25 Good Guidelines for the Home

Revised from a much shorter typewritten list I found in my files, from an unknown source.  Quite a few additional guidelines were added as well.

We honor and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
We love, honor and pray for one another.
We put the interests of others ahead of our own.
We speak quietly and  respectfully with one another.
We are kind and considerate to each family member.
We strive to be truthful in everything.
We look for ways to help others without being asked.
We don't hurt others with unkind words or actions.
When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
When someone is sad, we encourage and comfort him.
When someone is happy, we rejoice with him.
When we have something nice to share, we share it.
When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
We take good care of everything God has given us.
We do not create unnecessary work for others.
When we open something, we close it.
When we take something out, we put it back.
When we make a mess, we clean it up.
When we turn something on, we turn it off.
When we don't know what to do, we ask.
We encourage each other to live to their fullest potential.
When we leave the house, we let other family members know.
When we go out, we remember from whence we came.
Our family is a team and we stick up for each other.

How to Overcome Disappointment

Used with Permission by Caroline from Dallas, TX
at In Due Time
http://in-due-time.com/faith/how-to-overcome-dissapointment/

We all get disappointed, right? It might be over something minor like canceled weekend plans, but other times it might be much larger like waiting four years to have children. Either way, have you been disappointed lately? I know I have on several various occasions and if I were completely honest those feelings as of lately occur monthly when I realize once again, I am still not pregnant. But, regardless of what it is or what you are facing, I am sure I am not the only one who faces disappointment, right?

So what happens when you become disappointed, but don’t take action to process those feelings? Disappointment can certainly open up an opportunity for the enemy to use your open wounds and frustrations and encourage you to believe lies instead. He will do whatever it takes to encourage you to build a case against God. When disappointment overwhelms you, you might be tempted to blame God, but remember it’s the last thing you should do. It gets you nowhere, right? Actually, it’s the worst thing you can do!

So what should you do? I have listened to this quick sermon by Bill Johnson 10-20 times over the past week and I love the actions Bill gives when one is facing disappointment. First up? Get honest with God. It’s always good and important to be real with your feelings, but make sure it’s a productive process and not a time to complain and whine. After all, your feelings are valid and God already knows what you are feeling so share the raw thoughts you are having. After you release all your thoughts to God try to pinpoint what brought on those feelings. When you do, renounce any lie or negative spirit you have believed, and close the door to the enemy. This action will break off any attack of the enemy and open the communication lines with God.

Remember if you are in conflict today the problem is not with God so don’t approach him with accusations, but approach him as the faithful Father that he is. Don’t become offended by focusing on what hasn’t happened, but trust that despite what happens that disappoints you, God is still good! No matter how hurt or down you are, make sure you seek a heart of praise and continue to declare his goodness to be true.

Disappointment will come. It’s inevitable, but when those feelings come, don’t focus on what God hasn’t done, but choose to focus on what he has done. God wants to redeem and heal every situation, so no matter how much it might sting now don’t waste a day without having hope of healing and restoration. Don’t focus on all the let downs of your past because God can turn your circumstances around in a minute. Get with God and ask him to guide you through letting go of the past disappointments as he blesses you with an abundance of hope for the future.

