Archive for March, 2009

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How To Get Rid Of Acne Marks

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Acne marks are not very easy to get rid of, because most of the time the scar is due to permanent damage of skin tissues. Acne marks that are on the surface of the skin can be treated with common home remedies, but other stubborn and deeper acne marks may need special treatment. If you want to know how to get rid of acne marks on your face, you will probably need to consult a dermatologist and ask for medical advice. Treatment of acne marks often involves surgical or other medical procedures.

Home Remedies For Acne Marks

There are plenty of home remedies for acne marks as well, and you can try these first. However, it is better to keep in mind that all these home remedies for acne marks work very slowly, if at all. These home remedies need to be practiced with patience and over a long period of time. If you want to get rid of acne marks immediately, home remedies will not be able to do the trick.

So, now that we have set your expectation limit properly, let us look at a few home remedies that may be useful in getting rid of acne marks. Try using fresh lemon juice regularly on the acne marks, several times a day. Lemon juice is natural bleach and can help fade the acne marks. Take a cotton ball, soak it in lemon juice and gently swab it over your skin. Similarly, apple cider vinegar can also be used in place of lemon juice. If lemon juice and apple cider vinegar seem too strong to your skin, you can dilute them with rose water.

Treatment For Acne Marks

Another good treatment for acne marks is to apply a paste of sandalwood powder and rose water mixed with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this paste on the face and let it dry up completely. Once the paste has dried up, wash it off your face with cold water. To get the best effect, you need to do this daily, or at least every alternate day. To lighten the acne marks, you can also rub freshly cut slices of cucumber, tomato, or potato on the affected skin. Also, you should take some treatments that can help exfoliate the dead cells from your skin. Applying crushed orange peel on the skin helps to scrub away the dead cells. You can also apply a clay pack on your face to exfoliate your skin. Mix Fuller’s earth, which is easily available at most cosmetic stores, with water and make into a paste. Apply this paste on your face and leave until it dries. When the clay has dried up completely, wash it off your face with cold water.

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Different Types Of Skin Rashes And Home Remedies For Skin Rashes

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Causes Of Skin Rashes

Skin rashes, medically termed as dermatitis, are a skin disorder characterized by reddened, inflamed, swollen, and itchy skin. The most common types of skin rashes are contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is caused when the skin comes in contact with certain allergens or irritants. The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is not known, but it is mostly a result of a malfunctioning auto-immune system. Other common causes of skin rashes are scabies, psoriasis, and shingles.

Treatment For Skin Rashes

Treatment for skin rashes generally begins with hygiene and cleanliness. It is most important to clean and wash the affected area regularly with a mild soap or cleanser. Wash your skin with warm water and then thoroughly wipe the skin dry with a clean towel. Avoid scratching the skin as far as possible; instead, when the itchiness increases, try applying a cold compress on the affected area to deal with the itch. Keep the surroundings clean so that the skin does not come in contact with any allergens or irritants. Also, take care to choose the kind of clothes you wear, as unsuitable clothing material, like certain types of wool or silk, may aggravate your skin rashes. As far as possible, wear cotton clothing because cotton is comfortable to the skin and allows the skin to breathe properly. Dresses that are too tight (or ill-fitting) should be avoided as well.

Skin rashes treatment should also include taking care of your diet and following a routine of mild physical exercise. Diet plays an important role in cleansing the body and providing you with nutrition to fight skin rashes. Ensure that you have enough vegetables and fruits included in your diet. Fruits rich in vitamin C, like oranges and lime, are especially beneficial for skin and should be eaten regularly.

Now, finally, let us have a look at some of the home remedies for skin rashes that you can try out. Taking an oatmeal bath is a well known remedy for skin rashes. You can also take a bath by mixing a bit of baking soda with water. Applying a paste of sandalwood (with a few drops of lemon juice) on the skin rashes is also an effective remedy. Another remedy is to wash the affected skin with a mixture of lemon juice and rose water. Applying aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, olive oil, or vitamin E oil can also be helpful for treating skin rashes. These will keep the skin moisturized and help treat the skin rashes more effectively.

