Health & Fitness

Acne - How The Acne Scars Are Treated?

Acne scars leave their mark not only on the skin but also on the sufferers psyche. With rapid developments in dermatology, treating acne scars is becoming easier.

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Acne scars leave their mark not only on the skin but also on the sufferers psyche. With rapid developments in dermatology, treating acne scars is becoming easier. Please consult your dermatologist about the best treatment for your acne scars. The choice will depend upon your medical history, the type of scar and the kinds of treatments available for that type of scarring. Some treatments are cheaper than others but may not give perfect results. The choice therefore also depends upon your budget and the kind of results you desire. Let us look at the kinds of treatments available for acne scars.

Dermabrasion- this is considered one of the most effective treatments for acne scars. In this procedure the doctor uses a local anesthetic or freezes the skin and then uses a high-speed rotary abrader to remove unwanted surface skin. As the skin heals, it shows a brighter appearance. This procedure may remove superficial scars altogether and reduces deeper scars.

Chemical Peeling - depending on the scar, your doctor will apply a mild chemical peel on the affected skin. This slowly peels away the old skin and brings in fresh skin. Mild scars can be treated with chemical peels.

Laser Therapy- lasers of different types are used by the doctor to give a new shape to the scarred skin by recontouring the scars. The high burst of laser may leave the skin red for sometime.

Soft Tissue Filling- Collagen that may be bovine in source or patients own may be injected below the scar to lift the skin and give a smooth appearance. As the injected collagen gets absorbed in the body over a period, further treatments may be needed after about six months. Similarly fat may be injected below deep scars for giving a lift to the skin. Similar to collagen filling, fat injections may need to be repeated after some months. Your doctor will advise you about that.

Skin surgery- Skin may have to be surgically corrected with grafting or other procedures to remove some scars.

Microdermabrasion- In this procedure very tiny aluminum oxide crystals are passed through a vacuum tube to scrape the surface of the skin. this procedure may have to be repeated many times, an d gives a fresh look to the skin by scraping .Very mild scarring can be treated with microdermabrasion.

For people who have the tendency to form keloids, no surgical method can be used. If one can develop keloid with acne injury, more keloids will be formed by further surgery. steroid injections may be used to treat keloids. In some cases topical retinoic acid is applied directly on the keloids.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Alternative medicine cervical cancer prevention

Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer in young women and is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths among women, particularly in minorities and in impoverished countries. Like all cancers, cancer of the cervix is much more likely to be cured if it is detected early and treated immediately at its initial stage with the alternative medicine through natural medications with no side effects at our center.

Keywords:
alternative medicine cervical cancer,cancer cervical medication,cervical cancer procedures prevention,vaccination for cervical cancer,prevention cervical cancer , alternative cervical cancer treatment

Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer in young women and is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths among women, particularly in minorities and
in impoverished countries. Like all cancers, cancer of the cervix is much more likely to be cured if it is detected early and treated immediately at its initial stage with the alternative medicine through natural medications with no side effects at our center.

Cancer of the cervix occurs when the cells of the cervix change in a way that leads to abnormal growth and invasion of other tissues or organs of the body.It is caused primarily by a sexually transmitted infection with an oncogenic strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Studies have shown dietary intervention and nutrient supplementation to be effective in preventing cervical cancer. Additionally, local escharotic treatment combined with systemic treatment shows significant potential in reducing dysplasia

Cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms, but can be found with regular Pap smears (procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope).

The uterine cervix is the lowest portion of a woman’s uterus (womb). Most of the uterus lies in the pelvis, but part of the cervix is located in the vagina, where it connects the uterus with the vagina.
* One of the key features of cervical cancer is its slow progression from normal cervical tissue, to precancerous (or dysplastic) changes in the tissue, to invasive cancer.
* The slow progression through numerous precancerous changes is very important because it provides opportunities for prevention and early detection and treatment.

