Health Articles

What we think we know about acne is steadily being replaced by what scientists are learning. Meanwhile, many myths continue to circulate and endure. Clearing up some of the misunderstandings about acne is what this article is about.

Myth #1: Acne only affects appearance Acne can also cause deep psychological distress. Severe acne can lead to low self-image and feeling depressed. There is a strong link between severe acne and social withdrawal.

Myth #2: Acne is caused by poor hygiene While skin infections are associated with acne, lack of cleanliness is not the reason for acne outbreaks. The combination of oil and dead cells which produce acne is located beneath the skin’s surface where it is impossible to clean it away. Gentle cleansing with soap and water once or twice daily will keep your skin as healthy as possible. Scrubing too hard may worsen acne.

Myth #3: Acne is caused by specific foods Chocolate has long had a reputation as a pimple producer. Studies have shown no scientific evidence that this is true. The same holds true for potato chips and sugar. There are some foods that do seem to aggravate (not cause) the condition: milk and foods high in iodine, such as seafood.

Myth #4: Acne has to run its course There are many acne treatments available both over-the-counter and stronger medicines from a dermatologist.

Myth #5: The more acne medicine the better Some people believe that if their acne gets worse they should just use more medicine. That’s a bad idea because medicines can be dangerous when taken in large quantities. Excess use of acne ointments may just irritate the skin further.

Myth #6: Sunbathing is good for acne Exposure to the sun dries out excess oils, so it does improve acne short-term. However, long-term the skin adapts and the acne is unfazed. Worse, there is scientific evidence that sun exposure damages the skin and increases the chance of skin cancer.

Myth #7: Makeup causes acne Some makeup products can clog the pores, which is bad for the health of your skin. Cosmetics that are labeled “noncomedogenic” or “nonacnegenic” are safe to use. Some brands are made with ingredients that actually treat acne.

Myth #8: Acne is only a teenage condition While most teens have acne, so do many adults. Acne generally clears up by the early 20s. But some people experience acne for the first time as late as their 40s. And for the most unfortunate of all, some people endure acne flare-ups their entire lives.

Myth #9: Acne is related to sex We’ve probably all heard that either celibacy or too much sex causes pimples. There is no evidence for this. There is a link between sexual activity and hormone production, but the relationship between sex and the production of sebum (the oily substance which combines with dead skin cells to cause acne) is not known. Stress and anger also affect hormone levels.

Myth #10: Popping pimples is the best way to get rid of them The fact is popping pimples may worsen acne by spreading the bacteria that is causing it. Popping can also lead to eventual scarring, which in severe cases, can be permanent.

As one who is prone to feeling a stingy and bile-like sensation, finding the perfect cure for acid reflux would be one of your priorities. This sensation is really quite disturbing and at the same time a little uncomfortable.

Finding the perfect cure for acid reflux might be a little too subjective on most cases. This might be greatly dependent on the preference of the individual who will use the treatment.

Both pharmacological as well as natural remedies have been used for this condition. But due to various debates on the not so good after effects of some drugs, natural remedies are placed in the limelight.

Moreover, the natural options have been there for quite a long time but their importance was emphasized just recently. A list of some of the common remedies used to treat this condition is given below. One of these might just be found in your backyard or in your own kitchen.

Grapefruit – the skin of this fruit is perfect for easing the pain during instances of acid regurgitation. Dried outer peel of the fruit is the best in addressing this condition. This can be produced by simply removing the peel and have it dried in a plate until it wrinkles. The dried skin can now be stored in a clean jar and chewed whenever necessary. There is no prescribed amount as to how much one should eat but it will just depend on how long the pain will subside. Pineapple- aside from helping in proper digestion, this fruit contains many enzymes that help regulate acidity of the stomach and therefore lessen unwanted acid regurgitation.

Cinnamon – heartburn can also be healed with this delicious flavoring. Just sprinkling it over a piece of bread and chewing on it little by little will surely help ease the pain that you feel. Herbal tea – this is most common form of natural remedy for heartburn. It helps lower the concentration of acid in the stomach. A perfect cup can be created by mixing equal amounts of lavender, peppermint, and aniseed in boiled water. Drinking about 8 ounces when you rise in the morning and in the evening assures a lesser incidence of heartburn.

Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss, affecting some men as early as their twenties, but many more by their sixties. Men with a genetic predisposition to hair loss have areas on their scalp that are especially sensitive to the male sex hormone. As men age these areas and the hair follicles that are located there, suffer from a biological imbalance caused by the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Slowly, over a period of years, hair follicles shrink and become less and less productive. Hairs that are produced are thinner and weaker, and as they are lost there are less new hairs to replace them, leading eventually to increasing areas of the scalp that are bald.

