Get Rid of Body Acne!

There are several causes as to why some of us have body acne. Some reasons are the same as why we have acne on our faces. Things like genetics and over production of oil. Some tips for getting rid of body acne especially on our chests and backs are as follows:

• Wear breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen in the warmer seasons and climates. Unbreathable fabrics like nylon can keep sweat and dirt close to your body and aids in clogging your pores.
• Wash your body with a gentle anti-bacterial cleanser such as Cetaphil.
  
• Moisturize your body. I have been using jojoba oil on my chest an shoulders for the past few weeks and I have noticed a big difference in the texture. My skin took a beating this winter!
  
• Get a new bag! Back packs are bad for people with back acne because it makes your back sweat and keeps the sweat on it. I just got a bag from The Gap that goes over my shoulders.

Some people have stated that benzoyl peroxide has helped them with their body acne. I tried BP before and it made my skin itchy and irritable. Its also bleached my t-shirts. Study now shows that BP causes free radicals! This is something many of you might want to be aware of. I am an anti-oxidantaholic so I try to stay away from free radicals as much as I can.

There are also some negative side effects to salicylic acid. I read that it can be absorbed into the skin and should not be used if you are breast feeding or pregnant. I think that is kind of scary. That's why natural is the way to go!

Body Acne

Spring is in the air and that only means one thing: Summer is right around the corner. Time to get rid of the bulge and hit the shore. I can't wait! As ecstatic as I might sound about the summer time I also get really frustrated that time of the year. One reason is my pesky body acne problem. Its not as bad as it use to be I will be honest about that. I have been putting Jojoba Oil on my chest when I get out of the shower. I cannot stress any more how amazing jojoba oil is! However there are some spots left that are really embarrassing. I have some scars on my shoulders and upper arms also. They are just pigmented scars and I know that maybe some skin bleaching cream can get rid of them ,BUT I REFUSE to put any of those products on my skin. Part of this blog is for me to find natural and healthy ways to help people care for their skin. Nonetheless this is a learning experience and who knows I might have to resort to those creams, but only under desperate measures. Speaking of scars I found a natural skin brightener, but I am not going to write about it now. Soon I will do another review for my new Himalaya Products, FYI , they have been doing great!

The Secret to "Glowing" Skin Is...

...Jojoba Oil, yea I said it. That stuff is great. I have been using it for a couple weeks now and I have seen nothing but improvements. I did break out a little bit but it was near that time of the month and I always do during "that time of the month", but it went away in couple days.

Also remember to drink lots of water and take your vitamins. It only does you go in the end and makes your pee really yellow. Teehee.

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Ooooooooh guess what....I GOT NEW PRODUCTS!!! From Himalaya Herbals, but you have to wait until I test them all for a review. Until then good health and glowing skin!

Jojoba Oil and Acne

Lately I have been searching for a new "all natural" moisturizer. That's when I came across jojoba (hohoba) oil. I have heard about the moisturizing wonders of the oil before however I had no idea that it can be used to treat acne. So I headed out to Trader Joe's
and got me a 4oz bottle for only $6.99!

What is Jojoba Oil?
When you have acne-prone skin the last word you want to hear is oil, since we associate oil with breakouts. Jojoba Oil on the other hand is not actually an oil but a wax ester very similar to the natural oil that our body produces through our sebaceous glands. I'm sure that you are probably asking yourself "how does this help my acne ?" Well the answer is pretty simple. The jojoba oil tricks your skin into thinking that it has produced enough oil so it won't over produce oil and clog your pores. If you don't get it don't feel bad it took me a while to get it. It is great for dry skin and hair. I have also read that it can reduce fine lines and wrinkles!

Test Time
So I set out to test the wonders of the miracle oil myself. First I cleansed my face pat dried it and applied a dime sized amount of oil in my hands. I rubbed my palms together and and stroked my neck and face upwards gently massage my cheeks and nose area. When I looked in the mirror I got a little nervous. I thought that I had over applied the oil and decided to wipe it off with a towel. I passed the towel over my nose and cheeks. When I looked in the mirror...brace yourselves....all of the tiny little black 'thingys' on my nose were GONE.

So I did some more investigating and it turns out that Jojoba oil is an EXCELLENT CLEANSER. It is also great at removing buildup around hair follicles making it treating dandruff and dry scalp. ***side note*** I just purchased JASON Organic Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioner, two words AWE SOME..teehee*** Jojoba Oil is also packed with vitamin C. It is also loaded with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

I found some pretty informative websites about Jojoba Oil that I think you guys might be interested in. Check em out!


Soaper Choice This website gave me straight forward info on Jojoba Oil and its wonders.
Acne.Org I really enjoyed reading the unbiased and varying reviews from different people who used Jojoba Oil to treat their acne.
Ageless
I found this website to be informative. However I would not purchase their product, simply because I got such a great deal at Trader Joes.
Opia, Inc I thought this guy's story was interesting. I hope it wasn't made up just to sell a product.
Rosacea & Jojoba Despite the tasteless web format, I believe this website will give hope to those suffering from rosacea.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Battle Acne?

