Tanning: for a natural golden appearance

Generally speaking, a tan signifies the sun damage on the skin to some degree.



There was a time a tan signified wealth and health, but no longer! In fact, the deep, bronzed look is now "out", and companies which once promoted agents to enhance a tan are now actively promoting sunscreens.






The Sun has many beneficial health effects, but only a moderate sun exposure is recommended.



However, there are tanning creams, accelerators and beds available in the market to help you satisfy the need for a tan.


If you are applying a broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 15 regularly, you should get a minimal tan or no tan at all.





Tanning Creams


If your motive for getting a tan is to have a so-called healthier hue, there are products available which will color your skin to look as though it is tanned, for example, Clarin's Self Tanning Milk, Estee Lauder Tanning Cream, and Lancôme Tanning Cream.



Tanning creams contain di-hydroxy acetone (DHA) which chemically reacts with the top layer of the skin to produce the appearance of a natural golden tan. This is a safe and effective way to achieve a summertime glow. After applying these creams, will take a couple of hours for color change to take place and it will last several days until the top layer of skin is gradually sloughed off. These products are much better than the skin colorants of the past which tended to streak the skin and stain clothing. Many tanning creams contain sunscreens and tanning accelerators, as well.



Some tanning agents, better termed coloring can be taken orally. These agents contain carotenoids ( cousins to carotene found in carrots ) which are deposited in the fat and reach the epidermis through the sweat pores thus giving a tanned appearance. Some of these agents, unfortunately, may give a tan like color that has an unnaturally orange hue. Because the skin is thicker on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, these areas become distinctly orange in color when these agents are use.



Achieving a dark sunless tan, or even a medium sunless tan, takes time and lots of practice. It requires proper application, and getting familiar with what works best with your skin — not a special product. The ideal product should give you the color you want in two or three coats. If you need more then that, consider a darker product.




Tan Accelerators

Tan accelerators, sometimes referred to as tan promoters, speed up the tanning process so the time of exposure to ultraviolet light is less. In some ways the principle is similar to that of the pre-holiday tan: the sooner you tan, the sooner you will be protected from a sunburn. This is true; tan accelerators, however, do not protect the dermis from damage which is partially responsible for premature aging and, to a lesser extent, skin cancer.



Psoralen is one active ingredient used in tan accelerators. It stimulates the pigment cells to produce more melanin when exposed to the sun. This results in the rapid development of a tan with less ultraviolet light exposure. Psoralen is extracted from citrus oil and other plant substances, and is found in such citrus fruit as limes. Even the juice from a lime, when applied to the skin, will tan that area faster than the surrounding skin.



Tyrosine is another ingredient sometimes added to tan accelerators to stimulate melanin production. It is a building block of the pigment protein melanin. Its usefulness for this purpose is not as well researched as psoralen.




Dermatologists estimate that a 20-minute stint in a tanning booth does as much damage as a full day at the beach. And the long-term results aren't pretty: deadly melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, severe burns, peeling skin, reactions to certain medications, disruptions to the immune system, eye damage, sun poisoning and premature aging.




Some tan accelerators also contain sunscreens to protect against burning. This, however, reduces the benefit of the tan accelerator in that it will take longer to get a tan because the sunscreen blocks ultraviolet light which interacts with the stimulator to produce melanin. The benefit of a tan accelerator over any other tanning method is that it requires less exposure to the damaging rays of ultraviolet light to get the tan.



If used cautiously, tan accelerators are probably safe to use. But, in reality, there is no safe way to tan. In order for the skin to tan, it must be exposed to ultraviolet radiation which is damaging to the skin in any amount.





Tanning Beds


Tanning beds were thought to be safer than sunlight for many years, but this is no longer is case. In fact, they emit far more of the longer wave UVA light rays than the sun does. Fifteen minutes of exposure to UVA in a tanning bed is equivalent to three days of sitting in the sun. The UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin but do not cause superficial burning unless the skin is exposed to them for long periods of time. Continuous exposure to UVA light rays, however, contributes to the skin's premature aging, the development of skin cancers, the suppression of the immune system, and damage to the eyes. Lying in a tanning bed is much akin to setting a bomb to go off at a later date.



The belief that tans from suntan parlors will protect you from the burning rays of the sun has little substance. The protection offered by a preliminary tan would only be equivalent to an SPF of 2. If a tan is the goal, it is better to start with a high SPF broad spectrum sunscreen and decrease the number as the skin adapts to sun exposure. If you do not want a tan, continue using the high SPF broad spectrum sunscreen.

Heat-related Illness

Warm weather means activities and fun under the sun! Whether you love putting on shorts and feeling the warm outdoors, or find it hot and sticky, everyone must be careful not to let a heat-related illness spoil the day.





Normally, the body has ways of keeping itself cool, by letting heat escape through the skin, and by evaporating sweat (perspiration). If the body does not cool properly or does not cool enough, the victim may suffer a heat-related illness. Anyone can be susceptible although the very young and very old are at greater risk. Heat-related illnesses can become serious or even deadly if unattended.



Stages of Heat-Related Illness

Heat-related illness usually comes in stages. The signal of the first stage is heat cramps in muscles. These cramps can be very painful. If you are caring for a person who has heat cramps, have him or her stop activity and rest. If the person is fully awake and alert, have him or her drink small amounts of cool water or a commercial sports drink. Gently stretch the cramped muscle and hold the stretch for about 20 seconds, then gently massage the muscle.


The signals of the next, more serious stage of a heat-related illness (often called heat exhaustion) include:



Cool, moist, pale skin
(the skin may be red right after physical activity).
Headache.
Dizziness and weakness or exhaustion.
Nausea.
The skin may or may not feel hot.



The signals of the late stage of a heat-related illness (often called heat stroke) include:



Vomiting.
Decreased alertness level or complete loss of consciousness.
High body temperature (sometimes as high as 105oF).
Skin may still be moist or the victim may stop sweating and the skin may be red, hot and dry.
Rapid, weak pulse.
Rapid, shallow breathing.





How can I prevent heat illness?


When the heat index is high, stay indoors in air-conditioned areas when possible. If you must go outside, take the following
precautions:
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes.


Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein which increase metabolic heat.


Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat or using an umbrella.


Don't forget the sunscreen!


Drink plenty of water before starting an outdoor activity. Drink extra water all day. Drink
fewer beverages that contain caffeine
(such as
tea, coffee
and
cola)
or alcohol.


Schedule vigorous outdoor activities for cooler times of the day--before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.



During an outdoor activity, take frequent breaks. Take time out to find a cool place. If you recognize that you, or someone else, is showing the signals of a heat-related illness, stop activity and find a cool place. Remember, have fun, but stay cool! Drink water or other fluids every 15 to 20 minutes, even if you don't feel thirsty. If you have clear, pale urine, you are probably drinking enough fluids.


If you have a chronic medical problem, ask your doctor about how to deal with the heat, about drinking extra fluids and about your medicines.

Are Moisturizers Beneficial?

Moisturizers are useful for dry skin. The mechanism of action is to prevent the natural oils and water within the skin from escaping ; they do not put moisture into the skin. They give the skin a smooth, soft texture and, plumps up the fine wrinkles making them less obvious.


Chances are you will require a moisturizer at one time or another. Unless you have unusually dry skin, however, the use of a moisturizer should not necessarily become part of your daily routine. If moisturizers are used too often they can prevent the normal sloughing off of the top layer of dead skin cells. This gives the appearance of dryness and falsely induces the individual to use more moisturizer. This moisturizer induced dryness is called cosmetic seborrhea. If the problem persists, the skin becomes inflamed, and scaly patches form.




Choosing a Moisturizer
As within cleansers, the choice of moisturizers is a period decision and involves a certain amount of experimentation to find the right one for you.

There are three qualities to look for in a moisturizer ;
whether it helps control the dryness.
whether it occludes the pores, which causes acne the milia,

whether it irritates the skin.
Oil and water are the two basic ingredients of moisturizers. The difference
between moisturizing products is the ration of these two ingredients in the products. Products labeled oil free may actually have oil in them but the ration of water to oil in more as compared to their counterparts in which the ration of water to oil is usually much greater. Oils are necessary to trap the natural moisture.


A moisturizer will smooth skin to make wrinkles less apparent, but only temporarily; unfortunately, moisturizing your skin will not have any long-term effect on wrinkles.


If you are unable to determine the ratio of oil to water in a moisturizer from its label, try the following tests before purchasing large amounts of the products.


Put on some of the moisturizer. If the skin where you applied the moisturizer is warm, the moisturizer has a lot of oil in it. On the other hand, if the skin is cool; the moisturizer
has a lot of water in it. The reason for this reaction is that the water evaporates from the skin and evaporation is a cooling mechanism. Oil, on the other hand, does not evaporate. It traps the heat in our bodies.
Put a dab of moisturizer on a piece of tissue paper and hold it over a hot light bulb for several minutes. If there is a lot of oil in the moisturizer, it will melt around the dab of moisturizer. The wider the spread of oil into the tissue, the greater the oil content in the moisturizer.



Lotions tend to have a greater water to oil ratio and will allow the skin to breathe (sweat and cool) more than ointments which are often petroleum – based and greasy. Creams fall somewhere In the middle of the oil-to-water ration.
Beyond the two ingredients of oil and water cosmetic companies try to differentiate their products from similar ones
through creative packaging and by adding special ingredients for which they often make unsubstantiated claims.
Here is a realistic look at some of the more commonly added ingredients .
Mineral oil and petroleum – based products are very good moisturizers because they effectively look in the moisture. In high concentrations however they may occlude the pores, preventing natural oil from surfacing, resulting in acne and milia. They also tend to feel sticky on the skin.
Vegetable oils generally are not as effective for moisturizing as are animal fats and mineral oils. Fats, polyunsaturated oils, such as apricot kernel, olive and avocado oils are common occlusive ingredients used in moisturizers.
Hormones and placental extracts attract can hold water, but can also cause allergic reactions. If these hormones are absorbed into the body, they may effect the internal organs. Other ingredients such as vitamin E, collagen, proteins and amino acids may encourage skin hydration
They cannot however assist in rejuvenating aging skin because they do not pass through the top layer of the skin to the dermis where wrinkles originate. In addition, these ingredients can also cause allergic reactions.
Vitamin A derivatives have been added to some products as anti-aging agents. Whether or not the enzymes in the skin actually convert these derivatives into Tretinoin, which is the rejuvenating factor in the anti-aging products Retin-A, Renova, and vitamin A acid, remains in question until they have been exposed to the cold light of scientific scrutiny. The doses are so slow that even if they do convert to tretinion in the skin
they probably do not provide the hoped
benefits. Examples of products containing vitamin a derivatives include Estee lauder’s future perfect micro- targeted skin gel, prescriptive extra firm and Avon bio advance.


Chemical agents, such as urea ,glycolic acid and lactic acid, improve the moisture retaining ability of the moisturizer. Examples are, Reversa lotion, Neo strata cream, Lachydrin lotion, Lacticare lotion and Uremol lotion. These agents, often called chemically enhanced moisturizers, are frequently recommended for dry skin problems and are most effective when put on moist skin. If they are not put on moist skin or are put on skin with small, dry skin cracks, they tend to sting.



Fragrance- Fragrances are used to mask the odor of formulation ingredients and to impart a pleasant fresh aroma. Fragrance is added to 65% of moisturizers. Fragrances are the most common sensitizers. They are the most likely irritating agents, especially in individuals who already have a preexisting dermatitis.



Tip: Before purchasing a moisturizer know your skin type. Is it dry, oily, normal or have a T zone. Also, You should always apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp.

Do I need Facial massage?

When you first get up in the morning your face probably looks paler, puffer and more creased than usual. You can blame some of the crease on the pillow you slept on, but the lack of color and tone are the result of a nocturnal slow –down in circulation.





When the body is in a deep rest it puts the brakes on the system that pumps blood and lymph around the body. At night, when the lymph drainage of toxins from the tissues slows down, the waste builds up. Puffiness around the face, particularly the eyes, in the morning is just one of the most obvious signs of this; likewise, the relative pallor skin is the result that follows the nocturnal slow down in blood circulation.

It is not only sleep that slows down circulation. During the day, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, shallow breathing and overexposure to pollution – all hazards of modern living –slow the drainage of lymph and flow of blood.

Facial massage via exercise jump-starts both. A pinker glow is the obvious testament to improved blood flow. An acceleration in lymph action is less visible, but you can assume that if your face is a richer colour the lymph has also been stimulated, since it vessels run closer to the surface of the skin, in the longer term, a fluid lymph system shows in a resilient immune system and a bright complexion. Half of the lymph nodes in the body are in the neck, so unblocking them has an immediate effect on the facial skin.


How does it work.


When you press or squeeze any part of your body, it increase circulation to that area. The face responds particularly well to touch as it is packed with small, sensitive muscle and so richly endowed with endings.

Tension, and to a certain extent age, causes the connective tissue between the layers of the facial skin and the facial muscle to become less supple over time. As a result habitual expressions such as frown lines, rigid jaws, pursed lips and staring eyes tend to become set as part of the fabric of the face. The gentle pressure of a facial massage can loosen up the facial muscle and allow them to learn to slide back into place more readily after being tensed. The cumulative effect is such that with repeated treatment your face will be left looking relaxed, and therefore younger. Also, because massage stimulates circulation to the face, your complexion will be toned and glowing.

The muscles of the face are extremely delicate. Massage can be tremendously beneficial, but if given too deeply or frequently, it can encourage the muscles to lengthen. So,
The comparative fragility of older muscles and
Their adjacent tissues is important to bear in mind.
The scalp is a different matter and can be massaged quite vigorously without any harm, with many benefits for the face. Sensitive skin, which is typically fair and dry, should also be massaged with great care. It is more susceptible to the kind of surface damage that causes ‘broken veins’ (which are not actually broken, but simply closer than usual to the surface, so more visible).


Skin-type & suitable oil for massage

Oil is required to provide a fine, slippery surface for massage so that the skin is not pulled and stretched as you handle it. In principle, any pure vegetable or nut oil will do the job well. Such oils can nourish and lubricate the skin in a way that others cannot, as they are more efficiently absorbed and warm the skin to maximize absorption. Although any oil can block the pores of skin that is very fine or over-handled, pure vegetables oils do not spread a suffocating film over the skin or adversely affect its own oil production. In addition, vegetable oils contain fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Many are absorbed relatively slowly by the skin, so take effect over time. Choose cold-pressed vegetables oils, which are usually sold in health food shops.

Some vegetables oils are better suited to certain skin types than others. Broadly speaking, the drier your skin the more it will benefit from oil rich in saturated fatty acids.

Being thicker and sticker these are absorbed more slowly and curb water loss more effectively. Greasier skins require oils with a high percentage of polyunsaturated fats, which are thinner and quickly absorbed into the skin.
Try one of the following carrier oils according to your skin type and choose an essential oil to perfume it, if liked,

DRY OR AGEING SKIN
Use apricot, avocado, macadamia or wheat germ oil.

NORMAL SKIN
Use almond, sunflower or sesame oil. Olive oil is another option but is one to the thicker vegetable oils, so can be mixed with thinner oil for massage.

OILY SKIN
Use hazelnut, peach kernel, thistle or hypericum oil – the latter needs to be blended with one of the other carrier oils.

Borage and evening primrose are two oils with special anti-aging properties. They are expensive so are normally blended with one of the above carrier oils, in a proportion of roughly one part to every seven of the main oil. They benefit all skin types.

Click here, to check your skin-type.


A 4-Minute Massage Routine


You can follow this routine after removing make-up using carrier oil or while applying your moisturizing cream. Once you have memorized the routine if should take no more than three to four minutes, so try to do it ever day. If you have a specific area that you need to concentrate on, incorporate one of the massages from the routine.