Other possible risk factors include the following:
* Giving birth to many children.
* Having many sexual partners.
* Having first sexual intercourse at a young age.
* Smoking cigarettes.
* Oral contraceptive use (the Pill).
* Weakened immune system.

Cervical cancers don’t always spread, but those that do most often spread to the lungs, the liver, the bladder, the vagina, and/or the rectum.

Self-treatment is not appropriate for cancer under most circumstances. Without medical treatment, the cancer will continue to grow and spread. Eventually vital body organs will not be able to function properly because the cancer will take their oxygen and nutrients, crowd them out, or injure them. The result is very often death.

Although self-treatment is inappropriate, there are things you can do to reduce the physical and mental stresses of your cancer and its treatment.

Maintaining good nutrition is one of the best things you can do.
* You may lose your appetite during your treatment.
* Common side effects
* People who eat well, take in enough calories and protein.
* keeping up your calorie and protein intake.

The following lifestyle changes may help keep you stronger and more comfortable during treatment:
* Engage in mild physical activity
* Rest is equally important
* Quit smoking.
* Avoid alcohol.

Treatment of cervical cancer is directed at preventing precancerous cells from becoming cancerous cells.
* This is usually a step-by-step process
* The deepest cells must be removed

Cervical cancer begins with abnormal changes in the cervical tissue. The risk of developing these abnormal changes has been associated with certain factors, including previous infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), early sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, cigarette smoking and taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills).

Treatment of cervical cancer is directed at preventing precancerous cells from becoming cancerous cells.The key to preventing invasive cervical cancer is to detect any cell changes early, before they become cancerous. Regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears are the best way to do this.

Avoidance of human papillomavirus infection is becoming increasingly important in the prevention of precancerous and cancerous changes of the cervix.
* Early age at first intercourse is associated with increased risk
* Likewise, barrier protection, such as condom use, may prevent HPV infection, although this has not yet been fully studied.
* Early tests found an experimental vaccine to be effective against the virus responsible for half of all cases of cervical cancer.
*. Quitting smoking may decrease your chances of developing cervical cancer.
* Genetic material that comes from certain forms of HPV has been found in cervical tissues that show cancerous or precancerous changes.
* These findings demonstrate a strong link between the virus and cervical cancer.
* Because HPV can be transmitted by sexual contact, early sexual contact and having multiple sexual partners have been identified as strong risk factors for the development of cervical lesions that may progress to cancer.

Possible signs of cervical cancer include vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.These and other symptoms may be caused by cervical cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
* Vaginal bleeding.
* Unusual vaginal discharge.
* Pelvic pain.
* Pain during sexual intercourse.

Tests that examine the cervix are used to detect (find) and diagnose cervical cancer.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

Treatment options depend on the following:
* The stage of the cancer.
* The size of the tumor.
* The patient’s desire to have children.
* The patient’s age.
* The type of cervical cancer.

Treatment of cervical cancer during pregnancy depends on the stage of the cancer and the stage of the pregnancy. For cervical cancer found early or for cancer found during the last trimester of pregnancy, treatment may be delayed until after the baby is born.

The process used to find out if cancer has spread within the cervix or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment

Is Depression Medication really worth the use considering those side effects?

For treating depression, medication has become so popular yet over 25 million Americans remain depressed. So could these anti-depressants really be effective? Maybe not. Let’s not forget the side effects and withdrawal symptoms that come as a result of these depression drugs. You’ll be surprised at just how detrimental they actually are.

Keywords:
Depression Medication

With the high percentage of depressed Americans (about 10 % of the population to be exact), it should come as no surprise that some form of depression medication is being administered to depression patients on an almost daily basis.

However, what should be more of a concern are the side-effects common to these forms of depression medication. Take the popular anti-depressant, Prozac. Many people take it for depression as well as premenstrual syndrome and panic attacks. In some cases it has even been experimented with in helping smokers to quit. For quite a while, the drug has been thought to have few side effects and many benefits. However, new studies are beginning to show that this isn’t true.

