EDmedblog. Health News and Information » Skin Care

ACNE

admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:20:24 +0000

Facing me was an attractive young woman. It was her misfortune that she was one of the many people troubled with Acne vulgaris, a condition which is very difficult to control. She was particularly upset because her wedding day was not far off and the stressful situation, extra work and sleepless nights were making her condition worse. It seemed like a vicious circle, because the more she worried, the worse her acne became, which in turn made her worry still more. During my many years in practice I have often come across similar situations and I cannot help but sympathise: I know that compared to other serious health conditions acne can be viewed as a trivial complaint, but this doesn’t alter the fact that the sufferer is often emotionally insecure. More so, as this affliction often rears its head during the sensitive years of teenagers, which are so important in their mental development. Whether it concerns teenagers or adults, acne vulgaris can be a tenacious problem. If it is treated in a sensible and intelligent manner, much distress can be avoided.

What is acne vulgaris? Merck’s Manual, the physician’s handbook, says that it is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and the pilosebaceous follicles of the skin, characterised by papules, pustules, cysts, inflammatory plaque or nodules, and usually associated with seborrhoea. It is said that the exact cause of acne vulgaris is unknown, but that there are predisposing causes, such as an increased activity of the pilosebaceous complexities and very often a hormonal imbalance, which is why teenagers in particular have so many problems. Hereditary influences can play a role and certain foods have been known to aggravate this problem. A good rule to remember is that a healthy diet is important. There might also be some infection, like staphylococcus and possibly allergies play a role. In other cases there are deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and trace elements, and problems of sudden flare-ups caused by the digestive system.

In women, the ovaries play a large part, and this is often the reason why before, during or after menstruation, acne sufferers experience sudden flare-ups. If there is a real problem, and it is allowed to run on unchecked, the condition may well continue until the age of thirty or so. In most cases, however, if the patient co-operates, I have been able to control the condition to a large extent. Hygiene is essential and thorough cleansing is necessary. It is most important that the patient co-operates and does not pick or squeeze, which can cause lesions and permanent scarring, and it is certainly no use covering the spots with a layer of make-up. If this is considered necessary, it helps to be discriminating in the make and amounts used. Hydrotherapy treatment can often be of help, especially if an ioniser is used, and ultraviolet treatment may also be beneficial. Natural sunshine is best, but in our northern climate it may be necessary to supplement this with ultraviolet rays.

I reassured the bride-to-be that her skin would improve greatly if she followed my advice and I emphasised that she was not alone in her plight. Some 70-75 per cent of all teenagers get acne. The hormonal change in teenagers is substantial. The hormones act on the thousands of small glands in the skin, and if the skin produces too much sebum, the chances are high that acne will develop. When blocked, the glandular ducts and pores form blackheads. Infection, combined with swelling, is the cause of the problem, and when the skin is not thoroughly cleansed, it becomes very rough and sometimes very dry or greasy. Washing certainly does not help to overcome acne, it just keeps the surface clear of excessive grease. It is much better to care for the skin with a cleansing milk or a very mild soap. It is also important to be aware of excessive perspiration, as this too can aggravate an acne condition. I must stress that squeezing, pushing or rubbing the spot is to be discouraged, as the fragile skin is easily damaged and scarred.

Many sufferers enquire hopefully if their acne will ever disappear completely. It certainly does disappear but the timing varies: in some cases it may take a long time, whereas with other people it will disappear quickly. Although predominantly a teenage problem, acne can cause a number of conditions from early childhood to adulthood, affecting both male and female. A young man from Belgium recently visited my clinic in the Netherlands. After hearing his story I realised that he had become very introverted as a result of his skin problems. He was very keen to find a girlfriend, but his acne had given him an inferiority complex. I told him that his acne problem could be cleared, but suggested that in the meantime he might consider growing a beard. He admitted that he had never thought of that and was certainly going to give it a try.

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CELLULITE: THE IDEAL PROGRAM

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:10:34 +0000

Don’t stop now!

One thing you must have noticed is the number of people, both fit and not so fit, who are out there walking, jogging, drinking pure juice at juice bars, choosing salads, ordering water, etc. You 1 might not have noticed so much before because you were probably less health conscious, but as you look around you quickly become aware that heaps of people want to enjoy a healthier life: old, young, fit, unfit. You really are not alone!

Some who read this book will be physically big people and some of these will find it daunting to strip down to a t-shirt and pair of lycra tights and exercise on a treadmill with lots of people around.

Others will be sporty types who are confident in fitness centres. What they may find daunting is lessening their intake of fatty food, sugar and alcohol.

Some will devise an energetic house cleaning program, so they rebuild exercise into their daily lives. Others will start walking, stop smoking and start yoga. And a lot of people will read the chapter about herbal capsules and at a cost of approximately $50 every 20 days; they will enjoy the benefits of the cellulite-loss tablets, with or without an accompanying exercise program.

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CELLULITE: FIT FOR SPORT

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:07:14 +0000

Golf

More and more women are playing golf. Golf is not a particularly active sport. It involves a lot of skill, concentration and walking through the bushes to find your ball. Your eyesight gets a good workout.

A game of golf takes three to four hours during which time there are lots of stops and starts.

When you’re pushing your buggy up a hilly fairway, your heart-rate is raised. But when you get to the ball, you stop. It might take another five minutes before you’re pushing again and getting your heart-rate up. That is not a control environment. But it does have its benefits.

Cellulite impact: Passive impact. The continual walking is good for you, plus you relax because you’re in a lovely environment – with fresh air. It’s quiet and peaceful (unless you’re not hitting the ball too well).

