There is a popular saying that goes: prevention is better than cure. This is very applicable to skin problems. Usually, if a skin problem occurs, they have permanent characters. It will really be hard to get rid of them entirely. This is why it is really true to prevent these problems in the first place than to find solution for it.

What makes it worse is the fact that the skin is one of the major factors that determines beauty in an individual. Beauty here is meant whether a person looks old or young. When the skin does not look good, or a skin looks unhealthy, for sure the person will look old.

One example of skin problem that can be a lot of trouble once it occurs is stretch mark. It is very hard to get rid of it once it appears on the skin.

Causes of Stretch Marks

Before knowing how to prevent stretch marks, it is wise to first know what causes it. However, the name of the skin problem would already suggest an idea. This is caused due to a sudden stretch of the skin. This is the very reason why stretch marks are often related to pregnancy where the skin stretches very wide in just a very short period of time.

By the time the skin gets back to shape, it would already have gotten some scars on its middle layer. Just underneath the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin), breaks will happen causing some red lines to appear from the outside. Hence, if you examine a stretch mark very closely, you will see that it cannot be scratched from the surface.

How to Prevent Stretch Marks

In cases aside from pregnancy, one can prevent stretch marks by being conscious with his or her figure. This would further mean being conscious with your diet and other habits. Keeping a healthy and fit body can also get you away from this kind of skin problem, and in fact, even from other problems as well. This prevention method will of course exclude pregnancy because it is inevitable to keep a slim shape during pregnancy.

Other general methods that can help prevent stretch marks from happening are drinking a lot of water, consistent application of moisturizers, eating healthy food, and exercises. These methods may seem to be very mundane but believe it or not, they work. For example, by drinking a lot of water, you enable your skin to maintain and even improve its elasticity. The same thing is true with moisturizers. All these methods will help the skin with is character to expand and compress and will therefore help in staying away from stretch marks.

Once stretch marks appear on the body, treatments and therapies can only lighten their traces. There is no known remedy that could take every trace away yet. Even lasers can leave a very light mark from stretch marks. In other words, it is of utmost importance that a person guards himself from getting stretch marks.

Acne is an annoying but easily manageable condition. Perhaps what makes this condition so difficult in terms of treatment is that people tend to do particular “cures” that exacerbate the problem, eat the wrong foods or even have certain habits that cause the acne to spread.

Here are a couple of easy to understand tips that not only make treatment manageable, but also accessible in your own home:

1. Clean your face. This basic tenant means that you should clean your face at least twice a day in order to insure that your face is cleared of dirt and grime. Cleaning it too much can clear sebum on your face, which is not a good idea since it keeps your face hydrated. Cleaning your face too much can cause either overproduction on your skin or dry skin.

2. Less make up, the better. Even if you’re using specialized makeup that prevents pore clogs, it still risks in clogging them. Concealers are the usual suspects since they already cover blemishes like acne scars or even dark circles around your eye. The trick here is to remove you make-up immediately after using it as prolonged stay on your skin can cause acne no matter how hypoallergenic or natural it is.

3. What you put on your hair can affect your skin. Always take precaution when putting oils, fragrances or even hair gel for extended periods of time as they might, again, clog your pores. Also, if you have exceptionally long hair, always keep it away from your face.

4. Never pop your pimples. The temptation is always there, but don’t. Acne scarring can carry over a long period of time and could lead to more acne plus it could lead to concealer use which can also clog your pores. Whatever you do, don’t.

5. If using anti-acne products don’t work, go to your dermatologist. Your doctor knows mores than you, so if you think that your acne medication doesn’t work; don’t hesitate to ask.

Additional Notes

Understand what “clean” means. There is delineation between keeping your face clean and cleaning your face way to much. You see, despite the fact that our body is programmed and adapted to be able to resist the elements, there are certain things that one can do that can make it difficult than it has to be.

You see, your face expels specialized oil called sebum. The sebaceous gland is responsible for expelling a fixed amount of this light yellow fluid all over your face. This oil is responsible for hydrating your face. If the gland produces too few, it makes your skin feel rough; if it produces too much, it will make your skin oily and all shiny.

Also, not all skin types are made equal; this means that certain over the counter medication might not work all the time. Sometimes, they even work too well. Retinol for one is a sensitive chemical that can potentially cause more harm on your skin.

The human growth hormone, or HGH, is being produced and secreted at the base of the brain by the pituitary gland. It functions by fuelling childhood years and aids in maintaining the optimum functions of organs and tissues all throughout our lives. The production of HGH by the body has a tendency to slow down with age and it may be decreased due to a series of deficiencies in the diet and medical conditions. There are no specific foods which have HGH, but one can include certain items in the diet in order to stimulate the body in order to produce more amounts of the hormone.

Low-Glycemic Foods

Elevated levels of blood glucose can suppress the body’s natural HGH production that is why sticking to the foods which have a low glycemic index can promote HGH secretion, according to “100 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism” by Ben Greenfield. This index measures the effects of several foods on the levels of blood glucose. Foods that may give way to a sudden increase in the level of blood sugar in the body are on top of the index, while foods that cause a slow falling and rising in the blood sugar may be found on the lower part of the index. A personal trainer and sports nutritionist, Greenfield notes that if we stick to foods which have a glycemic index of less than 50, this will ensure that the production of HGH is at optimum levels all the time. Some of the foods which are included in this category are bananas, apples, corn, carrots, mangoes, honey, oranges, milk, pasta, pancakes, strawberries, pears, and peaches.

High-Protein Foods

Robert Atkins, a cardiologist who came up with the diet for weight loss which supports this point, noted in his “Dr. Atkin’s Age-Defying Diet” that HGH production is being stimulated by consuming a diet which is low in carbohydrates and rich in protein. Similar to advancing age, obesity can slow the production of HGH that is why the maintenance of a healthy weight is important in sustenance of optimal levels of HGH in the body. The level of amino acids which may be found in foods which are rich in protein plays a vital role when it comes to triggering the production of HGH naturally. As some foods which are high in protein contain significant fat levels, opt for lean protein in order to avoid the effects of fat intake on the HGH production. Protein sources which are healthy include organic chicken, lean beef, organic eggs, almonds, tempeh, quinoa, wild salmon, tuna, and Greek-style plain yogurt.

GABA-Rich Foods

Consuming foods that have high GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid levels can stimulate the brain in order to increase HGH production, according to “Thin Over 40” by Dr. Gregory Jantz. Including foods which are high in GABA in the diet as a person ages can counteract the low production of HGH. Aside from that, GABA-rich foods can have a calming and relaxing effect on individuals as it has the tendency to inhibit fear and pain.