pneumonia may be the result of chicken pox. This is the reason why you should see a doctor as soon as the first signs of chicken pox appear.

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



CHARLIE

Connection Between Diet and Acne

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009
Alisia Friend asked:


With years of medical education and clinical experience behind these claims, how can we the simple folks who suffer from acne challenge these statements and think otherwise? The answer is: doubt. Doubt, if its stays in the borders of reason, can open many doors otherwise will stay forever shut. Believe it or not, doubt can change reality. Doubt can cure your acne and doubt can even save your life.

Fact is, countless of acne sufferers have reported that their acne seemed to get worse when they consumed certain foods and saw dramatic positive change over their acne condition when they eliminated the same foods from their diet and when certain foods with specific nutritional value were incorporated into their diet.

So why do dermatologists so stubbornly insist that diet does not cause acne? The answer: you can’t make as much money as you could make by selling drugs and over the counters. There is a huge pressure upon doctors coming from the drug and pharmaceutical companies to prescribe expensive medications and lotions that create dependency. The truth is, that your doctor is in a way, a hostage by the trillion dollar drug companies. Did you know that the drug companies, who have no interest in producing something that they cannot control financially, sponsor most medical schools?

The right diet, although not a solution by itself, can, in many cases, dramatically reduce inflammation and even completely clear one’s acne (if you’re one of the lucky ones who’s acne is triggered by allergic response to food). There are less profits for the drug and pharmaceutical companies when promoting a clear skin diet.

The truth is that conventional medications will never cure your acne, simply because they are pre-designed NOT to fix the internal cause of acne. They are pre-designed to deal with the external symptoms of a disease as they create more and more dependency and more dependency means making more money all at our expense and ignorance.

The Theory That Diet Doesn’t Cause Acne Is A Myth

The dogmatic theory that diet does not cause acne and that acne is merely an incurable genetic disorder was based upon two dated researches published in 1969 and 1971 that were aimed at studying the connection between diet and acne.

These studies were the foundation of the ‘acne symptoms treatment strategy’, meaning, because acne is a genetic disease that cannot be prevented, the only way to deal with acne would be to tackle its symptoms (bacteria, inflammation, puss, redness, greasiness), by applying creams, antibiotics, taking prescription drugs and over the counters.

Surprisingly enough, years after the above studies were published, clinical trials and in depth researches experimenting the acne diet link have found that the studies from 1969 and 1971 had came to the wrong conclusions and were in fact seriously flawed.

Recent studies have clearly found a significant connection between diet and acne. It appears that the wrong diet is now thought to be one of the leading acne contributing factors that can negatively affect hormonal regulation and the natural process of toxic elimination, which can seriously aggravate one’s existing acne.

Diet Shapes Who You Are (Including Your Acne)

In the same way that crashing waves shape beach cliffs and just like the wind shapes the canyon walls, slowly and methodically over time, so does eating shapes and effects our physic, our internal system, our physical and mental being, from the organ down to the cellular level.

The idea that an object foreign to our body that is inserted by the food that we eat, has no effect on us, or has no impact on chronic conditions such as acne is absurd. Diet is the primary thing that affects and shapes who we are.

Diet has cumulative effect on our bodies, and that includes our skin condition and acne, which is a manifestation of a chronic internal problem slowly shaped and built by the wrong daily dietary choices over the years.

Acne Diet and The Kitavan Islanders

While in the U.S, more than 80% of teenagers between 16 and 18 have acne and more than 17 million Americans suffer from some form of acne, there is an interesting evidence that native people that live and eat in traditional ways, have significantly lower to no occurrences of acne.

In 2002, Dr. Cordain and his colleagues published a landmark study that examined 300 people living in the Kitavan Islands off the coast of Papua New Guinea that showed that none of the islanders had even one blemish on his or her face. Similar to the Kitavans, no case of acne had been observed when the same experiment had been conducted upon the South American Indians called the Ache, living in a remote jungle in eastern Paraguay.

The natives of Kitavan and the South American Indians had no access to the latest over the counters, topical creams or conventional acne medications and they had no dermatologist to consult with. The only vast difference between them and American or European citizens is their diet.

Acne Diet and Sugar: The Sweet Poison

Did you know that sugar is a 100% pure chemical with zero nutritional value? Recent studies have clearly shown a connection between the consumption of sugar and the aggravation of acne.

When you consume any form of refined carbohydrates (white sugar, white flour, white rice) here’s what happens: right after you insert that ’sweet poison’ into your body, it rapidly spikes up your blood sugar levels. Your body needs to bring those levels down so it secrets a surge of insulin, other male hormones and an insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1. The excretion of these hormones overwhelms your liver and your internal system in general. The excess of male hormones encourages the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum oil: The greasy substance that encourages the p.acne bacteria to grow, resulting in the aggravation of your acne.

