January 18th, 2012

Skin facts

Myth: Anti-aging products should be taken after 40 years of age

Fact : Our body cells start multiplying and changing from the day we are born. The skin starts showing signs of ageing from 25-30 years. These changes get more pronounced after 30-35 years of age. If fight skin care is introduces at young age then the ageing process can be delayed. Consult a dermatologist for a right skin assessment and prescription.

Myth : higher the SPF, the better

Fact: While an SPF 30 sunscreen blocks 96 percent of UV rays, an SPF of 15 blocks about 94 percent-just a two percent difference. Regardless of whether you use an SPF 10,30 or 50, they all wear off within a few hours. Thus, reapplying sunscreen is the key.

Myth: Scrubbing your face will keep your skin clear and acne free.

Fact: When you scrub your face, your strip away some protective oils and barriers, which can allow bacteria to enter the skin and cause rashes. It’s better to use a gentle cleanser followed by a moisturizer at night, or sunscreen in the morning.

Myth: No sunburn on a cloudy day

Fact: The sun’s rays reach the earth’s surface even if it is cloudy, so you’re really, should apply sunscreen everyday. Also, don’t think you’re protected just because you’re wearing makeup that contains SPF. You have to apply up to 15 times the amount of makeup you normally wear to reach the SPF on the label of your makeup.

Myth: Squeeze the pimple out.

Fact: A lot of the pus in a pimple lies deeper in the skin than what you see on the outside, sort of like the tip of an iceberg. When you pop it, you push a lot of that pus deeper into the skin, which is why you often get another pimple close to where the first one was. It’s best to let nature take its course and stop popping your pimples but if you can’t resist, do it right; press a warm washcloth on your pimple to soften it. The, instead of squeezing the pimple together, pull the skin around it apart. If the pimple doesn’t pop, it’s not ready. Repeat in few hours.

Myth: Laser treatment helps in 100% hair Removal

Fact: Wrong! Laser treatment helps in reducing the facial hair upto 75% and body hair upto 90% but never 100%. Once the treatment is over, one needs at least one session in a year for maintenance. However this result give one a great relief and helps one regain focus and confidence and hence it is worth all the energy.

Myth: Shaving makes your hair grow in thicker

Fact: In fact, shaving doesn’t make your hair thicker, nor make it grow faster. When you shave you remove the thin tapered tip of the hair and leave only the thicker middle portion protruding from the skin surface, so your hair may feel a little thicker. But with enough tie, your hair will grow longer, and feel thinner and softer again. Of course, many people don’t want to give it the time to grow back, so they just keep shaving once they start. Shaving can cause ingrown hairs. The best treatment for this isn’t picking at the hairs to extract them, but to use a laser to permanently remove the hair. Laser is a safer option for hair removal.

your hair will grow longer, and feel thinner and softer again. Of course, many people don’t want to give it the time to grow back, so they just keep shaving once they start. Shaving can cause ingrown hairs. The best treatment for this isn’t picking at the hairs to extract them, but to use a laser to permanently remove the hair. Laser is a safer option for hair removal.

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January 15th, 2012

Few basic ways to protect your memory

Although we’re a long way from having a magic pill that can prevent Alzheimer’s, there’s mounting evidence that we can take steps to help protect ourselves. Simply eating a healthy low-fat diet, controlling our weight (regular exercises) and keeping our blood pressure down (keeping the bad cholesterol at bay) will reduce the risk by 20-30 percent).

Stay mentally engaged: Sudoku an crossword puzzles (plenty of them in the daily newspapers) or learning French or Sanskrit with your grandson any kind of ‘mental aerobics’ can help protect against dementia. A busy social life (get-together of former colleagues on Sunday mornings; golfing in the afternoons; game of bridge in the club) can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by upto 38 percent

Increase your activity levels: Regular exercise in middife can cut your risk. People in their late 40s and early 50s exercising for half an hour at least twice a week could halve their risk. Once you stop exercising, the bones assume you no longer need them and start losing their mass. Simple walking is the best form of working the muscles, while putting no stress on joints.

