Acne Life

Excoriated Acne – How Acne Picking Makes The Condition Worse

J.Nykoluk — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:23:51 +0000

When your mother used to tell you that picking at a cut would make it worse, she wasn’t kidding. If you are still doing it to this day, however, then the chances are that you have a compulsive skin picking disorder – apparently not that uncommon in this day and age. But picking at a healed cut or spot is a big mistake. It can lead to a small scab becoming a large wound, and can very easily result in infection. The unsightly blemish that results is known as excoriated acne.

“Excoriate” means to strip the hide or skin off something. It is a word that is used figuratively as much as anything, often being used to explain the severe telling off that an unruly child might get from a parent. But it does have a literal application, and the obsessive habit of picking at our skin is an example of how excoriation is a genuine problem. Anyone can develop excoriated acne, but it is more common among women.

Excoriated acne is the result of a desire to pick, squeeze, or scratch at blemishes, even creating new blemishes in some cases. This leads to open sores which, when they scab over, are prime for picking again. It can be a very hard habit to break, sometimes only stopping when the skin ceases scabbing. At this point, what you are left with is open red sores and inflammation. This is excoriated acne, and can be very unsightly and also potentially very unhealthy.

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Laser Treatments for Acne and How They Benefit You

J.Nykoluk — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:18:51 +0000

Men and women have had their battles with acne for well over 2000 years, if not longer, and the fight continues to this day. In all this time, acne has certainly shown to be a formidable opponent indeed. The weapons used in the war against acne though have improved, and advances in laser treatments for acne prone people are fast becoming the weapon of choice for those want to get rid of their acne faster than they otherwise would have.

Before you stand up and cheer with the thought that you can finally get rid of your cystic acne once and for all, remember that not all laser treatments for acne will benefit you as much as you hope. You have to do your homework. This article should just be one of several that you should read, but I will do my best to give you a bit of background into the types of acne laser treatments that are currently available…remember that word “currently”, because technology not only continues to evolve but evolve exponentially as we go forth.

Listen to this podcast:

Laser Treatment for Acne

Where many acne treatments have successful short term results, laser technology used for the treatment of acne is boasting more longer term results. But the degree of success in controlling acne breakouts using laser technology can also depend on many factors such as the severity and type of acne you have and the type of acne laser used.

Well, I can’t exactly tell what type of acne you have but I can talk about a few of the laser treatments for acne that are available for you to check into. I’ll get into more laser treatments for acne in other articles as well. Watch for it.

Acne Laser Treatment Technologies

One such laser technology used to treat acne called is called Isolaz also uses a vacuum to help clean out pores from the skin of their patients and then uses an intense pulse of light to kill the bacteria responsible for the acne. Check out this video.

They claim that thousands of patents have already benefited from this technology and that the procedure takes only about 15 minutes or so and is quite painless. You should note that the number of laser treatments you need depends on how severe your acne is. Also, even greater success can happen when this laser treatment is combined with other prescription based acne treatments.

Now, after watching the video you may be asking how light from a laser kills the bacteria that cause acne. Well, when a laser lights up the acne on your face it burns the follicle sac away where the hair grows along with the sebaceous gland where oil is produced. This causes oxygen to build up where the bacteria is on your skin. Oxygen kills the bacteria that causes acne just like it makes metal turn to rust.

One drawback to lasers used to treat acne is that sometimes they can really burn your skin and turn your skin red if proper care and precautions aren’t in place. If mistakes are made your skin could become damaged by the heat and long term spots or dryness could develop.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the small-scale use of lasers for the treatment of acne. Although results have been mixed, many findings are showing great promise for some devices where others were injuring patients with burn wounds due to coolant failure.

…This article to be continued…

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Acne scars – how to fix them

The Long History of Acne

J.Nykoluk — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:04:49 +0000

Although there are many who would suggest that acne is as much a result of a problematic lifestyle, and a product of the way we have changed from natural nutrients to artificial over the years, it would be fair to say that it is a little bit more complicated – and historical than all that. In fact, there are believed to be documents proving that in Ancient Rome, bathing in hot springs was considered a worthwhile acne solution. These springs contained sulfurous water, and it may have been from this knowledge that nineteenth century dermatologists discovered the effectiveness of sulfur as an acne treatment. Sine the beginning of the 20th century, however, the rate of experimentation has gone sky high.

