Acne In Detail

Acne Scars

2009-10-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

Acne is an inflammation of the skin that affects people from every country and every culture around the world. In the US, acne is predominantly thought of as a teenage dilemma, as more than eighty percent of teens and preteens will develop some form of acne. However, the condition certainly affects a large number of adults and even infants. The scientific name for the condition is acne vulgaris because acne usually strikes in plainly visible locations such as the face, neck, chest and back. There are various types of acne that range in annoyance, severity, and healing time. The most severe type of acne may even lead to scars that if not treated properly, may be visible for a lifetime. If you or a loved one is troubled by severe acne, here's what you need to know about acne scars and what you need to do to avoid and care for them.
How Does Acne Form?
Contact with an oily substance such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, or petroleum is a potential cause of acne, as is the use of certain medication and steroids. However, acne is most often cause by the secretion of androgens. Acne is also aggravated by milk or dairy products, red meat and fast food. Androgens are sex hormones that are initially secreted at the onset of puberty. They are male hormones but they are secreted by females as well. Androgens stimulate the production of oil from the skin's oil glands. Acne occurs when these overactive oil glands become blocked, causing the oil to build up in the gland and swell. A bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes normally colonizes this swollen gland causing the development of inflammation and pus. In particularly severe cases, the glands may burst into the skin and produce cysts.
Types Of Acne
Acne blemishes are categorized into four grades, ranging from mild to very severe.
Grade I: Mild acne falls into this category. People with grade I acne generally have blackheads and whiteheads but pimples are not present. Grade II: The condition is considered moderate acne when blackheads, whiteheads, and small pimples are present, but they are confined to the face and the inflammation they cause is minimal. Grade III: Severe acne includes blackheads, whiteheads, and deeper pimples with more pronounced swelling. Grade IV: acne is considered very severe when it occurs on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. Pustules and deeper cysts occur with very severe acne and scarring may result if the condition is not cared for properly. Preventing Acne Scars
The most important rule for acne sufferers to remember is that you should never pick or squeeze acne blemishes. This can lead to the spread of acne and the development of acne scars. Instead, there are a number of herbal, homeopathic, and traditional formulas that can be used to treat acne and prevent the development of acne scars. Herbs work naturally with the body to reduce acne blemishes and prevent the development of acne scars. Echinacea and poke root are often used for their anti-inflammatory properties and red clover may be beneficial for its estrogenic action. Witch hazel has excellent astringent properties and may be very effective on acne.
Relieving Acne Scars
Acupuncture: Stagnant of Chi in the channels of the face is said to be the cause of acne. Acupuncture performed on these points of the face may help relieve acne, and prevent the development of acne scars.
Surgery: In moderate to severe cases of acne, doctors may use surgery to open up the blemishes and remove blackheads and whiteheads. Unlike medication treatments, the effects of acne surgery are usually more immediate. And surgery is also effective in reducing the development and visibility of acne scars.
Cleaning the intestinal Tract: Acne can be a by-product of a filthy intestinal tract and colon. In most cases when the colon is clean the acne will go away. I recommend the intestinal cleanser Oxy-Powder.

3 Tips on How to Get Rid of Pimple Marks

2009-10-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

If you have struggled with acne for a number of years you'll be familiar with the sinking feeling that comes with realizing that the spots are gone but the marks remain. This is a problem that many people face and often leads to undue stress and the gradual undermining of the sufferer's confidence. There are many different options available to those trying to eliminate the marks left by spots, ranging from relatively inexpensive over-the-counter preparations to complicated medical procedures. Everyone's skin is different and it can be a mistake to assume that the more expensive the treatment, the more effective it will be. There are many positives to opting for a natural treatment to deal with pimple marks; the most obvious being not having to worry about potential side-effects. Here are some natural and effective tips on how to get rid of pimple marks:

Vitamin E

The benefits of vitamin E for skin are now widely accepted. What many people do not realize, however, is that these marks are often caused by a vitamin E deficiency. Buy a good quality vitamin E skin preparation and apply it to the affected area four times daily. You should begin to see results within a couple of weeks.

Tea tree oil

Known for its natural antiseptic properties, tea tree oil is an excellent way to get rid of pimple marks. Applied daily, not only will it treat your existing pimple marks but it can actually prevent the appearance of new ones.

Pureed fruits

Fruits containing ascorbic acid (like pineapple or apple) have been shown to be effective in reducing pimple marks. You should puree your chosen fruit, apply it to the affected area and leave it for 20 minutes before rinsing off.
The beauty of these tips is that they don't require the use of specialist equipment and they won't cost you the earth. If you're tired of dealing with pimple marks, give them a try. What have you got to lose?

