Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category

Taking care of our skin is very important. The skin, intact, is our first defense against any invasion of foreign matter that can be harmful to our system. The skin is considered a third kidney because we excrete toxins through the pores just as we do through the kidneys. We also ingest many chemicals and toxins through the skin, so it is important that we pay attention to what we use to clean, soothe, or heal our skin. The skin also plays an important part in regulating our body temperature.

Most injuries to our skin are simple and taking care of them is easy. Cleaning any wound or puncture immediately following an injury should be the first step. Seek medical help if necessary. Keeping the area clean during healing prevents many problems from developing later on.

Some of the skin problems are indicative of internal problems, such as an improper diet. Diet plays an important part in caring for our skin. If we stick to a simple, natural diet and use only natural products to clean or protect us, we will have a much healthier immune system, one that is better able to deal with the viruses or bacteria that we come into contact with daily. Keeping the immune system healthy should be the major goal in seeking a healthy lifestyle.

One of the first ways you can begin to live a healthy lifestyle is to make your own soap. Many people would like to, but think that it is a difficult thing to do. The whole procedure takes about 1-1/2 hours from start to finish. I make it as I need it and only have to do so a couple of times yearly.

There are no artificial chemicals in this homemade soap and that really is the first step in being chemical-free. The ingredients are simple and there are only a few tools involved. You will need a wooden spoon; a wide-mouth, glass 1/2 gallon jar; several flat containers that you can line with plastic wrap (you could use several shoe boxes if desired); an enamel or iron pot in which to “cook” the soap, and a photography or dairy thermometer. The temperature is important when making soap, so get a good thermometer that registers as low as 95-98 degrees.

There are several rules to follow when making your soap:

Get your containers ready by either greasing them or lining them with plastic wrap. Do this first so that they are ready when needed.

Never use aluminum to prepare your soap. Always use enamel, stainless steel, or iron containers. You use the wide-mouth glass container to mix your lye solution in, but you will need a container of enamel or iron to “cook” your soap.

Never allow your curing soap to sit in a drafty area as this will make your finished product hard and flinty. I cover mine with several thicknesses of newspaper and then cover with a folded blanket for several days.

Make sure your molds are at least 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick. If the mold is too thin, it will cause the soap to curl. If it is too thick, it will make the soap too big and it will be difficult to hold. To add scent to your soap, add the scented oil right before you pour the soap into your molds. Any of the scented oils will do. I like to use the vanilla scent for my own personal use, but any that you prefer will do great. Try using a fruity or flower scent. Sometimes kids like the smell of peppermint and this works great too.

You will need to add about 2 tablespoons of the scented oil to each batch. Add more if stronger scent is desired. The scented oils that you add can be of help in treating skin disorders. Lavender oil is an excellent astringent. Adding olive or almond oil is great for dry skin. Thyme oil acts as a deodorant aid. If you prefer, you don’t need to add any oils. The plain soap alone is great for your skin because it has no artificial additives in it.

5 When adding the lye to the cold water, please do so slowly and carefully. I never would make it when the kids were around because I was afraid that they would get into the solution when my back was turned. I have since learned that kittens are very curious and you need to watch your pets if you make it outdoors. I had a very close call with one of my kittens, so please take certain precautions. Wear rubber gloves and do not breathe in the fumes. The mixture will heat up when you are pouring the lye in the water so be sure to use very cold water. Stir very slowly to avoid splattering and burning yourself. The splatters will also cause damage to counter tops so you may want to do this procedure outdoors. Making the soap outdoors will also cut down on the fumes.

6. If you happen to splash any of the solution on your skin, rinse off immediately and rinse the area with vinegar. Vinegar will neutralize the lye somewhat. Continue stirring until the lye crystals are completely dissolved. You will need to place the jar in a pan (or sink) filled with cold water to bring the temperature of the lye solution back down to 90-95 degrees. After that temperature is reached, slowly add the lye solution to the oil.

