The Whole Truth About Blackheads
Friday, April 24, 2009
Acne is the most common condition that doctors treat on a daily basis. It can effect anyone from teenagers to people in their older years, and can be caused by many factors. There are also many specific types of acne. One very common type is the blackhead. Blackheads are considered "open comedones", and whiteheads are "closed comedones". These usually show up primarily on the nose, chin or forehead but can also be on other parts of the face. Either can cause your skin to be undesirably rough and bumpy.
Blackheads are one of the few types of acne that may be caused by skin hygiene and will never go away on their own. Cleaning your face regularly will prevent most blackheads altogether. They are caused by follicles that have a wider opening than normal. These openings fill with oil and dead cells that have undergone a chemical reaction that caused the oxidation of melanin, which causes the black coloration. To prevent them from forming, it is necessary to consistently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap or face scrub to get rid of the excess oil and dead cells.
The most commonly used treatment is called tretonoin, and can be found in medicines called Retin-A, and Avita. It is derived from Vitamin A and works by increasing the cell turnover and un-sticking the sloughed cells. This causes the plugged material to be removed so that the skin can heal. The downside to this medicine is that it can be irritating to most people's skin. Another method of extrusion of a blackhead is done by a doctor. They have a tool called a "comedone extractor" that clears them one at a time so that it can heal.
Home remedies have also been experimented with to get rid of blackheads. These are not proven, as they are not tested by any professional doctor. However, if any of them work on your skin, then you have found a cheap and easy way to clear up your skin on your own.
Try warming honey and applying it to the spots that you have. Wash it off with warm water after 15 minutes.
Use an oatmeal mask. Mix oatmeal and rose water into a soft, spreadable paste, and then gently massage onto your skin. Leave it until it is completely dried for 15 minutes and then rinse with cold water.
Dilute lemon juice and apply at least 3 times a day to the affected area. Repeat everyday until they completely disappear.
Squeezing blackheads, just as with any acne, is not recommended because it can make the problem worse. However, if you choose to use a blackhead remover at home, you should open your pores first. This can be done by taking a hot shower and letting the steam open your pores. You could also pat your face with a hot towel or hang your head over a pot of boiled water. Be cautious because there is a chance that doing this wrong will result in a bad steam burn..
posted by Healthy Life @ 3:56 AM,
Top 10 Reasons to get into bellydancing!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Bellydancing is swaying its way into being one of the most popular forms of entertainment and exercise. Considered to be one of the oldest dances in the world—practiced by ancient cultures from the Orient to the Middle East—the modern world has embraced it for numerous reasons.
1. It’s a fun way of losing weight. Many women have problems losing weight in the abdominal area. Bellydancing has a way of tightening that tummy (and the flab in the arms, thighs, and oh, just about everything). And what makes this so effective as a weight control program is that women rarely skip a session. The classes are so enjoyable you don’t realize you’re burning calories.
2. You can easily adopt the program to your needs or skill levels. Start with the simplest of moves and then develop your own choreography when you’re ready for something more complicated. This easy adaptability makes it appropriate for women of all ages. Plus, you never get bored—there’s always something new to try!
3. You can get in touch with your feminine side. Bellydancing used to be part of a goddess ritual, and its moves had a spiritual significance. The reason it focuses on the belly isn’t to titillate male viewers—it was to celebrate the womb, and the power of women as the source of life. Very empowering!
4. Those costumes will make you look hot! If you’re the type of girl who loves experimenting with fashion, then you’ll enjoy the sheer variety of costumes that you’ll be able to wear. Depending on which type of bellydancing you want to get into (yes, there are different schools!) you can wear something ethnic, something exotic, and all the modern “fusion” clothes that mix together elements from the East and West. Hey, beats leotards!
5. You’ll love the music. Just as there many different types of bellydancing, there’s also a wide range of music you can choose to dance to. There are the traditional songs, which include Indian and Egyptian influences, or modern Oriental music that have all the elements of pop but retain the ancient rhythms, or completely contemporary songs that include rave, techno, and called “World Music.” Find what makes you groove!
6. It’s relaxing. If yoga isn’t your thing, bellydancing’s rhythmic movements can help clear your head and get the adrenalin moving. A great stress reliever!