In as much as this depression medication may adjust the levels of serotonin in the brain (the chemical linked to happiness), this drug as unpleasant mental and physical side effects. Moreover, any improvement in a depression condition remains only as long as the drug is used.

The other popular depression drug commonly prescribed for depression symptoms is the controversial Zoloft. The most common side effects to this depression medication, according to the Zoloft web site are dry mouth, upset stomach, decreased appetite, fatigue, trouble sleeping, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, tremor, feelings of agitation, indigestion, and increased perspiration.

These side effects are even more pronounced in children who are prescribed this drug for child-hood depression. Other less mentioned, yet equally frightening symptoms of this so-called depression-help drug are liver problems, hallucinations, psychosis…you get the gist right?!

Now, when depression patients finally get informed of the dangers of these forms of depression medication, automatically, they take the steps to try to cease its use. Is this easy? No. Take Zoloft for example; withdrawal symptoms have included dizziness, extreme nausea and high fever. Some other side-effects have been labeled as so painful that patients seeking to end the use of this depression medication have actually committed suicide to end their misery.

From all the factors above, it will be safe to say no depression medication drug can truly help mental disorders. Brain chemicals can be temporarily adjusted, but not permanently fixed. It will be best to seek natural treatment methods such as getting counseling, Yoga and a change in dietetic habits incorporating short fasts as the latter has been deemed a panacea for nearly all ailments known to man, including depression. Sometimes drugs are not what’s best. Today, they are being prescribed very often when sometimes they can cause worse problems.

These days, drugs can be approved by the FDA with only a few clinical trials done. If a company produces a few studies that prove that a drug works even at a marginal level, a form of medication can be approved. This leads to occasional drugs that don’t have real results or in-depth trial (long term side effects are almost never tested; this takes too long) on the market for the general public to get at them. Taking this into consideration, it is advised that any form of depression medication may be best unused and avoided.

Many circles recommend Yoga, changes in dietetic habits and even prayer and a deeper connection with the Omnipotent as safer and perhaps more effective drug-free alternatives to using depression medication as a route to treating emotional disorders.

So weigh your options carefully next time depression sends you seeking treatment. With this article, my hope is your intuition will guide you to safer-drugless methods of depression treatment.

Reduce Pimples By Treating Your Skin

Pimples grow on skin. The best way of curing pimples is by curing your skin.

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acne. acnes, faqs, faq, FAQ, FAQS, ACNE, ACNES, pimples, PIMPLES

A SCENE FROM “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” where Professor Sprout, the herbology professor, asks the students to collect “bubutober pus” during a lesson to give to Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse:

“This’ll keep Madam Pomfrey happy,” said Professor Sprout, stoppering the last bottle with a cork. “An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubutober pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples.”

“Like poor Eloise Midgen,” said Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff, in a hushed voice. “She tried to curse hers off.”

“Silly girl,” said Professor Sprout, shaking her head. “But Madam Pomfrey fixed her nose back in the end.”

Admit it—haven’t we all tried to pull off an Eloise Midgen and resorted to drastic measures to drive acne away? While we may not have the capabilities to curse pimples off our faces, there’s certainly a long list of worse ways to remove acne.

What exactly causes acne? While it is true that stress, cosmetics and detergents (such as harsh shampoos and toothpaste) aggravate acne, they are not the direct sources of your pimples. They will only make worse an already existing condition. And do not blame your diet—chocolate and French fries will not cause acne—or your crush for the huge blemish on your nose. They have nothing to do with it at all.

Hormonal imbalance

The usual culprit behind acne is an imbalance of hormones, which causes the production of extra sebum and therefore, pimples. This could be because of your genes (if your parents were pimply in their childhood, you know who to blame) or other circumstances that could lead to this imbalance—puberty, menopause, pregnancy and monthly periods among them. So if you have a friend who has effortlessly clear skin, curse the genetic lottery and take better care of your skin instead of trying to imitate his/her (lack of) routine.

