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Posts Tagged ‘Prevention’

Skin Care & Acne Prevention

July 25th, 2011 Comments off

Most people worldwide are mindful of that is considered to be one of the most frequent conditions around. Even though the percept is that teenagers are the ones most impacted, adults also are susceptible to having as well.

Let’s take a look at how to combat acne. The main strategy to use is where possible and better skincare. Here are several top issues of focus for each: exercise, diet, hormones, hygiene.

1. Exercise – Keeping in shape can help fight acne by fighting off negative levels that can come from negative self-esteem and depression. However, some safeguards need to be in place to ward off acne that can result from your workout routines. First watch which products you use on your body because you’ll most likely be sweating. With any sunscreens for outdoor workout activities and any make-up or other cosmetics, check for “noncomedogenic” and “oil-free” on the labels to help prevent pore clogging. And when your workout is finished, wash the products off as soon as possible, especially if you’ll be going into a steam room or sauna where your pores will be opening up more. You don’t want these lotions and other cosmetics getting into your pores and clogging them up, resulting in blemishes. Watch what you put on your body with regards to clothing, sports gear and equipment, too. For example, tight lycra and nylon exercise outfits might look great in the movies and on magazine models, but if you are susceptible to acne problems, avoid these synthetic fabrics that tend to trap in body moisture and heat resulting in a bacteria frenzy. Instead, choose loose clothing made of cotton or natural blends to allow more air to get to your skin. And when you’re finished with your workout, get out of clothing wet from perspiration or water sports. Shower and change into dry, clean clothing. And keep your sports gear and equipment clean, too. Dirty headgear, for instance, can irritate forehead areas prone to acne problems. So toss headbands into the washing machine after workout sessions. Tip: when cleaning your body after a workout, no need to scrub with force and irritate skin. If possible, wash with medicated soap (check for “exfoliant” on the label) or medicated wipes from your athletic bag where showers aren’t available. Tip: and when drying with a towel, even if it’s during your workout to erase sweat, always blot instead of rub. That way you avoid grinding excess dead skin, dirt, sweat and other chemicals into your pores and risking poreclogging and skin irritation.


2. Diet - Studies show that diet does not play a role in either the cause or the treatment of acne. However, what is recommended for acne preventative is this: what is best for your body is best for your skin, especially since your skin is the largest organ of your body. So here are healthy vitamins, minerals and other supplements that have been known and recommended to prevent and help conquer acne breakouts:

- Vitamin A or Retinol is found not only in some cosmetic creams but also in liver, fish oils and dairy products. Produced by plants, this vitamin is also known as called Beta-carotene, and is found in yellowish-orange fruits and vegetable; yams, cantaloupe, carrots apricots, and in green vegetables like spinach, kale and parsley. Beware that high doses of Vitamin A are toxic.

- Vitamin B Complex. These vitamins are found in leafy vegetables, fish, milk, eggs and whole grains and have many functions. For example, although B-2 can irritate acne, it can help alleviate stress. B-1, B-6 and B-12 are also known for proving stress relief. And B-3, in avocados, eggs, peanuts, lean meat and liver, reportedly reduces cholesterol level, has an anti-inflammatory effect on skin and improves your metabolism and circulation, improving acne in some studies.

- Vitamin C A form of this vitamin, the C ester has antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties and has helped penetrate skin and prevent the return of acne. It is being tested for repairing damage to scar tissue from teen years. – Vitamin E, in almonds, broccoli, peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat germ and vegetable oils, has been said to help with scar tissue healing, but this is considered a myth by many healthcare professionals. Instead, researchers are considering that a form called tocotrienol (often referred to as high potency E or HPE) may carry antioxidant properties that may be able to aid the skin when ingested.

- L-Carnitine this supplement is reported to help repair skin damage from acne for young and old. – Zinc (found in eggs, mushrooms, nuts and whole grains) and selenium (a trace mineral in most soils and absorbed my a variety of vegetables) are known to improve the overall health of the body, including the skin. In summary, a good quality brand name multivitamin will probably have the recommended vitamins and minerals that you need to help with acne prevention. Combine this with drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day and making good, healthy dietary food choices. For example, if you have had ill from eating a certain food before, be leery of it and make healthier food choices for yourself.

3. Hormones - Hormones or lack of, during later years and especially for women, can play a role in acne flare-ups and prevention. One recent study showed that about 50 percent of women have acne, referred to as hormonal acne, problems during the week before their menstruation. Treatment options can include topical retinoids, oral antibiotics and Benzoyl Peroxide for teen years. On into adult years, some acne aids include oral contraceptives or hormonal birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) for women, combined with systemic or topical treatments, prescription or overthe- counter products and medications, and antibiotics for both sexes.

