Acne

“I killed one yesterday…”"But I am scared to even touch them…”"Oh but these creeps are back again…woke up in the morning and was astonished to see one mocking at me sitting on my cheek and the other snoring right at my nose! Gosh…I am tired of them…”

This is a usual conversation between two young pubescent individuals. The reason for their grievance is nothing other than acne. Many young people suffer from this problem. Acne designates the condition of skin when pimples, whiteheads or blackheads appear on it. This happens most often during adolescence but at times even in later years too. Our facial skin is most prone to acne along with our neck, chest and back. Once these pimples, blackheads etc. make their place on face, they conceal the entire facial charm. When they happen to be at other places too, it becomes quite difficult to wash or scrub that area. Generally the state of acne takes two to three weeks to disappear with no promise of not returning again but at times it may take months even. In many cases the elevated areas on the skin may acquire pus and develop in to pustules and even worst into cysts that end up with scars on that place.

There are several factors deemed responsible in causing acne. For instance dirty or oily skin, air pollution, digestion snags, inadequate diet, hormonal changes, lack of proper sleep, etc. Based on these there are different treatments prescribed for acne. However, acne treatments can be broadly divided as internal or external.

External Treatments- Curing acne through external means.

-The foremost precaution as well as cure for acne is to clean your skin regularly especially when you go out. Astringent lotions, oil-removing pads and medicated soaps act as wonderful cleansing agents. They prevent the growth of pimples to a large extent. -Herbal face packs that are mostly prevalent in Asian countries like India are helpful in minimizing the effect of acne outburst. -Routine exercise is also important for the sweat coming out of body also extracts the impurities/dirt beneath the epidermis.

Internal Treatments- generally youngsters are of the opinion that acne has nothing to do with their dietary habits, hormonal changes etc., but this is not so.

-The acne condition can be averted by a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals. Some vitamins like vitamin A, B6, and minerals such as Zinc are considered important for an acne free skin. Green leafy vegetables, milk, fruits, and juices are a sure means to supply adequate nutrients to body. -Drinking 12-15 glasses of water a day improves our skin and makes it look fresh and young.-Homeopathy and ayurvedic medicines have also relieved people to a large extent. -Allopathic drugs that are prescribed by doctors stabilize the hormonal imbalance in body.

However, an individual should not opt for any anti-acne medicine or lotion without consulting a dermatologist. We all have different kinds of skin and so the drug beneficial in one case may not be so for others. Moreover, do not mess with the pimples, i.e., do not “pop” them or endeavor to peel them out. This can lead to development of undesired marks on the skin that take long time to disappear. The best way to pamper your skin is to clean it daily, eat a healthy diet, exercise and avoid stress.
About the Author

Ruth Stattmiller writes about a variety of health topics, but focuses on acne treatment.

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We tend to think of feeling angry as being caused by rudedrivers, people we don’t like, or 100 degree temperatures; thatbeing sad is the result of losing something we had or not havingsomething we wanted; and that feeling good is caused by kindpeople, successful projects, or ice cream cones.

When we’re working on our emotional intelligence we work on ourself-talk and attributional style (optimism), our communicationskills, empathy, and managing emotions, and it’s good toremember that we also live in a body which is made up ofchemicals, an internal environment that also affects ouremotional state. Let’s face it, your less apt to get angry whenyou’re well-rested, eating well, exercising, and not beingirritated by toxic cosmetics, lotions and perfumes.

It is believed that our feelings are regulated byneurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, anddopamine. Serotonin is most often called the “feel good”neurotransmitter.

Here are some things to know about this important moodregulator.

1.Restoring levels of serotonin in the body relieves symptoms ofdepression and anxiety.

2. Vitamin B6 and magnesium can elevate serotonin. Source: Dr.Allan D. Lieberman, M.D., FAAEM

3. Seratonin receptors decrease significantly with age - up to55%. Source: Research reported by Carolyn Meltzer, M.D.,Assistant Professor of Radiology and Psychiatry, U. ofPittsburgh.

4. Foods high in serotonin are bananas, pumpkin seeds, peanuts,tomatoes, plums, avocados, pineapples, eggplant and walnuts.Source: Roger L. Gould, M.D., U.C.L.A.

