Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis and their psychological effects

Keeping Acne At Bay During the Summer By Mari Bozozo The Dog Days of Summer are undoubtedly here. Along with the long lazy days, beachcombing, sunbathing, and buying our fair share in stocks of bug repellent sprays and antihistamines, we must also tango with the soaring temperatures. And if you’re not blessed enough to reside in areas such as the west coast or the southwest, the heat becomes especially unbearable when coupled with oppressive humidity. Of course, the challenges become amplified for the acne sufferer. Sigh. Is Autumn here yet?! As you may tell, Summer is not my favorite season, and for the reasons mentioned above. However, as someone with a propensity toward challenged skin, I am determined to navigate my way through it, regardless of the darts that the sun rays and the relentless dew points throw at me. One way that I do this is by trying my hardest to keep my sweat to a minimum, particularly when exercising. This is why I avoid any vigorous activity that involves be...

What Is Microdermabrasion Treatment Your skin is exposed to the environmental elements every day. Over the years, the sun’s rays, pollution, and other damaging agents can take a toll on your skin. Microdermabrasion treatment can help reduce or eliminate the wrinkles and fine lines, “crow’s feet,” age spots, light acne scars, and undesired pigmentation that may appear on the skin over time. In general, good candidates are adults who are in good physical health, with realistic expectations for the outcome of their Skin Treatment. People who do not have enough available time to undergo more invasive skin resurfacing treatments such as dermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, or heavy chemical peels may also be good candidates for microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a non-chemical, non-invasive procedure that uses a spray of microcrystals to remove the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal fresh, younger, and healthier-looking skin. Microdermabrasion also encourages th...

Alternative Ways to Fight Acne By Mari Bozozo As someone who has suffered from acne for the better part of her years, I can tell you, without exaggeration, that I have tried countless products, methods, and treatments that yielded very little if any results in the long run. My acne prevailed, right along with the mounting stress, depression, and anxiety, to boot. From trying the latest and so-called greatest products marketed specifically toward acneic skin, to the expensive prescriptions and treatments. I tried it ALL. However, in the end, none of these “phenomenons” went the distance nor afforded the longevity that I desperately sought. Yet and still, I tirelessly continued in my pursuit. Recently, within the last year, I broke ground. I most certainly have to credit my knowledgeable and resourceful esthetician with steering me in the right direction, by introducing me to a new and innovative way to cleanse my face. Upon first telling me about it, I must admit that I thought she wa...

Calling All Parents of Acne Sufferers By Mari Bozozo As loving parents, I’m certain that you do anything and everything to ensure your children’s well-being. You sacrificially guarantee their safety, security, and protection. You toil feverishly to keep them clothed, fed, and sheltered. Simply put, you have and will continue to go above and beyond for them, even at the expense of your happiness. A parent’s love knows no bounds and is indisputably the greatest love of all. I can attest to this with my own experience growing up. My parents were diligent in giving my siblings and me their very best. Two of the three of us, my oldest brother, suffered from severe acne. To my parents’ oblivion, my brother’s acne led to a total loss of confidence, which in turn, compelled him to give up on himself. He dropped out of high school, became a recluse, and a prisoner to his condition. My parents thought that my brother’s issue was mainly an aesthetic one. They set out to get his acne under cont...

Camouflaging Acne Scars- Can It Really Be Done? By Mari Bozozo If you’ve suffered from acne for years on end as I have, you more than likely have a very up close and personal, albeit turbulent relationship with its successor- scars. Even if you have managed to win the battle against acne, you continue to wage the war against the scarring that it has indefinitely left behind. Thanks to having highly skilled estheticians in my corner, coupled with eating sensibly, taking the proper supplements, and drinking lots of water, the lot of my acne has been, for a lack of a better phrase, “in remission” for quite some time now. However, the scars that it’s left me with have posed more than my fair share of challenges. These challenges, in my estimation, supersedes its predecessor by leaps and bounds. Acne is cyclical, meaning that it comes and goes. But the scars that it leaves behind lasts forever. There is no taking a break from the permanence of scars, as they are always there. Always. Sim...

8 Things You Should Never Do After A Facial By: Audrey I consider facials to be regular complexion maintenance—kind of like car tune-ups for our face or regular dental cleaning for your teeth. Regular facials can help fight the stress, the environment, and some of our lifestyle habits that take a toll on our skin. And there is plenty to be said for that fresh, shiny glow and soft skin post-facial (not to mention the relaxation of an hour or two of all about me time). But after more than 25 years as an esthetician, I’m always surprised how some people spend $400-$500 on hair and nail on a regular basis and yet, their skin is last on their list! Skin is the largest organ of our body and one of its main functions is to protect our internal organs from harmful things and yet it’s neglected by people of all ages. For those of you that facial is part of your lifestyle, here is the list of 8 things NOT to do on the day of your treatment. For the first day after getting a facial, you...

