SurgiCare

04/10/2023

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What is breast Cancer Awareness?

Breast cancer awareness is an effort to increase knowledge and reduce the stigma of breast cancer through education about screening, symptoms, and treatment.
Supporters hope that greater knowledge will lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, which is associated with higher long-term survival rates.

What is the history behind Breast Cancer Month?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 in partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (now part of AstraZeneca, producer of several anti-breast cancer drugs). The aim of the BCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.
What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow out of control and form tumors. If left unchecked, the tumors can spread throughout the body and become fatal.
Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form (in situ) is not life-threatening. Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast tissue (invasion). This creates tumors that cause lumps or thickening.

Breast cancer types

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Like IDC, this breast cancer starts in your milk ducts

• Invasive (infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC): This cancer starts in your milk ducts and spreads to nearby breast tissue. It’s the most common type of breast cancer.
• Lobular breast cancer: This breast cancer starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules) in your breast and often spreads to nearby breast tissue.

Less common breast cancer types include:

• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): This invasive cancer is aggressive and spreads more quickly than other breast cancers.

• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC): This rare, fast-growing cancer looks like a rash on your breast. IBC is rare in the United States.

Paget’s disease of the breast: This rare cancer affects the skin of your ni**le and may look like a rash. Less than 4% of all breast cancers are Paget’s disease of the brea

What causes breast cancer?

Experts know breast cancer happens when breast cells mutate and become cancerous cells that divide and multiply to create tumors. They aren’t sure what triggers that change. However, research shows there are several risk factors that may increase your chances of developing breast cancer. These include:

Age: Above 40
S*x: Women

Family history: If your parents, siblings, children, or other close relatives have breast cancer, you’re at risk of developing the disease.

Genetics: Up to 15% of people with breast cancer develop the disease because they have inherited genetic mutations. The most common genetic mutations involve the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Reproductive history. Having the first pregnancy after age 30, not breastfeeding, and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.

Smoking: To***co use has been linked to many different types of cancer, including breast cancer.

Drinking beverages containing alcohol: Research shows that drinking beverages containing alcohol may increase breast cancer risk.

Obesity

Radiation exposure: If you’ve had prior radiation therapy — especially to your head, neck, or chest — you’re more likely to develop breast cancer.

Hormone replacement therapy: People who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with the condition.

How frequent is Breast cancer?

In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685 000 deaths globally.
As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.

Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States.
Each year in the United States, about 240,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2,100 in men.
About 42,000 women and 500 men in the U.S. die each year from breast cancer.
Black women have a higher rate of death from breast cancer than all other women.

What can be said about the data on Breast Cancer in the Federation of St. Kitts/Nevis? Last 5 years data

2018 -11 cases
2019- 25 cases
2020- 16 cases
2021 - 29 cases
2022- 26 cases

Total 107

Which year had the most cases of breast cancer?
(The number of cases in descending order)

2021-29 cases
2022-26 cases
2019-25 cases
2020- 16 cases
2018- 11 cases

In which Age group is breast cancer more prevalent?

51-60 -(36 cases)
41-50 - (22 cases)
61-70 -(20 cases)
31-40-(13 cases)
71-80 - (9 cases)
20-30 -(1 case)

Hosts: How many cases were diagnosed in 2023 to date?

15 cases diagnosed From January to August 2023
60-59 …….(6 cases)
50-59…….(5 cases)
30-39…… (2 cases)
40-49……(1 case)
70 -79…… (1 case)

What about deaths in the Federation?

Mortality of Breast Cancer (2017-2021)

2017 -10
2018-5
2019-15
2020 -11
2021-8

Total 49

Please share this information to educate friends/family/colleagues. Encourage all women to get their screening mammography.
Let's support all individuals with the diagnosis of breast cancer not only during the month of October but all year round.

Show some love

Dr. Natalie S Osborne MD
General Surgeon

14/02/2023

Good Day,
Here at SurgiCare, we want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's day, filled with love, peace, joy, and health!
Here are some tips for you or someone you love on Valentine’s Day!
1. Be heart-healthy.
February is Heart Month, and Valentine’s Day is a great time to start taking steps to be heart-healthy.
• Prevent and control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Diabetes.
• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be active.
• Eat healthily.

