Archive for June, 2009

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Psoriasis Causes,Symptoms and Natural Cures for Psoriasis

Friday, June 12th, 2009

What is Psoriasis - Causes,Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition that is mainly associated with cell regeneration than anything else. Under normal circumstances, the human body will replace dead skin cells with fresh cells within a period of 2 days. But when a person suffers from psoriasis, this replacement duration is accelerated to the new skin being ready in three to four days. This leads to an extra accumulation of skin cells in affected areas. Psoriasis is well known to be a hereditary condition and is more commonly noticed on the knee caps, elbows, scalp and areas behind the ears; however, they can also affect the genitals and underarms at times. The affected areas are usually itchy and painful. Psoriasis can break out on a person anywhere between the ages of 10 to the age of 30 and would normally continue for the extent of a person’s life while the severity of the condition may vary.

There are a number of causes for psoriasis. Having mentioned that heredity is the most common cause; it can also be influenced by an abnormality in the metabolism of amino acids, physical and emotional stress and use of certain medication. Symptoms include: redness over the affected area, dry and rash like inflamed skin with flaking scales. Some cases will also see that the fingernails appear to be pitted and crumbly.

Natural Cures for Psoriasis

In order to treat psoriasis effectively at home, one could try to thoroughly wash a set of cabbage leaves in warm water and dry them with a towel. Remove the thick veins of the leave and use a rolling pin to flatten, soften and smooth out the leaves after the de-veining. Warm the leaves and apply them over the affected part in such a way that they overlap each other. Place a pad soft woolen cloth over them and secure the leaves with elastic bandage.

Buttermilk has also been known to be very good when fighting against psoriasis. Consume it in large quantities everyday. You can also make a compress with buttermilk and apply it over the affected parts. It is important to consume a well balanced diet which include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains to help fight against psoriasis. Also remember that scratching or rubbing the patches of thickened skin will not help the condition. Concentrate on reducing stress if this is a primary aggravating factor in your condition. Try relaxation and breathing exercises to help. Harsh skin products and lotions that contain alcohol should be avoided as they make psoriasis worse.

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What is Scabies - Scabies Symptoms,Causes and Natural treatment

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Causes of Scabies

Scabies is a very common and contagious type of skin infection that can affect any person regardless of age or gender. Scabies s caused when a mite called sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, creates a tunnel or burrow under the skin. The female mite will leave eggs which hatch and give rise to adult mites. These mites cause the skin to itch almost uncontrollably. The scabies mite is highly dependant on a human host. The mite can live only about 3 days when not on a human but can live for months when attached to a human. As mentioned, scabies is highly contagious and the mites are able to move from one host to another when the two people simply shake or hold hands. It has also been noticed that scabies can be transferred with the exchange of clothes, sharing of bedding and pillows as well as household furniture. Scabies is also widely contracted as a result of sexual contact. At times, the host may notice a scaling or crusting of the skin as the result of an infection of scabies.

Animals are also infected by a mite very similar to the one that attacks human. However, the animal mite is not able to reproduce on a human and will usually die in a few days. Symptoms may usually take up to 2 months to show up after the scabies mite has infected the skin. However, even though no symptoms show up, the person carrying the mite is as likely to spread the infection as anyone else who has a full blown case of scabies.

Scabies Natural Treatment

When infected by scabies, it is important to get any f the mites out of the bedding or clothes that were worn. Washing these items using boiling water is the most effective way to get rid of the mites. This is highly recommended as the likelihood of a group of people living together, like families, will allow the mites to travel freely between one member and another. A trusted natural cure for treating scabies is the application of neem oil as it helps stop the breeding of parasites and heals any lesions that may have been a consequence of scratching the itch. Put some neem oil along with a little neem leaf tincture to your bath water and allow your body to soak in it for about 15 minutes. While it may take a few more bathing sessions to get rid of the mites, it provides instant relief from the itching.

