Archive for October, 2009

Oily skin can lead to acne a skin condition most of us would want to avoid. So what oily skin treatment works best?

We want to control the oil produced by our skin but at the same time keep our skin hydrated and protected. It is relatively easy these days to find oil free cosmetic products. We cannot afford to put an oil based product on our skin it is the equivalent of pouring oil on a flame.

Our hormones play a link in the way our oil production glands work. Your hormones are to blame when being a teenager brings you out in a load of zits. Pregnant women or those facing into the menopause can also suffer from oily skin caused by hormone imbalances. A lack of vitamin B can cause a hormonal imbalance. You can have your doctor check if you suspect this is a problem.

Clay masks work very well with oily skins and will help to reduce and remove any blackheads and pimples you may have. The clay is oil free and as it dries, it goes hard absorbing excess oil. It also seems to reduce the size of your skin pores. It can’t in reality but it looks like it does which is the desired effect.

You need to cleanse your skin daily but try to avoid over washing as this will only cause your skin to become irritated, red and flaky. It is also a good idea to exfoliate your skin using a product containing lactic or glycolic acid but not if you have any inflamed pustules as you will only spread the infection.

Lavender is one oily skin treatment that works very well and is 100% natural. Lavender has been used for centuries as an antiseptic making it ideal for dealing with pimples and other bacterial infections that are common with this skin type. If you make up your own lavender tonic at home be sure to use sterile containers and keep it in the fridge. Some people can react badly to lavender and all other natural products so it is best to do a patch test first.

A slice of tomato is great for getting rid of blackheads and brightening your skin. The fruit acids gently loosen the surface skin cells. Clean your skin with cotton wool and water after 15 minutes. You need to let your skin breath after this treatment so don’t apply moisturizer.

You also need to learn to relax as oily skin can be a sign of too much stress in your life. Find something you like to do to help you unwind such as a massage or facial. Yoga is also a wonderful stress buster.

A number of patients with oily skin tend to skip applying moisturiser. This is not recommended as your skin will become dry and patchy if you do not use an appropriate hydrating cream. Always use suitable products as oily skin treatments if you want to get the best results.

Maurice Castle loves an electronic air cleaner. He enjoys his air purification system and home air purifiers. Visit him at http://www.myelectronicaircleaner.com.

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Many people now search for paraben free anti aging products and skin care products and cosmetics. Why would the best anti aging moisturizer be paraben free and what are parabens?

Parabens are a class of chemicals that are found in many personal and beauty products that we use from day to day including cosmetics, anti aging and skin care products such as anti aging moisturizers and anti aging creams.

Parabens are used in these products as preservatives and they work very well as preservatives and are exceedingly cheap. There are other alternatives for use as preservatives however these are generally more expensive. But there is some doubt about the safety of parabens in our personal products.

As an example there are studies around which have linked parabens to breast cancer. Whilst not fully proven there is some suspicion that parabens can cause breast cancer and one study found that 18 out of 20 breast cancer tissue samples tested contained parabens. There’s no doubt that this does not prove that parabens cause breast cancer but it is certainly something of concern.

It is known that parabens will penetrate the skin. Studies have shown that when parabens are applied to the skin they can be found in the blood within hours. Clearly they penetrate our bodies which is also worrying.

It is also known that parabens can mimic the actions of the female hormone estrogen. Again this is not conclusive proof that parabens are harmful to our health but is also something that raises issues that need to be investigated.

The precautionary principle says that we should avoid using ingredients such as these until they are proven safe however the reality is that until they are proven to be unsafe they will continue to be used in products that most of us use every day.

For these reasons many people choose to select paraben free products. For example those searching for anti aging moisturizers can find excellent quality paraben free anti aging moisturizers which use natural preservatives which work as preservatives and which are non-toxic.

There is a clear debate about the safety of parabens in our personal products and whilst it is unclear whether they are safe or not the decision to use products that contain or do not contain parabens is entirely your decision. But many people are now seeking to buy paraben free anti aging products.

There are small companies who have made the decision to avoid using parabens in all their products and to produce skin care and anti-aging products that are completely free of any chemicals known or suspected to cause health damage. In fact what I consider to be the worlds best anti aging moisturizers and skin care products are entirely paraben free.

Visit Restore My Skin to find out about the best anti aging products at http://restoremyskin.com/ and find out more about the safest anti aging products at http://restoremyskin.com/parabens/

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As we all know and hear all the time, exercise can do a torso adept. It can assistance you to stay trim, tone muscles, and help to boost energy as well. What you likely don’t know, is the fact that exercise can actually aid you achieve the complexion that you’ve always wanted.

It’s true that regular exercise will nourish the skin all over the body with fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients. As well, the increased blood flow and circulation that come with working out will help to draw toxins out of the body and improve the condition of all your vital organs, including the epidermis.

