How Can the Immune System Affect Acne?

Zinc and Acne

Studies show that zinc can be used to treat acne because it boosts the immune system. Since the immune system protects every part of the body, it will also protect our skin from acne. Zinc is also responsible for the functioning of white blood cells. If we lack zinc in our bodies, the white blood cells? functionality decreases. When this happens, the production of thymic hormones is reduced. Any imbalance in hormones will also contribute to the growth of acne. It is proven that taking zinc supplements will not only boost the immune system, but eliminate acne as well.

White Blood Cells and Acne

Do you know that white blood cells play an important role in fighting against bacteria-caused infections? At the same time, it is also responsible for balancing hormonal levels that affect the condition of our skin. Therefore, when white blood cells do not function properly, there?s a big chance that we will develop skin problems such as acne. Because zinc helps in the proper functioning of white blood cells, it?s advisable to take zinc supplements on a daily basis. You can opt for a multivitamin that contains only 15 mg of zinc.

Immune System Disorders

The immune system greatly influences our health. That?s why it is important that we are well-informed about it. There are two types of disorders that can affect our immune system, and they are:

1. Immunodeficiency ? immune system cannot recognize the bad cells that cause diseases, so it does not work to destroy them.
2. Auto immunity ? the immune system experiences hyper activity. When this happens, the immune system not only destroys the bad cells but the good cells as well.

What affects our immune system?

There are a lot of factors that can contribute to an immune system malfunction. These factors may include one or more of the following:

• Antibiotics (used for a long period of time or misuse)
• Emotional stress and disturbance
• Genetic makeup
• Unhealthy lifestyle
• Pollution and environmental toxins

It is always wise to practice safe and healthy habits to maintain a healthy immune system, which will in turn give you a healthy mind and body. Read more about the immune system and acne in Unhindered Living, Mnwelldir.org, and Natren.com.

Labels: acne, blood, dirty skin, iummune system, zinc

10 Ways to Keep Your Skin Healthy

1. Wash your face regularly.

   It is very important that you keep your face clean regularly, especially before going to bed. If you don?t wash your face before bedtime, all the bacteria, dirt, and dust you?ve gathered throughout the day will stick to your pillow and sheets. Thus, it will aggravate the acne and cause it to spread.

2. Change your pillow cases.

   It may be true that you always wash your face before you sleep. However, if you don?t shower before going to bed, dirt from your hair will spread to your pillow. If that?s the case, make sure you replace your pillow cases regularly. This may sound like common sense, but a lot of people often forget to change their pillows until after a few months. Make sure you replace your pillow cases at least twice a month. Sometimes, when you go home, you?re already too tired to take a shower, especially if you just came from a party. If you are a smoker, then make sure that you change your pillow the next day. Chances are, your hair will gather all the smoke, dust, and dirt from the party and spread them to your pillow.

3. Stop the habit of touching your face.

   Some people are not aware that they touch their faces very often. Sometimes, when you?re stressed, you tend to touch your forehead. There are also people who love picking at spots and pimples. Put an end to the bad habit. If you can?t help but touch your face, you have to keep your hands clean all the time. But if you touch a lot of things during your daily activities, like handle a lot of paper work, or work in a factory, etc., it will be best to get rid of your bad habit instead.

4. Eat healthy.

   It is important that you go on a proper diet if you want a healthy skin. You have to try to eat as little junk food as possible, but if you can?t control yourself, make sure you add lots of vegetables and fruits to your daily meals.

5. Drink lots of water.

   Drinking water is a very basic way to stay healthy, but then again, this is something people often take for granted. It?s always best to drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Your body should be well-hydrated at all times. When you work out or sweat, make sure you drink more water to replace the fluid you?ve lost.

6. Avoid unhealthy sunlight.

   Sunlight is healthy if it?s not between 10 am and 4 pm. If you want to bathe in the sun, do it early in the morning. The sunlight after 10 am is bad for our skin, so make sure that you apply sun block if you?ll have to be under the sun during those hours.

7. Work out.

   Exercise is very important as it helps increase blood flow. It also allows oxygen to circulate throughout your body, which will in turn keep the skin healthy and vibrant.

8. Avoid heavy makeup.

   Makeup contains many different kinds of chemicals. If you put on too much make up everyday, your face will get irritated and acne will develop.

9. Always wear moisturizer.

   Even though you have oily skin, there are moisturizers that are specifically made for your skin type. Remember that your skin needs moisture so that it can stay supple and young.

10. Get enough sleep.

    Although it is true that you will sleep less as you age, it?s still best to have 8 hours of sleep daily if you want to keep your skin healthy. If you don?t get enough sleep, it will dry up your skin.

