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Monday, July 11, 2011

Types of Sunscreens

Types of Sunscreens

There are two types of sunscreens, which work by either reflecting or absorbing the sun's UV rays.

  1. Physical Blockers or Physical Sunscreens

    This type of sunscreen physically blocks the ultraviolet light providing a physical barrier between the skin and the sun. They contain inert mineral based non-chemical pigments or particles of size about 25 mm3 that reflect UV rays like a mirror. These are generally opaque, or becomes clear upon application.
    Zinc oxide sunscreen and titanium dioxide sunscreens are physical sunscreens.
    To make the sunscreen transparent, nowadays, nanosize particles are being used. These nanosize particles can enter the body through the skin, which may be harmful. Titanium dioxide can cause DNA damage in human cells.
  2. Chemical Sunscreens

    This type of sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb ultraviolet light radiation. Chemical sunscreens include Benzophenones, PABA and PABA (para amino benzoic acid), Cinnamates, Salicylates, Digalloyl trioleat, Menthyl anthranilate, etc.
    Chemical sunscreens are powerful free radical generators, so they are not safe to use. Benzophenone is one of the most powerful free radical generators known.

    These are known as organic sunscreens and are made of carbon and hydrogen. Organic does not mean that they are organically produced or naturally occurring in nature.

Physical sunscreens are more effective at overall sun protection as they absorb both UVA and UVB radiations (broad spectrum) and have anti-inflammatory properties making them good for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin. Zinc oxide lies on the skin without getting absorbed, so zinc oxide based sunscreen is considered as the safe and the best.

General Skin Problems & Treatment

General Skin Problems & Treatment

You may have different types of skin problems. If you have any of the following skin problems, please also visit to our other pages for skin treatment.

Vitamin B complex can improve your skin dramatically. Take vitamin B tablet containing all the B viramins, you should see a clean skin in a few weeks.

  • Skin Problem : Freckles Age Spots
    Freckles are tiny black spots spread all over the face. They tend to appear more on the nose, cheek bones, and forehead. Freckles are accumulation of pigments in the skin that have little or no pigment. The pigment in the skin increases in order to protect its inner layer due to repeated exposure to the sun. Due to continued exposure, the skin acquires freckles. In rare cases, some could lead to skin cancer, malignant melanoma.
  • Treatment of Age Spots
    Avoid exposure to sun for long duration. You should use a sunscreen whenever you move out in the sun.
    Apply vitamin E oil on the age spots daily to reduce their color.
    Blemishes and age spots can become fainter by applying lemon juice a few times a day.
    Consult a Dermatologist
  • Skin Problem : Whiteheads
    These are tiny, white raised spots and are caused by the accumulation of hardened sebum or oil in the pores of the skin when a sebum blocks a hair follicle deeper in the skin. Treatment of Whiteheads
    Do not remove them forcibly. Drink plenty of water and fresh fruits and fruit juices. Mix beauty grains (commercially available, can be made by mixing almond meal - powdered almonds and honey) and skin tonic (any commercially available acid-free and alcohol-free skin tonic) and rub regularly on the affected areas to dislodge them.
  • Skin Problem : Blackheads
    Blackheads are not dirt and cannot be washed away. A blackhead results when dead skin cells and sebum block a hair follicle near the surface of the skin. Blackhead causes the oily skin pores to be enlarged and the texture becomes coarse and rough. When a pore is fully blocked, a pimple can result. Blackheads cause acne. Treatment of Blackheads
    Do not remove them forcibly. Drink plenty of water and fresh fruits and fruit juices. Keep the skin clean by washing it with plain water. Wash the face with a medicated soap using warm water. Consult a doctor.
    Home Remedy for Blackheads
    You can buy some green tea (very good to drink as it is full of anti-oxidants). After drinking the tea open up the tea bag and use the contents as a face scrub. It is less abrasive than commercial scrubs and, therefore, less likely to stimulate oil production which could exacerbate your blackhead problem. Use it twice a week as too much scrubbing is likely to irritate your skin. Afterwards use jojoba oil as a moisturizer. This oil closely matches to the skins own natural oil, sebum won't clog up your pores and will leave your skin super soft. You can buy it from any health food shop and it's very cheap.
    Submitted by Jan, who is a lifestyle and beauty writer (www.Ereamo.com).
  • Skin Problem : Enlarged Pores
    The enlarged pores result due to over activity of the sebaceous glands in the skin. The pores are clogged due to excessive secretion of oil, the pores may also become thick making the skin coarse.
    Treatment of Enlarged Pores
    Wash the skin with a medicated cleanser to reduce the surface oil. Use a good quality skin toner daily to remove oil from the skin and to close pores. This will result in a smooth clean textured skin.
  • Beauty Problem : Chicken Pox Marks
    A traditional home remedy for chicken pox marks is to apply a paste of neem leaves and turmeric in water. Try this, it may work for you.
  • Food For Blemishes
    Eating beetroot, bitter gourd, pumpkin and tomato can clear off blemishes.
  • Psoriasis Treatment
    Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that causes thickened red, dry patches of skin. It commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.
    Take a banana peel and rub its insides over the affected area. Even though the area may become red in the beginning, but you will see the difference in your skin in just a few days.

