For starters, absolutely make sure that you are using hypoallergenic products that match your skin color. If you use a product with a shade too dark for your skin, while your acne will be covered up, you’ll look a bit strange with two different skin tones  

Read the product labels thoroughly to ensure that you aren’t buying products loaded with oil as well. The last thing you want is for the oils to clog up your pores and cause your acne to get worse (see Chapter 4 in my book for a preventive strategy for flare-ups).

 If you do decide to try a new brand than what you usually use, test it out before using it by dabbing a little bit under your jaw line.  If your skin is going to react negatively, it will do so within the hour, so you’ll be able to determine whether your skin is going to respond to it or not.

Before you start the acne cover-up process, gently wash your face and neck with your usual cleansing product and then pat dry.  Then use the oil remedy found within the book to moisturize your face quickly and prevent your acne from breaking out.  Allow this to dry completely, before you start the cover up process.

Dab small amounts of concealer directly on red or darkened splotches of your face and neck that were caused by acne blemishes.  Use a throwaway makeup sponge to blend the concealer into your skin. 

Don’t overdo this step because too much concealer will look awful once it dries.  Apply it very lightly.

Now, dab small amounts of foundation on your skin, blending with the sponge.  Reapply to areas that seem to need a little more coverage but, again, don’t overdo, because too much makeup will draw attention to your acne-scarred skin.

Your final step is to apply a very light layer of powder, using a soft makeup brush.  Always use oil-free powder with the softest brush you can find to avoid irritating your acne-troubled skin.  The powder will absorb any shine left behind by your makeup and will also give your face that “finished” appearance.

Be certain to dispose of the makeup sponges you used during your cover-up.  They will retain oil from your face and should be thrown out to avoid transferring that same oil to your face tomorrow. 

For a complete step by step home based system to eliminating acne, check out my comprehensive, fool proof guide that includes secret recipes for instant acne relief as well as minimizing scars:

 http://www.easyhomeremedy.com/Acne-Free/Acne-Cures-Ebook.html

The great news is that advances are being made in the treatment of acne and experts are discovering new ways to prevent and treat this dreaded skin condition.  Some of the old wives’ tales about acne have proven untrue and new information about how to get clear, beautiful skin is being uncovered daily.

Take a look at these 5 little-known facts regarding acne treatment and skin care:

To scrub or not?

Although experts once thought that scrubbing was necessary to get clean, pimple-free skin, they now know that scrubbing skin with harsh abrasives only serves to irritate and injure the skin.  Because skin is delicate, it can easily become damaged, leaving it unable to act as a shield against harmful bacteria.  So scrubbing your skin with or without abrasives must be avoided.

 Can the sun make my skin beautiful?

Although the sun is capable of stopping bacteria in its tracks, it also harms your skin by drying it out and clogging your pores.  Prolonged exposure (more than 15 minutes per day) to sunlight will not help you obtain beautiful skin and should be avoided.

Will cold air help clear my skin of acne?

Extremely cold weather damages the skin much the same way as sunlight does by drying it out and clogging the pores.  Cold air should be avoided because it will interfere with any progress you are making towards clearing up your acne breakouts.  The best temperature for maintaining beautiful, clear skin is between 70 and 80 degrees F.

Will swimming harm my skin?

Swimming is an excellent choice, both for your fitness level and your acne-prone skin.  Swimming in an ozone-purified indoor swimming pool, with water that is approximately 75 to 85 degrees F, will cool down your irritated skin, reduce stress, and provide great exercise for your entire body. 

How can I avoid coming into contact with the bacteria that causes acne?

The best way to prevent bacteria-causing acne and have pimple-free skin is to keep everything around you as clean as possible.  Bacteria thrive in linens, towels, and washcloths so you must wash them each time you use them.  Some natural products that have been proven to cut down on bacteria are vinegar, essential oils, and tea tree oil, all of which can be used to wash your linens and undergarments.

Years ago, doctors rarely saw cases of female baldness. But recently, young women have begun to notice a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost with each brushing and combing-more hair on the comb, more hair in the brush, more hair in the wash basin. And, after months or years, a realization that there has occurred visible thinning, a euphemism for baldness.

