Your body is being constantly attacked by very harmful substances known as free radicals or oxygen radicals. Free radicals can destroy your cells, tissues and organs.

Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are naturally formed inside our bodies by process of oxidation. They are normal by products of everyday functions like digestion and physical activity. Free radicals also come from outside sources, such as smoking, environmental pollution, and synthetic chemicals that are added to our water and food.

We are also all exposed daily to polluted air, ingest oxidized or partially rancid foods, and oxidizing radiations from sun and various electrical appliances.

Free radicals lack one electron making them chemically unstable. To stabilize themselves, they attack any other substance within reach and steel an electron from it. This process creates a new free radical, which repeats process, producing a "domino effect." When this reaction is uncontrolled, it can generate millions of free radicals within seconds.

ACNE - Basic Understanding

Acne is bane of existence for nearly 17 million people who suffer from some form of acne.

Acne is not only embarrassing but also causes psychosocial effects such as: anxiety, depression, inferiority, insecurity, frustration and self-consciousness.

Acne can be in form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or cysts. Can be on face, neck, shoulders, upper back or chest.

The different definitions of acne are:

Acne blemish: A flaw in skin

Acne pimple: A small, prominent, inflamed elevation of skin

Blackhead: A condition of skin characterized by a black tip.

Whitehead: A condition of skin characterized by a small, firm, whitish elevation of skin

Cysts: When clogged pore is swollen, infected and forms a bump it’s called a “cyst”

Those most susceptible are teenagers and adolescents but it also affects many adults. Although exact cause of acne is still unknown… there are certain triggers that might possibly contribute to it such as bacteria, blocked pores, hormonal changes, excess oil and also genetics may play a large part in it.

One thing you can be sure of…contrary to popular belief, poor hygiene and food such as chocolate does not cause acne.

Severe cases of acne may cause pitted skin and scarring. If you have deep acne scars you may want to go for dermabrasion or dermaplaning to give your skin a smoother appearance. These can be used on small areas of face.

There are a wide variety of products available for acne treatment anywhere from mildest lotions to severest prescriptive forms of treatment. A study comparing popular acne remedies recently discovered relatively inexpensive lotions are as effective as powerful prescription antibiotics.

You’ll find many pros and cons regarding all forms of treatment but few of many treatments that have come about over years have given any lasting effect. Some treatments have actually been very unhealthy and dangerous for user.

One treatment - Accutane, may cause severe birth defects and also cause depression which has led FDA to strengthen its restrictions on its use. These new restrictions require manufacturers of Accutane and its generic versions to keep track of doctors who prescribe drug, and also pharmacies that sell drug and patients who use it.