How I Cured My Cystic Acne in 3 Weeks

Let me preface this by saying that I’ve never really had that bad of skin. In fact, my skin was pretty clear most of my life all throughout puberty, middle school, high school, and even college. Sure, I’d get an occasional pimple, especially around my period, but never had to deal with the daily struggles of acne. Unfortunately, all of this changed when I turned 22 and graduated from college.

My mom, who owns a medical spa, taught me the importance of a good skin-care regimen. She initially attributed the painful cystic acne popping up around my chin, mouth, and jawline to environmental stresses associated with moving across the country and starting a new job. My gynecologist agreed and put me on a low-dose birth control pill to help stabilize my hormone levels. And yet, hormones aren’t the only reason why you’re breaking out.

While, the birth control pills certainly did help—I was experiencing fewer breakouts—it didn’t clear up my cystic acne entirely. I was left feeling embarrassed and defeated. I went from rarely ever wearing makeup to applying heavy foundation before leaving the house. I was also frustrated and confused because I took really good care of my skin. I washed my face morning and night, and applied my serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen religiously. But my acne remained.

My mom encouraged me to see a dermatologist in my new home to discuss oral antibiotics for my breakouts. A few weeks later, I saw Maryann Mikhail, MD, of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. Dr. Mikhail looked at my skin under a giant magnifying class and explained to me that I was definitely experiencing hormonal acne as my pimples were located in the “beard area.” She prescribed me 20mg of spironolactone to be taken twice a day, along with a very simple skin-care regimen of a gentle cleanser followed by moisturizer morning and night and SPF in the morning. I stopped using all my serums, retinoid, and face masks completely.

A medication that’s been around since the 1950s, spironolactone is FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure, but dermatologists have been prescribing the medication for over two decades to treat adult hormonal acne.

“Spironolactone is an androgen blocker,” says Dr. Mikhail. “We know that women with hormonal acne either have too much androgen or are too sensitive to androgens, so blocking the androgens from hitting the skin clears the breakouts.”

While, spironolactone isn’t FDA-approved to treat hormonal acne, research proves it effective. A quick Google search will give you dozens of University studies that show how it’s cleared up hormonal acne for thousands of women. But that’s not the only way to treat acne, there many ways to treat every different type of acne.

“Good candidates for spironolactone are women who present with cyclical breakouts on the lower face (+/- chest and back) and who are not planning pregnancy,” says Dr. Mikhail. “Also, it is helpful for women whose acne returns after a course of antibiotics or Accutane. It is also helpful in controlling acne associated with PCOS.”

In just one week of taking the medication, I saw significant improvement. The cystic acne bumps that I had along my jawline began to disappear and no new pimples popped up. At about three weeks, my cystic acne cleared up almost entirely. I recently saw Dr. Mikhail for my follow-up, and he was very pleased at how fast my skin responded. I’ve been on the medication for a month now, and my skin is the best it’s been in about four years. My cystic acne has cleared up completely. If your acne still isn’t clearing up, find out what the acne on every part of your body is trying to tell you.

The post How I Cured My Cystic Acne in 3 Weeks appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2CXcShZ
How I Cured My Cystic Acne in 3 Weeks Reader's Digest

12 Makeup Rules You Should Know by the Time You’re 40

Say yes to foundation; no to powder

As you get older, your skin tends to thin and develop fine lines, and your makeup routine needs to change to accommodate those nuances. The first order of business is to toss out powder, which reliably makes you look older. “Powder adds way too much texture, looks cakey, and takes the life out of your skin. Skin is alive and should look dewy and touchable,” says Cindy Joseph, a makeup artist turned supermodel who founded the makeup line BOOM! “If you feel you must use foundation, don’t put powder over it. Wait for it to dry; then dab moisturizer over it,” says Joseph. A great, lightweight option for smooth coverage is Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer. After applying it evenly all over your face, press a makeup sponge onto any wrinkled areas, where makeup may have settled in. And make sure to choose the right foundation—the color should match yours even before it’s blended. (Wearing shades too light or too dark are some of the makeup mistakes that age you.)

