Uneasy symptoms and reasons for acidity

It may come in middle of the night in the form of coughing and choking, or perhaps at work as a sudden burning sensation, incessant pain in your chest at office after a huge, greasy meal. Acidity has many faces, most are discomforting.

When acid from the stomach leaks up into the gullet (oesophagus), the condition is known as acid reflux, commonly called acidity. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, you have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Common Causes of Acidity

• Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
• Being overweight or obese
• Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist
• Snacking close to bedtime
• Eating certain foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods
• Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
• Smoking
• Being pregnant
• Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications

Symptoms of Acidity

Heartburn- A burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to your abdomen or chest is known as heart burn. It is the most common symptom if you have acidity.  The pain can also move into your throat. Despite its name, heartburn doesn't affect your heart.

Chest Pain- Chest pain, which occurs because stomach acid is splashing into the oesophagus, is a classic acid reflux symptom. But the pain can last longer and be more intense than expected. You can never ignore chest pain, especially if it gets worse when you exercise or exert yourself.

Regurgitation- Another common symptom of acid reflux is regurgitation, or the sensation of acid backing up into your throat or mouth. Regurgitation can produce a sour or bitter taste, and you may experience a "wet burp" or even vomit some contents of your stomach.

Pain Worsening at Rest- The acid that is supposed to stay in your stomach is more likely to escape into your oesophagus when you lie down or bend over, causing heartburn.

Pain after Meal- Pain that sets in right after a meal—especially a big meal—often means the stomach is overloaded and its contents have nowhere to go but up. But you may be able to prevent this without taking medication.

Foods that Worsen Acidity Symptoms

Certain foods can make the symptoms of acid reflux worse. To lessen your symptoms, try avoiding:

• Citrus fruits
• Chocolate
• Caffeinated drinks or alcohol
• Spicy, fatty, or fried foods
• Garlic and onions
• Peppermint
• Tomatoes

When experiencing acidity, stronger medications should be taken with care, as they can cause side effects.  And remember; always contact your doctor if you are experiencing chronic and severe symptoms of acid reflux.

Five different types of meditation

Mediation has proven to provide significant benefits in the life of practitioners. There are over five different types of meditation techniques listed below that can give you an insight into the treasury of a healthy mind as well as body. 

Breath Observation

Central to any technique of meditation is breathing or monitoring one's breath. Breath observation is as simple as paying attention to your breath for a very short period from say a few seconds to minutes. To start with the breath observation meditation technique, settle yourself down on a flat surface and in a place that is quiet and serene. Sit straight and place your hands on either of your knees.Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Breathe from your nose as it transports oxygen all the way to the bottom of the lungs. If your mind wanders for the first few times during your meditation session, re-focus your attention on your breathing pattern and continue doing it for long as you are comfortable. 

Begin Meditation with an empty mind

Meditation, for many experts or regular practitioners, is a source for vacating all the thoughts from the mind. And, to do this, sit patiently on flat surface with your back straight and eyes closed. Let the mind relax. This might be an especially diificult meditation for beginners because an effort of any kind on the mind will cause wrong practice of the technique. Just be patient and take your time.

Walking Meditation

Walking meditation requires the practitioner to use his or her body completely. This can be performed outdoors or inside a room. While you start walking, observe the way your body moves and how your feet contracts when it is exposed to ground. While walking, observe your breath. If you are planning to exercise the walking meditation technique outside your house, look out for a place that is away from the hustle bustle of city life. The health benefits of meditation are immense.

Mindfulness Exercise

Mindfulness exercise is also called insight meditation. In mindfulness exercise, you meditate to enhance awareness of everything that is happening around you. To start this meditation technique, you can concentrate on your breathing pattern. Slowly, move away from the thoughts that may be troubling your mind and focus on what is going on outside the realm of your body and mind. The key to this meditation technique is to watch and hear everything without judging or analysing what is being seen or heard.

Simple Mantra Meditation

Mantra meditation is considered one of the easiest ways of meditation as it draws you away from all thoughts by making you focus on just one object. Chanting mantras is a great help for people who wish to practice this technique. An experienced master who understands your expectations from a regular meditation routine usually chooses the mantra. While doing this meditation, you can either choose to say the mantra aloud or in your head.

Several other kinds of meditation techniques are available as well, but they need to be practiced regularly. However, one must understand that these techniques are usually used to suit certain situations.