While others go directly to the source and have hormone treatments in order to lessen their acne, this can be costly and impractical in minor acne cases—sort of like swatting a fly with a nuclear bomb. Some treatments, like birthcontrol pills, have undesirable side effects such as weight gain and headaches. The more dangerous side effects include clots in blood vessels and an increased risk of breast cancer. Males who take birth-control pills suddenly find themselves saddled with a pair of breasts (while some do this intentionally, that’s an entirely different story.)

A good skincare regimen will not only prevent more pimples from popping up, but will delay the onset of wrinkles and freckles. Simply washing your face just doesn’t do anymore. In our more polluted environment, you will have to learn how to cleanse, tone and moisturize your skin at least once a day. Applying sunscreen even when you’re not going out in the sun is also important because indoor lights also contain skin-harming rays. So if you’re planning to spend extended hours in front of the computer for a term paper, make sure you’ve slathered on some SPF.

Old staple

If you’re really going for a direct treatment of the pimple, you might want to check out an old staple: Benzoyl Peroxide.

However, Benzoyl Peroxide apparently isn’t just a spot treatment. According to Dr. Bernadette Arcilla of the Philippine Dermatological Society, when faced with acne, you should treat the entire affected area with Benzoyl Peroxide, but don’t overdo it! Too much of it (say, a huge dollop on top of the blemish) will dry out not just the pimple, but the surrounding skin as well, causing more damage. “The best way to apply it is to spread it evenly over the affected area, so that not only will the pimple dry out, but future breakouts will be prevented as well,” Dr. Arcilla said.

Before buying a tube of treatment, said Dr. Arcilla, take note of the concentration of Benzoyl Peroxide before applying it—PanOxyl, for example, has three variants: 2.5 percent for mild acne, 5 percent for moderate acne and 10 percent for severe cases. The latter is best left for body acne, such as pimples on your back and chest, while facial acne is adequately treated by the less concentrated variants. Again, overdoing anything will cause more harm than good so always start with a smaller concentration.

Dr. Arcilla also advised patients to use medication daily—not just on a pimple, but on the entire affected area. “You should treat the skin, not the pimples. Pimples are just a symptom of something bigger,” Dr. Arcilla said. “And if you treat it early, you can prevent scarring due to more blemishes.”

Instead of treating just the surface, go for an acne management program. In the long-term process (which combines a good skincare regimen and acne treatment), pimples won’t be gone in a week, but there is a significant 30- to 40-percent reduction of acne in one to two months. The process can be expedited with the help of your dermatologist, who can help you create an acne management program for yourself. This does take a lot more time than quick fix-acne treatments, but the results are permanent, at least.

Now, isn’t that better than cursing pimples off your face?

All You Need to Know about Hair Follicle Drug Testing

Hair follicle drug testing is the ultimate drug testing method due to its large detection window, convenience and accuracy. This article talks about the basics of hair drug testing, how the hair follicle test work and produce results for drug use detection.

Keywords:
hair test,hair sample,hair follicle,follicle,drug testing,pre-employment,teenager drug,parent,drugs

Hair sample drug testing is a great way to detect whether or not a person has used drugs in the past 90 days. Whether in an office format or in the home, hair drug testing serves the purpose of answering questions about an individual’s drug use history.

How Does Hair Follicle Drug Testing Work?

Hair drug testing is actually quite simple and merely requires a sample of hair in order to be completed. Parents who are worried about their teen’s use of drugs can collect a strand of hair from their pillow. Employers can request a sample from their employees. Once a hair sample has been collected, it is sealed in an envelope and sent to a participating laboratory for completion. Hair testing is fast and more accurate than other drug test forms.

For instance, hair sample drug testing can detect drug use for up to 90 days after use. The detection window is much larger in hair drug testing (compare it to few days for urine and saliva based drug testing) because trace amounts of drug chemicals become trapped inside each hair. A simple lab test can detect these trace chemicals making for either a positive or negative test result. Once the results are recorded, you are sent notification of the results. Some companies even provide a phone service where you call in, enter an account number and retrieve the results in that way.

