Fuel For Thought

I see the following call to arms over high gas prices in the USA is making the rounds again … Here’s a message I received recently from someone I know, who felt the need to transmit it to their entire e-mail address book: GAS WAR– An Idea “This was originally sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came from one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton. It ‘s worth your consideration. “Join the resistance!!!! I hear we are going to hit close to $ 5.00 a gallon by next summer. Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. “Phillip Hollsworth offered this good idea. This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the ‘don’t buy gas on a certain day’ campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn’t continue to ‘hurt’ ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them. BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can work. Please read on and join us! “By now you’re probably thinking gasoline priced at about $1.50 is super cheap. Me too! Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.50-$1.75 and the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! We can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. How? “Force a price war: “For the rest of this year, DON’T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which are now one), EXXON and MOBIL. If they are not selling gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. To have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Exxon and Mobil gas buyers. However, it’s simple to do! Now don’t wimp out on me at this point…keep reading and I’ll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!! “I am sending this note to 30 people. If each of us sends it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth group of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers. “If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes one level further, you guessed it: THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!! “Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That’s all! “How long would all that take? If each of us sends this e-mail out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days! Acting together we can make a difference. “If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on. I suggest that we not buy from EXXON/MOBIL UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO THE $1.30 RANGE AND KEEP THEM DOWN. THIS CAN WORK. “Xxxxx Xxxx, Research Coordinator” This has been attempted before, and it’s never been successful. The basic reason is that the USA is a country with a very diverse populace. Any attempt to get an effective number of them to abide by the discipline such a plan would require is simply impractical. However, that’s not the point I want to make. I contend that these people are missing the real point: Why can’t the American public accept that the issue isn’t high gas prices, but their stubborn subservience to gasoline? The obvious answer is that gasoline is the established and easiest facilitator for personal transportation. And, as long as those facts remain, the Americans’ habits will remain, as well. Placed in a global perspective, $5.00 for a gallon of gas is not unusual. The difference is that the rest of the globe has accepted lifestyle adjustments and moved on to other issues. One of the simplest of those adjustments to make is changing the location of the workplace. Move it from an office to home! Cyberspace can make decentralization much more efficient. Some Fortune 500 companies began to embrace the concept over a decade ago. Bank of America, for instance, allows many of their executives to utilize a home-office relationship. Clearly, not every job allows its worker to perform at home, but there are enough that do. The effects would be subtle, but significant. For example, if even 20% of the vehicles in a commute were removed from the road, traffic congestion would be eased. That, in turn, would allow for better mileage in the vehicles that wouldn’t be stuck in idling or stop-and-go sequences. That saves gas and reduces demand. As e-commerce continues its relentless drive toward mainstream acceptance, numerous shopping trips can also be reduced. Cyber-meetings also are very possible now, and they can accommodate the sharing of documents. Even cyber-schooling could be expanded; Sweden has been operating a cyber-curriculum for the youth of its citizens abroad for years, which is a great way for its culture and high academic standards to be provided to those who work elsewhere. So, any attempt to target Exxon — or British Petroleum or Elf or Shell — is Quixotic. Target yourself instead. You’ll surely get much better mileage out of your time. You’ll also probably notice an improvement in your monthly gasoline budget. In the bigger picture, as well, it’s a simple plan which relies on simple market forces, ie- less demand lowers prices. Small strategies are what win the wars. In this one, open your battlefront in cyberspace.

Electronic Medical Record Software And Patients Paying For Missed Appointments

In a recent BBC study two thirds of all doctors polled said that any patients who miss appointments have to pay for the appointment of at very least pay a fine or a penalty. Here in the United States the physicians are a bit tight lipped. There is even a legal question as to whether or not a doctor can even charge for a missed appointment. The answer is a big maybe. Many believe it has to do with the relationship you have with your doctor and if there a contractual obligation by the patient. Others say that there can not be a charge for “Services NOT rendered”. Many doctors charge and just as many would like to but think it may be a public relations nightmare. There are even more considerations. What about insurance, will they pay for missed appointment, actually some will. Obviously this is a sensitive subject for all but most progressive physicians have purchased practice management software (electronic medical records and EMR software) that can mitigate the problem. New electronic medical records and medical billing software such as ReminderPro is a user-friendly, interactive patient calling system that delivers doctor-to-patient communication through telephone and email messages automatically. Practices are able to enhance patient care, reduce appointment no-shows, and increase productivity. The trend is positive, many doctors that have implemented such EMR software now lowers the incidents of missing appointments and driving more profits to the practice’s bottom line.

