International lingerie design competition in Beijing

Models present creations for an international lingerie design competition in Beijing July 31, 2008. Japan won the competition.(China Daily)














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Colds Symptoms, Medical Care , Treatment & Prevention

Colds Overview

The cold is the most commonly occurring illness in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limiting illness caused by any 1 of more than 200 viruses.

The common cold produces mild symptoms usually lasting only 5-10 days. In contrast, the "flu" (influenza), which is caused by a different class of virus, can have severe symptoms.

Causes of Colds

• Of the viruses that cause a cold, the most commonly occurring subtype is a group that lives in the nasal passages known as the "rhinovirus." Other less common cold viruses include coronavirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
  
  
• Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of cold viruses do not spread through the air and seldom are transmitted from airborne particles expelled when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes.
  
  
• The primary means of spreading a cold is through hand-to-hand contact or from objects that have been touched by someone with a cold.
  
  
  • The typical transmission occurs when a cold sufferer rubs his or her nose and then, shortly thereafter, shakes hands with someone who, in turn, touches his or her own nose or eyes.
    
    
  • Alternatively, virus transmission often occurs via doorknobs and other hard surfaces, such as subway handrails, grocery carts, office telephones, and computer keyboards.
    

Colds Symptoms

The most common complaints associated with the cold usually are mild and can be managed with over-the-counter cold medications you can buy at a drugstore or grocery store:

• Runny nose

• Sneezing

• Nasal and sinus blockage

• Headache

• Sore throat

• Cough

When to Seek Medical Care

You usually do not need to call your doctor if you catch a cold. However, if symptoms become severe or you develop the following symptoms, you may have "the flu" virus, bacterial pneumonia, or another illness that should be reported to your doctor:

• Shaking chills

• Profuse sweating

• Muscle aches

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• High fever (greater than 102°F)

For mild-to-moderate cold symptoms, you usually do not need to see a doctor. Almost everything a doctor can prescribe to relieve the symptoms can be purchased without a prescription.

For more severe symptoms or a prolonged duration of symptoms, you should visit your doctor. An office visit will usually be fine. However, if you are extremely ill and seem to be getting worse, go to your closest hospital's emergency department to be seen immediately.

Exams and Tests

Your symptoms and a physical examination are all your doctor needs to diagnose the common cold. An initial diagnosis often is made from your symptoms alone.

• Usually, no blood tests or x-rays are necessary.

• During the physical examination, your doctor will pay careful attention to your head, neck, and chest.

• The doctor then examines your eyes, ears, throat, and chest to be sure that a bacterial source is not causing the illness.

Colds Treatment

Self-Care at Home

• To date, no specific cure has been found for the group of viruses that cause the common cold. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, and are of no use in treating a cold.

• It seems unlikely that a single antiviral medication will be discovered in the near future that can target the over 200 different cold viruses. That is true in part because the viruses genetically change (mutate) each season just enough to prevent the development of a specific treatment for that virus.

• The good news is that you can take several steps to alleviate the symptoms once you have contracted a virus.

• Congestion: Drink plenty of fluids to help break up your congestion. Drinking water or juice will prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. You should drink at least 8-10, 8-ounce cups of water daily.
  
  
  • Fluids might include water, sports drinks, herbal teas, fruit drinks, or ginger ale. Your mother's chicken soup really can help.
    
    
  • You can give your children colas, but don't include them in the 8-10 cups of fluid per day. Cola, coffee, and other drinks with caffeine work to increase urine output when your goal is to increase fluids in your system.
    
    
  • Inhaled steam may ease your congestion and drippy nose.
    
    
    • Hold your head over a pot of boiling water and breathe through your nose. Be careful. If the steam burns your nose, breathe in more slowly.
      
      
    • You can put a pot or teakettle on a trivet on a table and hold a towel around the steam and your head.
      
      
    • You can buy a humidifier, but the steam will be the same.
      
      
    • Moisture from a hot shower with the door closed, a saline nasal spray, or a room humidifier is just as useful.
    