Pour just under a teaspoon of oil into one hand, rub it into both hands and apply the oil to your neck and face in long, upward and outward sweeping movements. Apply it very sparingly around your eyes, where the skin is most delicate, using the ring finger of both hands.













Using alternate hands, slide up your neck form the base to your jaw bone, turning the hands as necessary and working lightly over your windpipe. Cover your whole neck form ear to ear.











Using the first and middle fingers of each hand, slide firmly along your jaw line from your chin to the front of your ears. Your index finger should be on top of your jaw and the middle finger underneath.











With your fingers together and hands pointing up to your brow, holding the fingers straight, press firmly with the edge of your hands either side of your nose. Hold for three to four seconds. Repeat











Release the pressure slightly and, rolling your hands on to your cheeks, slide your hands outwards with your index fingers stopping in front of your ears and apply a firm pressure. Hold for three to four seconds. Repeat.









With your fingers held in loose fists underneath your chin slide both thumbs upwards symmetrically around the corners of your mouth, in under your nose, around your nostrils and lightly off over the tip of your nose.











With the middle and ring fingers of each hand, starting at the inner corners of your eyebrows, slide firmly outwards over your eyebrows and using your ring finger only, trace very lightly inwards underneath your eyes.











With the ring finger of each hand, slide lightly outwards over your closed eyelids and then lightly underneath each eye.











With your fingers together and the index fingers leading the way, alternately smooth your hands up to the hairline in a firm lifting movement, starting between the eyebrows and finishing at the hairline .









Close your eyes and, with the fingers together and using the whole of both hands slightly cupped to produce a gentle suction, apply a firm pressure to the face, holding for a second before releasing. Then, moving the hands outwards from the nose towards the ears, cover the whole face, moving the hands up and down to cover the area between the chin and hairline.











With your fingers together and using the whole of the hand, apply pressure with the right hand to the left side of the neck, working from the base of the neck to the jaw but avoiding the windpipe. Repeat with the left hand, applying pressure to the right side of the neck.











Massage tips for problem areas


You can have areas of your face that call for extra attention. The following massage exercise can remedy or prevent such problem areas, and can be fitted into the 4- minute massage routine.





For a double chin

With the fingers, relaxed, use the thumbs to press into the muscle underneath the jaw, starting in the centre of the chin and working outwards towards the angle of the jaw bone.
(Do this after Following step)





For jowls

Using the flat middle and ring fingers of both hands alternately and treating one side at a time, work on the muscle of the checks with a rolling, lifting movement, almost flicking the muscle upwards.
(Do this after Following step)




For wrinkle lips

Smiling to stretch the lips taut, and anchoring the middle finger of your left hand on the left corner of the mouth, use the middle finger of the right hand to make small, circular movements all the way along the edge of the bottom lip. Then swap hands to use the middle finger of the left hand and repeat the circles on the edge of the upper lip. (Do this after Following step)





For frown lines between the eyes

With the index and middle finger of your left hand supporting the skin in an upward v-shape, apply small circular movements with the ring finger of your right hand between the eyebrows.
(Do this after Following step)





For open pores on the nose and between the eyes

With your middle or ring finger, make small circular movements all over and around your nose. Start by working around your nostrils, over the tip of your nose and up the sides of your nose, finishing on the bridge.
(Do this after Following step)




For crow’s feet

With the middle or ring finger of each hand, make a crossroads shape where the crow’s feet are emerging by tracking a horizontal then a vertical line, alternately working with the middle fingers of each hand, out from the corner of your eye and up towards the temple.
(Do this after Following step)




For brow lines on the forehead

Locate the brow lines across your forehead. Starting above your right eye, make small, circular, sliding movements along each line form right to left using the middle finger of your right hand. Use the index and middle finger of your left hand to hold the skin firm on either side of the line. Repeat the movement on each line.
(Do this after Following step)

Herbs offering Sun Protection

When it come to sun damage, prevention is the key, so do your best to limit your sun exposure, and wear protective clothing or sunscreen when you go outside. Almost 75 percent of sun damage occurs without our even going to the beach or lying out in the sun — as we walk down the street, ride a bike or even drive a car (if the windows are down). Special skin cells spread a dark pigment called melanin through the skin to tan it, protecting sensitive underlying cells from the sun's destructive tendencies.




Aloe Vera -- This ancient natural skin care herb protects the skin's immune cells against the damaging effects of the sun, according to research from the Department of Immunology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. Fresh aloe vera may be applied after any type of sun exposure. Its anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, emollient, and antimicrobial actions make it especially useful for preventing sunburn damage.





Coenzyme Q10 --
Also known as ubiquinone and CoQ10, this enzymatic co-factor penetrates into the viable layers of the skin and markedly counteracts damaging free radical activity (oxidation) caused by the sun.




Green Tea -- Whether applied topically or consumed as a beverage or dietary supplement, green tea is a premiere skin protectant. It protects against direct damage to the cell and moderates inflammation, according to research from the Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York. Studies suggest that the catechins in green tea are some 20 times stronger in their antioxidant powers than even vitamin E. Men, women and children need to position this super shield on their side against the ravaging effects of the sun.




Calendula: Although not studied scientifically, this herb has been used clinically for skin conditions including sunburn. It may also be used as a homeopathic remedy at doses consistent with that kind of therapy.






According to skin specialists, sesame oil decreases the impact of the sun's burning rays by about 30 percent, while olive, coconut and peanut oils and aloe vera block out about 20 percent of the rays. Research shows that a 3 to 6 percent dilution of an extract of Helichrysum, sometimes called immortelle, makes an effective sunscreen. And a new sunscreen made from amino acids found in sea algae is currently being tested in Australia.








Carrot-seed essential oil is especially beneficial to sun-damaged skin and is even used to treat pre-cancerous skin conditions. The beta-carotene it contains has been proven to protect against ultraviolet-induced skin cancer.


Home made Natural Sunscreen
2 ounces sesame oil
2 ounces aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
24 drops lavender essential oil
Method: Combine ingredients. Shake well before using. Remember, this will not provide total sun protection.





Helichrysum Essential Oil (Immortelle)
Botanical Name: Helichrysum angustifolium
Parts Used: Flowers
Potential uses and benefits: Many healing properties have been attributed to this remarkable oil. From infection and inflammation in respiratory conditions, muscle pain, arthritis to liver problems and as a detoxifier in drug withdrawal. It is most commonly used in skin treatments for its' ability to stimulate the production of new skin cells. This makes it popular in facial care for acne scars, dry and weathered skin and, for mature skin. Excellent in massage and herbal oils for sensitive, inflamed skin, muscle strains, aches and pains

Endermologie : a subdermal approach to treating cellulite

Cellulite is the dimpling appearance that occurs around the outer thighs, buttocks and other body areas where large areas of fat come into close proximity to the skin. Women are affected by cellulite more than men and one does not have to be heavy to develop this dimpled appearance called cellulite. The tendency to develop cellulite is often hereditary and not always helped by weight loss. The modern theory of cellulite is that the supporting walls underlying the skin called fibrous septae do not hold the skin together in an even manner. This uneven support under the skin results in this irregular bulging and dimpled appearance that bothers so many individuals.
Healthy Skin

Cellulite Skin



Endermologie is a French technique used to smooth the skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite. It is non-surgical and non-invasive. It involves the use of a motorized device with two adjustable rollers and controlled suction, which creates a symmetrical skin-fold. The skin gently folds and unfolds under the continuous action of the rollers allowing for smooth and regulated deep tissue mobilization. As the viscosity of the subcutaneous fat layer decreases, blood flow and lymphatic drainage increase, facilitating the elimination of excess fluid and metabolites, while improving overall cellular function.





The principal of the technique involves massaging the affected skin between mechanical rollers. This creates a positive pressure from the rolling at the same time as a negative pressure is applied.




Researchers have found that one to two sessions per week offers the best results. Patients undergoing these refreshing treatments often describe the feeling as being like a deep and relaxing massage. Most people see results after 5 or 6 sessions, but the full course of treatments (13-15 treatments) is required to achieve the best results. The results will vary depending on the age, lifestyle and hormonal status of the individual. The sessions are performed while the clients wear special pantyhose in most cases. This allows the apparatus to smoothly glide over the body and ensures optimal hygiene.




Results after Endermologie




Mechanisms of Treatment

The mechanism of treatment involves the following steps
Stretching of connective tissue.
Increase of blood and lymphatic flow.
Skin exfoliation.
Stimulation of collagen production.
Facilitation of fat metabolism
It is highly recommended that diet and exercise be modified in a way to promote a healthier lifestyle as well.

Massage Therapy

The oldest of the "hands on" therapies, from which every other branch of physical therapy has evolved, massage probably first developed out of out instinctive response to soothe aches and pains by rubbing the affected area.


Massage therapy can be divided into two main categories. The first is the holistic or "intuitive" form of massage, which aims to treat the whole person. it tends to be slower, more rhythmical and relaxing, with a greater emphasis on the tactile communication between the therapist and the person who is being massaged. One example of the holistic approach can be found in traditional Indonesian massage with aromatic oils. The second type of massage is more Western in character and concentrates on treating specific conditions or parts of the body. The Swedish massage system, which was first developed in the early 19th century by the Scandinavian practitioner Professor Peter Henrik Ling, is one example. Another example is Hellerwork, which is an intense form of massage that is designed to improve posture; this technique also has a strong psychological dimension.




Some Benefits Of Massage:
The following are some of the beneficial results that you can receive from massage treatments
Improve circulation- Increase blood circulation and the flow of tissue fluid (lymph)
Improve lymphatic drainage
Help breathing - Stimulate breathing Assist the flow of nutrients & oxygen to tissues
Lower the heart and pulse rate
Detoxify the body systems Hasten excretion or waste products
Assist weight loss
Nourish the skin (with the right oils) Promote nourishment, repair and renewal of body cells
Assist in removal of deposits of tissue
Stimulate activity in skin and its glands
Improve muscle tone Induce muscle tone
Soothe and relax nerves
Relieve Stress
Release emotional tension
Relieve pain in certain conditions
Relax mind and body deeply
Give pleasure
Create a feeling of well-being.







THE HANDS-THE TOOLS OF THERAPY


Fingers The "flat" of the fingers and the finger tips are used in light, sensuous strokes such as feathering and can work at a deeper level too, as in petrissage.









Thumbs The strength and size of the thumbs make them ideal for working on small areas of tense tissue. The thumbs are also involved in grasping strokes, such as kneading.









Palms The palms are used in gentle stroking and gliding movements, such as effleurage, and to grasp and hold various areas of the body.









Heel of the hand This part of the hand helps in stretching and manipulating tissue. The heel can also be useful for working on deeper tissue levels.














THE BEST TECHNIQUE FOR YOU


The type of massage therapy that is best for you depends, to a great extent, on what you want from it. If your are looking for relaxation and a release from stress, the more gentle, holistic forms of massage are likely to be appropriate. If you have a musculoskeletal injury or postural problem, the Swedish approach or a sports massage would probably be of greater benefit. However, many massage practitioners can offer either approach.

It is important that you feel a rapport with your massage therapist. If not, it is unlikely that you will relax enough to enjoy the experience.






WHEN TO AVOID MASSAGE


If you have any doubts about the state of your health and whether you will benefit from massage, you should, of course, consult your doctor. Massage for people with cancer or serious psychiatric illness requires particular expertise and, in many cases, could be inadvisable. Professional advice is important if you are pregnant or if you have any of the conditions listed below:
cancer
psychiatric illness
epilepsy
HIV or AIDS
severe back pain or injury
skin infections, inflammations, bruising or recent scar tissue
fever
varicose veins, phlebitis or thrombosis
undiagnosed lumps or bumps.




THE DIFFERENT STROKES


Massage uses a variety of strokes. Some therapists like to start with the back and work from head to toe before doing the same on your front. Others work from the extremities towards the heart. The massage therapist may use a pure vegetable oil or baby oil to help his hands slide over your skin, enabling the strokes to be performed more smoothly.






THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES


Effleurage This technique uses the flat of the hand in long, slow, flowing strokes. It is a relaxing stroke, which can be used at any time in the massage and after all deeper strokes.






Knuckling A type of friction stroke, knuckling is performed with the hand curled into a loose first, moving in small circling strokes. It is often used on the shoulders and chest.






Kneading A stimulating and invigorating action in which both hands alternately grasp and release the flesh, kneading aids the elimination of wastes, improves the elasticity of connective tissues and helps break down fatty tissue. It is used on soft, well-padded areas such as at the waist, the thighs and the bottom.




Skin rolling This technique involves kneading the flesh to stimulate the circulation. Using the thumbs and index fingers, the skin a picked up, rolled and released.






Hacking This percussion technique involves rapidly and vigorously striking a part of the body with the sides of the hands to increase circulation and tone up muscles. The fingers should be relaxed. These strokes are energizing instead of relaxing. Hacking should not be used on bony areas or on broken veins or bruises.




Cupping A type of percussion stroke, cupping is performed with the hands - as the name suggests - in a cup shape. The hands are alternately moved up and down rapidly, with the fingertips and the heel of the hand contacting the skin. The stroke is suitable for a fleshy area without broken veins of bruises.






Regular massage can have the effect of strengthening and toning the entire body mechanism, and so help to prevent unnecessary strains and injuries that might otherwise occur due to excess tension and any resulting structural weaknesses. Massage can stimulate or calm the nervous system-depending upon what is required by the individual-and thus help reduce fatigue, leaving the receiver with a feeling of replenished energy. At its best, massage has the potential to restore the individual physically, mentally and spiritually.

Facial swelling

Facial swelling involves an accumulation of fluid in the face, which may extend to the neck and upper arms




Causes
Obesity


Allergic reaction (such as allergic rhinitis, hay fever, or a bee sting)


Conjunctivitis with swelling around the eye(s)


Stye with swelling around the infected eye


Malnutrition (when severe)


Sinusitis- A sinus infection (sinusitis) may cause facial swelling though this is rare. If swelling is related to a sinus infection, it will be located over the affected sinus.


Facial trauma or injury (such as burns)


Drugs including prolonged use or allergic reaction to aspirin, antipyretics, penicillin, sulfa, glucocorticoids, or other drugs


Blood transfusion reaction


Head, nose, or jaw surgery


Angioedema from any cause including reaction to contrast media from radiologic tests


Cellulitis- Cellulitis of the eye (orbital) or around the eye (periorbital) is a very serious condition and can spread rapidly. Discharge from the eye and irritation of the inside of the eyelids (conjunctivitis) also may be present.


Tooth abscess


Occasionally, you may wake up in the morning with puffy eyes or a swollen face from lying flat in bed. This type of swelling goes away on its own. As long as the swollen area is not red or tender, it is not usually a cause for concern.





Home Care


Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling from an injury. Raise the head of the bed (or use extra pillows) to help reduce facial swelling.

If facial swelling is caused by burns, or respiratory distress is present, emergency measures must be taken first. Then the medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed

Yoga to manage Dermatitis

Dermatitis is a broad term that refers to any inflammation of the skin. Poison ivy and similar rashes are known as contact dermatitis, caused by touching something that irritates a patch of skin. Reactions to internal medication can cause red, scaly skin and sometimes even hair loss. The broadest category is known as atopic dermatitis, or eczema. It’s a chronic condition that can be triggered by allergic reactions to foods, pollen, dry air or any number of other factors. The problem can flare up any time, without notice, and the causes can be hard to pinpoint,

Eczema can flare up when you’re under stress. Do the complete breath exercise (Pranayam) whenever you’re feeling stress, whether it’s at the office, in the car or at home. You should include at least one relaxation pose, such as the corpse , knee squeeze or baby, in your daily yoga routine.





Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)


This yogasana calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
Stand in Tadasana, hands on hips. Exhale and bend forward from the hip joints, not from the waist. As you descend draw the front torso out of the groins and open the space between the pubis and top sternum. As in all the forward bends, the emphasis is on lengthening the front torso as you move more fully into the position.



