Skin conditions

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6 Natural Ways to Tackle Acne

acne-and-how-to-remove-itPimples and acne are prevalent skin curses since they annoy many people and nobody wants to have them. Many people wonder how they can get rid of acne without using expensive skin care products. And the good news is that there are numerous ways that you can implement to tackle acne effectively without indulging in any expensive medication.

Acne can be very annoying especially when you are planning to attend a very important event then you realize that you have an ugly red spot on your face.

No Popping

Many people are fond of popping their pimples or acne because they think that it will make them fade away. But that’s a wrong idea because popping the acne makes things worse. The pulse spreads on your face and makes the situation scarier.

Just avoid doing it. Yes, you might think that popping the pimple or acne will work, but it is ironical because popping them will result in more pimples. Popping infects other pores because it causes bacteria living in the pimple to spread into them.

To make it worse, popping can result in scarring because it further inflames the area. It’s the worst possible thing you could do as gratifying and tempting as it may be at the time.

It’s normal to have the urge to pop a pimple but it’s upon you to ensure that you fight it accordingly.

Cucumber

 

Cucumber is one of the best plants when it comes to skin care. It is a well-known anti-inflammatory that helps in soothing puffy eyes. When you apply cucumber on your face, it is advisable that you leave it for ten to fifteen minutes before you remove them or wash them off.

You can easily create your own paste by blending two to three teaspoons of lemon juice with finely grated cucumber. They will help to reduce the angry redness given that they work just as well for pimples.

Tea Tree Oil

 

Over the decades, teat tree oil has been used as very powerful natural skin care oil. It is highly beneficial for acne treatment given that it possesses anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Simply use a Q-tip or a cotton wool ball to apply the tea tree oil on the affected area or the pimple. The oil has been shown in a recent study to be very important and to be just effective as the acne medication benzoyl peroxide.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense essential oil is one of the best essential oils and it is well-known for reducing age spots and appearance of sunspots.

It has the ability to strengthen the skin cells and improve its defence mechanisms and elasticity against blemishes or bacteria.

Frankincense essential oil is very powerful given the fact that it is one of the best essential oils.

It can also be beneficial for healing cracked or dry skin and fading of marks associated with pregnancy such as surgery scars or stretch marks. Scientific study has shown that it heals wounds and reduces appearance of acne and scars by lifting and toning skin.

The oil has great abilities to protect your skin from aging and keep it looking young every day.

The oil can be used in various body parts that have started sagging like under the eyes, jowls, or the abdomen. It can also be used to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, large pores and acne blemishes.  Frankincense essential oil helps protect skin cells, meaning it is a powerful astringent.

However, you should first check and see whether you have any allergic reactions to frankincense essential oil. You can test with a small patch area first. When you don’t experience any reaction, then you can go ahead and use this oil.

Garlic

 

Garlic is a very powerful plant that works as a medication for many conditions, including acne. Due to its high levels of anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties, as well as antioxidants, garlic comes in handy as a fantastic natural way for fighting acne.

Peel the garlic clove and rub it on the affected area at least three times a day. That way, you can be assured of getting more immediate results.

Garlic helps to prevent future breakouts because it purifies your blood and thus helps in improving your general health.

Therefore, you should consider adding more garlic to your diet in order to effectively fight acne. With time, you will come to realize the importance of garlic when it comes to fighting acne.

Lavender Essential Oil

 

Lavender essential oil is well-known for its healing power and given the fact that it improves cellular communication within your skin. According to research, Lavender essential oil helps produce three most powerful antioxidants for your body including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione, which are very beneficial for fighting acne.

Lavender oil is more effective when used in the morning or in the evening right before bed and in the morning after taking shower. If you want the best essential oils brands for your skin then you need to read up on a few reviews on this website.

Now you can see how it is easy to fight acne using natural ways. You can go ahead and try out the above six tips to get rid of acne.

For more information on the amazing skincare benefits of essential oils, take a look at the infographic below.

Best Essential Oils for Skin

This Infographic – 10 Best Essential Oils For Skin – Was Created By Fixyourskin.com

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Eczema in children: 7 tips to stop the itch

Eczema in children

Eczema in children

Eczema in children: 7 tips to stop the itch

Dr Colin Holden, consultant dermatologist, has these tips for parents of babies and small children with eczema.

