Nobody likes acne on their face. Most people try to get rid of them as soon as possible. Over the counter medications in all forms, sizes and prices are selling like hotcakes in pharmacies and drugstores nationwide. The promise of clear, acne-free skin in a matter of days – and some brands even go as far as promising “overnight results.” With advertising like this is no wonder most people end up disappointed. What consumers also don’t know is that these acne medications contain high levels of chemicals which are harsh to sensitive skin, even with those that brand themselves as ‘made for sensitive skin’. It’s no surprise that the skin reacts to these chemical compounds, that’s why more and more users of these ointments report bad scarring, extreme redness, and spreading of acne to various areas on both face and neck.

What can acne-prone people do? One thing is for sure, that it’s better to rely on natural and organic products rather than depend on chemical mixtures to take care of our skin.

An all-natural cure to acne comes in a clear oil with antiseptic and antifungal properties. It is known as Melaleuca Oil, one of the best essential oils used for medicinal purposes. You might have heard of this substance, as it is more popularly known as Tea Tree Oil. International brands like The Body Shop, Johnson & Johnson, J/A/S/O/N, SkinFood (Asia), Aubrey Organics, Kiss My Face, Burt’s Bees and so many more have Tea Tree Oil lines for their anti-acne face creams and lotions.

For a more home-remedy type, an ordinary bottle of tea tree oil is enough. No need to shell out too much money for branded products at all. Tea tree oil diluted in water or another “carrier oil” such as natural baby oil, or better yet, emu oil, is highly regarded as an effective anti-acne treatment. In terms of acne eradication, it has been shown that a 5% mix of tea tree oil and a 5% benzyl peroxide have almost the same anti- acne properties. Tea tree oil is slow to take effect but your much better off than with a natural oil than depending on a benzyl peroxide.

There are also soaps and creams that contain tea tree oil that can be used for the body, because not only is it great for acne, but since it contains a anti-microbial properties, it helps in eradicating fungus that forms around the hidden corners of the body and removes bad body odor, too! Not only that, it helps your scalp when it’s flakey and helps scabs and scars. If you have body odor you’d like to get rid of or some fungal infection on your toes, hands, or back, then just find a product for the body with tea tree oil in it. Or you could just create a tea tree oil mix by yourself and apply it on the infected area with a cotton square.

Just remember though that pure 100% tea tree oil shouldn’t ever be put on your face as is because it is highly irritating. That’s why it’s important that you need to dilute it with water or some other unscented oil. Health departments all over the world have set the minimum content to be 15%-30%. A rule of thumb, mix 5% tea tree oil and 95% carrier oil or water.

One of the best things that you can do for your skin is stop using acne medications and rely on organic methods because the more natural, the better!

Day in and day out, we run the risk of contracting common illnesses, whether from contact with other people, from stress or unhealthy habits, and even from the pollutants in our surroundings that our immune system can’t handle. The fact of the matter is, we all get sick one way or another because that’s how we’re made! Even the best of computers get viruses, what more for us tender-fleshed and vulnerable humans.

Some of us take vitamins religiously to strengthen our immune system in their fight against viruses and bacteria. There are people who swear by Vitamin C, taking Ascorbic Acid and other related supplements to do the job. Let’s face it, sickness is always a nuisance: it prevents us from being with our loved ones for fear of them contracting it, we feel too weak to do the things we want to do, and we have lower productivity rate at work when we don’t feel too well. Our finances get tight too, from the high price of medicine and the expensive doctor’s check up. This is why people would do anything just to prevent being sick in the first place.

INFLUENZA VACCINE
What is commonly known as a “Flu Shot” is actually Influenza Vaccine. It is the method known to stop the body from contracting influenza during changes in season, specifically during winter and prevent the sever complications that might arise from said illness. It is given annually for people who choose to undergo this vaccination. Research have shown that there is about a 75% effectively rating in preventing influenza and its known complications.

We can see that it’s not perfect, but it has both a positive and negative aspect to it:

PROS:
• Influenza vaccine can lower the risk of respiratory illness
• Reduce trips to the doctor and hospitalization from influenza
• For working people, more productivity with less sick leaves.
• The elderly people who are about 60 years old can benefit from taking the flu shot as they can avoid suffering from effects of flu.
• Less chance of heart disease and stroke
• Flu shots are great for people with serious and long-term diseases in the lungs, liver, renal and heart.
• People who work in an environment where influenza can spread fast, like caring for sick patients, working in an enclosed and crowded environment, are protected from contracting and spreading the flu.
• Pregnant women can take the shot (with thorough pre-natal evaluation) to strengthen the weak immune system and protect the fetus from contracting the flu and suffering complications.

CONS:
• It has been much talked about that people who get flu shots are much more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Disease
• People are getting more and more hesitant because of the ingredients and mixture that goes in the vaccine. Among the listed ingredients are Ethylene Glycol, which is known to be used for vehicles, along with Formaldehyde and Phenol which are known carcinogenic agents.
• Getting the flu shot gives you an after-effect like you’re getting sick. Expect mild fever, head and body aches, and some people have reported experiencing coughing and sneezing, too.

Because it’s your body, you call the shots. Talk to your doctor before getting one though, so you can determine if you have any allergies to the vaccine. Studies have shown that people with allergies to eggs (the vaccine is reported to have egg protein as well) should shy away from the influenza shot. If you’re pregnant or have a high-risk condition you should be cautious and talk extensively to your doctor as well.

Be warned that getting the influenza vaccine does not immediately mean that you are, from here on out, immunized against the virus itself. Influenza is constantly evolving and attaching itself to various viral forms, unlike polio or illnesses like the measles which are steady and non-changing.