    

• Fever and pain: Medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) will help decrease fever, sore throat pain, and relieve body aches.
  
  
  • High fever usually is not associated with the common cold and may be indicative of "the flu"—a more severe illness caused by an influenza virus. Report to your doctor any temperature greater than 102°F.
    
    
  • Never give a child aspirin or medications containing aspirin. In children younger than 12 years, aspirin has been associated with Reye syndrome—a potentially fatal liver disorder.

• Cough: The cough is a reflex that occurs when your airway passages are irritated. Cough preparations are usually divided into 2 main categories:
  
  
  • Suppressants: These act by blocking your cough reflex. As a general rule, use a suppressant for a dry, hacking cough. The agent usually found in over-the-counter cough suppressants is dextromethorphan (Benylin, Pertussin CS or DM, Robitussin Maximum Strength, Vicks 44 Cough Relief).
    
    
  • Expectorants: A cough associated with excessive mucus production, or phlegm, warrants use of an expectorant. Guaifenesin is the most common active ingredient in over-the-counter expectorants (such as Anti-Tuss, Fenesin, Robitussin, Sinumist-SR).
    
    

• Sore throat
  
  
  • Lozenges and topical sprays can provide relief from sore throat pain. In particular, lozenges containing zinc may relieve many cold symptoms better than other types of throat lozenges. The benefits of zinc are not proven, however, and it can cause stomach upset.
    
    
  • A warm saltwater gargle can relieve a scratchy throat.
    
    

• Nasal congestion: Nasal decongestants help relieve clogged nasal and sinus passages caused by excessive mucus secretion. There are 2 general types of decongestants available:
  
  
  • Oral medications come in either pill or liquid form and act by shrinking engorged blood vessels in the nasal and sinus passages. They work well because the medication is distributed in the bloodstream. Oral decongestants often are associated with stimulant side effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and insomnia. A commonly used over-the-counter oral decongestant is pseudoephedrine (Actifed, Sudafed, Triaminic).
    
    
  • IMPORTANT! The Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory concerning the medication phenylpropanolamine (PPA), which has been used for many years in over-the-counter nasal decongestants. A recent study reported that PPA increases the risk of a bleeding stroke, primarily in women. Although the risk of a bleeding stroke is low, the FDA recommends that PPA be discontinued and removed from all medications. Although most pharmacies have removed this product from their shelves, it is prudent to carefully examine the label to be sure that the medication you buy (or have at home) does not contain PPA.
    
    
  • Nasal spray decongestants act similarly to oral decongestants but have the advantage of acting only in the area applied, usually without the stimulant side effects. The most common active ingredient in nasal sprays is oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan nasal spray, Neo-Synephrine, Vicks Sinex). Nasal sprays do have side effects, however. Excessive use of nasal decongestants has been associated with dependency. Additionally, a "rebound" effect may occur in which nasal symptoms recur after you abruptly stop the medication. Use these no longer than the package instructions indicate—usually 3 days.

Medical Treatment

Many people may see their doctor because they think antibiotics can treat a cold. Antibiotics kill bacteria by several mechanisms. Yet these same antibiotics have no effect on the tiny, simple virus.

Don’t expect your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic for a cold, even if you request one. Antibiotics won’t prevent bacterial infections developing from a cold, such as sinusitis or ear infections, even if taken "just in case."

Next Steps

Follow-up

• If you have been diagnosed with a common cold and your symptoms are improving after several days, you need no immediate follow-up.

• If your symptoms are not improving or are worsening, see your doctor.

• You can exercise as normal if you feel up to it, especially if you think you just have a "head cold" with no chest congestion.

• Get plenty of rest. Only your body's natural immune defenses can battle the common cold virus. Resting at home or in a low stress environment will help keep the immune system strong. Neither rest nor exercise will shorten the length of your cold.

Prevention

• Wash your hands frequently.

• Avoid touching your nose and eyes.

• Do not share utensils or towels at home.

• Wear gloves during the winter cold season while in public places, such as public transportation.

Outlook

The common cold usually will go away in time. Americans get over 1 billion colds per year and rarely report complications.

