Hyperpigmentation Home Remedies

Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition that affects millions of people around the world.  It takes various forms, but the most common is among acne sufferers who have healed from a recent episode. After the acne has healed, the skin is left with an often highly visible scarring that can cause a great deal of embarrassment due to it�s reddish or pink coloring. Mild cases of hyperpigmentation usually fade away gradually with time, but more severe cases can be treated in a variety of ways. Here a few home remedies that can help the healing process.

• Potato

Potato has long been recognized for it�s skin healing properties. Used highly effectively on the treatment of burns, potato contains many healing minerals and vitamins. Potato is also known to contain a bleaching agent that can lighten patches of darker skin. Slices of potato can be placed on the affected area for maximum results.

• Lemon Juice

Lemon is well-known for it�s cleaning and antibacterial properties. High concentrates of vitamin C make it a top choice for fighting the effects of cold and flu symptoms. Lemon can also be used to bleach darker patches of skin. Dab a solution of lemon and water on the affected areas a couple of times a day to see results.

• Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a another well-known plant for use against all kinds of skin disorders. It is a powerful healer and astringent, and can be applied as frequently as you like.

• Mint

A lesser known and simple remedy for lightening the skin is fresh mint. Mash some fresh mint leaves into a paste and apply where necessary. Leave for around 30 minutes and wash with clean water.

• Yogurt Mask

A face mask made from yogurt and cooked oatmeal can be used to treat instances of hyperpigmentation. Let the mask dry out before rinsing off with warm water. Mix with a little honey for the best results.

• Other Natural Remedies

There are few more natural remedies for hyperpigmentation. Eggs, beaten into a frothy mixture and applied to the face. Turmeric and lime, both natural bleaching agents, are  also good for lightening the skin.
Using home remedies for hyperpigmentation is a great way of combating those embarressing darker spots of skin. You can help your skin even further by drinking plenty of water, eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and also regularly applying a good quality sunscreen.

Biotin: A Great Solution for Hair and Nails

One of the two most common complaints in my practice is hair breakage and brittle nails.  I always recommend biotin because this super vitamin really helps to grow strong hair and nails.
There is quite a lot of research to support the use of biotin for hair breakage.  Biotin is a B vitamin that is necessary for cell growth.  Biotin deficiency leads to hair loss and biotin has even been used in children with genetically brittle hair to improve strength and manageability.
It is important to understand that biotin will not actually stimulate new hair growth.  Biotin does, however, prevent breakage and therefore improves overall hair health and thickness.  You need at least 3000 micrograms of biotin daily to get the best results AND it can take up to six months to see improvement.  This is because hair grows an average of one centimeter per month so you need to be patient.
The good news is that, for nails, the results are much quicker and my patients always comment on nail improvement first. So for thicker hair and stronger nails, consider taking a biotin supplement daily.

Archive for the �Hair� Category

All hair needs moisture and with the all of the styling techniques that are common today, dry damaged hair has become exceedingly common. The good news is that it is very easy to add moisture to the hair and it doesn�t mean you have to use the heavy oily products of the past. There are some great new products on the market that provide excellent moisture and really help to protect the cuticle of the hair.
The cuticle is the part of the hair that looks like scales on a fish. When the hair is healthy, these �scales� lay down flat and the result is shiny, more manageable hair. But when the cuticle gets damaged, the �scales� can peel up and flake. This causes the hair to look dull and rough. Using a lightweight oil before and after styling can help to smooth and protect the cuticle.
My favorite new product for this is called Q-Oil by Andre Walker (Oprah�s Stylist for the last 20 years). Q-Oil contains argan oil which is a Moroccan oil that has been used for centuries for its cosmetic benefits. Argan oil is naturally rich in vitamin E and fatty acids-two essential ingredients for healthy hair. I really love Q-Oil because it is lightweight and gives my hair an instant incredible shine. I love instant gratification!! But more importantly, with long term use, my hair has become more manageable and looks much healthier overall. So those of you who may have stayed away from oils in the past, have a new option that really will make an impact without weighing down your hair. Remember, all hair needs moisture and one of the best ways to add moisture to your hair is by using a lightweight oil daily.