Health Benefits of Nopales

Nopales are spectacularly healthy type of cacti with a wide range of health benefits including its ability to aid in weight loss, prevent cancer, improve skin health, protect heart health, regulate and improve digestion, boost the immune system, optimize metabolic activity, build strong bones, cure insomnia, and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

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Nopales are a form of vegetable that is made from the soft pads of underdeveloped prickly pear cacti. The useful vegetative pads are either green or purple, and are roughly the size of a person’s hand. They have a consistency somewhere between green beans and green peppers, and are regularly added to eggs and steak stir fry. They are native to Mexico and Central America, and it is in this cuisine that you most commonly find fresh nopal. It is mainly found fresh in Mexico, and either canned or pickled as an export, particularly to the Southwestern United States and Texas.

Nutritional Value of Nopales

The wealth of health benefits that come from nopales are mainly attributable to its nutrition and vitamin content, which includes riboflavin, vitamin B6, copper, iron, fiber, vitamin-A, C, K, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. It is also an important source of certain organic compounds like phytochemicals and certain polysaccharides that also contribute to the health boosting power of nopales. Let’s explore some of these health benefits that people have been enjoying for thousands of years in the more details explanations below.

Health Benefits of Nopales

Digestion: Nopales are forms of cacti, so they are very fibrous and contain a great deal of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is essential in the digestive process, because it adds bulk to bowel movements that make them easier to pass through the smooth muscles of the digestive tract. It also stimulates peristaltic motion to move the bowels along the tract, and reduces symptoms of both diarrhea and constipation. Furthermore, excess fiber in the body can actively reduce the amount of cholesterol, thereby protecting your heart health as well.

Weight Loss: There are a number of components within nopales which can aid in weight loss. First, fiber can make the body feel full and inhibit the release of ghrelin, which is the hunger hormone, so overeating is reduced. Secondly, this plant is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol, but it is packed with metabolic potential, so the body works at a higher level without gaining weight. The presence of vitamins B6, thiamin, and riboflavin also makes metabolic function work quickly, and they maximize fat burning and the transformation of food to usable energy.

Cancer Prevention: The variety of phytochemicals, flavonoid compounds, vitamin-C, and other antioxidants found in nopales make it extremely beneficial for the entire immune system, particularly when it comes to various cancers. Antioxidants are beneficial compounds that seek out free radicals in the body and eliminate them before they can mutate the DNA of healthy cells into cancerous cells. Free radicals are the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can accumulate in the body and cause a variety of health problems, including cancer. The content of vitamin A and flavonoids in nopales have also been connected to a reduction in skin, lung, and oral cancers.

Metabolic Activity: One of the most important aspects of nopales in terms of health is its mineral and vitamin content. Nopales contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin-B6, all of which are vital components of cellular metabolism and normal, regulated enzyme function throughout the body. If your organ systems and hormonal balance are optimized, then your body will run more efficiently, you will increase weight loss, promote healthy muscle gain, boost repair and maintenance of organs, and generally tone the entire body.

Builds Strong Bones: The mineral content of this powerful cactus leaf includes a modest level of calcium, which is an essential part of building strong bones and repairing bones after being damaged.

Improve Sleep: This plant also contains magnesium,which is a useful mineral for inducing feelings of sleep for people suffering from insomnia, chronic anxiety or restlessness. It induces the release of serotonin in the body, which results in increased melatonin levels. It also has a slightly sedative effect, which reduces nerve function and calms the body, helping you to fall asleep.

Inflammation: The juice that is taken out of the pickle pear leaves of nopales has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on a variety of body parts, including those symptoms associated with arthritis, injury, joint pain, and muscle strain. Apply the juice topically to the affected area, of consume the vegetable itself to also enjoy the effects.

Skin Health: The phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics of nopales make them a good defensive mechanism against premature aging symptoms, like wrinkles and age spots. The free radicals left after cellular metabolism can seriously impact the skin and by eating nopales, you can keep your skin looking healthy, young, and refreshed.

Diabetes: The extracts from the leaves of prickly pear cactus can be powerful regulators of glucose levels within the body. For patients with type 2 diabetes, it can cause a reduced spike in glucose levels following eating, which makes the management of diabetes easier.

Ulcers: Following the traditional use of nopales as a cure for gastric ulcers, recent studies have verified these effects. Apparently, the mucilage and fibrous material in nopales makes it inhibit the development of gastric ulcers and those that develop due to excessive consumption of alcohol, so for people who regularly suffer from this painful condition, add some of these powerful plants to your diet and improve the quality of your life!