2. Be food-conscious.
Make a healthy meal for Valentine’s Day. Serve food lower in salt and fat content, provide more fruits and vegetables, and make less sugary sweets.

3. Spread love, not germs.
Protect yourself from the cold and flu.
• Wash hands often.
• Avoid close contact when you or someone you know is sick.
• Get your flu vaccine.

4. Be prepared for travel.
If you are going on a romantic getaway, be prepared.
• Are vaccinations required?
• Are there special items such as sunscreen or insect repellent that you will need?
• If you take medications, do you have enough for the trip?

4. Easy on the Bubbly

If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. It is also the third leading cause of preventable death. Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive. Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not drink any alcohol.
5. Be safe.
• Gear up – Be sure to use appropriate safety gear, including seat belts, life vests, and helmets to help prevent injury.
• Watch the sparks – If you decide to cook a romantic dinner, light some candles, or have a cozy fire, don’t leave them unattended.
• Be aware – Women are more likely to be victims of sexual violence, including intimate partner violence, than men. Risk factors such as drinking alcohol and using drugs are associated with a greater likelihood of violence.
6. Be sensitive.
Consider that your valentine may have allergies, asthma, diabetes, or other health conditions. You can be sensitive to your valentine by finding out if certain foods, flowers, pets, stuffed animals, or anything else might affect his or her health.


Show some love!

Dr. Natalie S Osborne
General Surgeon

14/02/2023

7 tips that can reduce your risk for Cancer

Here at SurgiCare, we want all of our readers and those who support our page to be in good health.

February is Cancer Awareness Month.

Concerned about cancer prevention? Take charge by making changes such as eating a healthy diet and getting regular screenings.

Science cannot predict with certainty who will get cancer, as most cancers are sporadic. Still, it's well-accepted that your chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices you make.

Please consider these 7 tips:

1. Eliminate To***co/Cigarettes

Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix, and kidney. Chewing to***co has been linked to cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas. Even if you don't use to***co, exposure to second-hand smoke might increase your risk of lung cancer.

2. A healthy diet is best

I learned, many years ago, that weight loss and healthy eating start in the supermarket. You buy it, you eat it.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables

Maintain a healthy weight. We know that obesity is a risk factor for many cancers.

Do not drink alcohol or do so sparingly: The risk of various types of cancer — including cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney, and liver — increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've been drinking regularly.

Limit processed meats: the World Health Organization concluded that eating large amounts of processed meat can slightly increase the risk of certain types of cancer.

3. Maintain a healthy weight. Get physically active!

Maintaining a healthy weight might lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon, and kidney.

Physical activity not only helps to control your weight but might lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer.

4. Protect yourself from the sun

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer — and one of the most preventable.

Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun's rays are strongest. Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat help.

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, even on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours. Oftentimes, as the black predominantly black community, we think that we can forgo sunscreen. We all need sunscreen!

5. Get vaccinated

Cancer prevention includes protection from certain viral infections. Talk to your doctor about vaccination against:

Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for certain adults at high risks — such as adults who are sexually active but not in a mutually monogamous relationship, people who use intravenous drugs, etc.

Human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical and other ge***al cancers as well as squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls and boys ages 11 and 12.

6. Know your family medical history
If you have a personal family history of any cancer, see your doctor for advice and regular screening

7. Get regular medical check-ups

Regular examination and screenings for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the skin, colon, cervix, and breast — can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Ask your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Show some love

Dr. Natalie S Osborne

11/06/2022

Greetings

We here at SurgiCare want to wish you a great weekend.
This month on June 14th we celebrate World Blood Donor day and would like to encourage everyone who is physically able to donate.
Donating blood saves lives.

For as long as medicine has been around, we’ve had to rely on the goodness of other people to give us blood when we
need it.