The healthy scalp loses between 50 and 120 hairs daily. This loss, let me reassure you, is balanced out by continuous regrowth. When the rate of hair loss, however, exceeds the rate of new growth, thinning and balding become apparent.

As a rule, there really is not an excessive amount of hair loss, rather there is an underproduction of new hair. This lack of production of new, viable hair can be due to a dozen different reasons.

Causes of Female Hair Loss

The major factors in what the dermatologist terms “female pattern baldness” are hormonal changes, heredity, and the aging process. Hormonal changes are those that occur after childbirth and with certain types of endocrine tumors and imbalances (thyroid trouble, ovarian problems, and other hormone condi­tions). In addition, if you are taking the low-dose birth control pill, you may be experiencing hair loss.

Hereditary factors also play a strong role in pattern baldness. If your mother or grandmother had sparse hair, it is likely that you (and possibly your daughter) may suffer from the same deficiency.

Finally, the aging process (due to diminished production of female hormones) is a strong factor in female hair loss. After producing for so many decades, the hair follicles become weak, tired, and sluggish. Some of them fade away and produce no more, one of the prices we must pay for growing old.

Other causes of thinning and balding in our modern women are due to environmental changes and the products used for beautification. Here are some examples:

* Mechanical tension and violence on the hair shaft due to new hair styles and cosmetic aids. These cause injury to the hair follicle and, when prolonged, interfere with the scalp’s circulation. Examples include unusual stretching, pulling, and teasing, brush rollers and curlers, tight, restrictive hair styles, vigorous combing and brushing, hot combs, braiding, and ponytails. Sharp-toothed nylon and metal combs and brushes also cause mechanical injury to the hair shaft and follicle.

* Excessive chemical exposure associated with hair styling (for example, cold-wave solutions, bleaches, and hair straighteners), and increased exposure to synthetic deter­gents and other additives in commercial shampoos, dyes, and hair sprays.

* Pollutants in our water supply (pesticides and insecticides), in our air (radioactive fallout and other forms of radiation), in sprays and other inhalants, in our food (dyes, additives, and various drugs and hormones given to cattle and poul­try), and increased exposure to chemicals of all sorts.

* Nutritional deficiencies, such as those seen in “crash diet­ers,” in vegetarians who may develop protein malnutrition, and in those suffering from iron-deficiency anemia.

* General anesthesia during surgical operations.

* Various drugs used to treat cancer, and anticoagulants  (blood thinners) used in heart disease.

* Excessive smoking (a more recent suspect).

* Emotional stress and tension, which are believed to impair the circulation of the hair follicle.

What’s a woman to do? Here are a few basic do’s and don’ts for healthy hair:

* Shampoo your hair regularly, daily if at all possible.

* If you comb and brush your hair, use only pure bristle brushes and hard rubber (Ace) combs. Don’t use the plastic or metal varieties.

* Reduce excessive mechanical manipulation of the hair shaft. Avoid teasing and ratting, vigorous combing and brushing, tight, restrictive hairstyles, tight braids and ponytails, and excessive hot-combing. Hair responds best to gentle care.

* Avoid excessive bleaching, dyeing, and hair straightening. . Keep up your general health, avoid crash diets, and cut down on smoking.

* If you are taking the low-dose birth control pill, ask your gynecologist if you may change these to the higher-dose variety.

* Avoid emotional stress and tension.

* Don’t be misled by those advertisements and commercials for potions and unguents that promise to grow hair. There ain’t no such animal.

* Finally, if your situation does not improve, see your derma­tologist. There may be some infection, some hormonal imbalance, or some medication that you have been taking that might be responsible.

And remember, women don’t get bald the way men do. While you may have to get used to a thinner crop when you are in your forties, it is highly unlikely that you will lose all of your “crowning glory.”

 A normal woman (that is, one who has no hormonal disease or disturbance) can conceal or remove excess hair in a number of ways: bleaching, shaving, plucking with tweezers, depilatory creams and lotions, waxes, abrasive applicators, and electrolysis. All have their drawbacks and all, except electrolysis, are tempo­rary measures.

