How to get rid of acne

Acne is usually thought of as an adolescent problem with tends to afflict boys a little more than girls. But in fact, research shows that about 30% of women and 20% of men between the ages of 25 and 60 still suffer from repeated breakouts.

Acne is brought about by the natural production of sebum, or oil. This oil production comes from animal ancestry as a way of keeping the fur oiled. The trouble is, our facial fur has largely disappeared–so the oil clogs our pores instead. This clogging of oil attracts bacteria to the area. They inflame the skin and cause the swelling.

In adolescents, acne breakouts are often triggered by raging hormones including stress hormones. Also, teenagers have more oily skin than adults, for as we age the oil production gradually declines. In adults, in both male and female, the breakouts are usually caused by a hypersensitivity to androgens–male hormones that are found in both males and females. In females, however, there is also the added possibility of the breakouts getting triggered by estrogen imbalances.

Preventing acne is mainly accomplished through taking care of the skin in both external and internal ways. Getting exercise and plenty of sunlight and cutting back on foods that contain lots of refined sugars and fried foods can often help people. Onions, garlic, cheese, and milk are great for your skin as well. But everyone is different in some ways, and not every preventive measure works for everyone. So, if you have to turn to more direct methods of acne prevention, there are other ways.

*Use apricot scrub on your face. This gently scrapes away the dead upper layer of your skin. You should use the scrub every other day for maximum effect. Much of the residue that leads to clogging is removed by this scrub. Some of the scrubs are a little more abrasive than others, so if you have sensitive skin look for a label that advertises the product as being milder. You will feel your pores tighten up and see a new shine on your face after you use the scrub.

*Some people find it effective to use rubbing alcohol on their face by putting it on a cotton ball and rubbing it over their skin. This works for people who have more oily than average skin. But, keep in mind that this can dry out your skin a lot, so if you use this method be sure to follow up soon after with the application of a skin moisturizer.

*Use acne-specific skin cleansers like Aquanil and Cetaphil. These are gentle so they’re great if you have sensitive skin.

*Use over-the-counter acne products that contain retinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. You should use a combination of these so that you give yourself all-around skin treatment.

*See a dermatologist. The dermatologist can give you prescription medications or recommend that you have special laser surgery done if you have some very persistent, pernicious acne problems.

Just remember that acne is always treatable.

Treatment for acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is something most people consider “vulgar”, indeed. It’s what covers the face and sometimes the back of many an adolescent, much to those adolescents’ dismay. But even when acne fades in most people as they move out of their teens or very early 20s, it doesn’t necessarily go away completely. Adolescent boys tend to get worse acne than the girls, but in adulthood women tend to have acne breakouts more than men, although men have them, too.

Acne vulgaris can be severe enough to cause some pain and swelling, even mild scarring if the same spot on the face is picked at or scratched too much. But mainly, we hate it because it distorts and discolors our skin, especially but not only our face. The real pain of acne is in how unattractive it makes us feel.

Acne might appear as blackheads, whiteheads, “pimples”, or cystic lesions. In order to reduce and eliminate these conditions, certain things need to be done:

Pores need to be unclogged and the amount of skin oil reduced
The bacteria that cause acne vulgaris must be killed
Any hormonal reaction that is causing the marks such as menstrual periods in women or exceptionally high amounts of stress need to be reduced

There are a lot of medications that have been designed to fend off acne. It is typically best to take a combination of them, such as a skin cream along with an oral medication. All of these can be found in either over the counter acne treatments or by dermatologist prescription:

Benzoyl peroxide
Azelaic acid
Salicylic acid
Isotretinoin
Antibiotics including clindamycin, sodium sulfacetamide, erythromycin, and tetracycline
Topical retinoid medications including tretinoin, tazarotene, and adapalene
Androgen blockers including spironolactone, which reduce the amount of oil (sebum) made in a person’s pores.
Low-dosage birth control pills which contain estrogen. These also work to lower oil production and thus soften the effects of testosterone.

In general, topical acne medications have fewer side effects than oral ones, but tend to not be as powerful.

There are other ways of reducing and preventing the onset of acne vulgaris.

*Exercise. Working out definitely enhances the mind-body connection and increases bloodflow throughout the body including to the face. The increased nutrient and oxygen flow helps the skin stay healthy. This will also help you sweat out some of the built-up sebum. Working out also helps reduce stress hormones.

*Use an all-natural anti-aging skin cream. Yes, this can work even if you’re still a teenager, as well as if you’re an adult. These creams keep the skin healthy and always rejuvenated. Do not use any creams that contain mineral oil (an all-natural one shouldn’t anyway). These are not designed to fight acne vulgaris, but they do anyway.

*Get out in the sun. Even if you’re fair-skinned, you need sunlight. (You simply don’t want as much direct exposure as someone with darker skin.) The UV rays of the sun and the vitamin D that it imparts work wonders at fending off acne, but stay safe and cover up with a high factor and follow guide lines on how long to stay in sun.

