Natural Acne Treatments Vs Leading Pharmaceuticals

In June 2009, the pharmaceutical giant Roche Holding AG, pulled its Accutane acne medicine from the U.S. market after juries awarded at least $33 million in damages to users who blamed the drug for bowel disease.

According to Bloomberg.com, “Roche notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today that it was withdrawing Accutane after a “reevaluation” of its product lines showed it faced serious challenges from generic competitors, company officials said in a statement.”

This is just another in a long list of recent health concerns over pharmaceutical skincare treatments and the serious health risks they may pose.

As the natural skincare movement gains popularity, many consumers are discovering their old over the counter acne treatments can have potentially harmful chemicals that would be best to avoid. In response to these concerns, many have made the switch to all-natural acne skincare treatments. While some are convinced that natural remedies can’t be strong enough to fight stubborn acne. If you are convinced a more powerful acne medication is the best option, read on to find out what approach is right for you to become acne free.

Product	Contains Chemicals	Birth Defects	Depression Psychosis	Skin Irritation	Restrictions on Sun Exposure	Gastro-intestine Disorders
Vivoderm 100% Natural Anti-Acne Mask	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
Retin-A	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO
Tetracycline	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES
Benzoyl Peroxide	YES	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO
Differin	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO
Skinoren*	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO
Roaccutane	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES

Effective Natural Acne Treatments and Ingredients

There are various home treatments and natural ingredients that have been proven to be effective in treating mild to moderate cases of acne. Some of these may include:

• · Massage essential oils into your skin at night such as Tea Tree Oil, Bergamot Oil, Clove Oil, Lavender Oil, and Rosewood Oil. Wash your face clean in the morning with pure soap and water.
• · Acne starts within the body, not just at the surface of the skin. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of water to help detoxify your body and help clear acne.
• · You can exfoliate and clear pores with an oatmeal mask once or twice a week. Cook oatmeal and while it is still warm, apply to your face, allow oatmeal to dry and then wash away.

There are many varieties of at home solutions, some of which are effective, and some not. Those with more serious cases of acne however, such as cystic acne, usually turn to stronger over the counter acne treatments.

Over the Counter Acne Treatments

Over the counter acne products tend to be more powerful in fighting acne because each product works differently to target causes of acne. Certain products function by killing Prionibacterium acnes (P.acnes), the bacteria that creates inflammation. Other medications reduce sebum output and renew skin. Other products function by using combinations of these things. Acne medication treatments work in different ways depending on their active ingredient. Here are some common active ingredients that acne products contain.

*Benzoyl Peroxide works to eliminate P. acnes and reduces excess oil and dead skin cells. It is available in different strengths that come in products in certain percentages.

*Salicylic Acid prevents pores from clogging by slowing the process of skin cell shed within hair follicles. It also helps fight whiteheads and blackheads.

*Alcohol and acetone are found in astringents and cleansing washes. They clear your skin of dirt and oil.

These medications might be more powerful in treating acne but they often come with more side effects such as dryness, sensitivity to sun, stinging or irritation, redness or peeling.

There are many natural options that are now available that give you the opportunity to fight acne with powerful results but without the unnatural chemicals that may cause unwanted side effects. The top natural acne treatments have been proven to be as strong as leading pharmaceuticals, yet a perfect compromise between gentle home remedies that don’t show results and powerful but irritating over the counter products.

When it comes to the next generation of acne treatments, the most promising products are natural blends to specific herbal constituents–like Rosemary, Marshmallow, Aloe Vera, Lavender, Fennel, Angelica, and Green Tea – that evade irritating side effects. Vivoderm Laboratories offers a natural acne mask that reduces sebum output, controls inflammation, unclogs pores, and moisturizes skin. It also serves as an acne scar treatment as it regenerates skin affected by redness and scars. Many herbs also contain natural antiseptic properties to attack acne-causing bacteria. This anti-acne treatment removes dead skin cells and repairs blemishes without drying out the skin.

