Health through Science

Acne is a common skincare concern in a lot of adolescents and adults, and it’s the type of concern which can prompt its sufferers to search the world for solutions and end up with barely one. Salicylic acid, however, seems to be the one true ambrosia for a lot of people going through acne bouts. It’s a beta-hydroxy acid, which has gained immense popularity due to its efficacy in the realm of skincare. Salicylic acid is known for its properties as an exfoliant and its ability to penetrate pores filled with oil and sebum. It works by dissolving the top layer of skin, the epithelial cells: leading to unclogged pores and preventing the formation of new acne lesions. Along with that, salicylic acid shows anti-inflammatory effects, which means that it could be effective in reducing redness and swelling in pimples on your skin. Salicylic acid is available in a multitude of different forms; however, people barely tend to apply it as a sole treatment. It is often mixed into cleansers, toner...

Insulin sensitivity is one of the most crucial aspects of your body’s metabolism, and a lot of medicines exist to support this metabolism. However, with increased prevalence of diabetes, due to an extremely sugar-rich diet, even these compounds reach a slump in the long term (unless you increase their dosage to harmful amounts in the body.) This is where people tend to take an approach towards holistic health, something which may provide a slower, yet healthier result towards their disease. This article talks about how vinegar has high potential as a holistic health tool for insulin sensitivity. Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar (the most studied kind of vinegar in diabetic patients), shows great promise in association with higher insulin sensitivity. Acetic acid or Acetate (a short chain fatty acid) is believed to play a great role in influencing this. It works by increasing the ability of insulin to transport glucose into cells, regulating blood sugar levels much more effecti...

Hormonal acne, which is most often associated with high levels of androgens in the blood, is a persistent and often discomforting concern for many people today. In the realm of skincare, you’ll see so many types of chemical options to treat acne, but it often doesn’t treat the root cause, its just a symptomatic treatment. Here is where spearmint tea comes in hand: it’s a natural remedy which is celebrated for the great potential it shows in addressing hormonal acne. Spearmint tea influences androgen levels, specifically through the reduction of the free testosterone present in the bloodstream. Androgens (testosterone is one of them) are hormones that, when elevated, can lead to overproduction of sebum, causing acne to develop on the skin’s surface. Spearmint tea is believed to exert ‘anti-androgenic’ effects, which can potentially lead to management of the hormonal imbalances which cause this type of acne. The people who use spearmint tea for acne, are typically recommended to cons...

In the realm of skincare and dermatology, tretinoin and retinol have gained a well-deserved popularity to address a variety of skin problems, especially acne. Both of these compounds are from the family of retinoids, but they have small differences in their mechanism of action and potency, which can greatly influence whether tretinoin or retinol is the better choice for an individual. Tretinoin is a highly potent retinoid which works by binding to retinoic acid receptors in your skin cells. It modifies the genes in your skin, resulting in accelerated cell turnover, shedding of old and damaged skin cells, and encouraging the growth of new and healthy skin. This way, it enhances skin texture, reduces hyperpigmentation, and prevents the formation of new acne lesions on the surface of your skin. Retinol is a precursor of tretinoin, which gets converted into the active form when it reaches under your skin layers. Although it works mostly just like tretinoin, retinol is much less potent...

Osteoporosis is a condition which shows weakening of bones, and can lead to an increased risk of fractures and an injury-susceptible skeleton. This disease is quite common in people of old age, revealing that osteoporosis has a connection to decreasing bone density in elders. Within the past decade, an increasing number of people are vouching for the efficacy of weightlifting in enhancing bone health and decreasing the impact of osteoporosis on their lives. Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease, which is characterized by an eventual decrease in mass and bone density, which makes its patients more likely to suffer from fractures with fragile bones. It often develops very slowly and silently, until a fracture occurs in the patient. Factors like aging, hormonal imbalances and processes, and a lack of physical activity can lead to osteoporosis over a long term. Weightlifting, especially resistance-based training, shows positive effects on bone health. Mechanical loading imposed by...

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers which facilitate communication between neurons and from neurons to the brain. Melatonin is one example of these neurotransmitters. Melatonin acts as a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating circadian rhythms and affecting the sleep-wake cycle. The production of melanin is influenced by the body’s internal clock, which responds to light and darkness exposure. Melatonin is a central player in the regulation of the circadian rhythm, which helps to synchronize your body and its sleep cycle along with the day-night cycle. It is typically released in the evening or long bouts of tiredness, which signals the body that it is time to go to sleep. Melatonin is usually released and linked to the eye’s exposure of darkness. As the daylight diminishes, melatonin levels in the blood rise steadily, which promotes drowsiness and thus signals the transition to a sleepy phase. Melatonin works in a rather simple way. Its sleep-inducing effects are admini...