Generic advertising is any type of advertising that is not specific to an occasion. This is normally the type of advertising that is meant for just mentioning the company name and that the company exists.

Maybe it says the company is good at something specific, but the message can work in any circumstance. You could put it on a postcard, on a poster, sending it out in the mail or hand it to people as flyers and the message is going to remain exactly the same.

I am not going to argue against generic advertising completely because it does have a place in the marketing world. You will have certain occasion when you are not going to be pushing any one product or service, and you just need to boost your company in general.

But what I do have a complaint against are the companies who do almost nothing but generic advertising. Every time I see their marketing anywhere it is always the same. This leads me to get quickly bored with them, and fails to get them any sales from me.

Never is this more true than in tradeshows and other events. For something like this, you are going to have a lot of companies coming together for a single event, and anyone who goes will walk away with a lot of marketing material. That is just how these things work, and that means your marketing material needs to stand up to other companies.

The more generic your marketing is the less interesting it becomes, and the more it fades away into the background.

To avoid this start designing marketing for each event you go to. Get some pocket folder printing done that mentions exactly what event the folder is made for. Design a marketing message meant specifically for that one tradeshow so you can boost up a certain idea or theme. This will give added strength to your marketing and make you stand out in an already crowded field.

If you cannot afford to get pocket folder printing done every single tradeshow than instead focus on marketing that emphasizes a stronger, overall marketing push you’re currently doing. Maybe you have one marketing message for that quarter, which means you can get folders done mentioning your marketing campaign. This saves you some money and still gives you something more than normal.

Do not let generic marketing take over all of your marketing. Sometimes standing out can be the greatest kind of advertising you could ask for. You need to be sure that you can find the right moments to make your name known, and break through the constant barrage of generic marketing material most people are constantly confronted by. If you can accomplish this than you know your name is going to be remembered, and you will be in a better position to increase your sales further down the line.

By: Kaye Marks

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Aqua aerobics, or water aerobics is one of the most effective method of exercising. It consists of exercises that are done standing in chest deep water, usually in a swimming pool. An instructor is also usually a present who demonstrates the various exercises of arms, legs and core body. The exercises are tuned to rhytemathic music, and weights may also be used for increased resistance. In a work out of about one hour, approximately six hundred calories are burnt.

Aqua Aerobics like other forms of work out exercises help in weight loss, lowering blood sugar levels, and controlling stress. Doing Aqua Aerobics also have however extra benefits that conventional workouts cannot provide. Due to our buoyancy in water, ninety percent of our body weight is supported. This means that there is lesser strain on joints and ligaments, and so doing it is much more enjoyable and safe for people who cannot use conventional methods for any reason. Also, it is a more gradual way of building aerobic stamina and strength for people who have recently started resistance training.

Water Aerobics are very suitable for obese people. Swimming pool exercises are much more enjoyable, and so people do not get discouraged as they do while trying out regular gym exercises. Also, there is a lesser chance of injury as the strain on joints and ligaments is significantly reduced. This can help many people keep their motivation while carrying out fitness program.

The exercises are also very effective for such people who recently underwent any surgery or are recovering from an injury. This is because exercising in water has reduces the intensity of shocks and provide a cushioning effect against impacts. Jogging, which cannot be done during a leg injury, can be done safely in water as the heavy impacts can be avoided. This technique can be used to safely exercise any injured part, thereby hastening recovery.

Pregnant women find conventional exercises particularly difficult. However, they can safely do overall exercise workouts in water, with reduced risk of any injury or impact to the baby. Pregnant women can therefore exercise safely without any fear of damage. As they exercise more, they lead a better pregnancy period, which is beneficial for them and the babies.

Senior citizens would particularly find aqua aerobics ideal to suit their physical and social needs. Many members of this group have age-related conditions like fragile bones. More over, since many have not been doing exercise most of their lives, the extra stress can adversely hit the tissues that may not cope up. Swimming pools can also act as social meeting points where friends and family members can spend time and exercise together.

Summing up, it can be said that aerobics in water are safer and more enjoyable than conventional exercises. Not just that you can improve your shape, swimming pool exercise can help you in speeding recovery from injuries and in controlling stress. So gear up, you don’t need much of equipment. All you have to do is dive!

By: Saman Rashid

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Aerobics Choreography is one of the most popular aerobics exercise program. There are different maneuvers in aerobics for any person to learn them and such aerobics choreography needs different sets of maneuvers for each different exercise. One should not try and remember every maneuver but rather get familiar with the exercises.

