Posted in Acne, Treatment on July 27, 2009

Having to deal with acne at any age can be embarrassing and depressing. Fortunately you can do lots of things on a day to day basis to make your skin less prone to acne problems. Simply just follow the five tips I have listed below.

1. Exercise
Many people are probably unaware that exercises play an important role in the prevention of so many diseases. See how exercise can help fight acne. E.g. sweating – evacuate the body’s toxins from the skin pores. Make sure that you always wipe or wash your sweat afterwards. Exercise also helps in lessening negative stress levels. Watch out your clothing, sports gears and equipment. Avoid nylon and tight lycra outfits as they are prone to acne problems. Better wear cotton or natural blends outfit giving way to more air to get to your skin.

2. Cosmetics
One must be vigilant while buying cosmetics products as they are among the major causes of acne problems. It is advice to use products labeled noncomedogenic or oil-free so as to avoid pore-clogging and skin irritation

. Flaky mineral called mica used in shimmering facial colors can cause clog pores and skin irritations. Coal tar derivatives, heavy cream in blushes and carmine can cause same reactions.

3. Diet
The healthier your body is the healthier your skin will be! However, consume more cholesterol-free food such as fish, fruits and vegetables…rather than greasy food like meet, nuts etc… Taking more vitamins and mineral food will help to eliminate existing acne breakouts.

4. Hygiene
Avoid over-washing and harsh scrubbing in order to keep your face skin healthy. Keep alcohol products away from your skin as it cause your sebaceous glands to produce additional oil resulting to clogged pores. Do not squeeze and pick any blemishes as this will just force the infected area to go deeper in the skin.

Posted in Acne on July 25, 2009

Aside from the appearance of early signs of aging like wrinkles, one of the commonest skin conditions of folk is the formation of acne.
Acne being a medical condition and a skin disorderis due to increased hormones expressly for teenagers, the enlargement of sebaceous glands that attached are to the hair follicles, increased sebum or oil production and presence of acne-casing bacteria on the skin.

In fact, although it is a good idea to consult the dermatological doctor or the doctor first before doing anything to sure acne, there are some efficient and safe home-made remedies for acne that may be done without major consultations with the professionals.

- Vitamin therapy. One of the safest home remedies for acne is treatment thru vitamins like niacin, vitamin A, and Vitamin E. For good results, the patient is advised to take at least 100 milligrams ( mg ) of niacin, 50,000 world units of vitamin A three times each day and 400 mg of vitamin E once daily for 1 month.

- Zinc therapy. The use of zinc in dealing with acne is beginning to become more favored in the field of nourishment and wellness today. After showcasing impressive leads to some acne cases, more people are now taking in zinc in therapeutic doses of 50 mg thrice daily. Available in tablet and in capsule forms, the purchase of zinc is now related to the therapy of acne. In its tablet form, zinc can be purchase under the name Zinfet with 2 hundred mg while in capsule form, it can be brought using the moniker Ulseal 220 mg. In the home zinc treatment, the acne patient can take of 50 mg daily in one month.

- Orange peel cure. After battering the peel with water on a chunk of stone, youcan apply the mixture on to the areas troubled by acne.

- The lemon cure. This is probably one of the most simple cures you can do at home to cure your acne. By removing the lemon fruit’s juice and applying it regularly on the skin, you can end endurance pimples that may cause acne.

- Garlic therapy. Contrary to what some may think, the use of garlic is in fact one of the best ways to treat acne. And by taking at least three seeds of raw garlic every day for a month, you can clear your blood stream and clean it to keep acne-causing bacteria out.

Another known efficient home cure for acne is the applying of coriander juice or mint and turmeric powder mixture on the face.

- The fenugreek paste remedy. Aside from using its seed to make curry powder, fenugreek through its leave scan be a useful cure for acne. Making a paste out of its leaves, you can produce a facemask that will be applied at night to stop pimples and blackheads.

- The cucumber cure. By applying grated cucumber slices on to face, eyes, and neck for 15 to 20 mins, you can eliminate determined blackhead and pimples.

- An all-fruit and balanced acne diet. Eating fresh juicy fruits apples, pears, grapes, peaches, and pineapples and peaches combined with healthy vegetables can get rid of the chance of developing acne.

