Special Care

Acne and Skin Care 

Being the outermost layer of our body, skin faces all types of pollutants, microorganism attacks, and weather changes while protecting our body tissue at the cost of its own health. It is necessary to take daily care of skin in order to avoid any skin disorders. For people suffering from acne, a skin care regimen becomes more important as a lack of cleansing and hygiene might lead to a flare-up of already infected skin.

It is easy to take care of normal skin. But acne-infected skin needs special handling as it becomes sensitive to cosmetics, dietary habits, and psychological factors like stress.

Acne-infected skin should be washed with a mild cleanser. Cleansers or soaps with a strong fragrance should be avoided as they might trigger some allergic reaction in the skin. If you have acne, wash your face at least twice a day: once in morning and in the evening. In between wash your face after any strenuous activity which might make you perspire, like exercise. Acne-infected skin should not be scrubbed as it will spread the infection on other areas of skin. Skin should be thoroughly rinsed with water after washing. Dermatologists also recommend for acne patients to shampoo hair regularly.

If your skin is very oily, then an alcohol-based astringent is ideal to wipe the skin before washing or before going to bed. Keep in mind that this astringent should be put on a wet cotton pad first and then on the skin. Do not use too much astringent as it might cause irritation in the skin. For dry skin, milk cleansers are better cleaning agents. But, if your skin is dry and you suffer from acne, then keep away from creamy cosmetics or cleansing milk as it will increase the oiliness of infected area.

Acne patients should wash their face with warm water, soap and use only their fingertips for washing. Do not use any kind of scrub, wash cloth, or sponge on the skin infected with acne. Rinse with warm water and then pat dry. All this hardly takes a minute but makes a lot of difference to your skin.

Although skin care is necessary to maintain healthy skin, if you do not pay attention to the internal processes for healthy skin, then no amount of outer care will make your skin clear. A poor diet, bad digestive function, liver malfunction, excessive sun exposure, and smoking are some of the reasons behind bad and unhealthy skin.

For acne patients, it is very important to pay attention to what kind of cosmetics they buy and use. Most of the cosmetics have chemicals which produce comedones (pimple). If you have acne then you should look for cosmetics which are labeled as being non-comedogenic. All the cosmetics you use should be oil free. Even oily hair products might spread acne to the forehead.To have healthy skin, it is necessary to get rid of dead skin cells. If we don't, then the skin will look dull. Dead skin prevents oxygen, moisture and nutrients from reaching the new skin cells being formed under the dead cells. Scrubs and chemical peels can be used to rid skin of dead cells.

But these can not be used on acne. For people having acne or very oily skin, a traditional face mask made of gram flour is very useful. It not only exfoliates dead cells without harming the skin, it also dries out the excess oil and relieves the skin of stickiness. In fact, it is good to use natural cleansers on acne skin and oily skin. Orange peels are one such method which makes oily skin glow with its essential oils and drying property. You can prepare it at home by drying out an orange peel and then grinding it to a fine mix. It is especially good in summers to clean skin of excessive oil.

Essential skin care can be completed in four easy steps. Determine your skin type, perhaps with the help of some skin specialist. Clean your skin daily. Use a moisturizer, even for oily skin, as all types of skin need protection and lubrication. Protect your skin from the sun and exfoliate regularly to remove dead cells.

Acne Problems 

What is Acne?

Acne is a name that's used to describe blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. (You may well recognize slang terms like spots, or zits). The majority teenagers get the kind of acne called acne vulgaris, which can show up on the face, neck, shoulders, back, and chest. Skin pores have oil glands which naturally lubricate your skin and hair. However now and then if a pore gets clogged beneath the skin with excess oil and bacteria, the dreaded acne is caused as a result...

Whiteheads occur when a pore gets clogged, closes, and after that bulges out. If a pore gets clogged however stays open, the top may darken and you've got a blackhead. A pimple takes place when dead skin and bacteria work their way under live skin. This leads to some infection that makes your skin look red.

Different types of acne

Severe forms or acne affect some people. But, these conditions are very hard to bear by those who are really affected. They are very disfiguring and are generally accompanied by psychological effects.

