Interviews with successful ezine publishers renee kennedy

Interviews With Successful Ezine Publishers – Renee Kennedy**

Renee Kennedy is the editor of The NutriCounter Update, a light-hearted ezine that provides one fresh article on a topic related to weight loss, diet, nutrition and weight management. To subscribe, visit
KH: How important has publishing an ezine been to your business?
RK: I think that it’s important to attract and maintain customers in every way that you can. I always think of the “Rule of 7.” It takes about 7 impressions before a customer will buy. I don’t know where this rule came from, but it sure seems to be true.
The more ways that you can reach people, the more likely you are to sell to them. Having an ezine is just one way to advertise and let people know that your products or services exist. It is also one of the most inexpensive ways to reach customers and potential customers.
KH: How long have you been running an ezine and how many subscribers do you have?
RK: I ran a marketing ezine for my own business for 4 years. For the last six months, I’ve been the editor of a health ezine called “NutriCounter Update.” The health ezine now has over 6,000 subscribers.
KH: Can you tell me more about the “NutriCounter?” What does it do? Who does it benefit?
RK: The NutriCounter is a nutritional calculator that helps people keep track of their nutritional intake. People can use it for any type of diet including diets for weight loss, weight gain, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and heart disease.
Good health is always contingent on a healthy diet and the NutriCounter can help people monitor their diet and let them know when they’ve exceeded or met their individual nutritional goals for the day.
KH: Do you write and use your own articles to promote your ezine? How valuable has writing articles been in promoting your ezine?
RK: Yes, we write one original article each month for our monthly publication. It’s valuable to get and keep subscribers … but it’s also an excellent way to spread our URL around.
Once we’ve written an article and published it in the newsletter, we send the article out to several Free Content lists and sites. These articles always get picked up by several sites or ezines. We use an author’s resource box to direct readers back to our site.
KH: What methods do you use to promote your products or services within your ezine?
RK: The “Editor’s Remarks” section of the newsletter is the most powerful section. That is the section that everyone reads if they are going to read anything. So, if we have an important offering, we always endorse it in the Editor’s Remarks section. We’ve used many different ways to get people to buy.
Some examples are:
— contests
— buy one get one free or buy one get one at a reduced price
— coupons
— discounts (i.e., 10% discount only by clicking on this link).
KH: How do you go about preparing your ezine for publication?
RK: First, we research and write an article – trying to keep it between 800 to 1000 words. While that’s going on, I write the Editor’s Remarks section which will usually revolve around the article topic. Then I put the content into a premade template. I edit the whole ezine about 3-5 times. Then I send it off to our Associate Editor for editing. Finally, the Editor in Chief gets to edit it. It goes through at least three sets of eyes before it gets sent out.
KH: Any advice to future ezine publishers? Things to look out for or things to concentrate on when publishing an ezine?
RK: Provide original content specific to a niche group – don’t try to be everything to everyone, concentrate on providing information that you’re an expert on.
Be personable and reach out to your audience. If you can touch the audience you will have a high retention rate. People don’t just want information, they want to know who’s talking to them, they want the information to get a little personal.
Examine the ezines that you stay subscribed to. Ask yourself why you like those particular ezines or newsletters. In other words, read a lot – don’t get wrapped up in your own stuff, get out there and see what other people are doing.
The beauty of an ezine is that you have the ability to try different things … contests, ad swaps, discounts, coupons, HTML. Don’t be afraid to try different things and see what works for your niche.

