Overcoming Panic through Cleansing

There are so many reasons for a person to be bothered by anxiety and panic and one of them is toxicity in the body. I was taught by a chiropractor 21 years ago that toxicity in the body can compound so many other problems. She taught me how to cleanse the bowels, not only with herbs, but also with enemas. This can be done 3 or 4 times a year. Cleansing the system from parasites is also very important. Toxins can also build up from having amalgam fillings, nickel crowns, and other mouth problems. Dental cleanup can take many years and you should not rush to replace it all at once. Cleansing the kidneys can be done with herbs and sometimes with just water. Cleansing the liver and Gallbladder will also assist in easing up anxiety and panic.

I spent several years watching what I ate and staying off of processed sugars, chocolate, caffeine and processed foods with preservatives. It really made a huge difference in my anxiety levels. Information is a powerful tool to help in overcoming panic and anxiety.

Type of Skin

There are three basic skin types and you may find that your skin is a mixture of these. Acne can be a big problem for everyone of them.
The basic skin types are dry, oily, and combination.
OILY SKIN - usually has a shine to it, and may be prone to black heads and acne. Oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust, so washing with a cleansing bar is an ideal way of caring for it. Use warm water to loosen the dirt, then use cold water to rinse.
DRY SKIN - looks dry and sometimes flakes, often feels tight especially if you have washed it with soap and water. It reacts to very hot and very cold weather by tightening up, and is easily chapped in a dry atmosphere.. One benefit of dry skin is that it is that it is less likely to develop acne. Always use a mild,creamy cleanser and moisturize your face every day, including the throat and the skin around your eyes. Use warm water to lather and rinse it with cold.
COMBINATION SKIN - which most of us have, with an oily center area or a T-zone across the forehead, nose, and chin, and areas of dryness on the cheeks, and around the eyes and neck. Acne can also be a problem in the oily areas. It is best to get a cleanser designed for combination skin, that you can use for the central oily panel, and then dilute with water for the drier areas. The drier areas may or may not need moisturizing frequently.
There is information on the internet on how to begin clearing your Acne in 3 days naturally, without harsh medication or abrasives.

Exercise Everyday or Every Other Day

One of my golden rules for complete fitness is: Make out a program of exercise that fits your needs. Work out vigorously at least three or four times a week at home or in a gym and on the other days do some stretching and/or fast walking. I’d like to see you do something every day so that you will rise above temptation and don’t let your self get out of the exercise habit. You eat every day, you sleep every day, you brush your teeth every day; I believe your body was made to move and that you should do some form of exercise every day. Jack LaLanne - Revitalize Your Life After 50

As I have been losing weight over the past 8 months, I have found that exercise has been essential. I have had 1 to 2 weeks at a time that I could not exercise because of health problems or having ‘too much’ to do. Those weeks that I didn’t exercise I had little or NO weight loss. Sometimes I would even gain weight. I find that I not only feel better, but I also sleep better. For some free exercise information you can check the internet.

Sees that Can be Sprouted

Three of the most common sprouts is that of the mung bean, alfalfa, and barley. Other seeds that can be sprouted include adzuki bean, almond, amaranth, annatto seed, anise seed, arugula, basil, brown rice, navy bean, pinto bean, lima bean, broccoli, buckwheat, cabbage, canola seed, caragana, cauliflower, celery, chia seed, chickpeas, chives, cilantro, clover, cress, dill, fennel, fenugreek, flax seed, garlic, hemp seed, kale, kamut, kat, leek, green lentils, lupins, pearl millet, mizuna, mustard, oats, onion, black-eyed peas, green peas, pigeon peas, snow peas, peanut, psyllium, pumpkin, quinoa, radish, rye, sesame, soybean, spelt, sunflower, tatsoi, triticale, and watercress. Wheat grass and wheat sprouts are among some of my favorites.

Make sure that when you are sprouting, that the seeds you use are intended for sprouting and human consumption rather than sowing. Seeds intended for sowing may have been treated with chemical.

Positive Attitude and kGood Health

title>Does your attitude affect your health? Can having a positive, happy attitude keep you healthier, and a negative, unhappy, even angry attitude hurt you? Yes it can. The mind and body are so closely interwoven, and can affect us in more ways than we can imagine. Research now shows that our mind the and immune system may act as a single unit. Feeling stressed can make you more susceptible to whatever virus is going around. When you feel joy, lighthearted and happy, your immune system has a better chance of protecting you from it. Even pretending to feel good can affect you.

