Click HERE for in depth honest acne reviews
Using Propolis For Treating Rosacea
Filed Under Acne Treatment | Leave a Comment
Propolis is a resin that is collected by honeybees from tree barks and leaves. it is this resin that is combined with nectar to create a mixture of bee bread, pollen and wax. This compound is then used to seal the bee hive from outside contaminants.
In addition to this, bees use Propolis at the hive entrance for sterilizing them as they come and go from the hive. Though Propolis has been recently rediscovered, its usefulness in treating both internal and external sores and ulcers has been traced to the time of Hippocrates.
It is because Propolis is an excellent natural antibiotic and immune system booster that it is used for treating wounds and today, even in treating acne. Other antibiotics bring with it some side effects; however with Propolis, there are no such side effects.
In fact, Propolis has been found capable of fighting those bacterial strains that have become resistant to the usual synthetic antibiotics available today. so if your acne problem does not seem to come under control after a course of antibiotics, you could consider applying Propolis to control acne.
You can find Propolis in health food stores where it is sold as a traditional medicine. In addition to acne and ulcers, Propolis is used by natural medicine practitioners in treating other conditions like viral diseases, inflammations, superficial burns and scalds and ulcers.
The natural medicine practitioners using Propolis are basically those involved with traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and homeopathy medicine. As Propolis composition proves to be variable, depending on the season, bee species and geographic location, care has to be used while extrapolating results.
It is dependant on its composition that Propolis may show powerful local antibiotic and antifungal properties. It also proves to be effective in treating skin burns and has immunomodulatory effects.
Acne is rather common in puberty where practically all teens suffer from it. The usual treatment option everyone uses for curing acne problems is one of the many over the counter products widely available in the market.
However besides these products, it is possible to control acne through your diet. There are many foods that work as a home remedy for acne and many a time, is the best option for curing acne.
It is important to add as much fiber to your diet as possible; which is available through fresh fruits and vegetables. Besides fruits and vegetables, regular ingestion of psyllium proves to be beneficial in controlling acne.
This is because one of the best fiber rich foods available today is psyllium. It is easily available as psyllium husks from the local supermarket or health food store. All you have to do is to mix a tablespoon of psyllium with a glass of water and drink it.
Today many popular laxative drinks like Metamucil too has psyllium husk as its main ingredient. With the help of psyllium husks, you not only remain regular, but it also works as a sponge that cleans your colon. And it is by cleaning the colon that acne is prevented.
Once the colon is cleaned, there is not much toxic waste found in your intestine; and this reduction in the toxic waste helps in controlling occurrence of acne. So make it a point to add as much fiber to your diet to control acne.
And if you don’t get sufficient fiber through fruits and vegetables, compensate with a tablespoon of psyllium husk and a glass of water.
The human skin is the largest organ of the body that helps other organs in the body in the elimination of waste. And this is why the skin is considered to be one of the best treatments for acne.
The choice of your food affects your acne as if you are unhealthy inside; it is reflected in the skin. It is when the natural oils of the skin gets clogged in the pores of the skin that acne occurs.
Acne usually starts at puberty when the body starts producing hormones and during pregnancy. Being a worldwide problem, there are many products, medications and forms of treatment for acne available.
With these treatments, a healthy diet helps cure acne. Reduction in the consumption of processed foods and eating more of a healthy diet of fiber rich foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains and cereals help control acne as they clean the digestive tract.
The reason the digestive tract has to be cleaned is that dirty colons are one of the reasons for acne as undigested processed food and mucus accumulates here to form mucoid plaque.
This means that anyone who has had regular servings of fried food, sugar, tea or coffee, animal food including dairy, microwaved food, white flour, hydrogenated fat, alcohol and drugs like aspirin, then it is very likely to be mucoid plaque in the body that causes acne.
It is in this mucoid plaque that bacteria use as breeding ground. And this is where the bacteria Candida eat sugars from food to emit nasty chemicals. These chemicals in turn trigger all sorts of allergic reactions and skin conditions.