4. Hygiene – A healthy skin regimen should include no harsh scrubbing or over-washing, because this can cause possible skin irritation or possible over production of oil to replace what’s washed off, clogging pores in the process. Products with gentle exfoliation ingredients are OK to use; i.e. not scratchy nut or fruit shell pieces that can tear skin. And skip alcohol products when possible; these can take off the top layer of your skin and cause your glands to product more oil, clogging pores in the process. If you do spot acne-troubled areas, do NOT mess with them. Remember that these are already weeks in the making, and squeezing or picking blemishes can force the infected area to regress back inside, further troubling the region and possibly leave a scar. If necessary, seek help from a dermatologist for alternative treatments.

One important tip is to avoid breaking up or worsening acne any further. If one were to scratch the defects with their fingernails, a result could be a bacterial transmission caused by dirt or microbes under the nail. Even if your fingernails seem to be clean, this is most likely not true. This is because many bacteria and germs under the fingernail are not able to be seen by the nude eye. Be aware of this fact the next time you think about touching or scratching blemishes on your face.

Categories: Acne Tags: , , ,

Stress 101: Causes, Effects, And Prevention

July 23rd, 2011 Comments off

Life today is full of everyday hassles, deadlines, frustrations, demands and hurdles which can lead to . People react to in many different ways. For some people, is unbearable and can take a toll on them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Other people use the from pressure as a form of motivation to complete a certain task. However, if one is constantly stressed, it can take a huge toll on one’s body and overall health.

What is Stress?

Stress, according to Merriam-Websiter, is “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation .” There are three forms of stress: Acute Stress, Acute Episodic Stress, and Chronic Stress. Acute Stress is a low level stress that occurs commonly in people. It can arise quickly and can occur at anytime from remembering something in the past to the exhilaration of a roller coaster. Symptoms of Acute Stress are usually goosebumps, shaking limbs, or stuttering. Acute Episodic Stress is more serious than Acute Stress. One can get this stress by being living a disorganized live-style, and it can hit on a frequent occasion, or episodes. The third and final stage of stress is Chronic Stress. Chronic Stress is the most commonly diagnosed. It arises from long-term situations such as a bad relationship, a traumatic past, or financial struggles. This form of stress has been related with major physical illnesses such as cancer, mood-swings such as violence and depression, and even suicide.

What Causes Stress?

Life causes many stressful situations for us everyday. The general causes of stress are threat, fear, uncertainty, and cognitive dissonance. One of the most common factors in Americans today is work. This includes poor communication, unemployment, lack of training or experience, deadlines, long hours, and overwhelming demands. Another common cause of stress is difficulty in letting go of a traumatic past such as a death of a loved one, an accident, and being a victim of abuse and other crimes. Bad relations in friends, family, and loved ones can also cause stress. An argument, divorce, separation, re-marriage, or long-term family feuds are examples. The feeling of being alone can cause uncertainty and even social anxiety. Many resort to online relationships that are easier to maintain, while others resort to becoming reclusive all together.. Certain health situations can also lead to stress such as a pregnancy, injury, or a long-term illness such as cancer.

What are the of Stress?

Along with the causes of stress, come the effects of it: physical, mental, and emotional. The human body itself is designed to experience and react to stress. It keeps the body prepared and aware of the current situation. There are many physical effects such as shaking, nail biting, , lack of sleep, sweating, and tension. There are also more serious effects of stress such as bleeding stomach ulcers, loss of appetite, dizziness, lack of sleep, fatigue, body aches, migraines, and even a weaker immune system, which makes one more vulnerable to colds and the flu. Stress can also cause problems with asthma, weight gain, and even heart disease.

Stress can also effect one’s mental health. One might experience loss of memory, negative thinking, impaired judgment, racing thoughts, and the inability to focus on tasks at hand such as work or school. This can make one perform poorly, and even prone to accidents and injuries, if not careful.

How to Relieve and Prevent Stress

Stress also effects people emotionally. Signs of emotional stress symptoms are mood-swings, anger, anxiety, sudden outbursts of violence, lack of motivation, constantly worried, loss of humor, seclusion, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. When stress takes a toll on one’s emotions, it effects not only the person, but everyone else surrounding that person. Emotional stress can hinder existing relationships, prevent new relationships, and make one feel secluded from others.

