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Skin
Care. |
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Skin
Problems . |
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Blackheads
Blackheads are so common, yet many of
us do know what they are. We know even
less about dealing with them. However,
they can be controlled and even prevented
by taking regular care of the skin.
Blackheads are caused
by over active sebaceous glands (the oil
producing glands of the skin). The excess
secretion of oil expands and thickens
the pores of the skin. The oil collects
in the pores and hardens into a plug.
The pores are then clogged with hardened
sebum or oil. Since the pores are open,
the tip of the clogged grease is exposed
to the air and oxidises, turning black.
Hence, blackheads are formed.
Oily skins naturally
tend to attract dirt and grime from the
environment and these pollutants also
collect in the pores with hardened oil
Blackheads cause the pores to be further
enlarged and people with oily skins end
up with a skin texture that is coarse
and trough. Apart from the fact that blackheads
look unsightly, they are the cause of
acne. When a pore is fully blocked, the
oil gland can get infected resulting into
a pimple. Therefore, the control of blackheads
is one way of preventing acne.Blackheads not only
appear on the face, but on the back, chest
and other areas that are rich in sebaceous
glands.Blackhead
extraction is a professional job and it
should be left to people who know exactly
know how to do it. Never pick at them.
Tampering with the skin by forcing blackheads
out brutally can damage the skin tissue
by destroying the inner layer. The counter
part of the blackhead is the whitehead,
which is also caused by collection of
sebum in the pores, but in this case the
pores are not open and the sebum is not
exposed to the air.
Effective methods for removing Blackheads.It is most important
to keep the skin scrupulously clean.
- Use an oatmeal
or almond mask thoroughly to cleanse
your face. Mix either oatmeal or almond
powder with enough rose water to make
a soft paste that spreads easily on
the skin. Rub it on your skin with
your fingertips, paying special attention
the problem areas. Leave to dry for
about 15 minutes and then rinse off
with cold water.
- Apply undiluted
lemon juice, two to three times a
day, on the affected areas.
- solution made
out of one and a half cups of hot
water and half a tablespoon of boric
powder is an ideal concoction for
blackheads, Saturate a face napkin
in this hot solution and press on
to the skin, repeat twice. Extract
blackheads carefully with a blackhead
remover and sterilized cotton wool.
Pat on an astrigent.
- Warm a little
honey and apply on the trouble spots.
Wash off after 10-15 minutes.
Try out these home
remedies for cleaning out your blackheads
yourself or get in touch with a qualified
beautician.
Spots
Spots and acne are
the result of oily skin, stress and the
wrong use of skin care products and cosmetics.
These are not easy to get rid of and they
tend to crop up at the wrong time. What
you need is to give them a hard time by
robbing them of a friendly environment.Oily
skin needs to be exfoliated to keep the
pores clear and unclogged. Instead of
covering spots with a concealor that can
further clog your pores, dab on an anti-acne
formula and face powder to absorb excess
oil.Stress from job pressures and the
demands of motherhood also trigger breakouts.
Birth control pills high in certain progestins
can cause spots, too. Besides, using the
wrong cleanser or cosmetics not meant
for your skin type can also lead to clogged
pores and blemishes. To keep skin clear,
use a pre-soap cleanser meant for your
specific skin type, followed by a good
moisturizing routine (only on dry areas).All
too many people are driven to the myth
that sunlight helps dry out pimples. Exposure
to sun may dry skin slightly, but the
effect is temporary. In fact, heat, humidity
and UV rays can intensify acne by stimulating
oil production, leading to thick skin
that further causes of clogged pores.A
cosmetic way to camourflage spots and
to give your skin a smooth matte finish
is to rub some loose face powder into
your palms. Rub hands together lightly
and apply powder over the face. Then dust
off the excess with a powder brush.
The T-Zone
Oily skin can be checked with proper exfoliation,
which keeps the pores clear and unclogged.
However, if you have a shiny T-Zone, use
a face mask to de-shine. Alternatively,
blot excess oil with a tissue before touching
up with powder.
Wrinkles
wrinkles surface first around eyes and
the mouth and are sign that the skin lacks
hydration. You can put a hold on them
by keeping your skin protected from excessive
exposure to sun and using a wrinkle-control
formula. Though the sun gives us vitamin
D, which is great for the complexion,
going out in the sun without proper protection
is an open invitation for wrinkles in
the long run. It can even lead to melanoma(skin
cancer).So
use a sunscreen over the face and body
before you expose yourself to the rays
of the sun. Don't skip the routine when
the sky is overcast, for haze and clouds
don't block those damaging UV rays. Wear
sunglasses with UV protection and make
sure your sunscreens stays put.
