Sunburn : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

A sunburn,as in Wikipedia is a burn to living tissue, such as skin, which is produced by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, commonly from the sun's rays. Usual mild symptoms in humans and animals include red or reddish skin that is hot to the touch, general fatigue, and mild dizziness. An excess of UV radiation can be life-threatening in extreme cases.

Sunburn usually appears within a few hours after sun exposure and may take from several days to several weeks to fade. Intense sun exposure that results in sunburn increases your risk of certain complications and related skin diseases. These include dry, wrinkled skin; liver spots; actinic keratoses; and skin cancer, including melanoma.

You can prevent sunburn and the related skin conditions by protecting your skin whenever you're outdoors, even on cloudy days. If you do get sunburn, several home remedies and treatments can relieve your pain and speed the healing of your skin.

. Before going out in sun it�s always better to apply sunscreen lotion to prevent tanning and sunburns.

. Lotions containing lanolin should be avoided before going out in sun.

. Applying lavender essential oil to the area will reduce pain and itching.

. Application of any cream containing vitamin E to the affected areas will reduce itching. This is a very simple sunburn treatment.

. Applying ice to the area will also be beneficial

. Keeping cold tea bags on the area will remove tanning from the sunburns.

. Drink plenty of fluids. Sun exposure and heat can cause fluid loss through your skin. Be sure to replenish those fluids to prevent dehydration.

. Milk is the best food remedy for any kind of burns. Applying the cloth to the burn dipped in milk will provide relief. Good home remedy for sunburn.

. Make a mixture by mixing, yogurt, turmeric and barley, apply on the affected area. This is one of the simple and good home remedies for sunburn.

. Sliced pieces of raw cucumber or potato when applied to the affected area reduce inflammation of the skin. This is one of the best sunburn remedy.

. Pouring one cup of white cider vinegar to the bathtub will provide relief from sunburns.

. Application of sandal wood paste to the area will provide relief from the burning sensation.

. Taking a bath of tide laundry detergent will provide relief from sunburn blisters.

. Make a mixture of one part tomato juice and 6 parts buttermilk and apply it to the affected areas and wash it after 30 minutes.

. Apply a mixture of one part olive oil and one part vinegar to affected areas and wash it after an hour.

. Make a mixture of wheat flour mixed with milk, olive oil, or barley flour, honey, and raw egg white paste. It will be a best facial for sunburn skin.

. Boil some lettuce in water, allow the liquid to cool and strain it. Then apply to the affected area with cotton balls.

. If blisters form, don't break them. They contain your natural body fluid (serum) and are a protective layer.

Use these methods to prevent sunburn:

. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Because the sun's rays are strongest during these hours, try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day. Seek shade whenever possible.

. Wear tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs, and a broad-brimmed hat, which provides more protection than does a baseball cap or golf visor. Also consider wearing clothing or outdoor gear specially designed to provide sun protection.

. Use sunscreen frequently and liberally. Apply sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply about every two hours � sooner if it's washed away by perspiration or water.

. Wear sunglasses when outdoors. Look for a manufacturer's label that says the sunglasses block 99 percent or 100 percent of all UV light.


~source:mayoclinic.com~

Mouth Ulcer : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

As in Wikipedia,a mouth ulcer,or oral ulcer, or, in American English, canker sore is an open sore inside the mouth, or rarely a break in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the lips or surrounding the mouth.

Once formed, the ulcer may be maintained by inflammation and/or secondary infection. Two common types of ulcer are aphthous ulcers ("canker sores") and cold sores (fever blisters, oral herpes). Cold sores around the lip are caused by viruses.

The various causes of mouth ulcers are:

.High intake of spicy or acidic food
.Lack of vitamin B2 in the diet
.Minor injuries
.Viral infections
.Poor dental hygiene
.Bowel disease
.Biting of cheeks or lips
.Food allergies
.Hormonal imbalance

Good oral hygiene may help prevent some types of mouth ulcers, as well as some complications from mouth ulcers. Good oral hygiene includes brushing the teeth at least twice per day, flossing at least daily, and getting regular professional dental cleanings and examinations.

Home remedies are the best and easiest way to cure mouth ulcers that to without any side effects. Some of the effective home remedies which can cure your painful mouth ulcers are:

. Most effective home remedy for mouth ulcer is to chew few holy basil leaves with water twice in a day. This not only treats your ulcers but also prevents bad smell.

