Posts Tagged ‘medical’

The Acne Myth

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
by Danielle Weiser

As children, most of us were reminded daily to stop picking at our acne lesions. Our parents also refused to take us to a specialist, suggesting that we would “grow out” of the disorder. This approach continues to this day, with parents ignoring their children’s pleas for help. The excuse is that their minds are inundated with other concerns, such as where they’ll get the money to pay for the car repair or how they can get ahead at work.

Sadly, few have thought of reworking the approach. How much water does this notion actually hold? After all, more and more adults are reporting cases of acne on a yearly basis. Could it just be possible that acne doesn’t vanish during adulthood as we would all like to believe?

Acne arises when the pores get clogged with dead skin cells. The oil that our sebaceous glands produce becomes trapped in the pore, and begins to fuel a multiplication frenzy among p. acnes bacteria. With a sudden rise in bacteria counts, the body reacts by inducing inflammation. At a basic level, acne is just the body’s immune response to the p. acnes bacteria duplicating. The skin’s failure to properly shed dead cells can be caused by a variety of factors.

One is an abnormal shedding cycle. Another is an unhealthy sebum composition that traps the dead skin to the new layers of skin. Depending on the particular person, either of these abnormalities can be caused by genetics, diet, hormonal factors, the list goes and on. Hence, to stake the claim that all children will eventually grow out of acne is careless and unsubstantiated.

If you suffered from this terrible condition during your childhood, and are now plagued by it once again, a dermatological visit should be in order. The medications which these doctors have at their disposal will provide you with relief. You may be prescribed topical medications to help the skin shed, or even oral retinoids that completely halt oil production. It all depends on the severity of your acne. We advise against waiting any longer as acne scarring can arise, which is aesthetically displeasing and an expensive repair. Quick action is warranted in cases of acne.

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Constantly Washing Acne-Prone Skin

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

As children, those of us who had the odd pimple or two were constantly pestered by our parents to wash our skin thoroughly. Any time of the day we ran into them they directed us towards the nearest bathroom for a quick washing. Back then, most people thought that acne was cause by oil and dirt on the skin. Washing seemed like the perfect solution. As most of us who now suffer from this disorder know, this is not the case. First of all, the premise which backed this outdated treatment is entirely false. Acne is caused by a disrupted skin shedding cycle. Dead skin does not slough off properly, and instead penetrates empty pores. This is when acne forms.

If dead skin is to blame, why is it such a bad idea to continually wash your face to help remove it? For one, our skin is sensitive. Every time you wet and dry it, you strip it of sebum. Sebum is what helps the skin preserve its moisture. Whenever the skin is dry and irritated, it is more acne-prone. The protectant layer of the skin known as the acid mantle is unable to function properly when irritation is rampant.

The problem is further worsened by the pH imbalances which most soaps subject our skin to. Believe it or not, our skin is slightly acidic. Soap, on the other hand, is basic with a pH significantly higher than neutral. A single cleansing with a non-pH balanced soap can leave your acid mantle in disarray for at least 24 hours, allowing acne bacteria to run rampant. Multiple daily cleansings can multiply the dangerous effect several fold.

Too much washing does not help acne, but rather makes it worse. Gentle products are key in treatment, and cleansing should not occur more than twice in one day. Of course, we cannot ignore the importance of topical medications. Unless the skin remains unscathed by harsh cleansers, these products cannot function effectively.

If you continually wash your face with the hope of making it less oily, oil-blotting sheets are something to consider. These are thin, tissue-like sheets that can be carried around discretely. You can use them whenever to absorb oil off your face without worrying about causing irritation. You should try to use them with clean hands, however.

Find out how to get rid of pimples fast and read an acne pimples overview thru our website.

Benzoyl Peroxide Acne-Fighting Ingredient

Monday, September 7th, 2009

It’s difficult not to walk inside a specialty store and be astounded by the thousands of products designed for acne-prone skin. New products seem to appear on store shelves by the hundreds, literally overnight. Demand for the latest products is always huge and largely flamed by the effective and often misleading advertising campaigns of skin care companies. Consumers always seem to be convinced that new products will work much better than their prior treatments. A close comparison of product labels quickly reveals just how ignorant most consumers are. The same ingredients in your last acne treatment are simply repackaged and restocked. There is no sense in jumping the bandwagon with millions of others, who are sure to lose money with little benefit.

