Yampa Valley Psychotherapists
(970) 870-9454
737 Lincoln Avenue
Steamboat Springs CO 80477

Celebrity Services

Mix of mental health and substance abuse services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment
Type of Care: Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups: Adolescents, Women, Men, DUI/DWI offenders, Criminal justice clients

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide cream is a topical bactericidal. Widely available over the counter (OTC), bactericidal products containing benzoyl peroxide treats mild to moderate acne. The patient applies the gel or cream containing benzoyl peroxide twice daily into the pores over the affected region. Bar soaps or washes may also be helpful and vary from 2 to 10 percent in strength. In addition to its therapeutic effect as a keratolytic (a chemical that dissolves the keratin plugging the pores) benzoyl peroxide also prevents new lesions by killing P. acnes. In one study, roughly 70 percent of participants using a 10 percent benzoyl peroxide solution experienced a reduction in acne lesions after six weeks. Unlike antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide has the advantage of being a strong oxidizer (essentially a mild bleach) and thus does not appear to generate bacterial resistance. However, it routinely causes dryness, local irritation and redness. A sensible regimen may include the daily use of low-concentration (2.5 percent) benzoyl peroxide preparations, combined with suitable non-comedogenic moisturizers to help avoid over drying the skin. Patients should exact care when using benzoyl peroxide, as it can very easily bleach any fabric or hair it meets.

Tips for Getting a Good Sleep

Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up the same time each day. As creatures of habit, people have a hard time adjusting to altered sleep patterns. Sleeping later on weekends will not fully make up for the lack of sleep during the week and will make it harder to wake up early on Monday morning.
Exercise is great, but not too late in the day. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes on most days but not later than five or six hours before bedtime.
Avoid caffeine and nicotine. Coffee, colas, certain teas and chocolate contain the stimulant caffeine and its effects can take as long as eight hours to wear off fully. Therefore, a cup of coffee in the late afternoon can make it hard to fall asleep at night. Nicotine is also a stimulant, often causing smokers to sleep only very lightly. In addition, smokers often wake up too early in the morning because of nicotine withdrawal.
Avoid alcoholic drinks before bed. Some people think having an alcoholic "nightcap" will help induce sleep, but alcohol robs the body of deep sleep and REM sleep, keeping sleep in the lighter stages. After drinking, people also tend to wake up in the middle of the night when the effects of the alcohol ware off.
Avoid large meals and beverages late at night. A light snack is okay, but a large meal can cause indigestion that interferes with sleep. Drinking too many fluids at night can cause frequent awakenings to urinate.
If possible, avoid medicines that delay or disrupt your sleep. Some commonly prescribed heart, blood pressure or asthma medications, as well as some over-the-counter and herbal remedies for coughs, colds or allergies, can disrupt sleep patterns.
Do not take naps after 3 PM. Naps can help make up for lost sleep, but late afternoon naps can make it harder to fall asleep at night.
Relax before bed. Do not over schedule the day so that no time to unwind. A relaxing activity, such as reading or listening to music, should be part of any bedtime ritual.
Take a hot bath before bed. The drop in body temperature after getting out of the bath may help induce sleepiness and the bath can help relax and slow down.
Have a good sleeping environment. Get rid of anything that might distract from sleep, such as noises, bright lights, an uncomfortable bed or warm temperatures. People sleep better if the temperature in the bedroom is on the cool side.

Have the right sunlight exposure. Daylight is key to regulating daily sleep patterns. Try to get outside in natural sunlight for at least 30 minutes each day. If possible, wake up with the sun or use very bright lights in the morning. Sleep experts recommend that an hour of exposure to morning sunlight helps people who are having trouble falling asleep.
Do not lie in bed awake. It is more helpful to get up and do some relaxing activity until the body feels sleepy. The anxiety of not being able to sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.
See a doctor if there is a serious problem sleeping.