If possible, with your knees straight, bring your palms or finger tips to the floor slightly in front of or beside your feet, or bring your palms to the backs of your ankles. If this isn't possible, cross your forearms and hold your elbows. Press the heels firmly into the floor and lift the sitting bones toward the ceiling. Turn the top thighs slightly inward.





With each inhalation in the pose, lift and lengthen the front torso just slightly; with each exhalation release a little more fully into the forward bend. In this way the torso oscillates almost imperceptibly with the breath. Let your head hang from the root of the neck, which is deep in the upper back, between the shoulder blades.



Uttanasana can be used as a resting position between the standing poses. Stay in the pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute. It can also be practiced as a pose in itself.



Don't roll the spine to come up. Instead bring your hands back onto your hips and reaffirm the length of the front torso. Then press your tailbone down and into the pelvis and come up on an inhalation with a long front torso.


Modifications & Props


To increase the stretch on the backs of the legs, stand in the forward bend with the balls of your feet elevated an inch or more off the floor on a sand bag or thick book.


Adho Mukha Svanasana

Calms the mind and induces a state of calm

Keep your legs shoulder width apart.
Slowly, bend down, until your palms touch the floor ahead of you.
Exhale while bending.
Do not lift your heels off the floor.
Don’t bend your knees, but at the same time, don’t lock them.
Spread your fingers wide apart.
Now, push your head between your arms, towards your knees. Feel the stretch in your legs.
You could also do this the other way around by first getting down on your knees, and then slowly lifting yourself up. Exhale while lifting yourself up. This is, in fact, the right way of performing this asana, but you may find it difficult to place your heels on the floor initially.
A good rule of thumb to remember is to exhale when performing any stretch that scrunches the stomach muscles, and inhale when returning to position, or when performing a stretch that expands the stomach muscles. Thus, when bending down, or bending sideways, exhale. But while bending backwards, inhale.



Janu Sirsasana (Head-to-Knee Forward Bend)

Seated head to knee stretches the back and deeply stretches the back of the legs. This posture calms the mind and emotions, stimulates the nervous, reproductive, endocrine and urinary systems.
Sit on the floor with your buttocks lifted on a folded blanket and your legs straight in front of you. Inhale, bend your right knee, and draw the heel back toward your perineum. Rest your right foot sole lightly against your inner left thigh, and lay the outer right leg on the floor, with the shin at a right angle to the left leg (if your right knee doesn't rest comfortably on the floor, support it with a folded blanket).


Press your right hand against the inner right groin, where the thigh joins the pelvis, and your left hand on the floor beside the hip. Exhale and turn the torso slightly to the left, lifting the torso as you push down on and ground the inner right thigh. Line up your navel with the middle of the left thigh. You can just stay here, using a strap to help you lengthen the spine evenly, grounding through the sitting bones.


Or, when you are ready, you can drop the strap and reach out with your right hand to take the inner left foot, thumb on the sole. Inhale and lift the front torso, pressing the top of the left thigh into the floor and extending actively through the left heel. Use the pressure of the left hand on the floor to increase the twist to the left. Then reach your left hand to the outside of the foot. With the arms fully extended, lengthen the front torso from the pubis to the top of the sternum.


Exhale and extend forward from the groins, not the hips. Be sure not to pull yourself forcefully into the forward bend, hunching the back and shortening the front torso. As you descend, bend your elbows out to the sides and lift them away from the floor.


Lengthen forward into a comfortable stretch. The lower belly should touch the thighs first, the head last. Stay in the pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. Come up with an inhalation and repeat the instructions with the legs reversed for the same length of time.
According to Swami Shivananda, a skin diseases practitioner should do shat kriyas (cleansing practices) - especially dhouti (swollow the cloth), kunjal kriya (drinking salt water and womiting) and shank prakshalana (you drink a lot of salt water and go toilet). Its very effective!




Prevention and management strategies

Reducing inflammations requires establishing a regular skin care routine and the development of a treatment strategy by a dermatologist. Here are tips a dermatologist may typically provide to patients:
Wear cotton or natural fabrics to avoid common fiber irritants.
Avoid scratching or rubbing affected skin.
Take brief, lukewarm baths and showers using mild soap or non-soap cleansers (avoiding extremely hot temperatures). Gently pat the skin dry with a soft towel (avoid rubbing dry skin).
Apply lubricants (creams or ointments, as suggested by the physician), immediately after bathing.
Recognize and avoid early signs of skin infection, such as tiny pustules, oozing sores, or crusty, yellow blisters.

Living with Albinism

Albinism is an inherited condition present at birth, characterized by a lack of pigment that normally gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. Many types of albinism exist, all of which involve lack of pigment in varying degrees.

People with albinism always have problems with vision, and many have low vision. Many are "legally blind," but most use their vision for reading, and do not use braille. Some have vision good enough to drive a car.

Vision problems in albinism result from abnormal development of the retina and abnormal patterns of nerve connections between the eye and the brain. It is the presence of these eye problems that defines the diagnosis of albinism.





Types:
Oculocutaneous albinism, which affects the eyes, hair, and skin. In its most severe form, hair and skin remain pure white throughout life



Ocular albinism, in which only the eyes lack color; skin and hair are normal.



Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is a rare type of albinism which includes a bleeding tendency and lung disease. HPS may also include inflammatory bowel disease or kidney disease. The severity of these problems varies much from person to person. It should be suspected in any child with albinism who shows easy bruising or unusual bleeding, such as repeated nosebleeds or bloody diarrhea.




Symptoms:


For those with albinism, one of the following will be present:
Absence of pigment from the hair, skin, or iris of eyes


Patchy absence of pigment (skin color, patchy)


Lighter than normal skin and hair


Many forms of albinism have some of the following possible symptoms:
Rapid eye movements (nystagmus)


Strabismus (eyes not tracking properly)


Photophobia (avoidance of light because of discomfort)


Decreased visual acuity or even functional blindness



Causes:


Albinism is an inherited problem caused by a flaw in one or more of the genes that are responsible for directing the eyes and skin to make melanin (pigment). As a result, little or no pigment is made, and the child's skin, eyes and hair may be colorless.



It's also possible to inherit one normal gene and one albinism gene. In this case, the one normal gene provides enough information in its cellular blueprint to make some pigment, and the child will have normal skin and eye color. They "carry" one gene for albinism. If both parents are carriers with one flawed gene each, they have a 1 in 4 chance of passing on both copies of the flawed gene to the child, who will have albinism.






Diagnosis:


Recently, a blood test has been developed that can identify carriers of the gene for some types of albinism; a similar test during amniocentesis can diagnose some types of albinism in an unborn child. A chorionic villus sampling test during the fifth week of pregnancy may also reveal some types of albinism.

The specific type of albinism a person has can be determined by taking a good family history and examining the patient and several close relatives.

The "hairbulb pigmentation test" is used to identify carriers by incubating a piece of the person's hair in a solution of tyrosine, a substance in food which the body uses to make melanin. If the hair turns dark, it means the hair is making melanin (a "positive" test); light hair means there is no melanin. This test is the source of the names of two types of albinism: "ty-pos" and "ty-neg."






Treatment:


There is no treatment that can replace the lack of melanin that causes the symptoms of albinism. Doctors can only treat, not cure, the eye problems that often accompany the lack of skin color.


Patients with albinism should avoid excessive exposure to the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If exposure can't be avoided, they should use UVA-UVB sunblocks with an SPF of at least 20.


Taking beta- carotene may help provide some skin color, although it doesn't protect against sun exposure.






Use of glasses is recommended and can be tinted to ease pain from too much sunlight. There is no cure for involuntary eye movements (nystagmus), and treatments for focusing problems (surgery or contact lenses) are not effective in all cases.





Reading glasses, hand-held and stand magnifiers, and microscopes are near vision aids that help people with albinism read, look at pictures, diagrams, and maps, and accomplish other tasks that require seeing small details up close. Reading glasses help the user focus on text or other objects while holding the object close to the user's eyes. Reading glasses allow the widest field of view for reading compared to other aids. Hand-held and stand magnifiers enlarge close-up images, allowing the user to see small print and images at greater distances from the user's eyes. There are many different styles and sizes of magnifiers useful for people with albinism. Microscopes help people see smaller details than magnifiers produce. Microscopes enlarge close up objects the same way telescopes enlarge far away objects. Some telescopes and bioptic telescopes, designed for distance vision, also allow the user to refocus the scope for up-close use.

Crossing Over Skin Myths

Gone are the day of complicated, messy avocado face masks and fiddly yogurt cleansers. The modern approach to skincare is to feed your skin both inside and outside that means understanding how what you can eat can affect your complexion. Follow these tips and both your skin and your body will thank you for it.


Some people wake up the morning after a party with their skin as blemish-free as ever. Others argue that they eat healthily, drink plenty of water and still have less than model-perfect skin. No-one knows for sure how much the food we eat affects our skin, and the truth is, clear complexions are more often due to lucky genetics than a blameless larder. So does food really make a difference?





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Eating fried foods gives you spots
There's no medical evidence for this, but if it's just the odd spot we're talking about, then anecdotal evidence (and common sense!) tells us that a night's bingeing could be at least partly to blame. However, if persistent acne or spots are the concern, it's unlike that your diet is the principal cause. To help combat the regular occurrence of blemishes, make sure you get enough vitamin A and zinc.




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Chocolate is bad for your skin
Chocolate is not exactly skin's public enemy number one, but its high sugar and dairy content are in danger of negating any positive effects. If you really want to increase your fat content for its positive effects on your skin, it's better to snack on nuts (especially almonds) than chocolate-they're high in essential fatty acid.








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Going on a detox diet will instantly make your skin look better
When you detox, you're attempting to eliminate all the toxins that have built up in your system, and as as organ of elimination, the skin is where many of them will escape. Breakouts, excess oil and blotches may all ensure at the beginning of your detox, making your skin look worse than it did before (but don't despair-after a few days your skin will be clearer, your hair shinier and your eyes brighter than ever before, thanks to the improved circulation and absence of free radicals). Remember there's a difference between a detox and crash dieting, though, which can damage the collagen fibres that fend off wrinkles.


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Applying vitamins and minerals topically to your skin has just the same effect as taking them internally
Every vitamin is different- there's no hard-and-fast rule. for example, vitamin C taken internally will be nearly all used up by other organs in the body, leaving perhaps only 10-20 per cent for your skin. Vitamin C applied topically, however, can get to work on your skin straight away. Vitamin E is beneficial both internally and externally. With minerals, you should concentrate on getting them internally: many have molecules that are too large to be able to penetrate the skin when added to creams.



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Drinking water doesn't help your complexion because it gets used up by your internal organs before it even reaches your skin
While it's true that only a tiny proportion of the water you drink goes directly to your skin, all that water will be helping to improve your circulation and flush out toxins - which in turn will have a direct bearing on your skin's radiance and clarity. Many skincare experts recommend starting the day with a tall glass of water- before anything else passes your lips - in order to help the skin's elimination process on its way. Contrary to some moderns theories, not all liquids are the same - caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and fizzy drinks are diuretic and don't count as part of your 2 litres (4 1/4 pints) of water. In fact, one cup of coffee can 'cancel out' up to a pint of water. For optimum hydration the combination of 2 liters of water and a hard - working moisturiser will keep your skin healthy.



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Only fresh foods can make a difference to your skin
If by 'fresh' food we're talking about non- processed, non-packaged food, then it's a safe bet than they'll have a bigger chance of helping your skin than chilled ready meals, for example. However, vegetables that are frozen as soon as they are picked, for example, retain many more nutrients than fresh ones that are left to fester in a refrigerator for days on end. How you cook them also makes a big difference to their nutrient quota: frying is out (although it's not so bad if done in olive oil), grilling is good and boiling is fine but steaming is better (water soluble nutrients don't escape into the discarded water as they do with boiling).





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Most of the sun damage you incur happens before age 18.
Recent studies have shown that by age 18, you've only accumulated 18 to 23 percent of the sun damage you'll incur over a lifetime. That means that there's still time to protect your skin from the sun and put off sun-induced aging. Do this by using sunscreen and products with sun-damage reversing ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol.





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All skin peels require the application of chemicals to the skin.
This is a myth. The term skin peel refers to a variety of different procedures. Several of these do involve the use of chemicals but newer ones such as the Power Peel involve the use of tiny crystals (micro-dermabrasion) to remove fine wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, etc. Other types of skin peels utilize lasers to improve the skins' appearance.






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Many women report that a raw vegetable diet, followed for a week, seems to make their eyes bright and skin sparkle. Try to include some uncooked vegetables such as carrots or cauliflower in your diet every day.

Beauty of Botox

Botox has proved to be a little poison with unlimited health and beauty potential. A few precious drops can manage everything from frown lines, worry lines, upper lip creases, and neck cords, to excessive sweating and migraines.



Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. In this way, Botox is related to botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning that occurs when someone eats something containing a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin A is one of the neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum.



Basically, the botulinum toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract.



Where it works
Vertical lines between the brows
Lines at the bridge of the nose
Crow's feet or squint lines
Horizontal forehead lines
Lifting the droopy nasal tip
Under eyelid creases, muscle rolls
Decollete lines, neck bands
Chin creases and dimples
Drooping corners of the mouth
Upper and lower lip lines




How Botox works

The toxin acts on the junctions between nerves and muscles, preventing the release of a chemical messenger, acetylcholine, from the nerve endings. Tiny amounts are injected into a specific facial muscle so only the targeted impulse of that muscle is blocked, immobilising the underlying cause of unwanted lines-muscle contractions- and prevent lines and wrinkles. Since the muscle can no longer make the offending facial expression, the lines gradually smooth out from disuse and new creases are prevented from forming. Untreated muscles are not affected, so a natural look expressions are maintained. Some areas are less suited to this procedure because the muscles are needed for expression and important functions like eating, kissing and opening the eyes. The goal is a softening of dynamic facial lines that won't necessarily betray your wrinkle-reducing secret. There are various strains of Botulinum toxin. Type A is the potent and commonly used.


After Botox injection, the muscles will relax and the skin will smooth out over about 5 days. The effect usually lasts about six months, and
can be repeated when needed.






Remember
Have your first treatment with someone who comes highly recommended and has a lot of experience, so that you will know that is acceptable.
Start small with one area, typically the lines between the brows of crow's-feet. Once you see the results, you can have more areas worked on at your worked on at your next treatment.
If you are squeamish about needles, ask your doctor for a topical anaesthetic cream or gel.
To relieve the discomfort of the injections, apply an ice pack before and after treatment.
If your treatment didn't work, you may have been given an overly diluted solution and need more, or it could have been injected into the wrong spot. It is exceedingly rare to be resistant to it.
Take along a concealer to cover needle marks or tiny bruises right after treatment. Have your Botox treatment at least a weak before any big social event.
Don't have a treatment without having eaten to avoid getting lightheaded.
Botulinum toxin isn't the answer for all your wrinkles. It doesn't work as well on lines that are not entirely caused by muscle activity, like the nasal labial folds that are formed by a combination of muscle action and the weight of sagging skin.




Side Effects


If side effects occur, they’re usually temporary starting within the first week, but may persist for several months. The kinds of side effects depend on where Botox is injected. For patients with frown lines, the most common side effects include
Headache
Respiratory infection
Flulike symptoms
Droopy eyelids
Nausea
Less frequent reactions include facial pain, redness at the injection site, and muscle weakness.



FDA has approved Botox for other conditions such as:
Spasms of the muscle close to the eye (blepharospasm)
Inability of the eyes to work together properly (strabismus)
Involuntary contractions of neck muscles (cervical dystonia)
Frown lines between the eyebrows



Botox can be used by almost anyone: patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or who have a neurologic disease should not use Botox

Spot Zappers

The very sight of a new blemish has women searching for a cover-up. A better approach, however, is to make sure spots never show up-or at least, never grow very big-in the first place. Whether pimples are a daily battle for any one of you, or a once-in-a-while occurrence, over-the-counter help is available.






