skin care

Natural Skincare

Half an hour before taking your bath apply on your face half teaspoon each of lime and cucumber juice mixed together.

If your skin is excessively oily, mix in a few drops of eau de cologne. This not only helps keep oiliness away but also helps in refining the pores of the skin by acting as astringent, thereby preventing acne.

To prevent the problem of your makeup becoming patchy either on the forehead, chin or nose due to excessive oiliness in these areas, apply a little cucumber juice on the excessively oily parts of your face, dry thoroughly and then apply your makeup.

If your whole face turns patchy after makeup is applied on it, then apply equal parts of lime juice and witch-hazel. Dry well before putting on your makeup.

Choose an astringent that contains acetone, which is known for dissolving oil. Strong astringents will do more harm than good, stimulating an overproduction of oil.

To clear away excess oil, use a clay or mud mask. Blend together well 1 teaspoon green clay powder and 1 teaspoon raw honey. Apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, then rinse well with lukewarm water. Do this at least three times a week--or more.

Once or twice daily, mix equal parts of lemon juice and water together. Pat mixture on your face and allow it to dry, then rinse with warm water. Follow with a cool-water rinse.

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oily skin

Oily skin
Oily skin is shiny, thick and dull colored. Often a chronically oily skin has coarse pores and pimples and other embarrassing blemishes. It is prone to blackheads. In this type of skin, the oil producing sebaceous glands are overactive and produce more oil than is needed. The oil oozes and gives the skin a greasy shine. The pores are enlarged and the skin has a coarse look.

Causes of Oily Skin

• Heredity

• Diet
• Hormone levels
• Pregnancy
• Birth control pills
• Cosmetics you use
• Humidity and hot weather

Because of the hormonal shifts of adolescence, oily skin is common in teenagers, but it can occur at any age. In general, skin tends to become dryer with age. The flow of sebum or oil increases during adolescence and starts decreasing with age. During pregnancy and menopause, hormonal imbalances can also upset the oil balance and increase the activity of sebaceous glands.

Many people have skin that is oily only in certain areas and dry or normal in others, a condition known as combination skin.

Skin Care for Oily Skin

The great advantage of oily skin is that it ages at a slower rate than other skin types.

Oily skin needs special cleansing with plenty of hot water and soap to prevent the pores from being clogged. Avoid harsh products that strip your skin of oil and encourage flakiness. They can cause a reaction known as reactive seborrhoea, where the oil glands work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils.

Avoid skincare products that leave your skin feeling taut and dehydrated. They cause the upper layers of the skin to shrink. This restricts oil flow through the pores leading to blockages and breakouts.

To cleanse oily skin, use oil-based products as they dissolve sebum effectively. Opt for oil-free moisturizers to maintain a shine-free complexion.

Keep your skin very clean. Limit washing your face to two or three times a day. Too much washing will stimulate your skin to produce more oil.

Choose your cleanser with care. Avoid heavy cleansing creams. Avoid the use of harsh soaps or cleansers. Use a pure soap with no artificial additives. Try an antibacterial cleansing lotion or a lightly medicated soap, and use it in combination with a water rich in minerals, not tap water. Do not use cleansers or lotions that contain alcohol. After cleansing, apply a natural oil-free moisturizer to keep the skin supple.

Use hot water when washing your face. Hot water dissolves skin oil better than lukewarm or cold water.

If your skin is extremely oily, three or four daily cleansings may be in order and little or no moisturizing necessary before you are 30 years old. After that point, the skin around your eyes and mouth and on your throat may benefit from a nightly moisturizing, plus a mere touch of moisturizer in the morning.

When cleansing, massage your face well with your fingertips, using an upward and outward motion. Be careful not to rub soap into the skin; it can clog pores.

If your oily skin is scaly, you can often correct the problem by using a deep-cleaning exfoliant on alternate nights, and following the treatment with a light coating of moisturizer.

Try using a clay or mud mask. If you have sensitive skin, use white or rose-colored clays.