It is a little known fact that, during the 1930s, laxatives were recommended as a cure. In this day and age, we speak of detox as being good for our skin. It can be seen that the same was true nearly eighty years ago, even if the reality was slightly more crude back then. Experimentation continued, however, and in the 1950s the focus switched to antibiotics. Although these were effective, it turned out that as much of the effect was down to the anti-inflammatory aspect of the pills as to the anti-bacterial factor.

The first serious side effect to an acne drug came in the mid-1980s, when the long-popular medication Accutane turned out to cause birth defects. Since those days, it has been a matter of trying to find ways of curing acne without causing serious problems. Light therapy and vitamins have since taken on a real importance.

The 5 Best Homemade Remedies for Acne

J.Nykoluk — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:16:21 +0000

If you’re not the type of person that likes putting over-the-counter medication or other chemicals on your skin there are homemade remedies for acne that are natural, mostly free and take very little effort to do.

Depending on the severity of your acne problem you should still see your doctor for advice but there are steps you can take to help improve your skin condition.

Although there are a number of acne remedies available that may be better for you than others, the more information you have the better you’re able to battle this affliction. These five remedies are not in any particular order of importance. They’re all important. In fact, they should be done together as part of a healthy lifestyle. So with that said, here are:

Five Homemade Remedies for Acne that can not only treat your skin, but can also maintain it and even prevent future outbreaks of acne.

1. Vitamin D and Acne: Sunshine and fresh air from the great outdoors is the best thing for your skin and your stress levels…as long as you do it right. Your skin absorbs Vitamin D from the sun and is used to help calcium absorption from the foods you eat.

Just remember not to get too much sun exposure as your skin can burn. One tip is to take a Vitamin D supplement together with a calcium/magnesium supplement.

The idea here is to do this slowly and over time. One piece of advice I’m a little hesitant on giving is the use of sunscreens. Remember that sunscreens contain chemicals that get absorbed into your skin which can just make your acne worse than it already is. (I’ll get into more nutrition tips and even sunscreens in further articles on this blog.)

2. Stress and Acne: I mentioned in the above tip how fresh air and sunshine can help reduce stress levels. Stress can not only be bad for your skin, but for other parts of your body including your mind; especialy your emotions. Stress can cause your body to trigger an inflammation response that can affect the pores of your skin. If the walls of the pores break your skin will turn red and more zits with pus will develop.

Stress can cause your body to affect your health negatively in so many ways that you really need to learn about and do something about it. But stress isn’t all bad. Exercise can be very stressful on your body but it’s a good stress that goes a long way to reduce what ever it is that bothers you…just don’t exercise so much that you pass out.

Other than exercise, there are so many ways to reduce stress levels to help keep your acne under control that more on this topic will be covered later.

3. Water and Acne: Without drinking adequate amounts of water the pores of your skin can be more easily blocked causing an acne breakout. I’m not talking about drinking soft drinks with way too much bad stuff in it. I’m talking about pure clean unadulterated water. Green tea is also good for you, but I’ll get into that more later.

Think about this too. How is your body supposed to get rid of all those toxins that your body takes in throughout your life without water to transport all that crap out of your body where it doesn’t belong.

The best way to cleanse your body with water is by sipping it continuously throughout the day rather than just guzzling the eight glasses everyone recommends. Yep, you heard right. The goal of drinking water is to keep your body hydrated so it can carry out its normal bodily functions. To test if you are hydrated, take a look at your urine. If it’s clear or pale yellow, you’re nicely hydrated. The darker your urine is the more water you need to drink – simple.

4. Leave your Skin Alone. Ever hear the slogan “less is more”. Over washing your face or other body parts that are affected by acne will just make your acne worse. Washing too much causes your skin to dry out and when that happens your body responds by producing more oil. If the dead skin cells on your body are not falling off as efficiently as they should, your pores get blocked…yet again…and of course…more acne breakouts.