Labels: acne, diet, exercise, makeup, moisturizer, sleep, sunlight, wash, water

How Antioxidants Help in Acne Treatment

Natural Sources of Antioxidants

To increase the antioxidants in our body, there are a number of natural resources that we can eat. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. Coffee and tea are also great sources of antioxidants.

Antioxidant Vitamins

Aside from natural sources, we can also get enough antioxidants from vitamins. The popular vitamins rich in antioxidants are Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Vitamin A, and minerals like Selenium and Zinc. These are all great sources of antioxidants. Vitamins combined with glycolic acid will give you double the protection from free radicals or the process of oxidation.

Topical Antioxidants

Though antioxidants can be taken orally, there are also topical antioxidants that can greatly benefit your skin. The problem with taking antioxidants orally is that it will spread to the whole body and skin, and the receiving areas will only get about 1% of the ingested antioxidant as its share. Applying topical antioxidants will greatly benefit your body as it will go directly to your skin. It will aid in the balancing of free radicals and prevent the UV destruction of cells. The pulp of fruits and vegetables can be used as topical antioxidants. Keep your skin healthy by applying oils like sesame, coconut, and olive oil. You will benefit from applying these oils in small quantities. You can mix it with water before you apply it to your oily skin. These oils can also be used for your face as all skin types need to be moisturized to keep it supple. Just let it sit for three minutes and then wash it away with a medicated soap. Make sure that you get rid of all the oil on your face.

Labels: acne, antioxidants, diet

Hormone Therapy for Acne

Acne is such a common skin problem that a lot of skin experts and dermatologists continue to develop various treatments for the skin disease. One of the treatments for acne is hormone therapy. This treatment is especially effective for women.

The Hormone Therapy acne treatment has long been used by dermatologists. This treatment is recommended for women no matter how severe the acne is. So why is hormone therapy effective? Hormone is known as a contributing factor for the development of acne, and if there is a way to balance our hormones, it will help reduce or eliminate acne for good.

How hormones affect our skin

Androgens which are the masculine hormones are the ones that contribute to the growth of acne. These hormones increase when we reach puberty, and they affect the production of oil in the oil glands or sebaceous glands. When too much oil or sebum is produced, the pores of our skin will be clogged. If this happens, the dead skin cells get trapped too. Now, when the bacteria from outside factors like dust and dirt come in contact with the clogged pore, they will cause an infection. When the bacteria have not propagated yet, what you see is either a whitehead or a blackhead. Clogged pores that you usually see are whiteheads, and they become blackheads when some pigmentation caused by melanin makes them dark-colored. Now, when bacteria have infected a certain area on our skin, inflammation will develop. That?s what we call a pimple.

Hormonal Therapy

The purpose of hormonal therapy is to disrupt abnormal hormonal activities that cause acne growth. Hormonal therapy is done by taking oral contraceptives such as:

1. Diane-35
2. Tri-Cyclen
3. Alesse
4. Yasmin

On the other hand, there?s a non-contraceptive anti-androgen medication that can be taken for hormonal therapy. This medicine is called Spironolactone, which comes in the form of estrogen and progestins. As mentioned previously, androgen contributes to acne growth. By keeping androgen production at a minimum level with anti-androgen medication, acne will be reduced, or even eliminated.

You can also check out Acne Guide for more helpful tips about hormone therapy for acne.

Labels: acne, acne treatments, hormone therapy

Find Out the Side Effects of Acne Treatments

People have different skin types and react to various acne treatments differently. Therefore, the treatment that you found to be effective on your skin may not be effective for your friend. Reversely, what your friend used to treat his or her acne may cause you side effects. Though some people may not encounter any side effect from a certain treatment, it is best to know the possible side effects that come with acne treatment. Before you take any prescription medication or start a treatment, learn about it and the problems that may occur. Below is a list of side effects from acne treatments:

1. Allergies
   One of the most common problems experienced by patients when treating acne is allergic reaction. Some people do not know that they have an allergy for a drug or cream until they first use it to treat their acne. If you are using a new product and you encounter rashes or difficulty in breathing, immediately stop your medication and call the dermatologist. Let your doctor know what you have experienced and let the expert tell you what you should do.
2. Flaking, Redness, Inflammation, Itching
   Since acne treatment products are mostly made of chemicals, it is most likely that the skin will experience dryness. Most chemicals will drain the moisture from the infected skin and cause dryness. As we all know, itching, flaking, and redness are some of the conditions that result from dryness. When we first use a treatment product, we may not be aware of the problem it may cause, so we tend to scratch the infected area because of the itching. However, it will only get worse as it becomes inflamed.
3. Yeast Infections
   Antibiotics are among the drugs that can trigger yeast infections. This will happen if you have been using antibiotics for a long time. The bacteria will become more resistant to antibiotics if you use them regularly.
4. Depression, Birth Defects, and other Serious Side Effects
   There are some drugs like accutane that can cause depression, birth defects on expecting mothers, and other serious side effects such as suicide tendencies. Though some people may not experience these side effects, it?s best to check the warning text of any medication or treatment you plan to use.

