| How to Stop Getting Acne in the Same Spot Posted: 08 May 2017 05:00 PM PDT If you seem to get acne in the same place repeatedly, there may be an external factor irritating your skin. To prevent breakouts on your face, you should test out your makeup and hair care products to determine if they are the culprits. To avoid different kinds of body acne, you should wear loose-fitting clothes and always shower off after you exercise. Finally, with a proper cleaning regimen and a good diet, you can manage and prevent breakouts anywhere on your body. EditCaring for Your Skin - Limit what touches your skin. If you repeatedly get acne on specific parts of your body, think about what touches that area regularly. You may find that your hands or an article of clothing may be touching that area and causing breakouts. To prevent this, avoid touching your face with dirty hands or wearing tight fitting or dirty clothes.
- For example, if you wear a baseball cap and regularly get acne on your forehead, try not wearing the hat and see if the acne clears up.
- Clean your skin regularly. To avoid acne, you should wash acne-prone areas only twice a day. Washing your skin removes oil and dead skin that can lead to breakouts. When you are looking for acne creams or gels, look for something with either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as the active ingredient.[1]
- Avoid over washing your skin, which can dry out and irritate it.
- If you are unsure about what kind of wash to get, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.
- Eat healthy. Although the idea that eating certain foods, like chocolate, can lead to acne is a myth, diet does influence the body's hormone levels, which can cause breakouts. In order to avoid breakouts, try to eat a balanced diet that is high in fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and whole grains. You should also avoid fatty, sugary, or processed foods. Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help regulate your hormones and prevent problematic breakouts.[2]
- Limit stress. Although anxiety does not cause acne, it can make it worse. Stress causes your body to release hormones that can cause breakouts. To limit anxiety's impact on your acne, try to relax and practice mindfulness. You can also exercise, which helps reduce anxiety.[3]
- Avoid picking or popping your acne. If you do get acne, picking or popping your pimples can lead to infections and scarring. Messing with your blemishes also slows down their ability to heal and go away. If the unsightliness of the acne is bothering you, use a concealer to cover the blemish until it has healed.[4]
- Visit a dermatologist. If you are having a hard time dealing with or managing your acne, you should talk to your doctor or a dermatologist. It is important that your acne is treated in order to prevent any scarring. They may prescribe medications, ointments, or washes designed to help deal with your acne. There are also various therapies, such as chemical peels and steroid injections, for more severe cases of acne.[5]
- Many prescribed treatments may take as many as weeks to work, so be patient.
EditPreventing Breakouts on Your Face - Try different makeups. Although makeup can be great for hiding acne, it can also cause breakouts. Over applying makeups or using particularly oily products can clog your pores and lead to infections. If you are getting breakouts on certain parts of your face, try a different product and see if it clears up.[6]
- In general, try to use products that are oil-free or noncomedogenic. You should also look for makeups that contain acne-fighting ingredients.
- Always remove your makeup before you go to bed. If your skin is particularly oily, you may need to use a special makeup remover instead of simply washing your face.
- Change your hair products. If you suffer from breakouts on your forehead, scalp, neck, and back, the culprit may be your hair products. Products like gels, pomades, and sprays tend to block pores and irritate your skin. They can also cause allergic reactions that can result in acne. To avoid acne, experiment with different products to find one that does not irritate your skin.[7]
- In general, look for products with shorter and more natural ingredient lists. In particular, look for products that are fragrance-free and noncomedogenic (non-pore clogging).
- To avoid using too much product, consider washing your hair two or three times a week or rinse it with conditioner daily. You might also want to consider sleeping with your hair up to avoid rolling around in your dirty hair all night.
- If you believe that you are having an allergic reaction to a certain product, quit using it and talk to your doctor or a dermatologist. You may want to be tested so you know what to avoid in the future.
