Archive for September, 2009

How to Get Rid of Acne Blemishes using Home Remedies

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Acne is a common problem that most teenagers have to face. Though acne disappear as one grows older, they can leave behind ugly dark spots and scars on the face. The problem becomes worse if the pimples are pressed or squeezed with the fingers. The pressure exerted on the acne expands the pores on the skin and make the scars even more prominent. Moreover, this also increases the risk of the acne spreading to other parts of the face, thereby increasing the chances of blemishes and scarring.

Home Remedies for Acne Blemishes

There are several useful remedies that you may follow at home to make acne marks fade away. One of the easiest and most effective natural remedies is to rub the face with a thin slice of lemon for 5 minutes every day. The acidic juice of lemon works as a natural bleaching agent that makes dark spots on the face fade away gradually, giving you a clear, unblemished complexion in a few months. Another useful remedy is to mix a teaspoon each of crushed garlic, honey and fuller’s earth with two tablespoons of carrot juice and apply this paste on your face. Let the paste dry naturally for 15 minutes and then rinse it off gently with water. You should also apply fresh cucumber juice on the dark spots every day in order to lighten them gradually.

A very popular remedy to make acne scars less prominent is to apply a homemade face pack made by mixing sandalwood powder and a little rose water. This paste should be allowed to dry on the skin for 10-15 minutes before washing your face with water. A paste made by mixing dried and powdered orange peel and some yogurt is also very effective in making the skin look firm and smooth. You should also cut a ripe tomato into half and massage your face with them twice every day. The juice of tomato has natural astringent properties which make it an excellent natural means of making blemishes on the skin lighter and smoothening out the large pores caused by acne, thereby giving you a flawless complexion. You may also use a mixture of two teaspoons of baking soda and two tablespoons of lukewarm water to exfoliate your skin naturally. This removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and gives your skin a natural glow, making scars and marks look less conspicuous. Rubbing the skin with an ice cube for a few minutes every day also helps.

Forehead Pimples - How to Get rid of Pimples on Forehead

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Pimples of the forehead can be quite ugly and painful. They occur primarily because the excess oil produced by the sebaceous glands beneath the epidermis, gets accumulated in the pores on the surface of the skin along with dead skin cells and particles of dirt. When these are exposed to the air, they solidify and turn swollen, causing pimples to appear. As a basic rule, keep the use of cosmetic products to a minimum and remove all traces of make-up from your face before you go to bed at the end of the day. This prevents the skin pores from getting clogged up and prevents acne.

Remedies to Get rid of Pimples on Forehead

There are several simple home remedies to solve this problem. One of the simplest remedies is to rub the area gently with a fresh slice of lemon for 5 minutes before going to bed at night. You may also mix lemon juice and rose water in equal portions and massage your forehead with this mixture. The next morning wash your face with water. This will reduce pimples on the forehead in a couple of weeks. You should also soak a handful of fenugreek seeds in a cup of water overnight, grind the seeds to paste the next morning and apply this paste on your forehead. After 15 minutes of application, wash it off with lukewarm water.

One of the most popular natural ways of treating pimples is to mix some sandalwood powder with a little rose water and massage this paste on the affected area. This paste should be allowed to dry for 15 minutes before being washed off with cold water. For another remedy, rub the skin around the pimples with a few crushed cloves of garlic. The strong juices of garlic help destroy the germs that might be responsible for causing local infections in the pimples and gets rid of the acne in a couple of days. You could also mix a teaspoon of cinnamon powder with two teaspoons of lemon juice and smear this paste over the pimples on your forehead. Wash your face 20 minutes after the application of this mixture. Another effective remedy for treating pimples is to grind some nutmeg with two tablespoons of raw milk, and apply this paste on the affected area. You should wait for at least an hour before washing your face with water. This gets rid of pimples very quickly without leaving behind dark marks.