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How To Reduce Facial Swelling With Facial Swelling Treatment

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Facial Swelling Causes

Facial swelling, also known as facial edema, is a condition in which fluids build up in the tissues of the face, making it appear swollen. In most cases, the swelling occurs around the eyes and cheeks, but it can spread further, up to the neck and arms too. Facial swelling causes can be several – allergy, sinusitis, diabetes, injury, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, severe malnutrition, or some other underlying disease of the body. Some other less frequent causes of facial swelling are external weather conditions like temperature and humidity. The severity of facial swelling can be gauged by pressing the swollen area with your finger – the more time the skin takes to get back to a normal position, the more severe is the swelling. Usually, for mild swelling, no special facial swelling treatment is required; it generally goes away with some amount of lifestyle change, dieting, and mild physical activity. However, if the facial swelling persists, you may need to visit a medical practitioner and ask for advice to reduce facial swelling.

How To Reduce Facial Swelling

So, how to reduce facial swelling? Are there any commonly available homemade natural remedies that can reduce facial swelling? Well, there are a few homemade remedies that you can try out to reduce facial swelling. To begin with, try massaging the swollen area with warm mustard oil. In the absence of mustard oil, you can also use olive oil for massaging. Use gentle but firm pressure while massaging so that the excess fluid is moved out of the face. Another good remedy for facial swelling is to consume flax seed. You can eat ground flax seed with your food or can also consume flax seed oil.

Also, make some dietary alterations to reduce facial swelling. Eat healthy and nutritious food with a sufficient amount of green vegetables and fresh fruits. Common salt causes water retention in the body and therefore should be consumed as sparingly as possible. Similarly, carbohydrate-rich foods should also be avoided as they build up water in the body. If you notice that any other foods cause your face to swell, avoid them altogether.

Finally, to avoid facial swelling, it is also important that you lead an active and healthy lifestyle. In many cases, physical inactivity is found to be the cause of fluid build-up and swelling in the body. A daily routine of mild exercise should help reduce the facial swelling. Do brisk walking or jogging each day so that the fluids are pumped away from the face.

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Tips For Treating Oily Skin At Home

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Oily Skin Care Tips and Treatment For Oily Skin

Oily skin is the result of excessive sebum secretion from sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands secrete oily substances called sebum that are responsible for keeping the skin lubricated. However, if the gland becomes overactive and starts overflowing with sebum, the skin looks oily and greasy. There can be several reasons for an overactive sebaceous gland – hormone fluctuation, use of oral contraceptives, consumption of certain drugs, and the effects of temperature and humidity. Although oily skin is better than any other skin type (because oily skin ages the slowest), it has a higher risk of getting acne and blemishes. For this reason oily skin care is important to avoid these skin disorders.

To deal with oily skin, there are several oily skin care tips that are helpful. Wash your face frequently with mild soap and keep your skin clean. Dust settles on oily skin easily and gives a greasy and unclean look. The dirt on the skin also clogs the skin pores and increases the chances of acne. Therefore, care of oily skin should begin with a routine of proper washing and cleansing of the skin. If you want a totally herbal product to wash your skin with, you can try aloe vera gel. Using aloe vera gel to wash your skin is a good treatment for oily skin.

Home Remedy For Oily Skin

Another effective home remedy for oily skin is to use lemon juice to cleanse your skin. Cucumber juice can also be mixed with lemon juice and applied on the skin. In case lemon juice is unavailable, apple cider vinegar should work just fine as a replacement. As a treatment for oily skin, you can also try a mixture of lemon juice (or vinegar), crushed grapes, and egg whites. Keep this paste applied on your skin for about fifteen minutes and then wash off with water. This mixture is an effective home remedy for oily skin; it cleanses your skin and also provides nutrition.

Along with these home remedies, you can also apply a clay mask on your face to control the oiliness of your skin. Fuller’s earth, which is available in drug stores, can be mixed with water and made into a paste. Apply this paste on your face and let it stay until it dries up. Once the clay mask has dried up, you can wash it off your face with clean water. Using this clay mask will help absorb dirt, grease and extra oil off your face without any harsh effect on your skin. Also, do ensure that your diet contains sufficient amount of fibrous food – eat leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains.

