Natural Skin Care Guide

An infection by nail fungus (also known as nychomycosis) occurs when the fungi attacks and infects the nails of toes and fingers. It initially starts with a white or yellow spot under the tip of our fingernail or toenail. As the infection gets deeper it starts to discolor and thicken the nail and are often accompanied by mild pain. Nail fungus is a very embarrassing infection. But the good news is that there are treatments of nail fungus.

Symptoms of nail fungus

• Swelling of nails.
• The nails tend to break easily
• Disfiguration of the nails
• Lack of shine in nails
• Deposits under the nail make the surface of the nail look darker.
• In some cases there is a complete loss of the nail.

Risk factors

• Moist environment in locker room showers, nail salons.
• History of athlete’s foot or nail fungus.
• After an injury in the finger.
• Sweaty feet.
• Artificial nails.
• Wearing tight shoes and nylon socks.
• Certain medical conditions like diabetes, circulatory problems, or immune disorders such as AIDS.
• Poor foot hygiene.

Prevention of nail fungus

• Avoid wearing nail polish or wear a nail polish of lighter shade to allow the light pass through it reach the skin.
• Don’t use artificial nails. The glues and chemicals absorb through the nail bed contributes to the development of fungal infection.
• Since foot fungi grows in warm and humid areas so wear boots, waterproof shoes in areas like public areas such as spas,
  wimming pools, locker rooms, or showers.
• After each session in public areas like pools, spas wash your feet properly and dry them thoroughly.
• Wear cotton socks. Cotton absorbs moisture and provides ventilation
• Keeps foot nails trimmed

Treating nail fungus

• Since the fungus in anaerobic it cannot survive in an environment where there is abundant supply of oxygen. By infusing a powerful anti fungal agent with the oxygen we can not only control the infection but also eliminate the fungus which is the root cause of this infection.
• Toe nail fungus can be treated topically. Topical nail fungus cream works well on nail fungus. It floods the area with oxygen and stimulates the production of white blood cells which fights the infection.
• Localized treatment is more effective than treating the whole body.

Some popular home remedies

• Soak the infected nails in white vinegar.
• Apply hydrogen peroxide on the infected area.
• Tea tree oil is one of the most popular home remedy for fingernail fungus.

Diaper rash is quite a headache for the young mothers and young fathers and it is equally troublesome for the baby. Also called “diaper dermatitis,” a diaper rash is a skin inflammatory reaction in the area of the body usually covered by the diaper. When the moist diaper remains on the baby’s body for long time it comes in contact with the baby’s skin and makes it irritable and develops skin rashes. Sometimes an ill-fitted diaper can prevent the air from passing inside making the child feel irritating and moist inside. This also leads to diaper rash.

There are some steps you can take to prevent and treat diaper rash. Here are a few suggestions for prevention:

• Diaper should be soft and made of cotton.
• Change the diapers at regular intervals. Don’t let the infants stay wet.
• Don’t use plastic and rubber pants at night while sleeping. Restrict their usage to minimum.
• After every change of diaper clean the area with mild cleanser and properly dry them.
• Use medicated powder two to three times daily to keep the baby dry.
• Wash the diapers thoroughly using a mild detergent.
• Dress your child preferably in cotton clothes which allow good air circulation.
• Keep your child in a cool and dry room.

But if the baby has already developed diaper rashes in that case the following suggestions can be helpful.

• Discontinue the use of rubber and plastic pants
• Do not use soap on the inflamed area as it may worsen the situation.
• If the condition becomes worse in that case discontinue the usage of diapers altogether. Instead use cotton diapers and pin them loosely at night.
• Apply zinc oxide ointment on the affected area after changing the soiled diaper each time.

Some home remedies for diaper rash.

• Vinegar has fungus and bacteria killing properties. Dip your baby’s cotton nappies in vinegar and water solution for final wash.
• Use baked flour as powder on baby’s skin. This will help to keep your baby’s skin dry.
• Apply a mixture of fresh butter and baby powder on the skin of the baby. It softens the diaper rash.
• Gently rub the baby’s skin with sesame oil. This will smooth and moisturize the baby’s skin.
• Message your baby’s skin with fresh milk. This is also an effective home remedy to prevent diaper rash.
• Gently message your baby’s skin with olive oil mixed with water. This also smoothes the baby’s skin and prevents rash.

