Foods that Fight Aging
June 26, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Nothing makes us look older than wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes and mouth. Expression lines and wrinkles can make us look and feel older than we are. Studies have shown that foods containing antioxidants help significantly in the fight against aging. Oxidation is a chemical reaction in cells that releases free radicals into the body. These free radicals go on to damage and kill other normal, healthy cells. In skin cells this oxidation process leads to a breakdown in collagen and the depletion of elastin. The loss of collagen is what causes wrinkles and fine lines to appear prematurely. So many people, women especially, are looking for ways to look younger and feel better. They want to remove wrinkles from their skin and stop new wrinkles from forming.
Antioxidants fight oxidation and stop the spread of free radicals throughout the body. Foods rich in antioxidants have been found to be the key to good health and longevity. Antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E are especially helpful to the skin and other major organs. You want to eat foods that are high in antioxidants such as brightly colored fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin A can be found in sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, peaches, kale, collards, carrots, squash, onions, and other brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, green peppers, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables are great sources of vitamin C. It is best to get your vitamin C through a wide variety of foods, rather than from supplements. This builds your body’s immune system as you gain antioxidants and other helpful nutrients.
You can get vitamin E from fresh fish such as salmon and tuna, vegetable oil, olive oil, liver oil, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and from nuts and seeds. These foods get antioxidants into the body, so that you are fighting wrinkles from the inside out. But it is vital that you find a good wrinkle cream with the best antioxidants to fight wrinkles from the outside in. Use wrinkle creams that contain antioxidants like vitamin A, and vitamin E. Daily moisturizing is an important step to fighting wrinkles. Studies have shown that other antioxidants like gold, are a very effective ingredient in wrinkle creams. Gold is a very powerful antioxidant. It does not rust, tarnish and is impervious to oxidation. You can find highly effective wrinkle creams that contain gold on the internet, without paying a fortune.
So be sure to eat a variety of foods that contain antioxidants. You’ll look and feel better, and stay looking younger for years to come!
Herbal Facial Masks Feel Good Effects
June 26, 2009 by admin · 3 Comments
Facial masks can do more than just give you some peaceful downtime. They are an important part of skin care and a great way to prevent skin aliments and aging. It is recommended that you use a facial mask at least once a week. While it is not necessary to go overboard and wear one every night, a weekly facial mask session cannot only help your skin receive moisture, but it can also ease skin disorders like acne. Facial masks can be soothing or energizing, and the actions and rituals often involved with applying a facial mask can be an effective stress reliever. A facial mask is generally defined as a substance that is applied to the face, much like smearing on cream. It is thick, and often resembles clay. Many masks make use of clay or gel as a base, as these will stay in place when applied, and they are generally harmless to most skin types (although gel is used most for sensitive skin, as heavy clay irritate it). Masks are meant to cover the entire face and then remain in place for a few minutes before washing off. The materials in most masks are safe to be washed down the sink.
Many organic facial masks include both deep cleaning and moisturizing agents in the mask. This allows the cores in the face to be cleansed deeply, getting rid of oily build up and trapped dirt. This can help reduce or even prevent acne. Additionally, many masks help slough off dead skin. The dead top skin is dull and lusterless. When it is gently removed, the mask brings the top layer of dead skin cells off with it. This leaves younger, healthier cells exposed as the face’s surface. This means tighter skin and a more brilliant complexion. It can also reduce the look of fine lines and small wrinkles to carry out a regular facial mask.
Another reason that facial masks are so popular involves the soothing and relaxing motions associated with applying a facial mask. If you decide to have one applied in for relaxation as well as the benefits it has for the skin on the face, then you can have a very enjoyable experience. In spas, these masks are applied with special techniques and often include a massage. You can give your own face a gentle massage just prior to applying the mask, and if you are systematic about it, you can apply the mask in a way that is singularly soothing. All masks should be applied to a freshly cleaned face, rinsed with warm water. This opens the pores and allows the mask to do its thing. Warm water is very calming and soothing, and many people find this part of the application to be one of the more enjoyable stages.
