Sunday, February 25, 2007

Acne And Birth Control Pills: An Odd Couple

By Louise Forrest
Although it is fairly well known that women may develop acne at different times during pregnancy, there is another curious fact that you may not be aware of.
Did you know that birth control pills could come in handy as a treatment for acne? Strange as it may seem, this is actually true, as a result you could ultimately find yourself going to your gynecologist for advice on how to treat your acne. So it turns out that certain aspects of acne need not concern a dermatologist!
Acne and birth control pills, how on earth does this work? Well, here is the story. The fact is that birth control pills have a number of uses. If you have been struggling with your acne problem and feel that you have exhausted every possible treatment option, there is hope for you yet. Birth control pills have come to the rescue, and what is more, using them in small quantities for the treatment of acne has actually been approved by the FDA!!
Birth control pills to control acne? The fact is that birth control pills are pretty versatile and have been found effective in controlling eruptions of acne. If that sounds unlikely, check out the facts for yourself. It may come as a pleasant surprise that birth control pills are effective in retarding the production of androgen before the onset of menstruation. That is pretty useful, considering that androgen makes the skin greasy, exposing you to an increased risk of developing acne.
Diane 35 is one such product, normally used for birth control, but also effective in treating acne, especially used along with topical antibacterial creams. Did you know that birth control pills can also help to minimize the unpleasant effects of estrogen, such as breast tenderness, nausea and headaches?
A wish come true for acne problems? All this is probably pretty good news for you if you suffer from acne. But before you get completely carried away with the notion that you have found the perfect solution to deal with your acne problem, stop and take stock. Because, as is the case with most things, there is a flip side to this wonderful news.
If you think that this is the perfect way to deal with your acne, there are a few facts that you should consider before you do anything drastic. The fact is that while birth control pills do offer a number of health benefits, in using them to control your acne, you could actually be exposing yourself to greater risks. So stop short and ask yourself whether your acne is really worth it.
A godsend for acne, not so fast! While you are marveling at your new discovery, you should also be aware of the grim truth. Because by using birth control pills to fight your acne, you could be endangering your health in other ways. Did you know that this seemingly wonderful choice will increase your chances of developing strokes, heart attacks, breast cancer and blood clots? And that is not all, you also have to cope with side effects that are decidedly unpleasant. Vaginal bleeding, depression, fluid retention etc.
Acne treatments, beware of side effects. Would you say that is a rather heavy price to pay, simply because you are looking for a solution to cure your acne? And while you are coping with these side effects, the acne will still be there, improving perhaps, but playing havoc with your system because of your choice of treatment. Spironolactone and corticosteroids are two choices that you would be better off without if you are looking to cure your acne problem.
However, if you are pregnant, be careful. While you are concentrating on how your acne is responding to it, your male fetus may actually be developing feminine characteristics. As far as corticosteroids are concerned, there is no guarantee of success in treating your acne this way. You may even find that it is getting worse.
Faced with such critical issues, the best thing you can do is to seek the advice of your dermatologist and your doctor. Both should be able to help you find the best way out of your acne problem.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Forrest

Natural Treatments For Acne

By S. Wagner
There is nothing worse than being a teenager getting ready for your school prom and you look in the mirror to see that horrible thing sticking right in the middle of your forehead. If you've got long hair, maybe you can cover it up. But if you're sporting a crew cut, you're pretty much out of luck.
Acne is worse than just a disease that scars our faces. Acne also scars our souls. Many kids have acne that is so bad that the scars left on their faces carry on way into their adult years. They have no self confidence because of their looks and many of these kids don't excel in life simply because they have no self esteem.
And the worst part of all this is that acne is treatable. We're not talking treatable as in getting the Stridex pads or whatever else you may be using. These over the counter acne "cures" don't really get to the root of the problem. All they do is temporarily arrest it or cover it up. But the underlying cause is still there and unless that underlying cause is treated, your acne is most likely going to stay with you long after you're a teenager. Many adults still have acne symptoms long into their 30s or even 40s.
There are many misconceptions about what causes acne. Some people think that it's just something that happens to kids. Again, many adults still get acne. Some people think it's caused by hormonal changes at puberty. And while that is partially true, that is not the only cause and not even the main cause. Think about it. Why is it that you see some kids who have never had a pimple in their life? In some cases, they're just lucky, especially when you see how some of these kids live. But in many cases it's simply because these kids live a life style that produces an environment difficult for acne to survive. Yes, it starts with washing your hands and not touching your face with dirty hands, but it is so much more than that.
Most of it, in spite of what the doctors will tell you, is diet. Think about all the greasy pizza your kid eats. Think of the French fries and donuts. We could go on, but I think you got the picture. Kids simply don't eat right, and for that matter, either do many adults. That's why they're still suffering from acne well into their 40s.
Well, the suffering doesn't have to continue. At our web site we have natural treatments for acne that really work. So you can throw away your Stridex pads and tell your dermatologist to have a nice day. You won't be needing them any longer.
Please visit our web site at http://www.natures-healing-remedies.com/products.html#acne and get your free report on how the drug companies are killing us as well as get a free 52 week series on natural treatments for a variety of ailments. And while you're there, check out the Internet's number 1 seller for natural acne cures.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._Wagner

Diet as a Natural Treatment for Acne

By Robert Kokoska
The skin is the largest organ of the body and it helps other organs with eliminating waste. One of the best acne treatments is a diet which will help the body eliminate waste so that it won't interfere with your skin and cause acne. If you are unhealthy on the inside it will be reflected in your skin.
It is the livers job to remove hormones from the body. If your liver can't remove hormones fast enough you will end up with too much oil in your skin because hormones are like an instruction manual telling your skin to produce more oil. The function of the liver is also to get rid of toxins. If there is an over-load of toxins in your body, the liver can have problems removing hormones.
So what toxins concern acne sufferes the most? Mycotoxins. These nasty little chemicals are the 'excreted' waste of bacteria such as yeast, and usually found in the intestines. Mycotoxins put a strain on your liver and you already know what happens when your liver doesn't get rid of hormones!
Using diet alone as a natural acne treatment was not as bad as I had thought it would be. There are many foods that help the liver and help remove waste from the body.
What foods are good for cleaning the body? Two of the best foods are apples and psyllium husks. They both contain fibers that act like a broom and absorb and push out all the junk that's stuck in your intestines, sometimes stuff that has even been there for many years! The 'junk' is also the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that produce mycotoxins.
And what foods are good for helping the liver? Beetroot. Beetroot is known for it's exceptional liver cleansing properties. Another good food, or herb actually, is milk thistle. Scientific studies have suggested that certain chemicals in milk thistle protect the liver from damage caused by viruses, toxins and alcohol.
To cure your acne, you need to correct the problems inside your body that are causing your acne. No over-the-counter creams can do this. They can only kill bacteria on your face and help reduce the redness.
Would you like to learn about a 3 day diet plan that has cured thousands of people around the world of acne?
It's considered one of the best internal cleansing methods and also one of the easiest. It's called: Acne Free in 3 Days.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Kokoska