Your family and your acne

Your Family And Your Acne

Acne has become a perennial problem for most teenagers and young adults as well. Studies show that millions of people across the globe encounter this problem. One fact to support this statement is the high percentage which is 89% of the whole teenage population which has acne problems. To address this worldwide concern, researchers and studies have been made in order to find out more about this problem.
The latest study conducted with regards to acne showed that genetics play a great role in developing this problem. The study was made with 1,000 Iranian high school students. According to the researchers, 20% of the students who have moderate to severe acne have a family history of having the same problems. However, 10% of the students who has similar case of severity showed no family history with acnes. With this, Dr. Christos C. Zouboulis, the senior researcher of the Dessau Medical Center in Germany, states that children who have acne problems and whose parents have the same history should be monitored regularly. He also said that treatment should be made, right from the very first acne breakouts.
Researchers explained further that acne severity is closely linked to genetic composition of the individual. They claim that teenagers whose mothers had acne problems were likely to encounter the same problem. And the risk of having acne is increased if the fathers have the same problem too. This is because of the X chromosome being transmitted by the father (XX chromosome of the girl offspring is from father and mother, XY chromosome of boy offspring comes from mother and father).
Another result in this study answered the question of why teenagers are mostly affected by acne problems. According to researchers, elevations in hormones, especially testosterone, is the primary reason of acne breakouts because they cause larger follicular glands thus producing more sebum. Girls’ menstrual cycle also plays a role in acne breakouts.
Zouboulis also points out other important factors in acne problems. He said that recent studies have showed that diet also contributes to acne flare-ups.
To address your acne problems, one good thing to do is to know your family history. Knowing your family history will give you a head’s up on what are your chances with this condition. With these acne facts, work hand in hand with your dermatologist on how to get rid of acne. That would help you know what steps to take and so you need not be bothered that much about your condition.

Honey as moisturizer

Honey As Moisturizer

Honey As Moisturizer
Environmental factors like chemicals, pollution and smoke, but the sun and wind are the two main reasons why your skin becomes dry and damaged. Because it feels rough and sore, you reach for the closest bottle of lotion and hope it helps.
Did you know that honey as an ingredient is good for you and your skin’s health? It not only soothes your skin, it’s also an effective skincare aid.
Honey as a moisturizer is nothing new. It has been around for centuries and used in natural skin care. Cleopatra used honey as moisturizer to keep her beauty undamaged.
Damage to the collagen fibers causes sagging and lost firmness. Damage to cellular membranes causes tiny breaks in the brick and mortar foundation that is your skin. Eventually, the tiny bits of molecular damage add up to fine lines and visible wrinkling. In order to reverse wrinkles, you have to repair the molecular damage.
Antioxidants are known to prevent the damage, but there has been some debate concerning whether or not they can repair it, effectively reversing wrinkles and increasing firmness. The debate may be about to come to an end as research concerning retinoids and, lately, coenzyme Q10 continues to be published.
This particular honey is obtained from the manuka bush thus the name manuka honey. Because of the presence of unique enzymes containing antibacterial properties, known as the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), it’s effective in healing skin sores and blemishes including acne and even more serious skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
This particular type of honey penetrates deeply into your skin to nourish, rejuvenate and to make it look younger and softer. And, because it’s a strong antioxidant, it protects skin from damage caused by free radicals found in environmental pollutants.
Using this honey as moisturizer also supports the skin’s own cell renewal process. Because it promotes the production of collagen and elastin in your skin, the two proteins keep your skin firm, elastic and wrinkle-free.
Oils were and are still used to heal, relax, excite, for rituals, psychic and spiritual healing. During ancient times oil was also used as trade for gold, silver and other goods and services.
How much truth there is to the story of robbers using a concoction of cinnamon, clove and oregano which they applied to their bodies to help their immune system ward off the plague is anybody’s guess. Stories abound of the curative nature of oils.
Evening primrose oil can be used to treat eczema and other skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, both orally and topically. If you use EP capsules to reduce the effects of the menopause, and also suffer from any of these conditions, try opening a capsule and rubbing it on one of the effective areas and then monitor it. You should eventually notice a difference between the treated and untreated areas.
It also moisturizes your skin and keeps it soft, even when exposed to the harsh chemicals found in washing up liquids and other cleaning products. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are the classic properties needed of a substance to prevent or moderate the inflammatory of the immune system to triggers such as the damage caused by conditions such as acne, promoted mainly by the bacterial infection of the pores of the skin that have been plugged by excess sebum or skin oil
You can rub in evening primrose oil to have the opposite effect and smooth and help clean the pores, and then heal any damage caused by the acne to the skin. In this way scars caused by the pustules can be minimized. When it used on inflammatory skin conditions, it soothes the burning sensation of eczema, and helps to alleviate the redness and itching of that and of acne and psoriasis. The oil has also been found effective in treating various forms of dermatitis, including some severe industrial forms of the condition.

Frequently asked questions about acne

Frequently Asked Questions About Acne

Acne is a very common disease. People who have it tend to have similar kinds of questions about it and its treatment. This section addresses some of the common questions asked by people with acne. Please remember that your dermatologist is always the best source of specific information about your individual health issues, including acne.