While blood donors don’t expect to be rewarded for the act of kindness, rolling up your sleeve comes with some surprising health benefits.
Here’s what you get when you give blood:

A Free Health Screening
By donating blood, you are getting a “mini-physical.”
Before you are allowed to donate, your vital signs will be checked to make sure you are fit enough for the procedure. This exam might turn up a condition that needs medical attention, such as high blood pressure or a heart arrhythmia like atrial fibrillation. In addition, you’ll be screened for infectious diseases you may be unaware of.
The health screening will also reveal if you have a rare blood type. This information can be useful if you ever face surgery or another medical situation in which a transfusion may be required

Your blood is also tested for several diseases. These include:
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• HIV
• West Nile virus
• syphilis

A Healthier Heart and Vascular System
Regular blood donation is linked to lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart attacks.
If your hemoglobin is too high, blood donation helps to lower the viscosity (thickness) of the blood, which has been associated with the formation of blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke.

A Happier, Longer Life

One blood donation can save up to three lives. People usually donate because it feels good to help others, and altruism and volunteering have been linked to positive health
Donating blood has benefits for your emotional and physical health. I may help with the following:
• reduce stress
• improve your emotional well-being
• benefit your physical health
• help get rid of negative feelings
• provide a sense of belonging and reduce
• lower risk for depression and greater longevity.

Side effects of donating blood

Blood donation is safe for healthy adults. There’s no risk of contracting disease. New, sterile equipment is used for each donor.
Some people may feel nauseous, lightheaded, or dizzy after donating blood. If this happens, it should only last a few minutes. You can lie down with your feet up until you feel better.
You may also experience some bleeding at the site of the needle. Applying pressure and raising your arm for a couple of minutes will usually stop this. You may develop a bruise at the site.

Blood Donation Tips

If you plan to give blood, follow these steps:

• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated makes it easier to find your veins and prevents you from becoming light-headed after donating.

• Eat well beforehand. Don’t skip breakfast, and be sure to eat snacks offered to you. These things will help you tolerate the donation well.

• Exercise before donating blood, not afterward. It’s OK to go to the gym before you donate blood but not so wise afterward. We don’t want people getting dizzy.

• Take iron tablets. The American Red Cross recommends that individuals who donate blood frequently take an iron supplement or a multivitamin with iron.
Have a great weekend

Show some love
Dr Natalie S Osborne

14/05/2022

Greetings,
We at SurgiCare aim to do our best for our patients, to assure ease before, during and after your Surgeries.
Below are a few tips to be the informed patient and to have a pleasure experience.

1. Be informed

Learn about your surgery. Talk to your surgeon and ask them questions about everything, from risks to healing time.
If admitted, the operating room nurse will visit you on the ward prior to your surgery and explain further what to expect in the operating room.
2. Ask About Anesthesia Options
How you'll be numbed during the operation often depends on the type of surgery you're getting. Ask your surgeon or anesthesiologist about your choices.
The main choices are:
Local: numbing the area before making the incision or cut
Regional: numbing the nerves in a particular area to block the pain signal
Spinal: The medication is injected in the middle of the lower back into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord.
General: going to sleep completely with medication through a vein

3. Dates and Times

Please note clearly, the date of your surgery, the type of surgery, and the time of arrival at the hospital. For day procedures, have a friend or family member assigned to take you to and from the hospital.

4. Pain After Surgery
You may feel pain, pressure, or a burning sensation where you were operated on and as you start moving, your muscles might be sore, and your throat may be uncomfortable. Your doctor will usually provide pain medication during your stay in the hospital and after discharge.

5. Fight Hospital Infections

After surgery, keep your hands clean. And ask your doctors and nurses to wash their hands or sanitize them before treating you. It can help keep you from catching infections like MRSA, a germ that's hard to treat.

6. Are You at Risk for Blood Clots?

Some surgeries can raise your chances of getting a dangerous blood clot called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These can travel to the lungs and block blood flow; a condition called a pulmonary embolism. Quick treatment can often save your life. You will be encouraged to move your legs while in bed or take a walk.

7. Discuss Your Medical Conditions

Tell your doctor if you have any health issues, including heart or lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, dental work, arthritis, or drug allergies.
Also, tell them if you or anyone in your family has had a reaction to anesthesia.
8. Avoid Medication Mishaps

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. Some can lead to side effects during surgery. For example, blood thinners and aspirin can put you at risk for too much bleeding.
Your doctor will tell you which medications you should take before your operation and which ones to stop.

