Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
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Acne Basics Face Facts
Acne, or pimples, is a fairly common skin condition associated with the sebaceous gland and is caused by hormonal reactions mainly in persons of Pubescent age. While the condition is normally localized on the facial area, outbreaks on the neck, chest, shoulders, back, and even the arms are common. The condition usually becomes less pronounced at advanced ages, but there is no guarantee of this. While the physical damage of acne can be great, the psychological scars could actually be worse. There are no hard and fast rules concerning the cause of acne or acne prevention. Some people may sail through adolescence relatively acne free, with only a few blemishes, while others may suffer psychologically crushing outbreaks. Predictable causes include pubescent hormones, menstrual cycles, stress, and allergies. The condition can also be caused by activities such as using too much, or the wrong kind of, cosmetics, drug use, and deficient personal hygiene (although over zealous scrubbing of the affected areas can also make the problem worse.) As far as nutrition is concerned, there is no simple cure acne diet. Although it’s a good idea to steer clear of processed foods, eating the occasional chocolate bar has nothing to do with the cause of acne. You should, however, stick to a diet high in vitamin A and beta carotene, like melon, broccoli, and spinach. Avoid greasy foods like fried chicken and French fries, especially if you are already prone to oily skin. Acne is not a disease, it is a condition of the skin. Therefore, your skin can benefit from things like proper nutrition or a good facial. A trained facialist experienced with acne will know what your skin needs; blackhead extractions, camphor masks, exfoliation, sulfur, and zinc. While the physical effects of the condition can be great, with permanent scarring common once the initial outbreaks finally cease, the psychological effects can be even more debilitating. Flaring up during a time in a person’s life when they are likely already at their most emotionally vulnerable, acne’s legacy can include a severely diminished self esteem and crippling depression. Acne scars are unsightly and can be permanent, and it is for this very reason they can be psychologically and emotionally distressing. Ironically, the more the victim of an outbreak worries over their appearance, the worse the condition will usually become. The psychological and emotional effects caused by acne scars can actually be as devastating as the outbreaks themselves. Though there are home treatments available for acne scarring, if scars are causing severe psychological distress, social withdrawal or emotional illness, medical intervention is indicated. Although there are some very effective acne home treatment products available for acne sufferers, many widely available over-the-counter bactericidal products and treatments are usually without any scientifically-proven benefits. Based mainly on the chemicals benzol peroxide, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid, they rely on the drying of facial oil and the killing of offending bacteria. Since these chemicals routinely cause dryness, local irritation and redness, some people are better off not using them. Believe it or not, a little sun can be a good thing for acne flare-ups (this is most effective on oily skin), just don’t burn yourself as this will put you at risk for things a lot worse than acne. Many dermatologists have employed this principal of treatment by placing acne patients before a UV lamp for a few minutes (with appropriate eye protection, of course) with widely successful results. If acne flare-ups become physically or emotionally unbearable, as well as resistant to treatment, dermatological advice should be consulted. As the best acne treatment is good acne prevention, some acne sufferers will benefit from simply keeping their face clean with a good oil-free, fragrance-free acne cleanser, buffing gently (not scrubbing) with a soft exfoliating towel and using an oil-free moisturizer on dry areas. When general acne prevention and skin care, along with the diplomatic use of good over-the-counter products fail to produce results (as they sometimes will) more serious, scientifically produced and tested home treatment products are available, and should be investigated. Copyright ? 2006 Davi Dietz - All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give author name credit and follow all of the EzineArticles terms of service for Publishers. Davi Dietz is a freelance journalist, ad copy writer, and research writer. Read more work by Davi Dietz on Skin Care at http://www.face-facts.net
By: Davi Dietz
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
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Acne Antibiotic Treatments A Closer Look
Forget the topical acne treatments. The best way to take care of acne is to attack it from the inside out. The variety of acne treatment products encompasses the full spectrum of internal and external treatments and they range from gels, creams and lotions to prescription acne treatment drugs. Because acne manifests itself on the surface of the skin, it’s only natural to assume that the place to begin to eliminate it is from the outside. However, regardless of the problem (i.e. any form of disease or imbalance) it’s only logical to correct the imbalance in the body. Correct the source of the problem rather than the symptoms. Correcting the imbalance within the body is the principal of how acne antibiotic treatments work. Some of the older acne antibiotic treatment products did have a few unwanted side effects. However, these days, you can get acne antibiotic treatment products that are made using homeopathic, all natural formulas, making them effect and safe. Even if you find the latest, safest treatment method, it is still critical that you adhere to the instructions. Taking more than the recommended dose will serve no purpose and could result in unwanted side effects so make sure you always follow the directions. Although, you want to eliminate you acne as quickly as possible there is no need to overdo it. You didn’t develop acne overnight and realistically, you can’t eliminate it overnight either. Proper acne treatment requires patience and commitment. While acne treatment products will help you, it’s your responsibility to ensure you follow a reasonable plan so your body has the time to use the medicine properly to assist it in healing itself. Even if you feel the desperate need to speed up the process, please don’t give in to those impulses. The acne antibiotic treatment products need time to work and your system needs time to cleanse itself of the poisonous imbalances that caused the acne in the first place. Be calm and patient and let the acne antibiotic treatment product work for you, rather than against you. Tip - For information on the Top Rated All Natural Acne treatment option, check out the links below. Visit clear acne or acne solution or acne scar treatment for more information on acne prevention and treatment.
