Archive for February, 2010

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Homemade Skin Care Remedies Using Tomatoes

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Tomatoes are very effective in the treatment of various kinds of skin disorders. Tomatoes help treat acne, allergies and rashes, among other skin conditions. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, thereby making them ideal for skin rejuvenating treatments. They also contain natural astringent properties that help treat common problems like excessive oil in the skin. Tomatoes help remove excessive oil from the skin and restore its natural shine.There are several simple remedies using tomato that help treat various skin disorders.

Shrink pores with tomato juice and lemon juice - For very large pores on the skin, for instance, apply a mixture of one tablespoon of fresh tomato juice and four drops of lemon juice, using a cotton ball.  Leave the mixture on your skin for at least fifteen minutes. Massage the mixture onto your skin with a gentle circular motion to help shrink your pores. Then wash off the mixture using lukewarm water and pat dry and moisturize your skin immediately after.

Cure acne with tomato pulp - Tomatoes are an excellent natural remedy for acne. Acne is a common skin condition that can be very painful and disfiguring. Prepare some fresh tomato pulp and apply it on your acne directly. Apply the pulp liberally and evenly over the acne and then leave it on for at least an hour. After this, rinse the area and apply moisturizer. Carry out this treatment at least once everyday to help reduce acne significantly.

Cleanse skin with a tomato and avocado mask - Make a healthy face mask using tomato and avocado. This face mask is also beneficial for oily, dry and normal skin, though it is particularly effective in the treatment of combination skin. The face pack is rich in vitamin C, A and E and helps you maintain healthy skin. Tomatoes in the face mask will help reduce excessive oil and blackheads and avocados help moisturize and disinfect the skin. To prepare this mask, mix tomato pulp and avocado in a small bowl. Apply this mixture on your face and leave it on for thirty minutes before washing it with lukewarm water. This face mask acts as a great cleanser and helps makes your skin soft and supple. To help remove blackheads, apply a few slices of tomato directly on your face. Press the tomato slices down on the blackheads and then rinse. This will help treat blackheads effectively.

Get glowing skin with tomato juice and honey- For smooth and glowing skin, make a face mask using tomato juice and honey. Leave this mask on for at least 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water to make your skin glow.

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Treating Body Sores - How to Treat Canker Sores in Mouth

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Body Sores

Body sores can be of various types and it is important to assess your symptoms before beginning any treatment for body sores. Body sores may include blisters, cold sores, open wounds, bed sores, skin sores or weals, among others. The underlying causes of your body sores depend upon the nature of the sore. For instance, insect bites could lead to specific skin conditions like pediculosis and skin sores could result from specific skin infections like eczema or dermatitis. Certain systemic medical disorders like leukemia, AIDS, diabetes and skin cancer could lead to blisters, sores or even skin ulcers. Infections like herpes and chicken pox could also lead to the formation of sores and blisters. It is therefore essential that you evaluate your symptoms and consult your medical practitioner about the underlying cause of your body sores. There are several home remedies for treating body sores but you should first ascertain the kind of body sore for which you require treatment.

Canker sores, for instance, are small mouth ulcers that can be very painful and uncomfortable. These sores occur on the soft tissue inside the mouth and are also known as Aphthous Stomatitis. Canker sores may be the result of an immune system deficiency, a deficiency of essential nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, zinc, folic acid or even certain kinds of allergies. Hormonal disorders, bacterial infections and trauma to the inner lining of the mouth could also lead to canker sores.

Home Remedies to Treat Canker Sores

  • A simple and effective home remedy to treat canker sores is to gargle with aloe vera juice at least twice a day. This will help soothe mouth ulcers.
  • Alum applied directly on canker sores helps relieve inflammation and pain. Alum also helps speed up the healing process of mouth ulcers.
  • Make a natural mouth wash by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Rinse your mouth with this mouthwash at least twice a day to help treat canker sores.
  • Another effective mouthwash for treating canker sores can be made with the help of grapefruit seed extract. Mix five drops of grapefruit seed extract in a glass of water and use this to rinse your mouth daily. This will help disinfect the inner lining of your mouth and will help treat canker sores effectively.
  • Tea tree oil is also very effective in the treatment of canker sores. Apply some tea tree oil directly on your mouth ulcer to help treat it effectively.

