Beauty not cherished is a beauty lost forever

Vitamins & Minerals for Treating Stretch Marks

Posted on 02/10/2013 4:59 PM by Petra Comment
Many women all over the world look forward to having their first newborn baby. It’s a moment of utter joy and thankfulness, having to welcome a new member of the family into the fold.

However, childbearing is no easy task, and women everywhere would have to deal with a number of things that would challenge their patience.

In fact, those ladies who are quite worried about their appearance will definitely be getting the blunt end of the stick, especially with certain conditions such as stretch marks developing.

It’s definitely something that will give them something to worry about, since their skin would be saddled with reddish streaks of skin around their bellies, thighs, hips and even upper arms.

This condition is caused by the rupturing of collagen fibers within the dermis, the second layer of skin. Any sudden growth in the body can lead to the skin becoming stretched beyond its capacity, thus resulting in these marks.

Of course, it makes perfect sense for women everywhere to try and look for solutions to this problem.

Considering that many companies have addressed the situation, there are loads of creams and ointments sold in the market to help women achieve much fairer and smoother looking skin that is free of striae, the other name for this condition.

However, there are major concerns with these products to be considered. For one, not every one of them is affordable. For long term use, these topical solutions can amount to a ton of money being spent.

Another thing to remember is that no two creams are equal, especially with ingredients. Some may contain potent compounds which can be way too harsh on the skin. Knowing this, it would definitely be better to go for natural remedies.

Below are some of the essential nutrients which can be used to treat striae.
- Zinc actually helps in the rejuvenation and regeneration of skin, forming new tissues that will feel smoother and look healthier. One can simply consume foods with this mineral, with some including bran cereal, pecan nuts, shell fish and oysters.
- Vitamin E is also a proven remedy to many types of skin conditions, including stretch marks. There are loads of foods which are abundant in this vitamin, including almonds, popcorn and peanuts. Of course, one can also avail of Vitamin E oil and rub it all over the affected areas.
- Castor oil can be used as a topical solution, since all that one need to do is rub a thick amount of it on any area of the skin affected with striae. Afterwards, they will need to wrap it up with plastic sheets. Heat should then be applied on the sheet for around 40 minutes max with the use of a hot water bottle.
These are just three essential vitamins and minerals which can truly provide relief to people suffering from stretch marks.

These have all been proven really effective and will lessen the appearance of striae on the skin, turning them barely noticeable.
This entry was posted in Stretch Mark and tagged stretch marks, striae, treat striae, treating stretch marks. Bookmark the permalink.
The Drawbacks of Hair Removal through Laser Therapy

Posted on 01/31/2013 4:44 PM by Petra Comment
A lot of people in the world constantly shave certain areas of their body in order to maintain a clean, neat and well-groomed look. However, the process itself can also be very time consuming, and not everyone has the patience to do so.

It has become a ritual for some, and a nuisance for others. For the latter group of people, it would seem like a much better option to avail of laser hair removal.

Of course, it would take several sessions before the results take full effect. The upside to this, however, is one no longer needs to go to a waxing session, use shavers or tweezers to get rid of those pesky hairs growing in the most inopportune of areas on the skin.

Yet, there are certain concerns that people must look into before they decide to avail of such a procedure. While many have seen such immense success with laser reduction, there are also some things to be mindful of.

After all, not every skin care specialist out there is perfect, and may end up making a few mistakes that could cost a lot of money and some permanent side effects.

Below are a couple of disadvantages that one must look into.
1. There would be a great deal of discomfort felt when taking advantage of laser therapy for unwanted hairs. While the person handling the procedure, namely the skin care practitioner, will do his or her best to keep the epidermis cool and free of discomfort, there’s always a chance that some pain will be felt afterwards. In fact, there’s a tendency for the affected area to become inflamed after the procedure, which would then be highly uncomfortable to deal with. Of course, this can be remedied with the use of topical solutions like ointments and creams to provide relief to the skin. Even cold water may prove sufficient for this. This is because a lot of people who have undergone laser therapy often describe it as a feeling similar to getting sunburn. At times, there may even be some blisters developing, which would definitely be bad when the face is the affected area. With that in mind, makeup or any cleansers must be avoided to avoid making the side effect a lot worse.
2. There’s also the possibility of suffering from permanent damage on the skin, which could either be scarring or discoloration. This is often caused by a lack of carefulness from the practitioner, or even from someone who isn’t licensed to carry out the procedure. In order to avoid this, one has to ensure that they’re only availing of the best skin care specialists. Yet, if the damage has already been done, it would be best to seek assistance from medical experts such as a dermatologist or a doctor to provide further treatment for it.
Of course, to prevent these discomforts from occurring, it would be best to set an appointment with a medical professional to understand how laser hair removal truly works.
This entry was posted in Hair Removal and tagged advantage of laser therapy, hair removal, hair removal through laser therapy, laser hair reduction, laser hair removal, laser therapy. Bookmark the permalink.
Rosacea and Acne: Are They the Same?