Many maneuvers available that people can pick different sets to suit individual needs. The aerobics choreography videos are helpful for beginners with little or no experience as well as intermediate level exerciser who have about 2 to 5 years experience, it also can be a reference material even for the advance users. The focus of aerobics choreography is to pass on intensive choreography as well as inspire the user, so that it can be quite easily used at home.

Aerobics Dance

Aerobics dancing would perfectly suit those who desire to perform on stage. Especially those people know the movie “Shall we dance”. Essentially, aerobics dancing is a fitness sport comprising both health as well as figure benefits derived from jogging or combines the two.

Choreographed for non-dancers, the aerobics dancing by Jacky acts as a purpose for all students who feel that their bodies are firming up and also helps in reinforcing the cardiovascular systems through these ways. Aerobics dancing was initially meant for women though now even men find enjoyment in performing aerobics dancing.

Most of the aerobics dancing classes are progressive by nature with new dances being added every week. This progressive alteration in aerobics dancing encourages the students who never neglect a class so that they can experience diverse dances every day. Moreover, the dances are rotated so that the material used, stays fresh always.

However, the aerobics classes help to make the body firmer and stronger, consolidates the heart as well as muscles, lowers the blood pressure, reduces additional fat, causes an appreciable lowering in stress levels and also, improves cardiovascular fitness. All of these benefits make the student more vigorous and deeply helps them to form a better self-image as well as improve self-respect.

Aerobics Music

If you ask the feeling of someone who is experiencing aerobics music, his answer would be: there is nothing as exhilarating as aerobic exercising with the tune of your favorite music.

One has the capability to choose from top 40/dance to disco as well as Broadway hits. A quantity of these aerobics music albums feature perfect 32 count and, with the skill to flawlessly edit the music, it would in this manner allow the user to get the energy and diversity that they need by choosing selections that will go a long way in suiting the musical tastes of everyone and that includes people of all age groups.

The user is definite to enjoy the ninety minutes of animated and exciting music and will find that his or her aerobic exercise routine becomes more pleasurable. This is just one of the hundreds different available aerobics music albums.

Some step aerobics music can provide a low-impact, high strength alternative to floor aerobic workouts. With fitness incessantly improving, thanks to constant and regular aerobic workouts, the body begins to acclimatize to the same level of intensity and this means that one has to exercise harder to achieve the targeted heart rate. Transforming the floor aerobic exercise to the step aerobic workout means getting more aerobic intensity in the same or less time.

One should note that 118 to 122 BPM is the best speed of the aerobics music. In case the music is too up-tempo it will seriously compromise the exerciser’s technique and safety since it may cause them to not achieve the full range of motion that can be achieved at slower tempos. The 32 count 120 BPM music routines are most preferred for aerobics music.

Sometimes, there is nothing to beat attending a gym where aerobics music is being played and which helps to set the mood for the fitness class. It may be quite impossible to imagine a step or spinning class that without the correct music and which provides the right rhythm and pace.

The aerobics music class would certainly turn into a toil of exertion were there not to be some resonating bass or an upbeat tempo that helps the energy levels to go up. 32 count, 120 BPM routines are the most often used aerobics music since they help to generate a mood that would help to demonstrate who is in shape and who is not.

By: Cindy Heller

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It’s a wondrous thing, how the human body is meant to heal and restore itself. Cuts heal themselves, infections can be cleared up on their own, and even broken bones mend and repair. And when it comes fighting the effects of time, there are actually anti-aging fruits and vegetables that actually work. They may not be miracle pills that you can take when you’re 80 and expect to live forever, but it is true that many persons today are living longer than they ever did before, and it may be partly due to what scientists and doctors are finding out about how our bodies actually work. We now know more about how the things we put into our mouths affect our systems overall, including the aging process. By following a diet rich in anti-aging fruits and vegetables, a person can not only extend their life, they can also look great as they age as well!

Those that are high in Vitamin C seem to be the best anti-aging fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is a natural healer than boosts the body’s immune system. Higher levels of Vitamin C have been linked to reduced risks of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers in both men and women.

Anti-aging fruits and vegetables should also contain high amounts of Vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin D is produced naturally when we are exposed to sunlight, but it’s said that when we reach our 70’s, we are producing only about 40% of the Vitamin D our bodies need.