Among the elderly and other groups of people with serious medical conditions, a cold may sometimes be a serious problem. Those people should see a doctor early during the course of a cold as a preventive measure.

Synonyms and Keywords

colds, common cold, rhinovirus, flu, flu virus, colds, coronavirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, cold symptoms, symptoms of colds, cold viruses, cold virus

Authors and Editors Author: Leon Salem, MD, MS, FACEP, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Martin Luther King Jr/Charles R Drew Medical Center.

Editors: Steven C Gabaeff, MD, FAAEM, Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine, Sutter Amador Hospital, Jackson, CA; Expert Consultant, Medical Board of California, Sacramento, CA; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Steven L Bernstein, MD, Vice-Chair, Academic Affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mt Sinai School of Medicine.

Taken From : http://www.emedicinehealth.com



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Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips for Women In Their Thirties

By: James Allen

If you've crossed that line into your thirties, you may have started to worry about how old you look. This is the point in your life where every fine line or even the hint of a developing crease or wrinkle has you fretting. Don't worry though, it's never too late to take care of your skin. The following tips will help your anti-aging efforts as you enter into the best years of your life.

Don't Smoke

Does this even need to be said? Unfortunately, judging by the number of women in their thirties who still light up, it does. Apparently the risk of cancer is not enough to convince many women to quit. Maybe if they knew how quickly the appearance of their skin is aging because of cigarettes, they might consider going cold turkey. Nothing puts wrinkles and creases on your face and steals the suppleness and glow of healthy skin like tobacco. If you smoke, nothing will improve your skin's health and appearance faster than quitting ASAP.

Another tip: If you don't smoke, but spend a lot of time around those who do, get away from them. Second hand smoke isn't helping you look any younger either.

Discover The Wonders Of Olive Oil

Sure, you can spend a lot of money on name-brand skin care products. You're a woman in her thirties though, and you're smart enough to look for more value for your shopping dollar. When it comes to skin care, nothing beats the price or effectiveness of quality olive oil. You can use it as a moisturizer directly on the skin. Others prefer to add a few tablespoons to the bath while they soak. Ask around, and you'll soon find that many women have already discovered how much of a difference using olive oil can make on their skin.

Respect The Sunshine

Maybe you spent a lot of time in your twenties working on the perfect tan. If you did, you may already have started seeing some of the long-term negative aging results of all that ultra-violet light on your skin. While it is important for your health to get at least a little bit of sunshine every day, you shouldn't be basking in it for hours at a time any more. Enjoy the sun, but stop baking your skin in it. Use sunblock if you're going to be outside for any length of time.

Remember, you don't need a tan to look young and healthy. Also, don't think for a moment that tanning booths are a safe alternative - they may still cause long term damage and cause the appearance of your skin to age much more rapidly then you'd like.

Enjoy your thirties and consider the above anti-aging skin care tips as you plan you daily routine. Don't worry about it too much though - worry itself can cause stress that will only add years to your face and could take years from your life.

Article Source: http://www.naturalbeautyarticles.info

Proper diet and nutrition can also be beneficial for those wanting to stay looking and feeling young. Nutritional supplements such as proxenol may help with your anti-aging goals too. You can learn more about them at www.1ThinkHealthy.com right now.



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Jessica Simpson In Style

Jessica Simpson clothing collections. Her style is very simple yet stylish and unique.






















Jessica Simpson in swimsuit Video







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Insomnia & Alternative medicine

The lack of sleep is termed as insomnia and is also known as sleeplessness.Sleep is a periodic state of rest for the body, which is important for its efficient functioning. It gives relief from tension and worries. The amount of sleep varies from individual to individual. Normally 7-8 hours of sleep every night is adequate and normal. Insomnia deprives the person with mental rest and interferes with the daily activities. It is the most common problem among the people of upper classes in urban areas. It is also common among the elderly people as the sleep requirements decreases with aging.

Insomnia is generally classified based on the duration of the problem. Not everyone agrees on one definition, but generally:

• symptoms lasting less than one week are classified as transient insomnia,
  
  
• symptoms between one to three weeks are classified as short-term insomnia, and
  
  
• those longer than three weeks are classified as chronic insomnia.