Expectations also play an important role. If you expect to be healthy you can increase your chances of better health. If you expect to be sick, you will increase your chances of that. If you think that your health is at the mercy of your feelings, just remember that you have greater control over them than you think. One way is to spend as much time as possible around positive, happy people.

Hand Massage

The hands, wrists, and arms can hold a lot of tension and pain, especially if you work a lot with your hands. With five to ten minutes of hand massage you can relax and sometimes get some relief from pain in the body. There are many acupressure/reflexology points in the hands that can affect internal organs and different parts of the body. Receiving massage on your hands, fingers, and joints can assist in relieving poor circulation and arthritis. Hand massage can be done on people of all ages and conditions from infants to the elderly, the sick or dying. Soft music may be used during the massage and you can give or receive a hand massage anywhere and with or without lotion.

If you feel anxious or stressed, you can receive healing care without any words and with gentle touch. Please look for Salt Lake City Massage Therapy on the web to see how massage can assist you with better health.

Water and Weight Loss

If you eat right and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration that is right for you, and you still can’t get rid of the excess bulges, you’re probably just not drinking enough water.

Water helps improve your body’s metabolism. There are many forms of metabolism going on, but the one everyone is usually interested in is the metabolism of fat. This is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main jobs. Unfortunately, another of the liver’s duties is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can’t metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight.

Most people decrease their intake of water because they hate spending so much time in the bathroom, but this should only last a few days. Your body will be flushing out the excess water that has been stored in the tissues because of being so depleted for so long. It gets rid of the water in your ankles, hips, thighs, and maybe even around your belly. Eight glasses a day is okay for the average person. But if you’re overweight, you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry. You should drink more if you live in a hot climate or exercise intensely. If you don’t like water you may want to try a slice of lemon or lime in the glass. Sometimes drinking water filters assist in making the water taste better.

When you drink all the water you need, you will quickly notice a decrease in your appetite. If you’re serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an absolute must.

Recurring Yeast Infections

If you have recurring yeast infections, and you know what causes it, you can change certain things in your lifestyle to prevent it, rather than trying to kill the yeast every time it takes over.

CLOTHING: Yeast can flourish in non-cotton, tight, or dirty clothes that trap heat and moisture. The safest underwear is unbleached, non dyed cotton underwear and breathable clothes.

CHEMICALS: Inks, dyes, and perfumes, can upset the balance of your system and trigger allergic reactions that lead to yeast infections. Commercial douches can be harmful to the vaginal environment and your health. Colored and perfumed toilet paper can create problems, so use a white, unbleached brand. Some laundry detergents and fabric softeners have allergenic dyes and perfumes, additives in bubble baths or bath salts, scented tampons or sanitary pads, or feminine deodorant sprays, can trigger yeast infections.

CONDOMS: A lot of condoms come packaged with a lubricant that contains nonoxynol-9, a spermicide that may kill the HIV virus, and studies has shown that it can be linked to yeast infections. Condoms can also cause yeast infections if you are allergic to latex.

DIET: Cutting down on yeast-containing foods helps lessen the intensity or frequency of vaginal yeast infections. similarly, high levels of sugar in your diet can contribute to yeast infections,

THE PILL: Hormones, both naturally-occurring and artificially introduced, can affect yeast. Pregnant women or women taking contraceptive pills experience regular yeast infections as their hormone levels fluctuate. Yeast infections will also flare up just before or after your period. Steroids used in treating arthritis, asthma, or lupus can contribute to yeast infections.

INJURY to the vulvar or vaginal membranes can lead to a yeast infection.

SEX: Candida can be transmitted between people by direct contact. Men can have a yeast infection without any symptoms so it is passed on without knowing it.

WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM: Someone with HIV or Lyme disease can be extremely prone to have yeast infections. in addition to vaginal yeast infections, they are particularly susceptible to thrush, a yeast infection of the throat, or esophageal yeast infections.

Movement of Cranial Bones

In an interview with Dr. John Upledger he was asked. “What about the professionals who dispute your theory that cranial bones can move?”

“Well, they’re wrong. Actually, it’s not theory—it’s fact. The movement is very slight, but it’s significant enough to allow expansion of the craniosacral fluid, and to allow for necessary adjustments. Through studies at Michigan State University, this movement has been measured on live adult primates and fresh human cranial bones, in contrast to chemically preserved specimens which indeed are rigid. Physicians in the Mediterranean area have been aware of cranial movement for many years. Dr. John Upledger D.O.”