The post 12 Makeup Rules You Should Know by the Time You’re 40 appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2HUxZaC
12 Makeup Rules You Should Know by the Time You’re 40 Reader's Digest

How to Get Rid of Whiteheads: 5 Remedies That Work

There are two types of acne bumps

Whiteheads or blackheads are small, pin-sized acne bumps that look liked clogged pores. Meanwhile, big, red, swollen, or tender bumps are pimples. Many people call pimples whiteheads when they aren’t, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. The T-zone area of the face—your forehead, nose, and chin—is the most popular home for true whiteheads, according to Anna Bender, MD, a dermatologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine.

The post How to Get Rid of Whiteheads: 5 Remedies That Work appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2YipN9W
How to Get Rid of Whiteheads: 5 Remedies That Work Reader's Digest

How To Get Rid of Cystic Acne, Sometimes Overnight (Really!)

This Everyday Habit Gave Me Cancer—and Nearly Ruined My Face

When Janet, 42, suddenly noticed a bump on the side of her nose while looking in the mirror, she assumed it was a harmless pimple. Two days later, things got weird, the iHeartRadio host in Oklahoma City tells Reader’s Digest: “It just sort of self-exploded, and then it began bleeding excessively,” she recalls.

For the next three weeks, Janet watched as the spot on her face scabbed over and bled repeatedly. Finally, her husband convinced her to go to the doctor. “He’s a firefighter, so he’s seen everything. I really thought the doctor was going to laugh that I came in for a zit,” she explains. To her disbelief, her doctor referred her to a dermatologist. “My primary care doctor said he was willing to bet I had basal cell carcinoma. The dermatologist confirmed it with a biopsy. I was shocked,” she says. Make sure you know the different skin cancer symptoms when you’re checking your own body.

A tanning bed aficionado since her teens and an avid runner who disregarded sunscreen, Janet was especially susceptible to skin cancer—which happens to be the most common type of cancer. “I begged my mom to sign permission slips for tanning beds when I was 16, and I tanned before every vacation. Looking back, I’m not surprised I got it,” she explains. Tanning and not using sunscreen are just two common cancer risks—don’t ignore these surprising skin cancer risks either.

After undergoing a separate surgery to remove a dime-sized chunk of her nose, Janet’s next stop was a plastic surgeon to restore her appearance. Her options were limited: “A skin graft isn’t desirable on the face because the color never matches,” she says. “My doctor said I wouldn’t be satisfied with it, and recommended the flap surgery instead.” For this procedure, the surgeon would transfer skin from a discrete spot on her forehead to patch her nose and then—prepare yourself—route a vein from her forehead to supply the patch until the skin can survive on its own. And that vein is left hanging from the forehead and connected to the nose in a sort of loop in front of her face. Janet asked her surgeon what the recovery was like. “He said that I could return [to work] after a few days, but most people take three weeks off to heal because they don’t want to leave the house looking that way,” she recalls.

Janet chose the flap surgery and immediately afterward understood why most people take the three weeks at home. “I cried almost every day, it was such a painful open wound—and emotionally it was just a very dark time,” she recalls. “I tried to go shopping at Target, and people would just stare—or worse—leave the aisle entirely,” she says. Tired of the curious stares from strangers, and even those of friends, Janet went “live” on Facebook to explain her new look. “After the video, I received so many notes from others undergoing the same treatment who felt comforted that they weren’t alone,” she recalls. It was exactly the push she needed to become more vocal about her diagnosis. “It’s heartbreaking to me to think that others going through this feel like they need to hide,” she explains.