What About Men With Acne? By Mari Bozozo As a woman, I know all too well that the lot of us are subjected to acne for a plethora of reasons, with hormonal imbalances heading at the top of the list. This would not only explain our cyclical skin eruptions but why we appear to be the sex that appears to struggle with it at a higher rate, thus making us far more vocal about this issue. But what about men with acne? While I believe that they are just as susceptible to it as women, it appears that they adopt a stance of silence and inaction toward it. Thus, resulting in more challenges dealing with it. Certainly, I am not undermining a woman’s insufferable experiences with acne. If that were the case, I’d be undermining my very own. However, if I’m to do a “comparative analysis” in regards to which sex is at a more disadvantage in having acne, I’d be compelled to admit that it very well may be men. Ponder over this for a moment: As women, what is the #1 go-to weapon in our arsenal to eithe...

Acne Scars & Beyond the Physical Damage that it Causes -Part 2 By Mari Bozozo Fast forward to my getting out into the real world after graduation, in pursuit of the career and life that I had been preparing so long for. It was at this time that I had noticed what all of that acne in college had done to my skin. My eyes were not ready for this horrid sight: On my left cheek, approximately the size of a fifty cent piece were only what I could describe as moonlike craters. Later, I learned the proper name for it, ice-pick scars. In my mind, I’d become disfigured. To compensate for my disfigurement, I began to strategically position the left side of my face away from others, by turning subtly to the right. It didn’t matter what setting I’d been in. At work, at social gatherings, even at home amongst family, I was not going to bare my skin to the world suffering further humiliation. I kept up this charade for an indefinite amount of time. Then one day it happen...

Skin disease: A message from the soul by Dr. Anne Maguire Dr. Anne Maguire a dermatologist and a trained analytical psychologist at Jung Institute has done a great job explaining how our psyche affects everything in our lives including skin disease. A must read for people who suffer from all sorts of skin diseases. She says: “The last fifty years has encompassed unparalleled development in the world of scientific medical research. Yet, still, the causation of many diseases eludes consciousness. Nowhere is this more apparent, than in the sometimes neglected, discipline of dermatology. In which, a scientific basis for causation and treatment is offered to very few diseases of the skin. In fact, the etiology, the cause, is unknown in the vast majority. This work is an exploration of the unconscious psychic background of acute, but mainly chronic skin disease. It is a study, which includes both the personal unconscious of each individual and the vast archetypal world with its comm...

How to Manage Acne By Mari Bozozzo Blog # 3 of 3 Another strategic method to use in ridding yourself of acne would be that of oil cleansing. Oil cleansing is just as it sounds. It is the use of natural oils to cleanse the skin, instead of traditional cleansers, especially cleansers that target acne. The latter is actually not good for the skin, as they tend to be drying/stripping. Overly dry skin usually results in more acne. If you are using cleansers that supposedly treat acne, you may want to rethink it, as it serves as a counterpoint to the process. I have used jojoba and avocado oil, in addition to product 3 in 1 Body Drench, a gel to oil cleanser. My esthetician suggested that I give it a try, so naturally, I did. I must admit my skin purged. However, if you can get past that effect, and have a little patience, you may get the results that you’re in search of. To be completely candid, I’m on the cusp about this method, on top of my not giving it enough time to really s...

How to Manage Acne By Mari Bozozzo Blog 2 of 3 This week, I will continue in my exploration of discovering more ways to manage Acne. Vitamin A peels have given me immaculate results. My esthetician is a huge fan of them, and now I see why. For me, it runs unparalleled in exfoliating the skin. Since receiving these peels, any acne or congestion that used to be trapped underneath my skin is only too easy to extract now. I have more even skin and smooth skin, as a result. I would get a Vitamin A peel every two weeks. But now with Summer approaching, it may prove to be counterproductive to get them, as my esthetician noted. Inquire with your esthetician to learn what peels may be of benefit to you. These two are no brainers in keeping acne to the absolute minimum: Get plenty of exercises and avoid foods that encourage flare-ups. I know it’s easier said than done, but you will get results, granted that these things are done in conjunction with all of the above. Exercise, for o...

How to Manage Acne By Mari Bozozzo  BLOG #1 of 3 ACNE. Such a tiny word for something that wreaks havoc in disproportionate amounts for all of us who continue to suffer from this physically and emotionally debilitating issue. ACNE could very well stand for Anxiety-Inducing, Compulsively obsessing, Never being happy, and Esteem destroying. Sounds familiar? If you are reading this, chances are that you know all too well the negative impact that this condition can have on your life. I personally have suffered from acne, varying from mild to severe, for at least 25 years now. I cannot begin to expound upon the emotional, mental, psychological, and physical disruptions that it has caused. Not to mention the mind-numbing amounts of money, time, and energy that I spent to the point of exhaust in my attempts to eradicate this dream killer from my life’s existence once and for all. Who out there can relate? Probably each and every one of you. So here’s the million dollar question: What is...