By: Dave Cahill
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
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Acne And DietYou Are What You Eat
Some acne myths include “you’ll outgrow it, so leave it alone”, “being out in the sun helps acne”, “acne problems are directly or indirectly proportionate to sexual activity”, “acne visits dirty people”, “acne is contagious”, and too many more to list in this short article. The sad thing is that belief in the myths can be devastating, in that proper treatment is avoided, and lifestyle changes that don’t need to be made can take away pleasure unnecessarily. Just about everyone has acne at one time or another. This common skin problem has left many individuals looking for an effective acne treatment that can be used by a wide variety of people. Pimples are not selective; they tend to appear on anyone and everywhere. This prompts many researchers to work towards finding the ideal acne treatment. There are 2 ways to treat acne, topical (applied to the skin) or systematic (taken by mouth). Both over the counter (OTC) (meaning no prescription is necessary) remedies are available. The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions, to prevent new lesions forming, stop scarring, minimize psychological stress and embarrassment caused by the disease. Drug treatment is aimed at reducing several problems that play a part in causing acne: abnormal clumping of the cells in the follicles, increased oil production, bacteria, and inflammation. Acne skin care products can be very inexpensive, or very expensive, depending on what you are buying. Just because a product is expensive does not mean that it will work. However, the products that do work usually are expensive. Do your research, and purchase products that have a proven track record. This doesn?t mean that the product will necessarily work for you, but the chances of it working are improved, because it has been scientifically proven to be effective for the majority of the people who use it. Among popular alpha hydroxyl acids, glycolic acid is one of the most commonly used. It has similar results with a chemical peel. Even when used in strong concentrations, glycolic acid has only few negative side effects. Long-term day to day use may also have a beneficial effect on acne scars. Glycolic acid is also effective in increasing skin resistance to ultraviolet light, improving moisture retention, as well as the general skin condition. However, even though it is quite effective and has only minor side effects, it is better to use as part of a more complex skin care system. You should not however despair in anyway if you?re black skinned. There is always a cure to all your acne problems. There are actually so much acne treatments for black skin for you to choose from and fight that unwanted skin problem. In fact, there is almost no difference at all on acne treatments for black skin or white skin. You can even prepare one by yourself! Or, you can just buy a remedy right on the nearest store! In case you have an extreme acne problem, you are advised to consult your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor should have one acne treatment for black skin that will truly exterminate that unwanted acne. Sarah Rhodes suffered from severe acne for many years before finally discovering a cure that works. Read about Sarah and the secret that permanently cured her acne at: acnehomesolution.com
By: Sarah Rhodes
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
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Acne What Is It And What Causes It
Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin and is also known as Acne Vulgaris. Often it is caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structure which consists of hair follicles and the associated sebaceous glands). Lesions will appear which are commonly known as pimples, spots or zits. The term acne comes from a corruption of Greek words “acme” meaning skin erruption and “bacne” or ” backne” which is often used to indicate the form of acne found on a person’s back. The condition is often found in pubescent people and is especially common in Western societies, most likely due to a high genetic disposition to getting it. It is often considered to be an abnormal response to normal levels of the male hormone testosterone in the body and for many people this tends to diminish over time. So the acne then often disappears or at least decreases, usually when a person reaches their early 20’s. Unfortunately there is no way to predict just how long it will take for the acne to disappear completely. Some individuals may continue to suffer from acne for decades, sometimes in to their 30’s or 40’s or even beyond. A large percentage of people will be affected by acne at some stage during their life. There are various types of acne and these are shown below:- 1. Acne Vulgaris - The most commonly experienced forms of acne and will appear around puberty. It is typically to be found on a person’s face, shoulders and chest. 2. Acne Rosacea - This is a red rash which is predominantly found on a person’s face. 3. Acne Keloidalis Nuchae - Also known as Pseudofolliculitis Nuchae and is a rash caused by shaving. 