Maintain optimal weight : Research shows that being overweight in meddle are, especially the extra tyres around the belly, significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer’s (obesity lays the ground for diabetes, which increases risk of Alzheimer’s)

Have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked: High blood pressure increases the risk f strokes, which can trigger dementia. Stick to the ideal 120/80

Feed your mind: Fish (rich in omega-3 fatty acids) may help protect against dementia, while antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables are important for healthy blood vessels and to protect nerve cells from damage (they map up harmful free radicals in the body). Leafy green vegetables and fortified cerals rich in folic acid may also help by lowering levels of homocysteine (amino acids harmful for the heart).

Say no to extra salt:  A high sodium diet pushes up your blood pressure, increasing health risk.

Drink in moderation: Small amounts of alcohol (one small drink, that would be 30 ml a day) me reduce chances of demtia by helping to protect nerve cells from injury or degeneration.

Eat whole grains, nuts and sunflower seeds: These are rich in vitamin E, which reduce the risk of Alzeimer’s

Drink tea: Researchers found that two cups of green and even black tea daily retarded the activity of damaging chemicals in the brain. Avoid the much-maligned milk in tea

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January 11th, 2012

WORK TODAY FOR ARTHRITIS, TO GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Red, burning, swollen and so stiff you don’t want to move…that’s what those who suffer from arthritis experience on a daily basis. If you know this all to well, you are probably one of the 46 million Americans (that’s 1 out of ever 5 people) that are living with arthritis ever day. To better understand how to get relief from this debilitating disease we need to dive deeper into its root cause.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis actually means joint (arthr) inflammation (itis). Arthritis can be used to define a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints or any part of your body. Additionally, it can damage the joint cartilage which can lead to joint weakness, instability and visible deformities that can interfere and, in severe cases, limit a person’s ability to perform most basic daily tasks such as waling, climbing stairs, using a computer keyboard, washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Arthritis can affect anyone regardless of age and most commonly affects joints in the knees, hips, hands and spine. If left diagnosed and not treated properly, arthritis can cause irreversible damage to the joints, bones, organs, and skin. Not to mention dramatically impair your quality of life. Some of the types of arthritis which are associated with inflammation include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica

Arthritis-related conditions primarily affect the muscles and the bones but it is also considered to be systemic, affecting the whole body. Arthritis can cause damage to any bodily organ or system, including the lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, skin and ever the hear.

No one really knows the exact cause of arthritis but there are certain resk factors to keep in mind:

Exercise- likely to contribute to risk but no one knows how much.

Age- the older you are the more at risk you become.

Weight- maintaining a healthy weight will ease the load on the joints

Previous injury- major injuries are likely to contribute to risk.

Occupational Hazards- repetitive, high demand jobs increase risk.

Certain Sports- high level, high demand sports can contribute to arthritis (however, general exercise is always a plus)

Illness of infection- an infection in the joint or gout can lead to arthritis.

What we do know is that when you have arthritis your immune system goes into over-drive and causes the joints to swell and become inflamed. Therefore, treating the inflammation becomes key in managing the pain and discomfort associated with this condition.

Sadly enough, the arthritis foundation reports that half of those Americans with arthritis don’t believe anything can be done to help ease their pain. You may be in that situation yourself, having thrown your hands up in frustration and simply decide to live with your pain. The good news is that by reducing the inflammation you can significantly ease the painful symptoms associated with arthritis.

Here are a few ways to reduce your inflammation:

Exercise- less weight equals less stress on joints

Diet- eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products; limit sugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat found in animal products)

Rest- a good balance between rest and activity is the key to joint health

Over-the-counter and prescription medications- while these may provide temporary relief by masking the pain they are not always get to the root of the problem – inflammation. They can also have serious side effects, especially with long-term use.

Natural anti-inflammatory supplements- probably the most promising natural approach to reducing inflammation in a long while. We recommend looking for supplements containing systemic enzymes and all-natural herbal ingredients.

***** ^{END OF “SUNBURN”} *****

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January 11th, 2012

For Dry and Damaged Hair.

1. Ingredients: 1tbsp olive oil, 1tbsp sesame oil, 1tbsp coconut oil, 1tbsp honey, 1tbsp milk.

Blend it all in a processor until smooth. Apply it on wet hair, from the roots to the ends. Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Store the remaining mixture in the fridge.

