Apart from these, milk acts as an amazing skin cleansing, exfoliating, anti-ageing, anti-pigmentation agent. With all these benefits, you cannot deny that milk is an excellent skin care ingredient.
Showing posts with label Skin Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skin Care. Show all posts
How milk is so good for skin?
Apart from these, milk acts as an amazing skin cleansing, exfoliating, anti-ageing, anti-pigmentation agent. With all these benefits, you cannot deny that milk is an excellent skin care ingredient.
Facekini: Newest Trend in Skin Protection
One of the reasons behind the peculiar trend is that the Chinese consider a pale complexion to be a prized possession. CNN Travel notes that there’s a Chinese saying that translates to “white skin covers up a hundred uglinesses,” which is mantra for women throughout Asia.
Remedies for Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a highly infectious viral illness, most common in children, that causes an intensely itchy rash of blisters. Your child may generally feel unwell, with a headache and mild fever, just before the rash develops and for the first few days afterwards. The first symptoms appear 10-21 days after contact with the infection, and most children are completely recovered 7-10 days later.
See your doctor first
Arrange to see your doctor to confirm that your child has chickenpox.
NATURAL REMEDIES
Effective remedies for Eczema
Eczema causes patches of dry, intensely itchy skin, which usually appear on the face, hands, wrists, and scalp, and in the creases of the knees and elbows. Repeated scatching may leave the skin cracked and open to infection. Eczema is often linked to allergies and asthma. It usually develops in infancy and disappears by the early teenage years, but adults may have relapses triggered by factors such as stress, house dust mites, and some foods.
See your doctor first
Make an appointment to see your doctor even if you are fairly sure that you have eczema.
DRUG REMEDIES
See your doctor first
Make an appointment to see your doctor even if you are fairly sure that you have eczema.
DRUG REMEDIES
How to get Acne free face
DRUG REMEDIES
Prevent Athlete’s Foot and Jock Itch
These are common fungal infections. Athlete’s foot affects the skin between the toes, making it cracked, sore, and itchy with peeling areas. It may spread to the soles and toenails. Jock itch is an itchy, scaly, red rash in the groin, more common in men. Both infections thrive in warm, sweaty conditions. You can catch them from contact with an infected person or sharing items such as towels and footwear.
Powder spray
Apply the powder after washing and drying your feet carefully. Spray generously, paying particular attention to areas between the toes.
Seek medical advice
Arrange to see your doctor if:
* The affected area becomes hot and red, or starts weeping.
* The infection does not clear up after you have tried self-help treatment.
What you can do yourself
Both infections are easy to treat yourself. Keep using the good hygiene practices outlined below to help prevent fungal infections recurring.
Athlete’s foot
* Treat the infection with an antifungal cream and/or powder (see DRUG REMEDIES below)
* Wash your feet twice daily, making sure you dry thoroughly between your toes afterwards. Use a separate towel just for drying your feet, and launder the towel frequently.
* Wear socks made from natural fibres and change them at least once a day. Women should avoid wearing tights and stockings, especially those that cramp the feet.
* Wear well-ventilated shoes made from natural rather than synthetic materials; open-toed sandals are particularly good.
* Wear flip-flops when walking around communal changing areas, such as at swimming baths.
DRUG REMEDIES
Antifungal drugs, such as clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine, are used to treat athlete’s foot and jock itch. They are available as a cream or a fine powder spray (which is usually easier to apply) and should be applied as directed. The infection should start to clear up within a week, although it may take several weeks longer to disappear completely. To help treat athlete’s foot, you can also dust inside your shoes and socks with an antifungal foot powder.
Jock itch
* Apply an antifungal treatment to the infected area.
* Wash your groin regularly, drying it thoroughly but avoiding chafing. Use a separate towel to dry this area, and launder the towel frequently.
* Don’t wear tight-fitting trousers or underwear, or underwear made from synthetic fabrics. Cotton pants or boxer shorts are best. Change them daily.
Powder spray
Apply the powder after washing and drying your feet carefully. Spray generously, paying particular attention to areas between the toes.
Seek medical advice
Arrange to see your doctor if:
* The affected area becomes hot and red, or starts weeping.
* The infection does not clear up after you have tried self-help treatment.
What you can do yourself
Both infections are easy to treat yourself. Keep using the good hygiene practices outlined below to help prevent fungal infections recurring.
Athlete’s foot
* Treat the infection with an antifungal cream and/or powder (see DRUG REMEDIES below)
* Wash your feet twice daily, making sure you dry thoroughly between your toes afterwards. Use a separate towel just for drying your feet, and launder the towel frequently.
* Wear socks made from natural fibres and change them at least once a day. Women should avoid wearing tights and stockings, especially those that cramp the feet.
* Wear well-ventilated shoes made from natural rather than synthetic materials; open-toed sandals are particularly good.
* Wear flip-flops when walking around communal changing areas, such as at swimming baths.
DRUG REMEDIES
Antifungal drugs, such as clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine, are used to treat athlete’s foot and jock itch. They are available as a cream or a fine powder spray (which is usually easier to apply) and should be applied as directed. The infection should start to clear up within a week, although it may take several weeks longer to disappear completely. To help treat athlete’s foot, you can also dust inside your shoes and socks with an antifungal foot powder.
Jock itch
* Apply an antifungal treatment to the infected area.
* Wash your groin regularly, drying it thoroughly but avoiding chafing. Use a separate towel to dry this area, and launder the towel frequently.
* Don’t wear tight-fitting trousers or underwear, or underwear made from synthetic fabrics. Cotton pants or boxer shorts are best. Change them daily.
How to prevent corns and calluses?
Prolonged pressure or friction on the feet or hands can cause patches of hard skin – corns or calluses – to form. Corns tend to develop over the toe joints or between toes, often as a result of badly fitting shoes. Calluses may occur on the soles of your feet, usually due to uneven pressure when walking, or on your feet, usually due to uneven pressure when walking, or on your hands if you do heavy manual work or play a musical instrument. Corns and calluses protect the soft skin beneath, so you may not need to remove them unless they are painful.
See your doctor or chiropodist first
Make an appointment to see your doctor or a chiropodist if you have corns and calluses and you also have diabetes or suffer from poor circulation.
PREVENTION
Preventing corns and calluses
The following measures will help to protect your hands and feet from friction and pressure.
* Wear comfortable shoes that fit properly. Avoid high heels and pointed shoes. Make sure worn-down soles and heels are repaired promptly.
