Acne 101 — Take Your First Step Towards Unblemished Beauty

Acne is a very common and pesky skin affliction that affects most people with combination to oily skin at some point in their life. In most cases acne usually debuts early in life (around puberty) and we call it teenage acne, but in some cases it appears later in life (past 20 years of age) and we call it adult/hormonal acne. Acne causes spots to develop on the skin, usually on the face, back and chest. These spots or blemishes can range from papules, black heads and white heads — which are often mild — to deep, inflamed, pus-filled pustules and cysts, which can be severe and long-lasting and lead to scarring.

Why Do You Get Acne?

Acne is linked to your genetics and known to run in families. If both your mother and father had acne, it is likely that you will also have acne. It is most commonly linked to the changes in hormone levels during puberty, but can start at any age.

Acne affects the oil-producing glands next to the hair follicles in the skin. Certain hormones cause these glands to produce larger amounts of oil  (sebum). This abnormal sebum changes the activity of a usually harmless skin bacterium called P. acnes, which becomes more aggressive and causes inflammation and pus. The hormones also thicken the inner lining of the hair follicle, causing blockage of the pores (opening of the hair follicles). Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, can also lead to episodes of acne in women.

Using wrong skin or hair products (comedogenic) can exacerbate acne.

Some medications also cause acne.

Friction or rubbing the skin (helmet, hat, tarha/scarf) can also cause acne

There is some evidence that stress and diet also play a strong role in acne.

What Can You Do If You Have Acne?

Keeping your skin clean is important, but will not prevent new spots from developing. Wash the affected area twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser, but do not scrub the skin too hard to avoid irritating it. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer. While choosing your emollient make sure the product is dermatologically tested and labeled oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it doesn't cause spots.

Sad fact about acne is that it can't be cured permanently, it can be controlled with treatments and proper skincare. Several creams, lotions and gels for treating spots are available at pharmacies.

If you suffer at the hands of acne, it's a good idea to speak to your dermatologist for skincare advice and prevention. Products containing a low concentration of benzoyl peroxide or retinoic acid may be recommended (be careful as these can cause skin irritation and bleach clothing).

If your acne is severe, is leaving behind PIH and scarring or appears on your chest and back, it may need to be treated with antibiotics or stronger treatments that are only available on prescription.

My Acne Prescription

As we have already established there is no cure for acne but it can be controlled by judicious use of skincare and medications here’s my advise on how to keep your skin unblemished and clear even if your gene

For severe and cystic acne that affects the face as well as body and leaves behind scarring you better see a dermatologist as soon as possible before any permanent damage to your skin happen.

If you have acne, you will probably have to treat it for a long period of time — not just during an acne breakout. Work with a dermatologist to determine the most appropriate treatment for your acne, and how long you should follow the treatment regimen. It's important not to stop acne treatment before your doctor says it's okay — otherwise, you run the risk of having another acne breakout just when your skin starts to clear.

Lets Get You Leg Flashing Attire & Calf Sandals Ready

Des jambes sexy as the French say it, or the quintessential slim, contoured and sexy supermodel gams that shine in every attire and are ever so flattering with gladiator sandals “Are” and “Will Always Remain” the iconoclastic beauty asset that females across the board covert. The math in today’s lean and lanky leg obsessed world is very straightforward — all women want them and all men admire them.

In terms of claiming bragging rights most people think either you are born with them or you have to work really hard to achieve them — which by the way is not entirely true. Here’re some insider secrets that can fast track you on your way to getting a leg up in the gracile world of “Beautiful leg Goddesses”.

No Knife No Needles — Energy based Devises: Thunder thighs, cellulite as well as smaller pockets of fat like inner knees, ankles and calves can be difficult to reduce and sometimes diet and exercise are not enough to make a noticeable difference. Now, dermatologists & cosmetic surgeons are finding that the introduction of non-invasive fat removal technologies is opening the doors for more people who are not candidates for liposuction to remove stubborn fat, safely and effectively.

Radiofrequency & Cryotherapy Technologies Fat cells are by nature very different than other cells, particularly in how they respond to stimuli such as temperature. Most of the new technologies recently introduced for fat removal have been developed based on this knowledge and, as a result, can target specific areas of body fat using energy delivered as either heat or cold. Clinical cases and studies have proven that that these technologies deliver consistent results with very little side effects.

Ultrasound Technologies: Ultrasonic energy can be delivered in two different forms: Focused and Non Focused. Non-focused delivery can bring about scattered damage in fat cells with a minimal amount of the energy reaching the fat cells, focused on the other hand is the ideal method in terms of achieving lipolysis and skin tightening.

Laser Liposuction: Lipoplasty over time has become a popular cosmetic procedure for sculpting the thigh, ankle and calf regions, and though classic liposuction may also be efficient for this indication, in experienced hands, laser liposuction is more precise and can result in much superior aesthetic outcomes.

Liposuction is a technique that allows cosmetic surgeons to remove stubborn layers of fat that cannot be handled with diet and exercise. It works by painlessly melting the fat, which is later removed by a device called a cannula (a hollow tube attached to a suction machine that removes the fat through a tiny pinhole incision). The procedure involves making multiple small incisions and injecting a special tumescent anesthesia under the skin to numb the area. Then a small laser fiber is inserted under the skin to break down fat as well as stimulate skin tightening. Unwanted pockets of fat are then sucked out using small vacuum controlled cannulas. A compression garment is applied at the end of the procedure, which has to be worn for 2-3 months post procedure. The treated areas feel sore and bruised for few days, but with the use of laser during liposuction the recovery is much faster compared to the traditional liposuction.

MesoTherapy: Mesotherapy relies on repeated injections just under the skin using specific compounds to kill fat cells reducing the bulk of the area. The compounds injected depend upon what we are trying to achieve — treat cellulite OR reduce fat pockets. The treatment has been used in France for decades, but clinical studies are just beginning in the U.S (Kythera Biopharmaceuticals Inc. has recently won FDA approval for Kybella (deoxycholic acid) to be used for double chin reduction).

Botox®: For people looking for a milder form of calf reduction, Botox may be a good option. Botox works by partially paralyzing the over sized calf muscles reducing muscle activity and causing them to shrink in size. The effects of Botox are temporary, which gives you the opportunity to “sample” the shrinkage it provides. If you like the results, you can repeat the procedure every 6 months or later opt for a more permanent procedure like Radiofrequency based thermal destruction of nerves for the bulky calf muscles.

Beauty Ideals: Physiologists from the University of Liverpool back in 2006 meticulously researched the beauty of women’s legs. After screening the planet thoroughly to find a pair of most beautiful women’s legs on Earth, these scientists concluded that movie star Nicole Kidman happens to be blessed with the golden pins with perfect proportions. The length of Kidman’s legs makes up 1.4 meters of her body length, which according to the researchers is the ultimate correlation for women.

As far as the length of the legs is concerned it still stays very much within the domain of what God had bestowed upon you, but thanks to the creative handiwork of shoe artisans you can always make use of a well-heeled shoe to gain the illusion of legs that go on for days.

Sculpt a little and lift a little — now you can display your prized stems making the couture world your oyster.