Health Specialist » Acne

Vitamin Deficiency And Acne

Health Specialist — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:24:42 +0000

In today’s fast food society, it is no wonder that diet is such an extreme issue. It is almost impossible for anybody to maintain a healthy diet now-a-days. Health organizations estimate that only 10-20 even consume the recommended amounts of the most important vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. This is a startling low number and simply results from the fact that a healthy diet is very hard to maintain.

In order to be able to maintain a healthy body and in order to be able to have clear, healthy, acne free skin, it is important to consume the recommended amount of many crucial vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. However, diet alone often falls short of this. Fast foods don’t contain many vitamins and minerals in the first place, people usually don’t have time to try and prepare full, healthy, rounded meals, and even the foods purchased in stores now have many of their vitamins and minerals taken out of them in order to help them stay fresh longer.

For these reasons, it is often necessary to look elsewhere in order to get the right amounts of vitamins and minerals each day. Foods and diet will almost always still lead to some short of deficiency, no matter how careful one tries to be, and therefore it become necessary often times to look to supplements in order to fill the gap. Supplements can be extremely helpful in ensuring the body receives the vitamins and minerals it needs to be healthy.

Supplements are not a bad thing and are not some sort of “short cut.” Many people think they are cheating themselves by taking a vitamin supplement but this simply isn’t so. Most one-a-day vitamin supplements are extremely useful for the simple fact that they will help to provide the body with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. People also worry about then consuming too much of certain vitamins and minerals due to the combination of the supplement and eating. Again, this is almost never a problem since the supplements only provide the minimum recommended amounts each day, meaning that there is plenty of ceiling room left above that.

When foods and dieting simply aren’t cutting it, it is good to look for a vitamin supplement. Your body needs the vitamins and minerals and to deprive it of them would be extremely unhealthy.

Peel Your Skin Problems Away

Health Specialist — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:43:12 +0000

glyuSadly, the world that we live in today is no longer as clean and undefiled as it used to be. Recent technological advancements have done considerable damage to our environment. The air that we breathe in and the water that we drink and bathe in isnt as pure as it used to be. Out of all our body organs, it is the skin that takes the worst beating from all these unfortunate changes. But thanks to recent medical breakthroughs, we now have treatments available to combat the harsh odds that the elements have dealt us.

The harsh wind and sunlight, coupled with neglect, can cause premature skin aging and leave unsightly lines and blemishes. While topical drugs can address some problems, it is still not enough to keep the face from looking dry and rough. A more aggressive yet gentle form of treatment is needed to prevent the face from further damage.

Chemical peeling is now being regarded as the best option to give the skin a second lease at life. Chemical peels work by removing the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin. Peeling off the epidermis dramatically improves skin texture, smoothing out wrinkles, erasing spots caused by photo-aging and balancing the skins color.

The chemical applied to the skin varies, depending on the extent of skin damage. Light to medium chemical peels are advisable for people who have age spots and pigment abnormalities or those suffering from the early stages of photo-aging. Cosmetic surgeons normally use either alpha-hydroxy glycolic, lactic or fruit acids or trichloroacetic TCA acids for the said procedure. Phenol peels, on the other hand, are recommended for severely damaged skin.

TCA vs. AHA

While both TCA and AHA can be used to treat light to moderately damaged skin, the former proves to be more effective in providing definite results. Dr. Mitchell E. Blum, a recognized cosmetic surgeon who has been practicing for more than 25 years, provides a deeper, more thorough peel, as opposed to AHA, which may require several applications before results can be achieved. He also states that a TCA skin peel mimics the results of a Phenol peel, in that it penetrates the deeper layers of the skin, but provides a shorter recovery period. TCA peel is also quite affordable, and medical grade kits for home use can be found online at

However, Dr. Blum advises the use of tretinoin preferably Retin-A, glycolic acid and other bleaching agents at least four to six weeks prior to undergoing the procedure to prepare the skin for the chemical peel. This is because tretinoin stimulates the skin to heal faster while glycolic acid enhances the effect of the tretinoin.

The Procedure

The procedure is fairly quick, consuming a maximum of one hour. TCA is applied onto the face, focusing specifically on troubled portions of the skin. Because of the burning sensation that the TCA will generate, surgeons normally advise their patients to drink painkillers or sedatives to relieve the discomfort. Ice can also be applied to the skin to relieve the pain.