The bottom line is to always be aware of chemicals you expose yourself to and make the choice that is best for you. If chemicals are in any way a concern for you – opt for a natural solution that treats the root causes of acne, not just the symptoms and become acne free – naturally.

Understanding Hormones and Your Skin

“How to achieve beautiful, supple and young-looking skin”. You almost can’t avoid it – splashed on magazine covers, reported in newspapers and marketed on television and radio, the message to improve our skin would appear paramount to how we and others view our looks.
How does our skin age?  Skin aging is influenced by:

* Genetic differences
* Hormonal changes, e.g. estrogen and thyroxin
* Chronic sun exposure
* Wind, pollution

Blame it on hormones

Hormones are mostly to blame for skin changes as we age. Hormones are chemical messengers produced in organs such as the ovaries, adrenal glands, and thyroid glands, and all have an effect on other tissues.

Much of the reason why our skin begins to suffer is primarily due to hormones — and there is a massive industry manufacturing products to try to alleviate the results of these hormonal changes, notably as women reach menopause in their 40s and 50s.

As menopause occurs, estrogen is reduced and while it has a direct effect on thinning bones, it also creates significant changes in the skin. Women find:

* their skin becomes drier with increased wrinkles
* skin becomes more fragile, loses some of its elasticity, and is looser because the production of collagen is reduced
* older skin appears paler as the lack of estrogen reduces the number of blood vessels in the skin
* menopause also causes a reduction in the level of testosterone but not as significant a drop as in estrogen

Hormones and dry skin

Another hormone we have is thyroxin, produced by the thyroid gland, which influences skin appearance. Too much thyroxin shows a warm, smooth, sweaty, flushed skin. Under-activity of thyroxin produces a dry, coarse thickening of skin with reduced ability to sweat.

Hormones affect acne

The oil glands of the skin are in part controlled by the level and activity of the hormone testosterone in the skin. Testosterone is required to produce acne. This outcome can be seen in conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, which produce some elevation in testosterone, which in turn causes increased facial hair, irregular periods and acne. It has also been found that some birth control pills can block testosterone skin reactors to improve some of the consequences of increasing hormone levels. (See Acne Guide for more acne information)
Thinning hair

Hair will thin after menopause. In some women, genetic factors produce significant thinning. Abnormalities in the level of a thyroid hormone, in addition to the amount of iron stored in the body, can influence the volume of hair.

Estrogen encourages hair to stay in its growing phase (Anagen hair). This is seen in the significant thickening of hair towards the end of pregnancy. After menopause, however, the lower estrogen amount allows the scalp hair to grow towards the falling out stage (Telogen hair).
HRT and skin

Post menopausal women will notice that unlike their scalp, facial hairs increase. This is thought to be because estrogen — which opposes the effect of testosterone — drops relatively more after menopause than testosterone.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been used over the last 20 years to combat the signs of aging. HRT can promote a fuller-looking skin because the skin then becomes thicker with less loss of subcutaneous fat. Thinning and drying of vaginal surfaces is also minimized. This can also be achieved by using topical estrogen. The use of estrogen creams has been shown to maintain the elasticity and fullness of skin after menopause, although at this time it is not used extensively because of concerns about side effects and the variability of absorption into the body.

See your doctor or dermatologist to determine which solutions best suits your experience with aging skin.

By Richard Thomas, MD

Five Tips for Natural Skin Care

Tip 1: Give Yourself a Dry Brush Exfoliation
A dry brush exfoliation can be done in the morning before you shower. It eliminates dead skin cells and allows the skin to detox (skin is the largest organ of elimination). Dry brush exfoliation also improves lymph and blood circulation and decreases puffiness. An added benefit is that the gentle pressure is calming to the nervous system. To give yourself a dry brush exfoliation, you’ll need a soft, natural bristle brush.

