Health and Beauty tips

Some women believe that shaving is bad for their skin and causes dryness or irritation. Actually, shaving is beneficial because it allows dry, dead skin cells to be sloughed off and exfoliated while the hair is removed. Shaving is also the fastest, the easiest and the most convenient way to keep the body free from unwanted hair. It is also the least expensive.

But shaving needs to be done correctly; otherwise we will end up with dry, unevenly shaven skin, sometimes with nicks and little cuts that are prone to infection, and sometimes with rashes. Properly shaven skin will have a nice and smooth feel that can last for several days.

So how should you shave? Here is how:

• Prepare the skin of your legs for shaving by soaking the legs in warm water. The best time to shave would be after spending some time in the tub or after a long shower. Getting skin soaked softens and relaxes the hair, which will make it easier for the razor to glide through and help you avoid getting your skin nicked.
• If skin feels especially dry or rough, use an exfoliating scrub before you shave. By exfoliating, you remove dead dry skin cells and increase blood flow, promoting a closer shave and smoother skin.
• Change your razor blades regularly: Dull razors cause irritated skin, nicks and cuts. While shaving, wash the razor with warm water frequently to free from shaved off hairs.
• Be sure to use a moisturizing shave gel or cream. Soap works just as fine, too. This acts as a barrier to protect the skin from irritation, razor burn, nicks and cuts.
• Be careful in shaving areas with uneven skin, like the ankles and the knees, and also on scabs, if you have any.
• Experts have differing opinions on whether to shave “up” (against the direction of the hair growth), “down” (in the direction of the hair growth) or using both upward and downward strokes. You can experiment and see which way works best for you.
• When you are done shaving, rinse your skin off carefully to remove the residue of shaving cream or gel or soap that you used, as well as the bits of shaven off hair.
• Finally, after shaving, it is extremely important to use a moisturizer - lotion or cream - to help seal in moisture and prevent dryness.
• If you happen to nick yourself while shaving, rinse the wound off carefully and apply anti-bacterial and anti-scarring ointments to make it heal more quickly.

Skin allergies occur when a person comes into contact with a substance that the body recognizes as foreign. The most common symptoms of allergy are itching, redness, swelling, inflammation, and hives. Some of the common allergens include but are not limited to pollen, ragweed, mold, pet dander, dust mites, insect bites, latex, soy, peanuts, dairy products, milk, eggs, detergents, and cosmetics. Fighting against skin allergy may be a tough job, but you could always try these easy steps to combat this problem. However, if it remains untreated, see your dermatologist at once.

Identifying the Problem. It is important to know whether you are having an allergic reaction on certain product or perhaps you are already suffering from skin disorders. If you’re having a skin reaction after using some products a week or so, then it is allergy.
But if you have noticed some skin problems lately, without using any new products on your skin, then you’re having a skin disorder. See your dermatologist at once, it might be an eczema, psoriasis, etc.

Eliminate the product immediately. If you are using a new toner and the next day you get itchy feelings, get rid of the product immediately. But actually skin reactions don’t just happen overnight so the identification of problem may take several days or weeks. Be patient by making a test each day, eliminating one product over another until you will identify which product you are allergic to.

If you’re still uncertain of which product is causing the problem, use anti-inflammatory creams.
Just make sure you apply them liberally light on the damaged area. Even if it appears normal, always remember that skin allergy has the ability to come back several days after. Just don’t overuse them for a long period of time, like 2 or 3 months. Or else, another problem will arise.

Do’s and Don’ts. Avoid rubbing the infected area. If things are not improving over six weeks, then visit your dermatologist. Avoid things that can trigger irritation like exposure to sunlight, dirt, or activities which produce too much sweat.

Skin allergy treatment works much better if the allergen is avoided. If avoiding the substance isn’t realistic or you do not know what is causing the reaction then other treatments might help. Some of these include antihistamines and topical solutions. For severe reactions you may need to be prescribed steroid injections or creams.

Oily skin is caused by the hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands. As a consequence of excess oil being produced, the skin shines and the pores enlarge. Thus the skin appears rough and coarse. Follow a few simple steps to have drier, cleaner-feeling skin glowing with radiance!

