Food Cravings - What You Really Need

If you crave this…	What you really need is…	And here are healthy foods that have it:
Chocolate	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Sweets	Chromium	Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver, chicken
	Carbon	Fresh fruits
	Phosphorus	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
	Sulfur	Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Bread, toast	Nitrogen	High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
Oily snacks, fatty foods	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Coffee or tea	Phosphorous	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
	Sulfur	Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
	NaCl (salt)	Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
	Iron	Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Alcohol, recreational drugs	Protein	Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
	Avenin	Granola, oatmeal
	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
	Glutamine	Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
	Potassium	Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens
Chewing ice	Iron	Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Burned food	Carbon	Fresh fruits
Soda and other carbonated drinks	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Salty foods	Chloride	Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
Acid foods	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Preference for liquids rather than solids	Water	Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Preference for solids rather than liquids	Water	You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Cool drinks	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
Pre-menstrual cravings	Zinc	Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
General overeating	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
Lack of appetite	Vitamin B1	Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
	Vitamin B3	Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
	Chloride	Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt
Tobacco	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green and red fruits and vegetables

Best Anti-aging Skin Care Ingredients

For anti aging facial skin care, science has returned from the realm of chemicals and artificial ingredients. Since so many of them cause allergic reactions, irritation and inflammation, they began researching some of the traditional herbs, plants and other things that have been used down through the years to heal, protect and keep faces younger looking and more beautiful.

Through scientific evaluation, researchers were able to determine why these natural ingredients were so effective and now the extracts can be found in the best anti aging facial skin care products. Let’s look at some of them.

We used to see women wearing “mud” masks. At some resorts, you can even get a full body treatment. For years, different mineral clays have been used to deep clean, soothe and reduce inflammation. Researchers found that a specific type of mineral clay found in the foot hills of New Zealand absorbs oil and has disinfectant properties. The compound in the clay is called kaolin and it can be found in some of the better anti aging facial skin care products.

Honey has been used for centuries to coat and protect injuries, as well as for the relief of burning, stinging and irritation. It can be used to prevent bandages from adhering to wounds and is recommended for patients that are allergic to prescription antibiotics.

Researchers, again from New Zealand, found that honey collected from the Manuka bush is particularly healthy. It contains antioxidants, so it stimulates the immune system and destroys free radicals that damage the skin on a cellular level. It also has antibacterial and antiseptic activity. It is included in an anti aging facial skin care regimen, because it softens, moisturizes and protects.

Wakame comes from Japan. Yes, I’m skipping around the world. It is a specific kind of kelp that grows in the Sea of Japan. For many years, it has been cultivated for eating and crushed to be used as an anti aging facial skin care mask. Scientific evaluation showed that it contains B vitamins, calcium and other minerals, as well as antioxidants, but it also does something else.

There is a protein called hyaluronic acid that the body needs to build new skin-cells and tissues. In young people, the content in there facial-skin is very high. With age, the content starts to drop and continues to do so, at an alarming pace.

Researchers learned that an enzyme called hyaluronaise destroys the protein and causes the lowering levels. Wakame destroys hyaluronaise, so with continued use on the face and body, levels of hyaluronic acid begin to increase. The body can make more skin-cells, so the face actually does look younger.

The clinical results showed an increase of as much as 160% in new skin-cells. It seems that if you “feed your face” with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, you really can look younger. You’ll probably feel better, too. Those are the most recent developments in all-natural anti aging facial skin care. I think it’s the way to go.

Select the Right Anti Aging Skin Care Products

Most of us are very concerned about our aging skin. This shows in our willingness to spend large amounts of money on anti aging skin care products. Not only do we purchase large quantities of anti aging skin care treatments, we spend billions on cosmetic surgery to look younger as well. None of us want to look older than we are; we would rather look much younger.

The fact that we spend millions on anti aging skin care products and treatments every year actually shows that the majority of the treatments do not work as they say they will. If they did, we would not have to keep trying different kinds of products for our aging skin.

