Keep Your Hair Looking Great

Having a bad hair day again? Dandruff? Excess hair? That doesn’t have to happen. Here are some easy tips for you and your family to follow to have great looking hair.

Too Much Breakage?

Does your hair break easily? Chemical treatments like perms, straighteners or dyes can weaken the hair shaft and cause it to break. Specially formulated shampoos and conditioners for chemically treated hair may help.

Are You Pregnant and Have Thinning Hair?

During pregnancy, your waistline is not the only thing getting thicker. Your hair will too. However, it’s not permanent - many women find that they lose a significant amount of hair a few months after delivery.

How much time will it take to grow in that bad hair cut?

Growing out your hair? Be patient. Each hair on your head grows for two to six years at a rate of only about 1.5 centimeters a month.

What causes dandruff?

An elevated amount of certain yeasts on the skin can lead to dandruff. Stress is also a factor, as are certain drugs and alcohol consumption. Dandruff isn’t infectious, so it can’t be spread from person to person.

Itchy and flaky scalp?

There are a number of medicated shampoos on the market that can help you control your dandruff. Look for shampoos containing selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid or coal tar. Used two or three times a week, these shampoos will usually keep the itching and dandruff under control.

Can I Use My Dandruff Shampoo on my Face?

If you have red scaly skin on your eyebrows or the side of your nose, you may want to try a medicated shampoo. Shampoos that contain zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole inhibit the yeast that causes dandruff - a skin condition that can also show up on the face. This is called seborrheic dermatitis and is a kind of inflamed dandruff.

Unwanted hair?

Many women have unwanted hair on the upper lip, face, or elsewhere on the body. Often caused by overproduction or over sensitivity of the hormones called androgen, this excessive hair growth (hirsutism) can be treated in a variety of ways. There are treatments available (i.e. Vaniqa) so see your doctor for more information.

For more tips on healthy and beautiful skin, visit www.dermatologycare.ca.

Top Anti-Aging Tips for Overall Health

“Carpe Diem” The Roman poet Horace wrote. “Seize the day.. and place no trust in tomorrow.”  Well, that might have worked well in ancient times, when life expectancy was just a wee bit shorter - say age 40 - and wrinkles weren’t a high priority. But just because our modern days are adding up, doesn’t mean we have to show it!

Anti aging tips can teach us effective ways to slow down aging process. Aging cannot be stopped but it can be delayed by following healthy lifestyle. By following certain important steps regularly, we can hold off the affects of father time just a little while longer. There are both ancient proven therapies and modern treatments that effectively reduce the effects of aging. We first need to understand that:

* Aging is a natural process
* It is a continuous process
* It increases with time
* It cannot be stopped but can be slowed down
Intake of Anti Aging Herbs

Herbs like Ginseng, Rhodiola, Maca have active ingredients that directly/ indirectly suppress aging.

There main properties are:

* They boost our energy level and acts as anti stress.
* They strengthen our internal system and increase our resistance power
* They are natural and safe to use and do not have adverse side effects compared to chemical based medicines.

Yoga And Meditation

Practiced in ancient India and Asia for centuries, yoga has gained a huge following in the West. A few benefits of yoga and meditation are:

* Meditation is excellent for mind and practicing it releases stress.
* Meditation increases concentration. Yoga is a combination of breathing and body postures that increases blood circulation.
* Yoga strengthens muscles and regulates the flow of oxygen in our system.
* Yoga has long-term effect and should be practiced regularly.
* Yoga keeps your body fit and energy level high thus suppressing aging.
* Yoga helps in maintaining weight by burning fat and increases metabolic rate to certain extent. It involves no external application or intake of any medicine. It is the most simple and natural way to stay fit physically and mentally

Exercise

Exercising regularly keeps you slim and fit. Today doctors recommend regular daily exercise for maximum benefits as well as helping to keep those health insurance premiums low.

Benefits of exercises are:

*Increased your cardiovascular capability and hence you feel more active.
* Staying slim is one of the key factors to look young.
* Exercising tones your muscles and they do not sag early. It burns your extra flab and prevents bone loss.
* It helps to fight high blood pressure, cholesterol and gives you good sleep. Exercising hence will keep you slim, fit, stress free, and thus reducing your aging process.

Natural Skin Care
Regular cleansing is very important to keep our skin free from dirt and dead cells. Natural products are soft on skin and they do not harm our skin. A few benefits of natural skin care are:

* Cleaning our skin with natural scrubs remove dead cells and add a glow to your skin.
* Proper toning and moisturizing using natural toner and cream keeps the skin soft and clean.
* The cleaning regimen followed dedicatedly, is an anti aging process in itself. It is very important to keep your skin clean from pollution, harmful UV rays and other external impurities.