Deadly Freedom Inventing Hope In Dark Times

Totalitarianism has been tried many times and it essentially fails because human beings will in all ways subvert a singular narrative that is imposed by force. The fates of the totalitarian states of the last century illustrate this. Authority, the power to dominate the minds and bodies of humanity, has solved this problem by creating and dispersing a deadly form of freedom. This deadly freedom, embedded in a mix of popular aspirations that are inherently conservative and fearful, lead not to the purported goals of happiness and personal agency and fulfillment but to an arid apathy anchored to a narrow and crippling selfishness. What has this freedom got us? A mortgage? Unfulfilling jobs and confused relationships? Environmental and social degradation? High youth suicide rates and equally high levels of substance abuse? Chronic levels of depression, alienation and a culture industry that is largely bankrupt, caught in a materialist loop that offers escape from reality rather than commitment to it? Yearnings that seem illusive and cannot be framed in current language because the language for such deep aspirations is absent from the current personal, social and cultural context? Hope Elie Wiesel, a Nobel Peace prize winner and award winning author, in a recent interview with Time Magazine stated that the two most important dangers for humanity at present were hatred and indifference. The needed antidote to this condition he claimed was hope. Hope, even in hopeless times, needs to be invented (like Jacob the Liar) and Wiesel claimed that he “invented reasons to hope.” Hope, however, is elusive and needs to be nurtured. It does not spring up sui generis and Wiesel would be the first to admit that his roots in Jewish mysticism are the source of his ‘hopefulness’. This is what he had to say: “I believe mysticism is a very serious endeavor. One must be equipped for it. One doesn’t study calculus before studying arithmetic. In my tradition, one must wait until one has learned a lot of Bible and Talmud and the Prophets to handle mysticism. This isn’t instant coffee. There is no instant mysticism.” Freedom gets in the way of this rootedness in tradition and this is why so many non-western societies are either suspicious of western democracy or out right antagonistic towards it. Mysticism is grounded in tradition, clothed in the language and actions of the present, and set ever before us all as we struggle into the future. It is the perennial source of hope. Five Points Traditions are sources of deep transformative power. There are five things you will find at the heart of all traditions be they overtly spiritual such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or Indigenous spirituality; or more secular varieties such as humanism and romanticism. Firstly, there is love. Wake up each morning and wait for an explosion of love to course through your veins. “I’ll wait a long time,” a cynic might quip. Yet this is the first condition, and love needs to be waited upon. Yearned for, courted, invited and fussed over. Secondly, there is energy. All traditions are sources of energy, they carry energy from the past, focus it in the present and project it into the future. We are ancestors of this future and need to open up to the energy of tradition. It is a New Age folly to think we can invite energy into our lives without supplying a context for it. The absence of context is largely the result of toxic freedom and the isolation of the individual ego. Thirdly, there is discipline. Traditions embody discipline; they enable it and make it OK to be disciplined. They do this because they create a meaningful and loving context for it. Remember that the essence of love is discipline. The two are indissolubly linked. Fourth, and emerging from the previous condition, there is purpose. Our lives need a purpose that sits beyond our own selfish needs. Purpose directs our life, generates energy and hones discipline. Purpose means that we do not spill our life energy into the abyss of meaningless habit. Purpose creates the perfect feedback loop that will not let us down. Finally, there is passion. When purpose is activated we become passionate individuals. We exude confidence and charm. We actually enjoy ourselves immensely as we engage with the fissures in our lives, our communities and the world at large. We live for the other, rather than fleeing from it. Listen to the world; hear it groan, hear it sing. In listening we become still enough to hear the real song and pick up the fragments of our lives, see which parts we have got right, heal the wounded and denied selves that so far have held us back. Be creative and embrace the gifts that litter our world and see the deception that lies at the heart of the modern dream of freedom. The paradox comes here: only when we reject deadly freedom do we really become free.