The Real Effective Anti Aging Treatments

2009-04-03T06:12:00.000-07:00

With time and age, it is normal for changes to take place in your skin, but you need not let the signs of aging show on your face. Although irreversible, you can learn how to slow down the process of aging and keep your skin glowing and youthful all throughout your life. There are many effective anti-aging treatments that can help you achieve your goals and combat the many signs of aging. In this article we list the many effective anti-aging treatments that can help you get healthy and glowing skin. Putting a little bit of effort into proper skin care can really provide with many benefits. Make sure to follow the right skin care advice and you would soon notice the positive difference.
Below is a list of effective anti-aging treatments that can help you age gracefully:
A good skin care routine is must if you want to get youthful and radiant skin. There is no time period when you must start a skin acre routine but it is best to start as early as possible for the desired results. Develop a proper skin care routine and make sure to use it every day; this shall help keep your skin glowing and healthy. Also, make it a point to change skin care products accordingly with the needs of your skin.
There can be nothing better than living a healthy lifestyle to get youthful skin. Follow a balanced diet that includes natural antioxidants. Find out what nutrients you body lacks and make sure to include it in your diet. You may also consider making use of antioxidant supplements. Also, make sure that you exercise on a regular basis. Smoking can lead to premature aging and hence it is a good idea to quit the bad habit for good. You must also try and limit your alcohol intake.
Proper rest is essential for good health. You must give your body enough time to repair and recover. A good night's sleep can help you wake up energized and rejuvenated. Eight hours of peaceful, restful sleep can work wonders on your skin. Make sure to get adequate rest otherwise you may notice your skin aging faster.
Although there are many commercial products that can help slow down the process of aging, natural treatments are also just as beneficial if not more. There are many home remedies that can help restore the fresh and glowing look on your face. Even if you opt for commercial products, make sure that the products are mostly natural so that it does not harm your skin.
Now, that you have a clear idea about the many effective anti-aging treatments, use the above information to get radiant and youthful skin.

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Natural Acne Remedies - The Best Natural Remedies For Acne

2009-03-28T01:11:00.000-07:00

Diet, stress, unclean skin or hormonal imbalances can all lead to acne. For ages people have turned towards natural acne remedies as a way to safely and easily treat this skin condition. It stands to reason that if stress can cause acne, if you relieve some of that stress; it will help clear the acne up, too.
However, there are a whole host of natural remedies for acne that can be found around your house. They're safe to apply, and we're going to have a look at some of them now.
Natural Home-Made Acne Remedies
One of the best natural remedies for acne may make you say, "Ewwwww!" However, it does work in most cases, although many people find the sliminess of the remedy to be less than comforting.
Simply cook some oatmeal, let it cool and apply it to you face for ten to fifteen minutes before washing it off. The oatmeal will soften the skin and should remove any dirt or detritus that has accumulated in your pores.
Here are a few more, easy to do natural home remedies:
Rub garlic cloves over the acne and let it sit overnight.
Wash your face using an avocado paste that's been mixed with water.
Wash your face with soap and water, then take a cotton ball that's been soaked in lemon water and apply it to your face.
Every morning wash your face using a cotton ball soaked in vinegar.
Separate the whites of an egg from the yolk. Next take a cotton ball and dip it into the egg whites and apply to your face. Let it sit for a few hours before washing it off.
Lavender is said to help with acne inflammation.
Juice a cucumber and apply the juice to the acne using a cotton ball.
Use toothpaste on the acne. Do not apply it to your entire face, since toothpaste will dry your skin out. Instead, apply it only to the acne spot.
If you suffer from out of control acne, you should consult your family doctor immediately. You can then discuss some of the best natural remedies for acne with him or her, and decide on your best course of action.
While natural acne remedies can help treat the symptoms of acne (pimples and blemishes), it is absolutely necessary to also seek solutions which will target the root causes, e.g. stress, diet, self-care, etc...

Get Rid of Acne in 3 Days Or Less - Get Your Self Esteem Back Today

2009-03-25T06:19:00.001-07:00

We now live in a world where appearance means everything. Even though it shouldn't, people will always judge you by your appearance. For that reason, the average person with a acne problem will be to self conscious to try new things. Did you ever get mad because you were afraid to apply for that job or ask that one person out? Believe it or not, but you are no different then most people with an acne problem. More and more people are still spending countless hours looking for that treatment that will finally get rid of acne for good.
The great news for you is that you are able to regain your self esteem today. Thanks to the internet, you are now able to find some of the smaller companies that will offer the latest treatments to get rid of acne fast. You no longer have to keep using the "over the counter" acne treatments. Chances are that you have been using them for a while with very little results. The reason for this is that you skin is not reacting to the medicine in a positive way. What you need to do is find a different company that will make an acne treatment that will work for your skin type.
In order to find an acne treatment that was made for your skin, you use to have to see you doctor. The biggest problem with that was the cost. Not only would you have to buy the ance treatment, you would also have to pay for the doctors visit.
Because you are now able to find some of the smaller companies, you no longer have to settle for those two options. You are now able to find acne treatments that will work like a prescription but will cost the same price as the "over the counter" treatments.