The four major factors and one minor one that contribute to the formation of blemishes.
Hormonal activity


Overproduction of oil by the oil gland


Irregular or excessive shedding of dead skin cells, both on the surface of skin and inside the pore


Buildup of bacteria in the pore Less likely to cause problems but still a problem for some is:


Irritation or sensitizing reactions to cosmetics, specific foods (rarely), or medicines





Easy spot treatments


Do not pick at your spots - you can cause nasty scars! If you positively cannot leave a blackhead or whitehead alone, try placing a clean forefinger on each side of the clogged pore and spread the skin taut. Often, you'll find the stuff in the pore pops out on its own.

For mild to moderate acne and occasional blemishes, over-the-counter products are effective. Benzoyl peroxide is the best spot-stopper around. It unblocks pores, dries up excess sebum, exfoliates the area, and kills the bacteria that cause pimples. Sulphur has long been used in spot medications-either alone, or with benzoyl peroxide-to dry excess sebum, lightly exfoliate the area, and kill bacteria before it can cause a pimple.

If you have problems with spots, your doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic, Retin-A, or azelaic acid, Which is a grain-derivative that unblock pores, exfoliates, and kills bacteria.

Salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid) is a popular ingredient in spot creams and is found in some cleansers, astringents, and masks. A relative of aspirin, it works by penetrating pores to loosen impacted sebum and dirt, which cause blackheads and can lead to whitehead and cystic pimples.






Recipes for Home Blemish Treatments
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of yeast with a few drops of warm water to make a paste. Smooth over the pimple and rinse off after 20 to 60 minutes. Use once a day.


Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of warm water to form a paste. Smooth over the pimple and rinse off after 20 to 60 minutes. Use once a day.




A drop of tea-tree oil can be dabbed on spots up to twice a day. Test a small patch on your forearm 48 hours before using it to ensure it does not irritate your skin. It is a natural antibiotic and antibacterial, and has a drying effect on the skin.








Other essential oils that are considered beneficial to acne are camomile, cedar wood, geranium, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, palma rosa, patchouli, peppermint, tangerine. Most of these need to be diluted with a mild carrier oil first.


Camomile tea, once cooled, makes a good daily rinse for your face.


Topical treatments containing zinc may also be useful.




For oral consumption
Take a herbal supplements containing burdock root, blue flag and sarsparilla.









You can also take echinacea, which is antibacterial.









Milk thistle seed has been know to help some sufferers.







Drinking aloe vera juice also helps acne and cleanses the gut.









Make sure you eat plenty of foods with antioxidants






If necessary,
top up your diet with supplements of vitamin E, selenium, zinc and copper

• You can also top up with a supplement of beta carotene

• If you get flare ups in line with your menstrual cycle, take vitamin B6.



Herbal teas made from burdock, red clover and yarrow.







Evening primrose, flaxseed and hemp seed oils are also beneficial to the skin because they contain essential fatty acids.

Selecting a Wardrobe to Flatter Your Skin Tone

Enhance your beauty by dressing in clothes that best complement your coloring. Build a wardrobe around colors that celebrate your features and make getting ready in the morning fun and simple.

Your best colors will be determined by a combination of factors including your natural hair color, eye color and skin tone. Take a look at the undertone of your skin in natural daylight and this will help you to determine whether you are a "cool" or a "warm" toned person. Cool toned people tend to have a pink or rosy skin tone. Warm toned people will have a more golden or apricot undertone. Cool toned persons will look best in blue-based colors; warm toned persons will look best in yellow-based colors.

Color can be compelling and daunting, so have some fun and dress up your wardrobe this season!






The Clear Wardrobe


Overall skin tone
Bright and contrasting


Color Me Beautiful seasons
Clear Spring, Clear Winter



Goals : To complement your bright look wear clear colours that are vibrant.







Helpful hints

Avoid greyed-down shades on their own. Contrast light colours with dark ones and add bright colours to liven up neutrals






Colours to wear

Wear your wonderful wardrobe in combination or solid blocks. Any of these colours can rescue items in your wardrobe that are not up to scratch colourwise.

Pure or soft whites are preferable to creamy shades. Your neutrals are rich and inky, from jet black and navy to charcoal and black-brown.

Hot pink should be great, but if you are pushing your colouring warmer (such as with hair colour), add mango, coral and clear salmon shades. Your best red is scarlet. Keep blues rich like sapphire, greens bright like emerald and yellow as sparkling as topaz.






The Cool Wardrobe

Overall skin tone
Rosy/grey


Color Me Beautiful season
Cool Summer, Cool Winter



Goals : To compliment your pinky, soft complexion and cool grey hair.


Helpful hints

Avoid yellow, green and brown undertones. Only pinky browns like cocoa will be good, unlike beige, khaki or golden brown






Colours to wear


Your possibilities for looking terrific are many. No browns in sight aside from cocoa or a rose brown. Most shades of blue are fine, but stop short of overpowering royals which are too strong.

All greys are winners, and your best choice for neutral basics over anything warm like camel. Violets can be the lightest lilacs (great with navy, charcoal or soft white) or the richest periwinkle.

Reds are wonderful, especially if blue-based or clear. Try red instead of black for the evening.






The Deep Wardrobe


Overall skin tone
Strong and rich


Color Me Beautiful season
Deep Autumn or Deep Winter



Goals : To compliment your rich looks with vibrant shades, bold contrasts or striking solid blocks of colour


Helpful hints

Make indifferent, neutral shades look more interesting by wearing a deep contrast (black, deep brown, navy).






Colours to wear


With strong colouring you need to go for rich, true colours. Your wardrobe should have clean, crisp white; primary version of red, blue, green and yellow; mahogany, pine, mango, teal, turquoise and purple. You probably don't need telling that you are a stunner in black as well as inky navy, charcoal, deepest brown and pewter.

You can push your wardrobe palette warmer by adding terracotta, rust, olive, bronze and other golden deep tones if you know that they flatter you. Or, to move into a cooler direction, add blue reds, hot pinks and icy pastels. Think white with just a dash of colour.

Remember, there are no good or bad colors, just ones that are right for you! You can wear almost any color if you learn to choose the right shade and intensity that will enhance your skin tone.

Moles or Pigmented Nevi

A mole is a non-cancerous skin growth made up of cells (melanocytes or nevus cells) that produce color (pigment). They can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Small
in size (less than 5 mm), well-circumscribed lesion with a well-defined border and a single shade of pigment from beige or pink to dark brown. Most or all of the individual patient’s moles often are similar to each other with respect to color and size.


Moles are usually present at birth or appear early in life. In time they may grow larger. Although they may never make trouble aside from their unsightliness, some of them may become cancerous, spreading cancerous cells through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.


The life cycle of an average mole is about 50 years. As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and lighter in color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles will not change at all. Some moles will slowly disappear over time.


What causes a mole?
Moles occur when cells in the skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. These cells are called melanocytes, and they make the pigment that gives skin its natural color. Moles may darken after exposure to the sun, during the teen years and during pregnancy.


A few of these moles, called congenital melanonaevi, are usually present at birth. But most develop spontaneously or are caused by exposure to sunlight and tend to appear on those areas of the skin that catch the most sunlight. Most of these moles appear during the first 20 years of life, although they may continue to develop into the 30s and 40s. However, the majority disappear with age.

Types of moles
Congenital Nevi: Moles that appear at birth. Congenital nevi occur in about 1 in 100 people. These moles may be more likely to develop into melanoma than are moles that appear after birth. If the mole is more than 8 inches in diameter, it poses a significant risk of becoming cancerous.



Dysplastic Nevi: Moles that are larger than average (larger than a pencil eraser) and irregular in shape. They tend to have uneven color with dark brown centers and lighter, uneven edges. These moles tend to be hereditary, and people with dysplastic nevi may have more than 100 moles. People with dysplastic nevi have a greater chance of developing malignant (cancerous) melanoma. Any changes in the mole should be checked by a dermatologist to detect skin cancer.


Halo naevi: Occasionally the skin surrounding a small mole becomes lighter and the central mole becomes pale. Most halo naevi are benign. But some people may have an increased risk of developing the skin disorder, vitiligo. Patients with malignant melanoma may, very rarely, develop halo naevi.


Blue naevus: This deep-seated mole appears blue. It is very common in some West Indian infants but is only rarely of any significance.


Identifying a malignant mole :
The presence of moles is not a serious concern. but If there is a family history of malignant melanoma, you should be particularly vigilant about changing moles.
The mole is itchy and painful.
Increased size or an increasingly irregular appearance, especially at the edges.
A change in colour, particularly if the mole gets darker or becomes mottled.
Spontaneously bleeding.
Satellite pigmented lesions.
Treating moles
To treat a mole, first a biopsy (small tissue sample of the mole) is taken by a dermatologist so that thin sections of the tissue can be examined under a microscope. This is a simple procedure. If the dermatologist thinks the mole might be cancerous, cutting through the mole will not cause the cancer to spread. If the mole is found to be cancerous, the dermatologist will remove the entire mole.

There are two methods of removal:
Shave excision (shaving it off) Moles with an elevated surface typically are removed cosmetically by a process called shave excision. This involves numbing the area around the mole and removing the top portion of it so it is flush with the surrounding skin. A small scar usually results, which is usually cosmetically acceptable. If the mole had hair or was dark in color, these likely would remain. There is a chance that after this procedure the mole could re-grow.



The mole cells below the cut surface of the removal site can also cause re-pigmentation of the removal site to a shade much darker than that of the removed mole. This re-pigmentation side effect is particularly problematic for patients with olive skin or dark eyes and hair. Mole re-growth and re-pigmentation occur more commonly in young patients and may result in the desire for re-removal.


Elliptical excision The cutting method of mole removal may be used for both normal and atypical moles. (Potentially cancerous moles are nearly always removed using this technique.) This procedure is often called elliptical excision because the mole, as well as the surrounding and underlying tissue, is removed in the shape of an ellipse, or oval. The entire mole is removed, both above and below the skin. A small medical blade may be used, or a laser may be chosen to reduce bleeding and allow for quicker healing time. If a blade is used, sutures (stitched) are used to close the incision if it is cut. If a laser is used, sutures will not be needed. After the procedure, a bandage is usually applied.

Laser treatment Some moles can also be removed with lasers instead of scalpels. Because lasers seal blood vessels and evaporate the tissues they remove, the need for cutting and sutures is eliminated. This may reduce scarring in some cases. After laser surgery, a scab forms and falls off within 2 weeks. The slight redness that is evident after the scab is gone will disappear in time.


If you see any signs of change in an existing mole, if you have a new mole or if you want a mole to be removed for cosmetic reasons, consult your dermatologist.

Who is an Ideal candidate for mole removal?

In general, the best candidates for mole removal are:
Fair skinned
Knowledgeable about the procedure
In good physical and psychological health
Wanting to improve their appearance and/or comfort
Realistic in their expectations
Not users of marijuana or anabolic steroids
Not heavy users of alcohol
The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your surgeon will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you. Be sure to ask your surgeon if he/she considers you an ideal candidate for this surgery.

Tell your doctor about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements)


Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription)


Carefully follow any instructions your doctor gives you.

Birthmarks: Red or Brown

Birthmarks are generally either red or brown, caused by irregularities in the capillaries or vessels that supply blood to the skin.


Red marks are made up of lots of tiny blood vessels, whilst brown ones are made up of brown pigment (melanin).These vary greatly in size and occur in different parts of the body.Facial birthmarks are common and cause the most concern to patients.


Most birthmarks are harmless; many fade on their own in the first few years of life. But some vascular birthmarks can grow larger and more pronounced over time.




Alternative Names:

Strawberry mark; Vascular skin changes; Angioma cavernosum; Capillary hemangioma; Hemangioma simplex




Causes:
Extensive development of blood vessels at the site.


Moles present as birthmarks are due to abnormalities in the pigment cells in the skin known as melanocytes.


Symptoms:
Skin markings that develop before or shortly after birth






Skin rash or lesion that is red





Skin markings look like a blood vessel


Red Birthmarks Treatment
Many capillary birthmarks are temporary and require no treatment.


The nevus flammeus type of hemangiomas may require no treatment unless they are disfiguring or psychologically distressing, or unless they develop new qualities like becoming painful or changing appearance.


Permanent lesions may be disguised with cosmetics, especially cosmetics designed to be concealing or covering (such as Covermark).


Oral or injected cortisone may be used to reduce the size of a hemangioma that is growing rapidly and obstructing vision or vital structures.


Permanent birthmarks may be treated with cryotherapy (freezing), surgical removal, or laser surgery. They are usually not treated unless they cause unwanted symptoms, or until a child is at least school age.


However, port wine stains on the face should be treated at a young age with a yellow pulsed dye laser for best results and to prevent the often profound psychosocial problems caused by the port wine stain.




The Laser Option

Red birthmarks are effectively treated with the Versapulse Laser, which progressively shrinks blood vessels causing the birthmark to fade. This revolutionary laser system is the equivalent of four lasers in one. Flat birthmarks tend to respond better than raised ones, although even in this latter group it is worthwhile having a test treatment. Multiple treatments are required




The variable pulse width 532 nanometre wavelength laser is responsible for treating unwanted blood vessels.The laser light targets the haemoglobin in the very superficial blood vessels and causes the vessels to shrink over a period of 6 to 8 weeks.The pulse width can be varied to accommodate different sized vessels. A significant advantage of this laser is the absence of deep purple bruising after treatment which is seen with the Candela laser.



The skin is protected by us of a special chilled tip attached to the handpiece as well as the prior application of a gel to the skin. During treatment a stinging sensation is felt, but this can be lessened with the use of an anaesthetic cream if necessary.



After treatment the skin is generally blotchy and some areas of blistering or swelling may be noted. The Versapulse Laser does not cause bruising, so treatment is easy to conceal



In the treatment of brown pigment, the different lasers may be used for their ability to penetrate to differing depths in the skin to reach the pigment being treated.

Chin Augmentation

When the chin is out of proportion with the rest of the face it may detract from the attractiveness of the other features.
In the extreme, a jaw that is too large or small affects dental occlusion and requires the attention of orthodontists and oral surgeons.





Even though the dental occlusion is normal, the chin may be out of balance with the rest of the face.
It may be recessed or too small, too pointed or crooked, too short or long, or it may protrude too much.





The disproportionate chin may be corrected in two ways (if no dental malocclusion exists):
Chin augmentation, which reshapes the chin by inserting a silicone implant under the skin, and


Chin reductions, which involve bone reduction with power bone instruments.






Chin Augmentation

In chin augmentation surgery, implants are used to change the underlying structure, which affects the overall balance of facial features. Often chin implants are used together with other facial implants, particularly cheek implants, however, they can be used alone. This operation is often performed in conjunction with nose surgery as well as a facelift and/or liposuction of the face and neck.





The purpose of chin implant is to create a distinguished, more prominent chin, improve the neckline, enhance the balance of the face and diminish the prominence of the nose






Procedure

Chin implants are usually made of a silastic (silicone) material and are available in two forms: as a gel within a bag, or as a solid block which is either preformed or contoured to each individual need.
Acrylic implants may also be used.


Before your surgery, routine laboratory tests may be requested including blood counts and blood chemistries.


Implant surgery usually takes approximately 30 minutes, and is performed under a local anesthetic, along with intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia depending on your health, the extent of the procedure and whether you are having other procedures at the same time.



After rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash, an incision is made in the depression between the lower lip and the external gums of the lower teeth.
A pocket is then created between the lining of the bone and the muscle and fat covering the chin.
The size of the pocket is determined by the structure of the face and the esthetic goals.
An implant to fit the pocket is then put in place, along the lower lip, directly over the jawbone or in the skin just under the chin area and the incision is closed.
The advantage to this procedure is that there is no external scar.