Party Jokes Startling But Unnecessary

Here, I focus on a range of items and features that we use in life without giving them a second thought such as Coca Cola, body muscles and holding ones own breath. Though, most of these notes are not fundamentally necessary, they are such that you can use them for a good laugh, at a drinks party or for picking up women or men. 1) Coca-Cola: Did you know that its original colour was green? 2) Mohammed: Did you know that this is the most used name in the entire world? 3) Geographical Letters: Did you know that the name of each of the continents begins and concludes with the exact same alphabet? Do not believe that? Look up Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Antarctica and the rest. 4) Muscle Strength: Did you know that the strongest muscle in the entire body is that one which we use to lick a popsicle? Your tongue. 5) Credit Cards: In the United States, were you aware that each and every person has at least two credit cards? 6) An Antique Machine: The word for an old machine that was once used for writing letters and other documents is the largest word that one can make if they click only on a single row of their computer’s keyboard: typewriter! 7) Blink: Men wink at women, but research has found out that the average woman blinks nearly two times more than the average man. 8) Suicide: Even though you might have wondered if it was possible, studies have discovered that it is impossible to kill oneself by simply holding in your breath. 9) Licking: However much you may try, you will never be able to lick your elbows. 10) Sneeze: Try sneezing. People will automatically answer you with a bless you greeting. Have you ever imagined why? Some say that this happens because a sneeze stops the functioning of the heart for a very tiny second. 11) The Blue Sky: Did you know that a pig, no matter how much they try, cannot look up into the sky? 12) Twisting Your Tongue: We have all dabbled with different tongue-twisters in our day. But do you know which is the toughest? Sixth sick sheiks sixth sheeps sick. 13) Ribs: Did you know that you should try not to sneeze too strongly. Why? A very powerful sneeze has the ability to cause a fracture in your ribcage. But, then again, if you try and withhold one, you stand the chance of breaking one of the many blood vessels in your neck or head. This could cause death. 14) Cards: Did you think that the Kings are all just random cards referring to random figures? No. Each one signifies a different king: Diamonds for Julius Caesar, Clubs for Alexander the Great, Spades for David and Hearts for Charlemagne. 15) And finally: Most everyone reading this (Caught You!) are trying to lick their elbows at this exact moment!

Do You Love Yourself

Compassion, sympathy, love, care, are all words that we value very much. We wish to be all these to others. Love others. Be compassionate to others. Care for others and be sympathetic to others. Why not to ourselves? Why don’t we show more compassion to ourselves? This sounds strange but this is true. We treat ourselves shabbily many times. We will work even if we are dead tired. We will worry, even if our mind is exhausted. We will plan and try to help others, when we need more help. We wish to give so much to others that we forget about our own mind and body. Another emotion, which we use to thrash ourselves with, is guilt. We carry a lot of guilt about our past and keep on revisiting those sins and use them to kick ourselves repeatedly. Goals and working non-stop to achieve those goals, helping others, taking care that no one is hurt, and so many other such desires make us work hard and in the process we forget that we are also human beings. We forget our body, mind and heart. Once in a while, we need to pamper ourselves. Talk to our own body. Ask it to relax. Talk to our mind. Tell it not to worry so much. Leave things to God. Help others, and at the same time treat yourselves gently to be little more calm and peaceful. Begin loving yourself like your mother used to do when you were a small baby. You need it at times.

