Term halitosis is derived from Latin word “ halitus” which means “breath” and Greek suffix “osis” which means “ the condition”. In general, halitosis is the medical term for “ bad breath”.
Breath malodor should not be confused with the oral malodor that is caused after taking food items like onion or garlic or malodor that occurs in early morning hours on awakening. It goes by itself on maintaining oral hygiene. But if breath malodor persists , it reflects some pathology and doctor should be consulted.
Halitophobia or Pseudo halitosis is reffered as the condition when patient persistently complains of bad breath but it is not perceived by others. Such patients require proper counseling from psychiatrist.
Root cause for halitosis :- halitosis is mainly caused by anaerobic bacteria present in oral cavity. These bacteriae survive by taking food from oral cavity and excreting waste products. Their waste product mainly consists of volatile sulfide compounds (vsc) which is mainly hydrogen sulfide and smells like rotten eggs. Other compounds present in their waste product are:-
Cadaverine smells like corpses
Putrescine smells like decaying meat
Skatole smells like human fecal matter
Isovaleric acid smells like sweaty feet
These anaerobic bacteria mainly depend on protein diet like meat, eggs, fish, pulses, milk products etc. Whenever we take protein diet these bacteria also get their food and they breakdown the proteins present in food items with the help of enzymes, producing the waste products (mainly VSC). Thus causing bad breath. Even in the absence of protein diet these bacteria get the food from proteins present in saliva, remnant food debris, plaque, and dead cells present in oral cavity.
Volatile fatty acids such as valerate, butyrate etc also cause malodor. These molecules are released in blood in presence of any systemic disorder like hormonal problem, kidney disorder, or stomach disease, intestinal diseases, etc. Ultimately via blood these molecules reach lungs and are exhaled. Thus producing bad breath.
Halitosis is of two types :- Physiological and pathological halitosis.
Physiological halitosis is of short duration and mainly occurs due to certain food items ( like onion, garlic) or medicines which produces bad breath.
Now question arises how these foods cause bad breath??
It happens like this: When we eat these food items they get broken down into small molecules by our digestive system. These molecules have unpleasant odor which are released in blood. Via blood they reach our lungs and when we exhale, these molecules with offending smell are also released. Thus producing bad breath.
However, this type of halitosis resolves by itself on complete consumption of food item and once all the molecules are excreted. It can be avoided by avoiding intake of food item which cause bad breath.
Smoking……
Pathological halitosis occurs due to some pathology or disorder. It does not resolve until the pathology is corrected.
This includes…..
Local factors
a) Food impaction :- food gets accumulated in the deep carious tooth or the gap between two adjacent teeth. This accumulated debris serves as food for bacteria which act on it and produce foul smell leading to oral malodor.
b) Dental conditions :- certain dental pathologies like grossly carious tooth with severe infection or abcess can be the cause of oral malodor. Partially erupted wisdom tooth can also cause bad breath. As food gets accumulated around it and this area is very difficult to clean.
c) Unclean dentures :- regular denture wearers need to take care of their dentures. It should be properly cleaned with soap solution after meals and should be kept in water in night. If dentures are not properly handled food gets accumulated on it and these debris cause bad breath.
d) Xerostomia:- it’s a medical term for dry mouth.
Saliva is an excellent mouth rinse. It helps in cleaning debris and keeps the mouth wet. When salivary flow decreases mouth gets dry and cleansing action decreases which makes bacteria more active and thus producing bad breath. This is the why we feel bad odor when we wake up in morning or during fasting. As salivary flow decreases during sleep or starvation.
e) Periodontal or gum problems:- periodontal diseases mainly starts with plaque accumulation. As the plaque gets accumulated between the tooth and gums it leads to damage to bone surrounding that tooth. As a result gap is created between the tooth and the gums. This gap known as periodontal pocket is a perfect shelter for anaerobic bacteria which survive there and produce foul smell leading to bad breath.
f) Tongue coatings :- surface of tongue is very irregular. These innumerable depressions and elevations on tongue surface serve as ideal niche for bacteria to adhere and flourish. Remnant food debris also get accumulated in these irregularlities which is very difficult to clean. So these bacteria act on the food accumulated producing foul smell. That’s why it is advised to clean the tongue properly with a tongue scrapper daily.