When your do wash up, there are products and other things you can do to make washing more effective so you don’t have to do it so often. There are good acne washes available that can help a lot.

5. Eat Acne Fighting Foods: Not only are their bad foods that cause acne there are foods there are delicious tasting foods that fight acne. Eating more fruits, vegetables and even seeds and nuts are some of the best things you can do to reduce acne. Other foods that help to lower acne problems are wholegrain breads and skim milk over whole milk because of the lower amount of bacteria present in skim milk. There are other good foods you should eat and others you should avoid can eat that are very helpful in treating acne, but we’ll get to that in other articles.

What you don’t want to eat if you’re at all interested in getting rid of your acne are foods that contain a lot of trans-fats which have been recognized causing inflammation leading to acne. Cookies, chips, cakes all have trans-fats at least to some degree. The good news is that there has been a lot of back lash towards food manufactures about this and they have strived to comply with consumer wishes.

Basically it all comes down to habits. The more you can change your bad habits into good habits, the more successful you will be in your bid to reduce and maintain the severity of your acne. I’m not saying these tips will cure your acne, but they will go a long way. Remember how the saying goes – “Garbage In – Garbage Out”. If you keep putting garbage in your body, you’ll most likely get garbage out…think pus.

Do you have have any homemade remedies for acne that have helped you? Please share it with us and help us help someone else.

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What are the Foods that Cause Acne?

J.Nykoluk — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:16:50 +0000

In the quest to cure acne faster and prevent it, medical science is looking at all the possible causes and treatments. In this respect various foods are getting examined and doctors are trying to find out if food has any connection with acne formation. Let us find out more about it.

Acne and chocolates -

Many people believe that chocolates make acne worse.

Many people believe that oily food will cause oily skin and make them more susceptible to acne. Acne formation does depend on stress. Genetics may have a definite role in acne formation. Why a teenager has got face full of spots, while other gets none. These are the mysteries of human body. Both produce hormones and both are at the age when most of the teenagers should expect acne. But some of them don’t get any. Some of them not only get acne in adolescence but keep on getting it as they grow up.

Acne and food connection -

There may be a connection between eating a particular food and getting acne. But science has yet to come to a conclusion about it.

That does not mean that your acne may not be getting by a particular food. Science has not solved all the mysteries and many of grandma’s recipes work for no scientific reason. It is for you to make a chart of food and acne. Whenever you get a flare up, try to find out if you had eaten any particular food. If this match continues, avoid that food.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Popping Pimples – Can Popping Your Pimples Make Your Acne Worse?

J.Nykoluk — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:07:08 +0000

One of the most common pieces of advice that we receive as children and adolescents is “don’t squeeze it/pick it, you’ll just make it worse!”. Frequently this is extremely good advice, as picking at a blemish is likely to spread it further and create a wider surface area of exposed skin ripe for infection. Picking should not be part of your skin care regime. However, there is a place for popping pimples or zits every once in a while, once they have “crowned” – just make sure you do it at the right time and in the right way, or expect it to come back bigger and bring friends.

After a shower or a bath is the ideal time to pop a zit, It is at this point that the skin is able to breathe and will be less affected by a small prick with a needle. Make sure the needle has been sterilised and then gently pierce the surface. Taking two pieces of tissue paper, cover your index fingers or thumbs and push firmly down on the sides. This part is most enjoyable when done in front of a mirror, as it allows you to see the popping with your own eyes. Drain as much pus as you comfortably can, and stop if you see blood.

Some spots, however ready and ripe they may look, will not pop at this stage. Whatever you do, don’t force it. It will hurt, and even if it does pop it will leave a scar. Play the waiting game, and you will be rewarded.

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Acne scars – how to fix them

J.Nykoluk — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:06:24 +0000

For many acne sufferers, the scars left behind by the condition pose as much problem as the papules and blackheads themselves. While papules and blackheads can, to a certain extent, be cleared by a rigorous facial cleansing regime, there is no such short cut possible when it comes to the scars. Some people have skin that is so badly marked by old acne scars that they go to the extent of saving up to pay for plastic surgery. If, however, you can get a grip on the problem before it becomes serious, then you can treat it and be over it before too long.