Acne Medicine Treatment Found In Natural Acne Products

Treatment may be found in natural acne products or in acne medicine. – The side effects that usually are caused by acne medicines must be taken into account when you decide going under a treatment. The acne medicine isotretinoin is used in the treatment of serious cases of the skin disease acne. Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a medicine that has revolutionized the treatment of acne. There is no single medicine or acne treatment. acne, ayurvedic acne treatment, acne medicine, acne adult, acne product, acne medication, best acne treatment Print Now! As this is a natural acne treatment guide, the normal laxatives in drugstores and prescription medicines will not be considered at all. The most popular acne medicine treatments include: Benzoyl Peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide is an over-the-counter acne treatment that kills the bacteria that causes acne. treatment with medicine: treatment of acne using drugs. This medicine is a vitamin A derivative used to treat acne. -The best acne medicines are those ones that treat acne from inside out. Benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur are the most common topical OTC medicines used to treat acne. Avoid a Sunburn or Suntan Many of the medicines used to treat acne can make a person more prone to sunburn. Prescription Topical Medicines Several types of prescription topical medicines are used to treat acne, including antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin, adapalene, and azelaic acid. Covered by most healthcare plans, this oil-free gel gently delivers the medicine to treat acne and prevent new pimples from forming. Avoid a Sunburn or Suntan Many of the medicines used to treat acne can make you more prone to sunburn. Systemic therapies, medicines that work internally, are needed to treat severe acne and may be used for moderate cases. Retinoic acid Also known as Retin-A, this is another topical medicine used by doctors to treat acne. There are many types of medicines used to treat acne. Topical medicine is applied directly to the acne lesions or to the entire area of affected skin. In some patients, OTC acne medicines may cause side effects such as skin irritation, burning, or redness. I applied many acne medicines topical skin care cream and lotions which would dry them, but only temporarily. It is important that you continue to take your anti-acne medicine as recommended so that your skin remains acne-free after the lesions finally fade. “Cleanse you skin thoroughly every time before applying any over-the-counter acne medicine,” says Dr. When you start using a new acne medicine, you may have mild redness and swelling of your skin. Some acne medicines help prevent clogged pores by peeling off old layers of your skin.

How To Get Rid Of Acne 3 Steps Toward A Fair Complexion

There are many types of acne, but the most common form occurs during the teenage years when young adults experience a dramatic increase in hormone levels. These hormones signal the skin glands to produce more oil. When this oil mixes with dead cells, it can clog pores in the skin and trap bacteria as well. The result is often a raised tissue area characterized by swelling, redness, and pus. These bumps are also known as “pimples,” the symptom most commonly associated with acne. Acne can occur anywhere on the face, neck, back, or chest, and severe cases can lead to social alienation, or emotional and physical scars. Although mild acne can not be entirely prevented, you can take three steps to minimize its impact. Gently Cleanse Your Skin: Each day, gently wash your skin with lukewarm water. Avoid scrubbing your face too hard or washing it too often. Doing so can make your acne worse. Also avoid using skin and hair care products that contain excess oil. Instead, use water-based skin care soaps that gently cleanse your skin, such as Neutrogena or Dove. Apply Topical Ointments: At least once daily, but no more than three times a day, apply a nonprescription topical ointment to problematic areas. One of the best products is Clearasil because it contains both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide works to unplug clogged pores, while salicylic acid helps clear up blemishes by causing the top layer of skin to peel. Products that contain tea tree oil (commonly found in gels, creams, and lotions) or alpha-hydroxy acid are also desirable. However, remember that if you use a product too often, your acne can get worse. So confine your applications to less than three times per day unless otherwise directed by a doctor. Avoid the Following: Make sure to avoid the following acts which can trigger acne flare-ups: overexposure to the sun, the wearing of tight-fitting items that rub against the skin, excess stress, constant touching of the face, working with oils or harsh chemicals, excessive sweating, hair hanging in your face, or the use of hair care products that contain oils. Also avoid squeezing pimples. Squeezing pimples can result in an infection and/or long-term scaring. While mild acne is annoying, it will eventually pass. Most people will outgrow acne by their early-twenties, so there is reason to be optimistic. Make each of the above steps part of your daily routine, and you should be able to control your acne. However, those with more severe cases of acne should consult a dermatologist.

