How To Alleviate Your Acne Problem

Acne brings huge problems to teenagers. Teenagers who have acne feel isolated, ugly, and insecure. Who wouldn't when everywhere you look, only clear skinned people are put on the pedestal.

You tried every acne product out in the market but nothing seems to work. At this point, you feel that your social life is doomed but fret not because acne won't stay forever if you take the proper actions early.

First step to take is to understand what acne really is and from there you can take the necessary actions in curing or at least reducing your acne problem.

Acne is the term for plugged pores (whiteheads and blackheads), pimples, and deeper lumps (nodules) that happens in the face, neck, chest, back and upper arms. Acne is caused by build up of excess oil and dead skin in a pore. The causes of this are natural hormones, clogged skin and bacteria.

The onset of acne happens between the ages of twelve to seventeen. Almost all teenagers had acne. Many of them used non-prescription treatments to alleviate acne but more than 40% of teenagers in their mid-teens have severe acne cases. Normally, it goes away in the early twenties. Then again, there are many cases wherein acne starts or continues into adulthood.

It is interesting to note though that young men who are more likely to have severe acne, don't consult dermatologists as much as young women do. But then again, young women are more likely to have irregular acne due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycle or due to the cosmetic products they use. This kind of acne may afflict women even into adulthood.

The ultimate question now is how do you reduce acne?

Knowing the facts that debunk the myths and misconceptions about acne may help you alleviate your acne problem.

Myth 1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene.

This may be true if you don't wash your face at all. But if you resort to frequent and vigorous washing, it will definitely cause scarring which will worsen acne. The best approach is to gently wash face twice a day with mild soap and use appropriate acne treatment after.

Myth 2: Acne is caused by diet.

Scientific studies debunked this having found that there is no connection between food and acne.

Myth 3: Acne is caused by stress.

Stressors are not important factors in acne. Only severe stress that needs medication can cause acne as side effects.

Myth 4: Acne is just a cosmetic disease.

Acne does affect how people look but there's no serious threat to physical health. However, acne can result to serious scarring which can affect how these people live their lives.

Myth 5: You just have to let acne run its course.

The truth is, acne can be cleared up using acne products available in the market today. If they don't work for you, then try seeing a dermatologist.

According to Thiboutot (2000), cure of acne lies in knowing three things:

* That resolution to cure acne takes time;

* That what works for one may not work for another;

* and that a dermatologist's help may be needed if all actions you take to cure your acne fail.

Remember that acne responds well to early treatment. So to prevent scarring have your acne treated as soon as acne starts showing up on your face.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

?Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about acne, please go to: http://acne.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

2005 Holiday Hairstyling Tips Trends and Secrets of the Stars

Create a super new holiday hairdo that will turn you into a shining star.

With the holiday season just around the corner, there's one question that's on every woman's mind. It doesn't matter if she's young or old, married or single, tall, short, fat, or thin. When the calendar says Only 25 More Shopping Days 'Til Christmas, women want to know?

How can I style my hair for the holidays?

Be Brave, Be Bold, But Be Sensible It's fine to say you want something new and different for the holidays. But what you DON'T want is an unpleasant surprise at the salon.

Think twice before you cut once! (And you thought that was only for tailors!)

We've all heard horror stories about women who give their stylists very specific instructions about what they want?don't listen the advice the hair professional is offering (usually because it contradicts the client's fantasy image)?and end up with an unsuitable holiday hairdo. Instead of feeling their best, these poor hair victims end up spending their holidays hiding, rather than shining.

Can't quite imagine yourself with your hair gathered loosely at the crown with tousled waves flowing down your neck?but like the idea? Wondering how your super-curly hair would look if it were smooth and straight? Afraid to boldly cut off your long dresses in favor of a sleek modern 'do?

You're smart to be cautious. A pixie-cut maybe the perfect holiday hairdo for Halle Berry, but not for you. And once you've cut, or colored, or processed your hair in some way, you're going to be stuck with it.

See it? Consider it? THEN make your decision to cut, curl, and/or color!

Don't Be Scared, Be Prepared With so much going on at holiday time, the last thing you want to do is worry about your holiday hairstyle, but you DO want to look fabulous. To do that, you'll need to think about your hair before the holidays arrive.

A pre-holiday deep conditioning treatment is a must. The oils will nourish your hair and seal the cuticles. If your hair is healthy and in good condition, it will be easy to work with. So whether you or a professional are styling your hair, it will be responsive to being brushed, curled, and combed.

Secret: clean, healthy hair in a simple ponytail looks 100% better than dry, damaged flyaway hair that 's been tortured and lacquered into place.

The Right Tool for the Job There's no holiday hairstyling tool that's more versatile and more essential than the curling iron. Curling irons come in a range of sizes, but all you need to remember is: the narrower the barrel, the tighter the curl.

Look for a curling iron with multiple settings. This will allow you to choose the heat level.

Caution: Curling irons are hot like?well like irons?and can be damaging to your glossy locks. Trimming your hair on a regular basis prevents the damage down by blow-drying from traveling up the hair shaft.)

