Lars Health Posts » Acne

Water As A Natural Acne Remedy – Could It Be Possible!

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:59:00 +0000

As you may already know, there are many acne treatment products available. Some of these treatments include over-the-counter cleansers, creams, and medicated pads. Other acne products involve prescribed medications provided by a dermatologist. However, the increasing popularity of natural remedies has also become prevalent in treating many common conditions, and acne is no exception.

Surprisingly, water is considered as one of the best natural remedies for treating acne. Water? Yes! Water… and for good reasons! Water is used to hydrate the body, which, of course, hydrates the skin as well. The skin, being the largest organ in the human body, must be properly hydrated to work correctly and serve its purpose. This is accomplished in two ways: by washing the face, which hydrates the surface of the skin, and by drinking water, which hydrates the entire body, from the inside out. This, of course, includes the skin. Drinking plenty of water will keep the skin looking and feeling healthy. Healthy skin cells promote a healthy body. Now you’ve got one more good reason why you should drink lots of water.

Doctors tell us we should drink six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Although this might sound like an overused cliché, and “six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day” seems like a lot of water to drink in one day, think of what it can do for your body. In addition to improving skin tone and texture, it can stimulate cell growth and will help all your organs work correctly. It also helps filter out unwanted substances that can be harmful to your skin.

Water is also a crucial component deep within your skin. It provides the basis for a soft, smooth, and healthy complexion and will help you look more youthful. Though very little water is stored in the outer layers of your skin, this moisture is important and is constantly removed by outside elements such as sun and wind.

Sun and wind can dry your skin, removing moisture and irritating its surface. When this occurs, pre-existing acne can become even more irritated, which in turn prolongs the problem. While irritation won’t directly cause more acne to form, it can worsen the problem. It is important to keep proper moisture in the skin.

You’ve probably heard that oily skin does not need moisture. This is one of the most common myths. Just because skin is oily, it doesn’t mean it is moisturized. By cleansing the skin, you are wiping away excess oil, and my moisturizing it, you are helping it remain smooth and decreasing your chances for irritation.

As the best natural remedy for treating acne, water helps to properly hydrate the skin. This not only promotes and stimulates cell growth, but also helps the other organs of the bodywork together. If properly hydrated, the skin will not wrinkle or sag as easily, and will appear youthful for a longer period of time. Even though water is not the only natural remedy that you can use for treating your skin, it is the most important. Without it, the skin could not do its job in keeping the rest of the body in the best possible condition. So, don’t forget about the many benefits that water provides for your skin, especially if you suffer of any type of acne. Try to give your skin a little bit more help – a little bit more water.

Acne Remedy for Adults: Seven Hours of Sleep and Less Stress Progressively, more and more people are becoming aware of the...
Finding Natural Herbal Acne Medicine Herbs can be one of your best natural acne treatments....
What is Natural skin care? Put simply, ‘natural skin care’ is caring for your skin...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What causes Acne and how to control them

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:08:00 +0000

Acne begins in puberty, but it does not always end there. Every teenager, if examined closely enough will show some of the effects of acne with some being mild, others more severe. The major hormone causing changes in teenagers is androgen. Under its influence, the sebaceous glands produce more and more sebum (oil). This leads, then, to oily skin and a change in skin flora. There is an increase in the bacteria that cause acne as well as a type of fungus. All these contribute to the development of blockages at the oil gland openings known as comedones. Such blockages cause blackheads and whiteheads – and acne when there is infection of the skin’s pores.

Acne should not be viewed as something that comes with puberty. It has lasting effects on the skin, like scarring, and should be treated. A gentle skin cleansing without using cleansers that over-dry skin should be established. Addition to that a supplement such as Acuzine should be taken to have a fast and effective acne cure inside out.

In adults, acne could be a carryover from adolescence, occupational (exposure to chemicals or other skin irritants in the workplace), drug induced (some medications exacerbate acne) or cosmetic acne. There are also other factors that may contribute to acne besides family history such as frequent use of thick make-up, frequent activities under hot and humid conditions and contact with oily substances.