5. Anti-depressants work with the serotonin you produce; theydon’t produce it. Your body produces serotonin throughL-tryptophan. L-Tryptophan is present in pork, duck and turkey– maybe this is one reason we love Thanksgiving so much!

6. Research indicates that low levels of serotonin in the braincan lead to underlying inability to handle powerful feelingswhich can result in impulsive acts, aggressive behaviors, poorjudgment, and self-destructive tendencies.

According to the Society for Neuroscience, in experiments,monkeys with less serotonin are the ones who take daring jumpsfrom the trees and injure themselves. Rats low in serotonin dorisky things in experiments, and also accept small immediaterewards instead of waiting for a bigger prize.

7. Serotonin can also be enhanced by talk therapy and by aerobicexercise such as jogging or dance. Source: Harvard psychiatristJoseph Glenmullen, author of “Prozac Backlash.”(www.discover.com)

8. Touch increases serotonin during massage and decreases painlevels, improves sleep patterns, decreases fatigue, anxiety,depression, and cortisol levels in fibromyalgia patients. (Andmaybe in you as well?) International Journal of Neurology 84(1996):205-217; Journal of Clinical Rheumatology 2 (1996):18-22;International Journal of Neuroscience 86 (1996):197-205 cited @http://www.healingartsreport.com .

9. Some physicians believe increased light can affect serotoninlevels positively (source: Carol E. Watkins, M.D.,psychiatrist).

Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., Chief, Section on EnvironmentalPsychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, feels that inthis regard, intensity of the light is the most criticalvariable, not spectrum.

However full-spectrum light used in the poultry industry causeschickens to live twice as long, be calmer and less aggressive,and produce eggs 25% lower in cholesterol. Apparently, evenhuman cholesterol levels drop when people are exposed tosunlight.

Non-full-spectrum lighting, which is often used in work places,has been shown to create hormones ACTH and cortisol in levelsconsidered stressful.

10. In sum, part of emotional self-awareness means becomingaware of what physical factors innate to you enhance your mood -the foods you eat, the chemicals you put into your body, theexercise you get or don’t get, and your surroundings.

Some people believe that being around (looking at) water (ocean,river, stream, swimming pool) enhances serotonin. The captain onthe Royal Caribbean line ends each cruise saying that researchhas proven cruises to be beneficial to your health. There sureare a lot of people out staring at the water from horizon tohorizon. It could, however, also be what they’re not seeing.

11. Last but not least, our health effects our emotions, whichin turn effect our immune system which is out health. Besidessupporting your serotonin levels, you can bolster your immunesystem by neutraceuticals. Products such as Arbonne’s Get WellSoon Dietary Supplement ( susandunn.myarbonne.com ) arescientifically proven to nutritionally support the immunesystem. Our immune system is our FIRST line of defense againstbacteria (such as pneumonia), and our ONLY line of defenseagainst viruses (such as flu and bird flu). Their cosmetics,lotions, shaving cream, hormone replacements, and baby productsalso support your health because they are made of pure naturalingredients, and are non-allergenic and odor free. This iscrucial because what you put on your skin (and your baby’s skin)is absorbed into the bloodstream. Products containing mineraloil, for instance, clog pores so our skin can’t “breathe.”

Living a healthy life requires a balanced lifestyle and abalanced brain.

About the author:

Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, www.susandunn.cc,mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc . Individual coaching, Internetcourses, ebooks, EQ Alive! coach certification program, rated#1, training worldwide. For nutriceuticals, skin care, babyproducts, cosmetics, anti-aging, acne, go susandunn.myarbonne.com . Email for FR** EQ ezine

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Skin that is flawless and youthful looking is what most women desire. Unfortunately, these desires are often thwarted by the lure of advertisements for traditional cosmetics that are widespread. Mineral cosmetics offer benefits, but their acceptance is not overwhelming. Reason being, people associate mineral cosmetics with something that is substandard. In the case of cosmetics, it is the general thought that an individual doesn’t obtain the coverage and “look” that they want. In this article we will take a look at mineral cosmetics and what they have to offer.

