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We all know that acne is one of the most common skin conditions, typically appearing on the face. However, acne can actually occur almost anywhere on the body. And while body acne isn’t as common as facial acne, it’s still a condition many teens and even adults have to face day in and day out.

Body acne usually shows up on the neck, back, or buttocks and like acne of the face, it can be caused by a number of factors such as hormones or stress. In addition, sweat and tight fitting clothing can contribute to acne formation, causing irritation on the skin. In fact, tight clothing can make matter worse, not only by irritating the skin but also by trapping moisture and sweat against the skin. When this happens, the perspiration mixes with oils secreted by the skin which can lead to clogged pores. And as we all know, it’s those clogged pores that can lead to blackheads, whiteheads and in the worst of cases, severe forms of body acne.

The good news is that treating body acne is quite similar to treating other forms of acne. The bad news is that often times, body acne is more resilient than acne on the face. This makes sense though when you consider the fact that facial skin isn’t as thick as skin on the rest of the body, therefore acne that forms on the body has a “tougher shell”.

The first line of treatment for your body acne should include washing the areas affected by body acne with a good cleanser that contains salicylic acid. Some experts also suggest using benzoyl peroxide on the affected areas. Either of the two previous options should be followed by a body moisturizer that contains alpha hydroxyl acid. That will help exfoliate the skin and keep it from drying out. In addition, as a general rule you should make sure you bathe as soon as possible after perspiring.

In addition to the above recommendations, experts also recommend that patients suffering from severe body acne use a topical retinoid such as Retin-A. There are also a wide variety of oral antibiotics such as tetracycline and minocycline that might also prove effective so you might want to consult your physician regarding those potential options. Just understand that it can take weeks to months before you begin seeing their results.

By: Kevin Nelson

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I am one of the millions of people who find it very difficult to control their weight. I have tried many weight loss programs and am always actively searching for more. This was until a couple of years ago when I stumbled across something quite unique, a weight loss program which does actually work. I am finally, after all of those depressive years, able to walk down the street feeling confident about the way I look. In this article, I am going to write about this successful weight loss program in the hope that it can inspire other people to also reach their dream weight.

I used to hate being obese, yes that is correct I was not just fat, I was obese. I saw it as one vicious circle, I would feel sorry for myself and would then turn to food as a way of comfort. I have spent many a night sitting in front of the television eating from a huge tub of ice-cream. I would only plan to eat perhaps a quarter of the contents but would always end up eating the lot. This of course would only lead to an increase in weight and boy did I feel guilty the next morning. I was forever beating myself up.

I could not continue to live my life in this way and was quite fortunate to receive some quality advice via a good friend. He told me about the way in which he had managed to lose his excess weight.

This was his plan, I needed to write down everything that I ate. I was allowed to have five treats in the week and had to be disciplined not to go over this level.

I also had to exercise for an hour a day, this to me seemed to be the flaw as I am not one for exercising.

I could not believe how much food I was eating and by writing it all down taught me a huge lesson. The exercise was actually quite enjoyable and an hour is not exactly that long.

After around six months my hard work and determination had certainly paid off and I was a whole new man.

By: Steve Hill

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Most of us are of the opinion that to lose weight we need to reduce our calorie intake, in fact the opposite is true. If we take a look at the way fat is burned up within the body, we realise that by reducing calorie intake, we are in fact encouraging our body to store fat as a preservation measure. The way to keep a healthy balance of fat burning and weight loss, is actually to eat more calories, not less.

When our calorie intake is too low, our body will not only begin to burn up excess stored fat, but also begin to metabolise lean muscle mass. This can result in a wasting effect on the muscle mass, as our body diverts energy into keeping our vital organs such as heart, brain, kidneys and lungs all functioning.

By reducing our calorie intake too much we are in danger of slowing down our fat burning metabolism. In doing this we will in fact lose weight at a much slower pace, as the rate of fat burning is so much slower. If we consume a realistic amount of calories for our bodily needs, the better our metabolism and weight loss will be. Having stated these facts, we have to be aware that we cannot just eat indiscriminately. We have to reach a healthy, realistic and sensible balance, which can vary in many ways from person to person.

- What weight are we?

Depending on our weight, we have to calculate our daily calorific requirements. The higher our weight, the more daily calories our body will require.

- How fit and active are we?

