The number people over 30
needing acne treatments has
climbed to the extent that
a report published in Journal
of the American Academy of
Dermatology recommends raising
the age for insurance coverage
of the acne drug tretinoin
to at least 40. The authors
of the report, Drs. Steven
Feldman and Alan Fleischer,
dermatologists at Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical
Center, add that many insurance
companies refuse to pay for
tretinoin prescriptions for
patients older than 25.
Even if your insurance company
leaves you to fend for yourself,
you still have options for
freeing yourself from acne
and wrinkles. At first, coping
with acne and wrinkles may
seem like a cosmetic catch
22. Do you dry your skin with
acne cleansers containing
benzoyl peroxide and salicylic
acid, and worsen your wrinkles?
Or, do you smear on the moisturizer
to smooth the wrinkles, but
cope with the zits brought
on by the extra oil?
Before you get frantic, ask
yourself a series of questions.
Adult acne may be the result
of hormonal fluctuations triggers
by diet, stress or your environment.
1. Are you regular?
About 70% of your immune system
is located in your intestines.
If this area is blocked with
waste, your immuno-defenses
are down. So, instead of waste
leaving your body via the
rectum, it chooses to leave
through the skin. Waste leaving
the skin can cause an infection
that presents itself as acne.
2. Are you tense?
Tension likewise reduces the
vigor of the immune system.
Take a few deep breaths throughout
the day to calm your body.
Take a long walk in the fresh
air to wind down.
3. Are you eating all the
nutrients you need?
Cases of acne have been improved
with consuming foods containing
zinc, essential fatty acids,
vitamin A and a host of other
nutrients. All of these vital
nutrients are available in
leafy green vegetables, fruits
and olive oil.
4. Are you constantly thinking
about a personal issue that
you have not addressed?
Not resolving personal issues
creates conflict and tension
in the body. Again, these
issues most be addressed to
avoid undue stress within
the body.
5. Are you exercising everyday?
Exercise reduces stress and
gives you an opportunity to
subconsciously contemplate
challenges that you may be
facing. Physical activity
also keeps your muscles and
intestines toned, which keeps
encourages regularity.
6. Are you changing your pillowcase
frequently?
Using a dirty pillowcase aggravates
an acne condition. Your face
naturally secretes oils during
the night. These oils are
sticky. So if you pillowcase
if dirty, you are allowing
your face to collect extra
waste during the night, which
could further clog your pores.
7. Have you moved recently
or are you changing your job/career?
New demands or feelings of
lose can sometimes accompany
change. Transfer these emotions
into something constructive
by writing in a journal or
envisioning how these changes
are going to benefit you.
Find comfort in these changes
and opportunities for new
beginnings.
8. (Women) Do you also experience
excessive facial hair growth
and erratic periods?
Conditions such as acne, excessive
facial hair, and erratic periods
could indicate an androgen
disorder or other underlying
hormonal imbalances. Your
doctor can provide you with
a series of endocrine tests
to ascertain your hormone
levels and what corrective
actions you should take. Ricardo
Azziz, M.D, who serves as
Chair of the Department of
Obstetrics and Director of
the Center for Androgen-Related
Disorders at Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center, estimates
that 80 percent of women with
excessive androgen levels
suffer from an endocrine disorder
called polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS). Dr. Azziz adds that
women with PCOS often have
insulin resistance and are
at increased risk for developing
Type II diabetes, hypertension
and heart disease.
Copyright 2005 Naweko San-Joyz
About Naweko: Health author
and Stanford University graduate
Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes
from her home in San Diego.
Her works include "Acne Messages:
Crack the code of your zits
and say goodbye to acne" (ISBN:
0974912204) and the upcoming
work "Skinny Fat Chicks, Why
we're still not getting
this dieting thing" (ISBN:
0974912212) for release in
June of 2005. For useful acne
self-help articles visit
http://www.Noixia.com
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