Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Anti-Aging Remedies



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1.Hyaluronic Acid Fillers and Collagen Fillers
The days of stretching and lifting our faces are drawing to a close. Hyaluronic acid and collagen fillers are behind the "new look," a plumped-up, pushed-out baby face, adding volumed to sagging, weathered faces. As you age, the collagen in your skin breaks down due to an increased production of enzymes, leaving you more susceptible to bruising, wrinkling and tearing. "Collagen is a key supporting substance," says the University of Michigan (UM) Health System. A 2007 UM Health System study looked at Restylane, a dermal filler, and found it promoted new and limited the breakdown of existing collagen. All this, just twice a year. Maybe the rich and famous aren't so crazy after all.


2.Botox injections
Botox injection
Who hasn't had Botox injections these days? From top Hollywood stars to the stay-at-home mom down the street, the Botox craze continues to stiffen the faces of countless women. A skilled dermatologist, however, can inject Botox very precisely into the muscle, allowing facial movement in all except one small area. "The treatment is quick and not terribly painful, and the results are visible almost immediately," says Krupp. "Results only last about three to six months, but some doctors claim that if you have regular Botox injections, the results are cumulative, allowing you to go longer between injections until you don't need them anymore."


3.Retinoid creams
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If you own a TV, no doubt you've been bombarded with commercials for rejuvenating creams, wrinkle-reducing moisturizers and countless other "miracles." What's the truth behind these weighty claims? According to the Harvard Health Publications, skin creams containing retinoid may do the trick. Tretinoin, a popular retinoid better known as Retin-A or Renova, "reduces fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen." If you're unable to get your hands on these prescriptions, there are over-the-counter options that "do improve the appearance of photoaged skin." Results appear in about 6 months to a year.


4.Chemical peels
A chemical peel, which eliminates the first layer of skin actually reveals the face that lies beneath the surface. There are varying levels of chemical peels, ranging from superficial peels with salicylic acid to deep peels with phenol. These procedures can effectively banish the appearance of wrinkles, scars and age spots, according to the Baylor College of Medicine. Superficial peels are not a one-time procedure; the best result won't come until you've gotten a number of peels. On the upside, they don't require an extended recovery period. For deeper peels, "Recovery may be slow and complete healing may take several months," according to Weill Medical College of Cornell University.


5.Laser skin resurfacing
Like a chemical peel, laser skin resurfacing aims to encourage growth of new cells beneath your damaged outer layer, as a means of tuning back the clock. But be prepared for some serious down time -- the UM Health System recommends that you do not return to work two weeks post-op. and have someone around for a day or two to help you out.


6.Vitamin Therapy: Beta-Carotene, Vitamin C and E
Simply taking vitamins won't halt the aging process, unless you're taking the ones that have a proven effect on your body. Vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene are antioxidants that have the power to protect your skin against harmful free radicals, which are believed to play a role in the aging process, according to the UM Health System. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals, which can develop from a variety of normal metabolic functions in the body or environmental factors, including smoke, smog and the sun. But before you start swallowing handfuls, be aware that an excess of vitamins can be dangerous to your health. Play it safe by taking the daily recommended amount of vitamins by eating foods rich in antioxidants.


7.Wear Sunscreen
The facts still stand firm: Sunscreen might be your best defense against the aging effects of the sun. "Excessive and unprotected exposure to the sun can result in premature aging and undesirable changes in skin texture," says the Center for Disease Control. The proper sunscreen can block UVA and UVB rays that can cause cancerous growths in addition to unsightly skin conditions. To be extra safe, stay out of direct sunlight when the rays are their strongest, usually in the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.


8.Anti-Aging Foods
"Those who ate a diet containing more 'whole foods' -- vegetables, fruits, legumes, eggs, yogurt, nuts, oils rich in monounsaturated fats, multigrain bread, tea, and water -- had less wrinkling and premature skin aging than those whose diets were rich in whole milk, red meat (particularly processed meats), butter, potatoes, and sugar," according to a study cited by University at California, Berkeley. These particular foods may help prevent aging because they are rich in antioxidants, phytochemicals and monounsaturated fats.


9.De-stressing techniques
"It's hard to think of any disease in which stress cannot play an aggravating role, or any part of the body that is not affected [by stress]," according to The American Institute of Stress. That includes the ravages of aging. The key is to de-stress without harmful crutches like alcohol and cigarettes. Natural stress reduction methods like yoga, deep-breathing and meditation can be highly effective in contributing to a more youthful appearance.