Questions and Answer does follows:

1. What causes acne?

The causes of acne are linked to the changes that take place as young people mature from childhood to adolescence (puberty). The hormones that cause physical maturation also cause the sebaceous (oil) glands of the skin to produce more sebum (oil). The hormones with the greatest effect on sebaceous glands are androgens (male hormones), which are present in females as well as males, but in higher amounts in males.

Sebaceous glands are found together with a hair shaft in a unit called a sebaceous follicle. During puberty, the cells of the skin that line the follicle begin to shed more rapidly. In people who develop acne, cells shed and stick together more so than in people who do not develop acne. When cells mix with the increased amount of sebum being produced, they can plug the opening of the follicle. Meanwhile, the sebaceous glands continue to produce sebum, and the follicle swells up with sebum.

In addition, a normal skin bacteria called P. acnes, begins to multiply rapidly in the clogged hair follicle. In the process, these bacteria produce irritating substances that can cause inflammation. Sometimes, the wall of the follicle bursts, spreading inflammation to the surrounding skin. This is the process by which acne lesions, from blackheads to pimples to nodules, are formed.

2. I wash my face several times a day. Why do I still get acne?

Many people still believe that acne is caused by dirty skin. The truth is, washing alone will not clear up or prevent acne. Washing does, however, help remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells. Many people use all kinds of products, including alcohol-based cleansers, and scrub vigorously, only to irritate the skin further and worsen their acne. Washing the skin twice a day gently with water and a mild soap is usually all that is required. However, acne is actually caused by a variety of biologic factors that are beyond the control of washing. For that reason, you should use appropriate acne treatments for the acne.

3. Does stress cause acne?

Stress is commonly blamed for the development of acne. Stress can have many physiologic effects on the body, including changes in hormones that may theoretically lead to acne. In some cases the stress may actually be caused by the acne lesions, not the other way around! If the acne is being treated effectively, stress is not likely to have much impact on the majority of people.

4. I never had acne as a teenager. Why am I now getting acne as an adult?

Usually, acne begins at puberty and is gone by the early 20s. In some cases, acne may persist into adulthood. Such types of acne include severe forms that affect the body as well as the face (which afflict males more than females) and acne associated with the menstrual cycle in women. In other cases, acne may not present itself until adulthood. Such acne is more likely to affect females than males.

There are several reasons for this. As females get older, the pattern of changes in hormones may itself change, disposing sebaceous glands to develop acne. Ovarian cysts and pregnancy may also cause hormonal changes that lead to acne. Some women get acne when they discontinue birth control pills that have been keeping acne at bay. Sometimes young women may wear cosmetics that are comedogenic-that is, they can set up conditions that cause comedones to form.

5. What role does diet play in acne?

Acne is not caused by food. Following a strict diet will not, clear your skin. While some people feel that their acne is aggravated by certain foods, particularly chocolate, colas, peanuts, shellfish and some fatty foods, there is no scientific evidence that suggests food causes or influences acne. Avoid any foods which seem to worsen your acne and, for your overall health, eat a balanced diet-but diet shouldn’t really matter if the acne is being appropriately treated.

6. Does the sun help acne?

Many patients feel that sunlight improves their acne lesions and go to great lengths to find sources of ultraviolet light. There is no proven effect of sunlight on acne. In addition, ultraviolet light in sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer and early aging of the skin. It is, therefore, not a recommended technique of acne management, especially since there are many other proven forms of treatment for acne. Moreover, many acne treatments increase the skin’s sensitivity to ultraviolet light, making the risk of ultraviolet light exposure all the worse.

7. What is the best way to treat acne?

Everyone’s acne must be treated individually. If you have not gotten good results from the acne products you have tried, consider seeing a dermatologist. Your dermatologist will decide which treatments are best for you. For more information about the types of acne treatments that are available, and for basic acne treatment guidelines, please see Acne Treatments in the main part of AcneNet.

8. What kind of cosmetics and cleansers can an acne patient use?

Look for “noncomedogenic” cosmetics and toiletries. These products have been formulated so that they will not cause acne.

