Your eyes are a vital part of your overall health and well being. Good vision is a priceless asset that you should take good care of.

Advice on Improving Eyesight

Practice the good habits for healthy eyesight and refrain from doing the bad habits detrimental to your eyes:

Have a regular eye examination by your eye care professional to determine your eyes’ health and take the necessary actions to let you have optimum vision. Also, visit your eye doctor when you experience the first sign of vision loss or degeneration of your eyesight.

Have a regular intake of foods rich in Vitamin A, essential nutrient for a good eyesight, such as carrots, milk, egg yolk, cheese and liver. Eating these foods will supply you the required amount of Vitamin A necessary for a good vision. Fruits and vegetables, particularly dark and leafy greens, have been proven to keep your eyes healthy.

Rest your tired eyes to prevent eye fatigue and reduce eyestrain.

Wear sunglasses for your eyes’ protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Wear appropriate protective eyeglasses in the workplace or when playing sports.

Quit smoking. Smoking has been determined to increase the risk of developing eye diseases, such as macular degeneration related to aging, optic nerve damage and cataract, which can all lead to blindness.

Keep your weight to a healthy level. Being obese or overweight increases the risk of your having diabetes. Diabetes can lead to diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.

The Role of Chiropractic in Eyesight Improvement

Do not be surprised that not only your eye care specialist will advise you to follow these tips on maintaining eye health. Your chiropractor, in case you bring up your concerns on your eyesight, will most likely give you the same advice. Chiropractors may focus on the health of your spine and nervous system, but the end goal of chiropractic care is to restore your body’s normal functions and improve them to their optimal levels, including your eyesight. Chiropractic care adheres to the philosophy that the nervous system is responsible for coordinating and controlling all body functions. Correcting any abnormalities in the spine and the nervous system will result to the proper functioning of all organs in the body.

There is another interesting angle to chiropractic care that may pleasantly surprise you. Many patients get more than they ask for after chiropractic treatments. They experience improvements in some aspects of their health that they did not complain about originally. An example, which is clearly documented in several case studies, is the improvement of the patients’ severe vision conditions after undergoing chiropractic adjustments for different symptoms they previously complained about. Frequent chiropractic adjustments in these patients resulted in their nervous system functioning at optimum level, bringing about the restoration of their erstwhile malfunctioning body functions, in these particular examples, the persons’ vision. These case studies demonstrated that chiropractic adjustments resulted in the increase in the eyes’ motor function and pupil size and the release of pressure in the eyes of the patients.

Based on these results, both chiropractors and ophthalmologists came to the conclusion that the overall improvements in the eye condition have direct correlation with the chiropractic adjustments. They agree also that the reason for these improvements is primarily because of the fact that all of the body functions are linked and controlled by the body’s central nervous system. Secondly, the chiropractic adjustments eased the body supplying blood to the different places they should be delivered to, and the eyes happen to be one of them.

We know optometrists to be the professionals who specialize in the area of healing eyesight conditions. Chiropractic care offers a less invasive way of improving eyesight. This method may be tried even before going to see your optometrist. Chiropractic is an effective tool to bring improvements to all of the body’s functions.

There are some people who do not experience having acne on the face, but have acne on the back. This type of acne is often more difficult to cure than those which grow on the face because of the composition of the back, which is more oily than the face as a result of many sebaceous glands therein. As the back is composed of tougher skin, oftentimes it also acquires various nodules and cysts, which make the case a more difficult one to treat. Thus, the usual treatments used for facial acne are commonly not effective for back acne, and a more rigorous treatment and regimen is necessary.

In order to treat back acne, the skin will have to be kept clean. This can be done using a mild cleanser which can remove the oils in the back. This way, the pores of the skin will not be clogged by dirt and oil which result in acne.

Aside from this, applying certain chemicals which are used to cure pimples on the face can also do a lot of good. As a matter of fact, as the back is made up of tougher or thicker skin than facial skin, it can tolerate a stronger concentration of these chemicals which can cause faster or more effective treatment. Common products which may be used are glycolic acid or alpha hydroxyl acids and benzoyl peroxide. These substances can be used separately or in combinations, depending on the desired effect. These chemicals should only be applied onto the skin on the back after cleaning the surface and patting it dry.