Whether you will use any (or all) of the methods described below will depend upon the area (or areas) you intend to treat, your skin type, your tolerance to pain, your dexterity, your free time, and your pocketbook.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Bleaching

Bleaching with commercially-available products can conceal excessive, fine, fuzzy hair growth on the upper lip and forearms. It is most effective for small amounts of unwanted hair.

When done properly, bleaching is simple, safe, and painless. Repeated use of bleaching agents, however, can damage the hair shaft and cause temporary breakage. It can also irritate the skin. If you do use a bleach and develop a rash, try a different product.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Shaving

There is a popular myth that claims that if you shave or cut your hair, it will grow back faster, thicker, coarser, and darker. Don’t believe it. There is no scientific evidence to support this old wives’ tale. (If it were true, there would be very few bald men!)

The portion of hair emerging from the surface of the skin is nonliving, a dead protein thread. Cutting or shaving cannot influence the growing portion of your hair-the root-which occu­pies the hair follicle beneath the surface of the skin. Shaving is, however, a temporary measure and one must repeat it fairly often to avoid the stubbly feel and the “5 o’clock shadow” look.

If you shave with a safety razor, I recommend a clean, sharp, single-track blade. (Avoid using an old, ragged blade.) For a good shave, wet the hair thoroughly for at least two minutes with a lather shave cream which helps prevent evaporation. Do not shave too closely, as this practice can lead to ingrown hairs. And contrary to what you may have been taught, it is advisable to shave with the grain, not against it. This will also prevent ingrown hairs and subsequent infection.

If you use an electric shaver, try a preshave lotion which helps remove oil from the hair. You’ll find that shaving is easier, and you’ll be less likely to nick the skin.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Plucking (Tweezing)

Plucking out hairs with tweezers is a popular and effective, although somewhat painful, way to remove temporarily scattered hairs on” the face, chest, and eyebrows. Because of the discomfort and irritation, you should reserve this method for small areas of excess hair.

Plucking has no adverse side effects and, like other methods of temporary hair removal, will not cause the hairs to grow faster, coarser, or darker. Since the hair is removed at the root, it may grow back slower than hair that has been shaved off. Constant and repeated tweezing in the same area, however, can cause tiny, pitted scars.

When using the’ plucking method, make sure the skin and the tweezers are scrupulously clean to avoid infection. Also, do not pluck hairs from moles, warts, or other tumors. This can cause disagreeable and dangerous side effects: bleeding, infection, and change in the type of cell growth.

Hint: to minimize any pain, apply an ice cube to the area just before plucking.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Chemical Depilatories

Available in creams, liquids, and foams, these products weaken the chemical bonds of the hairs, causing them to break off or dissolve just below the surface of the skin. This is one of the best, easiest, and most popular methods for temporary removal of unwanted hair on the arms, legs, and underarm areas.

One word of caution: do not use these products on broken or abraded skin. It is also wise not to use them on very delicate areas, such as along the “bikini line” of the thighs or on the skin of the breasts.

The first time you use a chemical depilatory, try it on a “test” area first to make sure your skin isn’t unusually sensitive to it. Then wash and thoroughly dry the area to be depilated. Apply the chemical and leave it on for a specific length of time, usually ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the directions given by the manu­facturer. (If you leave it on longer than recommended, it can severely irritate your skin.) Then rinse the area thoroughly with clear, lukewarm water, using a washcloth if necessary, and pat dry. You can then apply a soothing, emollient cream or lotion because the chemical may dry out your skin.

The main advantage of chemical depilatories is that they are painless. They also break off hairs below the surface of the skin, so that regrowth is relatively slow and the hairs grow back soft, not stubbly.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Waxing

One of the oldest and least popular methods of temporary hair removal is molten wax. Hot, melted wax is poured onto the skin, left to cool and solidify, and then rapidly stripped off. The hairs which are embedded in the wax are plucked out as the wax is removed.           .