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Treating Tanning Scars - How to Lighten Tanned Skin Naturally

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Tanning Scars

Tanning scars are normally the result of over-exposure to the sun’s rays. The ultra-violet rays of the sun cause the skin to lose its original color, making it darker over time. Such tanning scars could lead to several kinds of skin disorders like skin cancer. Tanning scars should thus be attended to immediately to prevent further and more serious damage. There are several simple ways to treat tanning scars. Firstly, it is important to follow a few routine skin care tips to help protect your skin from sun damage. For instance, ensure that your skin is well protected before stepping out into the sun. Wear sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet exposure. Wear full-sleeved clothes or use an umbrella while walking in the sun to help prevent tanning. In addition to these precautionary measures, there are several simple remedies you can try to help treat your tanning scars.

Home Remedies to Lighten Tanning Scars

  • Potatoes are an excellent remedy for skin tanning and sun burns. Apply a few slices of potato directly on the affected area to help treat a skin tan and to restore your natural complexion.
  • To help treat a severe tan, use a natural scrub made of glycerin, sugar and lemon juice. To prepare this scrub, make a mixture of glycerin, sugar and lemon juice and apply it on the tanning scars to help make them lighter.
  • Alternatively, you can apply a mixture of lemon juice and potato juice to help treat tanned skin. Lemon juice acts as a natural bleach and helps lighten the color of tanned skin effectively.
  • Another very successful remedy for tanned skin is to apply a mixture of lemon juice and honey on the affected area. This will help lighten your tan considerably.
  • Lemon juice applied along with mashed aloe vera leaves helps treat tanning scars effectively.
  • Aloe vera can also be applied on tanning scars together with vitamin E to help treat them effectively.
  • Turmeric is also a very effective natural bleach that will help treat tanning scars. Make a paste using turmeric powder and milk and apply it on your skin. This will help lighten tanning scars effectively.
  • Cucumber is very useful in the treatment of tanning scars. Put some chilled milk in a liquidizer together with cucumber peels. Apply this mixture on the affected area and leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Then rinse with cold water and repeat at least twice a day to help lighten your skin tan.

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Home Remedies to Cure Tinea Versicolor

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Causes of Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor is a fungal skin infection that generally affects young people. It causes the appearance of pale, discolored patches on the skin. These spots may sometimes be reddish or brownish in color too. These patches typically appear during the hot and humid summer season as itchy rashes on the chest and the back. The condition may be triggered by sweating and become more uncomfortable with an increase in the atmospheric temperature. The patches tend to become more prominent and grow slightly bigger after you have spent some time out in the sun. People with low immune power are more susceptible to this problem. Malnutrition, regular intake of steroids and skin burns may also trigger this problem. The fungi that cause this problem feed on the lipids present in the secretions of the sebaceous glands in the skin as well as on dead skin cells. Thus, an effective way of avoiding this problem is to wash the skin regularly with antimicrobial soap in order to wash away excess oil from its surface. Over-the-counter antifungal creams are also useful treating tinea versicolor by countering the growth of fungus on the surface of the skin. Since this is neither a permanent nor a contagious disease, there is no cause for worry. The problem may, however, be recurrent and it may take several months after treatment for the discolored patches to completely disappear.

Home Remedies to Treat Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor can be treated by following a few simple home remedies. A very popular method of dealing with the problem is to apply a gentle solution made by dissolving some shampoo containing selenium in half a cup of warm water and applying this on the affected portion of the skin. Leave it on overnight and wash the skin with water the next morning. Make sure that you wash your skin properly every day to reduce the chances of the infection spreading to other parts of the body. You should pat your skin dry after a bath and apply baby powder on the skin to prevent excessive sweating.

