Wear a scarf

In order to protect your hair from getting spoilt, tie your hair in a bun and wear a scarf around it. This will help prevent the dust from accumulating in your hair or scalp. Leaving your mane loose is an open invitation for dust particles to settle on your scalp which can lead to hair woes like dandruff and itching and even hair fall.

The same advice is good to protect your face as well from dust, sun rays and pollution. If you wear a salwaar-kurta, then make use of your dupatta for doing the same. Basically, the more you shield your hair and face, the more your protect it.

Wash your hair regularly

This will ensure that all the dust is washed off and your hair and scalp are clean. But limit the number of washes depending on your hair type. If you have dry hair, then once a week is fine as washing it too many times will make it drier and ruin the texture. Apply lots of conditioner; even opt for leave-in ones which you can spray on later for added moisture. If you have an oily scalp, it is best to wash your hair at least twice a week with a mild shampoo as greasy hair will attract more dust particles to stick on it leading to dandruff later.

Wipe your face

Before you step out, apply a good sunscreen, preferably a non-sticky one so that dust does not stick. Keep a packet of tissues in your purse and wipe off the dust and sweat after some time of your travel. Once you reach your workplace/destination, wash your face with water or a face wash if you have one with you. Doing this will not let the pollution settle on your skin for long and prevent it from damaging it. So keeping a face wash in your handbag is a good idea.

Don’t touch your face

Apart from these, follow simple tips like not touching your face with your hands too much. This is because your hands might be dirty due to touching poles, windows, ticket counters, etc while travelling and that dirt could get transferred to your face if you touch it. Wash your hands whenever you can or use a hand sanitiser before you touch your face.

Cleanse your skin

Adopt a skin ritual to cleanse it regularly to undo any damage that pollution has caused. Instead of going to expensive salons, why not try home remedies and packs? Wash your face after you come home and tone it to close open pores. Moisturise it if it gets too dry and once in a week, scrub it to get rid of dead skin cells.

Remember, taking care of your skin and hair on a daily basis will work better than letting it get damaged and then running for help to salons to restore its lost sheen. 

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Myth #1: Stretch marks only happen to women.

Fact: Stretch marks can happen to both men and women. While usually women are most afflicted by it due to pregnancy, men often do suffer from this problem, particularly in cases of weight changes and growth spurts. In fact, many teenagers get stretch marks due to these factors.

Myth #2: Stretch marks only occur on the stomach.

Fact: Striae can happen anywhere on the body where the skin stretches, including arms, legs, hips, breasts and more! So don’t be alarmed if those pesky scars are on your upper arms. It is a common condition that can occur on any part of the body.

Myth #3: If you are skinny, you won’t get them.

Fact: The reality is that no matter how thin you are, genetics and hormones are the number one reason for stretch marks to develop. Remember, these marks happen from skin stretching, not from being obese. So, a rule of thumb is that if your mom has them, you probably will get them too.

Myth #4: There is no way to prevent stretch marks.

Fact: Since genetics are a big cause of striae, it is hard to prevent these marks. However, a regimen of maintaining the suppleness of the skin can help reduce the risk of these skin lesions. First of all, moisturise the skin regularly and without fail! Proper skin hydration improves the elasticity of the skin, ultimately preventing skin from tearing when it is stretched. Secondly, look for creams with cocoa butter, vitamin E, gotu kola and other actives known to help improve skin tone. These actives will help ensure your skin gets the nutrition it needs.

Finally, avoid excessive weight gain or weight fluctuations by having a balanced diet and exercise plan. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to keep your skin looking clear and toned.

Myth #5: Stretch marks cannot be treated.

Fact: In reality, stretch marks are treatable and can be managed quite well by a good dermatologist. Topically, a dermatologist will recommend a cream that contains both alpha-hydroxy acids and a topical retinoid. Alpha-hydroxy acids are naturally derived from milk and sugar and act by gently exfoliating the top layer of the skin. This reveals newer skin, ultimately reducing the appearance of pesky marks and scars. Topical retinoids are derived from vitamin A, and also act by causing exfoliation, while simultaneously increasing collagen synthesis. This makes the skin more supple and resilient.

In regards to procedures, microdermabrasion is quite effective in removing those irritating scars. Microdermabrasion uses crystals to exfoliate superficial damaged skin, and requires many sessions to see the full results. However, this gentle procedure is very effective.  Lasers are also in vogue now, with fractionated lasers showing great results with fewer sessions required. These lasers act by going deep into the skin to give a deeper exfoliation while also improving the ultimate suppleness and texture of the skin.