Tip 2: Rev Up Your Digestion
In alternative medicine, good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced “good” vs. “bad” bacteria, leaky gut, and other digestive conditions. The two most common sluggish digestion culprits are:

* Culprit #1: Not Enough Water Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation.

* Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber Most people lack fiber in their diets – the average person eats only 12 g of fiber a day. In 2002, the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition Board established recommended fiber intakes. For men aged 19-50 years, 38 g fiber is recommended, and for men over 50, 31 g fiber is recommended. For women aged 19 to 50 years, 25 g fiber is recommended, and for women over 50, 21 g fiber is recommended.

* Some suggestions:
1. Add Whole Grains – Choose whole grain products over refined. Have brown rice instead of white or make your own 50:50 combination.
2. An Apple a Day – Have an apple, skin on, as a snack.
3. Eat Cauliflower – Try this delicious Roasted Cauliflower recipe!
4. High-fiber snacks – Snack on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, figs, and prunes.
5. Try a “Prune Power” Smoothie – Prunes are a great source of fiber. Start your day with this tasty Prune Power smoothie.
6. Eat Beans and Legumes – Open a can of your favorite beans or legumes. Rinse them well and add them to your meal.
7. Ground Flaxseeds – For any easy fiber boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds (available at health food stores) on rice, salads, oatmeal, or any other meal. Store flaxseeds in the fridge.

Tip 3: Invigorate Sluggish Circulation
Do you sit at your desk for hours, only getting up to go to the bathroom? One of the best things you can do for your skin, stress level, and overall health is to get moving! Inactivity may affect skin and promote bloating and puffiness, acne, cellulite, and loss of muscle tone.

* Take a quick break to go outside and walk around the block.
* Book a massage therapy appointment.
* Close your door and stretch.
* Go to the gym.
* Start each morning by stretching.
* Get a skipping rope – raise your heart rate and do some good cardio.

Tip #4: Avoid Excess Sugar
Most people do not realize this but excess sugar is considered one of the main causes of premature aging. The more sugar we eat, the more sugar we have entering our bloodstream. Over time, this can result in a process known as glycation, which is when a glucose (sugar) molecule damages a protein molecule by sticking to it. The new molecules formed are called advanced glycation end-products, or AGEs. AGEs damage collagen in skin, cartilage, and ligaments and promote a loss of elasticity. Wrinkles form and skin begins to sag.

* Try This – It may seem impossible to reduce your sugar intake, but it can be done! A gradual approach works best. In the next week, choose one thing you’re going to do to decrease the amount of sugar you consume. For example, start by cutting the amount of sugar in your daily coffee or tea by half. Every week, find another way you can decrease your sugar intake. Pretty soon, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come!

Tip #5: Eat Some Good Fats
Essential fatty acids are simply fats your body cannot live without. They are needed to make cell membranes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Essential fats are thought to keep your heart healthy, fight inflammation, and possibly prevent cancer. They are also particularly important to people with inflammatory conditions such as eczema and acne, and also for people with dry skin. People with essential fat deficiency sometimes notice bumps on the backs of their arms. Here are my suggestions on getting more essential fats:

* Flaxseed and walnut oil – Use flaxeed oil or walnut oil with balsamic vinegar as a salad dressing. Be sure to keep these oils refrigerated. They should not be heated or used for cooking.
* Cold water fish – Sardines are a good source of essential fats. Salmon is another good source, however these salmon accumulate toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (otherwise known as PCBs) in their body fat during the 95 percent of their lives they spend at sea.
* Supplements – Consider fish oil supplements.

Natural Facial Skin Care for Acne

Almost everyone has suffered from an acne breakout (or many more) in their lifetime. Acne occurs when the oil (or sebaceous) glands under hair follicles, usually on your face, neck, chest, or back, get plugged up, inflamed, or infected. Frequently the glands simply secrete too much of a thick waxy lubricant called sebum that keeps your skin healthy. This blocks the pores and creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Follicles then get red and inflamed.