Use a light antiseptic night cream from time to time if you wish, and apply a clarifying mask one or two times a week.

Choose cosmetic and facial care products specifically designed for oily skin.

Before applying makeup, use an antiseptic day cream with active ingredients that diminish sebaceous secretions. Look for benzyl peroxide in the list of active ingredients.

Use a light antiseptic night cream from time to time if you wish, and apply a clarifying mask one or two times a week.

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Skin information

Normal skin

Normal skin is completely healthy. In youth it is smooth, fine pores, and soft, but with age it becomes dry, wrinkled, and marked with the so-called "age spots." Between these two normal conditions there are short periods of change and irritations of the normal skin caused by hormonal changes, illness, and lifestyles.

Normal skin needs no extensive special care now, but one should think of tomorrow. Normal skin can be treated simply with a mild cleansing lotion, toner and a alpha hydroxy acid cream in remove dead skin and an facial scrub to reduce the effects of a bad environment. Suitable aromapathic essential oils for normal skin care are:chamomile, comfrey, rose hips, and sage.

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Treatments

Treatment of skin cancer
Specific treatment for skin cancer will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference

There are several kinds of treatments for skin cancer, including the following:

surgery

Surgery is a common treatment for skin cancer -- used about 90 percent of the time, and often includes the following procedures:

• 1. cryosurgery - freezing the tumor, which kills cancer cells.
     
     
  2. electrodesiccation and curettage - burning the lesion and removing it with a sharp instrument.
     
     
  3. grafting - uses a skin graft to replace skin that is damaged when cancer is removed.
     
     
  4. laser therapy - using a narrow beam of light to remove cancer cells.
     
     
  5. Mohs micrographic surgery - removing the cancer and as little normal tissue as possible. During this surgery, the physician removes the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at the cancerous area to make sure no cancer cells remain.
     
     
  6. simple excision - cutting the cancer from the skin along with some of the healthy tissue around it.

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Risk

Risk of skin cancer:
These factors may increase your risk of skin cancer:

• Fair skin. Having less pigment (melanin) in your skin provides less protection from damaging UV radiation. If you have blond or red hair, light-colored eyes, and you freckle or sunburn easily, you're much more likely to develop skin cancer than is a person with darker features.
• A history of sunburns. Every time you get sunburned, you damage your skin cells and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. After a sunburn, your body works to repair the damage. Having multiple blistering sunburns as a child or teenager increases your risk of developing skin cancer as an adult. Sunburns in adulthood also are a risk factor.

• Excessive sun exposure. Anyone who spends considerable time in the sun may develop skin cancer, especially if your skin isn't protected by sunscreen or clothing. Tanning also puts you at risk. A tan is your skin's injury response to excessive UV radiation.
• Sunny or high-altitude climates. People who live in sunny, warm climates are exposed to more sunlight than are people who live in colder climates. Living at higher elevations, where the sunlight is strongest, also exposes you to more radiation.
• Moles. People who have many moles or abnormal moles called dysplastic nevi are at increased risk of skin cancer. These abnormal moles — which look irregular and are generally larger than normal moles — are more likely than others to become cancerous. If you have a history of abnormal moles, watch them regularly for changes.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of skin cancer

Different types of skin cancer can look different:

Non-melanomas such as a BCC, for example, can start as a small red, pink or shiny lump. SCCs often appear as small scaly or hard areas of skin with a red or pink base.

Melanoma usually starts as a dark spot or mole on your skin. If a melanoma spreads to other parts of your body, you can develop other symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes (glands throughout your body that are part of your immune system).

Symptoms that may indicate skin cancer include any mole or lesion that:

• gets bigger - especially over 7mm (a quarter of an inch) in diameter
• changes shape - look for an irregular edge
• changes colour - if it darkens, becomes patchy or multishaded
• becomes inflamed
• is itchy or painful
• bleeds or is crusty

These symptoms don't necessarily mean you have skin cancer, but if you have any of them you should visit your GP for advice.

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