After The Procedure

Patients are advised to wash their face daily with gentle soap and water, followed by the application of an oil-based or steroid ointment. The skin will appear red for the first few days but will eventually flake within four to seven days. To achieve maximum effect, patients are advised to use sunblock to avoid recurring skin problems.

Vitamin A And Vitamin E For Acne

Health Specialist — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:20:12 +0000

In the fight against acne, vitamins A and E both act fairly similarly and both have great advantages for preventing its outbreak. Needless to say, getting proper amounts of these vitamins into your body everyday is crucial for maintaining clear, healthy skin and for helping to prevent acne from becoming a problem.

Vitamin A fights acne initially by helping to strengthen the protective tissue of the skin. Additionally, it reduces sebum oil production in the skin. This combination helps the skin to become more capable of fighting acne and also this healthy skin, with less oil, is less likely to suffer from acne breakouts. Furthermore, Vitamin A is a very strong antioxidant which helps to rid the body, including the skin, of harmful toxins and free radicals, therefore helping to clear the skin of many problems, including acne. Vitamin A is usually taken in conjunction with carotenoids which enhances its effects against acne.

Vitamin E is also an antioxidant. Although not as strong of one as Vitamin A, Vitamin E still does help to rid the skin of toxins which can lead to acne and helps to clear up existing acne. Vitamin E also promotes tissue repair and healing of the skin, two important aspects that help to both strengthen the skin and also to prevent damage caused by acne to become permanent. Additionally, Vitamin E prevents cell damage by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids fats and the formation of free radicals.

As can be seen, both vitamins have fairly similar methods of assisting in the fight against acne. Both help to strengthen the skin and healthier, stronger skin is less prone to acne. Both are also antioxidants and help to clear the skin of acne and prevent future breakouts. The difference is that Vitamin A reduces oil production and Vitamin E promotes tissue repair and healing. In combination, these vitamins are extremely effective in combating acne.

Both Vitamin A and Vitamin E are extremely important vitamins and a deficiency in either of them can lead to acne. Consuming healthy amounts of these vitamins every day can help to fight existing acne and also to enable to body to better prevent further acne breakouts from occurring. Put plainly, both of these vitamins should be involved in any methods used to combat acne and should be heavily considered when looking for acne fighting vitamin supplements.

Rosacea – The Red Blush That Becomes Permanent

Health Specialist — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:00:51 +0000

Rosacea- what is it?

Rosacea is also called adult acne or acne rosacea. But it has nothing to do with acne. In rosacea what happen is this. You will notice that you show red blush or flushing of the center part of your face in the beginning. That may happen after sun exposure or after eating spicy foods or drinking alcoholic drinks etc. But slowly this blush will become permanent and your face will always look red at the center. Slowly the color may spread to other parts of the face and acne like papules may form.

Rosacea- Am I prone?

No body knows the cause of rosacea. Nor it is known about who may be prone to rosacea. It is thought that it is a disease of the blood vessels of the face. When it develops further, you may notice red veins like spider veins on your face. Most of the men develop red big nose because of rosacea.

Rosacea- are there any complications?

Your eyes may get involved if you don’t get roseasea treated. You will feel gritty in the eyes and must consult your doctor immediately. As said earlier, men may develop very bad looking red big noses that may need surgery to correct the shape.

Rosacea- what should I do?

If anytime you notice that you are getting red color easily on your face, watch if it is becoming permanent. Please consult your doctor immediately if it does and bring your rosacea under control. Knowing more about what triggers your rosacea will help you.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Rosacea- How To Stop Flare-ups Of Rosacea?

Health Specialist — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:06:27 +0000

Rosacea causes a red face in the center forever. But this flares up and may cause more coloration and also pustules if some thing triggers it. We have to stop the rosacea from flaring up, so that we can manage the condition. Otherwise all the treatment will fail.

Rosacea- what may flare it up?

Rosacea is a condition of the very small blood vessels on the surface of the facial skin. Anything that causes normal red face will flare up the rosacea. Try eating very spicy food even if you have no rosacea and you may observe a red flush on your face. so these are the triggers-

Sun exposure
Eating Spicy Food
Change in temperature
Stress
Excess exercising
Caffeine
Irritating facial cosmetics

Once you know about these flare ups, you need to find out what causes more trouble to you. Avoid all of them as much as possible and you will be keeping your rosacea under control. Try to wear a high SPF sunscreen or sun block. Use umbrella and try to avoid walking out in the sun in the noon. Avoid the triggers to stop flare-ups of rosacea.