Acne conglobata Acne conglobata is a chronic and severe form of acne vulgaris (common acne). It is usually characterized by deep abscesses, severe inflammation, severe damage to the skin and scarring. Blackheads are usually conspicuous and widespread. It often appears on the face, chest, back, thighs, upper arms and buttocks. It usually affects many people between the ages of 18 and 30. In acne conglobata, inflammatory nodules that usually form around multiple comedones, slowly increase its size until they break open and discharge pus. Deep ulcers can form under the nodules, leading to keloid-type scars, and crusts can form over extremely ulcerated nodules, Acne conglobata can be preceded by acne cysts: papules or pustules that do not cure, but instead quickly deteriorate. Rarely, acne conglobata flares up in acne that had been dormant for several years. Acne fulminans Acne fulminans is a sudden onset of extremely destructive inflammation, which normally bothers young men. Symptoms of harsh nodulocystic, frequently ulcerating acne, aching joints and fever are obvious. It can result from ineffective treatment of acne conglobata. It does not respond fine to antibiotics, therefore accutane and oral steroids are generally prescribed. Corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can be given to decrease inflammation. Attacks of acne fulminans can recur, and the patient possibly will develop acne that requires long-term cure with isotretinoin. Gram-negative folliculitis Gram-negative folliculitis is a problem of abused and long-term use of antibiotic. Patients with this kind of acne are generally treated with accutane because it is recognized to be effectual against gram-negative bacteria. The word "Gram" refers to a blue stain used in laboratories to identify microscopic organisms. Certain bacteria do not stain blue and therefore they are called "Gram negative." Pyoderma faciale Pyoderma faciale is the form of acne that affects females, largely from the 20-40 age groups. It is confined to the face, appears unexpectedly as both deep and superficial cystic lesions of the face with connecting "tunnels" between cysts, reddish irritation of the skin, and slight swelling (edema) of the skin. It seldom persists more than a year or thus, and is not related with oily skin. Severe types of acne cannot be treated at home. So, consult your doctor or dermatologist prior to your condition worsens. Keep in mind that beautiful skin reflects agreeable health. Acne Vulgaris (common acne) includes some types of lesions, typically called as the blackhead, whitehead, papules, pustules, nodules and cyst.

What Causes Acne?

Although everyone is different, acne is generally caused by the increase of oil and dead skin in a pore. This increase of oil and dead skin is caused due to:

Natural hormones. These are mainly active in your teens. Plugged skin. Many skin cells can lock the oil glands or pores, creating blackheads or whiteheads. Bacteria. Bacteria can easily infect oil glands and pores and grow very fast. Family background. If you have acne, your kids are more about to have it too.

How to decrease an Acne Problem

• You shouldn't pinch or squeeze, pick, scratch, or rub your skin as it makes the problem very worse, and it might even reason scarring.
• Often shampoo your hair, and strive to keep it off your face if possible - particularly at night.
• Keep a food diary to exercises if you are one of the few people whose acne gets worse if they eat definite things.
• Work out regularly to get the old blood flowing, and ensure you get a wash as quickly after as possible.
• Avoid unnecessarily touching your face.
• If possible, aim to minimize your stress levels.
• Keep away from getting sunburned.
• Change your wash cloth each day, as bacteria can grow up on damp cloth.
• Wash your face twice a day with a gentle soap like Dove or Lever 2000.
• At all times rinse very well with lots of water.
• Only wear makeup on special occasions, and after that take care you remove it totally.
• Granular facial scrub can make acne very worse by irritating the skin.

Medication For Extreme Cases

Oral antibiotics Oral antibiotics have an elevated hit rate, and can be securely used for up to a year. It can take up to six months to entirely take effect, however there should be an obvious difference within six weeks. Oral Antibiotics contain erythromycin, minocycline and tetracycline Antibacterial cream Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria which reason inflammation. It is available over the counter in 2.5%, 5% and 10% creams and lotions. It is available in gels in the similar percentages however only by prescription. Clinically, there's not much difference between the use of the variety of strengths and types used.

NOTE: Sadly, there can be some 'side effects' of the use of Benzoyl peroxide, together with hypersensitivity, irritation, and speak to dermatitis (although these are very rare). Keep in mind to always keep Benzoyl peroxide away from clothing as it has a bleaching outcome.

How To Get Rid Of Blemishes or Pimples

CLEAN! Wash down your face with a gentle oil- and fragrance-free cleanser, preferably a non-detergent one labeled pH balanced. If you have oily skin all over your face, make use of a cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Do not scrub - irritated skin swells just about the pores, which can reason breakouts. Skip toner if not your face is very oily, or else it might dry out the skin. TREAT! Apply a topical acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid over your full face, not just where blemishes have previously erupted. At nighttime, use a drying spot-treatment product and dab oil-free moisturizer on dry areas. In the morning, use an oil-free sunscreen gel over the entire face. CONCEAL! Use a small makeup brush to dab concealer or cream base in the exact same shade as your skin directly on top of the blemish. Use a fingertip to take away excess concealer around the blemish and, if essential, apply use coat of concealer. If the makeup becomes cakey, carefully clean it off and start over. Softly brush powder (in the exact same shade as your skin) over the concealer.