Posted on 01/21/2013 3:48 PM by Petra Comment

You may have heard about rosacea as a disastrous skin disease. How is it different to acne? Both skin diseases are often mistaken to be the same. This may be because of the signs and symptoms they manifest.

Rosacea is Not Acne

It is hard to differentiate both skin diseases. Rosacea is sometimes referred to as “adult acne” or “acne rosacea”. Though they are two different skin conditions, they have certain similarities.

Both are disorders of your pilosebaceous unit. “Sebaceous” refers to the oil glands. Rosacea, however, is not due to same factors.

How It Develops

It often begins with a flushed or reddened face. Small red bumps that are acne-like may start to appear. In rosacea, you won’t notice comedones or blackheads which are common in acne.

Your superficial arteries may begin to show which causes the reddening of the face. Did you ever wish to have the natural blush? A flushed face due to rosacea is often unsightly.

Redness

Unlike with acne, the redness may appear and disappear. In rosacea, your capillaries are oversensitive. Factors that trigger these blood vessels to dilate such as heat may make the redness even worse.

You want to avoid a flushed skin so you have to avoid spicy foods, sun exposure, hot beverages and alcohol. Cold weather can also trigger the redness.

Have you been stressed out lately? Studies show that stress can aggravate your skin’s redness. Rosacea flare ups are also associated with abrupt withdrawal from long-term steroidal use. Doctors recommend tapering doses of steroids before stopping the treatment.

Commonly Affected Areas

Acne can grow anywhere on your face, back, neck, shoulders and upper arms. On the other hand, rosacea bumps are confined to your face (nose, cheeks, forehead and chin).

Acne is common during puberty stage while rosacea usually appear after age 30. Studies show that if you have fair skin, you are more likely to develop this skin disease.

Though rosacea is commonly experienced by women, men may have more severe forms.

Treatment

Treatment for rosacea is definitely different from that of acne. Steroidal treatment may be necessary to prevent flare ups. However, many skin doctors advocate preventive measures such as avoiding factors that may aggravate the symptoms and the appearance of red bumps.

Also, antibiotics both topical and oral preparations may be prescribed by your dermatologist. The sad truth about this skin condition is that it is not curable.

You may have episodes of flare ups wherein your skin may be more reddened than usual and your face may grow many red bumps. A flare up can make your skin look very unsightly so prevention is very important.

Complying with Treatment

Acne rosacea may develop to certain complications such as ocular rosacea. This happens when the disease reaches the cornea of your eyes and even affects your vision.

Talk to your dermatologist about treatments that you need to undergo. Remember that the best way to spare your skin from flare ups is through prevention.

So put that glass of hot chocolate and that bottle of liquor down!

This entry was posted in Rosacea and tagged acne rosacea, ocular rosacea, prevent rosacea, rosacea, treatment for rosacea. Bookmark the permalink.
Toenail Fungus

Posted on 01/11/2013 10:59 AM by Petra Comment
While there have been several conditions which have affected a lot of people all over the world, one of the most challenging situations a person can ever encounter is finding ways to treat toenail fungus effectively.

It has already been proven by several studies that about 18 percent of the world’s population suffer from it, and are looking to find the right treatment for fungal infections in the toe nails.

This is something which happens whenever a dermatophyte, a certain kind of fungus, makes its way into one’s nails and eventually spreads all over the nail bed.

This process is medically dubbed as Onychomycosis, and has affected people’s fingernails and toe nails as well. Of course, it makes sense that the toes are the ones which suffer from it the most, since it’s often covered by shoes and socks, which then trap the moisture.