Acne Myths True Or False

We’ll just come out and say it; there is a lot of misleading and downright wrong information out there about acne. Thankfully, scientific research has dispelled a lot of these ‘acne myths’. We now have a pretty good idea of what does and does not cause acne. Let’s take a look at seven of the biggest of these acne myths. True or False? Find out the truth about common acne and its myths Acne Myth #1: Acne is caused by eating certain foods This one has been around a long time yet is supported by exactly no scientific proof. Although certain individuals may seem experience outbreaks when they eat certain foods, there is no universal laws that apply to everyone. Eating pizza, chocolate, nuts, and greasy foods will not increase your acne. Acne Myth #2: Acne is related to dirt or having dirty skin Although having clean skin has other benefits, dirt does not cause acne. Acne is formed under the surface of the skin and is due to build-ups of sebum and dead skin cells. It’s not dirt that clogs your follicles. Acne Myth #3: Washing your face all the time will clear up acne This kind of relates to myth #3. Having clean skin is not the answer to preventing acne. Overdoing it as far as washing your face can actually make matters worse. Stripping your skin of oil could lead to future breakouts. Acne Myth #4: Only teenagers get acne It is true that 9 out of 10 teenagers experience acne, but it is also true that about 1 in 4 adults get it also. Acne seems to be connected with hormones which would explain why teenagers have such a high incidence of acne, but adults are also going through hormonal changes at various times in their lives. Acne Myth #5: Stress causes acne Scientific evidence shows that stress is not that large of a factor in acne. It was believed for many years that stress caused bouts of acne but it simply isn’t so. Acne Myth # 6: Acne can be cured Many people view acne as a disease that can be permanently cured. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Acne can be controlled and prevented through proper skin care, but it cannot be cured.

Acne Skin Care 8 Simple Tips To Follow

Commonly affecting the skin condition of people between ages 12 to 24 is a disease called acne. The cause of acne is hard to determine. However, over secretion of the sebaceous glands is pointed as the cause to trigger most acne outbreaks. Pilosebaceous units are the combination of the hair follicles and oil glands in the skin. Except for the surface of the palms and the soles of the feet, pilosabaceous units are found on the skin tissue throughout the body . They are responsible in secreting the oily substance called sebum. However, due to many factors (e.g. hormonal imbalances, stress and the skin’s natural condition) the oil glands may be induced to produce more sebum than normal. When this happens, the excess oil plugs the skin pores. This process brings about bacterial infection and stimulate the reaction of the immune system. In the end, acne inflammation results. Acne can strike at any skin type. An oily skin type is most subseptible to acne. Dry skin on the other hand, may not be as susceptible but serious outbreaks may occur during winter. Normal skin is equally susceptible to acne but the level of severity may not be as high. Presently, acne is not yet totally curable but can be remedied with several acne skin care methods. Many seek the help of topical medications, which are applied on the surface of the skin. However, employing the use of acne skin care products like “pore strip pads” may remove whiteheads and blackheads but they would not have any effect on the excess sebum produced. Nevertheless, for remedy and prevention, it is best to employ the following 8 simple tips: 1. A healthy, well-balanced diet must be observed. Therefore, your food intake must incorporate all the essential nutrients the body needs for efficient functioning. 2. Drink plenty of fluids like water, juices. Minimize the intake of carbonated drinks. 3. No make up is recommended. 4. Wash your face with mild soap and water. The logic is to not remove the dirt (as the majority of acne-inflicted person perceive) but to remove the plugs on the skin pores, which may be a combination of dead skin cells, bacteria and hardened sebum. Although dirt is not truly the cause of acne, it may contribute to further infection through its interaction with skin debris and particles and extra oil in the skin. 5. Use topical cleansing pads that may contain one or the combination of the following: salicylic acid, sulfur and benzoyl peroxide to remove excess oil. Another way to minimize the presence of extra oil in the skin is to wash the face with the hottest water you can withstand. 6. Minimize the use of harsh cleansers and use acne skin care items that exfoliate mildly. Do not scrub vigorously to the affected areas. 7. If your hands are dirty, refrain from touching your face. 8. If you have long hair, tie up your hair so that it is kept away from the face. This is especially so if the weather is hot and you have been perspiring. Preventative acne skin care steps are just as important as the treatment of acne itself. With prevention, at least, you know how to ensure that your acne problem does not escalate and spread to a bigger infected area.