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Itching Treatment and Home Remedies for Itching

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Causes of Itching

Itching is a sensation that each of us have faced at one point of time in our lives or another. It is an uneasy feeling that causes the need for a person to scratch. Itchy skin can also be a social embarrassment as a result of social etiquette. Itchy skin can be caused by a number of factors, the primary one being the high number of pollutants in the atmosphere these days. However, the itch could also very easily be a symptom of an underlying and more serious condition. Since the skin is technically the body’s largest organ and most susceptible to infection due to its exposure to bacteria, viruses and the forces of nature, if the itchy skin is a symptom of an underlying condition, it would most likely be accompanied by a number of other symptoms to help us identify the real cause.Itchy skin is also known as pruritis and is further classified as localized or generalized pruritis. As the name suggests, localized pruritis is when the itch is confined to a certain location of the body like the eyelids, nose, ears, chest / back, arms, legs or hands and feet. Generalized pruritis, on the other hand, is when the itch is not confined to a specific location.

Home Remedies to Treat Itchy Skin

• In order to treat itchy skin, you could try to squeeze some undiluted lemon juice over the affected patch of skin. This is a very commonly used remedy and quite helpful as well because the aromatic substances in a lemon contain anesthetic and anti inflammatory properties as well.

• You could also create a solution consisting of ¼ part apple cider vinegar and ½ part of water and wash the affected skin with this concoction as it is known to provide relief.

• Try pouring a cupful of white vinegar into the bath water and soak your body in it for 5 to 10 minutes.

• Margosa leaves help considerably with a variety of skin problems.

• Apply some margosa oil to the affected areas as it provides some relief from the itching. You can also create a bath by boiling margosa leaves in with some bath water.

• Another effective method when faced with skin that itches all over the body, is to create a baking soda bath by adding 1 cup of baking soda to a tub of warm water . Let your body soak in this bath for between 30 to 60 minutes.

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How to Reduce Acne Scarring? Are there any Natural Treatment

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Acne Scarring Treatments

Acne is one of the most feared conditions amongst the teenage population in the country today. Truth be told, acne can do a lot of long term damage to a persons skin if the individual was not careful when he or she had the condition. But first, we need to understand how acne is formed as there are a number of misunderstandings regarding this amongst the general population. There is a large consensus about the belief that acne is greatly aggravated by eating chocolates and over indulging in fried food.

Truth be told, acne will probably happen to a teenager no matter how much care is being taken of the skin. The key is to control and minimize it as well as its long term effects. Under the thick layers of skin are a set of glands called sebaceous glands. These glands supply the skin with the natural oils, which keep the skin healthy, through pores located in the epidermis or upper layer of the skin. Today’s air contains a number of impurities and small particles. It is very common to have one of these microscopically small particles lodge themselves in one of the pores creating a blockage.

While the pore is blocked, the sebaceous glands continue to produce the natural oils which start to build up behind the blockage and on the surface of the skin; this will look like a pimple or whitehead. It is now important to make sure that the correct care is taken of the pimples when they appear as they have the ability to leave permanent scars on the skin. Most people tend to be rash thinkers and believe that if they burst the pimple, it will go away and that would be the end of it. However, if you burst a pimple, in all likeliness, this will cause the contents of the pimple – the oils and bacteria, to spread over a larger area and infect this area as well resulting in an outbreak of acne.

To treat acne, you must:

•    Drink wheat grass juice daily to get rid of acne
•    Apply fresh mint juice to the acne affected area every night
•    Create a paste of orange peels and apply it to the acne affected area for great results.
•    Saturate some lettuce leaves in water and create a natural remedy for acne.
•    Create a paste using un-boiled milk and gram flour and apply this to the acne affected area daily.

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Types of Eczema - Causes,Symptoms,Natural Eczema Treatment

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Eczema is a generalized term for a group of skin inflammations. More likely to be noticed in infants, eczema will normally resolve itself by the time the child turns 3 years old but could turn into a recurring condition throughout the life span of the individual. The root cause of eczema is still relatively unknown, however it has been noticed that eczema has a very strong genetic trait and seems to run in families. Eczema is also known to be caused due to environmental factors and allergic reactions to substances like detergents, cosmetics and soaps. Stress can lead to or greatly aggravate an outbreak of eczema as well.

