Thursday, 30 October 2008

Proven cleansing routines for acne treatment

Acne is quite common in teenagers and according to an estimate; about 80% of the teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 are affected by acne. Some men and women between the ages of 25 to 40 can also have acne.

Acne is caused by the over-functioning of sebaceous glands in your skin. The over-activity of sebaceous gland results in the over-production of sebum which is an oily substance. If you are prone to acne, the sebaceous glands in your skin will produce excessive amount of oil due to the influence of testosterone which is a hormone found in both men and women. At the same time, the dead cells of your skin would not shed and clog up the follicles. The build up of oil due to these factors causes blackheads. In some people, the build up of excessive oil provides an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium. Because of this bacterium creating some substances on your skin, your immune system starts its functioning and your skin becomes red and you experience spots on your skin.

Contrary to the popular belief, acne is not caused by lack of personal hygiene and you cannot catch it from others. Your food or drink can however, have an effect on the appearance and severity of acne. When you are undergoing the acne treatment, you can make things better for yourself through the implementation of effective cleansing routines. By forming the habit of cleansing your facial skin in the morning and evening, you can have a healthier and better looking skin. It does not cost you anything and it gives impressive results.

· Formulate and implement an effective cleansing routine.
· Cleansing routine should be completed without any damage to your skin.
· Form habits and routines of cleansing, moisturizing on daily basis.
· Follow regular procedures scrupulously.
· Use mild soap on your skin with gentle lathering and rinsing action twice daily.
· Do not do overly rigorous cleaning and scrubbing and make sure the soap film is completely rinsed away in plenty of clear warm water.
· Use soft absorbent material for drying and do not rub your skin. Gently pat the skin to dry.

By following simple cleansing routines and proper treatment, you can get rid of acne and get a healthier and fresh skin. You can find out more on acne treatment on the Hair Treatment clinic.


Wednesday, 8 October 2008

Body Mass Index (BMI) - A snapshot of your body

Are you over-weight or obese? How do you know if you are really over-weighted?

Using Body Mass Index (BMI) is the exact method of telling if you are over-weight, obese or normal. It is a very good way for you to assess your overall body picture. BMI provides a reasonably sound measure of a healthy weight range.

Now basically BMI is a calculation and it takes your body weight and height into consideration. It is a ratio of your weight (in pounds or kilograms) to your height (in feet or meters) squared.


It is not rocket science to find out your BMI and the presence of online BMI calculators have made it even easier. You can calculate your BMI online very easily and you even don’t need to be an expert to interpret the reading because the online BMI calculator does this for you automatically.

You are Underweight if BMI is less than 18.5
You are Normal weight if your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9
You are Overweight if the BMI is 25.0 to 29.9
If your BMI is greater than 30.0, you are classed as Obese

Knowing your BMI can help a lot in making decisions regarding changes in your life style

BMI gives you a very quick snapshot or picture of your body and can give you a timely warning about your health. If your BMI states that you are overweight or obese, it means you are carrying too much unnecessary fat which increases the risks of becoming ill with diseases like diabetes or heart problems. Several studies have been conducted to show that people with normal BMI are expected to live the longest provided they do not smoke and have a healthy life style.

You should consider making healthy life style changes, try diets and work on weight loss plans if your BMI says you are over-weight or obese. Visit the online slimming clinic website to calculate your BMI and for more information on weight loss.

Wednesday, 1 October 2008

Improve your diet for a healthier you

Living a healthy lifestyle generally means eating a balanced diet, participating in a moderate exercise program, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking and maintaining a normal weight. It may sound daunting to most people who are limited by job and family commitments, time constraints or simply lack of initiative. Making sure your body is in good health does not mean you must be a slave to food and exercise. Small changes in lifestyle can have a big impact.
Eating right does not have to be a chore. Simple changes you can make while on your next visit to the grocery store can get you on the right path to eating better. Small substitutions like eating more fruit and veggies and eating less refined and processed foods over time saves calories and increases nutrient content. Don't force yourself to shelve your entire way of eating and start with something restrictive. Feeling deprived leads to failure. Go slow and enjoy each new item you add to the menu.

Exercise does not have to be a dirty word. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, start slow and increase your activity level as you reach small goals you set for yourself. It may be just using the stairs at work instead of using the elevator. Over time, you might decide to walk for part of your lunch break. Eventually you may want to join a fitness center to increase your progress. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and enjoy.


