Over-The-Counter Acne Treatment

There are many types of over-the-counter treatments for acne. Most people, when first faced with an acne condition, usually go to the local pharmacy and buy an over-the-counter medication on the basis of recommendations from their friends or perhaps even television ads. It's always a good idea, however, to consult with a doctor before using any kind of over-the-counter medication. Even though acne is a fairly benign condition, a doctor can advise on the best course of treatment and also offers suggestions based on your particular kind of acne.

Because of the large number of products available for treating acne, it can be difficult to decide which one to try. Depending on advice from your friends is not too reliable, because what works for one person may not work for another. It's best if you have some background knowledge about the active ingredients in various acne medications, so you can make a better informed choice about which medication to try.

One of the most popular ingredients in acne treatments is benzoyl peroxide. It is found in gels and ointments and works by combating the bacteria which causes pimples. It is also useful for removing dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin. It is these dead skin cells which combine with sebum to create blackheads and whiteheads.

Benzoyl peroxide has been proven to be safe and effective in combating lesions. It can be used after acne has cleared up to keep the skin free from acne causing bacteria. The only side effect associated with this ingredient is dry skin, and this can be avoided by decreasing the frequency that it is applied on the skin. It can also bleach hair and clothing, so care must be taken when applying it.

Another popular ingredient in acne medications is salicylic acid. This prevents acne by clearing up dead skin cells which are accumulating too quickly and clogging the pores. Products which contain salicylic acid should continue to be used after the skin has cleared up to prevent future outbreaks of acne. The only side effects associated with salicylic acid are dry, irritated skin.

Other ingredients you may see in acne medications include resorcinol and sulphur. Resorcinol causes the top layer of skin to peel -- including the dead skin cells which clog the pores. It is often combined with sulphur. It is not known how sulphur affects acne conditions, but it has been used effectively for more than 50 years. Sulphur is often combined with other ingredients besides resorcinol like salicylate acid and benzoyl peroxide. It is not usually used by itself because of its strong, unpleasant odor.

Of all these ingredients used for combating acne, benzoyl peroxide is probably the most versatile. It can be used in cleansing liquids or bars, as well as lotion, cream, and gels which are applied directly on the skin. The cleansing products are usually used once or twice a day, while the creams and lotions can be used as needed. They should be applied on the skin around the acne as well as the pimples themselves for most effectiveness. You must avoid getting benzoyl peroxide in the eyes, mouth or nose as it will cause irritation or inflammation.

sumber : readbud.com

I Believe in You!

Ally Becker came home from school after Varsity basketball practice and was extremely gleeful. She looked frantically for her Father and walked into the kitchen, the laundry room and finally the living room. "Dad!!" Ally yelled.

"I'll be right there, Ally," he said calmly. Ally could not contain herself and certainly could not sit. After two minutes, her father walked into the living room to greet her.

Without even saying 'Hello' or letting her Father say 'Hello,' Ally burst into words.

"Dad! Dad! You've gotta meet this woman who spoke at my school this afternoon. She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met! Her name is Alecia Manning and she's part owner of this R & B club downtown that just opened. She's invited the entire school to come by anytime to check out what she's created through inspiration. "

"Ally, I'm tickled that you're excited," her Father said with joy. "When are you planning on going to this R & B club?" "Tomorrow – Friday," said Ally. "Tomorrow night, I have an appointment with Evans…" "Dad! Why can't –" "BUT," He interrupted his daughter. "I will phone Evans and let him know if we can schedule an earlier appointment. He's pretty cool about those things. Ally, I have got to meet anyone who inspires you this much!" "Dad!" she said with exasperation. "I will be at the club tomorrow night. I have always done the things that were important to you. I have always made time to see all of your home Varsity basketball games. I have rearranged appointments to see your away games." "You're right, Dad. You have been there for me since Mom died. I know you're doing your best to do what Mom used to do for me and –" "No, Ally," he interjected. "What your Mother did for you was amazing. No one can take her place." Father and daughter hugged tearfully.

The next night, Mr. Becker went to the club's entrance only to find a couple of men standing guard. Both men looked like they could play defense for any NFL team. "I'm sorry, sir," one of the men said regretfully. "You're gonna have to stay here for a few minutes." "That's fine," said Mr. Becker. Becker pulled out his cell phone and made a call while he was waiting. As soon as he hung up his mobile phone, he heard a loud joyful female yell.

"Mr. Becker?!?" yelled the woman. "Alecia?" asked Mr. Becker pleasantly surprised. The woman ran to him and gave him a gigantic hug. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Manning," said one of the men at the entrance. "I didn't know he was with you." "That's alright, Wyatt," Alecia said to the man with a huge smile. "This is a very dear friend. The man who I told you all about that gave me the chance to start and succeed. The man who helped me get scholarships from the store where I worked and where he was store manager." Mr. Becker smiled proudly of the woman. The woman continued, "Mr. Becker is the man who got me reasonable daycare for my son, Alfonzo. He's 11 now.

