Acne is a skin condition that is caused due to excess production of sebum and the subsequent clogging of the pores. Acne can affect across all age groups; though it is more common among the adolescents, because of the hormonal changes.
Acne can manifest in the form of pimples, cysts, and pustules. There are OTC medications that can help to control acne. At times, the acne leaves behind scars which can be unsightly. Clear skin is everyone’s dream and newer techniques such as laser treatments have helped to reduce the visibility of the acne scars significantly.
Short pulses of micro-fine laser light are directed on the affected area. This intense light burns away the damaged skin, which is consequently expelled by the body’s natural exfoliation process. Over a period, new skin regrows, helping to spot a scar-free face.
Clearlift is the latest treatment for acne scar recommended by the experts. This therapy involves gently lifting the pits. The biggest advantage of Clearlift is that it has no downtime. That is you walk out with clearer skin also there are no side-effects, making it apt for those with sensitive skin as well.
If you desire overall skin rejuvenation with a marked improvement in the skin tone and texture, Clearlift is your obvious choice.
This method is one of the strongest and oldest ways to get rid of acne scars. The fractional CO2 laser has been in use since years and has been quite effective in getting rid of acne scars. The flipside is that there are resultant scabs, which eventually fall off in about two weeks, to render your clear and flawless skin.
Fractional lasers treat a small portion of the skin, enabling faster healing.
This is one of the most popular laser treatment methods for acne scars. Pixel Perfect suits those with darker skin tones as well. Considered as effective as the CO2 laser, Pixel Perfect can give you smoother skin after about 4 to 6 sittings. Post the treatment, tiny dots are seen on the skin, which normally disappears in about five days.
Fractional Microneedle treatment is a newer technology to treat acne scar. Tiny needles are used to ablate the skin using radiofrequency technology. Post the treatment, the skin rejuvenates on its own, while increasing the collagen production as well. It is quite safe and effective procedure; a few tiny dots can be seen on the skin, which eventually disappears.
Laser treatments are a safe and effective to get rid of acne and acne scars. Make sure that you visit a qualified dermatologist, who can prescribe the choice of laser depending on your skin type and condition.
The best way to lose weight is focusing on the whole body. Intense weight loss routines involve concentrating on all the regions equally.
Our body is allowed to have a certain percentage of fat, and once it exceeds, it can lead to severe health complications. Obesity is a condition that is caused due to the high percentage of fat in the body leading to fatal health problems. You need to monitor the fat levels in the body and ensure to stay fit.
Eating right and staying active is not enough. A routine exercise is also needed. Running or doing cardio will only burn off fat for the time being but you need muscles to replace them. This calls for exercises involving lifting weights.
Here are three workouts for full body fat loss. It would help you get the body in shape and ensure weight loss.
Ensure that a full body fat loss workout is uniformly distributed throughout the week, else it may leave you feeling sore. Here are different types of workouts that you can try.
This workout is perfect to go with a low carbohydrate diet. A combination of both will give you best results.
Here is a list of exercises in this compound workout.
Working five days a week and doing two or three of these workouts a week should give you good results.
These full body depletion workouts should be done once a week. Have lower rest periods during the workout to increase your metabolism.
Changing your exercise routine according to your diet is essential. You can do these exercises in circuits for best benefits.
This workout is perfect for those with time constraints. They are short yet intense sessions that will prove to be useful. It is better when accompanied by a low-calorie diet.
You can choose or change to any of these workouts. They are very effective in losing body fat when a diet is also maintained simultaneously.
Whether you are a skinny guy trying to build up some muscles or a plump guy trying to convert your body mass into lean muscles, finding ways that are easy and quick is a boon. More muscle means more strength. There is a lot of misleading information on muscle building on the internet today, and most of the techniques and training mentioned do not work for most. This article is to help you gain muscles the right way.
How to gain muscles
A common mistake that you can make is following a wrong training routine. In order to gain muscles, you need not train the way bodybuilders do. It is necessary to follow a strict regime of supplementary diet, proper sleep and regular exercise.
Here are the steps you can follow to gain muscles.
