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What is the Best Acne Solution?

Tetracycline is the most popular conventional treatment for acne. It may be used alone or in combination with benzoyl peroxide. Food, antacids, iron supplements, and milk can interfere with the absorption of this antibiotic, so it is important to remember to take it alone. This medication must be taken for a minimum of three months, and it often needs to be continued for even longer. It will take at least two months before any improvement is noticed. Other antibiotics may also be prescribed if tetracycline is not effective. These include: trimetoprim-sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, doxycycline, and erythromycin. Antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in your bowel and can cause your teeth to turn gray.

Even touching the face can worsen acne. Without realizing it, most of us touch our faces many times throughout the day. The problem is that our hands contain oils and bacteria that will increase the acne symptoms. In fact, all objects, including eyeglasses and telephone handsets, that make contact with the face must be clean. Hair, particularly long hair, also touches your face, so it is important to keep your hair clean and oil free. Fabric accessories such as hats and headbands should be avoided or used as little as possible.
When your pimple breakouts occur, if you notice you’re getting an increase in blackheads and whiteheads in combination to excess blemishes, try to think back and remember how your skin has been in the past. If your skin was clear due to good eating habits, low stress levels, and you were getting at least 8 hours or more of sleep prior to getting your adult acne, then that’s the first place you want to start.
If it is determined that your skin is too sensitive for tea tree oil, consider using a less potent substance. Most tea tree oil extracts come in a container that only holds pure tea tree oil. If this is the case, consider diluting the liquid to lessen its activity. Furthermore, if your skin shows any signs of reaction to the presence of tea tree oil or you experience any discomfort after using the extract, immediately discontinue the use and consult a dermatologist. Using a product that negatively affects your skin is almost as bad as not treating your acne at all, since the results–red, blotchy, swollen, or painful skin are often the same in both situations.
A suntan or sunburn that reddens the skin can make blemishes less visible and make the skin feel drier for a little while. But the benefits are only temporary and cannot take the place of proper acne skin care. The sun can seriously damage skin, promote aging of skin, and cause skin cancer. Furthermore, many of the medications used to treat acne make a person more prone to sunburn.
Getting regular exercise can also help prevent acne. When we exercise, we are increasing the blood flow to our skin, and providing more oxygen to our skin cells. Sweating moderately also cleans our skin pores from the inside out, also aiding in the prevention of acne. Regular exercise and moderate sweating are excellent ways of helping to prevent acne, but taking a shower immediately afterwards is very important.

By: Sarah Rhodes

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How To Benefit From Organic Exfoliation

There are a great number of exfoliates in many of the foods you eat. These can be canned or preserved, but they lose potency through the processes, much like they lose nutrients.

By making the following recipes to enhance your organic skin care, you are adding the freshest possible exfoliates to your routine, which will give your skin an incredible look and feel. Remember to buy only organic ingredients for these recipes because you do not need your skin absorbing toxins from chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers. That defeats the purpose!

Blemish Be Gone
This is a quick tip that will not only exfoliate, but will help fight blackheads
Slice one whole lemon. Rub one slice on any areas which are giving you trouble with blackheads (usually around and on the nose). The other slices should be used on dry body skin to exfoliate (soles, hands, elbows, knees). Then Shower!

Delete that Dry Skin
The following recipe can be mixed and stored in the refrigerator for a week to ten days. It can be used on the face or your entire body (of course, stay away from eyes and other sensitive areas). Use a Mason jar for storage. Blend ingredients, starting with the mango and adding them in the following order: mango, water, vinegar, honey and cornmeal.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons of organic honey2 teaspoons organic cider vinegar2 ripe organic mangos (peeled)2 cups distilled water1/2 cup organic cornmeal

Enzymatic Mask
This mask is NOT for people with sensitive skin. Because the natural chemicals in these fruit work together upon mixing, you should mix this immediately before use. Do not attempt to store as it will not do much good for your skin after storing. Mix the juice from the lemon together with both the mashed papaya and peach. Prepare your skin by laying a warm washcloth over it for a minute or so, remove the washcloth and apply the mixture immediately, leaving for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Repeat procedure on other areas (knees, elbows, feet, hands).

Ingredients
1/2 ripe organic lemon1 ripe organic papaya, peeled, de-seeded, and mashed1/2 ripe organic peach, peeled, de-seeded, and mashed

Herbal Heaven Body Scrub
For this scrub, you can mix all of the dry ingredients and store in an airtight container (Mason jars are great). When you want to use some, just mix a tablespoon with your favorite organic moisturizer or milk lotion. You want just enough of the moisturizer or lotion to make a nice paste. Massage over your face for about 5 minutes, let sit for five minutes and rinse with warm water.