An Unloved WIfe

Used with permission by Dr. Carolyn A. Roth www.CarolynRothMinistry.com Hosea lived in the Northern Kingdom of Israel about the middle of the 8th century before Christ. From the time the Norther Kingdom separated from Judah, the people worshiped idols.  Hosea was God’s prophet. When God told Hosea to marry an idolatrous woman, he married Gomer.  She had three children. Possibly, Hosea was the father of only the first son, or none of the children were his. The Bible recorded that Gomer’s children were children of adultery and conceived in disgrace. Unfaithful during her marriage to Hosea, Gomer had few qualms about leaving him. She believed she could have a better life with various lovers than with Hosea. Gomer left the three children with Hosea; after all, children would only curtail her wanton lifestyle. After leaving Hosea, Gomer took lovers and prostituted herself.  Eventually, living as a prostitute stopped being glamorous.  As Gomer aged, she lost some of her beauty. Men ceased clamoring for her attention.  They wanted someone younger and fresher. Gomer realized that what she left behind with Hosea was better than what she had now. Unthinking or uncaring that she hurt or embarrassed Hosea; Gomer asked Hosea if she could return. His answer was “No way.” He didn’t want Gomer back in either his home or in his bed if she was going to continue her wanton behavior.  Hosea's refusal to take Gomer back must have been okay with God. The Bible provided no indication that God gave Hosea any direction at that point. Destitute, Gomer had no option but to sell herself into slavery so she had food to eat.  We don’t know what she did as a slave. Hopefully, Gomer’s slavery was household or even field work, rather than acting as a sex slave to many men.      What a really sad story for both Hosea and Gomer. Let’s drill down into their relationship to try to make sense of what was happening to both spouses. First, Hosea and Gomer had little affection for each other. Hosea married Gomer because God told him to marry a prostitute. Likely, he had some other type of woman in mind for marriage. Conceivably, Gomer wanted out of her family’s home and the freedom allowed a married woman in society. Perhaps, she was pregnant and needed a husband to cover her shame.  When God told Hosea to marry an adulterous woman, he didn’t direct Hosea to love the woman. In ancient Israel, kinship regulated marriage. Possibly, Gomer was Hosea’s cousin or second cousin. Relative or not, marriage to a harlot brought great shame on Hosea’s entire family. Shame multiplied when the family learned that Gomer was unfaithful and left Hosea. Hosea’s primary relationship was with God. To Hosea it was important to obey God, even if that meant he had an unfaithful wife and humiliated kinsmen.  In Hosea 3:1, God told Hosea not only to redeem Gomer from slavery but to love her. Only at this point did God require Hosea to engage his emotions – he must love a woman who left him for other men. Loving Gomer was harder for Hosea than marrying Gomer. After Hosea purchased Gomer from slavery, he set clear boundaries for their life together: Gomer must not prostitute herself or belong to another man. Hosea would act the same toward Gomer until she has proven her loyalty to him. Only then, would marital relations be resumed. Apparently, Hosea wasn't about resuming sexual relations with Gomer until she proved her loyalty to him; but, he was willing to also be loyal to her in the interim. God gave Israel the same direction for being wed to him as Hosea gave Gomer. The Israelites must stop worshiping other gods. Before God accepted them back into full fellowship, they must repent. If Israel complied, God would restore a full marital relationship between the Israelites and himself. We don’t know if Hosea and Gomer’s husband-wife relationship was ever restored; however, we know that a short time later the Israelites were conquered by the Assyrians and dispersed throughout the Assyrian empire. The Northern Kingdom of Israel didn’t comply with God’s requirements to be a faithful wife.

5 Prayers for My Husband

www.familylife.com
Used by permission

Life Lessons - Teaching Our Children to Parent

by Julie Druck - http://lifeinskunkhollow.blogspot.com
Used by permission

  I love our porch swing for a variety of reasons. It’s a great place for eating breakfast on a summer’s morning, moon viewing when the orb hangs over the barn, and quiet planning on an early autumn afternoon.  My favorite porch swing moments, however, are when one of my four men join me there.  Somehow that location always seems to loosen tongues – we’ve had some great talks on that swing. 
   

  Just recently it was Eli who joined me on the swing on a lovely spring afternoon.  We talked about this and that for awhile, and then he popped out a question that surprised yet pleased me.  Eli asked, “How did you and Dad know how to do a good job of raising us?”  His question was asked in such a way that it seemed he wanted to store up whatever answers I gave him for the future.  I thought for a few moments and then tried to sum up a long season of  “training up a child in the way he should go.”  My response wasn’t as concise as what’s been written below, but I believe he got the gist of things.  Obviously, summing up our child-rearing philosophy is difficult to do in just a few points, but I believe these things are the foundation to all else. I share these things here in the hopes of encouraging other’s hearts to seek out God’s wisdom and apply it to their own parenting.   

