Hidradenitis suppurativa

What is Hidradenitus Suppurativa?

Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a non-contagious skin disease that is also known as Acne Inversa. This condition affects areas of the body where there is skin to skin contact and where sweat or oil glands are present; common areas are the underarms, breasts, buttocks, anal region, and groin. It affects between 1 to 4% of the world’s population, and is more likely to occur in females.

Symptoms

Hidradenitis Suppurativa is characterized by persistent abscesses, cysts (epidermoid, sebaceous, and pilonidal) and infections. The condition is chronic and often goes through alternating periods of remission and flare-ups. During flare-ups, the inflammation tends to be severe and patients may develop fever and be very fatigued. The pain can be unbearable and the person’s movements will be very limited. The abscesses often drain pus and leave open wounds that may not heal. Eventually, abscesses may become interconnected through tunnels under skin and this makes the condition harder to treat.

Causes

The immediate cause of Hidradenitis Suppurativa is clogging of the apocrine glands, due to dead skin cells become trapped in the gland, over production of oil, or bacterial accumulation. This will cause the plug to swell with pus formation. What causes this simple blockage to progress into a full blow Hidradenitis Suppurativa case is still debated, however, possible theories include an auto-immune reaction, hormone imbalances and genetic disorders. It is also known that excessive sweating and being overweight will increase the risk of developing the condition. Furthermore, wearing tight clothing, excessive shaving, using lithium medications and hot humid climates have been identified as triggering factors.

Stages

Clinically, Hidradenitis Suppurativa is described to occur in three stages. Stage 1 is characterized by the presence of a single or multiple abscesses without scarring that may be misdiagnosed as acne. Stage 2 is characterized by recurrent abscesses, lesions and sinus tract formation. At this stage inflammation will limit the person’s range of movement. Stage 3 is characterized by severe inflammation leading to swellings up to the size of baseballs. Scarring is prevalent, as are frequent infections.

Treatment

Hidradenitis Suppurativa treatment will depend on the clinical presentation and extent of the condition. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat any infections and for anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroids, NSAIDs and other anti-inflammatory drugs are also widely used. For some cases, surgery may be needed. In Europe, Electron Beam Radiotherapy is also sometimes used.

Unfortunately, medical treatments for Hidradenitis Suppurativa are of very limited effectiveness and may cause side effects. Lifestyle changes, dietary intervention and natural extracts are often more effective at controlling the condition and sending it into remission, and indeed a complete cure is possible without any medical intervention. Lifestyle changes include the use of hydrotherapy, balneotherapy and icing of the area. Dietary intervention includes the adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, use of specific vitamin and mineral supplements, and the achievement of a healthy bodyweight.

For a complete guide on curing Hidradenitis Suppurativa through a natural and holistic approach, visit Therese Wilson’s Fast Hidradenitis Suppurativa Cure™. Wilson is a certified nutritionist, holistic health consultant and a Hidradenitis Suppurativa specialist.

 

acne

Acne Diet Link Exposed: Is There an Acne Cure Diet that Works?

Acne Diet and The Money Factor: You Can’t Sell a Healthy Diet

Ask any medical doctor if there is a connection between diet and acne and almost all of them will claim there is none. Quoting from the Journal of the American Medical Association: “Diet plays no role in acne treatment in most patients…even large amounts of certain foods have not clinically exacerbated acne”.

With years of medical education and clinical experience behind these claims, how can we the simple folks who suffer from acne challenge these statements and think otherwise? The answer is: doubt.

Doubt, if its stays in the borders of reason, can open many doors otherwise will stay forever shut. Believe it or not, doubt can change reality. Doubt can cure your acne and doubt can even save your life.

Fact is, countless of acne sufferers have reported that their acne seemed to get worse when they consumed certain foods and saw dramatic positive change over their acne condition when they eliminated the same foods from their diet and when certain foods with specific nutritional value were incorporated into their diet.

So why do dermatologists so stubbornly insist that diet does not cause acne? The answer: you can’t make a profit promoting a healthy diet.