While winter is the time for you to get your snowboards out, it is also the time for some when symptoms of allergies flare up. The cold weather brings in its wake the allergies caused due to mold, pet dander, and dust. While these allergens can be found all through the year, in winters, the allergies are compounded, owing to the fact that people spend a lot of time indoors to beat the chilly weather.
The doors and windows are sealed during cold weathers. Due to this, ventilation is majorly hampered and pollutants such as carbon soot from the fireplace accumulate indoors and can trigger or cause allergies.
Winters herald Christmas festivities. Christmas trees contain mold spores and long exposure while decorating can trigger an allergy flare up. Moreover, with a good number of friends and family members visiting, there is a chance that multiple fragrances can cause an irritation and, hence, trigger an allergy.
With the cold forcing you to stay indoors, your exposure to allergens inside your home, such as dust and mold, increases. Further, there is always a possibility of mold growth on wet wood. All these can aggravate your allergies. Moreover, your pets too spend a lot of time indoors. Therefore, you get exposed to more of their pet dander.
Coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, headache, congestion, and fatigue are the commonly experienced symptoms that suggest that you are suffering from an allergy. Winter is the most dreaded time of the year for asthmatics. The dry and cold air can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and severe coughing.
If you are not sure whether you are a bit under the weather due to the chill or are suffering from an allergy, just wait for a few days. If the symptoms do not relieve themselves, e.g., common cold subsides in about seven days, then it is best to consult a doctor and identify the cause of the allergy.
A visit to the allergist will help you identify the allergen that you are sensitive to. Once that is identified, you can reduce the exposure to those allergens and prevent an allergy flare up.
Over-the-counter medications also help in relieving the symptoms of various allergies. A combination of antihistamine and decongestant will provide relief. While a decongestant clears up the chest and a stuffy nose, antihistamines work toward decreasing allergy symptoms such as sneezing and itching.
In case of allergies like asthma that can get more pronounced during winters, prescription medicines such as bronchodilators and steroids are used. Steroids help in reducing inflammation that is caused by allergic reaction. The airways can also get blocked. Bronchodilators clear up the airways and reduce wheezing.
Identify the allergy causing triggers, avoid their exposure, and enjoy the winter snowboarding.
Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage that is made of hops, barley, water, and yeast. It is the fermentation process that gives beer its distinct taste as well as renders it varied health benefits. Having a good amount of protein and Vitamin B6, beer also contains certain minerals that play a vital role in regulating metabolic process. Moreover, hops contain flavonoids and potent antioxidants that mitigate the risk of free radical damage.
Beer intake in moderation offers the following health benefits.
The buildup of cholesterol along the artery walls can cause blockages, leading to heart diseases. Beer contains Vitamin B6 that inhibits the accumulation of homocysteine. Clots in arteries is also prevented. Inflammation in arteries can lead to atherosclerosis. Studies have found that a moderate intake of beer lowers the risk of inflammation.
A pint of beer can help you beat cancer. Beer contains polyphenols that help fight cancer. Hops are used in brewing beer and contain a flavonoid compound “xanthohumol” that plays a vital role in the chemoprevention of cancer.
Beer, which is made of grains such as barley, hops, and rice, is a good source of soluble fiber. Including adequate amount of soluble fiber in your diet helps keep the gastrointestinal tract clean, thereby promoting overall health.
It is not uncommon to see people suffering from gallstones. Many doctors opt to surgically remove the gallbladder in people who are prone to repeated gallstone formation. Drinking beer helps in lowering cholesterol levels as well as reducing bile concentration, thus decreasing the risk of gallstone formation.
The deficiency of Vitamin B12 and folic acid can lead to anemia, a condition in which hemoglobin levels in the blood are extremely low. Beer contains Vitamin B12 as well as folic acid. Women are more prone to contract anemia than men. A glass of beer can help them beat this condition. Vitamin B12 is also necessary for improving memory and concentration, in addition to ensuring normal growth.
Stress is an inherent part of our lives, which can sometimes result in the abnormal rise of blood pressure. However, the solution is simple. You can lower your blood pressure by ordering a mug of beer at the pub rather than a glass of whisky or rum.
