Skin Care

To get that classic type or the latest and trendiest hairstyles, what do you resort to? Refer to those online and parlor experts’ beauty tips or those gels, shampoos and conditioners on the market shelves?

Unlike the today’s materialistic lifestyle, the 17th century men interestingly seem to be literally more down to earth, at least when it comes to grooming and good health, especially hair - to your surprise, the ‘beauty tips’ list consisted of cat’s dung, snail’s blood and even chicken droppings!

To add to your shock, arsenic and brimstone too played an important part in grooming men back in 1650s. All these ingredients did not just serve their skin deep purposes - rather were recommended as remedies for everything from bad breath to baldness, fatness to flatulence!

And, if your are interested in more of such basic tips on men’s health, wait till the auction of the sort of 17th century version of Men’s Health magazine - ‘The Path-Way To Health’ in October. The apparently bizarrely informative book has emerged from a private collection of antiquarian books.

Now, you have all those ‘earthly basics’ to help cure either your baldness, body odor, flatulence or even bad breath - as a cheap and natural alternative to the present chemical-based beauty products.

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When it comes to skin care, women get the lion’s share of attention, while the issue of male skin care is often neglected despite the fact that male skin requires more care than female skin, because it is exposed to several factors comparatively more often. Among these factors daily, stroking of razor is quite common that rub away the suppleness of skin. So, following are some of the tips that can help you lessening the harm that your skin incurs through the daily stroking of razor.

1. Before you start shaving your beard, make sure that you thoroughly rinse your beard with warm water as it turns your beard soft.

2. Always apply shaving cream that has a high concentration of lubricants and moisturizers as it lessens harm that your skin incurs through shave.

3. Always use sharp blade as it ensures smooth shave.

4. Don’t shave in the opposite direction of beard growth as it may injure your skin.

5. Avoid using aftershave lotions that contains alcohol, as it turns the skin dry.

6. After shave make sure that you apply moisturizer on your face.

Where these tips would help you having smooth shave at the same time would ensure healthy and supple facial skin too.

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Though, most common in babies and children, skin diseases like Atopic dermatitis can happen to anyone. Though the cause of such disease is not yet known, researchers have importantly come up with remedies.

There are other skin diseases in which skin cells grow abnormally, but are not taken seriously by many and go untreated. But, now researchers have come up with a new remedy for such skin diseases - ’synthetic lipids.’

The new synthetic lipids are called ‘pseudo-ceramides’ after the natural lipids - ceramides — found in the outermost skin layer made of dead cells and mainly serves as a physical barrier. The lipids’ mainly control the growth and differentiation of skin cells.

These laboratory-created pseudo-ceramides are thus, responsible for skin cell growth, and thus can significantly be used to treat abnormally-growing skin cells.

Ah! Here is thus an alternative and effective solution for skin disease ailments like —

* Atopic dermatitis — a form of eczema which is manifested by red, flaky and very itchy skin;
* Psoriasis — a disease causing red scaly patches on the skin; and
* Glucocorticoid — induced epidermal atrophy, in which the skin shrinks by the loss of skin cell.

The three pseudo-ceramides — K6PC-4, K6PC-5, and K6PC-9 — significantly increasing proteins-amount produced during skin cell-differentiation, can play a vital role in curing such common, but long process skin diseases.

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Women want to look picture perfect at all times, and make that extra effort to look good. These efforts do not get restricted to the use of cosmetics, tweezing brows and waxing; going in for laser treatments, botox, cosmetic surgeries and tattoos are all a part of it. But sometimes, women go to unbelievable lengths at making those efforts.

The bizarre surgeries include elective eye surgery that replaces a healthy cornea with colored artificial lens, feet surgery to fit into the right fashionable shoes!

Looking attractive with these extra efforts comes with a dangerous “price tag” and I’m not talking about the dollars you spend on these treatments. Let’s find out what are the unexpected and unwanted packages that comes bundled with the process.

Cosmetics: Though cosmetics available these days are safe as they go through strict scrutiny, it’s advisable that you try out any new cosmetic on one patch of skin to check for an allergic reaction. Also, be careful when you are buying products that claim to have natural or herbal ingredients, especially those sold on internet or television.

