Today is World Psoriasis Day! Oct 29th, 2009

Source: www.psoriasis.org/wpd
Join Today: http://www.psoriasis.org 

NATIONAL PSORIASIS FOUNDATION Today is World Psoriasis Day, a global effort to raise public awareness about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and the seriousness of these diseases. Psoriasis—a noncontagious disease of the immune system that appears on the skin—affects approximately 125 million people worldwide. In the U.S., psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease, affecting as many as 7.5 million people. Psoriasis is linked to other serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, liver disease and obesity. People with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis report that their disease impacts their daily lives, shapes their feelings about themselves and affects how they believe others perceive them.

Take action for World Psoriasis Day! Find more information about World Psoriasis Day at www.psoriasis.org/wpd. Help find a cure for psoriasis.  Donate today!

How to Clear Up Bad Acne – Diet is Important

How to Clear Up Bad Acne – Diet is Important

October 22nd, 2009

There are some simple techniques that have been known to reduce the redness of pimples but how ever do not teach you how to clear acne up but they can help take the ugly redness away which is a major concern for many acne sufferers. Many people question how long does it take to clear up acne but that depends on the type of treatment that you choose.

Acne is caused by the sebaceous glands in your skin producing too much sebum and then it overflows and appears as what is known as a whitehead. It can happen anywhere one your body and that is why the question of how to clear up back acne constantly pops up because it appears on your back a lot as well.
When I suffered with acne I tried so many different types of treatments for my acne but there are some products that helped a little. You see many products will actually help you clear down your redness but they will not clear the bacteria on your face which is the main concern.

When trying to clear up acne your main goal is to stop new breakouts appearing as the post acne marks will linger on your skin for a long time. You must cure acne by making sure that you stop future breakouts thus limiting future red marks and then allowing your natural skin to heal. This is how to clear acne up the best way and is basically what happened in my clear skin transformation.

Look my advice to you is to basically skip the normal household products because really they are not going to do much to help out your acne or even your cystic acne. There are so many home remedies that people boast about working and sure they might take the redness out of your skin but they will not cure your acne in the long run.

How to clear up your acne will also involve using a good diet because many of the essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy skin are only found in healthy foods. Make sure you are eating plenty of vegetables, salmon, raw nuts like almonds and oatmeal. These foods contain very high amounts of nutrients and can further aid in your skin healing process.

How to clear acne up is easy as long you use a good plan of attack just as I did, once again I hope you found this informational useful.

Source: http://howtoclearacneup.com/

How to Clear Acne Up – Useful Information

How to Clear Acne Up – Useful Information

October 21st, 2009

It is a known fact that 80% of the worlds population will at some stage in their life suffer from acne so an important question is how to clear acne up? Well looking at the specific acne problem is vital to choosing the right treatment because how to clear up cystic acne is very different to how to clear up back acne.

There are various ways to get rid of pimples but the most popular are facial treatments. You would know these products as the simple treatment creams that you can purchase from your local drug store or grocery store but fact is that they are not as powerful as many people believe. You can often tell this by the large range of products that they offer as they are globally advertising.

Some other people will opt for the home remedies acne. How to clear acne up will take some time and people also begin to become frustrated when they can not get rid of their facial or even body acne. It does take time for your skin to heal and the process could take months but there are some effective treatments that work in weeks and as little as days.

Some home remedies to clear up acne are toothpaste, honey, baking soda and avocado. These items work in a way to correct your normal skins ph balance and can in turn make your skin cells replenish. Acne is caused by an irritation in the sebaceous glands causing an excess in sebum to be produced so limiting this process is essential.

To cure acne you must take many factors into consideration including diet and treatments as some foods may trigger the release of sebum which will only worsen your condition. How to clear acne up is easy providing you use the right quality treatment and use an effective plan. I hope you found this information helpful and you can find more at -

Source: http://howtoclearacneup.com/

Neem: The Miracle Herb

Neem: The Miracle Herb

There is perhaps no other herb known to man that has so many and varied potential benefits for humanity. Neem has been used for thousands of years and has been widely documented in the ancient herbal healing science of India, Ayurveda. But the value of neem does not rely solely on traditional folklore. Rather, it is one of the most widely studied herbs of modern times, with hundreds of scientific papers having been written about it. The result of both traditional review and modern scientific evidence is that Neem truly is the “miracle herb”.