Systemic factors
a) ENT problems like sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, etc. in all these conditions there is increased inhabitation of bacteria in oral cavity which leads to bad breath.
b) Pulmonary infections like T.B. , pneumonia, bronchitis are also associated with halitosis.
c) GIT diseases like regurgitations, gastric hernia etc.
d) Hormonal cause :- it is observed in most of the women that foul breath is felt in perimenstual period. Also a typical type of breath odor is experienced with increase in progesterone level.
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity. A low or depressed mood can increase an individual’s ability to cope with situations in which the effort to pursue a major goal could result in danger, loss, or wasted effort.A depressed person may experience persistent sadness, feeling of hopelessness. He may also find it difficult to concentrate on his work . He may even attempt to suicide if it is not rectified timely.
It is generally seen that people suffering from depression dismiss most of its symptoms as ‘blues’ or ‘ downtimes’. Slowly it starts affecting the normal functions to be carried out in the daily life.
We have to curtail the recurring bouts of depression. Depression is a serious disorder and it requires medication from a mental health professional.
Major types of Depression: There are 4 major types of depression recognised in the medical field. They are
Past Partum Depression: This kind of deppression is gemnerally found in women aftre giving birth to child . This is cause due to changes in the harmones.
Bipolar Disorders:This is caused due tro sudden emotional changes. It may be destructive. Immediate treatment is a must.
Seasonal Depression: Generally called as SAD, it is caused due to the extreme climatic condition and will go away with the favolable climate.
Substances induced Depression: This kind of depression is caused by the intake of something which leads to depression. There are some medicines which may lead to depression in some persons. Taking in of Toxic drinks like alchohol may lead to depression.
How to Overcome Depression: It is really very difficult to over come depression. To make matters worse the only treatment in medical field for depression is medication. But our body has the capacity to heal itself. The mind and the body are inter wined to such an extent that what we do on one will affect the other. So if we want to come out of depression all we have to do is to keep our body healthy. In majority of the cases depression is caused due to the chemical imbalance in the mind. We often do not take care of our physical health and usually it is not long before we find our brain toxicology adversely affected. So by keeping a healthy body we can keep depression away from us.
Exercise and healthy diet are two effective tools by which we can very easily get out of depression.
Herbs and food that help you to fight Depression:
Dark green leafy vegetables like Spinach, peas help to produce serotonin which is the main medicine prescribed by doctors.
Lack of carbohydrates may bring you in the low mood which may lead to depression.
Siberian ginseng helps in stimulating the nervous system and helps the person taking it to cope with stress.
Rhodiola helps in improving mood, fighting depression, reducing fatigue and improving both physical and mental performance.
Chinese way to cure Depression: The chinese way of treating depression is to create a mental awareness and releasing the blocked vital energy through the aid of accupressure and accupunture.
Diarrhea is generally referred to the increase in the frequency of the bowel movements or decrease in the hardness of the stool. Generally incontinence of stool, rectal urgency, incomplete evacuation, bowel movements immediately after eating are very often misinterpreted as diarrhea.
The World Health Organization has defined diarrhea as “having 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day, or as having more stools than is normal for that person.”
People suffering from diarrhea generally pass more than a quart of stool a day. Acute diarrhea may stay for a day or two and pass away without any special treatment being given while prolonged diarrhea is a cause to worry as it may lead to dehydration.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration, a situation in which the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and older people, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems
Diarrhea is one of the most common diseases found in all age group and is the main reason for the lost days of work. On an average a child by the time reaches the age of 5 would have got the attacks of diarrhea by 6 to 10 times and an average adult has this attack four times in a year.
Causes for Diarrhea:
Diarrhea is generally caused by the infection. This infection may be caused by- Viral Infections: Many viruses like rotavirus (in children), Norwalk virus (adults and school going children), cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis. Cause diarrhea. Generally diarrhea caused by viral infection lasts from 3 to 7 days. Bacterial Infection: Diarrhea caused by bacterial infections is very severe and are accompanied with vomiting, fever, and severe abdominal cramps or abdominal pain. Bowel movements occur frequently and may be watery. They are mostly caused by intake of contaminated foods or drinks. Parasites: The parasites infect the digestive system which may result in diarrhea. This is caused by the usage of contaminated drink.