Dry or Frizzy hair is a common problem faced by millions of women across the world. The problem is more serious for women with curly hair. Frizzy hair is unmanageable and gives an unkempt looks. It also makes the person look much older.

Causes of hair frizz

• Some women are born with curly locks that are frizzy.
• Hair can get frizzy from excessive use of styling products. Gels or hairsprays that have high alcohol content which can aggravate hair frizziness.
• Hot and humid weather is often the cause of frizziness.
• Blow-drying of hair or excessive use of curling irons can cause hair frizz.
• Exposure to sun’s rays and strong wind can also cause unmanageable frizz.
• Imbalance in the pH level of the hair due to certain medication can contribute to this frizziness.
• Nutritional deficiency, stress and illness can lead to hair damage, split ends, frizz and hair fall.
• Hair gets damaged from perming, coloring and bleaching which tends to develop frizz.
• Use of harsh chemicals on hair with can cause frizz. Harsh chemical relaxers cause damage to hair. Constant straightening of the hair can aggravate the problem of frizz.
• Those who have natural coarse hair have greater tendency of developing dryness and frizzines.
• Lack of moisture and deficiency in protein in the cortical layers of the hair can cause frizzy hair.
• Hard combing of hair can cause frizz.

Prickly heat rash are not only painful but also very itchy. Prickly heat rash occurs when the sweat accumulates in a particular part of our body and blocks the sweat gland and results in small red bumps on the skin. The commonly affected areas are the chest, back, underarms and area near the waist line. However, it is not harmful and does not cause any other skin ailment. But it is always the cause of severe discomfort and irritation. It is a common occurrence during hot and humid summer. The red bumps can persist from 4-5 days to 4-5 months.

Certain things to be done to avoid the occurrence of prickly heat rash:

• Keep your body and skin cool and dry.
• Wear loose fitted cotton clothes.
• Limit your physical activities during this period.
• Keep your room well ventilated to avoid excessive sweating.
• Use fan or air conditioner to reduce humidity and heat.
• Stop consuming alcohol and avoid smoking.
• Avoid junk foods.

But if prickly heat rash has already taken place then the following tips can be helpful:

• Use a good prickly heat powder over the affected areas
• Applying some soothing land drying lotion like calamine lotion will have a calming effected on the inflamed area.
• Wash the area with cleanser
• During acute case of prickly heat bathe with luke warm water mixed with Linit Starch or Aveeno Bath Regular Formula.

There are some home remedies which can be quite relieving to the affected areas of the body:

• Fill your bath tub with water and mix oatmeal powder to it. Then dip your body in a bath tub. Oatmeal powder will give fast relief from inflammation and soothes the skin.
• Rub ice cubes over the red bumps. The cool ice cubes will reduce the inflammation and will eventually puncture the red bumps.
• Make a paste of the margosa leaves then apply it on the affected areas. Allow it to dry then rinse off. Margosa is very effeced in treating prickly heat bumps.
• Take equal quantities of coriander powder and sandal powder and make a paste by mixing then with rose water. Apply the paste and rinse off when it becomes dry.
• Make a pack of fuller earth, rose water and palin water. Apply it on the affected area. Allow it to dry then rinse off with cold water after 2-3 hours.
• Make a paste of gram flour and water. Apply it on the infected area. Allow it to dry then wash off with cold water.

Frost bite is a medical condition in which the skin and other tissues get damaged due to its exposure to severe cold conditions. It occurs in parts of the body which are farthest from the heart. The feet, toes, the tip of the nose, the rims and lobes of the earas, and the tips of the fingers are the body parts which are most vulnerable to frost bites. Mere exposure to cold temperature does not cause frost bite. Number factors are responsible for this condition. Duration of exposure to cold, the level of your tolerance to cold and also the type of cloths you are wearing together determine your risk of getting frost bite.

