Vitamin A Acne

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Acne is a condition of the skin that causes inflamed growths (pustules, papules, and cysts), blackheads and whiteheads to form. Such growths are commonly referred to as zits or pimples. When the pores or the tiny holes on the skin’s surface become clogged, this produces the occurrence of acne. Each pore is an opening to a follicle that contains an oil gland and a hair. These oil glands aids in lubricating the skin while helping in the removal of old skin cells.

The pores can become blocked due to the production of too much oil by the glands. Dirt, bacteria, debris and inflammatory cells can arise, making the so-called comedone or plug blockage occur. Although acne can happen to anyone at any age, it mostly occurs among teenagers. Studies have shown that three out of four teenagers have some form of this skin condition. Acne can be triggered by:

  1. Certain drugs such as phenytoin, estrogen, testosterone and steroids.
  2. Hormonal changes that is related to adolescence, menstrual periods, stress, birth control pills and pregnancy.
  3. Excessive sweating and high levels of humidity.
  4. Oil or greasy hair and cosmetic products.

Despite the prevalent belief that nuts and chocolates cause acne, studies do not generally confirm this idea.

Vitamin A Acne

Vitamin A is one of the essential fat-soluble vitamins that can only be absorbed by the body in the presence of fat. It helps in the production of hormone, growth of teeth, skin and bones, and improves the function of the immune system. Vitamin A is also beneficial for night blindness, night vision, and maintains the integrity of urinary, respiratory and digestive tracts. It can also provide support against common flus and colds and has been proven to reduce fine lines in the skin.

Acne can be treated in two ways by the use of Vitamin A

  1. Prescription Topical Medicines. There are several methods of treating acne under this category that include giving of antibiotics that helps slows or stop the growth of bacteria while reducing the inflammation; and giving of retinoids or vitamin A derivatives that decreases the formation of pimples.
  2. Prescription Oral Medicines. This is normally given to patients with moderate to severe cases of acne. Oral antibiotics are given to control acne by reducing inflammation and curbing the growth of bacteria. There are also prescribed vitamin A for acne oral medicines that are used to treat acne but can produce side effects such as lightheadedness, dizziness and upset stomach when taken in large doses.
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Cobalt Mineral

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Cobalt is a shiny, gray, brittle metal that is used in creating an intense blue color in paints and glass.

It is often used in manufacturing rechargeable batteries as well as in creating alloys that can maintain their strength even at very high temperatures.

Uses of Cobalt

Cobalt, as a micronutrient and essential trace element, is also used by humans and other living organisms in having good health. It is one of the most vital components in several defense, aerospace, and medical applications, and a major element in numerous energy technologies.

Cobalt Discovery

The term cobalt comes from the German word “kobold” that means goblin. Such a name was given by medieval mineralists who thought that goblins changed the valuable metals in their ore with poisonous substances that emit fumes when smelted. It was only when Georg Brandt, a Swedish chemist, isolated metallic cobalt and discovered some of its valuable properties in 1735, which is the first new metal to be discovered since ancient times.

Cobalt Mineral

The cobalt mineral is considered a critical and strategic mineral due to the fact that it is used in defense-related and industrial purposes. Cobalt is frequently associated with lead, silver, copper, nickel, and iron ores, from which it is often obtained as a by-product, and occurs in the minerals as cobaltite, erythrite, and smaltite. It is also present in meteorites.

Cobalt Ore

Valuable cobalt ore deposits are found in Morocco, Zaire, and Canada. The bottom of the north central Pacific Ocean has deposits that are cobalt-rich at relatively shallow depths in water that are close to U.S. Pacific territories such as the Hawaiian Islands, as announced by the U.S. Geological Survey. The United States is the largest cobalt consumer wherein they are using around 30 percent of the total cobalt production of the world since 1991; however there is no domestic production.

The cobalt mineral is alloyed with nickel, iron, and other metals in order to produce Alnico, which is an alloy of unusual magnetic strength with numerous important uses. The stellite alloys that contain chromium, tungsten, and cobalt, are used for heavy-duty, high-speed, high temperature cutting tools, and for dies. It is also used in other stainless steels and magnetic steels, as well as in alloys that are used in gas turbine and jet turbine generators. Due to this metal’s hardness, appearance, and resistance to oxidation, it is also used in electroplating.

Salts of the cobalt mineral have been used for centuries in producing brilliant and permanent blue colors in tiles, enamels, pottery, porcelain, and glass. It is primarily a chief ingredient in Thenard’s and Sevre’s blue. When carefully used in the form of acetate, nitrate, sulfate, or chloride, cobalt has been found effective in correcting certain mineral deficiency disease in animals. A solution of the chloride is used as a sympathetic ink.

The global cobalt supply is expected to exceed or meet the demand for the next years. However, the supply of this metal is at risk of disruption due to several reasons that include limited sources of production; the global market is relatively small; and, because most cobalt is a byproduct of nickel or copper mining, the supply is dependent on the markets for these more abundant metals.

Cobalt Mineral References and Further Reading

USGS Mineral Resource Pages; Arkansas Geological Survey; Los Alamos National Laboratory; Berkeley Lab; University of Minnesota Duluth.

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