Posts Tagged ‘skin’

Food Allergies & Acne

Friday, September 25th, 2009

I remember growing up that my sister would always experience major breakouts. It seems like her teen years will fill with acne trouble and embarrassment. She struggled for years to get it under control. She tried every type of cleanser that you can imagine. Some products would help, but nothing would totally cure the problem. Every day she faced teasing from school mates and was really beginning to have both physical and emotional scaring. It was at about this time that my parents decided to take her to a doctor, and see if there may be something more to the acne problem than just your average teenage breakouts.

It was quickly discovered that my sister had an allergy to eggs. Every time she eats eggs she experiences pretty bad break outs. They tested her for all sorts of different allergies, but eggs were the only thing that causes her problems. Once it was discovered the source of the problems, she was able to eliminate them from her diet, and right away her skin began to clear. It was amazing what a difference one little thing can make. Before that, I had no idea that a food allergy could make a person break out like that.

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Tanning Beds

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

I have often heard people talk about how tanning beds have been proven to get rid of acne. I remember back in high school that one of my friends in particular swore that her doctor told her to go to a tanning bed regularly in order to clear her acne problems. And she said that she noticed a big difference in her breakouts when she was not going compared to when she was. I have always struggled with this concept because of all the negative information I have read and heard about tanning beds. I have now come to understand the purpose of going to a tanning bed to clear acne. The UV rays kill bacteria on the skin, which is a major source of acne for some people. The problem is that there are more risks that come with using a tanning bed, and the results can be accomplished other ways.

A good antibacterial soap or facial cleanser will produce the same clear skin that a tanning bed will, without the risk of skin damage from UV rays. The negative far outweighs the benefits when it comes to tanning beds. So if you were considering going tanning to clear up your skin, you might want to give that a second thought.

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Natural Acne Treatments

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

According to Dr. Roberta Palestine, who did her residency at the May Clinic Dermatology Department, natural cosmetics are not always better, and synthetic products are not always worse. According to this doctor, much of the natural cosmetic fad is just promotional hype. Often times people are allergic to natural products, so what is important is to learn your skin type and then find products based on that. If you are prone to acne breakouts, learn to read the labels and use a good antibacterial cleanser. If your skin is older, use a product with moisturizing ingredients.
Another thing to remember is that hypo allergenic does not mean that it will prevent breakouts or acne; it just means that the product is free of allergy causing ingredients.
“Many so-called natural products use exotic ingredients, but they are really functioning as high-priced moisturizers,” says Palestine. There are many fine humectants, the ingredients that bind water to skin, in products at all price ranges. Common humectants you might find include: glycerin; maltitol syrup; mannitol; propylene glycol and sorbitol. Just because a product is higher priced, does not necessarily mean that it is better. She also advices that women adjust their skin care to the weather. Using a heavier cream in the winter will protect your skin from the elements. Lighter lotions in summer will keep you moisturized without feeling weighed down.

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PCOS & Acne

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) has many common symptoms, one of which is acne. It is thought that acne problems arise due to the overactive hormones and excess oil production in the skin and hair follicles. Other factors that may contribute to acne in those with PCOS is cosmetics being used, industrial pollutants, as well as diets high in high-glycemic carbohydrates which raise insulin levels. It is important that you not give up on your skin just because you have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome. The symptoms are very treatable through diet modifications and minor lifestyle changes. In more severe cases hormone treatments may be required in order to regulate the body’s hormone levels. Blood tests may be run by your doctor to check for the hormone imbalance. It is important to remember that these tests are not 100% accurate, and PCOS is often missed.
Some changes you can make on your own to avoid acne breakouts include, avoiding high oil foods, avoid using drugs that cause acne, wash affected areas at least twice a day with an antibacterial soap, wash pillowcases and sheets regularly in chemical free detergents and get plenty of sun exposure (for vitamin D). A healthy diet is prescribed for all those who suffer from PCOS, not just those suffering with acne.

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Sun Damage To The Skin

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

My family has history of melanoma, squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma, so it shouldn’t have been terribly surprising for this to show up on my sister. But it still came as a shock when the doctor told her a spot on her face was cancerous. Knowing that you are at a higher risk for these types of cancer, does not make receiving the news any less hard to bear. Cancer is that six letter word that nobody ever wants to hear, trust me – I know…

My sister went in to her dermatologist because she had a spot that kind of just looked like a zit with no head, on her face. She said it had been there for a few days, and she was feeling like it was not just a zit, that it was something more serious than that. The doctor told her that it looked like a basal cell carcinoma. He had to cut it out and sent it in to the lab to be sure. Removing it was fairly painful for my sister, and she now has 8 stitches in her cheek.

While not many of us like going to the doctor, I think it is important for everyone to get check out with a full body screening periodically, just to avoid potentially cancerous spots from spreading.

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