Saturday, October 18, 2008

Hand and Foot Problems/Solutions

Hand Problems

Chapped Hands

Dry, chapped hands are a real problem to anyone who enjoys the outdoors or does heavy housework.

Solution:

One solution is to use udder cream or Bag Balm.
Also consider using Vermont White Salve.
It's based on formula from Germany that is unique and patented.
Many perfectly polished beauties swear by traditional petroleum jelly as a protection.

Dry and Cracked Hands

During the winter season in most climates, heat is turned on and indoor humidity is very low. Add a few hand washings with soap and water during the day and you can easily develop hand problems



Solution:

The best treatment involves minimizing exposure to soap by using a non-soap cleanser. After hands have been exposed to water, apply a moisturizing lotion or cream. Better than lotion, mashed potatoes will solve this frequent problem.Boil a small peeled potato until soft.Mash with 1 tablespoon olive oil.Apply to hands and leave on for 15 minutes.Rinse with cool water.

For extremely chapped hands, use something you dip from a jar rather than squirt from a bottle. Wax- or paraffin-based products are excellent (the thicker the better). Nail glue works well to close painful cracks. Apply where needed and let it remain on the hands until it wears off naturally. After a minute or two the pain should be gone. Foot Problem

Foot Calluses

Calluses is a thickening of the outer layer of skin. This thickening is known medically as hyperkeratosis. Calluses develop as part of the skin's normal defense against prolonged rubbing, pressure and other forms of local irritation.



Solution:

Always use a pumice stone.
Razors and other cutters are now illegal for pedicurists to use. Avoid wearing high-heel shoes. For more on Calluses Management.

Aching Feet

When your feet hurt, you hurt all over because your feet are the base of your entire bone structure. Besides, Exhaustion and fatigue are not themselves disorders. They are symptoms and can be related to everything from stress to illness and diet.

Solution:

Practice picking up small objects like marbles or tiny balls with your toes.
Curl toes under, and hold that position for a few seconds.
Repeat several times.
Alternate walking on toes (like a ballerina) and heels every day.

Avoid high heels and tight shoes. It is best to wear wide, low-heeled shoes with soft soles. You could also look into getting custom shoe inserts called orthotics, which can help relieve the pressure and pain. (These may change the distribution of body weight on the bottoms of the feet and thus lessen any excessive pressure on the nerve.)

Nail Problems

Yellowed Nails

Yellowing of the nails could be caused by not using a base coat underneath your polish, or it could be a more serious nail fungus that needs to be treated.

Solution:

Lighten discolored nails with a whitening scrub containing a mild abrasive, or with a remover containing a lemon juice-like ingredient that bleaches out the yellow. To prevent the discoloration that occurs with nail polish stains, always use a base coat of superior quality.

Ridges

Ridges on the nail are, unfortunately, mostly genetic. However, if you have recently developed ridges, this could be a sign of anemia, and you should consult your doctor. Ridges may also be caused by too much pressure and pushing during your manicure.

Solution:

Though you can't change heredity, you can smooth the ridged nail surface with a buffer and buffing cream. When grooming your nails, always make an effort to be gentle on them so that they will grow back normally.



White Spots

White spots on the nail can be caused by a blow to the nail, applying too much pressure on the nail matrix during a manicure or too much pressure and pushing on the nail, generally.

Solution:

Let the spots grow out, and make an effort to be gentle when manicuring your nails since prodding beneath the cuticles, where new growth is generated, can cause these spots.

Pale Nails

Although pale nails can be hereditary, more often it is the result of poor circulation or anemia.
The nail beds become opaque, often leaving only a rim of pink nail bed at the top of the nail. The thumb and index nails bilaterally are the most involved.

Solution:

Take an iron supplement or add iron-rich foods to your diet.

Peeling Nails

Fingernails are simply another form of skin, composed primarily of a hardened protein called keratin. Illness, overuse of harsh detergents, nail glue and acetone remover, faulty filing, too much exposure to water are basic causes for peeling nails.

Solution:

Avoid quick-dry polishes that contain acetone, which can dry out your nails.
A better treatment to ensure healthy and strong nails is to rub hand cream and nail oil into the cuticles and base of the nails after every time you wash your hands. Always file nails lightly, just enough to shape and keep the layers even.
Uneven nails have a tendency to peel.