Acne Diet and Dairy Products: Got Milk? Got Acne

Milk (all dairy products included) is the most harmful, mucus forming, allergenic and acne aggravating food you can find. If you thought sugar can aggravate your acne, here’s another major nutritional player in the formation of acne: behold the miracles of milk. Surprised? I thought so. After years of constant brainwashing by the media, who can blame us for thinking milk is good for strong bones and healthy teeth? The truth is: every sip of milk contains 59 different raging hormones, (which trigger the hyper-production of sebum oil resulting in more acne), saturated animal fat, steroid hormones, dead white blood cells, and cow pus in abundance!

Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows 750 million pus cells in every liter of milk (about two pounds) produced in America? Think about it, the next time you pop a pimple.

Scientific studies already point the finger at milk as one of the worst acne aggravating foods: “As pointed out by Dr. Jerome Fisher, ‘About 80 percent of cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are throwing off hormones continuously.’ Progesterone breaks down into androgens, which have been implicated as a factor in the development of acne…Dr. Fisher observed that his teenage acne patients improved as soon as the milk drinking stopped.”

If there’s one element you should remove from your diet in the quest for clear skin make it this one. Not only will you see an immediate improvement over your acne, you’ll feel a huge weight has been lifted from your body. If you worry about calcium intake, don’t! Milk being acidic forming food creates a leeching effect where calcium is taken from your bones to balance the acidity. Milk actually deprives your body from its calcium resources. Green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds are not only excellent sources of calcium they also have the powers to help you fight your acne symptoms.

Diet Is Only One of The Factors That Cause Acne

Dairy products and sugar are not the only acne aggravating foods. The two above cannot sum up the list of western made acne triggering foods. There are several other foods you should clearly stay away from if you ever wish to clear your acne. The good new is that there are tons of other foods such as essential fatty acids that are not only excellent for your skin, they can actually help you clear your acne, by re-balancing your body and promoting to an acne-free environment.

The right nutrition plays an important part in the complex process of acne formation. When doctors claim there is no link between diet and acne because certain individuals can eat specific foods and get acne while others eat the same foods and don’t, these doctors have failed to realize that there are several factors involved in the formation and aggravation of acne and diet is only ONE of them.

The Final Verdict On The Acne Diet Connection: How To Finally Overcome Your Acne Challenge

Acne is a complex condition that is triggered by several underlying factors. The only way to neutralize your acne condition is to tackle all these acne-contributing factors-holistically. Since the wrong diet is only one of these acne-triggering factors, in most cases no special diet can cure acne.

There is a however, a tight connection between diet and acne formation. Dietary factors can trigger and aggravate your existing acne. Avoiding the wrong foods such as milk, sugar and hydrogenated oils, and eating cleansing and hormonal balancing foods such as green leafy vegetables and essential fatty acids, can help your skin heal itself from the inside out and dramatically reduce your acne symptoms.

There are also several important dietary principals that you must understand and follow if you ever want to cure your acne for good.

Taking responsibility over your body and adhering to these dietary principals along with taking the necessary steps to tackle all acne contributing factors, holistically, will not only cure your acne permanently and give you the flawless acne free skin you deserve, following these principals will also significantly improve your overall health, mental well-being, look and feel.



DEAN

Herbal Treatment of Acne Adult in Comparison of Over the Counter Acne Treatment Products

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009
Shana Shane asked:


Herbal Treatment of Acne Adult in Comparison of Over the Counter Acne Treatment Products.

The following article presents the very latest information on Acne. If you have a particular interest in Acne, then this informative article is required reading.

The best time to learn about Acne is before you’re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Acne experience while it’s still free.

Herbal Treatment of Acne:

Conventional treatment of acne are usually quite successful. They can include cleansing agents and lotions made with benzoyl peroxide, gels or creams made modified forms of vitamin A, and antibiotics applied to the skin or taken orally. The risk of scarring is an important factor when considering the type of treatment.

Diet

A diet based on whole, unprocessed foods may benefit people with acne. Try to eat at least five servings of vegetables per day and at least one serving of fruit per day. Avoid eating refined sugar. Fried foods and trans fats such as milk, milk products, margarine, shortening, and other hydrogenated vegetable oils should be eliminated. Foods containing healthy omega-3 oils such as ground flaxseeds and sardines should be increased. Some people find that chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, iodized salt, shellfish, wheat and/or milk products aggravate acne.

Regular bowel movements are important. Drink at least 8 glasses of day of water. Increase fiber intake. In addition to eating fresh vegetables and fruit, choose whole grains. Some people may benefit from a one- to four-week liver detox diet based on fresh vegetables and fruit.

Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements

Vitamin A—Vitamin A may help to reduce sebum production. However, high doses of vitamin A can carry a risk of decreased bone density, birth defects, headache, and muscle and joint pain. Like the modified vitamin A prescription drugs, vitamin A can cause birth defects. Sexually active women of childbearing age should not take more than 5,000 IU per day unless they are under the guidance of a professional and are using at least two reliable forms of birth control. Vitamin A supplementation may not be necessary if there is adequate intake of beta-carotene, vitamin E, and zinc, all necessary for vitamin A formation. Decreasing unhealthy fats such as margarine, hydrogenated oils, processed foods, and other sources of transfats can also improve absorption.