Acne Causes And Prevention Tips

2009-03-17T03:46:00.000-07:00

People who have been pestered by acne are starting to realize that the best way to handle the skin disorder is to address it where it has originated. It is therefore crucial to identify and determine acne causes in order to effectively treat and prevent the skin disorder.The Importance of Finding Acne Causes
Finding out what brings about acne is the most important step in addressing your acne issues. Not being able to identify the cause will only bring temporary results no matter how effective you perceive the applied treatment is. It is not enough to treat acne at its symptoms since it will just relief you for some time and then find its way back to your skin.
What Causes Acne
There are several acne causes that have been revealed by dermatologists all over the world. Some of the more popular causes are: hormonal imbalance, excessive production of oils, improper hygiene, stress, other ailments such as diabetes, pregnancy.How to Prevent Acne
When You Know What Causes It
Upon identification and determination of the root causes, you can now start your treatment and preventive measures.
First, you have to make sure that your over-all health is in good condition. The skin, considered to be the largest organ in body, is an integral component of the body and to ensure its healthy condition, one should also have to ensure that the rest of the body is healthy as well.
As the skin is not just an outward concern or for aesthetics only, what you out inside is as crucial as what you do outside of the skin. Eating the right food is important. You may have to alter your bad eating habits if you want to enjoy a more permanent result in the treatment and prevention of acne.
Stress, being one of the more prevalent acne causes, should be avoided preferably at all cost. There are several means to handle stress. Having the right attitude is key to managing your stress. If you live a stress-free life, you will soon realize that enjoying an acne-free skin is possible and easy.
Another top issue is the excessive production of oil. This can be addressed by gently exfoliating the skin with preferably your home made scrub or a suitable gentle product that you can find in the market today. It is also crucial to cleanse your face on a regular basis and maintain good hygiene.
Back to Basics
Preventing acne when you know what causes it may mean you will have to go back to basics. Using ice pack on the face is proven to be one basic measure to prevent acne. Removing make-up is another basic procedure that is often ignored but one of the more important preventive measure in treating acne.

Get Rid of Acne in 3 Days Or Less - Get Your Self Esteem Back Today

2009-03-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Getting Cardio Exercise at Home Without Exercise Equipment

2009-03-12T03:48:00.000-07:00

Cardio exercise is one of the most important aspects of weight loss. Many people consider purchasing cardio equipment in order to get their exercise done. A treadmill, exercise bike or elliptical machine all seem like they would get you motivated to start exercising.
However, how many people do you know that have one of these machines that acts like a clothes rack. Or perhaps it's stuffed under their bed. People buy these machines and then they don't use them. This is a complete waste of money!
On the other hand, you also have people that think that because they don't have cardio equipment, they can't do any exercising at all. This is also a crazy idea.
If you want to exercise to lose weight, there's really no need to purchase exercise equipment. There are plenty of ways that you can get cardio exercise at home without exercise equipment.
The best way to start is simply by going for a walk. This allows you to get your cardio exercise and some fresh air at the same time. Make sure that you prepare for the weather. If it's a hot day, bring along a hat and extra water. If it's cold, dress warmly.
Once you've gotten used to walking, you may want to start jogging. This is one of the best methods for losing weight because it burns so many calories. Of course, it's intimidating to try to start jogging if you've never done it before. Start slowly by jogging for short bursts, followed by a walking recovery period.
You don't need a stairmaster if you have stairs! Walking up and down stairs is a great way to get an aerobic workout. If you don't have stairs in your house, look for areas around your town that might have stairs that you can walk up - perhaps a park or school.
If you're not ready to go outside to get your exercise, you can do jumping jacks or jogging in place inside your home. Make sure that you still wear supportive sneakers so that you don't injure yourself.
Many people enjoy working out to aerobics videos. These days, you can find videos that will give you a great workout, while still being fun. Look especially for videos that are based on dance moves. Or just turn on some loud music and dance.

How to Write a Review

2009-03-11T02:07:00.000-07:00

Reviews, like man, are not created equal - some are just plain crap and do nothing but confuse their readers, as opposed to inspiring them to see something their way. A review, however, is not as blatant as an opinion piece. Put it this way - if an opinion piece was a full-scale military invasion, then a review would be a sneak-undercover attack.
Of course, you'll need to have the following:
Introductions are never overrated - make sure you introduce whatever you're reviewing, perhaps include some background information (if it's a book, details of author/their inspiration, etc).
A general overview of the product should come next. If it's a film or book, details of plot (without giving too much away!) and basic first impressions.
Then, it's important to evaluate whatever you're reviewing. What were the good points? the bad points? was it easy to use? What could be changed? After you've done all that, conclude with your brutally honest opinion. And we mean brutal - we didn't call it 'rough' review just for fun!
The bottom line is that it's important to know your details, know what you're reviewing and be able to pick it apart, or perhaps rip it to shreds. Consider it from all angles and remember that it's important to remember that you want to appear credible, knowledgeable to the average person (aka, your target audience) and that your opinion is worth considering when they're deciding if something is worthwhile. Don't expect a polemic rant about what an utter waste of time that film you saw recently was to draw any sort of welcome attention - back up your opinion with evidence.
Make sure that your language is accessible and that the piece doesn't drag. When in doubt, it's best to keep it short and sweet...unlike this how-to.
Whether you're interested in professional writing or simply love reviewing as a hobby, your submissions are always welcome at Rough Review.com. When you're ready to submit,
In this day and age, everyone has an opinion. Sometimes, you want this opinion, other times you don't. Reviewing something, be it a book, film, product or event, therefore becomes a risky pursuit. In the wise words of Dr. Carolyne Lee, author of 'Power Prose', "reviewing is telling other people what to think of something, getting them to see something your way. But we humans don't usually like being told what to think, so there are certain conventions we must follow if we want to capture and keep an audience long enough to tell them anything"