Restricted Diet
What we eat is what we gain on our body. Obesity is one of the most prevalent diseases the world is fighting. We need food to extract energy for our survival of course, but everything in moderation is the key.

Some benefits of proper diets are:

* Restricted diet provides you with what your body actually needs and keeps extra calories away.
* A low calorie diet with a balance of all nutrients is the ideal menu for all.

* Starving or over eating should be avoided. Going for crash diets and binges are fatal for life and may lead to other chemical imbalances, such as depression or hormone fluctuations. Hence eating what yourbody requires needs proper diet planning.
* Taking raw food rich in vitamins and minerals acts as rich source of anti aging agents.

Oral Supplements
No matter how efficiently and carefully we eat, at times we all have low levels of vitamins and minerals in our bodies.
The main reasons to take oral supplements are:

* As we age the food intake decreases and hence the sufficient proportion of vitamins and minerals do not reach in body.
* Certain food restrictions or diets also lower the intake of vitamins and minerals from their natural source.

This is the time when oral supplements come into picture. Multi Vitamin supplements are given during pregnancy, illness and in chronic diseases and for anti aging. Vitamins are responsible for maintenance of our body they are effective anti oxidant and anti aging agents.

Anti Oxidants
An anti oxidant is a substance that protects body from the ill effects of oxidation. Vitamin E, C and A have strong anti oxidant properties. Some benefits of Anti Oxidants are:

* Extra amounts of free radicals in anti oxidants control compounds such as Lipoic acid and help slow aging.
* Anti Oxidants reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Hormones (HRT)
Hormones are strong chemicals produced from cholesterol, amino acids and proteins from endocrine glands. They work as a messenger between our brains to body organs. Hormone Replacement Therapy adjusts the body to aging.

A few benefits of HRT are:

* Improved skin and body moisture.
* Increased sexual drive rejuvenates brain, hence, the person feels young and energetic.

HRT should be taken strictly under the supervision of specialized medical practitioner.

If beating father time is on your top priority list, then hopefully, some of the above tips will help you maintain that gorgeous youthful skin and body!

What to Expect When Receiving a Facial

By: Van Le

Proper skincare goes beyond wearing sunscreen in the morning and taking off all your makeup at night. Your skin is constantly exposed to internal and external elements, and needs extra help in order maintain a healthy glow. Getting facials can be one way to revamp your skin while pampering yourself. Along with pure relaxation, facials provide not only beauty benefits but also health benefits. According to New Life Journal’s article, “A facial, it’s more than meets the eye” by Julie Pagano, “the major health benefits of regular facials are regulation of the immune system, detoxification, reduction in fluid build-up, exfoliation, and stress relief. These benefits are achieved in a facial that incorporates lymphatic drainage, exfoliation treatments, acupressure, and aromatherapy.”

The health benefits are just the icing on the cake. What really lures us in is the relaxation and pampering we receive when getting a facial. Never had a facial before? Consider this Facial 101. Plan to arrive at the location five to ten minutes before your appointment. Most places will ask you to fill out a short questionnaire about your skin type and skincare habits. This would also be the right time to let the aesthetician be aware of any allergies you may have. The spa will provide you with a terry top so that it is easier to massage your neck and shoulders. You will also be given a headband to keep your hair out of the way.

The aesthetician will clean your face of any leftover makeup and analyze your skin under a magnifying glass light. Some will use a steam mist to open your pores. Depending on the type of facial you are getting, he/she will massage a wide variety of different cleansers, exfoliating creams, and masks on your face. Some creams and masks will be left on your face for several minutes, which can be a very blissful and relaxing experience. Most places will also extract blackheads and pimples, which can be a bit painful but not overwhelming. (If you are afraid it will hurt, you should take a pain reliever before arriving at the spa). Afterwards, the aesthetician will continue to apply masks and creams, as well as massaging your neck and shoulders. At the end of the facial, he/she will give you a breakdown of the products used during the session, make recommendations for at-home practices, and answer any questions you may have.

Essentially, all facials are designed to cleanse the deep pockets in your pores, however, depending on your specific needs, there are several types of facials available, including anti-aging, aromatherapy, and acne facials. The cost and length of time can vary from $50-$250 and 30-90 minutes.

For the period in between visits, check the site archives for several at-home remedies available to help rejuvenate your skin and keep it looking healthy.