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Homemade Facial Skin Care Tips And Facial Skin Care Treatment

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Healthy and glowing facial skin is what we all desire, but do not always get. As we age, the facial skin loses its softness gradually and becomes weaker. Pollution and other chemicals also rob the skin of its natural youthfulness. Facial skin care is, therefore, extremely important to maintain healthy and youthful facial skin. There are many facial skin care treatments available, but being hard-pressed for time, it may not always be possible for you to follow them all. Instead, you can follow some easy and basic facial skin care tips that will help your skin immensely.

Facial Skin Care Tips

First, you should protect your facial skin from being exposed to direct sunlight. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are harmful to the facial skin and can damage the skin in more ways than one. Direct sunlight can rob the skin of moisture and cause sunburn, blemishes and wrinkles. Therefore, always apply suitable sunscreen lotion (with an appropriate SPF factor) when you have to go out in the sun.

Second, wash and moisturize your skin regularly so that your skin retains the right amount of moisture. It is important to wash your face regularly because dirt and sweat can clog the pores on your facial skin and cause damage to the skin. For moisturizing your skin, besides commercially available moisturizing creams and lotions, you can also prepare natural and homemade moisturizers. One natural facial skin care method is to prepare a moisturizer by mixing honey, lemon juice, and almond oil. This moisturizer is also good for dry facial skin care. Dry skin needs extra amounts of moisture and you should be diligent about applying a moisturizer regularly so as to prevent dryness of facial skin. You should also avoid using any soaps or cosmetics that may be harsh on your skin and make it dry.

Third, avoid smoking and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy and nutritious food (plenty of vegetables and fruits), try not to get to stressed, and do some amount of exercise daily. Also, do not forget to drink a sufficient amount of water throughout the day as water intake is directly linked with healthy skin.

Homemade Facial Skin Care

Besides these three cardinal skin care tips, there are also some other homemade facial skin care methods that you can try out. Use a mixture of cucumber juice and milk as a cleanser for the facial skin. Aloe vera gel can also be used for washing your face. You can also apply a face pack prepared by mixing oats, honey, almond powder, and yogurt. Apply this face pack and leave it until it dries up. Wash off the face pack with cold water once it has dried up.

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Microdermabrasion Skin Care Information - Microdermabrasion Treatments

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Microdermabrasion Skin Care And Microdermabrasion Treatments

In the past few years, interest in microdermabrasion treatments has been steadily increasing. If you are one of those people looking for microdermabrasion information, you have come to the right place. To begin, let’s understand what microdermabrasion is. As the name suggests, microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure that uses light abrasion to remove the top layer of the skin, which mostly consists of dead cells. Microdermabrasion is therefore, in a sense, merely a kind of exfoliation. Dermabrasion is a similar procedure, but is, to put it simply, a lot more abrasive – it therefore usually requires anesthesia, unlike microdermabrasion, which is always performed while the patient is fully conscious.

The purpose of microdermabrasion skin care is basically to improve the complexion of the skin. It is used to get rid of scars, as well as for more minor problems such as dark spots, sun damaged skin and similar blemishes. Microdermabrasion is also sometimes used to treat acne, as one of the main causes of pimples is the accumulation of dead skin cells. However, this is not a permanent fix – the treatment needs to be repeated at regular intervals, making it a lot more expensive than other treatments such as over the counter creams. Microdermabrasion is however among the most effective treatments for scars, although this is only if the scars are raised scars. If a scar is the result of tissue loss – if it is actually a depression – then microdermabrasion is not of much use.