This type of hair removal is longer lasting than some of the other methods described. It takes about four to six weeks for waxed hair to grow back. However, there is always some degree of pain and skin irritation. Also, you cannot repeat this type of treatment until the hairs have grown out and are long enough to become embedded in the wax.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Abrasives

Pumice stones have been used for centuries to “wear off” excess hair. Although simple and inexpensive, this method of hair removal is rather tedious and uncomfortable and, therefore, not suitable for large areas.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Electrolysis

There is only one safe way to remove excess hair permanently: destroying the hair root with an electric current. This is called electrolysis.

Performed by a physician or trained electrologist, electrolysis consists of inserting a fine platinum or steel wire needle into the opening of the hair follicle. An electric current, transmitted down the needle, permanently destroys the hair root. The loosened hairs are then removed with tweezers. Once you destroy the root, the hair can no longer grow back.

While several types of electric current may be used, the basic procedure is the same. The results will depend upon the skill of the operator. Even in the most competent hands, however, electrolysis is a long, expensive, and tedious process. It is also somewhat painful, particularly on areas other than the face.

Electrolysis is most effective for the coarse, darker hairs, not the fine, “peach-fuzz,” lanugo-type hairs. It has no effect on the cause of excessive hair growth; all it can do is destroy the existing hair.

Electrolysis is not one hundred percent effective, and repeated treatments are often necessary to destroy successfully all the unwanted hairs. There are several reasons for this. Some hair follicles are bent or crooked. The electrical current for the partic­ular follicle may be insufficient (the higher the current, the greater the pain; therefore, the operator tries to “get away” with the smallest current that might do the job). Also, since the electrologist works below the surface of the skin, the insertion of the needle into the hair follicle is essentially a blind procedure and cannot be performed with absolute certainty. Another common occurrence is that the hair will come out, but the papilla (the hair root) will not be destroyed, resulting in the regrowth of that particular hair. Thus, depending upon the skill of the operator and the nature of the hair being treated, a single strand may have to be treated several times before it stops growing.

Coarse hairs may return three or four times, but these become finer at each regrowth, and eventually the root is so effectively destroyed that the hairs can no longer grow.

“Sittings” with the electrologist should be no longer than half an hour, during which time only a limited number of hairs (about fifty) should be removed. To avoid excessive irritation, those hairs lying close together should not be dealt with at the same time. Also, the skin and needles must be adequately sterilizep to prevent infection.

In the hands of a competent, well-trained, and conscientious electrologist, the dangers and side effects are minimal. Occasion­ally, scarring and fine pits will develop in places formerly occupied by hairs. (One sees this more commonly on the upper lip; therefore it is best to avoid treatment on this area.) In addition, excessive pigmentation may develop, but this is rare and usually quickly disappears. Since it is impossible to predict the nature of scarring or healing in any given patient, the electrologist should try a small trial area first and check the results.

It is not recommend the small, battery-operated, do-it-your­self kits. It is virtually impossible for a person to insert a tiny needle into a hair follicle on his or her face while looking in a mirror! And when improperly used, these self-treatments can lead to irreparable scarring.

If you are contemplating electrolysis, don’t expect too much. The average patient quickly tires of the experience and the cost. Because only a small percentage of hairs can be removed at one sitting, and because some regrowth of hair, even in the most skilled hands, will always recur after electrolysis, it requires firm dedica­tion on the part of you and the operator. A severe case of excess hair (hirsutism) may require years of treatment. But despite its limitations, in selected patients electrolysis is useful and success­ful.

Related Post:

What Should You Know About Excessive Body Hair In Women?

Exactly what do we mean by excess hair? Not what most people believe. Excess hair does not mean an increase in the number of hairs. Everyone is born with a fixed number of hairs on his or her body. This is genetically determined (inherited).

Hair grows on every portion of the skin except the palms and soles and a few other small areas.

While excess hair may be due to many factors, for some groups of people it is the normal state of affairs. People from Southern Europe and Middle-Eastern cultures are much hairier than those from Northern Europe and Scandinavian countries; white people are hairier than black people; and Asians and American Indians are the least hairy of all.