One step that is advised by more than a few sources is a method that is totally free of charge – drinking water. Drinking as much water as you comfortably can is a good idea anyway – it keeps you feeling vibrant and awake naturally – but in terms of skin condition it really is excellent. Dead skin cells drop off more rapidly, and the skin that grows in its place is a lot smoother and cleaner. Fruit and vegetables, and particularly citrus fruit (its juices more so than any other part) are also excellent for hydration and vitamins.

One of nature’s other gifts for the removal of acne scars is Aloe Vera. It is available in a number of compounds, including gel or juice which can both be rubbed into the skin. Aloe Vera has long been used for its kindness to skin, and its nourishing values.

Acne Cysts and How to Treat Your Cystic Acne

J.Nykoluk — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 03:16:01 +0000

Deep cysts, inflammation, extensive damage to the skin and scarring characterize severe acne. It often requires an aggressive treatment regimen and should be treated by a dermatologist. Severe forms of acne can require years of treatment and may experience one or more treatment failures. However, almost every case of acne can be successfully treated. There are five popular treatments for acne cysts. There are many effective treatments that are available currently. Drainage and surgical excision, inner lesion corticosteroid injection, isotretinoin (a potent drug for treating severe cystic acne), oral antibiotics, and oral contraceptives are the most popular treatments.

Some people may choose a more natural treatment for severe acne, which will also be covered briefly in this article.

Drainage and extraction, or acne surgery as it is also called, should not be performed by patients and is used on some large cysts that do not respond to medication and require drainage and extraction. Dermatologists are trained in the proper technique and perform acne surgery under sterile conditions. Patient attempts to drain and extract acne cysts, by squeezing or picking, can lead to infection, worsening of the acne and scarring. When an acne cyst becomes severely inflamed, there is a good chance it will rupture and scarring will occur. To treat these severely inflamed cysts and prevent scarring, dermatologists may inject such cysts with a diluted corticosteroid. This lessens the inflammation and promotes healing of the acne cyst. An inner lesion corticosteroid injection works by melting the cyst over the course of a few days.

Isotretinoin is the most effective treatment known today for severe acne and acne that is resistant to other medications and treatments. Isotretinoin is a form of vitamin A, a synthetic creation, which comes in a pill form. It is administered once or twice a day for anywhere from sixteen to twenty weeks total. There are many possible side effects that may occur while undergoing this therapy. Possible side effects include severe pain in the chest or abdomen, trouble swallowing or painful swallowing, severe headache, blurred vision or dizziness, bone and joint pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea or rectal bleeding, depression, dryness of the skin, eyes and nose, and thinning hair.

While taking isotretinoin patients are monitored closely by their healthcare provider through follow up appointments.

Oral antibiotics have been a basis of therapy for severe acne for many years. Like topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics work to reduce the “P. acnes”. “P. Acnes” are normal residents on the skin, which decreases inflammation. Treatment with oral antibiotics usually begins with a high dosage, which is eventually reduced as the acne resolves. Over time, the “P. acnes” bacteria can become resistant to the treatment. When resistance occurs, another antibiotic can be prescribed or other treatment options may need to be explored.

Oral contraceptives have been shown to effectively clear acne in women by suppressing the overactive sebaceous glands. Oral contraceptives can be used as long-term acne therapy; however, this medication should not be prescribed to women who smoke, have a blood clotting disorder, are older than thirty-five or have a history of migraine headaches, without the advice of a gynecologist.

Spironolactone, a synthetic steroid, may be used in combination with oral contraceptives to treat acne in adult females. Spironolactone inhibits androgen, hormones that stimulate oil glands in addition to other effects on the body, production. There are possible side effects that may accompany Spironolactone treatment. A few side affects include irregular menstruation, breast tenderness, headache and fatigue.

Some people choose more natural ways to combat cystic acne. Some natural treatments are eating a whole foods diet that consists of only natural foods that have not been chemically or mechanically processed. Yoga or deep relaxation techniques may be used to reduce the amount of stress that is put on the body and the mind. Essential oils are another natural treatment that may be added to the diet of sufferers of severe acne.

