Archive for November, 2009

Skin Care For Oily Skin – Reducing Excessive Oil Production

Author: Ray A. Rubio

Oily skin is a real cosmetic problem. At some point or other, most people would have experienced oily skin because of overactive glands that produce too much sebum – the oil that is produced in skin. The overproduction of sebum causes greasy looking skin and clogged pores, and humid conditions – be it because of the summer or the locale you’re in – make it even worse with all that sweat. People with excessively oily skin may also have another problem to contend with: acne. So for those of you suffering from this problem and are looking for solutions to skin care for oily skin, this article will shed some light on how you can reduce excessive oil production in your skin.

First of all let’s get to the culprit of oily skin: sebum. What is sebum? It is the oil produced in the sebaceous glands, which are found on many parts of the body, most of which open into hair follicles. The production of sebum decreases with age, and in the case of women, it reduces with menopause. The reason most acne problems are experienced by adult males is because males produce more sebum than females.

So knowing this, how can we reduce excessive sebum production? There are some who believe in products made to control the production of oil that increases sebum production. Others believe that excess sebum can be dried using blotting oils, thus reducing sebum production. The truth is, oil control products do not reduce sebum production, and using blotting oils only remove surface oil.

Actually all you really need is adhere to the simplest skin care regime. Washing too much too often will expose you to bacteria, as you’ll be removing the acid mantle – the mixture of skin secretions on the surface of the skin, whose acidic properties protect the skin from bacteria. The removal of the acid mantle would then make it easier for bacteria to attack your skin. However that does not mean you shouldn’t wash your face at all, because then you’re back to square one. You need to find the right balance of care when dealing with skin care for oily skin.

Fact is there are no surefire solutions to completely stop the problem of oily skin. However there are products out there which can help in the maintenance of it. Products like AHAs and oil blotting papers help in removing excess oils on the skin’s surface. AHAs – Alpha Hydroxy Acids – help exfoliate dead skin cells and remove excess oils from the skin. Oil blotting papers also help significantly in removing and reducing surface oil on the skin. Some have the misconception that oil blotting papers can help stop oil production, but this is not true as the blotting papers only help on the surface, and the production of oil happens beneath the surface of the skin. Some of the better quality oil blotting papers are coated with powder that helps absorb more sebum and keeps the skin dry.

There are many other ways of reducing excessive oil production in the skin. While you may be concerned over skin care for oily skin, be careful when perusing the internet for solutions or advice on how to deal with such problems. Articles such as this should not be a substitute for professional medical advice, as they are only meant as an informative guide for you to take that first step in skin care solution. Consult your physician before following any tip you may have read about or for any medical concerns.

About the Author:
Click here to get free advice on how you can enhance the look of your skin. Ray A. Rubio is a skin care specialist providing advice on choosing the best anti aging creams for you. Visit http://www.BestAntiAgingSkinCreams.com for more details.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comSkin Care For Oily Skin – Reducing Excessive Oil Production

Back Pain – Causes, Diagnosis and Yoga Tips

Author: Peter sams

If you’ve ever groaned, “Oh, my aching back!”, you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.

Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.

Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

The lower back is a complex area that connects the upper body (including the chest and arms) to the lower body (including the pelvis and legs). The lower back is composed of several vertebrae, disks of soft cartilage, muscles, joints, ligaments, and nerve tissue.

Diagnosis

Blood and urine tests will make sure the pain is not due to an infection or other systemic problem.

X-rays are useful in pinpointing broken bones or other skeletal defects. They can sometimes help locate problems in connective tissue. To analyze soft-tissue damage, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be needed. X-rays and imaging studies are generally used only for checking out direct trauma to the back, back pain with fever, or nerve problems such as extremity weakness or numbness. To determine possible nerve or muscle damage, an electromyogram (EMG) can be useful.

Structural problems

In some cases, back pain may be caused by structural problems, such as:

Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. Sometimes, the soft material inside a disk may bulge out of place or rupture and press on a nerve. But many people who have bulging or herniated disks experience no pain from the condition.

Sciatica. If a bulging or herniated disk presses on the main nerve that travels down your leg, it can cause sciatica — sharp, shooting pain through the buttock and back of the leg.

Below are some best yoga poses for strengthen the lower back:

1.During the first week, practice the following yoga asanas:

2.Pawan Mukta Asana, Bhunga Asana, Shalabha Asana, Uttanpada Asana, Shava Asana

3.From the second week onwards, the order of yoga practice should be as mentioned below:

4.Pawan Mukta Asana, Bhunga Asana, Shalabha Asana, Uttanpada Asana, Ekpada Uttan Asana, Rechaka-Puraka Pranayama, Shava Asana

About the Author:

Read about Herbal Natural Home Remedies and Girls Discussion Forum. Also read about Beauty and Makeup Tips

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comBack Pain – Causes, Diagnosis and Yoga Tips

Treating Stress and Improving Fertility with Massage

Author: Chris Cascade

If you have having trouble getting pregnant, stress may be a major cause of your infertility. Recent scientific studies suggest that up to 30 percent of all fertility issues may be caused by stress. The way that stress interferes with conception is not fully understood, but it may be the result of the production of certain hormones (cortisol and epinephrine, in particular) that interfere with pregnancy. Reducing stress is also thought to help promote the development of proteins that are essential for egg implantation in the uterus.

Stress can become a vicious cycle when it comes to pregnancy. Not being able to get pregnant when you are trying to can be very stress inducing in and of itself. In addition, many standard fertility treatments such as IVF are very stressful procedures to undergo.

