Acne is Not Spots

There are several different forms of acne, depending on how or why the acne developed. Some of the forms of acne are: acne conglobata (chronic boils); acne fulminans (an extreme form of conglobata); acne cosmetica (caused by cosmetics); acne keloidalis nuchae (from shaving); acne medicamentosa (caused by starting or stopping a medication); acne rosacea (redness on the face); baby acne; hormonal acne; cloracne and the common variety, acne vulgaris (also known as ‘puberty spots’). In this article, we will concentrate on acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris can be defined as: ‘an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits’ (according to Wikipedia).

Acne is most common in white Western teenagers, although it does occur in every country in the world, so there could be a genetic weakness to it. It is possible that it could be an exceptional reaction to quite average levels of testosterone. For most sufferers, outbreaks of acne last only until adulthood, probably only a few years or at the most ten. For other people, however, it may be a life-long problem. It usually affects the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. However, an occasional spot does not constitute acne.

Acne vulgaris appears in various ways, which include: whiteheads, resulting from pores that are totally blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface; blackheads, resulting from pores which are only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface (the black colour is not caused by dirt, but is a reaction of the skin’s own pigment, called melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender lumps with no head and pustules, which are like whiteheads, but are inflamed, and appear as red circles with a white or yellow centre.

Whiteheads do not often last long; blackheads can last a long time and pustules are what people call spots. Severe acne vulgaris is characterized by nodules and cysts. A ‘nodule’ is a much larger and more painful kind of pustule and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin’s surface. They frequently result in scarring and should never be squeezed, which could cause them to last for months longer still.

A ‘cyst’ can look like a nodule, but it is full of pus and has been defined as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can cause scars and cause irritation. Squeezing an acne cyst can cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which may last very much longer than if it had not been squeezed. Dermatologists have methods of reducing the swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is a myth that acne sufferers are not meticulous about cleanliness.

In fact, excessive washing can exacerbate acne. There are many, many useless ‘cures’ on the market and many, many old wives’ remedies, but any good skin expert would tell you that there is no known cure for acne and that the patient should follow a deliberate regimen of cleansing until the acne just ‘disappears’ of its own accord.

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The First Steps in Teeth Whitening

You just can’t stand it anymore; your teeth are entirely too yellow. They make you look silly, and they are way out of place on that great face of yours.

You are tired of your yellow teeth, so you become determined to whiten them. Congratulations, for you are about to change the way you look and the way you feel about yourself for a very long time. So, you set out to buy yourself a whitener; the local drug store seems like a good choice.

On the way, you think about all the different scenarios when you and others will notice your pretty, white teeth. You are excited.

You finally arrive, and you rush your way in to the aisle where they would sell the teeth whitening products. You reach your hand out to get…..what? You’re shocked.

Before your eyes is the biggest assortment of things reading “teeth whitening” you could imagine. Mouthwashes, toothpastes, trays, strips, and products you’re not even sure about are there in front of you.

You thought you were going to easily grab a product to whiten your teeth, but instead you are face with a very difficult decision. There are so many choices, more than you ever imagined, and you haven’t the faintest idea which to choose.

You decide that perhaps its best to do some research before buying these products. They are not the cheapest things you’ve ever seen, after all.

A few minutes later you’re home and on your computer searching for information. You quickly find a website that discusses two different kinds of whiteners. It says:

“There are two kinds of teeth whitening products. The way they are classified is based on how they work, not the form they comes in. Bleaching whiteners and abrasive whiteners are the two kinds of teeth whitening products.

Abrasive whiteners contain tiny, rough materials that scrape the teeth; abrasive whiteners effectively sand your teeth. These products are supposed to knock off any discoloring materials from the teeth, allowing the natural, white teeth color to show. Usually, abrasive whiteners come in the form of whitening toothpaste.

Bleaching whiteners do not knock particles off your teeth. Instead, they use a chemical that stains your teeth. They literally bleach your teeth. Most teeth whiteners use the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide.

Deciding between the two is a matter of personal preference. Once you have picked which to use, an abrasive or a bleaching whitener, next comes the decision on what type of product to use. For abrasive whiteners, the decision is usually made for you; you will use whitening toothpaste. The decision for bleach whiteners, however, is more complex, as bleaching whiteners come in a variety of forms.

You need to keep two things in mind when deciding what form you want your product in.

First, is the product comfortable? You do not want to find yourself in a situation where you have begun a treatment but it is so uncomfortable you must discontinue, for you will have wasted your money and time.

Your next thing is effectiveness. The product needs to be effective. It does not matter how comfortable the product is or how easy it is to use if it is ineffective. How do you tell if a product is effective? You can try it out for yourself, or you can just read reviews on the internet.”

So now, the choice is yours. What product are you going to pick?

Clearly more research is needed before you buy a product. You’re happy you’ve read what you have, and you’re going to read more. Thankfully, there are some excellent sources of information on the internet which you can use to help in making your decision.

Cody Scholberg, an expert on teeth whitening, writes for World Teeth Whitening Products, a free resource which has teeth whitening product reviews. Check out the introduction to getting rid of yellow teeth before buying a whitener.

Cellulite treatment creams have been on the market for a few years now. These creams come in a wide variety of sizes and vary in price as well as effectiveness. Are they worth your time and effort? The answer can depend on your expectations. Cellulite treatment creams can be a great way to tone and firm your skin without having to pay a fortune for cosmetic procedures.

A couple big brands come to mind when it comes to these creams. A product that has been popular for several years now is Nivea’s Goodbye Cellulite Cream. This brand has paired up with MTV recently to offer a contest to women willing to try their product. The Hello Bikini Challenge offers a 4 week plan for women looking to tone their skin and get rid of their cellulite.

Another big brand associated with cellulite creams is Revitols Cellulite Solution. This brand is one of the more expensive products on the market. Does this make it any more effective? Not really – sometimes price has nothing to do with how well a cosmetic product will work! On the other hand, some products are worth the money you will spend on them.

To have any success with cellulite creams, you need to be willing to apply them on a regular basis. It is recommended that a massaging technique be used to apply the cream to your skin. Regular massages to the problem areas have been shown to reduce the appearance of cellulite. This is due to the fact that a deep massage will release toxins and fluids that build up under the skin. These can lead to cellulite!

Another important part of success with cellulite creams is your ability to apply them at least twice a day for at least four to six weeks. As with many cellulite treatments, the creams can take some time to work. Women who are dedicated to applying the cream on a regular basis will most likely see results. Many women do not put in the time required and wonder why the cream didnt work for them.

One of the advantages of a cellulite cream is that you don’t need to use it year round. If price is an issue, you can buy the treatment creams only in the summer months when you are wearing shorter clothes. By starting to apply a cellulite treatment cream in April or May, you will be ready to hit the beach by June. This is also a great option for women who are strapped for time.

Mainly composed of ingredients such as caffeine and sea minerals, cellulite creams work to smooth out the skin in problem areas. You can also wear cellulite reduction shorts and wraps to help the creams sink in more fully.

Are cellulite creams able to penetrate the cells deeply enough to give results? Some doctors remain skeptical. However cellulite creams do seem to be able to provide some toning to the skin. Women with advanced cellulite may find that they need a stronger treatment to really see results. Regardless of the scientific studies, the best way to figure out if a cellulite cream works for you is to try one! At the worst, youll have moisturized skin. At best, you will lessen the appearance of your cellulite!

Ladies are you ready to put on a bathing suit and head to the pool this season? Many women are self conscious due to excess weight, untoned muscles and cellulite. At Your Cellulite Solution you will find lots of info to help you get rid of cellulite. You will also find more information on Cellulite Treatment Creams.