*Cut out the white sugar and some of the grease. These substances clog your pores.

Acne vulgaris can be brought on by a combination of factors. Keep your skin healthy and if problems persist see about using the medications.

What Are The Best Acne Solutions?

A lot of regimens today promise to be the best acne solutions.  But to tell which product or treatment really works miracles for acne skin is a different story; sometimes acne could be very stubborn. You may think you have done everything for your skin, but the truth is the perpetrator may just be too persistent.  The good news - the best acne solutions may have been just around the corner the whole time.

Set a lifestyle check in place.  Recall everything that you do in a day, every commodity you use, and any place that you go. Even harsh materials in detergents, soaps, and others that you use in a day’s work may be harmful to your skin.  When you do your laundry, for example, chemicals in the soap may be too close to your skin that it gets irritated easily; the towels that you use may even obtain these chemicals too. The trick - make sure that the laundry detergents, and face and body cleansers that you use are mild, scent free and hypoallergenic.  Also be sure to keep away from bacteria by changing your pillowcase twice a week and your sheets at least once per week.  Check the ingredients of your facial cleansers first - make sure they do not contain soap or any laureth sulfates. Stress and the environment can contribute to acne formation.

To retain and restore active bodily functions, make sure to exercise on a regular basis. Curb your acne problem by making your body master the art of eliminating waste.  Sweating during exercise is one of the body’s natural waste emission capacity.  Also, a healthy circulatory system will definitely show on the skin.  Build an exercise program that includes cardiovascular and resistance training.

There are certain foods that can cause or worsen your acne problems.  These foods may vary from one person to another. Look for telling signs.  Take note of how certain food affect you, and know which particular food most frequently cause breakouts.  Some experts suggest the use of Probiotics to minimize the negative effects of these foods in your skin.

Clear skin may also be achieved by knowing what you put on your skin.  Make sure that your cleansers and regimens do not only make matters worse. Go for approaches with minimal irritation.  The use of certain topical regimens with anti-acne ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and Cetaphil products may be one of the more effective acne solutions. Some also attest to the miracles of herbal and natural treatment.  Most of herbal regimens have the least side effects and are often safer.  Although a lot more expensive than other acne solutions, laser treatments have also been developed to combat acne problems.

Different Acne Medicine

Looking for a good acne medicine? Fortunately, you have a lot of good options, and it can be cleared up with a lot of discipline, and a bit of work. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by bad hygiene, makeup, or chocolate, so while not taking care of yourself and overeating will make you unhealthly, and will not help it but it will not actually cause acne. This is not good news however, because it means that anyone is susceptible to this condition, no matter how they treat their bodies. Acne is in fact, caused by bacteria and inflammation, and since the cause is known, that means it is treatable through certain acne medicines.

Acne Pads: Utilizing Salicylic acid, acne pads come in tubes of 50-75 pads, which are used by rubbing them across the affected areas on the face. These can be a bit painful, but they are rather effective, even if it takes time for the effects to make themselves known.

Creams:  Now widely packaged with certain acne pads, this acne medicine keeps the skin moist, warding off the factors which cause acne in the first place. You can purchase this at any drugstore or pharmacy.
Antibiotics: Available by prescription only, as they are considered a controlled substance, oral antibiotics will kill off the acne causing bacteria, helping to clear it up again.

Laser Treatments: Your dermatologist may decide that laser therapy is right for you, and while these treatments are extremely expensive at around $500 for 20 minutes, they can be quite effective, and whether or not you pay for something like that, is up to you.

Foam: One of the newer contenders on the market is acne-reducing foam. It works by being absorbed into the skin and releasing acne medicine at the root of the problem, making it one of the more effective means to fight acne. Best of all, it doesn’t leave any residue.

Drainage: When medication doesn’t work, doctors may find it necessary to physically drain the fluid from your acne. This is basically a surgical procedure which requires a sterile environment, and once done, it can greatly reduce any pain you may have related to the acne.

Home Remedies: For those who would prefer not to use prescription or over the counter acne medicine, there is the option of home remedies, in which you use basic household ingredients to fight off the acne, and many have reported great success using these, though they are too numerous to list here, two of them include the drinking of wheat grass juice, and the applying of mint juice to the face at night.

As you can see, there are many options available to you, and there is hope, you don’t have to suffer through your acne; you can treat it, and eventually eliminate it with the proper acne medicine. If this is your first time experiencing acne, don’t be embarrassed, just remember, everyone has gone through this at least once, even mom and dad.

Natural Acne Treatment

A Natural acne treatment is great for the person who has tried acne medications and find that they do not work or just dry out your skin and leave it itchy and flaky. Maybe you just don’t like the idea of putting chemicals on your skin and having them absorbed into your bloodstream. Either way, there are natural acne treatments available that can be very effective.