So if you too have stretch marks on your body and want to get rid of them then you can try these aforementioned procedures and also stop new ones from appearing by keeping your skin hydrated with a good cream. 

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Hormone problems, poor eating habits, excessive use of makeup and bad hygiene can all cause blackheads to form on the skin. Lack of cleanliness also contributes in worsening the condition. If not treated, blackheads can result in painful and unsightly acne spots.

Although blackheads may recur, it is possible to get rid of them. Unlike pimples, which are an inflamed condition of the skin caused by a variety of factors, a blackhead or comedo is a complete formation that can be removed entirely without seriously damaging the surrounding skin, if done correctly. Dr Uma Singh, Medical Director of Ozone Ayurvedics gives a bunch of tips to get rid of acne and blackheads.

First, soften the area around the blackhead. You can do this easily by applying clean, warm compresses to the spot or by steaming your face. Heat and steam soften the blackheads and your skin becomes more receptive to popping. Squeeze them out using a tweezer. Next, press the skin around the blackheads slightly with a clean tissue and close the pores with an astringent solution. If you do not want to pop them, try these methods:

• Apply a mask twice a week to absorb the excess oil and to tighten the skin pores.
• A paste of neem leaves and turmeric can be useful for blackhead and acne prone skin. Mix dry turmeric root powder and milk to a fine paste, apply this paste on your face and neck and keep for 30 minutes. Wash gently with water and pat dry.
• You can also use almond powder mixed with rose water and make it a fine paste. Apply this paste on blackheads.
• Rose water can be mixed with cucumber juice and applied on the face to reduce oiliness. Night-time cleansing is a must to prevent and treat blackheads and acne.

The best way to prevent blackheads and acne is by maintaining a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. It is important for you to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water on a daily basis. It helps in flushing toxins out of the body, keeps the body hydrated, improves blood circulation, fights inflammation and nourishes the skin providing a healthy, clear, clean and radiant complexion.

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‘We are aware of the number of productive hours wasted the world over due to women wasting their time over make-up. Our product is created for the woman who wants it all.’ Dr Peechnup told us in an exclusive interview with health.india.com.

The basic 2-min Masko comes in a package consisting of 3 masks – for the sleek office look, for the Indian marriages and other such occasions and the third for an evening out. The pack also contains natural glue obtained from keepwood trees in the Amazonian forests. They peel off easily without any residue and do not cause any allergies. And all you girls with the green in you, it has not been tested on innocent animals.

For the Indian skin, the mask is available in three skin tones – dark, fair and how-is-she-so-fair. The mask can be worn for up to 12 hours at a stretch and can be reused up to 10 times. Once it loses its elasticity, it has to be discarded.

Indian cosmetic companies are losing sleep over this product. Himamico has plans to launch an advertising campaign are positioning their products with the tag line ‘For the woman who has the time for herself’. Meanwhile, the 2-min Masko, while currently being manufactured in the US, has plans to set up shop in Didi’s own state. But this has the natives up in arms saying that they like their lives as they are and will protest against anything that wants to change their lovely pace.

Currently available in only 3 variants, the company plans to include new additions depending on the demands of their clients. Seeing the positive response from the customers, the company has decided to ship the mask worldwide through their website in order to attract overseas customers as well. The pricing starts from Rs 1999 onwards.

Statutory Warning: Before you order the ‘2-min masko’, read the following. While we would love for this idea to come to life, unfortunately it is a bluff played on you from the health.india.com team. Congratulations as you have fallen for our April Fool’s Day gag. Hope you enjoyed reading this post. 

Waxing or shaving – which is better? That’s one of the biggest questions as far as unwanted hair removal is concerned. Unwanted hair growth is a constant point of worry and concern for many and there is always a debate of what is the right way to get rid of it. Here is a list of pros and cons of waxing and shaving, two of the most common methods adopted by women for hair removal: 

Waxing

Pros 

• It removes hair from the root which results in hair-free skin for weeks
• It leaves the skin feeling soft even if you touch it against the hair growth side
• It is more long lasting than shaving
• New methods like chocolate wax decrease the pain slightly and result in smoother skin
• It is a natural way of hair removal as wax is herbal
• It will eventually reduce hair growth

Cons 

• It is a painful procedure and waxing time and again may make the skin loose
• If you have sensitive skin, waxing can cause redness and boils
• If the hair is too fine, then waxing does not help. It works best on full grown hair
• It is time-consuming and you need to keep in mind the hygiene factor of the salon you are getting it done at