In the past, the incision was made in the natural crease under the chin.
Although the scar was somewhat hidden in the crease, it was still visible.
This is why entering through the mouth is now preferred.
Once the procedure is complete, a light pressure dressing is applied to control swelling and bruising.
Incisions inside the mouth (intra-oral incision) are closed with sutures (stitches) that dissolve. Removable sutures are used for incisions under the chin and are taken out after five to seven days. To minimize swelling and discomfort, the chin is usually taped for about a week.
The dressing is removed with in 2 days.


In chin reduction surgery, incisions are made either in the mouth or under the chin. The surgeon sculpts the bone to a more pleasing size. For orthognathic surgery, the surgeon will make an incision inside the mouth and reposition the facial bones. The procedure, depending on the extent of the work, takes from less than an hour to approximately three hours.






For comfort, a soft diet is recommended until the dressings are removed.
Hot foods should also be avoided because the area tends to be numb for some time after the surgery and there is a risk of scalding the lower lip.








Am I a good candidate?

As with all elective surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites, but if you want to change your profile or are having nose surgery, a facelift or facial liposuction, then chin surgery may be appropriate, but:
Make sure that you are free of known allergies to the implant material.


Make sure you are not prone to scarring problems such as keloids.


Inform your surgeon about any and all medical conditions and any allergies you may have and whether you are a smoker or have dental or gum problems. Also, tell your surgeon about any medications, herbal supplements or natural supplements you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription).







Preparing for surgery

Your doctor will give you specific instructions to prepare for surgery but here are some general guidelines:
Avoid aspirin, any aspirin containing medication or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID),
for two weeks prior to treatment. Because aspirin thins the blood, it can interfere with normal blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.

Smoking inhibits the healing process, so stop smoking before your procedure and if you start again, make sure it is after you are completely healed.

Avoid drinking alcohol a few days before your surgery.


Make sure to follow any fasting instructions the night before and morning of your surgery. Your doctor may insist on an empty stomach depending on the type of anesthesia.


Make sure that you arrange for someone to bring you home and to help you out for 24 hours after surgery.


Will there be any pain after surgery?


Only mild discomfort is felt for the first few days after surgery because of the pressure the implant and swelling exert in the area of the chin.
As the swelling subsides, so does the discomfort.
The incision within the mouth is irritating for the first few days, just as with any sore in that area.
A mild painkiller helps to minimize the discomfort until the swelling subsides, usually within 7 to 10 days.




When can normal activities be resumed?

Normal activities can be resumed within 2 days, once the pressure dressing has been removed.
After approximately six weeks, most swelling will be gone, and you can enjoy the results of your procedure. Rigorous activity may be prohibited for the first few weeks after surgery. Normal activity can be resumed after approximately ten days.




Are there any potential complications?

The most common complication is a loss of sensation in the lower lip and chin region.
Due to swelling, pressure is exerted on the nerve supply to the area.
This loss of sensation is usually temporary and will return to normal in several weeks.




Other complications with this procedure are rare but may include:
Extrusion or expulsion of the implant, usually as a result of infection or a pocket that is too tight.


Erosion of the jawbone at the site of the implant occurs if the implant is placed directly on the bone rather than on the lining of the bone.
If the implant is placed too high, erosion of the bone above the implant may cause damage to the dental roots.


A poorly positioned implant will create an unsatisfactory cosmetic result.
Implants may easily be replaced or removed through the original incision in the event of any of these complications or if the results are disappointing.




Can chin implants be combined with other procedures?


A chin implant is often combined with a rhinoplasty.
Liposuction is also commonly done in conjunction with chin implants: fat in sucked from jowls, and under the chin, the cheeks, and the neck.
This contouring provides the finishing touch to the proportional changes that are accomplished with rhinoplasty and chin implants.




Are there alternatives to this procedure?


An alternative to chin augmentation is submental liposuction, in which excess fatty tissue is removed to redefine the chin or neckline. Orthodontistry can treat a malocclusion and misaligned teeth, which are often at the root of a protruding or recessed jaw.






Who inserts chin implants and what do they cost?


Plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, and oral surgeons trained in cosmetic surgery of the face are specialists who would perform this procedure.
The cost of the procedure varies from $500 to $2,000.

Coping with Keloids

Keloids are lumps of fibrous tissue that can develop at the site of an injury to the skin, such as a burn or a surgical incision. They may be triggered by severe acne or something as trivial as ear-piercing.

They are seen most commonly on the shoulders, upper back and chest, but they can occur anywhere. When a keloid is associated with a skin incision or injury, the keloid scar tissue continues to grow for a time after the original wound has closed, becoming progressively larger and more visible. They generally occur between 10 and 30 years of age and affect both sexes equally, although they may be more common among young women with pierced ears. They also may occur over the breastbone in people who have had open heart surgery.

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Cause

Keloids are really just an exaggeration of the normal healing process which results in scar formation after an injury.

After a laceration, for instance, is a sequence of events in which the breach in the skin is filled. Initially a blood clot forms in the wound, and then actively dividing cells and blood vessels grow into the gap. The healing process is then completed by the laying down of tough fibrous tissue in the form of a scar. A keloid develops when this fibrous tissue is laid down in excess, resulting in a raised, lumpy area of scar-like tissue.

Some people seem to have a particular tendency to develop keloids . It is thought that keloids are the result of an abnormality in the local hormonal or enzyme mechanisms which determine how much tissue formation is appropriate.

In the early stages, a keloid appears as a soft, pink raised area over the site of a previous wound. In time, it becomes whiter and firmer, and often forms claw-like projections into the surrounding skin. On the earlobe, a keloid may become a pendulous mass of tissue.

As keloids are almost benign, do not spread or bleed, and are rarely painful, treatment is not usually necessary, and medical opinion seems to be in favour of leaving well alone. But remember that it is extremely important to show any lump on the skin, however small, to your doctor in case it is a sign of a more serious condition.

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Symptoms

They are characteristically shiny, smooth and rounded skin elevations that may be pink, purple or brown. They can be doughy or firm and rubbery to the touch, and they often feel itchy, tender or uncomfortable. They may be unsightly. A large keloid in the skin over a joint may interfere with joint function.


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Diagnosis

A physician diagnoses a keloid on the basis of its appearance and a history of tissue injury, often surgery, acne or body piercing. In rare cases, the doctor may remove a small piece of the skin to examine under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.




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Treatment

Over the course of several years, even without treatment, some keloids soften and flatten out of their own accord. But treatment may be required if the keloid is unsightly and causes embarrassment.
Dressings — Moist wound coverings made of silicone gel sheets have been shown in studies to reduce keloid prominence over time. This treatment is safe and painless.
Corticosteroid injections — A great many keloids are successfully removed by injecting them with a steroid compound. Injections with triamcinolone acetonide or another corticosteroid medicine typically are repeated at intervals of four to six weeks. This treatment may reduce keloid size and irritation, but injections are uncomfortable.
Cryosurgery — Smaller keloids can be frozen off by means of an extremely cold probe. This freezing treatment with liquid nitrogen is repeated every 20 to 30 days. It can cause a side effect of lightening the skin color, which limits this treatment's usefulness.
Compression — This involves using a bandage or tape to apply continuous pressure 24 hours a day for a period of six to 12 months. Such compression can provide a thinning effect on the skin.
Radiation therapy — This therapy is controversial because radiation increases the risk of cancer. Radiation treatments may reduce scar formation if they are used soon after a surgery, during the time a surgical wound is healing.
Laser therapy — This is an alternative to conventional surgery for keloid removal. There is no good evidence that keloids are less likely to recur after laser therapy than after regular surgery.
Experimental treatments — On treatment that is showing promise is injecting keloid scars with medicines that were developed to treat autoimmune illnesses or cancers. Treatments with these medicines (various types of interferon and the chemotherapy agents 5-fluorouracil and bleomycin) will need to be evaluated further before they are appropriate for use outside of research studies.
Removal with conventional surgery - Where such measures are unsuccessful, or where the keloid is very large, surgical removal may be necessary. The problem with surgery, however, is that the new scar may result in the formation of a keloid, but this can usually be avoid by post-operative X-ray treatment.

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How can keloids be prevented?

Although preventing keloids is better than treating them, this is, obviously, not always possible. When injury or bad luck produces one, initiating therapy soon with cortisone injections can make the final outcome more satisfactory.

The Beauty Drugs

VITAMIN A to spike wrinkles... Vitamin C to reverses sun damage... Vitamin E to regain baby-soft smoothness... AHAs for an at-home face peel... Liposomes to help other ingredients penetrate the skin...A balanced diet is the best way to ensure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to function correctly in addition to looking great.

Here is a rundown on ingredients that are currently the lings of the beauty biz and on the substance or fluff in their claims.




Retin-A


Appears to work by helping to slough off dead skin, and also by boosting the production of collagen

If you're wondering whether a Retin-A product might merit a place in the face of your future, or the future of your face, here's what you should know about the drug:
It has a modest effect - on fine lines, not on deep wrinkles. The chief benefits are seen in the fine lines around the eyes and the mouth after two to three months of use.
Using the drug produces inflammation of the skin that could last from a fortnight to several months. That means a swollen, peeling face; the effects are worsened by exposure to the sun. In concentrations sufficient to produce an anti-aging benefit, the cream is likely to prove too harsh for sensitive skins.
All users will need to apply a protective sunscreen since the drug makes skin more sensitive to the sun's rays.
The drug is expensive, and you'll need to keep using it to maintain the improvement, if any, that occurs.
To date, we do not know the long-term effects of the drug, or its safety and effectiveness in those aged over 50 or in those with "moderately or heavily pigmented skin".
We also do not know how much Retin-A is absorbed through the skin; and, since high doses of vitamin A can cause birth defects, pregnant women - or those planning a pregnancy - should avoid the drug.
By Ortho's own admission, some patients treated with Renova for 48 weeks showed "atypical changes" in their skin, though the significance of these changes is not yet known.


Natural Sources: Green leafy vegetables, melon, squash, yams, tomatoes, fish-liver oils.






Vitamin C

Vitamin C is deposited in the skin and is an essential part of the anti-oxidant brigade to protect skin against free radical assault from the atmosphere and from ultra violet light. Vitamin C plays a very important in converting inactivated vitamin E back into an active anti-oxidant form of vitamin E. This is probably the reason why vitamin C has such an important role to play in the protection of cellular membranes even though it is a water soluble product while cellular membranes are mainly composed of lipid molecules.
Role in photo aging - Vitamin C plays a potent role in diminishing the effects of free radical damage and in this role can be quite effective as a protectant from ultra violet light damage. The advantage of vitamin C over a sunscreen is that vitamin C can be absorbed into the cells and is generally still present about 30-36 hours after it has been applied topically to the skin. It continues to give sun protection even though the subject may have washed their skin or gone swimming. As a result of this we can expect that vitamin C can slow down photoageing.
Reducing wrinkle visibility - Vitamin C plays an essential part in the incorporation of proline into collagen and is also involved in the formation of elastin. With a deficiency of vitamin C impaired collagen is created and the skin can become more wrinkled. The replacement of vitamin C boosts the manufacture collagen and so wrinkles can become less noticeable after using vitamin C.
Reducing pigmentation - Vitamin C effects pigmentation in two ways: The creation of melanin is an oxidative process and so a powerful antioxidant like vitamin C could counteract the oxidative process required to create melanin. Ascorbic acid also has a role to play as an inhibitor tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is essential for the formation of melanin, so if it is inhibited then the action of pigmentation is reduced.
Scarring - vitamin C when delivered in high dosage to the skin leads to more collagen formation and normal collagen that is often found tethering scars is replaced with normal collagen and the scars fill up to a degree and become less noticeable. This process seems to be best effected with the use of iontophoresis. Enclosed is a photograph to show the numerous effects of vitamin C when iontophoresed onto a patient with severe chicken pox scars. You will notice that after a period of 24 treatments of iontophoresis of vitamin C the skin looks smoother, the pigmentation has been reduced and the scars are flatter.
Natural Sources:
All fresh fruits and vegetables. Rich Sources include : rose hips, citrus, strawberries, apples, guavas, cabbage, tomatoes, turnip greens, green bell peppers.





Vitamin E


Cells in the body divide a set number of times; then they die and are replaced by new cells. With age, this process slows, and a progressive deterioration of all body systems begins. Though some of this decline is normal and inevitable, many researchers believe that unstable molecular species called free radicals accelerate the process, making us old before our time.
Vitamin E's primary role appears to be as an antioxidant. In this role, vitamin E protects fatty acids (oils) against oxidation and rancidity. This role grows in importance when you realize that all the cells and sub cellular membranes of the body contain a sizeable portion of fatty acids which require such protection against oxidation. These fatty acids (usually polyunsaturated) serve vital roles in the cells, and scientists believe oxidation of them causes not only many diseases but some of the symptoms of aging as well.
A handful of studies shows that Vitamin E also acts as a mild sunscreen, comparable to an SPF (sun protection factor) of 3.
Cooking does not normally destroy significant amounts of vitamin E. Frying, however, especially in deep fat, can cause most of the vitamin E to be oxidized. Storage for long periods can destroy vitamin E, too. Vitamin E supplements are available in doses ranging from a few IU to more than 1000 IU.

Supporters of vitamin E as a skin-care ingredient believe that it can do for the skin what it does inside the body: seek out and neutralise the effect of free radicals.






AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)

The rejuvenators that have given vitamins, liposomes, nanospheres and herbal extracts a clear run for the big bucks in the anti-aging derby in recent years are alpha-hydroxy acids.
Like a synthetic vitamin-A (Renova, for instance), AHAs work in part by sloughing off the dry, flaky, dead cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin and are shed at a much slower rate with advancing age. But there is also intriguing evidence that, in higher concentrations, these acids increase collagen production and plump up the deeper layers of the epidermis.
The acids, which are the active ingredients in these creams, were originally derived from fruits (eg. tomatoes), sugar-cane (glycolic acid) and milk (lactic acid). They have an "exfoliant" effect that is, they act as facial scrubs or peels, helping to shed dead skin cells and promote renewal. In fact, they were used by dermatologists for several years in face peels - sometimes producing severe irritation. Glycolic acid is still used in the "gentler" face peels.
However, to have the impact of a face peel, AHAs must be used in sufficiently high concentrations. Many skin experts believe their concentration in cosmetic products is too low to have any marked effect on wrinkles. What's more, AHAs seem to work their "youthenizing" effects in gentler fashion than Retin-A
OTC skin creams containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are in business. Most cosmetic versions are "buffered" to reduce the irritation potential of the acids





Vitamin K


Vitamin K has a role in diminishing the healing time of bruises, both related to trauma, sun, and cosmetic procedures. There appears to be a role in vitamin K in helping to diminish the ruddiness on ones complexion





Other Wrinkle-Erasers
Moisturizers, by helping to plump up skin, will temporarily make wrinkles less noticeable.


Injections of collagen/your own fat will similarly "fill out" lines, minimizing them. Collagen is the support structure that gives our skin a firm, young appearance. When levels remain plentiful our skin looks young and fresh. When levels decline, we lose that support and wrinkles begin to form. While collagen injections can temporarily put back some of what we lose, some researchers believe that topically applying the peptides might have a similar effect - without the needle.


A face-lift will literally snip away some of the wrinkles (Gone with the excess skin that's cut away.) and, by stretching the remaining skin up and away from the face, will smooth out its appearance.

Acne

Acne is a rash, usually on the face, due to blockage and inflammation of glands in the skin. While not a life threatening condition, acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. Severe, acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring. While most people outgrow acne by their early 20s, some—especially women—have acne into their 40s or 50s.