BASIC SOAP: This recipe is for the basic soap. To make your lye solution, add 13 ounces of lye to 5 cups of cold water in your wide- mouth jar, stirring until your lye crystals are completely dissolved. Place jar in cold water to start bringing the temperature down to about 90-95 degrees. In an enamel pan, slowly melt 6 pounds of lard. Place that enamel container in cold water and bring that temperature down to about 120-130 degrees. When temperatures for both solutions are right, slowly add the lye solution to the melted lard, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring continuously for about 30 minutes. Add the scented oil and pour into greased molds. Cool overnight.

If you use just one container for a mold instead of individual molds, you need to cut the soap into bars the next morning. Remove the soap from the mold after several days. Age the soap for about two weeks before using. Remember that aging only improves your soap.

Skin Lightening Home Remedies

White skin epitomizes beauty and elegance. Human color ranges from black to colorless and the irony is that everyone wants to flaunt a lighter tone. There are various techniques for attaining a beautiful appearance but it is always advisable to take up nature based products and techniques for skin lightening. Most people perform wrong methods for skin lightening such as laser treatments for lightening their pelt which can be extremely dangerous in the long run. Skin discoloration or dark spots are mostly caused due to excess production of Melanin pigment.

Natural ways to skin Lightening and treat hyper pigmentation

* Apply sunscreen before stepping out of your home. It will protect your from harsh sun rays. You should preferably wear sunglasses for protecting your eyes and face from pollutants.

* It is advisable to drink 10-12 glasses of water daily. Water nourishes your skin by hydrating it.

* You should consume high fibrous foods for skin lightening such as fruits and vegetables for flushing out toxins from your body, which will consequently treat hyper pigmentation and other complications.

* You should completely avoid ingredients such as Hydroquinone, mercury and steroids for whitening your skin. They can cause liver damage, leukemia and thyroid problems.

* Home based products for skin lightening such as sandalwood paste, lemon extract etc. can easily bleach your skin without damaging your cells.

* Exfoliating once a week is extremely beneficial for skin lightening and for discarding dead cells. This process helps in lightening your skin tone with ease. You can easily make a paste by mixing oatmeal and brown sugar with some milk. You can gently scrub, rinse and moisturize your face.

In order to diminish problems like dark discolorations, age spots, sun spots, freckles, sun damage, melasma, acne marks, old scars, birth marks, dark elbows and uneven skin tone, we should employ products containing following ingredients:

* Glycolic Acid
* Kojic Acid
* Lactic Acid
* Emblica Powder
* Lemon Juice Extract
* Bearberry Extract
* Mulberry Extract
* Vitamin B3
* Alpha Arbutin.

These ingredients can easily inhibit the production of Melanin. They are the safe alternatives for Hydroquinone, mercury and steroids. Be careful and do your due dilligence when deciding any method of skin lightening.

Laser Skin Treatment – a Popular Way of Curing Various Skin Problems

Laser skin treatment is a type of surgery technique that is used to treat skin problems. In the process of laser skin treatment, a surgeon uses a carbon die oxide laser to vaporize the upper layers of skin, removing them so that new skin reforms.

Laser Skin Treatment helps people get rid of unwanted hair

Although it does not guarantee permanent removal of hair, but it does help to slow down their growth and also works well for removing thick and coarse hair, especially on the face. The procedure of laser treatment has also been found effective for the treatment of acne and wrinkles. It can be safely used anywhere on the body wherever the problem exists. It is also safe to be used on the face except too close to the eyes. Laser skin treatment is effective for many types of skin problem such as acne including whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.

Laser treatments are common, easy and give good results. This treatment not only rejuvenates the skin but also removes warts and scars, lines and wrinkles. The only condition with this treatment is that patient should not have any kind of skin problems. Patient can be of any age and the time required to heal the skin depends on the individual skin type and health condition.

Laser skin treatment is aimed precisely the affected area and treated by creating the new skin. This treatment is performed with local anesthesia and can be competed in half an hour to two hours depending upon the area to be treated. The face of the patient is covered with sterile gauze, which is continuously kept moist with frequent face washing with mild vinegar, or saline. The area will also be covered with Vaseline or some other similar medication. One can use ice packs to prevent swelling and scab formation. The patient will require care of the skin in the first couple of days till the old skin peels off and the new one is formed.