If we lead a physically active life, whether in our employment or are generally very active, then we will require more calories to maintain enough sustenance for our bodily needs. This will help effect maximum fat burning capabilities within our body.

- Do we want a fast or slow rate of weight loss?

It is possible to lose weight rapidly of course, but usually it does not have a long term success rate and really should not be done without medical supervision. A higher and safer successful weight loss rate is achievable by taking the much slower and steadier pace. This way is much better suited to our metabolism and is much more beneficial to our health and well being.

- Basic calorie intake guide line.

To remain at a constant weight we can calculate our necessary calories by multiplying our current weight by 10. (A weight of 240 pounds would need 2400 calories per day to maintain the same weight of 240 pounds)

By reducing our daily calories sensibly, perhaps 500 per day, we may reduce our weight by up to 1 pound per week. If we also embark on a regular exercise programme, we can burn up more calories, therefore increasing our weight loss over the week. We can see how beneficial it is to not only cut back on calories but also exercise to achieve maximum results.

Many other factors can have a direct effect on our weight loss. Many of us may suffer with water retention, often connected with hormonal changes in our body.

Certain medication can affect weight loss, as can the over use of sodium in our diet. All these factors can cause fluctuation in our weekly weight loss, but it should balance out over the course of each month.

Our main aim should be to ingest as many calories as our body needs to function efficiently, without compromising our health and well being. There is no need to drastically reduce calorie intake, we need to keep our fat burning capabilities to the maximum level, which will be impaired if we cut our calorie intake too much. In conjunction with a consistent calorie intake, exercise adds a bonus boost to our ability to burn fat, enabling us to maintain a regular, steady, safe weight loss.

When considering our calorie intake we should opt for healthy, nutritious fresh foods. Increasing our calorie intake does not equate to eating junk food or any foods that will have no nutritional value to our body. Our extra calorie intake should take the form of fresh fruit, vegetables, lean protein and whole grain. By following these simple suggestions, we can re-programme our eating habits and achieve a healthy weight loss and an increased feeling of well being.

By: Dave Townley

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Maybe you’ve heard about people losing weight while eating healthy 1000 calorie diets and thought, “No way could I live on that!” However, you can do it if you eat right and monitor your intake of nutrients by using an online food diary. Add some exercise to your days, and before long you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the amount of weight you’re managing to lose.

The problem with most American diets is that we include too many high-calorie, high-fat but low nutrition foods in our eating choices. Take, for example, that doughnut or Danish you grab every morning for breakfast. Both of these pastries are packed with fat and sugar. They make you feel full and satisfied, but there isn’t anything in them that’s going to positively affect your body.

Instead of getting a doughnut on the run, get up five minutes earlier and pour yourself a bowl of cereal. There are many different cereals on the market these days which are full of nutrients that will give your body what it needs without adding a lot of fat and sugar. Add some fruit and a half cup of skim milk to your cereal, and you’ll have a healthy and tasty breakfast for around 200 calories. Compare that to the 280 calories you’ll get in just one small cake doughnut.

When you’re on a healthy 1000 calorie diet, eat your biggest meal of the day at noon. That will give your body plenty of time to digest the food well. Stick with lean meats, fish, and poultry, and limit your portions to between three and four ounces. Although this will seem pretty skimpy to you compared to the portions you normally receive in restaurants, it’s all the meat your body really needs. You can eat a small portion of potatoes, but avoid all the butter and sour cream that will add empty calories and fat. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always good choices, too.

After lunch you’ll know how many calories you’ve eaten, and you’ll be able to plan for the eating you will do during the rest of the day. If you always get hungry in mid-afternoon, plan to use some of your calories then. An apple or some carrots and celery make a good, low-calorie snack.

If you’re going to stick to a healthy 1000 calorie diet, you need to allow yourself some treats now and then. If you love pizza, plan to have a slice once a week. You can do this by purchasing a large, fresh pizza and cutting it into 8 slices before freezing it. Portion size is everything when you’re limiting your caloric intake.

Keep track of everything you eat on an online weight loss site. It’s free and you’ll be able to keep a food journal, monitor your activity levels, and keep track of your progress towards your weight goal. You’ll also have access to personal charts which will let you know how well you’re doing in getting the necessary nutrients each day.

By: Ian Pennington

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Do you find yourself searching for the all time anti-aging beauty product which is far more powerful than what you find on the shelves today?