I have seen very dramatic results in people who have suffered from accidents, and injury from sports, etc. who have added Cranial Sacral therapy to their program. and got well faster than their doctor ever expected. I suffered migraines for years and with the help of Cranial Sacral therapy I no longer have them. I wish that I could say that it would cure everyone, but I have a few clients that it did not work for them. But the majority of people that I have worked on either have them no longer, or it has decreased them measurably.

How to Overcome Panic Disorder

People need to be ready to take the full responsibility for their own health. There is a Chinese Proverb that says “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.” It is very hard to finally say ‘I NEED TO TAKE CHARGE’ and then be willing to make the lifestyle changes which includes healthy diet, body cleansing, and exercising along with other traditional and natural therapies.
Eating fresh or lightly steamed fruits and vegetables along with 2 to 3 quarts of water per day depending on whether you are a large or small person, is essential in overcoming panic and anxiety. Water flushes out impurities and toxins from the body. We take showers and baths on a regular basis and we should wash out our insides regularly. It is best to stay away from or minimized your intake of processed foods that are full of preservatives and additives that can cause chemical upsets in your body. A few of the top offending foods that can create or magnify panic attacks are sugar, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate

Acne

The skin is colonized by millions of bacteria. In general these don’t do any harm, but  sometimes there are less wholesome bacteria present on the skin. If these bacteria manage to penetrate through a cut or crack they can infect a wound and may form an abscess.  These bacteria can also result in the formation of spots, or more serious acne, where the glands are infected and enlarged due to the blockage of the follicles in which the glands are situated.
In teenagers, this can be caused by surges in hormones. Too much alcohol and some medical drugs can also create blemishes on the skin.  Microscopic fungi that use dead cells and skin secretions as food also cause infestations of the outer skin. These fungal infections are not usually harmful, but they can cause intense irritation and damage to the skin’s appearance.  Acne Free in 3 days has some wonderful answers to the natural control of acne.

Herbal Medicines

This breathing technique takes about 90 seconds and you will be concentrating on a specific task instead of paying attention to your worried thoughts. Sit comfortably and take a long deep breath and exhale it slowly while saying the word ‘relax’. Close your eyes and let yourself take ten natural, easy breaths. Count backwards from 10 to 1 and while you are breathing comfortably, notice any tension in your jaw, stomach, neck and shoulders or in your back. Imagine the tensions relaxing and letting go.

Remember that your breathing is dictated in part by your current thoughts, so by focusing on your breathing, it will help you to let go of negative thoughts during a panic or anxiety attack. These skills work to the degree that you are willing to concentrate on them, and in putting most of your effort into creating positive thoughts.

Food and Mood

A survey of 200 people found that 88% reported significant changes in their mood by changing their diet. Mood swings, panic and anxiety attacks and depression were improved. Some of the top offending foods were sugar, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate. Some of the foods that help to improve your mood included water, vegetables, fruit and oil-rich fish.

Here are some other foods that can assist in improving your mood are:

Oatmeal which is rich in soluble fiber, it helps to balance your blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the blood. The soluble fiber in oatmeal forms a gel that slows the emptying of your stomach so you don’t feel hungry quickly, this can also help in weight loss. Some other foods which are high in soluble fiber are: beans, peas, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apples.

Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a type of fat that’s needed for brain cells and mood-lifting neurotransmitters to function properly and may sometimes help with depression. Some other foods that have high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, sardines, and flax-seeds.

Salmon - Canned salmon with bones is rich in vitamin D. It is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Research has suggested that vitamin D may increase the levels of serotonin which is one of the key neurotransmitters which influences our mood. We can get vitamin D through exposure to sunlight and from other foods such as soy milk.

Lentils are part of the legume family. They are an excellent source of folate, a B vitamin that appears to be necessary for mood and proper nerve function in the brain. A Harvard study showed that 38% of depressed women are deficient in folate. A cup of cooked lentils provides 90% of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid. They also contain protein and fiber, which are filling and help to stabilize blood sugar. Folate is also found in green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, and beans.

Overcoming panic and anxiety can be a bit tricky, but changes in diet can really make a difference along with other therapies that may be appropriate.

De-Stress with Exercise

How do you deal with stress? If you’re like most people, you probably have a mixed bag of tools. Some are healthy, like taking a day off or getting a massage, and some are not so healthy, like eating sweets or drinking too much. It’s a good idea to have a variety of ways to reduce tension so you always have something to reach for (besides those chips or glass of wine) that offers relief. Exercise is one of the best ways to ease stress and anxiety while giving you a sense of confidence and mastery when other parts of your life feel out of control. These workouts offer you new ideas for reducing stress.

Higher intensity cardio is great for stress reduction because your body releases endorphins, feel-good hormones that boost your energy and mood. Interval training helps relieve stress by allowing you to work at higher intensities for shorter periods of time, making the workout effective and efficient.

1. Choose any activity you like (running, walking, etc.)
2. Warm up for 5-10 minutes
3. Increase intensity (adding hills, incline, resistance and/or speed) so that you're working at Level 7-8 on this perceived exertion scale for 30-60 seconds.
4. Reduce intensity and recover for 2 or more minutes
5. Repeat intervals for 20 or more minutes

Yeast Infections in Men

Men can get yeast infections too. They can get thrush which is an oral yeast infection that is very is common in men with HIV. They can also get penile yeast infections which can be very unpleasant. Heterosexual couples who have unprotected sex can pass yeast infections back and forth endlessly. There is not a lot of information available about penile yeast infections though. It is sometimes hard to tell when men have yeast infections because they do not always have many symptoms, but when they do it can be really awful.

The most common symptom is irritation and soreness of the head of the penis and can be very itchy. Men can also get a clumpy white discharge and the head of the penis may turn reddish or get a little blistery. The symptoms can be close to those of genital herpes. Little red itchy bumps are not uncommon with penile yeast infections. If you aren’t absolutely certain, go see a doctor for testing and diagnosis.

Weight Loss after Menopause

There are several factors that play a roll in weight gain after menopause which include genetics, lifestyle, aging and hormone levels. You need to understand what is going on inside your body to be able to lose weight. As you age your metabolism slows down so you don’t need as many calories. Aging also causes a gradual replacement of muscle with fat, muscle burns more calories than fat so you end up with a more sluggish metabolism. If you keep the extra weight on your body you have an increased risk of stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Your biggest advantage in losing weight is to have an understanding of why your metabolism slows down and what you can do about it.

The 10 best tips to weight loss after Menopause.

• Increase your activity.

• Add weight training to your workout.

• Decrease the amount of calories you consume.

• Make the calories count. Let go of the junk food and choose nutritious, low-fat, healthy alternatives.

• Decrease alcohol consumption or limit yourself to a half glass mixed with club soda.

• Save the desserts and snacks that you love, that aren’t good for you, for special occasions, and learn to significantly decrease the portion size.

• Decrease the amount of sodium and try to use alternate spices to flavor your meals.

• Increase the calcium in your diet.

• Find ways to relax because stress causes fat to accumulate in and around the abdomen. Remember to breathe slow and deep to relax.

• And finally, portions, portions, portions! Eat slow and enjoy your food. You will feel more satisfied and be able to eat less.

There is a wealth of weight loss information on the internet that can help you live a healthier life.

Water and Fatigue

Mild dehydration is one of the most common causes of fatigue.

Most Americans have mild to chronic dehydration because they don’t drink enough water. Sadly enough many people think that they are getting enough fluids by drinking pop but they are mistaken. Carbonated drinks actually act as a diuretic. Water is important to the mechanics of the human body and brain and if you are having difficulty thinking and moving, you should try drinking more water. The body and brain cannot work without it, just a your car can’t run without gas and oil. Our cells and organs depend on water to function at their full capacity.

Water should be clean and sometimes water filters are needed. Some people really don’t like to drink water because of the taste and Aquasana water filters can be helpful not only for taking out impurities, but can also make the water taste great.

The Healing Powers of Wheatgrass

Some people claim that that drinking wheatgrass can heal all kinds of illnesses and health problems. Others claim that it doesn’t really do anything at all. The Hippocrates Health Institute has carried on the research where Ann Wigmore left off. They provide guidance for healthy living that focuses on wheatgrass, raw and vegan diets, and a healthy lifestyle. The institute sees many people suffering from all kinds of sicknesses, and many have remarkable turnarounds. The ailments that have been healed include cancer, brain tumors, gallstones, weight problems, bone density, arthritis, seizures, and many other health problems.