Facials are meant to help you relax and a great way to help relieve the stress created from between the time you put on sunscreen in the morning and the time you take your makeup off at night.

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare, you can also link to ORGANICSKINCAREINFO.NET

Skin Care Fundamentals

Skin Care is the first step towards achieving a healthy body. Facial skin care should be an essential part of your daily routine. Skin care specialists say any imbalance in the protective barrier that envelops the human body provides a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, resulting in many types of skin irritations and accelerating the aging process.

Natural skin care is the care of the skin (the largest organ of the body) using naturally-derived ingredients (such
as herbs, roots, essential oils and flowers) combined with naturally occurring carrier agents, preservatives,
surfactants, humectants and emulsifiers (everything from natural soap to oils to pure water). While skin treatment
is going green - like everything else - you still have to make sure you read the labels. Natural products have
become a big business in recent years as more and more consumers seek a gentler, healthier alternative for their
skin care needs, but just because it is natural, doesn’t always mean you won’t have an allergic reaction.

Among more natural approaches, steaming is a great way to clear your pores and detoxify your skin. Steaming is a
skin care fundamental. It helps draw out toxins and impurities and also helps the skin soak in the benefits of
masks, face scrubs and creams.

Basic Steaming:

1. Fill a large pot with hot water or drape a towel over your bathroom skin, filled with hot water.
2. You can add fragrant herbs to the water such as calming calendula, rose petals, or chamomile. Be very
careful to NOT use irritating herbs or oils that can burn or sting - such as peppermint, rosemary or other mints.
3. Lower your face over the pot which should cover the head and pot in a way that steam is directed towards your
face. Don’t let the steam burn your face though - this can cause more damage than good as it can rupture blood
vessles in your thin facial skin resulting in roseacea among other problems. Try to keep a distance of at lease 14
-16 inches from the water’s surface - keep the steaming result very light.
4. Use a soft towel to dry your face by blotting - not rubbing.

A proper steam won’t remove dirt and grime directly, but it will soften the skin’s surface enough to help cleanse and unclog pores. Another added benefit is the heat increases circulation and relaxes facial muscles. You may feel rejuvenated and free of tension.

As a good skin care practice, steaming should be done once in week. Gently cleanse and exfoliate your facev before you steam. This will clear the dead cells off and increase the blood circulation. If you have dry skin, frequent steaming is not recommended as it will devoid the skin of its natural moisture.

The skin on your face needs more attention than the rest of your body because it is exposed to the element son a constant basis. While keeping your skin healthy and blemish free with regular cleansing and steaming, it is also important to put sunscreen on your face as well as on your body.

Most facial skin responds to the weather and seasonal elements - with a combination of skin types, meaning different areas of the face may be dry and oily at the same time - such as combination skin and will fluctuate with weather, diet, stress and overall health.

The single most important thing to remember in proper skin care is that it usually shines best with poper diet and lifestyle choices. Not matter how many expensive products you buy, if you don’t treat your body well, with a clean diet and lots of excerside, your skin will never look its best.

Age spots, Shingles and Brusing

Age Spots

Age spots, or “liver spots” as they’re often called, have nothing to do with the liver. Rather, these flat, brown spots are caused by years of sun exposure. They are bigger than freckles and appear in fair-skinned people on sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. The medical name for them is solar lentigo. They may be accompanied by wrinkling, dryness, thinning of the skin, and rough spots.

A number of treatments are available, including skin-lightening, or “fade” creams; cryotherapy (freezing); and laser therapy. Tretinoin cream is approved for reducing the appearance of darkened spots. A sunscreen or sun block should be used to prevent further damage.

Shingles

Shingles is an outbreak of a rash or blisters on the skin that may cause severe pain. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies silent in the nerve tissue. Years later, the virus can reappear in the form of shingles. Although it is most common in people over age 50, anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. It also is common in people with weakened immune systems due to HIV infection, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, transplant operations, and stress.

Early signs of shingles include burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching, generally on one side of the body or face. A rash appears as a band or patch of raised dots on the side of the trunk or face. The rash develops into small, fluid-filled blisters, which begin to dry out and crust over within several days. When the rash is at its peak, symptoms can range from mild itching to intense pain. Most people with shingles have only one bout with the disease in their lifetime. However, those with impaired immune systems — for example, people with AIDS or cancer — may suffer repeated episodes.

