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Monthly Archives: January 2019

Everyday Things That Can Cause Acne

Posted on by Posted in Hair and Makeup .

Having pimples can be a big problem for many. Sometimes it can even negatively affect self-esteem and confidence. Acne can be unavoidable, but there are also ways to mitigate its development. Hence, it is important for us to know what things are our breakouts.

Genetics
One of the main reasons that we get acne is because of our genetics. If your parents have a history of acne, the chances of you getting some will also be very likely. Your hormones will determine how sensitive you are to acne, or how oily your skin can be, and etc.

Stress
Another big reason why we get acne and have breakouts is stress. When we are stressed, our hormones can fluctuate in an unusual manner, affecting our skin negatively. This results to an influx of sebum, which then leads to frequent and more severe acne.

Your pillowcase
One may disregard his/her pillowcase, but unchanged pillowcases can house dirt and bacteria that can influence the presence of acne. Naturally, we are always shedding dead skin cells, especially when we are asleep. Thereby, try to change your pillowcases frequently.

Smoke
Smoke from cars and cigarettes can also be bad for the skin. When we are exposed to smoke from vehicles, some toxins can attach to the skin causing inflammation and flare-ups that can lead to more acne. This is the same case with smoke from cigarettes. But when you do the smoking yourself, it dries out your skin and prevents proper distribution of collagen. When this happens, your pores become irritated and you may get more wrinkles.

Hair products
Hair products like shampoo, hair wax, and even conditioners can cause acne. This is because when they are not rinsed properly, they can enter the pores. This results to clogging, which eventually leads to pimples, and even acne on your chest, back, and hairline.

Touching your pimples
Don’t touch your pimples! No matter how tempting it may be, poking or pressing on your pimples can be very bad for your face. If you pick on a pimple, you’re either spreading the bacteria or pushing it deeper. Acne scars are also the result of a wound caused by forcibly picking a pimple.

Not washing your face (well)
If you want to get rid of, or avoid getting acne, you should wash your face as you get home or before going to bed. All the sweat, dirt, and oil that’s been built up in your face the whole day will settle into your pores and cause more acne and pimples if you don’t wash it away. The takeaway here is to simply implement proper hygiene, it can give you more benefits than you would imagine.

Eating too much junk food
Obviously, these things are called ‘junk food’ for a reason. Junk foods have no proper nutritional value, in addition to being produced in nasty oil. They contain too much carbs that can lead to inflammation all around our body.

The Power of Hugging

Posted on by Posted in Health and Wellness .

From the moment we were born, we’ve been feeling tactile sensations through others’ affections. These instances naturally connect us to others, hence making us feel better as people. As we grow old, hugging can be a great way for us to feel those sensations again and even bring us more benefits. So go out and get a hug! Remember though, in Singapore, “hugging without permission” has fines!

Lowers stress
Hugging helps reduce the tension in our muscles, helping us become calmer and more relaxed. It also reduces the amounts of the stress hormone, cortisol, that the body produces. If someone you know is in a stressful situation, give them a hug. Not only will they feel better, it will also reduce the stress that you have, even as the one who is doing the comforting.

Strengthens our immune system
Hugs have been found to enhance the immune system through the maintenance and control of our white blood cells. Enough increase of white blood cells in our system can give us better immunity, therefore keeping us healthy overall. Lower levels of cortisol also contribute to a strong immune system, all the while, serving as an aid to keep us generally healthy.

Strengthen relationships
Hugging can promote more trust and help solidify your bond with your family, partner, and even friends. Hugging induces oxytocin, sometimes considered the “love hormone”, which also governs our social interactions and our compassion towards others. Additionally, we come in contact with whoever we are hugging and make a physical connection strongly felt by both parties.

Pain reliever
Hugs have also been found to help ease pain through the emotional bonds we get through the sense of touch. This might also be because hugging increases the production of serotonin, which improves our mood and the circulation of blood around our body’s tissues. Of course, it can’t easily replace painkillers, but hugging can definitely help you feel a lot better.

Promotes happiness
Aside from serotonin and oxytocin, both of which improve our mood, hugging can also induce dopamine. Dopamine triggers our brain’s reward and pleasure centers. This means that we feel happier because of the pleasure we get emotionally and physically when hugging. Even with those three “happiness hormones”, the simple notion of touching and coming in contact with others can make us feel more positive.

Boosts self-esteem
Ever since we were young, we were already marked with the feeling of love, expressed through acts like cuddling, hugging, and kissing by our parents. So, as we grow older, we naturally desire a constant feeling of touch. When we hug, we can establish our self-image in connection to those sensations that we crave for. It also helps us recognize and mitigate the fear of death.