. Gargle at least 3-4 times in a day with fresh coconut milk.

. Alternately gargle with cold and hot water.

. Eat lot of raw salad especially raw onions. Onion contains lot of sulfur and it is effective in treating mouth ulcers.

. Drink lot of orange juice as deficiency of Vitamin C can lead to mouth ulcer.

. Eat lot of yogurt, buttermilk and cottage cheese.

. Mix small amount of sodium bicarbonate with water and use this solution as mouth rinse.

. Avoid eating spicy food especially meat, fish or any type of animal protein.

. Avoid eating sharp edged food like dry bread or potato chips. Also avoid lozenges, chewing gums, coffee, tobacco and any food which you think can trigger ulcer formation.

. Apply peppermint oil on the ulcers; this will relieve you from the irritation and pain.

. Thrice a day gently massage your affected gums with honey and coconut milk mixture.

. Until your mouth ulcers are cured make it a point to eat curd and banana daily in morning.

. Apply paste of honey and 1 tsp of powdered root bark of Indian Gooseberry on the affected area.

. Mulberry juice is highly beneficial in treating mouth ulcers.

. Take 1 tsp of coriander seeds in 1 cup of water and boil to make slightly warm. Gargle 3-4 times a day. This is also effective home remedy for mouth ulcers.

. Gargling daily with Listerine prevents bad smell from the mouth and also mouth ulcers cures.

. Application of any toothpaste on the area many times a day gives quick relief from mouth ulcers.

. Daily intake of tomatoes juice is also beneficial for the mouth ulcers treatment.

Even after following these simple home remedies your mouth ulcers are not cured then it is advisable to visit your physician immediately.


~source:homeremedies.ygoy.com~

Stretch Marks : Causes, How To and Home Remedies

Stretch marks or striae (singular stria), as in Wikipedia, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. They are caused by tearing of the dermis, and over time can diminish but not disappear completely.

Stretch marks first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter range. The affected areas appear empty and are soft to the touch. Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most common places are the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, underarms, back, thighs (both inner and outer), hips, and buttocks.

The various causes of stretch marks are:

.Pregnancy
.Gain in weight or weight loss
.Rapid growth especially in adolescents
.Change in physical conditions

Once the stretch mark develop they will stay with you forever; but with time they will be less noticeable. The only way to avoid stretch marks is preventing them. There are also several remedies for those who have stretch marks.

. Make sure in your diet you are getting plenty of protein and foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, they promote good tissue growth.

. Massaging your body with olive oil or Vitamin E may help.

. It is very important to exercise in order to get rid of stretch marks; toning your muscles helps your skin to firm thus preventing stretch marks.

. Apply cocoa butter and/ or elastin cream though out the body as directed on label. These are very good for stretch marks.

. Application of vitamin K cream is also beneficial in the stretch marks treatment. The foods containing vitamin K can also be included in the diet and they are green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, liver and dairy products.

. Application of Aloe Vera gel also helps to cure stretch marks and is also good home remedy for stretch marks.

. Applying lavender oil on the marks thrice a day will fade up the marks soon. This is one of the simple and good home remedies for stretch marks.

. Application of Vaseline intensive care lotion on the stomach during pregnancy helps in the prevention of stretch marks.

. Rubbing the area with apricot scrub fades the marks in a short duration. This is also good home remedy for stretch marks.

. Mix one ounce of carrier oil ( try avocado, sweet almond, jojoba, they are the best ) with seven drops of lavender and five drops of chamomile.Apply this on the affected areas.


~Source:homemademedicine.com~

Blackheads : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

A blackhead as in Wikipedia, is a yellow or blackish bump or plug on the skin. A blackhead is a type of acne vulgaris. Blackheads are caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland's duct. The substance found in these bumps mostly consists of keratin and modified sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland), which darkens as it oxidizes.

Clogged hair follicles, where blackheads often occur, reflect light irregularly to produce a blackhead's "black" hue. For this reason, the blockage might not necessarily look black when extracted from the pore, but may have a more yellow-brown colour as a result of its melanin content.

Prevention is the best step towards eliminating blackheads. Avoid all facial products that are thick, greasy and oily. Use a cleanser that is water soluble and also gentle and only use a moisturizer on areas of the skin that need it. Exfoliate your skin every day with an exfoliating cream or a wash cloth, and use products to help absorb any excess oil that may be on your face during the day.