A lot of individuals think that sweat can trigger acne flare ups. The fact is, sweating is great for any type of clogged skin, as it helps promote the flushing of impurities from the epidermal layer and will clean out the pores. As well, vigorous exercise can actually correct the hormonal imbalances that can trigger blemishes, therefore reducing the likelihood of outbreaks.

Any physical routine that you like to do, such as yoga, running, biking, spinning, pilates, boxing, and such, will help to lessen the tension that you encounter on a daily basis and help to prevent stress related acne.

Keep in mind that exercise may not be a miracle cure for everything, as you may still experience breakouts from time to time though your acne will certainly be less severe and last for a much shorter time frame.

Exercise is also great for other skin conditions that may or may not have to do with the presence of acne. Your skin losing its elasticity or becoming thin and less resilient is something that we all encounter. This is a common problem for many of us as we get older.

As we all get older, we start to lose collagen, which will make us look tired. As many of us don’t know, physical activity can actually aid to promote the growth of collagen in your skin cells, which will plump up your facial skin and make you look younger and more vibrant.

If you are worried about wrinkles, you should consider relaxation that comes after you exercise. This has the effect of making your muscles, facial muscles included, soften up. What this means, is that your lines will appear less pronounced, helping to contribute to the youthful look that you are trying to achieve.

With exercise you can achieve a smaller waist, better muscle tone, softer skin, fewer blemishes, and an overall younger, fresher look. If you’ve wanted to add or change to your complexion, you shouldn’t hesitate to exercise. Exercise will aid you feel more alive as well as improve your torso. All you require to do is taking a little bit of time out of your schedule to exercise – it’s as simple as that.

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor

For further reading please check out: http://www.insightempire.com/aerobic-gymnastics/

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It’s hard to tell the difference between Swine Flu and the winter seasonal flu because so many symptoms are the same. There is a range of symptoms that include high fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body ache, headache, chills and fatigue. Swine Flu, officially known as Influenza A H1N1 is really only confirmed when a blood test produces a positive result for that strain. Swine Flu is highly contagious and we have seen it spread around the world rapidly. With winter fast approaching in the Northern hemisphere there will be many more cases.

The worst symptoms seem to last approximately 5 days but residual symptoms especially coughing can go on for one or two weeks or so. While many Swine Flu victims recover fairly speedily and some have even reported that it was mild for them others may be severely affected. Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with long term medical conditions can become very ill. Rarely do healthy people die from Swine Flu but it is possible and therefore it is important that everyone takes common sense precautions to slow the spread of the disease.
For most people Swine Flu can be managed in the home with rest, copious fluids and with medicines to reduce the severity of symptoms. Practical measures such as staying away from the workplace or school help prevent the spread of all flu cases. Washing hands frequently and the using and disposing of tissues hygienically after use are simple and sensible measures. Wearing a face mask is the proper thing to do when entering high risk areas such as airports, bus or train stations and hospitals.

Life goes on however and it seems that most people can only hold a state of high alert for a short time before dropping their guard. While you and your family may continue to act thoughtfully and carefully to prevent the spread of disease others soon fall back to a lower level of vigilance. Most importantly there is one more thing to consider and that is your own natural disease prevention system, your immunity.
You may already be taking care of your health by ensuring that you eat high quality food most of the time that you get plenty of rest and relaxation and generally live in a healthy way. Any behaviour that lowers immunity such as smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, too many late nights and a diet of junk food places you at greater risk of catching an infectious disease.

A healthy lifestyle and diet supplemented with products that support the immune system is worthwhile. In my practice as a retail pharmacist I am exposed to infection, especially respiratory ones on a daily basis and not only just over the winter. Over the years I have personally experimented with just about every supplement with immune boosting properties. Some products are over hyped but there are some that offer genuine benefits in my experience.

I like to start with Vitamin C because it acts like fuel for the white blood cells. I’ve used a famous aged garlic extract as a daily supplement for years now because it helps support the immune system and favourable cholesterol ratios. I’ve also taken it successfully in high doses when I’ve had a heavy cold. Echinacea can be useful but I’ll only take it if I can’t obtain something better like Andrographis. A word of caution regarding herbal remedies: Pregnant women should not take herbal remedies in general as there is very little evidence to support their safety. In the case of Andrographis it is potentially harmful to the foetus. Always educate yourself by seeking advice before taking an herbal remedy.

Over the last 18 months I believe I’ve discovered something better for boosting immunity. The South African herb, pelargonium sidoides definitely shortens the duration and severity of colds and flu. I consume it daily during the winter and if I feel exhausted or run down in the summer time I will also take the occasional dose. Normally the feeling that a cold is imminent goes away within a few hours.

Colostrum also boosts the immune system and has many other beneficial uses. An extract made from colostrum with virus blocking properties has recently become available. This extract in the form of an under the tongue spray, is safe for all age groups and has no known side-effects. It is particularly effective against all flu viruses including Swine Flu. The active ingredient, Proline Rich Polypeptides requires 70kg of pure New Zealand colostrum powder to produce 1kg of active substance. It works by preventing the virus from entering through the cell wall. Viruses require the genetic material found in the centre of the cell to reproduce and if this is prevented then the virus can’t spread and has little effect on the body.