10.Calorie Restriction
"Calorie restriction is the practice of eating less than your body needs to maintain your normal weight," according to the Mayo Clinic. And with the restriction may come revitalization and rejunvenation. Animals that have been placed on a restricted calorie diet in lab studies have lived longer lives than their counterparts who ate normal diets. They were also less likely to develop chronic illnesses that often develop with age. Also, "short trials of calorie restriction diets in people have shown some benefit," including improved blood pressure, a lower body fat percentage and lower levels of cholesterol, says the Mayo Clinic. A calorie-restricted diet can affect your overall health, but it has not been proven as conclusive anti-aging agent; speak with your doctor before starting.


11.Giveaway Areas
It used to be all about the face. Now, in order to mask their age, women are asking plastic surgeons to make improvements on more subtle parts of their bodies: hands, knees and the neck. Hands are one of the first body parts that can betray your age. Laser treatments can be used to remove spots that have already surfaced and the same fillers that are being used to plump up faces can be used to thicken skin on the hands. As for the neck and chest, a variety of prescription creams and Botox can work together to lighten spots, wrinkling and banding. As for the knees, there's no quick fix, but baggy knees can be lasered into their previous condition and treated with Botox and fillers.


12.Wear sunglasses
You've been told a thousand times that not wearing sunscreen will leave your skin wrinkly and leathery, but what about the sun's effects on your eyes? Sunglasses can shield your eyes from harsh rays that can induce cataracts and macular degeneration. The cosmetic benefits are plentiful too. "With shades, you'll squint less, helping you keep crow's feet and forehead wrinkles at bay, and you'll protect the delicate skin on the sides of your eyes, just as long as you make sure the shades cover that area as well," says Krupp.

Home made Facial Scrub : Home remedies recipes


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Exfoliation is essential to anyone’s skincare regimen, yet often the most hyped over-the-counter scrubs are costly and anything but chemical-free. The recipes below are not only all natural; they are cost-effective. Most importantly, they are fun to prepare in your own kitchen and leave you with tingly clean skin as a refreshing result!

General Scrub Procedure

  1. Tie hair back.
  2. Wash face.
  3. To open pores, steam face over hot water or press warm cloth to skin for a few minutes.
  4. After preparing scrub, apply it to face (and neck if desired). Avoid eye area.
  5. Optional: Use a facial loofah, sponge, or brush to maximize exfoliation.
  6. Rinse off with warm water.
  7. Enjoy results!
#Yogurt Walnut Scrub
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup walnuts (very finely grounded)

The Instructions

Mix ingredients together. Wet your face then gently work the scrub into your skin. Rinse off with warm water.



#Oat and Brown Sugar Scrub
The Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. ground oats
  • 2 tsp. brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. aloe vera
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice

The Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a clean bowl until you have a smooth paste. Gently massage onto damp skin, and rinse off with warm water. You can triple the recipe for a fantastic smoothing body treatment.

Ground Oats: userolled oats and a clean coffee grinder or blender to grind the flakes to a fine powder.


#Egg,Oat,Honey Scrub

-1 Egg White
-1 TBS Honey
-1-3 TBS Finely Chopped Oats

Whisk the egg white and honey together in a bowl add a TBS of FC Oats. Until it forms a past if it is still runny add more FC oats. Then relax for 10 minutes. Then Wash Off


#Honey and Almond Scrub

  • 1/2 Cold cream -- small jar
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • Slivered almonds


  • Whirl slivered almonds in a blender until they're as fine as freshly ground pepper. Mix with cold cream and add honey. Keep refrigerated.

    #Rose Almond Face Scrub

    To brighten and soften skin.

    1 tsp rosewater
    1/2 tsp almond flour or finely ground almonds.

    Mix into paste and apply.

    Oatmeal Scrub
    A stimulating, thoroughly cleansing 3-in-1 scrub!
    Smooths, tones, and hydrates.

    1 Tbsp. ground oatmeal (use steel cut oats, not instant)
    1 tsp. lemon juice
    2 tsp. yogurt

    Combine and apply.
    Optional: let your scrub double as a mask! Let it sit a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

    Azuki Bean Scrub
    Banish your blackheads. Especially effective for combination and oily skin types.

