As a guy I know nothing about this, but using contraceptives to treat acne troubles me
I was doing some research on the Internet today regarding acne and acne treatments, and I ran onto a couple of articles suggesting that some forms of contraceptive pills are idea for treating acne and are regularly prescribed for acne treatment in some countries in Europe and Asia.
I’m a guy. I really have no first-hand experience and only limited knowledge about contraceptive pills. I had the usual teenage experience with “zits” that most guys have, but they cleared up and are not a problem.
It seems to me, though, that contraceptive pills are designed first and foremost to regulate estrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body in such ways that they prevent pregnancy. And I do know further that those two hormones are very powerful, very basic “building blocks” of the female body and the female reproductive process. Considering that, isn’t it just a little bit odd that physicians would prescribe the pills to combat acne? I do know, from some of the stuff I read online, that not ALL acne is hormone related — and it would hope that physicians certainly would recognize the difference and not just give the contraceptive pills out as a sort of “stab in the dark” at the acne problem.
Yet in the real world we discover multiple cases where something may start out under careful control by legitimate doctors, only to be preempted or worked around by unscrupulous people looking to make a buck. The end result usually is someone getting hurt or even killed through carelessness or ignorance.
Maybe I’m making far to much out of nothing. I certainly hope so. But at least one of the sources I read, out of India, expressed alarm at the trend. I would be alarmed, too, if I had a daughter or wife involved in such acne treatments. Or certainly I would be cautious.
Ah, well, what do I know. I’m just a guy who reads the papers.
Best health insurance at any price: Work at healthy living
I’ve written recently about the health care crisis in America — actually, it’s worldwide, but the problems we face here in the U.S. are about all we can handle right now — and what some solutions might be. If you look around, you’ll find a recent post I made on the “single-payer” health care model and several comments that post generated. Good discussion.
But the best possible health insurance at any price is this: Each of us has to work at healthy living. And let me be the first to admit that I have NOT worked hard at a healthy lifestyle, getting proper exercise and eating properly. Confession time, I guess: I am one of the obese millions out there who are contributing to the health care problems of America instead of being part of the overall answers.
As a friend of mine used to joke often — if food just didn’t taste so good and there weren’t so much of it, I could easily lose weight. (Sadly, that friend died last year in his mid-60s.) I confess to the same problem: I really like food and I really like to eat. The fact that I’m not alone in the matter doesn’t make things any better. I would venture this opinion. If most of us simply pushed ourselves back from the dinner table after eating a moderate, single-helping dinner, America’s obesity problem would quickly be resolved.
Sure, I’ve tried an appetite suppressant or two in my day, but those things only work when you take them with a large dose of self-control, or perhaps “utensil control” — putting the knife, fork, and spoon down and leaving the dining area a couple of helpings of food sooner!
On a further personal note, I’m working on it. I had my first health exam in two years just last week. My lab tests showed I was healthier than I thought I was, so that’s good news. Now if I can just stay on track, and stay away from the old “feed bag” just a bit better, I could even get healthy again.
May we all do better to get healthy again, and resolve the majority of America’s health crisis through simple, healthier living!
Buying diet pills, other supplements? Be wise and be careful
I’m sure there are many good, useful diet pills and other non-prescription supplements available that offer real help for everything from, well, dieting, to supplementing your body with worthwhile vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. But in light of frequent news items like the recent hydroxycut recall, I’d look for a good diet pill reviews site or contact a physician or pharmacist before making any major diet changes or supplement purchases.
If you haven’t yet heard, the FDA recently issued a recall of hydroxycut diet pills. They have been reported to cause liver damage in some verified cases, from what I read.
Be warned. Be careful. The best way I’ve ever found to lose weight is a good combination of a nutritious, MODERATE diet and safe, MODERATE daily exercise. The key here is not supplements or pills — though such might be helpful — the key is MODERATION. So if you’re trying to lose weight and get healthier, take careful precautions all around.
Is the world filled with people who only know how to PANIC at the news?
Is the world really filled with people who only know how to react with panic when they read or hear the news?
I ask because everything negative or dangerous going on in the world seems to inspire panic or near panic, whether we’re talking about economic trouble or swine flu. From the 24/7 cable channels to Internet blogs, no one seems to pause and reflect on ANYTHING. Instead, everyone runs around screaming: “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”
Look at the economic downturn, for example. As grim as the economy is worldwide, there still are people out there finding the best buy on everything from TV sets to cars to stock prices. I realize that’s not really good news for people who have lost huge chunks of their retirement funds or even their jobs. But for those with even a little bit of money for buying or investing, these are not bad times.
And then there’s the huge crisis (?) dominating the news cycles yesterday and today — a swine flu epidemic (?) spreading throughout the U.S. and Mexico. I would not pretend to minimize the potential problems associated with this new strain of flu. Health officials are urging everyone to take two major precautions to maximize their chances of being infected with this or any other flu: 1) cover your mouth when/if you cough or sneeze, and, 2) wash your hands with lots of soap and hot water frequently.
But whether you’re facing hard times economically or you’re worried about the flu outbreak — DON’T PANIC. Don’t take foolish risks and don’t ignore real dangers — but DON’T PANIC.
Got it? Good.