Hormone imbalances can play a role as well. Sebum increases with the overproduction of testosterone and other androgens in teenage boys, for instance, or with women’s hormonal fluctuations, such as those associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. In mild cases of acne, whiteheads and blackheads appear, and maybe some raised red blemishes. In more severe cases, pus-filled cysts and deep nodules form around the inflamed follicles, causing unsightly bumps, tenderness, and often pain.

Organic Skin Treatments for Acne

A couple of herbal products are useful for drying up acne. Topically applied tea tree oil is a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree oil is fungicidal, antiseptic, expectorant, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, parasiticide, and antiviral. Wipe on a 10% to 15% strength solution twice a day.

The herb chamomile also has long been used for easing skin inflammations. Make a strong chamomile tea, and wipe the cooled liquid over your face each morning. This effective daily rinse tones and cleanses.

The holistic understanding of acne is generally the result of hormonal imbalance or toxicity of the bowel or blood. Use cleansing herbs like burdock root, yellow dock root, or echinacea root to help cleanse your blood and remove toxic waste products from your liver. Use bowel-cleansing herbs like yellow dock root and psyllium seed for a week, and repeat once a month for several months, especially if you have trouble with boils, acne, and other skin problems. Take evening primrose capsules. And apply tea tree oil solution externally.

Here’s a helpful tea recipe:

1 tablespoon Oregon grape root

1 tablespoon yellow dock root

1 tablespoon burdock root

1 tablespoon red clover flowers

2 cups water

Put all herbs in water and simmer 30 minutes. Drink one cup of the tea, 2 to 3 times daily.

During a breakout, eat mainly fresh fruits and vegetables, and add a six-ounce glass of cleansing vegetable juice with equal parts of cucumber, carrot, and celery, with a little parsley. Identify and drastically reduce all forms of refined sugar and fried foods in your diet – this includes honey.

Alternate hot and cold compresses over pimples once or twice a day to open the pores, cleanse them, and increase circulation to remove wastes.

Sometimes the skin will show reactions to external factors, such as bacteria, that have led to internal processes, which reflect on the skin instead of manifesting internally. While symptoms on the skin should be attended to, the real problem lies in the weakened defense system, which should be toned and strengthened so that the body will rid itself of infection.

The general guidelines for the treatment of infections also hold true for acne. And if antibiotics have been used recently, at least 1 g of vitamin C should be taken daily.

Best Organic Natural Skincare Tips

Treating your skin with pure natural skin care products is not just a new fad or a trend, but a true and effective response to a world overloaded with chemicals, toxins, and pollution. There is  only so much a body can do to purge itself from the unhealthy balance we have all been guilty of contributing to. Natural skincare products have been uniquely designed to restore the skin as well as protect the skin and also make it feel smooth, moist and fantastic. The skin is the body’s largest organ and is the first line of defense against toxins and other harmful substances. It is responsible for fighting infections, keeps your temperature regulated as well as fights off dehydration. Why treat it like a chemical garbage dump?

Using natural skin care products is one of the most popular and easy ways to maintain your healthy glow. Some may prefer surgical procedures to augment the natural look of their skin, but in the end using natural skincare is the most effective form of preventative and anti aging skin care regimes. This is because it is easily affordable and there are no ethical issues to consider that many face when considering plastic or augmentative surgery such as Botox injections or face lifts.

Many people are looking for instant solutions to their skin care issues or want to physically augment their appearance because of a sense of dissatisfaction with their appearance. Most physicians will prefer to prescribe natural skincare solutions and offer a variety of choices in terms of how to moderately treat your skincare issue before suggesting you go in for radical and invasive surgeries. Get proper professional advise before you head off to seek a surgical, “instant” option. The likelihood is small that a skincare procedure that involves a any form of anesthesia or an injection of skin bacteria may be the healthier choice.