  * Recognizing the Love of God in His Commands – Marty and I have tasted and seen that God is good.  We have learned His joy and peace by walking in the wisdom and ways of God.  We have experienced His love through keeping His commands.  We’ve tried to instill in our boys that we serve a personal, loving Heavenly Father who cares about the most intimate details of our lives.  We have taught them to obey Him because it is ultimately for their best, to keep them from harm and trouble.  The boys have learned that we do what we do because God says so and we trust Him, and because we’ve learned that there is great joy in loving and serving our Savior.  Our faith isn’t only in our heads, but we try to flesh it out every day in every aspect of our lives.  Being careful not to create a legalistic kind of home, as in a “just-do-what-I-say-because-I’m-the-parent” kind of parenting, we have strived to explain the principle behind any rules.  We want them to understand and see the wisdom in doing things God’s way with their hearts, instead of just obeying with their actions.

  * Intentionality in Influence – We were also very diligent and careful as they grew in introducing them to situations, people, resources, etc.  I constantly asked myself, “Will this movie or book or outfit or friend or habit draw my sons closer to God or help pull them away from Him?”  Everything that comes into our lives influences us in one way or another, even seemingly “small” things.  Influence is huge, especially in the lives of young children, and we made sure as parents that the greatest influence being poured into their lives was us teaching them God-honoring ways.    

  * Expectations of Integrity – We have always held high expectations for our boys.  And children generally live up to (or down to) what you expect of them.  That teenagers must go through a time of rebellion, of “sowing their wild oats,” does not match up with Scripture.  Teaching and training children from baby on up that they are responsible for their actions and for living a life of integrity doesn’t change when they become teenagers.  The boys have always been expected to walk at a high standard, God’s standard, regardless of what everybody else around them is doing.  If they are taught that standard from little on up (and in addition, the principles of why we walk according to that standard), they don’t know any different.  

  I don’t wish to imply that our children or our parenting techniques are perfect or without flaws.  We’ve made plenty of mistakes; however, we have found God and His Word to hold true even in the midst of those mistakes.  And we have learned that even mistakes provide opportunities for teaching, within our lives and our children’s lives.  In addition, I recognize that children, regardless of how they’ve been raised, ultimately grow into adults who have minds of their own and make choices of their own – sometimes against everything they’ve ever been taught.  This, too, is yet another opportunity to experience the fact that God is always right.

  Well, I don’t know how well I explained it all or what exactly Eli took from our conversation.  But I do know that he was listening and that he heard my heart that afternoon.  And I trust that God will honor our efforts and teach Eli (and his brothers) the wisdom needed to train their own children in the ways of the Lord. 

Sunflower Wreath

The Idea Room shared Things I Love by Amanda Formaro's photo.

Things I Love by Amanda Formaro's photo.

Prior permission given by Amanda Formaro


Tutorial:

http://grillo-designs.com/julies-sunflower-wreath/

Food Garnishes

 by Lois Breneman - 2016

This is a picture from my sister, Nancy, of the cucumber lily she made.  She has a special talent for making food not only taste delicious but appealing to the eye!  Below is her beautifully finished platter!

This first link shows how to make a similar flower using a zucchini, but a cucumber would also work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4pr31obNY
Many other unique garnishes are shown on the side as well.

Other links:
http://www.fabartdiy.com/how-to-diy-pretty-cucumber-carrot-garnish-flower

https//www.pinterest.com/tashamanning/garnish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRB9DKWFKOw

Lotus Flower Rose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu4WzkB71Ow

Homemade Bug Spray

https://draxe.com

by Dr. Josh Axe - Used by permission

Instead of using conventional recipes and showering your body in harmful chemicals, try this homemade bug spray recipe. In addition to keeping away bugs, it also helps kill bacteria and nourish your skin. And unlike conventional brands, it smells amazing. Try it today to keep the bugs away. Avoiding Zika virus? 

Consumer Reports testing found Repel Lemon Eucalyptus repellent kept the mosquitoes that commonly carry Zika virus at bay for 7 hours. Consider making your own spray using lemon eucalyptus (just don’t use this on children 3 and younger.)

Homemade Bug Spray

Total Time: 2 minutes

Serves: 30

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 40 drops essential oils (eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, tea tree, or rosemary)
• Glass spray bottle

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix all ingredients in 8oz spray bottle
2. Spray over all portions of the body but avoid repellent in eyes and mouth
   
   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
   
   Note from Lois: For an extra nice fragrant and effective blend, why not use 8 drops each of the five different oils above?

Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites on Babies

July 6, 2016

by Erin Elizabeth - Used by permission

http://www.healthnutnews.com/home-remedies-mosquito-bites-babies/

 

Mosquitoes are ubiquitous and it is very challenging to prevent bites without the application of topical agents. In addition to practicing prevention with environmental deterrents, there are many natural home remedies for mosquitoes bites on babies. They are simple and very effective.

Read more on the top natural home remedies for mosquito bites on babies!

Quilted Flag Wall Hanging

This is a beautiful quilted wall hanging of the American flag, crafted by my good friend, Sharon Clontz.  She said the blue is a navy field with stars.  She found the pattern in Phoenix and got a kit from Three Dudes Quilt Shop.  It only took an afternoon to sew and quilt. I love it, and it's now on my list of projects to make!

10 Natural Ways to Treat Cystic Acne

 

https://draxe.com/cystic-acne/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

by Dr. Josh Axe - Used by permission

Have you ever had large, red, painful breakouts? These breakouts can affect both men and women as young as 8 or as old 50. The face is the most common and concerning area of occurrence, but other problem areas can include the chest, back, upper arms and shoulders. I’m talking about cystic acne, which is way worse than just any old pimple — it’s actually the most severe form of acne possible.
Also called nodulocystic acne, cystic acne is an intense form of acne that results in large, inflamed cysts and nodules that appear on the skin. Unlike other milder forms of acne, cystic acne is noticeably painful and occurs when oil and dead skin cells build up deep down in hair follicles or pores. Cystic acne is most common during puberty for young boys, but sadly, it can continue into the adult years, especially when there is a hormonal imbalance. For adult women, it’s common to to experience cystic acne around their menstrual cycles, especially on the the jawline and chin, which are the common areas for hormonally motivated breakouts.
Common medical treatment for cystic acne like Accutane might work, but it’s been linked to really serious side effects, including birth defects, Crohn’s disease and even suicide. (1) That’s why I always recommend trying your own home remedies for acne first. I’m sure you’ll be happy with the results.
One of the surest and best tools to fight cystic acne is to address the gut-skin connection with the use of probiotics through food, supplements and even skin care. Way back in 1961, a case report found that out of 300 acne patients given a probiotic, 80 percent had clinical improvement. (2)  The idea of probiotics for skin health isn’t new, but I’m happy to say it’s getting more attention in recent years. So before you resort to picking at your skin or using dangerous topical or oral remedies, read on to learn how you can naturally treat your cystic acne and have clear skin once again.

---

Natural Cystic Acne Treatment

Can you get rid of cystic acne naturally? Thankfully, the answer is yes. There are many natural ways to treat and get rid of cystic acne fast. Here are the 10 most effective ones:
1. No Popping
Whatever you do, please don’t try to pop your cystic acne or any other pimples for that matter. Cystic acne, unlike common acne, typically does not give you “poppable” pimples. Due to the the depth of cystic acne lesions, picking or squeezing can be completely ineffective and will likely extend healing time from days to weeks. The more you touch an infected pimple, the angrier and more unsightly it’s going to become. If you try to pop cystic acne, you’re just going to spread the breakout underneath the skin. In addition, you can easily end up with scarring that lasts well beyond the pimple, possibly even forever. Two words to remember with cystic acne: Hands off!
2. Ice It
You can apply an ice cube directly to a breakout for several seconds to constrict the small blood vessels feeding the painful cyst. The ice helps immediately decrease the size and redness of the offending acne.
3. Healthy Skin Care Routine
Maintain a simple, calming skin care routine that avoids heavy and scented moisturizers. Before applying moisturizer daily, always make sure that your skin is thoroughly exfoliated and clean. An oil-free and unscented moisturizer is a great choice.
To encourage healthy skin turnover and growth, make sure to use exfoliants that are effective but not harsh and abrasive. Some good options include glycolic acid and fruit enzymes. When you’re in the sun, the best sunscreens to use are all-natural sunscreens to help reduce the chances of acne scarring. For scars, a natural vitamin C product can help. Some cystic acne scars can unfortunately take months to heal, but don’t lose hope.
4. Mirror Mirror
It’s a good idea not to obsess over your cystic acne. The more you stare at it in the mirror, the more likely you will want to pick at it and think negative thoughts, both of which will only make you look and feel worse. Stop yourself from visually and mentally obsessing over your cystic acne, and make sure you’re thinking positive, skin-clearing thoughts!
5. Your Towels and Pillowcases
Something you might not think about is what else touches your face daily, like towels and pillowcases. To reduce the chances of irritation and sensitivity, it’s a really smart idea to avoid washing these items with strong detergents and bleaches. Instead, opt for natural and unscented laundry products, like my Homemade Laundry Soap. You also want to change your towels and pillowcases frequently to avoid the presence and spread of bacteria, which only make your acne worse.

