Skin Care 101

You skin has to function at its best as it is the most important tell-tale of your health and vitality.

Therefore, you have to support your skin in any which way you can. There is no need to go overboard. Just follow this easy skin care routine:

In the morning

1. Compress your face by adding three drops of an essential oil (lavender, bergamot, pine, eucalyptus, or sandalwood) into a basin of warm water and stir. Place a clean facecloth in the water, lift it out and squeeze lightly. Place the cloth over your face and press. This soaks the surface of your skin, allowing the essential oil to penetrate and the cleansing action of the cloth to gently exfoliate. Repeat four times.

2. Apply nourishment booster of your choice over entire neck and face. 

3. Apply nourishment and good protection - a good plant-based moisturizer is the best.

In the evening

1. Apply cleanser to remove all traces of make-up and the day’s grime.

2. Compress your skin again four times as already described above.

 3. Apply nourishment booster of your choice over entire neck and face.

Weekly

1. Use a gentle scrub on the skin.

2. Apply a nourishing mask.

Danie de Villiers - Freelance writer

How to Make an Exfoliating Scrub

It is easy to forget that regular use of soap and water has a drying effect on your face. In order to soften and refresh the skin, you should use a facial exfoliating scrub once or twice a week.

Making your own scrub minimizes the risk of unwanted reactions to synthetic or highly perfumed products.

Exfoliating takes away the top layer of dead skin cells and stimulates the lymphatic drainage system, helping to remove toxins and promoting circulation in your face.

The result is a healthy glowing appearance and a clear improvement in the condition of the skin. This scrub will last for up to two months if stored in an airtight jar.

Here is how to make the scrub:

Step 1

Grind 1 tablespoon of kaolin and 2 tablespoons of ground rice to a fine powder using a pestle and mortar.

Step 2

Warm 1 tablespoon of clear honey, then add it to the kaolin mixture together with 1 drop of lemon essential oil and 1 teaspoon of spring water. Blend thoroughly with a metal spoon.

Step 3

Add 1 drop each of geranium oil and juniper oil. To use, mix the scrub with a few drops of water in the palm of your hand and massage gently into the skin using circular movements. Rinse with tepid water.

Take Care!

Take care when working, playing or relaxing in the sun.

Always treat the sun with respect. Even sunbathing for a very short period accelerates the skin’s ageing process. 

Suffering sunburn in adolescence can double the chances of skin cancer in later years. 

Pay special attention to skin care of children - it has less natural protection against the sun than adults’.

For protection, avocado oil is rich in vitamin E, which will moisturize your skin as you sunbathe. Carrot oil and cinnamon essence are yellowish in color and will help you tan more quickly while protecting your skin.

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Fact File on Sunstroke

Sunstroke is a dangerous condition that occurs when the body’s thermostat breaks down from overheating. It can, and should always be prevented, as even with treatment it may be fatal or cause permanent damage. 

Although we are all used to thinking of this extremely serious heat disorder as something that only happens to people who stay out too long in the hot sun, in fact the heat itself is the problem and not the sun’s rays. For instance, people who find themselves in very hot places such as engine rooms and steel works can suffer the severe effects of ‘sunstroke’ without ever being near the sun. And, for this reason, doctors tend to talk about ‘heat-stroke’. 

The body’s reaction to heat

The body has two main mechanisms for losing heat. First, the blood vessels to the skin are dilated so that more blood flows to the surface, allowing it to lose heat through the skin into the air. Second, the skin is cooled by the action of the sweat glands. The sweat glands pour out their salty fluid on to the surface of the skin. It evaporates, and heat is lost as vapor. 

 Overheating

There are many ways in which the environment can intensify the effects of the heat on the body - it is not just a question of the reading on the thermometer. If the air is humid, then this reduces the ease with which the sweat evaporates, so that it becomes more difficult to lose heat. Similarly, if the air is very still, then less heat is lost from the surface of the body by convection. People doing hard physical work in a hot environment are, of course, producing a lot of heat of their own. They may be losing up to one liter of sweat every hour, compared with the one liter per day of sedentary workers in a temperate climate. This loss of salt and water can contribute to a condition known as heat exhaustion, which, unless checked, can lead to the eventual breakdown of the body’s temperature-regulating mechanism (heat stroke). Fortunately, however, as the body gets used to working in a hot environment, it adapts and the loss of salts decreases, making the body less vulnerable to heat disorders.