After effects of Laser Skin Treatment

After the laser skin treatment, the new skin formed will be blemish less, that is there will be no scars, no wrinkles or lines. The skin color may be pink or reddish, depending upon the original skin color of the patient. Redheads and blonds take a longer time to come back to normal skin. Special care should be taken of the rejuvenated skin. It should not be exposed to the direct hot sun and adequate care has to be taken to keep the skin free from getting infected. After a couple of months the rejuvenated skin will look good and the effect of the Laser Skin Treatment will last for at least a couple of years.

Best Acne Treatment Product – FDA Approved Zeno Mini As the Best Treatment For Acne?

Zeno mini has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Zeno mini is a hand-held, portable electronic medical device that is clinically tested to clear pimples quick. As a matter of fact, for treating acne pimples, it is the most scientifically advanced and efficient device available without a prescription drug.

Zeno Mini is a hand-held battery-operated device

It is designed with a tip that heats up to a predetermined temperature. The bio compatible tip is designed for target contact with a spot on the skin. When in contact with a spot, the tip will channel heat into the follicle. An internal PID controller chip continually regulates the temperature to a determined range even under a different skin and circulation circumstances by setting the flow of energy to match accurately the heat absorption of the individual user. Zeno’s microprocessor conforms not solely to your individual skin type but also to the heat absorption features of the placement of the pimple.

Zeno stimulates a heat-shock reaction in p. acne, the bacteria causing at least 90% of all acne spots. Heat shock proteins, triggered off by bacterial cells under heat stress, cause the self-annihilation of p. acne inside the lesion, reducing redness and leaving the skin to go back to a healthy state.

How does it work?
Pimples come about when surplus skin oil and flaking skin plug the opening of a hair follicle and produce the ideal environment for acne bacteria to develop. Precisely controlled heat applied for a particular period of time makes the bacteria to self-destruct. When the bacteria die, the pimple disappears.

How many treatments does it take?
Two to three 2½-minute treatments spread over 24 hours is sufficient for most pimples. Oftentimes, only one treatment is needful.

Who should use Zeno Mini?

Zeno is for folks with mild to moderate inflammatory acne. If uncertain, ask your doctor.

When should Zeno be used?
Use Zeno at the first sign of a pimple. It works finest when used on a pimple in the early stages of development. Also, the earlier pimples are cleared up, the less risk they have to leave scars.

How does Zeno compare with topical or oral treatments?
Zeno can clear up a pimple in just hours. Most other medications can take a long time or even weeks to work. What’s more, other than slight, impermanent skin redness, Zeno has none of the fallout reported by most topical or oral medications.

Is Zeno safe and painless?
Patients admitted in our clinical test went through little reaction to the low-level heat. Other than a few impermanent skin redness following a treatment cycle, no additional harmful side effects were accounted. But should you feel any irritation when using Zeno, stop use and consult your skin care professional.

Is Zeno all I need for acne?
Zeno does not substitute good skin hygiene or a doctor’s attention. It is designed to address mild to moderate inflammatory acne. Your doctor may recommend other therapies, depending on the severity of your acne. Abide by your doctor’s advice and use Zeno Mini for the casual pimple.

The Best Facial Skin Care Treatment For A Naturally Fresh Young Skin

If you’re looking for the best Facial skin care treatment, you have come to the right place. There are so many treatments and creams available in the market, it can be really confusing to choose any single one of them. You need to know exactly what to look for if you have to make the right choice.

Here’s the thing. A good Facial skin care treatment need not be complex or expensive at all. As they say, the best things in life are simple and free. Now, “free” may not really be feasible when it comes to effective skincare, but “affordable” is definitely something we can expect!

You need a three pronged approach to skin care to get the best results -

Nourish your skin
This means drinking plenty of water to keep it hydrated and resistant to damage. Add on plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. The vitamins and minerals they provide will not only make your skin healthy but will also improve your overall health and well being.

Make sure to protect your skin from the elements too by using a sun screen, wearing a hat and scarves when it’s windy and protecting it from extreme cold weather conditions too. A little precaution will go a long way in keeping your skin young and beautiful.

