Posts Tagged ‘Stressful Conditions’

home remedies acne
Tom alter asked:


What is Acne?

Acne is a very common skin ailment found mostly in the period of puberty. It is more common in women than in men. Acne is characterized by the presence of eruptions on the skin, which are commonly known as zits or pimples.

Acne is more commonly found in the western countries especially of the American and European continents. This could be because of a higher genetic disposition in these areas. However, the general trend is that women tend to suffer more from acne than men. Though most cases of acne come and go with the puberty, rare acne cases could continue well into adulthood.

.Why is Acne caused?

Acne is a sign of the impurity within the body. The impurity could be in the blood, which manifests itself externally as acne. If the blood is impure, then the sebaceous (sweat) glands will have to work harder in eliminating these wastes. This hyperactivity of the sweat glands causes acne.

Hormonal imbalances are very important causes of acne. During puberty there are major hormonal changes in the body, as also during each menstrual cycle of women. Therefore, these are important periods when acne can occur. People who consume steroids for any reason also stand a higher chance of getting acne.

Personal hygiene is another factor that can cause acne. People who do not care much about facial hygiene will have dead cell accumulation on their faces. These cells could develop an allergic reaction, manifesting itself as acne. Otherwise, bacteria could reside in the facial pores and cause pimples. Such factors could cause the person to itch the face, which would aggravate the acne.

Other metabolic conditions can also aggravate the acne. Indigestion is one of the known factors. People who have too much libido, but are not able to give vent to their sexual desires with actual sexual intercourse might develop acne as a result of their sexual frustration. People living under stressful conditions are also prone to acne.

What are the Symptoms of Acne?

The most prominent symptoms of acne are the pimples that appear generally on the face. The most common regions of the face for the acne to appear are the cheeks, the nose and the forehead. However in extreme cases, the pimples could spread to the chest, back and the arms.

Pimples are tiny eruptions on the skin which go away within a couple of days. In some cases the pimples could develop pus in them, which would make them bigger in size and more prominent.

In general cases, the pimples disappear without any trace. But if the pimples are too severe, then they could leave behind a healing scar. Over time, this would make the face very scarred and ungainly in appearance.

How can Acne be avoided?

If acne is caused due to hormonal reasons, there is no way to eliminate it completely. It will pass away when the person crosses his/her pubertal age. But even then, there are many ways to prevent the acne from aggravating and to keep it at a minimum.

The following are some of the ways in which acne can be reduced:-

Maintain proper facial hygiene. This can be done by washing the face at least thrice a day. Use lemon soap for washing. It is very important to wash the face after returning home from outside.

Maintain a healthy dietary regime. Oily and spicy foods can aggravate the acne. Foods that are beneficial for acne are green leafy vegetables, salad vegetables and fruits that have good water content in them. Foods that are difficult to digest can aggravate the acne.

Keep your mind stress-free. Stress can release more hormones, which would exacerbate the acne.

How can Acne be controlled with Simple Home Remedies?

There are many household remedies that can be used to control the condition. Most of these remedies are external applications, but some of them are also meant to be taken orally.

Mix the husk of mustard seeds in paste form with cow’s milk. Apply this mixture on the affected areas every night and wash it off thoroughly in the morning. The eruptions should disappear within a week.

Application of buttermilk on the affected regions is also helpful.

Prepare a mixture of nutmeg and red sandalwood in water. Apply this mixture on the face.

Mix the pulp of the neem fruit in water and apply it on the face. This application provides quicker but temporary relief from the pimples.

Application of a paste of thorns of the semolina in milk for three consecutive nights will help reduce the eruptions.

A very simple and cheap remedy is to apply the paste of orange peels on the face.

Indian plum or jambola must be squeezed in water and this paste must be applied on the affected part. This is more effective in the pimples which appear in early youth.

One traditional method to keep acne away is to wash the face twice or thrice a day with buttermilk. This is also believed to increase the glow on the face.



home remedies acne
Peter sams asked:


Dandruff is very common. According to Proctor and Gamble, it affects more than 50% of the population of the USA – so it is more common to have dandruff than not! It can occur at any age, but is most likely in the early 20s.

Dandruff is an itchy, annoying and persistent skin disorder of the scalp. A dark shirt and dandruff just simply don’t go together! There is nothing more embarrassing than to have someone brush white flakes off your new black sweater or denim jacket. In the past ten years dandruff problems in the United States have become more serious and more frequent.

Risk factors

Almost any adult is a candidate for dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible:

• Age. Dandruff usually begins at puberty — about the same time as acne. It’s common throughout adolescence and young adulthood and peaks around age 40. But older adults aren’t immune, and for some people, the problem can be lifelong.

• Sex. Because far more men than women have dandruff, some researchers think male hormones may play a role in dandruff. Men also have larger sebaceous glands that produce oil called sebum.

• Oily hair and scalp. Malassezia feeds on oils in your scalp. For that reason, having excessively oily skin and hair makes you more prone to dandruff.

• Certain illnesses. For reasons that aren’t clear, adults with neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease are more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. So are people recovering from stressful conditions, particularly heart attack and stroke, and those with immune systems compromised by HIV infection or AIDS.

Home remedies for Dandruff

Dandruff Shampoos: Choose an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains coal tar, salicylic acid, pyridine zinc, sulfur or selenium sulfide, says Dr. Patricia Farris Walters.

Ginger Combine olive oil and ginger root and apply to your scalp before shampooing. If your dandruff is really bad, put the mixture on 10-15 minutes before shampooing.

Warm 300 grams of coconut oil with 3 grams of black pepper. When it starts boiling stop heating, sieve with a fine cloth and keep in a bottle. Massage with fingertips in the night gently. This is another useful home remedy for dandruff.

The juice of snake gourd is helpfulin the prevention and treatment of dandruff. The juice should be rubbed over the scalp for this purpose.

The use of fenugreek seeds is one of the most important remedies in the treatment of dandruff.

A valuable prescription for removal of dandruff is the use of green gram powder. The hair should be washed twice a week with two tablespoons of this powder mixed with half a cup of curd.

Apply warmed coconut oil with the juice of two lemons, and leave in hair for two hours before shampooing out.

Exposure of the head to the rays of the sun is also useful measure in the treatment of dandruff.

Massage the hair for half an hour with curd which has been left open for 3 days or with few drops of lime juice mixed with amla every night before going to bed. This dandruff remedy is very simple and is one of the most popular home remedies for dandruff.