At times, people also fail to wipe their feet completely dry, thus leading to the development of this condition. Fungi tend to thrive in moist environments, after all.

Therefore, if one is looking to treat this condition right away, they’d have to avail of truly effective solutions.

Such can be found below.
1. One can simply create a mixture of water and vinegar in equal amounts. All they’d have to do is dip their nails in a container with the solution in it. When this is done twice every day, the infection should being to clear even after just a week. Of course, using a nail file should also help in removing any remaining bits of the infected nail. However, it is also essential to not file the nails way too much since it may even make the nails more susceptible to more infections.
2. Some people have made use of Vicks Vaporub to treat fungal infections in the toenails. Of course, it has proven very effective, which is why those suffering from toe nail fungus should apply it twice every day. The results can be evident even after just a week of using the treatment, although it may also vary depending on the severity of the infection. For some people with more severe infections on their toe nails, they would have to expect clearing up after more than three months of Vicks Vaporub application.
3. One can also utilize oils filled with Vitamin E to cure fungal infections in their toe nails. In fact, when one gets to apply it two times a day, the fungus will eventually be eradicated, leading to clear and healthy nails. It may take some time but eventually it will get a lot better. It’s even more beneficial to think that, since it’s Vitamin E, nails would become longer and healthier.
It’s very important that people should take preventive measures, since toenail fungus may end up being chronic and it would be rather hassling to have to perform the same procedures over and over again.

This means that people should avoid using closed footwear if their toes are still damp, and also ensure that they aren’t exposed to warm environments.
This entry was posted in Toenail Fungus and tagged onychomycosis, toenail fungus, treat fungal infections, treatment for fungal infections, Vicks Vaporub, vinegar. Bookmark the permalink.
Practices that Help Prevent Hair Loss

Posted on 01/01/2013 10:37 AM by Petra Comment
Most men these days are so concerned with their appearances, at times even more so than women. Physical appearance has become such an important component of a person’s being, it may often lead them to getting better jobs and opportunities.

It will even help them stand out from the rest of the crowd. A well groomed individual will always make a good impression.

However, insecurities would arise whenever hair starts to fall off a person’s head. This is a concern which has long plagued several people all over the world, including women.

It’s because of this situation that most individuals are doing all they can to look for the most effective hair loss treatments.

However, the first thing to do when it comes to treating such a condition is to figure out what lead to this.

There are several factors which cause eventual loss of hair among individuals, such as lifestyle practices that can dampen one’s health.

Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol can do a lot of bad, and there’s even genetics, which may seem unavoidable.

Some people also love to make use of styling and hair care products which often contain the harshest and most potent chemicals, thus leading to hair damage.

With such concerns, one would probably want to figure out how in the world he or she could stop such a condition from happening.

Therefore, it would make perfect sense to consider the following tips.
1. Since every person on this planet would love to have a radiant wad of hair on their head, either male or female, it would only be logical to start living healthier lifestyles. This means that one should be watchful of the things they eat. Foods and beverages must contain loads of nutrients which can help flush out all the toxins and harmful substances that can have a huge impact on a person’s health. After all, these substances can deprive the follicles of the essential nutrients to make hair grow.
2. It’s also good to get a proper dose of nutrients by way of supplements. There are many pills, powders and other forms of supplementation which contain protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin B and Vitamin E. Vitamin A makes for a very effective antioxidant, and can even promote proper moisture in the scalp. Dryness in said area, along with constant exposure to extreme weather and harsh temperatures can lead to hair damage. Vitamin B can also increase the natural production of melanin in the body, which then gives color to a person’s hair and lead to better circulation of blood in the scalp. The same goes for Vitamin E.
3. Lastly, it’s best to stay away from styling products that contain pretty strong chemicals. Hair gels, sprays, mousses and even shampoos would often be filled with lots of harsh compounds that can do a ton of damage to the hair. Therefore, it would be essential to stick to products which contain natural ingredients.
These are just some of the things that people should look into if they wish to avoid experiencing complete hair loss.
This entry was posted in Hair Loss and tagged avoiding hair loss, hair loss, prevent hair loss, tips to prevent hair loss. Bookmark the permalink.
Making stretch marks less noticeable

Posted on 11/03/2012 4:49 PM by Petra Comment
There are tons of people in every part of the world who get to suffer from a plethora of conditions, some of which can dampen their spirits and sink their confidence levels to an all time low.