Facial skin care treatment: Avoid all chemicals

Most of the skin creams in the market contain a host of chemicals inside. You need to steer clear of them if you want to avoid permanent damage to your skin. Mineral oil, Parabens, Triclosan, Acrylamide, these are all chemicals commonly found in creams, and have been known to cause problems like allergies, dryness, skin irritation and even cancer.

Invasive procedures like Botox or laser treatment are also a strict no-no as they can cause many side effects too.

Facial skin care treatment: Look for powerful natural ingredients

The right Facial skin care treatment would make use of effective natural ingredients like Phytessence Wakame. This sea kelp nourishes the skin with many vitamins and minerals and also protects it from the harsh UV rays of the sun.

Cynergy TK™ is a sheep wool extract that can enhance the Collagen production in your body and so help in fighting off wrinkles naturally and effectively. Shea Butter, Manuka honey and Grapeseed oil are some highly effective moisturizing agents that keep the skin soft and supple.

So there you have it. A really simple, effective and affordable Facial skin care treatment. You just can’t go wrong with it.

On Acne Laser Skin Treatment

Acne laser skin treatment is available to everyone, but it is ideal for people who have serious acne issues. This kind of treatment is referred to as therapy. This option is very popular with people who have tried traditional methods to treat their acne and nothing so far has worked.

Laser and light therapy is becoming very popular. If you have severe, uncontrollable acne, this could be just what you need. Many people find out about this type of therapy as a last resort. This is usually after they have tried many pills and gone through a lot of procedures.

This type of treatment is more involved than many other treatments that are available, which is why other options should be considered first. The skin is treated deep down in all layers. This helps stop acne in its tracks and goes straight to the source of the problem.

When it comes to laser treatments, there are many that are available. Each therapy treatment specializes in different ways of handling severe acne problems. To know which kind will benefit you the most and give you the best results, you need to know what type of skin you have and make a note of all the problems you are having. Now you are ready to consider all of your options.

Acne laser skin treatment falls under the category of laser and light therapy

There are several treatments that you can choose from. All laser and light treatments involve treating P. Acne and other skin issues. Thees treatments are good choices for people who suffer from acne and acne scarring.

The first treatment that is available is known as blue light therapy. It destroys P. Acne by the use of a blue light. Studies have shown that using a low-intensity red light with the blue light shows amazing results in the skin. If you’re worried about pain, there’s no need to worry about it with this particular kind of therapy. Although this procedure is completed over many sessions, it is painless.

Photodynamic therapy is next. This treatment is not like the rest of the laser procedures. With this special treatment, it is light-based like the others, but it also consists of topical medications. This medication is known as photosensitizing. It enhances the effect that the light has on the skin. In order to get the best results from this therapy, you will need to have more than one session.

Products for Acne Laser Skin Treatment

Since there are so many products that promise awesome results when it comes to acne, you should consider all of your choices and compare your needs with what the products, treatments, or procedures offer. These laser treatments should be your last resort. It is idea for people with advanced acne. This means that the acne is uncontrollable or the issue can’t be resolved with regular treatments or prescriptions. It’s a good idea to know the facts about your particular skin type. You may have greasy, shiny skin or dry, pale skin. This is a good thing to know as certain prescriptions and therapies can be done to correct the problems the first time instead of going through the trial and error phase. You will be saving time and money in your Acne Laser Skin Treatment.

Combination Skin

Characteristics:

Combination skin, as mentioned in other sections, has numerous skin types throughout the face and body; it can be oily, dry, sensitive, and balanced all at the same time or during different parts of the year. Combination dry skin will be balanced in the T-zone region and excessively dry in the cheek and eye areas. Combination oily skin will be excessively oily in the T-zone region (where most of your oil glands are located) and balanced in the cheek and eye areas. This skin type is very common and is often the most difficult to take care of. This is because you have to treat the dry regions as dry skin and the oily regions as oily skin, and the balanced regions as balanced skin. You may have acne in the oily and sensitive regions and chapping, drying, and chaffing in the dryer regions. Environmentally, this skin has the worst of both worlds (although it may not be as reactive as sensitive skin): in the winter months the T-zone will level off and the cheek and eye areas will dry out while in summer months the cheek and eye areas will normalize while the T-zone secretes too much sebum and oil.

