Archive for January, 2007

How to have healthy skin, the easy, safe way.

Saturday, January 20th, 2007

Many people think that having healthy skin is a function of genetics. They think that if your mother or father have healthy skin, then you are likely to. And likewise, they think if mom or dad does not have healthy skin, then there is no chance they will be able to have beautiful skin. And while genetics is obviously an important part of any health factor, having healthy and beautiful skin is something you can very much control.

There are a number of things you can do to allow yourself to have healthy skin. One big one is taking vitamins. A very small percentage of the population take vitamins, but their benefits are almost too numerous to count. But you can’t just take any vitamins, or any of those “one a day” vitamins. No, you need to take specific vitamins that will help you have healthy skin.

Vitamin is a critical to having beautiful skin. Vitamin B1 helps the skin by keeping the circulation at normal levels. Vitamin B2, sometimes called riboflavin, can help rectify problems of skin discoloration. The use of vitamins is not a “quick fix” to healthy skin though. In fact, people often find they need to be on vitamins for at least a few months until they start to visibily see a difference. Vitamin B6 is also very important, and if your body doesn’t get enough of it, it may react with dermatitis or even eczema.

In addition to vitamins, drinking water is equally or more important to maintaining healthy skin. Experts say you should drink up to 8 full cups of water every single day. To many this sounds overwhelming, and certainly not enjoyable. But once your body starts getting used to the frequent doses of water, you will soon find yourself longing to drink it. No longer will your body be craving for artificial juices and sodas. There you have it. If you want beautiful, healthy skin, don’t forget your vitamins, and drink that water!

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Propionibacterium Acnes: The Main Culprit Disrupting the Skin’s Flawlessness

Friday, January 19th, 2007

Propionibacterium acnes are the most common clinical specimens oftentimes experimented and focused on by several dermatologists. Propionibacterium acnes are also known as p. acnes which are the most common gram positive, non-spore forming anaerobic rods. Propionibacterium acnes typically grow to be obligate anaerobes though some other Propionibacterium acnes show to be aerotolerant. As the term propionibacterium acnes suggest, these beings produce the propionic acid, catalase, indole, and nitrate.

Acne vulgaris, in laymen’s terms known as pimples, are sometimes threatening. Not only that they cause destruction to the skin’s natural clearness, but acnes also put down an afflicted individual’s self-esteem as acnes tend to be major cause of embarrassment. The causative agent of pimples? It is none other than these bacteria– propionibacterium acnes. As a throng of bacteria enjoying its residence in the pilosebaceous glands of the human skin, propionibacterium acnes release lipases that serve to digest the surpluses of the sebum produced by the oil glands. Now, the combination of the lipases as digestive products more referred to as the fatty acids and the bacterial antigens trigger an intense local inflammation inside which then results to the outburst of the hair follicles. After which, a lesion forms on the skin surface. Acne is usually caused by an infection so oral antibiotics such as clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline prove to be effective treatments to stop the dreadful propionibacterium acnes. Some other therapies for the treatment of pimples caused by the agent propionibacterium acnes include the use of chemicals such as retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

For more than 40 years, antibiotics have mainly been the best ones offered as treatments for the savaging acts of propionibacterium acnes. Antimicrobial agents such as piperacillin, ampicillin-sulbactain, penicillin G, clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline triumphantly make propionibacterium acnes succumb. Do you know that propionibacterium acnes not only cause acne vulgaris or pimples? Yes, in a more intolerable level, propionibacterium acnes also implicate infections to corneal ulcers, heart valves, prosthetic devices, and the central nervous system shunts. In a prosthetic valve which is propionibacterium acne-infested, a rare heart disease has been discovered and has been named Propionibacterium acnes endocarditis.

Whew! It only shows that this group of bacteria is not a small-time pest. They are to be considered a big deal in all angles. They are not only harmful and destructive but could also be life-threatening. Good thing is, the continuous medical research and studies of medical doctors along with the aid of today’s advancement in terms of science and technology, treatments for the harmful ventures of propionibacterium acnes have been made possible. With the widespread cures for acnes made available through the aid of the medical world, this bacteria and their attacks will no longer be a dreaded case. Prevention, control, and treatment are just at hand. Moreover, acne-afflicted individuals should not only rely the entire cure and improvement of their acnes on the medical treatments made available in the market. They have to do their own share. An effort on their part is required to bring out the best prevention, control, and treatment against the bacteria causing acnes known as propionibacterium acnes.

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12 COMMON NOTIONS ABOUT ACNE: FACT OR FICTION?

Thursday, January 18th, 2007

Acne alias pimples alias spots alias zits…no matter what name you call them by, has been a source of frustration and disgust for its sufferers since time immemorial! Be it the famous Keira Knightly or your next door neighbor Susie, or you …it is needless to point out how much of a real ‘pain in the neck’ these acne can be! Over the years many notions have developed about acne throughout the world…some of them true facts while others are just myths! Listed below are 12 such beliefs, some true…some false! Find out the actual facts about acne!

1.Acne can affect only the face, chest and back-> False.
Although these are the most commonly ‘suffered’ zones, acne can bear upon almost any part of the body.

2.Acne always disappears in the late teens or by early 20s. -> False.
s reported by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1999;41:577–580)quite a number of 40-year-olds have acne and, in some cases, acne can even persist into 50s and 60s!

3.Acne runs in families ->True.
You stand more chances or risk to get acne if one of your parents had it.

4.Adults do not get acne. ->False.
In fact, some people develop acne for the first time in their 30s, or women may develop it as part of the hormone changes at the menopause. Strangely enough, in the past 30 years, severe acne has become less common in teenagers and more common in adults…reasons unknown!

5.Acne gets worse premenstrually. ->True.
Quite a number of women find that their spots are worse during the week before a period. Moreover, some women find acne improves during pregnancy, while others find it gets worse!

6.Acne is caused by not washing properly. -> False.
Washing is immaterial (though sometimes, over-washing can make the skin too sensitive to use anti-acne medications).

7. Stress worsens acne. -> Probably true.
A survey of students found that acne was worse at exam time (Archives of Dermatology 2003;139:897–900). Some experts believe that it is because we fiddle with our skin more when we are stressed!

8. Drinking lots of milk worsens acne. -> Possibly true,
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2005;52:207–14) report this to be correct to an extent at least for women. Nevertheless, remember that milk is good for building strong bones!

9. Masturbation, too much sex or too little sex worsens acne. ->False
Total and absurd myths!

10. Eating chocolate, sweets or fried foods gives you spots. -> False.
There is no scientific base for this belief.

11. You can ‘catch’ acne by skin contact, or by using the belongings of someone with acne. ->False.
Acne is not infectious or contagious!

12. Taking drugs causes acne. ->Partly true.
An outbreak of acne can result from the drug ecstasy; the spots last for several days. Inhaling solvents can produce spots around the mouth and nose.

So, next time anyone tries to convince you with such ‘acne facts’, do find out the authenticity of the information before being intimidated by it!

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