These are just a few of the natural methods of treatment for cystic acne. No matter what method of treatment you decide to try you should always consult a professional, whether it is your dermatologist or an herbalist. Your doctor should be able to refer you to a board certified dermatologist if needed.

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What are the Best Home Acne Remedies?

J.Nykoluk — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:23:54 +0000

Although there is a big market for specific acne treatments, and it continues to grow, there is no product currently available that will fully clear the problem up on its own without having major side effects. As has been shown by clinical studies, there are dangers involved in taking any of the most effective medication for the problem of acne vulgaris. The best strategy is to take a holistic approach designed to deal with the internal problems which cause the external breakouts, and deal with the problems externally as they occur.

There are, however, some home remedies which will suffice as short-term measures to deal with the external problems. One of these is white vinegar. Available freely in any supermarket and a staple product in many kitchens, it can be used as a facial application. After washing your face with mild soap, apply the vinegar using a cotton ball and leave it to sit for ten minutes before rinsing it off. If you have sensitive skin, beware the strength of the vinegar, and water it down if you have concerns.

Steaming your face is also a worthwhile pursuit in clearing the skin of any impurities. By pouring a kettle full of freshly boiled tap water into a basin, then adding a few drops of essential oil, you can create a steam bath by putting a towel over your head and placing your head a safe distance above the steam after five minutes, you should then wash your face with cold water to rinse away any impurities which have seeped out, and help close the pores.

Acne Myths – 10 Lies About Acne You Thought Were True

J.Nykoluk — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:37:17 +0000

Have you been told one thing about your acne only to later on find out that the opposite is true. It’s not so much that it’s a lie, but rather, it’s just part of the growth cycle – example – The medical field knows more now than they did 20 years ago. It’s just part of the learning path. As scientists learn more and make new discoveries it may take awhile before you find out about it. This goes true for acne as well.

You have an acne skin condition now and you want to get rid of it now…right? You don’t want to keep doing the things that make your acne worse when it’s discovered later on how bad it is for you. But alas, many lies, or rather – myths about acne continue to circulate and endure.

Having a better understanding of how acne works will go a long way in helping you deal with it. The best way is to know what the:

10 Myths About Acne You Thought Were True

Myth #1: Your Acne only affects how you look.

Your acne problem can go beyond your face. It can affect your mind as well as social life. Deep psychological stress can occur which can only make your acne get worse. Your sense of self-esteem can be affected which can lead to depression. There is a strong link between severe acne and social withdrawal, and everyone wants to be accepted.

Myth #2: Acne is caused by poor hygiene

We all have habits that we know are not good for us. If you eat unhealthy foods, you’re going to have an unhealthy body. Yes, your face really is a part of your body. But bad habits not only affect your body internally, but externally as well. Proper hygiene with proper cleaning techniques will go a long way in keeping your acne at bay.

Cleansing your face and/or other body parts gently with soap and water once or twice daily will keep your skin as healthy as it can be. The key here is to cleanse “gently”. Scrubbing too hard may worsen your acne.

NOTE: – While skin infections are associated with acne, being a slob and not cleaning your self as much as you should is, in itself, not the reason for your acne outbreaks. The combination of oil and dead cells which produce acne is located beneath the skin’s surface where it is impossible to clean it away.

Myth #3: Acne is caused by specific foods

In the above myth, I implied how how unhealthy junk food can also affect the health of your body as well as the severity of your acne. This next myth may seem to contradict that statement.

It seems that studies have shown no scientific evidence that some junk food will make your acne worse. Foods like potato chips, chocolate and other sweets have not been found to actually affect how bad your acne will be. However, one thing I have learned is that many scientific findings that were once “true” have subsequently been found to be “false”.

There also seems to be a bit of confusion about drinking milk. For some people, milk makes acne breakouts to be worse, whereas for other people drinking milk seems to lessen acne problems. This actually makes sense, because each one of us has different tolerance levels for different foods.

