Skin Care: 5 Tips for Healthy Skin

Skin is that part of body which attracts people at first sight. So it’s important to make your skin more attractive. You may think you don’t have much time to care for your skin. Well, I’m going to share some simple tips that exactly don’t take “centuries” to follow. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle can help postpone the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips. . Here I’m going to say something about skin care

 

1. Protect yourself from the sun

We all know, one of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. Excessive sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as amplify the risk of skin cancer. 

For the most complete sun protection:

• Use sunscreen. Sunscreen protects your skin from ultraviolet rays. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. When you're outdoors, try to reapply sunscreen every 3 hours — or more often if you're swimming or washing body or perspiring.
• Seek shade.  As the sun rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., try to avoid them at that time.
• Use umbrella. Try to take an umbrella with you when you are going out.
• Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats/caps. Also think laundry additives, which give clothing an extra layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is particularly designed to protect ultraviolet rays. Use sunglasses to protect your skin around the eyes from being wrinkled.

 

2. Don't smoke

Smoking is full of faults. Smoking (nicotine) makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the small blood vessels in the outermost levels of skin, which decreases blood flow. This reduces the oxygen and nutrients of skin that are essential to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin its potency and softness.  The recurring facial expressions (you think heroic) you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles gradually.
The best way to protect your skin is to quit smoking. Remember, nobody ever found a single positive side of smoking.  You may read my post 10 Healthy Habits & Tips to Follow Them.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a charge on your skin. To keep it gentle you can:

• Limit bath time. Excessive warm water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use mild warm rather than hot water.
• Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin and make your skin harsh. Use mild cleansers.
• Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving and wait for few minutes. Use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows but not against it.
• Pat dry. After bathing or washing your body, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
• Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains proper SPF. 

4. Eat a healthy diet

Perfect medicine. A healthy diet can help you in many ways. Diet has a close relation to skin. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods with proteins. Some researches suggest that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates may promote younger looking skin. You may read my posts related to diet. 

5. Manage stress

Over stress can make your skin more sensitive, older looking and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin and a healthy state of mind, take affirmative steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, reduce your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more fabulous than you expect. Exercise daily as it helps reduce stress. Try to have a nice sleep keeping all your tensions outside the bed.

Good skin care can keep your skin healthy,attractive and glowing for years to come.

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Skin Cancer:A-Z

It is not fairly believable that about 40-50% of people are suffering from Skin Cancer and Skin Cancer is frequently found in the people with fair complexion. You will be surprised to know that over the last 40 years, the rates of deadly Skin cancer “Melanoma” grew by 800 percent among young women and 400 percent among young men (source:skincancer.org). According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI-USA), over one million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with different skin cancer every year.

Skin Cancers may include Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bowen Symptoms etc. These all are the types of Skin Cancer and they start as the Precancerous Lesions. These precancerous conditions may bring changes to the skin. Basically these conditions are not Cancer but can lead to Cancer.

                                             Doc checking Skin Cancer    Image source: flickr

  So, you now understand that skin cancers have some signs. Try to hunt for the early signs of Skin Cancer, if you able to trace them, it will be easy to treat in time.According to NCI,"Skin Cancers are 100% curable if treated in time".

Here are few signs and Types of Skin Cancer

1.   Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This skin disease is mostly seen on Forehead, Nose, Ears, Lips, Hands and other soft areas of body that are exposed to the rays of Sun. It’s quite curable if treated early. The nonmelanoma Skin Cancer may occur in the form of Red Nodule that may be peeling, bleeds developing a crust or a wound that normally does not mend. 

                                                                      Squamous Cell Carcinoma       Image: wikimedia

2.   Bowen Disease

                     

Bowen Disease          Image: wikimedia

Bowen disease is popularly known as Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It is crusty, has Reddish scraps and even become coated. This Skin disease can be appeared in the external direction on the surface of Skin. The persistent Squamous Cell Carcinomas may grow in the interior direction and may spread to inside of body.

3.   Basal Cell Carcinoma

 Basal Cell Carcinoma 

Among all skin diseases Basal Cell Carcinoma is the common disease. It can be easily treated. It looks like “tumor cells”. It is mostly seen in the adults. At first it appears like a pimple and then may spread gradually. These cells may occur in the form of Brown, White, Red, flat, sticky and waxy
 patches with Blood Vessels on the patches. This condition may occur on the Nose, Ears,Neck,Chest and  belly.