Next time you consider trying to plump up your lips with a Botox injection or try to puff up your cheeks with some sort of skin bacterial injection, consider doing it the natural way. This can usually be in the form of a cream or lotion that will be significantly less severe than actually adding chemicals to the facial structure and bloodstream. The potential side effects of a chemical addition to your blood or bady can cause unknown allergic problems for many people and are not recommended above natural skincare solutions.

Instead, seek the opinion of a natural skincare expert and allow them to map your facial structure for the skin type and other factors. This will help in administering the best natural skincare product for your face and body, helping the product to work better with your skin type and color. This all comes at a fraction of the risk and at a much lower cost than the surgical procedure.

Administering natural products into your skin is a much better way to maintain a proper skin type and also a better way to improve the look of your skin.

Pure, natural skin care products do not contain the numerous synthetic additives that can cause the human skin’s defense to weaken as well as the unseemly and ugly skin irritations. In addition, the chemical based skin care products may also cause rashes to break out as well as the debilitating allergies. Some, if not all of the chemical additives are by products of motor oil (that’s right), petroleum products and insecticides or even worse.

One hundred percent organic and natural skin care products will help nourish and restore your skin, as well as strengthen the skin and keep it healthy. By using natural skin care treatments, they will work in harmony with the body so you can be assured of having healthy skin which, in turn, will help keep the whole body healthy by asking it to do less internal cleansing and detoxing.

Healthy skin will excrete an important protective covering called the “acid mantle.” This helps to protect the skin from environmental effects as well as harmful organisms. To keep the skin in good health as well as to keep your acid mantle functioning properly you need to have a healthy lifestyle along with a natural or organic skin care regimen.

This can be achieved by not only just eating healthy foods consisting of a whole food diet, but also constantly getting essential fatty acids through consumption of unrefined, expeller pressed plant oils or fish oils. In addition, one should drink plenty of water as well as exercise regularly. Using natural moisturizers and natural sun protectors like zinc and zinc oxide will help in lubricating your skin and protecting you from harmful UVA / UVB rays.

Natural face creams, containing shea butter, coco butter and organic oils as well as organic hand and body lotions will help keep the skin naturally free of blemishes. The best organic and natural skin care products are made from high quality botanical oils and ingredients, which are typically produced in small, carefully packed packages so that one can be assured of purchasing only fresh stocks. So, be sure to give your body and your skin a break…feed it well with nourshing natural foods and organic skin treatments.

Blue Light Therapy for Healing Acne

By Van Le |

After trying countless of potions and lotions to no avail, some acne sufferers are turning to technology and hoping that blue light therapy, a new scientific advancement, will pave the way for acne-free skin.  Considered a form of laser treatment, the procedure involves emitting a blue light source (with visible spectrum of 406 to 426 nm) to the affected areas.  The high-intensity light kills the bacteria that can cause acne breakouts.  Blue light therapy is approved by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration as a legal and safe procedure for the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.  As a result, it is a widely advertised and highly popular form of treatment among acne sufferers.

Unlike creams and ointments that treat acne on a topical level, blue light therapy targets bacteria underneath the skin, eliminating the problem from the root.  The high frequency, high power light can penetrate up to 2mm underneath the skin surface and targets bacteria that form within the sebaceous glands and cause breakouts.

It works by adding oxygen to skin cells, which leads to a chemical reaction inside acne bacteria, causing the bacteria to self-destruct.  With fewer bacteria, the number of buildups and acne lesions begin to decrease.  The treatment stems from the belief that sunlight reduces acne, but also emits dangerous UV rays that can lead to premature aging and cancer.  Since blue light does not contain any UV rays, it provides all the benefits without any of the damage.

Most patients report little to no negative side effects, and the treatment can be used on several parts of the body including face, back and chest.  Blue light therapy can be administered alone or as a component of photodynamic therapy.  In conjunction with blue light, some dermatologists recommend undergoing red light therapy since it helps nourish damaged tissues, accelerate the skin renewal period and enhance tissue regeneration.

Like other laser treatments, blue light therapy is most effective when administered in multiple sessions.  Although the length and time of treatment varies, most patients undergo treatment sessions that typically last for 20 minutes and normally done twice a week for at least four weeks.