Facial Skin Care - Facial Care Tips for All Skin Types

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Facial Care Tips

The skin of the face is exposed to direct heat, moisture, dust and dirt particles in the air, and therefore needs to be cared for continuously. Cleansing and moisturizing the skin regularly is absolutely essential for a healthy, glowing complexion. You should splash your skin at regular intervals with cold water, as this prevents the accumulation of sweat, oil, dead skin cells and particulate matter in the pores on the surface of the skin. A well balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals also plays a crucial role in keeping the facial skin glowing and youthful.

Drink 10-12 glasses of water and plenty of homemade unsweetened fruit juices every day in order to keep your skin well hydrated. Also, eat lots of fresh fruits and green, leafy vegetables as these are rich natural sources of essential nutrients that improve blood circulation to the skin cells, and make it naturally radiant and healthy. Avoid using too many cosmetic products as they contain harsh chemicals that may damage the skin in the long run. Remember to remove all make-up from your face every night before going to bed in order to prevent the clogging of the skin pores that may cause the appearance of blackheads and pimples. Always apply sunscreen lotion before stepping out into the sun to defend your skin against harmful ultraviolet radiation that makes the skin look dark and dull.

Remedies for Facial Care

Besides these general measures, you should follow a few tips to take care of your skin at home. You should make a natural face scrub by mixing two tablespoons of sandalwood powder with some rose water and apply this paste on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes before washing your face with cold water. If your skin is naturally dry, you may add a little milk cream to the paste before application. This exfoliates the skin naturally and makes it look smooth and glowing. A paste made by mixing dried and powdered orange peel with half a cup of yogurt is an effective natural means of cleansing the face and keeping the skin firm and glowing.

For another homemade beauty pack, mix two tablespoons of cornmeal powder and half a teaspoon of baking soda with some honey, milk and an egg white. Blend all the ingredients well till a consistent paste is obtained and apply this on your face. Wait for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. This rejuvenates and nourishes the skin and is suitable for all skin types.

How to Naturally Cure Black Circles under Eyes

Friday, September 18th, 2009

The skin under the eyes is very thin and delicate, and it loses its natural elasticity as the production of collagen and elastin decreases with age. Consequently, it becomes shriveled and dull and leads to the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Stress, anxiety and depression, lack of adequate sleep, prolonged illness, excessive smoking and drinking, too much exposure to sunlight and regular consumption of certain kinds of drugs and medicines may also cause dark circles to appear under the eyes.

Home Remedies for Black Circles under Eyes

There are several simple home remedies that you may follow to solve this problem. Mix a teaspoon each of tomato juice and lemon juice and add to it a pinch of turmeric powder and gram flour. Now smear this mixture very gently under the eyes and wash it off with water after 10 minutes. Another useful remedy is to slice a raw potato thinly and place a couple of these slices on your eyes. A very popular and effective remedy is to grate a cucumber finely and apply either its pulp of its juice on the skin under the eyes twice every day. Alternatively, you could freeze some cucumber juice into small cubes and rub the skin under your eyes very gently with them for 5 minutes before going to bed every night. Both potato and cucumber juice have a soothing effect on the skin, and they also have natural bleaching properties that make dark circles look less prominent. You may also apply a cold tea bag under your eyes every day in order to make the skin firmer and less dark.

For another remedy, crush a handful of mint leaves and apply the pulp under your eyes every day. Another effective natural solution for dark circles is to mix a pinch of turmeric powder with two teaspoons of pineapple juice and gently apply this mixture under the eyes. You should also massage the skin under your eyes with a little almond oil every night before going to bed. This makes the skin naturally soft and supple and reduces puffiness. In addition, prick a vitamin E capsule with a needle and apply its content under your eyes. After a few minutes, wipe this off with a cotton ball soaked in a mixture of egg white and honey. This moisturizes as well as tightens loose skin naturally and gets rid of dark circles in a few months. A thin paste made by grinding some nutmeg in fresh milk may also be topically applied for quick results.