Zinc—Zinc, especially in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate, can help prevent acne. Zinc helps heal blemishes, reduces inflammation, and reduces androgenic hormonal effects on the skin. Begin by increasing food sources of zinc. Two studies comparing zinc to the antibiotic tetracycline found zinc to be as effective as tetracycline. Another study found a mild yet definite effect of zinc.

Vitamin B6—Vitamin B6 may help premenstrual or mid-cycle acne. This vitamin is essential for the proper metabolism of steroid hormones and can reduce the sensitivity of skin to the effects of testosterone.

Herbal Treatment of Acne:

A herbal blend that can help with acne consists of equal parts of the herbal extracts of sarsaparilla, yellow dock, burdock, and cleavers. These herbs are believed to be potent blood and lymph cleansers. Half a teaspoon per day of this blend can be taken three times per day combined with a healthy diet.

Spot application of tea tree oil to erupted blemishes can help to eliminate bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Herbal Treatment of Acne Adult in Comparison of Over the Counter Acne Treatment Products.

When adult acne is treated in a doctor’s office it’s called “acne surgery”. When done at home, it’s called squeezing pimples. It gets immediate results—but when you squeeze pimples at home, you are begging for infection and scars. And squeezing or picking at pimples is a great way to get your acne to spread. Don’t do it! Doctors use a special sterile instrument to prevent scarring, infection, and acne spread.

Or you can check out the skin care products aisle at your local drug store. If you’ve ever tried to buy acne remedies, you know the drug store is loaded with all kinds of products. Which ones should you use? It’s not an easy choice, says dermatologist Julie Anne Winfield, Mill Valley, Calif.

“Which treatment is best depends on which type of acne you have,” Winfield tells WebMD. “It may well be worth a visit to dermatologist. They often have samples they could give you to try. People can spend a fortune on over-the-counter medicines when there is maybe one single prescription drug that could solve the problem. Be sure to use oil-free, non-comedogenic lotions or sunscreens. Use something very simple to wash your face with, as well as low-strength benzoyl peroxide. But it would be best to see a doctor to prevent possible acne scarring.”

The biggest breakthrough in acne treatment has been the development of topical retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A. New slow-release forms of this medicine greatly reduce the irritation it can cause.

Comparison of Over the Counter Acne Treatment Products:

Other acne treatments target the various causes of acne. They’re often used in combination. These acne treatments include:

Azelaic acid cream

Alpha-hydroxy acids (including glycolic acid, lactic acid, and gluconic acid)

Benzoyl peroxide

Topical antibiotics (gels, lotions, and solutions)

Antibiotic pills (haphazard use may lead to antibiotic resistance)

Birth controlBirth control pills for women

Accutane or Sotret for severe acne

One caveat: Accutane and Sotret can cause birth defects. Women who opt for this treatment must use foolproof birth control. Despite this and other concerns, these drugs are the treatment of choice for severe acne.

Treatments for acne adult in depend on how much scarring of the skin is being caused by the acne and also how much the person is affected by the acne. The doctor has to establish both of these facts as the treatments for acne are long term and need

commitment from both the doctor and patient. Acne can cause psychological suffering which does not necessarily reflect the acne severity.

Treatment of acne, even if it is mild, is therefore important as a person may be greatly affected by mild acne whereas another person who has very severe acne may not be self conscious at all.

This is very much down to the individual as the face is particularly sensitive an area to be affected during teenage years. Acne adult in can lead to reduced confidence and low self esteem and this should be recognised by healthcare professionals.

Treatment of acne adult in a combination of topical antibiotic and zinc has been shown to be more effective than with topical antibiotic alone [1] and equally effective as treatment with oral antibiotics [2]. Topical antibiotics may also be combined with benzoyl peroxide to improve efficacy [3, 4].

It is crucial to use the topical treatments correctly, in particular the prescribed number of times per day. Benefit will not be immediate and will develop over a number of weeks.

Benzoyl peroxide (2.5 - 10%) has both keratolytic and antibacterial properties. It is available in a range of creams, lotions and gels and is found in several “over the counter” cleansing lotions.

Benzoyl peroxide reduces the number of Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis types of bacteria. It can be very effective in the treatment of mild acne.

Bacterial resistance is much less likely to emerge with benzoyl peroxide than with topical antibiotics. Combination preparations with other antimicrobial agents such as erythromycin also exist, though these are prescription only.

Benzoyl peroxide’s keratolytic action reduces the blockage of the duct of the sebaceous gland.

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

Herbal Treatment of Acne Adult in Comparison of Over the Counter Acne Treatment Products.



LEE

100percentnature. Acne Vulgaris, the 8 Stages of Acne, Skin Care, Adult Acne Treatment, and Scar Removal Options

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Simon asked:


What is Acne Vulgaris? This is a medical term used to describe most cases of acne. It really isn’t as bad as it sounds! Vulgaris doesn’t mean that the acne is vulgar, only that it means that it is common.

