Do birth control pills help in controlling acne?

An outbreak of a pimple is perceived as a cause of embarrassment and concern as it gives rise to skin damage. Coming to the cause of acne, it generally occurs due to excess oil (sebum) production. The oil on your skin combined with dead skin cells, blocks your skin pores, thereby promoting bacteria growth and causing acne breakouts. 
The use of birth control pills to cure acne is usually recommended when topical medications and oral antibiotics don’t help in clearing up the problem. 
Here’s how they work on acne. 

Possessing properties that can regulate your hormone production, birth control pills contain the two hormones that your body naturally makes – oestrogen and progesterone. Present in different amounts in the pills, they act by lowering the amount of androgens (male sex hormones, which give rise to excessive sebum production) produced by your body. As a result, with a reduction in sebum production, there is also a decrease in the breakout of acne on your skin. However, you shouldn’t expect instant results from their use. 

Many a times, birth control pills can cause a flare-up of the problem before it can be contained. This can result in your acne getting worse before getting better. 
Although birth control pills can help to control acne, it’s still important to maintain a proper skincare routine comprising of washing, toning and moisturising for a healthy and glowing skin. 

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Do Birth Control Pills Help in Controlling Acne?

A common skin condition, which causes the discoloration of your skin in patches across the face, melasma is more of a social embarrassment and cause for distress rather than being a serious condition. Although it affects men as well, studies have shown that over 90 percent of patients are women. It is also known as the mask of pregnancy as many pregnant women develop this skin condition.

Causes of Melasma
Primary causes of melasma have been attributed to various hormonal changes within the body. Let's look at some of the factors that may cause this disorder:
1. Pregnancy: This is often attributed as the leading cause of melasma, the primary cause has often been attributed to hormonal changes that a woman may experience due to pregnancy.

2. Treatments that may change hormonal balance: Women on contraceptive pills or who have implants such as intrauterine devices may also develop this disorder. This is due to the balance of estrogen and progesterone being changed within the body.

3. Sun exposure: Continued sun exposure may also lead to melasma. This is due to the activation of melanocytes within the body which start producing more melanin.

4. Stress: Long periods of stress on the body can also trigger hormonal changes and cause melasma.

5. Thyroid problems: If someone suffers from Hypothyroidism or low levels of the thyroid hormone, it can trigger other hormonal changes and also cause this skin disorder. 
It has also been noticed that people with generally a darker skin tone tend to get melasma and it is less common in people with fairer skin.

Certain characteristics of Melasma
Melasma develops in certain patterns which can be easily diagnosed either as spots on the skin similar to freckles or brown patches of skin that grow bigger. Some of these patterns are:
a. Malar pattern: This grows on the nose and cheeks
b. Mandibular pattern: Starts growing around the jaw line
c. Brachial melasma: This grows on the upper arms and shoulders
d. Lateral cheek pattern: Grows on the cheek on both sides of the face
e. Centrofacial pattern: Nose, upper lips, forehead and cheeks

Treatment of Melasma
Most women who develop melasma during pregnancy report that it goes away after childbirth. However certain forms of melasma may appear in non-pregnant women due to hormonal changes. Treating the underlying hormonal changes usually resolves the problem. However certain other methods may be required to resolve the issues such as skin creams, chemical peels, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion.

All About Melasma

Primarily common among middle-aged women, rosacea is a disorder which is characterized by redness and pus-filled bumps and blisters on the chin, cheeks and the forehead. As time progresses, these red bumps can get aggravated and result in other complications. It may also affect other parts of the body such as the back, neck and the chest. If the eyes are affected, then they might appear to be watery and bloodshot. It can also lead to formation of bumps and pimples on the face.

Causes
The exact cause of rosacea has not yet been ascertained. However, certain factors have been known to act as catalysts in the development of this disorder, such as problems of the blood vessels. It may also be caused by fungus and microscopic skin mites. Though more research needs to go into it, but psychological factors are often considered to be important reasons behind this disorder. Some other risk factors of rosacea are:

Gender: It is more common among women
Complexion: People with fairer skin are at a higher risk
Symptoms
The symptoms of this disorder can vary among individuals, but they all share a few common symptoms. The major symptoms of this disorder are:

Bumps and pimples: Similar to pimples, pus filled bumps and pimples are a few common symptoms.
Flushing: A flushed face or a face that appears reddish is one of the most common symptoms indicative of rosacea.
Visible blood vessels: The blood vessels on the face tend to become visible.
Thickening of the skin: The skin tends to thicken and enlarge, caused by the presence of excessive tissue.
Stinging and burning: One may experience burning sensations and inflammation on the face.
Treatment
There are two primary methods of treatment and the required type is decided upon after a through diagnosis of the symptoms. They are-

Medications: Topical and oral medications can be administered to treat symptoms of pimples, bumps and the reddish hue on the face. Medications help you manage the symptoms and prevent them from aggravating or resurfacing.
Surgical procedures: Surgical procedures for rosacea are aimed at reducing the excessive facial redness, remedying blood vessels that are visible and correct other deformities if required.
There are certain preventive measures that you can adopt, them being:
1. Avoid direct exposure to the sun
2. Don t overdo your exercise sessions
3. Avoid eating spicy foods
4. Take steps to minimize your stress levels

Swollen Red Bumps On Skin - Can It Be A Sign Of Rosacea?

Wrinkles are a normal yet unsightly sign of aging, which can come about due to various reasons including too much exposure to the sun, poor diet, excessive smoking and drinking, lack of proper sleep, advent of age, loss of moisture and elasticity as well as collagen, which creates a smooth and supple look and other such reasons. Cosmetic and plastic surgeons are now turning to a variety of methods to lessen the pronounced look of wrinkles and remove them for younger looking skin. Here are a few methods currently in use:

*fillers: fillers like collagen and others including poly lactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite and hyaluronic acid can be used to restore the elasticity of the skin even as they provide precious hydration. These injectables can be used on the face as well as on hands for a smooth and supple look.