After Janet had her final stitches and the vein removed, she says, “I remember leaving the doctor’s office and feeling like I made it.” Today, Janet is cancer-free and visits her dermatologist twice a year. She has partnered with the Miles Against Melanoma Foundation and has found educating others to be rewarding. Her words of encouragement to those facing a skin cancer diagnosis are simple, yet memorable: “You will feel the sunshine on your face again—just wear your sunscreen.” That being said, make sure you know these 51 things dermatologists need you to know about skin cancer.

 

The post This Everyday Habit Gave Me Cancer—and Nearly Ruined My Face appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2IHuHbA
This Everyday Habit Gave Me Cancer—and Nearly Ruined My Face Reader's Digest

The Health Issue Jay Leno Is Speaking About for the First Time

Though comedian and TV host Jay Leno was diagnosed with high cholesterol 20 years ago, he only made it public recently—and for a really good reason. The 68-year-old Leno has partnered with the pharmaceutical company Amgen to launch Cholesterol 911, a national campaign that sounds the alarm on high LDL-C—the “bad” cholesterol that increases your risk for a heart attack or stroke.

Today, nearly seven out of ten adults in the United States with cardiovascular disease still have high LDL cholesterol—even though they’re taking cholesterol-lowering statins, according to Amgen; for patients who have had a previous heart attack or stroke, their risk of having another cardiovascular event is one in three. Leno, who hosted The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for two decades and is currently producing and hosting the fourth season of his CNBC show, Jay Leno’s Garage, says he has taken statins for years but didn’t realize he was still at risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

“It was one of those deals where you start taking medication, but what I wasn’t aware of is the fact that you can feel good and think everything is fine but high cholesterol doesn’t work that way,” he says. Upon learning about his ongoing risk, Leno was inspired to work on an informative—and humorous—video about treatment.

Leno has witnessed the impact of heart attack and stroke, having watched several friends face these health challenges. “A friend of mine is 69, runs three miles every day, eats kale salad, and then one day had a stroke,” he says. “Meanwhile I’m eating pizza and watching TV. He’s furious at me and I agree: It’s not fair—life isn’t fair but a stroke is akin to looking the wrong way when stepping off the curb and getting hit by a car.”

Another lasting memory for Leno: A segment comedian Rodney Dangerfield did on his show in 2001. “I’ll never forget watching him do stand-up and feeling like Rodney was off his game,” Leno recalls. “While he was doing his act I asked my producer to call the paramedics.” Dangerfield then joined Leno for an interview and, while he seemed fine, Leno noticed that he was sweating more than usual.

“After the show, the paramedics came,” Leno says. “Turns out Rodney had a mini-stroke and they told me that I might have prevented a heart attack. What did that take on my part to call the paramedics? I don’t know if it changed his life but it definitely helped him get back on track.”

Although Leno has never smoked or drank, he does love food: “I’m Italian so you just eat.” He says his favorite “food groups” include hamburgers, hot dogs, and steak. “I don’t have the healthiest diet but I’m trying to do better.” Check out the 5 foods that lower cholesterol naturally.

Along with changing his eating habits, he always remembers to take his statins and he tries to stay active. In the end, Leno says that if he can help one person through the Cholesterol 911 campaign, he will be very happy. “It’s fun to make people laugh for a living, but if you can save someone from a heart attack or stroke, it feels like you did something in the world,” he says. Here are things doctors do to lower high cholesterol.

The post The Health Issue Jay Leno Is Speaking About for the First Time appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2HCrrgC
The Health Issue Jay Leno Is Speaking About for the First Time Reader's Digest

Dr. Pimple Popper Reveals the Type of Acne You Should Never Pop

Most dermatologists will tell you never to pop a pimple of any kind on your face, or any other body part for that matter. While famed MD, Sandra Lee—”Dr. Pimple Popper” herself—mostly agrees, she notes that out of all the types of pimples you can have, there’s one that tops the “do not pop” list: cystic acne.