There are, however, some important natural fertility treatments that can reduce stress levels significantly and that have been scientifically proven to improve conception rates. Two of the most promising natural fertility treatments that help reduce stress levels are fertility massage and acupuncture for fertility.

Many different types of massage techniques have been shown to reduce stress levels. Fertility massage is known as an “organ massage” since it focuses on the reproductive organs and aims to both reduce stress levels and promote the functioning of reproductive systems. Fertility massage is offered by many massage centers, and you can also try to learn some of the techniques yourself through courses and information available online. Fertility massage treatments can last anywhere from a few minutes up to half an hour or longer, and you may experience some side effects after your first treatments such as soreness and heavy menstrual flow during your period (the heavy menstrual flow is a sign that the therapy is working and clearing up old blood blockages in your reproductive system).

Fertility massage should only be used prior to becoming pregnant and should be stopped immediately after conceiving. Both fertility massage and acupuncture appear to be the most effective when combined with other fertility treatment methods.

About the Author:

You will need to know how to combine multiple natural fertility remedies correctly in order to have the best chances of success using natural fertility remedies. Learn about one of the most successful holistic natural fertility treatment systems available by visiting the Acupuncture for Fertility website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comTreating Stress and Improving Fertility with Massage

How to Gain Muscle Fast and Get Ripped

Author: Catherine Smith

Every man dreams of getting a perfectly toned body with strong muscles, good height and last but not the least, strong abs. In order to get a strong muscular body and to gain fast muscle, the first thing that a man would require is discipline and consistency. To achieve success in any task, 100% dedication is a pre-requisite and same goes true for the body building activities. To gain fast muscle it is not mandatory to go for an expensive medical course or eat chemically treated medicines. Some simple facts and basic exercises can help you to gain fast muscle.

The basic task to do in order to gain fast muscle is to stick to a healthy diet. Eating junk food, missing your lunch or dinner, avoiding vegetables and fruits would be the last thing that would help you to gain fast muscle. Eating protein rich diet like fish, meat, beef and drinking milk are the basic dietary requirements of a well built body. A diet rich in essential ingredients like proteins and vitamins will definitely help you to gain fast muscles. Moreover the nutritious diet will keep your energy levels high while working out in the gym.

One cannot become a professional body builder in a single day. The success will come your way only if you have patience enough to welcome it. While performing exercises in the gym, it is advisable to perform a set of exercises gradually rather than turning the whole gym upside down in 30 minutes. Most of the new aspirants who want to gain muscle try to overdo themselves, which results in body fatigue and loss of weight. One must understand that our body cannot behave like a machine and it has some limitations when it comes to working out in a gym. Starting off with one exercise at a time is the best thing to do. All the body parts cannot be toned simultaneously and the basic rule of body building is one thing at one time. There are separate exercises for legs, arms, chest, biceps etc. and one must start developing the muscles of one part at a time.

Once you have gained enough muscles in that part you can move on to develop your other body part. Apart from a good diet, supplements are also required to achieve fast muscle growth. Although there are numerous supplements available in the market but it is advisable to buy only those supplements which are herbal or natural products based. Herbal Supplements will have least side effect on your body unlike other chemically treated supplements. Sufficient sleep and stress free environment are other important requirements to obtain a well-built body and grow fast muscles in your body. If one is able to implement all the above-mentioned facts in his daily routine than a perfectly toned body will remain no longer a dream.

Every man dreams of getting a perfectly toned body with strong muscles, good height and last but not the least, strong abs. In order to get a strong muscular body and to gain fast muscle, the first thing that a man would require is discipline and consistency. To achieve success in any task, 100% dedication is a pre-requisite and same goes true for the body building activities. To gain fast muscle it is not mandatory to go for an expensive medical course or eat chemically treated medicines. Some simple facts and basic exercises can help you to gain fast muscle.

The basic task to do in order to gain fast muscle is to stick to a healthy diet. Eating junk food, missing your lunch or dinner, avoiding vegetables and fruits would be the last thing that would help you to gain fast muscle. Eating protein rich diet like tofu, and soy milk are the basic dietary requirements of a well built body. A diet rich in essential ingredients like proteins and vitamins will definitely help you to gain fast muscles. Moreover the nutritious diet will keep your energy levels high while working out in the gym.

One cannot become a professional body builder in a single day. The success will come your way only if you have patience enough to welcome it. While performing exercises in the gym, it is advisable to perform a set of exercises gradually rather than turning the whole gym upside down in 30 minutes. Most of the new aspirants who want to gain muscle try to overdo themselves, which results in body fatigue and loss of weight. One must understand that our body cannot behave like a machine and it has some limitations when it comes to working out in a gym. Starting off with one exercise at a time is the best thing to do. All the body parts cannot be toned simultaneously and the basic rule of body building is one thing at one time. There are separate exercises for legs, arms, chest, biceps etc. and one must start developing the muscles of one part at a time. Once you have gained enough muscles in that part you can move on to develop your other body part.

Apart from a good diet, supplements are also required to achieve fast muscle growth. Although there are numerous supplements available in the market but it is advisable to buy only those supplements which are herbal or natural products based. Herbal Supplements will have least side effect on your body unlike other chemically treated supplements.

Sufficient sleep and stress free environment are other important requirements to obtain a well-built body and grow fast muscles in your body. If one is able to implement all the above-mentioned facts in his daily routine than a perfectly toned body will remain no longer a dream.

About the Author:

These basic tips will help you get started with body building. However, if you really want to gain fast muscle and discover the secrets to building insane muscle mass fast as seen on CNN click the link below:
http://www.BestMuscleMass.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comHow to Gain Muscle Fast and Get Ripped