Tattoos: Tattoos are a great way to express yourself and is considered hip to have one. When you get a tattoo done with unhygienic tools, be assured of inviting diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Also, check out if you are having an allergic reaction to a particular coloured dye.

Body piercing: Young people think it cool to get their bodies pierced; unusual body piercing especially lips, eyebrows, tongue, or belly button is a sure fire way of grabbing attention. Get it from an unhygienic place and you are at the risk of getting tetanus, chronic infections and skin allergies.

Your eyes: If you are using different coloured contact lenses to match your style, take care to see that that are cleaned after each use or you run the risk of getting eye infections.

Cosmetic surgeries: Great route to achieve the looks you want, be it nose lifts, face lifts, chemical peels, breast lifts, botox, or liposuction; all come with associated risks like scarring, bleeding, and infections to name a few. But the biggest risk is that you may end getting the look that’s completely opposite to your expectations.

Take a look at one interesting article where a woman obsessed with the American millionaire hotel heiress, Paris Hilton spent over 35,000 pounds to look like her.

Heather Raznick, a psychotherapist in west St. Louis County, blames pressure from the media for many unrealistic goals regarding personal appearance. From magazines to television, women especially are bombarded with images “that are only attainable by a small percentage of people.” she says.

Is it worth all the pains? All of us are made to be unique, there is no point in trying bizarre methods to look like any other celebrity. Remember, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, just the way you are!

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Your body has it all - both the diseases and their healing powers, unless man interferes with it. Do you believe this? Perhaps no! But, a new study will surely lead you to thinking on these lines, if not to an absolute extend.

Yes, it has been found that our body itself can normalize skin cell growth. While on one hand, it can fight psoriasis and non-melanoma skin cancers, on the other, can slow down aging as well as skin form getting damaged by the sun.

The magic wand lies with a natural body lipid or fat - phosphatidylglycerol - which is thought to be able to signal cells for normalizing growth and maturation or differentiation.

Explaining the study, Dr. Wendy B. Bollag, cell physiologist at the Medical College of Georgia says,

This is serving as a signal, like an elevator operator. This way for normal keratinocyte differentiation. That’s good because without it, you get abnormal differentiation in skin diseases like psoriasis, non-melanoma skin cancer, some of the dermatitises; in a lot of these conditions, the cells proliferate too much and don’t differentiate properly. We think maybe in psoriasis, the phospholipase D and aquaporin-3 become disconnected so now they can’t produce phosphatidylglycerol. If you only put glycerol on it, it may not help.

The signaling pathway, the study reveals, is perhaps the most important, as it shows that by ‘bypassing’ it leads to dysfunctional in diseases like psoriasis. And, if the signal is given, it restores skin cells or keratinocytes’ normal differentiation all by itself.

Confident and optimistic about the finding, Dr. Bollag, said,

When we apply it to skin cells, we see the normalization ability. Proof of principle is the first phase. If in vivo data looks promising, we’ll put together a study we can take into the clinic.

This study is a breakthrough as a guide in piecing together the signaling pathway that prompts skin cells to stop multiplying and start differentiating.

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When you are outdoors or on the beach enjoying yourself, it is imperative for you to know the long term risk factors associated with excessive sun exposure on your skin. Skin cancer is usually caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun. These ultraviolet rays are responsible for the DNA damage resulting in skin cancer.

All of us are aware of deadly skin cancer. But, a new study has urged parents to shade their kids from harmful UV rays. The warning comes as a result of a study that has found strong evidence that overall sun exposure in childhood results in deadly skin cancer.

The news comes as the Food and Drug Administration department is finishing long-awaited rules to improve sunscreens. The department wants sunscreens to be rated for the protection they give against deeper-penetrating ultraviolet-A rays that are linked to cancer and wrinkles.

The department has warned parents to be aware of the weather forecast for the day’s UV index in their town, to learn when to stay indoors or in the shade. In doing this, parents can better shield their children against harmful UV rays of the sun.

Dr. Nancy Thomas, a dermatologist at the University of North Carolina who led the UV research, says that sunscreen is imperfect and skin cancer is on the rise, therefore one should schedule activities outside when UV irradiation is not quite so high because.

Melanoma, the most fatal skin cancer, has already affected almost 60,000 Americans this year, and killed some 8,100. Earlier studies found that it usually strikes in the 40s or 50s, but cases are on the rise among the younger people.