Skin Health Secrets How to apply skin care products

Health Specialist — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:28:36 +0000

It is pretty well known that different people get different results with the same skin care products. This can be caused by variations in body chemistry, but more often than not it’s because everyone applies skin care products differently.
Of course, if a particular product doesn’t give you the results you expect, it doesn’t always mean you are applying the product incorrectly. Unfortunately, many products just don’t work as advertised, no matter what you do! To top that off, some products may work for some people but not for others even when used properly. Nevertheless, when a product doesn’t work, it may often be due to incorrect application.
Products like skin creams, gels. or lotions are a mixture of chemicals that have a biological action, applied topically to the skin. So the effectiveness depends on whether the active ingredients work, and whether they are absorbed properly into your skin. Your skin’s temperature, hydration, environment and other factors will influence your skin’s ability to absorb the active ingredients in a product. To be sure that you get optimal effectiveness of you skin care products

Cleanse skin before applying any products. The best time to apply is right after you come out of a warm shower or bath because not only is your skin clean, but it is also moist and warm, so it will absorb whatever you apply much better. Do not wash with hot water because excessive heat accelerates aging. Water should be comfortably warm but not hot. However, if you plan to apply anything oily that blocks the pores, splash cool water on yourself to close pores. Just pat dry with a towel. Also, use a charcoal shower filter to prevent exposure to the chlorine in the water. You probably drink bottled or filtered water – but you can absorb more chlorine through your skin during a shower than you would get from an 8 oz. glass of water!

When cleansing your skin, don’t use regular soap or shampoo, they’re much too drying. Use a good moisturizing soap, a skin cleanser, or plain warm not hot water.

The top layer of skin is mostly made from dry, dead cells. When this layer becomes too thick, either from aging or poor skin care skin, the active ingredients of a skin care product have trouble penetrating. Professional microdermabrasion safely removes that top layer of skin, revealing the healthier, younger-looking skin underneath and allowing skin care products to be better absorbed for greater effectiveness. In addition, microdermabrasion done regularly strengthens the skin by stimulating elastin and collagen production, which helps diminish wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars and many other blemishes.

Use short, firm strokes to apply skin care products. Do not stretch the skin. Do not rub. After applying, gently massage the products into your skin by tapping the area with your fingers for 30 seconds or so.

When using a professional microdermabrasion product at home, it is important to read the directions and follow them very carefully. Remember, professional microdermabrasion is usually applied with expensive machines and medically-trained professionals. You can save a lot by doing it yourself, but don’t be over-eager to get that 10-years-younger look. Apply the sponges gently the first time – let your skin adjust to the application. Add a little more time and pressure each application, about 2 weeks apart, up to a maximum of 3-5 minutes depending on the sensitivity of your skin.

If you have sensitive skin or allergies, always test the products you want to use first on a small patch of skin on your underarm the soft skin on the bottom of your forearm.

DO YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
Did you know sensitive skin is very common? More than 40 of people say they have it. Its causes include age, heredity, gender, and racial differences. These questions below can help you find out if your skin may be sensitive. Of course, a trip to your dermatologist is the best way to find out!

Does your skin get extra dry after you wash it with soap?
Does your skin get extra oily and break out after you use particular types of moisturizers?

If you answered Yes to one or both of these questions, you may have sensitive skin.

Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel "tight" after coming into direct or indirect contact with perfumes andor particular shampoos, shaving creams, detergents, dish soaps, hair sprays, cleaning products, or deodorants?

Irritants to sensitive skin include many household and personal products. The fragrances and dyes in just about every household product, and many personal care products, can cause irritation either from direct contact or even from deposits left on your clothes, towels, or bedding. If you have any of the classic signs and symptoms of sensitive skin in Question 3, try to use hypoallergenic products without ingredients known to cause skin reactions.

Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel "tight" after extended exposure to sun, wind, heat, or cold?

Sensitive skin often reacts to extreme weather conditions. In fact, anything in the environment that damages your skin’s natural protective barrier against water evaporation — called sebum — can irritate sensitive skin.

Do you have acne or psoriasis?

