Posts Tagged ‘Alternative Medicine’

Acne is Not the Same as Spots

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

There are various forms of acne, named according to how or why the acne started. Some of the types of acne are: acne conglobata (chronic boils); acne fulminans (an extreme form of conglobata); acne cosmetica (caused by cosmetics); acne keloidalis nuchae (from shaving); acne medicamentosa (caused by starting or stopping a medication); acne rosacea (redness on the face); baby acne; hormonal acne; cloracne and the common variety, acne vulgaris (also known as ‘puberty spots’). In this article, we will concentrate on acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris may be described as: ‘an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits’ (from Wikipedia).

Acne is most often found in Western teens, although it does occur in every country in the world, so there could be a genetic predisposition to it. It is possible that it may be an abnormal reaction to quite average levels of testosterone. For most sufferers, the condition lasts only until adulthood, probably only a few years or at most ten. For others, however, it can be a life-long recurring problem. It most often affects the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. However, an occasional spot is not the same as acne.

Acne vulgaris shows itself in different many forms, including: whiteheads, caused by pores that are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white spot on the surface; blackheads, caused by pores which are only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface (the black colour is not caused by dirt, but is a reaction of the skin’s own pigment, called melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender lumps with no head and pustules, which are similar to whiteheads, but are inflamed, and appear as red circles with a white or yellow centre.

Whiteheads do not often last for a long time; blackheads do last a long time and pustules are what people usually refer to as spots or zits. Severe acne vulgaris is characterized by nodules and cysts. A ‘nodule’ is a rather larger and much more painful kind of pustule and can often last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps just under the skin. They often cause scarring and should never for any reason be squeezed, since this could make them last for months longer.

A ‘cyst’ may appear similar to a nodule, but it is full of pus and has been defined as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can cause scars and cause irritation. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a more severe infection and more acute inflammation which can last quite a lot longer than if it had not been squeezed. Skin experts have ways of reducing the swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is just not true that acne sufferers are not careful about washing.

In fact, over washing can exacerbate acne. There are many, many fake ‘treatments’ on the market and many, many old wives’ tales, but any good dermatologist would tell you that there is no known cure for acne and that the patient should follow a strict regimen of cleansing until the acne just ‘goes away’ of its own accord.

Are you experiencing trouble treating acne? If you are or you’d like to find out more about acne, please go to our website entitled http://treating-acne-scars.com

Acne Does Not Equal Zits

Monday, October 12th, 2009
by Frank Williams

There are several different types of acne, depending on how or why the acne arose. Some of the forms of acne are: acne conglobata (chronic boils); acne fulminans (an extreme form of conglobata); acne cosmetica (caused by cosmetics); acne keloidalis nuchae (from shaving); acne medicamentosa (caused by starting or stopping a medication); acne rosacea (redness on the face); baby acne; hormonal acne; cloracne and the common variety, acne vulgaris (also known as ‘puberty spots’). In this article, we will concentrate on acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris may be defined as: ‘an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits’ (from Wikipedia).

Acne is most usually found in white Western teenagers, although it is to be found in every country in the world, so there may be a genetic weakness to it. It is possible that it could be an exceptional reaction to quite normal levels of testosterone. For most afflicted, the condition lasts only until the age of twenty or so, probably only a few years or at the most ten. For other people, however, it may be a life-long problem. It most often appears on the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. However, an occasional spot is not the same as acne.

Acne vulgaris manifests itself in many forms, including: whiteheads, caused by pores which are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface; blackheads, caused by pores which are only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface (the black colour is not caused by dirt, but is a reaction of the skin’s own pigment, melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head and pustules, which are similar to whiteheads, but are inflamed, and appear as red circles with a white or yellow centre.

Whiteheads do not often last for a long time; blackheads do last a long time and pustules are what people call spots or zits. Severe acne vulgaris is distinguished by nodules and cysts. A ‘nodule’ is a much larger and more painful sort of pustule and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps just under the skin’s surface. They often result in scarring and should never for any reason be squeezed, since this could cause them to last for months longer.

A ‘cyst’ can appear similar to a nodule, but it is pus-filled, and has been defined as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can leave scars and cause pain. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last very much longer than if it had been left alone. Skin experts have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is not true that acne sufferers are not careful about their hygiene.

In fact, over washing can exacerbate acne. There are many, many false ‘cures’ on the market and many, many old wives’ tales, but any good dermatologist would tell you that there is no known cure for acne and that the patient should follow a religious regimen of cleaning until the acne just ‘goes away’ of its own accord.