4. Acne Conglobata - Also known as Hidradenitis Suppurativa - This is chronic abscesses or boils on the sweat glands and hair follicles usually found in the underarms, groin and buttocks as well as under the breasts of women. 5. Acne Cosmetica - This type of acne is caused by cosmetics. 6. Acne Fulminas - Is an extreme form of Acne Conglobata. 7. Acne Medicamentosa - This form of acne is caused when a person is starting or finishing a course of medication. 8. Baby Acne - This is a form of acne that is a rash seen on the cheeks, chin and forehead of an infant. 9. Chloracne - This form of acne rash is caused by the person being exposed to chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dioxins or PCB’s. Hopefully the information provided to you above with regard to acne will help you to understand more clearly what it is and how it is caused. If you want to discover more about acne, click over to Jo’s site at http://www.infoaboutacne.info Get 3 Free Reports to help you deal with acne from http://www.infoaboutacne.info/reports
By: Jo Wood
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
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A Balanced Diet Gives You Shiny Skin Free Of Acne
?Your food is your grave,? said the famous dramatist and author Bernard Shaw. He was a strict vegetarian too. ?My stomach is not the graveyard to bury the dead animals,? he said of the non-vegetarian food. Well, I would not like to touch upon his second statement in this article and concentrate on the topic of the good diet for you, that is, the balanced diet. If you take good food, you will have a healthy body and a glowing skin. If you take wrong food, the impurity will erupt out of the skin in the form of acne. Have you watched the birds and animals? They have a fixed time to eat and a fixed time to rest. You can’t make your most faithful dog, eat against its wishes. It may obey any other command of the master, but as for its eating, it has its own rules and regulations. And we, the human beings- the so called, rational beings; hailed as the crown of Creation; most affectionate children of God! We are prepared to eat anything at any time. Have you ever realized that there are some more partners in your food intake company, apart from those taste buds dancing on the tongue? Have you ever thought about the quality of food you partake? Do you even know that high cholesterol level leads to hardening of arteries, which could result in heart disease or heart attack? Your intake of food and drink needs to be healthy. Take sugar in moderate quantity, and get your cholesterol checked at periodical levels. If it crosses 200, consult your doctor immediately. And take note- you alone are responsible for your present physical condition! Fat in your body is measured by a method called Body Mass Index (BMI). For a woman who is physically fit, it should be around 21% to 31%. If she is fit like a model, it could be as low as 10%. For men, it should be between 14% to 25% levels. For an athlete body, it could be again as low as 2%. Remember, most of the diseases are invited by you. Diseases do not come by themselves, unless you create conditions for their comfortable existence in your body by your wrong living. Wrong diet is believed to be the cause of acne attack as well. Fruit juice is certainly good for the glow of your skin. Acne just wants an excuse to make your skin its abode for a fairly long period. The golden rule of good diet is to avoid all types of junk food. Take seasonal fruits and vegetables. Prefer vegetables full of fiber. Nature gives appropriate things at the appropriate seasons. Follow it. Don’t confront it. Avoid artificially flavored food and drinks. To get more information on acne, acne treatments and acne medication visit http://www.acnetalks.com/pimple/
By: Joann Grant
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
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8 Adult Female Acne Treatment Tips
Tip #1: Do not use scrub if you have acne. Instead, just use a mild cleanser and wash your face gently once in the morning and once at night. The use of a scrub can make your skin drier, thus irritating the acne. Use a clean towel to dry your skin after every wash. Tip #2: Do not pick, squeeze, scratch or pop your acne. The temptation to do so may be great, but the negative effects from doing so is just not worth it. Squeezing your acne will put you at risk for more breakouts, as the bacteria from the acne will be pushed even further into the skin. If you pop your acne, you will have brown or red scars which can last for months. Tip #3: Purchase only noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic cosmetics and skin care products. This is very important because any cosmetics or skin care product which is not labeled noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic may clog your pores and make your acne worse. Tip #4: Be patient. In some cases, it may take up to eight or more weeks before any positive results are observed from your treatment. So, give it time