Tag: Skin

Protect Yourself: Home Sunburn Remedies Aidan Koch

Protect Yourself: Home Sunburn Remedies

Aidan Koch

The 4th of July is just around the corner, which means the kick off to  sunburn season. Between lying on the beach and standing by the BBQ, a burn could  be the difference between 10 and 30 minutes in the sun! Your skin is damaged no  matter the severity of the burn and it’s smart to let it relax a little with  these clever, home care remedies.

Cool it down with running cold water or a soaked cloth or keep it moist with  a dose of witch hazel.

Most people know about aloe vera, and its always nice to have a plant around you  can clip a stem from, but what about lavender or vitamin E oil? Lavender oil can  help relieve and prevent peeling and E oil is an incredible moisturizer.

Check your kitchen for the following items: oatmeal, apple cider vinegar, milk, yogurt, honey and tea. All have soothing qualities that when applied  to burnt skin can really help out. With the vinegar or tea, you can add them to  your cooling bath and let it really soak in all over.

Of course, sunscreen and a hat or umbrella will do a world of wonders in  prevention.

 

Daily OM for Thursday, April 12 – Feeling Lonely

Feeling Lonely
An Incomplete Understanding

 

 

When we are feeling lonely, we have lost the idea that we are all one and none of us are separate from the whole.

We all have days when we feel lonely, but the very idea of loneliness comes from the false notion that we are separate and isolated parts in a world filled with other separate, isolated parts. In truth, we can no more be separate from our world than a fish can be separate from the water in which it swims. When we really begin to look at the boundaries we see as so solid, they prove to be, in fact, quite porous. For example, it is not clear exactly where our skin ends and the air begins when we consider how our skin is affected by changes in the quality of the air. When it is dry, our skin becomes dry, and when it is humid, our skin becomes moist and supple.

By the same token, it is difficult sometimes to distinguish the boundary between one person and another, especially when our actions tie us together so inextricably. Every move we make has an effect that touches all the people around us. On an even more subtle level, when we share space with another person, we often pick up on their energy, feeling how they feel and attuning to them, whether we mean to or not. This is what we mean when we say a mood or a feeling is contagious. We cannot help but be part of the realities of the people around us because we take form from the same energetic force, and this force unifies all life. This force is the light that all the great mystics and gurus encourage us to move toward, and it is the light we will dissolve into when we move beyond our individual egos.

If loneliness is a temporary condition based on an incomplete understanding of what we are made of, we can think of its presence as a catalyst for exploring our ideas about reality. We can respond by testing the boundaries we believe separate us from the life within and all around us. If we test them, we will discover that they are not so solid after all and that we can never really be alone.

Basic First Aid: How To Care For Blisters On Hands

Basic First Aid: How To Care For Blisters On Hands

First aid treatment for blistered hands often involves keeping the wound clean and the blister intact.

Blisters tend to form whenever a deeper skin layer is damaged and the surface skin remains intact.As the body sends serum and other fluids to the injury site, a liquid-filled pocket often forms.This pocket is commonly referred to as a blister.Blisters are not the same as callouses, which tend to form over skin abrasions and are not filled with liquid.

The most common causes of blisters are burns, abrasions and foreign objects under the skin.Their formation is usually not the problem in a first aid situation- blisters are a natural reaction to an injury below the skin’s surface. The real problem with blisters is protecting the injured area from further infection or damage.Treating a blister on the hands essentially means keeping it clean and intact until it can heal naturally.

 

A typical scenario for blistering involves second-degree burns.A victim’s hand contacts a high heat source and the skin becomes very red from the burn.The body’s natural defenses send out white blood cells and serum to the burned area in order to begin the healing process.Meanwhile, some of the damaged skin begins to shed dead or infected cells.Bacteria may also begin to infect the wound and cause the formation of pus. All of these fluids are trapped beneath several layers of skin, and the pressure raises the area over the wound.In this scenario, the good white cells and serum are protecting the damaged skin and attacking the bacteria, but the resulting fluids have nowhere to escape.This is why blisters formed by burns can be so large and painful.

In order to treat any blister on the hands, no matter the cause, you must first clean the area surrounding the wound.Because any excessive scrubbing may be extremely painful or lead to a premature popping, the best way to cleanse a blister is with a gentle bath of hydrogen peroxide or sterile water.Blistered hands should be patted dry, not scrubbed.