Anti-oxidants, the elements that our bodies use to fight free radicals or the agents that damage healthy cells, are also necessary as we age and are found in all anti-aging fruits and vegetables. These anti-oxidants help our body’s to repair themselves from the inside out.

So with all that being said, what are the best anti-aging fruits and vegetables? Obviously citrus fruits as they contain high amounts of Vitamin C. This includes oranges, tangerines, limes, and grapefruits. Bananas, strawberries, blueberries and apples are also high in many vitamins. Cantaloupe, peaches and apricots have those vital anti-oxidants as well.

And of course you don’t want to overlook the vegetable part of anti-aging fruits and vegetables. Having a healthy digestive system is vitally important for your overall health; if your body is working hard to digest that heavy steak or spicy burrito, you’re overworking your heart and lungs that are sending blood and oxygen to your stomach and intestines. Anti-aging fruits and vegetables are those with a lot of fiber that help the digestive process along. This includes all green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and kale. Carrots, cucumbers, and celery are also crunchy, fibrous, and healthy.

It seems from most research that all fruits and vegetables can be considered “anti-aging fruits and vegetables,” so there really isn’t much of a need to decide whether or not to have a certain piece of fruit or whether or not to have a salad – the problem simply lies in making these great products a regular part of your diet in the first place!

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with aging such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Selenium, Beta Carotene, Lycopene, L-Glutathione, Vitamin D, Green Tea, and Antioxidant.

Vitamin C, E and some forms of Vitamin A and the mineral Selenium are known to be antioxidants that help to protect the body from these free radicals.

Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

The mineral Selenium has been associated with a significant reduction in the incidences of lung, colorectal and prostate cancer. Good sources are fish, asparagus, brazil nuts, meat, poultry and bread.

Beta Carotene helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency. Symptoms of Beta Carotene deficiency include ache, dry dull hair, dry skin and thickened scaly skin on the palms and soles of the feet.

Lycopene is very powerful in quenching free radicals as is L-gultathione. Ultra Antioxidant allows cells to perform more efficiently with less oxygen, enabling sufficient oxygen to be utilized for the cells and organs that specifically need it.

Vitamin D is manufactured in the skin following direct exposure to sunlight. Many studies show that Vitamin D production decreases in older people and in those who are housebound. Vitamin D is needed by the body to absorb calcium, which makes your bones stronger and helps prevent factures.

Green Tea Contains antioxidants that may protect against heart disease, several types of cancer, and skin damage.

Natural antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables such as, apples, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, grapes, spinach, and Spirulina a blue-green algae.

A 2006 article in the Journal of American Medical Association suggested that by periodically restricting our caloric intake to as little as 890 calories a day, or fasting, resulted in a decrease in insulin levels and body temperatures, another two biomarkers of longevity. Restricting calories helps to eliminate the free radicals by burning off more calories than you take in thus reducing the amount of fat stored in the human body.

Skipping a meal here and there from an evolutionary point of view would be beneficial. The human body is used to going days without eating anything but today we have constant access to food and we are taking in calories all day long.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

By: David Cowley

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As fashions and other trends reflect looks and styles of times that some might prefer to forget, the term “everything old is new again” has never rung more true. This adage can also be used when marketing your business.

While it is true that the Internet has become easier and more accessible to marketers and advertisers, never underestimate the power of a well printed – and well placed – brochure, postcard or flyer. In fact, with many companies focusing their marketing online, print advertising has the advantage of remaining the “tried and true” method. In addition to including online marketing in your advertising budget, utilize the Internet’s search options to find an online printing company to affordably produce your full color brochures, advertising flyers and other print collateral to round out your marketing efforts.

Including traditional print marketing allows for a cross section of advertising on a variety of levels. For example, direct mail is an ideal, cost-effective way to target specific neighborhoods quickly and easily. Use flyer printing or postcard marketing to announce new services, special offers or grand openings. Postcard printing is easy and affordable and will ensure your name reaches your local area quickly and efficiently.

Full color brochures are an ideal follow-up for networking events, sales meetings and cold calls. Include brochure printing with your direct mail efforts to double your impact. Brochures and advertising flyers can be mailed directly to prospective or existing clients to further illustrate your products and services and drive sales. Consider using one panel as a registration or order form to round out your marketing push while also creating a multi-purpose collateral item.