Bruce Wilson is a qualified New Zealand pharmacist and owner of Strand Arcade Pharmacy.

Bruce invites you to read more about Immunohance and other health and beauty products from New Zealand at http://www.NZ-Online-Pharmacy.com

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With so many advertisements on radio and television promoting prescriptions to lower cholesterol, as well as ads for food products that help lower cholesterol, it is nearly impossible not to realize that high cholesterol is considered a bad thing.

Unfortunately, not everyone realizes why it is important to monitor cholesterol levels. Some people know their cholesterol is high, but they do not know what high cholesterol means to their health. So, what damage does high cholesterol actually do?

What Does Cholesterol Do?

Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance found naturally in all animal products, like meat and cheese, and the human body produces cholesterol in the liver. The body uses cholesterol to help build cell walls, as well as to produce hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or good cholesterol, even helps clear bad cholesterol out of the bloodstream. So, while it is normal to have a certain amount of cholesterol in your blood, it becomes a problem when there is too much cholesterol.

Too Much Cholesterol

An excellent way to visualize what happens to the body when there is too much cholesterol is to think of the drain in your kitchen sink. If you dump a bowl full of hot grease down the drain, followed by some water to wash it through, some of the grease will pass through the drain. Some of the grease, however, will stick to the sides of the drain.

If you dump enough grease, often enough, the drain will begin to get more narrow and eventually clog completely. At that point, nothing will pass through the drain, often leaving no choice but to take the drain apart and clean it out or replace it.

Your cardiovascular system works in a similar way. As low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, circulates through the bloodstream, good cholesterol helps to flush it out of the body. When there is too much cholesterol, it begins to form deposits on the inner walls of the arteries, which is a condition known as atherosclerosis.

The opening gets smaller, and the heart must work harder in order to pump blood. Over time, those deposits get larger and thicker, eventually blocking the artery off completely.

As arteries become blocked with cholesterol deposits, blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs becomes slowed. Remember that blood carries oxygen, so blood is vital to the life of an organ. If blood flow to the heart stops, you suffer a heart attack. If blood flow to the brain is blocked, you suffer a stroke.

If blood flow to other organs is stopped, those organs begin to die, which can result in several types of illnesses and/or death. In addition, if cholesterol deposits break free of the artery wall, they can form life-threatening clots in the artery.

In order to prevent the potentially life-threatening damage of high cholesterol, it is essential to monitor your cholesterol levels. If your cholesterol levels become too high, then it will be necessary to begin a program to lower your cholesterol levels before the damage is done.

To learn how you can DRAMATICALLY Lower Your Cholesterol and get insider drug free cholesterol lowering strategies visit http://www.CholesterolRevitaliser.com

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Even though exercise may not be the most exciting word in your vocabulary, it sure is a word with a lot of benefits. Participating in daily exercise will not only make you healthier in general, but it can also diminish the effects of stress on your body as well.

Think about all the times you have heard someone say “the doctor says its tension related”. Normally people will laugh it off, concluding that doctors say that when they don’t know the real answers or diagnosis. The truth of the matter is that too much tension will play a role in many diseases.

To aid increase your resistant system and decrease your tension stage as well, try exercise, as movement is the key word here. Bending, stretching, reaching and walking. There’s really no want to buy any expensive equipment either, as you can implement more movement into your daily routine and reap the benefits.

If you like aerobic exercise, you should grab a partner and have a blast with one of the basic aerobic videos. Or, you can simply go out for a walk and enjoy spending time together. As you may have heard, walking really is the best overall exercise you can do for your health. As long as you have a pair of walking shoes, you’ll be fine.

As you go through your daily activities, make it a level to walk a little farther, bend down and pick something up without using a pick up stick or moving the item towards you with your foot. Tho’ you are sitting, you should also do some simple and quick stretches for your neck and shoulders.

If you enjoy sitting roughly watching television, you should consider buying a jogging board. These padded boards will make running, jumping, or walking in place less stressful on your knees and joints. They are easy to depot as well and also very portable.

In many people’s opinions, jogging boards are the best pieces of equipment you can buy. They are also far cheaper than bulky treadmills and stationary bikes.

There are various different exercises that you can do to aid you eliminate the tension in your life. Walking is through far the best, as you can easily lose yourself and your problems by walking. Even if it is just roughly the block, walking can do wonders for your health as well as stress.

If you have a lot of tension in your life, you may want to consider a gymnasium. Working out then sitting in the sauna is also a good way to relieve stress. If your gymnasium has a pool, you may find swimming to be very beneficial as well, as it helps you to relax.

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor

For further reading please check out: http://www.insightempire.com/aerobic-flooring/

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