There are several treatments and remedies for blackheads that you can use to get rid of your blackheads and prevent further outbreaks.

. Apply a thin film of adapalene gel once daily before bedtime. Its mainly available in the form of "Differin".

. Exfoliate the blackhead prone area 3-4 times a week using facial exfoliators and scrubs.

. Use creams containing AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Fruit acids) like glyco-creams that will clear away any dead skin cells and "expose" the blackhead. Use the AHA's every 3 days or so.

. Avoid washing the face with soaps more than twice a day. Instead wash your face often with plain water splashes.

. If blackheads look ready to pop out, you could try removing them gently by using a blackhead extractor. This is a neat little instrument with a hole at one end, available from chemists.

. Wash your face thoroughly with warm water. Add the juice of a single lemon to a saucepan of hot water and use it to steam your face. Steam your face for at least 10 minutes. The steam also makes your face sweat and this helps to wash out your pores. You can then scrub your face lightly to get rid of any excess oil.

. Grate some carrot and cucumber. Allow the juice of these vegetables to drain so that you get at last a teaspoon of juice. Crush � a clove of garlic along with this juice and apply it to your face. Keep it on for fifteen minutes and then wash it off with warm water. Rinse your face with cold water and pat dry.

. Roast the skin of pomegranate and grind it. Mix this powder with lime juice and apply over the blackheads.

. Peel cucumber and place in blender. Blend until cucumber is of a pasty consistency, but not too watery. Take the mixture and apply as a face mask leaving it on face for 25 minutes.

. Steaming opens up the pores, which makes it easier to get rid of the blackheads from the chin, nose, ears and other areas of the face. Boil some fresh water in a large pot and after it comes to a boil, take it off the flame and leave it to cool for around five or ten minutes. Then cover your head with a thick and large towel, before bending it over the pot. The steam needs to permeate your skin for at least 5 to 10 minutes before the blackhead removal process can be initiated.

. Around quarter cup of honey should be applied like a face mask each night. Wash your face with warm water before applying the honey evenly. Allow your skin to soak up the moisturizing properties of the honey for at least 20 minutes or so, before washing it off with some warm water.


~Source:ultimate-cosmetics.com~

Natural Face Lift : How To and Home Remedies

The fine lines, the sagging skin, the wrinkles that appear at the outer corners of our eyes� these are all typical signs of aging that we all must contend with as our body grows older and older, year after year.

The best and safest method for face lifts is through facial exercising. The proper exercise for face lifts remedies the cause of the aging process of the face by tightening elongated muscles, thereby producing face lifts where the contour has drooped, a firming up where the face appears flabby, and a filling out by rebuilding atrophying muscle tissues.

You can start a facial fitness regime any where and at any time, though most women will opt to do it in the privacy of their own home as they may look a tad silly doing these exercises in public. Let�s start from the top of the face down:

The Forehead
Take your fingers and place them just above your eyebrow. With your fingers, pull the skin down. Now try to raise your eyebrows against the pressure that you are applying with your fingers. Repeat this ten times. This will help smooth out any wrinkles that may be on your forehead.

The Eyelids
Take your thumbs and place them at the corners of your two eyes. Now shut your eyes tightly, and then pull the skin upwards towards the forehead. Repeat this process ten times, and you should be finding that your crows� feet are far less noticeable.

To try and manage sagging eyelids, take your index fingers and hold them close to the brow bone. Now raise your eyebrows. While you�re raising your eyebrows, try to close your eyes. Repeat this step ten times.

The Cheeks
The best way to give your cheeks a good work out is to start by forming an �o� shape with your lips. Now try to push them forward as quickly as you possibly can. Release the �o� shape, and then smile as large as you possibly can. Follow this routine ten times and rest.

The Lips
To exercise the lips, push your lips outwards in a large and pronounced pout. Alternatively, you can try to suck on your finger as hard as you can. This will help keep those dreaded lip wrinkles at bay. Repeat this step ten times.