Do's and Don't of Banner Design

2009-03-07T00:36:00.001-08:00

Banner ads are very important and crucial for advertising your business over internet. An effective banner design can bring lots of potential customers/clients to your website and will certainly increase your company business and sales. Your banner ads needs to be stylish but at the same time should fit into the concept of your website and business. Creating a banner design is not a hard task and you can easily make your own flash banner by hiring the services of a graphics expert or by using flash banner software. Choosing a designer or banner software depends upon the choice and banner design needs of individuals however there are few important things about banner design that you may keep in mind while designing a banner.
Use flash animation: Flash banners attract more visitor attention that simple banners and also CTR and ROI of flash animated banners is more at compared to normal graphic banner ads.
Highlight your business: Always highlight your business marketing plan in you banners and make sure you banner ad has a theme similar to your website and business.
Keep it Simple: Use simple animation and design patterns. Don't overwork on animation ad it may cause longer load time and visitor may get irritated or leave the banner ad right away.
Check your links: Double check the links in your banner ads, broken links are the major cause of failure of banner ad campaigns.
Use call to action: Use a visible call to action like click here, find more etc. This will make users to visit your website.

SEO Expert Tips and Strategies

2009-03-06T03:27:00.000-08:00

Are you looking to boost your rankings in the search engines? If you are, perhaps you can benefit from some SEO expert advice. The SEO world can be pretty confusing at times. That is because there are just too many sources of information - the search engines, the gurus, the SEO wannabes, etc. Here are some expert tips and strategies that you can rely on.
Tip 1: Post 100 percent unique and original content on your own site.
Unique and original means that the content must not be published elsewhere. You need unique content to ensure that your website and web pages get indexed in the search engines. If there is duplicate content detected, the search bot may decide to junk your page and index the other one.
Tip 2: Include keyword phrase in title tags and URLs.
There are many things you can do to optimize your site for the search engines. But this is the most important thing you must do. Always include the keyword phrase in the title tags and the URLs. If possible, use a static URL instead of a string. The search bots will find your site much easier to index.
Tip 3: Be an aggressive link builder.
You can build links yourself, or you can outsource all your link building activities. The majority of your time must be spend on building high quality inbound links to your sites. The more inbound links you have, the higher you will rank in the search results. Note that there is really no link building method that is completely free. There will always be some work involved. Consider using article distribution services to build back links.

All About Teleseminars - Should You Add Phone-based Training to Your Services Offerings?

2009-03-05T00:40:00.000-08:00

What is a Teleseminar?
A teleseminar is a class, workshop or lecture delivered over the telephone. It gives students access to training materials they might not be able to find in their local community, and allows them to learn new material without having to travel.
The teacher is usually called a teleclass leader or teleseminar leader. Their job is to create and foster a learning environment where people feel free to ask questions, share ideas and challenges, and discuss the class materials. While some people have a natural ability to teach via telephone, many people find that attending a teleclass leader training program helps them learn specific techniques for phone-based training.
How do Teleseminars Work?
The teacher and students meet via a teleconference line (also known as a telebridge line). As you can imagine, chaos might reign with so many people on a teleconference line, so generally-accepted teleclass etiquette guidelines have been created to help foster the conversation without people talking over each other.
Teleseminars can be a one-time event, where everyone meets on the phone for one hour, or an ongoing series, where everyone meets once a week for several weeks or even months. The more sophisticated the topic and the more in-depth the training agenda, the longer students meet with the teacher. Often during series-style teleseminars, the teacher will assign homework to be completed between class meetings. This helps the student to apply what they learned that week to a real-world situation or project.
Because teleseminars are primarily an audio format, teleclass leaders often provide handouts that students can download from the teacher's website, visual supplement to the audio teleclass. Traditionally these handouts are in PDF format so that most people can open them. However, some teleclass leaders use Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint slideshows, Flash slideshows, and other downloadable content to help the learning experience.
The calls are typically recorded so that students can download these audio files to their computer or iPod/MP3 player, and listen again at their leisure. This helps to cement the learning and allows students to refresh what they have learned whenever they need to, sometimes months or years later. In this fashion, a teleseminar becomes a life-long learning opportunity for the student.
What Types of Teleseminars are There?
Lecture style - In a lecture teleseminar, the teleclass leader has a set agenda of information to share. Typically all the students are put on mute and listen to the information being presented. While this may seem like a passive way to learn, it is usually a very condensed way to learn as well. A well-designed lecture teleclass will give the students a huge amount of learning material in a short period of time which can be an effective way of learning for some.
Interactive style - In an interactive teleseminar, the teleclass leader lectures part of the time, and has set aside time for questions and answers and participatory exercises. This style of teleclass is appreciated by the adult learner who likes to mull over what is being taught and apply it immediately to their own situation. Interactive teleclasses also create a lively atmosphere, full of energy and excitement, fostering a deep learning environment.
What are the Benefits of Teleseminars?
For the student, it is a chance to learn a wide array of topics without having to leave home or the office. Some adult students have a very busy life and teleseminars allow them to quickly get training in one-hour increments without having to travel to multiple destinations. Student can even learn while on business trips. Because there are no travel or hotel costs associated with teleclasses, students can save money.
For the teacher, it is an opportunity to teach students from across the nation and around the world. Many teachers add teleclasses to their service offerings as a way to meet new prospective clients, share their ideas more globally, and increase revenue.
For everyone concerned, teleseminars are a great way to meet other people, especially if the teleclass leader encourages participation. Some leaders will create an online message forum, where students can continue the discussion between phone calls, again fostering both community and continued learning. If the teleclass is recorded, students who miss a session can still access the recording and catch-up with the lessons before the next class session.
Teleseminars are beneficial to both the student and teacher, offering both distance learning and a community environment that home-study courses lack. Whether you teach teleclasses or take a teleclass as a student, you will gain positive experience and a great new network of friends.