Acne remedies for you
Filed Under Acne Treatment | Leave a Comment
Acne is and always will be the worst thing which can affect a teenager’s life. Just the thought of an acne breakout can send a whole lot of people directly to their medicine cabinets to apply preventive medication. But instead of using expensive chemical and synthetic medication why don’t you try a few natural products present in your kitchen cupboard to help you out with acne. Here are few kitchen remedies to help you get started out,
- People suffering from severe acne can try to use this fragrant and a little tingly paste of ten cloves, a little chick pea flour, and a little fresh ground mint, on their face. Guaranteed to perk you right up.Apply this pack once in two days, leave on for fifteen minutes and then wash off with a clove tonic given below
- You can make a clove tonic consisting of two liters of water, seven cloves, a pinch of camphor, and a little mint. Simmer till it reduces to half and then use it refrigerated to wipe your face several times a day. Reduces the oiliness and perks up the skin.
- Grated cucumber two teaspoons of lemon juice and a dash of fuller’s earth is a great skin toner and removes tan marks as well.
- Mix dry powdered lemon peel with whole wheat flour and almond powder to form an excellent face and body scrub, Clean your skin thoroughly and use after a bath to give a refreshing lemony tang to you r entire body.
Keep in touch for more such tips, bye for now.
How To Make Money With Blogs
Filed Under Relish Random | Leave a Comment
The internet offers numerous means of earning an income, and one of the most cheapest and effective means of earning money is through blogs. The reason for this is that blogs are great for search engines, and that search engines love sites with fresh content.
And which better site is there that has fresher content than a blog? Blogs are easy to contact and great for making money using Google adsense and other ways.
In fact, with all the content pages in your blog, you can make money just with adsense without having to promote your own or any affiliate products.
However the most important thing to remember about making money with blogs is to maintain dialogues with the others Blogging on it. you don’t just convince people about a product or service through blogs.
If you seem to be a person genuinely interested in helping people, then you can trust that person to trust you when you promote a product or service. usually the people making maximum money through blogs are those promoting a new product or service.
This however shouldn’t be your sale focus here. you have to concentrate more on developing a relationship with the people you blog for by providing good and helpful information. with this relationship, they are more likely to buy the product or service you recommend.
The most important point to remember in Blogging is to have new content added to it everyday. As search engines love new content, this is the best way to make money using a blog. All these tips should help you make money from blogs and generate inform while sitting at home.
The most common practice that is followed when you have acne problems is to wash your face regularly. However it should be known that it is important to adopt gentle cleansing habits to prevent irritation to the skin.
When choosing a facial cleanser, choose something that has the terms ‘oil-free’, ‘non-irritating’, ‘non-overdrying’ and ‘non-comedogenic’ mentioned on them. most of the acne cleansers today have other medications in them like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
These medications may get washed off with these cleansers or you may end up layering medications by starting with a cleanser with medication and following with another medication afterwards. The best option is to have gentle cleansing to be followed with the right medication.
Make it a point to wash your hair only twice a day; in the morning and evening. This is because too much of washing only causes irritation to the skin. Remember, you are aiming at becoming as kind as possible to your skin with your cleansing.
Don’t wash your face using a washcloth as your bare hands are more than sufficient. Remember that the washing of your face is only for getting your face ready for medication, and for nothing else.
There is no point in scrubbing your face as washing your face on its own does not clear breakouts as dirt does not cause acne. After washing your face, pat it dry as rubbing it leads to excess irritation. This in turn creates more breakouts.
On cleaning your face properly, you then have to apply the medication you had been prescribed for you, by your doctor.
One of the latest concepts introduced in the myriad of acne treatment products is alpha hydroxy acid. This is known in the market as aha and has been around for about 10 to 15 years. However this is a product whose capacity in combating acne is underestimated.
Basically alpha hydroxy acid is great at stopping upcoming zits and in helping in its healing. One such product that contains alpha hydroxy acid and is effective in treating acne is Alpha Hydroxy Enhanced Lotion.
Of course, any product containing 10% alpha hydroxy acid is effective in treating acne; however this product is largely available in the market today both online and offline. This is the reason for the increased popularity of this product.
Before you try using this product on your skin, its manufacturer recommends spot testing it on a patch below your ear for 2-4 days. If there is no problem and your skin tolerates it, then it can be used on zits after applying benzoyl peroxide as usual.
You have to be generous and gentle in application like benzoyl peroxide. Of course, you will have to wait for a few minutes till benzoyl peroxide dries before applying AHA. You can also do the entire Regimen and use some AHA after the moisturizer has dried completely.