Be aware that there are many factors that contribute to acne. First, research indicates a propensity for acne may well be inherited. Parents who had acne in their teenage and young adult years may have children who are likewise prone to having acne in their teen and young adult years.

Next, clogged skin pores are certainly a major contributing factor for acne out-breaks. When pores become clogged with an excess production of sebum and mix with dead skin cells or makeup that isn’t sufficiently cleaned from the skin, problems start to develop. When skin pores are clogged, bacteria are produced and pus starts to form causing a pimple, a white head or a black head.

The most commonly accepted causes for acne are hormonal imbalances. Hormones in boys and girls may become unbalanced during puberty, during menstrual cycles, when starting or stopping birth control pills, during times of extreme stress, and at other times as well.

All of the above situations can cause the body to over produce a male hormone which causes the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. The sebum combines with dead skin cells to block pores and acne develops. So, basically, it still comes back to blocked pores.

Other causes for acne include a lack of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that the body needs to maintain a healthy skin. Vitamins A, E and B6 are especially important in maintaining healthy skin as are zinc, essential fatty acids (EFA), Chromium and Selenium.

Most diets of teenagers and young adults do not contain these vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in sufficient quantity to maintain healthy skin and to help prevent the onset of Acne.

Acne: The 8 Stages:

Full blown, Stage 8 acne doesn’t usually develop overnight. Acne is progressive condition. Acne is one of the diseases that are so common that it is sometimes just disregarded as a serious problem…like the common cold. It has been estimated that 95 of people will have at least a mild case of acne at some point in their lives.

Acne, much like the common cold, is usually treated by the sufferer with over-the-counter medications that alleviate the symptoms of the disease in the belief that it will simply go away all by itself….eventually. And, it usually does but not always.

Most people throughout their life will have the occasional pimple, zit, white head or black head.

Although these pesky little outbreaks do seem to appear at the most inopportune times, they really aren’t a serious problem that requires medical attention. A little over-the-counter acne ****** wash to help prevent another outbreak will usually take care of the problem. It isn’t a big deal. This kind of acne is referred to as Stage 0 and really nothing to be concerned about unless the acne progresses to subsequent stages.

Acne stages are graded from 0 through 8. Zero is the least severe and 8 is the most serious of the stages. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: There will be white heads and black heads with some mild inflammation. The outbreaks will start to occur more frequently. Using products that contain Benzyl Peroxide are in order.

Stage 2: There will be some papules in addition to the white heads and black heads. Papules are skin lesions that are solid and raised but usually small. This is still considered to be a very mild case of acne. Treatment can be continued using over-the-counter products that contain Salicylic Acid.

Stage 3: Stage 3 is the same as stage 2 but with more frequent occurrences.

Stage 4-5: Pustules begin to appear. Now, it’s time to schedule an appointment at a dermatologist.

Stage 6-7: Nodules and cysts are forming. Scarring is going to start happening at this stage. Your dermatologist will begin to take more drastic action.

Stage 8: Breakouts are almost continuous and include nodules and cysts. There are modern technologies that will help and your dermatologist will advise you.

Acne Skin Care:

As we know, our hair follicles secrete sebum. Sebum makes its way up the hair follicles to the skin pores where it lubricates and protects the skin. Sometimes there are oil glands which get overworked, get enlarge, and produce too much sebum. The sebum can get trapped in the hair follicle.

When this happens the pores get clogged and black heads or white heads form and the bacteria start to multiply at an alarmingly fast rate.

Once you understand this process, you can see the reasoning behind the advice about caring for skin that has black heads, white heads and pustules on it.

The first piece of advice about caring for acne infected skin is to never pick at the pimples. Don’t try to pop them and drain them. This will not cure them no matter what anybody tells you. Popping them will only serve to make them worse…not better.

However, there are things that you can do that really will help.

The first thing you can do is to wash your face with a mild soap or a sulfur based soap. Wash your face with just your finger tips. Don’t ever use a wash cloth as it holds germs and bacteria. Rinse your face with clean water several times to ensure you remove all traces of soap, and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub your face with the towel and never use the same towel twice without it being clean.

Take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement every day and drink at least 8 full glasses of water (not soda) every day. The vitamins and minerals will supply nutrients that are absent from most diets and the water will help to hydrate the skin as well as to flush toxins out of your system.

If you use over-the-counter acne medications, be certain that you follow the directions carefully and that you use a good sunscreen when you are outdoors as some acne medications make the skin more prone to sunburn.

Adult Acne:

Acne is not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Once a person survives the teenage years, you would think that they don’t have to deal with the embarrassment of acne any longer, right? Well….not exactly.

The sad truth is that about 25 of women will have acne at some time in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. Although there has never been a real cause established, it is believed that most adult acne is caused by the same thing that causes teenage acne…hormonal changes.

A doctor will sometimes prescribe hormonal treatments that will clear a case of adult acne right up. As with teenage acne, adult acne is not caused by diet. Stress has often been cited as one possible cause of adult acne but that assertion has never been verified.