It is also advisable to wear clothes made of natural fabrics as they allow the free passage of air and soak up excess perspiration, thereby reducing the chances of irritation to the skin. In addition, a few measures should be taken to prevent the recurrence of the disorder. The clothes and bed linen of the patient should be washed and dried properly on a regular basis. Oily foods should be avoided and green, leafy vegetables should be included in the diet.

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Why Night Time Skin Care is So Important

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Night Time Skin Care Tips

The skin is exposed to a variety of factors throughout the day that can render to dry and dull: dust, smoke and particulate air pollutants, direct sunlight and harsh winds. In addition, the sebaceous glands underneath the epidermis secrete oil as part of a natural process, which keeps getting accumulated in the pores on the surface of the skin. In combination with dead skin cells, this oil can solidify and clog the pores of the skin, making it look greasy and resulting in the appearance of pimples.

Thus, it becomes necessary to cleanse the skin properly at the end of the day before you go to bed. Never forget to remove all traces of make-up before you hit the sack, as commercial body care products contain chemicals that may harm the skin in the long run. You may soak a small ball of cotton wool in some rose water and wipe away the excess oil, grime and make-up from your face with gentle circular or stroking motions. You may also use an alcohol-free toner for this purpose, as this not only removes excess oil and make-up from the face without rendering it too dry but also gives the skin a natural glow and prevents the appearance of dark spots and blemishes. Follow this up by washing your face and neck with a gentle cleanser and cold water. Pat your skin dry with a soft cotton towel.

It is fairly common for those who spend long hours in front of the computer or outdoors to find the region around their eyes puffy at the end of the day. A simple solution to this problem is to soak a ball of cotton wool in some cold chamomile tea and press it very gently over the eyelids and under the eyes for a few minutes before going to bed. This nourishes and soothes the delicate skin around the eyes.

Once the skin has been cleansed properly, you should massage it with a night cream in gentle circular motions. For best results, apply the night cream immediately after you have washed it and patted it with a soft towel, as the skin is still slightly damp at this stage and consequently makes the night cream more effective in moisturizing the skin through the night. In addition to these skin care measures, also remember that a light, non-oily and non-spicy dinner is best for the skin. Go to bed at a fixed time and sleep for at least 6-8 hours.

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How to Cure Dry Flaky Skin through Home Remedies

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Dryness of Skin

Dryness of skin may be caused due to changes in the external atmosphere. It is common for several people to experience dryness of skin during harsh, cold winters as the level of humidity in the air decreases significantly during this season. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may also make the skin excessively dry. Lack of adequate moisturization may also cause the thin upper layer of the skin (epidermis) to crack and give the skin a rough, scaly appearance. In a few cases, the condition may be genetic in nature and be a symptom of a dermatological disorder called Ichthyosis. The skin on the face, arms and legs is most acutely affected by this problem. Deficiency of certain essential nutrients in the diet, regular intake of particular medicines and glandular disorders may trigger this condition too. Contact with harsh chemicals present in some body care products may also cause dryness of the skin.

Home Remedies to Cure Dry Scaly Skin

  • A few basic skin care rules must be followed to keep the skin well moisturized all the time. Make sure that you always apply a moisturizing sunscreen lotion on your skin before stepping out of doors at daytime. This protects your skin from the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun and helps prevent the loss of moisture from the skin.
  • While it is necessary to keep the skin clean, excessive washing may rob the skin of its natural oil content and thereby render it dry and scaly. Thus, you should wash your skin only with cold water and remember to apply a gentle moisturizing cream or lotion after you have washed your skin.
  • In addition, drink plenty of water and fresh vegetable and fruit juices in order to keep your skin naturally healthy and well hydrated.
  • There are a few simple home remedies that you may follow in order to solve the problem of dry, scaly skin. You may use a homemade skin pack, made by blending two teaspoons of milk powder and a teaspoon of honey with an egg yolk, every alternate day on the affected portions of the skin. Leave this mixture on for 10-15 minutes after application and then wash it off gently with cold water. This will make your skin soft and smooth.
  • You may also mash together a ripe avocado, a ripe banana and half a papaya and apply the pulp on your skin every day, about 10 minutes before bathing.
  • Application of almond oil on dry, scaly skin at bedtime every night is also known to be useful in making the skin soft and supple.