Blotchiness
blotchiness is another side effect caused
by taking in too much sun. Prevent it
with daily sunscreen of at least SPF 15
and regular exfoliation (with masks, scrubs
and lotions). To conceal blotchiness,
apply foundation and loose face powder
to integrate the skin tone. Extreme cases
can be tackled with a concealer, followed
by loose powder and appropriate make-up.
To polish away any unevenness, you can
apply a slightly shimmered powder.
Sunburn
never exfoliate your skin when it is sunburn
and in the red, sore, tender stage. Wait
until all redness disappears before resuming
exfoliation. If you are using a prescription
skin-peeling drug for acne or sun damage,
ask your doctor if addition exfoliation
is advisable.Broken
capillaries or spider veins: These are
tiny dilated blood vessels or capillaries,
usually visible on the face and legs.
Exposure to the sun, wind, spicy food,
alcoholic drinks and temperature extremes
can aggravate the problem.Besides
the above-mentioned problems, the skin
undergoes a change during menopause, too.
It becomes much drier and you should use
a mild soap to clean it gently. Stepped-up
exfoliation will bring new cells to the
surface (because cell renewal slows down
with age). You can try a good emollient
in addition to a moisturizing lotion.
Remember that sun damage is additive.
As your age, your immune system starts
slowing down and can't respond as vigorously
to a problem as it used to. Learn it help
it along.
Excess hair
Unwanted hair on the body or face does
not necessarily indicate a hormonal imbalance.
Prevalent in a large number of perfectly
normal women, especially as they get older,
it is frequently an inherited characteristic
common to either specific families or
races. Women are particularly prone to
develop hair where they donut want it
during the glandular changes connected
with fertility. Most girls can trace the
beginnings to the onset of puberty, pregnancy
or menopause. Occasionally excessive hair
can be the result of a physical ailment
or a glandular disturbance resulting in
an imbalance of the male and female sex
hormones. It could even develop as a side
effect of steroid creams or hormone pills
prescribed to treat other conditions.
But these disorders are infrequent causes
of excessive hair.
Ways of handling unwanted hair
For some women, excess hair can be cunningly
concealed by bleaching. Mix six per cent
hydrogen peroxide with 20 drops of ammonia
per 28 grams of peroxide. Either household
ammonia or ammonia water can be used.Apply immediately
after mixing and leave it on for about
half an hour. If the hair is not bleached
enough with one application, repeat in
a day or so. If the freshly mixed bleach
does not perform properly, the cause may
be inactive, old peroxide or insufficient
ammonia.
Waxing
One of the oldest methods of temporary
hair removal, it is also the least popular.
It is most often used for the removal
of hair from the upper lip or chin. As
the hair is plucked beneath the surface,
relatively, just above the root, the results
of waxing are reasonably long lasting.
Usually it takes several weeks for new
growth to become evident.
Depilatories
Chemical depilatories are used primarily
for the arms and legs. They should not
be used on the face unless specifically
stated on the product label. And they
should never be used if there are breaks
in the skin.
Although a few quick
acting depilatories are now available,
a depilatory generally takes 10 to 15
minutes to work on some areas like the
underarms or legs. Many women consider
this inconvenient, for shaving can be
faster. Also, some products may have an
unpleasant smell. On the other hand, using
a depilatory does not have the masculine
connotation of shaving.It is claimed that
the results of depilatories last longer
than those of shaving because the hair
is removed closer to the skin surface,
but the difference is probably only sight.
Chemical depilatories
are usually in cream form, and their effectiveness
various according to the type of hair
growth. A thin hair is destroyed in a
shorter time than a thick one. They may
not be effective on some people and on
some parts of the body.The first time you
use a depilatory, try it on a small area
to see if the product causes a skin reaction.
If this happens, discontinue using the
product. Follow the directions on the
packet carefully. The manufacturer has
included them to ensure maximum safety
and efficiency. Pay attention to the length
of time the preparation is to be left
on your skin.
Pumice stones
Among the oldest
devices used for temporary hair removal,
they are used most often for removing
rough skin on heels and elbows. Rubbing
pumice over the skin generates mechanical
friction, which wears off hair at the
skin surface.
The device is inexpensive,
easy to use and not as likely as chemical
depilatories to cause skin irritation.
It is, also, slow and tedious to use and
impractical for large areas. If the abrasive
is rubbed too vigorously, your skin will
feel irritated.Once the hair is
removed, regular treatments afterward
may be less time consuming since the hair
will be short. Hair growth may become
less coarse or dense after years of using
a pumice, but this method will not remove
hair permanently.After using a pumice,
gently massage oil or body lotion into
the area to lessen skin irritation produced
by the abrasion.
