Woody Harrelson became a vegan to clear up his acne.

The No Country for Old Men actor – who hasn’t eaten meat since his 20s and now only eats raw food – says his decision to avoid meat and dairy products has nothing to do with animal rights and actually started when a stranger told him it would improve his complexion.

He told Maxim magazine: “It’s been at least 20 years. I used to eat burgers and steak, and I would just be knocked out afterward. I had to give it up.

“The first thing was dairy. I was about 24 years old and I had tons of acne and mucus. I met some random girl on a bus who told me to quit dairy and all those symptoms would go away three days later. By God she was right.”

The 48-year-old star is not the only celebrity who has credited veganism – which also prohibits the use of products made from animals, such as leather – with improving their appearance.

Though getting pimples or blemishes is a part of growing up, a Norwegian study suggests vegetables and a low-glycemic diet may protect your teen from acne.

Researchers interviewed just under 4,000 adolescents to examine the relationship between acne, diet and mental health. The 18- and 19-year-olds participating were given questionnaires to monitor their diets, mental condition and lifestyle. Each participant reported his or her own acne conditions.

Study results show a significant link between girls with acne and a diet low in vegetables. Researchers say this indicates a low-glycemic diet — or a diet low in “fast” carbohydrates like white bread and high in “slow” carbohydrates like fresh vegetables — may play a protective role in acne development.

“Our study shows a possible link between diet and acne,” Jon Anders Halvorsen, a researcher at the University of Oslo, was quoted as saying. “However, when we introduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in our statistical model, the role of diet became less clear. On the other hand, the association between acne and mental health problems was still strong when diet was introduced. This underscores mental health problems as an important aspect of young people’s acne.”

SOURCE: BMC Public Health

They call it ‘Dracula Therapy’, and if that isn’t enough to freak you out, it involves having your face injected with your own blood. But S3 Therapy is the hottest news in anti-ageing right now.

The name is short for Stimulated Self Serum skin therapy, and has been introduced to the UK by the innovative London-based French cosmetic doctor, Daniel Sister.

Read more >>

You can listen to this audio interview below.

In addition to exposing the emotional and social impacts of rosacea, the survey results underscored the need for education among people with and without the condition. Nearly half of the respondents with rosacea reported they experienced symptoms for a year or more prior to receiving a diagnosis by a healthcare provider. In the general population without rosacea, more than a quarter of respondents did not know what rosacea was, despite its prevalence, and only 14 percent were familiar or very familiar with its symptoms.

The discovery should pave the way to faster diagnosis and more streamlined treatments for the disorder.

Rosacea affects around three per cent of the population and manifests as red, inflamed skin which, in severe cases, can affect a patient’s confidence, explained researcher Dr Kevin Kavanagh, a senior lecturer in biology at NUI Maynooth.

The cause of the condition has been unclear, but tiny Demodex mites in facial skin pores have been suspects. “On average, an adult without rosacea will have one mite per square centimetre, but in people with rosacea, that increases up to 20 per square centimetre,” said Dr Kavanagh.

Meanwhile, antibiotics can lessen symptoms, but no-one has known why, he added. “So we started to ask a few years ago why anti-bacterials work when there was no apparent role for bacteria.”

Working with the Mater hospital, the researchers previously identified a Bacillus bacterium inside Demodex mites. The bacteria release two proteins that trigger an inflammation in patients with facial rosacea.

The NUIM researchers then teamed up with US doctor Scheffer Tseng and found a similar link between the bacteria and ocular rosacea, which occurs around the eyes. Immune tests on 30 patients found that 80 per cent had been exposed to large amounts of the two bacterial proteins, said Dr Kavanagh of the study, which is to be published in Ophthalmology later this year.

“Now that we know it’s primarily probably a bacterial disease, we know the proper way to treat it is with antibiotics at a low level over a long period of time,” Dr Kavanagh said, noting that washing the skin with dilute tea tree oil also killed the bacteria.

“The other implication is that we could do a simple blood test to say whether a patient has rosacea or not. That’s something we will investigate in the future.”

News Source : By CLAIRE O’CONNELL  IRISHTIMES.COM

PARENTS living with teenagers may not be surprised by the latest insight into their offspring’s hygiene habits.

In fact one in three teenagers prefer a blast of deodorant to taking a daily shower, survey analysts Mintel say.

Today’s 11 to 19-year-olds are more likely to use perfume or even mascara every day than they are to pick up the shower gel.

Mintel’s insight into the youngsters’ grooming habits is revealed in its latest report called Teens’ And Tweens’ Beauty And Personal Care.

Teenagers worried about body odour problems tend to rely on perfumes and deodorants instead of good old-fashioned soap and water.

“Perhaps because they want to mask the fact they haven’t showered, smell is a key motivator for eight out of 10 teens when deciding which products they want to buy or use,” a Mintel spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile the stereotypical spotty teenager still exists, despite a raft of products designed to clear up problem skin.

Around half of teenagers suffer from spots or acne but just a quarter use facial washes or wipes every day.

Boys are more in the dark than girls when it comes to skin care education, mainly because they do not scour glossy magazines for beauty tips as avidly as teenage girls, though hair-styling products such as gels and creams are of interest.