- Try not to touch your face. Because your hands come in contact with numerous objects during the day, they can transfer countless bacteria to your face, resulting in breakouts. If you rest your head in your hands, you may get breakouts on your chin or cheeks. To avoid this, wash your hands regularly and try to touch your face as little as possible.[8]
- Wear contacts instead of glasses. If you tend to get breakouts around your nose, your glasses may be the culprit. Your glasses house bacteria that can cause infections. In addition, they rub and put pressure on your skin, which can irritate it and stimulate oil production. If your glasses are causing you acne, consider using a spot treatment or ditching your glasses entirely and wear contacts.[9]
- Be sure to regularly clean the nose pads of your glasses by washing them with hot soapy water. This remove any bacteria that might cause a breakout.
- Limit plucking and facial waxing. Whenever you pull hairs from a follicle, you create an opening that is susceptible to infection. If you have your eyebrows plucked or any facial hair waxed, such as around your mouth and chin, you might see some breakouts. To avoid this, limit how often you pluck or wax any facial hairs.[10]
- If you do pull any facial hairs, you should apply concealer afterwards to plug the pores and prevent bacteria from entering.
- Shaving can have a similar effect, especially if you use a dull razor that pulls the hairs from the follicle instead of cutting them.
- Put down your phone. Because most people take them everywhere (even to the bathroom) and touch them constantly, cellular phones are covered in bacteria. Whenever you talk on your phones, you are rubbing those bacteria all over your face. This can lead to breakouts on your cheeks and chin. To avoid any phone-related breakouts, consider using your phone's speaker function or getting a hands-free Bluetooth headpiece.[11]
EditAvoiding Body Acne - Wear breathable clothes. If you get acne on your chest, back, or butt, consider wearing clothes that allow your skin to breathe. Tight-fitting clothes can trap moisture and irritate your skin, leading to breakouts. Instead, wear clothes made from natural fibers, such as cotton or silk, which allow airflow and wick away moisture.[12]
- This is particularly important when it comes to clothes that you sweat in a lot, such as your exercise gear.
- If you get bacne from wearing a backpack, consider using a handbag or satchel instead.
- Shower immediately after working out. Once you finish working out, you should always take off your sweaty exercise clothes and take a shower. This allows your skin to breathe and washes away the oil and sweat that can cause breakouts. If your gym does not have a locker room with showers, make sure that you shower right away when you get home.[13]
- If you cannot shower immediately, consider using travel wipes that contain salicylic acid.
- Remove body hair gently. Because it leaves pores and follicles susceptible to bacteria, removing body hair, by either shaving or waxing, can lead to breakouts. Instead, you might want to consider laser hair removal, which is less irritating to the skin. If you do have to shave, make sure that you use a shaving cream designed for sensitive skin.[14]
- This is particularly important if you get acne around your bikini line.
- Do your laundry regularly. Because bacteria can hang out on your clothes and bedding, you should regularly wash all fabrics that come in contact with your skin. Bacteria on pillows can cause your face to break out and unwashed clothes can lead to body acne. Make sure you wash your clothes regularly and your bedding at least every two weeks.[15]
- If you wear any hats, be sure to wash them regularly to prevent any breakouts on your forehead.
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| How to Deal with Political Discord in a Relationship Posted: 08 May 2017 09:00 AM PDT In a perfect world, everyone would respect each other's political beliefs and live together peacefully. In this world, however, politics are known to tear apart friends, family, and even partners and spouses. If you and your partner are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, you may think your relationship is doomed. Fortunately, however, you can deal with political discord with your partner by staying respectful, looking at the benefits, and agreeing to disagree. EditStaying Respectful - Watch your tone. When people become hurt during disagreements, it's often because one person feels like the other is being disrespectful towards them. This commonly occurs because of the tone or edge in their voice. Keeping condescending attitudes out of the discussion may stop hard feelings from forming.
- When you feel yourself getting worked up and potentially getting an attitude, take a break from the conversation. You can say, "I need to take a break for a minute. I'm starting to get upset and I don't want to say something I don't mean, or say it with an attitude."
