Skin Care Tips

How To Protect Yourselves from UV Rays

We are in a health-conscious age, and one of the great advances has been a reduction in the number of adults who smoke. An equally simple remedy is available for those who wish to reduce drastically the risk of skin problems, including skin cancers.

Strange though it may seem there are a lot of young people who are prepared to listen to advise because they are more worried about wrinkles than they are about skin cancers. Common-sense is one of the most important ingredients for success.

Awareness

Take note of the strength of the sun: i.e. how close you are to the equator, what is the time of the day, what time of the year is it, is there cloud cover, are there reflective surfaces such as sand or snow? Under the strongest UV conditions, it may be sensible to spend just a few minutes unprotected in the sun. Noel Coward sensibly commented that only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

What is Safe?

There is no such thing as the right amount or wrong amount of sun. Everything is best in moderation and very few doctors will advise that you should not get any suntan at all. If you are on a one-week holiday, there is probably not enough time to safely get many tans.

Skin Type

Those with a very fair skin may not be able to tan at all. So there is a little point in trying. If you do not tan you will build up no protection against the sun and will be burnt just as easily at the end of a holiday as at the start.

People who never bum are luckier in this respect. UV will still age the skin and lead to other problems but to a lesser degree. It should not be forgotten that melanin only absorbs some of the UVB.

Shade

Visible light is reflected off various surfaces into the shade. It is not often appreciated that UV is reflected in a similar way and can burn your skin while in the shade.

Sun Protection Clothing

This must be the simplest way to protect the skin. A little UV can, in fact, penetrate some lightweight clothing, but it remains a very useful way of blocking the worst effects. Hats protect much of the face and in bald people are most important. Sunglasses make life more comfortable but also protect the skin around the eyes.

It is best to buy Polaroid lenses. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers or skirts should be taken on hot holidays. After swimming in the sea it may be best to put on these garments until your next go in, especially at the start of a holiday.

2 days ago • Beauty Tips, Health and WellBeing, Practical Tips, Skin Care Tips • Tags: sun protection, sun protection clothing

How To Get Rid Of Tired And Puffy Looking Eyes

The best way to solve persistently tired eyes is to review your sleeping habits. Check your bed is comfortable, your bed covers are not too hot or too cold, and that your pillow is giving your neck and head the correct support.

Avoid drinking stimulants such as coffee, cocoa, tea or cola after 6 p.m. as they can keep you awake. Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, but not within six hours of your bedtime. Eat your last meal of the day early so you have time to digest before sleep, and avoid eating cheese or protein-rich snacks before bedtime.

Have a warm, scented bath just before you go to sleep to relax body and mind; using four drops of lavender oil will help you to unwind. If you worry during the night, keep a pen and paper by your bed and make a list of any sources of stress that are troubling you. If problems of sleeplessness persist for more than two weeks, see a doctor, as this can be an indication of depression.

Eye Massage

One of the best treats you can give your own over-tired eyes is an eye massage, which will help to stimulate the lymphatic system to drain any stagnating fluids or toxins.

Apply gentle pressure with the pads of your ring finger around the eye bone, starting in the corner and moving around the elliptical bones that contain the eyes. By doing this you are stimulating a lot of nerve endings, and you will feel a remarkable release of energy. Make 10 laps of the eye, but only use the weaker third finger to maintain a gentle pressure.

Quick Pick-me-up

If you have tired eyes, rest on your elbows on a table and rest on your face in your hands so that they’re covering your eyes. Five minutes will help put the sparkle back.

Red Eyes

Avoid using eye-whiteners, which are available over the counter. These drops work by narrowing the tiny blood vessels that cover the surface of the eyes, giving the impression of whiter than white whites … however, when they wear off the blood vessels dilate again and can appear larger than they were before. A vicious cycle beckons. If your eyes are red it is because they are tired, allergic to something, have an infection or are responding to cold or drying winds. Seek medical advice if the problem persists.

Crow’s Feet

Character and experience are etched over time into our faces, and a certain amount of a laughter-line wrinkling around the eyes is evidence that you often smile. The key is to keep the delicate skin around the eye from becoming too dry, as not doing so can lead to the lines becoming more deeply etched. Thin skin with little oil becomes dehydrated easily and is more prone to wrinkling.