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Strategies for Curing Acne

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

Most sufferers of acne try to treat their itchy skin with creams, face washes, expensive soaps, lotions and treatments. However, the easiest way to treat acne is by changing your diet and avoiding acne-causing things such as fried food. A healthy regimen, rich in natural unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruits, grains and beans is the first recommendation for curing acne.

Foodstuffs containing trans-fatty acids, milk, milk products, margarine, shortening and synthetically hydrogenated vegetable oils, as well as oily foods, should consumed. It seems the prevalence of acne in the United States is caused by the typical American diet. Americans tend to eat fried food in large quantities, usually cooked in the most harmful of fats and oils.

However, not all fats are bad, but the fats that typical Americans eat make them more prone to develop acne and other skin problems. Items that can irritate are ice cream, cheese, bacon, and milk. Furthermore, acne cannot really be treated using creams and soaps because the root cause of the condition lies beneath the skin.

Pimples, spots or zits and blemishes are caused by bacteria and other irritants lying underneath the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles, which are usually produced by insufficient hygiene, scratching or squeezing and poor diet.

This poor diet could be a result of too high an amount of items such as processed, fatty, fried and sugary foods in your diet. A diet that is healthy for your skin emphasizes raw or lightly cooked vegetables, especially green, leafy vegetables that contain valuable trace minerals and fibre. Fresh green vegetables are essential, however you should also eat more lean protein sources, such as fish and chicken and complex carbohydrates, such as rice, whole-grain bread and potatoes in your diet.

These fibre-rich foods will help ensure a healthy gastrointestinal tract, which is so vital to the management of acne. You should eat three healthy meals every day in order to provide you with sufficient important nutrients and lower your craving for sugary or/and oily, fried food.

Furthermore, you should eat much more food that is rich in vitamin A, such as apricots, watermelons, and broccoli, along with lean beef, nuts, legumes and whole grains, because they are rich in zinc, which is also be helpful in reducing acne breakouts. It is also imperative to drink lots of water to help clean out of the body all the poisons which encourage the development of acne.

Are you having trouble treating acne? If you are or you would like to find out more about acne, please go to our website called http://treating-acne-scars.com

Which Foods Cause Eczema

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
by Linda Robison

Many people often ask me Which Foods Cause Eczema? The truth is foods to cause eczema, but they can cause eczema symptoms and flare-ups.

Which Foods Cause Eczema

There is a strong connection between eczema and food allergies. Many people dont know which foods cause eczema symptoms. Everyday common foods like wheat, milk, eggs, and seafood, along with preservatives can cause eczema symptoms.

For a more extensive list see Which Foods Cause Eczema foods are hard to pinpoint because it can up to 48 hours before symptoms show up.

How To Treat Eczema Symptoms

Here are some tips to treat eczema by simply avoiding allergy triggering foods. Pick your most favorite food. Sometimes the food you crave the most, is the one you may have an allergic reaction to. Eliminate that favorite food for a week and note your eczema symptoms.

Then re-introduce that food into your diet and note your symptoms a few days afterward. Is there a connection? Then try this rotation again with another one of your favorite food until you see a pattern.

Over The Counter Eczema Treatment

Following a diet is hard, we all know that. And while you should try to reduce the offending allergic foods that cause eczema flare ups, you can also apply a topical gel and lotion that can help heal the skin and reduce burning and itching.

Ive been a health advisors for many years did a lot of research on which foods cause eczema symptoms and topical eczema rash treatments. Thats why Im impressed with and highly recommend you consider this all Natural Treatment for Eczema.

If you are using an eczema treatment product thats not working or is not made for ultrasensitive skin.then you need to try an alternative product. Visit this page for more information on Natural Treatments for Eczema.

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Treating Acne Scars

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009
by Gail Jones

Acne scars are a sad reminder of the having suffered pimples or even acne. They are intolerable because of their apparent permanence and their non-complimentary look. Normally speaking, acne scars are rather difficult to treat, but tissue regeneration is not impossible these days with all the fantastic technological developments.

In general terms, when referring to acne scarring, we mean the healed lesions resulting from an acne infection. While most scarring is temporary and will probably disappear on its own in time, scarring from the more severe forms of acne can be permanent.

Acne scarring can be prevented if the patient sees a doctor when it is in the incipient stage, especially if nodules or cysts accompany the red pustules on the skin’s surface. If the breakouts of acne have marked your skin, you will have to approach the issue from another perspective, which usually involves surgery.