Food Intolerance: Some people are unable to digest some food components like lactose. If they have those, it may lead to diarrhea. Reaction to medicines: Reaction to a medicine may lead to diarrhea. Generally medicines like antibiotics, blood pressure medications, cancer drugs, and antacids may lead to diarrhea. Symptoms of Diarrhea:
• Watery liquid stool- The stool passed out is liquid or semi solid. Sometimes it may be of red in color which indicates intestinal bleeding. If it is of thick, tarry black color it indicates bleeding in stomach or upper part of the intestine.
• Abdominal Pain: Occasionally diarrhea is accompanied with mild-to-moderate abdominal pain. If the pain is severe it suggests more severe disease.
• Dehydration: If diarrhea leads to dehydration, it is a sign of serious disease.
Some general symptoms found in persons suffering from diarrhea are:
• Feeling thirsty and having a dry mouth
• Skin appearing loose
• Sunken eyes among children and infants. Herbal and Home made Treatment for diarrhea:
Meadowsweet helps in toning the lining of small intestine and may prove beneficial for treating diarrhea among children.
Boil the roots of the blackberry bush in a quart of water until it boils down to 1 pint. Cool and strain, take 1-2 table spoon 3 times daily. (Note, I know those who will just chew on the roots of the blackberry bush)
Drink a thin, gruel with oatmeal or a handful of raw oats.
Cook 8 good-sized well washed leeks in 2 l of water for three hours in a covered pan. Give a tea spoon of the resultant in every hour to the child suffering from diarrhea. It brings relief very soon.
Boil a few barley seeds in 1/2 l of water for half an hour. Allow it to cool down. Add salt or sugar and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Drinking this will bring relief
Dyslexia is an impairment of the ability to read, as a result of variety of pathologic conditions some of which is associated with central nervous system.
It is a condition when people cannot make connections between the verbal and written communications. People suffering from this disease very often find it difficult to distinguish the letter written. In short it is a learning disability found in 3% of the total school going children. But it is generally found that children suffering from dyslexia are gifted children and are intelligent; excel in other skills that do not include reading.
Causes for Dyslexia:
Though the exact causes for dyslexia are not known some of the common causes suggested by the doctors and dyslexia experts are
under utilization of left brain as it is said that left part of the brain is programmed to do the things you need for reading and the right is not
the absence of corpus callosum, a central bridge of tissue in the brain.
a hereditary disease and is carried by genes.
Early age hearing problem
Some even go on to say that it is caused by the combination of two or more of these causes.
Symptoms of Dyslexia:
Difficulty learning and remembering printed words.
Reversing the alphabets(b, p, d) and numbers (6,9)
Changing the order of the letters in the word.
Confusing vowel sounds or substituting one consonant for another.
Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
Finds difficulty in putting thoughts into words; speaks in halting phrases.
Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
How to cure children suffering from Dyslexia:
Many think that dyslexia can never be cured. But it is curable. The only thing is that you have to be patient when confronting with a dyslexia child. Some simple steps which you can follow are
Improve the confidence level of the children suffering from it. Many children suffering from this consider themselves to be fit for nothing. So it is most important to see that their confidence level is improved.
Readout loudly what is written to the children as this will help them to see the connections between spoken and written languages.
Create activities that help the children to understand that seem to deviate from phonetic sound
A migraine is a severe, painful headache that is often preceded or accompanied by sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound.
What causes migraines is still a mystery to the medical world! Doctors believe that it is due to the contraction and expanding of some blood vessel in the head. This happens periodically but the pain is intense and painful. How ever the exact cycle of events taking place in our brains during a migraine attack is not fully known.
What may be the possible causes for the pain?
Knowing what is the cause for the trigger of the pain is the best way to stop the pain. But avoiding the cause for the trigger is always not possible. Sometimes the migraine pain is not only due to a single trigger but due to combination of potential triggers.
Some of the common causes are
Food related triggers: For many people, going without food can trigger a migraine. For others skipping a meal is the cause for trigger. Cheese, alcohol, nuts and alas, chocolate are the prime suspects for the trigger of the migraine.
The Menstrual Cycle: It is generally found that there is a correlation between their menstrual cycle and migraine episodes. Another fact that links migraines and female hormones is that many women no longer suffer from migraines once they reach menopause stage.