9. Would You Need Blood?

Ask your doctor if there's a chance, you'll need a blood transfusion during surgery. If so, you can have family and friends donate on your behalf.
10. Get a Second Opinion

Not sure surgery is right for you? Don't be afraid to get another doctor's view.

11. Caregivers

You may need a little help getting around after surgery, so ask your family and friends for support. As you recover, let yourself be pampered and cared for. And for the first evening, be sure there’s a responsible adult who can stay overnight with you at home.

12. Food supply

Before your surgery, make sure you have plenty of healthy foods and drinks in your home. That way, you won't have to worry about shopping during your recovery. Ask friends or family to help.

13. Wear Comfortable Clothing
Dressing can sometimes be a challenge as you recover. Look for soft, loose clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Elastic-waist or loose-fitting pants and shirts that button, rather than pullovers, may be easier to wear.

14. Don't Eat or Drink Before Surgery

Anesthesia can cause vomiting during or after an operation. This can cause choking and other complications after surgery. Make sure you follow your doctor's instructions about when to stop eating or drinking.

15. Make Lifestyle Changes

People with healthy habits are often better able to handle surgery. Ask your doctor what you can do to get into better shape between now and your operation. If you prepare physically and mentally, you're likely to have a quicker recovery, less pain, and fewer complications.

16. Alcohol

Drinking can have unpredictable effects on anesthesia and cause other problems, such as too much bleeding or liver damage. Stop drinking, or at least cutback, to help lower your risk of complications from surgery.

17. Stop Smoking

Smoking raises your risk of infections and other complications. Quitting before your operation may also help you heal more quickly.
It's good to stop smoking at least 4 weeks before surgery.

18. Check Your Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, make sure your surgeon is aware. It's important to get it under control before surgery.
If you're on high blood pressure medication, don't forget to ask if you should take it on the day of your operation.

19. Manage Your Weight and Exercise

Eat healthy foods to get the nutrition you need to heal. If you're overweight or obese, you could be at higher risk for complications. Losing some pounds can help you recover.
Exercising before surgery may help you recover faster. Your doctor can help you learn how you can safely be active before and after your procedure.

20. Follow-up Appointments

It is very important to keep all appointments with your surgeon after a procedure. This is necessary to identify early and treat any complications. Also, for pending biopsy results. Please address complications or concerns with the surgeon who performed your surgery.
Show some love.
Dr Natalie S Osborne

21/01/2022

The beautiful woman seen in the image below was my mother. She is not here to give consent to the comments that I am about to make. So I choose my words carefully to honor her name. Her name was Sylvia Osborne Daniel or "Evie". At the time of her death on May 20th,1997, she left behind 7 children ranging in ages from 10 to 24 years, 5 girls and 2 boys.
She was loved, she is missed and I often wonder what would her life be if she was still with us. Oftentimes, I see mothers and their daughters' and I observe in silence. Looking at the dynamics of their lives. Observing if there is love, patience, understanding, and support between them. Wondering how my relationship with my mother would be today.
My mother lived in New York for approximately 7 years. We all remember in the 90s and the previous decades, our elders went to first-world countries, " to make life better." Always with the plan to send for their children, or make enough money to return home. More often than not, leaving the children, with the grandparents/aunts/ uncles, etc. to raise them. We also remember the repercussions that followed.
I dear-say that many of us still carry the scars.
So in the early hours, one morning in April 1997, one of my siblings received a call from our mother. That call impacted all of our lives.
As I walked down the alley- that’s Central Alley in Cayon- coming from my early morning exercise, I was met by my youngest sister, who said to me, "Mommy is coming home because she is dying." My heart skipped a beat, and I rushed into the house to get more details from an older sibling. Yes, indeed she was dying. She had advanced-stage Cervical cancer. There was nothing more the doctors could do and our cousins, her next of kin, there in New York, said that it was time for her to come home to be with her children.
She came home on the 25 April and died on the 20th May 1997 of the deadly but highly preventable disease, cervical cancer. The weeks that we had with her, before her death, were memorable. She died at the age of 39. We all miss her and wish that we had more time with her.

Facts about cervical cancer

1. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2018, an estimated 570 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311 000 women died from the disease.

