Below are the 6 most recent journal entries recorded in amber35's InsaneJournal:

Thursday, October 20th, 2011
10:18 pm	Acne and Bacne Blackheads start appearing during puberty, when hormonal activity (particularly the overproduction of testosterone) can encourage excess production of sebum, the body’s naturally occurring moisturiser. Though sebum has an important part to play in the natural regulation of your body’s chemistry, in excess it can block up your pores, trap dead cells and lead to acne and blemishes. A blocked pore is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, being warm and airtight, so you want to get rid of the blockage before your pore becomes infected. Blemishes are not only isolated to the face: 60% of people will also suffer acne on their backs and 15% get blemishes on their chests. Men are more susceptible than women because our skin is more oily and our pores are larger. Wherever sebum can build up, blackheads can form (medical name “open comedones”, fact fans). This can be your chin, your forehead, the sides of your nostrils, anywhere. Very oily skin may also develop blackheads on the cheeks and the tip of the nose, as well as chest and back. The black-ish dot is a small lump of solidified oil that blocking your pore and causing a blemish. If left alone the blackhead will build up until it stretches the pore permanently. Blackheads become whiteheads once infection sets in and white blood cells - the pus which gives the whitehead its name - rush in tackle it. It is essential to take care of blackheads as soon as they develop. There are ways and means to tackle blackheads. If a blackhead is large, uninfected and fairly close to the surface of the skin you can engage extract them yourself: Have a hot shower or hold your face over a bowl of steaming water in order to soften the skin and open up your pores. Now here's the good bit. Push gently around the blackhead until it pops out. Placing tissue around your fingers can prevent your fingernails digging it and make it more comfortable. Don't overdo it though, as too much pushing can damage the skin and lead to permanent blemishes and scarring. After that’s done apply an antiseptic soothing cream or cooling moisturiser to kill any bacteria on the surface of the skin before they enter the open pore. After that it’s simply a case of regular skincare and daily cleansing with the right facial wash and twice-weekly use of a facial scrub to help shift pore clogging debris and dead cells. Be careful not to get too carried away when it comes to the cleaning, though. Scrubbing your face too often can also cause all sorts of problems: not least an increased risk of blackheads and blemishes as your body produces more sebum to replace that which you have removed. It isn’t true that removing a blackhead causes more to develop, but excessive poking and prodding of the epidermis can lead to increased sebum production and end up causing blackheads and blemishes rather than preventing them. Too much cleaning can be counterproductive to say the least. Women are often told to avoid wearing too much make up as it can cause their pores to become clogged. While that obviously isn’t such an issue amongst men, any New Romantics, professional clowns or cross dressers should take note. Best to stay vigilant. Current Mood: amused (Comment on this)
10:09 pm	A Man’s Guide to Preventing Whitheads Blackheads start appearing during puberty, when hormonal activity (particularly the overproduction of testosterone) can encourage excess production of sebum, the body’s naturally occurring moisturiser. Though sebum has an important part to play in the natural regulation of your body’s chemistry, in excess it can block up your pores, trap dead cells and lead to acne and blemishes. A blocked pore is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow - warm and airtight - so it's a good idea to get rid of the blockage before your pore becomes infected. Blemishes don’t have to be isolated to the face: 60% of people will also suffer acne on their backs and 15% get blemishes on their chests. Men's larger pores and more oily skin makes them more susceptible to blackheads than women. Blackheads (or "open comedones" as doctors call them) are found on any area of the skin where sebum can build up, particularly the chin, forehead and sides of the nostrils. Very oily skin may also develop blackheads on the cheeks and the tip of the nose, as well as chest and back. The black-ish dot which you can see is a small lump of congealed sebum that blocking your pore and causing a blemish. If left alone the blackhead will build up until it stretches the pore permanently. Once a blackhead becomes infected it becomes a whitehead and the skin around the infected area can become red and inflamed as your antibodies try to fight off the