Treating adult acne is a bit more difficult than treating teenage acne. Adults have the concern of drying out their skin that teenagers don’t normally have to deal with. Adults don’t want pimples; but, they don’t want wrinkles, either. A dermatologist should be consulted if the acne is long lasting or is severe.

There are many treatments that are available to adults who suffer from acne. Most of the effective treatments are only available by prescription. Adults should not use over-the-counter acne medications that are intended for the treatment of teenage acne. These products tend to dry the skin and adults need to be concerned about wrinkling as well as acne.

A case of adult acne is not a happy occurrence to say because those ugly bumps always seem to occur at the most inopportune times and while a teenager may be embarrassed by acne, an adult is even more devastated.

Fortunately, there are treatments and a dermatologist has a lot of weapons in his arsenal to fight adult acne.

Acne Scar Removal Options:

Life hardly seems fair sometimes! First, a teenager or a young adult must suffer through acne, treat it, and have to live with it…sometimes for years. Then the acne is gone; but, the scars are there as a painful reminder of the mental and emotional agony the acne sufferer had to endure.

You’re right, life doesn’t seem fair; but, acne is one of those sad facts of life that some if not most of us have to deal with. The good news is there is help; unfortunately, it isn’t free or cheap!

There are two basic procedures that are used to remove ugly pits and scars left over from a bad case of teenage or young adult acne. Laser resurfacing is the least expensive of the two available acne scar removal procedures. Dermabrasion is the second procedure.

Laser resurfacing can be done in the dermatologist office instead of a hospital so that provides a much greater financial savings. A laser is used to remove the top layer of skin and also to tighten the middle layer of skin.

The dermatologist will use a local anesthetic to help reduce the procedure pain. It usually takes several days for the skin to heal after a laser resurfacing procedure is completed. Very often, multiple resurfacing treatments must be done to achieve the desired results.

The second procedure used to remove acne scarring is called dermabrasion. In this procedure, a rotating wire brush is used to remove the top layer of skin. The body continually produces new skin and the new layer will be smoother than the layer that was removed. It usually takes between 10 days and 3 weeks for the skin to heal after a dermabrasion treatment. Once again, multiple treatments may be required to eliminate the scarring.

Acne may seem to be a devastating condition but with proper skin routine, vitamins, and over the counter products, most cases will not be severe. Remember, proper cleansing goes a long way towards minimizing outbreaks, so don’t be afraid to cleanse your face 5 - 6 times a day of more if needed.

Fight acne by being smart. Take as many preventative steps as possible to avoid situations that create the opportunity for acne to develop. If acne does afflict you, acne treatment Just click



RANDOLPH

The Truth Behind Back Acne

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
Mike Walden asked:


It seems apparently that back acne is a lesser problem than the ones that appear on the face; this is because of the simple reason that they are on the portion of the skin that is covered by clothes. However the fact remains that back acne still remains a major cause for worry. Those who have them face embarrassment at places such as the gym and at the beach where they have to take off the cloth.

So if you are one of the victims of back acne and want to get a cure for it, you are in luck because this article is just for you. I have suffered from acne in the face and back for in excess of 7 years and have always wanted to come out with a permanent remedy. And with my continued research, I have finally found the relief that works not just for back acne, but also for the ones in the other places.

This article discusses why someone has back acne and how they are different to ****** acne. And not only that, you will also learn how you too can solve the back acne problems.

All about back acne:

There are various kinds of back acne such as whiteheads and blackheads and then there are big cystic acnes that reach deeper into the skin. The difference between ****** acne and back acne is that when they come up in the back, the treatment becomes more problematic, and back acne is also more prevalent. This makes it quite annoying.

In the back side of a human the number of sebaceous glands is much more and due to this the production of natural oils are also higher. This and also the fact that the human skin on the back is tougher ensure that back acne is usually severer than when they are formed on the face. The presence of cysts and nodules in large numbers also does not help this matter.

Why back acne occurs?

There are many who mistakenly think that back acne is caused when the skin is overexposed to the Sun ; they believe that this happens because the skin becomes dry from the exposure and thus ends up making more sebum to counter this. This extra sebum chokes the hair follicles, thus leading to the formation of the acne. Some also believe that back acne happens from low levels of nutrients in the body. However the fact is that, why back acne happens goes much deeper than this.

In truth, the causes of all kinds of acne, including back acne, lesions on the face, neck, whiteheads or blackheads are the same and they are the buildup of toxins in the body and an imbalance in the level of hormones.

Yes it is true that the skin on the back is tougher and there are more sebaceous glands here, but these factors do not cause back acne. However these factors may still make the symptoms worse. So go ahead and put on that moisturizer or stop exposing your skin to the Sun: these measures will definitely decrease the symptoms. However the back acne itself cannot be cured.

How is back acne different to the lesions on the face or the body?

The main difference cannot be attributed to the external features of the various body parts such as the number of sebaceous glands or the toughness of the skin or the level of dryness. Understanding this is crucial for handling the symptoms of the condition and for treatment that is applied externally.

But there is a basic difference between back acne and the ones in the other parts such as ****** acne and this difference is in the inside. Back acne basically happens from a high level of toxins in the lymph and the blood rather than from imbalance of the hormones.