2. HPV (human papillomavirus) is the #1 cause of cervical cancer.

3.The Centers for Diseases Control reports more than 20 million people are currently infected with HPV worldwide and another 6.2 million will contract the virus each year.

4. Most cervical cancer cases are preventable.

5. Because cervical cancer is typically caused by HPV, the simplest way to prevent cervical cancer is to prevent HPV infection in the first place. Since 2006, a highly effective HPV vaccination has been used. Just like other vaccines. This vaccination is administered in two or three shots over a six-month period to both males and females between the ages of 9-26.

6. Routine Pap testing is the best way to detect abnormal changes to the cervix before they develop into cancer.

7. Smoking and other factors increase the risk of cervical cancer.

8. Women with a sister or mother who had cervical cancer are two to three times more likely to develop the disease.

9. Cervical cancer is more common among groups of women who are less likely to have access to screening for cervical cancer.

As we bring awareness to Cervical cancer this month, let us remember all the mothers, grandmother, sisters, aunts, cousins and girlfriends who have lost their lives to this preventable but deadly disease.
My hope is that none of us would ever feel the agonizing loss of a loved one again due to Cervical cancer!

Show some love!

Dr Natalie S Osborne

Sylvia Osborne Daniel. Photo taken in 1989. She was 31 years old

10/01/2022

03/01/2022

10 New Year's Resolutions You should Make

Here at SurgiCare were want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! May joy, peace, health and success be a part of your 2022!

We know for most parts you are well aware of these health tips but often times we need a gentle reminder.

For those of us who have started on our “healthy living journey”, keep at it! And for those who haven’t yet begun, let's go get it!

1.Be more physically active

Health guidelines suggest that adults should get 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week, plus twice-weekly muscle-strengthening sessions. Everyday activities like walking, cleaning, dancing and taking the stairs all count toward your total, so there’s no need to slog it out at the gym if you dread it.

2. Know your blood pressure

High blood pressure is associated with a heightened risk of stroke and heart disease, so it’s important to know your blood pressure reading. Learn how to manage your blood pressure through strategies including diet, exercise and stress relief.

3. Eat less processed food

Eating lots of highly processed foods, which tend to be packed with sugar, salt, fat and chemicals, is associated with health problems ranging from weight gain to type 2 diabetes and cancer. Swapping soda and sugar-sweetened beverages for water is a good place to start. Cooking at home and building meals around produce and plant-based proteins, instead of red and processed meats, are also good strategies.

4. Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed

Taking antibiotics unnecessarily, or stopping a course early, can cause your body to build up a tolerance to the drugs. That’s a major public health concern, since widespread antibiotic resistance is already contributing to issues like drug-resistant infections and treatment-resistant sexually transmitted diseases. Follow doctor’s orders, and keep in mind that antibiotics do not work against viruses.

5. Drink in moderation, if at all

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that women consume no more than a drink per day, and men no more than two per day. Drinking is associated with health issues including cognitive decline and cancer.

6. Stop using ni****ne and to***co

Smoking puts you at risk of lung cancer, but it’s also associated with conditions including heart disease and other types of cancer either.

7. Don’t share pain medicine

Sharing prescription drugs or improperly disposing of them may put them in the hands of people at risk for opioid dependence. If you’re prescribed painkillers, take them exactly as directed.

8. Make sure your family is up to date on vaccines

Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent diseases ranging from the flu, covid-19, and measles. And by lowering your risk of getting sick, you also decrease your chances of transmitting disease to others, resulting in a healthier total population.

9. Manage stress

At low levels, stress can actually be good for you. But chronic stress can threaten your physical, mental and cognitive health, so it’s important to find stress-reduction techniques that work for you. Everyone is different, but research shows that activities that elicit the “relaxation response” — such as yoga, meditation and even prayer — can make a big difference. Exercise is also a great stress-reliever, and eating a healthy diet can help, too.

10. Sleep on it

Another simple lifestyle change that can make a huge impact, is working towards increasing your sleep quality and duration. Poor sleep has been linked to depression and anxiety, obesity, high BP, even a higher risk of infections.

Wishing you well in all of your year’s endeavors. Show some love!

Photos below show some of my exploration of our beautiful federation Sy. Kitts and Nevis

Dr. Natalie S Osborne MD

08/11/2021

Good day everyone.

