It's worthwhile to try to understand exactly what this affliction is and what causes it. In order to do that, we need to know a little bit about how the skin works. The skin has tiny depressions that form pouches called hair follicles, and a single hair has a root inside the follicle that is seated in a small bulb. New cells continue to be produced in this follicle and they divide, forcing the old cells upward and out. These cells die eventually, harden, and become the hair shaft. But the important thing to know about all of this is that there are glands within the follicle called sebaceous glands whose purpose is to lubricate the hair so it doesn't get brittle and fall out. When these sebaceous glands become disordered from the action of hormones and other substances, these pores can become plugged and the result is what we call pimples or zits. The face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders are usually the areas on the body that suffer from this disorder. What actually happens is that the oily substance that is supposed to nourish the hair in the follicle and then just spill out onto the skin doesn't do what it's supposed to do. It remains there and, along with the hair and cells that line the tiny follicle, becomes a plug that allows bacteria that normally grow on the skin to move into the plugged follicles. The result is inflammation. Eventually, everything in the follicle spills out onto the skin around it, and you get pimples. Acne may not be a serious health threat compared to some other ailments, but it causes a lot of emotional distress. Besides, it can cause scarring that never goes away. We've all known adults whose faces are badly scarred from the acne of their teens. Eating a good raw-foods diet is an excellent way to forestall acne, especially if you balance the nutrients that play a direct role in skin health. However, this is not to say that topical applications are not also useful. Just be sure they are organic and natural. If you go to www.lovelula.com, you can find many of the products you need for natural skin care. Www.lovelula.com will also link you to a number of other sites where you can find good, reliable products to help you keep your skin at its optimum best.

If you can keep your children from getting sunburned, it's a good idea, because the long-term effects can be disastrous. I have a friend whose daughter, in her mid-thirties, is being treated for several skin melanomas. It turns out that she has been using suntanning beds. Even if you’re careful, though, either you or your children will get sunburned from time to time. I once had a sunburn so bad that I had to spend two days in bed! It can be a serious assault on your whole body. Here are some treatments you can try: aloe is probably the best possible treatment. Either make an ointment from your own aloe plant or visit one of the online stores that carries natural treatments such as www.lovelula.com for the kind of products that will make a difference. You may need to go to some of the links on that page to find what you need.

The reason mosquitos are such a problem is that the females depend on blood to get the protein they need to mature their eggs. They’re the pesky ones. She stabs her needle-like mouth-parts through the skin and injects saliva, which has digestive enzymes and anticoagulants. The first time a person is bitten, there is usually no reaction, but then on subsequent bites, the person is sensitized to the foreign proteins, and the itchy bumps appear. Some people, especially children, are very allergic to mosquito bites, so they can, in fact, be very dangerous. If you’re going to be outdoors where there are likely to be mosquitoes, don't wear a fragrance of any kind. Also avoid bright, floral colors because they attract the little rascals. Some have suggested that taking thiamine three times a day will work as a deterrent. However, it takes about two weeks to become effective. For treating mosquito bites, cold compresses are effective. The simplest anti-iching compound is a paste made of baking soda and water. Some natural anti-inflammatory remedies are evening primrose oil taken orally and papaverine. You can probably find these in a health-foods store.

By TTS Health Consultant Gabrielle Gingras

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