Combat Frizzy Hair with 7 Simple Tips

1. Take food rich in vitamin E such as peanuts, almonds, fish, olives, spinach etc. Vitamin E is good for skin and hair. Alternatively, you can buy vitamin E capsules, squeeze its oil out and massage it in your hair. This will instantly rid you of the frizz.
2. If you blow-dry your hair with warm hair, you need to stop it. Instead, try to blow-dry your hair with the cool air. It will make the cuticle of your hair lay flat and your hair will appear shiny.
3. One tip to get rid of the hair frizz is to dab a drop or two of body moisturizer or lotion and run your hands through your hair to smooth it. Do not use excess of lotion as it will make your hair look greasy.
4. Take a spray bottle, mix your conditioner and water in small quantities and sprits the mix on your hair as your smooth it with your hands. This will help you get rid of the frizz and tangles.
5. Deep cleanse your hair with a mixture of equal parts of olive oil mixed with egg and mayonnaise or your regular conditioner. Dab the mixture in your hair and gently massage. Put on a towel and let the conditioner stay on your hair for 15 minutes. Wash your hair and shampoo.
6. Most of us damage our hair by rubbing it with the towel after shower. Do not do it! Instead, just wrap up your hair in the towel or leave it for 10 minutes. Rubbing causes split ends by damaging the cuticles which leads to frizz.
7. Rinse your hair with vinegar. Mix half cup of water with half cup of cider vinegar. Pour it on your head after shampooing and conditioning your hair. Wash your hair after 5 � 10 minutes.

Beware The Lice Darling!

The head louse is an extremely small creature about the size of a match-head, with six stubby legs specially adapted for holding on to hair. Lice live near the scalp where they find food and warmth. They tend to hide when the hair is parted and their color blends in with that of the scalp.
Head lice lay six to eight eggs a day, gluing them to hair strands. A week later the eggs hatch leaving empty egg cases commonly called nits. These are white and look dandruff. Since the eggs are fixed to the hairs at their roots, the distance of the nits from the scalp shows how long the eggs have been present.
Head lice can�t jump or fly, nor do they live in bed, furniture or clothes. The only way they can be passed on is by close head-to-head contact. Most of us think that only class rooms are affected but office workers aren�t immune.
Head lice feed on blood using their mouth parts to pierce the scalp. They even inject a local anesthetic to prevent any pain and a thinning chemical to stop blood clotting making it easier for them to feed. Scratching can lead to a secondary bacterial infection, in severe cases; the sticky blood serum mats the hair and forms crusts.
The conventional treatment is often an insecticide lotion which is applied before bed and washed off in the morning. Each family member must be treated at the same time. There are shampoos but they are less effective. To prevent the lice from becoming resistant to the drug, the shampoo and lotion should be used in rotation.
You could kill the lice by soaking hair overnight in oil of lavender. All you had to do put a few drops of the oil in a washbasin of warm water, immerse your hair for several minutes, pat it dry, leave overnight and shampoo it off in the morning. Then repeat the next night to be sure all the lice are dead. The oil is safe, pleasant smelling, and lice are not yet resistant to it. Fellow this treatment by rubbing an infusion or rosemary into his scalp daily, it�s an excellent hair tonic. Aloe Vera gel is a suitable alternative.
When there is crusting many doctors will prescribe antibiotics. Prefer an infusion of comfrey rubbed in and left it the crusting is mild or comfrey ointment when severe. Some naturopaths also recommend applying plain live yoghurt prior to the comfrey.
After treatment, remove the dead lice, eggs and nits with a fine-toothed metal comb, as the teeth on plastic combs are too widely spaced to be effective. People with poor body defense mechanisms seem more prone to head lice and their complication, a fresh whole food diet, regular exercise and sufficient rest and relaxation will ensure the immune system is functioning normally and best defense against parasites and infection.

How to Get Rid of Lip Lines

Sometimes you see lines appeared on your lips. There are many reasons of lines on lips including loss of collagen, repeated movements of mouth, smoking and poor health care practices. Here are some tips to get rid of lip lines:

• Take a clean toothbrush and a small amount of Vaseline and brush on your lips for a few seconds. It is best to remove patches from lips.
• Apply good lip balm on your lips. You can use beeswax or glycerin. Make use of lip creams that are moisturizing and are not made of petroleum products because they dry out lips.
• Apply branded lipsticks and remove lips makeup before sleeping. Make sure that the lipstick you apply is made up of natural ingredients.
• Avoid using matte colors as they dry out lips and result in lines on lips.
• Avoid going in sunlight as lips lack melanin in them and are more likely to be affected with sunlight.
• Don�t smoke and develop good eating habits.
• Avoid biting your lips as it damages protective layer of lips and result it lines on lips.