At least not as much money as you could make by selling drugs and over the counters. There is a huge pressure upon doctors coming from the drug and pharmaceutical companies to prescribe expensive medications and lotions that create dependency.

The truth is, that your doctor is in a way, a hostage by the trillion dollar drug companies. Did you know that the drug companies, who have no interest in producing something that they cannot control financially, sponsor most medical schools?

The right diet, although not a solution by itself, can, in many cases, dramatically reduce inflammation and even completely clear one’s acne (if you’re one of the lucky ones who’s acne is triggered by allergic response to food).

Promoting a clear skin diet simply means less profits for the drug and pharmaceutical companies.

The truth is that conventional medications will never cure your acne, simply because they are pre-designed NOT to fix the internal cause of acne. They are pre-designed to deal with the external symptoms of a disease as they create more and more dependency and more dependency means making more money all at our expense and ignorance.

The Theory That Diet Doesn’t Cause Acne Is A Myth

The dogmatic theory that diet does not cause acne and that acne is merely an incurable genetic disorder was based upon two dated researches published in 1969 and 1971 that were aimed at studying the connection between diet and acne.

These studies were the foundation of the ‘acne symptoms treatment strategy’, meaning, because acne is a genetic disease that cannot be prevented, the only way to deal with acne would be to tackle its symptoms (bacteria, inflammation, puss, redness, greasiness), by applying creams, antibiotics, taking prescription drugs and over the counters.

Surprisingly enough, years after the above studies were published, clinical trials and in depth researches experimenting the acne diet link have found that the studies from 1969 and 1971 had came to the wrong conclusions and were in fact seriously flawed.

Recent studies have clearly found a significant connection between diet and acne. It appears that the wrong diet is now thought to be one of the leading acne contributing factors that can negatively affect hormonal regulation and the natural process of toxic elimination, which can seriously aggravate one’s existing acne.

Diet Shapes Who You Are (Including Your Acne)

In the same way that crashing waves shape beach cliffs and just like the wind shapes the canyon walls, slowly and methodically over time, so does eating shapes and effects our physic, our internal system, our physical and mental being, from the organ down to the cellular level.

The idea that an object foreign to our body that is inserted by the food that we eat, has no effect on us, or has no impact on chronic conditions such as acne is absurd. Diet is the primary thing that affects and shapes who we are. Diet has cumulative effect on our bodies, and that includes our skin condition and acne, which is a manifestation of a chronic internal problem slowly shaped and built by the wrong daily dietary choices over the years.

Acne Diet and The Kitavan Islanders

While in the U.S, more than 80% of teenagers between 16 and 18 have acne and more than 17 million Americans suffer from some form of acne, there is an interesting evidence that native people that live and eat in traditional ways, have significantly lower to no occurrences of acne.

In 2002, Dr. Cordain and his colleagues published a landmark study that examined 300 people living in the Kitavan Islands off the coast of Papua New Guinea that showed that none of the islanders had even one blemish on his or her face.

Similar to the Kitavans, no case of acne had been observed when the same experiment had been conducted upon the South American Indians called the Ache, living in a remote jungle in eastern Paraguay. The natives of Kitavan and the South American Indians had no access to the latest over the counters, topical creams or conventional acne medications and they had no dermatologist to consult with. The only vast difference between them and American or European citizens is their diet.

Acne Diet and Sugar: The Sweet Poison

Aside from the fact that sugar is a 100% pure chemical with zero nutritional value, recent studies have clearly shown a connection between the consumption of sugar and the aggravation of acne. When you consume any form of refined carbohydrates (white sugar, white flour, white rice) here’s what happens: right after you insert that ‘sweet poison’ into your body, it rapidly spikes up your blood sugar levels. Your body needs to bring those levels down so it secrets a surge of insulin, other male hormones and an insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1. The excretion of these hormones overwhelms your liver and your internal system in general. The excess of male hormones encourages the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum oil: The greasy substance that encourages the p.acne bacteria to grow, resulting in the aggravation of your acne.

