How to Know if You Need Vitamin Supplements

Taking vitamin and mineral supplements is perhaps one of most controversial issues regarding healthy living. The lack of vitamins in your diet can be unhealthy, but too many vitamins can also put your health in danger. So, how do you know if taking vitamin and mineral supplements is necessary for you? Ask yourself following questions in order to determine if you may need vitamin supplementation for a healthier lifestyle:

1. Am I Stressed? If you are constantly stressed-out due to work, relationships, family or any other situation, your adrenal glands may be working overtime. This can potentially cause fatigue and headaches.

   Treatment: Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin E and Vitamin C supplements can help with this problem.

2. Is My Immune System Up to Par? Do you constantly find yourself catching colds and flu more frequently than others? You may need to boost your immune system with vitamins and minerals which provide nutrients needed to fight these viruses.

   Treatment: Vitamin C supplement, Zinc and Manganese will do trick.

3. Do I smoke? I'm sure you're aware that this habit is unhealthy but smoking uses up vitamin C and puts you at higher risk of osteoporosis.

   Treatment: Vitamin C supplements and calcium supplements will help reduce your chances of osteoporosis and provide you with adequate amount of vitamin C.

4. Am I Pregnant? Pregnant and hormonal women often lack in vitamin B-6. If you do not receive enough of this vitamin it can be harmful to you and your baby.
   
   

What is Acne?

What is acne? Acne is a term attributed to plugged pores, commonly known as blackheads and whiteheads, pimples, and even cysts or nodules, occur on face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Follicles, often called pores, often get blocked with sebum (oil), which normally drains to surface, and a bacteria propionibacterium acnes, begins to grow. Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a "microcomedone" which then become skin blemishes called comedones. Acne can be upsetting, disfiguring, sometimes leading to permanent scarring.

There are different types of acne. A white head is a lesion where trapped sebum and bacteria stay below skin surface. A blackhead, on other hand, is a lesion where trapped sebum and bacteria partially open to surface and turn black due to skin pigment melanin.

A papule is a small solid lesion slightly elevated above surface of skin. A pustule, again, is a dome-shaped skin elevation containing pus: a mixture of white blood cells, dead skin cells, and bacteria. It often has a hair in center. A macule is a temporary red spot left by a healed acne lesion. It is flat and pinkish, with well-defined borders that can persist for days to weeks. A number of macules can contribute to "inflamed face" appearance of acne. A nodule is a solid dome-shaped or irregularly shaped lesion, characterized by pain, inflammation and extending into deeper layers of skin. It may cause tissue destruction resulting in scarring.