    ½ cup dried azuki beans

    Grind beans. (Having a small coffee grinder set aside specifically for beauty recipes is a wise idea).
    Add a little water to the mixture and apply.

    Milk and Honey Scrub
    Maximize or minimize its moisturizing effect at will.

    Choose your dairy:
    1 tsp Skim Milk (Oily skin)
    1 tsp 2% Milk (Normal or combination)
    1 tsp Cream (Dry)

    1 tsp honey
    1 tbsp ground almonds

    Banana Scrub
    A very finely textured, delicious-smelling scrub. Can double as a mask.

    2 tsp mashed banana
    2 tsp rolled oats
    1 tsp milk
    1 tsp honey

    Honey Sugar Scrub
    If you have ever used a body sugar scrub, you know how amazing they are. Work the same magic on your face!

    1 tsp. of honey
    1/2 tsp. of sugar (either cane or brown — both work well)

    Blend in bowl. Apply.
    Rinse very thoroughly, as this recipe can be slightly sticky.

    Care 2.com’s Healthy & Green Living shares this amazing (and Thanksgiving appropriate!) body scrub concoction (which also works wonders for the face):

    Pumpkin, Sugar, and Spice Scrub
    1/2 cup cooked or canned pumpkin, pureed
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

    Blend in a bowl. Apply mixture to face (and body, if you really want to indulge yourself).

    The Green Beauty Guide offers this organic recipe:

    “Eat Your Greens” Facial Scrub
    2 tsp organic wheat bran
    2 tbsp organic oatmeal
    2 tbsp olive oil soap, finely shredded
    1 tsp dried parsley
    1 part dried lettuce

    Shave your favorite plant oil-based soap.
    Grind parsley and lettuce with pestle in mortar. (We have tried this - you can also blend it in a processor).
    Add soap shavings and mix thoroughly.
    Whisk in the oatmeal and wheat brand and continue stirring until thoroughly mixed.

    You might also like:

    Types and Tratments of Acne Scars


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    Scars caused by acne are much more common than doctors once believed, most people will have acne scars that are mild. However, some will have scars that look significant even to others. The best approach is prevention and to treat acne right away as sometimes even mild acne can cause scarring, this can minimize the risk of permanent acne scars. There are a number of different looking scars caused by acne.

    They Can Be Classified As Follows:

    Types of Acne Scars

    Ice pick scars - Deep pits, that are the most common and a classic sign of acne scarring.


    Box car scars - Angular scars that usually occur on the temple and cheeks, and can be either superficial or deep, these are similar to chickenpox scars.


    Rolling scars - Scars that give the skin a wave-like appearance.

    Rolling scars Rolling scars

    Hypertrophic scars - Thickened, or keloid scars.

    Hypertrophic scars

    In order to get rid of, or minimize acne scarring, a combination of treatments provides the best results for many people.

    Treatment Options For Acne Scars:

    If you have scarring, the acne scar treatment you get will depend on the type of scars you have, as well as on your skin type. Most experience has been gained treating facial scars. Generally, scars on the chest and back do not respond as well.

    Tips in choosing Anti Aging Creams


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    There are so many anti-aging creams in the market today that offers solutions to your skin problems such as discoloration, sagging, wrinkles, removal of eye bags and tightening of pores to name a few. Before spending your dollars on that expensive cream, here are some tips in choosing the one that will give you the best results.

    The Ingredients to Look For

    Most anti-aging creams include vitamins that are good for the skin when taken orally. If you put it on your skin, you are just putting a little dose because not all of it are absorbed into the skin enough to make a significant impact. But there are ingredients that have proven results such as:

    Vitamin A. Effective in diminishing the depth of wrinkles because of its anti-inflammatory effect.

    Vitamin C. Effective in brightening the skin by boosting circulation and collagen production. Some claim that vitamin-C enriched anti-aging creams also lighten the color of the skin. This is due to enhancement of skin renewal.

    AHA (alpha-hydroxy acids or fruit acids). Our skin undergoes a natural renewal process. AHA enhances this process by shedding off of dead skin cells which makes way for brighter skin.

    Retinoids. It hastens the production of new cells. With continued use, skin becomes smoother and also known to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles. Take note of the word “continued” because if you stop using it, your skin will revert to its previous condition.

    In most cases, a good moisturizer is enough to complement exercise and proper diet to battle the signs of aging.