Working out at the gym may tone your muscles and cause the ladies and gents to swoon over your chiseled physique. But when they get a closer look and realize you’re covered in acne, your six-pack abs can’t save you. Skin, the body’s largest organ, can be riddled with acne problems after a workout.

Even if you don’t suffer from excessive acne, your training may be adversely affecting your skin. Yes, acne can be induced by exercise. But exactly what causes this? Scientists are still uncertain what the exact cause is, but they do have some worthwhile theories. Your lymphatic system is controlled by movement and operates best during exercise. The lymphatic system is also known as “the drainage system of the body”. This system consists of lymph nodes & vessels that carry lymph fluid around your body. This amazing circuit collects waste from tissues and returns it to the blood after it has been fully purified.

If the lymph is insufficiently activated, cells swim in their own waste which can block pores. Lymph fluid is a transparent, pale yellow fluid that carries cells that help fight infection. When the blood cells are not able to unload their toxins via the kidneys, they go to the next best eliminative organ: your skin! When bacteria starts to set in the pores it causes acne. A raised heart rate brought on by exercise also activates your oil- producing sebaceous glands. Some people have over active sebacious glands to begin with and, when mixed with lymph fluid, toxins, or bacteria, the condition produces blemishes induced by exercise. This can creep up on us over a long period of time, which is why persons who never had acne are suddenly plagued by it, regardless of what age the exerciser is.

Because acne appears on one’s outermost layer, the epidermis, there are natural topical remedies which can be used to the exercisers’ advantage. Most acne treatments tend to dry the skin with chemicals and mass- production methods. Organic botanical and herbal extracts which use a processing method called “cold pressing” eliminate alcohol content. Some key plant ingredients in acne treatments are salicylic acid, derived from willow bark and horse tail extract and coltsfoot. Salicylic Acid is a natural beta hydroxy acid which exfoliates surface dead skin cells (keratinocytes) and debris that cause acne. Horsetail extract or coltsfoot are both known for detoxifying and healing properties.

Although there is no quick fix for acne, there are treatments that can help to keep the acne at bay once healed. Camphor, a thick oil derived from the wood of the cnamonum caphora tree, is grown in the Far East. It has been valued for natural remedies since the 12th century. Camphor is now being used to cure acne as a medicinal ingredient that purges skin to remove toxins. Bentonite is a fine mineral clay used to draw excess oil from the skin. When using products containing this combination of natural ingredients as a daily treatment, it has been proven to help with acne induced by exercise without drying the skin.

Sandy Alcide is the founder of Fitness Botanical Skin Care Co,. innovators of Motion Medica, a skin care line formulated for fitness enthusiasts. For information regarding products containing the above listed botanicals, visit www.MotionMedica.com

Andriol represents a very unique approach to testosterone administration. It is the first real attempt to create an oral testosterone since Methyl Testosterone. It is also a viable alternative to injectable testosterone and other oral forms of test (which are often very harsh on the liver).

Andriol is presented in the form of a capsule in which 40mg of Testosterone Undecanoate is encapsulated along with oleic acid (an oil). This design offers many advantages over traditional oral compounds, as it is not c-17 alpha alkylated. Not using this structure in the case of Andriol removes the risk of liver toxicity commonly associated with oral steroids. The active steroid totally bypasses your liver and therefore does not harm this organ. Andriol is in fact absorbed through the lymphatic system, allowing it to avoid the first-pass through the liver – a process which could destroy most of the active compound as well as stressing the liver. It is also rapidly absorbed, with a noted testosterone peak in the blood approximately 2 hours after administration.!

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ANDRIOL: THE GOOD NEWS

The fact that Andriol has a rapid turnover rate in the system (levels peaking in 2 hours and reaching baseline by 12 hours) leads to it being relatively easy on the system. It is not bad for your blood pressure and displays no adverse effects on the prostate. Another benefit when it comes to testosterone undecanoate is the fact that it does not aromatize (convert into estrogen) at the same rate as other testosterones. Studies have also pointed to the fact that this form of testosterone does not reduce levels of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), which are the hormones that tell your body to make more testosterone. It is also doubtful whether Andriol could be too damaging to your HPTA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Testicular-Axis) another regulator of your body’s natural testosterone production. In addition, it has even proven beneficial to lipid profiles and cholesterol levels.

GETTING THE BEST RESULTS

Since Andriol operates via association with your small intestine and lymphatic pathways, taking it with food greatly enhances its bioavailability. Another important factor when considering the use of this substance is the fact that, although it will raise your testosterone levels within 2 hours, they will return to baseline by 10-12 hours. Therefore, should you want to see significant anabolic effects from this product, it is best to consume 4-8 capsules, spaced out evenly, 2-3 times a day.
You will not see the huge gains that can be obtained by the heavier injectable testosterones; then again, you will see significantly less in the way of side effects.

POST CYCLE THERAPY

Should you decide to experiment with a cycle of this drug there is less of a concern over post cycle therapy involved. This is due to the fact that Testosterone Undecanoate does not have the same potential to disrupt the HPTA. However, the use of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) and or Clomid/Nolvadex may be added as an insurance policy against any hormonal imbalances.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As mentioned, Andriol is not a huge mass builder but it is a worthy supplement for those concerned with the side effects normally observed with the use of anabolic steroids. In addition, the fact that it produces such a rapid rise in testosterone levels upon administration may just make it a very worthwhile pre-workout supplement.

N.B. ANDRIOL capsules, manufactured by Genesis Meds, is currently available at a specially reduced price for a limited time at www.maximedicine.com

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.