Tricks Of The Trade:

If you have oily skin and experience that you require toner, use it only on the T-zone, and rinse it off afterward (leaving it on can dry the skin turn back the clock). Make use of a clay mask as often as every three days to take up excess oil.

To stop redness and swelling in a crisis situation (job interview, wedding), inquire your doctor for a cortisone injection. It calms down a pimple almost right away.

If you can't make your dermatologist (or needles make you squemish), temporarily lessen redness and swelling by dabbing on a small amount of drugstore cortisone cream, Preparation H, or Vasocon-A eyedrops.

Cellulitis 

Cellulitis is a spreading infection of the skin that usually begins as a small area of tenderness, contusion, and redness on the skin. As this red area begins to spread, the person may develop a fever, sometimes with chills and sweats, and swollen lymph nodes "swollen glands" near the area of infected skin .Cellulitis is a common infection of the skin and the soft tissues beneath the skin. It occurs when bacteria invade broken or normal skin and start to spread just under the skin or in the skin itself. This results in infection and inflammation. Inflammation is a process in which the body reacts to the bacteria. Inflammation may cause swelling, redness, pain, or warmth.

Cellulitis Causes

Cellulitis is obtained by different types of bacteria. For example; if cellulitis develops due to a common household cut, the bacteria responsible is usually either Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus. If cellulitis develops due to a cat bite, the culprit is usually Pasteurella multocida. The most common infecting organisms are beta-haemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Less common bacteria include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, particularly following a puncture wound involving the foot or hand, and Haemophilus influenzae in children with facial cellulitis. There are many other ways in which bacteria can get through the skin, such as dog bites or through surgical wounds.

Cellulitis Treatment

The absorption of Cellulitis treatment is to decrease the severity of the infection, speed up recovery, relieve pain and other symptoms, heal the skin, and prevent the infection from coming back. Antibiotics are usually used to treat cellulitis. If the infection is limited to a small area, has not transmit to the bloodstream or lymph system, and you don't have any other medical problems, antibiotics you take by mouth are effective. If the infection is more widespread, or if you're having a slow recovery on oral antibiotics, antibiotics may be used intravenously or by injection.

For cellulitis of the leg or arm, treatment also includes adorning the limb to reduce swelling and applying a sterile, saline-soaked dressing to aid healing and reduce pain.Treatment for children depends on their age and which part of the body is infected. An antibiotic is usually given intravenously. Facial cellulitis in young children requires immediate treatment and responds well to antibiotics.Treatment sometimes requires a stay in the hospital. This is common if antibiotics must be given intravenously, but it is also considered if you have signs of difficulties such as a high fever, or if it will be difficult for you to have follow-up care with a health professional.

Scars & Tattoo Removal Options
For those considering getting a tattoo and want to know if there is an option for backing out, rest assured there are options. Today there are a few modern technologies that allow people to remove their unwanted tattoos in professional out patient settings that involve only local anesthesia.

Of course, the cost and desired results will vary depending upon the method selected by a particular patient. Knowing the differences ahead of time can help prospective tattoo removers to make the best decision possible.

Laser tattoo removal

If a patient can afford the procedure, the most efficient and least invasive tattoo removal is with a laser.

Depending upon the nature of the tattoo to be removed the laser removal can be done in one session or possibly in a few successive visits.

Laser tattoo removal has pretty much become the industry standard for the procedure as it offers a low risk, bloodless operation with few if any side effects. Lasers are actually used in a considerable number of modern day procedures from tumor removal, sealing of blood and lymph vessels as well as removal of warts, moles and tattoos.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology laser tattoo removal is an effective option with a low risk of scarring. The style of laser used to remove a tattoo depends upon the pigment of ink to be removed.

Green and yellow are the hardest and blue and black are the easiest colors to remove. Those looking to remove greens and yellows may need several separate treatments to completely remove the pigmentation.

There are alternatives to laser tattoo removal but they have fallen to a more cursory level of use as lasers offer such a successful procedure.

Other options

The first alternative is called dermabrasion where a small hand held circular sander is used to remove the middle and surface layers of the epidermis and subsequently the ink that has been placed there.

Excision is another tattoo removal option. This involves the surgical removal of the segment of skin. The skin is then stitched back together to form a scar patch. This method is also used for mole removal and subsequently may only be a realistic option for those looking to remove a very small tattoo.