7. You feel sexier. Bellydancing is not, as Hollywood portrays it, primarily a dance of seduction. It had religious roots and was meant to liberate the power of the inner woman, not turn her into a man’s plaything. That being said, you do feel very sexy while doing it, which does wonders whether or not you have an audience. You feel good about your body and you feel good about yourself.
8. You can do it in your own time. Aside from the large number of bellydancing classes where you can find one that fits into your schedule, you can practice at home just by playing the bellydancing videos.
9. You can get in touch with your ethnic roots. If your family has roots in the Orient and Middle East, bellydancing can be a great way of connecting to your culture.
10. You just may earn money from it! Get good enough at bellydancing, and you can perform. Bellydancing is a popular form of entertainment, and you can do gigs on weekends. Not a bad way to earn extra money!
posted by Healthy Life @ 3:55 AM,
Surgery Snoring Procedures And Remedies
Friday, April 10, 2009
Certain anti-snoring devices may help to eliminate snoring even if surgery proved unsuccessful. As with any type of surgery, results are not guaranteed.
The Sleep Genie, for instance, is a product developed by Odyssey Direct Solutions and has been doctor recommended and approved. This product may be able to help even if snoring surgery did not.
Surgery snoring procedures may include a variety of techniques, including injections, the removal of tonsils or a complete reconstruction of the jaw area. Typically, surgery is a last resort only after every possibility has been tried without success.
Even doctors will tell you that surgery should only be considered after every other alternative has been exhausted. The reason is because surgery snoring procedures are expensive, painful and cannot guarantee results.
Physicians agree that, with any surgery, there is always the possibility of unexpected complications. For these reasons, many patients are looking for alternative remedies before considering a surgery snoring procedure.
Effective anti-snoring aids, such as the Sleep Genie, may be one such alternative. This device, which is manufactured using a nylon lycra blend, is comfortable to wear and slim in it’s design.
Fitting on the head and below the jaw, the Sleep Genie comfortably supports the jaw while keeping the mouth closed. Researchers believe that one of the most common reasons that people snore is because they sleep with their mouth open. The Sleep Genie helps to correct that problem without disrupting sleep.
In addition, you may lessen your chance of needing a surgery snoring procedure by attempting to eliminate snoring on your own.
For example, sleeping on your side instead of your back, ridding your home of allergens, using air filtration units in every room and maintaining a well-balanced program of diet and exercise can all help to eliminate snoring and the need for a surgery snoring procedure.
When you finally say goodbye to snoring, your days will be happier and you will find it much easier to concentrate on everyday activities. In addition to feeling better emotionally, a quality night’s sleep will help to maintain a healthy immune system.
Whether or not the sufferer realizes it, snoring affects every part of their life and it all starts with a good night’s sleep.
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.
posted by Healthy Life @ 3:55 AM,
Antioxidant Health Benefits
Friday, April 3, 2009
Antioxidants are a class of nutrients that protect the body from damage caused by different factors, most importantly oxidative damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals are known as “reactive oxygen species”, or ROS. They are produced when your body uses oxygen for energy. Just as fire emits smoke as a by-product, ROS are emitted from the conversion of oxygen to energy in the human body, eventually causing oxidative damage to body systems. Free radicals are also created when the body is exposed to pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust and other harmful environmental toxins.
There are different types of antioxidants, and most work better when paired with other antioxidants. This is called synergism. Vitamins can be antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E. The tripeptide glutathione, loosely classified as an amino acid, acts as an antioxidant, along with other true amino acids such as methionine. The raw herbs and vegetables we consume contain natural antioxidants called bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which are effective antioxidants on their own, but are more effective when synergistically combined with other antioxidants. Together these nutrients protect your cells from electron robbery at the hands of larcenous free radicals, protecting the body from disease and slowing the inevitable signs of aging.
Antioxidants are important supplements for everyone, but especially for those who exercise on a regular basis. The rational is that exercise is a highly oxidative process and, as a consequence, produces free radicals from aerobic metabolism. Antioxidant compounds help alleviate this process.
Benefits
• minimizes the damage from free radicals
• protects against cell damage
• may assist with prevention of debilitating diseases
posted by Healthy Life @ 3:55 AM,