What Kinds of Drugs Can Hair Drug Testing Detect?

Hair sample drug testing can detect all of the major types of drugs, including marijuana, opiates, methamphetamines, PCP, ecstasy, and cocaine. Hair follicle drug testing can detect the trace amounts of illicit substances trapped in the cortex of the hair for up to 90 days after use.

Employee drug testing programs often incorporate hair follicle drug testing into their plans because of the sheer accuracy of these tests. Even though hair testing is more expensive that a urine drug test kit, for example, they can provide a level of accuracy that is nearly ten times that of other testing methods. Likewise, hair follicle drug testing does not involve the embarrassing collection of samples like that of urine or saliva drug tests. A single strand of hair is all that is needed to obtain accurate results.

Parents can also benefit from hair sample drug testing. Hair testing is discrete and confidential. An individual can be tested without their knowledge, making it so parents can know the truth about their teen’s drug use first before making accusations. By using hair drug testing in the home, parents can safeguard their teens against drug abuse, and help them quit the abuse should test results come back positive.

Pueraria Mirifica And Women

Pueraria Mirifica And Women - Quickly and Easily!

Keywords:
Pueraria Mirifica

We have numerous other articles written on this very subject. Each one tackles a different aspect of this complex topic.

Most women are very concerned about aging, particularly the property brought about by the aging process. At a certain age, the body experiences dramatic changes: the body’s systems and its functions begin to decelerate and the immune usage weakens. For the ordinary woman, menstruation cycles end at 48-50 being of age when the reproductive usage stop or lengthy down functioning.

Moreover, it is a actuality that women whom no longer menstruate are promote troubled by the adverse property of junior levels of estrogen in the body. Estrogen helps to limit the production of liberated radicals (free radicals are perceived as being harmful for the body because it accelerates degeneration of physical organs), and then lack of estrogen will induce production of liberated radicals.

Consequently, menopausal women will experience both psychological and physiological changes. Psychological changes range from anxiety, tension and nervousness to unceasing depression. while the physiological affects include hot flushes, weariness and insomnia to more severe conditions as bone loss, bald and degeneration of the reproductive area.

We have had a lot of fun during the first portion of this article and hopefully you feel as though you have a firm grasp on the topic.

Pueraria mirifica contains substances that can effectively handle with these problems. Miroestrol has been remote previously as an active principle from “Kwao Keur” (Pueraria mirifica), a rejuvenating folk medicine from Thailand. Reinvestigation with bioassay-guided purification has resulted in the isolation of a new effective phytoestrogen, deoxymiroestrol. The facile aerial corrosion of 2 into 1 suggests the possibility that 1 may be an artifact.

Nine isoflavonoids with a new pterocarpene, puemiricarpene, were remote from the tuberous root of Pueraria mirifica (Leguminosae). The building of puemiricarpene was determined by spectroscopic means. Estrogenic activity of the remote isoflavonoids was veteran with MCF-7 creature breast tumor cells. Moderate activity was pragmatic for kwakhurin, a prenylated isoflavonoid

In closing, it will benefit you to seek out other resources on this topic if you feel that you dont yet have a firm understanding of the subject matter.
Pueraria Mirifica Pills KWAOTIP THAI FDA. G. 187/42

Kwaotip is a premuim grade Thai traditional herbal formula derived mainly from White Kwaotip Krua (Pueraria Mirifica). After many years of research from Dr. Wichai Cherdshewasart, the studies indicated that this herb shows estrogenic and rejuvenate effects to the female body especially at the breast, hip, facial skin, body skin, hair and vaginal epithelium. Thus elevate the appearance of the female secondary sexual characteristics and also the skin beauty.