Fashion Forecast - Going Up! Hair is definitely going to new heights for the holidays with a trend towards upswept hairstyles reminiscent of the 1950's. The emphasis is on soft natural curls and waves that say, Caress me not stiff, lacquered locks that say, Don't touch

To get the up in your up-do, work with lightweight hair products that create volume ? especially mousses. Make sure that you have bobby pins that match your hair color and that they're the right size and strength to hold your hair.

A Traditional Style That's Always Fashionable, Easy, and Sexy The classic chignon sounds French, but it actually dates back to the Greco-Roman times! It's sleek, and chic, and magnificent for the holidays because of its simplicity and timeless appeal. (It's also appealing because it doesn't require that you cut your hair!)

The chignon is the holiday hairstyle of choice for fashion icons Kelly Ripa, Heidi Klum, and everyone's favorite desperate housewife Eva Longoria.

Here's how: Brush straight, medium- to long- hair into a low, tight ponytail at the nape of the neck and secure it with a rubber band. Twist hair several times to make a tight rope, with no frayed-out ends. Curl the rope into a bun and use hairpins to secure to nape of neck. If sleek isn't in your curly hair's vocabulary, consider a braided ponytail. When your hair is wet, work in some styling moose. Then use a hair diffuser to blow-dry scrunching it with your fingers. Grab hair and braid into loose platte down back. Secure with rubber band and then cover with a decorative hair ornament.

What Knots! The complete opposite of the stately chignon is a fun holiday look doesn't require that you cut your hair either -- urban style knots, a randomly placed series of tightly curled sections.

Here's how: To become a knot-head, divide your hair into 9 sections of equal size, securing each with a clip to hold it out of the way. One by one, twist a section into a tight coil and then wrap the coil into a tight knot. This is a holiday hairstyle where decorative hairpins are a must! Use them to hold each knot close to the scalp, but use them sparingly. We suggest one decorative pin for every three plain ones.

Is Bling Your Thing? You don't have to have big bucks to look like you're living large. Even with an everyday budget, your bun or chignon can be transformed into a holiday hairdo that's modern, sexy, and very, very merry with faux diamonds and other fabulous fakes!

Placing diamond clips and delicate barrettes add a sassy touch of glamour to hairstyles for the holiday. Pretty, feminine clips and clasps come in a wide variety of textures and finishes, with ribbons and other charming details

Susan Barclay and hairstyles-today share tips for great hair all year long. If you are looking for a new hairstyle stop by http://www.hairstyles-today.com

Beauty and Raw Food

One of the best ways to improve the appearance of your skin is by incorporating raw food into your diet. Beautiful skin starts from the inside out. People who switch to eating mostly raw food often see an improvement in their skin and look younger.

Heating food above 105 degrees Fahrenheit destroys the enzymes as well as up to 50% of the protein and 70-90% of the vitamins and minerals. Eating cooked food overtaxes the body?s enzyme reserves. Eating more raw food decreases the amount of digestive enzymes your body has to produce. Raw foods are foods in their natural state with the enzymes left intact. Enzymes are needed to perform many functions in the body including digestion, assimilation and elimination of food. A drained enzyme supply can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, premature aging and low energy. Raw foods high in enzymes include sprouts, papaya and pineapple.

Free radicals damage your skin and interfere with collagen production causing premature aging. Antioxidants counteract free radicals that age the skin. Berries, especially blueberries, are potent antioxidants that promote collagen which reduces wrinkles. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit help rid the body of free radicals keeping the skin looking young. Foods high in the antioxidant beta carotene including carrots and apricots protect the skin against sun damage.

CoenzymeQ10 is an effective antioxidant involved in the energy process and present in every cell in the body. CoQ10 levels in the body diminish with age. CoQ10 destroys free radicals and slows aging. Spinach, broccoli and peanuts are foods high in CoQ10.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the strength of other antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E, and assists the body?s energy production. Alpha-lipoic acid can be found in spinach, brewer?s yeast, broccoli, tomatoes and peas.

Sulfur is a mineral present in every cell in your body. It is needed in collagen production and for healthy skin, hair and nails. Organic sulfur levels in food are lost when processed, heated or dried. Sulfur is known to help improve skin conditions such as acne. High sulfur content foods include asparagus, broccoli, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, red pepper, garlic, onion, watercress and kale.

Silicon is an essential trace mineral needed for healthy skin, hair, nails and bones. Silicon levels decrease with age. Fruits and vegetables are the richest source of silicon including apples, oranges, cherries, grapes, strawberries, beets, cucumber, carrots and green leafy vegetables.

Phytochemicals are plant chemicals that help the body defend against damage and are said to have anti-aging properties. Phytochemicals can be found in berries, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, spinach, carrots, cocoa and bell pepper.

Raw nuts and seeds are high in Vitamin E which is beneficial to the skin. Selenium keeps the skin elastic and can be found in garlic, onions and shallots.

When the body rids itself of toxins, it passes through the skin which is the largest elimination organ. Raw food increases your detoxification rate. Drinking water helps the body rid itself of toxins. Seaweed is high in vitamins and minerals beneficial to the skin and also helps rid the body of toxins.

To achieve a healthy complexion, drink plenty of water and eat plenty of raw food. What goes into your body is reflective in your overall appearance.

Elizabeth Kiely is the owner of EK: http://www.eklbc.com