Skin Care Blog

الأحد، 3 يونيو 2012

How to Prevent and Control Acne

by John H. Moore
Do you have acne?
Acne may be the scourge of adolescent years, but it can follow people into middle age and beyond.
Acne is really a catchall term for a variety of symptoms such as pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. It's a condition where the pores of skin become clogged and the person gets inflamed and non-inflamed lesions.
So what's the cause of all the clogging?
Heredity - at least for the most part. Acne is genetic - it tends to run in families, and it is an inherited defect of your pores. If both your parents had acne, three out of four of your brothers and sisters will get it too.
Stress, sun exposure, seasonal changes, and climate can all cause an acne attack. Certain types of makeup and taking birth control pills can also cause a breakout.

If you're tired of herbal remedies, ointments, and expensive and dubious prescribed medications, then you owe your skin to check out Acne Free in 3 Days, a natural how-to book on how to get rid of acne once and for all. -- Editors

Here are some simple things you can do to keep acne at bay...
Change Your Make-up
In adult women, make-up is the major factor in acne outbreaks, especially oil based products. It's the oil that causes the problem. The oil is usually a derivative of fatty acids that are more potent than your own fatty acids. Use a non-oil-based make-up if you are prone to acne.
Read the labels
Cosmetic products that contain lanolins, isopropyl myristate, sodium lauryl sulphate, laureth-4 and D & C red dyes should be avoided. Like oil, these ingredients are too rich for the skin.
Wash Properly
Wash your make-up off thoroughly every night. Use a mild soap twice a day and make sure you rinse the soap entirely off your face. Rinse six or seven times with fresh water.
Use Less Make-up
Whatever make-up you use, try to cut down on the amount you put on.
Leave Well Alone
Don't squeeze pimples or whiteheads. A pimple is an inflammation, and you could add to the inflammation by squeezing it, which could lead to an infection. A pimple will always go away in one to four weeks if you leave them alone.
Know When to Squeeze
Most pimples are best left alone, but there is one kind that you can squeeze to help get rid of it. If the pimple has a little central yellow pus head in it, then a gentle squeeze will make it pop open very nicely. Once the pus pops out, the pimple will heal more quickly.
Attack Blackheads
You can also get rid of blackheads by squeezing them. A blackhead is a very blocked pore, and a gentle squeeze will help rectify this.
Give Dry Skin Extra Care
Dry skin can be sensitive to some over the counter skin treatments, so please use these treatments with care. Start with the lower strength products first, and then increase the concentration slowly.
Stay Out of the Sun
Acne medications may cause adverse reactions to the sun, so minimize you exposure until you know what the reactions going to be. If you're avoiding medications because of their often terrible side effects, then getting 10 to 20 minutes of sun exposure on your acne can be an excellent thing to do.
Use One Treatment at a Time
Don't mix treatments. Use only one at a time because treatments may cause adverse reactions if mixed together.
Stop the Spread of Acne
Apply acne medication about half an inch around the affected area to help keep the acne from spreading. Acne moves across the face from the nose to the ear, so you need to treat beyond the inflamed area. Most people make the mistake of treating only the pimples and not the outlying areas of skin. This is wrong.
If you are an acne sufferer, then I trust this information will be very helpful to you. Thanks for reading my article.

About the AuthorAuthor John H Moore - please use my link

Mixing and Matching Skin Care Products Can Lead to Long-Term Damage

Hundreds of skin-care products.
So many choices.
Which products work best?
Well, today's skin-care consumer is justifiably confused, especially those confronting difficult skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, adult acne, skin rashes, excessively oily, flaky and itchy skin, a combination of dry and oily skin areas, rosacea, and even a combination of conditions.
More and more people are developing sensitivities to artificial ingredients and harsh chemicals. Many factors cause the skin to rebel: the environment, diet, medications, hormones, stress, and chemotherapy.
Another factor contributing to unhealthy sensitivities results from the mixing and matching of products from various manufacturers - applying a hodge-podge of products not formulated to work together.
Just as it is dangerous to combine home cleaning products, it can be damaging to combine skin care products from a variety of manufacturers.
Due to the extensive number of skin care products on the market, consumers tend to purchase a mix of products and brands that synergistically don't work together. A typical vanity is stocked with a wide-range of brand names and products. "Brand B" moisturizer is applied after "Brand A" cleanser and "Brand C" anti-aging serum is used in conjunction with "Brand D" Facial masque.
One may ask: "Is such combining of products a problem?"
The answer is a resounding, "Yes!"
Mixing brands and products may lead to a form of chemical warfare with the skin is the victim. A skin-care manufacturer will formulate products within a specific pH balance range, blending ingredients that complement one another for best results.
For example, the cleanser has a certain pH level and so does the freshener and moisturizer. The term pH refers to the measurement of the acids and alkali in the skin. The amount of acid in the skin determines the skin's resistance to bacteria.
However, one company's pH balance range may be quite different from the pH balance range of another manufacturer. One brand may not work in harmony with another brand. Mix and match brands and the result can be very damaging. Skin that becomes "off-balance" and "confused" may develop acne, allergies, rashes, and any number of other skin conditions.
Using products that contain proven healing ingredients such as Aloe can be extremely beneficial to "confused" skin. Aloe, known as "nature's pharmacy," provides 75 nutrients, 200 active compounds, 20 essential minerals, 18 amino acids, and 12 vitamins. For those undergoing radiation therapy, Aloe can help ease painful treatment. Be sure to find and use products where Aloe is listed first on the list of ingredients.
Clear, smooth, healthy skin is the beginning of a beautiful, youthful look. The basis of healthy, beautiful skin is a regular program of intelligent skin care.
The four essential steps to healthy skin are