A variety of substances and techniques may be used to cause this abrasion. Among the older techniques, microdermabrasion crystals were used – these were basically very fine crystals that were blasted on to the skin with great force, thus removing the dead cells. Simultaneously, a vaccum is used to suck away the dead cells, ensure that they do not remain on the skin, where they can block pores. More recent techniques use substances other than crystals, but the basic procedure remains the same. Today, there are also home microdermabrasion kits available, which use a simplified form of the process just described. A home kit provides a kind of microdermabrasion peel or scrub – it contains a lotion which has fine crystals. This lotion is applied to the skin with a gentle scrubbing motion, and is then washed off. Microdermabrasion is always followed up by moisturization, as the skin tends to get dry after the top layer has been removed. Home kits usually combine the moisturizer with the abrasive lotion itself, achieving both goals simultaneously.

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Home Remedies For Dry Skin

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Dry Skin Remedies

Dry skin is something that everyone experiences to some extent, but although it is troublesome, for most people it can hardly be called a problem. It usually occurs in dry climates, or during winter, when the air itself is rather dry and causes the skin to lose moisture. For most people in such a situation, simply using any regular moisturizer is enough to prevent dryness. For some people however, dry skin becomes a severe, chronic problem, regardless of the weather, and regardless of what they do to try to moisturize their skin. In the worst cases, the dryness can be so severe that it frequently itches, and may also peel and flake off. Thankfully, there are several remedies for dry skin, so you need not suffer endlessly.

Before getting down to discussing dry skin remedies, it is important to mention this – no matter how itchy it gets, you should always avoid scratching dry skin. When skin is dry it is more likely to tear on scratching, and you could end up with scratches, infections, and scars. This is of course not something that will happen each and every time, but there is always a risk, and it is best avoided. Instead of scratching, just lightly rub the skin with your fingertips, almost as if you were massaging the area.

Dry Skin Home Remedies

Fortunately, if you use the following dry skin home remedies regularly, there should be almost no itching at all. First of all, choose a good moisturizer – most people use moisturizing lotions, which are thin and rather useless when treating severe dry skin. Thick moisturizing creams are much better, and if even this is not good enough, you can use aqueous cream, which is an extremely effective remedy for dry skin. Using coconut or some other similar oil as a dry skin remedy is another option, but this can get rather messy and smelly. Whatever substance you use as a moisturizer, remember to apply it soon after you have bathed, so that you are able to trap the moisture that your skin has just absorbed. Make sure that you apply a little extra on the areas that tend to get the driest, such as the hands and feet. (One more caution: Avoid using hot water, and either avoid soap entirely, or else use a glycerin soap or a fatty soap.)

There are also several home remedies for dry skin, such as milk by itself, or milk and oatmeal, which you can add to the bathwater, and then soak in it for a short while.

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How To Prevent Skin Pimples Problem

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Pimples Causes

One of the most common questions we are asked is how to prevent pimples. Pimples are an extremely common problem, and a large number of people suffer from rather severe pimple problems in their teen years. The problem usually goes away on its own, once the person gets out of their teens. But this still means that for many years, the person needs to cope with this problem. In addition, the end of acne is not really the end of the problem – acne often leaves behind rather nasty scars that can last for years and years.

Fortunately, today it is possible to prevent pimples quite easily, and you don’t need to wait till you are 20 to get some relief. First, you need to understand pimples causes – any treatment needs to address the causes in order to be successful. Skin pimples are basically the result of blocked pores. Normally, skin cells die and are discarded at a steady rate, but due to a variety of reasons (of which the most common one is the hormonal fluctuations that occur during adolescence), this process can get disrupted, and the dead cells can accumulate on the skin. These cells end up blocking skin pores, leading to a build up of sebum in the pores, and often infection from bacteria that are present on the skin’s surface. To prevent pimples, this process needs to be stopped – you need to get rid of the dead cells on the skin’s surface, and also minimize the amount of bacteria on the skin’s surface.

Remedies For Pimples

There are several home remedies for pimples, some of which are reasonably effective. Regular application of a mixture of honey, turmeric powder, and sandalwood powder does help, as does regular use of an oatmeal and milk face scrub. However, the best solution for a pimples problem is an over the counter anti pimple cream containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid helps the skin to become more efficient in discarding dead cells, and thus prevents pores from becoming blocked at all. It also gets rid of the bacteria on the skin to some extent, thus minimizing chances of bacteria attacking the sebum in case any blockages do develop. You need to use the anti pimple cream very regularly for it to be effective, and note that this may take several months to work. In the meanwhile, you should also be very strict about basic hygiene, as oily, dirty skin is more likely to cause pore blockages and pimples.