Environmental Causes: For many changes in temperature, humidity and barometric pressure may be the potential cause for migraine. A change in altitude is also a possible trigger.
Stress and Depression: People are seen having migraines during times of increased emotional or physical stress.
Triggers do not always cause migraines, and avoiding triggers does not always prevent migraines.
How serious is migraine?
The migraine pain is generally moderate to severe and can disrupt the normal activities of the individual. Many people have pain and other symptoms so severe that they only want to lie down in a dark room and go to sleep
Duration Period of the pain:
The pain lasts from 4 hours to 72 hours once it is triggered off and it varies from person to person.
Herbal treatment for Migraine:
Grapes: Drinking juice of fresh ripe grapes without adding water to it is a good relief from the migraine pain.
Lemon crust: Grind the lemon crust and apply it as a paste on the forehead. It is sure to bring immediate relief to the pain.
Ginger: Drinking ginger tea brings relief for a migraine headache in the front of the head.
Butterbur: The herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a shrub-like plant that grows in northern Asia, Europe, and parts of North America. Extracts made from the herb have been used to treat migraines.
Eczema is a common term given to many type of skin inflammation. It can affect people of any age even though it is most commonly seen in infants. Statistics show that about 85% of people have an onset of it before 5 years of age. People with eczema often have a family history of the condition or a family history of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever.
What causes Eczema?
Though doctors are unable to identify the exact reason for the occurrence of eczema it is commonly found that the following reasons lead to its occurrence.
Extreme or sudden changes in weather conditions
Undergoing a lot of stress
Consumption of too much of alcohol or cigarettes
Chemical sensitivity towards any particular dye used in the manufacture of the cosmetics used by the person
Hereditary factor. If any one from the family has the history of asthma or hay fever
Abnormal function of immune system combined with a defect of the skin
Environmental allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) may also cause outbreaks of eczema
Some forms of eczema can be triggered by the chemical substances that are used in soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry and it comes in contact with the skin.
Symptoms of Eczema:
Intense itching is the first symptom in most people with eczema.
Sometimes you may find blisters and oozing lesions in the affected area.
It may lead to dry, reddened skin that itches or burns.
Repeated scratching in the affected area may lead to thickened, crusty skin.
Eczema can sometimes occur as a brief reaction that only leads to symptoms for a few hours or days, but in other cases, the symptoms persist over a longer time and are referred to as chronic dermatitis.
Treatment for Eczema:
Doctors may advise a change in the life style of the affected person and give medication. Some times both are advised for better results. The main aim of the treatment given in such cases are to prevent itching, inflammation and the worsening of the condition.
Moistening the skin by the application of creams or oils/ointments is a very important step for the treatment of Eczema
Natural Cure to Eczema:
Neem, also known as Sarbaroganibarini meaning “cure for all disease”, due to its anti bacterial and anti fungal properties can be used both externally and internally to cure eczema
Tulsi also has extensive medicinal properties. The combination of neem and tulsi leaves can offer a natural cure for eczema
Applying a paste of garlic powder on the affected area is beneficial.
Mudpack offers a soothing relief from the sense of itching.
The grounded seeds of Palasha can be mixed with lime juice for preparing the medicinal mixture useful in treating eczema
A proper diet is vital in curing your eczema.. Scientists have proved that high levels of acidity have a direct impact on eczema. So make sure you have a good diet.
Applying moisturizer to your skin everyday will give you great relief and stop the itching within a few days.
Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. Sometimes it may be soft but in most cases it is loud and unpleasant. Snoring can not only affect the quantity and quality of your sleep but also cause problem to anyone who is sleeping near you. So finding out the cause for your snoring and finding the right cure is very essential
Where does the snore sound come from?
A narrow airway gets in the way of smooth breathing and creates the sound of snoring. It may be caused by poor sleep posture or abnormalities of the soft tissues in your throat.
Causes for snoring:
Snoring is commonly caused due to a blockade of air between mouth and nose
* Snoring may also result from over weight
* If you are endowed with large tonsils or adenoids, then it is more likely that you snore.
