People can get scars from surgery, acne, or abrasions.  Unfortunately, most of these scars are unavoidable.  However. if you have a plan to fight the scars, you can usually lessen the severity of them.  Following these steps can help to greatly reduce the appearance of scars:

1. Talk with your physician about the best way to care for any wound and how likely the wound is to scar.  Knowing the best way to care for the wound will help it to heal better and faster, causing less scarring.

2. Allow your skin to breathe.  Skin will heal better if it can be exposed to the air, rather than covered in ointment or a bandage.  Once the wound has stopped bleeding, remove the bandages and let your skin breathe.

3. Cleanse the wound with an antibacterial soap to ensure that the wound stays as clean as possible and free of infection.

4. Apply a small amount of aloe vera to the affected area at least once per day as the wound is healing.  This will ensure that the damaged skin stays moisturized and healthy.

5. Once the wound has healed and there is a blemish left, rub vitamin E on the scar every night.  Vitamin E will help to soften the scar tissue and reduce inflammation, helping to flatten out the damaged skin.

6. Apply a light moisturizer containing sunscreen to the area in the morning.  Because scar tissue is made up of damaged skin, it is fragile and susceptible to sun damage.

7. After the skin has completely healed in the area of the wound, gently exfoliate the area.  Exfoliating helps to remove dead, discolored skin cells and allows the new healthy skin cells to show.

8. For a thick, raised scar, try putting silicone sheets on the scar.  The silicone encourages hydration of the skin, and softens the tissue, allowing the scar to fade faster.  For best results, it is necessary to wear a silicone sheet on the blemish for 12 to 24 hours per day for 12 weeks.  Improvement in appearance may appear in as few as 4 weeks, and reach optimal results in 12 weeks.

If you follow these steps, it is likely that you will be able to dramatically reduce the amount of discoloration and inflammation in your scars, allowing their appearance to blend in to the color and texture of your healthy skin.

Stretch marks are an unfortunate and often unavoidable effect of rapid weight gain, loss,  or pregnancy for some people.  Many people feel very self conscious about their stretch marks, and wish to reduce their appearance or eliminate them if at all possible.  If you follow these steps, you will be able to reduce your stretch marks:

1. Gently brush your skin in the shower with a skin brush or loofah to increase circulation to the location of your stretch marks.

2. Once you get out of the shower and have toweled off, rub vitamin E oil into your stretch marks.

3. Follow this by rubbing cocoa butter into the stretch marks.  This can be done after a shower and before going to bed to help increase the elasticity of the stretched skin.

4. Consult with your general physician or dermatologist about using tretinoin cream on stretch marks.  Tretinoin cream is only available by prescription.

5. Eat foods that are rich in vitamins A, E, and C, or take vitamins to supplement your diet.  Women who are pregnant should avoid taking any more than 25,000 IU of vitamin A.  It is recommended to discuss any changes in diet or supplements with a health care professional.

6. Add foods that are rich in zinc to your diet (foods like oysters, wheat germ, roast beef, pumpkin or squash seeds, cocoa powder and chocolate, and peanuts).  Zinc supplements are also a viable option.  Zinc is good for the skin.  Silica is also good for the skin, as it aids in the production of collagen, which are the supporting fibers in the skin.  Foods that are rich in silica include cereals, especially oats and rice, cucumbers, asparagus, onions, lettuce cabbage, potatoes, sunflower seeds, and strawberries.

7. You should also eat foods that contain essential fatty acids, which aid in the building of cell walls.  Essential fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, can be found in vegetables, vegetable oils, fish oils.

Following these steps over a period of several months should help to reduce your stretch marks, as well as improve the overall look, health, and feel of your skin.