Insomnia Causes

Insomnia may be caused by a host of different reasons. These causes may be divided into situational factors, medical or psychiatric conditions, or primary sleep problems. Insomnia could also be classified by the duration of the symptoms into transient, short-term, or chronic. Transient insomnia generally last less than seven days; short-term insomnia usually lasts for about one to three weeks, and chronic insomnia lasts for more than three weeks.

Many of the causes of transient and short-term insomnia are similar and they include:

• Jet lag
  
  
• Changes in shift work
  
  
• Excessive or unpleasant noise
  
  
• Uncomfortable room temperature (too hot or too cold)
  
  
• Stressful situations in life (exam preparation, loss of a loved one, unemployment, divorce, or separation)
  
  
• Presence of an acute medical or surgical illness or hospitalization
  
  
• Withdrawal from drug, alcohol, sedative, or stimulant medications
  
  
• Insomnia related to high altitude (mountains)

Chronic or long-term insomnia

The majority of causes of chronic or long-term insomnia are usually linked to an underlying psychiatric or physiologic (medical) condition.

Psychological related insomnia

The most common psychological problems that may lead to insomnia include:

• anxiety,
  
  
• stress,
  
  
• schizophrenia,
  
  
• mania (bipolar disorder), and
  
  
• depression.

In fact, insomnia may be an indicator of depression. Many people will have insomnia during the acute phases of a mental illness.

Physiological related insomnia

Physiological causes span from circadian rhythm disorders (disturbance of the biological clock), sleep-wake imbalance, to a variety of medical conditions. The following are the most common medical conditions that trigger insomnia:

• Chronic pain syndromes
  
  
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
  
  
• Congestive heart failure
  
  
• Night time angina chest pain from heart disease
  
  
• Acid reflux disease (GERD)
  
  
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  
  
• Nocturnal asthma (asthma with night time breathing symptoms)
  
  
• Obstructive sleep apnea
  
  
• Degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (Often insomnia is the deciding factor for nursing home placement.)
  
  
• Brain tumors, strokes, or trauma to the brain

High risk groups for insomnia

In addition to the above medical conditions, certain groups may be at higher risk for developing insomnia:

• travelers
  
  
• shift workers with frequent changing of shifts
  
  
• seniors
  
  
• adolescent or young adult students
  
  
• pregnant women, and
  
  
• menopausal women

Medication related insomnia

Certain medications have also been associated with insomnia. Among them are:

• Certain over-the-counter cold and asthma preparations.
  
  
• The prescription varieties of these medications may also contain stimulants and thus produce similar effects on sleep.
  
  
• Certain medications for high blood pressure have also been associated with poor sleep.
  
  
• Some medications used to treat depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Other causes of insomnia

• Common stimulants associated with poor sleep include caffeine and nicotine. You should consider not only restricting caffeine and nicotine use in the hours immediately before bedtime but also limiting your total daily intake.
  
  
• People often use alcohol to help induce sleep, as a nightcap. However, it is a poor choice. Alcohol is associated with sleep disruption and creates a sense of nonrefreshed sleep in the morning.
  
  
• A disruptive bed partner with loud snoring or periodic leg movements also may impair your ability to get a good night's sleep.

Alternative medicine

Non-pharmacologic or non-medical therapies are sleep hygiene, relaxation therapy, stimulus control, and sleep restriction. These also referred to as cognitive behavioral therapies.

Sleep hygiene

Sleep hygiene is one of the components of behavioral therapy for insomnia. Several simple steps can be taken to improve a patient's sleep quality and quantity. These steps include:

* Sleep as much as you need to feel rested; do not oversleep.

* Exercise regularly at least 20 minutes daily, ideally 4-5 hours before your bedtime.

* Avoid forcing yourself to sleep.

* Keep a regular sleep and awakening schedule.

* Do not drink caffeinated beverages later than the afternoon (tea, coffee, soft drinks etc.) Avoid "night caps," (alcoholic drinks prior to going to bed).