* If your soles are prone to calluses, cushion them with hydrocolloid plasters or padding inside your shoe.
* Use a moisturizer regularly to keep your skin soft (see DRUG REMEDIES, above).
* Wear padded gloves when using tools or machinery.
* If you play a stringed instrumehnt, it may help to put plasters on your fingertips for protection.
What you can do yourself
First find out what has caused the corn or callus, because it will be easier to treat once the source of friction has been removed. Take the following steps to relieve the problem.
* Use a foam wedge to relieve pressure on corns between the toes, and corn pads (small rings of sponge) to protect corns in other areas. Hydrocolloid corn plasters will help to cushion and soften the skin (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).
* Soak the corn or callus in warm, soapy water for 10 minutes each day, then use a pumice stone to gently rub away the hard skin.
* Never cut or shave corns yourself. Instead, you can apply salicylic acid to soften the thickened skin gradually (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).
Seek further medical advice if:
* Your corn or callus does not disappear with self-help measures
* The skin is becoming painful, red, swollen, or weepy, or an ulcer develops
DRUG REMEDIES
Hydrocolloid plasters (see p 183) for corns and calluses contain a substance that absorbs moisture released by the skin. This forms a gel that cushions the area and also softens the skin so that the corn or callus can be removed easily.
Salicylic acid gels, lotions, or ointments can be used to soften calluses and corns, making them easier to remove. Products containing salicylic acid may burn surrounding skin, so apply them with care and follow the instructions carefully. Alternatively, use corn pads or plasters, which apply salicylic acid directly to the corn.
Moisturizers soften the skin, so calluses are less likely to develop. Apply aqueous cream or emulsifying ointment to the hands and feet after washing and during the day.
Top remedies for dry skin
When your skin lacks moisture it tends to be itchy and flaky. It may look red, rough, and scaly and, in severe cases, become cracked and inflamed. You are most likely to develop dry skin on your lower legs, arms, and the backs of your hands because these areas produce less of the natural oils that seal moisture into the skin. Your skin also becomes drier as you get older and during the menopause. You may develop sore, rough, chapped skin on your face in dry, cold weather, or if your face gets wet repeatedly and is not dried properly.NATURAL REMEDIES
Oatmeal bath oil is soothing and moisturizing for dry, itchy skin. Add it to a warm bath and soak for 10-20 minutes.
Seek medical advice if:
* You still have dry, chapped skin after trying the measures described above
* Your skin becomes inflamed and bleeds
What you can do yourself
There are plenty of easy-to-use remedies that reduce the discomfort of dry, itchy skin and improve its appearance. Use the following measure.
* Have baths rather than showers (which tend to strip oils from the skin) no more than once a day in warm, rather than hot, water. Don’t use perfumed or medicated bath products or soaps.
* Use moisturizing cream or ointment instead of soap or add an emollient bath additive to your bath (see DRUG REMEDIES).
* After your bath, apply a moisturizing cream (see DRUG REMEDIES). Reapply it frequently to exposed areas such as your hands and face, especially after washing or if you are outdoors for long periods in cold weather. Keep tubes of cream around the house and at work to use during the day.
* Alternatively, use a bath oil containing oatmeal (see NATURAL REMEDIES).
PREVENTION
Preventing dryness if your skin tends to get dry or chapped, try the following measures.
* Don’t overheat your home. In centrally heated rooms keep the air moist by fitting humidifying devices to radiators, or put bowls of water near them.
* Wear rubber gloves for household cleaning and gloves for gardening and other outdoor activities.
* Limit sunbathing. Use a sunscreen when you are out in the sun. At high altitudes, use a sunscreen formulated for skiing or a total sunblock.
* Rinse your laundry well and don’t use fabric conditioners; they may irritate your skin.
DRUG REMEDIES
Emollient bath additives
contain substances such as light liquid paraffin that disperse in water to make a soothing, milky bath that also cleans the skin. Soak for 10-20 minutes and pat yourself dry gently to keep the emollient on your skin.
Moisturizers can be used for washing and to protect and soothe dry skin. Use aqueous cream or emulsifying ointment in the bath and when you wash. Rinse of thoroughly, pat your skin dry, and then apply more aqueous cream.
Aqueous cream Apply aqueous cream liberally to your skin while it is still moist after a bath.
Effective Natural Remedies For Psoriasis
In psoriasis, patches of red, thickened skin with silvery scales develop, usually on your elbows, knees, scalp, and trunk. These areas can be itchy and painful. Your nails may become rough and pitted, and, less commonly, a form of arthritis develops. Psoriasis can be a persistent problem, and tends to run in families. Stress, infections such as a sore throat, and skin injuries may trigger an attack or make it worse.
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you think that you have psoriasis.
NATURAL REMEDIES
Oatmeal bath oils help to soften scaly plaques and relieve itching. Aloe vera creams and gels may help to reduce dryness and itching in psoriasis. There is some evidence for their effectiveness but ask your doctor for advice before using them.
Using aloe vera
Apply aloe vera gel or cream thinly to irritated and itchy patches of skin and rub in lightly.
What you can do yourself
The following measures may be all you need to treat a mild case of psoriasis. Check with your doctor before using them with prescribed treatment.
* Take a daily bath in warm water to soak off the scales. Try using a coal tar preparation (see DRUG REMEDIES) to soften the scales.
* Apply a moisturizer to lubricate and soften scaly patches of skin (see DRUG REMEDIES).
* Don’t scratch or rub patches of thickened skin. Using an oatmeal bath oil, or
applying an aloe vera cream or gel, may help to reduce itchiness (see NATURAL REMEDIES).
* Sunshine can help to improve psoriasis but be careful not to burn. Sunburn can make it worse.
* If stress is making your psoriasis worse, try some deep breathing and muscle relaxation exercises.
Arrange to see your doctor again if:
* Your psoriasis is not controlled by treatment
* Large areas of skin become red and inflamed, and you have a fever and feel unwell
* You develop joint pains
DRUG REMEDIES
Coal tar preparations help to control psoriasis but have a strong smell. Add a coal tar solution to a daily bath; apply a cream (usually 1-3 times daily); and use a coal tar shampoo. If you have thick scales on your scalp, use coal tar combined with salicylic acid to soften and remove them. If your skin becomes irritated, discontinue use. Coal tar makes skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light, so avoid exposing skin to sunlight after use.
Moisturizers, such as aqueous cream, should be rubbed gently into the skin as often as possible to relieve itching and loosen scales.