There are different types of eczema with the most common being Atopic eczema, which is usually inherited.

•   Atopic eczema primarily affects the neck, ears and torso of the body and is also noticed in teenagers and adults.

•  Another type of eczema is contact dermatitis which is caused when the layer of skin gets irritated. This is usually provoked irritation by agents like soap, sweat, saliva and urine. It is always the cause of an allergic reaction to that specific substance.

•  The third type of eczema is varicose eczema which affects the lower legs of the middle to older generations. Primarily cause due to lack of circulation, it results in the skin becoming speckled, inflamed and itchy.

• Other forms of eczema include hand eczema – which affects the hands, nummular eczema – most often caused by a fungal infection that affects the hands, legs or chest

•  asteatotic eczema – causing cracks in the areas of the skin that have less natural oil

•  stasis dermatitis which occurs in the calves, ankles and feet to people that have conditions like varicose veins.

Home Remedies for Eczema

Some home remedies that could help reduce the effects of eczema are to create a paste of one teaspoon of sandalwood and another teaspoon of camphor, allow it to settle and apply it over the infected areas. Apply the paste twice a day for a week to see significant results. Applying a paste made of nutmeg should also be very helpful. Applying natural Vitamin E to the affected layers of skin will provide relief from the itching. Creating a juice from fresh fruits or vegetables and applying it over the affected areas has also been known to work against eczema. Boil some water and add 2 or 3 teaspoons of turmeric powder. Allow it to cool a little and then apply the solution over the affected areas.

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Are there any Tips and Home Remedies for Red Bumps on Skin

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Red bumps can be of many different sorts and therefore it is difficult to diagnose or even treat such a symptom without a physical examination. Numerous rashes could involve the development of red bumps on the skin, and while some of these rashes could be caused by minor irritation, some could be a sign of serious infections or allergic responses. There are only a few treatments that can be safely used on unidentified skin rashes, as many treatments, home remedies included, could worsen a rash if applied incorrectly. It is therefore advisable that you visit a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Then, if you want, you can proceed with the doctor’s medication, or use home remedies to treat whatever condition the doctor has diagnosed.

Tips to Treat Red Bumps on Skin

If you do not want to visit a doctor right away, you can wait a couple of days, but the main thing you need to do is maintain strict hygiene in the affected area. Wash your skin several times a day, and dry it thoroughly afterwards. Constant moisture promotes the growth of fungi and bacteria, and therefore it is important for the skin to be both clean and dry. If there is inflammation and itching, you can also apply an ice pack several times a day. This will reduce the inflammation and will also soothe the itch much more effectively and safely than scratching will. Scratching must be avoided at all costs – not only does it increase the chances of spreading any infection to other parts of your body, it can also end up breaking skin, thus allowing any pathogens present to attack the underlying tissues, often resulting in a secondary infection. You should also avoid using any unnecessary products on the affected skin. This would include soaps and cosmetics.

Home Remedies for Red Bumps

Another rather mild and safe remedy is aloe vera – preferably, take a bit of aloe gel fresh of an aloe vera plant, and apply it on the area affected by the red bumps. You can do this two or three times a day. Oatmeal soaked in milk for a few hours is sometimes used to get rid of rashes, but you need to be careful with this, as it can irritate the rash further – if, for instance, you have a milk allergy. Finally, you can try applying a little honey on the affected skin once a day. Leave it on your skin for fifteen minutes, and then wash it off with plain water.

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Anti Aging Facial Care - Natural Anti Aging Skin Care Ingredients

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Anti Aging Skin Care

When it comes to anti ageing treatments, natural and home methods are considered to be highly effective. It is widely believed by experts that taking care of your skin the natural way helps prevent aging faster. Applying these home made treatments will help give you a fresh and a youthful look.