for your acne treatment to work. Tip #5: Do not use acne medications more than directed. More is not necessarily better. Some acne medications can irritate your skin and make it drier if they are used excessively and more often than recommended. So, use acne medications as directed by your dermatologist and revisit them if you have not seen any result after eight weeks. Tip #6: See your dermatologist if you are having any difficulties in treating your acne. They can evaluate your skin conditions and recommend any acne treatment suitable for you. Tip #7: Avoid the use of headbands or hats when possible as they will rub against your forehead, and can aggravate your acne. Tip #8: Avoid touching your face or leaning your chin on your hand as much as possible. Your hand may harbor harmful bacteria which can make your acne worse. Also, be sure that any objects which come into contact with your face, like hand-phones or eye glasses, are clean. Staggerlee Phillips often writes on health topics. Tired of not finding even a single acne treatment product that works? Worry no more - Click Here - Adult Female Acne Treatment
By: Staggerlee Phillips
Monday, February 11th, 2008
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2 Acne Treatment Remedies For Scarring That Really Work
1. Dermabrasion: This is a type of procedure which represents scraping of the skin. Sounds funny but it is actually something like “Sanding” which is a construction term for making wood smoothe. It is usually best for people who have sun-damaged skin, scars or dark spots. This procedure is usually very painful, requires anesthesia and leaves your skin red and raw-Looking afterwards. Takes months for the skin to re-heal and re-grow. Although very good for removing raised-up scars less good with sunken scars. In earlier times this procedure was done using a small sterilized electrical sander but more commonly used now is a “Yag Laser” which is now much easier to control and less messy. 2.Laser Resurfacing: This technique is done as a procedure during laser surgery in which the offending scar is dissolved by a laser. It has to do with molecular bonding of the scar. It is a very good treatment also for “Spider Veins”. One area in which this has become very useful is during liposuction to remove excess fat from chin and jaw areas. Skin usually wrinkles after fat is removed and this procedure tightens and smoothes over the new contours. There are some new devices that are now being tried which are plasma based instead of laser but the laser based devices still seem to be better. Well, if you have very painful and or disfiguring acne there are quite a few options available. Not all equally effective and some rather uncomfortable procedures to say the least. I have given you here 2 acne treatments that really work. Get Acne Free In 3 Days. All Natural Cure For Stopping Acne In 3 Days! More Info Here: http://www.ebookssupermall.com/acne
By: James Winston
Monday, February 11th, 2008
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You And Ubiquitous Acne
If teenage acne, in spite of the cause, was not a frustrating skin problem, it would have been dubbed the right of passage from adolescence to adulthood. Though adult acne can be associated with hormonal imbalance for women who are mensurating or pregnant, men also suffer acne due to metabolic changes plus, all other factors responsible for teenage acne. Having said all that, poor skin care, exposure to oil on the skin, the use of certain steroids and medications can precipitate acne in both teenagers and adults, while proper skin care, among other knowledge, will go along way to prevent acne, especially in teenagers. Nutrition plays an important role on the health of your skin, so eat healthy food and avoid too much exposure of your skin to sunshine and Chlorinated chemical environment. Also beware of cosmetics containing chlorine and Vitamin A derivatives that can damage your pores and cause acne. Your skin is sensitive and as such should be handled with utmost care and gentleness. Keeping your skin clean does not require vigorous scrubbing. Gently wash your skin with a soft sponge and a gentle soap. There are specialized skin cleaners and soaps available in the neighborhood pharmacy or online. Always rinse off the skin cleaner with sufficient water to ensure that you leave no residue to later aggravate your skin problems. Do not scrub or dry clean your face with a towel; gently dab at your face to absorb the water. Moisturizers are better than oily face creams. If you have acne, beware of all the numerous acne treatment, most of them do not live up the claims for their efficacy. Always read the ingredients of any acne cure product you intend to use. Also be mindful of touching your face, squeezing your pimples can get them infected and aggravate acne by spreading bacteria on your pimpled face with normally impure fingers. Neshah writes for your sound health. He recommends New Acne Treatment for a sure cure of your acne within three days. Please email this article to your family, friends and colleagues; they will love you for it. Acne happens in every family.