Benzoyl peroxide is found in most acne products and for the sole reason that it is extremely effective at treating a slew of acne-related factors. It works by eliminating p. acnes bacteria, as well as speeding up the skin’s shedding cycle. Abnormal shedding of the outer layers of the skin is what causes acne. The dead skin becomes trapped in pores, along with sebum and acne bacteria. Few over the counter medications address multiple acne risk factors as well as benzoyl peroxide does.

Your usual over-the-counter treatment features a multi-step process. First your cleanse your skin, and then apply a special solution, such as a toner. The final step is to apply a topical medication. Cleansers and topical creams and gels specifically designed for acne always contain some concentration of benzoyl peroxide. Sometimes it is the sole acne-fighting additive, or combined with other ingredients like sulfur.

In most cases, a plain tube of benzoyl peroxide will be just as good as any other OTC product. Don’t be lured in by clever marketing ruses such as the fancy graphs depicted on the back of acne products. These usually don’t hold much water. A gentle cleanser and benzoyl peroxide is all you need.

If you intend to start saving money by using a simple tube of benzoyl peroxide, make sure to purchase it in low concentrations (2.5%). You will eliminate any undue irritation cause by higher concentrations.

Educate yourself on how to get rid of pimples fast and taking care of acne prone skin

Acne - The Equal Opportunity Disease

Sunday, June 28th, 2009
by Richard H Ealom

INTRODUCTION: Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms.

It is a skin problem that occurs due to the over producing of oil by the oil glands of the skin and is more common in teenagers, but it can occur at any age, even as an infant. It is a complex condition, but one we are learning more about it every day.

TREATMENTS: Treating the condition include medicines and creams. Americans spend well over a hundred million dollars annually for non-prescription acne medicines, not even considering special soaps and cleansers. For that reason, you should use appropriate remedies for acne.

Moreover, many treatments increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV light, making the risk of UV light exposure all the worse. Your dermatologist will decide which treatments are best for your condition.

For more information about the types of treatments that are available, and for basic acne treatment guidelines, please see your doctor or dermatologist.

The majority of mild cases can be effectively treated at home, with good daily skin care and over-the-counter solutions, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

If you are suffering from moderate to severe acne or home treatments are not working for you, contact your doctor. There are many treatment methods which range from covering up your symptoms using creams to attacking the root of your pimples.

BACTERIA: Tissue injured by squeezing or picking can become infected by staphylococci, streptococci and other skin bacteria. In the process, these bacteria produce irritating substances that can cause inflammation. Now the oil and bacteria that should be coming to the surface of the skin is stuck.

These bacteria and oils that are causing you to break out are also on your hands. Squeezing your pimples does nothing more than deposit and push more of this material into your skin.

CONCLUSION: Acne is an equal opportunity affliction, regardless of race, culture, gender or even age. Even though a lot of people feel that their acne is aggravated by certain kinds of foods, particularly chocolate, colas, peanuts, shellfish and some fatty foods, there is no valid proof to suggests food causes or influences it.

Stay away from any foods which seem to increase your problem and for your overall good health, eat a balanced diet–but diet shouldn’t really matter if the acne is being correctly treated. The best means for preventing the disease is to maintain a proper skin care regimen that includes routine use of masks and exfoliants.

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Acne Treatments: What to Know?

Thursday, May 14th, 2009
by Johnny Wilson

There are different acne products in the market. If one decides to buy any of them, he/she will have to pick the product that him/her and helps treat acne. Here are some of the acne product reviews that will help you treat your acne problems.

Accutane-one of the most potent over the counter acne treatments available, this product, or active ingredient rather, will generally work to dry out skin and kill acne within two months of fist use. The down side to this product is that it does just that-dry your skin out. This can be very annoying, especially in already dry climates.

Complex 15 Therapeutic Moisturizing Face Cream is a good moisturizer and one can wear it under makeup.