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Acne Redness Home Remedies - How to Get Rid of Acne Redness

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Redness from Acne

People have been dealing with skin problems like acne all over the world and one has to understand that different cases might require different approaches. There is no one single way in which acne can be combated and often people have to dry different methods of eradicating this facial problem before they find a method that works for them. Acne can take many forms such as some people suffering from pimples, while others suffer from whiteheads or a combination of facial problems. The redness that comes with acne is typically on account of the pimples or due to facial skin aggravation, such as that caused when the individual scratches the acne. When looking to get rid of acne and the accompanying redness, you can try out the following home remedies and methods.

Home Remedies for Reducing Acne Redness

A cleansing routine must be firmly established when dealing with acne and this should also include the often overlooked step which is exfoliation. However, one should never overdo this and this step should be used sparingly, since you do not want your acne unnecessarily aggravated. The mistake people often make is to scrub their faces vigorously in the hope of getting rid of the acne. However, the facial eruptions and other problems means that your skin is delicate and should not be unduly aggravated. Thus, while exfoliating, gentleness must be maintained and the step should not be repeated too often. What you would need is a cleanser, which should be used about twice or more in a day.

For cleansing, you can resort to different home remedies such as diluted apple cider vinegar. There are also certain things to be avoided, such as the urge to pick at one’s face or to simply touch the acne. This is a grave mistake and can often lead to the spread of the original problem. If you do happen to touch your face, such as when trying to get rid of a blackhead, ensure that your hands are washed after that. This applies even when you are about to touch your face, since only clean hands and washcloths should be used. Water consumption, as in the case of most skin problems, can help immensely. Problems such as stress should be monitored and contained since this can cause further facial eruptions. Most people fail to see how the two can be inexorably linked, especially when important events, such as a formal gathering or big meeting are on the horizon. Your face tends to reflect this anxiety and bottled up emotions so these have to be kept in check.

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How to Get Rid of Blackheads on Nose

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Blackheads on Nose

Blackheads are dreaded by most teenagers and these can continue even into adulthood since some people are simply more prone to skin problems like blackheads. While blackheads constitute a part of the acne problem along with other common problems affecting the skin such as pimples, some people have a particular problem with blackheads alone. You might have noticed peculiar patterns when dealing with blackheads such as their tendency to crop up mostly on your nose and the area around it. One has to be extremely careful when dealing with this skin problem since not only would there be problems such as scarring if these are ineffectually handled, but these blackheads might become deeply set if allowed to linger. For this reason, blackheads are best dealt with as soon as they appear. Once these are fully formed and go deep into the skin, you might have to put up with resistant black spots all over your nose. While people have their own unique measures to deal with a problem like blackheads, the following tips should help alleviate that blackhead problem on your nose.

Removing Blackheads

In the first place, cleanliness is extremely vital if dealing with such a skin problem on your face. Splashing water on your face does not count as cleaning it, nor does using the wrong kind of cleansing product. It is easy to fall prey to various commercial face cleansers without understanding the basics of what you need. Most people think that they are providing their facial skin with all the routine care that it needs and that blackheads should not appear because they do clean their faces thoroughly. It is most likely that you would need a cleanser which is geared to deal with skin that is prone to being oily.

Furthermore, a simple facewash would not be as effective as a routine which also incorporates the important step of exfoliation. There are plenty of natural options when it comes to making an exfoliating mask, such as the use of ground oatmeal. There are plenty of tools you can use at home, such as blackhead removal sticks and strips. Before removal, it would help prepare the skin on your face if you gave it a much needed steaming. This is because with your pores opened up in such a manner, cleansing becomes a lot easier. If this is a frequent problem, you could look into stronger options such as medicated facewashes.