This Androgenetic Alopecia, as it is termed, is not easily cured because of its genetic component and because gene therapy is still in its infancy. Scientists are not yet able to manipulate the genes responsible for the condition, although maybe one day they will be.

For many men, the gradual loss of their hair is not of great concern, particularly if they are over fifty. A younger man though, still wanting to make the best of his appearance, may find the realisation that he has progressive balding quite distressing. If the hair loss has become pronounced, some men will resort to completely shaving their head to give a more “macho” appearance. Many more though will be desperate to find ways of restoring their hair, and there are several ways to do this. The options available include chemical applications such as minoxidil, DHT blockers such as finasteride, low-level laser treatment, hair extensions, and hair transplantation.

Chemical Applications The main agent used to apply to the scalp in liquid form is minoxidil (Rogaine or Regaine), which is usually applied twice a day over a period of several months. Clinical trials have shown that hair loss can be reduced by up to 90% and new growth may even be promoted by up to 20%. Its precise mode of action is not clear but it seems to work better for younger rather than older men, and for smaller areas of baldness.

DHT blockers The most popular pill is finasteride (Propecia), which is taken once a day and blocks formation of DHT so reducing general levels in the body. Clinical trials have demonstrated more than 50% of men who took it experienced cessation of hair loss and some regrowth. It may be necessary to carry on taking the medication indefinitely and there is a very slight risk of reduced libido. There are some natural DHT blockers available such as Saw Palmetto but they have been largely dismissed by the FDA as being less than effective.

Low-level laser therapy This is a relatively new type of treatment which is said to give good results. Soft lasers have been used for a while to help with wound healing and part of this effect is due to increased blood flow to the affected area. This effect is utilised in the form of low-level laser energy applied to the scalp either by means of a hood or by means of a special laser comb. The former is used at a treatment centre and a series of treatments is required over a few months. Some types of low-level laser comb are suitable for home use, either by themselves, or in conjunction with other treatments such as minoxidil, or in conjunction with clinic treatment visits.

Hair extensions and transplants Hair extensions can be made of human or artificial hair and coloured to blend in with one’s own hair. These are then fixed to existing hair on the head in a way that makes them virtually invisible. They may need to be re-tightened every few months but are a cost effective alternative to hair transplants. Transplants are of course the most natural of hair replacements since they are using your own healthy hair follicles and relocating them. These are often done now in the form of small skin grafts containing 1-4 follicles. These are time consuming to perform and then it can be a few months before they fully take, but for many the results are worth it.

Anybody suffering male pattern baldness should not despair as there is a wide choice of treatments that can help to slow or even reverse the hair loss, and, in our modern society, medicine and technology are improving our lives continually.

You might be doing some trial and error on some natural ways to lower cholesterol. But that should not be your case because your health is at stake. Trial and error can be okay when you experiment on food but you don’t experiment with your health. You must get the right approach in treating your high cholesterol.

There is nothing complex with how to lower cholesterol naturally. In fact, the method is just so basic that it appears silly to experiment on anything. You simply need to focus on three things: healthy diet, good amount of exercise, and an effective and natural cholesterol supplement.

Since the main cause of high cholesterol is the food that you eat, then the major solution to lower your cholesterol naturally is the food itself. Obviously, since you know that you have been eating foods full of fats and have so much cholesterol in it too, then you need to cutback your diet on that particular food. You need to shift to healthier foods, specifically those that are high in fiber plus those foods that are carbo-loaded. Fibers are good in rinsing out the cholesterol in the body at the same time it remove other toxins that were build up inside your system. It also helps boost your metabolism.

Carbohydrates give your body the energy to go through your physical activities. Since your body needs fats too, make sure that you supply the good fats like fish oil that contains fatty acids. Fatty acids help lower your bad cholesterol by increasing the good cholesterol. Good cholesterol or HDL removes the excess LDL in the blood stream. You can also get good fats from nuts and almonds.

You must have heard it before that exercise is important to keep your body healthy. People like you who have high cholesterol need to do a regular exercise everyday, no less than 30 minutes a day. Doing cardio-vascular exercises improves the condition of your heart and lessens the symptoms of hypertension. You can do a 15 minute exercise in the morning before you prepare yourself to work, and maybe another 15 minutes after work. Or instead of taking the elevator, you can just walk the stairs going to the your floor.

Now for the natural cholesterol supplement, you can buy the natural cholesterol lowering supplements. If you are not sure what to get, then I highly suggest you look for a product that contains active natural ingredients that can help lower your cholesterol effectively.