 For larger photos, please go here.

6. The Cystic Acne Diet
Foods to Avoid:

• Conventional Dairy: Even if you’re not lactose intolerant, conventional dairy products can be hard on the digestive system. Many people see an improvement in their acne when they cut down or eliminate dairy products like milk, cheese and ice cream. If you want to check if dairy is a culprit, try eliminating it from your diet for two weeks and see if your cystic acne improves. If it does, then you know that dairy is not agreeing with you. You can choose to remain dairy-free, or you can slowly reintroduce dairy back into your diet. Choosing better-quality dairy can be helpful as well.
• Sugar: Sugar and other high-glycemic foods (like breads and pasta) can make inflammation in your body worse. The more inflammation you have, the worse your cystic acne will be. Try natural sweeteners instead. Consuming excess amounts of sugar and grain products can also feed yeast and candida in the body, increasing the presence of acne on the skin.
• Caffeine and chocolate: Many experts like to say that there is no link between caffeine and chocolate consumption and breakouts. However, there is no doubt that caffeine consumption has a direct impact on your hormonal balance. In particular, caffeine overdose can raise the stress hormone known as cortisol. By reducing or eliminating various sources of caffeine like coffee, tea and chocolate, you can help to keep your hormones in better balance and clear up your cystic acne.
• Low-fiber, highly processed foods: Consuming foods that are low in fiber and highly processed has a direct negative effect on your gut health, which negatively impacts skin health. When you consume processed meat products like cold cuts, breakfast cereals and microwave meals, an unhealthy shift occurs in your inner microbial colonies. This sets off inflammation throughout your entire body, which can bring on a cystic acne flare-up or make any current acne even worse.
• Fried and fast foods: These foods are also highly processed and low in fiber. Additionally, they contain a number of ingredients that cause inflammation, including hydrogenated oils, sodium, chemicals, flavorings and sugar.

Foods to Eat:

• Probiotic-rich foods: The healthier your gut is, the better your balance of good versus bad bacteria. When you consume probiotic-rich foods like kefir and cultured vegetables, the probiotics line your gut and create a healthy, sealed barrier that prevents inflammation that can trigger acne. One Korean study of 56 acne patients found that drinking a Lactobacillus-fermented dairy beverage effectively reduced their total acne lesion count and decreased oil production over 12 weeks. (3)
• High-zinc foods: People with acne tend to be low in zinc so you definitely want to increase your dietary intake of zinc by consuming things like grass-fed beef, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds and cashews to prevent a zinc deficiency. Zinc also supports a healthy digestive tract, which improves skin health.
• Vitamin A-rich foods: Foods high in vitamin A like kale, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots fight infection and speed healing, two things you definitely need when you’re trying to get rid of cystic acne. (4)
• Fiber-rich foods: Consuming high-fiber foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and oatmeal encourages colon cleansing as well as the growth of good bacteria in the gut, both of which can help eliminate cystic acne.
• High-quality protein foods: Grass-fed beef, organic chicken, wild-caught fish and free-range eggs are high in protein and nutrients and help balance blood sugar, a key component in the fight against cystic acne.
• Liver-supportive foods: Since hormones are processed in the liver, eating liver-supportive foods can help clear up acne. Eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower as well as leafy greens and high-fiber fruits, such as pears and apple, for improved liver function.