Once treatment has begun, it is best to avoid exposing the skin on the back to irritants. Thus, it has to be kept clean and dry. In addition, it would be best to avoid wearing clothes made of fabric which cling to the skin and which will cause too much perspiration. It would be better to wear clothes made of cotton or lycra which will allow the skin to breathe. Moreover, as benzoyl peroxide contains bleaching ingredients, it is wise to wear white clothes to avoid bleaching the fabric. In addition, it would also be nice to steer clear from knapsacks or backpacks for a while, so as to avoid causing friction on the back caused by the constant rubbing of the bag on the skin. Such friction is bond to cause irritation to the skin which will surely result in acne.

One final note: it is best to consult a dermatologist first before starting any treatment to make sure that the preferred treatment is best for the type of skin and the condition of the acne.

Acne cannot wholly be avoided, although we can take preventive measures like washing our face, drinking water, eating right, and avoiding oily products on our hair and skin. And so the next logical question is what to do when these flare-ups occur to minimize their damage. The answer is to medicate.

How do we do this and what products do we use?

There are medicated soaps, facial wash, and moisturizers which we can easily buy in beauty or drug stores. They can be used if the breakout is not severe. These non-prescriptive products contain chemicals which help dry up or clear acne such as benzoyl peroxide, alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and tea tree oil.

When medicating, it is important to read the instructions carefully. Remember that acne will not heal faster if we put more than what is required. There are instances when such oversight actually results in further irritation.

Note that generally, a combination of acne-fighting chemicals is more effective. For example, your medication might contain both benzoyl peroxide and the antibiotic clindamycin. Other products may have a mix of erythromycin, benzoyl peroxide, and tretinoin. Other people may also use a different chemical in the morning and apply another type in the evening.

Doctors usually recommend oral antibiotics to be taken while continuing with topical medications when acne does not clear up in a few days.

There are different types of acne: pimples, blackhead, whitehead or cystic lesions. Medication depends on what type one is suffering from. When the acne is only a red bump, then it is treated with topical medication which usually comes in creams. When there are open sores, oral medication is recommended in addition to topical medication.

Here is a list of some of the common medications for acne.

• Corticosteroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone
• Azelaic acid found in Azalex
• Topical retinoid medications such as tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene
• Antibiotics such as clindamycin, sodium sulfacetamide, erythromycin, and tetracycline

Remember, however, that before using any product on your skin, always consult with your doctor or dermatologist first to avoid further damage and more serious problems.

Acne, the generic term for pimples, blackhead, whitehead or cystic lesions, is a bacterial infection. Our body, through the sebaceous glands, produces oil as natural lubricant for our skin and hair. During puberty or when we are under a lot of stress, these glands work overtime, producing twice the amount of oil or sebum it normally secretes. Oil combined with dead skin cells, which are our bodies’ wastes, clogs our pores. Trapped therein are the oil and dead skin cells which results in irritation, redness or inflammation and more often than not, pus.

Acne is usually found in the face, neck, back and the chest area. It is important for people not to prick or squeeze their pimples for this could lead to further irritation and scars. Commonly used medications are those containing benzoyl peroxide, alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and tea tree oil. But people should also be careful about using these chemicals because there are some types of acne which develop or become even more severe because of such medications.

There are ways to help prevent acne although since it is essentially caused by hormonal changes or fluctuations or by genetics, it cannot be totally avoided.

Wash your skin before going to bed or after an activity which caused you to sweat. Use a gentle soap or facial wash. Do not rub your skin excessively. Instead, use a soft cloth to wash off oil and dirt.

Use warm water to open pores but very hot water can worsen acne.

Your hair can irritate your skin. Wash it as often as possible especially if it is oily. Keep it off your face even when you sleep. Avoid using oily products on your hair like pomade, gel or mousse. These products are oil-based which might further irritate your acne.

• Use water-based scents or colognes instead of heavy perfumes to lessen oils which might aggravate your pimples.
• Avoid being exposed to sunlight for long periods. If this is unavoidable, use sunscreen to protect your skin.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water. You can also drink green tea to flush out toxins.
• Eat fresh fruits especially citrus. Vitamin C helps our skin rejuvenate.
• Use common medications for acne.
• Do not drink Vitamin E if you already have oily skin. Natural oil protects our skin but if it is in excess, it creates a plug in our pores.
• Do not wear tight fitting clothes to let your skin breathe. Moreover, this type of clothes when used as nightshirts will rub against your skin causing further irritation.
• Relieve stress through exercise or meditation.