Clearpores is another acne treatment product which is very effective in cleaning pimples and whiteheads from the skin. There is a Clearpores Facial System and a Body System. The facial system is used on the face and is helpful in getting rid of the irritating pimples on the face whereas; the body system is for those people having acne on their body. Clear pores comprises of a cleanser, protection cream and herbal supplement which help to fight bacteria and dirt and treats acne. Clearpores consists of natural ingredients therefore; it is safe to use Clearpores on the skin.

Proactive-is really not a single treatment, but rather a treatment system. But, this should not discourage you from using it. This is a highly effective treatment for acne and it will treat every aspect of your acne from a A to Z. It starts by cleaning your skin and removing the excess oil, it than proceeds to dry the skin out and keep it that way.

The Proactive revitalizing toner is used after cleansing the skin from Proactive cleanser. The toner keeps the skin smooth and fresh.

Last on the list is still from proactive, it is their repair lotion, which is meant to use for sun damaged skin, and even wrinkled skin.

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How to Get Rid of Acne Fast

Friday, April 3rd, 2009
by Bob Samson

If you are looking to get rid of acne fast, there are a few things that you can do to help clear up your skin in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, there are as of yet no miracle “instant” acne cures out there. While there are acne spot treatment solutions that can improve the appearance of a particularly bad zit overnight, you won’t be able to clear up your entire acne breakout instantly. By far, the most effective way to permanently clear up troublesome blemishes is to maintain clean skin. If you want to know how to get rid of acne as fast as possible, follow the steps below.

Facial Care

You must clean your face regularly with mild soap. Washing your face cuts down on the oil and bacteria present in your face — two elements that help cause acne breakouts. You can find special medicated acne soaps that contain sulfur. Sulfur helps treat acne because it kills the acne-causing bacteria and also helps clean out your pores. Avoid putting product on your face that contains alcohol - these products can really dry your skin out, thus irritating your skin and contributing to breakouts.

Best Acne Medication: Benzoyl Peroxide

You should consider using some form of acne medication to get rid of your acne as fast as possible. The most popular (and arguably the most effective) off-the-shelf acne medication is Benzoyl peroxide. It comes in various strengths (2.5% to 10%). Apply it to your face once a day for the first week before using it twice a day. Keep using the treatment for at least a month before deciding whether to continue or halt treatment. It can sometimes take several weeks to a month before Benzoyl Peroxide affects the acne for the better.

Don’t Pop Pimples

As much as you may want to pop those pimples — avoid doing this! Popping pimples can spread the infection to other parts of your skin and can cause acne scaring.

Diet Can Cure Acne

Your diet is very important when on an acne-fighting regimen. Diet has been proven to have an effect on acne outbreaks. You want to try to stick to a diet low in saturated fats. That means you should avoid processed foods as well as junk foods. The less saturated fat you put into your body, the less material your body can use to create the facial oil that eventual causes acne. Make sure to drink plenty of water too — 8 cups worth. You want to help flush toxins out of your body.

These are some of the key tips to follow to get rid of acne fast. It’s important to incorporate all these tips into your acne-fighting regimen. Sometimes, it’s not one single thing you do that cures your acne, but the combination of everything. The important thing is to be proactive in your fight against acne.

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Acne Scar Household Remedies That Give You the Upper Hand

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
by Frank Froggatt

If you contend with acne blemishes, you may be interested to know that there are a diversity of home cures available for caring for acne scars. Acne scar household cures are quick, easy, and affordable. In fact, you may be able to mix up a cure with simple fixings you have in your kitchen. If not, all that is required is a quick trip to the health food store or market. This article will list 5 easy acne scar household cures that you can produce at home in your kitchen.

The first cure I want to tell you about is a paste that you can make from a mixture of sandalwood powder and rosewater. Sandalwood powder it easy to find at any local health food store as well as rosewater. If you get them all you have to do is mix them together until they form a paste and then apply it to your acne scars everyday. With a small amount time, probably a period of a few weeks, you can watch as the scars lighten up and you will see that your skin will look a lot healthier.