Simple Acne Scarring Treatments

2009-03-03T03:55:00.000-08:00

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WHAT IS ACNE VULGARIS?

2008-05-06T05:51:00.000-07:00

Medical Wellness Center's Online Differin® Prescriptions offers an easy and convenient way to treat Grade I, Grade II and Grade III Acne Vulgaris. If you have been diagnosed and suffer from Acne Vulgaris, you can safely and effectively try Differin® as a treatment regimen from the convenience and privacy of your PC without time-consuming and costly doctor visits.

If you have any health concerns in any way, you should contact your own physician for further advice.

Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease affecting almost 17 million Americans. It is a disorder of the skin's sebaceous oil glands located at the base of the hair follicle, especially on the face, neck, chest, upper back and shoulders, resulting in plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples. Although acne is not a serious health threat, if not treated acne can cause permanent scarring.

Acne varies in severity form some white heads and blackheads (Grade I) to severe pustular and cystic acne (Grade IV). Differin® is a recommended topical treatment of Grade I - Grade III acne vulgaris. Differin® is not indicated for those with Grade IV Acne where pustules and cysts predominate - severe pustular and deep cystic nodular acne known as Acne Conglobulata.

TIPS FOR SURVIVING ACNE:

Cleanse your face regularly with a mild NON-soap cleanser such as Cetaphil, but not too often. No more than twice a day

NEVER squeeze, pick, or pinch acne pimples or use sharp objects on them. This will only contribute to infection, inflammation and scarring.

If you use cosmetics or moisturizers, be sure they are "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic." Use oil-free cosmetics and moisturizers.

Be patient as it can take several weeks or longer for your acne to clear and even longer for large pimples to fade completely.

Use your acne medications regularly and consistently to help the formation of new pimples. Remember, once a pimple starts, it can stick around for weeks or months. It is easier to prevent new pimples from forming than to have to wait for existing ones to clear.

Follow your doctor's recommendations in treatment of Acne caring for your skin.

If your acne does not respond to treatment after 12 weeks consult your own physician immediately.

In order for Differin® to be effective one must use it consistently as directed. If you get severe irritation or blistering discontinue use and consult your own physician. I would be sharing some house hold tips for treatment of Acne in my next post

Treatments for Acne Symptoms

2008-04-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Before I begin I must first re-emphasise that the only way to truly prevent acne is to address the underlying cause inside the body with a healthy pH balance, as previously mentioned. However, if you are to use a treatment to supplement this until you have achieved and maintained the right pH level, then here are a few pointers.

Without a doubt, the most important factor in choosing a treatment is its natural qualities. It’s very simple: the more natural the better. Any treatment that has any chemical or mineral that does not occur naturally in nature will have side effects. Treatments can often cause more damage than they repair. For example, most acne creams will use an active ingredient (most frequently benzoyl peroxide or a similar chemical) to dry the affected area. While this can be effective in the short term, daily use can lead to excessively dry skin and can also cause ‘rebound’ effect - meaning that when you stop using the product a large number of pimples will be produced very quickly, often being worse than before the treatment was started. Despite this, in moderate use there are some products than can be effective when combined with other treatments.

For instance, the best treatment for acne scars that I have so far discovered is the Proativ Repairing Lotion. Now rather than buy the entire pack (with face wash and toner) I choose to buy only the repairing lotion. Any facial scrub and toner will do the same if not very similar job as the Proactiv option.

Facial scrubs and/or exfoliating loufas are a daily essential not just for acne sufferers, but for all who wish to look after their skin. All day, every day our skin is shedding dead cells. Most of the time these dead skin cells do not are not completely disposed of and remain on the skin attracting bacteria and allowing a higher build-up of oil. Using a facial scrub ‘exfoliates’ the skin, clearing the dead cells and cleaning it from excess oil and dirt.
Some “all natural” treatments have been processed beyond recognition and I know that naturally occuring treatments are hard to find but it is still the best option I have found. Facial masques (like mud and cucumber masques) can rejuvenate the skin and keep it as healthy as possible. They disinfect existing blemishes and reduce infammation while keeping the skin fresh and moisturised.