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Acne Skin Treatments - Acne Scar And Spot Treatment

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Acne Skin Treatments

Acne skin treatments are much sought after today, and although for many years they were dubious, today most of these acne treatments are quite reliable and safe. Earlier acne creams were mostly ineffective; some provided marginal benefits, and others were in fact liable to cause new skin problems. Most products that were promoted as acne free clear skin treatments were best ignored – you were better off using home remedies, even though they were not much more effective. Today however, most acne treatments are scientifically proven, and if used regularly and consistently, will provide results, although very slowly. The best acne treatments are creams that contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, as these two ingredients go right to the cause of acne, which is the accumulation of dead skin cells and bacteria on the surface of the skin. These dead skin cells often end up clogging pores, as a result of which sebum builds up in the pores, and is then attacked by bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid help the skin to get rid of dead cells much more efficiently, thus reducing the chances of pores being blocked. In addition, the number of bacteria on the skin is reduced, thus reducing the chances of infection too. However, you should remember that these creams do not work in a hurry – it can take a month or two before you see any signs of improvement, and up to a year for the problem to be completely solved.

Treatments For Acne

Although treatments for acne are now quite reliable and effective, many people are left with acne scars and spots that need additional treatment. Before going into acne scar treatment, you should note that acne scars and acne spots are very different. Acne spots are simply dark spots of what is known as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These are not scars, and will gradually fade over the next few months; there is no need for any kind of acne spot treatment.

Acne scars however last for a long time, and the most severe scars may last for a life time. Unfortunately, acne scar treatment is not simple or cheap, and cannot be done at home. There are several different types of acne scars, but they basically involve either the growth of excessive tissue (scar tissue) or loss of tissue (as in the case of the “ice pick” depressions that are sometimes left by acne). These scars also fade, but very, very slowly - only cosmetic medical procedures can get rid of them quickly.

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Dry Skin | Dry Skin Care

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Dry Skin Care And Dry Skin Cause

Dry skin is a common complaint, and in most cases, it’s a minor one. Everyone experiences dry skin at some time or the other, most often during the winter months, especially in places where the weather becomes extremely dry. In such weather, the skin is unable to retain much moisture, and starts to become dry. Some people however have problems that are severe, and constantly suffer from dry skin. In such cases, the dry skin cause may be a condition such as eczema, or it may be a problem with lifestyle or diet. Dry, parched skin has a tendency to look rough and wrinkled, and this is not a question of mere appearance. Dry skin is in fact more prone to developing wrinkles and damage, and therefore dry skin care is more than just vanity. In very severe cases, the skin also starts to itch, crack and peel, and this can eventually lead to infections.

The simplest, most obvious solution to dry skin is to use a moisturizer. Most people use a moisturizing lotion every now and then, and during winter, many people tend to use a moisturizing lotion daily on their hands, face, and feet. In most cases, this is an adequate solution, but for very severe dry skin, a lot more is needed. In such cases, dry skin treatment must include moisturizing, as well as some attention to one’s diet. With regard to moisturizing, a severe dry skin moisturizer should be thick, so as to retain maximum moisture. Most people use thin moisturizing lotions and these are inadequate for a severe dry skin problem. In these cases, a thicker cream is needed, and it should be applied all over the body. This should always be done immediately after bathing – at this time, the skin is already moist, and the moisturizer helps to retain this moisture.

Dry Skin Treatment

Dry skin treatment should also include some dietary measures. However, there are no special, miracle foods that will keep your skin healthy. Vitamin A and vitamin E are particularly important, but in addition, you also need vitamin C, vitamin K, and several B vitamins, as well as several minerals. It is of course impractical to hunt for foods containing each individual vitamin, and so you should simply ensure that you eat a varied, balanced diet. Lots of fruits and vegetables are of course important, but certain nutrients can only be gotten from non plant sources, and so you should also eat a certain amount of meat, or at least dairy products.

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