Acne vulgaris (Common acne) is a self-limited and non-communicable disorder associated to the increase in sebum release by the sebaceous glands that primarily affects teenagers and young adults.

Common Causes of Acne

The usual causes of acne are related to physiologic hormonal variation, alteration in hair maturation, recent use of medications (steroids and contraceptives), occupational contactants, clothing, emotion and stress, genetic and even tropical climate.

These are characterized by comedones, papules, pustules, cysts and nodules. Acne is a result of a complex interaction between hormones, specifically androgens, and an acne causing bacteria, with the right genetic background for acne susceptibility. It is known that the bacteria Proprionibacterium acnes liberate free fatty acids from sebum which is produced in the sebaceous glands, which then would cause a sterile inflammation. This would then yield to formation of cysts, closed sac with a distinct membrane developing abnormally in any cavity or structure. This sterile inflammation would then cause hyperkeratinization, blocking the follicle openings of the sebaceous gland and eventual rupture of the cyst. Scars are the results from rupture of the cysts and intense inflammation.

The hallmark of acne vulgaris is the comedone, which may be open (blackhead), and closed (whitehead). Comedones are results of defective sebaceous follicle openings and defective keratinization at the follicle openings. Aside from the physiologic aspect, other factors that alter the manifestations of acne are friction and trauma that may affect preexisting comedones and elicit inflammation; cosmetics and hair preparations which are comedogenic; medications such as glucocorticoids; and hormonal diseases affecting the ovaries and adrenal glands as well as immune suppressing illnesses. It is important to know that acne may develop even among older adults and the thought that only teenagers develop acne is purely a misconception.

Treatment for Acne Breakout

Treatment of acne aims to eliminate comedones, reduce bacteria-causing acne and decrease the inflammatory process. Mild acne can be treated with topical (ointment) antibiotics like Clindamycin and Erythromycin, gels like Benzoyl Peroxide (2%, 5% and 10%), and topical retinoids (tretinoin).

Meanwhile, moderate acne can be treated with oral antibiotics like Tetracycline, which is added to the for mild acne regimen.

Lastly, severe acne is treated with Isotretonoin, an agent which is successful in reducing sebaceous gland activity and decrease in keratinization. It is of utmost importance that Isotretinoin is a teratogen, a drug which may cause developmental malformations. It is advised that pregnancy must be avoided and that women who may get pregnant should use contraceptives.

Beauty has always been an issue in our society obsessed with perfection. And due to the continuous development of technology, beauty can easily be attained through various beauty treatments available.

Developments in technology and money can really do wonders. In this world obsessed with stick-figure models, white complexion, and flawless skin, facial and beauty clinics are experiencing such a major boost. Many are now willing to spend a fortune just to look good and fantastic!

Here are few of the newest beauty treatments that are taking the world by storm:

Microdermabrasion

Also referred to as diamond peel treatment, microdermabrasion is a fast a pain-free and non-surgical option for skin care. It rejuvenates the skin, making it glowing, youthful, vibrant, and supple. With the aid of natural diamond chips slowly pressed over the skin, it gently exfoliates the skin, sucking away the dead cells, blackheads, and whiteheads. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes and promotes the growth of healthy new skin cells for that smoother skin texture.

Sclerotherapy

This treatment targets the small veins, varicose veins, and medium-sized blood vessels. The veins to be treated are marked while the patient is standing, then a sclerosing solution is injected into the vein with the aid of a micro-needle, causing the vein to turn white and gradually disappear. It also makes the blood vessel shrink. The treatment usually lasts for half an hour.

Microcrystals

This is a relatively new non-surgical procedure used to treat dark areas, damaged skin cells, and open pores. It utilizes pulse of minute crystals of aluminum oxide against the tissue surface to remove damaged skin cells. It is usually done after undergoing a fotolaser treatment and the effect is said to last for up to eight years.

Feather Lift

This treatment is recommended for those with sagging skin on the face and neck, those showing signs of premature aging owing to sun damage, and those with weak contours. It is a non-surgical therapy involving the insertion of Aptos threads under the skin to “lift” it. The Aptos thread is made of polypropylene which supports and contours the face.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a famous procedure to remove unwanted body fats. Fat cells are extracted by a high-pressure vacuum inserting a small suction tube through a tiny incision.