Get an eczema diagnosis

If you think your baby or child has eczema, see your GP to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. If necessary, your child may be referred to a dermatologist.

Don’t try to treat eczema by yourself. Each case can need different treatment, which usually involves a combination of moisturisers (emollients) and steroid creams and ointments.

If their skin becomes red and starts to seep liquid, it may be infected, in which case see your GP immediately for antibiotics.

Give your child a bedtime routine

Children with eczema often find sleeping a problem, as their skin can get hotter and itchier at night. Keep their bedroom cool and use cotton sheets or a light, natural-fibre duvet.

Apply moisturiser at least 20 minutes before bedtime to allow it to soak in. Keep pets out of the bedroom, as dogs and cats can make eczema worse.

Your GP or pharmacist may be able to recommend a suitable sedative antihistamine that may help your child sleep during a particularly bad flare-up of symptoms.

Avoid harsh soaps, shampoos and bath oils

Soap and bubble bath can make eczema far worse, as can washing your child too often.

Bathe your baby in warm - not hot - water, and stick to fragrance-free soaps, shampoo and bath oil. Your pharmacist or GP can advise you on what products to buy.

Use lots of moisturiser

Dry skin is more likely to flare up or become infected with a bacteria or virus. Use moisturising creams on your child as directed by your GP to make sure the skin affected by eczema is kept as soft and moist as possible. Avoiding harsh soaps that dry out the skin will also help.

Read more about moisturisers and how to use them on a child with eczema.

Help your child to stop scratching

One of the biggest problems with childhood eczema is the urge to scratch the itchy skin, which may then bleed or become infected.

See if your child scratches at certain times of the day, for example while watching TV, and try to teach them to do something else instead, such as tightly holding their arm.

Praise them for not scratching, or even use a star chart. Keep their nails short.

Cotton bandages, vests and/or leggings can help keep the cream in the skin and help prevent your child from scratching.

Check your child's diet

Eczema usually starts when a baby is around six months old. In about 10% of cases it is triggered by foods, including milk, eggs, citrus fruit, chocolate, peanuts and colourings.

If you suspect a food is causing your child's eczema, it's important to seek advice from your GP before you cut out the food to make sure your child still gets a balanced diet.

Read more about food allergy and intolerance.

Keep your child cool

Heat can make the skin itch more, so after your child has been running around or playing sports try to keep them as cool as possible in loose clothing.

If they've been swimming, rinse off any chlorine from the pool, as this can irritate the skin.

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5 Active Ingredients In Skincare That Really Work

One thing about ingredients that benefit the skin is they can sometimes be like pop stars. Latest sensations are often grabbing the headlines for their much-vaunted potential, but only a few precious ones are worthy of the acclaim while others simply vanish into obscurity.

Your thirst for novelty will never disappear, but you need to keep in mind that just because a snail slime or snake venom is the popular flavor of the month, it cannot just replace the age-old ingredients that you have in your arsenal.

Various skin experts feel that people assume whatever is new, is going to be better than what was already used. However, that is not the case. Of course, the older ingredients might not have sexy-sounding names; but it has the proven track record of nontoxicity, efficacy, and non-irritation. Plus, new formulations become more sophisticated and more of their astounding properties are researched. But there are still people sticking to the good old remedies and get better skin.

 

Active Ingredients

 

1) Niacinamide

The below infographic shows how Niacinamide is one of the most important vitamins that helps in making the skin softer and radiant.
14 Potent Vitamins for Younger and Healthier Skin

The relationship between skin and vitamin B3 was recognized right from the early 1900s. Especially after people found that the dietary deficiency of vitamins leads to various skin diseases and even skin irritation. Fast-forward to the current century, after numerous extensive studies, it has come to the conclusion that niacinamide which is a form of vitamin B3 is one of the best and unique anti-ager.

 

Initially, most of the cosmetic companies used the niacinamide for preparing moisturizers. But with the popularity of various clinical studies and their results, this vitamin is found in almost all beauty products as it has built-in enzymes which help in fundamental cell metabolism.