Just as there are multiple levels of learning, so are there multiple levels and options in advertising. For example, a well-known performance group maintains a very consistent website, advertising upcoming shows and events. To advertise upcoming events, they utilize direct mail and postcard marketing. When attending local festivals or other public events, you will find full color brochures and advertising flyers on the table for patrons to review and keep. All of these efforts are enhanced by regular email newsletters and all print collateral drives traffic back to the website; definitely a case of one hand helping to feed the other.

Rather than sinking your entire marketing budget into Internet advertising, spread the wealth. You might be pleasantly surprised at the handsome return on your investment.

By: Lynne A Saarte

About the Author:

Will The SFI Affiliate Program Help You Earn Money?

This is the true question of what goes through every persons mind (including yours) when you really think about it. Honestly, its not about the opportunity but about “cashing in the latest industry trend”, right?

By the way, you do know SFI stands for Six Figure Income, right? Good. Let’s get started.

Your secrets to a successful home business does not lie in just one program like the SFI affiliate program. Rather from doing your own due diligence before joining in any opportunity like this one.

Fact #1: Discovering What Is SFI Really?

If you look carefully and peel away its onion layers of marketing messages one by one you will discover a few things. Some of the more important discoveries is that it really is a home business opportunity like network marketing.

The founder Gery Carson actually started this company in 1998 so any company which has been online for quite awhile should prove to have lots of testimonials since then. Now you and I know what “testimonials” actually mean. Right?

Its basically about how other “partnering” marketers write a rave review about that product or service to give it a virtual thumbs up.

Fact #2: The Lure Of Residual Income… and You

What immediately stands out in contrast is how the SFI affiliate program claims to help you in terms of earning residual income. It basically stems from you helping them make a sale in household items and nutritional products.

Think of it like a 3rd party merchant for Amway or Quixtar or perhaps even Herbalife for all its worth. You might earn residually but in reality SFI has its focus almost everywhere which makes it hard to pin on its real purpose.

Your best shot would be to see your own passions (not just the money) before taking a shot anywhere.

Fact #3: The End Of The Network Marketing Era

We have talked about how the SFI affiliate program is akin to a network marketing organization. Now, let me explain a little more in details.

Network marketing is a great opportunity but if you want to get ahead, then harnessing the power of the Internet is of utmost importance.

No one can tell you how to do this except that you need to learn how to market online. Ignore the various sales pages which promises you a ton of cash by next Tuesday.

Welcome Your New Year Of Prosperity

As I write this, my best advice is that you learn from honest marketers moving ahead. The new year will mean that there is more programs like the SFI affiliate program and opportunities like it. Your job is to separate the wheat from the chaff.

By: Vern How Chan

About the Author:

What Determines A Popular Advertising Slogan?

Firstly, let us study a little closer to this question as above before we dive into the details. The answer to the above is simply to be able to grab the readers or prospects attention in 3 seconds to read on.

Notice that the whole purpose is to help the prospect to be intrigued enough to read on the rest of the sales letter. If you can grasp this then we are already 50% there.

Step 1: Appeal To Only One

The most common mistake for most businesses in their attempts to write advertising headlines is to write about themselves or to many. You must remember that each prospect reads a sentence to themselves.

So, you could do better by thinking that you are communicating only to one person in your mind. Keep this steadfast in your thoughts as you begin to craft your headline. It will give a more appealing feel to it in terms of a ‘personal touch’.

Step 2: Triggering Pain Or Pleasure

There are two extreme ways to draw attention in your headline and that is by either emphasizing towards your prospects pain or pleasure. Simple copy writing will do you much good so remember this is a powerful tool.

You’re not going to manipulate them psychologically, just enough to stop them dead in their tracks. A strike to the heart or feeling will more than conquer their minds in the next choice they make.

Step 3: Copy The Masters

Not literally that but what I mean is you can observe some other popular advertising slogans that has been used over and over again. You can learn this all over the place for no cost.

Watch the headlines in your local classified ads in your newspaper of magazine center pullouts. You will be sure to find some common patterns in the words for advertising.

Getting It All Down

Once you have determined more than a few popular advertising slogans of choice then its time to test them. Now, don’t get me wrong although you can certainly depend on some master headlines sometimes its best to keep testing till you reach your sales target with just your advertising slogans.

By: Vern How Chan

About the Author:

1. Why Start Your Own Affiliate Program?

Multiple web sites and distributors selling your product can
result in increased sales and profits. Unlike conventional
advertising, affiliate programs pay only for performance.
Commissions are not paid out unless sales are made.