Laser resurfacing is one possibility of removing the damaged skin areas and stimulating the natural regeneration of the tissue underneath. The procedure requires only local anaesthesia and can take between a few minutes and an hour depending on the extent of the damage.

Fractional laser therapy is one of the most recent forms of removing acne scarring. It involves surgical intervention at deep skin layers. The treatment is superior to both dermabrasion and laser resurfacing in terms of quality and involves a very reduced healing period. Nevertheless, fractional laser therapy lies within the reach of only those few lucky sufferers, who can afford it, since it is the most expensive acne treatment available these days.

Sometimes, further sessions are necessary to improve the condition of the upper layers of skin, before they can tackle the deep level treatment of the acne scar. The doctor may inject collagen into the scars in order to raise the normal skin level or she/he may recommend micro-dermabrasion for the very same purpose. Trying to perform chemical peels for acne treatment at home could be a bad idea given the risk of aggravating the condition by irritating the scars even more.

As for the forms of acne scarring, they can be classified according to the formation pattern. Scarring can result because of an increase of tissue or due to a loss of tissue They both have an adverse impact on the way the face looks. Specialists’ evaluation of the nature of the scars is a very important factor in deciding on the adoption of one form of treatment or the other.

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Are Acne Scars Permanent?

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
by Gail Jones

Acne scars are a sad reminder of the having suffered pimples or even acne. They are intolerable because of their apparent permanence and their non-complimentary look. Generally speaking, acne scars are rather difficult to treat, but tissue regeneration is not impossible these days with all the fantastic technological developments.

In general terms, by acne scars, we mean the healed lesions resulting from an acne breakout. While most scarring is temporary and will probably disappear on its own over time, scars from the more severe forms of acne can be permanent.

Acne scars can be prevented if the sufferer sees a doctor when it is in the incipient stage, particularly if nodules or cysts accompany the red pustules on the skin’s surface. If the bouts of acne have marked your skin, you will have to approach the issue from another perspective, which usually involves surgery.

Laser resurfacing is one possibility of removing the damaged skin areas and stimulating the natural regrowth of the tissue beneath. The procedure requires only local anaesthesia and can last between a few minutes and an hour depending on the extent of the problem.

Fractional laser therapy is one of the most recent methods of eliminating acne scars. It involves surgical intervention at deep skin layers. The therapy is superior to both dermabrasion and laser resurfacing in terms of quality and has a very reduced healing period. Nevertheless, fractional laser therapy lies within the reach of only those few lucky sufferers, who can afford it, since it is the most expensive acne treatment currently available.

Sometimes, other sessions are necessary to improve the condition of the upper layers of skin, before they can tackle the deep level treatment of the acne scar. The doctor may inject collagen into the scars in order to raise the normal skin level or she/he may recommend micro-dermabrasion for the very same purpose. Trying to perform chemical peels for acne treatment at home could be a bad policy given the risk of aggravating the condition by irritating the scars even further.

As for the forms of acne scars, they can be classified according to the formation pattern. Scars can result because of an increase of tissue or due to a loss of tissue They both have an adverse impact on the way the face looks. Specialists’ evaluation of the nature of the scars is a very important factor for the decision of adopting one type of treatment or another.

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Acne Scars

Saturday, August 15th, 2009
by Gail Jones

Acne scarring are a sad reminder of the having suffered pimples or even acne before. They are intolerable because of their apparent longevity and their non-complimentary look. Normally speaking, acne scars are rather hard to treat, but tissue regeneration is not impossible nowadays with all the amazing technological advancements.

Generally speaking, by acne scars, we mean the healed lesions caused by an acne infection. While most scarring is temporary and will probably disappear naturally over time, scars from the more severe forms of acne can become permanent.

Acne scarring may be avoided if the patient visits dermatologist when the acne scarring is in an early stage, especially if nodules or cysts accompany the red pustules on the skin’s surface. If the bouts of acne have scarred your skin, you will have to approach the problem from a different perspective, which most of the time means surgery.

Laser resurfacing is one possibility of removing the damaged skin parts and stimulating the organic regeneration of the tissue beneath. This operation only requires local anaesthetic and can take between a few minutes and an hour depending on the extent of the damage.

Fractional laser therapy is one of the most recent forms of eliminating acne scarring. It involves surgical intervention at deep skin layers. The treatment is superior to both dermabrasion and laser resurfacing in terms of quality and involves a very reduced healing period. Nevertheless, fractional laser therapy lies within the reach of only those few fortunate people, who can afford it, since it is the most expensive acne treatment available so far.

