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Five key elements of successful local initiatives to combat the opioid crisis

Successful community initiatives are creating systems of care that bridge multiple programs to provide coordinated services to individuals with substance use disorders. Here are five.
Managed Healthcare Executive – Health Management

How To: Combat Clogged Pores

Pores are tiny little openings in the skin which contain the body’s natural oils, called sebum, produced by the sebaceous gland. Each oil gland contains a hair follicle, and the small holes at the surface of the skin are the pores we see. 

The reality is that everyone grows hair which means everyone has pores! The problem that most people encounter with their pores is that they can appear larger when clogged and can cause breakouts. 

Unfortunately, you can’t shrink your pores. But the good news is that with the right skin care habits and products, you can clean clogged pores and prevent them from getting clogged. Follow these next couple tips for pore extraction and maintenance. 

1. Start by washing your face with warm water and a gentle cleanser. This allows you to begin with a clean surface so oils, makeup or dead skin cells cannot enter the pores once they are unclogged.

2. Steaming your face will help open the pores, making the materials that clog your pores easier to remove. Here are a couple suggestions on how to steam your face:

  • Soak washcloths in hot water and place on your face for three minutes.  
  • Hold your face over a bowl of hot water and place a towel over your head. 
  • Buy a face steamer

3. Buy an extraction tool at a local drugstore. This is the more hygienic and safer  alternative to squeezing pores with your fingers. If the clogged portions of the pore do not easily come out after a few tries at pressing on the pore, stop trying in order to prevent scarring.

4. After you are finished extracting the pores, take cotton squares or cotton balls and dip them in a mixture benzoyl peroxide (5-10%) and wipe it over extracted areas.

 

Our Solution:

Gentle pH balanced Cream Cleanser available now! Just click the link below 

http://www.abskincare.com/products/cleanser 

 

 

Amanda Blakley Skincare – BLOG

Should you take Vitamin D to combat colds and flu?

Yesterday (16 February 2017) it was widely reported on TV, in newspapers and across the Internet that taking Vitamin D could significantly reduce the incidence of colds and flu amongst the general population. In fact, some newsrooms went as far as to report that Vitamin D should be added to foods such as cereals and bread. But is there any substance in the story?

It appears that the story is based on an article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on 15 February 2017 entitled “Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data”The main objective of the review was designed to assess the overall effect of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of acute respiratory tract infection. It was not a review to specifically ascertain whether or not Vitamin D should be added to everyday foods, although the analysis following the research suggests that daily or weekly vitamin D supplementation was useful in preventing respiratory tract infections. The researchers also concluded that these results add to the body of evidence that fortifying widely eaten foods, such as bread and cereals, with Vitamin D would improve public health.

You can read more about the story behind the headlines on the NHS Choices website here.

Do you take Vitamin D supplements either purchasing over-the-counter or prescribed by your GP? Do you think taking them has helped to keep you cold and flu-free? We’d love you to tell us in the comments box below.

talkhealth Blog