4.   Cutaneous Horns

 
      "Beautiful" cutaneous  Horns Cell   Source: wikimedia

This disease may occur as a Funnel shaped patches and the reddish patches are seen on the Skin surface. These patches also contain Keratin;a Protein that is present in the Nails. The size and shape of Cutaneous Horns may vary but normally they are few millimeters in length. This condition is common in the people suffering malnutritions and who are exposed to Sun.

  

5.   Actinic Cheilitis

 

Actinic Chelitis is also a precancerous condition. It mostly appears on the Lips. It can lead to the scaly patches, red spots and roughness of Lips. Swelling of lips, loss of borders of lip and other Skin are some symptoms of Actinic Cheilitis. If not treated in time, this condition can lead to Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

 6.   Actinic Keratosis

 

 Actinic keratosis     Image: wikimedia

These are the tiny patches and these patches take some time to become Cancerous. Some patches don’t become Cancerous even after sometime It is basically caused by the Sun and it is found on the Head, Neck, Face and Hands but it is also found on the other parts of body. Early treatment can prevent this disease.

People who have Fair complexion, Blond /Red Hair, Green and Blue Eyes are at more risk of actinic disease.

 7.   Moles

Mole is a growth of Melanocytes. It is the Cell that gives color to the Skin. It is rare for Moles to be Cancerous. It takes much time to become Mole Cancerous. Though a usual Mole is plane but it can be raised with the passage of time. Normal Moles have round or elliptical shape and small in size. Moles are developed in the youth.

                                                           Melanocytes         Image : wikimedia

  8.   Atypical Moles or Dysplastic Nevi

                                                         Dysplastic Nevi


Though these type of Moles are not Cancerous, they can become Cancerous with the passage of time. These moles appear on the places which are exposed to Sun. Atypical Moles are larger in size and are irregular in shape. The borders of these moles are lighter in color. These moles so irregular in behave that sometimes they are flat and sometimes raised with rough surface. Color of these Moles also varies. They can be Pink, Red and Black.

                                                              

 

 9.   Melanoma

                     Melanoma:The Deadliest    From: wikimedia 

It is the rare type of Skin Cancer but one of the most serious and deadly Cancer. Signs of Melanoma may include appearance of Mole or a pigmented patch on the Skin. Cancerous Skin Cells have irregular various colors, shape, itches and may bleed. If the color, size, texture, shape and border of a Mole changes suspiciously then the patient should urgently consult a Dermatologist before it’s too late. It is really dangerous if is not treated in time.

 10.   Some Rare Skin Cancers

Some rare Skin Cancers may include

a.     Kaposi’s Sarcoma

       It is very common in the people, who have weak Immune system.This type is not so dangerous.

b.     Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma

This type of Skin Cancer can give rise to Cancer in the Oil glands of Skin. People with excessive fat may be its easy prey

c.     Merkel Cell Carcinoma

This Skin Cancer is found in the areas that are exposed to the Sun including Head, Neck, Arms and Legs. This condition can easily spread to the other parts of body.

                               

 

Causes of Skin Cancer

The main cause of Skin Cancer is ultraviolet rays (UVA, UVB).
Other causes of Skin Cancer may include

• Environmental pollution
• Radiation treatment
• Role of hereditary
• Ultraviolet radiation
• Use of tanning booths
• Exposure to unusually high levels of x-rays.
• Contact with certain chemicals-arsenic (miners, sheep shearers, and farmers), hydrocarbons in tar, oils, and soot (may cause squamous cell carcinoma)
• Lack of particular vitamins or minerals(E, Bita Carotene )

Besides all this, anyone can suffer from Skin Cancer at any age.