Acne Treatment What Is Sebum

Sebum is part of the oil that is found on the surface of the skin. Other ingredients of the oil on the skin are- sweat, lipids and environmental dirt. It is sebum, which contributes a lot to our body odor. Sebum itself is odorless but its bacterial disintegration produces odor. That is why if you keep your skin clean of bacteria with anti bacterial soaps regularly, you can reduce body odor to a great extent. Sebum reaches hair follicles and coats the hair and also reaches the skin through the hair follicles. Many people experience oily hair if hair is left unwashed for few days. That happens because of sebum. The Latin meaning of sebum is fat. How sebum is produced- sebum is produced by sebaceous glands. These glands are found on most parts of the body. Except few, most sebaceous glands open into a hair follicle. These are the sites of acne formation. What does sebum do- sebum protects skin from bacterial infection. Sebum also reduces the natural water loss of body from the skin. Increased sebum production can cause acne. Sebum production- sebum production decreases with age. Particularly in women it reduces after menopause. Adult females produce less sebum than men. Sebum production may experience jump at the time of puberty in men. There are some common theories about sebum. Some people believe that drying excess sebum with blotting oils will reduce sebum production. Some believe that if you use products supposed to control oil production that will increase sebum production. Both are wrong conclusions. Drying excess oil will only remove surface oil. And using oil control products will not increase sebum production. Sebum is required to protect our skin, but increased production of sebum leads to oily skin and frequent acne flare-ups. This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Combat Acne With Effective Acne Treatment And Acne Products

“Oh no, is that a pimple on my face? Icky, it is so gross! Oh I cannot face anyone ever again — I look hideous!” Many teenagers around the world probably share this sentiment as they discover with horror their first pimple on their freshly scrubbed face. As teenagers enter into puberty, they are faced with new and exciting discoveries and challenges. Puberty though is also fraught with frustrations and changes, including physical changes in their bodies that often leave the teenagers with less than desirable pimples on the face. Acne commonly occurs during the adolescence period. It is often caused by excessive secretion of oil from the glands. The typical acne lesions that appear on the face and body are comedones, papules, pustules and pimples. Aside from the physical scar that acne leaves on your skin, it also inflicts an emotional toll, negatively affecting teenagers’ self-esteem and confidence. For some, acne can become so severe that they shun social contact, leading to social insecurity and sometimes even depression. With the advanced acne treatments and acne products available today, acne need no longer have such a crippling impact on the sufferers’ life. Once the outward symptom of acne first becomes apparent, that is, inflammation and lesion on the skin, it is important that you treat it right away so as to slow down or stop further inflammation. It is a good idea to pay the dermatologist a visit and to have the doctor recommend the best acne treatment for you. The treatment recommended will vary on skin type and also your age. Acne can be treated much more effectively if it is treated along with acne products, be they over the counter or prescribed. There are numerous acne products sold over the counter currently for the prevention and treatment of acne, with many of these products scientifically proven to be effective in the treatment of acne. In severe cases, it is best that you consult the dermatologist for advice and get a prescription for stronger acne products. These acne treatments and products require a higher degree of monitoring, as they tend to have more side effects. The acne product recommended depends on the type and severity of the acne. There are acne ointments and acne creams containing benzyl peroxide to treat both mild and moderate acne. For more serious acne, there are topical antibiotics that kill the bacteria in the blocked follicles. For even more serious cases, oral antibiotics are effective. And for extremely severe cases, laser surgery can cut the root of the acne. Aside from treating acne with products, a proper diet is also very important. Teens should avoid eating foods that are too oily, too spicy or too acidic. So with all these acne treatment options available, you can rest assured that acne will never be an ugly and permanent fixture on your face. When acne rears its ugly head, do not let it ruin your life. With the right acne treatment and right acne products you can get rid of acne for good!