Number two. To remove or reduce blackheads and blackhead scarring, mix ground radish seeds with water to form a paste. Use this paste to scrub the affected area daily. with a little bit of time you will see your scars disappearing, and fresh beautiful skin taking its place.

Number three. If you suffer from acne scars that are sensitive, or inflamed, you can apply ground Sesame seeds as a poultice. Sesame seeds mixed with water and applied to the skin act to calm redness and heal scarring. Over time, you will see a magnificent reduction in your acne scars.

The fourth really effective remedy I have for you is to make salt and vinegar into a paste. All you have to do is rub this paste on the areas affected by the acne scars and you will soon see a a notable lessening in the redness and you will also have a decrease in the amount of new blemish formation. If you want to have really good result with this you need to add this to your daily skin care routine.

The last remedy I want to share with you today but absolutely not the least, is the citric acid that is contained in lemons. This acid acts as a good toner for your skin and works well to make your scars lighten up. It doesn’t matter which way you choose, you can either use it as straight lemon juice, or you can peel it and grind up the peel in a blender. You then want to apply the lemon juice mixture to your acne stricken regions on everyday. You don’t want to leave it on your skin for too long though, only a period of five or 10 minutes, then you want to wash it off with mild soap and water.

There you have it, a list of five easy acne scar household cures that you can blend up in your kitchen very quickly. You no longer have the need to spend a fortune on overpriced pharmacy products that claim to get rid of scars. Instead, you can use ingredients that you already have or that can be purchased for just a few dollars at any local grocery store. It’s easier than ever to put the power of nature to work for you in your own kitchen.

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How is Acne Caused

Monday, March 16th, 2009
by Norman

Acne is a condition that is characterized by plugged pores; white heads and blackheads, deep lumps and pimples. The condition usually affects people on the upper arms, face, neck, chest and shoulders. Acne does not discriminate against age but it is people in their teens who mostly suffer from it. Among the effects of the condition is the patient getting upset and disfiguring of the affected parts. Permanent scars may occur in the very severe cases although some acne types leave scars regardless of the severity of the condition.

Several factors work together to cause the acne condition. Sebaceous glands also known as oil glands cause acne when they get enlarged and overproduce oil; this is especially during puberty and at stressful times. Clogged pores of the skin in turn trap the over produced oil and prevent it from flowing out which causes whiteheads and blackheads. Bacteria although not a direct cause, also play a role in the worsening of the condition by growing in the blocked pores and producing chemicals which change the composition of the oil. This ultimately leads to the irritation of the skin and its inflammation.

Discomfort, swelling, warmth and redness are some of the characteristics of an inflamed skin. Inflammation occurs because the skin is trying to remove the bacteria. The lesion is a type of acne and is a change in the tissues of the body that can be seen physically. A lesion can also be caused by injury or disease and can be caused by internal; lung cancer, liver cirrhosis and atherosclerosis or external; knife cut, cancer, psoriatic plaque and skin cancer.

Another type of acne that comes in the form of a lesion is the papule which is a 5 millimeter lesion that usually occurs on the skins surface and feels like sandpaper. The pustule is another acne type and comes with a dome shape. Pustule contains pus that normally consists of white blood cells, bacteria and dead skin cells. The macule is another acne type which is a red, flat, impermanent spot that comes in place of a healed lesion. A macule can stay on for days and even weeks. The nodule kind of acne is dome-shaped and normally inflamed.

The cyst acne resembles a sac and contains semi liquid or liquid material that consists of bacteria, white blood cells and dead cells. The cyst is bigger than the pustule and is sometimes inflamed severely. Cysts extend into the skins deeper layers, can be very painful and results is scarring. Acne has many treatments and some of them are use of antibiotics, hormonal treatments, phototherapy, and oral retinoids among others.

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Five Acne Scar Household Cures to Help You Beat Acne Now

Friday, March 13th, 2009
by Frank Froggatt

If you battle with acne blemishes, you may be interested to know that there are a diversity of home remedies available for healing acne scars. Acne scar home remedies are quick, easy, and affordable. In fact, you may be able to mix up a remedy with simple components you have in your kitchen. If not, all that is required is a quick trip to the health food store or grocery. This article will list five easy acne scar home remedies that you can make at home in your kitchen.