There is nothing much that we can do about genetics but surely we can do something about lifestyle factors to prevent acne. Using thick, oily creams also may lead to breakouts too. People with acne should use products that are formulated for people with oily skin.

Stress is another common aggravating factor for acne. Lack of sleep is a form of stress in itself too. And for women, the menstrual cycle can trigger off acne too. But whatever your stage in life with acne, if the acne cream or lotion show no sign of clearing up, then get Acuzine. Acuzine is rate no.1 acne treatment product with guaranteed results. It works for adults or teenagers suffering from facial or body acne. This is a natural acne treatment formula with no side effect and highly recommended by dermatologists. Fast and effective acne cure from inside out.

Treating acne at the start of the problem is easier than dealing with the scars.

Acne Cure For Sure If you are already tired of your acne, you may...
Acne Remedy for Adults: Seven Hours of Sleep and Less Stress Progressively, more and more people are becoming aware of the...
Acne Scar Reduction a Boost To Self Confidence! When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Acne Remedy for Adults: Seven Hours of Sleep and Less Stress

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:55:26 +0000

Progressively, more and more people are becoming aware of the now obvious fact that teenagers do not make up the only group of people who have to deal with bothersome acne breakouts. In fact, up to 50% of adults experience some form of acne at certain times. Pharmaceutical companies that produce acne fighting products are all working hard to put new, better products on the market, despite the fact that they are not exactly sure of what brings about acne.

The Best Remedy Is Natural

Sadly, the majority of remedies for acne that are currently being sold are not able to effectively treat acne in adults. For that reason, it would be wise to figure out what is causing these products to be ineffective.

For adults who are experiencing acne problems, one of the absolute best and most natural ways to reduce acne breakouts is to try to keep distressing and worrisome thoughts out of your head. It has been found that such worrying actually makes a person more likely to have acne. In order for a natural acne remedy to work for an adult, then, the individual must do their best to control these thoughts.

Too much worry or being taken up by deep thinking can make you stressed beyond acceptable limits and this will mean that you could start developing acne. It follows then that the first natural adult acne remedy is to bring down stress levels because stress is a major factor behind the development of adult acne.

Acne can develop as a result of uncontrolled levels of stress. It is thus obvious that a natural remedy for adults to reduce the frequency and intensity of their acne is to do all they can to reduce their stress levels.

An adult who does not drink enough water on a daily basis is also more likely to develop an acne problem. If an individual is not able to take in a high amount of water for some reason each day, they will be more prone to a breakout of acne. Drinking at least ten glasses of water each and every day is a good way for adults to prevent acne from forming on their skin.

Honey is another useful adult acne remedy as it can remove acne in people in a very short space of time, and it only requires dabbing a bit of honey on the affected spot prior to going to bed and washing it off the following morning.

Water As A Natural Acne Remedy – Could It Be Possible! As you may already know, there are many acne treatment...
What causes Acne and how to control them Acne begins in puberty, but it does not always end...
Adult Acne-Skin Care Treatment If you are an adult men or women and you...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Factors That Cause and Do Not Cause Acne

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:10:42 +0000

There is almost no need to say that many people have suffered from acne at one time in their lives. Though it’s common, this skin affliction has negative connotations attached to it that cause self-esteem issues among some of us. In addition to these negative connotations that this affliction has, there are misconceptions over what causes people to suffer from it. In order to better understand the truth about what causes acne and to better understand how to treat it, let’s discuss what can and can’t lead to an outbreak of this skin problem.

Hormones Lead To Outbreaks

One thing that is often linked to acne outbreaks is the presence of extra hormones in the body. For women, this can mean that outbreaks are more severe during one point in the menstrual cycle than during others. In all people, the extra hormones the body produces during puberty often results in outbreaks of acne, making it a normal part of growing up. In the same way, increased stress often leads to an outbreak, since stress stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more hormones.