1. Cleansing
2. Exfoliation
3. Moisturizing
4. Protection (against sun and elements).

Tips for a Life Time of Healthy-Looking Skin

Avoid mixing skin care products. Use a skin care system intended to work together to maintain the skin's natural pH balance.
Drink plenty of water.
Don't use products containing drying alcohol.
Avoid cleansers that suds.
Avoid products containing artificial coloring agents, synthetic fragrances, parabens, propylene glycol, waxes, mineral oil, or sodium laurel sulfates.
Don't go to bed wearing make-up.
Increase fiber intake.
Don't smoke. Smoking constricts blood vessels, causing premature wrinkling.
Use natural based products.
Don't use soap as a skin cleanser. All skin types, by nature, are on the low pH side, or slightly acidic, measuring about 6 on the pH scale. One of the greatest enemies to the skin's pH balance is soap because soap leaves the skin in an alkaline state that is receptive to bacteria.
Get your beauty sleep. Eight hours is best.
Think positive, healing thoughts.

The skin is a marvelous organ and responds quickly to kindness and care. Care for your complexion and it will do everything naturally possible to be soft, clear, healthy, and youthful in appearance.

Why Antibiotics Are Not the Answer for the Common Cold and Acne

For years, dermatologists have prescribed various oral and topical antibiotics as a first line of treatment for acne.
This standard of care may soon change due to a study in the September 2005 Archives of Dermatology that reports that people who use oral or topical antibiotics to treat acne have more than double the chance of having a cold during the following year. To put it plainly, regular use of antibiotics increases your risk of developing the common cold.
How can this be?
The medical community has known for years that regular antibiotic use in situations that are not life or limb threatening can lead to health problems related to killing off friendly bacteria in your body. Having lots of friendly bacteria in your body is important to your health because they enhance the strength of your immune system and contribute to a protective digestive tract lining.
What's particularly ironic about the findings of this study is that antibiotics are used so frequently in today's society to treat the common cold. So, not only does regular use of antibiotics increase your risk of getting a cold by weakening your immune system, if you treat your cold with antibiotics, your immune system will be weakened even further and your suffering will in all likelihood be prolonged.

Speaking of treating colds with antibiotics, are you aware that the common cold is related to viruses and not bacteria?
Antibiotics are useless against viruses. I'm convinced that a major reason why antibiotics are prescribed so frequently for the common cold is that many doctors don't take the time to determine whether a person's symptoms are related to a bacterium or a virus. Plus, many people have just come to expect a prescription for antibiotics when they have any symptoms that resemble a cold and make a trip to the doctor's office.
What many people don't know is that antibiotics have a mild anti-inflammatory effect. So even though antibiotics are useless against viral infections, they can make you feel better in the moment, just like Tylenol, Motrin, and other anti-inflammatory pills can.
Getting back to the study on acne that prompted this article, I hope it's clear that I don't recommend the use of oral or topical antibiotics to treat acne. Acne is best addressed by working on your diet, lifestyle, and emotional health. For some recommendations on treating acne from the inside out, view the following article: A Natural Approach to Curing and Preventing Acne.