Number one. Sandalwood and rosewater blended together to form a paste is a great treatment to reduce acne scarring. You can buy sandalwood powder at a local health food store, along with rose water. Blend them together until they form a paste, then put this paste on your acne scars on a daily basis. Over a period of a few weeks, you can watch as the scars will begin to lighten and the health of your skin will improve.

Number two. To remove or reduce blackheads and blackhead scarring, mix ground radish seeds with water to form a paste. Use this paste to scrub the affected area daily. Over time, you will see scars diminish and healthier, blemish free skin appear.

Number three. If you have acne scars that are tender, or inflamed, you can apply ground Sesame seeds as a poultice. This concoction of sesame seeds mixed with water and applied to the skin act to calm inflammation and heal scarring. Over time, you will see a spectacular reduction in your acne scars.

The fourth really effective cure I have for you is to make salt and vinegar into a paste. All you have to do is rub this paste on the acne scarred areas and you will soon see a reduction in the redness and it will also prevent any new blemishes from forming. For the best results you need to add this mixture to your skincare routine daily.

Number five. The citric acid in lemon juice acts to lighten acne scars, as well as toning skin. You can either use straight lemon juice, or peel a lemon and crush the peel in a blender. You will then apply the lemon juice to your scarred areas on a daily basis. Leave it on your skin for 5 to 10 minutes, then wash off with mild soap and water.

Just as I promised, there you go, a list of five simple acne scar household remedies that you can mix up in just a matter of a few minutes in the comfort of your own kitchen. Now you don’t ever have to ever have to spend a fortune on all that expensive pharmaceutical drivel that makes all those great claims for scar reducing. Because you now have the ability to treat your acne scars easily and effectively with very minimal damage to your pocketbook. It is really a blessing to actually be able to use nature’s healing power for a change instead of having to depend on harsh chemicals and pharmaceutical companies to get the long-lasting results that you are longing for.

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Try These Genuine Home Pimple Remedies

Monday, March 9th, 2009
by Frank Froggatt

Everyone’s been there - on the day of a big presentation, client meeting, or date, we take a look at ourselves in the mirror and find a terrible looking zit glaring back at us. Instead of getting mad at your skin, take action now and start using natural products on your acne. Pimple home remedies are easy to use, and you don’t even have to go to the pharmacy to get them. These remedies are fast, simple, and to the point - most times you can find the ingredients at home.

If you’re humiliated by your acne, home remedies for pimples can help. There’s no need to buy expensive products or pay for expensive acne treatments. Instead, head to your icebox and kitchen cabinets, and put the following tips to work for you. These simple to use recipes use ingredients from your grocery store and can be mixed up in no time, so put one into action today!

One easy pimple home remedy is Mint. This herb grows in many people’s home gardens, or can be purchased inexpensively in the produce section of your supermarket. It’s important to use fresh mint leaves for this remedy to achieve the best possible results. Mint can be used to treat pimples in two ways. One way is to simply crush the leaves and apply the resulting mint juice to your pimple. The other is to mix the mint juice with turmeric until the ingredients form a paste. Then apply the paste to your pimple and allow it to sit for 3-5 minutes.

Orange peel is another easy way to treat acne. To use orange peel to treat your pimples, peel an orange, run the peel through the blender with a bit of water, and apply the resulting paste to your blemishes. The juice acts quickly to minimize blemishes and dry up pimples - citric acid is a great pimple home remedy.

Salt and vinegar are also extremely useful in the fight against acne. Mix salt and vinegar together to form a paste. Apply this paste to your pimples, and leave it on for 10-20 minutes. Rinse away with warm water. Repeat this process daily as needed until acne clears up.

If you just utilize these simple inexpensive pimple home remedies, you won’t have to go to the store and buy all of those expensive products that drug companies make. As you can see you could probably find most of them in your cupboard or refrigerator and have them mixed up in a short period of time. Don’t be afraid to try something new and save yourself some cash in the process. With proper care of your skin and the application of some of this simple products you can be rid of your acne very affordably and safely.

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