Things to keep in mind

• Make sure the salon uses disposable waxing strips
• The wax should be hot but not too hot that it burns your skin
• Apply a cooling pad or ice after waxing to soothe the skin

Also read: Waxing: How to avoid unwanted side effects

Shaving

Pros 

• It is a pain-free and quick way to get rid of unwanted hair
• You can do it yourself at home or anywhere, without any assistance
• The arrival of electronic shavers and epilators have further simplified the process as you don’t need water or gel to do it
• It is cheap as razors are not expensive and the electronic ones are a one-time investment
• Shaving comes in handy during a beauty emergency when you don’t have time to go to a parlour

Cons 

• It can irritate the skin and leave it feeling dry and itchy
• It is a very temporary solution and depending on one’s hair growth, you will have to shave very frequently
• It can result in a lot of undergrowth, where the hair grows inside the skin and leaves a black mark on the outside
• Shaving may result in thicker and darker-looking hair growth
• You can feel the hard hair growth if you touch against the hair growth side

Things to keep in mind

• Moisturise the skin after shaving
• Do not go out in extreme heat immediately as it may further irritate the skin
• If using a disposable razor, do not use it more than once or twice
• Never use anyone else’s razor as it can lead to infections

Whichever method you choose, make sure it does not irritate your skin too much. If you have too sensitive skin then it is better to opt for shaving as waxing will result in a lot of redness. If you have thick hair growth, opt for waxing as it will slower the hair growth and also make it fine gradually. 

Also read: Get rid of unwanted body hair naturally!

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Home remedies for burns, especially those from boiling water and oil need to be administered quickly. Dr Uma Singh lists out some home remedies that provide relief. 

1. Honey is a common home remedy used for burns and covering the burns with honey has been shown to produce less scarring. Raw honey has wonderful antiseptic and healing properties.

2. A wonderful and widely available household first-aid item for healing and soothing burns is diluted vinegar. Cover the burn area with a cloth soaked in diluted vinegar. Refresh the vinegar compress as often as needed, especially if the pain becomes stronger again.

3. The wonderful aloe vera plant is a top choice for healing and soothing burns. Directly apply aloe vera gel on the burn. Its soothing and rejuvenating properties will help cool the burned skin. Since the active ingredient (acemannen) breaks down quickly, fresh inner leaf fillets are much preferred. Fresh aloe vera quickly soothes painful burns and often heals even serious burns with little or no scarring.

4. Diluted lavender oil is also known to help reduce the pain. A combination of aloe vera gel, vitamin C, lavender oil and vitamin E can work as a good salve that can be applied through the day.

5. Sometimes, putting a banana peel on the burned area of the skin till it becomes black has proved beneficial for burn injuries. Yogurt also makes a person feel better but you should wait for at least 30 minutes before you apply this. Swabbing olive oil too brings relief.

These are simple tips for minor burns. If the burns are too severe, kindly consult a doctor. 

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Pharmaceutical scientists at Oregon State University (OSU) found that eczema can be triggered by inadequate Ctip2, a protein and master regulator that affects other genetic functions. They have identified two ways in which Ctip2 can lead to eczema. The researchers found that Ctip2 controls lipid biosynthesis in the skin, the fats that are needed to help keep skin healthy and hydrated. In the new study, they discovered that Ctip2 suppresses TSLP, a cytokine protein produced by skin cells that can trigger inflammation. Levels of this inflammatory TSLP, which is ordinarily undetectable in human skin, were found to be 1,000 times higher in lab animals that had been genetically modified to have no Ctip2 production in their skin.

‘In these studies, we’ve basically shown that inadequate Ctip2 is reducing the lipids in skin that it needs to stay healthy, protect itself and perform its function,’ said Arup Indra. ‘At the same time this can allow unwanted formation of proteins that trigger inflammation. The skin’s ability to resist inflammation is going down just as the amount of inflammation is going up, and the underlying reason is that Ctip2 is not doing its job. Either or both of these problems can lead to eczema,’ Indra added.

Atopic dermatitis is linked with a dysfunctional immune response, but researchers have never understood the underlying cause. Existing treatments use moisturizers to try to protect skin, and in difficult cases powerful steroid drugs can help, but they often have significant unwanted side effects when used for a long time.