As you age, your bone density decreases. As a result, you become prone to fractures and osteoporosis. To help increase bone density, you can have beer, in moderation of course.
In addition to the above points, drinking beer improves digestion, delays aging, prevents dementia, and reduces the risk of kidney stones. Beer has a diuretic effect as well. So, the next time you want your fix of alcohol, go for a mug of beer.
People all over the world have become more health conscious now. There are loads of exercises that have been proved to be effective in keeping the health in line. Regular exercises will keep you away from all kinds of health hazards. One of the most popular and effective routines is the high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts.
These workouts are alternate between high-intensity activities and short durations of low-intensity exercises. This has been proved as an effective way of keeping the body fit. Many trainers recommend these workouts. While it may be difficult to keep up as a beginner, by exercising every day you are sure to get into form soon.
These workouts take less time and can be easily accommodated in your busy schedule.
You will experience the benefits of HIIT workouts in a month or two.
The whole idea behind the HIIT workouts is that you don’t have to spend hours in the gym to stay in shape. Fitness goals are a lot easier to achieve through this training if you give your best from the beginning to the end.
Firstly, remember to warm up before you get started. Few simple stretches will do. In this workout, for 20 seconds of each exercise, you can take rest for 10 seconds.
Here is the list of HIIT workouts that beginners can start with.
Stand with your right foot in front of the left one. Now tilt your hips to face the left side. Position your arms in a boxing position and then punch with your right arm. Now let your body rotate as you cross punch with the left arm. Retain your body weight on the right foot. Once you are done with one round, do the same with the left.
This is a popular exercise that you must be familiar with. Stand straight with your feet apart and your arms on your side. Jump and raise your arms high. Make sure you do it fast for maximum benefits.
Keep your feet wide apart and point your toes to a 45-degree angle. Retain your body weight on your heels while keeping your chest up and back flat. Now lower your body till your thighs are parallel to the ground. Come back to the initial position and repeat the exercise.
It might take some time for you to get used to including these workouts into your daily schedule. Keep at it for a month or two, and you will be used to it.
If we take one’s brain health into consideration, then we can see that his/her lifestyle has a profound impact upon the same. Lifestyle, in this context, refers to your diet, sleeping patterns, and stress management. In the same way, considering your social life is also important to know about your brain health.
Let’s take a look at the factors that are most crucial for defining one’s brain health.
Exercise is not only beneficial for the body but also for your brain. If you do some exercises regularly, you are at a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
With regular exercise, you can improve your memory as well as regulate blood flow in the body. As exercise induces chemical and hormonal changes, it boosts one’s feel-good factor. Moreover, cognition and learning skills enhance with one’s fitness.
As the old saying goes, “you are what you eat.” With the passage of time, you subject your brain to stress, which arises due to your lifestyle. Stress may also come into play owing to environmental factors.
This stress leads to oxidation that can cause damage to brain cells. To prevent this, you must make sure that your diet is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants can allow you to get over damaging effects of oxidation to the brain.
Fending off medical risks is also very important for maintaining one’s brain health. Dementia is the decline in one’s mental ability. It may have an effect on his/her everyday life. Disorders such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes increase the risk of dementia. Depression and smoking also make one more vulnerable toward contracting dementia.
However, there are ways to keep this risk in check. Go for an annual check up and take heed of your doctor’s recommendations. A brain-healthy lifestyle would augur well for your body and mind!
Sleep is also a very important factor for maintaining one’s brain health. With proper sleep, you stay energized. It also boosts immunity and overall well being.
There are some ways by which you could halt the decline in your brain capabilities, which come naturally as a part of aging. Meditation and stress management are some of the most important ways to maintain brain health. Moreover, keeping a positive attitude is also helpful.
Health professionals consider mental exercise to be as important as physical exercise. This helps keep mind fit. As the brain’s functioning enhances, it promotes growth of new brain cells. Therefore, it is important to keep one’s brain active!
You must make sure that you keep in touch with your friends. If you lead an active social life, then it will safeguard you against memory loss. Hence, you must stay in touch with your family and friends, they help boost your brain health!