Physically apparent conditions such as stretch marks are always going to be embarrassing to many people, especially since these simply illustrate just how imperfect their skin is.

It gets a lot worse whenever they have to go out in public wearing shorts, skirts, tank tops or even swimsuits and bikinis when out in the beach during summer holidays.

It’s definitely a cause for concern for many individuals, which is why there’s always a need for them to look for solutions to these nagging stretch mark problems.

Usually, it is the pregnant women who get to suffer from stretch marks, especially when they’re on the 3rd trimester, as the belly grows bigger to accommodate the growing fetus.

For others, it would simply be a case of weight gain, wherein their skin just cannot handle the sudden physical change. It even occurs among people who have lost a significant amount of weight, and their skin starts to look soggy and floppy.

The reason why these marks, also known as striae in scientific terms, develop is due to the rupturing of collagen fibers in the dermis.

They would burst, lending to that initially reddish appearance of lines on the skin which can then turn into a silvery set of streaks over time. Regardless, they can still be noticeable and highly ugly to look at. This is why people look for the most effective remedies to such a condition.

Below are just some tips to look into in treating stretch marks.
1. Tretinoin cream is definitely a good topical solution for stretch mark problems, especially those which have been existing for just less than 6 weeks. One can simply determine this through their appearance, which is often pinkish or reddish. Retin-A is one of the most popular forms of topical medication for such a skin condition, and many people have used it to great effect. In fact, they have reported that their stretch mark concerns are no longer that visible.
2. It would also be advised for people to drink around 8 glasses of water on a daily basis. This is because water provides the skin the necessary moisture to keep it hydrated and healthy. The truth is that stretch marks can look a lot less apparent if the skin is properly moisturized and hydrated.
3. It’s also wise for sufferers of striae to acquire self-tanning lotions and apply some over the stretch marks. This is most helpful for people who have darker skin, since the stretch marks won’t be as noticeable. This can be rubbed over those really unsightly streaks of reddish skin as many times as possible in a given week. While one would simply want to get a natural tan, the heat of the sun can lead to the dehydration and dryness of skin as well. Apart from that, there’s a huge risk of getting skin cancer in the long run, especially after prolonged exposure.
Stretch marks aren’t curable as of the mean time, yet these tips should come in handy in making them less evident on a person’s skin.
This entry was posted in Stretch Mark and tagged stretch marks, striae, tips for stretch marks, treating stretch marks. Bookmark the permalink.
Identifying The Various Hair Removal Methods

Posted on 09/13/2012 4:37 PM by Petra Comment
A lot of people often deal with unwanted hair growths on certain parts of their body. This is because of the abundance of testosterone, a hormone responsible for this type of growth, in their bodies.

It doesn’t matter if one is male or female; any increase in testosterone levels can lead to unexpected growth of hair in any part of the body, including the face. This is something that most people would solve through shaving and waxing.

However, the problem is that these procedures can be quite consuming, or even very annoying, especially when they just begin growing back again.

By then, those procedures will start all over again. Because of this, people are often looking for permanent hair removal options.

This is quite a very attractive prospect for many people, since they can simply live with smooth and hair-free skin for the rest of their lives.

Besides, a lot of men, more so than women, nowadays tend to be very conscious of their appearance and would want to have a clean and tidy look.

If there’s one procedure which many have attested to as quite effective, it would be laser treatment. This is highly well known and is often desired by people with unwanted hair growth spurts. However, there are some other options which they can avail of as well.