Different Types of Acne and How to Prevent Acne

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Different Types of Acne

Acne can be of several types depending on how they are classified. Depending on the extent and intensity of the problem, acne is categorized as mild, moderate and severe. While the mild variety of acne causes almost no inflammation of the skin and occurs only temporarily without leaving behind marks, the moderate kind, popularly known as acne vulgaris and mostly affecting teenagers, is a recurrent problem that can cause some inflammation and leave behind dark spots and scars unless treated carefully. Mild acne is caused by lack of personal hygiene whereas acne vulgaris is the result of the surge in the level of hormones in the adolescent body post-puberty. Severe or chronic acne can occur even later in life and causes more extensive and prominent scarring, as the pimples in this case are large, painful and more likely to be infected. Acne can also be categorized depending on whether papules or pustules appear on the skin. When the swelling and pus formation occur beneath the thin outer layer of the skin, the acne is called acne papules, whereas if small pus-filled eruptions appear on the surface of the skin, they are called acne pustules. In extreme cases, acne can also lead to the formation of abscesses beneath the skin, and are called acne nodules and acne cysts.

Preventing Acne

There are a few basic rules that you must follow to prevent acne of all types. Ensure that your skin is always oil and dirt free, as it is because of the accumulation of excess sebum, dirt particles and dead skin cells in the pores on the skin that acne appears. A mild face cleanser should be used twice a day, and you should frequently splash your face with cold water. Diet plays a crucial role in determining the general health of the skin. Thus, you should include plenty of fresh fruits and raw vegetables in your diet in order to supply essential nutrients to the skin cells through the bloodstream. Raw fruits and vegetables also detoxify the system and thereby minimize the risk of getting acne. Drinking at least 10 glasses of water every day is also recommended.

Besides, a few simple home remedies can help prevent and treat acne. Make a natural face scrub by grinding dried orange peel to a fine powder and mixing it with half a cup of yogurt. This paste should be allowed to dry on the face for 10-15 minutes before being washed off with water. A pinch of turmeric mixed with mint juice is also effective in preventing acne.

Dry Cracking Skin - How to Cure Dry Skin Naturally

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Dry skin is chiefly the result of the inadequate production of oil by the sebaceous glands that lie beneath the epidermis. The deficiency of vitamins A, B and E may be the reason behind this condition. The lack of humidity in the atmosphere in arid climates and during the dry, cold winter season also causes the skin to become dry and cracked.

Cures for Dry Skin

There are several simple remedies that you may follow at home to solve this problem. Avoid bathing with very hot water, as this robs the skin of its natural moisture and oil content and makes it dry. Add a few drops of lavender oil or oat extract to your bathwater in order to prevent excessive dryness of the skin. Pat your skin dry with a soft cotton towel after bathing, and then massage your body with vitamin E oil or aloe vera extract. This is an effective natural way of trapping the oil and moisture that the skin contains. You may grind 4-5 raw peanuts with some fresh milk, add a teaspoon of honey to this paste and apply the mixture on your skin. Leave it for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. This will leave your skin feeling smooth and supple. You may also add a few drops of lemon juice to the pulp of a ripe avocado and smear this paste all over your skin. Wash it off with water after it dries out.

Similarly, mash a ripe banana and massage your skin with it and wash it away after 15 minutes. This helps nourish the skin and heals fine cracks on its surface. In order to cleanse the dead skin cells that accumulate in the fissures on the surface of dry skin, you should soak your skin in mildly warm water for 15 minutes every day. Follow this up with a gentle massage using some glycerin or coconut oil.If the cracks on the skin are deep and painful, you should massage the affected areas with a little castor or avocado oil. These oils act as natural lubricants that soothe the skin and speed up the natural healing process of the skin. A full body massage with olive oil every night before going to bed is also recommended. For another remedy, mix a teaspoon each of olive oil and orange juice with the yolk of an egg and a few drops of lime juice and rose water and apply this mixture over your skin 15 minutes before taking a shower.