By: Charles Neshah
Monday, February 11th, 2008
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Which Available Acne Treatments Do A Great Job
Whether you happen to be a teenager or an adult who is suffering from acne, you’re probably looking for an acne treatment that works so that you don’t have to spend your life living with it. In this article we will provide you with 10 easy and effective ways of treating your acne. 1. Stop picking, pressing or rubbing those spots. These actions will only increase the amount of sebum that your body produces and will rupture the membranes below your skin. This will make the infection and sebum that cause acne spread underneath your skin and more spots will result. You are also increasing the chances of your face becoming scarred. 2. Wash your face twice daily. It is important that you only wash your face twice daily using a mild soap. If possible, buy one that is sulfur based as it is specifically designed for acne. But if your skin is too oily then use a soap that has benzoyl peroxide in it. Never use rough sponges, brushes or anything similar in order to wash your face and do not over wash it or it will stimulate the sebaceous glands. They will then produce more sebum and so increase the amount of acne that you have. 3. Look at what you are eating. For some people their acne can actually be caused by a food allergy and it is vital that you should avoid eating too much oily or spicy food. There have been recent studies carried out where it has been shown that acne is caused by milk which contains hormones and also seafood which contains relatively high levels of iodine. So wherever possible cut down on these foods and increase your intake of green vegetables, vegetable juices and foods which are rich in zinc as they can help to alleviate the problems associated with acne. 4. Drink plenty of water. If you can, drink at least 8 glasses of water each day as it can help to carry waste material out of the body and it really does help to heal and prevent acne flare ups. 5. Do not wear makeup. If you do not need to wear make up then don’t, as it can clog your pores and this will cause more blackheads and spots. But if you do need to wear make up then make sure it is a water based product (rather than oil based). Also cleanse your skin before you go to sleep each night and ensure that you clean your make up brushes regularly. 6. Keep away from oil products. It is important that you avoid such products as hair pomades, intense oil based facial moisturizers and oily cleansers as they will excacerbate your acne. 7. Keep your face clean. Try not to rest your chin on your hands or touch your face constantly with your hands. Also regularly shampoo your hair and keep it tied back from your face especially when you go to sleep. 8. Exercise Take up some form of moderate exercise which will help your blood to circulate properly and will also help to eliminate toxins from your body. 9. Get your Stress Levels Down or Remove them altogether. Studies carried out have shown that stress will not only increase an acne flare up but it also worsens the condition of a person’s skin. So either talk to your friends or listen to your favorite music or just take a walk in the park. Do whatever you need to do in order to stay stress free. 10. Go out in the Sun and Get some Fresh Air The sun is good as it stimulates Vitamin D in our bodies which is essential for healthy skin. Both fresh air and sunshine can also reduce our stress levels and increase the amount of oxygen to our skin. But be careful and do not get burnt as heavily tanned skin forms a layer on the skin which does not exfoliate quickly and can then lead to your skin’s pores becoming blocked. Hopefully the points provided above will provide you with some ideas regarding acne treatment and how to deal with acne should you suffer from it at any point in your life. If you want to discover more great acne treatment ideas, click over to Jo’s site at http://www.infoaboutacne.info Get 3 Free Reports about acne from http://www.infoaboutacne.info/reports
By: Jo Wood
Monday, February 11th, 2008
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Whats An Acne Scar And How Can It Be Treated
The most serious scarring is usually caused by the more severe forms of acne. These have nodules which are more likely to leave a permanent acne scar than most other types of acne. The best way to deal with acne is to get treatment soon after the acne has appeared in order to prevent severe acne and acne scarring. So if you find you have nodules then visit your doctor or dermatologist and they will prescribe a course of treatment for you. But if you happen to have serious acne scarring from previous outbreaks then there are some things that you can do. One such form of treatment is laser resurfacing which can either be carried out at your doctor’s or dermatologist’s clinic. This form of treatment removes the damaged top layer of skin and then tightens the middle layer which leaves the skin smoother. Such treatment can take anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour to complete. Prior to the treatment the doctor will numb your skin first with a local anesthetic in order to lessen any pain you may feel. Normally it takes between 3 to 10 days for the skin to heal completely after this treatment. Another way of treating acne scarring is by dermabrasion which uses a rotating wire brush or spinning diamond instrument that wears down the surface of the person’s skin. Then as the skin heals after this treatment a new smoother layer of skin replaces the abraded one. However you may find that it takes longer for your skin to heal after this type of treatment and it can take from 10 days to 3 weeks for it to heal completely. It is important to remember that both these forms of treatment for dealing with an acne scar will turn the skin red and this redness may last for several months. Also these treatment can only be given to a person when their acne is not active. However some doctors or dermatologists may suggest a more mild chemical peel or microdermabrasion instead (it all depends on the severity of your scars) and these can be done right away in their offices and will help to improve the appearance of any acne scar that you have. But your doctor may suggest surgery where the scars are deeply indented. If you want to find out more about removing acne scars, click over to Jo’s site at http://www.infoaboutacne.info Claim your 3 Free Reports about acne from http://www.infoaboutacne.info/reports
By: Jo Wood