  • Poison Ivy (Contact dermatitis) Treatment
    Poison Ivy is an inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritating substance. It causes itching, redness or inflammation of the skin.
    Rub the insides of the banana peel on the area to stop itching and inflammation. You can reapply the peel as required.
  • Skin Problem : Warts

Natural Skin Care Tips

Natural Skin Care Tips

  • Avoid excessive exposure to sun. Stay protected from the sun to prevent the skin from becoming dehydrated and the damaging effects of UV rays on the skin. It may result in sunburn. Read the sunburn symptoms. You may also develop sun poisoning symptoms.
  • Avoid excessive use of cosmetics. Health experts say that excessive usage of cosmetics by children enhances their risk to various types of cancer and other problems later in life. Most of cosmetic products use potentially dangerous chemicals like parabens and phthalates. The parabens chemical have been recently found in breast cancer tissues. This chemical can affect the hormone oestrogen. The phthalates are linked to lower sperm counts in men, premature breast development and allergies.
  • Regular sleep gives our body the chance to work on repairing cells.
  • Regular Exercising and massage stimulates circulation and blood flow.
  • Drinking eight glasses of water a day keeps skin plump, hydrated and healthy. The body is composed of 70% water. Well hydrated skin is healthy and young looking.
  • Take only warm showers and stay away from prolonged sauna exposure.
  • Before you go in the swimming pool, rub Vaseline with a few drops of lavender essential oil added, on your body to protect the skin from the harmful effects of chlorine.
  • Eat a balanced diet, avoid foods high in fat, cholesterol and sodium.
    Follow an anti-aging diet rich in fruits and green leafy vegetables that are full of natural antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent free-radical damage to the body. If you do not get enough antioxidants from your diet, then your skin cells could lose their ability to function well.
    The antioxidants include ingredients such as vitamins A, C and E, flavonoids, beta carotene, selenium, glutathione and zinc

Skin Care

Skin Care

Skin Care : Cleansing
Clean your skin every evening. The skin pores get blocked dut to exposure to air pollutions, wind, sun, air conditioning, dirt and grime from our fingers. After cleansing, using a natural skin toner like rose water.

It is really important to remove stale make-up, perspiration, dirt, dust, excess oil etc. Use a good, natural cleanser that removes only the impurities without stripping the skin of nutrients and moisture.

Wipe your face with a piece of cotton wool dipped in milk (unboiled or not heated). Almond oil is a good cleanser for skin under the eyes.
Remember that over cleansing can harm the skin.

Skin Care : Exfoliating
It is important to help the skin renewal process by removing dead skin cells. Exfoliate at least twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells. Care should be taken if you have broken capillaries/surface veins.

Clay Masks
Clay helps to deep cleanse and draw out impurities and to soften and condition the skin.

Skin Care : Moisturising
Moisturing helps to protect your skin from daily pollutants. Moisturising morning and evening with a natural moisturiser will hydrate, moisturise and protect your skin.

For a moisturizing and nourishing mask, blend a mashed banana with white cosmetic clay and apply.

For normal skin care, mix 1 cup yogurt, 1 tablespoon orange juice and 1 tablespoon lemon juice and apply it on your face. Clean it off after 20 minutes.

For dry skin care, use a mixture of cooked oatmeal and honey; it is a very good moisturizer and cleansing agent.

Body Care

Hands Care: Mash a banana with some butter and rub on your hands. Before Shower: Body brushing helps exfoliate, tone and stimulate the skin as well as helping the natural drainage of our lymph glands. Dry body brushing before a shower with a natural bristle brush. Always brush upwards to the heart in quick, rhythmic strokes and brush down to the heart when you reach the shoulder/neck area.

For Lips Care: In the evening, before going to bed, after washing your face and lips, rub your lips with a soft towel to remove the dead cells. Then apply a few drops of pure almond oil on them and leave it overnight. The lips will become soft and become light in color if dark over a period of time.

After Shower: Apply body lotion. Water is a natural hydration for the skin.

Know Your Skin

Know Your Skin


The skin is the largest organ of the body and is made up of multiple layers of cells that are constantly going through self shedding and regeneration once every 30 days.

The skin is made up of 3 main layers: Epidermis, Dermis and Subcutaneous or hypodermis. These layers are held together by the protein, collagen and elastin fibres. Collagen provides durability and strength. Time taken for deepest layer to come to the top is 45-75 days.