Drink enough to keep your urine pale yellow. Use good sun protection. Eat a good diet.
Use a light, water-based moisturizer every day.

Puffy Eyes

Surprisingly, one of the most common causes of puffy eyes – when the eyelids and surrounding skin swell – is a good night’s sleep. When we sleep, we don’t blink, and this can lead to the build-up of fluid. As we start blinking again – we blink 10,000 times a day on average – the swelling subsides.

Other causes are lack of sleep, sensitivity to skin products, crying, pre-menstrual fluid retention, allergies such as hay fever, and the use of heavy or oily make-up removers which prevent tissue fluids from evaporating naturally overnight. Puffy eyes may also be caused by a thyroid problem, so see your doctor if they persist.

Apply chilled eye gel – or chilled aloe Vera gel – 15 minutes before applying make-up. In extreme cases, wrap an ice-cube in a handkerchief and place under the eyes – but for no more than one minute.

Avoid salty foods, and don’t add salt to meals.
Choose matte rather than the iridescent eye shadow. If your eyes are puffy around the bags, use a slightly darker concealer.

Place a cold, wet flannel over closed eyes for two minutes, followed by a warm one, then a cold one again. This will help boost sluggish circulation.

18 days ago • Beauty Tips, Health and WellBeing, Practical Tips, Skin Care Tips • Tags: tired and puffy eyes

Living with Atopic Eczema- Understanding the Causes

The more you know about the disease the easier it is to do. What is best for your skin? Information is ideally obtained from your doctor, the National Eczema Society, or a similar group. Reading articles in magazines often gives a distorted picture.

Clothes

Many synthetic materials and wool will irritate the skin so most eczema sufferers wear cotton whenever possible. It is smooth on the skin and feels cool, especially if loose fitting clothes are worn. You may be able to get all the clothes you require locally by using the Yellow pages and ringing around.

Some specialist companies do a mail order service. Washing clothes is another source of trouble because the washing powders, bleaches and fabric conditioners may all irritate the skin. No product is ideal and some may suit most people but not everyone. It is very important to have a good rinsing facility so that all the detergent is washed out.

Housework and Daily Living

Many people with normal skin find that their skin dries out and cracks after a lot of dishwashing, clothes washing, etc. Those with eczema have even greater trouble and should try to wear cotton gloves under rubber ones for wet work. Other chemicals may irritate the skin – e.g. polishes, aerosols, waxes – and care should be taken. Children may develop irritation from handling chalk, sand and other abrasive materials.

It is not a good idea to keep the house hot. Modem central heating and double glazing make it possible to have a very warm house, but it usually makes itching worse.

Humidifiers are not recommended because they can increase the growth of moulds and house dust mites.

Dust

The dust mite lives in dust and there is reasonable evidence that some eczema sufferers are made worse by exposure to high levels of dust. This does not mean that everyone should obsessionally avoid dust, but because it is difficult to predict who is affected some general measures are worthwhile.

A good vacuum cleaner should be used regularly and in the bedroom damp dusting may be helpful. The heaviest load of dust mite is on bedding, furniture and carpets and in the bedroom it may be worth having a wooden or vinyl floor covering and no loose chair covers. Continental quilts and pillows should be filled with synthetic fibers.

Cosmetics

Care must be taken with all products that are used to make the skin look gorgeous, feel great or smell nicer. The skin of an atopic is more sensitive and may react badly, even if it does not cause an allergy.

However, I am not suggesting that atopics should not have the benefit and fun of using a wide range of cosmetics but care should be taken. It may be worth trying a small area on the arm first. When your skin is badly inflamed it is best to avoid cosmetics.

Leisure Activities

Oils, paints, thinners and many other substances used for hobbies can damage the skin and should be avoided. Many sports are possible but for the worst affected contact sports such as rugby may prove very uncomfortable. Holidays are generally beneficial but be careful not to bum in the sun.

23 days ago • Beauty Tips, Health and WellBeing, Practical Tips, Skin Care Tips • Tags: Atopic Eczema, Living with Atopic Eczema