Below are some additional choices to consider for this matter.
1. Laser hair reduction, as stated before, is the most regarded treatment for getting rid of hair permanently. Surprisingly, it proves cost efficient, since one no longer has to worry about waxing or shaving their hairs continuously. With laser technology, hair follicles are destroyed, hence preventing the re-growth of hairs in the affected area. There are pain-free procedures, while others may not be so satisfying to some patients, especially with the kind of machines that they make use of. For those wanting to avail of this method, it would be best to get started with a test patch to gauge whether or not there is going to be some pain felt during the procedure.
2. Electrolysis is also an effective method which works by sending electric current to the hair follicles, thus effectively destroying them. However, this is a method which is significantly slower than laser hair reduction. It will also require a number of sessions to take place before all the hair is completely removed, yet the main concern is that it isn’t guaranteed that the effects are permanent.
3. Alkaline facial washing utilizes a solution which can be used on facial hair growing around the cheeks or just above the upper lip. It can help maintain smoothness and silkiness on the skin. The solution utilized was designed specifically to address facial hair problems and will definitely result in permanent removal.
These are just some of the different methods of hair removal. These are considered to be rather affordable compared to several waxing and shaving sessions, and are also quite effective in getting rid of unwanted hairs.
This entry was posted in Hair Removal and tagged alkaline facial washing, electrolysis, hair removal, hair removal methods, laser hair reduction, methods of hair removal. Bookmark the permalink.
What You Need to Know About Acne Rosacea

Posted on 12/24/2011 11:06 AM by Petra Comment

You are dying to have that natural blush on your face. You have a fair complexion and you want to have a blushing healthy skin. You may have heard about acne rosacea.

This skin disease can give you the blush you never wanted to have. Rosacea causes a flushed face and reddened skin. How do you get this?

What Causes Rosacea

The etiology or how this disease developed is not clearly explained. However, you are more likely to have it if there is an incidence of rosacea in your family. Do you have a fair skin complexion? A whiter skin tone develops this skin disease more commonly.

How It Develops

Rosacea progresses to severe skin conditions. You may start to notice a reddened skin. Red bumps may start to appear which is usually found around the nose, chin, cheeks and forehead.

It may leave you with a bulbous nose due to repeated scarring. A big red nose will look cute on Rudolph the reindeer yet it is not an assurance you’ll look good with it too.

Ocular Rosacea

You start noticing reddened eyes weeks ago. You are wondering what caused your eye irritation. Are you diagnosed to have rosacea? See your doctor immediately. This skin condition may affect the cornea of your eyes and can damage it. This may cause an altered vision.

You may start experiencing grittiness on your eyes. Have you experienced blurring of vision and tearing? Ocular rosacea is a serious complication of this disease. It is often treated with steroidal eye drops to prevent inflammation. This helps in preventing eye damage.

Getting Diagnosed

You may have mild rosacea without you noticing. It is a more serious skin disease than acne.

You thought you are just having hormonal imbalances that at the age of 30 you start growing pimples again. Many do not recognize rosacea. This may be because it has almost similar signs and symptoms with acne.

You may use make up to cover your reddened skin. You thought the red bumps on your face are just acne breakouts.

What you do not know is you have a skin disease that needs to be treated early. Rosacea flare ups may sabotage your skin and can even affect your vision. Seek for immediate consultation.

Is there a Cure?

Rosacea has no cure. This is a sad reality that you need to face. However, there are many things you can do in order to prevent flare ups. Avoid hot and cold temperatures, alcohol, hot and cold beverages and spicy foods.

These can cause your capillaries to dilate and cause more redness.

Rosacea is also treated with antibiotics and other acne medications. These are given to minimize the red bumps on your face. Flare up episodes can happen anytime so it is important that you avoid the factors that can ignite it.

Set an appointment with your skin doctor. Discuss with him this skin disease and effective ways on how you can prevent triggering a flare up episode. Though there is no cure for acne rosacea, prevention and treatment can help you manage the signs and symptoms.

This entry was posted in Rosacea and tagged acne rosacea, causes of rosacea, prevention of rosacea, rosacea, signs and symptoms of rosacea, treatment of rosacea. Bookmark the permalink.
Common Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus

Posted on 07/04/2011 10:52 AM by Petra Comment
It can be quite aggravating to just about every person on this planet to undergo certain conditions which can actually affect not only their health but how they perceive themselves.

There are certainly a lot of conditions which can hamper a person’s self confidence, ranging from minor things to severe illnesses which require utmost medical attention. One common condition that many people everywhere get to experience is toenail fungus.

This causes the toenails to have that brittle, flaky appearance, often accompanied by discoloration, or even complete removal of the toenail. There are a lot of fungi which can infections in the toenail, though most of them are classified as dermatophytes.

These are, for the most part, found on surfaces which many individuals get to touch or even just come in contact with every day. Such fungi actually feed on the keratin found under the nails, thus infecting them.

Of course, they aren’t even dangerous to a person’s overall well being, but they can be pretty ugly to look at.