infection. As you can see, it is essential to take care of blackheads as soon as they develop. There are ways and means to tackle blackheads. If a blackhead is large, uninfected and fairly close to the surface of the skin you can engage extract them yourself: Have a hot shower or hold your face over a bowl of steaming water in order to soften the skin and open up your pores. Now here's the satisfying bit. Push gently around the blackhead until it pops out. Placing tissue around your fingers can prevent your fingernails digging it and make it more comfortable. Don't overdo it though, as too much pushing can damage the skin and lead to permanent blemishes and scarring. After that’s done apply an antiseptic cooling moisturiser to kill any bacteria on the surface of the skin before they enter the open pore. After that it’s simply a case of regular skincare and daily cleansing with the right facial wash and twice-weekly use of a facial scrub to help shift pore clogging debris and dead cells. Be careful not to get too carried away when it comes to the cleaning, though. Scrubbing your face too often can also cause all sorts of problems: not least an increased risk of blackheads and blemishes as your body produces more sebum to replace that which you have removed. It isn’t true that removing a blackhead causes more to develop, but excessive poking and prodding of the epidermis can lead to increased sebum production and end up causing blackheads and blemishes rather than preventing them. Too much cleaning can be counterproductive to say the least. Oil based make-ups are a common cause of acne, blemishes and blackheads in women. While that obviously isn’t such an issue amongst men, any New Romantics, professional clowns or cross dressers should take note. Extra vigilance in skincare is advised. Current Mood: awake (Comment on this)
10:02 pm	Bacne: It’s Acne on Your Back Teenagers' bodies produce large amounts of testosterone, which in turn leads to over production of the body's natural moisturiser, sebum. Though sebum has an important part to play in the natural regulation of your body’s chemistry, in excess it can block up your pores, trap dead cells and lead to acne and blemishes. A blocked pore is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, being warm and airtight, so you want to get rid of the blockage before infection sets in. Blemishes are not only isolated to the face: 60% of people will also suffer acne on their backs and 15% get blemishes on their chests. Men are more susceptible than women because our skin is more oily and our pores are larger. Wherever sebum can build up, blackheads can form. This can be your chin, your forehead, the sides of your nostrils, anywhere. Very oily skin may also develop blackheads on the cheeks and the tip of the nose, as well as chest and back. The black-ish dot is a small lump of congealed oil that blocks up your pore and creates a blemish. If left alone the blackhead will build up until it stretches the pore permanently. Blackheads become whiteheads once infection sets in and white blood cells - the pus which gives the whitehead its name - rush in tackle it. It is essential to take care of blackheads as soon as they develop. So what can you do? If a blackhead is large, uninfected and fairly close to the surface of the skin you can engage extract them yourself: Soften the skin by taking a hot (but not scalding) shower or by holding your face over a bowl of steaming water to open up your pores. Now here's the best bit. Form pads around your fingers with tissue and gently push until it pops out - don’t overdo it though, as too much pushing can damage the skin and lead to permanent blemishes and scarring. After that’s done apply an antiseptic cooling moisturiser to kill any bacteria on the surface of the skin before they enter the open pore. This treatment should form part of a regular skincare regime. Use a facial wash every day and twice a week use a facial scrub to help shift pore clogging debris and dead cells. Be careful not to get too enthusiastic when it comes to the cleaning, though. Scrubbing your face too often can also cause all sorts of problems: not least an increased risk of blackheads and blemishes as your body produces more sebum to replace that which you have removed. It isn’t true that removing a blackhead causes more to develop, but excessive poking and prodding of the epidermis can lead to increased sebum production and thus an even greater risk of blemishes and blackheads forming. Too much cleaning can be counterproductive to say the least. Oil based make-ups are a common cause of acne, blemishes and blackheads in women. While that obviously isn’t such an issue amongst men, any New Romantics, professional clowns or cross dressers should take note. Best to stay vigilant. Current Mood: amused (Comment on this)