It can happen that additional sessions are required to improve the condition of the upper layers of skin, before they can tackle the deep level treatment of the acne scarring. The doctor may inject collagen into the scarring in order to elevate the normal skin level or she/he may suggest micro-dermabrasion for the same reason. Trying to carry out chemical peels at home could be a bad policy because of the risk of aggravating the condition by irritating the scars even further.

As for the types of acne scars, they can be classified according to the formation pattern. Scars can result because of an increase of tissue or due to a loss of tissue They both have an adverse impact on the way the face looks. Specialists’ evaluation of the nature of the scars is an extremely important factor in deciding on the selection of one type of therapy or another.

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Acne Skin Problems

Thursday, August 13th, 2009
by Gail Jones

Acne is one of the most common skin problems to afflict mankind and it affects all people irrespective of age, caste, colour or gender. Acne is an extremely embarrassing and troublesome problem, because it is so noticeable and off-putting. Acne can be described as red eruptions on the skin, usually filled with a white puss, causing discomfort and pain. The most common form of acne is called acne vulgaris or puberty spots.

Acne vulgaris can be defined as follows: … an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland) . Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits - [source: Wikipedia]. It is an upsetting affliction that we do not seem to have complete control over. However, there are various methods in which to treat acne: you can try medication from a skin specialist or you can try home or natural treatments.

Home remedies are less time consuming, less expensive and have no side effects. However, they do require a little more patience, since a few routines have to be followed diligently in order to get rid of the problem for good. A natural remedy for acne is equally efficacious as any medication. Here are a few natural remedies to cure your acne. To start with, your daily consumption of water ought to be a minimum of eight to ten glasses. This helps you to cleanse your system and destroy the harmful bacteria that give rise to acne.

A surfeit of oily food also leads to acne, therefore fried and spicy food should be strictly avoided. A near complete abstinence of fried and fatty food will have a marked, beneficial effect on an outbreak of acne. Furthermore, including chromium and zinc in your diet also helps to cure acne. There has to be the correct balance of diet and skin care.

A solution of grated nutmeg with unboiled milk regularly daubed on the afflicted area also helps to cure acne. Cinnamon powder mixed with honey is just as efficacious in eradicating. The cooled liquid from boiled Neem leaves applied to acne works as a disinfectant. [The Neem Tree is a tall, usually evergreen East Indian tree (Azadirachta indica) widely cultivated in tropical Asia for its timber, resin, bitter bark, and aromatic seed oil, which is used medicinally and as an insecticide (source: ‘Free Online Dictionary’)].

The infected area should be cleansed with anti-acne soap at least three or four times a day. Make-up should be strictly avoided when suffering from acne. Make-up makes acne worse. Acne should never be squeezed as it may cause infection or / and make it spread. Squeezing your acne may also lead to permanent scars on your skin, which leaves your skin looking unsightly. Don’t let your hair touch the acne-infected area too.

Your hair ought to be kept tied back to prevent contact with the acne. Pillow covers should be washed on a daily basis to prevent the germ spreading. The regular cleansing of your skin should be done to keep it free from bacteria. Besides this, a healthy lifestyle ought to followed with a proper, balanced diet, exercise and sleep. Remember if you take good care of yourself, ailments will have trouble affecting you, especially a small thing like as acne!

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Acne Problems

Sunday, August 9th, 2009
by Gail Jones

Acne is one of the most common skin problems to afflict the human race and it it can be present in all people irrespective of age, caste, colour or gender. Acne is a tremendously embarrassing and troublesome problem, because it is so obvious and off-putting. Acne can be described as red eruptions on the skin, sometimes filled with a white puss, causing discomfort and irritation. The most usual type of acne is called acne vulgaris or puberty spots.

Acne vulgaris can be defined as: an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland) . Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits - [source: Wikipedia]. It is a problem over which we do not have complete control. There are different ways to treat acne; one can go for medication from a skin specialist or one can also try home or natural remedies.

Natural treatments are less time consuming, less costly and have no side effects. However, they do take a bit more patience, because a few routines have to be followed rigorously in order to get rid of the problem once and for all. A natural cure for acne is just as effective as any medication. Here are a few home cures to eradicate your acne. To start with, your daily consumption of water should be a minimum of eight to ten glasses. This helps you to cleanse your system and kill the harmful bacteria that give rise to acne.