Also, with many more web sites linking to yours, your link
popularity is sure to increase in search engines, resulting
in additional traffic and income.

2. Combine a Merchant Account with Your Affiliate Program

If your product is downloadable (such as electronic books or
software), you might consider ClickBank.com. For a $49.95
initial fee, you can process credit cards and on-line cheques
for $1.00 per transaction plus 7.5% of sales. As an added
bonus, you have your own built-in affiliate program.

ClickBank gives you a listing on their web site and visitors
can buy your products and join your affiliate program. You
choose the commission rate you are willing to pay. All
commission payments are handled by ClickBank. One downside
is that you can`t run a two-tiered program.

3. Use an Affiliate Program Script

If you are comfortable with running CGI scripts, you may wish
to install your own affiliate program on your server and
administer the affiliate program yourself.

Be forewarned, though, that this is a lot of work. You will
be responsible for all the testing, security, commission
payments, promotion and so on. Another downside: Will your
potential affiliates trust you since their commissions are not
tracked and paid by an independent third party?

4. Use a Hosted Solution

There are good reasons for not hosting your affiliate program
on your server. Perhaps you don`t have the time to administer
all the aspects of an affiliate program. Maybe your time
could be used more productively in other areas of your
business. Additionally, an independent third party tracking
and paying affiliate commissions inspires confidence in
prospective affiliates. Finally, you just might benefit from
the additional exposure that an affiliate network brings you.

ClixGalore.com is an example of an affiliate network. You will
need to pay a $75.00 deposit to cover affiliate commissions.
They charge 25% of any affiliate commissions paid. For example,
if you paid an affiliate a 10% commission on a $100.00 sale,
you would pay the affiliate $10.00 and ClixGalore $2.50.

With ClixGalore, you can also have a two-tier program. Taking
the above example, if you paid affiliates for finding other
affiliates, you might pay 2% on your second tier. That would be
another $2.00 commission and $ .50 affiliate network fee for a
total of $15.00 in commissions on both levels.

5. For All Affiliate Programs

Setup your own web page (or pages) outlining the benefits of
your affiliate program. Offer articles, suggestions, text
and banner links, and other useful support for your affiliates.

Offer a generous commission so that others feel motivated to
sell for you. Obtain the e-mail addresses of your affiliates
so that you can keep in touch with them to aid them to sell
more.

For increased traffic, sales and profits, start your own
affiliate program.

By: J. Stephen Pope

About the Author:

Do you have a want to try aerobic exercise, but cannot handle the high impact variety? Why not try a water aerobic workout for minimum impact but maximum aerobic benefit. Water aerobics are gentle on the joints as well as the back, so they can be done by people with joint and back problems. Water aerobics are also good for pregnant women, people who get overheated easily and those who are obese and want to get in shape safely. You don’t need to know how to swim for water aerobics workouts, since many are done in waist-deep water. The benefits of using specially designed water aerobics equipment follow.

1. The instructor will generally use music and choreography as in other aerobics classes, and you might also work with equipment such as kick boards or wrist weights. Some water aerobics equipment is helpful for the aerobics routine. Products such as the AquaJogger, which is a buoyancy belt, helps to suspend you comfortably in deep water up to shoulder level, enabling you to breathe in a normal fashion as well as move about freely.

2. Water dumbbells are ideal for medium resistance and help tone, strengthen and support the upper body. They have soft padded grips and are well constructed and provide great value for money.

The trifit adjustable swim bar is ideal for upper body workouts. Its movable foam rounds help make up different exercise options and is a great flotation aid for children as well as being a balance bar for grown-ups.

3. Step up the intensity of your water aerobics workout with weights. Water aerobic weights are different from the metal and plastic weights you find in the gym. Constructed from a dense foam material water aerobic weights can be used for buoyancy as well as resistance. Instead of coming in a variety of weight, they come in selections of resistance.

Water aerobic weights let you perform upper body exercises such as the biceps curl and the chest press in the water for additional resistance to work your muscles harder. You can also use water aerobic weights to work your legs with kicking motions in the water.

Always start with a lower resistance and slowly work your way to the more challenging weights.

4. You need proper water aerobic shoes to help provide added traction for greater stability in the water. Water aerobic shoes also protect your feet from cuts or scrapes in case the pool has a rough surface. Most department stores and sporting goods stores carry water aerobics shoes.