There are other acne natural treatments like warm-water enema, exposure to sun and air baths and warm Epsom salts bath.

Posted in Beauty, Therapy on July 24, 2009

As you may know, Aromatherapy is the use of volatile liquid parts of plants, which are called essential oils, for various natural treatments. It is a holistic alternative therapy that has been used since antiquity from all major civilizations and its popularity has been increasing recently.

Cellulite is the dimpling skin found especially on thighs and sometimes on tummy, back of arms and bottom which looks lumpy and ripply. While it is harmless, cellulite discomforts female population especially in summer time. Almost every woman (even the slimmest ones) has cellulite to some degree. It is believed that cellulite is not only fat, but accumulation of fat, fluids and toxins which are trapped in the skin, owing to weakening of the connective tissue.
Cellulite is caused by numerous reasons. Upon the whole, cellulite is genetically inherited from mother to daughter and related with female hormones and their changes. Cellulite is magnified during pregnancy, menstruation and estrogens therapy. Estrogen hormone plays the major part in determining intensity, formation and expansion of cellulite condition. Men’s lack of estrogen hormone, is the reason why men don not have cellulite on their body. What is more, diet poor in fibre, rich in fat and salt, smoking and inactive lifestyle contribute to cellulite aggravation.

Keep in mind that there are many things to do to reduce cellulite, but nothing can eliminate one hundred percent the “orange peel” surface of female skin at affected areas. Just to name few, increasing body exercise, decreasing fat income and sugar, drinking many cups of water, avoiding coffee and eating fruits rich in C vitamin, are suggested for combating cellulite. In this article we will present you some aromatherapy tips that can help you remove cellulite.

Essential oils can assist with anti-cellulite treatment in two major ways: Reducing body toxins, waste matter and imprisoned liquids and enhancing blood circulation. The essential oils that are used most for cellulite therapy are Juniper, Citrus, Rosemary, Lemon, Lemongrass, Grapefruit and Geranium oil. Bath and especially massage are the most effective Aromatherapy uses for a successful cellulite cure.

Add 5-10 drops of your favourite essential oil in your bath water and stay in it for at least fifteen minutes, once a week. This time allows essential oil to penetrate your skin and its diuretic and circulation boosting action to be more effective.

Aromatherapy massage is probably the most useful alternative method for treating cellulite because it is applied directly to the affected part of skin and encourage body detoxication and blood circulation. Carrier (or base) oils from various vegetables are used for essential oil dilution. Appropriate carrier oils for massage are among others, Avocado, Jojoba and Almond. Remember to follow carefully the safety rules for essential oils uses. Otherwise, you will run the risk to irritate and harm your skin.

Aromatherapy is not only a delightful and refreshing activity. It is beneficial for a lot of health conditions including skin diseases like cellulite. Using the right essential oils in bath and massage you can regenerate skin cells and reduce the toxins and fat that turn into cellulite.

Posted in Acne on July 17, 2009

Be gentle with your skin and take advice from a trusted skin specialist to find a suitable acne medicine with no ill effects elsewhere. Avoid the use of new formulations that have not been tested since the degree of side effects will not be clear in these cases.

Topical creams

These creams work to dry out the excessive oil secreted by the sebaceous glands and dry out the eruption. This treatment is useful for occasional skin eruptions and is relatively free of side effects. Excessive use of these creams can lead to the skin feeling dry and taut. This acne medicine can act as an effective quick short term remedy for minor acne related issues. Some cosmetics use an oily base which can worsen your condition. Ask specialist to suggest water based cosmetics that are unlikely to affect your skin condition. If you face regular skin eruptions, avoid cosmetics altogether.

Antibiotics

This is an effective acne medicine to fight bacterial infection that has occurred in the acne. The reduced infection has an almost immediate effect on the appearance of acne on the skin. However, you have to exercise great caution to avoid infecting your skin after the treatment is completed. When you are taking antibiotics, your doctor will recommend that you have the medicines with cold milk and avoid foods that irritate the stomach. This is important to avoid acidity that can affect you for a long time after the treatment. Be aware of the effects of prolonged antibiotic treatment and utilising the medication without adhering to the necessary dosage.

