May 29th, 2011 admin
Hairy faces and bodies are considered unattractive in western society, yet are considered quite normal in Mediterranean countries. Facial hair growth in women can be ‘hormonal’, in which case coarse ‘male-type’ hair is seen, or ‘racial’, in which case a generalized hairiness is evident. ‘Hormonal’ facial hair can be treated with specific hormone tablets, yet both types of hair growth can be treated with various hair removers.
Bleaching creamsBleaching creams are safe to use on the face and are simple to apply. It is best to choose one that is specifically designed for the face as it will be less irritating.
Depilatory creamsDepilatory creams remove hair by a chemical process, similar to perming hair. The chemical, thioglycollate, breaks the hair bond, so the hair can be wiped off. It is important to choose a cream which is specifically for the face, as these are weaker than depilatory creams designed for the body. Depilatory creams are generally safe and do not promote thicker hair re-growth. Occasionally, allergic reactions to thioglycollate occur.
Epilating devicesEpilating devices are excellent for use on the body, but are ineffective for facial hair.
Waxing Waxing is probably the best method of removing both facial and body hair. Both a hot or cold wax can be used and the process can be performed at home. Waxing over a number of years makes the hair weaker and it grows less coarsely.
Plucking Plucking hair is a very effective method of removing a small number of hairs, although re-growth does occur. Like waxing, repeated plucking will eventually weaken and destroy the hair root. It is safe to pluck hairs which grow out of moles.
Electrolysis Although electrolysis is supposedly a permanent method of hair removal, in most cases only a small number of hairs are actually destroyed, while the majority re-grow. The reason for this is that electrolysis is a ‘blind’ technique, and often the hair root is missed. The success of electrolysis is very operator dependent, yet even in the best hands many hairs reappear. The main disadvantages of electrolysis are that it is slow, expensive and can cause scarring.
*87/150/5*
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April 22nd, 2011 admin
Hypo-allergenic CosmeticsThe term ‘hypo-allergenic’ is somewhat dubious. Many cosmetics manufacturers claim their products are hypo-allergenic, which, by definition, means that they produce less allergic reactions than ninety per cent of other cosmetics on the market.The least allergenic of all cosmetics are those which contain no perfume because perfume is the most common cause of allergic reactions. Other ingredients, such as preservatives and sunscreens, may also cause unfavorable reactions but are still present in hypo-allergenic cosmetics.A non-perfumed cosmetic is not the same as an unscented cosmetic. Non-perfumed means 100 per cent fragrance free. An unscented cosmetic is one that has no smell but still has a masking perfume to hide the smell of other chemicals. Cosmetics which are completely fragrance free include Almay, Clinique and Innoxa products.If you are allergic to a particular preservative in a cosmetic, you must look for a brand without it. This can be a particular problem if you are allergic to parabens which is the most frequently used preservative in cosmetics.Hypo-allergenic products are of no special benefit for those with oily skin or acne because perfume has no detrimental effect on acne blemishes.
Men’s CosmeticsProducing cosmetics for women is a billion dollar industry. It is not too surprising then, that producing cosmetics for men is seen as a new avenue to make money. Men are becoming (or being made?) increasingly aware of their appearance and ageing. While they have always used shampoos, aftershaves and shaving creams, there has recently been an explosion in men’s skin care products, similar to those available for women.
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January 15th, 2011 admin
Local applications to the unhealthy skin
As a general rule one should never rely too much on local treatment, no matter how circumscribed the skin ailment appears to be. But there are cases where local measures must be employed to help to increase the local circulation, to break up congested spots, to relieve irritation, and to give comfort in painful ailments. For these purposes we may make good use of the various compresses and hot fomentations which assist in elimination and are never harmful. If pain and discomfort can be relieved in this way it is so much better than using pain-killing drugs which invariably upset the digestive system.
The evaporating compress
When there is an overheated and painful area of the skin great relief may be obtained by the use of the simple evaporating compress.
The part is covered by a wet cloth, which still retains as much ordinary cold water as possible, and should not be covered by any other material. The heat of the skin will soon raise the temperature of the compress, and then it should either be quickly changed and another cold one applied, or cold water should be poured over the one already in use. The idea is that the skin must be kept moist all the time, and the evaporating process gives great comfort and relief.
The neutral compress
In some cases the neutral compress is a very useful application that will give more relief to some people than will the cold one.
The temperature of the compress should be about that of the normal skin, and used in this way it is soothing, especially to the great system of nerves under the skin. It should be employed in all cases where the skin troubles seem to set up nervous irritations, and in those cases where the pain is of a neuralgic character it is well worth trying. It excludes the air from contact with the skin and at the same time keeps up a uniform temperature in all the tissues. By keeping the skin moist it softens the parts and allows the skin to absorb a certain amount of water into the external parts. When the skin is affected by a complaint that is clearly associated with an irritated nervous system this compress should be freely employed for its soothing qualities.
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SKIN AND DISEASE: LOCAL APPLICATIONS, EVAPORATING AND NEUTRAL COMPRESS
Local applications to the unhealthy skinAs a general rule one should never rely too much on local treatment, no matter how circumscribed the skin ailment appears to be. But there are cases where local measures must be employed to help to increase the local circulation, to break up congested spots, to relieve irritation, and to give comfort in painful ailments. For these purposes we may make good use of the various compresses and hot fomentations which assist in elimination and are never harmful. If pain and discomfort can be relieved in this way it is so much better than using pain-killing drugs which invariably upset the digestive system.
The evaporating compressWhen there is an overheated and painful area of the skin great relief may be obtained by the use of the simple evaporating compress.The part is covered by a wet cloth, which still retains as much ordinary cold water as possible, and should not be covered by any other material. The heat of the skin will soon raise the temperature of the compress, and then it should either be quickly changed and another cold one applied, or cold water should be poured over the one already in use. The idea is that the skin must be kept moist all the time, and the evaporating process gives great comfort and relief.
The neutral compressIn some cases the neutral compress is a very useful application that will give more relief to some people than will the cold one. The temperature of the compress should be about that of the normal skin, and used in this way it is soothing, especially to the great system of nerves under the skin. It should be employed in all cases where the skin troubles seem to set up nervous irritations, and in those cases where the pain is of a neuralgic character it is well worth trying. It excludes the air from contact with the skin and at the same time keeps up a uniform temperature in all the tissues. By keeping the skin moist it softens the parts and allows the skin to absorb a certain amount of water into the external parts. When the skin is affected by a complaint that is clearly associated with an irritated nervous system this compress should be freely employed for its soothing qualities.
*23/154/5*
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