If you suspect you have shingles, see a doctor right away. The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be reduced significantly by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs. These drugs also may help prevent the painful aftereffects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases currently is testing a shingles vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The vaccine they are testing is similar to the one used to immunize against chickenpox. After the shot, some people have had some discomfort around the area of the injection. In addition, a few people have had a low-grade fever. For more information about this study, call 1-800-411-1222.

Bruising

Many older people notice an increased number of bruises, especially on their arms and legs. The skin becomes thinner with age and sun damage. Loss of fat and connective tissue weakens the support around blood vessels, making them more susceptible to injury. The skin bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal.

Sometimes bruising is caused by medications or illness. If bruising occurs in areas always covered by clothing, see a doctor.

Tone up, Clean up, Get Moisturized!

With the chilly winds already bidding adieu it’s time to take out those sporty shorts and T-shirts for a stroll on the beach or a run in the park You’ve done the push-ups and the crunches in anticipation for the skin-revealing days ahead. You want to look your best, and taking good care of your skin is a part of that. So you spent most of the winter indoors, watching too much TV or gaming? Say goodbye to those baggy eye circles and dull skin by treating yourself to a detoxifying skin mask or a facial scrub and gear up for summer!

Men’s skin care products have always been available, but you may not know much about them yourself. Everyone from late night television hosts to media publications bring up skin care topics and recent dermatological advances have made the skincare market even larger and more complicated. Sorry guys, just when you were comfortable with cologne, now you have to exfoliate! With busy lives and building stress, it may be difficult for today’s modern men to retain the facial charm of their younger days.

Keeping that youthful appearance

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and requires special care. As the saying goes, “A healthy mind in a healthy body’” which means paying attention to your skin is essential to overall health. While it’s expected for women to buy skin care products, men are more laid back and seldom pay attention to facial skincare beyond daily shaving or grooming. Factors like pollution, stress, UV- rays and sun burns can cause severe damage to the inner pores which in the long term results in wrinkling, clogging and drying of the skin. As men reach their 30s and 40s, the skin gets dulled due to the daily process of shaving, excessive time outdoors and exposing the skin to different elements that can lead to blotching, which ultimately takes its toll on overall appearance of the face.

If you desire to protect your skin from further damage, right use of skin care products is essential to retain youthfulness. Once you become familiar with the basics; cleansing, toning, moisturizing - it’s not difficult at all, it’s all about setting up a routine.

Facial skin care

Proper skin care depends on the type of skin you have. Our skin can be categorized into many segments such as oily, dry, sun damaged, and sensitive. With the markets offering an ample pool of products to choose from, it’s always a struggle for men to see what suits them best. It’s always good to go organic. Try natural products when possible as the chances of side effects are less and the natural balance of the skin is retained. Before we plunge on to using these products here’s some basic things we can do to keep the aging process delayed.
Regular light exercising, thirty-minute cardio, brisk walks, yoga and other meditation techniques will calm down the adrenaline levels, keeping your skin blemish-free. Eight to ten glasses of water a day aids metabolism and helps your body flush toxins. In a nutshell, an exercise routine is the first step to fight off the signs of aging.

How to Cleanse your Face

I’ve got one thing to say - stop using soap on your face. Many advanced cleansers out there improve your complexion and don’t strip the natural moisture away. Begin with warm water; wash the face with pore refining cleansers that break down the accumulated grits and dirt without drying the skin. Morning is the best time for cleansing, to remove the dead skin and uneven patches that accumulated overnight. Shaving after you shower will reduce rashes, and makes the outer skin layer soft and gives you a smooth finish.

Using Facial Masks

If you have oily or acne prone skin, mud or clay-based masks are great for balancing out your skin. Dry skin will benefit from hydrating masks made from glycerin, honey and oils. Green tea masks are great for soothing skin.

Hydrating and moisturizing

The next most common facial masks are those that either hydrate or moisturize the skin, leaving it feeling silky, smooth and nourished. They will restore the suppleness of your skin by replenishing the water content. Hydrating and moisturizing masks can be used two or three times a week, depending on the dryness of your skin. For those will oilier skin, try a gel based, non-oil mask.

There are no miracle quick-fix homemade solutions. It’s all patience, gracefulness and the right attitude that gets you the results! Reminds me of that comedy ‘The Wedding Crasher’…It all starts with a shave! So, if you want to turn heads with your spiffy new looks this summer – treat your face to the right products.

Ravi Thiagarajan is a freelance writer and intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. He has published numerous articles for the leading newspaper The Times of India, local affiliate Anand Plus.

For more information and latest findings on natural skincare link to  ANTIACNEMASK.COM or ORGANICSKINCAREINFO.NET