“This is the most severe form of acne, in which the inflammation is situated more deeply under the skin,” she tells Reader’s Digest; it also tends to be the most painful type of acne. And unlike other types of acne—whiteheads and blackheads, for example—you won’t be able to successfully squeeze cystic acne: Pushing on the area will only make the area look and feel worse and create an even bigger pimple. Find out the 8 surefire ways to get rid of acne once and for all.

Cystic acne, like acne in general, has two main causative factors: hormones and genetics. “This is why acne is usually worse during our pubertal teenage years, when our hormones are raging, and why many adult women experience breakouts during menstruation,” explains Dr. Lee. Genetics play a big role, as well: “If you have inherited more oily (sebaceous) skin from your parents and they had bad breakouts, you will be more likely to have the same issues,” she adds. “Some people have oily, thickened skin that’s more predisposed to acne and usually those people with parents that had cystic acne will have it themselves.” Certain medications, too, can cause acne such as anabolic steroids. Check out these 13 surprising home remedies for acne.

If you have a red, cystic pimple that hurts to touch, and is deep under the skin, try your best to leave it alone—do not try to pop or squeeze in any way—you’ll raise your risk of infection and permanent scarring. Instead, Dr. Lee suggests seeing a dermatologist who can prescribe medications that are formulated specifically to treat this type of acne. “Dermatologists can also locally inject corticosteroids into your cystic acne, and this can help resolve some individual lesions within 24 hours,” she says.

To prevent cystic acne from cropping up in the first place, she recommends following a complete skincare regimen day and night. Choose quality products to help keep your pores clear and free of acne-causing bacteria—all of which can all lead to less severe or fewer breakouts in general, says Dr. Lee. “I created my Acne System to be a very simple and easy to use (three steps, morning and night) so that people can actually stick to it and stay consistent with it.” Watch for these sneaky reasons you’re having an acne breakout.

The post Dr. Pimple Popper Reveals the Type of Acne You Should Never Pop appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2HkJqsT
Dr. Pimple Popper Reveals the Type of Acne You Should Never Pop Reader's Digest

9 Home Remedies for Sinus Headache Relief

What causes sinus headaches?

There are several types of headaches, which vary in presentation from stinging pain to debilitating pressure: migraines, headaches caused by dehydration such as a hangover, and also sinus headaches. What causes sinus headaches and pressure? A sinus infection is caused by the inflammation of the mucosal membranes. One unpleasant side effect of a sinus infection is a sinus headache in the forehead and other parts of the face marked by painful pressure. So how to get rid of a sinus headache? To get some sinus headache relief, try one or more of the following home remedies.

The post 9 Home Remedies for Sinus Headache Relief appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2B5kb9A
9 Home Remedies for Sinus Headache Relief Reader's Digest

I Had a Heart Attack at Age 21

No one expects to have a heart attack at 21, and that included lifelong-soccer-player and picture-of-health Molly Schroeder. It was a September afternoon in 2012 and Molly had been thinking about her mother, who had recently passed away. “I was feeling kind of down, so I got up to dance and lighten the mood when I felt the blood drain from my face. I took a deep breath in and felt a squeezing in my chest and a sort of stabbing pain.” The 21-year-old Schroeder was having a heart attack.

“I was freezing and nauseated, and I had this odd feeling in my left wrist.” She thought it might be a panic attack, and she phoned her father. He insisted she go to the emergency room to get checked out. “I went to urgent care because I really just thought it was anxiety,” she explains. All of her symptoms turned out to be silent signs of a heart attack.

After an EKG, the nurse at urgent care couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “She said, ‘It says you’re having a heart attack, but the chances of you having one at 21 are one in 100,000.'” Schroeder was taken by ambulance to the ER. “That was when I realized something could really be wrong. I kept thinking, our family had just gone through this—we couldn’t be doing it again; it was surreal.”

What Shroeder means is that just six weeks earlier, she had lost her mother to a pulmonary embolism. Her mother had cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that causes the heart muscle to become enlarged, thick, and rigid. Schroeder herself had been diagnosed with a hole in her heart when she was 12.