These tips should help you overcome the effects of aging on brain health. Feel free to consult a medical professional for any issues that may have been bothering you.
Applying ice on the muscles is a well-accepted practice for pain and soreness. Typically, athletes apply ice pack on their muscles when they injure themselves or get hurt. Sometimes, athletes and sportspersons also take an ice bath after intense sporting sessions or athletic performances.
When you undergo intense training sessions or workouts that stretch your muscles for a long time, your muscles may get strained. This may result in muscle injury. It is also referred to as a muscle pull or muscle tear. However, it is not always linked to your muscles. Sometimes, the tendons attached to your muscles may also get strained due to undue or prolonged pressure. Such pulls or strains can also occur during strenuous daily activities or heavy lifting. On such occasions, icing your muscles immediately after you start feeling the pain can help in alleviating the pain. However, if you have a muscle tear, icing may not bring much relief to you. In that case, you should report to hospital emergency.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of muscle injuries–acute and chronic.
Acute injuries are those that occur suddenly. You may twist your ankle when you suddenly step in a hole. You may sprain your shoulder or groin muscle during a football game or other athletic activities. These are sudden injuries. You are likely to get a sudden and intense pain along with some swelling. Swelling is body’s natural reaction to injury. It is, in fact, the body’s defense mechanism to heal the injury. The best remedy for such acute injuries is icing your muscles. You need to put a pack of ice to the affected area. Apply ice until the pain subsides. However, if you apply it continuously, the muscles may also get numb. So the practical approach is to apply ice for 20 minutes. The ice pack should not directly touch your skin. This may result in skin injury. It may be put in a bag or something similar so that you only feel the cold without the ice directly touching the skin. However, icing your muscle is not a substitute for medical intervention. If the pain goes away completely and does not return, then you may not need medical intervention. However, if the pain persists, then you should go to a doctor to see if there is a major injury.
Chronic injuries are those that develop over a long time. An acute injury itself can become chronic if the pain does not go away within a few days. However, such injuries may also develop slowly and go unnoticed. One fine morning, it may develop into a pain. Although such pain can be alleviated to some extent by icing your muscles, you should visit a doctor to treat the underlying cause, if any.
The gym often does feel like the last place anyone would want to go to. It is daunting, and one can often feel like they are too deep into their unhealthy lifestyle to come out. However, that is simply a myth. The gym can just as easily be a retreat for you. Moreover, you will be achieving the results for all your effort. What better way to start your workout than some basic muscle training?
Many people fear the prospect of muscle training due to the magnitude of the perceived effort they are required to put in. If you were to divide your workout into tiny bits and pace it over the span of a week, it becomes a lot easier to stick to.
Perhaps, the very foundation of a healthy body is strength. This is why strength and muscle training are far more important than any form of cardio training. Here are a few exercises to help you build your chest and shoulders, which are your two main muscle areas.
If you are a beginner at lifting, then this is the best possible exercise to set you on the right track. It helps set a base for the more intense lifting exercises such as bench press. It requires a few dumbbells, preferably in different weight categories. The form and basis are simple.
Lie down on your back and hold a dumbbell in each hand placed on your thigh. As you lift the dumbbells straight up, twist your thumbs so that they face each other. Make sure the weights do not hit each other with force when you lift them. They should barely touch. Lower your arms and spread your elbows as far as they can go. This completes one rep. Repeat for a total of 10 reps and take it forward.
This exercise gets a lot of flack for being painfully unforgiving. It still holds the position for being the best way to work your shoulders and back with minimal impact and risk for injury. You are probably already aware of the form of a push up, but this tiny twist can make it slightly more challenging.
Simply get in the traditional pushup position, but place your feet on an elevated surface instead of having them on the ground. The challenge is to keep your back straight despite the natural tendency to curl. This gives your upper chest more of a workout than a simple push up.
Working your chest and shoulder is a great way to get started on your strength and muscle training journey. These exercises are simple and require little to no equipment, can be done anywhere, and do not take more than 30 minutes with generous breaks in between. So get started on your fitness journey!