ALL Natural Dietary Supplement

Hight Phytoestrogen (especially isoflavonet):

*Increases sensitivity and vitality

*Promotes silky shiny hair ,keeps hair pattem bone calcium accumulation

*Enhances breast and skin appearance

*Serves as a anti-wrinkle agent

*Enhances physical and mental ability

*Serves as a fountain of youth

Ingredients: Pueraria Mirifica and other herbs (60 capsules per box)

Recommended Dosage: Take 2 capsules after breakfast and dinner.

Precautions: - Not for women under 20 years old.
- Women with developing cyst at the ovary, breast, and uterus.
- Pregnant women and breast feeking mother should avoid taking this product.
- Women who are taking birth control pill should not take this product.
http://www.pueraria-mirifica.net/

Cosmetic Dentistry Fixes Are Big Business for Dentists

Blame it on Hollywood for the dramatic increase in cosmetic dentistry.

Thanks to those stars with the dazzling white teeth and photo-op grins, more Americans are choosing to brighten up their smiles with veneers, teeth whitening and oral laser surgery.

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Cosmetic Dentistry Fixes Are Big Business for Dentists

Blame it on Hollywood for the dramatic increase in cosmetic dentistry.

Thanks to those stars with the dazzling white teeth and photo-op grins, more Americans are choosing to brighten up their smiles with veneers, teeth whitening and oral laser surgery.

In fact, according to the American Dental Association, more than $35 billion a year is spent on cosmetic dentistry. But $10 billion of that is being spent on correcting botched dental makeovers, states the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.

To eliminate that risk, many cosmetic dentists are choosing to place Lumineers.

Unlike traditional veneers, Lumineers do not require any removal of sensitive tooth structure, making the need for anesthesia or pain shots unnecessary. They give patients a glamorous smile, but also preserve and protect the natural teeth - something that traditional veneers are unable to do.

“I’m shocked when I see the damage done by some cosmetic dentists,” said Dr. Louis Kaufman, a Lumineers dentist based in Chicago. “A Lumineers procedure is so minimally invasive that it can fix virtually any botched smile makeover.”

Because Lumineers leave original teeth intact, the process is reversible. In addition, Lumineers provide instant teeth straightening and permanent whitening, which makes them a convenient alternative to braces and other orthodontics. They may also be placed over crowns and bridges to improve aesthetics.

More than 9,000 dentists now use Lumineers, which are made from Cerinate porcelain. Lumineers restorations are ultra-thin, yet strong enough to resist any micro-cracking, which can typically damage restorations.

Lumineers have garnered numerous professional awards as well as a spot in Dental Products Report’s “Top 10 Products” list and “5 Pluses” in an ongoing two-year study in Dental Advisor.

Overcoming Depression with a Child’s Heart

Renowned psychologist: Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, once stated in his book that children are indeed the group of humans who ironically are most gifted in the art of faith and positive thinking. These are two essentials for overcoming depression, and it is no co-incidence that they are abundant in a child’s heart. Let’s see how we can learn from this.

Keywords:
How to overcome depression

“With a child’s heart
Go face the worries of the day
With a child’s heart
Turn each problem into play
No need to worry no need to fear
Just being alive makes it all so very clear”

Although this is no way is a pro-Jackson article, this is actually an excerpt from a personal Jackson 5 favorite entitled ‘With a Child’s Heart’

Sung by a pre-adolescent Michael Jackson, the words of this song made such an impact on me most recently when I played the CD a few days back.

The lyrics of the song reminded me of what the renowned psychologist: Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, once stated in his book- that children are indeed the group of humans who ironically are most gifted in the art of faith and positive thinking.

These are two essentials for overcoming depression, and it is no co-incidence that they are abundant in a child’s heart.

Children are more expert in happiness and faith than adults and indeed the adult who can carry the spirit of a child into middle and old age is truly a genius. Why?
Well this is quite simply because such an adult will preserve the happy and carefree spirit that only the young seem to be endowed with and this of course will be vital and necessary for dealing with depression and problems and keeping their effects on us minimized.