Herbal treatments

Some herbs are known to clear out acne by sorting out internal imbalances. These are considered to be safe since they are herbal. However, do remember that all treatments involve the use of chemicals and require to be used under the supervision of a specialist in skin conditions. Another danger is that you may not be aware of allergies that you have beforehand, therefore, you must exercise caution by trying the treatments one by one and ensuring that there is no reaction before trying the next acne medicine.

Home remedies

Cleansers like milk mixed with lime juice can be excessively drying if you add excess lime. Home remedies are useful and with the use of everyday food items, less likely to cause allergic reactions. However, be wary of items that you have not used or consumed in the past. Before you apply a mix on your skin, carry out a patch test and check that you do not have any adverse reactions for 24 hours after the patch test is done. Redness, itchiness and a feeling of dryness are signs that a remedy is not suiting you. Avoid oily food, baked products (these are high in fat), excessive consumption of chocolates and caffeine in conjunction with the use of acne medicine. Some remedies involve the use of steaming the skin and warming products before application. Check the temperature to ensure that it is not too warm since some mistakes can cause permanent skin damage.

Posted in Acne on July 16, 2009

If you are the kind of an individual who fights with acne and are worried you will have to rely on customary medicine, then there is a natural cure for acne that you can attempt right away. For a very long period, inhabitants have trusted various home medicines for the healing of acne prone individuals. Presently, this dreadful skin sickness has an effect on approximately 14 million inhabitants in the United States alone so there are a large number of options.

If you never knew this, your skin is a protective organ for your body, acting as a barrier against germs, dirt, and toxins. Within the dermis (the inner skin layer) is a gland which secretes an oil – sebum – helping to keep your skin and hair lubricated, and naturally keeping bacteria and pollution out.

When the sebaceous gland becomes overactive, commonly the outcome of the male sex hormone, androgen, acne forms. The hair follicle grows to be blocked due to the oil. And although the sebum typically benefits by removing dead skin cells in the hair follicle lining, it becomes clogged up. As a result, blockage appears, that then causes the entrapment of microorganisms and so, the onset of spots and your pursuit for an acne cure home remedy.

As a natural cure for acne and then to maintain great, healthy skin, you can do several things at home. For starters, increase your water intake. Everybody should swallow between six to eight glasses of water day after day to cleanse the body.

Furthermore, put in more fresh fruits and vegetables to the diet. Moreover you can help out searching a cure for pimples by washing down your face with an anti-bacterial soap two times a day. Though, make certain that you massage lightly, not to cause more injury.

After completing, you can create a natural cure for acne paste just by blending one teaspoon of crushed cinnamon with three tablespoons honey. Massage this paste to the region with acne and leave it for 30 minutes. The gain is that cinnamon has normal antibacterial characteristics. Furthermore, phenol is oil in cinnamon that performs as an anti-fungal solution.

A further fantastic home-based remedy for eradicating acne prone individuals is to mix 1 teaspoon of powdered cinnamon with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Lemons are amongst the best acne cleanser solutions, as they help out by getting rid of dead skin cells. In fact, several folks will form lines or blemishes from the acne and lemon will benefit in lightening them.

Another natural cure for acne is to mix milk with nutmeg to reduce inflammation and help prevent further breakout. One acne cure home remedy which people are sometime reluctant to try is to crush a clove of garlic and rub it on their acne. Garlic works by helping fight off antibodies on your skin.

As you can see, many natural cure for acne remedies are available, so if you prefer going the natural route without chemicals, you can.

Posted in Therapy on July 3, 2009

You have no doubt at least heard about aromatherapy, but many people are not quite sure what its purpose really is, in spite of the fact that it is widely considered a holistic healing method. Even those who practice more conventional types of medicine accept that aromatherapy can be beneficial.

But what is it? Well, it is considered to be either a treatment or the prevention of disease, depending on whether or not you are already afflicted. It works by using your olfactory senses. Plant oils and other essential oils are primarily used, mainly for one’s physical and psychological well being. They are helpful when you inhale them and when they are applied right to the skin.

The idea is that pleasant scents will have a positive effect on the brain in general and the limbic system in particular.