Cause of Acne

Acne is caused by the over-production of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Normally, the sebum drains into hair follicles and flows out through the follicle openings on the skin's surface, thereby keeping the skin lubricated and supple. However, when the glands produce excess sebum, the follicles become blocked. If the sebum remains clogged in the follicle openings, it hardens and becomes dark, forming plugs called blackheads. In some cases, follicles are sealed by an excess of keratin, the tough, fibrous protein produced by the skin cells. When this happens, the trapped sebum hardens into white lumps, called whiteheads, under the surface of the skin. In both types of blockage, bacteria multiply in the sebum, causing inflammation of the surrounding issues.
Acne starting at puberty is thought to result from increased sensitivity to androgens (male sex hormones), which are present in both boys and girls and levels of which are raised during puberty. Androgens cause the sebaceous glands to increase their output of sebum.
Rapid production of P. acnes


There may be a genetic factor since acne can run in families.


The use of anabolic steroids to improve performance in sports may also raise androgen levels.


Other causes of acne vulgaris include hormonal disorders such as Cushing's syndrome , which is due to an excess of corticosteroid hormones.


In girls, outbreaks may be affected by the hormonal fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle.


The condition may also be exacerbated by the use of oil-based cosmetics.
Poor hygiene does not cause acne, although a build-up of oil and dead cells on the skin surface may increase the risk of blocked follicles and allow bacteria to multiply. There is no evidence that fatty foods, sweets, or chocolate either cause or aggravate acne.

Occupational acne is usually caused by long-term contact between the skin and oily clothes. The reasons for drug-induced acne are not know.


Types of acne

Acne lesions range in severity from comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) to nodules and cysts. Here is a brief definition of acne lesions:

Comedo (plural comedones) — A comedo is a sebaceous follicle plugged with sebum, dead cells from inside the sebaceous follicle, tiny hairs, and sometimes bacteria. When a comedo is open, it is commonly called a blackhead because the surface of the plug in the follicle has a blackish appearance. A closed comedo is commonly called a whitehead; its appearance is that of a skin-colored or slightly inflamed "bump" in the skin.

Papule — A papule is defined as a small (5 millimeters or less), solid lesion slightly elevated above the surface of the skin.




Pustule — A dome-shaped, fragile lesion containing pus that typically consists of a mixture of white blood cells, dead skin cells, and bacteria. A pustule that forms over a sebaceous follicle usually has a hair in the center.

Macule — A macule is the temporary red spot left by a healed acne lesion. It is flat, usually red or red-pink, with a well defined border. A macule may persist for days to weeks before disappearing. When a number of macules are present at one time they can contribute to the "inflamed face" appearance of acne.

Nodule — Like a papule, a nodule is a solid, dome-shaped or irregularly-shaped lesion. Unlike a papule, a nodule is characterized by inflammation, extends into deeper layers of the skin and may cause tissue destruction that results in scarring.

Cyst — A cyst is a sac-like lesion containing liquid or semi-liquid material consisting of white blood cells, dead cells, and bacteria. It is larger than a pustule, may be severely inflamed, extends into deeper layers of the skin, may be very painful, and can result in scarring.

Cysts and nodules often occur together in a severe form of acne called nodulocystic.




WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?


Acne vulgaris occurs in areas in of skin that have a high density of sebaceous glands. At puberty, the hair, face, and upper trunk normally become greasy due to increased production of sebum. However, in people with acne, oiliness is excessive. Acne tends to appear on the face, but other areas such as the upper back, centre of the chest, shoulders, and neck are also commonly affected. The disorder is usually more serve in winter and tends to improve in summer with increased exposure to sunlight. Lesions that are caused by occupational acne may appear on parts of the body that come into close contact with oily clothes, such as thighs. All forms of acne may produce some or all of the following types of lesion:
Tiny blackheads.
Small, firm white heads.
Red pimples, often with yellow pus-filled tips.
Painful, large, firm, red lumps.
Tender lumps beneath the skin without obvious heads (cysts).
All of the types of lesion listed above may develop at any one time, but the severity of acne varies greatly from person to person. Deep-seated lesions may leave scars after they have healed.




TREATMENT


The key to getting rid of acne and preventing new ones from forming lies in knowing that:
Resolution takes time.
What works for one person may not work for another.
A dermatologist’s help may be required.
Acne does not clear overnight. On average, 6 to 8 weeks are needed to see initial results. Once acne significantly improves or clears, continued treatment is needed to keep acne from re-appearing. If acne does not improve in 6 to 8 weeks, treatment may need to be adjusted as not every acne treatment clears every case of acne.

Besides, there is a range of treatment options to tackle the problem.




Hygiene


It’s important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser. Antibacterial face washes and soaps specifically for greasy skins are also available. However, the skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps.

Also try to avoid the temptation to pick at spots: over-enthusiastic squeezing can cause scarring. No home treatments for acne will work immediately. It can take weeks, if not months, for significant effects to be noticeable.




Over-the-counter medications


Lotions that contain benzoyl peroxide dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Benzoyl peroxide also has an antibacterial action. Together, these effects make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop. Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially to start with. This tends to settle down within a few days.

Resorcinol, a popular ingredient in over-the-counter acne medications helps in controling small acne lesions and is frequently combined with sulfur in over-the-counter products. Sulfur has been used for more than 50 years in combination with other agents, such as alcohol, salicylic acid and resorcinol and is found in many over-the-counter acne medications. An ingredient, effective in treating non-inflammatory acne lesions, is salicylic acid. It helps correct the abnormal shedding of skin cells and unclog pores to resolve and prevent lesions. Salicylic acid does not have any effect on sebum production or P. acnes.

Like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid must be used continuously. Once stopped, pores clog and acne returns. Salicylic acid is found in many over-the-counter acne products, including lotions, creams and pads. It may be irritating to the skin.

There are a range of other treatment options that can either be rubbed onto the skin (topical) or taken in tablet form (oral):
Azelaic acid, which is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide, which may cause less skin soreness.


Topical retinoids, which are medicines based on vitamin A, and are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day. They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off, and may cause irritation and skin peeling at the start of treatment. Disadvantages of this treatment include them making the skin hypersensitive to sunlight.


A topical antibiotic lotion applied to the skin can be used to control the Propionobacterium acnes bacteria. Treatment needs to continue for at least six months. Preparations that combine an antibiotic with other acne medication are available.


Oral treatments
Oral antibiotics (tablets), taken daily for around 3 months, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. This acts to kill off the bacteria infecting the skin. The success of this treatment can be limited because the strains of bacteria are often resistant to the common antibiotics. It might take four to six months for the benefits to be seen. Antibiotics do not prevent pores from becoming blocked so treatment to prevent blackheads, such as benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time. Some people find that it’s a prolonged course of antibiotics is a nuisance. This explains whey some people do not always complete the course.


Hormone treatment. For women, a standard combined oral contraceptive pill (containing an oestrogen and a progestogen) can improve acne symptoms. But in some women, it can also make symptoms worse. One particular type of Pill, called Dianette, contains a medicine called cyproterone acetate which cuts the amount of male hormone in circulation and be an effective treatment for acne.


Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) is a powerful medicine known as an oral retinoid - which also exists in topical form. It tends to be used in severe forms of acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. It works by drying up oily secretions. There are a number of side effects of this drug including dryness of the skin, aches and pains and headaches. It can also damage an unborn baby if taken by a pregnant woman. For safety reasons, isotretinoin is only prescribed by hospital specialists.
There is no immediate cure for acne. However, scarring may be prevented if treatment is started at an early stage. Individual acne cysts may be treated with corticosteroid injections. If acne has already left noticeable scars, you may wish to consult a cosmetic surgeon and discuss techniques such as dermabrasion. In this procedure, the top layer of skin is removed under a general anaesthetic. The raw areas then heal to leave a more even layer of skin.





ACNE MANAGEMENT & PREVENTION

Following these simple self-help measures may help clear up acne and prevent further episodes:
Wash your skin twice a day with warm, but not hot, water and a mild cleanser. Do not scrub your skin too vigorously.


Do not pick at pimples because this may make the condition worse and result in scarring.


Apply a benzoyl peroxide cream daily to the affected areas.


If you have occupational acne, keep work clothes clean to avoid prolonged contact with oils.

Skin brushing for Detox

Giving your body a firm brush all over makes the skin glow by removing the top dull, dead layer of skin and encouraging new cells to regenerate. The gentle massaging motion of the bristles also has a beneficial effect on areas of cellulite, and it is an effective treatment for helping eliminate toxins from the body during a detox programme.



Technique

The technique is a simple one, and you need only a body brush with natural bristles, such as those of goat or boar, or a loofah. There are various types of brush, all widely available at chemist shops. You will need a brush with a handle - some have detachable handles - so that you can reach all the inaccessible parts of your back. There are also brushes mounted on long straps, which are ideal for the back and buttocks, and most loofahs are long enough to reach over the shoulders and down the back. You need a much softer brush, or a flannel, for the face.

Skin brushing is carried out on dry skin. Start at your feet and work upwards, brushing the legs, then buttocks, then on to the chest and stomach and finally the face. Brush more gently where the skin is thinnest and always brush towards the heart.



This kind of skin-brushing , if done daily, is one of the simplest and effective treatments for lumpy thighs and hips that you will find anywhere.



Brushing your whole body in this way will take you between three and five minutes, depending on how many strokes you give to each area. Try to keep a rhythm going and brush for up to five minutes every day and preferably immediately before you have a bath or shower so that the dead cells are washed away.

Skin brushing is best done in the morning as the acceleration of blood flow has quite an invigorating effect. You should be able to see the difference in your skin after just a few sessions - it will become very soft and develop an attractive rosy glow.






Good reasons for skin brushing:
Stimulates blood and lymph flow
Helps eliminate toxins from the body
Removes dead skin cells
Encourages cells to regenerate
Stimulates production of sebum
Helps combat cellulite
Results in smooth glowing skin




5-minute skin brushing routine


Make sure the room is warm and there are plenty of towels. Undress, and find somewhere comfortable to sit so that you can easily reach your feet and lower legs.
Take the brush and begin with the sole of your right foot.
Use firm, rhythmic strokes to cover the sole several times. Next, brush the top of your foot, brushing up towards your ankle. Then go on to your lower leg, making sure you cover the whole surface - shin and calf. Always brush in an upward direction.

Stand up and brush the area from your knee to the top of your thigh. Make sure you cover the whole area several times, using long, rhythmic strokes.
Brush your buttock area as far as your waist. Now repeat the whole procedure on your left leg, starting again with the sole of your foot. Starting from the top of your buttocks, and always moving in an upward direction, brush the whole of your back several times all the way up to your shoulders.

Next, brush your right arm. Start with the palm of your hand, move on to the back of your hand and then brush from your wrist up to your elbow, always in an upward direction and ensuring that the whole surface of your skin is brushed. Brush your upper arm, working from your elbow towards your shoulder, again covering the whole surface of your upper arm.




Repeat on your left side, starting with your hand. Then, very gently, brush your abdomen, brushing in a circle, always in a clockwise direction. Cover the area several times but with less pressure than on your arms and legs. If it feels uncomfortable, stop.


The neck and chest are also very sensitive areas, so, again, brush here very gently. Always work towards your heart. If the bristles are too hard on your neck, don't brush here. Lastly, work on your face. Use your soft brush or a dry flannel and soften and shorten your action, as brisk rubbing can stretch or otherwise damage the facial skin.


You can check for yourself just how dramatic is the skin's elimination of wastes by performing a practical experiment with the help of a flannel. Every day before your bath, brush your skin all over for five minutes. Then take a damp flannel and rub it all over your freshly brushed body. Hang the flannel up and repeat the process with the same flannel the next day. After a few days, the smell of the flannel will be quite revolting because of the quantity of waste products that have come through the skin's surface.

Top 20 Skin-Care Questions Answered

1. Age spots

Q "I've noticed 'liver spots' appearing on the back of my hands.How are they caused - and how can I get rid of them? "

A Many people find these light-to-dark brown patches appearing on the back of their hands as they grow older.They can also appear on other areas, such as the forehead and temples.They're caused by an uneven production of the tanning pigment called melanin in the skin.This can be caused by excess sun exposure, or merely highlighted by it.

You can use a cream containing an ingredient called hydroquinone, which works by penetrating the skin tissue to "dissolve" the melanin.Within six to eight weeks, your skin should be back to normal.However, you must ensure you use a safe level of hydroquinone - the recommended amount in a cream is a mere two per cent.Using a sunscreen on your hands on a daily basis can prevent these patches from appearing again.

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2. Pregnant pause

Q "I'm pregnant and have developed patches of darker colour on my face, particularly under my eyes and around my mouth.What causes this?"

A This is called chloasma, or "the mask of pregnancy".It's triggered by a change in hormones at this time, and is made more obvious by sunbathing.Cover up under the sun and wear a sunblock to prevent the patches from becoming denser.It usually fades within a few months of having your baby.Chloasma can also be triggered by birth-control pills, but disappears once you stop taking them.

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3. On the spot

Q "I suffer from oily skin, but find blemish creams too drying.What can you suggest?"

A Many women have skin that has dry patches as well as blemishes.The solution is to choose an antibacterial cream that will kill off the cause of your blemishes, while soothing the skin around them.This means you won't be left with dry patches of skin as well as blemishes.

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4. Treatment sprays

Q "I find body lotions too hot and sticky to wear after bathing.Is there anything else I can try?"

A There's lovely new trend for body treatment sprays, which combine the moisturizing and toning properties of a body care product with the firagrance of a traditional perfume.This means they'll make you smell beautifully fresh as well as lightly moisturizing your skin.Many of the large perfume companies now offer a choice of these products.



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5. The throat vote

Q "The skin on my neck looks grey and dull.Are there any special treats to use?"

A Necks can quickly show the signs of ageing.This is mainly due to the fact that they have a lack of sebaceous glands.Using a creamy cleanser can help.Massage in, leave to dissolve dirt, and then remove with cotton wool (cotton) pads.Dull grey skin will benefit from regular exfoliation - scrub briskly with a face cloth or soft shaving brush.
Grey lines on neck and throat can be bleached away by smoothing plain yogurt over clean skin.Leave on for about half an hour, then rinse away thoroughly with warm water.Boost softness by smoothing on moisturizer.There's no need for a specialized throat cream - your ordinary one will do.

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6. Beautiful back

Q "How can I get rid of the pimples on my back and bottom?"

A Because backs are covered up, and hard to reach, they're prone to breakouts.Keep yours blemish-free by exfoliating daily with a loofah or body brush to remove dry, flaking skin and superficial blemishes.For more stubborn pimples, try a clay mask to draw out deep-seated impurities.Smooth onto broken-out areas, leave until dry, then rinse away with lots of warm water.



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7. Mole watch

Q "I understand you need to keep an eye on moles on your skin to guard against the risk of skin cancer.But what exactly should I be looking for?"

A Moles are clumps of clustered pigment cells that are nearly always darker than freckles.All changes in existing moles should be checked by your doctor.Any that cause concern will be removed and sent off for analysis.You should also check moles yourself once a month.Try the following A, B, C, D.Code: check for A ( asymmetry); B( border irregularity); C( colour change); D( change in diameter).

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8. Shadow sense

Q "I've got dark shadows under my eyes.What's the best way to deal with them?"

A Dark shadows can be the result of a variety of causes, including fatigue, anaemia, poor digestion and lack of fresh air.They can also be hereditary.If in doubt, consult your doctor for advice.Take steps to ensure you're cutting out the causes - for instance, getting a good night's sleep, and keeping to a low-fat, high-fibre diet.

For special occasions, you can bathe the area with pads soaked in ice-cold water for 15 minutes.This will help lessen the shadow effect temporarily.Or cover shadows by dotting on some concealer.

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9. Brown baby

Q "Is there anything I can do hang onto my tan for longer?"

A Just when you want to show off a golden tan, it begins to peel away.This is because your skin is especially dry after sunbathing, and so it sheds its old cells more quickly.You can prolong the colour for a little while longer by applying lots of body lotion in the morning and evening.Apply it while your skin is still damp to make it extra effective.Apply a little fake tan every few days to keep your colour topped up.Or better still, protect your skin by not tanning at all.