• Wash your face in the morning and before bed, and up to once or twice additionally if necessary. Be careful not to over-wash your face, as too much cleansing may cause excessive dryness and flaking. Remember that antibacterial cleansing lotions or medicated soaps are much better than harsh soaps.
• A mixture of lime and cucumber juice with a few drops of eau de cologne is known to work wonders. It keeps the oil at bay and also prevents acne. In fact a little cucumber juice only on the oily areas prevents make up from becoming patchy. Just ensure that the cucumber juice dries well before you apply make up.
• The use of a light antiseptic day and night cream can keep the oil at bay.
• There are certain essential oils and herbs, which are good for oily skin. Lavender, lemon, and sage oil and the popular aloe Vera herb nourish the skin. Lemon grass, liquorice roots and rosebuds are excellent face saunas and are inexpensive options for oily skin care.
• A mixture of apple juice and limejuice applied for 15 minutes and washed with cold-water acts as another good astringent. The everyday cucumber and tomato mashed and applied to the face is very good for the care of oily skin.
• Another simple thing is washing the face with buttermilk before exposure to the sun. Apply it allover the face and neck, wait for about 10 minutes and wash with warm water.
• Always remember, any application should be left on for at least 10 minutes before being washed.

To further tend to your complexion, complete the following steps:

• Drink lots of fluids - especially water.
• A diet rich in protein and low in sugar and salt is highly recommended. Leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, lots of water, regular exercise and adequate sleep help promote an oily free skin.
• Avoid fatty foods, chocolates, junk food and soft drinks. Avoid oil in salad dressing. Use limejuice instead.
• Ensure that you get enough vitamin B2 or B5.
• Maintain a regular facial cleansing routine.
• Stick with oil-free makeup products.
• Exercise as often as you can, and avoid wearing makeup while doing so.
• As tough as it may be, try not to touch your skin unnecessarily.
• Change your pillowcase more often to prevent residue from clogging your pores overnight.
• Exfoliate with a facial scrub product a minimum of once a week.
• Apply a facial mud masque at least once a week to zap the oil from your skin.
• Use cosmetics wisely, do not clog facial pores.

Do all this and you win the oily skin care battle.

This unsightly condition doesn’t threaten anyone’s life, but it does affect the self-image and well-being of those who have cellulite.
Though researchers do not recognize cellulite as a disease, there are various methods of cellulite treatment. The most widely popular ones are cellulite creams or topical creams, cellulite wrap or body wrapping, electronic muscle stimulation and liposuction.

Cellulite Creams or Topical Creams contain active ingredients such as antioxidants and vasodilators. They shrink fat cells and loosen the fibrous bands between them, allowing the cells to spread sideways instead of bulging out.

Cellulite Wrap or Body Wrapping includes the use of special wraps or clothing and can sometimes be used with special lotions or creams that are applied to the skin. Cellulite wrap involves wrapping the body in porous elastic bandages soaked in a special mineral solution. The Body Wrap is applied firmly to areas needing inch loss and contouring and lightly where only skin tightening is desired.

Electronic Muscle Stimulation is used for reshaping, firming, trimming, toning of abdominal, thighs, buttocks, oblique and for maintaining a youthful figure.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure intended to remove fat deposits and shape the body. Liposuction uses a small vacuum to suck fat from under the skin. While this procedure can transform your bodily appearance, the cellulite will still be there. Liposuction decreases fat deposits but does not abolish the dermal fat that triggers cellulite.
If heaving over a heap of cash to smooth out the cellulite from your legs isn’t in your plans.

But let’s be sincere. The best way to prevent cellulite is to exercise regularly and eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Consider these tried and true methods to lessen cellulite’s impact on your life and your legs:

1. Detoxify your diet! The first step toward healthier skin and fewer cellulite problems is eating lots of healthy, fresh fruits, veggies and whole grain foods. Try to reduce or eliminate alcohol, coffee and soda to fight cellulite. Items high in fiber positively impact your health and also respond better to the digestive process.
2. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
3. Quit or cut down on smoking.
4. Avoid medications not necessary to health and well being.
5. Get plenty of exercise. Not only does exercising help you lose weight and tone your muscles, but it also helps to improve circulation while firming your tissues in general. You’ll notice an increase in your energy levels and hopefully, you’ll enjoy your exercise routines enough to see its value on mental, emotional and spiritual levels.
6. Relax. Avoid those things that cause stress and aggravation in your life if. Take hot bubble baths, practice yoga or begin meditating. A more peaceful frame of mind will help you get into the routine of satisfying your skin’s needs.
7. Exfoliate and renew your skin naturally. Try natural body scrub products during your shower routine and use a loofah pad, massage brush or other cleansing tool to release dry and dead skin cells so new, healthy ones can form.
8. Find a massage partner and relieve tension while stimulating your circulatory and lymphatic systems. Massaging your body can help prevent cellulite from forming while it also helps to battle cellulite that already exists. To begin, try basic massage techniques. Start by massaging your legs one at a time in a circular motion. This should help prevent fat from collecting while also breaking down and ridding the body of toxins.