Make-Up: Head to Toe


Get ready to transform yourself, the way you never looked before !

Choosing cosmetics for make-up, especially ones that suit and complement your skin is no indeed a tough task. Many women are wary of cosmetics because they are not sure which colours suit them or which make-up methods and textures are the most flattering. Good make-up hinges on experience: you learn what suits you by trial and error. Nobody wants to waste money. When applied skillfully make up enhances good features and detracts from the not-so-good. With practice anyone can achieve a natural look.

Points To Consider:

· Take a look at your make up bag or drawer. How old are the cosmetics in it? Six months a year on more?

· Study your face when you are wearing your usual make up and ask yourself what it does for you does it widen or narrow your eyes or mouth enhance the shape of your face make you look younger or older? If
it does not produce the effect you want and your cosmetics are more than a year old it is time for a change. Bear these points in mind.

· Make up that suited you when you were 25 is not going to look right 10 years down to the line. Changes in skin tone and texture as well as in hair colour require different make up shades and textures; the right make up can take year off your face.


Striking A Perfect Complexion

Do not ignore foundation because you are afraid it will make you look over made-up, because of demand face bases are now so sheer that you cannot even see them on the skin. Easiest to use are tinted moisturizers which are just like regular face cream but with added colour. Compact foundations are also easy to apply these are a mixture of cream, colour and powder. Fluids foundations often now have tiny lightly reflective grains in them to enhance the look of older skin.

One important point to remember about foundation, is that you need to revise the shade in the summer and winter because your skin tone changes colour; it is much paler in winter than in the summer. You can buy shade adjusters to dilute or deepen face bases; one quick way to lighten fluid foundations is to mix it with your moisturizer and apply the two together, like tinted face cream.

There are a variety of face bases to choose from.

· FLUID OR LIQUID FOUNDATIONS:
Today these give fairly sheer coverage, some are also called treatment fluids because they contain moisturizers UV filters and skin firming ingredients. The superior ones have a slip agent in them that helps the fluids glide on to your skin much more smoothly.

· TINTED MOISTURIZERS:
These are face creams that contain colour. They also impart a sheer natural looking finish and suit all skin
types, especially young skin.

· COMPACT FOUNDATIONS:
These are often called "two-in-ones" because they are a blend of cream colour and powder. They are applied with a sponge and usually give fine matt coverage making extra powder redundant.

· FOUNDATIONS STICKS:
These look like thick lipsticks, you dot them on to your chin, forehead and cheeks and then blend the colour on to your skin with your fingers.

· MOUSSE FOUNDATIONS: These are not so common because they are expensive to produce but they give the sheerest coverage of all, are very easy to apply and work particularly well for oily skin.

· FACE TINTS: These are made up of a water based coloured-pigment suspension, if you applying them using cotton wool, face tints make it easy to monitor the depth of colour of
the foundation layer.

· PASTEL CORRECTIVE BASES: These are geared to reduce high colour and blotchiness. Mint and pale blue calm redness (dot them on to your chest too, if it gets flushed) pinky mauve eases yellowy under-tones and apricot pale skin.

Daily Hair Care

All of us know how to shampoo and condition our hair ... Check out the following tips to know more regarding daily hair care . The following necessary tips may help you to improve your hair care routine.


REGULAR HAIR CARE

An effective hair-care involves cleansing, toning and conditioning routines carried out regularly.


An important aspect of effective care is the use of proper hair-care products. Different types of hair need different hair-care products. The use of wrong products is detrimental to the hair.


After cleansing, the scalp and hair need toning exercise. The toning of scalp and hair is achieved by gently massaging the head. This helps in stimulating and invigorating the blood circulation required for the healthy growth of hair.





Brushing the hair regularly is important both to free it of dust, dead cells and tangles and to stimulate the scalp. A brush which has bristles with rounded tips is best, since it is less likely to scratch the scalp or tear and split the hair. Also the best brush has boar and nylon bristles - the boar bristles carry oil and help moisturize hair, while the nylon ones gently exfoliates the scalp. The key to a good stroke is in brushing the hair from nape of the neck towards the crown of the head.