The best product I have found for the treatment of active acne caused by oily skin is by far Himalayan Crystal Salt. This is not advertised as a treatment for acne and usually cannot be bought from your local chemist. I purchase mine online in a bar form (i.e. in the shape of a soap bar). Crystal salt is easy to apply (just wet the bar and apply to skin), it is cheap to buy, and is 100% completely natural. Himalyan Crystal Salt has over 90 of the elements concentrated over 250million years. It works much like salt water does, by drying the skin naturally and allowing it to absorb the nutrients. You may be wondering why this is such an effective treatment but think of any surfers or swimmers that you know. How many have acne? Not many, and the ones that do have acne have less than other sufferers. This is because salt is one of the most effective treatments against any infection and is an essential part of the human body. And by drying oily skin (naturally), while not eliminating moisture, it prevents the development of further acne. You should apply it to affected areas anywhere on the body at least 2 times a day for the best results.

*IMPORTANT WARNING:
While drying the skin is essential for sufferers with OILY skin, if your acne is caused by DRY skin you should use this salt very moderately. Drying the skin too much can also cause acne.

Medication should be avoided at all costs. You do not want to put antibiotics in your body unless you are extremely sick. Excessive use of antibiotics will reduce your body’s own production of antibiotics and make you more vulnerable to sickness and infection.

In my experience, it is best not to settle for a single treatment. A combination of treatments often returns the greatest results. I personally use Himalayan Crystal salt for the treatment of all acne all over my body and I use Proactiv Repairing lotion for the treatment of acne scars. Remember though, these treatments will not stop the acne and if you do not address the imbalance in your body, the damage can occur in other places. Your body will always try to eliminate toxins somehow and if you manage to treat the acne, it will come out somewhere else. You may put on weight or develop diseases. So by all means use treatments. But make sure they are your second line of attack.

Avoid Cold Medicines with Pseudoephedrine

2008-04-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Pseudoephedrine, I believe, is bad for you for several reasons, and not just because I know for a fact in myself that it causes me to break out the next day after I take it, but also because of what it does to your heart rate.

Every time I’ve ever taken pseudoephedrine, which is now somewhat of a controlled substance because cold medicines with this ingredient are what I believe is what is used to make the illegal street drug methamphetamine. Just for that fact alone, I’d say you should stay away from it. Think about it, it’s the base for an illegal and highly destructive and dangerous street drug, what more is there to say?

Sure, it may have some qualities that help you to drain fluid faster or to declog your stuffed nose, but is it really worth it? I for one, hate the way it makes me feel and therefore never use it any more. It would make my ear pop, make me feel extremely restless, and also make my heart race a mile a minute, all of which I believe are extremely unhealthy attributes.

As for why it makes me break out, and I’m sure other people, it’s anyon’es guess - my guess is that it’s stimulant properties mess with the hormonal balance in the body and throw it off so quickly that your skin reacts with fast inflammation, AKA acne. I know I’ve written about this stuff a lot, but I really feel it is not good for the skin or the body.

Things To Avoid

2008-04-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

There are a number of actions that can worsen acne in anyone. In my experience I have discovered quite a few but that does not mean there are not others and it also does not mean that everything I list below will affect you in the same way. The only real way to identify your own personal stimulants is by paying close attention to what you eat and what you do. If you can, record your daily food intake so that when you have flare ups you can reference the records and see any links

Medication

Some doctors will prescribe certain antibiotics to treat acne. The basis for this treatment is the concept that worse cases of acne usually imply a high susceptibility to infections. This concept is true. However, all people who have a low pH level are highly susceptible to infections and illness. And by using antibiotics, you are both ignoring the reason behind this vulnerability, and stopping your body from producing its own antibodies. You will then build a tolerance to antibiotics and require more when you are actually ill.

Also, some conditions require the use of anti-inflammatory medication. These can include prednisolone, salazopyrin, cortelone, etc. In general, most (if not all) anti-inflammatory medicine will aggravate infections, making what would be a minor passing infection into a major flare up. Your body frequently deals with minor infections with ease, but, unlike pH balance which simply allows infections to develop, taking anti-inflammatories will both cause and make these infections worsen.

Wherever possible, avoid this type of medication. Understandably, some conditions will require them and there is little or no alternative. During these periods, you will need to work extra hard on your pH balance. Eating 80% raw vegetables and cutting out junk food and red meat altogether is a necessity, and in some cases (depending on the strength of your dosage) it will still not be enough. The only way to be sure your acne is at its absolute minimum while on anti-inflammatories is by eating entirely raw vegetables and maintaining a pH of 7 or slightly higher.

* Red and processed meat

Processed meats are overall entirely lacking nutritional value. Meat pies, hot dogs, frozen meats all go through an extensive preparation process which extracts the little nutritional value they have and also allow them to further ‘decompose’ making them even more acidifying than they already were. Even fresh meat is notorious for its negative effects on pH balance. It is a general fact that a dead animal will have an acidifying effect on your body. That is not to say that it is completely unhealthy. Meat will always have its benefits; protein, energy, some nutrients. But over-indulging in any type of meat is definitely not a healthy choice. In particular, red meats should be kept to an absolute minimum. White meats like poultry and seafood are better options as they are less acidifying and still provide the necessary proteins that a meat should.