You should find some results within a few days’ of using alpha hydroxy acid. This is why it is considered that this is a great revolutionary product in the field of acne products. Only in rare cases, where AHA does not agree with your skin will it not be effective in treating acne.
Whether To Pop A Pimple Or Not
Filed Under Acne Treatment | Leave a Comment
Acne is no more confined to only the face; there are many people suffering from acne on the neck, shoulders, back and even buttocks. One of the most sensitive areas of the body is the neck.
Regimen is a product that works well on the neck where you have to start your treatment rather slowly. Develop a habit of applying bp once a day in the start, and then start moisturizing twice a day or more as required.
This is because though the neck gets accustomed to benzoyl peroxide quickly, it reacts to form a major irritation if you start too quickly on your treatment. Besides treating your acne with acne products, some people work at popping their pimples.
However some people say that popping pimples scar, and others say that it does not scar. Usually lancing and slight squeezing of surface and white pimples don’t lead to scars. It is attempting to squeeze pimples that are still below the surface that may lead to major problems.
There are different suggestions on popping pimples. You can go through the internet for getting an idea of these suggestions and then decide yourself. However if you have serious cystic lesions, it is better to visit the dermatologist.
The dermatologist will then suggest alternate methods for reduction of swelling which in turn, prevents scarring. In addition to this, you may use alpha hydroxy acid to prevent spots form becoming behemoth in the first place.
Work To Treat Body Acne:
Filed Under Acne Prevention | Leave a Comment
Acne not only occurs on your face, it is also common to find acne on the back, chest, shoulders and buttocks of many people. If you have large and painful lesions, it is basically a sign of more sever acne. Acutane works well for most people in this condition.
If you suffer from light to moderate acne, Regimen usually works well. However more stubborn cases respond to specific regimens including glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy). Benzoyl peroxide is used for treating back acne regimen.
However remember that benzoyl peroxide is a chemical that bleaches fabric easily. This is a factor of the chemical that cannot be avoided.
So if you are applying some acne treatment with benzoyl peroxide to the body, wear white clothing to be on the safer side.
There is no point in wearing colorful clothing thinking that nothing will happen once benzoyl peroxide dries up. This is because even after a few hours’ of drying, it is not safe to let that part of your body with benzoyl peroxide on it to come in contact with colored clothing.
Like all forms of acne, the exact cause of body acne is not known. The only thing that is known about body acne is that it worsens with irritation.
However if you find that a certain part of your body suffers from more acne than another part, it is only a coincidence or because of some external irritant.
It is possible for backpacks and purse straps to aggravate acne. Similarly, tight fitting clothing can irritate acne too. Moreover, it is impossible to keep your back and buttocks untouched by fabrics as we have to sit down.
So instead of working out at means of finding out what is irritating your skin, it is better to choose the right treatment option for you acne problem.
There are many products on the market for you to try for treating acne. Even your dermatologist will be able to prescribe a valid acne treatment for your acne problem.
Some More Acne Myths
Filed Under Acne Myths | Leave a Comment
Myths are just what they are; myths. There seldom is a fraction of truth in them as these are beliefs that were started ages ago because of false beliefs and illogical logic. One of the more popular acne myths doing its rounds now are that the sun actually helps gets rid of acne.
The actually reality to this myth is that though the sun may seem to help in clearing existing acne on your skin, what really happens is that your skin gets reddened in the sun. This reddening of the skin leads to a blend of the skin tone with the red acne marks.
On the contrary, too much of sun exposure may damage the skin and cause irritation that aggravates the acne condition. In fact, the skin tends to break out when healing from sun damage.
It can be said that the sun is a short term band aid that works temporarily in reducing acne and only leads to more acne in following weeks of exposure to the sun. This does not imply that it the sun is not good for the skin.
The sun provides your daily requirements for vitamin D; and it is impossible to avoid sunlight all the time. So instead, just limit your exposure of the sun to acne prone areas. Another common myth making its rounds is that diet and acne are related.
This is something that cannot be ridiculed completely. It is only with research that you will be able to decide if this myth is a reality. It is impossible to believe, but some people from some societies don’t suffer from acne while some societies just have all its members suffering from acne.
