Your Salsa Pub

Natural and organic skincare products are becoming the standard for many consumers who have a habitual skincare routine. Many of these products do not just substitute those chemical ingredients that are known to cause allergy problems or that have been linked with cancer risks with other chemicals. Instead, they abandon chemicals altogether and instead utilise natural ingredients. Aloe Vera is a well known example of a plant that has a wide range of medicinal properties; its leaves hold a lot of water and the plant helps hydration and is known to be soothing for all types of skin. Aloe Vera has been used in natural and organic skincare products for some time now, as well as in sunblock and anti-aging creams (Aloe Vera contains potassium, which is known for its anti-aging properties). Some natural ingredients have been used for thousands of years. Apple cider vinegar, for example, is known to have been used for 5,000 years and is still used as a natural substitute for alcohol in products that are designed for sensitive skin. Whilst the mists of time have now obscured the circumstances under which humans discovered the natural medicinal properties of now-established ingredients like Aloe Vera, people are still discovering that familiar natural ingredients have unfamiliar benefits to the health. A recent study from Bangladesh has found that mortality rates of very prematurely born babies are improved by applying sunflower seed oil as a topical lotion directly to their skin. Although it is not proven why this is the case it has been suggested that the natural oil improves the skin’s ability to defend itself from bacteria and infection. There is also the suggestion that the oil helps the skin’s ability to reduce water and heat leaving the body. Many new mothers already prefer to use organic and natural skincare products for their babies. Baby skin is extremely delicate, and there are some concerns that ingredients which older people could deal with effectively are more likely to be absorbed into a new born’s bloodstream. This fact could also provide an explanation for the question of why sunflower seed oil is proving to be so beneficial for those vulnerable babies born early, as there is speculation that the oil is perhaps being absorbed into the children’s body and being utilised to form barriers in the gastrointestinal tract. It has also been suggested that the topical nature of the oil is also important in coming to some explanation as to why the cream works. In prematurely born babies the major source of problems is a compromised skin barrier, but this study found that the natural sunflower seed oil applied directly to the skin reduced instances of sepsis and other skin infections. In organic and natural skincare products sunflowers are used in two different ingredients.

There is no doubt about it; we live in a hectic society that does not show any signs of slowing pace any time soon. To relive some of the stress associated with always being on the go, many people have turned to spas to help them melt away the worries of the world. But what if you don’t have thousands of dollars and a full week to devote to becoming one with yourself and nature? The answer could be as simple as day spas.

Day spas are a relatively new phenomenon. In the early 80s, there were only a handful of day spas scattered across the United States. In those days, if you wanted spa luxury, you had to foot the bill and make the time commitment. As you can imagine, this severely limited the spa customer base to the privileged.

Today, there are thousands of day spas, and you can find one in almost every community. Day spas are different from their luxury spa counterparts in that customers have the option of visiting for an entire day, a half day or just an hour or two. There are no overnight stays and no week-long package commitments. In a day spa, you can get premium services just like those found in the traditional spas, but for a lot less time and money.

So, what types of services can you get in a day spa? Virtually everything from facials, massage, body wraps, sunless tanning, pedicures, manicures, electrolysis, hair services, make-up applications, hair color, lunch… you name it.

Here’s a brief look at some popular day spa packages:

* $125 to $175 will get you three-hour classic salon/spa experience including manicure with paraffin treatment, pedicure, scalp treatment, shampoo and styling, massage or mini-facial.

* $75 to $100 will get you a two-hour body treatment with exfoliation, massage and steam bath

* For $300 to $500, you can get pampered for the whole day and choose from a host of services. You will also be served meals during your day-long stay.

And don’t think that day spas skimp on luxury. Many spas offer limousine services and treat their clients like they are royalty no matter what walk of life they come from. For this reason, day spa gift certificates have become extremely popular gifts. When you give a day spa gift certificate, you are giving a luxurious gift of indulgence to your loved one. What better way is there to say that they’ve worked hard and deserve a little bit of the finer things in life?

When choosing a day spa, keep in mind that different spas offer different services. In many cases, day spas are ran in conjunction with a full-service beauty salon. That means that you can choose from a wide variety of services. Other day spas, though, may only offer massage and skin-care services without offering hair and nail services. You should also shop around. Prices from spa to spa can vary considerably.

So, if you want to be pampered but have little money and even less time, perhaps a day spa is the perfect compromise that you’ve been looking for. But be forewarned, day spas can be addictive.

Credit: Ian W Anderson of The Spa Resort, the spa information site. For more spa information and articles like this one visit: Spas

To understand the reasons for baldness, it is first necessary to understand the fundamentals of hair loss. In fact, the shedding of hair is a natural and constantly ongoing process in all mammals (anyone who owns a cat can testify to this) and human beings are no exception. The fact that most hair loss occurs in the mornings is an interesting but inexplicable phenomenon.

About 10% of all available hair on the scalp is, at any given time, in a state of dormancy that finally culminates in it’s shedding. This is natural and desirable, since it makes lace for new hair growth. It must be remembered that hair basically consists of dead cells yielded by natural processes, and that these cannot remain rooted permanently on the scalp. Any attempt to do this would be extremely detrimental.

The problem is therefore not entirely one of hair loss. Though most people with advancing baldness display an accelerated rate of hair loss, the process itself is natural and will happen naturally with the process of aging. Unnatural reasons for hair loss can include the effects of major surgery, the disruption of hormonal levels due to thyroid dysfunction, ingestion of certain pharmacological agents such as ‘clot busters’, chemotherapy in cancer patients, diabetes, severe hairstyles, and psoriasis. In females, the use of oral contraceptives can likewise result in excessive hair loss.