Toxicity thus plays a more crucial role for back acne and it is not so the case for acne on the face. However hormonal imbalance still plays a role (even though it is not the #1 reason). This factor always has an impact; it is just that in back acne, it is not the major and dominant cause.

The only cure that works for back acne:

The correct approach is really quite simple: you have to fight the internal causes and neutralize them and once the real causes are taken on, the back acne problem can be permanently cured.

But do remember that since toxicity is the major cause, the treatment focus should also be to reduce the levels of the toxins.

Back acne can be best solved through the holistic path. The holistic approach not only challenges the external factors that worsen the acne, but it also treats the condition from the inside and offers tips to change the lifestyle so that you can lead a healthy life and finally get rid of back acne.



JOHNNIE

Teenage Acne: Causes, Symptoms And Cure

Sunday, May 17th, 2009
Mike Walden asked:


What are the causes of teenage acne and how to get rid of acne that is linked to puberty?

Teenage acne is bad news. Not only is it painful but its implications can be devastating too. In fact, teenage acne has been known to have a deep social, intellectual and emotional impact on the young person.

What worries most people about teenage acne is not the scars on the face (which anyways occurs), but its psychological impacts that may severely downgrade the self esteem of an individual. It can be so bad that the entire personality of the person changes and he carries the emotional scars even after becoming an adult, these are the psychological marks of teenage acne that has a far greater impact than the physical blemishes.

I know because I have suffered from teenage acne, it lasted for 13 years and it had a great negative impact on my intellectual and emotional growth. The impact changed me. I began to spend time alone with shame and out of fear and guilt too. And due to this, I can say that the acne deprived me of a normal teenage experience. I was finally able to come out of this after I found a cure which was possible only after 7 years of research and personal experimentation. And now I can say that I have finally been able to get rid of the acne problem. But the best news is, the acne has not returned and my skin today is great.

So go ahead and read this report to find out why people have teenage acne, what the role of the parents are, and how you can permanently solve this problem.

Learn about the symptoms and the theories of teenage acne

Blackheads, whiteheads, lesions that appear like boils, cysts and large pimples, teenage acne may appear in many types. And the severity of the outbreaks may also differ. In cases of a moderate outbreak, there are just a few growths on the back, chest or the face. However when the case is severe, then there are cysts that appear big and sore, and they come up all over the body. It looks bad.

Somehow more number of males seems to be affected by severe teenage acne than females. In males, the affected regions are also frequently the back and the chest.

But what causes teenage acne - well, there are many thoughts on this one. There are those who would say that the culprit is the hair follicles that get blocked. Then there are those who blame the genes. Another thought blames the body`s mechanism (the immunity) of fighting the acne bacteria. Some other popular causes include sudden increase in hormones or decrease in nutrients. Even the environmental lifestyle factors have been blamed for teenage acne.

Having done research on the subject for 7 years now, I now know what really causes the problem and so I can differentiate the real reasons from the false theories. This learning I have acquired through years of research, experimentation and trial and error. And now I have the answer that helps me beat acne.

So what really causes teenage acne?

The acne is not something that is temporary and so it is important to find out the causes. In truth, the real causes of teenage acne, no matter whether it is casual or severe, remain deep within the human body. To fight teenage acne, you will need to find an answer to these causes. Just treating the symptoms and neglecting the root causes never help, but this is the mistake many make. That is why OTC medications, antibiotics and other conventional drugs do not work. Though the symptoms go away, but the cause remains within the body and so the teenage acne returns.

When the body produces more hormones than it can deactivate and expel it can lead to an imbalance and this can lead to teenage acne. In some cases the body begins to make more oil and this prompts the acne too. The growths may also appear due to the buildup of toxins in the blood and lymph.

There is just one way you can treat teenage acne and this is by eradicating the causes that are making the lesions to appear.

Teenage Acne: what can the parents do?

The role of the parents is always crucial because of the deep social and emotional impact that teenage acne can have. Each person needs to be understood and should be carefully and thoughtfully handled. Proper understanding is very important here.

Never ever make your child believe that you think that he or she needs to be blamed for the teenage acne that the person has. This will only worsen the issue. A better approach would be to show empathy and hold your patience and help the person come out of his dreadful condition.

Do make an attempt to feel the pain he or she is going through. Make the person understand that you are with him or her and that the child is still regarded highly, spend some time together, and talking is important here.

No one likes to suffer from teenage acne and so finding a cure is crucial because otherwise there can be a negative impact on the social and intellectual growth. Make them feel confident that you are always there to help them fight the condition and move on in life. Show them that you care by showing your own research on the subject.

Fight teenage acne successfully

Though there are quite a few remedies all around us, such as antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, conventional drugs and even steroids, but the truth is, just one works. In fact many of these remedies actually worsen the condition as they come with side effects. The real causes are all internal and they need to be taken on to beat teenage acne. Just treating the external symptoms will never work as they are just manifestations.