* Do not smoke, especially in the evening.

* Do not go to bed hungry.

* Adjust the environment in the room (lights, temperature, noise, etc.)

* Do not go to bed with your worries; try to resolve them before going to bed.

Relaxation therapy

Relaxation therapy involves measures such as meditation and muscle relaxation or dimming the lights and playing soothing music prior to going to bed.

Stimulus control

Stimulus control therapy also consists of a few simple steps that may help patients with chronic insomnia.

* Go to bed when you feel sleepy.

* Do not watch TV, read, eat, or worry in bed. Your bed should be used only for sleep and sexual activity.

* If you do not fall asleep 30 minutes after going to bed, get up and go to another room and resume your relaxation techniques.

* Set your alarm clock to get up at a certain time each morning, even on weekends. Do not oversleep.

* Avoid taking long naps in the daytime.

Sleep restriction

Restricting your time in bed only to sleep may improve your quality of sleep. This therapy is called sleep restriction. It is achieved by averaging the time in bed that the patient spends only sleeping. Rigid bedtime and rise time are set, and patient is forced to get up even if they feel sleepy. This may help the patient sleep better the next night because of the sleep deprivation for the previous night. Sleep restriction has been helpful in some cases.

Other simple measures that can be helpful to treat insomnia include:

* Avoid large meals and excessive fluids before bedtime

* Control your environment.

o Light, noise, and elevated room temperature can disrupt sleep. Shift workers and night workers especially must address these factors. Dimming the lights in the bedroom, relaxation, limiting the noise, and avoiding stressful tasks before going to bed may be beneficial. (Refer to sleep hygiene and relaxation therapy above.)

o Avoid doing work in the bedroom that should be done somewhere else. For example, do not work or operate your business out of your bedroom and avoid watching TV, reading books, and eating in your bed.

A person's body's circadian rhythm (biological clock) is particularly sensitive to light. Parents who need to sleep during the day may have to make child care arrangements to allow them to sleep.

Tips to help you sleep

* Avoid or limit your use of caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas, chocolate), decongestants, alcohol and tobacco.
* Exercise more often, but don't exercise within a few hours before going to bed.
* Learn to reduce or manage the stress in your life.
* Don't lie in bed worrying about things. Set aside another time just for worrying. For example, spend 30 minutes after dinner writing down what's worrying you and what you can do about it.
* Try eating a light snack before going to bed, but don't eat too much right before bedtime. A glass of warm milk or some cheese and crackers may be all you need.
* Don't nap during the day if naps seem to make your insomnia worse.

Source : http://www.emedicinehealth.com, http://familydoctor.org

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Models walk the runway wearing ANK swimwear 2009 collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim show in Miami.

Taken From : www.chinadaily.com.cn




















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Celeb Fashion : Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is one of the most beautiful women in our world! Are you agree??


























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Home Remedies for Sinusitis

The symptoms of sinusitis are constant or excessive sneezing, low grade fever, running nose, headaches, blockage of one or both nostrils, and pressure around the eyes, head, and face. Normally sinus headaches will be felt in the forehead area and the area just below the eyes. When an individual has sinusitis, there may be a lack of appetite and difficulty when breathing. Sinusitis is caused by inflammation of the sinus passages and the over secretion of mucus which is produced by the membranes that line the throat and nose.

Basic Remedies for Sinusitis

Today, there are many home remedies for sinusitis, mango being one of them. During each season, the liberal use of mangoes has been considered a very effective remedy for the treatment and prevention of sinusitis. Mangoes promote the formation of healthy epithelium and because of that; they prevent frequent attacks of basic common infections such as sinusitis. The main reason mangoes are so effective is because of the high concentration of Vitamin A in the fruit.

Garlic and Onion Remedies

Among the top home remedies for sinusitis, you will also find garlic and onion. One of the most effective remedies for sinus problems is the use of pungent foods such as onion and garlic. When you first begin using this home remedy, you are going to need to start out with mild doses and then increase them gradually. You can get beneficial results from adding moderate amounts of these herbs in your regular meals.