 

2) Vitamin C – The Key To Collagen

Similar to the health benefits that food rich in vitamin C gives, this particular ingredient can make your skin resilient against the harsh environmental entities and even aging. Furthermore, in the infographic 14 Potent Vitamins for Younger and Healthier Skin – Fix Your Skin, it clearly states on how vitamin C helps in fighting off the effects of the existing damages on the skin due to aging or UV rays.

 

Using vitamin C in ascorbic acid form, you can reduce the damages caused by the sun as well as the inflammation of the skin. Furthermore, you can increase the amount of collagen that provides the underlying support structure for the skin.

 

Various studies have displayed that with the proper and adequate usage of vitamin C, you can drastically improve skin wrinkling, especially when used for 12 weeks. Furthermore, several types of research show that with the 5 percent usage of vitamin C cream for 6 months, you can reduce deep furrows and get significant improvement compared to untreated skin. Similar to the vitamin A, vitamin C products are quite unstable. So, it needs to be packed in such a way that it reduces the exposure to air and light.

 

3) Beta And Alpha Hydroxy Acids

AHAs(Alpha Hydroxy Acids) helps in exfoliating the rough and dull outer layer of the skin and keeps your face fresh looking. Sometimes you might be new to the AHAs like glycolic acid. So, it is better if you start with a low percentage like 5%. Another advantage of the AHA is that it is an excellent sunscreen that protects your skin from the harmful UV rays.

 

Just like the alpha hydroxy acid, the beta hydroxy acid (BHA) exfoliates the skin. However, unlike the AHAs, the BHAs will penetrate deep into the pores of your skin. This makes them ideal for treating blemishes and blackheads.  Also, like the salicylic acid, the BHAs are gentler than AHAs and is the smart choice for treatment of sensitive skin.

 

(Alpha Hydroxy Acid)

 

4) Green Tea- Irreplaceable Antioxidant

A huge amount of polyphenols antioxidants is present in green tea leaves. The presence of EGCG which is one of the major polyphenols has shown that this plant is a real powerhouse which protects the skin from sun damage and suppresses the enzymes which breaks down the elastin and collagen. Plus, it helps in reducing inflammation, excessive sebum production, and bacterial growth present in the acne-prone skin.

 

(Green Tea For Skin)

 

Recently, various studies have shown that green tea has more far-reaching effects. Scientists found out that besides having the antioxidant portion of a molecule, it has something which works similar to a pro-oxidant. This tricks the skin cells into thinking that it is under oxidative stress. So, this switches the gene on and it regulates the antioxidant production of the cells, turning the cells into little factories, used for producing protective enzymes.

 

5) Hyaluronic Acid

It is common to think of exfoliation when you hear the word ‘acid’. However, concerning hyaluronic acid, it is different. It is a potential moisturizer having the unique property of holding more than thousand times of its own weight in water.

 

Now as the hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, it has become the popular choice for cosmetic injectables. Also, there are studies which show that it can be a great ingredient for keeping the skin hydrated and plumped. You can even use it as a treatment for counteracting the effects of the radiation therapy among patients.

 

Final Verdict

The skincare treatment that you follow is incomplete without the presence of the active ingredients. These ingredients are the major forces that help in making your skin radiant and glowing. Also, as each people have different skin types, some ingredients might not give the required results or can backfire.

 

In such cases, it is better to play safe and consult a skin specialist before you start using cosmetic products filled with active ingredients.

 

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Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

Is your skin dry, itchy, tight and generally uncomfortable? Have you tried every possible over the counter and cosmetic product with no success? The good news is that there is help. There are a number of natural treatments out there that can help. Whether looking for an anti aging cream or a remedy for dry skin, you can find a number of natural remedies.

  1. Coconut Oil

Organic coconut oil is completely safe and effective and can be used on all kinds of dry skin. This includes dry skin due to pregnancy, seasonal weather or ageing. Make sure that you only pick up the organic and virgin coconut oil from the food store, as any other form may have some other ingredients blended to cause further skin irritation.

  1. Grape Seed Oil

Grape seed oil has antioxidants to naturally fight against the dryness of your skin. It also has anti scarring and anti aging properties. Grape seed oil can be directly applied over the whole body or face. This should be done after your shower for optimum results.

