Archive for 'Skin Care'

COMMON SKIN DISORDERS IN ADULTS: DERMATITIS

Posted on June 9, 2011, under Skin Care.

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Dermatitis is the most common skin disease in adults, and means inflammation of the skin. As mentioned earlier, dermatitis and eczema are the same condition.
Endogenous dermatitis
Endogenous dermatitis is the adult equivalent of childhood eczema. About ten per cent of children continue to have eczema into adult life, causing dry, scaly and itchy skin.
Dermatitis is not a food allergy. It is an inherited predisposition which makes the skin very sensitive to a number of environmental irritants including heat, dryness, wool, perfume, chlorine, soaps and detergents. The skin also reacts to internal factors, especially stress, which in adults is the most important aggravating factor.
Preventing endogenous dermatitis
Managing dermatitis as an adult is much the same as managing it as a child. Avoiding environmental irritants is very important, and by the time eczema sufferers have reached adulthood they are generally well aware of what these are. Like children, adults should not wash excessively. Showers should be short, less than two minutes, and should not be too hot. Adults should also routinely use bath oils and avoid soaps as much as possible. Mild soaps, however, can be used, and these include Aveenobar, Dove and Oilatum bar. Moisture creams should be applied after bathing. Aquatain, Aqueous cream, QV cream, 10% glycerol in sorbolene cream are all good products. Any moisture cream used should not be perfumed, and urea-based creams should never be used on open sores as they will cause stinging or burning.
It is difficult to avoid heating and air-conditioning in office buildings, but using a humidifier will compensate for the dryness.
Treating endogenous dermatitis
Topical cortisone creams and ointments are usually very helpful for endogenous dermatitis. Those who prefer natural methods may be reluctant to use cortisone creams, but it is virtually impossible to treat the condition without them. Topical hydrocortisone cream is very safe for the face, while stronger cortisone creams should not be used on the face but are fine for other parts of the body. At night, antihistamines can also be helpful.
As for children, it is important that adults avoid topical anesthetic and topical antihistamines as these can cause severe contact allergic dermatitis. Neither is calomine lotion useful.
Because dermatitis in adults is often related to stress, it can be worthwhile looking into ways of reducing stress such as meditation, relaxation therapy and hypnosis.
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BODY CARE: SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES IF YOUR SKIN DOES GET SUNBURNT

Posted on April 21, 2009, under Skin Care.

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Here are a few cooling and soothing simple home remedies if your skin does get sunburnt.

A mild infusion of the following herbs, chamomile, elderflower, lettuce leaves and cowslip are all effective remedies. Applying fresh aloe vera gel gives relief and helps in healing sunburnt skin. The fresh juice of houseleek leaves is anti-inflammatory and soothing to the skin.. Rub slices of cucumber, watermelon or tomatoes over the affected skin.

Apply fresh strawberries blended with butter-milk to the affected areas. For immediate relief of intense pain apply cold mashed pumpkin to affected areas.

Kombucha: soak into a kombucha bath adding 1-2 cups of kombucha vinegar. Kombucha cream can be used to promote healing when the skin is dry and flaking.

Kefir and Rosewater Lotion: has a cooling, healing and bleaching effect on sunburn. 150 ml (1/4 pint) Kefir, 30 ml (2 tbsp.) Rosewater. Mix all ingredients together and apply to affected areas.

Kefir and Cucumber Lotion: cooling and soothing for sunburnt skin, 1/4 cup kefir, 1 cup diced cucumber, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon lavender infusion. Blend all ingredients in a blender till smooth. Apply to affected areas as needed.

Kefir and Watermelon Lotion: cooling and refreshing, 1/4 cup kefir, 1 cup watermelon juice, 1 tablespoon lavender infusion. Mix all ingredients. Apply to affected areas. Rinse well with tepid water.

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SKIN DISORDERS: CHAPPED SKIN AND CHICKENPOX

Posted on April 21, 2009, under Skin Care.

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Chapped Skin

Essential oils: carrot, chamomile, geranium, lemon, lavender, neroli, rose or sandalwood. Blend one or a combination of oils to a cold pressed oil. Cold pressed oils: use any cold pressed oil.

Herbs: apply the gel from the inside of the aloe-vera plant. Wash affected areas with an infusion of calendula or chamomile infusion then apply calendula or chamomile ointment or oil to affected areas. Food: oatmeal added to bath water will relieve chapping. Kombucha: apply kombucha cream or tea to the affected area.

Chickenpox

Food: wash affected parts with the water in which dried peas have been boiled. This can prevent itching and pit marks.

Essential oils: use anti viral essential oils e.g.. eucalyptus radiata, peppermint, palmarosa in rose hip oil in a concentration of 20%. Apply to lesions with a cotton wool bud, to accelerate healing and to relieve itching. Powder lesions and surrounding area alternating with green and white clay. To relieve itching, add 2 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 cup of bicarbonate soda then add to the bath water.

Kombucha: apply kombucha compresses or soak in a kombucha bath. Apply the tea or cream to the spots to prevent skin infection.

Spice: a little powdered turmeric is mixed with the juice from half a squeezed lime and a little water to make a smooth paste. Put directly onto spots. Spray the air with an anti-viral mixture.

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SKIN CARE ROUTINE: FRESH FRUIT FACIAL MASK

Posted on April 21, 2009, under Skin Care.

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These can be used for other effects such as a healing mask or for a deep drawing action to remove impurities from problem skin. Others will rejuvenate, moisturise, tone and firm your skin.

Benefit: A facial will cleanse, stimulate and nourish your skin. It also increases the circulation bringing nutrients and oxygen to the surface. Blend your own combination of ingredients for your fruit facial. For example:

Use a 1/4 of any fruit, add 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 whole egg, 1 teaspoon of fresh cream and 1 teaspoon of cold pressed oil.

Mix all the ingredients together and apply to face and neck avoiding the eye area.

Place cucumber slices over the eyes, lay down and relax for 10-15 minutes. Rinse the facial mask off well with warm water then with cool water. Follow this with an application of skin toner and moisturiser.

Other ingredients that can be used as a mask are – arrowroot, barley meal, cornflower, fullers earth, oatmeal, almond meal, eggs, honey, yoghurt, fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and essential oils. It is great fun experimenting with feeding your skin with a variety of ingredients.

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GROWING YOUR OWN COSMETICS

Posted on April 21, 2009, under Skin Care.

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Most of Cleopatra’s cosmetic ingredients were found in the garden. Most modern commercial cosmetics, which are made from inorganic material extracts, are alien and useless and are often harmful to the human body.

There is nothing better than getting your fresh cosmetics from your own back yard. Start your cosmetic garden by planting some fruit tree’s , vegetables, herbs and a variety of aromatic flowers to make floral waters and to attract bee’s. Bee’s produce honey which is the best cleanser, moisturiser and healing cosmetic you could ask for.

Have a few chickens and ducks to fertilise your garden. Collect your free range eggs to use as shampoo, also to use in facial masks. Goats make wonderful lawn mowers as well as giving us fresh milk to cleanse and moisturise our skin, and to be used as shampoo and in the bath. Just by taking the time out to grow your own cosmetic garden, you will feel rejuvenated by exchanging the energy with nature. Take notice of what your skin looks like after you have been out there Splaying. You will see that you are glowing with radiant health.

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