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Dry Feet Home Remedies – Home Remedies for Dry Cracked Feet

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Dry Cracked Feet

Several people suffer from dry cracked feet during winter. Technically known as heel fissures, this problem results from a lack of adequate moisturizing, and a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, in the body. Heel fissures are fine, linear wounds that are usually restricted to the upper layer of the skin called epidermis. In a few severe cases, the cuts run deeper into the inner layer of the skin (called dermis), and cause acute pain while walking and even occasional bleeding. This happens when the feet experience excessive pressure and try to expand sideways, as a result of which the dry skin of the heels cracks up. The problem is most pronounced around the rim of the heels and the web of the toes. Initially, red, flaky patches may appear around the heels, which may later become dry and itchy and start peeling off at places, revealing cracks on the surface of the feet. Generally, both the feet are equally affected by this problem. The problem has been observed to affect ageing and overweight people more acutely than others.

There are a few preventive measures that you may follow to avoid the problem. Always use a foot cream before stepping out of doors and wear cotton or woolen socks or shoes that cover your heels very well while going out. This prevents the skin of your feet from becoming excessively dry, rough, and cracked. Also, avoid walking or standing for very long stretches of time, as this puts your feet under excessive stress and increases the chances of cracked heels.

Home Remedies to Treat Dry Cracked Feet

There are also a few simple home remedies that you may follow to treat the condition naturally.

  • Mash a ripe banana to pulp and apply this all over your feet. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it off with water. The high water content of banana moisturizes and soothes the dry, cracked skin of the feet.
  • You should also mix equal portions of rose water and glycerin and massage your feet with this mixture every morning after taking a bath.
  • For another remedy, melt some paraffin wax over a low flame and mix it with some mustard oil. Let the mixture cool down and store it in a plastic jar. Massage your feet with this homemade cream after washing your feet with lukewarm water at bedtime and rinse it off in the morning with cold water.

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Honey for Skin - Using Honey for Acne, Scars, Pimples Treatment

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Acne and pimples occur when the sebaceous glands secrete oil in excessive amounts, which rises to the surface of the skin and gets accumulated in the skin pores and solidifies along with particles of dust and dead skin cells. These clogged skin pores become breeding ground for bacteria and may become inflamed and filled with pus. Pricking or squeezing pimples leaves behind scars that can be difficult to get rid of. Teenagers are most commonly affected by this problem, as the sudden increase in the level of hormones in the body triggers an overproduction of sebum by the glands under the skin. Those who have naturally oily skin are at the greatest risk of facing a severe case of acne and scars.

Benefits of Honey for Skin

One of the best natural means of solving these problems is honey. Honey has natural hygroscopic properties, that is, it has the capacity to absorb moisture from its surrounding environment. Thus, when it is applied on the skin around the pimples, it soaks up the moisture from the microorganisms growing in the skin pores and thereby minimizes the chances of local infection. To make the remedy more effective, you may add a pinch of turmeric powder to two tablespoons of honey, apply it all over your face, allow it to dry for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water. You may also add a pinch of cinnamon powder to the honey if you are suffering from an acute case of acne. In addition to its water-absorbing capacity, the acidic nature of honey makes the surface of the skin unsuitable for bacteria to breed and therefore makes pimples disappear naturally. Honey can also soothe inflamed skin and reduce the pain and irritation around pimples.

Honey also quickens the natural drying and healing capacity of the skin and is therefore useful in preventing the appearance of ugly scars on the skin, as well as making old scars fade away gradually. Honey is also an excellent antioxidant and should therefore be used regularly on the skin that has been affected by acne in order to heal and restore the damaged cells and give the skin a softer, firmer and smoother appearance. Additionally, you may use raw honey to exfoliate your skin naturally twice a week, as the sugar grains present in it remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and reduce the chances of the clogging of these pores that causes acne.

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