Meanwhile, girls are far more likely to use self-tanning products than boys as they try to imitate the year-round glowing skin achieved by TV celebrities and film stars.

Source URL:  Daily Express  UK

On the 17th August 2009, the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications (DDMAC) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to Mr E.I. Pyott Chairman and CEO of Allergan Inc, for false and misleading advertising of its Aczone (Dapsone) Gel 5% acne product.

The FDA informed Mr Pyott that the Journal Advertisement overstated the efficacy of Aczone and it omitted important risk information associated with its use. As a result it violates the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Actual Results Shows Aczone Fails To Work As Claimed

Allergen stated in their Journal Ad that Aczone works fast by reducing inflammatory lesions by 24% within 2 weeks. The FDA stated that this was a complete misrepresentation of the true results; which showed that patients using a placebo experienced a 22% inflammatory reduction within 2 weeks.

This insignificant 2% margin shows that Aczone is no better at reducing inflammatory lesions than using nothing at all.

Omission of Risk Information

The FDA also informed Mr Pyott, that Allergan Inc. had omitted the risk information in their Ad, that using Aczone Gel followed by benzoyl peroxide can cause a temporary yellow or orange discoloration of the skin and hair.

Immediate Action Demands the FDA

The DDMAC informed Allergan that this is a serious matter and they must immediately cease with their advertising and promotional materials that violate the FDA Drug And Cosmetic Act.

Allergan were also requested for an immediate reply to the FDA informing them of what actions have been taken to resolve this serious situation. And a comprehensive plan on how they shall inform the public of the true results. This they must comply to by the 28^th August 2009.

The Rosacea Acne Times was able to obtain a copy of this 5 page warning fax sent from the FDA to Mr Pyott, that details the complete facts and the actual research study results.

VIEW THE WARNING FAX SENT BY FDA TO ALLERGAN INC (1689)

The survey, of 592 12- to 17-year-olds from across the U.S., found that 20 percent admitted to having lent a prescription drug to a friend, while a similar percentage said they had done the borrowing.

The most commonly shared prescriptions were allergy drugs and narcotic pain relievers like Oxycontin and Darvocet, followed by antibiotics, acne medications like Accutane, and mood drugs such antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.

What’s more, the study found, three-quarters of prescription “borrowers” said they did so instead of seeing a doctor. Some eventually did make a trip to the doctor, but, in 40 percent of cases, failed to mention the borrowed medication.

The findings, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, also point to the potential safety risks teens face when they share prescriptions.

Less than half said their borrowed medication came with written instructions on how to use it safely. And more than one-third of teens who borrowed prescriptions said they had suffered an allergic reaction or other side effect.

Teenagers are not alone in the practice of prescription sharing. Previous research has suggested that almost 40 percent of U.S. adults have lent or borrowed a prescription to a family member or friend.

“However, prior to our study, no one had asked adolescents how often they shared prescription medications, which meds they shared and what some of the outcomes were,” lead researcher Dr. Richard Goldsworthy, of Academic Edge, Inc., in Bloomington, Indiana, noted in a written statement. The findings, he and his colleagues conclude, suggest that doctors need to talk to teenage patients about the risks of using other people’s prescriptions.

Given the high rate of prescription sharing among adults, many parents likely need the same advice, the researchers note. Wider efforts — like public health campaigns or warnings about medication sharing on product packaging — might also be worthwhile.

SOURCE: Journal of Adolescent Health, online August 3, 2009.

The Acne Resource Center is broken into two main sections: Acne Information and How To Get Rid of Acne. Combined, these sections add up to over 20 pages of acne knowledge and acne treatment experience from Mario Badescu Skin Care, a leader in the industry and manufacturer of the celebrity cult favorite acne spot-treatment product, their pink Drying Lotion.

The Acne Information section of the resource center contains information about what acne is, what causes acne, and the different types of acne, as well as engaging articles about common acne myths and the link between acne and diet.

The How To Get Rid of Acne section, on the other hand, takes an in-depth look at Mario Badescu’s approach to acne treatment. The skin care company believes that personalized regimens are the only way to approach acne treatment. It lays out three detailed acne treatment regimens for different skin types (dry, oily, and combination) using Mario Badescu products, and also features helpful hints, mistakes to avoid, videos about each product, and printable regimen checklists to help customers follow their regimens.

“Here at Mario Badescu we have a wide range of effective acne products and customized skin care regimens for all skin types. We have been helping people clear up their skin for over 40 years, and we are very confident that we can help all people treat their acne, regardless of gender, skin type, or age,” said Kelly Barrett, the Assistant Manager and Skin Specialist at Mario Badescu’s NYC Salon. “That said, we are also compelled to try to educate our customers by teaching them about acne and the factors that cause it in order to help them prevent acne breakouts in the first place. This Acne Resource Center is our way of doing just that.”

Visit MARIO BADESCU’S New Online Acne Resource Center >>

Source: New York, NY (PRWEB) August 17, 2009

90210

AnnaLynne introduced a new website AcneHeroes.com which provides truths and myths about acne, tips for clearer skin, and 3 week action plan.