Too much oily food also leads to acne, so fried and spicy food should be strictly avoided. Complete abstinence of fried and fatty food will have a marked, beneficial effect on an outbreak of acne. Furthermore, including chromium and zinc in your diet also helps to cure acne. There needs to be a combination of the right nutritional balance and proper, hygenic skin care.

A mixture of nutmeg powder with unboiled milk regularly applied on the afflicted area also helps to cure acne. Cinnamon powder mixed with honey is equally effective in treating. Boiled Neem tree leaves applied to acne acts as a disinfectant. [’Neem’: A tall, usually evergreen East Indian tree (Azadirachta indica) widely cultivated in tropical Asia for its timber, resin, bitter bark, and aromatic seed oil, which is used medicinally and as an insecticide (source = ‘Free Online Dictionary’)].

The infected area should be cleansed with special anti-acne soap a minimum of three or four times a day. Make-up should be strictly avoided when afflicted by acne. Make-up makes acne worse. Acne should never be squeezed as it may cause infection or / and make it spread. Squeezing your acne could also lead to permanent scars on your skin, which leaves your skin looking rough. Don’t let your hair touch the acne-affected area either.

Your hair ought to be kept pulled back to avoid touching the acne. Pillow cases should be washed on a daily basis to avoid the germ spreading. The regular cleansing of your skin should be observed to keep it free from bacteria. Besides this, a healthy lifestyle ought to followed with a proper, balanced diet, exercise and sleep. Remember if you take proper care of yourself, ailments will have trouble affecting you, especially a small thing like as acne!

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Alternative Treatment for Rosacea: Natual Cure For Rosacea

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
by Linda Robison

Looking for alternative treatments for rosacea? You’re not alone considering that up to 16 million people suffer from this skin disease. Therefore, rosacea awareness is up and people are tired of the typical expensive prescriptions, laser treatments, and over the counter products that may or may not work. They are looking for home remedies for rosacea or any type of natural treatment for rosacea.

Some simple daily natural treatments for rosacea that all sufferers should practice are as follows:

- Wash with water that is lukewarm, not hot.

- Never use abrasive cleansers or wash cloths. Treat your skin gently

- Light blot dry your skin with a soft, thick cotton towels.

- If you wear makeup, choose only oil-free and/or non-comedogenic products. Always apply light layers of makeup because too heavy of an application can trap bacteria and oil inside the pores.

- When you have a flare up, treat it sooner rather than later to prevent long-term damage.

- Always use a sunscreen and stay away from the sun. It’s the number one cause for flare-ups.

- Monitor your diet daily. By avoiding alcohol, hot beverages and/or spicy foods you can greatly reduce the number and severity of Rosacea flare-ups.

Stages for Rosacea: Pre-Rosacea: The first sign of Rosacea is dilate blood vessels to the slightest stimuli. The blood vessels open wider and stay open for longer periods of time compared to normal persons. Mild Rosacea is when the facial redness induced by flushing persists for an abnormal length of time - usually 1/2 an hour or more after a trigger. Those who have frequent pre-Rosacea flushing are highly susceptible to progressing to mild Rosacea. Some of the common triggers for a facial flush are heat, cold, emotions, exercise, topical irritants and allergic reactions.

The third stage is called moderate rosacea and this where vascular damage begins. At this stage flushing happens more often and is more intense. The last stage is severe rosacea which is marked by intense bouts of facial flushing, inflammation, pain, swelling and burning. Some people find that their skin becomes so sensitive, they are not able to use the same products they could use before. At this stage, there may also be excess skin growth around the nose, causing a bulbous enlargement of the nose shape called Rhinophyma.

Natural Treatment for Rosacea: Alternative Treatment for Rosacea. This 3 step alternative treatment for rosacea includes:

- Using an anti-inflammatory topical product that reduces redness and flushing. This natural, gentle botanical ingredient can help constrict dilated blood vessels close to the skin surface which is what gives the skin that red blotchy look.

- A bacterial fighting agent to help kill bacteria. This is important to prevent breakouts which are common rosacea symptoms.

- The use of all-natural collagen boosters. Collagen networks within the skin are often weakened in people that suffer from Rosacea. These networks need to be maintained and strengthened and since they naturally weaken as you age, helping boost them is vital in preventing flare-ups and making the skin heal faster.

When looking for natural home remedies and alternative treatments for rosacea, remember that’s it’s an inflammatory condition so you need to treat the skin very gently and never use harsh cleansers, toners, or abrasives on the skin. You also want to preserve your natural oils which can help the skins defense against environmental assaults and help speed healing.

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