Acne Diet and Dairy Products: Got Milk? Got Acne

If you thought sugar can aggravate your acne, here’s another major nutritional player in the formation of acne: behold the miracles of milk. Milk (all dairy products included) is the most harmful, mucus forming, allergenic and acne aggravating food you can find. Surprised? I thought so.

After years of constant brainwashing by the media, who can blame us for thinking milk is good for strong bones and healthy teeth? The truth is: every sip of milk contains 59 different raging hormones, (which trigger the hyper-production of sebum oil resulting in more acne), saturated animal fat, steroid hormones, dead white blood cells, and cow pus in abundance!

Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows 750 million pus cells in every liter of milk (about two pounds) produced in America? Think about it, the next time you pop a pimple. Scientific studies already point the finger at milk as one of the worst acne aggravating foods: “As pointed out by Dr. Jerome Fisher, ‘About 80 percent of cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are throwing off hormones continuously.’ Progesterone breaks down into androgens, which have been implicated as a factor in the development of acne…Dr. Fisher observed that his teenage acne patients improved as soon as the milk drinking stopped.”

If there’s one element you should remove from your diet in the quest for clear skin make it this one. Not only will you see an immediate improvement over your acne, you’ll feel a huge weight has been lifted from your body. If you worry about calcium intake, don’t! Milk being acidic forming food creates a leeching effect where calcium is taken from your bones to balance the acidity. Milk actually deprives your body from its calcium resources. Green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds are not only excellent sources of calcium they also have the powers to help you fight your acne symptoms.

Diet Is Only One of The Factors That Cause Acne

Dairy products and sugar are not the only acne aggravating foods. The two above cannot sum up the list of western made acne triggering foods.

There are several other foods you should clearly stay away from if you ever wish to clear your acne. The good new is that there are tons of other foods such as essential fatty acids that are not only excellent for your skin, they can actually help you clear your acne, by re-balancing your body and promoting to an acne-free environment.

The right nutrition plays an important part in the complex process of acne formation. When doctors claim there is no link between diet and acne because certain individuals can eat specific foods and get acne while others eat the same foods and don’t, these doctors have failed to realize that there are several factors involved in the formation and aggravation of acne and diet is only ONE of them.

The Final Verdict On The Acne Diet Connection: How To Finally Overcome Your Acne Challenge

Acne is a complex condition that is triggered by several underlying factors. The only way to neutralize your acne condition is to tackle all these acne-contributing factors-holistically.

Since the wrong diet is only one of these acne-triggering factors, in most cases no special diet can cure acne. There is a however, a tight connection between diet and acne formation. Dietary factors can trigger and aggravate your existing acne.

Avoiding the wrong foods such as milk, sugar and hydrogenated oils, and eating cleansing and hormonal balancing foods such as green leafy vegetables and essential fatty acids, can help your skin heal itself from the inside out and dramatically reduce your acne symptoms.

There are also several important dietary principals that you must understand and follow if you ever want to cure your acne for good. Taking responsibility over your body and adhering to these dietary principals along with taking the necessary steps to tackle all acne contributing factors, holistically, will not only cure your acne permanently and give you the flawless acne free skin you deserve, following these principals will also significantly improve your overall health, mental well-being, look and feel.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, visit: Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life  

 

Heavy & Excessive Sweating

What Is Hyperhidrosis?

The condition which causes excessive sweating is defined as Hyperhidrosis. Research shows that about 4% of the population has symptoms which are typical to hyperhidrosis. The symptoms which include sweaty face, hands, feet and palms can be a reason of embarrassment and social issues. Everyday existence can be challenging for a person suffering from this condition and physical proximity could be challenging. Yet, this condition can be cured and all these issues can be easily avoided.

What causes Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperdidrosis is a medical condition that needs serious and focused handling and it will not go away if you think that it is something that can be ignored.

The hypothalamus – a part of the brain – is responsible for all sweat related functions. The sweat glands, which are responsible for producing sweat, are triggered by the hypothalamus which sends signals to it via nerves. In normal circumstances, a person would sweat when there is warmth or when the person undergoes any physical activity. As opposed to this, the sweat glands of a person suffering from hyperhidrosis produces surplus of sweat always.