A Few Words of Caution: Due to its ability to regulate and affect blood sugar levels, nopales can sometimes make people hypoglycemic, and it should also not be consumed excessively before an operation, since it makes it difficult to control glucose and blood nutrient levels. Other than those health concerns, nopales are a delicious and highly nutritious addition to your diet!

Home Remedies to Prevent Bed Bugs

Some of the most effective home remedies to prevent bed bugs include the use of rubbing alcohol, baking soda, cayenne pepper, talcum powder, caulk, tea tree oil, thyme, mint, lemongrass, clove, lavender oil, and steam cleaning.

Bed Bugs

One of the most disturbing things to think about is insects crawling on your skin when you sleep, but unfortunately, that is precisely what happens to people who suffer from a bed bug infestation. Common bed bugs that feed on human blood are scientifically known as Cimex lectularius, and they prefer to live in warm places, near bedding and sleep areas, as that is where their primary source of food (humans) spend a lot of their unconscious time. Bed bugs are largely nocturnal and can reproduce very quickly. They are approximately 4-5mm in size as an adult, and can largely go unrecognized. However, their bites appear as small red bites, and can also spread into a larger rash and general redness.

Following the bites, you can usually inspect the bedding closely to find the culprits. Fortunately, bed bugs are not known to carry pathogens or be more than a minor annoyance to humans, but they are still rather gross, and can spread so quickly to other fabrics and bedding that outbreaks are common. Some people choose to use pesticides to eliminate bed bugs, but part of the reason bed bugs have seen a resurgence in recent years is because of pesticide resistance. Therefore, many people have turned to more trusted strategies (that also have less side effects for animals, small children, and the environment). Now, let’s take a closer looks at these natural and home remedies to prevent bed bugs.

Home Remedies to Prevent Bed Bugs

Steam Cleaning: One of the best way to eliminate these irritating little parasites is with extreme heat. Therefore, steam cleaning your bedding or other fabrics that may be infested with bed bugs is a great strategy to kill the critters quickly. Any temperature above 150 degrees Fahrenheit makes it impossible for them to survive, which makes steam cleaning one of the most effective and surefire ways to clear up the issue.

Lavender Oil: Through endless trial and error and generations of trying to eliminate these pesky creatures, it has been found that bed bugs absolutely despite the smell and taste of lavender oil. The same is true of all other essential oils as well, but lavender oil is the most effective. Sprinkle some on your sheets and pillows, and the bed bugs will literally run the other way.

Caulk: While this isn’t a direct treatment for the bed bugs, it is a wonderful way to prevent the bugs from ever entering (or returning) to your home. You can put extra caulk on the door frames, cabinets, and any other entry points into your home. That way, bed bugs won’t be able to find their way in in the first place!

Mint: The smell of mint leaves is also a natural insect repellent, so many people have traditionally sprinkled crushed mint leaves around their sleeping area to ward off the bugs, or they store their bedding with mint leaves stored between the sheets and blankets.

Tea Tree Oil: As one of the strongest and most potent essential oils, tea tree oil has been turned to for many home remedies. For bed bugs, this natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal acts quickly to eliminate the infestation. It can be sprinkled on the sheets or mix it in with your cleaning products and use it throughout the house, to prevent them from ever entering.

Rubbing Alcohol: One of the best things about alcohol is that it is a drying agent. The alcohol quickly dehydrates the bed bugs and effectively kills them, ending the infestation. However, then your sheets have been sprayed with a mist of alcohol, so they should be cleaned immediately.

Baking Soda: Similar to rubbing alcohol, baking sodahas a remarkable ability to soak up any liquids near it, acting as one of the most effective drying agents on the market. Spreading this substance on the floor near cracks in the wall, or sprinkling some on your bed, can quickly eliminate the problem.

Lemongrass: This herb works in two ways to eliminate bed bugs. Not only do they seem to hate the smell and flee from it, but lemongrass also increases the acidity levels of the bugs, which they cannot tolerate. Either way, this home remedy is highly effective and widely used.

Clove: Just like lemongrass, the high acidity of clove essential oil makes it intolerable for bed bugs, who would much rather flee from the high pH then suffer, even at the loss of a good meal. Sprinkling clove oil on your bedding and pillows should do the trick.

Cayenne Pepper: By combining ginger and cayenne pepper, you can create a solution that is extremely potent and unpleasant for bed bugs, so they will not be able to stand being in its presence. Problem solved!