Supplements to Consume:

• Probiotics (10,000 IU to 50,000 IU daily, typically two to three capsules twice daily). Taking probiotics can boost your immunity and help your internal fight against cystic acne. You can also use probiotic skin care products, which can provide a protective external shield.
• Omega-3 fatty acids (1,000 milligrams of fish oil /cod liver oil daily or 3,000 milligrams of flaxseed or chia seed oil). Omega-3 helps reduce inflammation and support hormone balance. You can also consider gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in evening primrose and borage oil for hormonal balance. One scientific study specifically found that after 10 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid or GLA supplementation, inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions decreased significantly. (5)
• Zinc (25–30 milligrams twice daily). Research suggests that people with acne have lower blood and skin levels of zinc. Taking zinc by mouth helps treat and reduce acne.
• Vitex (160 milligrams of vitex/chasteberry). This herbal remedy is specifically recommended for hormonally induced acne. (6)
• Guggul or guggulsterone (25 milligrams twice daily). Guggul is made from the sap of a tree native to India. For individuals suffering from cystic acne, a controlled clinical trial found that guggul supplements outperformed 500 milligrams of tetracycline. (7)

7. Relax
As with everything health- and beauty-related, stress only makes things worse. Find ways to decrease stress in your life because stress can cause your body to release hormones that only make acne worse. The more you relax, the better your skin will be. Try natural stress relievers to help improve your skin.
8. Sleep
Getting proper sleep on a nightly basis can help improve your overall health, including balancing hormone levels and decreasing the inflammation associated with cystic acne. You also give your cystic acne uninterrupted time to heal.
9. Exercise
Regular physical activity is excellent for the body’s lymphatic system and detoxifying your entire body. It’s also excellent for your mood and self-esteem, which tend to both take a dip when you’re fighting cystic acne.
10. Essential Oils
Essential oils like tea tree and lavender can help fight cystic acne. The best way to use essential oils for acne is to apply two to three drops topically to the area of concern. Tea tree and lavender essential oils are safe for neat (direct) application, but they can also be combined with a carrier oil such as jojoba or coconut oil if you have sensitive skin.
A scientific review of the efficacy, tolerability and potential modes of action in regard to the treatment of acne with tea tree oil states that tea tree products reduce lesion numbers in patients with acne, have tolerability levels that are similar to other topical treatments, and have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities that are associated with the treatment of acne. (8)
Avoid exposure to direct sunlight when treating acne with essential oils. The UV rays can make your skin more sensitive and may lead to skin irritations or redness. If using any of these essential oils causes skin irritation, discontinue use of that oil.

---

Cystic Acne Symptoms

Acne vulgaris is the medical name for common acne. Acne conglobata, or cystic acne, is a more serious and more rare form of acne that occurs mainly in young men, but it can affect people of both sexes and various ages. When you have cystic acne, your skin’s pores get clogged with oil and dead skin cells and become inflamed. It becomes cystic acne when the pore ruptures underneath the skin, which causes the inflammation to spill out into the surrounding skin tissue. This chain reaction can continue in the skin, triggering wider inflammation, spreading more acne bacteria and more breakouts. Next, your body forms a cyst around the area to stop the inflammation from spreading further.
Symptoms of cystic acne include:

• large, red and painful breakouts on the face, chest, back, upper arms, shoulders and/or thighs
• nodules that appear as raised, red bumps that generally do not have a whitehead showing
• lesions that are usually felt beneath the skin before they’re seen
• more visible acne that produces cysts and nodules in addition to papules and pustules
• breakouts that are painful to the touch or even when not touched
• decrease in self-esteem and mood and increase in psychological distress, especially when cystic acne occurs on the face

The unique appearance of a cystic acne is due to the acute damage to the oil gland causing intense inflammation and irritation, which leads to redness, swelling and soreness. Cystic acne is easy to diagnose to by a dermatologist and does not require any special tests.