No, I am not going to stop using the Himalaya Pimple Cream. This stuff is amazing!! My skin looks great, I feel great and I feel happy!! But for those of you who have tried the cream and it has not worked for you I have stumbled across a few ayurvedic and natural remedies to help you fight acne and win your battle over the bumps! Today I am going to focus on Hydrogen Peroxide.


The reason hydrogen peroxide fights acne is simple. The bacteria that causes acne is anaerobic. This means that the bacteria that causes our breakouts don't like OXYGEN. I visited this website the other day and I read a bunch of reviews from people who claimed that HP has cured their acne. So I (the human guinea pig that I am) decided to try it. I had a little bugger on my chin that was really starting to annoy me because it was literally the ONLY pimple on my face (God bless Himalaya !). So I took a cotton ball and soaked it in HP. I placed it on my chin for about 5 minutes. When I took it off the pimple was DRIED UP! I couldn't believe it! So I decided to do a little more research on HP and its effects on acne because I had never heard anyone using it to treat acne before I visited that website. So that's when I went to this other website, which totally made me change my mind about using HP for my break outs. I am not sure now if I would recommend it to people because of the free-radical effects of the HP but I do agree with the people from www.earthclinic.com who said that it cleared up their acne. I think I have to consult my 'biologist sister'. I am torn on this one guys. What do you think?

Home made mask

As you all know I am completely obsessed with tumeric, not only for its antioxidant properties but also for it's ability to treat many skin problems such as ance and eczema. I rencently made a homemade mask primarily composed of turmeric and orange juice. It was really easy!

3 tsp of turmeric
3 tsp of orange juice
(Blend them together, for a more liquid texture add a bit more orange juice.)

I wanted the "luiquidy" texture so I added about 5 tsp. When I applied the mixture to my face it suprisinly went on easily. After the first layer I decided to add another layer to my face because it was starting to fall off. I also recommend that you where black or an old t-shirt that you dont want anymore becaus the turmeric stains easily. My hands were orange for a long time after I washed them. I kept the mask on for about 15 mins and washed it off. Before I added the water to my face I gently exfoliated my skin by rubbing my dry hands on m y face. I loved the gritty texture of the mask. I had to wash my face three times for the "yellowness" to completley come off of my face. My white ceramic sink looked a mess also. I do not recomended using this mask if you are white or have a very pale complexion or pressed on time. In the end I thought that my skin looked brighter it felt a lot softer. I think I will do this once a week or two. To all of you adventurous readers out there give it a try and tell me what you think!

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Although you may not have heard of Hidradenitis Suppurativa it is possible that you may have it and not know it. Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), also known as acne inversa, is an inflammatory skin disease that affects only a reported 1% of the population. I believe that it affects many more people but it is not reported because of misdiagnoses and because people are too embarrassed to talk about it. HS is often misdiagnosed as acne, ingrown hairs and even herpes. When I first researched this skin disease I noticed that a lot of people described their symptoms as "bumps on inner thigh" or "bad ingrown hairs" or "Herpes under the arms". For the record I want to clarify that HS is not genital herpes (HSV2). It is a skin disease that affects areas of skin such as the inner thigh, under arms, buttocks and breast.

Symptoms

• Painful boil, lesions
• Pain and tenderness under the skin
• Pus or fluid like discharge from lesions or tracts on or under the skin.
• Red, tender swelling, in the groin area
• Odor infected areas

No one knows the exact cause of HS however many think it is a type of endocrine disorder along with clogging of the apocrine ducts. While others believe that it is a combination of both along with a variety of bacteria that causes the infections. Our apocrine glands are prominently located in the underarms as well as the genital area. Although we may not know the cause of HS we do know that it is most prevalent in African American women and overweight individuals. Obesity, however is not a cause of HS neither is poor hygiene.

Treatments

• Topical antibiotics
• Loose clothing should be worn at all times
• A good antibacterial soap such as Dial or Lever 2000
• In some cases surgery is needed
• Loosing weight can be helpful but keep in mind that the disease is not caused by obesity, it just makes it harder to cope with.
• Avoid antiperspirants
  
• Birth control pills maybe used to create a hormonal balance
• Steroids may also be used to decrease inflammation

Support

• The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation is an excellent resource.
• Although I am not a member of this yahoo group. I recommend joining it. It is for support group for people living with HS.
  
• I also visited David Stearns website. He is one of the forerunners in the fight for a cure for HS.
  

If you are suffering from HS or is unsure if you have HS please consult a physician before your condition gets worst. Please do not be embarrassed there are many like and no one should have to suffer alone. I will try to post more on this topic because I think that it is very important that people with HS are heard and that they are informed about their condition. Take care of your beautiful selves until my next post, stay blessed.