As well, the oils themselves are believed to be therapeutic. They can be antiviral, antiseptic, antifungal, anti inflammatory, and antibacterial.

Posted in Beauty, Tips on July 1, 2009

Application of Body Scrubs and Soaps Using specially formulated body scrubs and soaps is one way to deal with several skin and body conditions. Be sure to stay away from scrubs and soaps which contain harsh chemicals, acids or mineral oil (also called parafin) as these can be drying and even damaging to your skin.

Making your own scrubs and soaps is another option which doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. I’ve included some terrific, simple recipes here for you to try. A little extra TLC and time in the bath can not only improve the look and health of your skin, it can also help to reduce stress and improve your overall health.

Body scrubs and special soaps can be used for:

1. Goosebumps

2. Blackheads

3. Skin that needs revitalizing

4. Addressing problems such as dry skin or cellulite

The process is simple and choices are available to improve the look and feel of your body’s skin.

a. Scrub down with soap and water using the bath mitt, loofah or brush.

b. Rub all over with sea salt as you stand in the bath.

c. Rub all over with sugar using your soap lather.

d. Fill a muslin bag with ground oats/bran from a health food store and scrub with that.

The use of a loofah, hemp glove, long-backed bristle brush is beneficial at all times, but is especially important is the person is on a strict diet or undertaking a fast. Under these circumstances the body is throwing off poisons rapidly, and these need to be scrubbed off the skin.

The Use of Soap

Even dermatologists are unable to reach agreement on as to whether soap is positively good or bad for the skin. The theory that it is bad is based on the fact that skin is naturally slightly acid, while soap is mostly alkaline. Hence the soap temporarily destroys the skins’ acid mantle. However, as the balance is restored in one to three hours, the damage is not permanent.

The `anti-soap` brigade claims that the drying effect of soap is cumulative; years of washing will take their toll in the form of skin that is prematurely dried or cracked. Certainly, students will feel the drying effect of soap on their skin; it is this very feeling that makes some women say that they feel `clean`, but often this means that soap has been left on the skin which has not been adequately rinsed and dried off.

You should be aware that although nowadays most soaps contain moisturizers such as cold cream to mitigate the drying effect, this does not alter their alkalinity. Most people will cause little harm to their skin by using soap. It is only those who have particularly dry or sensitive skin who should use the special acid-balanced soaps, which are not strictly soaps at all, they are more aptly called cleansers.

Natural Body Cleanser, Scrub and Soap Recipes

Homemade Sea Salt Exfoliator

Mix 1/8 cup of Olive Oil and 1 heaping tablespoon of sea salt

Use on knees and elbows in the shower and rinse off. Pat dry with a soft towel.

Honey Scrub

To make a good exfoliating scrub, mix a tsp. of warm runny honey with 1 tbsp. milk. Add sugar until you get it to a grainy consistency.

Use immediately.

Liquid Lavender Soap

Put 6 tbsp. of grated castile Soap and some water in a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of boiling water. When the Soap has melted, stir in 5 tbsp glycerin. Remove from heat and stir in 4 drops of Lavender oil.

If desired, stir in a few drops of natural food coloring to color the Soap. When cool, pour into clean bottles and seal with corks.

Cool Shower Gel

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup herbal shampoo (look for one that is detergent-free; avoid labels that list any variation of “sodium lauryl Sulfate”)
* 1/4 to 3/4 cup water
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 8 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
* 2 tablespoons Aloe Vera gel
* Blend all the ingredients thoroughly, adjusting the amount of water to get the desired consistency.
* Pour into a bottle or jar.
* Place a dab of this cooling gel in your hand to use instead of Soap.

Helpful Hints:

Formula may be doubled or tripled to make extra for gifts.

And please be sure to use pure Peppermint Essential Oil, not a fragrance oil.

Oatmeal Bath Gel

To make a creamy bath gel, mix 1/4 cup dry oatmeal and 1 tsp. honey with enough milk to make it a paste. Put in the microwave for a few seconds to warm up and then use.

Almond Mayonnaise Scrub

(for very dry skin)

* 1/4 cup almonds
* 1/8 teaspoon mayonnaise

Grind almonds in blender until they form a meal. Whirl in mayonnaise. Vinegar-Rinse your skin. Rub in Scrub gently and thoroughly. Leave on skin for about 10 minutes. Rinse off and follow with Vinegar Rinse.