Scabies: Natural Remedies & Prevention Tips
Scabies is an infestation caused by a mite that burrows just under the skin surface. At first you will have intense itching, which is worse at night. You may then notice little bumps and tiny, pencil-like lines (burrows); these usually develop between the fingers and toes and on the elbows and wrists, but may occur anywhere on your skin. Scabies is troublesome rather than serious. Anyone can catch it, regardless of age and personal hygiene, through any type of skin-to-skin contact or simply by sharing bedding, towels, or clothing.
See your doctor first
* You are not sure that you have scabies
* You are pregnant or breastfeeding
* A baby under 6 months has scabies
* You are still itching more than 2 weeks after finishing your course of treatment
* The rash becomes sore and starts to ooze.
What you can do your self
For best results, start scabies treatment as soon as the symptoms appear. This may be anything up to 6 weeks after infestation, and the itching can last for several weeks.
* Use a cream or lotion for treating scabies (see DRUG REMEDIES, below).
* You can relieve itching with a skin cream or lotion and/or take an antihistamine if itching is making it difficult for you to sleep (see DRUG REMEDIES, below).
* Make sure other people in the home and close friends are treated, even if they are not showing signs of scabies, because they can have the infestation without symptoms.
* Scabies mites can live for 1-2 days in clothes and bedding. To kill the mites, wash clothes, bed linen, and towels in hot water and dry in a tumble dryer if possible. Wash personal items such as hairbrushes as well. Items that cannot be washed easily can be placed in a sealed plastic bag for at least 72 hours, which will kill the mites.
DRUG REMEDIES
Scabies lotions (see p 188) usually contain the insecticide substances malathion or premethrin. Ask your pharmacist to suggest a suitable preparation. Apply the treatment to your entire body, including your scalp, face, ears, and neck. Trim your nails short and apply it underneath your nail tips. Permethrin preparations should be left on for 8-12 hours and malathion preparations for 24 hours before washing off. A second application a week later is recommended.
Antihistamines can help to relieve itching. Sedative types make you drowsy, so are particularly useful at night.
Creams Crotamiton cream or calamine lotion help to relieve itching.
Relieving itching
Itching can persist for several weeks after the infestation has cleared, so you may need to continue using anti-itching cream.
See your doctor first
* You are not sure that you have scabies
* You are pregnant or breastfeeding
* A baby under 6 months has scabies
* You are still itching more than 2 weeks after finishing your course of treatment
* The rash becomes sore and starts to ooze.
What you can do your self
For best results, start scabies treatment as soon as the symptoms appear. This may be anything up to 6 weeks after infestation, and the itching can last for several weeks.
* Use a cream or lotion for treating scabies (see DRUG REMEDIES, below).
* You can relieve itching with a skin cream or lotion and/or take an antihistamine if itching is making it difficult for you to sleep (see DRUG REMEDIES, below).
* Make sure other people in the home and close friends are treated, even if they are not showing signs of scabies, because they can have the infestation without symptoms.
* Scabies mites can live for 1-2 days in clothes and bedding. To kill the mites, wash clothes, bed linen, and towels in hot water and dry in a tumble dryer if possible. Wash personal items such as hairbrushes as well. Items that cannot be washed easily can be placed in a sealed plastic bag for at least 72 hours, which will kill the mites.
DRUG REMEDIES
Scabies lotions (see p 188) usually contain the insecticide substances malathion or premethrin. Ask your pharmacist to suggest a suitable preparation. Apply the treatment to your entire body, including your scalp, face, ears, and neck. Trim your nails short and apply it underneath your nail tips. Permethrin preparations should be left on for 8-12 hours and malathion preparations for 24 hours before washing off. A second application a week later is recommended.
Antihistamines can help to relieve itching. Sedative types make you drowsy, so are particularly useful at night.
Creams Crotamiton cream or calamine lotion help to relieve itching.
Relieving itching
Itching can persist for several weeks after the infestation has cleared, so you may need to continue using anti-itching cream.
How to Prevent Itching
Itching is often a minor problem,but continual scratching may damage your skin and make the problem worse.A small area of itching may be caused by an insect bite or occur with a rash as a reaction to plants, metals, chemicals, or cosmetics, Larger areas may be due to dry skin,heat rash, hives, infections such as ringworm or scabies or skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Itching all over the body can be due to disorders such as diabetes,liver problems or drug reactions. Stress and anxiety may cause or aggravate itching.
Consult your doctor if you think itching may be caused by a prescribed medicine.
PREVENTION
Avoiding triggers for itching
Once itching is under control,try to identify what causes it or make it worse, if this isn’t already obvious.
* Keep a diary,noting when you feel itchy and which products you use on your skin or clothing.If you suspect itching is due to a skin product,switch to a mild,under fumed brand.If the cause is a washing powder,use a non-biological one and an extra rinse.
Seek further medical advice if
* Itching does not subside after about a week
* You develop other symptoms, such as jaundice or weight loss
What you can do yourself
There are several measures that you can take to help relieve itching.
* Try to resist scratching,and keep your fingernails short to limit any damage.
* Apply a cold compress,Soak a clean face cloth in cold water,wring ti out,then place it on the itchy area.Repeat as necessary.
* Apply a soothing preparation such as calamine lotion or crotamiton cream (see DRUG REMEDIES).
*Try a mild hydrocortisone cream for a localized area of red,itchy skin caused by an irritant,such as a cleaning product or metal jewellery.The cream is also helpful for insect bites and stings.
* Take antihistamine tablets to relieve itching that keeps you awake at night Antihistamine cream can be used to relieve insect bites and sting.
* Moisturize and protect dry skin.
* If stress aggravates itching,try some deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques.
*If possible,avoid hot or humid environments.
* Wear loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibers, but avoid wearing wool next to your skin.
DRUG REMEDIES
Calamine lotion has a cooling effect.Apply it to itchy areas as often as needed.
Crotamiton preparations help to soothe irritated skin and reduce itching.
Hydrocortisone cream reduces itching and redness and is useful for treating allergic skin reactions and insect stings.Dont use it on children under 10 without medical advice.
Sedating antihistamines such as chlorphenamine are taken orally to relieve itching.They will also help you to sleep.Use a cream for itchy insect bites and stings.
Eye color predict severity of skin conditions
Washington,: Eye color can tell whether you're at risk of serious skin conditions. The blue eyed are less likely to have vitiligo, while the brown eyed may have lower risk of melanoma, says a new study.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease in which pigment loss results in irregular white patches of skin and hair. Melanoma is the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.