Types of Hyperhidrosis

There are two main categories into which hyperhidrosis can be divided into – primary hyperhidrosis or focal hyperhidrosis and secondary or generalized hyperhidrosis.

. Primary or Focal Hyperhidrosis. Suffers of primary or focal hyperhidrosis complain of excessive sweating around the arm area, hands, feet and even the face. This kind of hyperhidrosis is triggered by problems in the nervous system, hence the sweat glands end up producing excessive sweat.

. Secondary of Generalized Hyperhidrosis. As the name suggests, this kind of hyperhidrosis causes excessive sweating across the whole body. This condition results from some health conditions such as metabolic disorders, neurological disorders and menopause.

How to treat hyperhidrosis?

The good news is that hyperhidrosis can be treated. Simple lifestyle changes like using antiperspirants , wearing comfortable and loose clothing, avoiding clothing like nylon, lycra and a diet which excludes spicy food can cure mild cases of hyperhidrosis. Keeping yourself clean and following simple hygiene norms can offer respite to the condition.

The odds change however if a person is suffering from severe hyperhidrosis. This happens when a person is sweating excessively. One common treatment process is electrical stimulation or Iontophoresis which consists of approximately four sessions per week and a maintenance treatment every four weeks. This treatment albeit has its limitations.

Botox injections – which is considered as a treatment might be successful in reducing armpit sweating. Botox simply stops the sweat glands form producing sweat and hence less sweat but it comes with associate side effects like freezing muscles in the injected area. And since the effect wears off in a few hours making the treatment repetitive.

Besides these two treatment options surgery and medication can also be considered and the best option can only be decided upon consultation with a doctor.

A long-term solution for hyperhidrosis should address the internal causes of excessive sweating by tackling all hyperhidrosis contributing factors. Only by controlling the nutritional, hormonal, psychological and environmental triggers of hyperhidrosis, using a multidimensional and holistic approach to healing you can reverse the “internal excessive sweating environment”- the only, safe, natural and effective way you could ever achieve lasting hyperhidrosis freedom.   

This article is based on the book, “Sweat Miracle” by Miles Dawson. Miles is an author, researcher, nutritionist and health consultant who dedicated his life to creating the ultimate Hyperhidrosis solution guaranteed to permanently reverse the root cause of excessive sweating and naturally and dramatically improve the overall quality of your life,  without the use prescription medication and without any surgical procedures. Learn more by visiting his website: Sweat Miracle

Body Odour

What is bromhidrosis?

Bromhidrosis is a condition that sometimes accompanies excessive sweating where the sweat smells bad. A lot of people simply referr to it as “body odor.” It is a common phenomenon in postpubertal individuals.

People who suffer from bromhidrosis will take baths or showers just like everybody else, but their sweat still carries this distinct odor. The odor can be an unpleasant one depending on who smells it. The levels of the severity of the odor can vary and can range from very mild or very severe.

There’s actually two different types of bromhidrosis that have subtle differences. Indeed, not many people know of this distinction. It has to do with the types of sweat glands that are affected.

There are two types of sweat glands: Eccrine and Apocrine. The Eccrine sweat glands produce almost all of the sweat. Their main purpose is for the thermoregulation of the body (regulating body temperature) and they are distributed all over the body.

The Apocrine glands on the other hand are not distributed all over the body. They are localized only in certain areas such as the armpits, the genital area, the chest or breast area, and around the facial area. Apocrine sweat glands are not used in the thermoregulation of the body. Rather, their function is to produce pheromones.

Unfortunately, bromhydrosis can substantially impair a person’s quality of life.

In my case I suffered from bromhidrosis when I was under constant stress for weeks on end whilst working away from home.  It would take up to two weeks for the smell to disipate from my body once I was back home.  Unfortunately, my clothing also took on the smell and my wife would throw them away.

Constipation

Using Natural Remedies For Constipation

There are two basic types of constipation – organic and functional. Organic constipation is a result of some physical change, obstruction, or distortion in your colon. This type of constipation needs immediate attention from a doctor.
 