Basic Body Butter Lotion Bar

Ingredients:

* 1 Part Beeswax
* 1 Part Cocoa OR Shea Butter
* 1 Part Carrier Oil
* 1 Part Skin-Safe Fragrance or Essential Oil

Directions

* Do not use both Cocoa Butter & Shea. Cocoa Butter will make a slightly harder bar, Shea Butter will make a slightly softer bar.

* Add Beeswax, Carrier Oil of choice and Butter of choice to a microwave safe container. A Pyrex Measuring Glass works best for cleanup purposes. Melt in 20 second increments until all is melted. Stir well. Add Fragrance of Essential Oil, and stir well. Pour in a Melt & Pour Soap mold, Push Up Stick, or Deodorant Container and let harden overnight.

* This recipe can also be used for Lip Balm, by using a Skin-Safe Flavor Oil instead of the Fragrance of Essential Oil.

Easy Sugar Scrubs

You’ll need a small to medium jar, white or brown sugar to fill it near the top, and enough oil to add so the mixture is moist. You can use olive, sweet Almond, or vegetable oil. At this point you can add a 1/2 tsp. of an Essential Oil or blend of oils. Lavender, Rose Geranium, or Rose mixed with Rosemary, Lemon or Orange is nice.

If you mix oils they should all total about 1/2 tsp.-not a 1/2 tsp. each. Mix all with a spoon in the jar, cover with the lid and allow to sit at least overnight. The mixture should look “oily” and moistened. If it doesn’t, add more oil.

To use: Scoop a small amount on to your hand and rub your hands and fingers gently with the scrub, not too hard. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. This leaves your hands soft, and is great after gardening!

Posted in Illness on July 1, 2009

Dementia is a terminal illness. However, people with advanced dementias often languish in skilled nursing facilities, far from the ministrations of specialists. And, with reasonable luck, they have directives that specify that they are not to be taken to the hospital in the event of a respiratory arrest. Consequently, most of us are not privy to the mechanisms of demise in such situations.

How do people with dementia die? In the interests of demystifying this, a group of geriatrics researchers sought to prospectively study the course and concomitants of advanced dementia. They followed 323 patients, in 22 nursing homes near Boston, for 18 months. Eligible patients were identified by a variety of measures commonly already obtained on such patients. The required levels of these measures for study enrollment specify, for example, paucity or absence of speech, incontinence, and inability to walk. These were severely impaired people. The medical records were reviewed for episodes of complications such as pneumonia, eating impairment, and fevers. Other data obtained were related to “sentinel events,” evidence of distress and unpleasant interventions, and various issues regarding family members (and other “health care proxies”).

The results are instructive. The mean age of the cohort was 85.3 years old, and the median interval since dementia diagnosis was 6.0 years. 177 (54.8%) of the patients died during the 18 month study period. The median survival was 478 days, and the probability of death within 6 months was 24.7%. Probabilities for medical problems during the study period were 41.1% for pneumonia, 52.6% for an episode of fever, and an impressive 85.8% for an eating problem.

Distressing symptoms were distressingly common, and the probability increased as the patient neared death. The most common such symptoms were agitation (53.6%), dyspnea (46.0%) and pain (39.1%). The nature of sentinel events is also interesting, particularly from a neurologic perspective. 42 such events occured, of which the most common was seizure (14/42; 33.3%), followed by gastrointestinal hemorrhage (11; 26.2%) and hip fracture (3; 7.1%). Stroke also occurred in 3 patients.

During the study period, 16.7% of all patients were hospitalized and 8.0% received tube feedings. The probability of such an intervention was higher as patients neared death: Within 3 months of death, 52 (29.4%) received parenteral therapies, but fewer (12.4%) were hospitalized. In the same pre-death interval, 72 patients (40.7%) received at least one such intervention. Interventions were most common in patients with pneumonia.

Communication with family members was quite poor. At the time of the last evaluation, only 18.0% reported receiving prognostic information from a physician. Also, while 81.4% thought they understood what complications to expect, less than one third (32.5%) indicated that a physician had counseled them about this.