Ingredients
1cup Coarsely ground organic oat flour1/2 cup Organic powdered comfrey leaves1 cup Organic French green clay1/4 cup Organic powdered lavender buds1/4 cup Organic powdered lemongrass1 cup Organic powdered rose petals

Juicy Juice Tonic
This exfoliating tonic is a great revival for tired skin. You will need a juicer and absorbent cotton for this recipe; the cotton can be strips of thick t-shirt or fleece if you like (just make sure it is white or a very light color). Store any unused juice in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks. Juice the fruits and soak the cotton strips in the juice. Place the strips across your face while you take a 10 to 15 minute rest, then shower as usual.
To revive tired skin, you will need:2 ripe apples4 ripe pears

Orange Citrus Exfoliating Scrub
The pleasant citrus scent along with the exfoliating and moisturizing properties of this scrub make it very popular. Mix the cornmeal with enough moisturizer to make a nice paste, stir in your orange essential oil. This scrub can be used over the entire body, but should not be stored any longer than your moisturizer should be stored. Many organic moisturizers must be stored in the refrigerator; it this is the case with yours, then you should also store this mixture in the refrigerator.

Ingredients
1 cup Organic cornmeal Organic moisturizer1/2 teaspoon organic orange essential oil

Quick and Easy Exfoliation
Anytime you feel the need for a quick exfoliating treatment, you do not need to worry about whether you have one on hand. Just grab your sugar bowl and your organic facial cleanser; you have the ingredients for your treatment! Just mix about a tablespoon of sugar with enough of your cleanser to make a nice paste and massage your face for 5 minutes with it. Rinse with warm water.

By  Louise Forrest

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Is Your Skin in Need Of Help?
Skin care is such an important part of our lives, but quite often we do not really think about it. Would you let your heart or liver or kidneys go unchecked?

Would you let them fill with harmful toxins, knowing that they are integral to your life? Would you let them dry to the point that they could not function properly? Of course you would not. You know that these organs are extremely important to your health, actually your life. You cannot function without any of these. People around the world are on transplant lists for each of these organs as your read this.
One organ that you absolutely cannot let go, but many people do not think of is your skin. Your skin is the largest and most protective organ in your body. It is also an organ that cannot be transplanted like the above organs can. You are given one birthday suit and it is your job to keep it functioning at its peak. Proper skin care, both inside and out, will help you in a million ways.
The most obvious to most people is your appearance. Quite honestly, this is the least of what your skin is doing for you when it is able to function properly. When your skin is healthy, it is working to keep germs from entering your body and working to remove toxin from the body. These two things are extremely important to your overall health. In order to begin to get healthy skin, you have to start on the inside.
Ok, now that you know just how important your skin is, you may be wondering how you can help it function at its best. This is where a comprehensive inner and outer skin care regimen should be started. Before your read any further, go get yourself a nice glass or bottle of purified water (at least 8 ounces). Drink that as you read the rest of this and you will have already taken your first step to helping your skin from the inside.
Internal moisture is essential to healthy skin and your have to give your body the fluid in order to have that internal moisture. You need to drink at least 64 ounces of purified water and/or natural organic juices every day to help your body moisturize and cleanse itself.
The second thing you need to do is check your eating habits. A balanced, healthy diet is vital to internal skin care. You are what you eat is one of the truest statements that I have ever heard. When you put the right balance of nutrients into your body, you get better results from it. If you eat healthy food, your healthy skin will show it.
Keep the Omega 3 fatty acids in mind. We have essential fatty acids that our body must have and cannot produce. You must get your Omega fatty acids (the good fat) from the food you eat. With todays processes in food preparation (especially in processed foods), we are eating tons of Omega 6 fatty acids, but Omega 6 fatty acids are supposed to be balanced with Omega 3 fatty acids. You need to pay attention to your Omega 3 fatty acid intake in order to create a balance between these.
Third, you need to start an exercise program that increases your heart rate for at least 20 minutes. This will increase your circulation, which brings fluid to your skin cells and removes the toxins held within the skin cells. The perspiration that comes with exercise also pushes toxins and debris to the surface of your skin, making it easy to cleanse it away after your exercise. Do not feel bad if you ca not keep a vigorous exercise up for 20 minutes.
Set smaller goals and move them up as you go. For instance, start with 7 minutes of exercise daily. When your body does this with ease, mover it up to 12 minutes and so on. If you make it too hard on yourself at the beginning, you are not as likely to make it a habit, so work your way into your exercise program and keep it for life. You will be amazed at what this internal skin care will do for your overall appearance when combined with plenty of fluid and a healthy diet.

By  Louise Forrest

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Does Natural Really Mean Natural when it comes to Skin Care Products?

Whilst we may never really think of it, there are loads of chemicals dumped into our products which we automatically think are good for us. However, as time goes on we are realizing too often than not, that a lot of chemicals within our products are not as innocent as they first appeared to be. Not only that, but these so called natural products on the market are not always what they appear to be either.

So how exactly do we know which products to go for and which ones could be potentially harmful? The main way to tell if you are being conned, or if you are really buying something natural is to read the labels on the back of the products!

The Ingredients to Avoid in Natural Products
Sadly some natural products do still contain some chemicals which may be harmful to our health. Most of us do not know what to look out for so the companies generally get away with it. After all if we are buying natural products they have to be good for us do they not? The answer is no, not always.