---

Cystic Acne Root Causes

Cystic acne can be caused by or related to: (9)

• Genetics
• Hormonal changes, including polycystic ovary syndrome
• High levels of humidity and sweating
• Pore-clogging and irritating face and body care products
• Some drugs and chemicals (for example, corticosteroids, lithium, phenytoin, isoniazid), which may worsen or cause eruptions that are similar to acne

Cystic acne often runs in families. If one or both of your parents had severe cystic acne, then you have a greater chance of having it as well.
It’s most common in teenage boys and young men. It’s believed that hormones called androgens can play a part in the development of cystic acne in teens when there is an increase in androgens. This increase leads to changes in your skin that can result in clogged pores and acne.
Cystic acne doesn’t only affect men, though. For women, hormone changes that trigger cystic acne can be brought on by menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause. Cystic acne is also more common among women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome.

For larger photos, please go here. 

---

Cystic Acne vs. Rosacea

• Acne and rosacea are two of the most widespread dermatological conditions.
• It can be difficult to tell the difference between rosacea and acne.
• In the earliest phases of rosacea, the patient may notice gradual reddening of the skin, often mistaking these changes for acne, sunburn or dermatitis.
• The two disorders may be especially confused when the term “acne rosacea” is used, a phrase that was once frequently used to describe what’s now known as subtype 2 (papulopustular) rosacea, which may include bumps and pimples that appear similar to acne.
• Rosacea is a chronic disorder that occurs primarily in the central portion of the face and usually includes redness, flushing and blushing, and bumps (papules) and pimples (pustules). Rosacea can also involve the eyes and even a bulbous nose.
• Though both conditions may involve bumps and pimples, the causes and biochemical processes are different for each. Cystic acne is a product of many factors, involving the hair follicles, hormonal stimulation of oil gland cells and bacteria. On the other hand, recent research has found that rosacea appears to be linked to a dysfunction of the body’s natural immune system and should thus be treated with anti-inflammatory agents rather than antibacterial agents.
• Cystic acne predominantly affects teenage boys and young men in their 20s (as well as women with hormonal issues), while rosacea predominantly affects women of northern or eastern European descent, especially those who are blond and fair-skinned. With rosacea, women ages 20 to 60 are the predominant epidemiological group.
• Approximately half of all people with rosacea develop eye involvement, called ocular rosacea, with chronic tearing and eye dryness, a gritty sensation within the eye, flaking at the base of the eyelashes (called blepharitis), and recurring sties.
• An anti-inflammatory diet can help both cystic acne and rosacea. Also, changing your diet to remove any allergens, sensitivities or common gut irritants can help both problems.
• People who are predisposed to acne or rosacea can experience flares as a result of a shift in gut bacteria and subsequent inflammation.
• Healthy signals produced by probiotics can stop skin cells from sending “attack” messages to the immune system that result in flare-ups of acne or rosacea.

---

Cystic Acne Final Thoughts

Getting rid of cystic acne and the scars commonly left behind can take time, but a natural and holistic approach is your best and healthiest bet. Once you get rid of your cystic acne naturally, try my Acne Scar Removal Face Mask to help get rid of any visual reminders of your battle with acne.
Cystic acne can be really challenging to manage, especially when it starts to take a toll on your mood and self-esteem. It’s important to talk or journal about your challenges and try your best not to let cystic acne define you. Put your thoughts and efforts toward making positive changes to your life, knowing that getting rid of cystic acne is within your control and can soon be a character- and knowledge-building part of your personal history.
Once you’ve made your cystic acne a problem of the past, it’s absolutely key to stick with a healthy diet and lifestyle, drink plenty of water, and keep up a simple, natural skin care routine. Clear, healthy skin is a reflection of good inner health so if you continue to make healthy choices on a daily basis, then you’ll have no problem keeping cystic acne away for good.

5 Truths on Prodigals and Those Who Love Them

https://billygraham.org/story/ruth-bell-grahams-5-truths-on-prodigals-and-those-who-love-them/?utm_source=BG+facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=FB+General+Post&utm_content=BG+FB+Page&SOURCE=BY150FGEN


"We mothers must take care of the possible and trust God for the impossible," Ruth Bell Graham wrote. The missionary, author, poet and wife of Billy Graham raised five children.

Read more.....