The most important part of hair-care is conditioning. It is a restorative routine. If the hair is excessively stripped of moisture or oil due to harsh cleansing, sun or application of harsh chemicals such as perm lotions, etc., the conditioning routine aims at restoring and correcting the imbalance. Conditioning products are especially useful for long hair, where the overlapping scales which cover the outer layer of hair often get roughed up as it grows. Usually, dry hair should be conditioned once a week, normal hair once a fortnight and oily hair not more than once a month. All conditioners are mainly a combination of oils or waxes, detergents and emulsifiers, with optional extra ingredients, often incorporating herbal extracts with gentle plant and vegetable oils and essences.

Eye Care

Eyes are the most highly developed of all the sense organs. They need proper care and attention particularly as they are constantly exposed to dirt, dust, pollution, smoky atmosphere. Abusing your eyes by letting them become over-tired can result in headaches.

By following certain tips you can keep your eyes looking and feeling their best. These are:-

Get into the habit of starting the day by spla

shing your open eyes with cold water, so that they are thoroughly cleaned and stimulated.


Avoid using too much of eye drops, rather it is better to squeeze fresh cucumber juice into your eyes.

Don't read in poor light; the light should come from behind or above rather than from the front.

Don't read for more than two hours at a stretch. Give a rest in between to your eyes for 10 min by putting the palms of your hands over them and shutting out the light.

Do not rub or stretch the skin under the eyes-it is very delicate and is easily damaged.

Keep the use of eye creams to minimum and be careful not to get them into your eyes. If you do, wash your eyes immediately with warm water.

Make sure to remove all traces of eye make up before going to best for it might cause infection in the roots of eyelashes.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily.

Your sleep pattern should be composed of at least 7 hrs.

Skin Care

The first step to skin care is to identify your skin type and then follow the prescribed medication and method to care for it.

If you desire a good skin, you really need to make a concerted effort towards the same. It should become a habit. Besides a healthy diet, composed of cereals, fruits and vegetables along with exercise and adequate sleep is essential for a healthy skin.

Do avoid going out in the sun and if you need to, begin using a sunscreen to protect your skin from getting damaged.

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily, to keep your skin hydrated.

As a guideline your skin needs two staples: Cleanser and Moisturizer.

Other products might include-toner, exfoliator and eye cream or gels.

Avoid using more than three or four products daily to protect your skin from breaking out and reacting. Simplify your routine (it should not take more than 10 minutes to do twice a day) and use basic formulas.

TONING

Always follow the cleansing routine with toning done with a mild skin freshener, rose water or skin tonics. Toning removes the greasiness remaining from cleansing preparations, closes open pores refines the skin giving it a smooth clean texture.

Toning stimulates the blood supply of the skin and give it a fresh look the best toner is in fact cold water, other skin tonics are generally composed of infusions of herbs, flowers, vinegar, rose-water and witch-hazel. Avoid using strong skin tonics or astringents as they might dry the skin. Basically they are suitable for oily-skin type.

Toners improves skin textures.

MOISTURIZING

All skin types need some type of moisturizing. Ideally used water based creams or emulsions if your skin breaks out a lot, try a lighter, oil-free moisturizer.

The best choice of a moisturizer is that which has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Petrolatum, an ingredient used in many lotions and creams is an excellent moisturizer, because it helps seal in the skin's natural moisture. Because moisturizers contain different ingredients, no particular product is best for everyone. You may have to try several before you find one that is most effective for you.

A light moisturizing emulsion is the most suitable type for young skin

Moisturizers work best only if they are applied everyday. Many moisturizing creams contain alpha-hydroxy acid (also present in milk, fruits and sugar) which might help diminish wrinkles.

To sum up begin by practicing these guidelines to keep your skin healthy and prevent it from becoming dry.

· Use warm (not hot) water for washing and bathing.

· Use mild soaps.

· Do not bathe for longer than is necessary to get your skin clean.

· Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing to prevent water loss from the skin.

· In winters, cover your hands and face by wearing gloves and scarf to keep in the moisture and protect against cold.