Fat-ten-u

I recently bought the book Food in the United States, 1820s-1890. I came across an ad for an interesting product that was sold in the late 1800s called Fat-ten-u. Check your calendars, it's not April fools day anymore; this is for real. Fat-ten-u was a dietary supplement guaranteed to "make the thin plump and rosy with honest fleshiness of form." I found several more ads for it online, and they feature drawings of despondent, lean women and drawings of happy overweight women accompanied by enthusiastic testimonials such as this:

"FAT-TEN-U FOODS increased my weight 39 pounds, gave me new womanly vigor and developed me finely. My two sisters also use FAT-TEN-U and because of our newly found vigor we have taken up Grecian dancing and have roles in all local productions."

I'm dying to know what was in this stuff, but I can't find the ingredients anywhere.

I find this rather extraordinary, for two reasons:

• Social norms have clearly changed since the late 1800s. Today, leanness is typically considered more attractive than plumpness.
• Women had to make an effort to become overweight in the late 1800s. In 2011, roughly two-thirds of US women are considered overweight or obese, despite the fact that most of them would rather be lean.

A rhetorical question: did everyone count calories in the 1800s, or did their diet and lifestyle naturally promote leanness? The existence of Fat-ten-u is consistent with the idea that our bodies naturally "defended" a lean body composition more effectively in the late 1800s, when our diets were less industrialized. This is supported by the only reliable data on obesity prevalence in the 1890s I'm aware of: body height and weight measurements from over 35,000 Union civil war veterans aged 40-69 years old (1). In that group of Caucasian men, obesity was about 10% of what it is today in the same age group. Whether or not you believe that this sample was representative of the population at large, I can't imagine any demographic in the modern US with an obesity prevalence of 3 percent (certainly not 60 year old war veterans).

Here are two more ads for Fat-ten-u and "Corpula foods" for your viewing pleasure:

Cough : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes.Frequent coughing usually indicates the presence of a disease. Many viruses and bacteria benefit evolutionarily by causing the host to cough, which helps to spread the disease to new hosts.

A cough is not usually a threatening condition and will resolve naturally, but it can be troublesome, particularly when coughing at night keeps you up and prevents you from recuperating. A productive cough is more likely to indicate an acute disease such as a virus or infection.If you have a productive cough in conjunction with fever, wheezing, or any such malaise, you should immediately visit a doctor, even if these symptoms only present when lying down.

A non-productive cough, however, is more likely a symptom of something chronic, such as asthma, bronchitis, or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder). Environmental factors can also cause either a productive or non-productive cough. Things such as allergies, dust, and certain molds can cause coughs in anyone who is exposed to them for long periods, very often not even being aware of the cause�s existence, in the case of molds and some allergies.

There are many synthetic medicines that cure cough instantly. However, natural remedies for cough could be advantageous.

. The extract of tulsi leaves in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours. It helps to mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma.

. Fill a cut lemon with black pepper powder and salt and suck on the lemon. This is said to reduce coughing.

. Eating garlic or rubbing garlic on your throat and chest are techniques used by some people to combat cough.

. Grapes tone up the lungs and act as an expectorant, relieving a simple cold and cough in a couple of days. A cup of grape juice mixed with a teaspoon of honey is advised for cough relief.

. Aniseed is another effective remedy for a hard dry cough with difficult expectoration. It breaks up the mucus. A tea made from this spice should be taken regularly for treating this condition.

. Mixing honey and hot water, or honey and tea to sooth the dryness in the throat are wide spread and masses of people swear this is the best of the home relief options for coughing.

. Combine honey and grape juice and drink this mixture warm. This really helps for that nagging wet cough.

. Boil mint leaves and eucalyptus in water, and then inhale the vapors. This helps to clear the lungs and break up �gunk� in the sinuses.

. Drink hot carrot juice. Nutrients in carrot juice can suppress the body�s natural cough reflex.

. Prepare a natural cough syrup by mixing 2 tbsp lemon juice in a cup of water. Add a tbsp of honey and ginger juice in equal proportions. Drink this syrup several times a day to ease cough.

. Increase the intake of fluids in the day time when you are at work. A nice chicken broth/soup or vegetable soup with garlic in it would also help.

. Mix three drops of cedar oil with olive, sweet almond or jojoba oil, and message onto your chest a few times daily. Another way to use this is to add about 12 drops of these to boiling water and inhale the steam.

. Mix a few drops of eucalyptus to oil to jojoba, sweet almond oil and rub it onto your chest. You can also add 12 to 15 drops of eucalyptus oil to steaming water and inhale the vapor.


~Source:coughtreatment.org~