Acne mallorca Acne caused by sunbathing.

Acne mechanica Acne provoked by mechanical irritation such as tight, restricting cloths or straps.

Acne medicamentosa (Drug Induced Acne) Acne brought on by medications. Common culprits include phenytoin (Dilantin), isoniazid, lithium, bromides, iodides, androgens and corticosteroids. Lithium worsens acne vulgaris and can bring on acne in persons who have never experienced acne.

Oral contraceptives containing norgestrel or norethindrone may also induce or worsen acne.

Over counter drugs containing potassium iodide, bromide (cold remedies) and chlorine (chloral hydrate) may cause acne with very small pustules.

Acne neonatorum Infant acne triggered by hormones from mother transferred to newborn. This acne usually disappears without treatment.

Acne pomade Acne occurring with persons who use pomades or thick oils daily on their hair. This oil travels from hair to forehead where it clogs pores and creates acne lesions. Avoiding touching face with oiled hands and limiting use of synthetic oils on hairs usually remedies pomade acne.

Chloracne Acne created by constant exposure to hydrocarbons in motor oil and insecticides.

Imaginary acne Imagining acne when there is actually no acne.

Pitch acne Lesions created by coal tars or dandruff tar shampoos.

Premenstrual acne Acne provoked by hormonal changes prior to menstruation.

Steroid acne Inflammation of hair follicles caused by internal steroids or from topical corticosteroids on face. Steroid induced acne appears as red papules and pustules concentrated in area where steroid was applied. Steroids thin outer layer of skin and make hair follicles more susceptible to rupture. Lesions usually leave after steroid use ends.

Tropical acne Acne experienced by some World War II soldiers in tropics who developed severe acne with horrible scarring.

Obesity Is Considered A Chronic Disease

----------------------------------------- Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RD says obesity is considered a "chronic disease, it has actually been classified a disease. It's probably biggest chronic health problem that we have in United States." Rosenbloom is an associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Rosenbloom says obesity can lead to high blood pressure, increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and possibly even certain types of cancers. According to AOA, about 55% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. The health care costs for treating diseases caused by obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease, was over $100 billion in 1999 alone.

Medicare And Medicaid Next?

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Downey says AOA is "working with some of managed care associations and Medicare. We're going to be looking at Medicaid hopefully in near future. We obviously want to see them provide better coverage." But Downey says IRS and insurance industry are two very different issues. The IRS is more cut-and-dry, and questions associated with it are not as complex.

The IRS has to interpret obesity as a medical problem. Until it does, it is doubtful that tax relief will come. Even though medical deductions qualify after seven and a half percent of your adjusted gross income. If you were making $100,000 a year, you would have to have over $7,500 before you could deduct it. Most people don't.

Downey agrees "it's a very small category, but in our view, particularly for people who need bariatric [obese-specific] surgery, which is going to be $8,000 to $12,000, or so and frequently is not covered by insurance plans, that probably is individual who is going to benefit from this change. Most middle class people would have to go to a lot of Weight Watchers meetings to get up to that level."

There has been a 40% increase in number of obese people since 1980 and incidence of obesity in children is rising. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

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