Mineral and natural cosmetics are often considered synonymous. Although there are similarities between the two, they actually refer to two different types of products for the skin. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a product that is “natural” contains ingredients that are derived from plants or animals. It also has determined that any products that contain stabilizers (additives) of color that are derivatives of earth are considered mineral cosmetics. An example of an ingredient that is added to mineral cosmetics is titanium oxide. This additive is generally added to face powders to create the various shades of color.

One of the great benefits of mineral cosmetics is that they are resistant to water. Unlike traditional cosmetics that “cake” and “run” in water, mineral cosmetics cling to your skin, maintaining the flawless skin tone you want to display. Another benefit of using mineral cosmetics is that you protect your body from harmful chemicals. When you use mineral cosmetics you use those elements that are natural to your body and that create a natural look. Traditional cosmetics contain chemicals that are not natural to your body and that may clog your pores and cause blemishes, or worse, result in you developing cancer. The fewer chemicals that you introduce to your body, the more you reduce your risk of cancer.

Another benefit associated with using mineral cosmetics is that you actually help your skin to remain healthy. The natural ingredients in mineral cosmetics have a healing effect that can help to improve skin conditions such as skin damage and acne. Dermatologists generally forbid an individual suffering from these skin conditions to wear traditional cosmetics because they can make the conditions worse. Mineral cosmetics also provide the skin with natural moisture. If you have very dry skin you still may want to use a moisturizer.
The two downsides of mineral cosmetics are cost and availability. The process to obtain and add the necessary ingredients to mineral cosmetics is costly. The Internet does provide some release in the sense that the companies that advertise there don’t have to worry about overhead so that they can charge better prices. Your best bet of locating these products is to find a health food store. These stores generally carry a variety of mineral cosmetics and have knowledgeable staff available to assist you if you should have any questions. If you don’t live near a health food store, you can perform a search online for companies that sell mineral cosmetics and request a catalog.

About the Author

The Skin Care Site

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When it comes to caring for and treating an acne condition, many people fail to take a full blown approach. In other words, many people with acne tend to do “one thing” when it comes to “treating” their condition. For example, they might buy a great cleanser to assist in the care and treatment of their acne but they fail to use an appropriate exfoliating product and then follow up with some sort of decent treatment cream.

When all is said and done, if you really do want to resolve an acne condition, you are going to want to take a truly comprehensive care and treatment approach. For example, you will want to incorporate the use of tried and tested products such as ZENMED™ Derma Cleanse® System and ZENMED™ Body Acne Combo into your acne care and treatment practice.

When all is said and done, the best type of acne treatment program essentially is a three part regimen that includes:

– cleansing

– exfoliating

– application of treatment product

Cleansing

The first step in effectively treating an acne condition is properly cleansing the effected areas with an appropriate cleansing agent. (Again, if you elect to use a product line such as ZENMED™ Derma Cleanse® System and ZENMED™ Body Acne Combo, you will have available to you a proven type of cleansing agent that can get you well on your way to successfully treating your acne condition.)

In addition to choosing a proper cleansing product as part of your acne treatment regimen, you also need to keep in mind that the cleansing component of an acne treatment program depends upon regularity. In other words, in most cases, you need to fully cleanse the effected areas of the skin at least two times a day. A failure to cleanse the effective areas of skin with such regularity will end up defeating the effectiveness of the treatment regimen itself.

In the treatment of an acne condition, cleansing is the foundation upon which the remainder of the treatment process is built. Therefore, you will want to make certain that you develop a cleansing routine that incorporates appropriate cleansers utilized on a regular basis. In the absence of such a foundational routine, the remaining elements of a comprehensive regimen will be less than effective.

Exfoliating

Many people overlook the necessity of exfoliating when it comes to exercising and implementing an acne care and treatment program Exfoliating the skin is an extremely important component of an overall acne care and treatment regimen.

The process of exfoliating the skin works to effectively remove dead skins cells and imbedded oils that if left unattended can cause an aggravation of an acne condition. There are some excellent products that a person can utilize to ensure that the exfoliating process properly is completed.

A person should exfoliate on a daily basis. In some instances a person can go two days between exfoliations — but, you need to keep in mind that oils, dirt and dead skin cells build up on a daily basis.

