Archive for October, 2009

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Poison Ivy Home Remedies and Poison Ivy Rash Treatment

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Poison Ivy Rash Treatment

Poison ivy is a plant native to North America, where it can be found in most regions, except those with extreme heat or cold. It is a wild, woody vine whose leaves and stems contain an oil called urushiol, which can cause a severe allergic reaction on many people’s skin. This reaction can cause symptoms such as intense itching and rash. In more severe cases, blisters appear that may release a clear fluid. However, the symptoms of poison ivy allergy occur only 12 to 48 hours after your skin touches the plant. During this time, an individual’s skin, clothes, and equipment may also carry the urushiol, which is odorless and colorless. This increases the risk of the oil spreading to several parts of the body, or contaminating other people. It is recommended that all clothes and equipment be isolated and washed immediately in any cases of suspected poison ivy exposure. Any skin exposed to poison ivy should be washed under running cold water at the earliest, and with soap and water if available. This helps to remove urushiol from the skin, reducing the intensity of the allergic reaction.

While the rash can be quite uncomfortable, it usually disappears in around two weeks as the skin’s allergic reaction fades. At home, treatment is usually focused on reducing the inflammation and providing relief from the itching. Over-the-counter hydrocortisones can help in mild cases, but more severe reactions (especially those that develop blisters) need to be examined by a doctor, who may have to prescribe oral corticosteroids and antihistamines. If blisters develop, do not touch them, since they form a natural bandage and protect the damaged skin tissue. A simple cold compress can be very soothing and helps to numb the areas affected by the rash.

Home Remedies for Poison Ivy

Calamine lotions or petroleum jelly can also help to cover and protect the inflamed skin. Aloe vera gel is especially useful, since its antiseptic qualities help to prevent secondary infections in the affected area and it speeds up the skin’s healing process. In cases where the rash is widespread, taking a bath in water containing sea salt and medical oatmeal preparations (available at drugstores) can provide much relief. Some people prefer to apply a paste of baking soda and water to the rash, since this is believed to reduce the inflammation and protect the skin. Another popular home remedy involves rubbing the affected skin with the insides of banana peels, which has a cooling effect.

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How to Get Rid of Pimple Scars using Home Remedies

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Pimples

Pimples are one of the most common forms of acne, a skin condition that affects most people during their lifetime. Acne occurs due to the blockage of sebaceous glands that are found at the base of each hair. These glands produce sebum, an oil-like substance that is important for keeping our skin and hair moisturized. Every person’s skin sheds thousands of dead skin cells each day, a natural process that keeps the skin fresh and healthy. However, these dead cells sometimes block the sebaceous glands, causing a buildup of sebum that attracts bacteria, leading to an infection called acne. If this infection causes a small, whitish bump filled with pus, it is referred to as a pimple. Pimples often occur during adolescence, for the simple reason that the skin grows thicker during this time, leading to excessive shedding of skin cells.

Pimples are actually quite harmless and usually dry up in a couple of weeks, when the affected skin simply drops off. However, in some cases the infection can go deep into the skin tissue. When the pimple finally ‘bursts’, it can take away some of this tissue, leaving behind a tiny hole in the skin that appears as a dark scar. The risk of developing such scars is greater when people try to force the pimple to burst. Another reason to avoid squeezing or pressing a pimple is that the active bacteria from the pimple can infect the surrounding skin, leading to multiple new pimples. In most cases, over-the-counter pimple medications come in the form of skin-colored creams, which help to both hide the pimple and reduce the temptation to force them open. Such medication can help to speed up the natural healing process, removing the pimple in a few days.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Pimple Scars

Natural substances such as tea tree oil and aloe vera gel are also highly useful in treating pimples and preventing scarring. For example, tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that help to destroy the bacteria, prevent the spread of infection to the surrounding skin, and help the skin to heal itself. For mild scars, a natural bleach such as lemon or potato juice can help to reduce the discoloration, if applied daily for ten minutes. In severe cases of scarring, a visit to a cosmetic surgeon may be necessary. Procedures include microdermabrasion, where the scarred skin is literally rubbed away, or laser treatments, where flashes of intense light are used to remove the damaged skin cells.

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Acne Herbal Remedies - Using Herbal Remedies To Treat Acne

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Acne appears on the skin as a result of the accumulation and solidification of excess oil secreted by the sebaceous glands beneath the skin, together with dead skin cells and particles of dirt. Mostly, acne affects teenagers as the sudden surge in the level of hormones in their bodies makes the sebaceous glands hyperactive and consequently leads to the excessive production of sebum. An effective way of dealing with this problem is to drink plenty of water every day and wash the face frequently with water. This not only keeps the skin well hydrated, both internally and externally, but also removes excess oil and dirt from the surface of the skin and thereby prevents the appearance of acne. You should also stay away from deep-fried and oily foodstuff as they increase the chances of getting acne. Increase your daily intake of fresh fruits and raw vegetables as they keep the skin in good health by supplying it with essential vitamins and minerals.