The initial stage of frost bite is called frost nip. When the temperature is 0°Celcius the blood vessels our skin contracts in an effort to conserve the body heat by diverting the blood flow to other vital internal organs of the body. As a result in some cases the blood flow may becomes extremely low. Cold temperature combined with poor blood flow can cause severe injuries to skin tissues. The skin becomes pale and pain follows. When the freezing continues the deeper tissues are affected. At a certain point the skin becomes numb, devoid of sensation. The skin becomes waxy white. If the condition persists it can affect the muscles, nerves and tendons also. If the frost bite is not treated in right time it can lead to permanent damages. In severe cases amputation may be needed.

The only treatment of frost bite is the restoration of the normal temperature of the skin by rewarming the frosted body tissues. The infected person can be warmed up by providing body heat or making the room temperature warmer. This can be done by wrapping the patient in warm blanket, moving him to warmer enclosers etc. This type of rewarming procedure is called passive rewarming. Another type of rewarming procedure is active rewarming. It involves applying heat to the frosted tissues directly. This is done by immersing the damaged body part in a tub of water slightly warmer than the body temperature.

However it is always better to do it under medical supervision as because it can lead to further damages if it is not done in a right manner. Keeping feet in warm saline water which will provide some relief from the frost bite in the feet. However prevention is always better than care. There are certain precautions which can prevent us from getting a frost bite.

Since, it occurs in cold temperature. Find shelter early if caught in a severe snowstorm or other outdoor situation in very cold weather. Even a small cave, ditch, hollow tree, or vehicle can help reduce the chances of frostbite. Increased physical activity helps to maintain body warmth, especially in the hands and feet. So, if you are caught in such extreme cold weather some physical activities will keep you warm. If your hands are without gloves then keep your hands close to your body to stay warm. Cover your face especially the nose with scurf. Use your extra clothing to cover your hands and feet which are most vulnerable to frost fight. Do not share your blanket or sleeping bags with others as sharing the blanket or sleeping bag with one or two person cannot keep you warm. Some diseases like diabetes can cause frost bites. So, diabetics should avoid trips to very cold places.

One can get the best result from facial when it is done by a professional. Facial helps to keep the skin clean of impurities and makes them look beautiful. They are not only good for the health of the skin but also are a great way to relax. Facial is very expensive when done by a professional. But the good news is that it can be done even at home. So, here are some guidelines for those who want to try it at home.

Make a list of the things you would require while doing the facial and make sure that you have everything handy. Since, it is a relaxing activity so a last minute rush is not desirable. The list generally includes the following items:

Hair Accessories, Luke warm water, Cotton balls, Toners, Towels, Hot Water, Exfoliating Cleanser

Facial Mask (you may also use some of our natural recipes)

Herbs like chamomile , lavender, calendula or other calming herbs(optional)

Oil-free Moisturizers

Time usually required is 25-30 minutes. Tie back your hair and clip them well so that the hair does not fall on your face.

Then follow the following steps.

Cleansing
Cleanse your face properly. See that there is no makeup left on the skin. Use an exfoliator and rub in circular motion. Then rinse with water.

Steaming

Now we will steam the face first to open the clogged pores. Add herbs like lavender, calendula or some rose petals to 5 cups of water then boil it. Now pour the steaming water in a bowl and bring to that place where you want to do the facial. Then cover your face with a towel in order to prevent the heat from escaping. Lean over the bowl and allow the steam touch your face. Keep the steam going on for 10-15 minutes.

Extraction

If the black head and white heads do not go even after steaming then we will use a special extraction tool to press around and get the impurities out. However skin experts do not recommend touching the pimples as it can spread infection. So, be gentle on your skin.

Facial mask

Choose a facial mask base on your skin type. If you have an oily skin then purifying mask will be good for you. If you have a dry skin then a deep moisturizing mask will work wonders for you. Apply the mask on your face avoiding the eye area, lie down and relax. Cover your eye lids with two wet cotton balls. Take off the mask with warm water after 15 minutes.

Toning

After taking off the mask apply toner on your face.

Moisturizing

Moisturize your skin and eyes with a moisturizing lotion and an eye cream. Avoid strong moisturizers containing retinols or acids as these will over-exfoliate your skin.

Depending on your skin type you can repeat facial once in every week or each alternate week.