The aquarunners water fitness resistance footwear allows for an increased cardiovascular workout and is good for strengthening and toning the lower body. It’s soft and durable and doesn’t react to chlorine. It has a slip-on design with straps that can adjust to the width of the feet and an adjustable floating heel strap.

Water aerobic shoes should be breathable and made with single layer of air mesh uppers for quick drying. They should ideally be low-heeled because they are great for training and swimming in the water, be it a pool, in the ocean or a lake. A good pair of water shoes should also fit the shape of the feet while providing adequate protection for all types of water workouts. Another benefit a pair of water aerobic shoes have is they provide you with buoyancy to the water fitness workout. This increases drag to tone the muscles in a low impact way. They should be made of soft and durable EVA foam.

There are plenty of benefits gained through water aerobic exercises. If you decide to add water aerobics equipment to your workout, it is a good idea to follow a few basic guidelines. Always begin your program with a warm-up to prepare your heart and muscles for the work that lies ahead. Finish off with a cool down that will give your heart rate a chance to return to normal. Be careful not to overdo your workout – sometimes it is more difficult to measure how hard you are working while your body is in the water, but you will know after your program if you were working at the proper level by how tired and sore you are.

By: Cindy Heller

About the Author:

As millions of women know, the one thing worse than acne is acne during your pregnancy! Doctors recommend thousands of possible treatment options – from prescription pills, topical creams, and even antibiotics. But when they offer these treatments, one important factor is often left out of the equation: the safety of you and baby.

The method by which these medications get exposed to your body is crucial. Oral prescriptions tend to contaminate your system more than creams, gels, and oils. Hence, your fetus has less exposure to these topical ointments than to pills.

One advantage to having so many treatments available is you can easily put together an effective and safe combination – if you have the right knowledge. Here are 4 common treatments which pose less risk to you and baby than the majority of unnatural medications:

Safe Acne Treatments During Pregnancy and Common Medication Side Effects

Benzoyl Peroxide (Benzac, Benzamycin, Beroxyl, Desquam, Triaz, Vanoxide)

Benzoyl peroxide is perhaps the most popular topical treatment for acne. It often comes in 2.5%, 5%, and 10% (maximum strength) solutions. It’s oxidation properties make it effective as an antibacterial and exfoliant. Your body takes in about 5 percent of whatever dose you use. Scientific reproductivity studies with Benzoyl Peroxide have not been performed, thus the risk for birth defects is unknown. However, its popularity, lack of negative case reports, and topical nature indicates its overall risk is likely very low in comparison to certain other medications.

Hydrocortisone (Vanoxide-HC; w/ benzoyl peroxide)

Hydrocortisone is a topical steroid commonly prescribed for Acne and similar skin ailments. While most studies conducted have indicated no significant increase in birth defects risk, there was an association with a rise in split palate versus what was predicted in mice. As hydrocortisone is usually used as a topical anti-inflammatory, its chances of increasing birth defects to any noticeable degree are probably low.

Salicylic Acid (Sal Ac, Beta Hydroxy, BHA)

Salicylic acid works by encouraging skin exfoliation. This means pores are less likely to clog with dead skin cells, reducing the conditions for acne formation. Salicylic acid is used topically for acne as an addition to soap and many other products. No studies have been performed for topical salicylic acid in relation to birth defects. Aspirin, an oral salicylic acid, has been associated with bleeding risk if taken late in the pregnancy. This is not cause for concern with a topical dose, however, as only a fraction of it enters your system.

Azelaic Acid (Azelex)

Our final pregnancy safe acne treatment is also topical – in cream form. It works as an antibacterial, helps repair damaged cells, reduces oxidation inflammation, and damage induced pigmentation. While no human studies have been performed, animal science has indicated no significant association with birth defect in normal dosages (about 20% strength). Azelaic acid is found naturally in rye crops – it does not cause clothes bleaching, sun exposure irritation, or bacterial resistance. This makes it perhaps one of the least toxic acne treatments on our list.

There are many acne medications available, and many are associated with a wide range of birth risks during pregnancy. While some of these such as Accutane, Tetracycline, and tretinoin have known dangerous profiles, others like benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid haven’t shown significant problems. Many of you are understandably concerned about what goes into your bodies during pregnancy – the chemical souffle that is today’s medical system definitely has its dangers – but there are safe, even natural treatments available to those with the right knowledge.

By: George Wischler

About the Author: