Your Health, Beauty & Skin Tips

Peeling Fingers...How I Treated It.

2012-02-09T16:49:00.002Z

Over the last 2 years, I have discovered that I have a serious problem when it comes to cold weather. During the past 2 winters, no matter how warm I try to keep myself, I realized that my fingers become cold and numb and they ache a lot. Then the strangest think happened...blue patches started to appear on certain areas of my fingers. It took me quite a while (with the help of my Biomedical Science degree) to realize that because of the cold, the blood vessels in my fingers constricted causing poor blood circulation, thereby reducing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues in my finger; hence the tissue died (reason for the blue patches).

Despite all this, the worst was yet to come. The dead tissue had to be removed and in order for that to happen, layers of my finger skin started peeling off. It got really annoying because not only was it peeling off, it was burning and itching, like I stuck my fingers in fire (If you have experienced this then you would know how bad it feels). My skin was continuously peeling off especially on contact with water and detergents. So I did what most people would do...Google "peeling fingers" and to my greatest surprise a lot of people where having the same problem. Some of the reasons for the "peeling" cited include:

Lack of vitamin C, E and minerals.
Using harsh detergents
Allergies
Fungal infection/ Skin diseases
Genetics etc. The list goes on and on (you can search for yourself to confirm).

Being a big fan of Forever Living Products, I decided to use myself as a lab rat or guinea pig...whichever one you prefer. I started using Absorbent-C and Aloe Moisturizing Lotion (see picture).

The first day of my little experiment was the 20/01/2012 and the day the last picture was taken- 05/02/2012 (2 weeks 2 days). The pictures show you the affected areas and how they healed up with time.

How To Use: I chewed one tablet of Absorbent-C 3 times a day and I also applied Aloe Moisturizing Lotion to my hands as frequently as possible and every time i felt my hands were dry.

I bet you must be asking this question: "What is in these products that make it work?" Well easy answer, let me outline it for you.

ABSORBENT-C

Vitamin C: It has four major uses within the body; tissue repair, boosting the immune system, an antihistamine and antioxidant. In relation to peeling skin, vitamin c increases collagen synthesis which helps thicken the skin and increase moisture content.
I believe the antihistamine properties of vitamin c stopped the inflammation (redness and swelling) of my fingers.

SUGGESTED USE: 1 chewy tablet 3 times a day.

ALOE MOISTURIZING LOTION

Aloe Barbadensis Gel: Soothes skin irritations and soreness and it is readily absorbed into the skin. This is what stopped the itching in my fingers. Also see some of the properties of aloe barbadensis gel here.

Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Jojoba Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Allantoin: Act as a lubricant on the skin, giving it a smooth and soft appearance and also form a barrier on the skin, preventing the loss of moisture/water.

Methyl Gluceth-20: A natural moisturizer derived from glucose, considered a special moisturizing agent due to its moisture retentive qualities and ability to open pores and follicles. Also leaves skin with silky and smooth feeling.

Apricot Kernel Oil: Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B17 and E. Good for delicate, sensitive and dehydrated skin, as it helps to reduce skin irritation and inflammation.

Soluble Collagen: Moisturizes and conditions the skin.

Tocopherol (Vitamin E): Rejuvenates, heals, softens, soothes and protects skin. Penetrates the epidermis to form a barrier which prevents moisture loss. Acts as an antioxidant, preventing the destruction of cells by free radicals and environmental pollutants, and also maintains the skins natural pH. Also beneficial for slowing down the aging of cells and tissues, speeding wound and burn healing and reducing scaring.

Chamomile Extract: Softens and soothes the skin. Has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It is a healing tonic that cleans the clogged pores and reduces the puffiness of the skin, and aids in tissue regeneration.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): See Absorbent-C above.

SUGGESTED USE: Depends on you really. I applied it liberally, each time I felt my hands were dry or itchy.

Now my friends, that is how I solved my "peeling fingers" problem. I hope this is of help to you and I will welcome any feedback and comments/questions you may have. To get this products, simply click this link.

Also follow @HealthBeautySkn on twitter or become a member of my blog for more goodies. Most importantly, I would welcome suggestions on topics or issues you maybe interested in.

Thanks

No To Shave/Razor Bumps!

2012-01-11T00:57:00.000Z

Don't you just hate shave bumps! Women hate them because it makes their men repulsive...(OK that's a bit harsh, lets just say "less appealing"), while men hate them because of the pain, the sores, redness and worst still it knocks your confidence down. So how do they originate?

Shave bumps (scientific name: Pseudofolliculitis barbae for facial hair or Pseudofolliculitis pubis for genital hair) occur as a result of the growth of curly hair into the skin rather than out of the hair follicle after the first shave. This causes the skin to become inflamed, itchy, red and inflamed papules can form if the bumps become infected. So how do you stop the bumps in the first place?

Most dermatologists recommend using products that are alcohol-, fragrance-, and oil-free for the following reasons:

Alcohol dries out the skin hence making it worst.
Fragrance acts as an irritant in most cases hence enabling the symptoms of inflammation and itchness.
Oil clogs the pores and therefore prevents the release of hair from the follicle.

In the cosmetic-filled world we reside in finding a product that is free from all these can be tricky. Now, this is where Gentleman's Pride comes (pictured) in.

Gentleman's Pride is an alcohol-free aftershave balm that contains a unique blend of lubricants and moisturizers combined with pure stabilized aloe vera gel. It doubles as a skin conditioner to soothe and replenish skin. The mixture of aloe vera and conditioners such as rosemary and camomile helps soothe the irritations caused by shaving.

Gentleman's Pride also contains Hyaluronan (HA) heals dry and scaly skin, and also temporarily eliminates wrinkles by adding volume to the skin by encouraging collagen formation.

This product is not only an aftershave balm, but can also be used at anytime to relieve irritations caused by shave bumps or overexposure to the sun and wind. A sparing amount of Gentleman's Pride applied liberally on the affected surface should do the job.

UPDATE

I received some amazing feedback from a couple of people who used this product as well as those who started using this product ages ago, and right now, I am trying to document the changes using pictures. Well I have been told to add 2 more products to this topic- Aloe Liquid Soap and Aloe Moisturizing Lotion.

ALOE LIQUID SOAP

It is a pH-balanced, non-irritating and biodegradable cleanser with great moisturizing properties. Unlike most soaps, it leaves the skin with a silky smooth clean feel while minimizing irritations.

ALOE MOISTURIZING LOTION

Probably the best moisturizer out there. I have written in great detail about its properties which you can read here.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Before shaving, apply a generous amount of Aloe Liquid Soap over the area you wish to shave. In other words, use the liquid soap like you would use a shave gel or foam.
Using a razor or an electric shaver (whichever one you are extremely comfortable with and less reactive to), shave the area following the direction of hair growth. For example if your hair grows pointing downwards, shave in a downward direction. This may not apply to everyone as some hair are coarse with no direction. In this case, try to shave in a manner which avoids hair pulling.
Once you done, raise your face and dry with a clean towel (to avoid infection). Apply Gentleman's Pride on the shaven area like you would with an aftershave.
Now you good to go. The last step requires that you use the Aloe Moisturizing Lotion throughout the day and each time you feel the shaven area is "dry".

You can get these products by clicking on SHOP and do not hesitate to leave comments on your experiences and feedback.

Thanks

How To Stop An Itchy Scalp...

2012-01-02T20:52:00.000Z

Have you ever had a really really itchy scalp? Trust me, if you have one or had one you will know what a horrible and embarrassing feeling it is.

I am only 22 but I have more white hair than people twice my age (see picture...may not show the detail). Once my hair was exposed to sweat, water or any moisture, the itches will start and last for ages. I didn't have any dandruff or dry scalp, washed my hair everyday and oiled with herbal hair food and castor oil...still nothing happened. Tried the Palmolives and Head & Shoulders to no avail.

Then I came across Aloe-Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioning Rinse and my problems were lifted...(at last). Basically used it twice a day following the instructions on the bottle and continued to apply herbal hair food. My hair feels softer, smooth, shiny and most importantly does give me the itch troubles. So what do these products contain and do?

Aloe-Jojoba Shampoo

Enzymatic activity of the aloe gel sloughs-off dead cells.
Aloe gel strengthens hair follicles and papillae with amino acids.
It also provides saponins and natural sudsing agents to fortify hair and "give it body"
Jojoba oil removes hardened sebum from the hair and fortifies the shaft ends.
Jojoba oil also provides moisture to hair and scalp.

Aloe-Jojoba Conditioning Rinse

Removes electrostatic charges, leaves hair soft, shiny and manageable.

Both products are pH-balanced and highly concentrated (So should last a month or more if used twice a day). If you have problems with your scalp, hair etc. give these products a try and don't hesitate to leave a comment on your experience on this post!

Thanks

Properties of Aloe Vera Most People Don't Know About...

2011-12-29T16:24:00.000Z

Aloe Vera has been used by mankind for several thousand years and over the centuries there have been many references to Aloe Vera in many cultures due to its medicinal properties. These properties can be divided into several groups:

VITAMINS: Apart from Vitamin D, Aloe Vera is rich in all vitamins such as Vitamins A (antioxidants), C and E. Most importantly, it is one of the few plants to have traces of Vitamin B12 (important for vegans and vegetarians).

ENZYMES: Contains several enzymes that aid in digestion (breaking down fats and sugars) e.g lipases and proteases, reduce inflammation and pain when applied topically e.g bradykinase.

MINERALS: Calcium, Sodium Potassium, Manganese, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Chromium and the anti-oxidant Selenium. All these are essential for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways.

AMINO ACIDS: The human body requires 22 amino acids of which 20 are provided by the Aloe Vera gel. 7 of the 8 essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body are also provided.

SALICYLIC ACID: An aspirin-like compound that possesses both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

FATTY ACIDS: Cholesterol, Campesterol, b. Sisosterol and Lupeol. These four plant steroids are important anti-inflammatory agents.

SAPONINS: Soapy substances form approximately 3% of Aloe Vera gel and have cleansing, anti-spectic, and anti-microbial properties.

LIGNINS: Gives Aloe Vera its singular penetrative effect when included in topical solutions, therefore enabling the skin to absorbs all the ingredients.

ANTHRAQUINONES: There are a total of 12 of these phenolic substances, found exclusively in the Aloe sap. In small quantities, they exert anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, have pain-killing effects and aid in gastro-intestinal tract absorption.

SUGARS: These are derived from the mucilage layer of the plant which surrounds the inner gel. and are known as mucopolysaccharides, which enhance the immune system and help to detoxify. Aloe Vera contains both mono and polysaccharides, but the most important are the long chain sugars involving glucose and mannose or the gluco-mannans. These sugars are not broken down in the gut and once in the blood stream they are able to exert their immuno-regulating effect. Some of these polysaccharides are not absorbed but stick to certain cells lining the gut and form a barrier preventing absorption of unwanted material so helping to prevent a "leaking" gut syndrome. In topical preparations the sugars are also the main moisturisers.

There you have it. Some of the exquisite properties of Aloe Vera that make it unique and a heavyweight in its field. For more information read The Essential Aloe Vera by Dr Peter Atherton. Also, please don't hesistate to leave a comment or share any additional information.

Thanks

About This Blog....The Origins!

2011-12-08T22:09:00.000Z

Hello my People, hope you all doing good and you taking life one step at a time.

If you reading this then I want you to know you at the right place...a place where all your questions on health, skin and beauty related issues can be answered and solved using Forever Living Products.

Some of you may be thinking "Forever what????!!!!"

To answer that; Forever Living, an American company founded in 1978 is the largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of aloe vera and beehive products that help people. the number one ingredient of most of the products is 100% stabilized aloe vera and just enough of other ingredients are added to produce a whole range of health care, weight management, personal care, makeup and skincare products.

In these modern times, although medicines and drugs are effective in treating several complications, they often generate side effects for their consumers and thus more scientists and consumers are turning back to more traditional, natural therapies of which aloe vera is at the fore front.

I came into contact with these amazing products in 2002 and over the years not only have I benefited from its unquestionable properties, but I have seen it change a lot of people's lives. I am now presenting you with the opportunity to improve the lifestyles (poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking etc.) your family, friends, associates and yourself with a range of world-class products that are second to none.

This Blog was created not only to help people but also make new friends and contacts. Let's try to keep it as welcoming, friendly and informal as possible. Hope we learn a lot from each other.

Thanks

Tah.