The study, led by the University of Colorado School of Medicine (UCSM), looked at almost 3,000 people with vitiligo of Non-Hispanic European ancestry, identifying 13 new genes predisposed to vitiligo, the journal Nature Genetics reports.
"Genetically, in some ways vitiligo and melanoma are polar opposites. Some of the same genetic variations that make one more likely to have vitiligo make one less likely to have melanoma, and vice-versa," said Richard Spritz, director of the Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program at the UCSM.
"Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, in which a person's immune system attacks their normal pigment cells. We think that vitiligo represents overactivity of a normal process by which one's immune system searches out and destroys early cancerous melanoma cells," added Spritz, according to a Colorado statement.
People with vitiligo are at higher risk of various other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Their kin are also at higher risk for these same diseases, even if they don't have vitiligo.
Spritz said this means there must be some genes that push towards these autoimmune diseases in general, while other genes and environmental triggers determine which autoimmune disease occurs and when.
So, as scientists learn about the genetics of vitiligo, they are also learning about the genetics of these other autoimmune diseases.
source: ianslive
A skin patch that can monitor heart and brain
One day soon, your doctor might prescribe you something that looks like a colorful temporary tattoo. But when you apply it to your skin you'll end up with more than an interesting pattern. Your epidermis will be coated with a gossamer-thin layer of electronics. In the short term, this tattoo will be used to monitor your well-being. But in the long term it could be used to enhance your body as part of a remarkable new phase in human evolution, one foreseen by Edgar Allen Poe in the 19th century.
The immediate potential of these patches was outlined last month at the annual American Chemical Society meeting in San Diego, by Dr John Rogers of the University of Illinois. He told the meeting that he sees these rub-on "epidermal electronics" as a new way for doctors to monitor patients. These skin patches can detect and record a series of signals to check the health of brains, hearts and muscles without tethering the owner to bulky machines using electrodes glued with gels and tape, or even needles.
The patches, encased in water-soluble plastic, are transferred to the skin just like a temporary tattoo-transfer, with a backing that peels off. Their wearers can't feel them because they cling on to the skin by feeble electric forces between molecules (named van der Waals forces, after the Dutch physicist who first described them in 1873).
Better still, for the style-conscious at least, they can be covered with a real temporary tattoo and protected with a water-repellent spray so that they last for several days. Yet they can contain electronic circuits needed to monitor health status along with wireless capabilities that can be used to transmit data to the patient's mobile phone and on to the doctor's surgery.
The clever part was taking the brittle silicon used to build electronics and fashioning it into wires just a few billionths of a metre thick. These can give the electronics a flexibility that matches that of skin and can stretch and bend as people go about their business.
The latest patch developed by Dr Rogers's team can both measure muscle activity and stimulate those muscles so they could be used for rehabilitation. But Dr Rogers envisages broader applications - from monitoring sporting performance to seeing how hydrated your skin is with solar-powered epidermal electronics.
Which brings us back to Edgar Allan Poe. In an 1839 short story, The Man That Was Used Up, Poe told the tale of a wounded soldier whose body was rebuilt using synthetic parts, including the "handsomest pair of whiskers under the sun". This was an early account of what we now know as a cyborg, short for "cybernetic organism", a term coined in 1960 by Manfred Clynes and Nathan Kline in an article about the advantages of merging technology with the human body to help astronauts to survive in space.
What I find fascinating is the way that cyborgs have stealthily evolved on Earth. In popular culture, humans and machines are usually seen as separate, from the films of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the forthcoming movie Robot and Frank. They are often pitted against each other. This summer will see the 100th anniversary of the birthday of the British artificial intelligence pioneer Alan Turing, and there will be much talk of his influential test of synthetic minds in which a "chatbot" is deemed intelligent if it can fool us into thinking that it's human from its written responses (the "Turing test").
Yet all the while, humans have steadily fused with devices such as pacemakers, contact lenses, prosthetics, insulin pumps and cochlear and retinal implants. "For years, techno-futurists worried about a doomsday moment when electronic brains and robots got to be as smart as us," said Dr Andrew Nahum, senior keeper at the Science Museum.
"But take a look at the museum's collections and you can see how we always exploit new technical leaps to suit ourselves, so that the rise of ever-smarter machines does not mean a world of us or them but an enhancement of human capabilities in a subtly integrated way."
Researchers are now looking at exoskeletons to help the infirm to walk, and implants to allow paralysed people to control limbs. Some are even discussing how to enhance brain power by electronic plug-ins. And, of course, there's now also the prospect of smart skin, thanks to the efforts of Dr Rogers's team in Illinois.
Forget about the rise of cyborgs, or indeed the Borg of Star Trek and the Cybermen of Dr Who. Millions of cyborgs walk among us already. Within a few decades, it won't be so easy to tell humans and machines apart.
Roger Highfield is the Director of External Affairs, National Museum of Science and Industry.
source: dna
The immediate potential of these patches was outlined last month at the annual American Chemical Society meeting in San Diego, by Dr John Rogers of the University of Illinois. He told the meeting that he sees these rub-on "epidermal electronics" as a new way for doctors to monitor patients. These skin patches can detect and record a series of signals to check the health of brains, hearts and muscles without tethering the owner to bulky machines using electrodes glued with gels and tape, or even needles.
The patches, encased in water-soluble plastic, are transferred to the skin just like a temporary tattoo-transfer, with a backing that peels off. Their wearers can't feel them because they cling on to the skin by feeble electric forces between molecules (named van der Waals forces, after the Dutch physicist who first described them in 1873).
Better still, for the style-conscious at least, they can be covered with a real temporary tattoo and protected with a water-repellent spray so that they last for several days. Yet they can contain electronic circuits needed to monitor health status along with wireless capabilities that can be used to transmit data to the patient's mobile phone and on to the doctor's surgery.
The clever part was taking the brittle silicon used to build electronics and fashioning it into wires just a few billionths of a metre thick. These can give the electronics a flexibility that matches that of skin and can stretch and bend as people go about their business.
The latest patch developed by Dr Rogers's team can both measure muscle activity and stimulate those muscles so they could be used for rehabilitation. But Dr Rogers envisages broader applications - from monitoring sporting performance to seeing how hydrated your skin is with solar-powered epidermal electronics.
Which brings us back to Edgar Allan Poe. In an 1839 short story, The Man That Was Used Up, Poe told the tale of a wounded soldier whose body was rebuilt using synthetic parts, including the "handsomest pair of whiskers under the sun". This was an early account of what we now know as a cyborg, short for "cybernetic organism", a term coined in 1960 by Manfred Clynes and Nathan Kline in an article about the advantages of merging technology with the human body to help astronauts to survive in space.