That is not to say there aren’t good anti aging skin care products on the market. There most definitely are - and here are some pointers for choosing the right ones.

What to Consider When Buying Anti Aging Skin Care Products

Avoid skin care products that contain fragrances or other chemical ingredients. These can actually cause more harm than good as they absorb into your body. Foreign chemicals do not belong in the body. It is counter productive to use chemicals on the skin for an anti aging treatment.

Use perfumes and body sprays to add a nice scent to your skin instead. The difference between sprays and lotions is that with a lotion, you are rubbing the chemicals into your skin. Sprays are less concentrated and left on the surface.

Products that contain collagen are a complete waste of time. The claims made by skin care manufacturers who put collagen into their anti aging skin care products are completely false. The only true way to put collagen into the skin is to use something that stimulates natural collagen production.

The Results are in the Ingredients, Not the Advertising

The majority of those in the skincare industry are out to make money and that is their primary goal. They will spend millions of dollars on advertising just to get people to buy their product. Most of the time, the product is not as good as they claim it to be because it is not made with the best ingredients. It seems they would rather spend good money on advertising than on quality lotions that are effective.

Using Celebrities to Endorse Anti Aging Skin Care Products & Treatments

Celebrities are often used to promote products. A good example of this is Proactive Solutions. Vanessa Williams and Jessica Simpson both promote this anti-acne skin care line. The painful truth is that they are highly paid for their endorsements. That is not to say the product does not work, but rather it reveals a different sort of motivation behind their advertising.

Smaller companies that put money into their products are the best bet for your money. When it comes to anti aging skin care products, it is far better to buy from smaller companies that put their money into the ingredients rather than in the pockets of celebrities.

Your Skin And The Effects Of The Sun

Sun damage of the skin, also known as photo damage can be either acute, as in a sunburn or more commonly, chronic, seen as gradual changes in the skin caused by an accumulation of sun exposure throughout one’s life. Chronic photo damage results in either a cosmetic change in the skin’s appearance called photo aging, or changes that are of medical and health concerns such as pre-cancerous lesions and skin cancers. The evidence is very strong that ultra-violet light is the cause of most of the changes that we consider to be associated with aging of the skin.

Sunshine, although essential for health and well being, is certainly a hazard for the skin. For many people it feels good to spend time outdoors and this makes it difficult to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Most of the sun exposure we accumulate throughout our lives, is thought to be the effect of multiple short periods of time outside. If the ozone depletion continues this may also increase our lifetime exposure.

Those living in sunny areas are clearly at risk for photo damage, as are those with occupations that require working outdoors. Activities such as skiing, sailing, and gardening can contribute to chronic photo damage. Even one-time sun exposure, causing a tan, results in damage to the skin. There is no such thing as a ’safe’ tan.

Individuals with fair skin are clearly at greater risk although sun damage can occur in all skin types. Tanning studios are popular amongst many and this also adds to an accumulation of photo damage.

Smoking is another environmental factor that contributes to premature aging of the skin. Early recognition of sun damage will provide a better chance of reversal of the cosmetic appearance as well as reducing the number of skin cancers.

Treatment For Sun Damaged Skin

OTC Treatment:

There are a number of products and treatments available to try to reverse some of the signs of sun damage. These include preparations available over the counter, prescription medications and medical procedures.

The use of products containing alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and lactic acid may have a smoothing effect on the skin. We also know that vitamin C preparations will also have modest effects on reversing the appearance of sun damage.

These products will have benefit after they have been used for many months. They peel off the dead surface of the epidermis, which allows more ultraviolet light to penetrate so sun protection is most important when these products are used. These products can be used in conjunction with prescription vitamin A preparations.