Talcum Powder: Talcum powder, a particularly powerful drying agent, acts to suffocate the bed bugs right between the sheets, so an easy sprinkle should clear up your problem quickly. At that point, you can wash the sheets or steam clean them to eliminate the bodies and get your sleeping back to normal.

Thyme: This herb has a very powerful smell, particularly when burned, and is capable of clearing out an infestation of bed bugs in no time. Also, thyme can be spread or disseminated near the borders of the home or the door frames, to prevent the bed bugs from entering.

6 reasons why you should consider sleeping naked

Many people tend to shy away from the concept of sleeping naked because it is seen as a perverse activity. However, instead of laughing away the idea of going to bed naked, you will be surprised to know that sleeping in the nude actually has amazing health benefits that could improve the quality of your life. Here’s why you should consider ditching your nightie and pajamas and instead get into the habit of sleeping naked (provided you have your own room!):

1. Builds intimacy with your partner

Sleeping naked with your partner could help in strengthening your marriage or relationship. This is because skin-to-skin contact helps in the release of oxytocin. This is a strong hormone or neurotransmitter in the brain that plays a vital role in bonding and the levels usually tend to increase when you’re hugged or kissed by a loved one. Other than this, sleeping in the nude will also help in making you more familiar with your partner’s body and learning about their pleasure points. In fact, a survey conducted in England revealed that 57% people who slept naked with their partners felt happier than usual. Here’s how you can get your partner in the mood by sleeping naked.

2. Helps you achieve a positive body image

Most of us struggle with achieving a positive body image and accepting our body the way it is. Being bombarded by pictures of models and actors with ‘perfect bodies’ only makes it more difficult. However, sleeping in the nude will gradually help you in accepting all your physical flaws and embracing your body type. This is because when you momentarily look in the mirror every morning, you only tend to notice the parts of your body you have grown to strongly dislike. When you’re naked for several hours on end, you learn to grow comfortable with how your body looks and even start noticing your physical assets for a change.

3. Helps keep you cooler                        

During summer, most of us struggle with falling asleep due to high temperatures and humidity levels. By going to bed in your night gown or pajamas, you tend to feel warmer than it actually is. Sleeping naked will help in maintaining the ideal body temperature to fall asleep. This will help you in having a deep and sound sleep without having to worry about drastically reducing the temperature of your air conditioner.

4. It can help in keeping skin conditions at bay

After a long day of staying outdoors in your work clothes, your skin barely gets the opportunity to replenish itself from the constant heat and humidity. It is a known fact that while you sleep, your skin finally gets to heal and replenish itself, which is why the term ‘beauty sleep’ is used so often. By sleeping naked, there’s no fabric pressing against your skin that can hinder this process. Your skin gets to breathe and you are at a lower risk of developing skin conditions like folliculitis(inflammation of the hair follicles) or premature skin geing.

5. Improves sperm quality

A study conducted by American researchers from the University of Standford and the National Health Institute of Child and Human Development in 2015 revealed that wearing tight boxers or underwear during night time can affect one’s sperm quality. Around 500 men were a part of this study and were told to wear underwear of their choice during day and night time. Their sperm quality was then recorded. It was then found that those who wore boxers during the day and slept naked at night had a 25% lower risk of DNA fragmentation in their sperms as compared to those who wore their underwear even after going to bed. This study was presented by the researchers at an annual meeting held by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Baltimore. So if you want to improve your chances of conceiving a child, sleep naked!

6. Helps in promoting vaginal health

Just like your skin, even your vagina needs to breathe during night time for maintaining a healthy pH level and keeping vaginal infections at bay. Vaginal yeast infections are caused by a fungus called C.albicans which thrives in moist and warm places. By sleeping naked, you can keep your lady parts well ventilated and dry and prevent the fungus from breeding and causing any form of irritation

WHAT IS BER FRUIT? JUJUBE BERRY: MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF BER OR JUJUBE BERRY

BER, JUJUBE, ZIZYPHUS VULGARIS

Ber is the Urdu name for the fruit of the treeZizyphus vulgaris, or mauritania or sativa and is called the jujube berry in English. It is also known as the Indian jujube or Chinese date. It has a brownish skin when ripe and smells a little like hops, with an astringent taste. These trees are believed to be native to Syria, but there is some evidence that they are also native to the Indian subcontinent.