  1. Aloe Vera


You might have come across many cosmetic and skin care products containing Aloe Vera as an essential ingredient. But did you know that Aloe Vera is best effective when applied directly from the green plant? It is inexpensive and you can keep a live plant at your home and detach a small portion of the leaf to apply the directly over the face or body to fight dryness.

  1. Emu Oil

Emu oil has been used since centuries as the safest natural remedy for dry skin. Other than your face, you can also use it on your hands, feet and body.

  1. Oatmeal




Apart from having oatmeal for breakfast, it can also effectively be used as an agent to hydrate dry skin. An oatmeal bath is an excellent option for extremely dry skin. Simply use the old fashioned oatmeal tied in a cloth to create a soothing bath that will provide instant results.

  1. Honey

Honey comes with endless health and skin benefits. It can be used to fight dry skin, wrinkles and other environmental effects.

  1. Avocado

The mono unsaturated fats of avocado are some of the best natural skin moisturizers. Simply mash a very ripe avocado and use the pulp as a face mask to keep your dry skin hydrated for hours at a time.

The only way to figure out what remedies work best for your skin is by trying as many of these natural sources as possible.

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Are Sunbeads Safe?

Are sunbeds safe?

Are sunbeds safe?

Sunbeds give out ultraviolet (UV) rays that increase your risk of developing skin cancer (both malignant melanoma and non-melanoma). Many sunbeds give out greater doses of UV rays than the midday tropical sun.

The risks are greater for young people. Evidence shows that:

  • people who are frequently exposed to UV rays before the age of 25 are at greater risk of developing skin cancer later in life
  • sunburn in childhood can greatly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life

It’s illegal for people who are under the age of 18 to use sunbeds. The Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 makes it an offence for someone operating a sunbed business to permit those under 18 to:


  • use a sunbed at the business premises, including beauty salons, leisure centres, gyms and hotels
  • be offered the use of a sunbed at the business premises
  • be allowed in an area reserved for sunbed users (unless they’re working as an employee of the business)

The GOV.UK website has further details about the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010.

UV rays from sunbeds

Sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning booths give out the same type of harmful radiation as sunlight. UVA rays make up about 95% of sunlight. They can cause your skin to age prematurely, making it look coarse, leathery and wrinkled. UVB rays make up about 5% of sunlight and burn your skin.

A tan is your body’s attempt to protect itself from the damaging effect of UV rays. Using a sunbed to get a tan isn’t safer than tanning in the sun. It may even be more harmful, depending on factors such as:

  • the strength of UV rays from the sunbed
  • how often you use a sunbed
  • the length of your sunbed sessions
  • your skin type – for example, whether you have fair or dark skin
  • your age

In 2006, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products concluded the maximum ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunbeds should not exceed 0.3W/m2, or 11 standard erythema doses per hour (erythema means reddening of the skin caused by sunburn). These 11 standard doses are the same as exposure to the tropical sun, which the World Health Organization (WHO) describes as extreme.

Damage from UV rays

Prolonged exposure to UV rays increases your risk of developing malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

You can’t always see the damage UV rays cause. The symptoms of skin damage can take up to 20 years to appear.

UV rays can also damage your eyes, causing problems such as irritation, conjunctivitis or cataracts, particularly if you don’t wear goggles.

Advice about using sunbeds

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued advice on the health risks associated with UV tanning equipment, such as sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning booths. They recommend you should not use UV tanning equipment if you:

  • have fair, sensitive skin that burns easily or tans slowly or poorly
  • have a history of sunburn, particularly in childhood
  • have lots of freckles and red hair
  • have lots of moles
  • are taking medicines or using creams that make your skin sensitive to sunlight
  • have a medical condition made worse by sunlight, such as vitiligo (a long-term skin condition caused by a lack of a chemical in the skin called melanin)
  • have had skin cancer or someone in your family has had it
  • already have badly sun-damaged skin

The HSE advice also includes important points to consider before deciding to use a sunbed. For example, if you decide to use a sunbed, the operator should advise you about your skin type and how long you should limit your session to.

Read more about the HSE guidance on the use of UV tanning equipment (PDF, 102kb).

Further information:

Summary

Sunbeds give out ultraviolet (UV) rays that increase your risk of developing skin cancer (both malignant melanoma and non-melanoma). Many sunbeds give out greater doses of UV rays than the midday tropical sun.