This makes you wonder if the diet of a person contributes to acne-free skin. It is basically through trial and error where you arrive at some consensus for the best diet for you, where acne attacks are reduced considerably.
Some Acne Myths That Need Clarifying
Filed Under Acne Myths | Leave a Comment
One of the most common acne myths is the fact that regular washing of the face can lead to reduction of acne. However on the contrary, frequent washing tends to irritate pores and thus clog them. Even using a washcloth creates more irritation than help.
This is because dirt does not cause facial blemishes and neither does pores get blocked with impurities. It is usually the walls of the pore that join in the skin to form acne. So the best you should do is to wash your face gently with bare hands, twice a day.
Another famous acne myth is that stress causes acne. Of course, stress has its effects on hormones which can promote acne. However any form of acne treatment that you use or follow is anytime more powerful than a bout of stress.
There are some psychiatric medications that list acne as one of its side effects. However on its own, stress is not a great factor in inducing acne.
It is better to look for an effective form of acne treatment instead of getting stressed out thinking that stress initiated your acne attack.
It is often thought that too much of masturbation or sex induces acne. However in reality, this is an antiquated notion that has its origins as early as 17th century.
This myth was started to dissuade youngsters from getting involved in premarital sex. Other than this, there is no connection between sex, masturbation and acne.
So it can be seen that acne myths are usually acne myths that seldom have much reality in them. They are meant to be left as it is while you follow an effective acne clearing regime.
Quite a few people suffer from Milia, which is a form of acne that occurs in white bumps. It occurs when normally sloughed skin cells get trapped in the surface of the skin.
They occur the most in newborns across the names and upper cheeks and sometimes on adult skin.
With the wearing away of the skin and the sloughing of the dead skin, these bumps disappear. This is usually in the first few weeks of life; however in the case of adults, Milia may persist for some time.
Though no treatment is suggested or indicated for children, it is possible for adults to have them removed with the help of a physician, mainly for cosmetic improvements in the skin.
The basic symptoms of Milia include whitish and pearly bumps in the newborn skin. It is more prevalent in cheeks, the nose and chin.
Sometimes there may also be whitish and pearly bumps that occur on the gums of roof of the mouth. this form of Milia is referred to as Epstein’s pearls which tend to go away on their own.
Adults suffer from Milia on the face. Sometimes bumps and cysts also occur on inflamed or injured parts of the body like in the irritation of skin by rough sheets or clothing.
There are no specific methods for diagnosing Milia as the doctor can diagnose it just by examining the skin. There is absolutely no need of any testing to indicate a Milia attack.
Sometimes irritate Milia is referred to as ‘baby acne’ when it may not actually be a form of acne.
Though there is a variety of treatment options available for treating acne, researchers are constantly on the lookout for more effective and better treatment options. This is because so far no treatment has been discovered that completely rids you of your acne treatment.
Researchers are mainly concentrating on producing new drugs for treating acne, especially the topical antibiotics that are being used today. This is because like in the case of other bacterial infections, doctors find that over the passage of time, bacteria associated with acne becomes resistant to some form of antibiotics.
However so far, it has not been clarified as to how significant a problem this resistance actually represents.
Scientists are conducting researches to understand the mechanism of acne in a better way. With this research, they find it better to develop new treatments to use on these mechanisms.
There is a group of NIAMS supported researchers who study mechanisms that regulate sebum production in the body. With these findings, it is possible for them to identify means of reducing its production without the side effects some current medicines give.
Then there is another group that aims at understanding how P. acnes activate the immune system so that it is possible to identify possible immunologic interventions.
The other areas of research involved here include the examination of effects of isotretinoin on the brain that may lead to depression.
Another area of research is the development of a laser system that proves to be effective in treating acne and removal of acne related scars. All this will be made possible without any damage to the outer layers of the skin.
A group of researchers in Germany have also taken P. acnes to identify its genetic information. And using this information, researchers will be able to develop more and better treatments that target acne bacteria.
About 80% of the adolescents by the age of 24 get affected by acne. In addition to this, there is an increase in the incidence of post adolescent acne with some adults developing this condition for the first time, in their late twenties and thirties.
No one is spared of this skin condition; even high profile celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Kate Moss have been spotted with not so perfect complexions. This is why medical researchers are always working on new methods and treatments for the treatment and prevention of acne.