All the factors of teenage acne can be successfully treated only through the holistic approach, and this treatment gives permanent results too. The approach here is to take on both the internal as well as the external factors. With the holistic approach you can not only get rid of teenage acne, but also improve your health by fighting other diseases that occur from hormonal imbalances such as kidney problems, hair loss. With the teenage acne gone, the person can go out there and have a great emotional, social and intellectual life.



SCOTTIE

Rashes – Causes and Home Treatment

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
james sameul asked:


What is sun rash?

A rash is defined as a change in the skin’s appearance, which may involve alternations in texture (eg rough or smooth) and/or it’s colour. The skin may also become itchy, warmer, dry, cracked, blistered, lumpy or painful. Depending on where the rash is located, other symptoms you are experiencing, what you have been exposed to and any family history, there are many causes for a rash.

Most of us enjoy the sun, but some people’s skin can be very sensitive to the sun in spring and summer, especially those with pale skin and red hair. For them, exposure to sunlight results in a rash which may recur throughout the summer.

Rashes are generally caused by skin irritation, which can have many causes. A rash is generally a minor problem that may go away with home treatment. In some cases, a rash does not go away or the skin may become so irritated that medical care is needed.

Who is at most risk of getting sun rash?

It is commonly seen in children and young women and tends to be recurrent. Those who suffer from it get relief only during the winter. The condition usually disappears as they get older and reach their 40s or 50s.

Common Causes

A simple rash is called dermatitis, meaning inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis is caused by things your skin touches, such as:

·    Dyes and other chemicals in clothing

·    Chemicals in elastic, latex, and rubber products

·    Cosmetics, soaps, and detergents

·    Poison ivy, oak, or sumac

Seborrheic dermatitis is a rash that appears in patches of redness and scaling around the eyebrows, eyelids, mouth, nose, the trunk, and behind the ears. If it happens on your scalp, it is called dandruff in adults and cradle cap in infants.

What are the different types of common skin rashes?

Whether it is used by patients or doctors, the word “rash” does not have an exact meaning or refer to a specific disease or kind of disorder. It’s a general term that means an outbreak of bumps on the body that changes the way the skin looks and feels. Rashes can be localized to one area or else be widespread. The way people use this term, a rash can refer to many different skin conditions. Common categories of rash are

·    scaly patches of skin not caused by infection

·    scaly patches of skin produced by fungus or bacterial infection, and

·    red, itchy bumps or patches all over the body

DIAPER RASH

When your beautiful baby is born, her skin is often perfect in every way. It is softer and smoother than it will ever be again. You are dismayed when she wakes up and her bottom is red and irritated when you change her diaper. What happened! What did you do wrong? Absolutely nothing!

Ringworm

Another skin condition that’s commons this time of year is ringworm. Dr. Marshall says ringworm, despite what the name implies, is a fungal infection of the skin or scalp. It is not caused by a worm. Dr. Marshall explains it can be passed from one child to another or from an infected puppy or kitten. Ringworm of the skin usually causes a scaly, dry, round lesion with a clear center that can be itchy. In the scalp, it usually causes round scaly bald patches in your child’s hair.

Home treatment for minor rashes

Home treatment often can relieve discomfort and itching until a rash clears up. If you have come in contact with a substance that causes contact dermatitis (such as poison ivy, oak, or sumac), immediately wash the area with large amounts of water.



GRANT

Cure Your Dry Skin Rash

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
jackb son asked:


If you are lacking in certain nutrients or are undernourished you are more often than not likely to become more prone to skin disease. We in the West are overfed on junk food and undernourished. We eat far too much salt, sugar, animal fats, processed foods and junk foods.

We also take in non-nutrient substances such as pesticides, preservatives and colorings.

So it is logical that to cure your eczema or dry skin rash you eat a healthy diet which will strengthen your skin, your immune system and your vital organs and dramatically reduce your food sensitivity in general, and eliminate specific food allergies in particular.

Typical Rashes

Rash in short: is an acute and widespread temporary reddish eruption on the skin. A rash can develop in individuals that are sensitive to a particular drug, prescription or nonprescription. The rashes are characterized by itching of an intensity that can interfere with sleep or normal activities. The rash results from the entire body reacting to the drug itself and usually develops early in treatment rather than after the drug has been taken for a period of time.

Rash is a change in the skin which affects its appearance and or texture. Most often a rash is localised to one part of the body, but other times it can have an affect on the entire body. Rashes can cause the skin to change color, become bumpy, dry, and itchy, and swell among other things that can result in a lot of pain. Because of the wide array of rash symptoms treatments also vary widely.

Rash Guards

Quality rash guards are used for outdoor activities such as:

- surfing

- swimming

- grappling

- snorkeling

Rash guards are a practical and economical safeguard against the sun. UV rays cause sunburn. Sun damage accumulates over time. Extended sun exposure without protection may result in premature aging and even skin cancer. In addition to sunscreen, sun protection clothing such as rash guards are highly recommended by dermatologists to deter the damaging effects of the sun!

Sports rash guards protect the skin from sun burn and sun damage caused by harmful UV rays. This type of sun protection clothing is made for men, women, and children. There are even toddler rash guards available for purchase these days.