* botox: to get rid of the lines on the forehead and to prevent the onset of more pronounced wrinkles, botox or botulinum toxin type a is a favoured element used by many cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists. This is usually administered via injection.

* retinoids: this is administered with a surgical procedure in order to remove uneven pigmentation as well as the roughness of skin, which sets in with age and excessive smoking and sun exposure. It may cause skin peeling and redness.

* laser: the use of laser resurfacing can also help in stimulating collagen production of the skin, which restores some of its elasticity so that wrinkles may be removed and further wrinkles prevented. 

*surgery: the use of surgical methods like face lifts, brow lifts and other cosmetic processes can help in giving the skin a tighter look, which does away with the appearance of wrinkles. These are usually minor procedures from which one will heal fast.

*dermabrasion: this method is a surgical one that basically sands the surface of the skin in order to remove the wrinkles. It can cause side effects like permanent discolouration of the skin as well as scarring of sensitive skin in particular.

* peels: glycolic acid peels and deeper peels that use elements like salicylic acid can be used to go deep into the skin and making it smooth again. It basically makes a difference to the fine lines. There is a chance of side effects like scarring, bruising and general discolouration in this method as well. 

Adequate sleep, good nutrition, avoiding excessive sun exposure and a good skin care regimen can help in keeping wrinkles at bay for a long time. Moisturising with products that contain plenty of vitamin a and e can also help in reducing fine lines.

Getting Rid Of Wrinkles

Breast augmentation is one of the most common cosmetic procedures undergone by women across the world. Though small or petite breasts do not affect the overall health of a woman, they can make the woman feel dissatisfied with her appearance. Surgery is not the only way for a woman to enlarge her breasts. Ayurveda has a number of remedies that can boost the development of breast tissue and make them larger. Unlike cosmetic surgery, these remedies do not need any recovery time, leave no scars and have negligible side effects. However, one must be patient and follow treatment regularly as the results may be slower to develop. 

Some effective ayurvedic remedies for breast augmentation include:

Massage: A woman s breasts are composed of adipose tissue and glandular tissue. Massaging the breasts stimulates both these tissues. It also increases lymph circulation and boosts oxytocin levels. Sesame oil is ideal for breast massages. This oil is rich in calcium, iron, proteins and phosphorus. Alternatively, you could also use an ayurvedic massage cream. Apply a little oil or cream on your hands and massage the breasts with circular strokes for 5- 10 minutes, twice a day.
Fenugreek Breast Mask: The phytoestrogen found in fenugreek increases the prolactin levels in a woman s body. Additionally, fenugreek also stimulates the mammary glands thus encouraging the breast tissue to expand. To use this herb to increase breast size, massage a paste of fenugreek powder and water into your breasts and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Alternatively, you could massage your breasts with fenugreek extract or get fenugreek supplements.
Fennel seeds and cod liver oil: The flavonoids in fennel seeds stimulate the growth of breast tissue. To benefit from this, heat cod liver oil and add fennel seeds when hot. Once the seeds turn red, strain the oil and allow it to cool. Massage this oil into the breasts and leave for half an hour. Ideally, you should massage your breasts with this oil every day.
Red Lentil Paste: Lentils are a rich source of oestrogen that can stimulate breast development. To use this home remedy to enlarge your breasts, soak red lentils in water for a few hours and grind to a fine paste. Apply this paste on the breasts and leave for an hour or until it has dried before rinsing it off. There is no need to massage this paste into the skin. Along with augmenting breasts, this also helps create firm breasts.
Breast augmentation exercises: Certain exercises can also help naturally enlarge your breasts. One of the simplest exercises for breast augmentation involves standing with your feet apart and swinging your arms clockwise and anticlockwise. Repeat this exercise ten times in the morning and evening.

Breast Enlargement - Know Its Ayurvedic Remedies!!

Hives, also known as urticaria, is characterized by an outbreak of swollen red bumps on the skin. It may cause symptoms of itching, burning or stinging. The disorder can affect any part of the body including the tongue, throat and face. The size of the bumps can vary, they may join together to form plaques. The bumps or plaques appear and disappear until the disorder runs its course. In case of chronic hives, the bumps can last up to six weeks.

Symptoms
The symptoms of this disorder are formation of bumps on the body, severe itching and pain resulting from the bumps. The symptoms can get aggravated by stress, heat and exercise. You may also experience dizziness, chest pain and a swollen throat.

Causes
Chronic hives can be caused when specific cells in the body release histamine in the blood. The exact cause of this disorder is not known. This reaction of releasing histamine in the blood can be triggered by factors like: 
1. Insects
2. Medications to control pain
3. Scratching
4. Exposure to cold and heat
5. Excessive consumption of alcohol
6. Heavy exercise

Being a female and being young raises your risk of being affected by this disorder.


Ayurvedic Treatment
The first line of treatment for hives is the use of home remedies. The doctor will aim to treat any underlying condition, if any. Ayurvedic remedies for hives are holistic and free from side effects. They are based on natural ingredients that do not cause any adverse effects on the body.

The Ayurvedic treatment for this disorder are

Herbs: Certain herbs like turmeric are very effective to treat this condition. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve its symptoms. A mixture of rock salt and mustard oil can be applied on the affected part to foster speedy recovery.
Diet: You need to follow certain dietary guidelines so that the symptoms do not get aggravated. Avoid taking foods that are sour and salty. Include plenty of buttermilk as it has a cooling effect on the body.

Chronic Hives - How Ayurveda Remedies Helpful in Treating it?

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