Doctors also recommend monthly treatments to maintain the desired results.    The cost for blue light therapy can range from $50 to 150 for a single treatment, and up to $3000 for a full treatment package.  Due to its cosmetic nature, it is not covered by most insurance plans.  It is considered a non-invasive treatment course for acne, since most patients report little pain or adverse side effects, and most patients can resume normal activities immediately after a session.  Although blue light therapy hints promising results for acne sufferers, it is important to bear in mind that it is a new technology.  Limited research and studies have been conducted on the procedure, and its long term effects have yet to be determined.

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare and anti-aging, you can also link to http://naturalantiagingproducts.net

Study Shows Diet Can Cause Acne

Many of us have suffered from acne at one point or another in our lives, most commonly during our teen years.  In the United States, 85% of teenagers and 20% of all adults suffer from acne, according to acne-resources.org.  Recently, studies have suggested that Westernized lifestyle choices, such as diet, can play a major role in the occurrence of acne.   A national study led in 2002 by a team at Colorado State University (1) indicated acne is a skin condition that is prevalent in fully modernized Western societies, but a rare occurrence in many non-Western societies where dietary habits “are virtually uninfluenced by Western foods.”  We all know that hormones, bacteria, and genetics are all contributing factors, and there are several creams, lotions and cleansers available on the market to treat acne pimples.  However, new theories suggest that what we put in our bodies is just as important as the topical products we use.

Studies have shown that a low glycemic diet not only improves the symptoms of acne, but also offers other significant health benefits.  Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia conducted a study in which they found that those who followed a low-glycemic diet not only had less acne lesions, but also lower weight, lower Body Mass Index, and increased insulin sensitivity.  The glycemic index measures how different carbohydrates raise our blood sugar levels after consumption. The faster the food breaks down during digestion, the lower the GI count will be.  Similarly, food that breaks down quickly will have a higher GI count.  Foods with GI index of 55 or less are good for the body and skin, since they contain more complex carbohydrates and release sugar directly into the bloodstream at a slower rate.  As a result, insulin demand decreases, along with acne breakouts.  Insulin leads to acne by releasing other hormones that increases the amount of sweat and sebum.  When mixed with excess oil or dry skin cells, it provides a thriving ground for acne.  High levels of insulin can also cause high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Foods with low GI indexes include broccoli, mushroom, fettuccini, and spaghetti.  Cake, soft drinks, white bread and potatoes are examples of foods that are on the opposite end of the chart, with GI indexes of 70 or higher.  A healthy, low-glycemic  diet does not have to be bland.  Instead of processed food, opt for those with more whole grains, such as wheat bread and wheat pasta.  (You probably won’t event taste the difference.)  Also, combine lean proteins like chicken breast, salmon and turkey with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.  String the meat and vegetables together on a skewer stick and throw on the grill for a healthy, summery feast.

Although diet alone will not clear up acne, it can lead to a healthier lifestyle.  Combined with a proper skincare regimen and the right products, acne can be manageable.

(1)    http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/1531

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare you can also link to http://herbalfacialskincare.com

How to Properly Cleanse Your Face

By Van Le | Washing our face may be the simplest daily routine we can perform for a healthy complexion, but it is often a neglected subject when it comes to discussing skincare. As children, “washing your face” means to simply splash water on our skin for a few seconds. However, as our skin matures, it requires more attention and a proper routine, since properly cleansing our face daily is truly the foundation for fabulous skin. Essentially, the purpose of washing our face is to remove dirt and excess oil, unclog pores, and allow our skin to breath freely. At the same time, it removes dead layers of outer skin to make room for younger, healthier skin. Here are a few tips for properly washing your face.

First, thoroughly wash your hands with warm water. Grease, dirt and grime can transfer from the hands to the face by touch; therefore, it is important to get rid of any leftover residue before touching your face.

