Sunday, March 30, 2014

HEALTH/ SKIN SPECIAL..................... BE KIND TO THE SKIN YOU’RE IN


BE KIND TO THE SKIN YOU’RE IN 
 
Simple lifestyle changes and better product choices can give new life to your skin. Here are a few tips on how to get that glow

Did that red, angry-looking pimple on your chin act as a partypooper recently? Have you cut down on outings with friends because of persistent acne breakouts? Skin irritations and problems are a problem faced by many people, but on the plus side, it is possible for you to solve these problem by following some easy home remedies.
Pollution, not using a good quality sunscreen, insufficient water intake, using chemical-based make-up products as well as chemically-based makeup removal items, eating junk food, stress and dandruff are a few factors that can wreak havoc on the skin, especially during teenage years when our skin’s oil glands get activated and block pores.
Apart from acne, which is the most common skin problem, skin specialists routinely receive complaints of hair-fall, pigmentation around eyes and mouth, acne scars and dry skin amongst younger people.
Doctors, however, strictly warn against going to a beauty parlour to look for a remedy to your skin troubles.
“It is scary how girls prefer to go to an untrained person in a beauty parlour instead of a doctor for skin treatment,” says Dr Deepali Bhardwaj, who runs The Skin and Hair Clinic in south Delhi’s Defence Colony. “They get a bleach done on their facial skin, not realising that it has ammonia that does further damage to their sensitive skin.”
Making certain changes to your lifestyle, such as including lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables in your diet, drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day, getting undisturbed sleep for six to eight hours in a day and minimising junk food is the least one needs to do to maintain healthy skin.
While taking care of your skin, the natural route is the best way, say experts. Follow a daily routine that includes washing your face with a natural face wash that has few chemicals and avoid fragrant ones as fragrance means there is chemical in the product. Wear a good quality sunscreen that has a sun protection factor of 26 or above 20 minutes before stepping out. Keep reapplying it after every three to four hours, even on a cloudy or a rainy day.
Night cream is a must. “People have this misconception that sleeping is enough; it’s equally important to apply a good night cream for skin rejuvenation and regeneration,” says Dr Bhardwaj.
For oily and pimple-prone skin use creams with vitamin A, E and C or that have kojic acid, licorice or blueberry extracts, and for normal to dry skin opt for evening primrose oil, extracts of aloe vera and cucumber that refresh the skin.
Instead of chemically-laced over-thecounter products, people with oily skin can use a paste made of rose water, multani mitti (fuller’s earth) and sandalwood. It is a good idea to boil rose petals in water and strain the liquid to refrigerate it for use in the paste. However, as there are no preservatives in this rosewater, one must not use it beyond two days. Those with normal to dry skin can clean face with pre-boiled milk and rub fruits like strawberries, papaya and cucumbers to clean their skin.
Alcohol-based toners should not be used for cleaning off make-up. Sleeping at night without removing make-up is worse. Use cleansing milk for face and baby oil or liquid paraffin wax to remove eye makeup. Leaving eye make-up on could lead to severe eye infection, especially in the corners where tear glands are situated.
Dandruff is another major cause for skin inflammation. “Mix two teaspoons each of white vinegar and lime juice and apply two to three hours before you shampoo your hair to control dandruff,” says Dr Bhardwaj. For normal hair, a final rinse of beer after shampooing is beneficial.
Doctors also have a tough time dealing with patients who have self-medicated and, in turn, done further damage to their skin.
“Fifty per cent of the youngsters that I see have made their condition worse by self-medicating. This group tends to selftreat after reading stuff on the Internet,” says Dr Nitin Walia, senior consultant, department of dermatology, Max Healthcare. “Another important advice is to not fiddle with acne with nails as it leaves scars that are difficult to remove.” Dr Walia also advises against using overthe-counter products claiming to cure acne and other skin problems without proper medical supervision.
“These products by themselves may not be of much use unless a doctor diagnoses and prescribes treatment for the problem. What people must know is that the more they delay in visiting a doctor and getting a medical opinion, longer will be the duration of therapy. Also, the type and expense of the procedure also shoots up,” he says.
In the initial stages, antibiotics with creams that peel away skin are sufficient, but with time medicines that are vitamin A derivatives, chemical peels and even lasers may be required that may take sittings of up to a few months or even a year.
Rhythma Kaul HT140323

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