Archive for September, 2010

6 Steps To Clearer Skin

klirskin

Well, I’m writing this because I know there are millions of people out there with an acne problem that seems to not go away. Yes, if you’re like me you have tried all of the popular products. But, what if I told you that in order to have clear skin you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars every month. Actually, you may not have to spend any money.

So, with all that said here is my simple 6 Steps To Clearer Skin (Yes, this is what I am doing to help my skin clear):

1. Drink lots of purified water. Look, many of us with acne problems continue to drinks all of these sodas that have a lot of acid, colors, etc. Soda can really mess up the face. Leave all sodas and other drinks on the market alone and stick to only purified water. Try these waters - Poland Springs, Volvic, Penta (expensive), Smart Water, or Dasani. Water does wonders to the body!

2. Drink lots of Green Tea (at least 1 to 2 times a day). Green Tea has many antioxidants that will help in decreasing your acne problems. Try purchasing the Celestial Seasonings Green Tea.

3. Eliminate any and all fried foods or greasy foods from your diet. Yes, I know many dermatologists will disagree with this. What I have found is that when I stopped eating fried or greasy foods my face automatically started clearing and improving to the point where I was receiving compliments almost everyday. Fried food carries too much grease that can cause big pimples to form in your face. Also many fast food places use old grease over and over again. Old or reused grease is one big block in your way if you’re trying to get clear skin. Not Good!

4. Eat a lot of vegetables (raw organic baby spinach is wonderful) and fruits everyday. Yeah I know you heard this before, but some of you are still not doing it. Vegetables and fruits alone. Many vegetables and fruits have antioxidants and vitamins that can help in healing and clearing the skin.

5. Use pure vitamin E oil (use the Nature’s Gate Brand) for your face. I am telling you, it will make your look good in about two to three months. Vitamin E oil has all the healing and antioxidant properties to help in clearing your skin. Apply to your face every night before going to bed.

6. Eliminate all stress. I know for some, stress can result in many breakouts on the face. Some individuals are not good at dealing with stress. You know what, let the stress go!

Enjoy these steps and take your time. Give yourself 3 to 6 months to see actual improvements in your skin. For these steps to work properly, please add each step to your daily routine. Each step must be performed on a daily basis. Consult your local dermatologist if you have any worries.

How to know you have genital herpes?

Genital herpes is a viral infection in the genitals. It affects one in every five Americans and most of them don’t even recognize it for years. This is because the malaise is caused by a virus (herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2) which can stay latent inside your body for years, giving you no hint about its presence. Also, the symptoms of genital herpes can be confused with some other cutaneous infections. This is the why accurate diagnosis of genital herpes is very important for subsequent treatments. As it’s not possible to eliminate the herpes virus once it enters your body, there can be no treatment of the disease itself. All antiviral medications like Valtrex, Aciclovir and Famvir aim at preventing the outbreaks from occurring. Here are some tests doctors take to detect genital herpes.

  1. Cell culture – In a cell culture test, samples are collected from the infected areas. It is done to diagnose which type of herpes virus (type-I or type-II) you are struck with. It gives you clue as to how frequently the outbreaks are going to occur and what course of treatment will be better.
  2. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – The polymerase chain reaction test is by far the most trusted and surest way to know if you have herpes. It targets the DNA of the simplex virus, so the likelihood of an accurate result is very high. But as with any other DNA testing, the PCR test is technically difficult to conduct.
  3. Direct fluorescent antibody – Sample is taken from the affected areas and is mixed with a solution of HSV antibodies and a fluorescent dye. If you have the virus, the antibodies bind to it and emit a light when viewed under microscope. The test is not that reliable because it does not detect a particular outbreak. It only tells whether or not you have ever had the virus.
  4. Blood sample – This is the most proactive test for diagnosing genital herpes. It can detect herpes antibodies in your blood even when you are not symptomatic. But in case you have picked up the herpes virus recently, the test may not detect it and a false-negative result is possible. So you are advised not to rely on blood test alone.
  5. Saliva and urine – These two tests are still on a trial phase. As of now, they are not done commercially to diagnose genital herpes.

Skin Care For Acne

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Caring for your skin is important for good health and beauty, but especially so if you are prone to acne. One of the best ways to keep acne under control is to maintain your skin’s health as much as possible. This means keeping the skin clean and protecting it from damage from sunshine and harsh cosmetics.

Cleansing Your Skin

Wash your face twice a day with a gentle soap or special acne skin cleanser, using a gentle, circular motion of the fingertips. Do not scrub, since this can aggravate acne. Moisten the face with warm water, then apply cleanser from the hairline to the neck. Rinse with lots of water and pat dry with a soft towel.

Those with especially oily skin may need to use an astringent, but it must be alcohol-free, and used with care. Apply it only to the oiliest parts of the face and discontinue use immediately if your skin becomes irritated. If you feel you need an astringent, you may need to see a dermatologist instead.

Hair care is also important — shampoo twice a week to as often as daily, keeping the shampoo away from your face as much as possible.

Protect Your Skin From The Sun

A suntan may dry your skin, making the acne less noticeable, but this is only temporary. As your skin becomes accustomed to sun exposure, the acne will flare up again. Meanwhile you are risking skin damage that can cause premature aging and skin cancer. Many medications that treat acne cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunlight and more vulnerable to burning. Whatever the weather, you should wear sunscreen on your face and any other exposed skin when outdoors.

Choose Makeup With Care

The best choice for good acne skin care is to wear no makeup at all. But if you feel you must wear makeup, choose products labeled noncomedogenic — that means they will not clog your pores. Be aware that these products may still cause acne in some people. Above all, avoid makeup with an oil base. Read the labels carefully and use sparingly.

Shaving

Try both electric razors and safety razors to see which causes the least irritation to skin blemishes. Always use a sharp blade in a safety razor — change the blade every 2 or 3 shaves. You may have to shave around blemishes to avoid cutting them. Be sure to soften the beard as much as possible with warm water and shaving cream before starting. If your skin is covered with blemishes, perhaps it is best to skip shaving that day.

No Touching

As tempting as it may be to squeeze pimples, don’t! That invites more trouble by spreading the bacteria which cause pimples. It can also lead to permanent scarring.

Try to avoid touching your face as much as possible because the hands carry dirt, oil and germs.

Rest assured that acne can be brought under control. Medications will go a long way toward clearing your skin of acne. Your job is to help the healing process along as much as possible by taking good care of your skin.