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Watch Out for Side Effects from Acne Treatments

Because acne treatments are so diverse and can both be ingested and applied externally, you should know exactly what you are putting in or on your body when it comes to acne treatment. Side effects and other "undesirable" variables are some of the complications you may run into.
Unfortunately, many acne treatments create a multitude of complications.
Allergic reaction is one such complication. Some acne victims are allergic to various ingredients in acne treatment products. Often they do not know about this allergy until they find out first hand through using the product and calling back their doctor and asking why they are having trouble breathing or have broken out in a strange rash.
Obviously, this can have serious consequences for many unfortunate individuals. After all, they only wanted to get their acne treated, but they end up with a new problem or symptom.
The most common side effects are flaking, redness, and inflammation of the skin. This happens when the many chemicals in acne treatments ignite a bad reaction and over-dry the skin, depriving it of any moisture and hydration. This often yields the dry flaking effect, while the redness and inflammation could be caused by a mild allergy associated with the treatment.
Remember, it's up to you to consider all the options and research any medication you take over the counter or are prescribed. This cannot be emphasized enough, as it is your skin and ultimately your health.
Don’t take any unnecessary risks just because you believe, or are told by a pushy physician, that you have no other option. Be informed about the acne treatment you are about to purchase. And don’t let acne cost you more than it already has.
Note: I think we've all tried conventional medications at some point in our tenure with acne. And a lot of us remember the nasty side effects even more than the fact that the medication didn't help the acne at all. For a natural, medication and side effect-free approach, try Acne Free in 3 Days, a how-to book on how to get rid of acne once and for all. -- Editors

Choose a Proactive Acne Treatment

Treatment and control are two words you often hear about acne. But when it comes to treatment and control, what works? Take your pick of drug stores and you'll find a smorgasbord of different products you can use to "clear acne in 72 hours."
Dubious claims. Sometimes these over-the-counter and prescribed treatments make acne worse or cause symptoms that make a face or back full of pimples look like a walk in the park!
So let's talk about proactive acne treatment. Many teens and adults alike believe this is a must in clearing up acne for the long-term. And what being proactive means is that you take charge of your own health and lifestyle and know what to do, and what not to do.
For instance, no matter how "ready" a white-headed pimple looks, you probably shouldn't pop it, though some controversy exists on this subject. And in contrast with what the majority of people do, you should gently pat dry your face. Washing and drying your face as if the cloth were a chainsaw will exacerbate your acne.
Purchasing acne treatment products and medications may seem like the first step you can take to achieve your goal of having clear skin. But sadly, easy solutions and chemicals rarely work for many people. And no matter what a drug ad says, acne treatments alone will not help you win the battle against acne.
For ultimate success, you must have an over-all lifestyle change.
That means you have to change your diet. Oil is the number one cause of acne. It's this very oil you need to avoid. So clearly eating hamburgers and junk food will not help you get rid of acne. On the contrary, oily foods are like fuel to acne.
The oil in greasy hamburgers will sustain the sebaceous oil glands, allowing them to continually pump oil to your face.
There are natural oils that help nourish the skin, such as omega fats from avocados and Carlson's fish oil. Eating plenty of greens daily will also make a substantial difference.
Effective acne treatment is an inside-out process.
So if you get rid of all of the garbage inside, it will show up on the outside; conversely, if the inside is filled with bad oils and processed foods, it will reflect on your skin.