Once the area around the wound has been carefully cleaned, the blister itself should be examined.The most troubling development with a blister would be signs of blood.A blood blister should never be opened without proper medical training. The best first aid in the case of a blood blister would be to wrap the blister loosely with a sterile bandage and tape.Blood blisters can lead to blood infections such as septicemia, so victims should be taken to trained medical personnel as quickly as possible.

For blisters with clear liquid, the best treatment is to apply a layer of antibiotic cream or ointment and then wrap the blister loosely with a sterile gauze bandage.If the fluid appears discolored, especially yellow or green, then the victim needs to be seen by a doctor quickly.Discolored blisters may indicate a serious infection, which can enter the bloodstream and cause more serious problems.

If the blister is relatively small and the liquid is clear, then further medical treatment shouldn’t be necessary.Keep the blister clean and dry, changing out the bandages regularly.If the blister should happen to break, wash the area thoroughly with an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide or a Bactine-type product.Blisters should remain intact whenever possible, but they will occasionally break from pressure or naturally as they heal.

Natural Remedies: How To Remove Callouses On Hands

Natural Remedies: How To Remove Callouses On Hands

A callus is a thickening or hardening of the skin.They form as a result of friction or pressure against the skin.In general, calluses are normal and natural. They are part of the body’s defense system.For example, Since they have never walked, infants have very tender feet. They have no calluses.But adults often have hard, even horny calluses.People that are frequently barefoot may develop calluses on their feet that are asthick and hard as leather.

Calluses on the hands form as a result of pressure or friction, just like calluses on the feet.Guitar players, manual laborers and gardeners all know about calluses on the hands.Archers sometimes develop thick calluses on the first three fingers of their dominant hand.That’s the hand that pulls the bow back and looses the string.Gymnasts, especially male gymnasts, often form thick calluses on their hands from the vaulting horse, the rings etc.In other words, friction against their hands causes the skin to toughen to protect the hands.

 

Of course, like any other natural process, it can go farther than we’d like.When calluses get too thick they can interfere with sensitivity and dexterity.It can be like wearing a thick pair of leather gloves at all times.Just the way thick calluses make hands look can motivate some people to remove their calluses. And no one wants to touch a loved one’s sensitive skin with rough, hard hands.

Never try to remove calluses by cutting or slicing without medical supervision. The risk of infection is too great.Besides, there are easier, less painful ways to remove a callus.

The first step in removing a callus is to soften it.You can do this as simply as soaking in the bath for a while, or by rubbing moisturizing cream into your hands.If your are not allergic to wool, many people find pure lanolin to be among the very best moisturizers available.Of course, your local pharmacist has many, many moisturizers on his shelves.

If your callus is relatively thin, moisturizing may be all that’s needed.Simply keep it moist, rub it a little and in a few days it will be gone.For thicker and harder calluses, you may have to use a pumice stone or sandpaper to sand it down.Under no circumstances should you cut or shave a callus. If your callus is so thick and hard that sandpaper and moisturizers will not soften it, you should see a medical professional.

The best way to remove a callus on the hand is to avoid it.Since calluses on the hands are simply the result of friction or pressure, they can be easily avoided by wearing gloves, or by avoiding work!

When you work with hand tools like shovels, rakes, hoes, etc. a good pair of work gloves is your best defense against calluses. Proper fit is important, since an ill-fitting glove may rub and cause more calluses than it avoids. Of course, a daily moisturizer couldn’t hurt!

Water Magick – The Importance of Sea Salt

The Importance of Sea Salt

 

In maritime lore, seawater was thought to cleanse a person thoroughly, absorbing any bad luck, due to the salt content of the water. Throwing salt into a fire for nine consecutive days was thought to break any chain of bad luck, while throwing salt at a person was sure to bring her grief.

Beauty Is Only Skin Deep Look Beautiful all Winter

Beauty Is Only Skin Deep Look Beautiful all Winter
By: Isadora Dunne


When the weather’s frosty and dry, skin becomes dryer, flakier and more irritated. So how is it that some women look so
darn supple and healthy, even in the dead of winter, while you’re all dry and chapped? As usual, we’re here to help with 10
tremendous tips to keeping beautiful in winter.