Remedies to Prevent and Treat Acne

In addition to these general measures, you should also follow a few specific remedies to prevent and treat acne. Crush a handful of fenugreek leaves and apply the pulp on your face half an hour before going to bed every night. Once your skin begins to feel dry, splash it with lukewarm water and pat it dry with a soft towel. This will reduce the chances of the appearance of acne considerably. You should also rub your skin very gently with a thin slice of a ripe tomato for 5 minutes twice every day. This unclogs the pores on the surface of the skin and makes acne disappear without leaving behind ugly scars and marks.

For another effective remedy, crush a handful of Margosa leaves to pulp by adding a little water and add a pinch of turmeric powder to it. Now massage your skin gently with this paste and allow it to dry naturally in the air. Wash your skin with water when it feels completely dry. Both Margosa and turmeric have natural antibacterial properties that help destroy microbes that might be growing in pimples and make acne disappear in a week or two. A pinch of turmeric powder mixed with the juice extracted from fresh mint leaves also helps get rid of acne when used regularly. Rubbing the skin around the acne gently with a clove of crushed garlic also helps treat the problem. The strong chemicals present in the juice of garlic disinfects and dries out the pimples naturally.

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Face Skin Irritation - Treatment for Reducing Irritation of Skin

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Causes of Skin Irritation

Skin irritation may occur due to a variety of reasons. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may render the skin extremely dry and cause a burning, itching sensation. Exposure to smoke, dust and particulate pollutants present in air and water may also cause irritation to the skin. Contact with allergens present in the immediate surroundings, such as pollen and dander, may also cause your skin to get inflamed and break into rashes. The facial skin is most vulnerable to irritation since it is remains exposed all the time.

You should remember a few basic rules to prevent skin irritation. Always apply a moisturizing sunscreen lotion on your skin before stepping out of doors during the day. This protects the skin from the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun and prevents your skin from becoming excessively dry. You should also splash your face with cold water at frequent intervals. This not only produces a soothing effect on the skin and hydrates it naturally, but also washes away accumulated sweat, oil and dust particles, thereby minimizing the chances of skin irritation. Avoid using too many cosmetic products on the face, as they often contain harsh chemicals that may irritate the skin. Decrease your consumption of coffee, alcohol and cigarettes, as they tend to make the skin more vulnerable to irritation and allergic reactions.

Home Remedies to Treat Facial Skin Irritation

Besides these general precautionary measures, you may also follow a few simple home remedies to treat facial skin irritation. A simple way of reducing the irritation is to massage your face with the juice of aloe vera leaves or commercially available aloe extract. This produces an instant cooling effect on inflamed skin and makes your skin feel soft and smooth. You may also apply some cucumber juice on your face and allow it to dry naturally in the air before washing it off with cold water. For better results, you should rub your face very gently with frozen cubes of cucumber juice for a few minutes. Application of honey is also useful in treating skin irritations as honey has the natural ability to trap moisture and helps treat minor skin allergies. You may also massage your face with half a cup of yogurt and wash it off with lukewarm water 15 minutes later. The lactic acid present in yogurt soothes irritated skin effectively. If you face the problem of skin irritations regularly, wash your face with a mixture of equal portions of milk and water once every day.

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Swimmers Itch Cure - How to Get Rid of Irritating Swimmer’s Itch

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Swimmers Itch Symptoms

Swimmer’s itch is a kind of skin rash that affects those who swim in natural fresh water bodies. There are several different kinds of parasites that grow on the plans that grow under water, as well as feed on insects like snails. Sometimes, these parasites are released in the water and may attach themselves to the skin of a person swimming in the water. Subsequently, they burrow into the skin and cause minor, itchy rashes. The first symptoms of swimmer’s itch is a mild tingling or burning sensation on the skin, followed by the appearance of tiny red rashes, which may develop into blisters. The infection occurs within 12-48 hours of contact with contaminated water, but disappears within a couple of days to a week at most.  This is because human skin does not provide a conducive environment for such parasites to thrive on.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Itch

However, you may follow a few simple remedies to get rid of the itch and treat this problem faster. As a basic precautionary measure, you should only swim in pools where the water is treated regularly. You may add half a cup of baking soda or colloidal oatmeal powder to your bathwater and soak your body in the tub for 15-20 minutes. This not only brings immediate relief from the itching but also quickens the natural process of healing of the skin cells. Topical application of a paste made by mixing some baking soda with a little water also helps.