Treatment Products

Only very rarely can an acne condition effectively be resolved without the intervention of appropriate treatment products like those included in the ZENMED™ Derma Cleanse® System and ZENMED™ Body Acne Combo product lines. As has been referenced earlier, the treatment of acne really is a three part process: cleansing, exfoliating and treatment application.

There are different types of treatment products on the market today — each of these products designed to treat different types of acne conditions. As a result, you need to take the time to consider which treatment product will best address the particular type of acne condition that your are afflicted with at a given point in time.

For example, if you have a condition of body acne, you will want to invest in a comprehensive treatment program such as ZENMED™ Body Acne Combo. On the other hand, if you are suffering from facial acne — either as an adult or a teenager — you will want to focus on a product like ZENMED™ Derma Cleanse® System.

Conclusion

By adopting a comprehensive course of treatment for an acne condition you will work to resolve a current condition and you will be in a far better position to prevent future outbreaks. Additionally, even if you face a future outbreak, by utilizing a comprehensive treatment program you will be able to lessen the severity of a future acne outbreak.

About the Author: I have studied the major aspects of acne treatment for many years now and have only found one solution that works with a natural product. You can find all the information and products offered here: http://www.Rapid-Acne-Treatment.com I hope you find the site to be informative and helpful.

Source: www.isnare.com

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There are literally thousands of acne skin care products on the market today. These include medications for acne treatment, products for acne prevention, makeup for acne prone people, facial cleansers, and many other products. Finding the products that work best for you takes work - and money.

Most acne skin care products contain benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is on the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) ‘unsure’ list. This means that the FDA has approved benzoyl peroxide for human use, but they aren’t completely sure that the product is safe. They won’t know the answer to that until further testing has been done - which requires years.

For this reason, if you are simply trying to prevent acne, you should use acne skin care products that do not contain benzoyl peroxide. Instead, look for products that contain natural, herbal ingredients, as opposed to products that are full of chemicals. You should note that you don’t have to use products that are specifically for the treatment of acne either. You can purchase essential oils, such as Evening Primrose oil, to treat and prevent acne as well. Products such as this can easily be purchased from your local health food store.

If you are trying to cure acne, as opposed to preventing acne, you will probably have to use an acne skin care product that does contain benzoyl peroxide. However, if this is the case, try to avoid exposure to the sun while using the product. Benzoyl peroxide can make you overly sensitive to the sun, and can also increase your chances of developing skin cancer.

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.

Don’t depend on acne skin care products alone to treat or prevent your acne. You also need to wash your face at least twice each day, keep your hair off your face, avoid using makeup, keep your hands off your face, and avoid squeezing or popping the acne pimples. If you have food allergies, you will also need to avoid those foods, as food allergies are a major cause of acne breakouts. Develop healthy eating habits, drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly. This will go along way towards treating and preventing acne breakouts.

Again, there are thousands of acne skin care products on the market. Unfortunately, they don’t all work. Be very selective when choosing acne skin care products, and get in the habit of reading labels so you know exactly what you are applying to your skin! The advertisements will all sound very promising, and you will be tempted to try those products. That is what advertisements are designed to do. Don’t fall for it. Instead, read the product information carefully, paying more attention to the scientific information, and less attention to the hyped up sales pitch that marketing people thought up.

Give the products time to work, and keep records. Write down what product you are trying, what the ingredients of the product are, how you are using the product, when you started using the product, and what results you have achieved. Few people actually keep up with this information, but over a period of time, information such as this will be very helpful to both you and your dermatologist when it comes to curing or preventing acne. Keep in mind that it can take a product up to three months to actually work, and occasionally, your acne breakout may appear to be getting worse before it gets better.

Have a plan, and choose your acne skin care products carefully. Keep records, and use the products as directed. While your acne cannot be cured overnight, it can be cured over time. Before long, you will know which acne skin care products work best for you, and which ones to avoid altogether.

About the Author

Acneteam.com strives to provide you with the latest information with regard to acne, the best acne treatments, the “old wives’ tales” and info about acne skin care products. Don’t blame the blemishes, we love to help! See for yourself at: AcneTeam.com (www.acneteam.com/)

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