9:54 pm	How to Remove Blackheads Blackheads start appearing during puberty, when hormonal activity (particularly the overproduction of testosterone) can encourage excess production of sebum, the body’s naturally occurring moisturiser. Though sebum has an important part to play in the natural regulation of your body’s chemistry, in excess it can block up your pores, trap dead cells and lead to acne and blemishes. A blocked pore is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, being warm and airtight, so you want to get rid of the blockage before your pore becomes infected. Blemishes don’t have to be isolated to the face: 60% of people will also suffer acne on their backs and 15% get blemishes on their chests. Men are more susceptible than women because our skin is more oily and our pores are larger. Wherever sebum can build up, blackheads can form (medical name “open comedones”, fact fans). This can be your chin, your forehead, the sides of your nostrils, anywhere. Very oily skin may also develop blackheads on the cheeks and the tip of the nose, as well as chest and back. The black-ish dot is a small lump of congealed oil that blocks up your pore and creates a blemish. If untreated the blackhead will build up until it stretches the pore permanently. Once a blackhead becomes infected it becomes a whitehead and the skin around the infected area can become red and inflamed as your antibodies try to fight off the infection. It is essential to take care of blackheads as soon as they develop. So what can you do? If a blackhead is large, uninfected and fairly close to the surface of the skin you can engage extract it yourself: Soften the skin by having a hot (but not scalding) shower or by holding your face over a bowl of steaming water to open up your pores. Now here's the satisfying bit. Push gently around the blackhead until it pops out. Placing tissue around your fingers can prevent your fingernails digging it and make it more comfortable. Don't overdo it though, as too much pushing can damage the skin and lead to permanent blemishes and scarring. You don't want any bacteria entering the open pore, so apply an antiseptic soothing cream or cooling moisturiser. This treatment should form part of a regular skincare regime. Use a facial wash every day and twice a week use a facial scrub to shift pore clogging debris and dead cells. Prevention is, of course, the best cure, but don’t get too enthusiastic with your new regime. Scrubbing your face too often can also cause all sorts of problems: not least an increased risk of blackheads and blemishes as your body produces more sebum to replace that which you have removed. It isn’t true that removing a blackhead causes more to develop, but excessive poking and prodding of the epidermis can lead to increased sebum production and end up causing blackheads and blemishes rather than preventing them. Oil based make-ups are a common cause of acne, blemishes and blackheads in women. While that obviously isn’t such an issue amongst men, any New Romantics, professional clowns or cross dressers should take note. Best to stay vigilant. Current Mood: cheerful (Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
9:19 pm	Bacne: The Forgotten Blemish Blackheads start appearing during puberty, when hormonal activity (particularly the overproduction of testosterone) can encourage excess production of sebum, the body’s naturally occurring moisturiser. Though sebum has an important part to play in the natural regulation of your body’s chemistry, in excess it can block up your pores, trap dead cells and lead to acne and blemishes. A blocked pore is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, being warm and airtight, so you want to get rid of the blockage before infection sets in. Blemishes are not only isolated to the face: 60% of people will also suffer acne on their backs and 15% get blemishes on their chests. Men are more susceptible than women because our skin is more oily and our pores are larger. Blackheads (or "open comedones" as doctors call them) are found on any area of the skin where sebum can build up, particularly the chin, forehead and sides of the nostrils. Very oily skin may also develop blackheads on the cheeks and the tip of the nose, as well as chest and back. The brown or black dot is a small lump of congealed oil that blocks up your pore and creates a blemish. If untreated the blackhead will build up until it stretches the pore permanently. Blackheads become whiteheads once infection sets in and white blood cells - the pus which gives the whitehead its name - rush in tackle it. It is essential to take care of blackheads as soon as they develop. So what can you do? If a blackhead is large, uninfected and fairly close to the surface of the skin you can engage in some DIY skincare and extract it yourself: Soften the skin by having a hot (but not scalding) shower or by holding your face over a bowl of steaming water to open up your pores.  