The Neem Tree, Azadirachta indica, is a relative of the Mahogany tree. It is extremely hardy and virile, able to thrive in a wide variety of climates and environmental conditions, and overcome deficiencies of the soil or the climate with its native strength and vitality. This “signature” of neem is a sign in nature of its wide ranging ability to conquer adverse circumstances. The herb that we use contains this same over-arching power within it that we find in the tree and its vital will to live.

Traditional Ayurvedic lore holds that Neem has incredible ability to restore and maintain healthy function of the body in a number of ways. It is used internally to relieve excess heat conditions, as its bitter taste is said to reduce the quality of “pitta” (hot quality) when it is in excess. It is also used topically in soaps, crèmes and lotions for its ability to soothe and reduce “pitta excess” conditions on the skin that manifest themselves through heat, redness, itching and swelling, all indicative of “pitta” out of balance.

Science Validates the Uses of Neem:

Modern science is also studying Neem for its potential use in the field of medicine. Preliminary results and clinical evidence tend to support the extraordinary benefits of neem oil, neem leaf and neem bark. Other studies indicate that Neem supports the structure and function of the immune system. Again, while generally outside the scope of our product line, it is interesting to once again note the wide-ranging benefit of neem and how it is now being recognized throughout the world, and confirmed by scientific studies.

Those interested in learning more about neem and its uses might start with some of the current literature on the subject as follows:
The National Research Council, organized by the National Academy of Sciences, and acting under a grant from the Agency for International Development, compiled an extensive body of research on the many incredible beneficial uses of Neem. This information was published under the title Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems, National Research Council, 1992, National Academy Press, Washington DC.

Neem has also been the subject of a major book originally published under the auspices of the Neem Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public about the uses of neem, and now re-issued in an updated edition by Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, under the title: Neem: The Ultimate Herb by John Conrick. The author has compiled an extensive list of research studies and scientific reports done on various potential benefits of neem.

Source: http://www.neemauranaturals.com/

Psoriasis and the flu season

Source: http://www.psoriasis.org/netcommunity/h1n1_09

Psoriasis and flu season

With special information for people taking immunosuppressive drugs

Everyone wants to avoid the aches and pains of flu season—but for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis who are taking immunosuppressive drugs, influenza can be a much more serious health threat. Learn more now about how to prevent infection.

A worse flu season ahead

There are two kinds of flu you should know about this year.

• Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and can sometimes lead to death. Older people, young children, people with certain chronic health conditions and those taking immunosuppressive drugs are at a higher risk for serious complications.
• 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) is a new and very different flu virus that is spreading worldwide. It may cause more illness or more severe disease than usual.

Take steps to prevent infection

Both types of viruses are spread by close contact (i.e. coughing or sneezing) with individuals who already have the flu. Protect yourself against infection:

• Seasonal flu vaccine
  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step to protect anyone from infection. The vaccine is available beginning in September and through the winter. Details on seasonal flu vaccine.
• H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine
  Additional vaccines for the new H1N1 virus will be available this fall, though exact dates are not known. Check the CDC’s H1N1 page for up-to-date information.
• You must receive both vaccines to be protected from both seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses.
• Practice good habits
  The CDC recommends that you avoid close contact with people who are sick, wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. More recommendations from the CDC.

Special information for patients taking immunosuppressants

In most other cases, patients with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis should follow the recommended schedule of immunization for the general populationavailable on the CDC Web site.

However, patients taking immunosuppressive medication including biologic (Amevive, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Simponi or Stelara) or non-biologic (cyclosporine-Neoral or methotrexate) drugs may be more susceptible to all kinds of flu.

If you are taking any of these medications, take the following steps:

• Get vaccinated early
  The same medications that suppress your psoriasis make you more vulnerable to influenza viruses. Make an appointment to be vaccinated as soon as you can.
• Receive only inactivated vaccines
  Both seasonal and H1N1 vaccines come in inactivate and live forms (such as FluMist). People taking immunosuppressive medication should only receive the inactivated vaccines.
• Take more health precautions
  Be sure to closely follow the CDC guidelines for avoiding infection.
• Talk to your doctor
  As always, patients should discuss the risk and benefits of vaccination with their doctor.

Find more information on seasonal flu and on the H1N1 flu at the CDC Web site.

What Causes Acne?

http://www.acnecuresrevealed.net/articles-what-causes-acne.php

What Causes Acne?

Causes of Acne

What causes acne? Well, that's a hard question. After all, there's no known cause per say. In fact, that's why there's no known ¡°cure¡± for acne. However, this does not mean you're stuck up a creek when searching for the right acne treatment or acne solution. There has been some speculation that hormones cause acne. But as the facts have suggested, they are more of contributors, and they can certainly cause acne flare ups, just like many other factors. So here are a few contributors to acne.