Myth #4: Acne has to run its course

Don’t stand for it. There are many things you can do to stop acne. It may not happen right away, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. You can find

There are many treatments for acne that you can get by going to your doctor or dermatologist. Many over-the-counter drugs and treatment options are also available online and offline. Some of these products you can find on this site.

Myth #5: The more acne medicine you use the better it will be

This is certainly one case where “Less is NOT more.” Not only can taking too much acne medication, like prescription acne ointments, be dangerous for you but it can also make your acne worse than it already is.

You may be better off just cleaning your affected area with clean water and regular hand soap a couple times a day, and then just leave it alone and let it heal by itself…slowly. As they say – “time heals all wounds”.

Some people believe that if their acne gets worse they should just use more medicine. That’s a bad idea because medicines can be dangerous when taken in large quantities. Excess use of acne ointments may just irritate the skin further.

Myth #6: Sunbathing is good for acne

Our sun is the essence of life. Without the sun, we don’t exist. How much sun you get as well as the type of skin you have can determine how bad your acne skin condition will be. On the surface, sun exposure can dry you you. It can dry too much oils that your skin needs. If you stay in the sun too long, not only can it damage your skin by giving you a sunburn, but your risk of developing skin cancer also increases.

But your skin does adapt and your acne can subside. The trick is to sunbathe properly. Here’s what I do as often as possible.

The fairer your skin, the less time you need to spend in the sun to reap its benefits in terms of vitamin D absorption. For me, 30 minutes a day is all I need. This is enough time for my skin to adapt without overwhelming it. Someone from South Africa may need more exposure because the sun’s beneficial rays can not penetrate the skin as easily as for a white person.

Another tip is to eat vitamin C laden fruits. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant that will fight free radicals that can damage your skin due to suntanning. In fact there are many people with fair skin who can spend hours in the sun without sunburning and all because they eat lots of fruits and vegetables that gives them the nutrients they need to help keep their skin healthy.

Myth #7: Makeup causes acne

I’m not exactly a proponent of putting anything on my skin believing in the fact that “less is more”. However, this may not be preferable for many people due to social tendencies. Girls put on makeup to make themselves look pretty and to attract “other” people.

To address this, cosmetic manufacturers have developed products that are labeled “noncomedogenic” or “nonacnegenic” are safe to use. Many other products made for the skin can blog your pores which can make your acne worse. Some brands are made with ingredients that will actually treat your acne.

Myth #8: Acne is only a teenage condition

Are you a teenager? Do you still think that only teenagers get acne? Well, you’d be wrong. Not only do adults get acne but babies as well. No one is immune to this skin affliction. Generally speaking, many people develop acne in their early teen years only to have it clear up before they turn 21. That was my case as well. But it doesn’t happen to everyone.

There are still people that experience acne for their first time when they’re older. I know a guy who developed acne after he turned 45 years old. He’s still baffled by it as he always had clear skin. But even worse, there are also people that develop acne when they are young and suffer with it their entire lives.

Myth #9: Acne and sex are bad for you

Please, please, tell me this ain’t true.

Well, to tell you the truth, there has been no scientific evidence for this…and I hope there never is. Many of us have heard stories of how having too much sex can give you pimples, but again, this has never been proven.

Sexual activity and hormone production does have a link discovered through scientific findings, but the relationship between sex and the production of sebum (the oily substance which combines with dead skin cells which cause your acne) is not known. On a side note, stress and anger can also affect your hormone levels.

Myth #10: Popping pimples is the best way to get rid of them

I hope you’re not a pimple popper. Popping your pimples will not get rid of them. All you’re really doing is just spreading the acne causing bacteria around making it worse.

This is also one bad habit that you need to stop because if you don’t, popping your pimples can lead to acne scarring. Once you have acne scars, you may have a harder time to get rid of your acne and you may end up having scars permanently. In this case, surgery may be your only option.

There is much information on the Internet that you could search that may help you deal with your acne more effectively. You just have to find the right information. I hope these 10 myths about acne showed you the truth at least to the extent that you will look into it further. After all, it’s your acne and it’s your health.

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