"Alfonzo is 11?" asked Mr. Becker with disbelief. "Was it really ten years ago, Alecia? You were just out of high school and it was just you and little Alonzo." "Big Alonzo, now!" exclaimed Alecia. They both laughed heartily. "You're the Alecia who inspired my daughter," Mr. Becker said with affirmation. Alecia and Mr. Becker walked through the club's entrance and he was amazed by all that Alecia was responsible for. "You always said that you wanted to open a club. You did it!" said Mr. Becker sounding like a proud Father. "Thanks to you," Alecia said with a tear in her eye. "Ten years ago, you're the only one who believed in me, Mr. Becker. You always told me that whatever I strove for, I could get." "Remember what I used to always tell you about Michael Jordan," Mr. Becker reminded her. "He was not a great high school basketball player, but all it took was one person to tell him that he believed in him." "Just like you did with me," Alecia reminded Becker. "I remember you as Alecia Harris when you worked at the store," recalled Becker. "Yes I was Alecia Harris, then Jamal and I got married," she explained. "You and Jamal got married?" Becker asked gleefully. "Five years ago." "Congratulations!" "Thanks," she grinned. "I didn't know his last name," Becker said apologetically. "Otherwise, I probably would have known you were the one who inspired my daughter by the talk you gave at her school this afternoon. "Yes, I did give that talk this afternoon. Mr. Becker, my schedule can be so hectic nowadays with promoting the club and giving talks to students. It's hard to keep track of what I did yesterday."

As the two continued to talk, a high school gal walked up to them. "Dad! Mrs. Manning!" she said with delight. Becker and Alecia smiled. "Well, Hello Ally," said Alecia. "Mr. Becker is your Father?" Alecia was delighted with wonder. "You two KNOW each other?" asked Ally. "Yes," said Alecia. Ally's jaw dropped as Alecia continued. "He's the man I spoke about this afternoon at your school who used to tell me all the time about the Michael Jordan High School story. He's the one who inspired me to earn my Bachelor's degree." "MY Dad is the one who did that for you?" Ally asked in amazement. "Yep," Alecia said affirmatively. "You see, Ally," she continued. "Your Dad knows more than you think." She looked at Becker. "My Dad tells me that Michael Jordan story all of the time," gasped Ally. "He's right, you know," said Alecia convincingly. "All it DOES take is one person to tell you that he or she believes in you." "Wow!" Ally said with newfound excitement and knowledge. "My Dad IS pretty cool after all." They all laughed.

Christmas With The Kranks (DVD) Review

Based on the best-selling John Grisham novel titled Skipping Christmas, Christmas With The Kranks resembles the book in almost every facet save for the title. Starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, Christmas With The Kranks is an instant Christmas holiday classic. Although not in the same league of Yule tide comedy gems Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story, this film ranks high on my list of holiday laughers. The supporting cast (led by perpetual funnyman Dan Aykroyd) turns in a superb performance, making Christmas With The Kranks an easy film to relate to and one you'll want to see many times in the years to come…

When the college-age daughter of the Kranks joins the Peace Corps and flies to South America for Christmas, her mother battles with a case of the empty nest blues. But her father, accountant Luther Krank (Tim Allen), takes advantage of the opportunity to shake things up a bit. Tallying all the money he and his wife Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) spend on Christmas, he determines that if they skip Christmas this year, they can afford to go on a week-long cruise instead and still pocket three thousand dollars in savings at the end of the trip.

But skipping Christmas turns out to be more difficult than they thought - especially when it comes to participating in neighborhood traditions such as the mounting of the roof-bound 'Frosties' (giant snowmen all the neighbors plant on their roofs). The neighborhood struggle over the Kranks' reluctance to put up their Frosty leads to some memorable and quite funny scenes where the couple encounters Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd), the de facto leader of the neighborhood Christmas celebration. The Kranks continue to avoid all things Christmas related, and having visiting the tanning salon, they're prepared to go on their cruise Christmas Eve

But when their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) calls with the announcement that she's getting married, and more importantly, that she's on a plane bound for home - the Kranks are forced to miss their cruise and recreate all the festivities of Christmas Past for Blair and her fiancée. But attempting to do a whole month's preparation in one evening proves to be a monumental task, and one filled with hilarious pitfalls and obstacles…

Offering hilarious scene after hilarious scene, Christmas With The Kranks is one of the funniest comedies in years, and certainly one of the top ten Christmas comedies of all time. At no time does the humor become outlandish or utterly ridiculous as so many such films tend to do. Overall, one of the more lovable aspects of this film is its ability to relate to so many American families. In fact, you might see a bit of your own family in Christmas With The Kranks… The fact that it's one of those rare holiday classics with the potential to be seen year after year makes Christmas With The Kranks a definite must-see movie…