    In Pakistan the fruit can be found in the month of December, and it is sold then fresh, but can also be dried. In Europe the fruit was made into a cough medicine and tisane for medicinal reasons in times past. 

     In India the tree is sacred to Shiva and is known as “the tree which removes sorrow”, perhaps because of its sedative properties. It was depicted in the Ramayana so has been known for centuries in the subcontinent and was not a recently introduced species.

    In Pakistan there are metaphorical uses forber as they say that if you have a quarrel with a relative or close friend you should go and talk it over as a relationship is not like ber.  If you leave the person you quarreled with alone for some time the rift will widen between you. If ber fall to the ground they are not damaged but the fruit gets better, and if you smooth things over after a quarrel the relationship will get better like the ber.

   It is also said that if there are marriageable daughters in a house then suitors will come just as surely as if there were a ber tree and stones will come as the children try to knock the fruit off the tree.

     The fruit has been used in traditional medicine as an emollient, expectorant, coolant, anodyne and tonic and has been used as an antidote for aconite poisoning. It is given to relieve abdominal pains during pregnancy and can be applied to wounds when used in a poultice.

  The leaves can be used as a laxative and for throat problems as a decoction and the same liquid can also be used for skin problems. The roots have wound healing properties too.

   Medical researchers have found a “new” flavonoidin ber called zivulgarin and trials are underway to discover how it might benefit us. Oleamide found in an extract of Zizyphus jujube has been found to help fight Alzheimer’s disease, and help the cognitive processes.

   Wood from the trees is used by villagers to make agricultural implements as it is hard and durable, while the leaves are used as fodder for sheep and goats, so all parts of the tree are useful and well utilized.

    It has been found that there is saponins in he leaves and vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid in the fruit, as well as the B-complex vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin and pectin. It has immunostimulant, antioxidantand wound healing properties, and pectin is known to be useful in cases of diarrhoea. The fruit also helps lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Some of the triterpenoic acids isolated from the fruit are also believed to be useful in fighting cancer and HIV.

   Personally I don’t like these fruits, but as they are so good for us, I might try one or two again.

When to Visit Doctor for Acne

Acne in most people is not a serious medical condition and does not require treatment or visit to a doctor. 

It affects almost everyone and causes misery due to its uncalled for dent in both self-confidence and self-esteem. But severe acne can make people extremely conscious of their physical appearance and might as well cause depression, anxiety or embarrassment when they socialise. Visit or call your doctor for acne if:

• Your acne is worsening despite good home care.

If, after careful and consistent treatment at home, your acne isn't improving or seems to be worsening, you should contact your doctor. Your dermatologist may prescribe acne mediations, and will have helpful advice regarding proper acne skin care and home treatment.

• You have nodules and cystic breakouts.

Nodules and cysts are very severe forms of breakouts and should be evaluated by a dermatologist. These deep blemishes can easily cause scarring, so they should be treated promptly. Even if you don't have cystic breakouts, call your doctor if your skin seems very inflamed or infected.

• You think your acne may be caused by a medication.

Certain medications, such as steroids and birth control pills, may cause acne. If you are taking any medications and your skin begins breaking out, let your doctor know.

• You are extremely upset or depressed about your skin.

Do you avoid social situations because of your skin? Do you feel depressed? If you feel like your acne is adversely affecting your life or self-esteem, please talk with your doctor. He or she will have treatment options available that can not only improve your skin, but also help you deal with the feelings of frustration and despair that can come along with acne.

Waiting for acne to clear on its own can be frustrating. Without treatment, acne can cause permanent scars, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

 
To avoid these possible outcomes, dermatologists recommend that people treat acne. When the skin clears, treatment should continue. Treatment prevents new breakouts. Your dermatologist can tell you when you no longer need to treat acne to prevent breakouts.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics (to be taken orally or for topical application), hormone containing mediations or some other cream/lotion for topical application.

Ask your doctor about the potential side effects of the treatment. Some people require long term treatment to cure acne problem. Consult a dermatologist with whom you are comfortable as acne is as much an emotional condition as a physical one. In addition to treatment follow simple measures like regularly cleaning your face and avoiding foods which seem to worsen your acne (fried foods, chocolates and other hot food items.)

What Causes Acne?

Acne, medically known as Acne Vulgaris, is a skin disease that involves the oil glands at the base of hair follicles. 

It commonly occurs during puberty when the sebaceous (oil) glands come to life - the glands are stimulated by male hormones produced by the adrenal glands of both males and females.