Now here's the best bit. Push gently around the blackhead until it pops out. Placing tissue around your fingers can prevent your fingernails digging it and make it more comfortable. Don't overdo it though, as too much pushing can damage the skin and lead to permanent blemishes and scarring.  You don't want any bacteria entering the open pore, so apply an antiseptic soothing cream or cooling moisturiser. This treatment should form part of a regular skincare regime. Use a facial wash every day and twice a week use a facial scrub to shift pore clogging debris and dead cells. Prevention is, of course, the best cure, but don’t get too enthusiastic with your new regime. Scrubbing your face too often can also cause all sorts of problems: not least an increased risk of blackheads and blemishes as your body produces more sebum to replace that which you have removed. Neither do you want to aggravate your skin. It isn’t true that removing a blackhead causes more to develop, but excessive poking and prodding of the epidermis can lead to increased sebum production and thus an even greater risk of blemishes and blackheads forming. Over enthusiastic squeezing can be counterproductive to say the least. Women are often told to avoid wearing too much make up as it can cause their pores to become clogged. While that obviously isn’t such an issue amongst men, any New Romantics, professional clowns or cross dressers should take note. Best to stay vigilant. Current Mood: awake (Comment on this)
Sunday, October 16th, 2011
5:41 pm	Men and their Blackheads Blackheads start appearing during puberty, when hormonal activity (particularly the overproduction of testosterone) can encourage excess production of sebum, the body’s naturally occurring moisturiser. Though sebum has an important part to play in the natural regulation of your body’s chemistry, in excess it can block up your pores, trap dead cells and lead to acne and blemishes. A blocked pore is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow - warm and airtight - so you want to get rid of the blockage before infection sets in. Blemishes are not only isolated to the face, either: 60% of people will also suffer acne on their backs and 15% get blemishes on their chests. Men's larger pores and more oily skin makes them more susceptible to blackheads than women. Wherever sebum can build up, blackheads can form (or "open comedones" as doctors call them). This can be your chin, your forehead, the sides of your nostrils, anywhere. Very oily skin may also develop blackheads on the cheeks and the tip of the nose, as well as chest and back. The black-ish dot is a small lump of solidified oil that blocking your pore and causing a blemish. If untreated the blackhead will build up until it stretches the pore permanently. Blackheads become whiteheads once infection sets in and white blood cells - the pus which gives the whitehead its name - rush in tackle it. It is essential to take care of blackheads as soon as they develop. So what can you do? If a blackhead is large, uninfected and fairly close to the surface of the skin you can engage extract it yourself: Soften the skin by taking a hot (but not scalding) shower or by holding your face over a bowl of steaming water to open up your pores. Now here's the good bit. Form pads around your fingers with tissue and gently push until it pops out - don’t overdo it though, as too much pushing can damage the skin and lead to permanent blemishes and scarring. After that’s done apply an antiseptic soothing cream or cooling moisturiser to kill any bacteria on the surface of the skin before they enter the open pore. After that it’s simply a case of regular skincare and daily cleansing with the right facial wash and twice-weekly use of a facial scrub to help shift anything that might be clogging up your pores. Be careful not to get too carried away when it comes to the cleaning, though. Scrubbing your face too often can also cause all sorts of problems: not least an increased risk of blackheads and blemishes as your body produces more sebum to replace that which you have removed. It isn’t true that removing a blackhead causes more to develop, but excessive poking and prodding of the epidermis can lead to increased sebum production and end up causing blackheads and blemishes rather than preventing them. Over enthusiastic squeezing can be counterproductive to say the least. Oil based make-ups are a common cause of acne, blemishes and blackheads in women. While that obviously isn’t such an issue amongst men, any New Romantics, professional clowns or cross dressers should take note. Extra vigilance in skincare is advised. Current Mood: amused (Comment on this)