People with acne, psoriasis, or skin conditions like eczema often have sensitive skin. These conditions impair immune system functioning andor destroy the skin’s protective barrier. If you have of these conditions, you may have sensitive skin.

5 Recommended Medication Remedies to Treat Cystic Acne

Health Specialist — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:39:33 +0000

It is very hard to find an effective cure to treat cystic acne. Cystic acne is an advanced form of acne, hence early treatment of your skin condition is a must. The pimples in this case will give you so much pain as the swelling is bacteria-laden mixed with dead skin cells and white blood cells. Cystic acne affects not only the superficial skin but attacks the tissues within. This could lead to permanent damage to your skin in the form of scars. Acne is bad enough but carrying the scars that go with can really hurt your confidence in yourself.

There are numerous suggested cures to treat cystic acne although you ought not to wait for cysts to show before becoming concerned with the pimples on your face. You need to identify the level of your acne condition so that the appropriate remedy could be resorted. There are three identified stages of acne with the corresponding names for each form. Acne during the initial stage appears in the form of blackheads and whiteheads. It then graduates to what you refer to a pimples or zits. The final stage with the severest form is the cysts or nodules. This is the reason why you need to find a way to treat cystic acne.

1. According to some health experts, one highly advised medication on treating cystic acne is via oral antibiotics. Antibiotics attack the bacteria that are present in the cysts to reduce the inflammation within. You should purchase medicines such as doxycycline or tetracycline capsules or pills, among others.

2. Female contraceptives taken orally are likewise claimed to be helpful on treating cystic acne. The production of a high level of sebum triggers acne thus this over release of sebaceous fluids needs to be controlled by the contraceptives. The downside is that this treatment may be taken only when approved and under the supervision of your doctor.

3. A third option would be corticosteroid injections. The cysts are injected with steroids that are targeted to diminish the swelling after a few days. A skilled medical practitioner should be the one to perform this method as this is a delicate procedure. One of the benefits of this particular process to treat cystic acne is preventing the scarring as the cysts or nodules should dry up and disappear naturally.

4. The last 2 recommended remedies involve particular drugs Accutane and Isotretinoin. The former is a drug to be taken orally for a period of at least 4 to 5 months on a daily basis. It is said to be quite efficient in preventing the incidence of scarring on your skin. However, it ha numerous side effects, which you should try to understand before buying this medicine.

5. The latter is actually a Vitamin A pill that addresses the main causes of acne like the development of clogged pores, production of excess oils, swelling of the skin and the presence of bacteria. Isotretinoin likewise has side effects especially of you are a pregnant.

The 5 discussed solutions can provide you with a cure to treat cystic acne.

Skin Treatment – Methods To Remove Scars

Health Specialist — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:10:06 +0000

Scars are a problem for all the people who wish to look young and smart. A scarred face always troubles us and affects our psychology. Talk to people affected by acne scars all over their face and you will realize the impact of scars on the self-esteem and confidence.

Skin treatment for scars may follow many procedures. That will depend on the age of the person, the location of the scar and the nature of the scar. If the scar is superficial, it can be treated with microdermabrasion or medium chemical peel, while a deeper scar will need more intensive treatments such as laser resurfacing or deep chemical peel. It is interesting to note that all of us have different scar forming tendency. Some of us form deeper scars compared to others who form mild scars for similar injury.

If the scar mixes with wrinkles it is less of a problem. But if it shows prominently on the cheek, one has to get it treated. Many methods are available for resurfacing the skin. All methods produce different results. The costs will be different and so will be the postoperative time of recovery. You have to therefore talk to your doctor about your scars and the treatment. Chemical peeling, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, surgical excision, are few of the techniques that are used to treat scars. You need not suffer scars. Consult your doctor and get treated.

What Does Hypoallergenic Mean Anyway?

Health Specialist — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:41:30 +0000

The word hypoallergenic is a term that probably most of us have run across. It is used in advertising and placed on product labels of shampoos, moisturizers, make-up, and even jewelry. Most people think it means that a product that is hypoallergenic wont react with their allergies. But is this really what it means?