Shaving
This can be done
by electric razor or by hand. The secret
is to use a sharp blade every time. There
are throwaway, curved razors that give
the equivalent of two or three dozen smooth
shaves.
Be sure your skin
is wet. Wet hair is easier to shave because
it is soft and pliable. Lathering with
either soap and water or shaving cream
will help further.Use lashings or
body oil or moisturizer on your legs after
shaving because the procedure can make
your skin very dry.
Electrolysis
A safe way to remove hair permanently
is by destroying the hair root with an
electric current. This method electrolysis
destroys the hair root at the bottom of
the follicle and loosens the hair, which
is then removed from the follicle with
tweezers.If you buy depilatory
creams, or mitts, or wax, you will use
them forever because hair never stops
growing until late in life, and that is
when you are too old to care.
So, what age can
you begin electrolysis at ? Like everything
else, it is getting younger all the time.
Children start to shave and pencil eyebrows
earlier on, their bodies develop sooner.To
mothers, experts say : "If you have a
daughter 12 years old and she is developing
superfluous hair, she should have it seen
to now, and not left until she is made
miserable and perhaps psychologically
hurt."Electrolysis is very simple. A needle
so fine it is like a hair itself, is inserted
into the follicle where the hair comes
out. This is charged with electricity
and zap � the cells are destroyed. No
more hair should grow there.Now sometimes
this mild current causes discomfort. It
depends on which part of the face or body
it is being applied to. On the things
and the breast, it is not very bad, but
on the knees and the ankles, it can be
painful.
Simple Facial Exercises
If you want firmer
facial skin, and want to look years younger
just follow these ten exercises every
morning and watch the age on your face
fade away.Face tapping - to
get the circulation goingTap 20 times on
each dot with the pads of your middle
fingers. From the bridge of your nose
work out along your eyebrows, then in
round the top of your cheekbone. Tap up
from the sides of your mouth to each inner
eye. Then out from the chin along the
jaw line to each ear. Make sharp, light,
very quick taps as if you are testing
a very hot iron.Ear massage - to
get your face glowingWith index fingers
and thumbs, hold the top rim of your ears
and pull upwards. Massage, making small
circles between fingers and thumb. Move
down all round the rim of the ears, pulling
ears out gently and massaging. When you
reach the lobes, pull them down slightly
and massage for about one minute. Repeat
this sequence if you have time. Then,
with small, quick circular movements,
massage all the crevices and spirals of
the ear. Use the surface of the nails
of your index fingers, or the pads of
your middle fingers.Throat massage -
to beautify your neckPut the fingers
of one hand on one side of your throat
and the thumb on the other. Make rapid
circular motions up and down the throat.
Repeat with the other hand.Gum stimulation
- for glowing gumsWith finger tips
of knuckles, make circles just above the
jaw line along the gums.Under-chin slaps
- to sharpen your jaw lineSlap quickly and
lightly under your chin 30 times with
the back of one hand.Hair massage - to
stimulate hair growth and soothe headachesWith pads of your
fingertips, massage in small circles all
along the front of your scalp for at least
30 seconds. Then take large fistfuls of
hair and gently pull upwards. Now clench
your hands into fists and lightly pound
your scalp about 20 times.Face Stroking -
to soothe, relax and generally uplift
face and mindStart with the flat
of your right hand against your chest
and stroke up to your jaw line, then immediately
follow with your left. Continue alternating
like this for at least ten strokes.Next, immediately
smooth the palms and fingers of your hands
over your face very, very lightly. Start
at the jaw line, move up and over your
cheeks and each side of your nostrils,
gently over the eyes and over the forehead
to the hairline, then back down the sides
of your face to your jaw. Repeat five
to ten times in a continuous motion.Now glide your middle
fingers towards the bridge of your nose,
out along your eyebrow, down your cheekbones
and back to the bridge of your nose. Make
ten of these light circular movements.Then with your middle
fingers on the bridge of your nose, stroke
up towards your forehead. Place all fingers
(not thumb) on your forehead and smooth
outwards towards your temples; hold for
a moment, pressing down slightly. Continue
lightly down the side of your face, back
along up from the bridge of your nose.
Do this ten times.Temple pressures
- to lift eye area and whole face.Leaning back in
a chair, place the base of your palm or
the pads of your fingertips against your
temples and push upwards. At the same
time, suck your tongue against the top
of your mouth keeping your back teeth
together. Hold this for a count of ten,
increasing to 20. Slowly release and relax.Exercise your mouth
- to lift lip linesSit or stand, looking
into the mirror. Open your mouth quite
wide, as if about to yawn. Pull in the
sides to form an oval. Now curve your
lips over teeth. Then slowly to the count
of ten, close your lips until they are
about 1.5cm (1/2in) apart. You will feel
an upward pull. Release very slowly.Finish by closing
your eyes for a few moments, breathing
deeply and gently and allowing yourself
to drift off into a peaceful place.