Fenugreek

Another effective home remedy for sinusitis is the seeds of fenugreek. You can prepare a tea by boiling one teaspoon of the fenugreek seeds in two hundred and fifty milliliters of water till it has reduced in half. This will help the body to produce perspiration, shorten the period of fever once it has reached the acute stage of the disease and dispel toxicity. You can take up to four cups of this tea on a daily basis. As your condition improves, you should reduce the quantity that you use.

Cumin Seeds

When you inhale a teaspoon of black cumin seeds that have been tied in a thin cotton cloth, you will be able to get relief from sinusitis. Cumin seeds are among the best home remedies for sinusitis. You can also relieve the condition by preparing a mixture of one hundred grams of ground and roasted cumin seeds and two hundred grams of pure honey. Vegetable juices are also among the best home remedies for sinusitis.

When you have sinus trouble, carrot juice taken alone or in combination with other juices such as cucumber, spinach or beet juice can be very beneficial in treatment of this condition. If you are going to use combined juices, you can use one hundred milliliters of cucumber and beet juices and two hundred milliliters of spinach juice and mix it with three hundred milliliters of carrot juice in order to create five hundred milliliters or half of a liter of the mixed juice.

Vitamins A and C

When you have sinus and cold trouble, a diet that is rich in vitamin A is going to be the best insurance against these conditions. Vitamin A is referred to as a membrane conditioner and because of that; it helps to build up healthy mucous membranes which line the throat and nose. If you are not familiar with your sources of this vitamin, they are whole milk, egg yolk, curds, carrots, pumpkin, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, papaya and mangoes. Once the sinus trouble has already developed, you can get relief by taking vitamin A on a daily basis of twenty five thousand IU’s therapeutic doses.

In the treatment of sinusitis, Vitamin C has also been proven beneficial. An individual can take one gram of Vitamin C a day in two separate therapeutic doses of five hundred milligrams each. All in all, there are many different home remedies for sinusitis on the market today, all you have to do is find out which home remedy works the best for your individual needs.
Taken From : http://www.natural-homeremedies.org


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Scar Removal - Try Home Remedies for Scars

Author: Tom alter

This Article provides Information on most of the Home Remedies for Scars which are especially recommended by users. First we will discuss about Scars.

A scar is the pinkish or brown patch of skin that grows in the place where you once had a wound or sore. They are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin tissue after destruction of some of the dermis. A scar is thus the skin's natural way of repairing itself from injury.
Most people have scars.

The word scar is derived from the Greek word eschara, meaning fireplace.

Every skin injury or wound heals with a scar. The appearance of a scar however depends on the type and extent of the wound, as well as how an individual's body heals.

Scar tissue is not similar to the tissue that it replaces and is usually of inferior quality. There is no hair growth on the scar tissue, and the skin there becomes less resistant to ultraviolet radiation.

How scarring occurs?

Scarring occur when the deep dermis layer of skin is damaged. The deeper the damage, the worse the scar.

Many skin scars are pale and leave a trace of the original injury that caused them. The time that a scar takes to form may range from a few days to, in some serious and rare cases, several years. Various treatments can speed up the process in serious cases.

To repair the damage, the body has to lay down new collagen tissues As the body cannot re-build the tissue exactly as it was, the scar tissue will have a different texture and quality than the surrounding normal tissue. An injury does not become a scar until the wound has completely healed.

Factors affecting scar formation -

Many factors affect the severity of scar formation, such as -

1) The size and depth of the wound.

2) Location of the injury on the body.

3) The blood supply to the area.

4) Age of the person

5) The thickness, type and colour of the person's skin.

6) The direction of the scar.

Once a scar forms, it is permanent. However, it may be made less visible or displaced surgically.

Can scars be completely removed?

There is no way to remove scars completely. However, a skilled surgeon can definitely improve the appearance of the scar by disguising it, relocating it, or minimizing its prominence.

Skin colour and type, age, and the size of the scar, are important factors that go on to decide the outcome of a surgery to remove a scar.

