acne is a problem experienced by people around the world,
regardless of age, gender, or race. While you typically
see acne as a problem more among teenagers, this skin
condition can affect anyone, any time. acne can be brought
on by a number of factors such as diet, clogged pores, air
pollutants, stress, and so on. However, one of the prime
causes of acne outbreak relates to hormones.

When teenagers enter the years known as puberty, or
becoming capable of reproduction, their bodies are going
through a number of changes. Mainly their hormones are
going wild. Male hormones increase in both young males and
females, causing the fatty glands in the skin to grow.
These changes occur mostly on the face, back and chest.

Then, the oily substance Sebum, which is produced by these
glands, is produced in large quantities. With an abundance
of Sebum, it empties into the hair follicles and makes it
way to the skin where you see it as oily, shiny, and
sticky. Sebum becomes mixed with things found on the skin
such as dirt, areas of dead skin, white blood cells,
and bacteria, things like blackheads, whiteheads, cysts,
or nodules. When this happens, you see the dreaded
break out of acne.

As if all this weren’t enough, Keratin (the substance
making up hair and nails) and Sebum mix to produce a
bacteria called P-acne. Our bodies produce white blood
cells that would normally kill bacteria. This mixture of
Keratin and Sebum however does the reverse and kills the
white blood cells. Doctors know this, as they find the dead
cells when they examine an acne sore. So we now know what
happens, but we don’t know why P-acne is so hard to treat.

Now, acne also becomes a problem when a person experiences
hormonal changes because of stress. With today’s busy
lifestyles, stress sadly is a part of almost every person’s
life. In fact, studies have shown that during the time
students are preparing for finals in school, the number
of acne products sold is increased by as much as 40%!

Stress, (and outbreaks), are attributed to a normal
sympathetic nervous system response referred to as ~fight
or flight~, a time when the body physically reacts to
stress. The body responds by increasing metabolic rate,
heart rate, breathing rate, and even levels of blood sugar.
In addition, during times of stress, the adrenal glands
(located just above the kidneys), secrete two substances ~
epinephrine and norepinephrine. The adrenal cortex also
secretes hormones (called steroids) that affect the body by
causing the sebaceous glands to produce even more oil.

Finally, when a woman goes on birth control pills,
hormonal changes can occur that cause problems with acne.
In this case, the pills stimulate an increase in the male
hormone androgen that encourages the outbreak of hormones.
As you can see, hormones have a direct effect on acne
problems but with proper care, under the guidance of a
doctor, acne can be helped and sometimes even controlled.

Heidi Peilman is an acne awareness advocate and runs
acne Lift,
a premier Internet resource for acne information.
For more information, go to http://www.acnelift.com

Good nutrition is important for everyone, but is
particularly essential for children. Their growing bodies
need to have a daily regimen of vitamin enriched foods or
supplements that can help them to build strong bones and
muscles, and prepare them for a healthy adult life.

Vitamins are critical elements in the fight against
infection, loss of teeth, prevention of extreme blood loss
under certain conditions, and are necessary to heal wounds,
enjoy good eyesight and prevent serious illnesses. The
lack of sufficient vitamins in the body can bring about a
variety of problems that may not be immediately apparent,
but will have a significantly negative impact on your
overall health.

Since children are frequently picky eaters they may not get
all of the daily requirements for certain vitamins from the
foods they eat. Balanced meals are important for a child’s
nutition, but if children refuse to eat their vegetables,
fruit or another important food group, they will have to
take vitamin supplements to make sure they are getting all
the vitamins their growing bodies need.

Due to the way that some foods are processed, certain
vitamins may be lost ~ or drastically reduced in
concentration. As a result, even when children do eat the
right kinds of foods, they may not be receiving an adequate
amount of vitamin intake. In order to ensure that your
youngsters don’t become vitamin deprived, encourage them to
take vitamin supplements each day so that their levels
will be within the normal range for growing children.

Children under the age of one year old usually receive an
adequate amount of vitamins,in formula or mother’s milk. A
child, therefore should start to receive vitamins in some
kind of supplement form at the time of the first birthday.
The sun provides certain necessary vitamins, so if children
don’t get to play in the outdoors often enough, they can
become deficient in Vitamin D. A Vitamin D supplement can
be prescribed for those who don’t get adequate sunlight,
but a simpler solution would be to get out and play.

Parents should not assume that giving a larger dose of
vitamins will help the child who is sick with a cold, flu
or some other illness. Too much of a particular vitamin
can be just as harmful as too little,and therefore children
should not be given megadoses of any vitamins. Vitamins are
not snacks, remember, treat them seriously.

Any questions regarding your children’s vitamin needs,
proper supplements or other nutritional questions should
be directed to the child’s pediatrician. Each child should
have a comprehensive examination, and any recommendations
regarding vitamin intake should be strictly followed. If the
doctor feels a need for supplements exists, he will discuss
it, as well as types and dosages.

Since children’s vitamins come in all shapes, sizes and
flavors today, youngsters don’t often need much
encouragement to take their daily vitamin. The other side
of that is that those who are particularly young may want
more than one each day, and can sometimes use whatever
tools that they have within their means to get more than
one. It’s critical, then, to keep them safely out of their
reach, and in a secure location, at all times. If the
worst should happen and they should take more than one,
contact your nearest Poison Control Center.

Perry Stamide is the owner of
Fed Vitamins
which is a premier resource for vitamins on the Net.
For more details please visit: http://www.fedvitamins.com

With more than 100 varieties of arthritis, it’s likely
that you or someone in your circle of friends and family is
living with it daily. A confusing and misunderstood
disease, arthritis causes pain plus joint swelling and
stiffness that can put severe limitations on an
individual’s ability to engage in everyday tasks and
activities.

The second highest cause of worker disability in America,
arthritis appears more frequently in women than in men and
more than 66 million people in the United States — that’s
one person in every three — is suffering from its effects.

Varieties of arthritis

As we mentioned, there are over 100 different types of
arthritis. There are many conditions that are grouped under
a single name and to list every type of arthritis would
take a long time. If you have been diagnosed with a
specific type of arthritis, you can search for that type
directly and find more information.

In general, the various kinds of arthritis are classified
according to what part of the body they affect. Luckily,
the majority can be treated to ease the symptoms, such as
aches or sharp pain in joints, difficulty sleeping,
stiffness and more. Help is available for all these
arthritis symptoms.

Osteoarthritis is very common, as are others such as
juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and
even gout. As with most degenerative conditions, early
diagnosis and treatment are your best defense.

Treating arthritis

Of course, specific treatments depend upon the type and
severity of the arthritis, but for best results, beginning
treatment as early as possible is best, not only for
dealing with pain and discomfort but for slowing the
progression of the disease. Keep track of changes in your
symptoms and consult your physician whenever you have a
question or feel unsure.

You may also find that mild to strenuous exercise is
helpful in reducing pain and strengthening joints. Of
course, it’s always wise to consult your physician to set
up a plan that is safe and works for you.

Dolores DeParr is the webmistress of arthritis Guru
Inc., a leading resource for arthritis information on the
web. Find what you need at: http://www.arthritisguru.com