Blemishes Home Remedies - How to Get Rid of Blemishes on Face

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Blemishes on Face

Blemishes may appear on the skin for a variety of reasons: acne, chicken pox, irregular distribution of melanin and excessive exposure to sunlight. You should drink plenty of water and homemade fruit juices every day to make dark spots and blemishes on the skin fade away naturally.

Home Remedies for Blemishes

In addition, you should also follow a few simple home remedies to get rid blemishes on the skin. Slice a raw potato thinly and place the slices on your face.This should be done twice every day for 10-15 minutes. The juice of the potato acts as a natural bleaching agent that lightens dark marks on the skin. If your skin looks blemished due to large pores, apply the pulp of a ripe tomato or the juice of a fresh cucumber on your skin every day. This should be rinsed away with water 10 minutes after application. Both tomato and cucumber juice tighten the skin naturally and give it a smooth, unblemished appearance.

You may also soak 5-6 almonds in water overnight, grind them to a fine paste the next morning, then add a few drops of lemon juice and a little honey to it and smear this paste on the dark spots to get blemish-free skin in a few weeks. You may also try mixing two teaspoons of milk powder with an equal quantity of honey and massage your face with this paste regularly to get rid of skin blemishes.

For another remedy, dry out orange peels and grind this into powder, then mix it with a little rose water and some curd and apply this paste on your skin. This will make dark spots fade away and give your skin a natural glow. Rubbing the skin very gently with the peel of a banana or the rind of a papaya also helps to get rid of blemishes.One of the most popular natural means of getting a flawless complexion is a mixture made by adding a little rose water to two teaspoons of sandalwood powder. You may also sprinkle a pinch of sugar on the peel of a lemon and rub your skin gently with it for 5 minutes every day in order to get rid of blemishes on the face. You may also add half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder with two teaspoons of honey and apply this mixture on your face. Wash it off with cold water after 15 minutes.

Itchy Skin Allergy - Home Remedies to Treat Skin Allergies

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Skin allergies are reactions of the body’s natural immune system against certain substances that may come into direct external contact with the skin or may have entered the system through food, water or air. Pollen, dust, smoke and dander are among the most common substances that cause allergies. Excessive dryness of the skin caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight also makes it prone to allergies. Sudden changes in weather may sometimes trigger skin allergies too. Contact with harmful chemicals present in certain detergents and soaps may also irritate the skin. It is advisable, therefore, to keep the use of cosmetic products to a minimum if you are prone to skin allergies, as they contain strong chemicals that might cause irritation to the skin.

Home Remedies for Skin Allergies

There are a few simple home remedies that you may follow to treat itchiness of the skin caused by allergies. One of the most effective natural ways of treating irritated skin is to mix some sandalwood powder with a little rose water and a few drops of lemon juice and apply this paste on the affected area. You may also crush a few fresh almond leaves and smear the juice on your skin in order to get quick relief from the itching and irritation.

Another useful remedy for treating skin allergies is to grind a handful of papaya seeds into a paste and apply this on the affected area. You may also grind a handful fresh mint leaves with a little water, strain the liquid extract through a sieve and add two tablespoons of sugar syrup into it. Consume this mixture to get quick relief from allergic skin rashes. Topical application of the juice of aloe vera leaves produces a cool, soothing effect on itchy skin. A small amount of coconut oil mixed with a few drops of lemon juice is also useful in soothing inflamed and itchy skin.

For another remedy, grind a tablespoon of poppy seeds with a teaspoon each of water and fresh lemon juice and apply this paste on your skin. You should also drink an infusion of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with a glass of water every morning to reduce the chances of getting skin allergies. Add a cup of powdered oatmeal to your bathwater and let your body soak in this for 15 minutes every day. This soothes the skin naturally and helps keep it well moisturized, thereby minimizing the risk of allergic reactions.