Medical Treatments:

Tretinoin (creams and gels):

Tretinoin creams and gels have been documented as reversing sun damage, smoothing of the skin may occur within a number of weeks. There is some thickening of the epidermis as well as the dermis. The increased pigmentation may be reduced by inhibiting epidermal melanin content. If this product is used over many month or years there can be a visible reduction in the wrinkling and fine lines.

Tazarotene:

Tazarotene is the newest product shown to have advantages in reversing sun damage. It is also a retinoid or a vitamin A product that was initially used for the condition of psoriasis. It is also effective in the treatment of acne and has shown to be of significant benefit in reversing chronic sun damage or photo aging.

Chemical peels:

Chemical Peels are procedures that remove the upper parts of the skin allowing recovery and re-growth of the surface. This relies on initially wounding the skin which stimulates growth of fresher, newer looking skin. The peels can either be superficial or quite deep into the dermis. Superficial peels include glycolic acid preparations.

The deeper peels such as trichloroacetic acid and phenol are used less often. These produce more benefit but also carry an increased risk of pigmentary changes or possibly very superficial scarring. Recovery is quicker with the more superficial peels and may take weeks with the deeper procedures. The peels treat fine lines, age spots and uneven pigmentation.

Laser surgery:

The use of dermabrasion has diminished. This was performed by mechanically peeling off the skin surface with a metallic rotating instrument and then supporting the skin as it healed.

Laser brasion has been used over the last decade with quite significant results. The laser essentially vaporizes the skin away in very thin layers. The CO2 laser was first used and later the Erbium Yag laser became more popular as it produced less heat damage to the skin, which meant a more superficial layer of damage and a faster recovery.

The disadvantage of these procedures which essentially peel the surface of the skin allowing renewed growth of skin, which has less of a photo-damaged appearance, is the lengthy healing time. There is considerable redness for the first 10 days that usually requires time off work. The risk of prolonged redness and some whitening of the skin are also observed in some.

Non-Ablative Laser Surgery is a new development in the treatment of photo damage. These procedures involve the use of a broad-spectrum intense pulse light or laser, which is used repeatedly on the skin. This heats the dermis and encourages collagen production. It can also minimize some of the redness from broken blood vessels and diminish the hyper-pigmentation, which may be a consequence of photodamage.

Pulse Dye lasers that are used for red birthmarks or rosacea also have a benefit in photo damage in that they heat the skin, encouraging production of collagen with subsequent smoothing of the skin. These lasers also reduce the red vessels that often can be of cosmetic concern.

Skin fillers:

Skin fillers can be used for individuals with deep lines and wrinkles. These include collagen or hyaluronic acid. These are useful for lines that are seen in the resting phase. These have gained popularity. Collagen purified from the skin of cows is injected into skin wrinkles to fill in the depression. The benefit lasts for 3-6 months.It is usually used for correcting the naso-labial folds or deep smile lines or crows feet.

The treatment is usually well tolerated but there is usually some stinging or burning. Slight swelling and redness may be transient after treatment. It is essential that a small quantity of collagen be injected into a test area of skin weeks before the treatment to ensure that there is no allergy to the product.

Artecoll is collagen which has been impregnated with minute spheres of methylmethacrylate. This gives a long lasting effect to the injection. It appears that the injected collagen dissolves allowing the skins own collagen to grow on to these tiny beads. It is used for deeper lines, acne scars, smile lines as well as for enhancing lip fullness.

Hylaform and Restylane are injectable gels of Hyaluronic acid. This is part of the ground substance or material that collagen lies in within the dermis. Its production is diminished with age allowing the skin to wrinkle. These are introduced into the skin to fill in the defect that allows the wrinkling to occur. Allergy is not a concern with these. There may be some redness and swelling after the treatment but persistent redness is rare.

Botox:

Individuals with wrinkling in the glabella and on the forehead can benefit from this also. This is done by inactivating the muscles under the skin that produce lines and wrinkles. These are not the types of wrinkles that are the result of sundamage. There is no change the quality of sun-damaged skin.

