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Beauty, Cosmetics & Skin Care
Foods rich in vitamin C may help prevent skin aging, according to a new study in the United Britarie.
British scientists have investigated the connection between diet and skin damage, examining the 4025 farm aged 40 and 74.
The loss in quality was defined by skin wrinkles, low elasticity and atrophy.
Postmenopausal women who have taken long-term estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) have an overall lower risk of death from all causes than women who have not taken ERT, according to a study in the January 1996 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The primary apparent effect of long-term ERT use was a reduction in coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for women.
The poor misunderstood skin. Many people don't think of it as a living thing. They just think of it as an external "wrapping layer" for the body that keeps the inner organs from falling out. :)
Well, in fact, the skin is very much alive and it's also the largest organ of the body...accounting for a full 12% of your weight. The skin performs several essential functions. "...the three that are by far the most important are the following:
Protection of deeper tissues against drying and against invasion by pathogenic organisms or their toxins through a mechanical barrier
Few years ago the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) as the first and only agent for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). This approval was a beacon of hope for the more than 300,000 Americans who are afflicted with this central nervous system disease which usually first appears in young adulthood and which disables by causing problems with vision, strength, coordination, speech, bladder control, sensation, or other faculties governed by the eyes, brain, or spinal cord.
How many women have made the dreaded trip to the drug store to purchase some personal product like tampons, birth control, a pregnancy test -- only to run into a friend, a co-worker or, worse, a drug store clerk who screams for a price check for the condoms the woman wants to buy?
The fact that women's most private of products are sold in the most public of places seems strangely contradictory. Particularly strange when you consider that, very often, retail drug stores stock women's personal products behind the pharmacy counter -- forcing women to ask the pharmacist or clerk for them.
Medical experts continue to track the rise of malignant melanoma -- a type of deadly skin cancer that was once rare but is now increasing faster than any other type of cancer in the United States. Last year alone, more than 600,000 cases of skin cancer were reported. The good news is that death rates from skin cancer, including melanoma, are small -- 9 out of 10 cases are cured.
No doubt about it: water is the single most important nutrient. None of the vital functions of our bodies - from regulating our temperature to creating new cells - could occur without it. Water lubricates joints, regulates temperature, and provides the body with minerals and essential fluids. Doctors recommend that we drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day. You need more if you're physically active, or if it s excessively hot.
Warts are a very common but challenging skin problem. These pesky bumps, known in dermatological circles as "verrucae," have likely been around since the dawn of man, afflicting millions of individuals. They are caused by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV. There are many subtypes of HPV causing a variety of different warts. They are potentially contagious, spreading to other body areas on one person or to other individuals.
Acne is a problem affecting many millions of individuals from all walks of life. Most commonly, the problem starts in the teen years with a second peak in young woman from the early twenties to the late thirties/early forties. Hormonal factors are a primary contributing factor. Stress often seems a factor in acne, with its impact likely mediated through the body's hormone system. Diet has not been substantiated as a contributing factor despite abundant rumors.
Face:
1. It involves cleansing, toning (optional though) & moisturing :
Cleansing removes dirt & make-up. Clean by patting gently on the face with your palms. Use a creamy cleansing lotion if you have dry skin or an oil-free lotion if you have oily skin.
Toning removes the last traces of dirt. Use a alcohol-free toner for all skin types. Avoid alcohol-based toners.
Moisturising puts moisture back on the face that was removed during cleansing. It protects the skin from moisture loss & prevents damage from pollution & wind.
To keep skin clear & free of problems, eating right plays a big part. Certain skin problems like acne & eczema can be seen as an attempt by the body to get rid of toxins through the skin. We can help our body do just that by making sure our kidneys & liver function well, not overburdened with the job to eliminate toxins from the body.
Drink lots of water (filtered if possible) throughout the day, at least 8 glasses or 2 litres & eat large portions of fibre daily. Go easy on sugary foods & drinks. Learn to love fruits & vegetables.
Type I - Very fair skin. Burns very easily & doesn't tan.
Type II - Fair skin. Burns easily & tans slightly.
Type III - Burns occasionally & tans slowly.
Type IV - Minimal burning & tans always.
Type V - Rarely burns & tans always. Medium to heavy pigmentation.
Type VI - Never burns & has a very dark tan. Heavy pigmentation.
The lower the skin type, the higher the risk of skin cancer.
Some of the drugs & herbs that make skin sun-sensitive
With the ozone depleting & the sun getting hotter these days, it's about time everyone, men & women of all ages & of all skin-types take good care of their skin. Children included too.
1. Avoid the sun from as early as 10am to 4pm, as the ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the strongest (or 10am to 2pm during winter). Sunscreen is needed even during winter & cloudy days.
Acene
Acne goes with adolescence, a term derived from the Greek for the "acme" or prime of life. The young girl who is desperately aware of the smallest comedo and the otherwise handsome young man, with his face or back a battle field of acne cysts and scars, are familiar to us all.
deep pink, raised patches of skin with white scales, typically an the scalp, knees, elbows, and upper body; mild to severe itchiness.
pitting, discoloring, and thickening of the fingernails and toenails. If psoriasis develops on the nails, they may separate from underlying skin.
Red, scaly, cracked skin on the palms of the hands signal; palmar psoriasis; on the soles of the feet the same condition is plantar psoriasis. These forms of psoriasis affect only those areas; the condition can become very inflamed and ooze fluid, making movement very painful.
Unpredictable, intractable, and unsightly, psoriasis is one of the most baffling and persistent of skin disorders. It is characterized by skin cells that multiply up to 10 times faster than normal, typically on the knees, elbows, and scalp. As underlying cells reach the skin's surface and die, their sheer volume causes raised, white-scaled patches. Palmar or plantar psoriasis, which affects only the hands or feet, tends to be much more painful and often blisters and oozes.
Shrimp with Lettuce (serves 4)
Eating shrimp with lettuce is said to clear skin problems, rendering the skin smooth and elastic.
½ kg fresh shrimp, cleaned, peeled and deveined; 1 egg white beaten; 1 tbsp cornstarch; ½ tsp salt; 1 ½ tsps minced ginger; 2 spring onions, minced; 12 leaves lettuce; 2tbsp cooking oil; 1tbsp water; 1tsp sesame oil
Skin problems range from the simple to the complicated including serious infections and cancer of the skin. The skin also reflects a person's state of health in many ways including nutritional status. The most common form of skin problems, dry skin, or xeroderma, does not reflect any underlying illness; instead, the skin loses some of the lustre that confer a pliable feel and appearnce. Some people experience improvements of dry skin conditions by boosting there intake of vitamins A and C, the B_group vitamins and zinc.
Dermatitis simply means skin inflammation, but it embraces a range of ailments. In most cases the early stages are characterized by dry, red, itchy skin, although acute attacks may result in crusty scales or blisters that ooze fluid. Since many agents can irritate the skin, a doctor will try to narrow the diagnosis to a specific category of dermatitis, even though treatment is similar for most types of skin irritation and inflammation.
Causes
The following are the most common general types of dermatitis and their typical causes:
Virtually all skin medications are either topical or systemic. Topical medications are applied directly to the affected area of the skin. Systemic medications are taken by mouth or injected and are distributed throughout the body. Rarely, when a high concentration of a medication is needed at the affected area, a doctor may inject a medication just under the skin; this is called an intradermal injection.