Imidazolidinyl Urea
Many people believe that Urea is good for them as it is sometimes found in emollients which help to provide moisture for dry skin. However, Imidazolidinyl Urea is definitely not good for you. It is found in most skin care products, yet it has often been found to create skin reactions such as contact dermatitis. So if you do notice this chemical in your natural skin care products, do not buy it!

Fragrance
Whilst this may seem harmless enough, fragrance can often contain many ingredients which are often not separately listed. So if you cannot see the ingredients listed separately, how can you tell that the chemicals are not harmful? It is always better to look for products which state natural fragrance or the fragrance of essential oils.

Paraffin
Paraffin is another popular ingredient used in many skin care products. It is often used by manicurists who melt it and dip the hands into it. It is mainly used in eyebrow pencils, hair remover and cold creams, though it is also found in many other cosmetics. It comes from either coal or petroleum.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a detergent which often has a drying effect on the skin. This can cause irritation so it is best avoided.

Formaldehyde
This is a preservative and it is mainly found in nail care products but it is also contained in other cosmetics too. It has been known to cause adverse skin reactions.

Methyl Paraben
This one is extremely common and is widely used. It tends to often cause skin irritation.

Overall there are a lot of chemicals and potentially harmful ingredients listed in so called natural products; you just have to know which ones to look out for. If you do spot the ingredients above listed in your favorite cosmetics, opt for a better alternative. There are gentler alternatives for the skin including:

Potassium SorbateRetinylSorbic AcidAscorbic Acid
All chemicals tend to be bad for the skin so it is always better to try and avoid them. It really is shocking what goes into our skin care products and most people do not realize that their products can harm them. However, prolonged use of skin care products which contain potentially harmful ingredients can cause potential health problems as the ingredients soak into the skin and they can enter the bloodstream. It is always better to read the labels and know what is in your favorite products. That way, you can make a consciences decision whether or not you want to risk using the product. After all, knowledge is power!

By Louise Forrest

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Do You Know These Things About Deodorant and Sweat?

Are you one of the millions of people around the world who swipes deodorant on each day before you leave the house? Did you know that deodorant only helps control odor producing bacteria and works best in fairly dry conditions?

The bacteria that cause odor grow more rapidly in warm, moist conditions, which is why your deodorant may not seem to be working after you have been sweating for a while. Because your have a high concentration of sweat glands under your arms, the area (which is already fairly warm) gets moist very quickly in a variety if conditions: exercise, high heat, high stress, embarrassment, fever, etc.
If you very rarely have trouble with sweating, you are one of those who are able to avoid store-bought deodorants with their man made chemicals. You can use baking soda and cornstarch in a 50/50 mixture. Another thing that will help a lot is for you to take a serious inventory of your diet. Are you eating a bunch of processed food? Drinking a lot of processed drinks (soda, most ready made juices, etc) or eating a lot of red meat? By switching to a healthier diet, you will help control your natural body odor.
Antiperspirants help control your sweat production. For those who have trouble with perspiration, you will need to purchase your antiperspirants. These products usually have a main (active) ingredient that is aluminum based. Two of the more common active ingredients are aluminum chloride and aluminum hydoxybromide. The aluminum in the compound is what helps to control your sweat production. The aluminum ions are absorbed into the openings of your sweat glands and water enters the ions. This makes the openings of the sweat glands swell and close, keeping the sweat in the gland. The effect wears of after a while, which is why antiperspirant has to be reapplied regularly. Most of the antiperspirants you buy will reduce your sweating by at least 20 percent.
Some studies show links between aluminum and various diseases. This is why many people who are not affected by great amounts of sweat often choose to use a natural way to deodorize, like the baking soda or cornstarch mixture mentioned above. These diseases include: Alzheimers, liver diseases, and cancer; it is believed that the aluminum is entering the blood stream because of its absorption into the skin. It is important to keep in mind that though there may be a link, there must be other factors, or everyone who used products with aluminum as an active ingredient would all be suffering from these diseases at some point.
Approximately 2.5 percent of the total world population is affected by a disorder which causes an over-production of sweat. If your body is producing massive amounts of sweat, you have hyperhidrosis, which affects more people in the 25-64 age groups than other ages. The main areas affected by this sweating are the palms, soles, underarms, chest, face, and back. And the condition can be quite embarrassing to the person suffering with it.
Because of the psychological impact for the person whose body is over producing sweat, there is an impact of major life activities, sometimes creating physical, occupational, and social impairment. To add to this, Anxiety tends to increase the sweat production, making matters worse for the patient in these situations. When anxiety enters the picture, it simply adds to a situation that has already triggered over production in your sweat glands.
If you suffer from this condition, there are medications that your doctor can prescribe for you. Usually these are a topical cream or other topical treatment and often have a higher concentration of aluminum, but will give you significantly better results than products you can purchase over the counter. See your doctor to find out what options you can choose to remedy your condition if you have trouble with excessive perspiration.

By Louise Forrest

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