Another useful remedy is to mix one part of tea tree oil with ten parts of castor oil and smear this mixture on the rashes. This helps kill the parasites and cures the infection quickly. If the itching is severe, you may also apply a little yogurt on the affected area. This brings instant relief from the itching and burning sensation.

For another remedy, mix some fuller’s earth with a little water and apply this paste on the blisters. Wait till the paste is completely dry and the rinse it off gently with water. This helps remove the dead parasites on the surface of the skin. Alternatively, you may also mix two teaspoons of sandalwood powder with a teaspoon of rose water and massage the affected area with this paste. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. This produces a soothing effect on the skin and gets rid of the rashes naturally.

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Dark Pigmented Skin - How to Get rid of Dark Pigmentation

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

A person’s natural skin complexion is determined by the amount of melanin that is produced by their skin cells. Skin complexion is largely a matter of heredity. However, excessive exposure to direct sunlight can sometimes make the skin look darker and lead to the appearance of dark spots and patches. This makes the skin look dull and robs it of its natural glow. Sometimes, nutritional deficiencies in the diet, digestive disorders, regular consumption of strong medicines, and stress and anxiety may also give rise to irregular and uneven skin pigmentation.

Home Remedies to Treat Dark Pigmented Skin

There are several simple home remedies to treat dark pigmented skin. As a fundamental rule, never step out into the sun without applying a sunscreen lotion suited to your skin type. This helps defend your skin against harmful ultraviolet radiation and prevents darkening of the skin. In order to bleach your skin naturally, you may rub it gently with a thin slice of freshly cut lemon. The acidic nature of lemon juice lightens the skin naturally and gives you a glowing complexion. You may also use a slice of tomato in a similar fashion in order to make your skin fairer and firmer.

Another effective remedy for dark pigmentation is to mix two tablespoons of sandalwood powder, a teaspoon of turmeric powder, some sour cream and a little rose water, and apply this paste on your skin. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before washing your face gently with lukewarm water. This gives your skin an even tone and makes it look smoother and fairer. If your face looks blotchy, you should cover it with thin slices of potato or apply the juice extracted by crushing a raw potato on your skin. Wait till your skin begins to feel dry and then wash your face with cold water. The natural bleaching property of potato makes it an excellent remedy for dark spots and patches on the skin.

For another remedy, soak about 10-15 almonds in a cup of water overnight and grind them to a fine paste the next morning by adding a little fresh milk. Massage your face with this paste and wait for 15 minutes before rinsing it away with water. In a couple of weeks you will observe a remarkable improvement in your complexion. You may also make a natural face pack by mixing two tablespoons of dried and powdered orange peel with a small bowl of curd and apply this mixture on your face thrice a week. Rinse it off after 15 minutes of application to get soft, glowing skin.

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Natural Moisturizers for Oily and Dry Skin Care

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Natural Skin Moisturizer

Depending on your natural skin type, you should follow a regular skin care routine, an integral part of which should be moisturizing. Excessive exposure to the sun may render the skin dry whereas excessive use of cosmetic skin care products and make-up can clog up the pores on the surface of the skin and lead to the accumulation of oil, dirt and dead skin cells in them, making your skin greasy. A simple yet effective way of preventing this from happening is to splash your face with cold water at regular intervals. This not only helps keep your skin clean and oil-free but also soothes and moisturizes dry skin naturally without making it oily. Thus, water is one of the most effective means of moisturizing all types of skin. You should also drink at least 10 glasses of water every day to keep your skin well hydrated. In addition, eat lots of fresh fruits and raw vegetables, as they are rich in essential vitamins and minerals that keep your skin healthy, improve blood circulation and prevent excessive dryness or oiliness.

Besides these general measures, a few particular remedies may be useful in moisturizing the skin. If you have very dry skin, mash a ripe banana and apply the pulp on your face. Leave it on for at least 20 minutes and then rinse it off gently with lukewarm water. This will leave your skin feeling soft and supple. You should also regularly cleanse your skin using a natural face scrub made by mixing two teaspoons of oatmeal powder with two tablespoons of honey. This removes dead skin cells and dirt particles from the skin without robbing it of its natural oil and moisture content.

You may also use a mixture of a teaspoon each of olive oil and orange juice mixed with the yolk of an egg and a few drops of rose water and lime juice to treat dry skin. If you have oily skin, you should opt for a light, water-based moisturizer instead if a heavy oil-based one. Once you have applied the moisturizer, gently press a face tissue against your skin in order to absorb the excess oil and thereby prevent your skin from looking too shiny. You should also moisturize your skin with the juice extracted by crushing a few fresh aloe vera leaves. This hydrates and nourishes the skin without making it look too oily.

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