There are other side effects that come with certain medications or treatment products. Make sure you ask your doctor about the side effects before you use any treatment. You can learn more about acne treatment side effects from Ezine Articles, Acne Guide, and Chet Day.

Labels: acne, acne treatments, side effects

Find Out How Acne Develops

We know that acne is a very common skin condition. Some people encounter mild acne while others suffer from severe cases of acne. Acne is considered a skin disease that affects us not only physically, but emotionally as well. When you have acne on your face, it is not exactly a pleasant sight and you may feel embarrassed to go out and socialize because of the acne. However, there are ways to get rid of acne so that you can live a normal life with confidence.

What Triggers Acne?

Acne occurs when our pores are clogged by a kind of oil called sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands in our bodies. Sometimes, our sebaceous glands function improperly and produce more sebum than our skin or pores can handle. When too much sebum or oil occurs, the pores are clogged, and the dead skin cells cannot be removed. When bacteria come in contact with the clogged pore, they will infect our skin and cause acne.

Pilosebaceous Units

Acne lesions are caused by the pilosebaceous units in our bodies. These units consist of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, and they can be found anywhere within our bodies, excluding the palm and the bottom of the feet. You?ve probably noticed that we never get acne on the palm or at the sole of our feet. Pilosebaceous units can be found on the face, chest, neck, and back. Acne will develop when the pilosebaceous canal gets clogged.

How Pilosebaceous Canal Gets Clogged

As previously mentioned, it is the excess oil called sebum that clogs our pores. This happens when there is an overproduction of sebum, which will cause the pilosebaceous canal to get clogged. Sebum is produced by our sebaceous glands, and it will be produced in excess when the sebaceous glands become hyperactive. The activities of the sebaceous glands are influenced by the hormones in our bodies, particularly the male hormones. Any imbalance or stimulation that occurs in the male hormones will always lead to acne.

Ductal Hypercornification

When the over production of sebum occurs, ductal hypercornification occurs too. Ductal hypercornification refers to the overproduction of the follicle wall?s cell lining, and it will prevent dead cells from being removed. With the pilosebaceous canal already clogged up, sebum or oil and dead cells will clog the pores, and this will lead to the development of acne. Some bacteria called propionibacterium acnes can be found on top of our skin. They will draw white blood cells from our immune system and become inflamed. And the result is acne.

For more information on the development of acne, you can check out Medical Center of Central Georgia, Hippocrates World Site, Acne.com, and Yale New Haven children?s Hospital.

Labels: acne, cause, myths

Do Acne Cleansers Work?

Discover the Truth about Acne

Myth #1: Eating chocolates and nuts will cause break outs!

The Truth: Previously, chocolates and nuts were thought to be the cause of break outs, especially among teens. However, these assumptions were not formulated from scientific evidences. After relevant research was conducted, dermatologists and doctors have confirmed that the consumption of chocolates and nuts do not contribute directly to the development of acne. But recently, new studies show that foods can cause acne indirectly. Consuming dairy products in general may contribute to acne growth. However, if you eat chocolates moderately, there?s no reason for you to worry about acne. It is also proven that nuts do not cause acne. In fact, doctors recommend nuts because they contain zinc, which can boost the immune system and help control acne.

Myth #2: Pizza can worsen acne!

The Truth: To this date, there is no evidence to determine whether this claim is true or false. However, we can break down the ingredients of pizza to know how it may or may not affect acne development. One of the common ingredients or toppings of a pizza is cheese. Cheese is a dairy product, and when it is digested, it releases chemicals that may affect acne growth. Another common pizza topping is meat. Meat contains hormones or hormone-like substances that can cause acne as well. Also, if your pizza is oily, then there is a chance you can get oil on your face, and this will infect the clogged pores and cause acne. Generally, eating pizza moderately will not really cause acne.

Myth #3: Avoid fried foods as they can cause breakouts.

The Truth: Again, no studies have been conducted to prove this. However, if you are exposed to the oil when cooking, there?s a higher chance that you will develop acne. It?s not the food you take that causes acne, but the oil that comes in contact with your face.

