The first week I had horrible gas pains. The second week it was diarrhea. By the third week when the vomiting began I knew I could not take Metformin, also known as glucophage, anymore. According to my gynecologist, Metformin would regulate my missing periods, clear up my acne, and decrease the hair growing in places that I did not want it to. Instead, all I got was a steady stream of horrible reactions that left me weak, tearful and depressed.

I had heard my doctor’s warning of possible side effects but, really, who listens to those? If there was a wonder drug that was going to help me I was determined to take it; so determined that when my adverse symptoms started I ignored them. But by the third week, when things got worse, I began to feel betrayed. I was angry at the internet articles, angry at the blogs, angry at my neighbor who had taken Metformin and been fine, angry at my doctor. It seemed that there was no cure for me, no easy road to regular periods or losing weight or nice skin.

When I first learned about Metformin on the internet, all the news seemed very positive. It was the wonder drug for all women trying to get pregnant or for those of us trying to combat the symptoms caused by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Women who had never had a regular menstrual cycle suddenly were regular as rain. Women who had been trying to have a baby for years suddenly were having twins. How I wished that were me… but sadly it was not.

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There are many acne products
on the market and it can be very confusing as to which one will work best. By understanding what each of the different ingredients that are commonly found in acne medication, you will have a better understanding of what acne product is right for you and your skin.

Salicylic Acid

Dead skin cells can get caught in pores causing clogging. This acne product slows down dead cells from sloughing off of your skin. In addition, salicylic acid can help destroy whiteheads and blackheads. Use this product sparingly as it can irritate skin. It is best to start with a lower dose of salicylic acid at around .5% and if this does not work gradually increase up to 2%.

Benzoyl Peroxide

This acne product is the most popular over the counter treatment on the market. It kills bacteria that can cause acne. In addition, is cleans away oil and dead skin preventing pores from getting clogged. Be careful with its use as it can dry out your skin and produce redness, scaling and some swelling. In addition, benzoyl peroxide can increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun. It is best to start with a lower dose of 2.5% and gradually increase as long as your skin shows no negative reaction to this product.

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The brand managers for the companies that develop antibiotics have managed a neat trick. They have convinced the majority of people that their products will cure all ills. It’s something the snake oil salesmen tried in the late 1800s and early twentieth century. The idea is very attractive. That a single, all-powerful drug will banish all forms of sickness. Simply keeping it on the shelf beside your bed will always keep you safe. Unfortunately, life is never that simple. Antibiotics are only useful when you have a bacterial infection. If your sickness comes from any other cause, antibiotics will be completely useless. Worse, antibiotics are reasonably specific. Bacteria come in many different strains and the effectiveness of antibiotics is limited either to one of those strains or, like Doxycycline, to a limited number. There are thousands of different bacteria in the world and only some of them are susceptible to treatment with the antibiotics currently on the market. So what is acne? Acne is where the sebaceous glands in your skin grow overactive as the level of hormones increases. This releases more sebum, a natural oil, into the skin. Under normal circumstances, dead skin cells fall from the surface of the skin or are expelled from the skin and drop off. But with more oil in the skin, dead skin cells remain in the hair follicles and block the follicles. This environment is perfect for the growth of a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes. This bacterium lives harmlessly on your skin but once a warm, moist environment is created, it feeds on the sebum. As a result of this additional food, the bacteria expel chemicals that trigger your body’s immune system. In turn, this causes an inflammation of the skin. You know this because your skin turns red and can grow a little painful. The moment anyone sees the two words in the same sentence, “bacteria” and “inflammation” everyone assumes that antibiotics are the answer. (more…)

The headline news is that bacteria do not cause acne. The medical evidence is absolutely clear. All those pimples and zits are caused by excess hormones in your skin. This triggers the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, a substance like oil that lubricates and keeps the skin supple. Unfortunately, where the oil builds up in the hair follicles, those small tubes that hold each hair, it traps the dead skin cells that would otherwise drop off the body. These cells block the pore and this causes the blackhead or whitehead to form. There are bacteria that live on the skin. Under normal circumstances, they are perfectly harmless. But if they have access to food, they grow. In this case, Propionibacterium acnes feeds on sebum. As this bacterium grows, it excretes chemicals that trigger your body’s immune system and this produces the redness and soreness as your body fights the infection. At first, the problems will be mild. If you feel that something more than simply washing your face with a neutral soap is required, the best forms of treatment are available over the counter. Look for products containing benzoyl peroxide. This has an antibacterial effect by drying out the skin. As the skin dries, your body sheds the surface layer of dead skin. This helps to reduce the amount of dead skin cells available to block up the pores and therefore reduces the chances of an infection. (more…)

Asthma has been reported in literature over the last two thousand years. As a medical condition, however, it was considered relatively uncommon and most people grew out of it as they passed through their teenage years. Although a small percentage of people could continue to suffer as adults, it was not considered to be a major problem. Indeed, it was often dismissed as a psychosomatic disorder. Over the last fifty years, however, the precise physical causes have been identified and better treatments devised. Curiously, there has also been an explosion in the number of people who suffer from it at all ages. One of the standard approaches to treatment is the use of steroids such as Prednisone. Steroids can be administered orally, through inhalation or by injection and they help to reduce inflammation of the airways. For this reason, oral Prednisone is used not only for asthma, but for other lung diseases as well. There is no doubt that, when Prednisone is used on an emergency basis to relieve a serious asthma attack requiring hospital treatment, the benefits outweigh the risks. A short-term, high dosage use can quickly reduce the inflammation contributing to the breathing difficulties and prevent the symptoms from worsening. Unlike the inhaled steroids which go straight into the lungs, Prednisone is absorbed into the blood stream. In this form, it is used alongside other medications to control long-term and often difficult problems. This so-called “short burst” treatment is highly effective. (more…)