If you are new to wheat grass, The Wheatgrass Book written by Ann Wigmore can really be a wonderful new beginning for you. Wheatgrass can be juiced or just cut and added to salads, and because you grow it yourself, it is always fresh.

Positive Attitude and Good Health

Does your attitude affect your health? Can having a positive, happy attitude keep you healthier, and a negative, unhappy, even angry attitude hurt you? Yes it can. The mind and body are so closely interwoven, and can affect us in more ways than we can imagine. Research now shows that our mind the and immune system may act as a single unit. Feeling stressed can make you more susceptible to whatever virus is going around. When you feel joy, lighthearted and happy, your immune system has a better chance of protecting you from bacteria and viruses. Even pretending to feel good can affect you.

Expectations also play an important role. If you expect to be healthy you can increase your chances of better health. If you expect to be sick, you will increase your chances of that. If you think that your health is at the mercy of your feelings, just remember that you have greater control over them than you think. One way is to spend as much time as possible around positive, happy people. Take the time to learn how to create a more positive attitude.

Sprouting at Home

Sprouting at home takes only a few minutes a day. It can produce many of your daily nutritional requirements that you need from fresh produce. The costs of sprouting is low and the freshness is wonderful. If you have a jar, some screen or netting, and rinse the sprouts twice a day, you can grow delicious organic sprouts in 4 to 6 days. You can also purchase sprouting trays that come with easy to follow instructions.

Growing your own sprouts means having fresh organic vegetables every day, and it only takes a square foot of counter space. Common seeds for sprouting include alfalfa, peas, lentils, broccoli, cabbage, mustard seed, garbanzos, and quinoa. You eat them on their own or add them to salads, sandwiches, or soup.

Being Pleasant to Others Helps to Develope a Positive Attitude

A few kind words, or a small act of kindness can make both the giver and the receiver feel good about themselves. When you feel good, you want others to feel the same way, so happiness and a positive attitude spreads. Decide that you will be pleasant to everyone you meet. Being pleasant can help others, and it can most certainly help change your own attitude if you are feeling blue. Have a smile and a good word for everyone you meet during the day.

When you are kind to others and they don’t return the pleasantries, don’t become angry or annoyed! Don’t worry about it or let that affect your positive attitude. You are responsible for your own attitude, so please do not allow others to get you into a “bad mood”. When you wake up in the morning, just make up your mind that you will have a good day and maintain a positive outlook on life. If something doesn’t quite work out as you had planned, be optimistic that things will improve. Isn’t it wonderful that your attitude is controlled by you, and your positive attitude and habits can lift and spread to others.

Music Calms the Savage Beast

A fight broke out between two men. Among the bystanders was Pythagoras, the great mathematician and philosopher. Just as one of the combatants was about to strike the other with his sword, Pythagoras picked up his lute and plucked a single, clear note. Upon hearing this sound, the angry man lay down his sword and walked away.
Pythagoras' understanding of harmonic relationships helped him choose the one perfect tone that could pacify the man. The Touch of Healing - Alice Burmeister

Music has had a huge impact on my clients as I assist them with Cranio Sacral therapy. Many times as they are working through anger, fear, anxiety and panic, the music allows their body to unwind from the emotion and begin to relax. Other people come to let go of their daily stress and tension. Sometimes my clients will tell me about a pleasant memory that the music has reminded them of. Music allows us to temporarily forget unpleasant situations and calms us so we can be more positive and find solutions to problems.

Head Massage

A face and head massage is a particularly pleasurable experience. Most people will be surprised at the amount of tension they hold in their head, especially around the jaw. If you go to a professional massage therapist, there is not usually time for a full face and head massage as part of a full-body massage. You might like to try it on its own or in combination with a back and shoulder massage.

You and your spouse or friend could lightly massage each others face and head. It will help give you a lift, and in many cases it can calm anxiety and put you in a better mood so you can be more positive. One piece of advice though, if your partner has very thick hair, be careful no to get you fingers tangled up and end up pulling their hair. It is hard to relax when your hair is being pulled.

An Olympic Body

10 Tips to Know to Have an Olympic Body

I was reading an article written by Annabelle Robertson and I wanted to share a small portion of her ideas. Whether you want an Olympic body, or just a more healthy and robust body I think these ideas are worth thinking about as you create your exercise program.