At the end of a long day, everyone enjoys soaking in a warm bath that is filled with bubbles and soothing fragrances.  Somehow, all of the challenges of the day seem to just melt away.  You can make these bath treats for yourself, or make large batches of these homemade bath products and give them away as homemade holiday or birthday gifts.  Here’s how you can create some of these decadent bath treats for yourself:

Relaxing Chamomile and Lavender Bubble Bath:

• 8 cups distilled water

• 8 ounces castile soap, grated (can be found on the internet or in health food stores)

• 3/4 cup liquid glycerine soap ( can be purchased from craft stores, health food stores, or on line)

• 1 teaspoon chamomile essential oil

• 1 teaspoon lavender essential oil

Combine all of the ingredients and pour into a beautiful glass or plastic bottle with a lid.  Attractive bottles can be purchased at most local craft stores for reasonable prices.

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The next recipe is for a beautiful smelling body scrub that will make your skin soft and radiant.  This scrub can be used to exfoliate your entire body, making your skin look and feel years younger.

Exfoliating Vanilla Sugar Body Scrub

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Combine all of the ingredients, and stir until thoroughly incorporated.  Pour the finished body scrub into clean, dry jars for storage.  Fancy jars can be purchased for a reasonable price at most local craft stores.

These two recipes for decadent bath treats can be put into attractive containers and given as custom homemade gifts to your friends who like to relax occasionally in a warm bath.  These are slightly unique gift ideas that can easily be adjusted to suit the likes of your friends.  For example, the vanilla sugar body scrub could easily be changed to almond sugar body scrub, by replacing the vanilla extract with almond extract.  The chamomile lavender bubble bath could also be modified by changing the chamomile and lavender essential oils for peppermint, rose, or any other fragrance that your friend likes.

These recipes are also a great way to pamper yourself after a long day or a stressful week.  They do not have to be used exclusively as gifts for other people, they can also be gifts that you give to yourself.

Everyone loves to spend a day at the spa getting pampered, but spending time at the spa is expensive and time consuming.  You can make an herbal facemask from ingredients that you probably already have in the house and save both time and money, while still treating your skin.  Regularly using facemasks can aid in unclogging pores, removing dead skin cells, and even preventing the formation of lines and wrinkles.  By following this simple recipe, you can make your own spa quality face mask, and start pampering your way to beautiful, healthy skin.

1 egg white

1 teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon powdered milk

1/2 teaspoon dried herb(s) such as lavender, mint leaves, rosemary, chamomile flowers, or fennel

1. You want to begin by thoroughly cleansing your face, and making sure that all makeup has been washed away.

2. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon honey, 1 raw egg white, 1 tablespoon powdered milk, and 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite dried herb(s) like lavender, mint leaves, rosemary, chamomile flowers, or fennel.  If you want, you can even choose more than one herb for your facemask.

3. Whisk the ingredients either by hand or on low with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, or until the mixture is light and creamy.

4. Apply the herbal mixture to the face and throat areas.

5. Now just sit somewhere and relax for 15-20 minutes, and allow the facemask to set.

6. One the facemask has set, you can rinse your face and throat areas thoroughly with warm water to remove the facemask.

The more frequently that you pamper you skin with facials, the healthier your skin will become.  Facials help to diminish blemishes, open up clogged pores, remove dead skin, and prevent wrinkles.  What more reason could you need to indulge yourself?  So go pamper your way to beautiful skin with this inexpensive, homemade herbal facial recipe.  A spa day at home is not only good for your skin, it can also be a great way to relax and unwind from the stresses of life.

Some people mature and become even more attractive with age, like a fine wine.  However, there are frequently times when people want to reduce the signs of aging on their bodies.  Here are some easy steps to help reduce the visible and physical sign of aging:

1. Behave in a younger fashion-people are really only as old as they act, and when a person is young at heart, they appear younger than their actual numerical age.

2. Drink at least one cup of hot cocoa per day.  Cocoa is rich in flavonols, which play a key role in repairing sun damage.  Cocoa also contains a fair amount of phenyethylamine, which is a chemical that increases the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which are associated   with being happy or in a good mood.  Phenylethylamine also increase the production of the neurotransmitter oxytocin, which aids in relaxation.  This is the reason that people seem happier and more relaxed after consuming chocolate that has a high concentration of cocoa.