What I find fascinating is the way that cyborgs have stealthily evolved on Earth. In popular culture, humans and machines are usually seen as separate, from the films of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the forthcoming movie Robot and Frank. They are often pitted against each other. This summer will see the 100th anniversary of the birthday of the British artificial intelligence pioneer Alan Turing, and there will be much talk of his influential test of synthetic minds in which a "chatbot" is deemed intelligent if it can fool us into thinking that it's human from its written responses (the "Turing test").
Yet all the while, humans have steadily fused with devices such as pacemakers, contact lenses, prosthetics, insulin pumps and cochlear and retinal implants. "For years, techno-futurists worried about a doomsday moment when electronic brains and robots got to be as smart as us," said Dr Andrew Nahum, senior keeper at the Science Museum.
"But take a look at the museum's collections and you can see how we always exploit new technical leaps to suit ourselves, so that the rise of ever-smarter machines does not mean a world of us or them but an enhancement of human capabilities in a subtly integrated way."
Researchers are now looking at exoskeletons to help the infirm to walk, and implants to allow paralysed people to control limbs. Some are even discussing how to enhance brain power by electronic plug-ins. And, of course, there's now also the prospect of smart skin, thanks to the efforts of Dr Rogers's team in Illinois.
Forget about the rise of cyborgs, or indeed the Borg of Star Trek and the Cybermen of Dr Who. Millions of cyborgs walk among us already. Within a few decades, it won't be so easy to tell humans and machines apart.
Roger Highfield is the Director of External Affairs, National Museum of Science and Industry.
source: dna
Hydrogen sulphide water – a miracle for the skin
Slovakia is known in Europe for its many natural springs with excellent water quality, not only of drinking water, but of healing water as well. A great example of how to use natural mineral water and its healing effects is the Spa Smrdáky 10 km away from Senica. For almost 180 years the Spa has specialised in treatment of skin diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal system using unique natural resources – hydrogen sulphide mineral water and sulphurous mud.
The skin diseases treated here include psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. However, other chronic skin diseases are treated here as well, such as acne, lichen, dry skin in ichtyosis, itching (pruritus) and skin stiffening (sclerodermia). Likewise, the conditions after burns and acid burns of the skin. Musculoskeletal diseases treated here include especially psoriatic arthropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, arthroses, vertebrogenic spine diseases and conditions after spine operations. Comprehensive treatment is provided here not only for adults, but for children as well, beginning with three years of age already.
During the school year, schoolchildren have classes here. After classes and healing procedures the schoolchildren are provided with after-school childcare, with a teacher taking care of them. On the premises of the paediatric sanatorium there are playgrounds for children to play sports – football or basketball; there are climbing frames for the smaller kids in the park. Other games and activities are also available.
The most important procedures of the comprehensive treatment are mineral hydrogen sulphide baths, either for the whole body or just its parts, be it for face, arms or legs. Depending on the condition of the skin disease, permanganate baths, baths with different bath additives, whirlpool baths and Scottish showers are applied. Children learn here how to treat their skin adequately, because treatment with local preparations (ointments, creams, oils) forms an important part of the comprehensive care. And it has a great importance for the extension of the period without the symptoms of the disease and for preventing relapses. The comprehensive treatment includes also light therapy, be it in natural tanning salons or by several phototherapeutic devices of the type UVB-311 a UVA, which are available for the cases of bad weather. They are applied depending on the diagnosis and skin phototype.
When talking about the treatment procedures, we mustn’t forget the recommended length of stay. Although improvement is evident already after the first week of treatment, the best results are achieved after a three- to four-week stay. To stabilise the disease, it is recommended to repeat the Spa treatment annually. However, this is individual, depending on the extent and severity of the skin disease. After Spa treatment the patient stays without any symptoms about for half to three quarters of the year. The easiest and most effective is a 3-4-week stay paid by the health insurance company. The patient’s dermatologist or general physician for children and adolescents writes the proposals for Spa treatment. However, we do offer stays fully paid by our customers as well – either a healing or a relaxation stay.
source: treatmentabroad
The skin diseases treated here include psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. However, other chronic skin diseases are treated here as well, such as acne, lichen, dry skin in ichtyosis, itching (pruritus) and skin stiffening (sclerodermia). Likewise, the conditions after burns and acid burns of the skin. Musculoskeletal diseases treated here include especially psoriatic arthropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, arthroses, vertebrogenic spine diseases and conditions after spine operations. Comprehensive treatment is provided here not only for adults, but for children as well, beginning with three years of age already.
During the school year, schoolchildren have classes here. After classes and healing procedures the schoolchildren are provided with after-school childcare, with a teacher taking care of them. On the premises of the paediatric sanatorium there are playgrounds for children to play sports – football or basketball; there are climbing frames for the smaller kids in the park. Other games and activities are also available.
The most important procedures of the comprehensive treatment are mineral hydrogen sulphide baths, either for the whole body or just its parts, be it for face, arms or legs. Depending on the condition of the skin disease, permanganate baths, baths with different bath additives, whirlpool baths and Scottish showers are applied. Children learn here how to treat their skin adequately, because treatment with local preparations (ointments, creams, oils) forms an important part of the comprehensive care. And it has a great importance for the extension of the period without the symptoms of the disease and for preventing relapses. The comprehensive treatment includes also light therapy, be it in natural tanning salons or by several phototherapeutic devices of the type UVB-311 a UVA, which are available for the cases of bad weather. They are applied depending on the diagnosis and skin phototype.
When talking about the treatment procedures, we mustn’t forget the recommended length of stay. Although improvement is evident already after the first week of treatment, the best results are achieved after a three- to four-week stay. To stabilise the disease, it is recommended to repeat the Spa treatment annually. However, this is individual, depending on the extent and severity of the skin disease. After Spa treatment the patient stays without any symptoms about for half to three quarters of the year. The easiest and most effective is a 3-4-week stay paid by the health insurance company. The patient’s dermatologist or general physician for children and adolescents writes the proposals for Spa treatment. However, we do offer stays fully paid by our customers as well – either a healing or a relaxation stay.
source: treatmentabroad
CDC study can't explain mysterious crawling-skin disease
A half-million-dollar study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found no obvious medical explanation for a mysterious and controversial skin disease whose sufferers report a crawling sensation on or under their skin and fibers emerging from it.