1. Know your body type. Are you built for speed or endurance or power? Knowing this will help you choose the appropriate exercise.

2. Determine your goals. If you want to lose weight focus on nutrition and cardiovascular. If you want to increase cardiovascular endurance then focus on swimming or running or cycling. If you want speed just add sprints to your routine.

3. Eat healthfully. ‘Brooke Bennett, three-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics believes that content, not calories, should be the focus.’ Some of the foods mentioned were fruits, vegetable, lean proteins and slow carbohydrates like rice and sweet potatoes.

4. Eat frequently, with a mixture of protein and carbohydrates at every meal. Athletes eat 5 to 6 small meals a day, approximately 21/2 to 3 hours apart, with a mixture of proteins and carbs at every meal. That allows them to burn body fat and create healthy lean muscle.

5. Watch the mirror, not the scale. Look at yourself in the mirror and if your clothes fit and you look good, don’t worry about what the scale says. She suggests that you check you measurements and forget the scales.

6. Drink plenty of water. The amount of water one requires depends on medical condition, physical health and the environment. The Institute of Medicine generally recommends about 91 ounces of total water for women and 125 ounces for men. Too much water can be harmful.

7. Ease into new exercises. Just take it easy so you don’t hurt yourself.

8. Vary your activity, but include the weight room. “Olympic athletes spend a lot of time on their primary activity (a cyclist will ride, a runner will run), but for most folks, varying the activity reduces boredom and uses a variety of muscles which may otherwise not get worked.”

9. Train regularly and consistently. Olympic athletes train constantly but as an individual you need to determine what is best for you then do it on a regular basis.

10. Consider hiring a personal trainer. Besides using their ‘know how’, people will usually train better because they have to report back to their trainer. Having to report will give people more incentive to stay diligent. If you can’t afford a personal trainer then find someone who will work out with you and help keep you going.

All of these suggestions are worth considering to be healthy and to help us enjoy life to its fullest. You can find more free fitness information by searching the internet.

CranioSacral Therapy and Back Pain

I see so many young mother’s who suffer with chronic back pain. Besides the normal day to day wear and tear on their backs from cleaning house, picking up kids, shopping etc. I have found one thing that they all have in common. They all carry their infants to and from the car in the car seat. As if the baby isn’t heavy enough, you add the weight of the car seat and you have quite a load. The twisting and turning that is required to lift and fit the seat into it’s proper place is so hard of the back.

Sometime there are no other alternatives, but I suggest that when they can, they should put the car seat in the car first and make sure it is secure, then put the baby in and secure the belts. When they get to their home or other destination they should remove the baby from the car seat, do whatever they need to and then remove the car seat later when it is empty. I know that sometimes this is not convenient, but the constant nag of back pain isn’t convenient either.

Cranio Sacral Therapy has been beneficial in helping these mother’s to ease up and even stop the back pain. Of course therapy is more helpful as people learn to help themselves.

5 Steps for Good Skin Care

As we age, our skin gradually becomes thinner and begins to wrinkle. Oil-producing glands grow less active, leaving our skin drier. The number of blood vessels in our skin decreases and our skin becomes more fragile.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN - Ultraviolet light damages your skin, causing deep wrinkles, dry, rough skin, liver spots, and more serious disorders, such as noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) skin tumors. Avoid the sun during the high-intensity hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and use sunscreen.

DON’T SMOKE - Smoking accelerates aging of your skin and increases wrinkles. Smoking causes narrowing of the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin. This decreases blood flow and depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

WASH YOUR SKIN GENTLY - Strong soaps can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild soaps or detergent substitutes with added oils and fats. If your skin is sensitive, avoid products containing perfumes or dyes. Use a soft sponge, cotton cloth or cotton balls when removing eye makeup to avoid damaging the delicate tissue around your eyes.

MOISTURIZE YOU SKIN - Skin moisturizers provide a seal over your skin to keep water from escaping. The moisturizer that’s best for you and the frequency with which you need to use it depends on your skin type, your age and whether you have specific conditions such as acne. If you have sensitive skin, look for products free of heavy dyes, perfumes or other additives. If your skin is very dry, you may want to apply an oil while your skin is still moist.

SHAVE CAREFULLY - For a smooth shave press a warm wash cloth on your skin before shaving to soften the hair. Apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving to protect and lubricate your skin. Use a clean, sharp razor. Rinse your skin afterward with warm water.