Additionally, while there is no direct scientific evidence to link red meat to cancer, it is widely accepted by medical practitioners that red meat aggravates the bowels and can cause (or at the very least worsen) diseases that develop in the bowel. As the most important part of the digestive process, the bowels are responsible for extracting nutrients from the food you eat. Any damage done to either of the bowels will adversely effect your body’s ability to digest food, even healthy food. This will, among other and more serious things, lead to a lower pH level.

Touching Effected Areas:

Don’t touch your pimples! I am sure you have all heard this one before but here is why you shouldn’t. As mentioned in previous posts, acne on the skin is based bacteria and infection. Touching affected areas spreads bacteria and infection to the surrounding areas. Additionally, our hands come into contact with hundreds of different objects every day. Door handles, keyboards, tables, cars, floors, plants, etc. All of which hundreds of other people have touched and which have probably not been cleaned for many months (if ever). Bacteria and/or dirt cover the majority of these objects and until you wash your hands, you will spread both over anything you touch. So why touch an area that is bad enough to have acne and make it worse?

* Junk Food

Generally, you will find that certain foods will aggravate your acne far more than others. For example, chocolates, ice cream, fried foods, oily foods, etc. Foods that are high in sugar and fat content have a strong acidic effect on your body’s pH balance. And while your body can digest and dispose of small amounts of these kinds of food, you should avoid having them more than once or twice per week. For some of you, even that will be too much.

* Oily, Dirty and Dead Skin

Throughout the course of the day, your skin will both sweat, shed, and produce oil. On top of that, it will also collect any dirt from the air. You must avoid allowing this to build up. There are a few ways to maintain your skin. The first is to make sure you have a shower every day (twice a day is better but once is minimum). Always use an exfoliator (a facial scrub and loufa will do). If you exercise or play sport, always shower immediately afterwards - if no shower is available at the very least you should wash your face.

Sweat is one of the most efficient ways for your body to discharge toxins that have built up. This is why exercise will always help the fight against acne. However, if you allow the sweat to remain on the skin it will allow excessive growth of bacteria and collect even more dirt than usual. It is hard to say how sweat effects the buildup of oil because the moisture could be either. Despite that, the other factors should be enough to convince you to keep your skin as clean as possible.

Oh and one more thing. For those of you that do suffer from oily skin, the best treatment I found is to apply Himalayan Crystal Salt 2-3 times a day. It is 100% completely natural and does not damage the skin. Simply wet and apply. Easy.

The First Step to Curing Acne

2008-04-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

So now that we have established the root cause of acne, how do we deal with it? The first step is to cleanse your body of the excess acid and toxins. There are a number of ways to do this and yes, you can use enemas and products you can buy at a pharmacy but if it’s not natural then it will probably do more harm than good. I find that the simplest way to cleanse the excess toxins from your body is to go on a 3-Day Raw Vegetable Fast. This, quite simply, involves eating nothing but fresh raw vegetables for a period of 3 days. It does not make a huge difference which vegetables you use but the basic rule is the greener a vegetable is the better it is for your pH level.

I personally use cucumbers as my largest source of vegetables. They taste great, are extremely alkalizing, and they are easy to carry with you wherever you go. In my regular diet I will eat 5-6 cucumbers a day for snacks. During a cleansing period, I will eat more than 10 on any given day. Some of you may not like cucumbers and that is fine. Celery and tomatoes are good alternatives, but I find them slightly more difficult to eat in large numbers.

The key is to find a raw vegetable that you can eat on a large scale or to find a salad that is easy for you to make. Remember that you will need a lot of these types of foods from now on so make sure you find something that is easy to find and prepare. For those of you with particularly fast metabolisms, you may find it difficult at first to eat only raw vegetables. I strongly recommend using vitamin supplements and/or ‘green’ drinks to assist with your daily nutritional requirements, especially during the cleansing period.

A ‘green’ drink comes in a powdered form for you to mix with water. A single teaspoon contains almost all of the vitamins and minerals your body requires on a daily basis. During the cleansing period, I recommend using 4-5 teaspoons (i.e. drink 4-5 glasses) per day. You can purchase these drinks from most chemists and all vitamin and health food stores or you can purchase them online. There are a variety of different green drinks available on the market but I find that the majority are not very pleasing for the taste buds. There is only one that I have found so far that actually tastes good - Vital Greens (available at http://www.vitalgreens.com/ - 300g/10.6oz should last about 2 months). However, you may find others that you prefer or are easier to purchase. Other drinks that may help are liquid chlorophyll, which again can be bought from your local health store and some pharmacies, and lemon water. Liquid chlorophyll can be bought in various flavours and is a well-known pH booster. It is found in all green vegetables and is one of the most active ingredients in alkalizing the body.

Lemon water is simply freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with water. The bonus for this option is that lemons are extremely easy to find and much less expensive than the previous mentioned drinks. Lemons (and limes) are also known to have a strong alkalizing effect on the body. You may be wondering how that works, as lemons are a citrus food containing citric acid. Unfortunately, I still do not entirely understand it myself; but I can verify that it does work. The only disadvantage of using lemon water as opposed to green drinks is the lack of all the vitamins and minerals that green drinks have, that your body requires.

The Benefits of Swimming in Eliminating Acne

2008-04-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that swimming is one of the most beneficial activities for anyone’s health in general. I have heard of studies showing that the only exercise more beneficial for overall health is running. The difference, however, is that swimming forces slower, deeper breathing and removes the physical strain on joints. In addition, people of all fitness levels can swim at effective paces due to the low impact on the body.