Dirt Is Not A Culprit

Often, the appearance of acne on the face includes blackheads, which are little black spots in the skin. Because of the way these look, people often misinterpret acne as a result of dirt on the face, meaning that those with acne have poor personal hygiene. In reality, those black spots are usually composed of keratin, which is the substance that makes up skin and hair cells. Because this affliction is caused by unshed skin cells blocking pores, these black spots often show. This is normal, and reflects a symptom, not a cause.

Bacteria

The ultimate cause of acne is small bacteria that infect the clogged pores mentioned. These bacteria breed and result in the inflammation that usually shows itself as reddened skin or as pimples. The whiteheads that often form from these pimples come from your body’s immune response, with that white fluid consisting mostly of white blood cells. So though whiteheads are unsightly, it’s a sign that your body is working to wipe out the bacteria.

Food As A Contributor

Currently, the jury is still out as to how much or how little food contributes to outbreaks of acne. While old-fashioned suggestions for preventing outbreaks includes cutting out things such as chocolate and fried foods, studies have not proved that easing up on consuming either definitely helps. Milk, however is a culprit in causing acne, though doctors aren’t sure why yet; they suspect it’s the hormones in the milk. Similarly, some studies have suggested that cultures in which few people eat refined sugars have fewer cases of acne, but since outbreaks are sometimes determined by genetics, that’s not certain yet. However, with this information at your fingertips, perhaps you will better understand what can and can’t cause outbreaks of this skin problem.

What causes Acne and how to control them Acne begins in puberty, but it does not always end...
Acne Cure For Sure If you are already tired of your acne, you may...
Acne Remedy for Adults: Seven Hours of Sleep and Less Stress Progressively, more and more people are becoming aware of the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Volcanoes Under the Skin

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:26:42 +0000

Acne affects approximately 80 percent of teenagers worldwide. While not a serious disease, it can become a nightmare for those who suffer, and may cause psychological consequences such as low self-esteem and depression. There are now diverse and effective treatments for each type of acne, including the most severe.

According to international epidemiological studies, about 80 percent of kids between 12 and 18 years must face at some point in their adolescence to impetuous emergence of granite or black spots. The grain, besides being a brand unsightly and annoying for anyone, is a phenomenon much more complex than it appears. Its appearance is related to hormones.

During puberty, both in men as in women, by the action of the sexual glands, begins to increase production of certain hormones (androgens), which until then had no effect on the body. Testosterone, male hormone that is present for both men and women serving in the level of the sebaceous gland stimulating. Then, the skin begins to thicken, the pores dilate, especially in the facial area of the center, there are a number of changes in hair, as the presence of dandruff or greater grasitud.

In people with acne happens that excess sebum produced by sebaceous glands, is normally removed by the channel pilosebáceo follicle (pore). Tallow caught dead cells with a cap, especially in the region infrainfundibular; secretion continues but can not leave. Then there is an expansion in the area and is the first of acne lesions, the comedón.

Why affects some more than others?

Doctors explain that the acne of puberty is inevitable, because it is a genetic predisposition and the characteristics of each type of skin. But some factors can exacerbate, including nerves and depression. Experts say that this is a greater sensitivity to the level of testosterone in the hair follicle.

While acne is a characteristic of adolescence, some people suffer more than the 20 or 30 years, and in many cases is related to hormonal imbalances. Sometimes the rashes are caused by some other disease or drugs, in these cases is Acneiform conditions. Among the substances that can generate acne all B vitamins, remedies or bromine rich in iodine, steroids, the anabolic and others.

We know that diet has little or no effect on acne. However, some people are sensitive to certain foods. Remove them from the diet for several weeks and then include them again can help determine their influence over this process dermatological. Some cosmetics may worsen the appearance of grains.

Different types of acne

Acne is not always attack the same way. According to each patient, may or may not be inflammatory. The lighter is characterized by the appearance of black spots formed by a plug of keratin and sebum (the protein that forms the most superficial layer of skin), which can be removed without complications.

But it can also occur secondary inflammation, manifested in the form of papules and pustules. The first is defined as tumorcillos skin (masses of abnormal tissue) eruptive, while the reddish pustules and elevations are caused by a painful inflammation with pus on the surface.