Above and beyond this normal, constitutional hairy excess, there are those women who exhibit a far greater increase in the length and thickness of hair in certain areas which are usually reserved for the “peach-fuzz” variety: the upper lip, the chin, the sides of the face, the areas around the nipples, and the portion of the abdomen extending from the pubic region to the belly-button. (These are the areas normally associated with the male pattern hair growth.) This type of superfluous hair, or hypertrichosis, can be especially embarrassing to the young and otherwise confident woman, one of those “thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.”

The Causes Of Excessive Body Hair

The causes of excess hair are many-and varied. For those with a moderate degree of hairiness, the factors involved may be merely a part of normal growth and development.

The most common cause of excess hair growth in females is the aging process. Along about the time of menopause, women become deficient in the production of the female hormone estro­gen. The decrease of this hormone gives rise to a relative increase in the male-type hormone (androgen), which is responsible for the slow, relentless proliferation of thick, dark hairs appearing on the upper lip, chin, and cheeks. And, at the same time, the beginning of the steady thinning of the scalp hair. These two processes seem to go hand in hand: more hair on the body, less on the scalp.

Stress and tension can also playa role in excess hair growth. The hair follicles are under the influence of various hormones and chemicals produced by the body. Emotional stress and tension often lead to a disturbance in the delicate balance of these hormones which, in turn, can result in a stimulation of the hair follicle leading to excess hair, not, however, on the head. These hormonal imbalances also can arise in connection with tumors and cysts of the ovaries, diseases of the adrenal glands, and abnormal functioning and tumors of other hormone-secreting glands, such as the thyroid or pituitary.

In addition, various drugs and medications can occasionally produce hypertrichosis when taken over a period of time. These include drugs for epilepsy (Dilantin), cortisone-like drugs, and a host of others.

Related Posts:

How to Remove Excessive Body Hair in Women?

Your hair goes through this and more. Yet, barring certain diseases and conditions, it lasts a lifetime.

Taking good care of your hair, however, can make a big difference in how it looks during its “lifetime.” Healthy-looking, attractive hair requires consistently good care and conditioning, good diet, and good exercise. It requires keeping stress and emotional tensions to a minimum. (Remember, I did not say healthy hair; I said healthy-looking hair. How can something that’s dead be healthy?)

Many young women (and, increasingly, men) consult a dermatologist because they’re concerned about a change in the growth or appearance of their hair. More often than not, the change is the result of abuse, rather than disease, causing the hair to break off easily.

What causes breakage of hair? Often, it is related to physical damage. Here are some factors that can physically “injure” your hair:

     *    Using brushes with sharp bristles
     *    Using metal or plastic combs
     *    Braiding your hair tightly
     *    Winding your hair too tightly
     *    Using brush rollers
     *    Back-combing
     *    Repeatedly wetting and blow-drying your hair
     *    Other forms of repeated manipulation of your hair
     *    Wearing tight hats, caps, and headbands

Chemical injury is probably the most common cause of hair breakage. When the outer keratin layer of the hair shaft (the cuticle) is repeatedly exposed to chemical attack from bleaches, hair straighteners, permanent hair dyes, thioglycolate wave solutions, etc., the hair develops a stiff, strawlike feel, making it more susceptible to breakage.

Here are some specific tips:

Brush and comb less often. (The so-called 100-strokes-a-day brushing or combing is not good for your hair.)

Don’t back-comb

No braids or pony-tails

Use pure bristle brushes and hard rubber (Ace) combs

Don’t wear tight hats, caps, or headbands

Use a mild, gentle shampoo

Use creme rinses

Trim split and damaged ends

A word about shampooing

Good hair care begins with shampooing. The frequency of shampooing is an individual affair. You may shampoo daily or oftener, if need be, without harming the hair or hair follicle in any way.

If your hair is oily, or if you live in the city where you are constantly exposed to inordinate amounts of dust, grease, grime, soot, and other chemical pollutants, you should shampoo often. And with a good commercial shampoo, not with bar soap.

An important and little stressed fact about shampooing is that to derive any benefit from it, the shampoo should be massaged into the entire scalp for at least five minutes, preferably longer, using fairly hot water. Thorough rinsing is a must. For those who like a creme rinse, I recommend using it in moderation, only small amounts to prevent the “greasies.”