Although the findings may not mollify those who say they have Morgellons, as the condition has been dubbed by some, CDC's Mark Eberhard says the findings are useful in that they tell both patients and doctors that the condition is rare and neither contagious nor environmentally based.
The research came about because of intense public interest in the topic beginning around 2002 because of both media attention and sufferers connecting online. Similar conditions have gone by other names, including Ekbom's syndrome or delusional infestation.
The CDC "was receiving inquiries from a variety of sources, including the public, about this condition," says Eberhard, who directs CDC's Division of Parasitic Diseases. "It was clear that these people were suffering from something; the question was what might it be."
The study was conducted among 3.2 million people whose health care was with Kaiser Permanente in 13 Northern California counties from 2006 to 2008. Researchers identified 115 patients who reported fibers or other solid material coming through their skin as well as skin lesions or the feeling that "something is crawling on top of or under the skin," according to the paper, which is published in this week's edition of the journal PLoS ONE.
Doctors found that the condition was rare, with only 3.65% of the Kaiser patients reporting it. Sufferers tended to be white (77%) and female (77%), with a median age of 52. Seventy percent of sufferers reported the material emerging from their skin as fibers, the rest described "specks, granules, dots, worms, sand, eggs, fuzz balls and larvae."
However, the researchers could not find any evidence of these. Instead, dermatologists found fibers on the edges or under scabs and none in unbroken skin. When examined they proved to be cotton or polyester fibers, or in a few cases the likely remains of fingernail polish.
"We were able to answer conclusively that they were not living entities," Eberhard says.
Jason Reichenberg, director of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern-Austin, said the paper "confirms what anybody who has ever seen a patient with this knows, which is that these patients are suffering greatly and their suffering is real; they shouldn't be dismissed.
"This is something that needs to be treated," says Reichenberg, who will lead a session on the topic at an upcoming dermatology organization meeting in San Diego. "It's really important to discuss that there might be other ways to approach the disease. Until we can find an exact cause or a cure, it's important that we try to improve their suffering."
The skin lesions didn't appear to be caused by external forces, but primarily by scratching or rubbing. They also appeared only in areas where the sufferer could reach. For example, when lesions appeared on the back, they were in a typical dumbbell pattern made by how far the arm can reach around.
A large number of the sufferers had other health problems as well: 70% reported chronic fatigue and 54% reported their overall health as fair or poor. Many also had high levels of "somatic concerns," meaning they had preoccupations with their http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhealth. The researchers found evidence of illicit drug use in 50% of patients, based on hair sample testing. For comparison, a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 8.9% of the population are current illicit drug users. Eberhard cautioned that the high levels could be related to attempts by sufferers to alleviate their symptoms.
There is no doubt that the patients "had something that was impacting their quality of life," Eberhard says. He says he hopes that their research will allow doctors and patients together to find the most appropriate care for those afflicted.
Source of this news - yourlife.usatoday
Winter Skin-Care Secrets From Celeste Hilling
Winter is finally here! And with it comes several things that could ravage your skin -- from whihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifpping winds to sub-zero temperatures. To protect your face -- and put the best one you can forward -- we nabbed some healthy epidermal tips from Celeste Hilling, CEO of Skin Authority, a beauty line carried at Murale.
When it comes to winterizing skin, what should everyone be doing?
"Winterizing skin is all about hydration. During winter, skin cell production slows way down and goes into a bit of hibernation. This slow-down means, without daily exfoliation, dead cells sit on the skin's surface. With this build-up, regardless of the price of the moisturizer you put on, it will not sink in. I recommend using a natural resurfacing agent such as glycolic acid to gently dissolve dead surface skin cells to be replaced with new, plump ones."
Why is it important to protect skin from the elements?
"In winter, people with sensitive skin tend to have more reactivity than other times of the year because of dry air inside and cold temps outside. To replace moisture that is being lost during the day, I recommend carrying a hydrating mask in your bag that you can spritz on easily and quickly. Think of the frequency of spritzing as you do with sunscreen application while at the beach: reapply every two hours.
And, speaking of sunscreen… the glare of sun bouncing off snow is intense. To ensure your sunscreen works for you this winter: Apply to all exposed skin, which in the winter months often includes our faces, neck, ears, décolletage, hands, forearms, feet and ankles. Use a sunscreen that gives you full-spectrum protection. To determine the quality, check the SPF number on the label (those with SPF 15 or greater yield the best results)."
Indoor heat and chilly outdoor temperatures can leave your skin rough, dry and itchy. Most of us reach for that bottle of lotion to cure this common winter woe. But the ingredients list on most brand-name lotions usually reads like a science experiment. Go back to basics with an all-natural fix that will quench your skin without chemical additives.
DIY Fix: Soothing Beeswax Body Lotion
What you'll need: Avocado oil, grape seed oil or jojoba oil, beeswax pellets, water, aloe vera gel and the essential oil of your choice.
How to make it:
1. Start by melting three tablespoons of cosmetic-grade beeswax pellets - which you can find for less than $5 at a local health food store. For best results, put your pellets into a glass bowl, and place the bowl over a pot of boiling water until pellets are melted.
2. Gradually stir in 1 cup of the oil of your choice. Jojoba oil works great for sensitive skin or skin that is prone to breakouts, while avocado and grape seed oil soothe extra-dry skin. All can be found at your local health food store on the cheap.
3. Remove the mixture from heat, and stir in 4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel. If you have an aloe plant at home, just squeeze some gel out of an aloe leaf, or purchase pure aloe vera gel from your local natural foods store.
4. Use a hand blender or whisk to whip your lotion. Slowly add five tablespoons of water and continue to whip. The mixture should begin to thicken and resemble store-bought lotion. Add a few drops of essential oil , and mix some more.
5. Allow your lotion to set for at least 20 minutes before using, and store in a glass mason jar for up to two weeks.
What are some of your trade secret ways to protect skin?
“Use anti-inflammatory ingredients to beat redness and irritation. I love moisturizers that include mango, shea butter, olive oil, bergamot and aloe.
Take quick, lukewarm showers. Hot water can be damaging to skin when indoor air tends to be dryer. Exfoliate from head to toe to slough off dead skin cells and apply lotion as soon as you step out of the shower to seal in moisture.
Think about your alcohol consumption at holiday parties. Have one glass of water per each alcohol drink to avoid dehydration.
The eye area is a reflection of dehydration and late nights. I suggest eye massages in a.m. and p.m. with your fingers to reduce puffiness.