The combination of good health, nutrition and exercise will rid your body of excess toxins and promote an optimum state of health for dealing with cellulite.

The first thing that catches the attention of people when you meet them is your smile, especially the one that reaches the eyes. Many people place all the attention on beautiful, white teeth setting aside the health of their lips. Sore and cracked lips result in a painful and therefore less engaging smile. The most common causes of chapped lips are as following:

1. Although this factor is often overlooked, toothpaste can contribute to chapped lips. Most toothpastes contain a component called guaiazuline, which may cause a contact allergy.

2. Contact allergy can also be caused by the lipstick and lip care products which contain propyl gallate or phenylsalicylate (salol).

3. Orange juice or any other juice from citrus fruits can irritate your lips.

4. Red dye which is added to many products such as candy, gum, fizzy drinks, mouthwash, etc. also may cause allergies.

5. Too much vitamin A may also provoke peeling lips. no matter if the source of your vitamin A comes from whole foods or supplements, if you are taking in more than 25,000 I.U. per day then you might want to take a closer look at this.

6. In addition to excessive vitamin A, your body may be taking in too much Vitamin B12 supplements. What happens is that you develop an allergy to cobalt from taking your B12 supplements and this results in crusty and swollen lips.

7. Cinnamon flavoring can also cause lip chapping. This flavoring is found in candy, gum, mouthwashes, etc.

8. Eating too many figs can also cause your allergic reaction due to photo-toxicity.

9. And interestingly enough, metal objects like paper clips and pocket change is a very likely cause of chronic chapped lips. An allergic reaction may show itself on your lips.

Preventative measures can be as simple as:

• Applying a small coat of Vaseline or lip balm when using a dry lipstick.
• Using a bit of lip balm to moisturize as you sleep.
• Using a lip balm before going out into harsh weather, especially one with a good SPF factor to protect lips from the sun’s rays.
• Drinking plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated.
• Avoiding the use of lipsticks that can dry out your lips if they have become chapped.
• Resisting the urge to lick your lips (saliva does not moisturize) or nibble at them.
• Using a toothbrush with soft bristles to remove flaky skin from your lips.

Remember that pain is unnecessary, lips that hurt can and should be avoided, and there are many products available to help you.

Acne is a common and chronic skin disorder. It is an inflammatory condition of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. The lesions are usually found on the skin of the face, neck, chest and shoulders. Nearly six out of ten young people between the ages of twelve and twenty-four suffer from some degree of acne, that is why acne treatment is the most sought after treatment among the younger generation. Acne causes much embarrassment at an age when people are very sensitive about their personal appearance. If your face has already broken out with pimples, the battle is not over. Your skin care after you have acne is just as important as the preventative measures you take.

Even though everyone is different, acne is usually caused by the buildup of oil and dead skin in a skin pore which occurs because of natural hormones, plugged skin, bacteria and genetic predisposition.

If you want to reduce acne problem

• Do NOT squeeze, pick, scratch, or rub your skin because it aggravates the problem worse and may provoke scarring.
• Regularly shampoo your hair, and try to keep it off your face if possible - especially at night.
• Keep a diary to make sure that your acne isn’t the result of unhealthy eating.
• Exercise regularly to get the old blood flowing, and make sure you get a wash as soon after as possible.
• Avoid touching your face unnecessarily.
• Try to minimize your stress levels as much as possible.
• Avoid getting sunburned.
• Change your wash cloth every day because bacteria grow on damp cloth.
• Wash your face twice daily with a gentle soap like Dove or Lever 2000.
• Always rinse really well with plenty of water.
• Only wear makeup on special occasions, and then be sure to remove it completely.
• Introduce changes in your diet:
  • Eat more antioxidant-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables.
  • Include omega-3 fatty acids like wild Alaskan salmon or freshly ground flaxseeds to help reduce and prevent inflammation.
  • Vitamin Treatment. niacin and vitamin A have been used successfully to treat acne. Vitamin therapy should comprise the intake of 100 mg niacin, three times daily, and 50,000 international units of vitamin A, three times daily. Vitamin E, 400 mg, should be taken once daily. Continue this therapy for a month.
    Zinc Treatment. Zinc also seems to offer help for acne.
  • Drink lots of water to keep the skin hydrated and healthy.
  • Limit processed and refined foods, and opt for whole, healthful foods instead.

Though just about everyone has had to battle acne at one time or another, an unsightly blemish can still make you want to hide your face from the public. Hopefully you now have a better understanding of where acne comes from, and these tips will help you to both treat and prevent it.