Golf exercises your:

• Leg muscles

• Arms, back, shoulders and stomach

• Mind

Tennis

You need to be strong to play tennis – you have to pivot on your feet. If your knees or ankles aren’t strong or you’ve pivoted incorrectly and you’re overweigh^ you can injure yourself.

Tennis is really good for hand-eye coordination. This helps build your sense of alertness. Tennis requires you to move quite vigorously. Make sure you keep hydrated, as it can get hot out there while you are actively keeping your opponent at bay!

Cellulite impact: If you have a pretty good opponent you definitely get to exercise your upper and lower muscle groups.

Tennis exercises your:

• Leg and backside muscles •’Arms, shoulders and chest

• Breathing (heart and lungs)

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FOOD AND CELLULITE: FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:04:02 +0000

Eat more fruit and vegetables.

Fruit and vegies have got up to 9000 nutrients in them. Science has only isolated 1500 nutrients, therefore the benefits of fruit and vegies are not only those known, but also unknown. We know they are extremely good for us, but we’re only discovering why as we go along.

When you take vitamins and minerals out of fruits and vegetables and put them in a capsule they don’t work nearly as well as eating the real fruit or vegetable. Why? Scientifically, they may be the same. In fact, the capsule or powder is often fortified with a greater percentage or a higher dosage, so you would think the ingredients would be more active.

It’s the ingredients in fruits and vegetables working all together in balance that makes them more effective and produces the full benefit.

What I am saying is that even if we create the near perfect capsule, it will never, ever, heat cellulite as convincingly as real food.

That’s a very important point. No processed product, no synthetic, no pharmaceutical product can replace a banana, an apple, a potato, a bean.

Fruit and vegies! You should be having six to eight pieces a day! They are a first class source of energy.

Fruit and vegetables are a sensible choice because they are good for us, but these foods just happen to be delicious, too.

MUST WE EAT FRUIT?

Not everyone will eat fruit. Is it enough to eat vegetables? Or must we all eat fruit as well?

There are differences between the fruit and vegetables, and you should eat from both. But if someone were to say to me, “Which are the more important?”, I would quietly say ‘vegetables’ because generally speaking vegetables provide greater all round benefits than fruit.

Remember: vegies shouldn’t be cooked too much. Cook vegies just enough to be delicious and palatable. Try not to overcook them. You’ll miss out on the nutrients and the full flavour.

And find a fruit and vegetable outlet that sells the best on the market. The range of organically grown produce or produce fresh from the growers will always taste better than stale or chemically pumped up produce. Try to grow the odd spinach or lettuce or tomato plant yourself, even in a window box. The flavour will delight you.

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CELLULITE: WHAT DO YOU NEED?

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:00:55 +0000

You have real needs before you start a program. Some of these are psychological, others material. You need:

• Support

Figure out what sort of support is necessary for you to pursue this goal.

Expenditure? Child minding? New walking shoes? Travelling to and from a fitness centre? Cooking arrangements? Time allocation?

• Confirmation

I notice that people who have an over or under-weight problem do everything else except what’s necessary from within. They’ll get their hair done, get waxes, shave their legs regularly, have their nails done, make sure they have their make-up on – and really present themselves elegantly externally. But they don’t look after themselves from inside-out. They might look great in designer-wear, but that’s only when they’re dressed.

That’s why I say, ‘Strip everything off and take a look at your naked body’. Self-assessment of your real body will confirm whether (and how) you need to take action.

• Confidence (that this won’t all be a waste of time)

It’s not a waste of time if you achieve your goal.

Some people would rather read than exercise. They feel exercise is a waste of time. You can read when you’re on an exercise bike! But I prefer to listen to music. In doing so, I feel great – and I know it’s not a waste of time if it’s keeping me healthy while I’m having fun.

• Eat Right

People who worry about weight think: not to eat. That’s not the answer. The answer is not to starve yourself. The answer is to eat right.

When you starve yourself this is what happens: suppose you decide not to eat all day, and then you have one piece of cake -you might as well have eaten right all day and had the piece of cake, because the cake is unimportant. It’s nutritionally empty energy food. It’s not going to do anything. It’ll just give you a bit of a sugar rush and you’ll enjoy the taste. So you might as well learn to eat right, so you can fuel your metabolism efficiently.

You need:

• Support

• Confirmation

• And confidence it’s not all a waste of time

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CELLULITE: GOOD ADVICES

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:53:51 +0000

HOW MUCH TIME?

Don’t rush into exercise. One hour per day five days a week is not a baby step. That’s a giant step. But quality 10-15 minutes per day would be very good baby steps. With a sensible approach to exercise you can make wonderful progress. Then as you gain experience and ability do more per day, within three to four weeks you will start to be in pretty good shape.

Think in 10-15 minute time frames at the initial planning stage, gradually building up your exercise program.

AN AMAZING REVELATION!

The only way to know your state of health is to keep a log of everything you eat, drink, when you sleep and when you exercise.

It is necessary to do this chore because you probably need an amazing revelation to boost your determination to change certain habits. That log will be your mirror! “The task of self-examination is difficult, but the time log is a useful tool to accomplish this objective,” says Dr Alec Mackenzie in his ground breaking time management book, The Time Trap (1972).

I agree with him. Keep a complete time log for seven days. Write down everything you do and everything you put into your body.

If you have toast, write down whether or not you also have butter and a slice of ham. Everything you do and consume for seven days will identify areas that need modification when you assess it later.

Also record your exercise and rest.

This will reveal to you a pretty good pattern as to your lifestyle – because we are all creatures of habit

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