Chicken Pox Home Remedies - What Causes,Symptoms of Chicken Pox

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Causes,Symptoms of Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus that mostly affects children below the age of 10. The main reason behind this disease is a weakened immune system caused by nutritional deficiencies or imbalances. The immediate cause might be the inhalation of dust particles or germs in the air or close contact with an already infected person. The common symptoms of this condition are a rise in body temperature, fatigue, loss of appetite, headache and nausea. The first visible symptom of chicken pox is the appearance of small red spots on the skin, mostly on the trunk. These spots might be slightly swollen and itchy and take roughly three weeks to form scabs and get healed naturally.

Home Remedies for Chicken Pox

Though there is no method of immunizing oneself against chicken pox, you may follow a few remedies at home to reduce the intensity of the symptoms and assist faster recovery of the body from the infection. You must resist the impulse to scratch the blisters on the skin, as this might lead to a spread of the infection to other parts of the skin and may cause permanent scarring. Soaking a handful of Margosa leaves in your bathwater somewhat lessens the feeling of itchiness on the skin as well as acts as a natural disinfecting agent that kills germs that might be breeding on the surface of the skin. Alternatively, you may add half a cup of brown vinegar into a tub of bathwater and soak your body in it for 15-20 minutes. This soothes the skin and relieves the dry, itchy feeling. You may also boil two cups of oatmeal with an equal quantity of water, tie it up in a cloth bag and immerse it in a bucket of water till it becomes turbid. Bathing with this water will provide temporary relief from the feeling of itchiness.

Another way of treating the itchiness is to topically apply the water in which a handful of peas have been boiled. You may also sponge the affected areas at regular intervals with a wad of cotton wool soaked in a solution of baking soda and water. When the scabs start forming, you should massage your skin with the juice of aloe vera leaves to prevent scars from appearing on your skin. You should also consume a soup made by boiling 100 gms of carrot, diced into small pieces and 60 gms of coriander in four cups of water. This replenishes the body with essential nutrients and strengthens the immune system.

Tips and Home Remedies for Glowing Complexion

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Tips for Glowing Complexion

A glowing complexion not only requires proper and regular skin care but also depends to a large extent on what you eat. It is necessary that you drink 10-12 glasses of water every day to keep your skin naturally well hydrated and to flush out toxins from the body. This gives your skin a natural glow. You should also eat lots of fresh fruits and raw vegetables, as they are rich natural sources of vitamins and minerals that are crucial to the health of your skin. They also improve blood circulation to the skin, thereby making it glow naturally. Avoid deep fried and oily foodstuff, as well as excessively spicy snacks, aerated drinks and alcohol, as these tend to make your skin too oily. Caffeine and nicotine based products should also be avoided as they tend to rob the skin of its natural moisture content and give it a dull appearance. You should also take care not to expose your skin too much to direct sunlight, and always use a sunscreen lotion when you do. Excessive use of cosmetic products may also damage the skin in the long run, as they contain harsh chemicals.

Home Remedies for Glowing Complexion

Besides these general measures, you may follow a few particular home remedies to get a glowing complexion naturally. Mix honey and lemon juice in equal measures and apply this paste on your skin. Leave it on till it dries naturally and then rinse it off with slightly warm water. This leaves your skin feeling firm yet supple, and gives it a natural glow. A paste made by mixing a pinch of turmeric powder with two tablespoons of yoghurt may also be applied on the skin to make it glow.

For another remedy, add a tablespoon of oatmeal powder to a mixture of two tablespoons of yoghurt and the juice of a fresh tomato and massage this mixture into your skin. After 15-20 minutes, wash your skin with cold water. You may also use a mixture of two teaspoons of gram flour, two tablespoons of milk and the juice of half a lemon thrice every week. This paste should be washed away with water 10 minutes after application. You may also apply some cucumber juice on your skin every day and wash it off when it dries. This gives your skin a smooth, even tone. You may also use the pulp of a ripe tomato on your skin in the same way for similar effects.