If you smoke, consider a smoking cessation program. There are medications in pill, patch and gum form that can assist you in stopping. Talking to a counselor or adopting a quit-smoking buddy has been shown to help smokers quit smoking at higher rate than trying to go it alone. Side effects of smoking include rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath and more serious problems like cancer, emphysema and heart disease can eventually develop.

Drinking alcohol in moderation has actually been shown to benefit the cardiovascular system. However, consuming more than a glass or two a day can cause liver damage. The liver acts as a giant filter system of the body. When the filter is clogged, the body does not function properly. Jaundice, gallstones, blood clotting difficulties, organ failure and death can result when the liver is compromised.

Knowing your body mass index (BMI) can help you calculate what a healthy weight is for your body type. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight by the square of your height or go online and use a BMI calculating tool. Regulating your diet and adding health fitness weekly can help stabilize your weight.


So you've let yourself go. You don't feel fit. You lack energy. Serious health issues may run in your family. What to do? It is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Integrate more healthful food choices into your diet. Add health fitness to your routine. Quit smoking and have a glass of red wine with dinner. Eating better and increasing your activity level helps you maintain a normal weight. Each little change gets you closer to the lifestyle goals you set for yourself.



Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our portal for more great information on a healthy diet, and leave a comment at our pacemaster treadmill blog.

Simple Hair Care Tips That Can Save You Fortune on Hair Care

Simple Hair Care Tips That Can Save You Fortune on Hair CareBy [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Derek_M_L]Derek M L

Hair is an influential part of our personality and having healthy and shinning hair costs a very good spell on our overall look. A scalp full of thick and healthy hair changes your overall personality to greater extent. To achieve and retain healthy and shinning hair is not very difficult. Basically it is all about hair care.

Hair care is related to hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair on the human head. Hair care differs according to your hair type and according to various processes that can be applied to hair.
It is very important to keep your hair clean and keep chemical treatments to a minimum to prevent damages to the hair. This can be achieved by adopting a good hair care routine.

Hair care is all about choosing correct hair care products

If you are looking to get the best possible results from your hair care routine, you will need to choose the shampoo and conditioner that matches your hair the best. This requires the knowledge of various types of hair.

There are three types of hair:

Normal Hair
Greasy Hair
Dry Hair

Normal Hair:

If your hair holds their style well, look good and healthy all the time and it has not been coloured or permed, than you have normal hair and you should choose a shampoo or conditioner designed for normal hair.

Greasy Hair:

If your hair tends to be limp, it lacks volume or looks flat, does not hold a style and becomes greasy after applying shampoo, you have greasy hair. This type of hair has many problems associated with it. Dust sticks to it very easily and it clings to itself and your scalp and most of all, it spoils your style. This condition is simply because of sebaceous glands being particularly active. Avoid running your fingures once you are finished with your styling. You can avoid your hair becoming greasy quite so soon in this way. You should also use shampoo or conditioner specially designed for greasy hair.

Dry Hair:

Your hair is dry if it feels rough and looks dull. Dry hair tangles easily and it is quite difficult to comb or brush it. It could be frizzy or liable to split ends as well. If your hair matches any of these criteria, it is possibly dry and you should use a shampoo specifically designed for dry hair.
Hair Care:

You can save your hair from damage if you follow some simple hair care routines.

When you wash your hair, let them hang naturally and rinse them thoroughly with warm water. Now lather up the necessary amount of shampoo on your hand and apply it to your hair. Work the shampoo into your hair by gentle massage with your fingertips and don't forget to let them hanging naturally. Now rinse and be careful not to rub your web hair too fiercely because at this stage they can be damaged very easily.

Rinse all the shampoo from your hair before applying conditioner. Now apply conditioner gently and thoroughly and spread it evenly over your hair. Leave it to work for a few minutes. When you rinse off the conditioner, make sure not to rub your wet hair.

Use a clean and dry towel to carefully pat your hair dry. At this stage you can use a comb or brush to gently loose out any tangles. It is still better to let your hair dry naturally though. Now you can apply a styling product if you like but do not use it too much.Take special care when you use a dryer on your hair. Always use it on damp, towel dried hair and do not try to blow dry hair when the water is still dripping. Do not overheat your dryer. Keep the dryer moving constantly because if you concentrate the heat in one spot, it can damage your hair permanently as well.
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