I did an interview with a very special person, Ms Carla Osborne, a breast cancer survivor. She is kind, funny, and a mother of 3 wonderful boys. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and throughout the years she has been so brave and positive dealing with the disease.
Here in here own words, Carla Osborne, shares her story. Enjoy!
Show some love!

Carla Osborne is a breast cancer survivor who sat down with me to do this interview. She is a kind, thoughtful, brave and funny mother of 3 wonderful boys. S...

08/11/2021

Greetings everyone.

I did an interview with a very special person, Ms Carla Osborne, a breast cancer survivor. She is kind, funny, and a mother of 3 wonderful boys. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and throughout the years she has been so brave and positive dealing with the disease.
We worked throughout the month of October on this video interview. Although the month of October is international Breast cancer awareness month, the persons living with breast cancer, have to fight against this deadly disease all year round. Here in here own words, Carla Osborne, shares her story. Enjoy!
Show some love!

Here is a Link to the YouTube video
https://youtu.be/Zokd9Yp-tOU

05/10/2021

Skincare Tips for the Best Skin of Your Life

I hope that everyone had a great weekend, had some rest, good food, and good company.

The topic for today is about skincare. I suffered with acne all of my life.
First it was acne in puberty. “Awww, I thought, I should be able to get through this in a couple of years, and then I’ll be free.” That was in high school. Later, I was told about adult acne, and thought, “Wow, this nightmare will never end.”
Through trial and error and plenty of research, I pushed forward with my almost 30 year battle with acne- the blackheads, the pus filled pimples, the painful cyst and the scarring.
I have been frustrated, cried often, and tried many different remedies.
However in the last 3 years I have had significant improvement to my skin.
I wear makeup to cover some of the scars and hyperpigmentation and also because I enjoy wearing it.

Here is a list of some tips that will help you to improve your skin.

1. Use the correct cleanser for your skin type.

For oily or acne-prone skin, a salicylic gel or benzoyl peroxide wash works great.
For dry mature skin, use either a moisturizing glycolic or milky cleanser.

2. Don’t use too many products.

Layering on multiple skincare products all at once is a big no-no, It can be harsh on the skin, resulting in more breakouts and clogged pores.

3. Moisturize both day and night.

The best times to moisturize are right after you get out of the shower and right before you go to bed.
Avoid lotions with heavy fragrances and make sure you find a moisturizer gentle enough for everyday use with zero irritation.

4. Don’t touch your face.

Avoid touching your face. It doesn't just spread bacteria and cause breakouts — it can lead to scarring, an increase in wrinkles, and even the flu or other viruses.

5. Hydrate inside and out.

Lack of water means less radiance and more sag to the skin. Drink around eight glasses of water a day. Also choose products (cleansing, moisturizing, and anti-aging) that have hydrating formulas.

6. Avoid direct heat exposure.

Don't just watch out for the sun — getting too close to heaters and fireplaces can also wreak havoc on your skin. It causes inflammation and collagen breakdown. Wear sunscreen 365 days a year — rain or shine, indoors or out.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or greater.

7. Exfoliate a couple times per week.

"We lose 50 million skin cells a day, and without a little extra nudge, they may hang around leaving the skin looking dull.
And don't just stop with your face- the skin on your body needs exfoliation, too.

8. Vitamins should go on your skin.

Topical antioxidants, which are serums and creams that contain ingredients that nourish the skin (e.g. vitamin C serum). These can really help to repair the skin from sun damage.

9. Maintain a healthy diet.

• A diet filled with fruits, vegetables and grains, is not only good for the internal health but also for the skin.
• Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables.
• Spinach and other green leafy vegetables.
• Tomatoes.
• Berries.
• Beans, peas and lentils.
• Salmon, mackerel and other fatty fish.
• Nuts.

10. Clean your makeup brushes regularly.

For those of us who wears makeup. To fight infection and clogged pores, wash concealer and foundation brushes once a week. For brushes you use around your eyes, twice per month, and for any other brushes, once a month is fine.

I hope that these tips would be helpful to some, as they have helped me.
Have a great day and show some love!

Dr Natalie S Osborne