An improper nutritional regimen can also cause considerable hair loss. Coupled with other contributing factors such as the use of certain medicines and abrasive hair grooming/coloring agents, this can certainly result in some degree baldness. This applies particularly the adherents of ‘devil may care’ lifestyles, in whom all these factors can combine into one single, vicious package.

The genetic predisposition to lose hair is the cause of most cases of partial or complete baldness, and can unfortunately not be countered by modern science. With advances in genetic engineering, even this factor may be addressed some day.

Baldness provides detailed information about baldness, baldness cures, baldness treatment, and more. Baldness is affiliated with Vitamins For Hair Loss.

Since 1982 Accutane has been a reliable, if not controversial, drug for treating severe acne. Now with FDA representative David J. Graham’s statement that Accutane should be taken off the market, and pharmaceutical manufacturer La Roche’s defense of Accutane’s safety in a Florida courtroom, access to Accutane faces mounting restrictions.

Accutane provokes five acne-fighting actions that anyone can replicate using nutrition and self-care.

Reduce excess oil secretion:
Accutane is a derivative of vitamin A and reduces the secretion of oil by the oil glands.
Foods that supply the body with Vitamin A and beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A by the body) include: Liver, oily fish, whole eggs, carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli.

Encourage extreme shedding of the skin:
Using a peel is the easiest method to promote shedding of the skin. Exfoliation releases the build-up of dead skin cells, oils and bacteria trapped in the pores, which could lead to the formation of blemishes.

Extreme peels
Peels come in varying degrees, from mild to harsh. The trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel is an extreme peel that can cost from $100 to $1000 depending on the degree of the treatment. It is only performed in a doctor’s office. The TCA is not a save all however. The peel can make the skin sensitive to the sun cause hyper-pigmentation.

Home use peels:
Several over-the-counter peels contain papaya enzymes or glycolic acid. These peels lightly exfoliate the skin and are safe for weekly use.

Reduce the spread of bacterial infection:
Using an astringent such as witch hazel or apple cider vinegar to disinfect the skin significantly reduces the presence of bacteria on the face. This reduction limits skin inflammation and the likelihood of a pimple developing.

Enhance Fat Metabolism:
Free fatty acids can irritate the skin and provoke acne eruptions. Reducing intake of foods containing hydrolyzed fats will improve fat metabolism. However, do consume essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are found in foods such as salmon and olive oil. These essential fats aid the gastrointestinal tract eliminate pro-inflammatory substances, which reduces the possibility of experiencing acne lesions.

Reduce inflammation:
A strong immune system serves as a buffer against inflammation. Stress reducing activities such as exercising, eating a well-balanced diet and sleeping well boosts the immune system. A diet supplemented with B-Complex, zinc and vitamins C and E likewise enhances the effectiveness of the immune system.

Like Accutane, these five steps will not work overnight. Accutane works via creating a bodily environment that is not conducive to acne. By adhering to the nutritional and aesthetic steps above, anyone can attain clear skin while simultaneously augmenting their health.

Health author and Stanford University graduate Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes from her home in San Diego. Her works include “Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne” (ISBN: 0974912204) and the upcoming work “Skinny Fat Chicks, Why we’re still not getting this dieting thing” (ISBN: 0974912212) for release in June of 2005. For useful acne self-help articles visit http://www.Noixia.com

All of us are prone to getting acne at some stage of our lives, especially during puberty. Acne is usually a result of over stimulated hormonal activity which cases the oil producing glands, or the sebaceous glands to produce more oil than necessary. This oil, whose purpose is to keep the skin moist, then combines with the dead skin cells, which are constantly being shed by the upper layer of our skin, to block the skin pores. Blocked or clogged skin pores, which are visible in the form of blackheads or whiteheads, can become inflamed and form lesions which we commonly call acne.

There are many people who are prone to get acne.

Adolescents:

Prime targets of acne are pubescent adults. The body is experiencing many changes at this time and hormonal activity is at its peak. Some teens experience only a mild outbreak while in other acne can be severe and chronic and requires the attention of a dermatologist. Unfortunately this is also the time that adolescents are developing their own personality and acne, especially in its severe form can hinder this as it can cause social embarrassment, shyness and a general drop in self -esteem. Parents and guardians are advised to keep channels of communication open with their children and help them seek professional advice from a dermatologist.

Adolescent women also often experience acne during their menstrual cycle, again due to hormonal activity. Women can also get acne as a reaction to the cosmetics they use. Teenage boys are more likely to have severe and persistent acne problems.

Adults

It is not uncommon for people in their thirties and forties to experience acne problems. As with teenagers, here too hormones are the offenders. Androgens, the male hormones that are responsible for teen acne are to blame for adult acne. Acne can even be seen in post menopausal women, when the body reduces the production of estrogen, which stimulates the androgen to over produce sebum from the sebaceous glands.

Babies

Acne in babies is a common problem and usually begins after the baby is a few weeks old. It is probably triggered by the maternal hormones, which cross over to the baby through the placenta in the final moments of the pregnancy. Among other positive effects, like maturing the lungs, these hormones stimulate the oil glands on the skin, eventually giving rise to baby acne. Baby acne does not require any treatment except gentle cleansing with water and maybe a mild soap.

Jack Smith writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intact, the bio remains in full and the rel=”nofollow” tag is not added to any of the links. Thank-you - Please visit http://www.cleanse-acne.info and http://www.heal-acne.info