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10. Sticky situation

Q "I exercise a lot, and find body odour a problem.How can I prevent it?"

A Sweating is your body's natural cooling device.Sweat itself has no odour, but it begins to smell when it comes into contact with bacteria on the skin's surface.Keeping underarms hair-free can help prevent sweat from being trapped.

Opt for an antiperspirant deodorant rather than just an ordinary deodorant alone.
The antiperspirants help prevent sweating, while the deodorant helps prevent odour.As a result, a product with the combination of the two is highly effective.Also, try to wear natural fibres next to your skin because they help you to stay fresh for longer.

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11. Massage magic

Q "I had a facial massage in a beauty salon.Is there a way I can give myself one at home?"

A Yes, just like every other part of your body, your face will look better after a bit of exercise, and a massage is the ideal way to give your complexion a workout.Pour a few drops of vegetable oil into the palms of your hands and smooth it onto your face and neck.Make sure your skin is damp, as this makes the oil go on more easily.

Then follow these steps:
Use the pads of your fingers to stroke upwards from the base of your neck to your chin.
Continue with long strokes up one side of your face, then the other.
Now go around your nose and up towards your forehead.
When you get to your forehead, stroke it across from left to right using one hand.Finish off by gently drawing a circle around each eye using one finger.

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12. Stretch marks

Q "Is there anything I can do get rid of the stretch marks that have appeared on my tummy, breasts and thighs?"

A Stretch marks are a sign of your skin's inability to cope with the rapid expansion of flesh underneath.The collagen and elastin fibres underneath actually tear with the sheer strain of it all.They usually make an appearance in times of rapid weight gain, such as puberty and pregnancy.They look quite red when they first appear, although you can take heart that, with time, they fade away to an almost unnoticeable silvery shade.

There's nothing you can do once you've got them, except wait until they start to fade.However, keeping your skin well moisturized can help guard against them.Apply body lotion after a bath or shower, and give it plenty of time to sink in before dressing.Finally, an application of fake can be a good disguise for stretch marks that might be on view.

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13. Night watch

Q "My dry skin needs night cream, but I seem to lose most of it onto my pillow.Any solutions?"

A Put a little night cream into the palm of your hand, then gently rub your hands together.The heat created will help liquefy the cream and make it more easily absorbed.
Gently massage it into your skin, and you'll find it sinks in better.Another method is to place the cream in a teaspoon, and heat gently over a low gas flame on the cooker until just warm, before applying as usual.It sounds strange, but really works!

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14. Polished perfection

Q "I spend a fortune on skin-care products, but resent paying for an exfoliater.Are there any alternatives?"

A Yes, here's a good, cheap alternative to facial scrubs! After washing your skin, gently massage with a soft facecloth or natural sponge to ease away the deadsurface skin cells which can give your complexion a muddy look.Make sure you avoid ones with scratchy surfaces as they'll be too harsh for your skin.If you have dry skin, massage a little cream cleanser onto damp skin, then rub over the top with your flannel.Rinse afterwards, then apply moisturizer in the normal way.However, it is essential to wash the facecloth after every couple of uses, and to hang it up to dry in between to prevent the build-up of bacteria.

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15. Lip tricks

Q "How can I stop my lips getting so chapped and flaky in winter?"

A This three-step action plan will help.

Massage dry lips with a generous dollop of petroleum jelly.
Allow it to get to work for a couple of minutes to soften your skin.
Then, gently rub your lips with a warm, damp facecloth.
As the petroleum jelly is removed, the flakes of skin will come with it!
Smooth your lips morning and night with a lip balm.
Switch to a moisturizing lipstick to prevent your lips from drying out during the daytime.

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16. Red nose day

Q "It's so embarrassing! My nose looks really red in the winter.What's the best way to cover it?"

A Try smoothing a little green foundation or concealer over the red area before applying your normal foundation and powder.Although it sounds strange, the green works by concealing out the redness - leaving your skin looking a normal shade again.

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17. Winter sun

Q "Someone told me you should still wear a sunscreen in winter. Is this true?"

A Yes, if you want to guard against the signs of ageing!Exposure to sunlight is thought to be the main cause of wrinkling, and the ultraviolet A rays that are responsible for this process are around every single day of the year.You don't, however, need to use a suntan lotion- just choose one of the many moisturizers that contain sunscreens.

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18. Lighten up

Q "My skin feels as though it needs a richer cream in the winter months, but I find most of them too heavy.What can you suggest?"

A Choose the level of moisturizer that feels right for you.Just because a moisturizer is heavier, it doesn't necessarily mean it's more effective.You can help seal in extra moisture to your skin by spritzing your complexion with water before applying it.Also, choose a nourishing foundation or tinted moisturizer to ensure your skin stays smooth and soft all day long.You can help counteract the drying effects of central heating by placing a bowl of water near the radiators to replenish moisture levels in the air.

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19. Water factor

Q "I like the feeling of water on my face, but I find soap too drying.Should I switch to a cream cleanser instead?"

A If you have dry skin, it's generally better to use a creamy cleanser, which you apply with your fingertips and remove with cottonwool (cotton) or soft tissues.This is because it will prevent too much moisture from being lost from the surface of your skin.However, normal and oily skins can still happily use water - but switch to a facial wash or wash-off cleanser instead.They're specially formulated to be non-drying, while still getting your face clean - and you can splash with water as much as you like!

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20. Sensitive issue

Q "Why does my skin feel more sensitive in winter than summer?"

A Eight per cent of women claim to have sensitive skin-which tingles, itches and is prone to dryness.It can be aggravated by harsh winter weather, such as the winds and cold, because this breaks down the natural oily layer which protects your skin.Milder summer weather doesn't tend to be so hard on the skin.The best way to cope is to moisturize regularly with a hypo-allergenic cream that is specially formulated for sensitive skin.

Prickly Heat

Prickly heat (Miliaria Rubra) is a skin disorder which produces an irritating skin rash as the result of obstructed sweat-glands. When the narrow ducts carrying sweat to the skin surface get clogged, the trapped sweat causes inflammation, which produces irritation (prickling) and itching. Prickly heat usually consists of a rash of very tiny blisters but also can appear as large, reddened areas of skin.

The prickly heat rash is non-inflammatory and affects people of all ages, though it is most commonly suffered by infants. For those who are genetically predisposed to prickly heat, recurrence is common





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Causes
Prickly heat appears when the sweat-gland ducts become obstructed.
Poor hygiene.
Hot, humid weather.
Obesity.
Genetically inherited.
Over activity during hot weather.
Wearing polyester or lycra while exercising in warm weather.
Allergies to deodorants or antiperspirants.

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Symptoms
Small, fluid-filled blisters on the skin.
Red, irritating or itchy rash.
Occurs in a tropical or subtropical hot, wet environment
More common in fair-skinned people
Irritation to areas where perspiration is heavy
Triggers include being overweight, using soap too often and overproduction of sebum
Red, bumpy rash on areas of skin which are covered by clothing.


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Treatment Options:

Prickly heat is curable. A combination of preventative measures and immediate treatment ensure quick recovery.


MEDICAL TREATMENT

This consists of cold compresses, cool showers and cooling skin lotion. Steroid creams and ointments containing hydrocortisone should be applied 3-times daily to rash to relieve itching and irritation.
Also,
Cool showers or baths will help to keep itching under control and cleanse the skin.
Bathing in oatmeal mixes or with oatmeal soaps will stop itching and speed healing.
Expose the rash to as much fresh air as possible. Never cover with bandages or tight clothing.
Drawing ointments will aid in cleaning out areas which have blistered.
Anti-itch medications, such as Benadryl, are helpful for those suffering chronic prickly heat.
Aloe Vera lotions will stop excessive itching.





NATUROPATHY

A wholefood diet, exercise and relaxation will be recommended.To discourage further perspiration, air needs to flow freely over the skin's surface-wear cool, loose, cotton clothing.Use fans, drink plenty of water, go swimming and bathe affected areas.Cold poultices, showers, compresses and skin lotions are also recommended.Regular exercise might be rescheduled if carried out in a hot, moist climate.






VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Wholefoods for general and skin health, rich in all the antioxidants, especially the fruit and vegetables rich in vitamin A (beta-carotene), and in cis-linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, will be recommended.Drink plenty of cool fluids and herbal teas, such as green tea.A freshly squeezed juice combination to help restore lost fluids and salts consists of equal volumes of apple and carrot, with a little cucumber.Specific supplements include zinc, beta-carotene, vitamin B-complex (especially calcium pantothenate) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and vitamins C and E.




HERBALISM

Bathe the affected area with cold chamomile and / or tea tree infusions.For a quick, relief-bringing compress, wring out a flannel that has been soaked in basin of rice-cold water containing 4tsp (20ml) distilled witch hazel, and apply directly to the prickly heat rash.Another option would be , to mix equal quantities of juice extracts from neem, tulsi, pudina, coriander and turmeric bottled and refrigerated. This lotion will stay fresh for 7 days. Apply on affected areas after returning from outdoor activities.



AROMATHERAPY
Add 2-3 drops of chamomile or calendula essence to 8 fl oz (200ml) cold water and spray the rash liberally.Mix 3-4 drops of myrrh or lavender with 2 tsp (10ml) soya oil and spread on gently to relieve the inflammation; use neroli essence similarly, or add to bathwater, to reliever the knotted inner tension that can accompany a persistent itch.





OTHER THERAPIES
Prickly heat is usually a transient condition and does not tend to last, but for frequent outbreaks, stress-beating therapies such as yoga.tai' chi and relaxation and meditation may be helpful.Cranial osteopathy and/or acupuncture may also be used as means to harmonise the various body systems and boost the immune cells.







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Prevention
Keep as cool as possible
Wear loose, cotton garments
Avoid hot baths and showers
Avoid highly spiced food, hot drinks and meat extract (it is very salty). Focus on a healthy diet daily to keep the immune system functioning and bacteria at bay.
Drink plenty of cool fluids
Reduce the use of soap
Avoid exposure to heavy sunlight.

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Caution

Follow self-help advice as soon as prickly heat appears - salt and water loss can trigger heatstroke.

Face Masks

How to use a Mask

Masks are fun to use and can help clean pores, absorb oils, and give the skin a radiant glow.

Wash your face. Always wash face in upward, circular motions. Always do to your neck whatever you do to your face. After washing face, remove residue with a wet cloth and splash thirteen times. Masks work best when they're applied to clean, dry skin.



Follow directions. Don't keep a mask on longer than suggested. Not keeping it on long enough will be a waste of money and time.


Rinse your face thoroughly with warm water after removing your mask.




Follow up with your favorite toner or freshener, and then apply your moisturizer or night treatment.

Choosing a face mask:

Those of you with a normal skin, can go for a mask, once a week. For oily skin, two to three times a week is a great way to keep oil and breakouts at bay. If you have dry skin, a hydrating mask once a week can really help, but keep the deep cleansing varieties for once-a-month treatments.


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AVOCADO AND HONEY NOURISHING MASK

A good feed for dry, ageing skin.

1/4 ripe avocado

1 teaspoon runny honey

2 teaspoons Greek live yogurt

2 drops jasmine or rose essence

Preparation & Application:

Mash the avocado very thoroughly with a fork, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Apply quite thickly to the face and leave on for at least 10 minutes. Wipe off with a dry muslin cloth, then rinse the cloth in warm water to remove the rest of the mask.

After such a rich mask, it is a good idea to refresh your skin with a toner, such as a rosewater toner.


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CUCUMBER AND CLAY TONIC

A good tonic for normal-to-oily skin.

5 cm (2 in) piece of cucumber

4 teaspoons green clay

2 teaspoons brewer's yeast

Mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. If a little watery, add another 1-2 teaspoons of clay.


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TURMERIC AND EGG FEED

A luxurious facial feed for tired and dry-to-normal skin.

1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons turmeric

2 teaspoons brewer's yeast

2 teaspoons pollen grains

2 dessertspoons jojoba essence rosewater, to blend

Whisk the egg yolk and then add the remaining ingredients. This mask is easy to apply but rather sticky, so sponge off carefully and it will leave your skin beautifully smooth


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EGG FIRMING MASK

This mask can take years off your face - for an evening !

1 egg white

4 -6 teaspoons kelp powder

1 drop geranium essence

Lightly whip the egg white until white and bubbly but not stiff. Thoroughly mix in the kelp powder geranium essence. Smooth thinly over the face and wait for it to dry thoroughly before wiping, then rinsing, it off.


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FULLER'S EARTH FACIAL MASK

Suitable for all skin types.

1 tablespoon Fuller's Earth.

11/2 - 2 tablespoons rosewater (for a medium - to - oily skin) or

a small quantity of a rich face lotion (for a dry skin)

Mix the ingredients thoroughly then apply with a natural bristle beauty brush. If you are using rosewater, keep the mask moist with thin slices of peeled cucumber. Leave for 10 minutes then remove with warm rosewater. Pat dry with a fine - textured towel.


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Additional Homemade Facials

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 3-tablespoon yoghurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.

Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and let it dry. Then wash off with lukewarm water.

Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then wash off.

Mash 1/2 banana and add 1-tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.

Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.

Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.

In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1-tablespoon yoghurt, a few strawberries, and 1-teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let it dry. Then wash off with lukewarm water.

To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Urticaria: A Distressing Disorder

A rash sometimes triggered by an allergy, urticaria or Hives starts with irregularly shaped, raised red weals that eventually become white or yellow with a red rim. Depending on the trigger, the rash may string or itch.

Urticaria refers to a group of disorders in which wealing occurs in the skin. The release of chemicals such as histamine causes small blood vessels to leak and results in tissue swelling. The weals can be a few millimetres or several centimetres in diameter, coloured white or red, often surrounded by a red flare, and frequently itchy. Each weal may last a few minutes or several hours, and may change shape. Weals may be round, or form rings, a map-like pattern, or giant patches.

An allergy prompts the immune system to make an antibody known as IgE, which releases the chemical histamine into the lower layers of the skin. Histamine dilates the tiny blood capillaries of the skin, which leak fluid into the surrounding tissue and cause it to swell into the rash.

Although urticaria can occur anywhere on the body, it commonly shows up on the legs, arms and torso. The rash may come and go over several hours, with some patches clearing and disappearing while new ones arrive.


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Types

The surface weals may be accompanied by deeper swelling of eyelids, lips, hands and elsewhere. The swelling is called angioedema. Angioedema may occur with or without urticarial weals.

Urticaria (hives) is often classified according to how long it's been present.

Acute urticaria is of recent onset (hours, days or a few weeks).

Chronic urticaria has been persistent for several months or years.

Urticaria may not be present all the time. Some find it more noticeable at certain times of day, or when they are warm or emotionally upset.


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Causes:

The cause of acute generalized urticaria often is undetermined (some sources report that the cause is undetermined in more than 80% of cases), but it may be related to the following:

Infections (eg, pharyngitis, GI infections, genitourinary infections, respiratory infections (asthma), fungal infections [eg, dermatophytosis], malaria, amebiasis, hepatitis, mononucleosis, coxsackievirus, mycoplasmal infections, infestations [eg, scabies], HIV, parasitic infections [eg, ascariasis, strongyloidiasis, schistosomiasis, trichinosis])

Food allergy (particularly shellfish, fish, eggs, cheese, chocolate, nuts, berries, tomatoes). For some people, identifying what they are allergic to is easy - they come out in red blotches if they eat a specific food such as shellfish. Preventing an outbreak simply means avoiding the trigger.

Drugs (eg, penicillins, sulfonamides, salicylates, NSAIDS, codeine)

Environmental factors (eg, pollens, chemicals, plants, danders, dust, mold)

Exposure to latex

Exposure to cold or heat

Emotional stress

Exercise

Pregnancy (ie, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy [PUPPP])


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Chronic Urticaria can be related to the following:

Cholinergic urticaria induced by emotional stress, heat, or exercise (Examine for other signs of cholinergic stimulation including lacrimation, salivation, and diarrhea.)