At the hospital, doctors performed an echocardiogram while asking about her family history. She listed her mom’s cardiomyopathy, her grandfather’s passing of a heart attack before he was 50, and the hole found in her heart when she was young.

After more testing, her doctors performed a cardiac catheterization, a procedure in which a thin tube is fed up through the groin into the valves of the heart, Schroeder got the news: Yes, she’d had a heart attack. Not only that—she had a 90 percent blockage of her left coronary artery. “I was extremely lucky. Because it was only 90 percent blocked, the doctors were able to dissolve the clot with medication.”

Doctors believe the blood clot moved through the hole in Schroeder’s heart and landed in her artery, blocking blood flow. “I was in the hospital for three days and then sent to cardiac rehabilitation. Before they released me, they told me I could no longer play contact sports- which meant no soccer. I had just lost my mom, and now I was losing my other love in life.”

Today, 28-year-old Schroeder who lives in Sturgeon Bay, WI, is an American Heart Association Go Red for Women Real Women volunteer. She still stays active but pays close attention to her heart rate at all times. “I did sustain a little damage to my heart, so I cannot raise my heart rate above 170 beats per minute.” She’s also on medication to prevent another clot from forming and currently working with doctors to pin down the exact reason she had the heart attack; she’s learned that she has a clotting disorder that could have played a role.

Since her heart attack, Schroeder’s family has endured more heart-related troubles. Her father had a heart attack three years after hers, her uncle recently had a stroke and aneurysm, and her aunt had three strokes within as many months. “Our family is a family of fighters,” she says. “When your whole world is crashing down, you can get through it. Heart disease is the number one killer among men and women, so we need to have this conversation. We have to know the signs.” Learn the 9 ways heart disease can be different for women.

The post I Had a Heart Attack at Age 21 appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2HtyxnG
I Had a Heart Attack at Age 21 Reader's Digest

The Dangerous Reason You Should Never Walk on the Right Side of the Street

If you’ve made a routine of a daily stroll, congratulations! You’re getting these 15 awesome benefits of a 15-minute walk. But there’s one simple mistake that could be putting your life at risk.

Almost 129,000 pedestrians went to the ER with car crash-related injuries in 2015, and 5,376 died in such crashes, according to the CDC. In other words, a pedestrian died in a traffic incident once every 1.6 hours. Don’t miss this other common walking mistake that causes 11,000 injuries every year.

Luckily, there are some steps you can take to stay safe on foot. Sure, you drive on the right side of the road, but that’s not where you should be as a pedestrian. Unless you’re in the U.K.—find out why Brits drive on the left. You should always use a sidewalk if there’s one available, but if you need to stay on the road, the CDC recommends walking toward traffic.

Seems like it couldn’t make much difference, but one Finnish study of pedestrian-car accidents between 2006 and 2010 would argue otherwise. Simply walking against traffic instead of with it cut the risk of getting hit by a car by an average of 77 percent, according to the findings. Find out exactly how many minutes you should walk to boost your mood.

Why such a big difference? Well, if you walk the same direction you’d drive, the cars closest to you are coming from behind. That means you’d need to rely on the driver to see you and react if it’s coming up too closely. If the person behind the wheel is distracted, you could end up injured—or worse.

On the other hand, when you’re walking against traffic, you can see the cars heading toward you. Facing those vehicles lets you see danger coming and get out of the way if necessary, and you aren’t putting your life in the hands of every driver who passes. Next time you go for a walk or run, face traffic and keep alert while you use these tips for losing weight while walking.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

The post The Dangerous Reason You Should Never Walk on the Right Side of the Street appeared first on Reader's Digest.

from Reader's Digest http://bit.ly/2xXdUM3
The Dangerous Reason You Should Never Walk on the Right Side of the Street Reader's Digest

Boils, Cysts, Ingrown Hairs, and 11 Other Skin Mysteries Explained