2. Ingredients: 1 ripe banana, 1tbsp almond oil, 1tsp lavender oil

mash the banana with the oils. Apply to hair to coat thoroughly. Leaver it for 20 minutes, shampoo.

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January 11th, 2012

A little care keeps your hair perfectly groomed…

1. Color: Winter dryness dulls and darkness hair. Color or highlighting further strips moisture. Combat with an intensive conditioner that hydrates you hair and protects your colour simultaneously.

2. Moisturise : Add moisture to your hair. A good moistrurising conditioner coupled with a weekly hair mask is your best bet. If your hair is damaged or dry, look for a moisturising shampoo as well.

3. Lock the Moisture in:  Hair is much denser than skin-the cuticle (outer layer of a hair strand) is difficult to penetrate. Once you’ve used a product that penetrates and moisurieses your hair, it’s important for the cuticle to ‘close’ to lock in that moisture. A cold or cooL rinse helps close the cu tide. Rinse your hair with a vinegar solution of 2 tbsp vinegar in a 500ml of water. Let it sit on the hair for a few minutes; then rinse with cool or cold water. This contracts the cuticle and locks in the moisture to give smooth hair. (see Pack in a hair Punch for more tips).

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December 22nd, 2011

Good Looks

Winter Skin Care…

The chill is hard on skin Dry air and harsh wind can sap moisture from the skin, causing skin to crack, chap and get irritated. Here are some suggestions to help you keep your skin looking youthful and healthy throughout the cold, nippy winter months

• Continue to protect your skin from sun damage- Since you’re usually bundled up when outside in the wintertime, you don’t need to slather sunscreen all over yourself, but make sure you wear make-up or moisturizer with SPF 15 on exposed skin. Opt for a high-SPF sunscreen if your intend to indulge in outdoor sports such as skiing; some of the most severe sunburns occur on the slopes, since the snow reflects the sunlight. If on a cruise, carry along a good sunscreen. Don’t forget your lips-wear lip balm or lipstick with sunscreen.
• Re-check your skin care regime. If you have sensitive skin, you may need to cut back on using sloughing products containing alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) as they may exacerbate dry, irritated skin.
• Don’t take long, hot showers:  They may sound appealing but they strip skin of its natural moisturizing lipids. Instead, take a short, warm shower: pat your skin almost dry, and then apply good moisturizers white skin is still damp. You will need a super-emollient lotion for hands, heels or anywhere else you experience especially dry, parched skin.
• Humidify indoor air: If you don’t have a humidifying system within your heating ducts, consider buying a humidifier. These devices will help prevent skin and nasal passages from drying. (If you do experience dryness or minor bleeding from your nose, you can use Vaseline to soothe and moisturise the area.
• If you develop severely dry skin, eczema or ‘winter itch’, go see your dermatologist; He may prescribe a mild steroid cream to restore your skin to good health.

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December 22nd, 2011

Breast self-examination

Women – no matter how young or old – must make their monthly breast self-examination a red-letter day in their calendar. Oversights can prove costly, so weave the examination into your monthly schedule.

When to carry it out? The best time is the week after your periods when the breasts lose their pre-menstrual engorgement. If you’ve reached menopause, select a convenient monthly date and stick to it.

What’s alarming? Look into a mirror and compare both breasts for size, uncanny bulges, dimpling and nipple abnormality. Peculiar rashes or flaky skin and any discharge too are signs of concern.

Stand tall. With your left hand by your side, feel your left breast with your right hand to check for lumps. Now do it with the left hand held overhead. Repeat on the right side now. Flex your chest muscles and check for lumps. Bend forward and check again.

What happens is: Your pectoral muscles are contracted in these positions, revealing any dimpling if a tumour has affected ligament.

Lie down: Place a pillow under your right shoulder and hold the right hand over the head. Check the right breast with the finger pads of the left hand, using circular motions beginning from the nipple and moving towards the periphery. Repeat on the left side.

When in the shower: Breastmasses can be easily felt on moist skin. Raise your right arm and with a soapy left hand examine your right breast using the same circular motion. Repeat on the left.

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