Extra risk factors

The very young and the very old are most at risk from heat disorders, and consequently from heat stroke. This is because their bodies’ temperature regulating mechanisms are not very efficient. Also elderly people tend to wear too much clothing in hot weather. 

However, there are several other pre-disposing factors. People who are unused to heat, who are very overweight, who drink heavily, or who are suffering from a feverish illness, in the right circumstances, may all be at a greater risk from heat stroke. 

Symptoms and dangers

The three basic signs of heat-stroke are: a very high temperature (more than 41 ⁰C (106 ⁰F); a total absence of sweating; and, most seriously, nervous system problems which may lead to coma. Disturbances of mood, disorientation and headache, often accompanied by dizziness and difficulty in walking all happen in the early stages of the stroke until, eventually, consciousness is lost. 

Unfortunately, a fully developed heat stroke is an extremely dangerous condition and over 20 per cent of sufferers may die, even with treatment. In addition, those who do recover may have persistent trouble in the nervous system and their balance and co-ordination may take months to get back to normal. However, if treatment is prompt - at the first sign of symptoms and before consciousness is lost – then the chances of recovery are good. 

Treatment and prevention

As soon as any symptoms appear, it is essential to call a doctor immediately. Meanwhile, cool the patient down as quickly as possible. The temperature should be brought down to about 39 ⁰C (102 ⁰F) - no lower as the patient’s circulation may go into shock. The best way to cool the patient down is in a bath of cold water. In hospital, special slatted beds on which sufferers can be doused with water and cooled by fans are used. The most sensible and effective way to fight sunstroke is, of course, prevention.

And this can be done quite simply by ensuring that the body is not overheated. This means not staying out too long in the sun; wearing cool, loose clothing in the heat; taking salt tablets and drinking plenty of liquids when doing physical work in very hot environments. 

How to Deal With Skin Problems

 Over-active oil production is the cause of enlarged pores, acne, and blackheads. However, much can be done to bring the problem under control.

If you look close at your face in a magnifying mirror, you will see a mass of small holes, particularly around the nose, cheeks and chin. These are pores: openings onto the skin’s surface of sweat glands, oil glands, and hair follicles. The size of pores can vary from relatively open and visible ducts to others that are barely perceptible. When excess oil is secreted by the oil glands, pores enlarge, causing poorly textured skin and sometimes acne and other skin complaints.

Remedies

The main remedy is an astringent preparation that removes the excess oil. The way astringents work is to slightly irritate the surrounding skin, causing it to swell slightly so that the pores appear to close up. Most commercial astringents contain alcohol as their main ingredient, and should be used carefully, as they may have a too drying effect on non-oily areas of the skin. 

One home remedy for enlarged pores is to bathe the affected area with a little borax dissolved in warm water. Alternatively, you can apply ice salt water twice daily. Massage the solution gently into the skin, taking care not to irritate it. Rinse your skin thoroughly and pat dry. Probably the best way to conceal enlarged pores is by using a carefully selected make-up. For oily skins, a liquid base is generally preferable to a cream one. At the same time, you should make sure that you completely remove your make-up at night and cleanse your skin to prevent your pores from being clogged with make-up or dirt. 

Acne

Contrary to myth, bacteria on the skin do not cause acne, or by eating too many fatty of fried foods, though good skin hygiene and a proper diet will help keep skin glowing and healthy. 

Rather acne, which is primarily an adolescent complaint, is caused by hormonal changes leading to over activity of the glands. This causes an excessive production of oil. The oil may be dammed back from reaching the skin’s surface, and become trapped in the oil ducts: this result in blackheads and white heads. If these break through to the wall of the duct, pimples and boil like lesions can result.

Though acne cannot be cured, it can be controlled and, in severe cases, medical treatment should be sought. The most basic remedy is regular washing, up to four times a day, with soap and water. This dries the oil form the skin and encourages mild peeling, which helps prevent the formation of ‘plugs’ of dead skin that clog up the pores and oil ducts. Regular shampooing is also recommended, particularly if your hair covers an acne- affected part of your face like your forehead.

Though, antibiotic soaps are not strictly necessary, your doctor may recommend their use to help prevent any secondary infections. Oral antibiotics may also be prescribed. 