Basic Facts on Acne

Acne is the most common skin disorder seen by doctors. In fact, it will affect almost every one of us at some time in our lives. It can happen at any time, but teenagers are the ones who get it most often.

Acne can cause a great deal of embarrassment and anxiety. If it’s really bad it can cause people to become depressed which can lead to withdrawing from friends, and perform poorly at school or work.

Visible Signs Of Acne:

The following are visible signs of acne:

Comedones:
An early acne blemish is caused by blocked pores, and at first the skin does not look red and inflamed. These early blemishes are called open comedones (blackspecks/blackheads) and closed comedones (whiteheads).

Papules and pustules:
As these early spots get larger and inflamed, they become papules and pustules (pimples or zits).

Nodules:
Very large and deep lumps can also develop in some people, these are called nodules and cysts (like boils), and can be painful.

Oily skin:
The sebum production increases so that your skin looks and feels oily.

Hyperpigmentation:
After the inflammation subsides, the skin can be discolored by brown acne stains (called hyperpigmentation) and damaged by scars. Acne scars are common and may occur even in mild acne.

Who Gets Acne?

Acne is the most common of all skin disorders. Almost everyone will have acne, most get mild cases, some moderate and a few are severe. Teens aren’t the only ones who get it. Acne has been diagnosed in young infants as well as in the elderly, but it is most often seen in teens and young adults with 85-100% of adolescents and up to 10% of young adults getting it.

Acne seems to affect the sexes somewhat differently. Before children reach puberty, acne is more commonly seen in girls. During puberty, acne affects boys and girls almost equally, but boys generally have more severe cases and in adulthood, it tends to be seen more often in women.

Where Does Acne Develop?

You can have acne on any part of your skin where sebaceous glands are found. These are the glands that produce oil for the skin. Most, but not all people get acne on their face, but the skin on the chest and back can also be affected. Acne can also be seen on the arms and thighs, but is less common.

When Do People Get Acne?

Acne usually starts around the time you reach puberty, and usually will be mild. Often it will last for about 5 years, but can persist for as long as 10-20 years. About 25% of teens who have acne will still have it when they turn 25. The cause is not understood, but it’s becoming more common for women who are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to develop acne often for the first time. Temporary acne is often seen on the faces of newborns.

How Does Acne Affect You?

Acne not only causes physical discomfort and damage, but it can also have a big emotional and social impact on your life. Acne (pimples or zits) can be tender and painful, and in extreme cases, the pimples can drain pus and blood, soiling pillowcases and clothing.

If you are feeling embarrassed and anxious about your appearance, this can be even more painful. Emotional effects can lead to mood changes, depression, social withdrawal and poor performance in school or at work. If acne is bad enough to leave scars, you may have to endure these emotional issues for years, because scarring is not readily correctable. While laser therapy and skin fillers certainly improve scars, it is best if you can prevent their formation in the first place.

---

Herpes Overview

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections occur worldwide and can only be transmitted between humans. There are two subtypes of HSV: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is commonly associated with oral infection (herpes labialis or cold sores), whereas HSV-2 is associated with genital infection (herpes genitalium or genital herpes). Although HSV-1 and HSV-2 are usually transmitted by different routes and involve different areas of the body, there is an overlap in their distribution, characteristics, and clinical manifestations. For example, 5%-15% of oral infections are caused by HSV-2, whereas 5%-15% of genital infections are caused by HSV-1.

Primary infection refers to the first time an individual is infected with any type of HSV. This primary event may or may not be accompanied by clinical symptoms and the individual may be unaware of the infection. The primary infection can be accompanied by blisters, ulcers, or red inflamed areas (lesions), which may occur at a variety of body sites including the eye and the internal and external areas of the mouth or genitals.