The subtlety and wisdom of Jesus Christ is truly remarkable.
When it comes to dealing with depression (or dealing with life, period-the good and the bad of it), He suggests that one should have a childlike heart and mind.

In other words, have you ever noticed how a kid believes mom’s kiss actually made the pain of a bicycle fall go away, well that same childlike faith is actually what God requires of us in believing that what He says He’ll do for us will come to pass.

Now, in regards to overcoming depression, it is clear to see that approaching our problems with a childlike yet powerful faith that things will be better would make a huge difference in our situations and circumstances.

This doesn’t mean that no work will be required of us on our part, remember
“faith without works is dead,” (James 2:26). However, it is the believing that what we are doing to make things better in addition to trusting what God says about our situations and challenges that would make the difference.

Just like a child will ask a parent for help on how to do something and totally rely on the parent’s instruction to get it done, it is very much the same way that we have to accept and follow God’s advice and help in order to deal with our problems and challenges in life.

A young Jackson ends the song above soulfully stating that
“With a child’s heart, nothing is gonna get me down!”
Indeed with the childlike faith in God and His promises and a childlike obedience to do as instructed by a wiser Being, nothing: not depression, not life’s problems can get us down.

What Skin-Care Products Are Right for You?

What skin-care products work best? What does “fragrance-free” really mean, and what about other terms used by the cosmetic industry? This article is a thoughtful eye opener for consumers overwhelmed by the scores of new “miracle” products marketed.

Keywords:
skin-care products

The packaging might be pretty, but it won’t do a thing to alleviate troubled acne, reduce fine lines, smooth wrinkles, or replenish moisture and oils to dazzle your complexion. When it comes to cosmetics as with most other things, it’s what’s inside that counts.

If you feel overwhelmed by the scores of product choices available today, and the “miracles” each repute to do, becoming more familiar with terms used in cosmetology and their true meanings might be helpful in distinguishing which products are and are not right for you.

Cosmetic companies are required to accurately divulge all the contents in their products, listing them in the order of concentration, from the most to the least. Certain cosmetic terms, however, can be confusing and misleading to the average consumer; terms such as “all natural” and “fragrance-free,” for instance.

While all natural does mean that ingredients used were derived from natural sources like plants and other organic material, use of the term applied to cosmetics is not regulated by the FDA. Some cosmetic companies not concerned with accuracy or with reputation often mislead consumers by applying the term to their product.

It is noteworthy that according to author and cosmetic expert Paula Begoun, in her book “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me,” there is no scientific evidence that “natural ingredients” are any more beneficial for skin than synthetic.

Products that advertise they are fragrance-free may still use fragrant plant extracts to mask offensive odor resulting from unrefined materials used. These extracts can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Fragrance-free, then, can mean only that the product is devoid of any “noticeable” aroma. “Irritant-free” is a more reliable term to look for in a product.

Alcohol-free products may be free of “grain alcohol,” which is drying. However, other forms of alcohol such as lanolin alcohol or cetearyl alcohol may still be used. For persons with sensitive skin, Ms. Begoun suggests using products that list any alcohol component just before or just after the list of preservatives.

The wise cosmetic consumer will select products based upon ingredient content and performance, not upon packaging or brand. Higher-end cosmetics will not necessarily work better than those that cost less, and one brand’s product may be excellent, while another product by the same brand ineffective. Therefore, “brand loyalty” will not necessarily benefit the consumer.

Many department-store cosmetic companies have been merged together. In all probability, cosmetic purchases bearing three different “brand names” might in actuality all be distributed by the same cosmetic company. In fact, over 75% of department store cosmetic lines are presently owned either by Estee Lauder or L’Oreal.

The short and sweet of it is to forget the hype. Everyone’s skin is different. Find out what works for you, and stick with it. Following a daily skin-care regimen tailored for your skin type, using tried and true products, will give your face a healthy glow like none other.