Some acne medications cause irritation or pronounced dryness particularly during the early weeks of therapy, and some cosmetics and cleansers can actually worsen this effect. The choice of cosmetics and cleansers should be made with your dermatologist or pharmacist.

Heavy foundation makeup should be avoided. Most acne patients should select powder blushes and eye shadow over cream products because they are less irritating and noncomedogenic. Camouflaging techniques can be used effectively by applying a green undercover cosmetic over red acne lesions to promote color blending.

9. Is it harmful to squeeze my blemishes?

Yes. In general, acne lesions should not be picked or squeezed by the patient. In particular, inflammatory acne lesions should never be squeezed. Squeezing forces infected material deeper into the skin, causing additional inflammation and possible scarring.

1. Can anything be done about scarring caused by acne?

Scarring is best prevented by getting rid of the acne. Dermatologists can use various methods to improve the scarring caused by acne. The treatment must always be individualized for the specific patient. Chemical peels may be used in some patients, while dermabrasion or laser abrasion may benefit others. It is important that the acne be well controlled before any procedure is used to alleviate scarring.

2. How long before I see a visible result from using my acne medication?

The time for improvement depends upon the product being used, but in almost all cases it is more a matter of weeks or months instead of days. Most dermatologists would recommend the use of a medication or combination of medications daily for 4 to 8 weeks before they would change the treatment. It is very important for patients to be aware of this time frame so they do not become discouraged and discontinue their medications. Conversely, if you see no change whatsoever, you might want to check with your dermatologist regarding the need to change treatments.

3. Would using my medication more frequently than prescribed speed up the clearing of my acne?

No-always use your medication exactly as your dermatologist instructed. Using topical medications more often than prescribed may actually induce more irritation of the skin, redness and follicular plugging, which can delay clearing time. If oral medications are taken more frequently than prescribed, they won’t work any better, but there is a greater chance of side effects.

4. My topical treatment seems to work on the spots I treat, but I keep getting new acne blemishes. What should I do?

Topical acne medications are made to be used on all acne-prone areas, not just individual lesions. Part of the goal is to treat the skin before lesions can form and to prevent formation, not just to treat existing lesions. Patients are generally advised to treat all of the areas (forehead, cheeks, chin and nose) that tend to break out rather than just individual lesions.

5. My face is clear! Can I stop taking my medication now?

If your dermatologist says you can stop, then stop-but follow your dermatologist’s instructions. Many times patients will stop their medication suddenly only to have their acne flare up several weeks later. If you are using multiple products, it may be advisable to discontinue one medication at a time and judge results before discontinuing them all at once. Ask your dermatologist before you stop using any of your medications.

6. Does it matter what time I use my medication?

Check with your dermatologist or pharmacist. If you were taking one dose a day of an antibiotic, you could probably take it in the morning, at midday or in the evening, although you should pick one time of day and stay with it throughout your treatment. With oral medications prescribed twice a day or three times a day, you should try your best to spread out the doses evenly. Some antibiotics should be taken on an empty or nearly empty stomach. For optimal results with topical treatments, you should strictly follow your dermatologist’s recommendations. For example, if instructed to apply benzoyl peroxide in the morning and a topical retinoid at bedtime, it is important to follow these directions strictly. If the two were applied together at bedtime, for example, you could decrease the efficacy of the treatment because of chemical reactions that make them less effective.

7. I have trouble remembering to take my oral medication every day. What’s a good way to remember? What should I do if I forget a dose?

This is a common problem. Many patients try to associate taking their medication with a routine daily event such as brushing teeth or applying makeup. It also helps to keep the medication close to the area where the reminder activity is carried out.

In most cases, if you miss a day of your oral treatment, do not double up the next day; rather, get back to your daily regimen as soon as possible-but there may be different instructions for different oral medications. Ask your dermatologist or pharmacist about what to do if you miss a dose of your particular medication.

8. I have been using topical benzoyl peroxide and an oral antibiotic for my acne and have noticed blue-black and brown marks developing on my face and some discoloration on my body. The marks are especially noticeable around acne scars and recently healed lesions. Is this a side effect of medication and is it permanent?

It is not possible to make general statements about side effects of medications that apply to individual cases. A dermatologist should be consulted. The facial marks and body discoloration described by the patient in this case do fall within the range of side effects of some antibiotics.