Now how is swimming particularly helpful in eliminating acne? It is a well-known fact that exercise in general promotes healthy skin. In addition to that, the deep breathing allows more oxygen to be processed and circulated by the body assisting in the removal of toxins and dead cells from the body and promoting the regeneration of cells. (see my next post for information on what everyone means when they speak about toxins).

Furthermore, because swimming requires the immersing the whole body (hence the entire skin surface) in water, it allows for the natural moisture absorption of the skin. Since you will most likely either be swimming in chlorinated pools or salt water, the disinfectant properties of the water will also be absorbed by the skin. And as you may or may not remember from a previous post, severe acne is the result of a susceptibility to infection.

In particular, painful pimples are acne blemishes that have become severely infected. Thus, swimming, more so in salt water than chlorinated, is extremely effective in disinfecting the skin and killing bacteria on the skin surface. Salt also dries the skin, limiting the production of sebum.

If you are not yet convinced then simply look at professional swimmers and surfers and notice whether or not they have acne. The results will speak for themselves

Accutane - What is it?

2008-04-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

There are varying opinions on the use of Accutane as a treatment for severe acne. While being very strong and having an effectiveness of approximately 50% there are many side-effects that must be acknowledged. In the US, the iPledge brochure and agreement ensures that all users are fully informed of all effects of the drug. Most other countries have similar legislation or at the very least require a prescription from certified professionals

In any case, I strongly recommend learning as much as possible about Accutane and its effects before considering it as an option.

The active ingredient in Accutane is isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is is a type of Vitamin A that is found in small amounts within the body. One of its key responsibilities in the body is to moderate sebum production. In larger amounts it can noticably reduce the production of sebum and the size of the sebaceous glands in general (which are responsible for the production of sebum).

Since the active ingredient of Accutane is a vitamin A, the effects of the drug are much like taking large amounts of vitamin A. This, however, is the issue. Vitamin A can cause many different kinds of damage to the body when taken in excessive amounts. This is more evident if you look at multi-vitamin bottles or general vitamin supplements containing vitamin A. You will always notice the advice on the labels always specifically warns about taking no more than the maximum daily dosage of vitamin A (depending on your age).

For this reason, side-effects of Accutane are similar to that of an overdose of vitamin A (or vitamin A toxicity). I will go over these side-effects in a later post.
NOTE: Isotretinoin is also the active ingredient in, and sold under the names of, Amnesteem, Clavaris, Sotret, Roaccutane, Isotrex and Isotrexin.

Acne Cause and a few Myths

2008-04-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

Causes:

The reason acne starts is unknown. However, how a pimple forms and develops on one’s body is extremely complex. We understand how a pore collapses and then blocks oil from leaving the pore space; it is not yet known why this takes place in certain sebaceous glands.

Now what causes acne? Things including diet, vitamin absence, anxiety, hormonal changes and much more. So what causes acne is a mixture of all of the above not just one factor.

Since it is not known what causes acne, many methods have been developed to discover a helpful treatment.

Myths:

In today’s society we have and information overload. With the easy access to information via the internet , no wonder it’s so easy to become confused on what is fact or fiction especially with acne considering 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 get acne and even some adults over 30 have it as well.

So lets get a few of the most common Myths strait and lay the confusion to rest.

#1 Eating greasy or junk food will give me pimples

Studies show that no one food is a cause of acne. With that said keep in mind that each person with acne is different and have different “triggers” that cause them to break out. So if you find after eating a certain foods you get pimples…Try to cut out that food and see if it makes a difference.

Acne Treatment

2008-04-05T02:10:00.000-07:00

Well if you have Acne marks on your skin and you are searching the internet or asking friend to give you any tip so you could get rid of the Acne Condition. You have tried many Acne Treatment Creams or are scared to try them because of the side effects well you do not need to worry anymore. The cure of Acne is very easy and is available without purchasing expensive Acne Treatment Creams.

The Expensive Acne Treatment were not good and you have wasted your time and money using them which instead of doing good has done more harm. Thus now you want to get rid of Acne using some natural remedies which doesn’t require application of any cream of light. Well in this article I will try to explain the most efficient ways where you can get rid of Acne in matter of weeks if not days.

The first and most efficient way of treating Acne is to create a mixture of Rose Water and Lemon Juice. This will efficiently treat Acne and will also be helpful in removing the marks which are left behind on your skin as result of the Acne Condition. The method of creating the mixture is very easy. Take equal amounts of Rose water and Lemon Juice mix them together for a while and with a cotton sponge apply that on your skin generously, then leave it for at least 20 mins and then wash your face with warm water and that’s it.

Another good home treatment for Acne is orange zest apply that on your skin and wash off after 30 mins or so and you could get rid of the Acne Marks.

Finally, a good way to get rid of Acne is to apply mashed garlic on to your skin and after half an hour or so remove it with slightly warm water.

If you could use three of these methods regularly for some times you could very easily get rid of Acne.

However, if you are looking to find more of such ways which are not used or even known to general public then do visit my blog for more information.