Most commercial antidotes for acne are designed to remove oil, and may be too drying. If you use them, watch carefully for any signs of allergy or irritation. You can also try a mild astringent to soak up the excess oil. Creams and oily cover-up cosmetics should also be avoided as these clog the pores.

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How to deal with Itchy skin

Itchy skin may have many underlying causes, from dry skin to serious skin infections. Here are some common tips on how to deal with this problem:

Do not scratch

The foremost tip is not to scratch. The main reason is that you may break the skin and sores may develop. Apply crushed ice wrapped in a towel to the area.

Take a soothing bath

Tie a cup of oatmeal in a cheesecloth bag, and swish the bag through warm bathwater until the water looks milky. Alternatively, add half a cup of salt to a bath of tepid water. Soak in the bath for about 10 minutes.

Use calamine lotion

Calamine lotion will help for itchy skin. However, do not apply it if you have an infection, in such cases; consult a doctor before treating a rash in this way. Also, limit the use of the lotion to four or five days. If the itching still persists, see a doctor.

Experiment with different fabrics

Many people cannot tolerate wool; others react badly to dyes and synthetics. Your detergent and fabric-softener may also be the culprit. Try putting clothes through an extra rinse cycle. Wear plain white cotton, which seldom provokes reaction, next to the skin.

Watch what you eat or drink

If you tend to have itchy skin, watch what you eat and drink. Coffee, alcohol and spicy or steaming hot foods cause the blood vessels in the skin’s outer layer to swell and can trigger itching. Also try to avoid excessive heat, especially from lying in the sun, and tension and stress.

Daniel

Take care of your hands

Winter can cause your skin to dry out. It is especially the hands that suffer the most.

Here is a home remedy to soothe those hands:

1. Take three tablespoons of sugar and one tablespoon of cooking oil. Mix the sugar and oil and then beat it to a blended consistency.

2. Rub it into your hands and keep rubbing it for about 5 minutes, then rinse the hands thoroughly with warm water. The dead coarse skin cells should be removed with this action, leaving your hands soft and clean.

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Tried and Trusted Tips to Care for Hands and Nails

Every day the hands of a person are at work. The hands are in constant use, often exposed without protection to extremes of weather or immersed in all kinds of liquids and chemicals harmful to the hands and nails.

Housework and gardening damage delicate skin and makes nails brittle, while stress also affects the way hands look. They are a true mirror of a person’s age because there is actually little that can be done to repair the ravages of time if the hands were not cared for on a continuous basis.

Regular grooming and care is essential to keep hands looking youthful and smooth and nails healthy and strong.

Beautiful Hands

For dry hands: Once a week bathe dry, chapped hands in lukewarm olive oil or sunflower oil for 5 minutes at least. Gently massage the oil into the cuticles.

For cracked hands: Rub petroleum jelly into cracked hands. A mixture of equal parts lemon juice, honey and glycerine is also very effective.

For hand massage: Mix one teaspoon of vodka with five teaspoons of lemon juice. Pour the liquid into a cupped palm and massage it over damp hands. Repeat regularly.

For nicotine stains:  Remove nicotine stains from fingers by rubbing the skin with lemon juice. Rinse off after a minute.

For smelly hands: If hands smell of fish, onion or garlic, dip them in milk or rub them with coffee grounds or moist salt.

For chopping vegetables: Before chopping vegetables, rub olive oil into the hands to prevent them from absorbing the smell.

Washing hands: After washing hands, apply massage oil or hand cream. Knead the fingers separately from the tip down, working over the palm and up over the knuckles. Put each hand on a flat surface and repeatedly stroke the back, from the fingertips to the wrist.

Perfect Nails

For brittle nails: Brittle nails and torn cuticles will benefit from a soak in lukewarm almond oil.

For splitting nails: Use oak bark tea to strengthen brittle, splitting nails. Make it by simmering 20g chopped oak bark in 250ml water for 30 minutes. Bathe the nails in the tea. Alternatively, blend ground almonds with lukewarm water to make a finger bathe.

For nail massage: Avocado oil is a rich base oil that can be used on its own as a vitamin-rich massage oil or blended with other oils or creams. Use regularly to coat the nails and massage into the nail beds.

A person’s touch when first shaking hands or just when touching hands is very telling. Hands that are taken care of feel soft and look well-groomed.

Nurture hands and nails; then it can be displayed with pride.

By Hendrik de Villiers