Chronic medical illness, such as hyperthyroidism, SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, amyloidosis, polycythemia vera, carcinoma, and lymphoma
Pregnancy

Cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, cryofibrinogenemia, syphilis, or connective tissue disorder

Urticaria pigmentosa is a familial dermatologic disorder characterized by hyperpigmented (yellow, tan, or brown) papules or plaques that may be associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. These lesions are composed of mast cells. When the skin overlying an individual lesion of urticaria pigmentosa is stoked, a linear wheal is formed; this characteristic and diagnostic sign is known as the Darier sign.


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Recurrent Urticaria can be related to the following:

Certain people can develop recurrent hives from sunlight, cold, pressure, vibration or exercise. These are called the physical urticarias. If hives develop from scratching or firmly rubbing the skin it is called dermatographism.

Sun exposure (solar urticaria, occur)

Exercise (cholinergic urticaria)

Emotional or physical stress

Water (aquagenic urticaria)

In susceptible persons, ingestion of certain foods or medications before physical activity may be a predisposing factor for exercise-induced urticaria



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How are Urticaria "triggers" identified?

As there are so many possible causes for urticaria, a determined detective work on the part of the patient and physician. In some cases, the cause is never identified.

If allergy is suspected, keep a diary of foods eaten, any unusual exposures, and when you have hives. Bring the diary with you to the allergist's office. To unravel the urticaria puzzle, your allergist-immunologist will take a detailed history, looking for clues in your lifestyle that will help pinpoint the cause of your symptoms. You'll be asked about the frequency and severity of your symptoms, your family's medical history, medications you're taking, your work and home environment, and miscellaneous matters. The allergist will want to review your diary for further clues.

In some cases you may require tests to analyze blood and urine, and other procedures such as x-rays. If you are allergic to something more general, such as a food preservative or additive, it can be much more tricky to track down. Skin-patch tests-where a small ...


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Treating Urticaria:

If you have urticaria, seek the advice of your doctor, who may refer you to a dermatologist for advice. He or she will explain to you which type or types of urticaria you have.

Oral antihistamines control wealing and itching for the majority of patients with urticaria. They do not affect the underlying cause of the rash. Antihistamines may need to be taken intermittently or continuously until the underlying tendency to urticaria disappears.

Non-sedating antihistamines (loratidine, fexofenadine, terfenadine, cetirazine, and astemizole) are less likely to cause drowsiness than the less expensive conventional antihistamines. They may be unsuitable in pregnancy. Terfenadine and astemizole may increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. They should be avoided if you have heart disease or you are also taking erythromycin, ketoconazole and some other medications. Fexofenadine, loratidine, desloratidine and cetirazine are safe.


If the first antihistamine you try is not effective, consult your doctor. You may need to increase the dose, or use a different drug. Sometimes a combination of antihistamines works better than a single type alone. H2 blockers such as cimetidine & ranitidine can also reduce urticaria but are more often prescribed to reduce stomach acidity.

Urticaria that fails to clear with antihistamines may be helped by:

Oral steroids (prednisone) useful for severe acute urticaria but unsuitable long term.

Ultraviolet light treatment (narrowband UVB or PUVA).

Trials of antibiotics and antifungal agents.

Immunosuppressive medications (cyclosporin, plasmapheresis).

Antifibrinolytic agents (tranexamic acid, androgenetic steroids such as danazol)


If you have generalized urticaria, ask your doctor if a medicine could be the cause.


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Lifestyle Modifications:

Avoid aspirin and codeine; paracetamol and the newer Cox-II inhibitor anti-inflammatories are usually tolerated.

Reduce your intake of acidic fruits. Don't consume food or confectionery containing tartrazine (a yellow dye, numbered 102 in the list of ingredients on the container), or meats preserved with benzoates (210-220)

Avoid alcohol.

Try not to overheat or to get uptight. Cool the affected area with a cold flannel or ice pack.

Persons with solar urticaria should wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen lotions when outdoors.

Avoid harsh soaps and frequent bathing to reduce the problem of dry skin, which can cause itching and scratching that can aggravate urticaria. Vigorous toweling after a bath may precipitate hives.

Modification of activities and behaviors is the mainstay of treatment in patients with exercise-induced Urticaria. Patients should be educated to (1) abstain from exercise four to six hours after eating; (2) avoid aspirin and NSAIDs before exercising; (3) refrain from exercise around menses.

Whatever it is that controls a patients hives, should be the daily regimen, taking the drugs every day, whether or not they have the hives on any given day. The idea is that one is preventing the hives from breaking out. Remember to work closely with the doctor to find a medication regimen that suppresses the hives until they resolve on their own.

Tattooing: A Major Route Of Infections

Tattooing is a serious art form, and the world seems to be addicted to it. It is, a permanent marking -- once it's there, you can't simply wash it away. For many, it is an aesthetic choice or an initiation rite. Some women choose permanent makeup as a time saver or because they have physical difficulty applying regular, temporary makeup. For others, tattooing is an adjunct to reconstructive surgery.



According to, Dr. Dan Meler, plastic surgeon for 32 years, says: "The worst danger in tatoos is that people don't like the results and then they want to get rid of the tatoos, but there is always a scar. I think that doing a tatoo on the body because of the beauty in it, is not justified. You need to be careful because there is no way back. When people want to remove a tatoo it could turn out to be horrible. There is no way back, its not like a hair cut."



Cause of infection:

The alleged cause of the problem was improper sterilization of instruments and the use of contaminated pigments. Tattoo operators have little or no training and often don't know how to sanitize equipment to prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis or even AIDS. Although a number of color additives are approved for use in cosmetics, none is approved for injection into the skin. Using an unapproved color additive in a tattoo ink makes the ink adulterated. Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint.

A tattoo is like an open wound, so you have to dress it and protect it by applying an antibiotic cream (such as Neosporin) and wearing sunscreen or covering it with a patch if you'll be in the sun. It's recommended that you wear a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 on the tattoo for the rest of your life.

Tattooing has been shown to transmit infectious diseases, including hepatitis B, syphilis, leprosy, tuberculosis, skin cancer, psoriasis, toxic shock syndrome or even behavioral changes.





The risk of scars from infection- Despite advances in laser technology, removing a tattoo is a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible. Others develop thick scars called keloids. And believe it or not, the most common problem that occurs because of tattoos is regret! Many people find that they later wish they hadn't gotten a tattoo. Removing a tattoo is a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible.


Transmission of hepatitis B- Hepatitis B poses the greatest risk, and this virus has been transmitted through sharing of tattoo needles. See your health care provider if symptoms are present

Transmission of AIDS- Tattooing also contributes to the spread of HIV . People use hollowed out ballpoint pins and pen ink to create tattoos stand a larger risk. Getting HIV though a tattoo is uncommon, but it is always a possibility if the tattooist is not following proper infection control practices.

Transmission of tetnus- Read more on the report, at www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/tetanus.pdf.
Increased risk of cancer- New inks are being introduced into the market everyday, such as the new glow-in-the-dark inks. The problem with these new inks is that, in most cases, they cause severe skin irritation and they fade quickly. Another negative point is that the long-term effects of the inks are not known yet. These inks can possibly cause skin cancer. You're also at risk of developing skin infections such as impetigo and other complications such as dermatitis (severe skin irritation). If you already have a skin condition such as eczema, you may have flare-ups as a result of the tattoo. If you think there is a chance that you may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, testing can be done by a doctor, health clinic, or by contacting your local health department. Vaccination against Hepatitis B is also available.

Transmission of hepatitis C- Getting a tattoo could be a key infection route for hepatitis C, the most common chronic viral infection affecting almost 2 percent of the United States population, according to a study by a UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas researcher. The study found that people who had received a tattoo in a commercial tattoo parlor were nine times more likely to be infected with hepatitis C than people who did not have a tattoo. Hepatitis C can be passed through tattooing by reuse of tattooing needles or dye, inadequate sterilization of tattooing needles between customers, or breaks in sterile technique such as the artist pricking the back of his or her hand to test the needle's sharpness. For detail story,

Insist on fresh, single-use, disposable needles and fresh ink in new disposable containers, and make sure that all equipment is disinfected and sterilized with an autoclave. Be aware that cleaning with bleach or any other disinfectant doesn't always kill the hepatitis C virus.



Before going in for a tatoo, Check:
Is there an autoclave?
Is the person a licensed practitioner?
Are "Universal Precautions" followed?

Stretch Marks

Skin is usually fairly elastic, but when with growth or rapid gain in weight really (like during puberty or pregnancy), fine lines may appear on the body, called stretch marks. Stretch marks occurs, when the tissue under your skin tears from rapid growth or stretching. When the skin is over-stretched, it produces too much collagen, which can form the "scars" called stretch marks. In essence, stretch marks represent a dermal scar in which the connective tissue (i.e. collagen and elastin) within the dermis is disrupted.




Around half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks (striae gravidarum), usually in the third trimester, as the abdominal skin is forced to accommodate the growing uterus. Some pregnant women also develop stretch marks on the breasts, hips, buttocks and thighs. Another common cause of stretch marks is rapid weight gain & weight loss. Depending on the skin type, fresh stretch marks can be pink, purple, brown or red. Over time, the stretch marks lose their bright colouring and become silvery, shimmering lines.


Symptoms


The evolution of a stretch mark includes:
The skin is stretched beyond its capacity as in pregnancy and obesity.
The underlying tissue tears
The body responds by forming scar tissue
The fresh stretch mark looks pink, red, brown or purple, over time, the colour fades & the stretch mark becomes a shimmering, silvery line
The silvery line may look slightly indented.
The scar is permanent.


Structure of the skin


The visible layer of skin (epidermis) protects the delicate inner layers. The epidermis is made from several sheets of cells. Epidermal cells born in the bottom sheet push up through the layers to replace old, dead skin cells that are constantly sloughed off the surface. The epidermis also contains melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour. Beneath the epidermis is the dermis. This deeper layer contains sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles, blood vessels and nerves. The dermis is made from two types of fibre: elastic fibres (elastin) for suppleness and protein fibres (collagen) for strength.


The overstretched dermis


Skin is remarkably flexible and can stretch substantially if given sufficient time. However, a rapidly growing foetus often means the abdominal skin is stretched further and faster than it can comfortably manage. The overtaxed fibres of the dermis tear at the points experiencing the greatest stress. Another common cause of stretch marks is rapid weight gain. Some people develop stretch marks during puberty, if their growth spurt is particularly fast. Whether or not a person develops stretch marks seems to partly depend on their skin's inherited characteristics. Stretch marks are also more likely to occur if a person uses steroid-containing (such as hydrocortisone) creams or ointments on their skin for a long time (more than a few weeks). Other cause of stretch marks may include Cushing's syndrome.


Prevention of stretch marks


Research is contradictory. Most studies maintain that creams and lotions can't prevent stretch marks, but some trials have found significant successes with certain creams. Prevention suggestions include:
Eat sensibly to avoid gaining excess body fat.
Eat a highly nutritious diet to maintain the health of your skin.
Wear a supportive maternity bra throughout pregnancy.
Consider using creams that include centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) and collagen-elastin hydrolysates

Treatment of stretch marks


Recent studies found that stretch marks can be reduced with Pulsed Dye laser treatment and the regular application of creams containing retinoic acid or Retin-A. It must be stressed that retinoic acid should not be applied to the skin during pregnancy. There is currently no information on whether using retinoic acid is safe during breastfeeding . Another approach is to simply wait for the stretch marks to fade by themselves.

Although there are tons of products on the market that claim to eliminate stretch marks, the truth is you can't make them go away without the use of a form of plastic surgery called microdermabrasion. If you are concerned about your stretch marks, talk to a dermatologist.

Skin Resurfacing - Opting for Chemical Peel

Chemical peels are a category of advanced clinical skin rejuvenation treatments that help to reverse the signs of aging and the damage of past sun exposure and have been used in France since the late nineteenth century. They have been used in North America since the 1920s and are now accepted and well recognized procedures particularly for treatment of sun damaged and aged skin. Chemical peels can be performed on all parts of the body: face, neck, chest, back, arms and legs.

Chemical peels can effectively improve a wide variety of skin conditions including:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Uneven pigmentation
Shallow Acne scars
Sun-damaged skin
Age spots
Freckling

A variety of chemical agents are used to cause inflammation and irritation to the superficial layer of the skin. Three of the most commonly used peeling agents are:

Phenol and its derivatives,
Trichloro-acetic acid (TCA), and
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid.
The subsequent realignment of the skin's collagen building blocks after the chemical peel leads to a smoother younger look.

What benefits can a chemical peel yield ?

Sun damaged skin characterized by fine to moderately coarse wrinkles, irregular pigmentation, dilated blood vessels and scaling wound, all benefit from a chemical peel. Light skinned patients are better candidates than those with darker skin because they tend to have fewer pigmentation after the procedure. Individuals with sagging and excessive skin are not candidates for this procedure since chemical peeling improves skin quality but does not reduce excess skin. An eyelid lift for example, removes redundant skin but chemical peeling may be necessary to remove the fine wrinkles.


What is involved in a chemical peel?
Chemical peels can be categorized as mild, moderate and aggressive. The extent of skin damage determines the type of peel which is used and the depth of peeling necessary.

Mild chemical peels

A solution of 30 to 70% glycolic acid or 10 to 15% trichloroacetic acid may be used.

Moderate chemical peels
20 to 45% trichloroacetic acid is used.
Aggressive peels
45to 60% trichloroacetic acid phenol or baker's solution (a modified phenol preparation) may be used.

Many dermatologist, plastic surgeons and other esthetic surgeons are now using milder agents in a series of applications rather than using more aggressive agents on a single occasion to obtain the best results with the least amount of risk.

The glycolic acid peels are particularly popular, because they offer the least risk of pigment changes and scars as well as the shortest period of cosmetic disability after the procedure. In contrast, with the phenol peels there is a greater risk of scar and pigment changes, a longer recovery time, and the risk of damage to the heart, liver and kidneys .


The steps involved with each type of peel are similar, with some differences.

If phenol is used for the peeling procedure, a pre-operative assessment of the heart, liver and kidneys is necessary. This is not necessary with glycolic acid and trichloroacetic acid peels.

With all types of peels, the skin is cleared with degreasing agents such as, acetone, alcohol or Povidone iodine (Betadine), as these encourage better penetration to deeper levels and greater uniformity of the peel.

The chemical agent of choice is usually with Q- tips or gauze over the designated areas. Feathering, using less or lower concentrations of the agent, is performed as the physicians moves from the face into the neck or hairline regions. This avoids any obvious demarcation between peeled and untreated skin.

Different techniques may be used. For example, with the Jessner techniques a mild peeling solution may be applied prior to a stronger solution in order to remove the epidermis. This allows the second solution either glycolic or trichloroacetic acid to reach the dermis immediately minimizing the amount of time it has to be left on the skin. With the Obaji (Obagi Blue peels are medium depth peels. Obagi Blue peels use TCA, a non-toxic chemical that has been used for over thirty years to perform skin peels.) and other techniques the patients required to use a variety of creams containing tretinoin and other agents prior to the chemical peel in order to prepare the skin to be chemically resurfaced

Phenol preparations such as Baker's formula, penetrate deeper than do other agents and can be absorbed into the body, causing internal damage. Strict time parameters must, therefore, be observed. This controlled absorption minimizes the risk of damage to the heart, liver or kidneys. The heart must be monitored throughout the procedure when phenol solutions are used.
The skin may blanch when an agent is applied. This is commonly called "frosting" and means that chemical coagulation of the deeper layers of the skin has occurred. Not all areas of the face blanch at the same rate; thin and sensitive.