Organic Combination Skin Care Recommendations

For skin care, you can use some of the recommendations from other skin types. For instance, for the dry regions of your skin, use the recommendations for dry skin; for the oily regions of your skin, use the recommendations for oily skin and for the balanced regions of your skin, use the recommendations for balanced skin. It may be best to simply take some of the important parts to those sections as well. For instance, for a cleanser, you may want to use a simple, water-based, non-foaming cleanser that is gentler on your skin regardless of skin type. Again, if you have to use soap as a cleanser, make sure you only use it on your body in the less dry areas and make sure you use a glycerin based or goat milk soap. Toners are great to refine pores and reduce pore size. Organic green tea and vinegar toners work best for almost all skin types and balanced skin is no different; just make sure that the vinegar is not too strong for the particularly dry regions of the face and body. People with combination skin may want to use a moisturizer in the winter months and shy away from moisturizing in summer months. You can use a heavy cream based moisturizer for the extra dry areas while using a lightweight oil based moisturizer for the balanced or oily areas. As with all skin types, exfoliation is pertinent to healthy skin because it gets rid of dead skin cells; be cautious to not get carried away or you could strip your skin of all that is beneficial in the surface layer. As with all skin types, make sure to avoid excessive heat and make sure to protect your skin from sun damage by using sunscreen and UV protection.

Recommended Organic Herbs for Combination Skin

Calendula Comfrey Root Fennel German Chamomile Lavender Lemon Balm Neroli Rosemary

Recommended Other Organic Ingredients:

Aloe Vera Apple Cider Vinegar Castile Green Tea Honey Milk Oatmeal Yogurt

Who Gets Acne – How is Acne Treated?

Acne is an old problem that has probably been rampant for centuries. Acne is the term for plugged pores (black and white), buttons, and even deeper lumps. People of all ages get acne. Teenagers are the most commonly affected. Due to the sharp hormonal activity during puberty, acne affects many teenagers. It is estimated that 80% of all people have acne at some time in their lives. Most people aged 12 to 17 years had at least occasionally teeth and about 40% of adolescents have acne enough to require a doctor ‘s attention. In most cases, acne occurs to a person during l aperson early 20.

It can persist into the thirties and forties. Some people develop acne for the first time as adults. Adult acne affects men and women equally, just sometimes at different stages of life. Men are more prone to acne problems during puberty. Women might experience acne during puberty and menopause. During puberty, men are more likely to have severe acne. On the other hand, women suffer from hormonal changes during their period. This accounts for a significant increase in acne. Acne lesions are most common on the face, but they can also occur on the neck, chest, back, shoulders, scalp, and upper arms and legs.

Acne need not be feared as something untreatable

There are certain practices and medications that can help facilitate acne healing process. The best way to prevent post-inflammatory changes caused by acne is to prevent acne lesions from occurring. This is done by understanding the factors that cause acne and using the appropriate treatments for the different acne types. Topical therapy should be based on the severity and type of acne. Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and azelaic acid are effective treatments for mild acne. Topical retinoids (eg Adapalene) are medicines based on vitamin A, which are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.

They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off. Antibiotics and drugs with bacteriostatic properties and anti-inflammatory drugs are effective for the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne. Formulations suitable for alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acid which contain the correct concentrations and pH are also helping the skin ‘remodeling process. Oral antibiotics (pills), as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) is a drug known as an oral retinoid, which also exists in a form of news. Isotretinoin works by drying up oily secretions.

Severe Forms of Acne

It tends to be prescribed for people with severe forms of acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. Tablets oral contraceptives help women who have acne. A combination of the pill usual hormone ethinyl with cyproterone acetate (eg Dianette) suppresses the activity of the male hormone is often used in women with acne. The chemicals are applied to the skin that cause the outer layer to be removed. And the concentrations of different chemicals are used, depending on a patient’ s skin type. Doxycycline is used to treat moderate to severe acne vulgaris.