- Excusing yourself from the conversation in this manner is respectful and can prevent a huge fight from occurring.[1]
- Keep your beliefs between the two of you. There's no need to drag anyone else into your political conversations. There also isn't a need to talk badly about your partner's politics to anyone, particularly your children. Instead of causing more issues by bringing others into your disagreements, simply keep the political talk between you and your partner.
- You can talk to your children about politics, just try to keep your own beliefs and opinions to yourself, especially when they differ from your significant other's. Stick with the basics and avoid inserting anything else other than the facts.
- If your friends or family wish to discuss politics with you, simply say, "I don't like to talk politics with friends or family, so let's discuss something else." Voicing your opinion in a calm way allows you to move on and keep the relationship intact.[2]
- Avoid speaking negatively towards one another. It's common to hear of Democrats and Republicans trading insults, especially during debates. Doing this with your partner, however, is unacceptable. Although you have a difference of opinion when it comes to politics, you should refrain from insults and hitting below the belt to get your point across.[3]
- Remember that politics is not black or white, good or evil — it is a spectrum, and there can be a lot of gray area. Don't assume something about the other person's beliefs or personality based simply on their political alignment. They don't necessarily agree with each and every viewpoint being presented by one side. People, and politics, are complex, and it's not necessarily a case of "all or nothing."
- Practice listening, instead of speaking. In a majority of conversations, people don't listen as intently as they should. Instead, they are simply waiting for the other person to stop talking so that they can then begin to speak. Not fully hearing your partner can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. To prevent this, fully listen to what your partner has to say and then formulate a response.
- It may take some practice and a lot of self-restraint to resist defending yourself and your beliefs before allowing your partner to speak their mind. However, if you do so, you'll likely find that your discussions may not end in as many arguments.
- You can also ask your partner to do the same. You could say, "I am going to do my best to listen intently to what you have to say before I interject my opinion. I think if we both practiced this type of listening, we could better understand each other."[4]
- If your partner is taking about a topic you're not familiar with, be honest and open about it. You might say something like, "I'm not familiar with that topic so I can't comment on it, but I'll do my best to educate myself on it."
- Remember how important your relationship is. In all of this, remember how you feel about your partner. There's a reason why you are together in the first place. Instead of coming back with a cutting response, think about how much you love each other and if winning the conversation is worth potentially damaging your relationship.
- Simply taking a deep breath and choosing to walk away from the conversation may stop a disagreement from occurring in which feelings are hurt. Instead, be the bigger person and realize that your relationship is more important than what is occurring in politics.[5]
EditLooking at the Benefits - Pay attention to what you have in common. Although you may have some differences in opinion, chances are, you agree somewhere. Even if it is something small, it is something you can build upon. Use this common ground as a foundation to launch into a respectful conversation.
- For instance, you could say, "I know we disagree on this matter, but we have the same opinion when it comes to this. Let's focus on what we agree about instead of what we disagree on." Starting off on a positive note helps to make the conversation more productive and hopefully, less confrontational.[6]
- Appreciate that your other half has their own thoughts and ideas. Although you may not like their opinions, at least your partner is knowledgeable and confident enough to formulate their own thoughts and beliefs.
- You likely wouldn't want to be with someone who conformed and agreed with every opinion you had. Be thankful that they don't follow the crowd and are comfortable enough in their own skin to speak up, even if their opinion isn't popular.[7]
- A friend or partner who has different political views offers a great opportunity for you to test your own open-mindedness. Rather than disagreeing for the sake of disagreement, use your differences to learn. Take advantage of the information your partner has and use it as an educational opportunity.
- Learn to fight "healthy." Having a partner who disagrees with you provides the perfect opportunity to learn how to have an argument in a respectful and healthy manner. You can figure out how to have a debate with someone without using insults and cutting words. This can also help you in other situations, such as at work or with other family members.