Home Truths
It
never fails. Just when you thought you�d
seen the last of the face invaders, they�re
back and larger than life! Suddenly, you
feel like an alien, and the only thing
you want to do move�to another planet.
But wait! Instead of waging war on you
skin by blasting blemishes wit supersonic
zit creams and harsh scrubbing, take the
kinder, gentler approach, just like the
women from the past who made good use
of everyday items like fruits, vegetables,
nuts and cereals for enhancing their beauty.
Grandma�s recipes obviously work, because
even the most exotic spas of Europe are
veering towards herbal and natural therapies.The
best part? You can whip these up in seconds
using things that are sitting in the refrigerator
or on the kitchen shelf. Masks, facials,
packs and cleansers made of homegrown
stuff all work in gentle, natural ways
to soothe, stimulate, relax, tone or clear
the skin. Though you may go according
to different or problem skin types, a
tutti-frutti approach may be better: everyone�s
skin is a combination of oily and dry
elements. You might want to use a mask
for oily skin on the nose, forehead and
chin and mask for dry skin everywhere
else.You
can even take a Chinese restaurant approach,
and combine, say honey with egg in the
same skin category. However, you can cook
up your mask, apply it to a cleansed skin
and let it do the good work for fifteen
or twenty minutes while you relax. Feet
up on the pillows or resting on the slant
board will double the benefits of any
helper you put on the skin. Remember,
skin is an all-over affair. Don�t stop
with just nourishing your face � spread
the good work to hands, to the throats
and shoulders. After twenty minutes, splash
away the facial with cool or lukewarm
water.What
is your skin type? Get a head start on
the road to a dear complexion by understanding
the basics:
- Oily sin usually
has a shiny surface, visible pores
and is prone to breakouts.
- Dry skin often
feels taut, slightly rough and tends
to chap and flake.
- Combination skin
is oily at the T-zone (the forehead,
nose and chin) and drier on the
cheeks.
- Sensitive skin
is thin, delicate and easily irritated.
It has a red and blotchy.
Natural Masks
-
Break two large
bananas, toss into a blender along
with half of the peel and one tablespoon
of raw honey. Blend to liquefy,
pat on, let dry for 20 minutes.
-
Mix equal proportions
of honey, fresh cream, or oats and
almond paste. Pat on, let dry for
20 minutes.
-
Peel and pit an
avocado, liquefy in the blender
with one tablespoon of raw honey.
Pat on, let dry for 20 minutes.
Rinse off with cool water.
Oily Skin Masks
-
Wash and core
two crisp apples, but do not peel,
liquefy the whole thing into the
blender. Pat on, let dry for 20
minutes. Splash on with cool water.
- Wash a big, ripe
tomato and liquefy the whole thing
in the blender. Pat on, let dry
for 20 minutes, splash off with
cool water.
Two nourishing masks for all skin types:
-
Blend two egg
yolks, two tablespoons of honey,
three drops of almond oil. Pat on,
let dry for 20 minutes. Rinse off
with cool water.
- Grind half a cup
of yellow mustard seeds, adding
2 liters of water in it. Also grind
in a few rose petals. Apply on skin.
Let dry for 20 minutes. Rinse well.
One Clarifying facial mask, good for all skins
(to be used occasionally):
This does with gentle
natural enzymes what skin-slouching creams,
peelers and exfoliating lotions do with
chemical � it removes dead, dry skin cells
on the surface to expose fresh clear skin.
- Peel a ripe banana
and puree in the blender. Pat on
the fruit, let dry for 20 minutes.
Rinse off with cool water.
Two cleansing and bleaching masks (for faded,
end of summer tans as well as winter-drab
or season-change sallow skin)
-
Add the juice
of two lemons to one cup of buttermilk.
blend, pat on, let dry for 20 minutes.
Splash off with cool water.
-
Liquefy one whole
lemon (washed, not peeled) and half
an orange (washed, not peeled) in
the blender, add one cup of plain
yogurt. blend, pat on, let dry for
20 minutes. Rinse off with cool
water.
Here are a few more
any-time masks
-
For a glowing
skin, cucumber mixed with fresh
coconut water gives remarkable results.
-
use mashed bananas
and strawberries as a pack to
freshen up the complexion.
-
For curing pimples,
apply a mixture of haldi (turmeric)
and sandalwood on the face.
-
Pimples can also
be cured with a light massage of
rose and sevti flowers extract.
The extract is easily prepared by
distilling a number of flowers in
a distilling apparatus. The extract
should be applied on the pimples
three times a day .
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