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HOME REMEDIESACNE - REMEDIES FOR
SMOOTHER SKIN
A huge pimple on the end of a nose can seem like a serious problem to the person connected to that nose. It may even seem serious to the people who find themselves staring at it when they talk to him. But acne can get much more serious than a simple blemish. Acne is classified in four grades, the first being a mild bout with a few whiteheads and blackheads. The fourth and most serious grade consists of many whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Grade four acne is often accompanies by severe inflammation that becomes red or purple. And it's a sign that you should see a dermatologist. Severe acne can result in permanent scarring if it isn't treated properly, says Peter E. Pochi, M.D. "The prescription drug Accutane will take care of severe acne very well." Give dry skin extra care. Dry skin can be sensitive to benzoyl peroxide, so Dr. Gossel recommends you start with a lower strength product first, then increase the concentration slowly. "You're going to get reddening of the skin when you put it on, but that is a normal reaction," he says. Stay out of the sun. Acne medications may cause adverse reactions to the sun. "Minimize exposure to sunlight, infrared heat lamps, and sunscreens until you know how you will react," cautions Dr. Gossel, who advises a patch test for sunscreen sensitivity. Use one treatment at a time. Don't mix treatments. If you are using an OTC acne product, you should stop using it if you are given prescription medication for your acne. "Benzoyl peroxide is a close cousin to Retin-A and other products containing Vitamin A derivatives, such as Accutane," says Dr. Gossel. A person shouldn't use both of them together.7 Stop the spread of acne. Apply acne medication about a half inch around the affected area, says Dr. Fulton, to help keep the acne from spreading. "The medication really doesn't fight the pimple you already have," he explains. "It acts more like a pimple preventive." Acne moves across the face from the nose out to the ear. You need to treat beyond the red inflammatory area. To most people the affected area is where they see the pimples. But that's not the case at all." REATMENTS FOR MINOR ACCIDENTSBURNS You can treat most first and second degree burns yourself, say doctors. But third degree burns need medical attention. Here's how to gauge how badly you are burned. First degree burns, like most sunburns and scalds, are red and painful. Second degree burns, including severe sunburns or burns caused by brief contact with oven coils, blister, ooze and are painful. Third degree burns are charred and white or creamy colored. They can be caused by chemicals, electricity, or prolonged contact with hot surfaces. Usually they are not painful because nerve endings have been destroyed, but they always require a doctor's care. Other burns that demand a doctor's immediate attention include: "If you can't even touch the tooth, that's an ache," says Roger P. Levin, D.D.S. "But if the tooth is merely reacting to heat or cold, then it's a problem with sensitivity." More than 40 million Americans have "dentinal hypersensitivity," and it begins when the dentin underneath the tooth enamel becomes exposed - usually at the gumline. Age, receding gums, surgery, and overzealous brushing with harsh pastes and hard brushes can expose dentin. Sometimes plaque eats the tooth enamel and exposes the dentin. Philip D. Corn, D.D.S., recommends an over-the-counter toothpaste made especially for people withn sensitive teeth, applied with a soft nylon bristle brush. Such toothpastes include Sensodyne, Promise, Protect, Thermodent, and Denquel. And if you're noticing sensitivity for the first time, it makes good sense to see your dentist to make sure you have no other problem. Doctors say that too much sun causes wrinkles. The problem, of course, is that unless you're a vampire or a roll of film, avoiding sunlight completely isn't something you want to do. So here's what experts suggest for balancing fun in the sun with wrinkle control. Leave the midday sun to mad dogs and Englishmen. About 95 per cent of the sun's wrinkling rays hit the Earth between the hours of 10.00 A.M. and 2.00 P.M. (11.00 A.M. and 3.00 P.M., daylight saving time), according to /Stephen Kurtin, M.D. Slather on the sunblock. Whenever you're out in the sun, the use of a sunscreen - the higher the sun protection factor (SPF) number, the better - is advised, says Dr. Kurtin. To be most effective in battling wrinkles, sunscreens should be applied to the skin at least 1/2 hour before going out and reapplied after swimming. Beware of reflective surfaces. It's always
the same sun up there, but circumstances on Earth do change. Keep in mind that the
wrinkling effects of the sun will be strongest off light colored (and therefore
reflective) surfaces, such as snow, sand, and concrete, says Jeffrey H. Binstock, M.D.
Make sure you get enough vitamin D. If you're really serious about staying out of the sun, remember that sunlight normally provides us with essential vitamin D. You can, however, get all the vitamin D you need either from vitamin D - enriched milk or a multivitamin, says Marianne O'Donoghue, M.D. DEAL WITH WRINKLES THE ORIENTAL WAY - That is to say his patients are taught a number of exercises designed "to develop tone and symmetry" in their faces and necks. They may also be given acupressure treatments. But what can you do at home without any special training from Dr.Ho'o? "Massage your face," he says. Using your fingertips, your thumbs, and the palms of your hands, rub every part of your face and neck. Any kind of massage he explains, will help "to maximize stimulation and circulation. It can also round out the facial muscles, whose symmetry is often lost in fixed or rigid expressions." Dr.Ho'o also emphasizes the importance of living a happy and stress free life. "Chinese people who have big families, who talk and laugh a lot, seem to have less wrinkles. And when wrinkles do appear, they are not unattractive." |
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