Apply the mask in a circular motion until it covers the face. This is calming and stimulating at the same time. Let the mask sit on your face for 15 to 20 minutes (although some are meant to be worn all night). Many women like to lie down and relax. The effect can be enhanced by the addition of candles or incense and some soothing music. Finally, when it is time to rinse the mask, do so in cold water. This will help close the pores, protecting them against dirt and oil, and also energize your face.
Many people enjoy making their own facial masks from common natural household products like bananas (for wrinkles and anti aging), avocados, and honey (antibacterial). Butter can also be used as a remedy for dry skin. Other masks can be created using different types of clays, and different essential oils can be used for different skin types. Fruit purees also have different effects and yogurt and milk can soften the skin. Oatmeal is extremely soothing, and most sensitive skin types can use masks of this sort. Adding rose petal powder can enhance your fragrance without the need for perfume, while citrus fruit peel powder acts as an astringent. Using a combintation of herbal ingredients can offer an amazing experience.
When you decide to make use of facial masks, you are certain to feel the good effects of it later down the road. And if you apply them once a week, you can help keep your face healthy-looking and your complexion brilliant with a healthy glow.
Sunscreens, UVB and UVA Rays
June 10, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
With summer lurking just around the corner, it’s almost time to tie up that new bathing suit, fire up the grill, and most importantly, slather on the sunscreen. The importance of sun care escalates as knowledge of skin cancer increases in the United States, and the National Cancer Institute estimates that there are more than one million new cases of skin cancer in 2009 alone. Still, loyal sunbathers and frequent beach-goers are able to enjoy some fun in the sun thanks to the vast array of sunscreen available. Sunscreens are available in several forms, including lotion, sprays, ointments, and sticks, and are often labeled with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF), which can range from 2 to 50. The higher the SPF, the more sun protection, and most dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.
Sunscreen protects the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun, and too much exposure to these rays can cause sunburn and wrinkles. Long term sun exposure can lead to cancer, which is the most common type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Association. Most sunscreens contain zinc oxide, which as the ability to filter UVA and UVB rays to protect the skin. Zinc oxide has been used in skin products for many years and can be used with all skin types.
UVradiation, a known carcinogen, can have a number of harmful effects on the skin. The two types of UV radiation that can affect the skin—UVA and UVB—have both been linked to skin cancer and a weakening of the immune system. They also contribute to premature aging of the skin and cataracts (a condition that impairs eyesight), and cause skin color changes.
UVA Rays
UVA rays, which are not absorbed by the ozone layer, penetrate deep into the skin and heavilycontribute to premature aging. Up to 90 percent of the visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by sun exposure.
UVB Rays
These powerful rays, which are partially absorbed by the ozone layer, mostly affect the surface of the skin and are the primary cause of sunburn. Because of the thinning of the ozone layer, the effects of UVB radiation will pose an increased threat until the layer is restored in the latter half of the 21st century.
The following table from the FDA lists these ingredients and includes information regarding the type and amount of ray protection that they provide and their class.
Is a Suntan Healthy?
Just remember, there is no such thing as a healthy suntan. Any change in your natural skin color is a sign of skin damage. Every time your skin color changes after sun exposure, your risk of developing sun-related ailments increases.
How to Care for Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that is characterized by inflamed lesions and silvery white scales. It may appear in only a few isolated spots, or can be widespread over the body, and most typcially appears in people between the ages of 15 to 35.
There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic. The most common form, plaque psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, called scale. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.
Things You’ll Need:
* Vitamin A
* Zinc
* Evening primrose oil
* Aloe vera
* Flaxseed oil
* Vitamin C
1. Get some sun. Natural sunlight has been shown to sigificantly improve, or clear, psoriasis. Get regular daily doses, but keep them short and avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the rays are strongest.