The study is being conducted on Americans and Australians. Scientists are working to find the interaction of genes and UV exposure in skin cancer patients. With the initial results suggesting that overall sun exposure in childhood results in deadly skin cancer. Therefore staying in the shade in early life. Though, the reason behind isn’t that clear yet, but scientists feel that young skin is more vulnerable to damaging UV rays, especially as moles are developing.

In adults over 50, another melanoma subtype, characterized by alteration in a gene called NRAS, is strongly linked to UV exposure. Scientists say that sunscreens have proved effective for mostly UVB rays that cause sunburns, not UVA rays, therefore adults who depend only on sunscreen to prevent skin cancer are under a false sense of security.

Until now, sunscreens made their way into the markets very easily, but now as per the soon-to-come FDA proposal, the sunscreens would be rate as per their SPF, or sun protection factor. That means sunscreens and lotions having both UVA and UVB protection would be allowed access to markets.

But, the best way is to protect sun as much as possible, be it during childhood or adulthood. Sun rays are harmful for both classes.

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Via: Msnbc

People fond of getting their skin tanned may land up messing up with their skin texture and leaving them smell funky, if not leading to overexposure causing skin cancer - responsible for the death of thousands of people each year.

Never mind, what you have to know is how to get your skin kissed by the sun, leaving it streak-free. In short, you have to go the way to keep your skin from smelling funky.

Here are some scientific and effective tips -

* Slough off dead skin with a loofah or exfoliating shower gel to allow a self-tanner to work on fresh, new skin.
* Apply self-tanner lightly to areas where the skin is thick — like elbows, knees, ankles and knuckles.
* Wash your hands right after applying a self-tanner, or wear latex gloves.

But, what you have to find out is how effective your self-tanners against the harmful rays of the sun are. Rather, it is the best to stay out of the sun as much as possible. After all, you can’t prevent the ultra-violet rays from having its toll on your skin completely.

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Garra rufa or doctor fish is a species of freshwater fish which breeds in the river basins of the Northern and Central Middle East, mainly in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. It is also called the doctor fish, because of the role it plays in healing persons affected with psoriasis.

Garra rufa is often called the nibble fish, kangal fish, and doctorfishen. In non-medical terms the fish is also called reddish log sucker.

Majority of Turkish spas breed the doctor fish in an outdoor pool, where they feed on an unusual diet- the skin of psoriasis affected patients. Just like the combfish, the doctor fish devours the affected and dead areas of the skin, while leaving the healthy skin to grow.

Though, the spas are not meant to be a treatment center, patients come here regularly for temporary cure of the symptoms. Inspite of the unpredictable nature of the disease, some patients have experienced complete cure as a result of their repeated exposure to the doctor fish.

Garra rufa can be kept in an aquarium at home, but regular food supply can effect their skin-feeding behaviour, which arises mainly due to scarcity of food and hence aquarium specimens are not suited for treatment of skin diseases.

The doctor fish is nature’s gift to mankind and we should do our best to conserve the species.

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Forget a visit to the dermetologist for your skin treatment, Get treated by the doctor fish if you have a skin disease. The latest fad to get rid of your flaky, scaly or scabby skin is to feed them to fish.

The idea behind these spas is that you soak your hands, feet or you body in a tub filled with hundreds of hungry tiny toothless fish who’ll happily chomp away the diseased skin leaving your body exfoliated and glowing.

Doctor fish are a species called garra rufa and they originate in Hot Spring pools of the Tigress and Euphrates rivers, in the East Anatolian Kangal region of Turkey and Iraqi and Iran.They have long been known for their ability to treat the symptoms of skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis.

The ravenous fish will attack diseased skin with a vengeance and will lick it up happily. Just like others they have their preferences too when it comes to treating the skin; The more diseased skin gets the first preference which means if you soaked yourself in the fishy pool along with your partner who has chapped and scaly skin, your partner gets the special treatment first.

Cashing in on this new found craze,more and more spas are offering treatments with doctor fish but not every body enjoys getting their bodies nibbled and tickles by fish.

This treatment may offer a hope to thousands of sufferers who may prefer to give in to the doctor fish for a few hours rather than suffer for the lifetime though the spas don’t promise that it is a permanent solution.

So, are you ready to get nibbled by Dr.Fish?

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