One of the simplest and most effective methods is by using milk. It is the best way to remove dead cells from your skin. The lactic acid in milk helps produce new skin cells. Milk also improves the texture of the skin and helps to even out the tone naturally. Every night before sleeping, wash your face and splash some milk on it. You could also add a few cups of milk to your bath water.

Lemons are another remedy that could do wonders in treating anti ageing. Lemons are a natural bleaching agent. Therefore, if you have age spots, you need to dab a few drops of limejuice everyday for fifteen minutes for up to six weeks. The vitamin C in the lemon helps to get rid of the pigment that gives dark spots and wrinkles.

Avocado is another useful remedy. The oily ingredient of an avocado helps make your skin look younger. You could either apply the pulp or the slices of an avocado on your face to get that amazing fresh look. Having a regular facial massage is also another effective anti aging remedy. Massaging your face includes blood circulation, which helps in tightening of the muscles and tissues, resulting in a younger look. The massage should start from the neck upwards and end at your forehead. The right technique is very important to get proper results.

Anti Aging Skin Tips

A healthy lifestyle is very essential to prevent early aging. Many unhealthy choices cause our skin to prematurely age, making us look older. A balanced diet, regular exercise and proper stress management helps to maintain our skin and keep it looking young. Whereas, habits such as smoking, drinking excessive alcohol and coffee, lack of exercise, act as a catalyst for early aging. Your diet should include food that is rich in minerals, vitamins and anti oxidants for a vibrant skin. Having plenty of water hydrates our skin and removes all the toxins. Having sufficient amount of sleep is also very necessary for our skin to look young. Enough sleep maintains the level of free radicals in our skin, and also helps to keep it healthy.

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Skin Cleansers - How to Make Homemade Natural Facial Cleansers

Monday, June 8th, 2009

It is essential to keep your skin clean – cleansing regularly removes all the dead cells, dirt, and dust that tend to accumulate on the skin’s surface and clog the pores of the skin. These blockages often result in acne and blemishes, and a variety of other skin problems. Preventing these problems only requires a few basic and regular steps to keep your face naturally clean.

Facial Skin Cleansers

You should start with a normal cleansing of your face – remove all makeup from your face and place a hot towel over your face to help open the pores. This also helps to soften the dead skin cells and makes it easier to remove them. The next step is steaming – this helps open your pores further, and increases the blood circulation to your skin too. After you are done steaming your face, you can apply a home made face mask to cleanse your skin.There are many natural ways to make an effective facemask at home. Most of our home ingredients are excellent natural face cleansers. One of the most effective ways to prepare a facemask would be by mixing some yogurt, honey, egg yolk, lemon juice, and a teaspoon of olive oil. Apply this mixture all over your face for around fifteen minutes and then wash your face with cold water.

Honey has great natural moisturizing properties, and lemon is an excellent natural cleanser, whereas the other ingredients give the skin an even tone. Applying grapes to your face is also a good cleansing method for all skin types. Split a few grapes into halves and gently rub your face with them for around ten minutes. Remember that cleansing alone is not sufficient for healthy, glowing skin. Moisturizing and exfoliation are also important, along with a proper diet. Some of the ingredients used in home made cleansers have moisturizing and exfoliating properties, and thus home made cleansers often do not require any additional treatment. However, if you do need to moisturize or exfoliate separately, you can still use simple ingredients available at home. Milk and cream, for example, are excellent moisturizers, and adding a little rice flour to honey makes for an excellent exfoliant.

However, always be careful before using anything on your skin, even natural ingredients. Knowing your skin well will help you to avoid allergic reactions and irritation. After applying natural cleansers, if you feel redness on your skin or any kind of uncomfortable sensation, rinse your skin immediately with warm water and avoid using that ingredient in future.