Recently on the Oprah show, Dr Oz reviewed a study conducted by the National Geographic Institute which stated that if people are looking for the best face replenishment, or a cream which will eliminate wrinkles in the shortest amount of time, you should focus on two things:

One, the concentration of anti-oxidants in the product and two, the current state of your arteries.

Now the second may sound a little odd, but lets take a look at the second observation first.

Scientists now believe that in order for you to look as young and fresh as you possibly can, it’s the health of your insides that count.

The first organ created ignites life and when dies extinguishes life so medical experts all agree that the state of ones heart is the most fundamental importance of how we appear on the outside.

In order to look our best scientists state, having the cleanest and most efficient arteries are integral to how our skin looks. If our arteries are clogged or blocked or full of toxins, it inevitably shows on our skin in many shades and forms.

America has the most appalling history of artery related illnesses and it’s no secret this is caused by their staple diet of fast/power foods.

Constantly abusing the arteries is why so many now crave some form of anti-aging beauty product but most look for some cream or lotion and fail to see the bigger picture.

Just by addressing our diet with an artery cleanser each day will work wonders for the health of our body and our skin dermatologists and dietitians alike argue.

Fortunately, as Dr Oz addressed in his review of this seven year medical study, such a supplement is now available.

Extracted from the roots and skin of certain plants is a polyphenol so high in anti-oxidants, which was the National Geographics first point to note, when consumed on a daily basis, this polyphenol acts as an artery scrubber effectively cleansing your arteries and if accompanied with daily exercise, the cleansing process is increased.

This obviously comes as welcome news to many Americans and the west as artery related illnesses are fast becoming a pandemic and having a quick solution to address the problem comes some what as a relief.

Anti-aging beauty products normally just focus on the ingredients that are layered over the skin but by having a product which addresses the longevity issue two fold Dr Oz argues is most likely the wisest way to tackle our skin aging process as well as how long we live as the two are obviously intertwined.

By: Rob R Carmichael

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Treating the ovarian cyst is a matter that depends on a lot of factors. Some of them are the dimension and the appearance of the cyst, whether there are or not symptoms, or if you have been through the menopause.

Sometimes, pre-menopausal women who discover they have a cyst don’t need to follow any treatment if it turns that cyst is a small and functional one. All they must do is to have an ultrasound scan after a month, to check on the cyst, because there are chances that it will disappear without any treatment in a few weeks.

In the case of post-menopausal women, if a cyst is detected on one ovary, the risk of developing cancer is very low. More than half of this type of cysts will disappear in about 3 months. For detecting the ovarian cysts, there are ultrasound scans and blood tests for the CA132 protein. This post-menopausal women are advised to follow a ultrasound scan 4 months after the cysts have disappeared.

Sometimes, when the cyst is large, it causes symptoms or appears during pregnancy, the doctor might recommend a surgery operation to take the cyst out, because without looking at it under a microscope, it is difficult to say if it will turn into a cancerous one or not.

There exists a surgical technique called laparoscopy, which is proper to use when you want to remove smaller cysts. This method consists in two small cuts that are made in the lower abdomen and through those cuts air is blown into the pelvis so that the abdominal wall shall be lifted away from the organs inside. A laparoscope is then introduced into the abdomen, and the surgeon can see the internal organs. With the small tools attached to the laparoscope, the surgeon can make a little cut in the cyst and will drain the fluid away. He can also just take a sample from the cyst, to determine what kind it is.

Laparotomy is another surgical technique, which is recommended to be done when the cyst presents the risk of bursting or spilling while it’s being removed. This operation requires a larger cut that must be made across the top of the pubic hairline, so the surgeon will have access through that cut to take out the cyst and sent it to the laboratory to see if it is cancerous or not.

If it turns out that the cyst is cancerous, the doctor might need to apply to you a treatment to remove both of the ovaries, the uterus, the omentum and some lymph nodes.

Every year, 6,800 new cases of ovarian cancer are discovered in the UK, and there are about 4,650 deaths per year caused by the ovarian cancer. The average age of woman that are diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 63, but this disease frequently appears between ages of 50 and 80, sometimes even at younger ages.

Using a long time oral contraceptives reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by three quarters, and this kind of cancer appears more often in women who have never had children than in those who have.

The cancer is hard to detect in early stages, but when it is caught in time and it is still confined to the ovaries, it can be cured with surgical treatment.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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