Apply full-spectrum sunscreen even when it’s chilly: You probably know that UVB rays are the sun’s burning rays, but UVA
radiation is the principal cause of wrinkling and skin cancer and can penetrate glass. Hello! This means that even if you’re
at home, driving or in the office by a window, you’ll need full-spectrum (both UVA and UVB) coverage. This is true on even
the cloudiest winter days. Murad Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 15 (Murad.com) is a high-quality choice.
Don’t linger in the bath or shower: Healthy skin has a protective superficial layer called the stratum corneum — essentially, a
natural “lipid barrier,” and as temperature and humidity drop, this natural barrier becomes vulnerable to damage, says
Stacy P. Salob, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New
York. She cautions against prolonged bathing, especially with hot water, because the water will sap moisture from this
superficial layer, leaving the skin drier, flakier and more susceptible to damage and irritation.
Cut back on acids and astringents: For the winter months, consider limiting your use of alpha-hydroxy acid products and
astringents that contain alcohol, Salob says. We may love these products for their exfoliating properties, but they can strip
the skin of its natural protective oils, leaving it easily irritated.

Humidify thyself: Bicoastal dermatologist Karyn Grossman recommends a humidifier in your bedroom and office to
prevent winter skin from drying out. Humidifiers keep air moist. Look for a UV model because they offer a germ-free mist,
better to soothe those dry lips and chapped skin. Grossman recommends brands such as the SlantFin GF350
Sip hot cocoa and get your antioxidants: According to recent studies, cocoa beans were found to contain large amounts of
natural antioxidants called flavonoids; thus cocoa powders made from these beans are an undeniably compelling choice of
drink. Go ahead, steam some milk and enjoy your cocoa-anti-oxidants!

Resuscitate Frigid Feet: For dry and flaky winter feet, try exfoliating with a scrub like Alba Sea Salt Body Scrub. Which
contains organic jojoba, avocado and vitamin E. Afterward, dry your tootsies and slip on cozy cotton socks overnight. Your
feet will feel pliant and smooth in the morning.

Revive Chapped Winter Lips: Aside from looking wretched, chapped lips feel awful. Problem is, we continually
exacerbate the condition by licking, so it’s an endless cycle. To roll off the dead skin, try the clever Dr. Feel good’s
Lipscription, expressly made for “dry-lip emergencies,” which buffs away dryness with exfoliating beads, then softens with
Vitamin E & chamomile.

Protect Those Tresses: Tippi Shorter, consulting stylist for Pantene, recommends using a leave-in conditioner before
blow-drying hair, or using hot irons. She likes Pantene Pro-V Daily Renewal Treatment and if you regularly use heated
styling tools, she suggests biweekly or monthly deep conditioning treatments to keep hair hydrated and soft.

Repair Winter Cells: Robert Scott, aesthetician and wellness expert, explains how skin is nourished by blood and lymph
fluid, and since less blood flows when you’re cold, you’ll want to compensate by giving skin extra protection and
nourishment. He recommends regenerating your skin’s appearance by using products that feature amino-peptides, which
work by renewing the skin’s outer cell layer, and he loves Olay Regenerist) because it repairs without irritating the skin.

Daily Aromatherapy Tip

Daily Aromatherapy Tip

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Clays are another base material to
which essential oils may be added.
Use clays in masks to help the skin release toxins.
They also aid in exfoliation of dead skin cells.

Some clays to choose from:
Green best for oily skin
White milder than Green, best suited for detoxification
Red all purpose for toning and cleansing
Blue for acne, anti-inflammnatory, for drawing out.
Pink soothing, cleansing, hydrating for dry, sensitive skin.

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Brought to you by AromaThyme.com

Protective Magical Ointment

Protective Magical Ointment

Do you feel that you or a loved one is the subject of black magic, a curse or negativity?

Moon Phrase:
Full

Supplies:
Mallow Leaves & Stems, Vegetable Shortening, Strainer, Container

Instructions:
– Steep a handful of mallow leaves & stems into a 1/4 cup of vegetable shortening
– Leave it steep overnight
– Strain and place in container
– Rub ointment into skin
– Reapply as needed