Second, wet the face and use a gentle cleanser to wash away the dirt, impurities and pollutants. Try an herbal product that contains natural ingredients and vitamins, such as Vivoderm’s facial cleanser. Infused with skin-friendly herbs such as vitamin A, vitamin E, Aloe vera, rosemary and chamomile extract, it leaves the skin clean and hydrated. It can also be used to remove eye makeup, since it is a gentle product.

Vivoderm’s line of skincare products contains no harsh chemicals or preservatives that can irritate the skin. Apply the cleanser to your face, use your middle and ring fingers to massage the product in a circular motion, moving upward from the chin to forehead. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, especially around delicate areas such as the eyes.

Rinse your face with plenty of luke-warm water to wash away the cleanser along with any dirt and oil. It is especially important to use warm water since hot water can cause capillaries under the skin to burst, while cold water won’t completely remove impurities on the skin. Make sure you wash along the hairline and neck, since soap residue around these areas can irritate the skin and cause more problems.

Next, pat your face dry with a clean towel. Never rub your face since it could cause irritations, and always use a clean towel. A dirty towel will just transfer dirt and pollutants back onto your face, defeating the purpose. Then, use an alcohol-free toner to bring your skin to the proper pH. Vivoderm offers an all-natural toner that helps sooth the skin.

Finish off by applying a moisturizer that replaces the essential oils that have just been washed away. Vivoderm’s intense moisturizer contains a cocktail of natural herbs that helps the skin maintain a healthy glow.

Cleanse your face in the morning and night, but no more than twice a day, since excessive washing can strip the skin of essential oils. By following these steps, clear, healthy skin is simple and easy.

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare and facial treatments, you can also link to http://medicalskincareadvice.com

Natural Acne Scar Treatments

The unfair fact is that adult acne will affect 25 percent of men and 50 percent of women in their adult lives. We know that identifying hormonal changes as the main cause of adult acne aren’t entirely proven. There isn’t just one cause. Acne in adult women can be linked to cosmetic use, some hair products and can frequently be brought on by the hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy. Certain types of prescription medications can also cause adult acne. Some strains of acne, such as Acne vulgaris, don’t typically show up in adults until midlife. Adult acne also forms differently, whereas adolescent acne begins on the forehead and cheek area, adult acne tends to show more on the chin, jaw line and neck.

With all this new adult acne erupting (pardon the pun) more than before, natural acne and scar treatments are gaining more acceptance as consumers want to make healthier more sustainable choices for their skincare.

Your skin has an amazing natural ability to regenerate itself and a new layer of skin growth will generally cover any scarring, but in the rare cases where this does not occur then a more advanced scar treatment is in order. Always consult with your doctor or dermatologist before beginning any facial treatments to be sure you are not causing further damage.

A healthy, well-balanced diet plays a large role in helping your body and skin to regenerate itself to its optimal condition. Many dermatologists recommend a diet high in natural minerals. These minerals are to maintain the health of the skin cells, which in turn should prevent a further outbreak of acne and repair damaged tissue. Diets, which include plenty of green vegetables, un-cooked vegetables such as carrots, spinach and cucumbers, have also helped many to maintain smooth, blemish-free skin. The idea is to try to create a new fresh layer of skin so that the scars reduced or eradicated.

Are you drinking enough water?

By consuming a regular amount of water daily, you can improve the look of your skin. The average human body is comprised of 60 percent water. Drinking more water, instead of sugar-laden sodas or energy drinks will keep the skin moist and smooth; it will also clear away the dead skin cells, flush toxins and aid in the regeneration of new skin cells. Mixing water with natural ingredients like citrus, fruit or vegetable juices, can also be helpful to exfoliate the skin.

With a proper nutritious diet, vitamins and plenty of water, most see results within a few months. It can take up to a year for acne scars to heal completely. Acne scars do not show up overnight and removing them can take the same amount of time if not more. It takes patience, but with the proper motivation for beautiful, glowing skin, it will be well worth the wait.