Let’s start off with two facts. Prednisone was approved for use in 1955. It is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and so helps to treat arthritis. When a drug has a track record of more than fifty years, you respect its effectiveness. No medication survives in today’s highly competitive market unless it delivers. On that basis alone, it would be right to recommend its continuing use. But, like every other simple truth, this needs just a little qualification. Your body naturally produces cortisol. This is a hormone and it helps to reduce inflammation by modifying the way in which the immune systems works. Inflammation is actually a good sign. That sounds counter-intuitive so, to explain, when your body is invaded by bacteria, viruses and other foreign matter, your white blood cells gather round to defend you against infections and other damage. That swelling, pain and redness are signs the white blood cells are doing their job. All you have to do is to slow down and let the battle continue. Except that sometimes your immune system does not work as it should. If it becomes overactive, too many white blood cells are released and can cause tissue damage. Prednisone and other steroids reduce the activity level of the immune system and modify the way in which the white blood cells function. This distinguishes them from the anabolic steroids whose function is to build up muscle mass. Thus, used in low doses over a period of time, Prednisone can reduce the stiffness and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. (more…)

When spring comes and buds threaten to turn into leaves, many look forward to summer little realizing the danger that lurks in the undergrowth. Now, wherever you see green think danger. The dreaded poison ivy and oak are on the warpath, and they are out to get you. You think you’re going to be safe in your local parks. Think again. You’re not even safe in your own yard! Without you noticing, the green menace has been spreading through your neighborhood. Now, if you’re out there on the front line, pulling weeds from the flower beds close to the hedge, keep your eyes peeled. It only takes one touch of more or less any part of the plant. That includes the stems, vines, leaves, flowers and roots. They all contain the resin called urushiol. If you do not wash off this resin with ten minutes of contact (using an alcohol-based rub is best), prepare for misery. You get about one day of peace before the rash and fluid-filled blisters come, and then it all begins to itch. Except that the resin can be picked up on your clothes or the garden tools. Even your pet cat or dog can carry it into your home. During the season, you’re not safe. If you’re caught, wash all your clothes and everything else you were wearing or using at the time. Failure to take this simple precaution could result in a further exposure. The urushiol remains active for months. One final word of warning. It’s tempting to go out and root out every last sign of these “evil” plants and burn them. Except that, if you burn these plants, the droplets of urushiol can be carried down wind. (more…)

There is a way to a blemish-free skin with no harsh drugs

If you are between 16 and 20 years old, odds are you are having problems with the old enemy, acne, and that you are trying to find a solution to it. You’re far from being alone in this matter, as nearly 70% of all youths suffer from more or less severe forms of acne. And for many people, moving into the late 20s does not mean an end to acne, but the same old problem.

The most embarrassing, of course, is facial acne. Pimples on you back or chest can be hidden under clothing even in the summertime, but your face is always exposed. Every person you meet will look you in the face and even if no comment is made you know what they are all thinking, don’t you? Fact is, people tend to judge others from the clothes they wear, the state and color of their skin and other such superficial aspects. This is why you have to get rid of acne.

Causes of acne

Facial acne is easier to treat than body acne, but has a bigger chance of coming back in the form of flare-ups. Dust, air pollution, cosmetics and shaving are all factors that work in favor of acne by irritating your skin or clogging your pores. Moreover, dust and air pollution also bring the bacteria, which are responsible for pimples. Whenever a pores is clogged with sebum and dead skin cells, bacteria seize the chance and start multiplying in the sebaceous follicle. Before long, the follicle turns into a blackhead or a whitehead (in mild cases), or even into pustules or papules (in severe forms of acne).

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Everyone wants clear, impurities-free skin. Unfortunately, not all of us were blessed to have the model- look beautiful skin that we always wanted. People are always bombarded with those various skin disorders and we are always flocking to our drugstores to buy the latest miracle cure for that naturally beautiful skin.

Some Facts:

Fact number one. The cosmetic industry makes billions of dollars from the public quest for great skin. They use the money to advertise and perpetuate their products. Do not be fooled by the hype.

Fact number two. There are many factors that contribute to the clogging of pores: like dehydrated skin, improper cleansing, excessive oil production, excessive build-up of dead skin cells, hormones, excessive sweating, dirty work or play environments, genetics, makeup, fingers on the face, allergic reactions, a diet high in sugar content and many others.

Fact number three. Most skin impurities are due to clogged pores, so the best way to have that beautiful skin is to unclog your pores.

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Tired and confused with all the cosmetic products in the market? Are you typically at a loss on what to buy to have the best quality that would give your skin the care it deserves? Well, if you are constantly fooled by the hype of those big cosmetic companies who are spending billions of dollars each year to satisfy your quest, then you might consider computing the amount of money that you have spent. How much does each trip to the drugstore cost?

How many bottles of products did you buy that were supposed to cleanse, tone, moisturize, and exfoliate your skin? Does your bureau resemble a hospital medicine cabinet
? The truth is, maintaining beautiful skin does not have to be this complicated. There are natural ways to have that beautiful skin you have always longed for in your refrigerator and kitchen. Moreover, they are not as expensive as those bottles of cosmetics that you are so fond of.

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