Myth #4: Dirty skin is the cause of acne.

The Truth: This is not entirely true. We get dirt and dust everyday when we go outdoors. If you live or work in the city, then you will be in contact with pollution. While the dirt can contribute to factors that cause acne, dirt alone will not cause break outs. Acne is caused when a clogged pore is infected by bacteria.

Labels: acne, chocolate, dirty skin, fried food, myths, pizza

Categorizing Acne According to Age

Over the last decade, it has been reported that the occurrence of acne has increased among adults. This is probably due to bad eating habits, and the pollution or bacteria that we come into contact with. In fact, back in the 20th century, the average age of people suffering from acne was 20.5 years. Come the 21st century, this average is increased to 26.5 years. As such, acne is no longer a puberty-related condition. It is already a common skin disease that a lot of people suffer from.

Babies and Acne

It is common thinking that babies have perfect skin, but do you know that some babies were born with acne? Babies who have acne when they are born will most likely develop acne when they reach puberty, and this may carry on into adulthood. In such cases, acne is usually caused by hereditary factors. It?s dangerous to treat acne in infants because they are very sensitive to medication. If the acne is only mild, it?s better to leave it as it is and wait for it to go away in a few weeks? time. If you insist on treating it, make sure you go to a doctor or dermatologist and get an expert opinion.

Teen Acne

The most common cases of acne start occurring during teenage years. Since we know that acne can be caused by hormonal factors, we can easily understand why teenage years are the most infected stage in a person?s life. The rapid development of acne during teenage is caused by the vigorous hormonal activities that take place as our bodies mature. Teenage boys are more prone to acne because male hormones are the ones that cause our glands to produce excess oil. This is also true with infants as baby boys are more prone to acne than baby girls.

Adulthood & Acne

When we reach adulthood, the females become more prone to acne than males. This is because women experience hormonal imbalance as they approach their menstrual periods and during pregnancy.

Labels: acne, adult, baby, teen

Can Diet Affect Acne Growth?

The Latest Study

Several studies have been done to determine if our diet really contributes to the development of acne. Recently, it has been proven that the food we eat does not really cause acne directly. However, remember that when we digest our food, certain chemicals are released. Depending on the type of food we consume, some chemicals may influence the growth of acne.

Meat and Testosterone

We know that the excessive production of oil or sebum is initiated by hormonal activities, specifically that of testosterones. Now, experts have found out that some of the food that contains hormones or substances that are hormone-like may contribute to the hormonal imbalance that causes acne. One particular food that contains hormones and steroids is meat. Studies have shown that women who eat meat on a regular basis are more likely to have acne.

Food and Acne

According to recent studies, ninety percent of acne patients developed acne because of the food they consumed. Only ten percent of acne patients had acne due to hormonal imbalance. Diets that have high-fat content as well as diets that contain dairies are more likely to cause acne. Studies also showed that those who consume low fat, high fiber and high starch diets, with a good intake of vegetables and fruits, have little or no acne at all. Aside from these, acne can also be caused by foods that are hard to digest. Such foods will make the digestive system lethargic and weak, and this will lead to skin problems.

More information about diet and acne can be found in http://www.naturalacneremedy.com, http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/Health-problems, and http://www.usanapower.com/Medical/Acne.html.

Labels: acne, diet

All About Back Acne

Blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, pimples, or even cystic acne are some of the different forms of back acne. They are also commonly known as zits. People from ten to forty years old may suffer from such skin disease. If you are among the people suffering from back acne, read on to learn more about the disease and how you can get rid of it.

What Causes Back Acne?

Like any other types of acne, back acne is caused by the excessive oil or sebum produced by the skin?s sebaceous glands. This occurs during puberty for teens and before the menstrual period for adult women. The reason for this is the increased levels of hormones experienced during these stages of life. In short, the sebaceous glands get over stimulated and they produce too much oil that will clog the pores in the skin. When the oil mixes with bacteria that come from dirt or sweat, acne is sure to develop.

Sometimes, when excessive oil or sebum is already clogging the pores at the back and dead skin cells are stuck inside the pores, our skin will get irritated by tight clothing or sweaty shirts from exercise, as well as heavy backpacks. When you already have an oily or sweaty back, make sure you clean and change your shirt properly. If your back has acne, it should be left untouched. Don?t put too much pressure or wear something that will rub itself on the infected area.

How to treat back acne

Since the skin is thicker on the back than the face, it?s alright to use a 10 percent benzoyle peroxide cream to treat acne. A lower percentage can be used for thinner skin such as the face.