Using Yantra in Ayurvedic Herbalism

Yantra simply means ‘device’ in Sanskrit, and similar to devices like radios that tune into certain frequencies, yantras both tune into and amplify very specific vibrations that are salubrious to our herbal intentions. How does this spell healing to the Ayurvedic practitioner and their client? There are many reasons but here are some to ponder.

Yantra – Good for the Herbs
The Yantra is considered to be a geometrical equivalent of a mantra, and so it is about generating or modulating vibrational energy. Since the Yantra is more static, the vibration is steady, like a standing wave ‘trapped’ or ‘channeled’ by boundaries and filters. It also tends to be precise more often than a mantra. This particular vibration enhances the power of the herbs; it is like having a Gyoto monk or a Kashi pujari personally attending the herbs and continuously chanting empowering mantras. In fact, when using mantras to empower herbs, I have found that first directing the mantra through a yantra seems to focus the power of my sankalpa (intention). As Vamadeva points out, it creates a pattern in the herbs that will more effectively hold mantras.

Because a properly made Yantra invokes a pure, non-vitiated vibration, it activates the pure activities of an herb. For instance, Ashwagandha will create more Ojas than Kapha when used with a Yantra because Ojas can be seen to be the pure form of Kapha. The same goes for Prana and Tejas. The right yantra can also make herbs more Sattvic, while another yantra, say of a Goddess like Kranti, can make the herbs Rajasic. The choices of the herbalist are not “good or bad”, but rather about which energies are preferable: sometimes it is Rajas or Tamas.

Yantra – Enhances Practitioner Herb Wisdom
The Yantra is an archetypal symbol that can trigger the ability to innately know what an herb is good for and if it is good for you. It has this power because by looking at it, certain energetic structures in our subtle bodies are activated that allow a direct link to an intuitive knowledge of the herb. In other words, when you look at a jar of herbs on which a yantra is placed, your eyes read the text under the label or visually inspect the herbs, but your third eye reads the yantra, and gets to the codes to open up a part of you that can hear what the medicine is saying. Of course, only a great Vaidya Yogi can fully do this, but I am sure it happens subtley for some and subliminally for others. Tradition is that the same exact yantra actually exists inside of us, in the patterns of certain inter-chakra nadi networks within the within.

If we are lucky and skillful, a Yantra can be programmed, or requested, to gather and hold our accumulated collective efforts, thereby building the Prana of the remedy, the clinic, or the vaidya. Of course, any logo can do this, but to the extent that the yantra carries and promotes a special Shakti, it enhances above any other logos of our enterprises.

Utilizing Yantra
Respect is the key to correct use of a yantra as it is the mansion of a particular goddess embodying a cosmic principle. Since the moon significantly helps to govern the Soma in the herbs, I often will place a large Sri Yantra engraved on a Silver, Copper or Gold plate on top of the herbs and place this overnight out in the light of the full moon or during some other auspicious muhurta (moment). The Yantra can also be placed on the herb jar label. Yantras are more powerful when engraved in metal, so in India I once commissioned an artist to engrave the Sri Yantra in the metal tops of my herb jars. They were beautiful and I feel the Goddesses who empower herbs appreciate beauty and are more likely to take up residence in herbal practices and apothecaries that embrace and radiate beauty. Well made and skillfully used Yantras can promote this beauty.

It is best to practice Yantras within the whole of the tradition to fully utilize its synergy; it will not thrive when torn from its Vedic roots. Good results can be generated with the judicial use of these mystic diagrams, but like any Vedic science, the use of Yantras is best learned directly from the Yantra and from an experienced expert, and not from mere written words. In fact, to be assured that I have a great expert on my side who will rectify my mistakes and lack of skill, I almost always use Yantras that I have personally immersed into the Ganga to invoke her Divine blessings. As Ayur, the continuity aspect of consciousness, is a hologram, Yantra helps us reflect That.

by Prashanti De Jager

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