Once HSV has infected an individual it will remain in the body for life, hidden in a dormant state inside nerve cells. In the majority of infected people, the virus remains dormant for life, whereas in approximately a quarter to a thirdof infected individuals, the virus wakes up (reactivates) and replicates In the presence of an intact immune system, such reactivation may be asymptomatic (without symptoms) or it may exhibit with an eruption of blisters around the mouth or in the genital region including the buttocks. Blisters are typically grouped in a 1 cm diameter circle with some redness, crusting, and occasionally ulceration. Individuals who reactivate the virus without obvious clinical symptoms still make copies (excrete) of it in the oral or genital tract. This phenomenon is called viral shedding and viral shedders are at risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to partners through the sharing of utensils, kissing, or sexual intercourse.

Thus, just because you do not suffer from cold sores or genital herpes does not mean that you have not been infected by HSV. Only a laboratory test, looking for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies, can reliably confirm or exclude infection.

When a primary infection with HSV-1 or HSV-2 has occurred, our immune system will create specific antibodies against the viruses. This event is called seroconversion and an individual with detectable antibodies in serum is called seropositive. HSV-1 infection usually occurs earlier in life than HSV-2 and an infection with HSV-2 in an HSV-1 seropositive person or vice versa is called an initial infection as opposed to a primary infection. Individuals who are infected with both viruses will have detectable antibodies to both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Since the viruses are closely related, HSV-1 antibodies partly protect against HSV-2 infection. Thus, an HSV-2 initial infection in a HSV-1 seropositive individual may be milder than a primary HSV-2 infection.

Social and economic status (socioeconomic) and age influence the frequency of HSV-1 infection. In developing countries, seroconversion occurs early in life. In lower socioeconomic populations, approximately 1/3 of children have been infected by 5 years of age; this frequency increases to 70%-80% by early adolescence. In developed countries, approximately 20% of children are infected prior to the age of five. By the second and third decades of life, 40%-60% are infected. Infections with HSV-2 are usually acquired through sexual contact and, therefore, antibodies to this virus are rarely found before the onset of sexual activity.

Terminology

Asymptomatic infection	No apparent symptoms of infection
Axon	Nerve cell extension
Ganglion/Ganglia	These are the singular and plural for a collection of nerve cell bodies (a nerve center) just like a node in an electricity grid
Host	Infected person
Immunocompetent	Someone with normal immunity
Immunocompromised	Someone with a decreased level of immunity
Initial infection	When an individual previously infected with HSV-1 becomes infected with HSV-2, or vice versa
Latent virus	Dormant virus
Neuron	Nerve cell
Primary infection	First contact with HSV-1 or HSV-2
Reactivation	Activation of dormant virus
Recurrent infection	Reactivation of HSV, with or without symptoms
Seroconversion	Previously HSV antibody-negative patient becomes HSV antibody-positive
Subclinical infection	Asymptomatic infection
Viral shedding	Virus is present on the skin, genitals, or in the mouth, without clinical symptoms

What diseases are caused by HSV?

Herpes lesions can present on many parts of the body other than the mouth and genitalia, including the eye, fingers (herpetic whitlow), and torso or arms in athletes such as wrestlers (herpes gladiatorum). Eczema herpeticum is a particularly severe form of skin herpes in patients with eczema. Herpes can also infect the central nervous system and may cause disease in pregnant women and their newborns (neonatal herpes). Children who had neonatal herpes may experience frequent skin recurrences at many body sites during childhood. People who have a decrease in their immunity (immunocompromised), such as those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or who receive chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs after transplantation, are particularly susceptible to herpes disease. These individuals may have chronic herpes lesions or more wide-spread disease as a result of virus reactivation.

What you don’t know about product labels (pt 1)

It’s no secret that skin care is big business. Despite the recent economic downturn, 2008 profit earnings from the major cosmetic corporations and health care industries report increased earnings. So, in spite of housing foreclosures and corporate layoffs, looking good and feeling good is still a top priority for the average consumer. It makes sense, good health is always the top of the list when it comes to keeping the medical bills low and saving money. If you are proactive in your health – eating right, exercising and using whole, organic ingredients in your food and the products you buy, you will save hundreds if not thousands in health insurance and medical bills down the road.