Chemical Peel

This treatment involves the use of a chemical solution on the damaged outer layers of the skin to revitalize and resurface younger skin. The process, which usually takes 15 to 45 minutes, involves cleansing, toning, and peeling on the face, chest and hands.

Acne Surgery

To remove that icky acne, a comedone extractor is used to removing comedones. After cleaning the face, a solution is applied on the face before exposure to light.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is another fat extraction technique. With this process, microinjection is used to remove the excessive fats in the body.

Botox

This is a safe and non-surgical procedure to remove wrinkles. It involves the injection of Botulinum toxin into the muscles of target areas, preventing a person from making certain facial expressions that creates furrows and creases. What You Need To Know About the Botox Cosmetic Procedure? Find out here.

Intense Pulse Light

This method erases skin damage by addressing the harmful effects of the sun, acne scars, dull complexions, and aging.

Are you planning to get Botox from your cosmetic surgeon? Read first everything that you need to know about this cosmetic procedure.

What is Botox?

Botox has been the newest craze in cosmetic procedures since nose jobs and bust lifts. In fact, 1.6 million Americans got “botoxed” in 2001, at a time where the US Food and Drug Administration gave the go-signal for the procedure – which was not even advertised to the general public. This was called an off-label use for a drug; in Botox’s case, it was originally used to calm twitchy eye muscles but was then discovered to considerably reduce wrinkles. Expectedly, when the US FDA approved the use of Botox for the general public in 2002, more and more people trooped to cosmetic surgeons; in fact, the craze spilled over to Asia, where the more affluent could also use Botox to look younger.

What exactly is Botox and what can it do? Botox is actually short for “botulism toxin”, the same pathogen found in cases of fatal food poisoning. It sounds quite scary; however, in minute quantities, this toxin could interrupt nerve impulses to certain facial muscles. In the cosmetic procedure, certain areas of the face that have wrinkles are shot with the toxin. With no nerve impulses to cause tension among these facial muscles, they straighten out – leading to a less wrinkled appearance.

Known Side Effects of Botox

Fortunately, Botox is a relatively safe procedure, with serious side effects like allergic reactions are uncommon. Slip-ups normally cause minor inconvenience like not being able to raise one’s eyebrows all the way, or drooling. Even perfectly executed procedures have their effects. As one seeks to eliminate wrinkles, one may not be able to squint or raise eyebrows. The good news though is, the effects of Botox are temporary; a treatment could be effective up to six months. Botox is not also effective for all kinds of wrinkles. Botox cannot remove wrinkles that are caused by the aging process, smoking, or sun exposure.

With this information, it is always up to the individual to seek this kind of treatment. If one doesn’t mind getting injected with some poison to clear wrinkles – well, go ahead.

The skin is very important Aside from being the largest organ of the body, it is also one of the first things people notice. A good skin can give you a certain glow and make you look more radiant and beautiful. The skin is always exposed to damaging elements such as pollutants in the air, sunlight, and other negative environmental conditions. Therefore, it is important to be active in taking care of the skin and establish a regular and healthy skin care regiment. Especially when we grow older, mechanisms in the skin that repairs damages may function less efficiently as before thus the need for us to be serious in our skin care to avoid negative and ugly skin conditions such as age spots, wrinkles, large pores, rough textured skin and irregular and leathery appearance.

Establish a good cleansing ritual

The first thing you can do is to keep yourself clean. By removing dirt from your skin, you are able to shelter your skin from damage, which it may cause. It can help unclog and minimize the size of your pores. Clean your skin every day. Use cleansing products that are as chemical-free as possible. Skin on different parts of the body requires different level of mildness. Use milder soap for your face.

Use skin scrub

Cleaning is just the first step but it is not enough. Also scrub your skin. Scrubbing can help to remove dead skin cells on the surface of the skin to make it look softer. It can add glow to your skin. Use mild formula and avoid scrubbing vigorously to avoid scratching the skin.

Do not go to sleep wearing make-up

Makeup when left on overnight can seep into your pores that can clog them and as a result congest your skin. Wash your face to remove the make-up then wash it again to clean the skin. You may use mild make-up removers to get rid of make-up that are harder to remove.