2. Add over-the-counter tar solutions, bath oil, oatmeal, Epsom salts and Dead Sea salts to your bath. All of these will help soften the skin.
3. Use moisturizers after bathing and periodically during the day. These may not clear the psoriasis, but will help reduce itching and retain moisture in the skin.
4. Try using aloe vera gel, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil or natural vegetable oils as moisturizers. They are a natural and relatively inexpensive way to moisturize the skin.
5. Take flaxseed oil or evening primrose oil according to directions on label. They supply essential fatty acids which are important for the skin and preventing dryness.
6. Take natural beta-carotene, 25,000 IU per day. It helps protect skin tissue.
7. Take zinc, preferably in the form of zinc gluconate lozenges, for maximum absorption. Do not exceed 50 mg per day.
8. Try shark cartilage. Take 1 gm per 15 lbs of body weight. Divide it into 3 doses a day. Shark cartilage has been known to stop the spread of psoriasis, but you will need to give it 2 to 3 months to see results.
9. Take vitamins A (10,000 IU daily) and E (400-1200 IU daily).
10. Take Vitamin C (2,000 to 5,000 mg a day) in divided doses. It is necessary for immune system function and for formation of collagen and skin tissue.
11. Brush scales lightly with a loofah, then apply an alcohol-free extract of the herb goldenseal. This will help reduce inflammation and swelling.
12. Keep a record of your outbreaks. Psoriasis typically flares up and then improves. Write down what you were doing, eating, or what was going on in your life at the time of a flare-up. Triggers to flare-ups include stress, tension, illness, sunburn, certain drugs and alcohol.
13. Decrease or eliminate red meat and dairy products. They contain arachidonic acid, a substance that can cause inflammation and, in turn, make your psoriasis lesions swollen and red.
By eHow Health Editor
Herbal Facial Sunburn Treatments
June 8, 2009 by admin · 4 Comments
Herbal remedies are a type of alternative medicine that originates from plants and plant extracts. Used to heal illnesses and disease and to address psychological concerns, herbal remedies have been around for centuries, and were the precursor to modern medicine. Herbal remedies are obtained from a wide variety of natural resources including plant leaves, bark, berries, flowers, and roots. Herbal medicine remains a popular alternative throughout China and the Far East, and is growing in popularity throughout the United States.
Ease the pain and swelling associated with sunburn and accelerate the healing process with herbal remedies, which can be mixed and applied at home. These all natural herbal treatments are safe to use and contain no chemicals. Read on to learn how to treat sunburn with herbal remedies.
Things You’ll Need:
* Calendula oil
* Aloe vera
* St. John’s Wort oil
* Sea Buckthorn oil
* Black tea bags
Step 1: Mix 20 drops of calendula oil with four oz. of water and apply to the skin using a washcloth or cotton balls. You can also get calendula in the form of gels and soothing salves. Calendula is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory; it will help soften the skin and ease the pain.
Step 2: Soothe burned areas with aloe gel as often as needed. You can either purchase bottled aloe gel or simply break apart the leaves of an aloe plant and apply it directly to the skin. Be careful to remove the spiny edges of the leaf before applying to avoid accidentally poking tender skin.
Step 3: Apply St. John’s Wort oil, mixed with a couple tablespoons of olive or almond oil, directly to sunburned parts of the skin. St. John’s Wort is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antibacterial.
Step 4: Dilute a few drops of Sea Buckthorn oil with olive oil or almond oil and rub into the skin. Repeat two, eight and 24 hours later. Sea Buckthorn oil extract helps to heal sunburns and reduce the damaging effect they have on the skin.
Step 5 : Place two to three bags of black tea into a bathtub of lukewarm water and soak in it. The tannic acid in tea helps relieve pain. Tea bags can also be wet in hot water, allowed to cool and placed directly onto burned areas. Green or chamomile tea can also be used, and peppermint oil or tea can be added to create a cooling feeling on the skin.
By eHow Health Editor