3. Make a habit of eating cinnamon.  As people age, their lips tend to thin.  Cinnamon aids in the dilation of the  tiny blood vessels in the lips, which causes the lips to plump immediately and completely naturally.

4. Use soy products.  Both soy products that are consumed and soy containing creams contain isoflavones, which increase the production of collagen.  Collagen is the support structure of the skin, which increases both the thickness and the elasticity of the skin.  Collagen is plays a key role in decreasing wrinkles and sagging of the skin.

5. Make sure to drink plenty of water.  Human bodies are made up of 70 percent water, and it is crucial for our general well-being.  Water also helps to keep skin hydrated and healthy, as well as the rest of our bodies.

6. Don’t forget to moisturize.  Moisturizing skin daily keeps moisture locked in and makes skin stay smoother.

7. Get plenty of vitamin C.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that provides a defense against the damaging effects of free radicals.  It can even help to reverse some of the damage that is  already present.  You can get vitamin C through nutritional supplements, or through foods such as cabbage, tomatoes, and citrus fruits.

8. Sleep on your back.  When sleeping on your stomach or side, it causes your face to wrinkle while you are sleeping.  Over time, this can increase the chance of developing premature wrinkles.

9. Make sure to eat nuts and seeds as part of your regular diet.  Nuts help with circulation, especially almonds and sunflower seeds which are loaded with vitamin E.  Vitamin E is critical to good circulation, so adding these type of foods to your diet is as good for you as it is tasty.

There you have it, some little tips and tricks to help fight off the signs of aging.

There are several key factors relating to a person’s lifestyle habits that dictate how their skin looks.  Adopting the following lifestyle recommendations can really improve the overall look and feel of your skin:

• Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is as important for the health of your skin as it is for the rest of your body, so “veg out” in a good way!
• It is important to remain hydrated by drinking at least two liters of clear water per day.
• Sleep is another key ingredient to beautiful skin. People really need 7-9 hours  of sleep per night.  This time allows for the restoration of oxygen levels in the blood, which is responsible for cell repair and renewal.
• The UV rays from the sun are responsible for the appearance of accelerated aging.  For this reason, it is important to stay out of direct sun light, so make sure that you always wear a hat or high factor sunscreen when you plan to spend time in the sunshine.
• Try to avoid stressful situation, as stress  takes its toll on the overall health of our bodies, both inside and outside.
• Smoking is really bad for your overall health , but others can see the damage that smoking does to your skin.  Smoking causes wrinkles around the mouth and clogged pores, so stop smoking and improve  your total body health.
• Women, never go to bed wearing make-up.  Make-up can seep into the pores, clogging them, so always wash your face twice before going to bed.  The first wash is to take off the make-up, and the second wash is to clean the skin.

The other side of beautiful skin, other than living a healthy lifestyle, is daily treatment and protection:

• Wash the face in the morning and at night.  This helps to prevent clogged pores, which lead to zits, blackheads and other blemishes.  Make sure to treat the skin with delicacy, never scrubbing, pulling, or tugging on it.
• At night, after washing your face, exfoliate with a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells.  This process should be done a minimum of twice per week for optimum radiance.  Products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids, that are derived from sugar-cane, milk, fruits and have anti-inflammatory properties are the best exfoliating products.
• Nourish the skin of your face with facial masks made from banana, plain yogurt, or avocado.  Taking vitamin C is also a great way to nourish your skin, as it aids in the formation of collagen.  Nourishing your skin in these ways smooths, and improves the overall texture.
• Hydrate your skin, by using a light, non-greasy moisturizer at bed time, and a day-time moisturizer with sunscreen during the day.
• Keep your skin supple and radiant by stimulating blood circulation.  This can be done with daily exercise, followed by a shower alternating the water temperature between hot and cold, which will improve the blood flow through your body and provide your skin with nutrients and oxygen.
• Drinking a glass per day of hot water with lemon helps to invigorate your entire body, including the gall bladder and liver, cleansing the blood of toxins that can cause skin problems.