Treatment and Prevention

So here are six important steps you can take immediately to help your body fight off eczema and dry skin rash:

1 - To Eliminate Dry Skin Rash; Cut down on the amount of animal fat that you eat. Animal fat can be found in foods such as cheese and meat.

2 - To Eliminate Dry Skin Rash; dramatically increase the amount of raw foods you eat. Say anywhere between 50-75%.

3 - To Eliminate Dry Skin Rash; Avoid all junk or heavily processed foods.

4 - To Eliminate Dry Skin Rash; Reduce the amount of sugar and alcohol you consume.

5 - To Eliminate Dry Skin Rash; Increase the amount of vegetable oils and oily fish.

6 - To Eliminate Dry Skin Rash; Take regular supplements of Evening Primrose oil,

Fish Oils, Vitamin A, B and E, Zinc, Selenium and Magnesium.



TERENCE

Searching for an Acne Skin Care Product Without Nasty Side Effects?

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Antonio LeMaire asked:


Finding an acne skin care product that really works and doesn’t cause uncomfortable side effects is a never-ending battle for many patients. With all of the “miracle” acne medicines that claim to banish your pimples overnight, it’s no wonder consumers are skeptical.

If you frequently suffer from acne outbreaks, there are several topical skin care products available as an alternative to oral prescription drugs. Acne medicine in the form of topical creams or gels generally has fewer and less serious side effects.

What Causes Acne

Acne occurs when a hair follicle becomes clogged and bacteria grow on the surrounding skin. The overgrowth of bacteria causes the skin to become inflamed and the result is acne in the form of pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and boils.

Mild acne can be treated with over-the-counter formulations, but moderate to severe cases call for stronger prescription acne medicine.

Acne Affects All Ages

When someone mentions acne, the first thought that comes to mind is a pimply-faced teenager. But acne is not restricted to this age group. Both young and middle aged adults make up a large percentage of patients who use acne skin care products on a regular basis.

Like teens, adult patients often feel embarrassment and anxiety about their skin’s appearance. Finding an acne medicine that works quickly and prevents future outbreaks is important to acne sufferers of all ages.

Acne Skin Care Tip - Seek a Physician’s Advice

It’s best to seek a dermatologist’s advice before selecting an acne medicine to use over the long term. Some skin care products are effective initially but after extended use they may not produce the same results.

A dermatologist is better qualified than your family physician to recommend an acne medicine that best suits your skin care needs, depending upon the severity and frequency of your acne outbreaks.

Advantages of Topical Creams as Acne Medicine

Some prescription acne medicine in pill form can produce unwanted side effects almost as troubling as the acne itself. In order to avoid these complications, many doctors will prescribe a topical cream instead of oral medications.

These acne skin care creams and gels are often just as effective as skin care pills. Topical skin care products can also be used by patients who may be unable to take prescription pills due to drug interactions.

BenzaClin Topical Cream

BenzaClin topical gel is a prescription acne medicine commonly used to treat mild to moderate acne. Unlike other skin care products that require some time before an improvement is noticed, BenzaClin works quickly to treat skin care problems such as acne vulgaris.

Patients wishing to try BenzaClin can do so without the worry of serious side effects that frequently accompany many oral prescriptions drugs. The most common side effects caused by BenzaClin are usually limited to the skin and may include dryness, redness, or itching in the affected area.

BenzaClin acne medicine is applied to acne outbreaks just twice a day. Its active ingredients include clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide.

Benzoyl peroxide is a well-known acne medicine that reduces both oily skin and inflammation. Clindamycin is a powerful antibiotic that kills the bacteria responsible for acne outbreaks.

Coupled together, these two ingredients are the basis for a potent acne skin care product that is generally well tolerated by most people.

Preventative Skin Care Tips - Recognizing Acne Triggers

In addition to finding an acne skin care treatment that works well for you, it is just as important to know what conditions or substances can trigger your acne outbreaks. Here are some tips to reduce your acne woes:

1. After an acne flare up, do not pick or scratch at the affected area. Doing so can postpone the healing process and lead to scarring. Instead, continue using your prescribed acne medicine or other skin care product until the condition subsides.

2. Don’t over wash or scrub your blemishes. Many acne sufferers think their skin condition is due to poor hygiene. This is not the case. In fact, many acne patients clean or wash their faces too often, which can aggravate the skin.

3. Although no specific foods have been linked to acne, eating a well balanced diet should be part of your overall health and skin care regime. By eating a healthy diet and avoiding an excessive amount of processed foods, you can improve your health as well as limit acne occurrences.

4. Get enough rest. While a good night’s sleep won’t rid your face of pimples, a regular schedule that includes at least six hours of uninterrupted sleep will help your body function better and limit the number of future acne outbreaks.

5. Try not to stress out over acne. Stress is one of the leading causes of acne in adults. To increase the effectiveness of your acne skin care product, try incorporating various stress techniques into your daily routine. Exercise or participate in some other activity that helps take your mind off of your acne.



ISAAC