- While discussing your opinions, take care to keep your voice level and calm. Also, avoid using derogatory words and attempt to talk to your partner the way you would want them to talk to you. If you feel your partner is becoming disrespectful, point it out in a polite way so they can understand why what they said or how they are behaving is inappropriate, and they hopefully won't do it again.[8]
EditAgreeing to Disagree - Avoid talking about it. If it's getting to the point where you aren't able to have a discussion about politics without a huge fight taking place, it's time to take a break from the topic. Agree to take time off from discussing politics at all. Together, decide on an appropriate time for the break. Perhaps after the break, you can begin to start discussing politics again.
- To approach the subject you could say, "I think we need to stop talking politics for a little while. It seems like we fight more now because of the subject, and I love you too much to let this affect our relationship."
- Voicing that your concern about the relationship is the driving force behind this decision will show your partner you care about the quality of the relationship and want to make it work.[9]
- Support your spouse as they work out their beliefs. Your spouse may think they stand with a certain political party, but they may also still be working out their beliefs. Being supportive and withholding from judgment or criticism can help them to develop their political values and opinions.
- Part of being in a relationship is helping the other person become the best they can be. Let them know that you are there for them and leave your personal opinions out of the equation, unless they are asked for.
- For instance, you could tell your partner, "Although we have a difference of opinion, I respect that you are working to develop your own political beliefs. I will be here to support and help you in any way that I can." Letting them know that you want them to grow and become well-informed and strong in their convictions will show that you are able to put politics aside and focus on the bigger picture.[10]
- Refrain from talking negatively about the political views of others. If you and your partner differ politically, they likely aren't going to want to hear what you have to say about other people whose views you oppose. Not only will your partner probably think you are negatively speaking about their own views, but they may take offense that you don't seem to respect differences of opinion.
- Instead, simply don't comment on other people's political views, especially if you know it is a hot topic for your partner.
- You can also ask your partner to respect your loved ones as well, by not criticizing their political views. Showing this type of mutual respect can help your relationship become stronger.[11]
- Look towards the future. When the dust settles, your relationship will likely not be affected by anything a politician does. Chances are, you and your partner will go about your everyday lives and still enjoy spending time with each other. You probably won't even talk about politics again until another election occurs. Remember this when the next heated discussion occurs.[12]
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| How to Make Sausage Gumbo Posted: 08 May 2017 01:00 AM PDT When it comes to classic Louisiana cuisine, it's hard to top gumbo, a thick, hearty stew featuring richly flavored stock and meat or shellfish. Instead of the usual shrimp- or chicken-based gumbo, though, switching things up with sausage can be a new twist on the dish. By sauteing the pepper, celery, and onion that helps flavor the gumbo in the same pot that you cook the sausage, you layer the flavors throughout the dish for truly delicious stew. Serve your sausage gumbo over cooked rice, and you'll have a dish that works well as a main course all on its own. EditIngredients - 4 large andouille sausage links, sliced into ¾-inch (1.9-cm) ovals
- 3 tablespoons (43 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (175 g) chopped green bell pepper
- 1 cup (225 g) chopped celery
- 1 cup (150 g) chopped onion
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon (1 g) dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
- ¼ teaspoon (½ g) cayenne pepper
- ½ cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 14.5 ounce (411 g) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken broth
- Prepared rice
EditCooking the Sausage - Heat the butter. Add 3 tablespoons (43 g) of unsalted butter to a large Dutch oven or pot. Turn the heat to medium, and allow the butter to melt completely, which should take approximately 3 to 5 minutes.[1]
- If you prefer, you can substitute olive oil or vegetable oil for the butter.
- Add the sausage and cook for several minutes. Once the butter has fully melted, add 4 large andouille sausage links that have been sliced into ¾-inch (1.9-cm) ovals to the pot. Allow the sausage to cook until color and a light crust develops on all sides of the meat, which should take approximately 5 minutes.[2]
- Be sure to stir the sausage constantly as it heats it to ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Remove the sausage and set aside. When you've finished cooking the sausage, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pot. Place it on paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess grease, and set it aside.[3]
- There is no need to wash or clean the pot after removing the sausage. You want the remaining butter and grease in it to flavor the gumbo as you move onto the other steps.