1. Hormones-specifically speaking, testosterone and high levels thereof is more likely to cause acne breakouts than for example high levels of estrogen. Most women experience acne breakouts during times of imbalance, during times when their estrogen levels may not be quite as high in fact such as menopause for example. On the other hand, most men experience more oil production as teens and when they use steroids, because the testosterone levels are significantly higher.
2. Diet-yes, if you eat greasy foods, if you drink a lot of milk, eat too much sugar, etc, you are more likely to have acne breakouts. If you don't eat enough vitamins and minerals, if you don't have powerful antioxidants or fiber in your diet, you are more likely to suffer through acne breakouts. So diet plays a substantial part in acne.
3. Genetics-unfortunately, all types of acne seem to be hereditary. If your mother had more acne, you are more likely to have more severe acne. If your parents did not have severe acne at all, you are less likely to suffer from greater acne.
4. Bacteria and toxins-these two culprits can literally come from anywhere. Likewise, free radicals can often come from things like the sun and pollution, and they often build up in the pores. This causes greater acne breakouts, and it is one of the basic causes of acne you could say. Everybody somewhat appropriately blames bacteria, because it's one of the easiest things to eliminate.
5. Excess oils-keep in mind, you need a certain amount of oils in order to get healthy and beautiful skin as well as acne free skin. But when your skin produces too many oils, you are going to break out more, have red skin in some cases, have greasy skin, you get the basic idea
6. Stress-stress often sends oil glands, sweat glands, etc, into overdrive. So if you are experiencing more stress, you are more likely to experience more serious acne breakouts, therefore suggesting that stress may very well be a ¡°cause¡± of acne.
7. Inflammation-this is not one you normally think of. But studies have actually shown that when you experience inflammation, your skin is more likely to trap harmful chemicals and substances inside the body, therefore causing more acne breakouts. Basically speaking, when inflammation occurs, you have an army of white blood cells coming to attack the bacteria that it sees as a foreign object. However, it can cause pimples to be red, swollen, and painful, and apparently it's stronger in adult women.

Salicylic Acid Review

Source: http://www.acnecuresrevealed.net/salicylic-acid.php

Salicylic Acid Review

One of the most common ingredients you will find in any acne treatment, salicylic acid is a hydroxy acid. While all others are alpha hydroxy acids, or at least those used in acne treatment, this is actually a beta hydroxy acid. Either way, hydroxy acids are meant to promote the shedding of dead skin cells, essentially speaking helping you to unclog the pores in the whole process of things.

Salicylic acid comes from what is known as the salicin plant. It is actually chemically similar to aspirin, and it helps plants in their process of photosynthesis. It was first officially noticed by Greek philosopher and physician Hippocrates in the 5th Century BC. He wrote about a bitter powder capable of easing pain and aches and also reducing fevers. Since then, it has been used by Native Americans as well as various others like the Reverend Edward Stone of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England in 1763.

Since then, it has obviously continued to be used for aches, pains, and fevers. But its uses have been widely expanded. It works as a powerful anti inflammatory reducing pimples as well as obviously unclogging pores to fight acne in general and keep it away. It has also been used in the treatment of psoriasis, calluses, corns, keratosis, pilaris, and warts, and in higher amounts, in chemical peels. Some have also used it for the treatment of dandruff.

In one noted and recorded case, one individual actually experienced a severe buildup of warts due to a mutation in the HPV virus. The disease at that time was unclassified, because everybody thought it had to be some kind of rare and previously unseen genetic disorder. Hence, he became known as the tree man, because he experienced a buildup of bark like structures. In testing a piece of the wart, it was discovered that it was a mutated form of HPV, and as soon as they used salicylic acid, the warts literally started peeling away in droves. He had to keep using it, because they would keep coming back. But obviously, an effective solution is still just that.

Now for those with darker skin types, you should reconsider the use of salicylic acid. Even in smaller amounts, and especially in chemical peel amounts, it is often cautioned against and many do not allow you those options, because it has been known to actually lighten the skin. However, for most people, salicylic acid is generally recognized to be safe. It does not cause irritation in smaller amounts as many alpha hydroxy acids even would. Its peeling process is generally relatively clean, and unless using chemical peel amounts, it is highly unlikely to bleach the skin. Still, some say it could potentially happen.

Salicylic acid is one ingredient with one of the longest histories of any acne treatment on the market. It has been used for hundreds of different purposes, and users have been quite successful to say the least. Without question, salicylic acid is capable of great things. It's just a question of what you will end up using it for.