* If you have cold or stuffy nose you are likely to snore
* Having a long soft palate or uvula might lead to snoring
Evaluating how and when you snore will help you to find out the cause for snoring.
a) if you snore with closed mouth you have a problem with the tongue
b) if you snore with open mouth you have a problem with the tissues in your throat
c) If you snore only on your back the problem is mild and can be cured by changing life styles
d) If you snore in all sleep position your snoring is more severe and it requires immediate attention
Simple steps to stop Snoring:
· Reducing your weight if you are obese.
· Stop smoking if you are in habit to it.
· Alcohol and medications increase muscle relaxation leading to more snoring.
· Sleep on your side to prevent the tongue from blocking the throat.
· Elevate the head of your bed four to five inches which will ease your breathing.
· Clear your nasal passage if you feel a blockade
. Practicing “lom anulom” pranayam for 5 minutes regularly will help you get relief from snoring.
Some Herbs which helps to get relief from Snoring:
Herbs can be taken orally, as a nasal spray, placed under the tongue or added as aromatherapy to the room while you sleep. While there is no one herb that appears to cure snoring combination of various herbs prove to be effective.
· A combination of passion flower and peppermint leaf powder is beneficial for mild cases of snoring
· Adding valerian root to passion flower and peppermint mixture is effective for offsetting bouts of snoring.
· Adding liquid eucalyptus or peppermint drops to a humidifier or vaporizer can help open your airways while you sleep.
· Drinking a mixture of honey and ginger can also help coat your throat to relieve some of the mucus at the back of your throat, which helps open your airways prior to sleep.
Blood Pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it refers to High Blood Pressure. This may damage the body in many ways. High Blood Pressure as such has no symptoms all the while it may lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and many other health problems.
On an average every one out of three suffers from high blood pressure. That is why knowing your blood pressure numbers is important, even when you’re feeling fine. Blood pressure numbers include systolic and diastolic pressures. The former is the pressure while the heart pumps blood and the later is the pressure while the heart is at rest.
You will most often see blood pressure numbers written with the systolic number above or before the diastolic, such as 120/80 mmHg. (The mmHg is millimeters of mercury—the units used to measure blood pressure.). 120/80 mmHg, is the normal pressure found in the adult.
Causes for High Blood Pressure:
Generally Blood Pressure tends to rise with age but there are some other conditions which may lead to increase the blood Pressure.
Chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, and sleep arena may lead to increase in Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure may increase in women if they use birth control pills
Obese people tend to have High Blood Pressure.(HBP)
Long lasting stress will lead to HBP.
A family history of HBP raises your risk for the condition.
Unhealthy Life style habits will lead to HBP. It includes eating too much of Sodium, drinking alcohol, no physical exercise, smoking etc
Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure:
High Blood Pressure as such has no symptoms and signs and it can remain in the body fro longer period with out the individual knowing it and all the while damaging different organs of the body. How ever rarely there is a head ache problem due to High Blood Pressure. So it is always advisable to have your pressure checked regularly.
Effects of High Blood Pressure:
High blood pressure has its main effects on the Nervous system, the Kidneys and the Eyes.
The nervous system: headache, dizziness, stroke, vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
Kidneys: hypertension can lead to kidney failure.
Eyes: long-standing high blood pressure can lead to defects of vision, bleeding in the retina of the eye, and eventually blindness.
Treatment of High Blood Pressure:
Relief of stress brings down the high blood pressure to a considerable level.
Intake of a balanced diet, helps to control the High Blood Pressure
Regular exercise is very helpful in reducing the High Blood Pressure.
Many drugs and medicines are available in the market which can help you in controlling the high pressure. But these must be taken on the advice of the doctors.
Some herbs help to control the Blood Pressure:
Garlic: Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. When people with high blood pressure were given one clove of garlic a day for 12 weeks, their diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced
Hawthorn: The herb hawthorn is often used by traditional herbal practitioners for high blood pressure.
Arjuna: Bark of Arjuna tree has been found to be rich in Co-enzyme Q-10 which is highly prescribed in cardiology departments now a days to prevent heart problems
Tennis Elbow otherwise called as lateral epicondylitis is a common injury found among the sports persons but is nowadays detected in common persons too! Though the main reason for the cause of tennis elbow is not known it is commonly thought that it is due to the minute tear of tendons which connect the fore arm muscle to the arm bone at the elbow joint. Specific inflammation is rarely present in the tendon but there is an increase in pain receptors in the area making the region extremely tender.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow:
Pain about 1-2 cm down from bony area at the outside of the elbow
Pain when lifting objects
Pain radiating down the forearm
Weakness in the wrist with difficulty doing simple tasks like shaking hands.