Risks for Skin Cancer:

The following people are at the greatest risk of Skin Cancer 

• People with fair skin, especially types that freckle, sunburn easily, or become painful in the sun
• People with light (blond or red) hair and colored(blue,green) eyes
• People with certain genetic disorders
• People who have already been treated for skin cancer
• People with numerous moles, unusual moles, or large moles that were present at birth
• People with close family members who have developed skin cancer or have family history of skin cancer
• People who had at least one severe sunburn early in life
• People who expose regularly in sun,chemicals or gases

Beware of Your Mole

The Moles that appear on the skin are normally all same but if the moles and Freckles are different or are larger/ unnatural in size than you should urgently consult a Dermatologist. Keep in mind that these Moles and Freckles can be Cancerous.

a.     Irregularity of Moles

Irregularity means the whole of Mole does not match with the rest of the part. Try to compare your Moles with the other Moles. If all the parts of Moles are not same than consult a Doc.

b.     Border of Moles

Remember, Cancerous Lesion has uneven borders If the border of Moles is hazy or uneven then get it checked by a Dermatologist..

c.      Color of the Moles

If you see different color like Brown, Black, Blue, Red or White, it is time to be serious with your moles.

d.     Diameter of Moles

Normally moles are not more than 6mm in diameter. A mole can be doubtful, if it is larger than a normal Mole.

                  e.    Evolving of Moles

If a mole seems to be shrinking, changing color, getting larger, feel itching or bleed; it should be checked by a Dermatologist. A raised Mole can be Cancerous. Remember, Cancerous Moles grow in an uneven size and unusual height.

Evaluation of Moles

If you have Mole that shrinks, changes color, changes shape, and itches then try to consult a Dermatologist. The Dermatologist will take a sample tissue for biopsy. If the Mole is found to be Cancerous or risky then whole of it is removed. But don’t worry, it is a simple task.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Cancer

The treatment of Skin Cancer is easy in the initial stages. Malignant melanoma may require several treatment methods, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The non-Melanoma Skin Cancers may include Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. These are common disease and are treated well, if found early. People who suffer from Skin Cancer have the risk to suffer again from this condition.

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer

Following are the tips to reduce the risk of Skin Cancer

• Try to decrease the exposure to Ultraviolet Rays.
• As the Sunrays are strongest at 10am-4pm, take care of your Skin by this time.
• Try to apply Sunscreen lotion before going out in Sun.
• Try to wear a cap and sunglasses before going in Sun.
• Perform self-examination of your skin regularly.
• Maintain a good diet including cabbage, carrot, egg etc.

If you notice any sort of change in your Skin, try to consult a doctor. He will better inform you about the changes taking place on your Skin.

                                           

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Preventing hair fall; Is Your hair fall normal?

It is not an easy task to find some persons who don’t face hair fall problem. If you wash your hair everyday, it is considered quite natural losing 40-50 strands of hair at each wash. But if the rate of hair fall is upsetting, or your hair has started to come out in tufts, and you aren’t able to maintain the same volume of hair there could be cause for concern. In this short post I would like to explain something about this.

                                Hope you don't face it daily!




Causes of hair fall 

It is not unknown that genetics has a great contribution for baldness. But what are other causes? Well, the other reasons for severe hair fall are trichotillamania (compulsive psychological urge to pull out one’s hair), hair styling like coloring, perming, ironing (heating), side effect to certain drugs like in chemotherapy, acne and diet pills, skin diseases on scalp and diabetes. 

How to control hair fall

**My first tip is that “know your hair”. That means, study your hair regularly and keep an eye that which products are really helping reduce your hair falling. If you use hair gel make sure to wash it off the next day (and also ensure a good hair gel), do shampoo and condition with reliable products and keep your scalp and hair clean.

** Avoid ironing, perming, rough toweling wet hair , blow-drying and if possible, avoid drugs that can be threat for your hair 

**Massage your scalp with lukewarm oil, as it improves blood circulation, trim your hair if you have split ends.

**There are some effective natural treatments, like tea leaves decoction and curd as natural conditioners. You can apply paste of fresh curry leaves. Shikakai powder is also healthy for hair. 

**If you see lot of hair fall then rub your scalp with onion juice, garlic juice or ginger juice. You can use one out of the three don’t mix two or three, apply it and leave it over night and wash it out next day.

**Use vitamins as they are not only good for your body but also for your hair. Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant which promotes healthy production of sebum in your scalp; vitamin B contributes to melanin which gives hair its healthy color and also stimulates blood circulation, vitamin E also stimulates blood circulation and increases hair strength.

Are you anxious with your hair fall?Want to learn more about this problem or it's solution?I can suggest you a good website where,I think you would find some good  information.You may visit the site here.In addition I would like to inform that it's a natural treatment site.Hope it will be helpful.

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