Source: IANS

Wondering how to get your skin to glow, naturally? Forget all the creams and expensive treatments. Ingredients from your kitchen and refrigerator can do wonders to your skin’s health. Watch this video to find out what stars like Kareena Kapoor eat for that gorgeous glowing skin. 

For more information, check out :  Food items for healthy skin

However, in Asia, skin whitening is a huge market. India, Singapore, China and Malaysia have shown almost 100% increase in sales every year for the past five years and are the largest single group of cosmetics sold in these countries.

Before we get into how these products are harmful, let’s try and understand some basics:

A pigment called Melanin produced by melanocytes scattered within the basal layer of the skin determines how dark a person’s skin is. More the melanin production, darker is the skin.  However, this pigment also has a protective role. It is the skin’s own natural protection from the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. Without it, the skin is extremely vulnerable to developing skin cancer.

How skin lightening products work

There are two main chemicals found in most skin lightening products – Hydroquinone or Mercury.

 Hydroquinone (C6H6O2) is a severely toxic and very powerful chemical used in photo processing, the manufacture of rubber and is an active agent in hair dyes.

Mercury in the form of Mercury Chloride & Ammoniated Mercury is carcinogenic (cancer-producing). They appear on the list of toxic substances that can only be purchased via pharmacies with prescribed labels of toxicity.

Both products perform a similar process. In the short term they will initially cause the skin to lighten by inhibiting the production of melanin. Without melanin formation in the basal layer, no brown pigmentation will be visible. The long term effects, however, are those that must be addressed.  The long term effects of using skin lightening products include the following:

Hydroquinone or Mercury applied to the skin in the longer term actually react with ultra violet rays and re-oxidise, leading to more pigmentation and premature ageing. More products are then applied in an attempt to correct the darker blotchy appearance. These are the beginnings of a vicious cycle. By altering the skins natural structure and inhibiting the production of Melanin, the skin’s natural protection, the skin is more susceptible to skin cancer. Prolonged use of Hydroquinone thickens collagen fibres damaging the connective tissues. The result is rough blotchy skin leaving it with a spotty appearance.

Mercury slowly accumulates within the skin cells striping the skin of its natural pigment leaving behind the tell-tale signs of grey/ blue pigmentation in the folds of the skin. In the long term, the chemical can damage vital organs and lead to liver and kidney failure and mercury poisoning.

Are these products legal?
 Products containing up to 2 percent Hydroquinone were legally available in the UK until 2001 when the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued the draft 24th Commission Directive. This bans preparations with Hydroquinone due to the long term effects as it accumulates in the tissues. The UK Cosmetic Product Regulations 1978 prohibits the use of Mercury compounds.

However, the demand for these products is so high that there are illegal imports via small operators from Asia and Africa of creams, lotions and soaps of up to 6 percent which are sold over the counter, without a prescription, in the UK and the US.

This does not mean that you should never use hydroquinone, just that you should understand that this compound has deleterious effects and should never be used ‘lightly’ (pun unintended). Always use the same under prescription from a good dermatologist or plastic surgeon, if at all.

Safer alternatives for skin lightening:

•  Arbutin: It is considered to be a safe ingredient for external use because it does not have any side effects like unpleasant odour, toxicity or stimulation like Hydroquinone.
• Vitamin C: It is an effective ingredient for preventing aging skin. It helps in synthesizing collagen in the body.
• Licorice: This ingredient can easily inhibit UV-B induced pigmentation and other skin complications with ease.
• Kojic Acid: It is one of the most important bleaching agents, which can easily inhibit the production of Melanin in our body. It can be included in the diet as well.
• Vitamin A: This constituent should be used for treating damaged pelt complications such as vitiligo, hyper pigmentation, melasma, skin infection etc.

Dr Debraj Shome is a noted plastic surgeon. Along with Dr Arbinder Singal, he is the co-founder of www.MediAngels.com – The World’s First Global eHospital. You can consult him here.

Using mouse models, the National Institute of Health (NIH) observed that such skin bugs contribute to protective immunity by interacting with the immune cells in the skin. The investigators colonized germ-free mice (mice bred with no naturally occurring microbes in the gut or skin) with the human skin commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis. The team observed that colonizing the mice with this one species of good bugs, enabled an immune cell in the mouse skin to produce a cell-signalling molecule needed to protect against harmful microbes.

Researchers subsequently infected both colonised and non-colonised germ-free mice with a parasite.  Mice that were not colonised with the bacteria did not mount an effective immune response to the parasite; mice that were colonised did.

Source: IANS