Moisturize

Moisturizing is also important. Soap removes moisture from your skin thus requiring you to do something to put back this moisture. Moisturizing can help your skin look younger and healthier. Use skin care products that contain high amounts of moisturizer such as shea butter, vitamin E, aloe vera, and squalene. Use moisturizers after a bath and after washing your hands. Use lip balm for your lips.

Keep the skin toned

Toning is essential for keeping the skin clear and firm despite the existence of too many pollutants. Use astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids to help reduce the pore size, and help avoid ingrown hairs.

Protect yourself against the sun

Ever heard of the harmful UV rays of the sun? If yes, then you know why you have to protect yourself against the sun. It can cause faster skin aging and cause wrinkles, blotching, pigmentation, dryness and others. Avoid sunny places, go to shady areas instead. Use hats and umbrellas or long sleeve shirts. Use sunscreens and other sun protection lotions.

More than aesthetic purposes, you need to take care of your face to maintain its healthy function and prevent conditions, such as acne, burns, and eye strains among others.

Bell’s palsy is a disorder characterized by paralysis or weakening of the muscles in one of the two sides of the face. It is believed to be caused by damage or failure of the nerve that regulates the muscles of the face. This damage is described as swelling, inflammation or compression of the nerve. A segment of the medical authorities could not find the underlying cause for such nerve damage. Another group, on the other hand, attributes the cause of the nerve damage to viral infections, specifically from infection from the herpes simplex, a virus from the common cold or other viral meningitis.

Bell’s palsy afflicts approximately 40,000 Americans every year. It can affect people of all ages and gender. Data shows that the incidence of this disorder is highest among those aged 15 to 35 years and it seldom occurs among the very young – below 15 years old – and seniors older than 60 years. People with diabetes, flu, cold or ailments of the upper respiratory systems and pregnant women have higher incidence of Bell’s palsy.

Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy

Symptoms of Bell’s palsy are varied because of the many functions that the facial muscle performs and the complexity of its structures. They can affect the face, eyes, ears, mouth, saliva glands and the whole head practically. Some of these main symptoms are:

• Paralysis or weakness on one side of the face, causing it to droop
• Eye problems, which could be very dry eye or development of too much tears
• Drooling
• Impaired sense or loss of taste
• Numbness in the side of the face that is affected
• Pain in or around the ear
• Hypersensitivity to sound

Most of these symptoms manifest suddenly and almost without any signs. When they begin, it will take 48 hours to peak. Many cases of Bell’s palsy involve only partial paralysis of the face. In such cases, the rate of recover is very high. In fact, many will not require medical intervention and the symptoms just subside on their own in a period of a few weeks to two months. In extreme cases, however, the symptoms may be severe and permanent total paralysis may happen.

Treatment Options for Bell’s Palsy

Treatment with steroids such as prednisone, a corticosteroid medication, will increase the chance of the afflicted person to regain facial movement, especially when the medicine is taken within the first three days of the start of the symptoms. Some doctors prescribe antiviral medicine to go with the corticosteroid, although, its efficacy is weak.

For some people who would not require any treatment, facial exercise is beneficial to restore facial muscle movement. Massaging the cheeks, forehead and lips with cream or oil may also help.

The eye must be taken care of. One of the major symptoms of Bell’s palsy are either dry eyes or teary eyes. Use eye drops to keep it moist throughout the day. Apply ointment at night.

Decompression surgery in treating Bell’s palsy may relieve the pressure on the nerve, but this option is controversial and seldom recommended.

Other forms of therapies such as facial massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care are considered in the treatment of Bell’s palsy. They may provide improvements in the relief of pain associated with the disorder and in the restoration of facial nerve functions.

Chiropractic Care and Bell’s Palsy

The alleviation of symptoms, particularly facial paralysis has been reported in cases involving the application of chiropractic care in patients with Bell’s palsy. Chiropractic adjustments in the cervical spine also resulted in the amelioration of dysfunctions and symptoms to the temporomandibular joint, the hinge that connects the jaw to the skull’s temporal bones, located in front of the ear.

Patients with Bell’s palsy can benefit from the holistic approach of chiropractic care. The chiropractic adjustments will not just focus on the primary region being complained about, i.e., the face or temporomandibular joint, but also other potential subluxations. But how do you prevent ball’s palsy with chiropractors help? Read here. From the beginning the goal of the chiropractic care has been the elimination of vertebral subluxations to prevent diseases and maintain the health and wellbeing of the individual.