If you blow dry your hair, follow the manufacturer’s directions and make sure to keep the blow dryer at least six inches away from your hair.

Acne also occurs sporadically in young children; this kind usually disappears of its own accord. If a child suffers from some kind of hormonal imbalance, then the acne may become widespread.

Some people do not get acne till their thirties, or even their forties. Contrary to general belief, peoples of all Nationalities and races get acne. There is evidence that it is less prevalent in some parts of the world (such as Japan), but the reasons for this (climate? heredity?) are not known for sure. Acne also seems to be less prevalent in agricultural than in industrial areas.

When does acne stop?
Most of us have a mild form of acne during puberty. A few have a very conspicuous form of acne vulgaris.

In most cases, acne passes quite naturally within a couple of years. We still lack any satisfactory explanation for this more or less spontaneous healing.

Roughly one person in six still has acne in their twenties. It lasts longer with some people than with others. Acne usually quietens down as the years pass, which is something of a comfort; acne hardly ever occurs after forty. Very occasionally, acne remains for a long time as a consequence of an endocrinal imbalance (endocrine glands are hormone-producing).

There are strong grounds for believing that the persistence and duration of acne is influenced by heredity. If someone has acne for a long time, there is a fair chance that others in the family have it for a similar period of time.

Dandruff Cures

Common man or woman, identifies dandruff when there are flaky dry particles (dead skin) in the hair with an oily sheen. Dandruff arises from oily scalps and not dry scalps. Most of the people ‘think that dandruff can be removed by washing with medicated shampoo available in the market. To some extent it is true. It is said that foods that have artificial colors, preservatives of additives should be avoided when dandruff takes place.

 

The following tips can be followed to get rid of dandruff:

* The best home method is to give a regular treatment to the hair by massaging the scalp with available coconut oil, every night. In the morning, the hair may be washed with shampoo. Massaging mixture of coconut oil, ‘Til’ oil and ‘Amla oil’ and washing the hair after one hour of such application removes good lot of dandruff.

* Keeping the hair clean is the best method of treatment in dandruff. And for this, you have to shampoo daily as you comb and brush your hair daily. Selection of a suitable *shampoo is a must in this case.

*Stop using hair styling products on your hair. .

*Stop using cap, turban or ‘burqa’ (ladies). Wearing such headgears can stimulate the process that is responsible for dandruff.

*In case you have purchased a dandruff shampoo, use it once or twice a week and on other days, use regular shampoo that is not meant for dandruff. This will fetch good results.

*Some experts say that olive oil mixed with rosemary oil when massaged in the scalp instead of coconut oil gives better results. In this case also the hair are to be left overnight after massaging and then washed them in the morning.

*The most common preparation to remove dandruff used to be Glycerin and Eau-de-cologne. People do not use this mixture now. Now most popular method in North India is use of curds mixed with some limejuice. Apply this on the hair and leave them for an hour or so before washing the hairs. It gives good result if no shampoo or soap is used to clear the curds mixture. Application of this mixture, twice or thrice in a week, removes the dandruff.

*Some homeopathic manufacturing companies have brought in some brands of shampoos claiming that they do not have chemicals.

*Brands having certain herbal plants like ‘Reetfta’, ‘Shikakai’ and ‘Amla’, are very useful.

*There are soaps that claim containing ‘Triffla’ with ‘Shikakai’. To some people these soaps (marketed in pink and black colors) have been found useful (Trade-names of soaps not given for obvious reasons).

*It is said that gentle massaging of table salt on the scalp and leaving the same for fifteen minutes and then washing removes dandruff.

*Before washing the hair, massage some vinegar on the scalp and leave it for one hour. Wash the hair after that. Repeat this twice or thrice in a week.

*It is also the frequency of washing the hair that becomes a tool for removing the dandruff. In winter, people wash their hair only once a week thus allowing dust to accumulate in the hairs. This aggravates the condition.

* Two tablespoonful of malt vinegar should be added in a glass having 250 ml of water. Shampoo your hair and then rinse the hair with this solution. Dry the hair in natural way.