Unique patterns of pigmentation are sometimes seen in acne patients treated with certain oral antibiotics-particularly minocycline. The pigmentation patterns that appear may include:
* Localized blue-black or brown marks in and around acne scars and in areas of previous acne inflammation

* A “muddy skin” appearance that may cover much of the body

* Diffuse brownish pigmentation of the feet and lower legs.

The pigmentation side effect gradually disappears after the therapy is discontinued.

Any side effect of a medication should be noted by the patient and brought to the attention of the physician. While most side effects are temporary they should be discussed with the physician and monitored.

1. My doctor is prescribing a topical retinoid for my acne. He said a retinoid is a substance related to vitamin A. If the drug is related to vitamin A, shouldn’t vitamin A dietary supplements be helpful in getting rid of acne?

Dietary vitamin A is essential to good health, especially vision. It has healthful effects in the skin. Large doses of vitamin A for the treatment of acne is not recommended on grounds of safety. The retinoids and retinoid-like substances used as topical treatments for acne are prepared especially for their potent effect on the shedding of cell lining in the sebaceous follicle. Their use should be monitored by a dermatologist.

Dietary vitamin A has multiple health effects in the human body. Vitamin A is essential for good vision. Extreme vitamin A deficiency can result in blindness, usually accompanied by dry, scaly skin. Vitamin A overdose that far exceeds the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 5,000 IU can have effects nearly as catastrophic. Extreme vitamin A overdose can cause the skin to blister and peel-an effect first seen in early North Pole explorers who nearly died after eating polar bear liver that has an extraordinarily high vitamin A content.

Topical retinoids are usually prescribed as a treatment for moderate to severe acne. Side effects are chiefly dermatologic, including redness, scaling and dryness of the skin, itching and burning. These side effects can usually be managed by adjustment of the amount and timing of retinoid applied to the skin. Dose adjustment must be discussed with the dermatologist who prescribed the treatment.

2. Are there any acne treatments specifically for people with dark skin? Are there any treatments specifically harmful to dark skin?

There are no acne treatments specifically for use on dark skin. Acne treatments are generally as safe and effective on dark skin as on light skin. Some treatments for acne scars may cause temporary lightening of dark skin.

Acne is a common skin disease that has the same causes and follows the same course in all colors of skin.

Very dark or black skin may be less well-moisturized than lighter skin. Topical anti-acne agents such as benzoyl peroxide that have a drying effect on the skin should be used under the supervision of a dermatologist. Benzoyl peroxide also is a strong bleach and therefore must be applied carefully to avoid inadvertent decolorization of a patch of hair, towels or clothing.

Darker skin has a tendency to develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (excessive skin darkening at places where the skin was inflamed). Severe inflammatory acne may result in dark spots. The spots resolve over time; a dermatologist may be able to recommend cosmetic measures to make the spots less apparent until they resolve. Some acne treatments, such as topical retinoids and azelaic acid, may also help fade the discoloration.

Removal of acne scars by dermabrasion or chemical peeling may cause temporary lightening or darkening of dark skin in the areas of treatment. Scar treatment should be discussed with a dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon before it is undertaken.

Alterations of melanin (dark pigments that give the skin its color) pigmentation such as vitiligo and melasma are not related to acne, but they may be present simultaneously with acne. The diagnosis and treatment of melanin pigmentation disorders such as vitiligo requires a dermatologist with knowledge and experience in treating these conditions.

3. Is acne that appears for the first time in adulthood different from acne that appears in adolescence?

Acne has a specific definition as a disease of sebaceous follicles. This definition applies to acne that occurs at any age. However, it may be important to look for an underlying cause of acne that occurs for the first time in adulthood.

Current understanding of the causes of acne vulgaris is described in the Main Text section Why and how acne happens. In brief summary, acne vulgaris develops when excessive sebum production and abnormal growth and death of cells in the sebaceous follicle result in plugging of follicles with a mixture of sebum and cellular debris and formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). Bacteria in the follicles-chiefly Propionibacterium acnes, the most common bacterial colonist of sebaceous follicles-may contribute to the inflammation of acne by release of metabolic products that cause inflammatory reaction. The pathogenic events, which cause disease, in the sebaceous follicle are believed to be due in large degree to changes in levels of androgenic (male) hormones in the body-a circumstance usually associated with growth and development between ages 12 and

4. Some acne investigators believe that although this understanding is generally correct, there is more yet to be learned about the causes of acne vulgaris.