Cosmetics advertisers first used the word in the 60s. It comes from the Greek prefix hypo, which translates to below or less. So the word translates to less allergens. Since its inception it has been widely adopted and used by advertisers, manufacturers, and marketers to sell products that claim to be gentler on the skin than other products similar to it. But is this really true?
The American Food and Drug Administration has stated, Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim produce fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetic products. Consumers with hypersensitive skin, and even those with “normal” skin, may be led to believe that these products will be gentler to their skin than non-hypoallergenic cosmetics. There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term “hypoallergenic.” The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean. Manufacturers of cosmetics labeled as hypoallergenic are not required to submit substantiation of their hypoallergenicity claims to FDA. The term “hypoallergenic” may have considerable market value in promoting cosmetic products to consumers on a retail basis, but dermatologists say it has very little meaning.
The FDA attempted to put regulations on products that claimed to be hypoallergenic in 1974. It stated that a product could be labeled hypoallergenic only if studies were conducted on human subjects and it showed a significantly lower reaction to allergies than products not making the claim. It then said the companies had to conduct these tests on their own and most importantly at their own expense. This of course caused major problems and companies immediately began lawsuits against the decision, claiming that the tests would pose an undue economic burden on them. The two biggest challengers of this attempt at regulation were Almay and Clinique, two manufacturers of hypoallergenic cosmetics.
The FDA tried again to regulate the use of the word on June 6, 1975 by still requiring companies to do scientific studies but the procedures for the tests were changed to reduce the cost to the manufacturers. This still didnt sit well with the companies who apparently wanted no regulations on what they were producing. Cosmetic companies challenged the FDA decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals, which ruled that the regulation was invalid. The court said the FDAs definition of hypoallergenic was unfair because a lack of evidence that consumers perceived the term in the way it is described by the organization. The result? Manufacturers can continue to advertise and label their products hypoallergenic without any kind of regulation or standard set forth by the government. Consumers have no assurance that a product labeled hypoallergenic is any less reactive than any other product. Theoretically, a company could put out a product that is hypoallergenic that is full of toxins and allergens.
The one small victory that the FDA seems to have had is that at least now manufacturers are now required to put the ingredients on the labels of the products so that consumers can avoid substances that they know they are allergic to or have had problems with in the past. As consumers, we must be aware of ingredients in the products we use because apparently the companies who make them arent very concerned about our health over their profit margins. There is no doubt that some products out there that claim to be hypoallergenic actually are, but if you are a smart consumer and concerned for you and your familys health, youll do the research yourself and not rely on these companies claims. Hypoallergenic? More like hypohonest.

Some Possible Side Effects of Your Make-up

Health Specialist — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:58:54 +0000

The cosmetics industry is a big business all around the world. Most manufacturers strive to make their products safe for as many people as possible, but there are still cases where cosmetics can have some side effects on some people. A recent study found that many cosmetics that are used all over the world had chemicals that contained carcinogens, agents that are known to cause cancer. Others had not done research or studies on the effects their products had on human beings. Because of this, it was concluded that more research on the safety of cosmetics for humans is needed.

When certain fragrances or preservatives are added to different kinds of cosmetics, skin allergies, or allergic dermatitis can appear in some people. This can cause irritation or rashes where the product is applied to the skin. People that are allergic to some substances or try a product that irritates their skin could benefit greatly from a patch test, conducted by a dermatologist or physician. A patch test is when a variety of different chemicals is applied to the skin in small applications and observed for a few days to see the reaction the skin takes. At this point, consumers can avoid the chemicals that cause allergies by reading the ingredients on the product labels. Some people will find that even if they are not allergic to a certain substance they may still get skin irritation because of a condition known as irritant dermatitis where the cosmetic damages the outer layer of skin.

Exfoliating products such as deep cleansers and skin peels can cause damage to the skin if it is exposed to excessive sunlight. This is because they remove the top layer of the skin, which is the protective layer. Excessive scrubbing or frequent washing can have similar effects by stripping away the oily layer the body provides for protection of the skin.

Some ingredients found in cosmetic products are suspected to contain chemicals that could have serious side effects. A recent study was published that claimed some deodorants may be a factor in causing breast cancer. The study was specifically on parabens, which is a certain kind of chemical commonly used in deodorants and anti-perspirants as preservatives. Parabens are found in breast cancer tissue. The study was not conclusive in linking the two, but caution should still be used when shopping for cosmetic products. It is a good idea to be aware as a consumer that many of the products we use everyday can be complex chemical compounds. Read the label for ingredients and be aware of the properties the products contain. After all, were putting these things directly onto us.