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How to Reduce Facial Pigmentation

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Facial Pigmentation

Facial pigmentation is most probably simply a tan due to the high level of exposure to the UV rays of the sun. This is a natural process and cannot really be described as a problem. Real pigmentation problems can of course be of two kinds: hyper-pigmentation, a condition in which areas of the skin become darker than others due to increased production of melanin by the skin cells, and hypo-pigmentation, which refers to the condition wherein some areas of the skin become lighter due to a drop in the melanin production. In most cases the abnormal pigmentation occurs due to 2 major factors – prolonged exposure to the sun resulting in skin damage, or extreme hormonal changes in your body.  In your case, your question seems to imply that you either suffer from hyperpigmentation or have a simple tan. For a tan, all you need to do is avoid exposing your skin to sunlight – avoid spending time in the sun, and when you really must be outdoors during the day, wear a sunscreen lotion and also wear a hat or cap.

Treating Facial Hyperpigmentation

Treating hyperpigmentation depends on how long you’ve had this condition, and also on the causes. If you are unaware of what is causing the problem, you should consult a skin specialist, as topical treatments and home remedies will be useless as long as the underlying problem persists. Once the underlying problem has been addressed, your skin will gradually return to normal, and you can speed up this process by using some home remedies.

First of all, while washing your face, it is important that you use a mild soap and not a harsh one that will dry your skin. Exfoliating is also an important routine for skin care, since it removes the dead skin cells and makes room for new healthy skin to grow. Honey is known to be one of the most effective ingredients for skin care, and lemon juice is a natural cleanser and bleach. You can mix honey with lemon juice, sandalwood powder, rice flour, and even turmeric powder to make an exfoliating paste. Gently massage your face with this paste, and leave it on for a few more minutes, before washing it off with lukewarm water. You can then splash a bit of cool rose water on your face. In addition, make sure that you diet is balanced healthy, as any nutritional deficiencies will hamper your skin’s ability to repair itself.

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What are the Benefits of Aloe Vera for Dry Skin and Acne

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Benefits of Aloe Vera for Skin

The aloe vera plant is regarded as one of the best medicinal plants available. There are several benefits of this plant, both when taken internally and when applied externally. When taken internally, aloe is thought to cure various diseases such as insomnia, ulcers, indigestion, infections, arthritis and so on. When applied externally, it helps to treat burns, rashes, sprains, bruises, scalds, sunburn, eczema, and sore muscles. Apart from medicinal uses, aloe vera also has several cosmetic benefits. It is now widely used in several kinds of face masks, medicated cream, moisturizers, face washes, medicated jellies and more. Aloe vera gel is also used as an ingredient in many skin care and cosmetic products, where the aloe vera is thought to increase the availability of oxygen to the skin and help strengthen the skin tissues. Aloe vera can easily penetrate into the water-retaining layer of the skin and help nourish the skin further.

Aloe Vera for Acne

Aloe vera can be used to treat acne in various ways: you can directly apply aloe vera to your skin through creams, gels and lotions, or you can have it through pills or juices. Whichever form you use, there are strong indications that aloe vera can be a highly effective ingredient to reduce acne, particularly if it is used on a regular basis. Applying aloe vera gel twice a day after washing your face helps in reducing the redness and the flaking that often accompany acne. To get rid off acne blemishes or scars, it is often recommended that you have aloe vera juice every morning and night. This should be had for at least six months for effective results. This would not only help reduce the scars or spots but also improve your skin color and complexion. However, aloe vera by itself is unlikely to get rid of acne. For this to happen, your treatment needs to get rid of the dead skin cells that tend to accumulate and block your pores. Aloe vera cannot achieve this, but regular exfoliation and use of an over the counter anti pimple cream containing salicylic acid should do the job effectively

For dry skin, aloe vera is a lot more effective, due to the reasons explained earlier. However, here to, aloe by itself is unlikely to be enough. Still, you can regularly apply fresh aloe gel to your skin two or three times a day. Ideally, you should also use a moisturizing cream to trap the moisture in your skin – this could be a cream that contains aloe as an ingredient.

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