This article only covers Functional Constipation. This type of constipation is a result of not following a proper diet, drinking enough fluids, having good emotional health and not having a good lifestyle – a lifestyle that promotes good movement of digested foods through the intestines and colon.
 
Even though there are many definitions for constipation, constipation is simply a condition where the fecal matter traveling through your colon remains too long in your colon before traveling out the rectum.
 
Constipation is a symptom and not a disease. It is a condition that tells you your colon is not working properly or that you have some underlying gastrointestinal disease you are not aware of.
 
Constipation may be a warning that your diet and lifestyle are causing an imbalance in your body. It is a symptom that many people ignore or that many people try to eliminate by using unnatural and oftentimes dangerous drugstore laxatives.
 
Drugstore laxatives should be avoided when you have constipation. They can become habit-forming, damage your colon, and have nasty side effects if used too long. They sometimes have the tendency of creating the problem you are trying relieve – constipation.
 
To keep your body in chemical balance, it is important to use only natural remedies for constipation. Natural remedies such as herbs and foods bring into the colon those nutrients that can build up your colon and reactivate your natural peristaltic action.
 
As you use natural remedies, keep in mind that one particular remedy may not work for you. You may have to try a different remedy or increase dosage of the one you are using. If you supply what your body needs by using a specific remedy, then you will get results from using that remedy.
 
Experimenting is part of finding out what remedy is best for you. There are many different natural remedies you can choose from. Look on the internet for “natural remedies for constipation” and you will find many listings.
 
Keep in mind that most remedies should be used only for a short time, two to four days and not longer than 2 weeks. They should only be used for the time needed to clear your constipation. This might be just 4 or 5 times or sometimes it may take several weeks.
 

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Prevent constipation and other health ailments with papaya

As you know constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through your colon remains too long in your colon before traveling out of the rectum. You become aware that you are constipated if you have difficulty passing motion or that it takes a few days to do one purge.
 
That said, if you are suffering from constipation, you may be advised to eat more fruits and vegetables to increase your fiber intake.
 
When it come down to your fruit choice, have you ever considered having papaya as a constipation remedy or to include it as part of your regular diet?
 
As a natural remedy, papaya not only aids digestion but also helps prevent constipation.
 
It also provides relief from piles and has anti-cancer properties. Papaya has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, prevents the formation of urinary stones, prevents intestinal infection by parasites and aids in the proper functioning of the body’s immune system. For lactating mothers, according to traditional beliefs, papaya also helps to stimulate milk production.
 
Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins (especially food with gluten). Concentrated amounts can especially be found in unripe papaya (which you can have as green papaya salad). This enzyme helps prevent the accumulation of mucoprotein (partially digested protein) in the body and lymphatic system. In fact, papain has been extracted to make dietary supplements for digestion. Thus, the unripe papaya is considered to have more healing powers for constipation than the ripe one.
 
Papayas are a good source of fiber. Its fiber is able to keep cancer-causing toxins in the colon away from the healthy colon cells. Those who are experiencing constipation or at risk of colon cancer should consider taking more papaya. Papaya’s folate, vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carontene and vitamin E have been linked with reduced risk of colon cancer.
 
Additionally, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya have also been proven to reduce muscle inflammation and the healing of burns and wounds.
 
The papaya fruit is slightly sweet, with a musky smell to it. It is now mainly cultivated in the warm tropical parts of the world but can easily be found in many supermarkets.
 
To prevent constipation and for all stated health benefits, here are three simple papaya recipes:
 
1. Papaya Milk Energy drink. Cut papaya and blend with milk in a 50/50 mix. Add honey if desired. Papaya milk is a good energy drink for growing children.
 
2. Papaya Salad (Thai Style). Shred green papaya and cut some tomatoes. For dressing, add chopped garlic, 2 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon lime juice, cilantro, Thai basil, 1 teaspoon chopped mint, chili padi (optional) and sugar to taste.
 
3. Unripe papaya juice. Peel off skin and put in blender. This recipe is especially good for the lymphatic system.
 
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