Forget hoarding 20 skin-care products. In reality, you need two or three. In the morning, you need a mild gel cleanser, an antioxidant such as Vitamin C and a sunscreen moisturizer. Before going to bed, use resurfacing ingredients such as AHAs and retinols in addition to restorative peptides."
What is the one thing people always forget to do/add to their skin-care regimen when it comes to winter skin care?
"Even though we talk about summer as the time a lot of hyper-pigmentation is accumulated, the effects (freckles, red spots, uneven skin tone) don't show until the winter. So, change your way of thinking about only treating sun spots in the summer. Treat them in the winter too!"
source: huffingtonpost
Photoacoustic device identifies cancer before tumors form
Early detection of skin cancer may soon be possible, thanks to researchers who compare their approach to looking for a black 18-wheeler in an eight-lane highway of white cars.
The new technique for melanoma detection, proposed by researchers at the University of Missouri, uses photoacoustics (laser-induced ultrasound) to find cancer cells before they form into tumors. Testing could cost just a few hundred dollars. The current method of detection, by comparison, requires waiting for tumors to form and can cost thousands of dollars.
"Using a small blood sample, our device and method will provide an earlier diagnosis for aggressive melanoma cancers," John Viator, associate professor of biomedical engineering and dermatology, said yesterday in a statement.
The photoacoustic device directs laser light into the blood sample, and that light is absorbed by melanin within the cancerous cells. As the lasers quickly heat and cool those cells, they expand. Technicians are able to spot the cancerous cells by looking for this expansion--the aforementioned black 18-wheeler.
Because the device can capture the cells, the researchers think they can also identify the type of melanoma cancer, allowing for more specialized treatment.
"There are several melanoma drugs on the horizon," Viator said. "Combined with the new photoacoustic detection method, physicians will be able to use targeted therapies and personalized treatments, changing the medical management of this aggressive cancer."
Viator has already signed a commercialization license to allow scientists to use the device for research. His team is also organizing clinical studies in the hopes of getting FDA approval for broader use, which could take a few years. The final device, Viator says, will likely resemble a desktop printer.
Smoking ups skin cancer risk in women
Women who smoke tobacco are at a considerable higher risk of developing a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a new US study says.
Researchers of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. analyzed data from 698 adult people including 383 patients with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
Their findings showed that women who had SCC were more likely to have smoked than those who were free from the disease.
In other words, women who smoked at least 20 years were twice as likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer than non-smoker counterparts, researchers wrote in the journal Cancer Causes & Control.
Although the studied men who smoked had a modest risk for the two types of non-melanoma skin cancer, the results weren't statistically significant, the study added.
“Female current smokers have higher lung cancer risks than men. Women have been shown to have more active CYP enzyme activity in the lung, where CYP is responsible for metabolizing 70-80 percent of nicotine. In addition, the up-regulation of CYP by estrogen may play a role,” Dr. Dana Rollison and colleagues wrote.
“In conclusion, cigarette smoking was associated with NMSC, with significantly increased risks associated with increasing dose (cigarettes per day), duration (number of years smoked), and pack-years smoked,” scientists said. “Cigarette smoking is more strongly associated with SCC than BCC, particularly among women.”
source: presstv
Researchers of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. analyzed data from 698 adult people including 383 patients with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
Their findings showed that women who had SCC were more likely to have smoked than those who were free from the disease.
In other words, women who smoked at least 20 years were twice as likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer than non-smoker counterparts, researchers wrote in the journal Cancer Causes & Control.
Although the studied men who smoked had a modest risk for the two types of non-melanoma skin cancer, the results weren't statistically significant, the study added.
“Female current smokers have higher lung cancer risks than men. Women have been shown to have more active CYP enzyme activity in the lung, where CYP is responsible for metabolizing 70-80 percent of nicotine. In addition, the up-regulation of CYP by estrogen may play a role,” Dr. Dana Rollison and colleagues wrote.
“In conclusion, cigarette smoking was associated with NMSC, with significantly increased risks associated with increasing dose (cigarettes per day), duration (number of years smoked), and pack-years smoked,” scientists said. “Cigarette smoking is more strongly associated with SCC than BCC, particularly among women.”
source: presstv
Biological Treatment Effective In Psoriasis Treatment
For mild cases of psoriasis, topical treatments—those applied to the skin—often work well. But if you have moderate to severe psoriasis, or if topicals just aren’t effective for you, don’t despair. Other good options are available, including traditional systemic treatments and newer drugs known as biologics.
As with all psoriasis treatments, not every one of these drugs will work on everyone with psoriasis. Sometimes a trial-and-error approach is necessary to find what is effective for you, notes Jerome Shupack, MD, dermatology professor and chief of the dermatopharmacology unit at New York University’s Langone Medical Center. “Often there is no one single medication that fits everyone. Treatment plans must be individualized,” he says.
Trying the Traditional Route
Traditional systemic treatments are prescription drugs that treat psoriasis by working throughout the body. You take them orally, in either liquid or pill form, or by injection. There are many systemic drugs available, including acitretin (Soriatane), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, SangCya), and methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), to name just a few.
Understanding Biologics
Biologics are protein-based drugs made from living cells grown in a laboratory. They are designed to target specific parts of your immune system. Although psoriasis creates a skin problem, it is actually caused by a disorder within your immune system. Immune disorders occur when the body mistakenly attacks itself, and biologics are designed to fight that internal chain of events.
Your doctor may try various biologic drugs. One group, called T-cell blockers, targets a type of white blood cell, known as a T-cell, found in the immune system. T-cells are essential because they help guard against infection and disease. When you have psoriasis, these T-cells are activated by mistake. In fact, they become so active that they set off other immune responses. As a result, your skin cells reproduce so quickly that your body is unable to shed them normally, and psoriasis plaques develop. Alefacept (Amevive) a T-cell blocker drug.
Other biologics block a type of protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These drugs are named for the specific substances involved in the development of psoriasis that they are designed to fight.
“The biggest category is the tumor necrosis factor drugs,” says Dr. Shupack. “They work by targeting a substance that gets the inflammatory reaction going, and then it becomes self-sustaining. These drugs inhibit this response, and once you slow it down, the lesions can heal.”
Biologic drugs are given by injection or intravenous infusion. Because they suppress your immune system response, you will be at an increased risk of infection and should be closely watched by your doctor. If you are or could become pregnant or are nursing, these drugs probably aren’t right for you.