Different types of scars respond to different plastic surgery techniques. Timing of the surgery is another important factor. The younger the scar, the more satisfactory is the result of the surgery. Therefore, if you want to have your scar removed, do not wait, until as advised by the doctor.

Types of scars -

1. Keloid scars:

Keloids are itchy clusters of scar tissue that grow beyond the edges of the wound or incision. They occur when the body continues to produce the tough, fibrous protein known as collagen after a wound has healed. They are more common in dark-skinned people.
Keloids are treated by injecting a steroid medication directly into the scar tissue to reduce redness and itching. However, the disheartening fact is that keloids have a tendency to recur, sometimes even larger than before, thus requiring repeated procedures.

2. Hypertrophic scars:

These scars, unlike keloids, remain within the limits of the original wound. They often improve on their own, though it may take a year or more. They may also require steroid applications or in some cases may have to be improved surgically.

3. Contractures:

Burns or other injuries that result in the loss of a large area of skin may form a scar that pulls the edges of the skin together, a process called contraction.
Improving a contracture usually involves cutting out the scar and replacing it with a skin graft or a flap. In some cases, a procedure known as Z-plasty may be used.

4. Facial scars:

Mostly, facial scars are cut out and closed with tiny stitches, leaving a less noticeable scar. Some facial scars can be softened using a technique called dermabrasion, that leaves a smoother surface to the skin, but does not completely erase the scar.

Scar treatment procedures -
No scar can be completely removed. They will always leave behind a trace, but a number of procedures can improve their appearance.

Surgery -

Surgery will never completely remove a scar but can be used to alter its location or shape to make it less noticeable. Surgery is at times necessary to remove a scar on skin near a joint where it restricts movement, but it will leave another scar.

Laser surgery & resurfacing -

The use of laser on scars is still on an experimental phase, as the safety or effectiveness has not yet been proven.

Steroid injections -

A course of steroid injections into the scar may help flatten and soften the appearance of keloid or hypertrophic scars.

Z-Plasty -

Z-plasty is a surgical technique used to relocate a scar so that it more closely matches to the natural creases of the skin, where it will be less noticeable. In this procedure, the old scar is removed and new incisions are made on each side, creating small triangular flaps of skin.

Skin grafting -

Grafting involves the transfer of skin from a healthy part of the body to cover the injured area. All grafts leave some scarring at the donor and recipient sites.

Make sure that your expectations from any surgery are realistic. You cannot expect that old scars will completely disappear; however, they will always turn flatter, paler and softer.

Home Remedies for Scars

* A mixture of sandalwood paste and black gram paste helps reduce the intensity of scars if started early. This is effective Home Remedy for Scars
.
* Rubbing your skin with ice cubes helps to tighten the skin.

* You can use cucumber and lemon juice on your scars. This is another good Home Remedy for Scars

* Vitamin E oil when applied on the scarred skin may do wonders for your skin.

* To prevent deepening of the scars, apply aloe vera gel, cod liver oil or vitamin E oil.

* Applying cocoa butter is also a good remedy in getting rid of the scars. This is also effective Home Remedy for Scars

Author is an Ayurvedic doctor having years of experience in the field of Ayurveda and Alternative medicine. Find out more Home Remedies for Scars at http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/
He has an exclusive website on Home Remedies for various diseases. You can also contribute to the Home remedies by visiting the website.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com






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Expressive and glorious eye... with strong brows

The eyes are the mirror of the soul. As the eyes give the face much of it's character, you want to emphasize them more than the other facial elements.


The eyes play an important role in human (non) verbal communication. Especially in our daily "face-to-face" communication. Sometimes it is even more important than the verbal interaction.



The strong brow is back as well as dramatic eyes. For this look we can put down our tweezers and let our brows do all the work. The key thing about eyebrows is that they frame your face and enhance your eye shape. To get this look let your eyebrows grow back and have them professionally groomed into a shape that fits your face but still remains thick. Fill in your brows in the sparse areas and tame them with brow gel. Use eyeshadow to help define your brow for a clean completed look.





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