Know Your Enemy Acne Basic Training

You have company — acne affects almost everyone. It strikes nearly 85% of the population between the ages of 12 and 24. 40% of acne sufferers have breakouts severe enough to require medical treatment. Acne doesn’t show favorites. Men and women of all races during adolescence and adulthood are nearly equally prone to acne. Location It’s a widespread skin condition characterized by lesions that break out on the skin. The lesions form as whiteheads, blackheads, or cysts because pores get clogged. The so-called ‘T zone’ of the face — the nose, the chin and forehead — are the most common areas for pimples to appear. The back is the second most common area for acne, followed by the neck, chest, and shoulders. Timing Usually acne first attacks during adolescence, most often at puberty because that’s when the body starts producing an abundance of an oily substance called sebum. Normally a good thing, sebum keeps the hair and skin soft and lubricated. But during puberty, the body produces too much. The excess oil clogs the pores and leaves the skin feeling oily. Puberty also triggers an excess production of follicle cells. Dying cells quickly build up and combine with sebum to form whiteheads. The oil and dead cell creates a breeding ground for bacteria that creates redness and swelling in the area resulting in pimples. A Bad Image Acne becomes a self-image difficulty for many people because it affects their appearance. Teenagers are particularly at risk as acne can cause feelings of reduced self-confidence and even depression. It causes some to withdraw from social interactions and others become angry and troubled. Most people find their acne has cleared up by the time they reach their 20s. Although for some it can last throughout their adult years. Treatable The good news is there are many modern medical treatments for acne. The first line of defense is to keep the skin clean and oil-free. Do this by gently washing with soap and water twice a day, especially following activities or conditions that cause perspiration. There is a wide variety of medical treatments available, both prescribed and over-the-counter. For serious cases, a dermatologist is needed for advice about nutrition, lifestyle changes, topical medications, and antibiotics that fight the bacteria causing pimples. Don’t just look in the mirror and cringe. Fight back!

The Whole Truth About Fading Acne Scars

Unsightly scars that appear on the face are usually the result of severe acne. Cystic acne or common acne that has ruptured are the main causes. It is a common problem that most people desire to have corrected as soon as their acne finally clears up. There is the option to have a procedure done in a doctor’s office to fade acne scars, as well as things you can do yourself at home. Some people would be pleased with the appearance of their face if only they could just find a way to fade their acne scars. These are usually attention-drawing red or purple and are hard to cover up. Since scars are permanent, it is desirable to find a way to lessen their appearance. There are over-the-counter creams that can gradually fade acne scars. Mederma is available without prescription and even offers a money-back guarantee. It doesn’t claim to completely rid your face of scars, but it will visibly fade them. Mederma is expensive but one tube can go a long way. And if the scar fades then repeated usage is not necessary. If the scar is indented, the appearance of the scar is mainly caused by the shadow. The way this is treated it through basic collagen injections. There are skin resurfacing treatments available that can reduce the visibility of acne scars. They usually require more than one visit and could become expensive. The common procedures done to fade acne scars are dermabrasion and laser treatment. The long-term safety of laser treatment is uncertain so there has been controversy and debate surrounding this procedure. Dermabrasion is safe but you will have to endure recovery afterwards. Daily exfoliation and application of Vitamin E oil is an effective way to fade acne scars cheaply at home. Most people do not want to spend a lot of money on something cosmetic and this is a very safe way. The longer the scar has been present, the more difficult it will be to alter its appearance. It may be possible to fade acne scars at home if they are mild. Lemon juice has been a success in fading scars for many people. The citric acid that it contains help to remove dead skin cells, increase skin elasticity, and help new cell growth. It could be irritating for people with sensitive skin but it will most likely fade the scars. Aloe Vera is also known for its healing ability and could also help to fade scars. The best aloe to use is determined by how much of it is combined with inactive ingredients that can dilute the healing properties. An exfoliating serum that you can purchase is the Bliss Sleeping Pill Serum. It uses amino acids to exfoliate you skin and lighten dark scars. Another over-the-counter way to fade acne scars is with a product called Advance Complex Fade Gel. It is used for treatment of dark spots, such as scars, and is specially formulated for people with dark skin. It also contains sunscreen to keep the dark spots from ever coming back.