This is why many people would often run off to the pharmacies just to avail of any treatments which can alleviate the condition, especially if they are fond of wearing flip flops and sandals.

Yet, one doesn’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on them. The truth is that there are some homemade remedies which can actually be quite effective in reducing or even eliminating the appearance of fungus on the toenails.

Below are just some of the most common remedies to add some clarity and shine to one’s toenails.
1. One can take advantage of a vinegar foot bath. All that’s needed to be done is to get a container that’s large enough to accommodate the feet. One should then put some cooking vinegar into it, specifically an amount which can cover the toenails enough. The foot must then be placed inside the container and then keep it there for about 30 minutes tops on a daily basis. Of course, it’s also noteworthy that it may take anywhere between 4 to 6 months before the toenails start clearing up.
2. A mixture of water and bleach also proves effective in getting rid of fungus in the toenails. One should fill about 80 percent of water and 20 percent of bleach into a large container to place their toes in. Submerging the toes into the mixture for every few minutes should be done. One should make sure that there is enough water, since a bit of redness may take place on the toes. If this occurs, adding a bit more water will lessen the potency of the mixture just a bit.
3. Tea tree oil is another effective remedy for toe nails which have been infected by fungi. This can be acquired at any grocery store and will help eliminate the presence of slight infections. For the more severe conditions, it may take more than 3 months before the toenails clear up.
These are three of the most common remedies used by people everywhere to remove the presence of toenail fungus.
This entry was posted in Toenail Fungus and tagged eliminating toenail fungus, home remedies for toenail fungus, reducing toenail fungus, remedies for toenail fungus, remove toenail fungus, tea tree oil, toenail fungus, vinegar. Bookmark the permalink.
The Different Types of Hair Loss

Posted on 03/18/2011 10:12 AM by Petra Comment
There are a lot of men these days who are suffering from partial or complete loss of hair on their heads. Baldness may not be a critical condition, but it sure can dampen a guy’s spirits to a huge extent.

It may turn out to be a cause for concern, especially when people these days are so concerned about physical appearances.

Having a full wad of hair on the head can make a person feel attractive and comfortable with one’s self, and to experience even just a slight situation of hair fall can already be a cause for concern.

Hair loss is a growing problem, and so many men are doing all they can to take preventive measures.

This condition, also known as alopecia in Latin terms, is quite frustrating to deal with. Because of the growing annoyance that men have with it, there are many products out in the market manufactured by companies to combat the situation.

There are even some natural remedies which won’t require sufferers of hair loss to spend tons of money.

However, before one gets to make use of such treatments, it would definitely be a lot better to figure out what pattern baldness is really all about.

Alopecia is a condition which can be categorized into two, and they are the following:
1. Androgenic alopecia – This is male pattern baldness, although despite the implication if its name, is suffered by either men or women. There are several factors that come into play if this type of baldness is experienced. For one, a person may have inherited genes from his ancestors, who have had the same hair fall problem. Another factor which can lead to this condition arising is aging. As a person gets older, certain deficiencies in the body come into play, which then deprives the hair follicles of the essential nutrients to allow for hair to grow. There’s also the matter of changes in hormone levels, which may occur as a person gets older too. This type of alopecia can actually affect people of any age bracket, although it becomes even more apparent when a person reaches 40 years of age. Generally speaking, it begins with hair becoming thinner and thinner in growth.
2. Areata Alopecia – This is commonly caused through disorders of the skin. Whenever the autoimmune system of the body begins to attack all hairs, there will be some patches of baldness developing on certain areas of a person’s head. However, this is a condition which can lead to something more severe. In fact, if no treatments are utilized for it, it can develop into…
3. Alopecia Totalis – This is known as complete baldness, wherein all hair on the person’s head will be lost. This can be a cause for concern, especially when it, in turn can transition into the most severe of hair fall problems, known as…
4. Alopecia universalis – While the previous categories of baldness mainly become prevalent on a person’s head, this actually attacks the rest of the body. Hence, one will be completely hairless.
These are the four types of hair loss that are suffered by men of all ages.
This entry was posted in Hair Loss and tagged alopecia, alopecia Totalis, alopecia universalis, androgenic alopecia, areata alopecia, baldness, hair loss, types of hair loss. Bookmark the permalink.