As stressful as the world may be, there are many ways to relive and prevent stress. Some may find relief from stress by confiding in someone close to them, a therapist, group therapy, or faith in a religion. Others may find relief from different forms of meditation such as yoga. Tai Chi, Mantra (sound meditation), and prayer. Others may find a more physical approach of relieving stress such as running, weight lifting, swimming, kick boxing, progressive muscle relaxation, and other physical exercises. Another way to relieve stress is by living a more organized and carefree life-style. Being organized and knowing where one’s priorities lie can help prevent one from being overwhelmed. Being able to prevent and relieve stress will help one to live a healthy and happy life-style.

Sources:

“Job Stress” American Institute of Stress – www.stress.org

“Understanding Stress” Melinda Smith, M.A., Ellen Jaffe–Gill, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D Helping Guidehttp://www.helpingguide.org

“The Effects of Stress on Your Body” WebMDhttp://www.webmd.com

Categories: Acne Tags: , , ,

Prevention Of Acne

December 9th, 2010 12 comments

is one of the most common diseases in the world. Almost 80% of people suffer from at some point in their life. There are a number of factors that cause and similarly there are a number of treatments available today to get rid of . There is an old saying that is better than cure and today we will talk about some of the techniques that can help you to prevent .

First of all, diet plays an important part in everyone’s life. A balanced diet leads to healthy body which, in turn, leads to healthy skin. So, always make sure that you have a balanced diet. There are a number of diet components that can stimulate your acne and similarly, there are a number of diet components that can help you in preventing acne. Vegetables and fruits are an important component of our diet. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits and lime are rich in vitamins that are really essential for our skin. Drinking insufficient water can also stimulate acne. Water is really important to keep hormonal balance. So, always make sure that you drink enough water to keep your metabolism working. The amount of water that each individual should drink daily depends on a number of factors. Weather and workout habits are perhaps the most important of them. On an average, 8-10 glasses of water are enough for a healthy individual. On the other hand, certain food components especially junk and oily foods can stimulate and worsen acne. Minimizing the use of junk food and alcohol is always a good idea if you are really interested in preventing or controlling your acne. Most of the diet components either have a positive or negative effect on your acne. But, still there are a number of diet components that don’t have any connection to acne despite the popular beliefs that these food components cause acne. For example, there’s common myth that chocolate cause acne in teenagers. These myths hold no scientific grounds in modern world.

Personal hygiene can also help in preventing acne. Washing face twice a day is a really good hygiene habit. It can help in wiping off the sebum from the skin which is one of the main of acne. Although, washing face is a good habit for preventing acne, but if you are suffering from acne, excessive washing can actually worsen acne. Excessive washing can lead sebaceous glands to produce more sebum which stimulates acne.

There are a number of other simple tips and tricks that can help you to remain acne free forever. Washing your pillow cases often and using clean towels is also a really good hygiene habit that can help in preventing acne. Always wash off your make up before going to bed. Not taking off make up before going to bed can stimulate acne. Oil based make up is not recommended to people that have oily skin or they are suffering from acne. Oil based makeup can cause and worsen your acne. Always take shower after exercise or workout. Sweat can clog pores on the skin surface that can also lead to acne. People who work in greasy environment like those who work in restaurants or work on machines in factory that use excessive lubrications, should wash their hands and face with soap as soon as possible after work. Exposure to sunlight for half an hour daily is also really good for acne. Never squeeze your pimples and blemishes with finger nails. As a matter of fact, try to keep your hands off your face if you are suffering from acne especially if your hands are dirty. These simple tips can not only help in preventing acne but it can also help those, who are suffering from acne, in controlling their acne and other skin diseases.

Did you know, while Acne prevention is very effective, A good Pimple Cream might needed to fully keep your face blemish free. I would recommend you try a cream for your acne treatment before trying any other methods.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub, 4.2 Ounce (Pack of 3)

  • Allergy tested
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  • Energizing microbeads for a fresh clean feel

Tightly cool lather. Energizing Microbeads. Enliven your senses with Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub. It deep cleans and leaves you feeling amazingly refreshed and exhilarated. Energizing Microbeads gently exfoliate skin while sweeping away dead skin cells. Light gel formula lathers into a bubbly foam removing surface dirt, oil and make-up. Feel the surge of invigoration as the cooling gel cleans down to pores leaving skin feeling fresh, clean and energized. Made in USA.

Rating: (out of 10 reviews)

List Price: $ 22.00

Price: $ 22.00

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Categories: Acne Tags: ,