Some very sensitive children may occur deeper inflammatory lesions, called nodular lesions. It is customary, taking into account their size and shape, the papules and pustules are covered under the generic term and microquistes nodes are called cysts.

But why the lesions of acne are primarily to the face, chest and back? Because there are places where sebaceous hair follicles (where the hair is very finite, but the hair is huge sebaceous gland). It is in the level of those follicles where the above changes occur that lead to acne.

There is always a treat

Acne is treated as a team, formed by the dermatologist, cosmetologist and the patient. Although it can not be prevented, it can be controlled with an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. You can use lotions, creams or gels on the basis of retinoic acid and its derivatives. Over time the open comedones and skin improvement. Sometimes antibiotics are administered orally and / or topically.

Some young people with acne, but also suffer from other disorders, may be administered under strict medical supervision that are anti-drugs, hoping that the situation will be regulated in a period of months.

The recommendations of specialists for patients with acne is to avoid touching because it increases inflammation, infection and can leave scars. Moreover, it is advisable to use mild soap to wash and neutral face. In some cases the doctor may indicate azufranados soaps. But while health is a good measure, there are those who abuse it because they believe that washing your face and rubbing often will improve the appearance of the skin when in fact the more irritated.

In some patients, once curing acne scars remain. There are various treatments that can improve by 50 percent the appearance of the skin. Among them are the peelings with different kinds of acids, dermoabrasión (surgical polishing of the skin), and the use of lasers. But the ideal is to control acne so as to avoid having to resort to these polished later.

Acne Skin Care To Lift Your Self Confidence! When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile...
Factors That Cause and Do Not Cause Acne There is almost no need to say that many people...
Adult Acne-Skin Care Treatment If you are an adult men or women and you...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Acne Skin Care To Lift Your Self Confidence!

admin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:46:55 +0000

When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile now, especially those big, blossoming red kind of pimples, well you know what we are talking about. So where exactly did the word pimples ever come from? To my knowledge they have always been around.

You may not realize it but eight percent of individuals are being affected by pimples. Acne involves mainly individuals from the age of 12 to about 24 years old. When you take a look around it may seem as if acne has gotten worse in human society as the years have progressed.

Everyone can see unsightly blemishes on your face so self confidence can quickly be deflated by acne. As soon as you walk into a room you feel uncomfortable, because you think they are noticing your acne condition. Many people resort to make up so it will be less noticeable.

Not only is their self confidence eroded but also they experience a great deal of embarrassment. Mistaking young people try treating acne by pinching and squeezing with increasingly bad results. This is the worst thing you can do, it damages the surrounding tissue, inflames the condition and promotes to acne scars.

Acne skin care should begin with gently washing of your face or affected area, with a mild soap or facial cleanser, especially if you wear make up. With dry skin you should use only plain warm water unless badly soiled. The old belief that you should strongly scrub your skin is a No because you will invite acne scars.

It can be pretty complicated to pick out the right product for acne scar treatment. When you are looking for an acne scar treatment product, you can begin your research by going online. If you believe in home remedies then you can always look on the Internet.

The truth is that there are a lot of home remedies when it comes to acne scar treatment removal. I believe home remedies can be just as effective as synthetic formulas. The benefits of natural home remedies do not have the side effects that chemical ones do.

If you feel like you’re social life and self confidence are at risk, you may want to try some natural ways. Think about trying some vitamins, essential oils and anti-inflamatories. Talk to a counselor in a natural health store to head you into the right direction with acne skin care.

Acne Scar Reduction a Boost To Self Confidence! When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile...
Adult Acne-Skin Care Treatment If you are an adult men or women and you...
Why You Should Care Your Skin The importance of taking care your skin Have you ever...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Best Acne Treatments

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:02:12 +0000

The best acne treatments that are widely practiced today in curing persons suffering from acne consist of the process of reducing the production of sebum by removing dead cells in the skin and wiping out bacteria with natural, tropical and over the counter drugs plus oral kinds of medications. Treatments varies from case to case basis and it depends on the severity, moderately or mildness of the acne infection.

