Alternative Therapies and Health News

You may sometimes get weird lumps below your belly button, that totally freak you out. Here is a common list of below-the-belt bumps and what you can do to deal with them:

Sebaceous cysts: They are yellowish bumps that may be sweat gland irritations. Apply a warm compress to decrease the swelling.

Genital warts: Genital warts may be caused by a sexually transmitted virus, so consult a doctor immediately. You need to use a presctiption cream or a laser to remove these growths, by talking to your doctor.

Folliculitis: These are caused when hair follicles become clogged with oil or sweat, giving rise to these pimple like growths. Try applying warm compresses for this condition.

Skin tags: The groin is a common spot for skin tags, or growths of extra skin. Consult your doctor to shave off these.

Enlarged lymph nodes: You may have swollen skin along your underwear line that may be tender to the touch. Apply a warm compress on it. If there is no improvement and inflammation persists even after 2 weeks, check with your doctor to know if there’s something more serious like herpes.

Injured Capillaries: You may get red or purple bumps that are usually bruised blood vessels. These may be caused by intercourse, especially if there’s no lubrication. They usually heal on their own.

Genital herpes: These are usually blister-like sores that may sometimes be accompanied by fever, headache, pain while urinating, muscle aches and vaginal discharge. All these are signs of this STD. Consult your doctor immediately. There’s no sure-shot cure for this but antiviral drugs may help control outbreaks.

Your skin usually tends to become dry and flaky during the winter season. You need to take extra care of your skin and avoid any harsh products. Here are a few tips to heal your dry and dull skin:

1. Use scrubs regularly to remove dry and scaly skin.

2. Use an aloe vear based moisturiser daily. Apply it before bedtime and wash off in the morning.

3. Take half a tsp vitamin E oil and mix it with 2 drops of lime juice and half a tsp of glycerine. Apply this mixture on your skin daily.

4. Make a mixture of one tsp warm olive oil, a few drops of glycerine and 3 drops of lime juice. Apply this on your face once a day.

5. Take one tsp milk cream and mix it with 2 to 3 drops of lime juice. Apply this 10 minutes before taking a bath.

6. You can also apply plain whole milk for 10 minutes and wash off with cold water twice a day to keep dry skin at bay.

The secret of a healthy, glowing skin is to eat a diet that is balanced, and rich in protective nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.

Chocolates, fatty foods, refined sugars and starches can sometimes cause acne in some people. Consume adequate amounts of milk, yoghurt, fish and eggs, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables if you want to have a flawless skin. If you are over weight or tend to put on weight easily, then drink skimmed or low-fat milk instead of whole milk. Drink lots of water to flush out the toxins from your body.

Important Vitamins for a Glowing Skin:

Vitamin A: Vitamin A is very good for your skin and eyes. Eats foods rich in vitamin A such as dairy products, green leafy vegetables, carrot, papaya, mango etc.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C maintains the elasticity and suppleness of your skin. Foods rich in Vitamin C are orange, lemon, and all citrus fruits.

Vitamin E: Vitamin E rich foods include seafood, poultry, seeds and nuts.

Apart from your diet, be careful about the kind of products you use on your skin and hair. Use branded products on the skin that suit you. Cheap products harm your skin. Similarly, if you are coloring your hair, use a good branded color, that does not damage your hair.

Exercise regularly to improve the supply of blood and oxygen to your skin. Exercise makes your skin more vibrant and glowing. And get a good night’s Sleep of 8 hours.

What are freckles ?

Freckles are flat, circular spots that typically range in the size of the head of a nail. The spots develop randomly on the skin, especially after repeated exposure to sunlight and particularly in persons of fair complexion. Freckles vary in color — they may be red, yellow, tan, light-brown, brown, or black — but they are always darker than the skin around them since they are due to deposits of the dark pigment called melanin.

Are freckles heredity ?

Yes freckles are heredity. In studies of twins, including pairs of identical twins and pairs of fraternal (nonidentical) twins, it has been found that among identical twin pairs, there was a striking similarity in the total number of freckles found on each person. Such similarities were considerably less common in fraternal twins. This clearly confirms that the occurrence of freckles is influenced by genetic factors. In fact, the variations in freckle counts appear to be due largely to heredity.

How do freckles develop ?

The sun and sun-tanning lights emit ultraviolet (UV) rays. After exposure to sunlight, the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) thickens and the pigment-producing cells (the melanocytes) in the skin produce the pigment melanin at an increased rate. (This gives some protection against future sun exposure.)
People differ of course a great deal in their reaction to sunlight. To take an extreme example, there is no pigmentation in the skin of an albino because of a defect in melanin metabolism. On the other hand, people with dark complexions are relatively less sensitive to sun exposure than fair-skinned persons. However, persons with dark skin are not entirely resistant to the effects of the sun, and they, too, can become sunburned with prolonged exposure. Persons with blonde or red hair are especially susceptible since they tend to be the fairest skinned. Irrespective of skin color, it is the uneven distribution of the melanin pigment in the skin that results in freckling. A freckle is nothing more than an unusually heavy deposit of melanin at one spot in the skin

Treatment for freckles….

To treat freckles that are already present, several safe and effective methods are available:

1. Bleaching creams - Products containing hydroquinone and kojic acid can be purchased without a prescription. Higher concentrations of hydroquinone (over 2%) require a prescription. These products can lighten freckles if they are applied consistently over a period of months.

2. Tretinoin – Sometimes used in conjunction with other bleaching creams, tretinoin (vitamin A acid, Retin-A) also helps to make freckles lighter when applied over a period of time.

3. Cryosurgery - A light freeze with liquid nitrogen can be used to treat freckles.

4. Laser treatment - Several lasers, especially ones that produce a green light, can lighten and eliminate freckles safely and effectively. Like cryosurgery, this is a simple and safe procedure with a high success rate and a low risk of scarring.

Mix the juice of one lemon with equal quantity of rose water. Apply this mixture on the face and let it stay for about 20 minutes to half an hour. Wash the face with fresh water. Do it daily till your pimples are gone. A 15 days application should provide the cure for most acne.

Tip: Do not try to prick or squeeze the acne as this can leave permanent marks on the face.