Apple cider vinegar is a product that many people keep in their kitchens to use for cooking, but it is also a great product for fighting acne, dandruff, and even age spots.  It is an all around great, inexpensive product for keeping your skin, bright, clear, and acne free.

Apple cider vinegar is rich in alpha-hydroxy acids, which help to dissolve fatty deposits on the skin’s surface and reduce scaling conditions, which promotes a smooth, soft, radiant appearance.  Apple cider vinegar also helps regulate the skin’s pH.

For Dandruff: Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water, and pour into a spray bottle.  Spray the vinegar mixture on to scalp and and rub in.  Wrap your hair up in a towel, and leave on for 15-30 minutes.  Then, wash and style your hair as normal.  This can be repeated every day until dandruff is gone, and then from time to time to remain dandruff free.

For Acne: At bed time, wash your face as normal, then use a cotton ball to dab straight apple cider on your face.  Allow the vinegar to dry and go to bed.  Your face will be softer, smoother, and less irritated when you wake in the morning.

For Age Spots and Blotchy Skin: At bed time, wash your face as normal, then use a cotton ball to dab straight apple cider on your face, paying special attention to areas with more discoloration.  Allow the vinegar to dry and go to bed.  When you wake, you skin will appear a more even, radiant tone, and even firmer and tighter.

Head lice, also known as pediculosis, is a highly contagious infestation of tiny white insects, called lice.  Lice eggs are called nits, and typically attach themselves to hair right next to the body or scalp of the host.  Lice are spread from person to person through sharing of infested clothing, towels, and items like brushes or combs, or through direct personal contact.

To treat head lice, first assess whether you or your child actually has them.  Symptoms associated with lice include swollen glands in the back of the neck, itchy head, white or grayish spots stuck on hair shafts, and  foul-smelling hair.  You should also check for actual live lice, as well as their eggs (or nits).  This should be done in a bright, direct light, working with small sectioned bits of the hair at a time.  It is best to use a fine-toothed comb, or a pet flea comb, to both find the lice and their nits, and comb them out of the hair.  Tweezers can also be utilized to pick the nits and lice off the scalp or the hair.  Lice are reddish-brown in color, and their nits are clear or white in color, and are attached to the hair shafts.  Lice do not jump or fly.  Everyone in the home needs to be checked, as lice are extremely contagious.

It is important to wash all bedding, recently worn clothing, and towels in hot water, and dry them in a hot dryer.  This will kill any lice that have infested the fabric of these items.  All combs and brushes should be soaked in very hot water for a minimum of 10 minutes, to kill any lice in the combs and brushes.

Lice can infest the eyebrow and eyelash area, so this area needs to be treated with a coating of petroleum jelly twice daily, for a total of 8 days.  You should never use any chemical delousing agents around your eyes, as you could seriously injure you eyes.

One remedy that has been shown to work in some people, is the application of olive oil or mayonnaise to the scalp and hair.  It should be left on as long as possible, prior to combing out the nits with a fine-toothed comb.  This techniques is believed to work by coating the lice and smothering them to death.  The next step is to use a hot blow dryer, as the heat will also aid in killing both lice and nits.  Do not use too hot of a blow dryer directly on your scalp, as there is a risk of burning your scalp.

Following the delousing procedures, the hair and scalp should be checked daily to make sure that all nits and lice have been removed.  If there is evidence of nits or lice, you either did not kill the entire infestation, or re-infestation has occurred.

You will need to report the presence of lice to your child’s school, so that faculty and teacher can check for a lice outbreak.  Children need to be kept out of school in the event of a lice infestation.  They are able to return to school once the lice have been thoroughly removed, or the child has been treated with a commercial delousing product.

If you plan to use a commercial delousing agent, you should confirm with your pharmacist that the product does not contain the chemical lindane.  Lindane has been associated with several serious medical conditions including cancer and seizures.