AnnaLynne has been battling acne breakouts even while playing Naomi Clark, the very beautiful and very popular rich girl on ’90210′. It’s hard to imagine that behind that image is a girl who like many teenagers has skin imperfections.

AnnaLynne sees her dermatologist on basis, makes sure to get 8 hours of sleep, and drink plenty of water. She also uses BenzaClin to treat breakouts. It seems to work because up close and personal her skin looks flawless!

Then, just few days later on the 7th July 2009, Ranbaxy Laboratories who have the largest US market share with 30 percent, announced that they were also withdrawing their Isotretinoin based product, Sotret from the US market.

A Highly Controversial 27-Year History

Roche introduced its patented anti-acne drug Accutane in 1982. And since then more than 13 million people have been treated with it. However, during this period Roche has been hit with more than 5,000 personal injury claims, with many still pending.

On the 22nd of April 2008, $10,5million was awarded by a New Jersey Jury to a woman who developed a serious inflammatory bowel disease caused by taking Accutane.

What is Accutane?

Accutane was discovered in 1979 and was released as an oral drug in pill form. It is only prescribed to severe acne cases that did not respond to other acne treatments. Patients undergoing Accutane treatment are closely supervised by a physician and frequent blood tests are taken. The maximum time of the treatment is restricted to 6-months.

The results were dramatic and amazing to say the least. In 95 per cent of the severe acne cases, a permanent clearing of acne symptoms was seen over a 3 – 5 month period. However, in 25 percent of these, the acne did return after about a year, and a further 6-month course of Accutane had to be endured.

How Does Accutane Cure Acne?

• Accutane reduces the size of the skin’s oil glands by up to 58 per cent. As a result the skin’s oil (Sebum) production is reduced by up to 80 per cent.
• This extreme reduction in skin oil dramatically reduces the amount of skin acne bacteria (p.Acnes), which live in this skin oil.
• Accutane slows down the skin cell re-newel process, which in turn reduces the amount of dead skin cells being shed. This is the key to success, as acne is caused by dead skin cells getting trapped in excessively oily pores, which then become clogged entrapping the bacteria within. The bacteria would then infect the clogged pore and it would become swollen and inflamed, resulting in a newly formed pimple or a spot or zit as it is known in colloquial terms.
• Accutane also has anti-inflammatory properties, which helps to reduce the swelling and inflammation.

Other Alarming Serious Side Affects Caused By Accutane

The list of side effects caused by this drug is almost endless, with the most serious being; suicidal thoughts, birth defects, depression, psychosis, gastrointestinal disease, bone muscle and visionary problems.

Where Does This Leave Severe Acne Sufferers If Removed?

As Accutane is the last resort in acne treatment, what hope is there for severe sufferers if it is removed?

Roche Holding AG, said that it was only pulling Accutane from the US market, and it is still available in other countries. Furthermore, there are still other generic versions (trade names) of Accutane available, such as Claravis and Amnesteem in the US – for the time being?

Is There A Safe Alternative To Accutane?

Yes there is, Vitamin B5, which is a safe and natural ingredient that qualifies to take over the Throne vacated by Accutane. In clinical tests only minor side effects such as diarrhea have been noted in some cases.

Vitamin B5 is known by its scientific name as (d-Calcium Pantothenate) and was discovered in 1997 by Dr Lit-Hung Leung, who presented his research on how it cures and prevents acne.

These remarkable results astonished the global scientific fraternity. But, the US medical profession has been slow to acknowledge its amazing potential of this very safe and effective acne cure, and to date it has still not been approved by the FDA.

[Read more about Vliantae Vitamin B5 Acne treatment review...]

Accutane type drugs are slightly more effective than Vitamin B5, because the active ingredient Isotretinoin shuts down skin oil production totally, whereas natural Vitamin B5 only prevents excess oil from being produced.

What  We Believe

We believe that the withdrawal of Accutane and Sotret by Roche and Ranbaxy respectively, is the beginning of the end for Isotretinoin anti-acne drugs worldwide. The risk factor is too high when weighed against the benefits, and of course the law suits are becoming too expensive.

We believe that Roche could not have removed its product globally, as this would have been an admission of guilt that its product is not safe. In turn this would have weakened their defense against pending law suits.

Makers of the revolutionary new chocolate, which is set to hit Australian shelves, claim that pimple-plagued sufferers will experience dramatic results within just two weeks of eating the chocolate.

Developed by US-based Frutels, the chocolate-coated treatment is believed to be the first of its kind and supports the body’s defences and clarifies the skin from within.

Frutels recommend consumers eat between two and five chocolates a day for the fastest results, reports News.com.au.

A company spokesman said: “This product takes beauty foods to another level by not only tackling acne care in an ingestible form, but by using a food that has been associated with causing acne to make these claims.

“Chocolate has long been taboo for acne sufferers.” However, to date there is still no medical evidence that supports claims that chocolate causes acne – it is one of those myths.

We will be following the development of this this story with keen interest to see if this product achieves what it claims – What will come next, restaurants that specialize in acne treating menus?