The word acne comes from the word acme meaning "the highest point", which comes from the Greek akme meaning "point" or "spot" - it was originally misspelt, with an 'n' rather than an 'm' in 1835. 

Skin cells, sebum and hair can clump together into a plug, this plug gets infected with bacteria, resulting in a swelling. A pimple starts to develop when the plug begins to break down.

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes that acne appears when a pore in our skin clogs. This clog begins with dead skin cells.

Normally, dead skin cells rise to surface of the pore, and the body sheds the cells. When the body starts to make lots of sebum (see-bum), oil that keeps our skin from drying out, the dead skin cells can stick together inside the pore. Instead of rising to the surface, the cells become trapped inside the pore.

Sometimes bacteria that live on our skin, p. acnes, also get inside the clogged pore. Inside the pore, the bacteria have a perfect environment for multiplying very quickly. With loads of bacteria inside, the pore becomes inflamed (red and swollen). If the inflammation goes deep into the skin, an acne cyst or nodule appears.

Mayo clinic lists three factors for occurrence of acne. They are as follows:

• Overproduction of oil (sebum)- Hair follicles are connected to sebaceous glands. These glands secrete an oily substance known as sebum to lubricate your hair and skin. When your body produces an excess amount of sebum and dead skin cells, the two can build up in the hair follicles and form together as a soft plug, creating an environment where bacteria can thrive.

•  Irregular shedding of dead skin cells resulting in irritation of the hair follicles of your skin

• Build-up of bacteria- •   When the oil is trapped inside the skin pores, some bacteria are produced which alter the composition of oil and it results in skin irritation.

Factors that may worsen acne:

These factors can trigger or aggravate an existing case of acne:

• Hormones. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives can also affect sebum production.
• Certain medications. Drugs containing corticosteroids, androgens or lithium are known to cause acne.
• Diet. Studies indicate that certain dietary factors, including dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods — such as bread, bagels and chips, which increase blood sugar — may trigger acne.

Myths About Pimples

Do you think you already know a lot about acne? Think again as you might be surprised that some of the things you've heard about acne aren't true.

Myth 1- Acne only affects teenagers

Fact- No! Even adults can develop acne for the first time. Teens definitely suffer from the problem more because of puberty.

Myth 2- Acne occurs on dirty face

Fact- Acne is a complex skin disorder that can't be boiled down to simply "dirt." It's likely that the connection between the skin condition and dirt was made because blackheads are, well, black -- but blackheads aren't caused by dirt, either.

Myth 3- Scrubbing hard relieves acne

Fact- Scrubbing acne too hard can actually inflame blackheads. A cleanser with ingredients like benzyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sulphur compounds can help clear the skin.

Myth 4- Acne doesn’t need treatment

Fact- Acne should not be allowed to “run its course”. Various advanced treatments are available to treat acne the initial stage itself then why bother to tolerate the unsightly bumps.

Myth 5- Popping will make cure pimples

Fact- Popping pimples spreads inflammatory gunk into surrounding tissues which can cause scarring. Also if you pop it the wrong way, the bacteria can penetrate deeper into the skin.

Myth 6- Sunscreen can worsen acne

Fact- Picking the right sunscreen is the solution. Chemicals like Helioplex dissipate UV light using a chemical reaction which may cause acne. People prone to acne can use a physical sunscreen like zinc oxide instead.

Myth 7- Makeup aggravates acne

Facts- Some truth lies to this basis. Heavy makeup like thick liquid foundation can clog skin pores. Wear light lose powder foundations like mineral powder if you suffer from acne. Of course, thick foundation cover the pimple better but one needs to compromise.

Myth 8- Acne can be cured

Fact- Not yet! However, it can be treated effectively.

Myth 9- Acne is a cosmetic problem

Fact- It can affect one psychologically too. Acne can produce low self esteem and change the way affected people feel about themselves. Permanent scars can add up to it.

Myth 10- Tanning can clear up skin

Fact- while tan can temporarily mask acne, the sun can dry and irritate the skin leading to more breakouts. Chose a sunscreen that says noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic on the label, meaning it won’t clog pores.

Myth 11- Washing face frequently prevents breakouts

Fact- Washing face can remove dirt and oil from the face, unclogging the pores but getting overboard can make your skin dry and irritated.

Myth 12- Sex can cause acne

Fact- It is an age-old myth. Although the sex hormone testosterone is a major cause of acne, whether or not you engage in any sexual act has no effect on acne and definitely doesn’t cause