One of the latest advancements made by these researchers in the search for a means of controlling acne is the new FDA approved non-invasive treatment called Omnilux Blue. This treatment uses a spectrally pure blue light source for clearing and controlling acne.
It is by targeting bacteria on the skin that causes inflammation and infection that this Omnilux Blue treatment works. This is a safe form of acne treatment where it is possible and safe to use this treatment simultaneously with other acne treatments.
This light of Omnilux Blue basically activates the natural chemicals found in bacteria which tend to create redness associated with acne. On stimulation, these chemicals kill the bacteria and alter the ph balance of the cells.
With this done, it creates a less inviting environment for the multiplication of bacteria on your skin. This is how it is possible to control acne, and also prevent new pimples and pustules from forming on your skin.
Treatment Of Acne Scars
Filed Under Acne Treatment | Leave a Comment
As the name suggests, acne scars are the scars acne attacks leave behind. Acne having nodules leave a more permanent scar than other types of acne; and the best time to deal with acne scars is to treat it as soon as acne has appeared. This prevents severe acne and its scarring.
However if you have acne scars from previous outbreaks, there are some options for you to reduce these scars. One suggestion is laser resurfacing that is carried out either at the doctor’s or dermatologist’s clinic.
Here the top layer of skin is removed to tighten the middle layer to make the skin smoother. The treatment can take anywhere from a few minutes’ time to an hour for completion.
The doctor first numbs the skin with a local anesthetic to lessen pain; and after laser resurfacing, you may need 3 to 10 days for the complete healing of your skin. Another option you have for treating acne scars is dermabrasion.
Here a rotating wire brush or spinning diamond instrument is used for wearing down the person’s skin surface. On healing, a new and smoother layer of skin replaces the previous one.
The drawback of this treatment is that it takes longer for the skin to heal; you may need 10 days to 3 weeks for complete healing.
Both these treatments turn the skin red which lasts for several months. Moreover, these treatments are used only on patients where acne is not active.
Depending on the severity of the scar, some doctors or dermatologists will suggest a mild chemical peel or microdermabrasion that can be done immediately in their office.
This improves the appearance of any acne scar. If required, your doctor may suggest surgery when the scars are deeply indented.
Scientific research has proven that silica gel is a substance that is effective in combating mild and moderate acne, while producing positive results. This acne treatment is especially great for those with sensitive skin.
Silica gel is a substance that consists of particles of silica which is found as a natural compound in foodstuffs like oats, barley and in things like mud from thermal springs.
These particles of silica gel are capable of absorbing skin impurities like excess oil, excess sebum and bacteria.
In addition to this absorption of impurities, these silica gel particles are effective in producing a cooling effect that calms the skin. This in turn helps in reducing inflammation of the skin.
Silica gel also proves effective in getting rid of pustules, whiteheads, blackheads and clogged pores.
There is nothing much to applying silica gel to your skin. You just have to lightly rub a small quantity of the gel on the face, so that a mask is created after a while. After waiting for about ten minutes, the silica gel dries up.
Once the gel dries up, you have to wash off this gel using warm water and a small facecloth. However when you are using silica gel for the first time, it is better to apply it to a small portion of the face to test and see if your body faces any reaction with it.
The best place to go for silica gel are natural health food shops as this is today considered to be one of the most effective natural acne treatments available today.
Use it regularly to ensure better and faster results with your acne attacks and problems.
Acne truths
Filed Under Acne Myths | Leave a Comment
I had acne for a long time. In fact due to acne I’ve not been able to have good friends or even a decent social life. And I’m sorry to say that I was desperate; anything for an acne cure. The acne scars still persist in my face still cause tremendous embarrassment to me. So what did I try to cure my acne and scars? Almost everything. Take a look.
- One doctor prescribed a complete vegetarian diet without onion and ginger or even garlic. He even banished rice, bread, and potatoes from my daily diet. Imagine the misery! Oh did I forget to mention the weekly enemas and herbal baths under the moonlight. I was able to stick with the food plan for only a month and then I succumbed. It didn’t really affect the acne but definitely made me svelte.