Pustule, Papule, Whitehead, Blackhead

When the back acne inflammation is shallow, you can classify the acne as a pustule, but when the acne is deeper, it is called a papule. Now, when the excess oil breaks out through the skin, it is referred to as whitehead. The whitehead is similar to blackhead except that the head you see is darker due to melanin, which is the pigmentation agent for the skin.

More information on back acne can be found at AcneInfo.org, Acne.org and other websites! Check them out and find more tips on how you can reduce back acne today!

Labels: acne, back acne

Acne and the Digestive System

One of the most important parts of our body is the digestive system

The digestive system turns our food into glycerin, sugars, fatty and amino acids. These are then distributed to the organs in our bodies through the blood stream. Therefore, the digestive system is a very essential part of the body. Without it, other systems and organs in our bodies will not get the nutrition they need to function properly. That?s why our skin won?t look healthy if the digestive system is weak.

A lethargic digestive system causes most skin problems

A lazy or slow-moving digestive system can cause a lot of problems in various parts of the body, including the skin. Most skin problems come about due to the malfunctioning of the digestive system. These skin problems include acne, psoriasis, eczema, body odor, and boils. When the digestive system is healthy, food is broken down to functional components to keep the body parts in tiptop condition; but when it fails, toxins will be produced. In turn, such toxins will cause problems in various organs throughout the body. As we know, the largest organ of the body is the skin, and it is the organ that is most affected by toxins. The occurrence of acne represents a toxic digestive system and of course, a weak immune system too.

The important substance in your digestive system

A vital substance that helps your digestive system work properly is Hydrochloric acid or HCL. Your digestive system must be able to maintain a certain level of HCL to function effectively. If you eat junk food regularly and your usual diet includes a lot of fat and sugar, the HCL level in your stomach will be reduced. Try asking your doctor about this especially if you experience fatigue or adult acne and other skin problems. Depleted HCL will also result in other problems like muscle cramps, arthritis, and food allergies. Aside from an unhealthy diet, long term use of antibiotics is another cause of HCL depletion. Without sufficient HCL, your immune system will be impaired, and this will cause acne to flare up. For more information about acne and the digestive system, you can visit http://www.answerswithherbs.com/digestive_system.html or http://www.acne-advice.com.

Labels: acne, medical

Acne: A Common Skin Disease in America

Do you know that acne is one of the most common skin diseases in America? In fact, it is a very common skin disease throughout the world. In the US alone, studies show that three out of four people suffer from acne, and the bad news is, acne has no cure. However, it can be treated and controlled. There are various ways to treat acne, and the length and type of treatment will depend on the severity of the acne.

What Causes This Common Skin Disease?

There are many factors that can contribute to the development of acne. They can be hereditary, hormonal, and environmental. Basically, acne occurs because of clogged pores that are infected by bacteria. The skin?s pores become congested with excess oil produced by the skin?s sebaceous glands, and this oil is called sebum. When too much sebum is produced, it clogs the pores and traps the dead skin cells. When bacteria from dust, dirt, and other outside factors touch our faces and come into contact with the clogged pores, the result is infection. This infection is what we call acne.

Then, you may be wondering, what causes the bacteria and the excess oil? It?s easy to determine the occurrence of bacteria since it is common knowledge that they can be found on any dirty object that we get into contact with, or they are just floating in the air. In other words, bacteria are caused by environmental factors or the dirty things that surround us. The other question is, what causes excess oil and how do our sebaceous glands produce too much sebum? That?s when hereditary and hormonal factors come in. Our sebaceous glands may function improperly when hormonal imbalance occurs. Hormonal imbalance happens during puberty and the teenage phase when hormonal activities are more vigorous than normal. For some women, hormonal imbalance takes place when they are nearing their menstrual periods. Whatever causes hormonal imbalance may lead to over production of sebum, and this will result in the occurrence of acne.

Struggling With Acne

Probably most of us have suffered from acne, whether mild or severe. And we probably understand the emotional deal that comes with acne. People who have acne will lose their confidence and self-esteem, which is especially true for teenagers. In fact, most teens may not want to go out when they have acne showing on their faces. Acne can ruin one?s social life and cause embarrassment. Therefore, people with severe cases of acne will experience great emotional struggle.

If you are among the three out of every four Americans suffering from acne, you will want to find an effective treatment for acne. Basically, there are creams and other skin products that will help you get rid of acne. However, if you suffer from a severe case of acne, then it would be best to leave the treatment to a skincare expert or a dermatologist. Meanwhile, you can check out other resources such as ?Acne ? How to Treat It?, ?Treating Your Acne?, and ?Acne Treatment? to get useful tips on how to treat acne.

Labels: acne, disease