Biologics carry serious risks. Some of these drugs have been associated with other diseases, such as central nervous system disorders, blood diseases, and cancers including lymphoma, although their role in the development of these diseases is not yet understood. But if you haven’t been helped by other treatments and if your psoriasis is hurting your quality of life, you might want to consider them. Talk with your doctor about all the pros and cons to see whether one might be right for you.
source: msn health
As with all psoriasis treatments, not every one of these drugs will work on everyone with psoriasis. Sometimes a trial-and-error approach is necessary to find what is effective for you, notes Jerome Shupack, MD, dermatology professor and chief of the dermatopharmacology unit at New York University’s Langone Medical Center. “Often there is no one single medication that fits everyone. Treatment plans must be individualized,” he says.
Trying the Traditional Route
Traditional systemic treatments are prescription drugs that treat psoriasis by working throughout the body. You take them orally, in either liquid or pill form, or by injection. There are many systemic drugs available, including acitretin (Soriatane), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, SangCya), and methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), to name just a few.
Understanding Biologics
Biologics are protein-based drugs made from living cells grown in a laboratory. They are designed to target specific parts of your immune system. Although psoriasis creates a skin problem, it is actually caused by a disorder within your immune system. Immune disorders occur when the body mistakenly attacks itself, and biologics are designed to fight that internal chain of events.
Your doctor may try various biologic drugs. One group, called T-cell blockers, targets a type of white blood cell, known as a T-cell, found in the immune system. T-cells are essential because they help guard against infection and disease. When you have psoriasis, these T-cells are activated by mistake. In fact, they become so active that they set off other immune responses. As a result, your skin cells reproduce so quickly that your body is unable to shed them normally, and psoriasis plaques develop. Alefacept (Amevive) a T-cell blocker drug.
Other biologics block a type of protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These drugs are named for the specific substances involved in the development of psoriasis that they are designed to fight.
“The biggest category is the tumor necrosis factor drugs,” says Dr. Shupack. “They work by targeting a substance that gets the inflammatory reaction going, and then it becomes self-sustaining. These drugs inhibit this response, and once you slow it down, the lesions can heal.”
Biologic drugs are given by injection or intravenous infusion. Because they suppress your immune system response, you will be at an increased risk of infection and should be closely watched by your doctor. If you are or could become pregnant or are nursing, these drugs probably aren’t right for you.
Biologics carry serious risks. Some of these drugs have been associated with other diseases, such as central nervous system disorders, blood diseases, and cancers including lymphoma, although their role in the development of these diseases is not yet understood. But if you haven’t been helped by other treatments and if your psoriasis is hurting your quality of life, you might want to consider them. Talk with your doctor about all the pros and cons to see whether one might be right for you.
source: msn health
How to Keep Your Skin Healthy
What You Need To Know
* Your diet can have a big influence on your skin, with foods rich in antioxidants bringing the most benefits.
* Yo-yo diets can damage the skin by causing stretch marks and wrinkles.
* Smoking reduces blood flow to your skin, accelerating the appearance of ageing.
* Make sure, that whether it comes from natural or artificial sources, you don’t allow your skin to be over-exposed to UV light.
* Getting a good nights sleep and doing plenty of exercise are two of the surest ways to keep your skin looking healthy
Watch your Diet
What you eat can have a massive influence on how healthy your skin looks, meaning sticking to a sensible diet is imperative.
In particular, foods rich in antioxidants have been identified as being best for the skin.
So, top skin-friendly health foods include spinach and other green, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, nuts, blueberries, beans, peas and lentils and, of course, fish, especially salmon.
Conversely, certain foods have been linked with skin damage, with greasy junk food in particular having been identified as being among the worst culprits when it comes to bringing on premature ageing.
However, rather than worrying about which specific foods are the best for healthy skin, the Mayo Clinic advises that you "concentrate on a healthy diet in general", as many of the foods that promote good overall health are also beneficial to the skin.
Also, note that extreme yo-yo diets can be damaging to the skin, causing unsightly stretch marks and wrinkles.
You should also make an effort to drink plenty of water as dehydration can lead to your skin drying up and looking older than your years.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Aside from watching your diet, you should also aim to maintain a healthy all-round lifestyle if you want your skin to look as good as it can.
Above all, if you’re a smoker you should either cut down or quit the habit altogether.
Smoking serves to narrow the blood flow to the skin, accelerating the onset of wrinkles and making you look older than you actually are.
In comparison, enjoying regular exercise increase blood and oxygen flow around the body, sending more to the skin and keeping it fresh and young-looking.
Stay Positive
Being stressed or worried can play havoc on the skin, leading to wrinkles and premature ageing, as well as even ‘adult acne’.
This is due to the fact that, when a person is under stress, the adrenal gland is stimulated into producing too much of the chemical that keeps the skin moisturised, causing this to block pores and even leading to eventual infection.
As such, it’s a good idea to try and avoid getting wound up and maintain a positive mental attitude whenever possible.
Keeping a positive mental attitude can also ensure that you don’t turn to alcohol or unhealthy foods and thereby cause even more damage.
Protect Yourself from the Sun
Though you may think you look good with a glowing tan, the truth is that too much exposure to the sun can cause significant long-term damage to the skin.
That’s not to say you should avoid the sun at all times. Far from it, in fact, as sunlight has been proven to boost overall physical and mental wellbeing.
However, you should always use sunscreen, reapplying it every two hours or after being in water and, if possible, try and avoid the midday sun, when the rays are at their strongest and most-damaging.
Look out for higher ‘SPF’ sun creams containing the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, both of which reflect sunlight and can help combat the anti-aging process.
Don’t think that getting a tan using a sunbed is any better for your skin. Cancer Research UK advises that sunbeds also give out harmful UV rays, damaging the skin’s DNA, causing premature ageing and increasing the risk of cancer.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
As well as all of the above, you should also aim to get a good night’s sleep as often as possible in order to maintain a fresh look.
So, work out how much sleep you need each night in order to feel refreshed the morning after and try to get this amount as often as you can.
Investing in a vitamin-packed night cream can also help ensure you wake up feeling fresh-faced.
Invest in Lotions and Potions
For sure, a large number of the so-called anti-aging creams, lotions, oils and gels available over the counter are largely ineffectual and, as such, likely to be a waste of money. But don’t tar all of them with the same brush.
However, it’s not enough to just invest in skincare products. You also need to keep a diligent cleansing routine, taking care to remove any make-up you may be wearing at the end of each day, and it’s recommended that you exfoliate around once a week.
Moreover, regular facial massages can also work wonders; by stimulating circulation and toning up the facial muscles, facials can be a great way of holding back the years.
source: uknetguide
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