When you are choosing skin care, personal care and cosmetic products, part of spending you hard-earned dollars wisely means paying close attention to the labels of products your purchase. This is the only way to ensure you purchase truly natural and organic skin care products. The following are tips you can follow to keep your health at it’s best and your money in your bank. Read more

Aromatherapy and essential oils

“Aromatherapy” basically is a holistic treatment using natural scents. It is primarily used to care for the body with pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lemon, lavender and peppermint. The essential oils are added to the bath or massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care for the skin, alleviate tension and fatigue and invigorate the entire body. Essential oils can affect the mood, alleviate fatigue, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. When inhaled, they work on the brain and nervous system through stimulation of the olfactory nerves.

The essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruits, bark, grasses and seeds with distinctive therapeutic, psychological, and physiological properties, which improve and prevent illness. There are about 150 essential oils. Most of these oils have antiseptic properties; some are antiviral, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, antidepressant and expectorant. Other properties of the essential oils which are taken advantage of in aromatherapy are their stimulation, relaxation, digestion improvement, and diuretic properties. To get the maximum benefit from essential oils, it should be made from natural, pure raw materials. Synthetically made oils do not work.

Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing fields in alternative medicine. It is widely used at home, clinics and hospitals for a variety of applications such as pain relief for women in labor pain, relieving pain caused by the side effects of the chemotherapy undergone by the cancer patients, and rehabilitation of cardiac patients. There is a growing body of scientific evidence for the many skin benefits of essential oils. Dr. Pratima Raichur, author of Absolute Beauty , (Harper Collins, 1996), points out that nearly all essential oils are anti-microbial and recommends them as part of her Ayurvedic approach to each skin condition, which, according to Ayurvedic principles, is determined by one’s specific body type, or “dosha.” For most oily or “Kapha” skin, she recommends lavender and clary sage to normalize oil production. For sensitive, “Pitta” skin, and acne rosacea, sandalwood, rose and jasmine to calm the skin. For dry, “Vata” skin, neroli, sweet orange and geranium to balance and hydrate.

Essential oils stimulate the powerful sense of smell. Many know the odors we smell have a significant impact on how we feel. In dealing with patients who have lost the sense of smell, doctors have found that a life without fragrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression. We have the capability to distinguish 10,000 different smells. It is believed that smells enter through cilia (the fine hairs lining the nose) to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning.

Studies with brain wave frequency has shown that smelling lavender increases alpha waves in the back of the head, which are associated with relaxation. Fragrance of Jasmine increases beta waves in the front of the head, which are associated with a more alert state.
Scientific studies have also shown that essential oils contain chemical components that can exert specific effects on the mind and body. Their chemistry is complex, but generally includes alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes, and terpenes.

In addition to their balancing effects, using essential oils and products made from them instead of conventionally scented skin and bath products, will spare your skin the stress of the number one ranking skin irritant: synthetic fragrance. Essential oil blends for a variety of skin types that also include super-antioxidants and marine extracts in their formulas and several others all offer balancing oils that actually can detoxify, regenerate and balance oil production in the skin.

RetinA for Acne Scars

Tretinoin (Retin-A, Avita, Renova) is a derivative of Vitamin A and is the treatment of choice for comedonal acne, or whiteheads and blackheads. It works by increasing skin cell turnover promoting the extrusion of the plugged material in the follicle. It also prevents the formation of new comedones. Tretinoin is also the only topical medication that has been proven to improve wrinkles.

Retin A is a long-standing treatment for acne scars that can work well with other topical healing products as part of a home remedy for clear skin. The effect of increased skin cell turnover can be irritation and flaking. For this reason, many people stop using Retin-A after a couple of days to weeks, then think that it didn’t work. Read more

Next Page »