- Another quack said I had emotional and mental stress which was causing my inner child to break out in acne. It sounds pretty silly now but at that time I was desperate. The quack prescribed a whole basketful of tranquilizers which kept me pretty doped for a week till realized what was going on and chucked his pills forever.
I do have a few more experiences to relate but I guess that’s enough for today. Check this space for more aggrieved venting on acne quacks.
Weird acne treatments Part three
Filed Under Acne Treatment | Leave a Comment
Ok guys, I don’t know whether you’ve tried out any of the given acne treatments but I thought it best if I gave you a few more just for knowledge.
Please be advised that you are using these at your own risk, in fact I’d advise you not to use any of these remedies. These are just so you have a good laugh and please do continue any treatment you’re doctor has prescribed for you.
- Instant hypnosis- the site I saw advised all people who have acne to hypnotize the acne away. Great advice guys! Wish I could do it to my mother-in-law but be realistic. It’s just not possible. Mother-in-law or acne; you really need to eradicate them from the root!
- Urine toner- Are you insane? Will you be willing to use any one urine (forget about my own) on your face? A few sites recommended baby’s fresh urine to be used as a face washes. Apart from the gross factor, there are a few logistical problems. How on earth am I supposed to collect the urine and wont it smell? No one has solved those problems.
- Toothpaste on your pimples- OK, this one I did try, applied the toothpaste sparingly in the night on the pimple and left them overnight. I had glaringly red inflamed spots the next morning which looked like they were bleeding to death. The red swollen spots persisted for four days.
Guys, just brush with the tooth paste OK!
How An Acne Scar Is Formed
Filed Under Acne Scars | Leave a Comment
Scarring is something that is inevitable and present in all healing processes. It occurs due to an imbalance in the collagen production at the site of the wound. With the maturing of the scar, there are numerous changes to it.
However unfortunately, there is nothing much that can be done to make scars disappear completely as they are permanent in nature. Products like Bio-oil improve the appearance of scars, but do not remove them completely.
Scars develop through 4 phases. The first is the haemostatic phase that starts immediately, and lasts for a few hours while the wounded area gets restored to its normal state with the constriction of blood vessels.
This controls bleeding wherein injured cells release thromboplastin to activate clotting and let the healing process start.
The inflammatory phase is the second phase that lasts for 3-4 days with redness and swelling proving immune response. This is when white blood cells cleanse the wound of bacteria and debris.
In the proliferative phase which starts on the 3rd day to continue to 3 weeks, you find three different processes occurring simultaneously to close and bind the wound. Here granulization where fibroblasts (cells) create collagen to fill the wound.
You also find epithelialization taking place here where a layer of skin covers the wound and in wound contraction, the wound is pulled together to minimize the defect of the wound.
The last stage is the maturation phase that starts around the 21st day and continues for about 2 years. Depending on the stress the scar has undergone, collagen fibers are re-arranged to determine the final nature of the scar.
Weird acne treatments Part Two
Filed Under Acne Treatment | Leave a Comment
A continuation of the weird acne treatments I previously enumerated,
Another blog advised Head and Shoulders classic clean shampoo to be used diluted as an effective acne combatant .I was really impressed with this as quite a few people wrote with great sounding reviews. But an equal lot wrote in about the dangerous peeling and scaling they had because of a slightly over enthusiastic use. But I intend to follow the instructions to the letter and at least give it a try .
All in the name of science you see. All those who want further knowledge about the shampoo, please write in. Discontinue all other acne medications if you plan to try this treatment.
Here’s what I do every evening after my shower, wet my back and face and apply the shampoo as a cleanser after dilution. Seems to work really well and scars are also reducing.
Lidocaine rub although many people were talking about it on forums, I didn’t get any real info. Neither did I mange to find something relevant to acne. I do know that lidocaine is a potent anesthetic supposed to prevent bleeding and numb the area it is applied to. But I fail to understand how it relates to acne.
Spraying Windex on a piece of cotton ball and applying to your face. Hmm, too ridiculous to even contemplate! My face is not a window pane!
Keep in touch. I got a few more really yucky ones coming along tomorrow.
#1 Clear Pores - 8.8 out of 10
A natural combination therapy.
#2 AcneZine - 8.2 out of 10
A natural combination therapy.
#3 ZenMed - 7.37 out of 10
An Eastern based treatment.
Subscribe To Acne Magazine Daily