  1. Top layer - Epidermis
    It is made up of 5 layers: Stratum Corneum - horny layer, Stratum lucidum - clear layer, Stratum granulosum - granular layer, Stratum spinosum - spiny layer - prickle cell, melanin production, and Stratum Germinativum - basal Layer- where the cells divide and grow upwards.
    Each of these layers has their own layers. The Stratum spinosum gives skin its color.
  2. Middle layer - Dermis
    It is made up of: Blood vessels (supply nutrients to the skin), Lymph vessels (defence mechanism for the immune system), Hair follicles (protection and sebum production), Sweat glands (regulators of heat), and Pain and touch receptors (carry impulses to the brain).
  3. Bottom layer - Subcutaneous or hypodermis
    These are fat cells that conserve body heat while protecting other organs from injury. They provide a cushioning effect and are a source of energy in lean times.

Thickness of layer varies - the thinnest layer is on our eyelids making them light and flexible, the thickest is on our hands and feet for gripping.

Functions of Skin

This skin provides a protective layer for organs and tissues from pathogens, heat and light. It regulates body temperature. It stores water, fat and Vitamin D and has touch receptors that sense pain or pleasure. Skin is an excretory and absorption organ.

Skin has a natural moisturising factor (NMF). Teen skin is prone to oiliness as hormones are regulating. At 20-30 years skin cell turnover provides optimum condition. At 30-40 years cell turnover starts to decrease and fine lines start to appear. At 40-50 years skin becomes more dry. Over 50 years of age, cell turnover drops by 50% resulting in flaky patches and deeper lines.

The skin may be sensitive. Sensitive skin reddens easily due to environmental changes or cosmetic products. Skin can become permanently sensitive due to allergy, shaving, and use of skin care productscontaining alpha hydroxy and retinoic acid skin.

Acne Scars, Acne Pores

Acne Scars, Acne Pores

Acne scars and acne pores are the marks of acne even after the acne is cured. Severe acne causes cysts (known as nodules) beneath the skin, which may lead to scarring. These acne cysts are more likely to leave permanent scars than other types of acne. These scars are often prominently visible on the face and therefore women get concerned.


How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars : Remedies of Acne Scars, Acne Pores

Acne on face

Following are excellent and wonderful home treatment of acne or pimple scars using ingredients from your kitchen.


Scar solution
  1. Large pores on facial skin can be treatred with paste of sandalwood (chandan) powder with black gram (masoor) dal. Apply on scars and leave it overnight and wash with cold water the next day. This is an excellent and wonderful remedy to get rid of acne scars.
  2. Make a sandalwood paste with rose water and apply on the scars. Keep it overnight and wash it with cold water the next day. If you find that your skin becomes dry in the morning, leave the paste only for a few hours on your face or you may try adding some milk while making paste.
  3. Rub ice cubes on the face for 10-15 minutes. It will tighten the pores.
  4. Apply cucumber juice on the face. Wash it off after 15 minutes to tighten the pores.
  5. Cut a tomato in half and rub on the skin. Leave on for fifteen minutes. Wash it off with water. This will reduce open pores and blackheads. This treatment is good particularly for oily skin.

You may discuss with your dermatologist about different treatments available for acne scars. These acne scar removal teatments are Collagen injection, Autologous fat transfer, Dermabrasion, Microdermabrasion or Chemical Peel, Laser Treatment, Skin Surgery and Skin grafting.

Beauty & Skin Care Recipes

Beauty & Skin Care Recipes

The Ingredients of Beauty Recipes

The main ingredients and their benefits in different beauty recipes are given below.

  1. Aloe gel: remedy for burns.
  2. Avocado: good source of vitamin E and natural oils, natural moisturizer.
  3. Coconut Milk: for smooth skin.
  4. Cucumber: for dark circles under eyes and wrinkles, under-eye puffiness.
  5. Egg: skin conditioner, egg white for normal and oily skin, yolks for dry skin
  6. Fenugreek seeds (dana methi): for skin scrub, if taken internally purifies blood.
  7. Honey: for wrinkles, skin pores and lose skin, a natural astringent, natural moisturizer.
  8. Milk: for skin nourishment.
  9. Nuts: used in scrubs for wrinkles, skin pores and blackheads.
  10. Oatmeal: for smooth skin, improves complexion
  11. Olive oil: good for dry skin.
  12. Oranges, Lemons, Pineapple: natural astringents, improves complexion, soften the skin, skin bleach.
  13. Tomato: opening the skin pores.
  14. Vinegar: for blemishes, itchy skin, and sunburn, softens skin
  15. Yogurt: softens and hydrates the skin, skin cleanser, skin bleach.
  16. Witch Hazel: body eodorant, for eye puffiness.