EditSauteing the Vegetables - Add the pepper, celery, and onion and cook until tender. To the same pot that you cooked the sausage, add 1 cup (175 g) of chopped green bell pepper, 1 cup (225 g) of chopped celery, and 1 cup (150 g) of chopped onion. With the heat on medium, allow the vegetables to cook until they are tender, which should take approximately 4 to 5 minutes.[4]
- If you find that the butter has cooked off after you've finished with the sausage, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons (14 to 28 g) more before adding the vegetables.
- Stir the vegetables periodically to ensure that they cook evenly.
- Stir in the garlic and saute briefly. Once the vegetables are tender, add 4 cloves of minced garlic to the pot. Allow the mixture to cook for approximately 1 minute, or until the garlic becomes fragrant.[5]
- If you prefer, you can substitute 1 teaspoon (3 g) of garlic powder for the minced garlic. Add it in the following step with the other dried spices.
- Mix in the thyme, salt, and cayenne pepper and cook until fragrant. After you've cooked the garlic with the vegetables, add 1 teaspoon (1 g) of dried thyme, 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt, and ¼ teaspoon (½ g) of cayenne pepper to the pot. Mix the spices in well, and allow the mixture to cook for 30 seconds.[6]
- If you want your sausage gumbo to be spicier, you can add more of the cayenne pepper.
- You can substitute 1 to 2 teaspoons (3 to 6 g) of Cajun seasoning for the the thyme, salt, and cayenne pepper. It is spice blend that contains all of those ingredients.
EditCreating the Broth - Stir in the flour until the mixture browns. After you've cooked the spices into the vegetable mixture, sprinkle ½ cup (63 g) of all-purpose flour into the pot. Stir well so all of the ingredients are coated with the flour, and turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook the mixture for approximately 1 minute, or until the flour browns.[7]
- Add the tomatoes and cook for a couple of minutes. Once the flour has browned, add a 14.5 ounce (411 g) can of diced tomatoes to the pot. Allow the tomatoes to cook until they begin to release their juices, which should take approximately 2 minutes.[8]
- Make sure to stir the mixture occasionally to ensure that it heats evenly.
- Mix in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. After the tomatoes have released their juices, add 4 cups (946 ml) of chicken broth to the pot. Stir it in well, and cover the pot. Turn the heat to high and allow the mixture to come to a boil, which should take approximately 5 minutes.[9]
- It's best to use low-sodium chicken broth because salt has already been added to the dish.
EditThickening and Finishing Off the Gumbo - Return the sausage to the pan and reduce the heat. After the pot has come to a boil, add the cooked sausage to the mixture. Leave the lid off, and turn the heat down to medium.[10]
- If the mixture is still boiling after you reduce the heat, you may need to lower the heat to medium-low or low.
- Simmer the gumbo for approximately half an hour. When all of the ingredients are combined, let the gumbo simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir the mixture occasionally to ensure that none of the ingredients stick to the pot.[11]
- Simmering the gumbo helps thicken it up so it has more of a stew-like consistency. You can simmer it until it reaches the consistency that you like.
- Serve the gumbo over rice. Once the gumbo has simmered for about half an hour, remove the pot from the heat. Pour the gumbo over individual bowls of prepared white or brown rice, and serve.[12]
- You can add a dash or two of hot sauce to the bowls of gumbo and rice before you serve them if you like.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Finished.
- You can also serve the sausage gumbo over grits.
- Cornbread and a green salad make ideal side dishes for sausage gumbo.
EditThings You'll Need - Large Dutch oven or pot
- Wooden spoon
- Plate
- Paper towel
EditSources and Citations
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