What you eat has a direct impact on your skin. If you fill your body with junk, it shows up on your face. Therefore, in order to obtain clear skin naturally, your diet should consist of lots of colorful fruits and vegetables, foods rich in fiber and essential fats, vegetable proteins (as opposed to animal proteins), fresh seeds, organic foods, and lots of water. You should avoid alcohol, tea or coffee, red meat, vegetable oil, sugar, refined carbohydrates, fried foods, processed fats, and dairy products. Substitute with dairy alternatives, like soy. If you’re a smoker, then by all means quit. Smoking is very damaging to your skin, as well as your lungs.

Another natural acne treatment is the use of vitamins. Sometimes the cause of acne can be a vitamin B5 (or Pantothenic acid) deficiency. Vitamin B5 is essential in producing Coenzyme A, which is responsible for metabolizing oil in the skin. Breakouts can occur when there is a lack of Coenzyme A. A vitamin B5 deficiency can also have negative hormonal effects as well. You can solve this problem by taking a B5 supplement or by incorporating foods that are rich in vitamin B5 into your diet. These foods include liver, soybeans, split peas, and peanuts.

Another mineral that can work as a natural acne treatment is zinc. Often acne is caused by hormonal imbalances. This is why it is often worse during puberty, pregnancy (or right after), around your menstrual cycle, and during menopause. Zinc plays an important role in balancing hormones and regulating your body’s natural oil production. However, there are certain substances that can act as zinc inhibitors, such as copper. (High quantities of copper are frequently found in birth control pills.) You can incorporate zinc into your diet through supplement form or by adding certain foods to your diet, such as fish, egg yolks, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and legumes.

Some people also find that a good internal cleanse can help clear up their complexion. It rids your body of food waste build-up in the intestines and any parasites that may be living there. Unfortunately, if you go back to a diet of junk food, the results will not last. Maintaining a healthy diet is imperative for permanent success after a cleanse.

There are many natural acne treatments out there and by in large, they are much more cost effective than most prescription or over-the-counter medications. You have the added bonus of knowing that you are not putting any harmful toxins or chemicals into your body, that in some cases can actually make acne worse! So, give natural acne treatments a try and you just might be surprised at the results.

A New Fitness Revolution! Curves in Poole

“Curves in Poole  fitness  for women”
This hit American franchise is sweeping the UK. The women’s only fitness centre has already broken the States and now has its eyes set on us!
The Poole and Bournemouth area have already caught “Curves mania”. With the latest arrival situated on Ashley road, Upper Parkstone. Celebrating its 1 year anniversary on the 25th of February 09 it seems this is a lot more then just some craze.
Curves is a facility specially designed for women interested in losing, firming and toning or just staying healthy, it’s in a safe and friendly environment where encouragement and support are in abundance. The workout consists of a qualified trainer monitored complete 30 minuet workout, within that half an hour you work all the major muscle groups while intergrading cardio and core stability strengthening.
With an optional weekly or monthly weigh and measure to keep an eye on those sneaky pounds!
The equipment used (as well as being designed with a woman’s body in mind) also uses a unique “hydraulic system”. Meaning no weights and a smoother more organic workout.
When speaking to the Curves in Poole  gym members I asked them, why Curves works for them rather then one of the more commercially known fitness brands?
The responses were varied but all highly inspiring.
Jayne - “When I come to Curves for my workout, I don’t have to think twice about what I’m wearing, if my makeup’s right. All I have to think about is the workout, I can leave all the hang-up’s of being a woman at home!”
Cath - “At my old gym I would have to of paid extra for the kind of personal and individual attention you get from the staff. There is a trainer in the centre all the time making sure you use the equipment right and are working to your full potential”.
It seems the appeal to Curves in Poole is that not only is the workout designed for women but the attitude and atmosphere also.
The age range was surprisingly diverse, young girls just out of 6th form, mums in there 30’s to women in there 60’s and 70’s. Never have I seen such wide spread acceptance of a relatively new concept, but if it works (and Curves obviously dose) then why be surprised.
Iren said “ Before finding out about Curves I thought my “keep fit” days were over. With my hip problem and age, the gyms I looked into just wouldn’t work. But the machines are design with all ages in mind. As for my hip, the workout has only made me stronger!”.
I spoke to Jacqui Arnold, manager of the Parkstone based Branksome Curves centre (Poole), she puts the success is down to the friendly and supportive atmosphere of the Curves environment. Adding that the workout is hard and intense but the fun attitude of the members and staff make the half hour workout fly by.
With Curves Branksome also introducing an Abs and Core stability class on Thursday’s, it seems it is here to stay.

Contact:
Jacqui Arnold
Curves
First Floor 344-350 Ashley Road
Parkstone
Poole
Dorset
01202 463261
www.curves.com

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