Five Reasons Little White Bumps Are On Your Face and How to Get Rid Of Them

by Naweko San-Joyz
Are you making these mistakes each time you spot a little white little bump on your face? Fixing those little white bumps starts with a small dose of education and ends with a big dose of prevention. After understanding the five reasons below, your little bumps should give way to clearer skin.
Reason #1: You have no clue what those little white bumps are anyway.
Little white bumps, or milia, are keratin-filled cysts, or simply little globs of protein under the skin. There are generally two types of milia. Primary milia may result from oil glands that have not fully or properly developed. Secondary milia result from trauma to the skin.
Reason #2: You think all little white bumps are acne, and treat them that way.
Just because you have little white bumps on your face does not necessarily mean that you have acne. Milia, are little balls of protein beneath the skin that do not have a pore, or hole in the skin through which to escape.
Comedones or whiteheads are excess fats and wastes that are trapped in a hair follicle and so they clog up the pore. In short, milia are proteins trapped within the skin, while comedones are fats and skin debris trapped within the pore.
Exfoliating the skin, or removing the dead skin cells from your skin with an abrasive product or chemical, is beneficial. But brutally scrubbing your face with soaps and chemicals too frequently may actually create milia. To avoid this, remember that gentle exfoliation helps prevent excess dead skin cell build-up that could clog your pores and cause whiteheads, not milia.
This gentle exfoliation helps make eventual removal of the milia easier because the skin layer around the milia becomes thinner, with frequent, yet gentle exfoliation. In short, Exfoliate your skin to prevent milia, not to cure them.
Reason # 3 You have no idea what causes those little white bumps anyway.
When you were a baby, you were probably covered with milia that disappear after a few days. Or, you may have inherited milia from your parents.
On the other hand, you may develop milia after excessive exposure to the sun. The reasons for developing milia after sun exposure are debatable. According to some studies, the active ingredients sunscreens like Parsol 1789 may cause sun allergies and later lead to a milia breakout. Other studies blame the sun itself for “damaging” the skin can thus causing little white bumps.
Some people experience milia around the mouth. This could be the result of fluoride irritation from toothpaste.
Reason # 4: No one ever told you how to prevent milia.
The best way to prevent milia is to avoid treating your skin with excessively harsh chemicals and to limit sun exposure.
To reduce creating milia around the eyes, use eye creams with the least amount of ingredients possible to avoid irritating the delicately thin eye area. Also, gently touch the eyes and avoid rubbing the eyes vigorously so as not to damage the skin.
When brushing you teeth, try to keep the pasty foam from staying around your mouth too long. This limits possible fluoride irritation to the skin.
Use a sunscreen with the least amount of ingredients. Extraneous ingredients like fragrances may irritate your skin. Additionally, purchase sunscreens that offer physical sun blockage that contain active ingredients like titanium oxide or zinc oxide.
Reason #5: You still want to know what you can do right now to get rid of milia.
The key to getting rid of milia is realizing that they have no escape route, those little bumps are trapped under the skin. So, to get them out, you’ll need to have a professional like a dermatologist or aesthetician extract them. You can extract the milia yourself, but this involves risks.
Precautions You need to ensure that you milia are not symptoms of some underlying disease or illness. Also, if you extract the milia yourself, you may have trouble completely pulling out the cysts, as the removable process may prove too painful.
Otherwise, if you are confident with your health and courage, you can cleanse your hands and face. Then wet a cloth with warm water and apply it to your face for a few minutes. Gently apply a sterile needle to the center of the little white bump to create a tiny opening in the skin.
Wrap your thumbs in a clean tissue and, using your thumbs, proceed to gently squeeze the contents of the little white bump out. Finally, cleanse the area of the extracted little white bump with an astringent.
Now, you have no reason to walk around with little white bumps on your face. If you still think you do, please consider the possibility that you’re just telling yourself little white bumpy lies.
About the Author
Naweko San-Joyz is creator of the Acne Messages program, the only acne program to combine the latest scientific research and ancient wisdom to deliver an acne cure as unique as the acne sufferer. As there are millions of people with acne, there are a millions cures, find your unique cure with Acne Messages. ISBN: 0974912204.

Natural and Herbal Remedies for Acne

Acne is a problem pretty much everyone faces at some time in their lives. It's most commonly seen on teenagers going through puberty because of the hormonal changes happening within the body. However, acne can be a problem through the adult years too.
Conventionally, most people choose to treat acne with topical creams and ointments, but the best acne treatments need to be taken internally, so acne can be treated at the source.
Acne is often caused by hormonal imbalances, but it's also caused due to toxicity in the body as well. By taking a few simple steps to start detoxifying your body, you'll often clear up acne related problems naturally.
There are many single herbs which help with acne for adults and teenagers. Some herbal combinations are designed specifically to help with female or male hormonal imbalances. When taking hormonal herbal remedies, some people find this clears up several problems at once.
For example, there are several herbs which work together wonderfully for correcting hormonal imbalances in women. These herbs work on internal problems, with the end results being reduced menstrual cramps, regulated menstrual flow, and improved skin conditions such as acne.
Ginger helps to cleanse the kidneys and bowels, removes excess toxins from the body, and stimulates circulation.
Lobelia helps encourage the flow of oxygenized blood, which in turn helps remove obstructions, congestion, and toxins.
Other excellent herbs to use for female hormonal problems include red raspberry, black cohosh, marshmallow, and kelp.
Kelp is an excellent single herb to take for a variety of problems, as it's a potent source of many vitamins and minerals. In fact, it's very much like an all natural multivitamin, and this can help restore the balance of vitamins and minerals in your body, which in turn will help clear up the acne and related health problems.
Going on any good cleansing or detoxifying diet will help clear up the acne too, but remember it can sometimes get worse before it gets better -- as your body starts pushing toxins out faster once you start a cleanse.
A good herbal face wash option is chickweed tea. Dissolve chickweed capsules in warm water, then bathe the face with it and rinse. Chickweed is also wonderful to use as a bath soak for other sores, rashes, boils, and burns.