Difficulty extending the forearm fully.
Who may be affected by Tennis Elbow?
People who work with their hands are at greater risk of developing tennis elbow. Jobs that may lead to tennis elbow include plumbers, painters, gardeners, and carpenters.
Sports participants, especially racquet sport players, are prone to developing tennis elbow. About a third of regular tennis players experience tennis elbow at some point in their careers. In addition to racquet sports, tennis elbow is seen in golfers, fencers, and other sports participants.
As per the data, any one between the age group of 35 -65 may be affected by Tennis Elbow. It generally occurs in the dominant arm in about 75 percent of patients
Relief of Tennis Elbow:
The best way to get relief from the tennis elbow is to stop doing any thing that irritates the arm. Given here are some treatments to Tennis Elbow:
Reduce the inflation by applying ice pack to the affected area.
A simple exercise of arm stretching will help to lengthen the fore arm muscle fibers and reduce the tension on the tendon.—With palm facing down try to raise the arm till it is straight to your shoulders. Hold it for a minute. Slowly bring it by the side of the body, palms facing down. Then repeat the same with palm facing up. Care should be taken so as you do not extra stretch your muscle.
Straps can be placed 1-2 inches below the elbow to give support to the tendon and reduce the stress.
In the case of severe damage cortisone injections could be needed and in extreme cases surgery may be the only recourse (less than 3% of patients require surgery). If the damage is this serious professional advice should be sought.
Home and herb remedies for Tennis Elbow:
Apply ice packs over the elbow for 15-20 minutes.
Alternative heat packs and ice packs can comfort the patient to a large extent.
Warm and baked potatoes can be applied as pack to reduce the pain
Zostrix, a derivative of hot pepper can be wrapped around the elbow to reduce the sensation of pain
Intake of Omega, a fatty acid generally found in fishes can relieve the pain
The fluids extracted from the seeds of Celery if taken with hot water will prove beneficial
Acne is a common problem found among the teenagers and every teenager wants to get rid of it. In reality there are hundreds of effective treatment for acne and thousands of products! Most of the treatment can be grouped under nutritional, topical treatment like skin care treatment and medication.
Nutritional:
The human body is made in such a way that it has the capacity and potential to heal itself and make amazing recoveries provided it is well nourished and not suffering from allergies and food intolerance. So we can also say that a good nutrition program can help us to free ourselves from acne. It is seen that majority of people have deficient diets as they consume refined foods, sugar and lack of fresh fruits and vegetables. Intake of vital vitamins and a nourishing diet can supply vital nutrients to the body and make the skin healthy and shiny there by healing acne naturally. Often though this may not always clear your acne problem but no doubt will help you to minimize the problem.
Topical Treatment:
By topical treatment I mean applying lotion and cream on the affected area so as to prevent it and stop it from spreading. The market is flooded with thousands of lotions, cream, toners each claiming to relieve you from acne problem with in a few days. Some of them may help you while others may damage your already affected skin. So before utilizing it try to know about it thoroughly.Among those which help you will only give you the temporary relief as they help you in keeping your skin clean, fight bacteria and calm the irritating skin, and are effective only when the acne problem is a mild one. These topical treatments are capable of handling only the surface problem and not the severe ones.
Medications:
There are some medications too available in the market but are to be prescribed by a doctor and people go in for this only after trying out the topical treatment. If the reason for acne is hormonal imbalance then an oral contraceptive pill will be of a great help. It is in very rare cases that women suffer from hormonal imbalance. Some other medicines available are Isotretinoin and Nicotinamide but are to be taken under strict medical supervision due to its harmful side effects which may range from flushes to psychosis.
The best approach is to go in for milder treatment and if not relieved consult a doctor. But careful combination of good skin care, nutritious diet, hygienic condition, reducing stress will help you a lot in reliving you from acne problem. Handling acne from a combination of angles increases your chance of clearing your acne once and for all.
Some common herbs which can treat Acne:
Tea Tree Oil: It is an effective acne fighter with less drying, stinging and redness.
Aloe Gel: It has anti bacterial property and should be applied externally.