The best acne treatments usually focuses on the process of self care and the proper way of cleaning the skin, keeping it oil free and also by indulging in a well nutrients balanced diet with foods high in zinc, fiber and different kinds of raw foods, also by avoiding alcohol, tobacco, dairy products, sugar, caffeine, processed foods and other foods with high iodine content like salt. All of these are regarded as the best acne treatments done in natural way without resorting to medication.

Other ways of using the best acne treatments includes cleaning the affected skin part with over the counter types of cream and other skin care products that incorporates salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, these types of acne drugs are available in most pharmacies and acne treatment products are all over the market, just learn to choose the best product that offers the best results by reading product reviews that are available online.

Best acne treatments in moderate cases of acne involves a combination of therapies like physical kind of treatment that uses light therapy or acne extraction, sometimes a prescription of retinoid or anti microbial cream will do the job as long as is it applied on the affected skin part continuously.

For severe acne conditions, the best acne treatments are offered by Dermatologists, they will try different methods like laser treatment or medication or oral antibiotic like accutane or sometimes when it is really needed, the process of surgical incision can be used in order to take off surgically the affected skin part which is otherwise known as the Acne Surgery. Other best acne treatments are the use of corticosteroids which can be injected to the patient. This process will help melt a number of cysts under the skin that causes acne.

When in doubt it is always best to consult a skin care specialist or a Dermatologist regarding the best acne treatments that will suit the level of acne infection that a person has, you will never go wrong in the hands of the professional as they know what kind of best acne treatments that can treat your acne.

Adult Acne-Skin Care Treatment If you are an adult men or women and you...
Acne Scar Reduction a Boost To Self Confidence! When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile...
Acne Skin Care To Lift Your Self Confidence! When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Acne Cure For Sure

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:30:29 +0000

If you are already tired of your acne, you may resort to finding expensive acne treatments or you may try some surgical procedures. But these things are so expensive and you don’t know if both will be successful.

Here are some easy tips for acne cure and avoidance:

1. Regular Exercise

Regular exercise can help in acne cure by fighting off negative stress intensity that can come from negative confidence and depression. But avoid wearing tight nylon exercise outfits. These synthetic fabrics that tend to trap body moisture and heat, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. Stick to loose clothing made of cotton or natural blends, and keep your sports gear and equipment clean.

2. Using Safe Cosmetics

To avoid the clogging of pore and skin irritations that can contribute to acne, use products labeled “oil-free”. Select “hypo-allergenic” perfumes and cosmetics to avoid allergic reactions and skin irritation. This may be the best acne cure for women.

3. Have a Healthy Diet

What is best for your body is best for your skin. Don’t forget to eat the right kind of foods that are less in oil and carbohydrates Make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals that have been recommended to prevent and help acne cure. Some of these vitamins and minerals are Vitamin A or Retinol (High doses are toxic), Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, L-Carnitine, and Zinc.

Don’t forget to eat the right kind of foods that are less in oil and carbohydrates.

4. Drinking plenty of fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day helps cleanse our body internally. We know that acne cure can start from within. Fluids, especially water, can wash away the dirt inside our body.

5. Hormonal Treatments and Healthy Skin Regimen
Hormones during later years, especially for women, can play a role in acne cure and prevention for teen years. For adults oral contraceptives or hormonal birth control pills may be helpful for women, combined with systemic or current treatments, prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Avoiding harsh scrubbing or over-washing is a good acne cure, because this can cause possible skin irritation or possible over production of oil to replace what’s washed off, clogging pores in the process. Use products with gentle exfoliation ingredients and skip products that contain alcohol.

6. Shaving

Shaving is actually an excellent way of exfoliating or removing dead skin to help acne cure and prevention instead of leaving the remains to clog pores. Shaving can help remove whiteheads and blackheads from the face. Do not shave areas that are sore or infected. Use a shaving cream for sensitive skin. Gentle swipes instead of heavy pressure and go with the flow or “grain” will be good for the skin. A single-edged blade is better than a twin-blade razor.