Acne that appears after the age of 25-30 years is (1) a recurrence of acne that cleared up after adolescence, (2) a flare-up of acne after a period of relative quiet-for example, during pregnancy, or (3) acne that occurs for the first time in a person who had never previously had acne.

Acne that occurs in adulthood may be difficult to treat if there are multiple recurrences. Some patients with severe recurrent acne have undergone repeated courses of treatment with the potent systemic drug isotretinoin.

Acne flares in association with pregnancy or menstruation are due to changes in hormonal patterns.

Acne that appears for the first time in adulthood should be investigated for any underlying cause. Drugs that can induce acne include anabolic steroids (sometimes used illegally by athletes to “bulk up”), some anti-epileptic drugs, the anti-tuberculosis drugs isoniazid and rifampin, lithium, and iodine-containing drugs. Chlorinated industrial chemicals may induce the occupational skin disorder known as chloracne. Chronic physical pressure on the skin-for example, by a backpack and its straps, or a violin tucked against the angle of the jaw and chin-may induce so-called acne mechanica. Some metabolic conditions may cause changes in hormonal balance that can induce acne.

Some lesions that appear to be acne may be another skin disorder such as folliculitis-infection and inflammation of hair follicles-that require different treatment than acne. Acne that appears for the first time in adulthood should be examined and treated by a dermatologist.

5. My 15-year-old daughter has what I would describe as a very mild case of acne. She has made it much worse by constant picking and squeezing. She looks in the mirror for hours, looking for some blackhead or blemish she can pick or squeeze. Does she need psychological counseling?

Excessive picking and squeezing of otherwise mild acne is a condition called excoriated acne, seen most often in young women. A dermatologist may provide effective counseling.

The typical person with excoriated acne is a person-often a young women-who is so distressed with her appearance due to acne that she literally tries to “squeeze the acne out of existence.” The acne is often very mild, but the person’s face may constantly be covered with red marks from squeezing, and open sores where lesions have been picked open.

The word excoriate means to scratch or abrade the skin. Excoriated acne is a medically recognized condition that should be discussed with a dermatologist. Occasionally giving in to a temptation to squeeze a blackhead is not defined as excoriated acne. Hours in front of a mirror, squeezing and picking every blemish, is a definition of excoriated acne. A dermatologist may be able to counsel the patient regarding a course of treatment in which the patient can participate, but keep “hands off.”

6. Can the rate of secretion or the composition of sebum be altered by diet? If it can, shouldn’t alteration of diet be considered a treatment for acne?

Diet has never been proven to have a role in the cause or treatment of acne. Dietary manipulation may have a role in the treatment of some scaling diseases of the skin, but not in the treatment of acne.

Dietary cause is one of the most persistent myths about acne. Foods, such as chocolate or greasy foods, do not cause acne, but certain foods seem to make some people’s acne worse. The following can bring on or worsen it:

*Hereditary factors

*An increase in male hormones found in both males and females

*Menstruation

*Emotional stress

*Oil and grease from cosmetics, work environment

No food has been shown to be effective in preventing or treating acne. A healthy diet is, of course, necessary for good general health.

7. Shouldn’t I just try to eliminate sebum from my body?

No. When it isn’t blocked in your pores, sebum helps keep your skin healthy.

8. Why does acne usually start at puberty?

No one knows for certain. What is known is that the sebaceous glands that produce sebum get much larger at puberty than they were before.

9. Why does the skin around a pimple turn red?

This redness is caused by the body’s inflammatory response. Inflammation is a sign that your immune system is working to fight an infection. However, the inflammatory response doesn’t always work perfectly, and can even be the cause of scarring.

10. If my skin turns red, does that mean that I’m going to have scars?

Usually, no. Even when there will be no permanent scar, the aftereffects of the inflammatory response can leave the skin red for months, sometimes for more than a year.

11. What are free radicals?

Free radicals are byproducts of oxidation in your body. We all need oxidation to occur as part of our life process, but there is concern that the buildup of unrecycled free radicals contributes to many conditions, including skin damage. Antioxidants, including several of the active ingredients in Acuzine, help prevent the buildup of free radicals.