* Avoid eating fried food, nuts, chocolates and animal fat.

* Take milk and its products, green vegetables, fish, chicken and products that contain Vitamin A, E and B complex.

* Two tablespoonfuls of ‘methi’ seeds should be soaked in water overnight. Next morning, grind the seeds and make a paste. Apply this paste on the hair and leave them for an hour. Rinse the hair with fresh water using a good herbal shampoo.

* Grind four teaspoon of ‘Khas-khas’ in some milk and apply on the roots of hair. Let it remain on the hair for half an hour and then wash the hair with shampoo. Do this twice a week.

* In a cup of curd, mix some salt and shake it with little water. Rub the mixture in the hair and then wash the hair after half an hour.

Home Remedies for Quick Removal of Dandruff

* Warm two teaspoonful of castor oil (quantity according to length of hair). Massage this lukewarm oil into hair twice or thrice a week at night. Leave the oil overnight and wash your hair in the morning. Continue this procedure for two weeks and you will find dandruff gone.

* Dilute some cider vinegar in ‘water and add some lavender oil. Massage this oil in the hair every night. Wash your hair in the morning. Do it for seven days and you will find dandruff gone.

Anti aging tips

AGEING IS the natural process in the body, but how fast you age is within your control. If you get gray hair in your teens and menopause in your thirties, then your body is not working at an optimum level, something is definitely going wrong within your body and this deterioration is mostly due to wrong eating habits and lack of physical activity. These two are the major causes of many diseases, disabilities and even deaths. WHO estimates that lack of physical activity leads to more than 2 million deaths per year, combined with improper diet and use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol cause most premature heart attacks, cancer, high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, stress and anxiety.

World Health Organisation (WHO) defines all movements in everyday life as physical activity; this would cover housework, recreation, exercise and sporting activities. Exercising regularly in the open air can open the doors to a healthy life and prevent the onset of many deadly diseases.

An active lifestyle also prevents mental ill health, boosts mental alertness, alleviates depression and facilitates stress management. It also improves self esteem and provides social benefits through enhanced social interaction and integration.

Strenuous exercise may not be always beneficial, engaging yourself only for half an hour a day in moderate physical activities like walking or taking the stairs rather than the elevator or dancing or marching in the same spot for some time is sufficient to obtain health benefits. Moderate physical activity can be carried out at no cost and it can be easily accommodated in your daily life. Besides the physical activity you should also correct your eating habits. It is the food; you feed your body that makes it stay young and healthy even when you are past your prime. Eating unwisely and gorging on junk food inches you slowly and gradually towards old age, bur eating right and healthy food full of essential nutrients’ will keep you alive and kicking right up to the biblical age of 3 scores and ten.

Ageing of the body starts when your immune system turns weak due to wrong eating habits, your mind starts troubling you, you begin to abhor sex, your hair starts graying prematurely, your skin become dry and wrinkles appear and your muscles start sagging. Besides wrong diet, smoking, drinking, indulging in drugs and free sex, stress and environment also playa major role in ageing. The growing pollution, exposure to radiation and use of pesticides all together damage the cells in the body. The damage to the cells is caused by free radicals produced by the body as a byproduct of metabolism. But the body’s defense system, called antioxidants, counters the activity of the free radicals and snuff out ninety-nine percent of the damage done to the body by them. But even one percent of free radicals present in the body prove very harmful to health and well-being of the body of free radicals. The worst enemies which encourage free radicals are too much coffee, tea, alcohol, sugar, pan-masala, drugs and junk food.

Eat food rich in vitamin C, E and beta carotene, also drink plenty of fruit juices, eat raw salads of vegetables and eat at least 5 different kind of fruits daily. This kind of food produces more antioxidants.

Good health does not always mean absence of sickness; it is also vitality, vigour, high energy, emotional equilibrium, mental clarity and physical endurance. To enjoy all the benefits of young, healthy and a happy body live a moderate life, exercise regularly, eat whole unrefined and unprocessed foods and see how the body becomes capable of looking after itself.