7. Stress

Stress includes external and internal stressors. External Stressors are those that compromise your skin’s ability to heal, like oily make-up and too much sun. Internal stressors like worry, fear, low self-esteem, depression and a variety of other emotions, can trigger chemical reactions inside your body that can result in acne outbreak and other skin irritations. To combat internal stressors and prevent acne problems, get plenty of rest and sleep. Try to maintain regular hours.

These are just some ways of acne cure that can help prevent acne outbreak in teens and adults. Always remember that healthy living is the key for a healthy skin.

What causes Acne and how to control them Acne begins in puberty, but it does not always end...
Acne Remedy for Adults: Seven Hours of Sleep and Less Stress Progressively, more and more people are becoming aware of the...
Factors That Cause and Do Not Cause Acne There is almost no need to say that many people...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Acne Scar Reduction a Boost To Self Confidence!

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:07:24 +0000

It may not seem it but the truth is that everyone dreads getting pimples. Many young ladies and young men try to squeeze them but that just makes it worse. This is the wrong thing to do, because it damages the skin and spreads the infection.

It may be difficult to find the product that will be best suited to treat your condition . Although lately there have been great improvements in acne prevention and treatment. It can be difficult to pick out the right product for acne treatment when you have to decide on one of many products.

You can go online to do research on acne scar repair products or home remedies if that is what you prefer. There are a lot of home remedies when it comes to acne scar treatment. Natural home remedies do not have the side effects that chemical ones do and they are just as effective for treating acne.

Are you frustrated because you can’t find a remedy to treat your skin problem. Is you’re self confidence and you’re social life being held for ransom? Go to a Health food store and talk to a knowledgeable person who will get you on the right track to recovery.

Acne Skin Care To Lift Your Self Confidence! When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile...
Finding Natural Herbal Acne Medicine Herbs can be one of your best natural acne treatments....
What causes Acne and how to control them Acne begins in puberty, but it does not always end...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Finding Natural Herbal Acne Medicine

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:56:58 +0000

Herbs can be one of your best natural acne treatments. Of course, if you do not look for over night results though, herbs can work gently and build up in your system over time. It needs 2 to 3 weeks consistent usage before examining effectiveness of treatment.

There following are some herbal medicines that commonly use for acne treatment.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is derived from the tea tree plan native to Australia and it has long been regarded as a topical antiseptic. A laboratory study found that certain active components of tea tree oil effectively slow the growth of P.acnes. The oil’s proponents claim that even severe cases of acne have been shown to benefit from it.

Green Tea Cream

It is derived from the medicinal portion of the green tea leaf. Like benzoyl peroxide, it is also very effective in treating acne. By taking 900 mg a day, green tea extract pills will show varied results in some individuals.

Calendula

Calendula is usually known as pot marigold. People use its orange flowers to make into creams, tinctures and lotions. Some people who have acne problem also wash their skin by using the tea that made from the flowers.

Other herbal acne medicines that include in the diet to balance the hormones are saw palmetto berry extract for boys and chaste tree berry extract for girls. Echinacea can be used to boost the immune system to fight against acne-causing bacteria. Herbs like alfalfa, burdock root, cayenne, chaparral, dandelion root, the herbal combination AKN and BFC, red clover and yellow dock root also may help in treating adult acne. These herbal have been numerous reports of it being extremely effective.

Herbal treatment for acne is a very wide subject that it can include thousands of products made through various different combinations of herbs and plant extracts. It is impossible to cover all of them here! You must be aware that some of these works to some extent and others do nothing and are just a waste of money and time.

There are also many natural supplements that can be prescribed to get rid of acne like ClearPores, Acnezine and Acnope. No matter which natural acne treatment you choose, be patience and you will see results.

Water As A Natural Acne Remedy – Could It Be Possible! As you may already know, there are many acne treatment...
What causes Acne and how to control them Acne begins in puberty, but it does not always end...
Acne Scar Reduction a Boost To Self Confidence! When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.