Flax Seed Oil Benefits For The Skin

Flax seed oil contains high levels of omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids which can either be taken internally by eating the flax seeds or taking flax seed oil supplements or it can be applied externally as a pack for healthy skin.

Flax seed oil is useful for healing scars, abrasions and also has anti-inflammatory properties and so is useful for inflamed skin or skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema. Flax seed oil is also useful for dry skin.

Many skin problems today such as acne, eczema and psoriasis may also be partly due to the fact that the modern diet is lacking in omega 3 essential fatty acids. As a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids flax seed is able to replenish the correct body levels of these fats and so benefit skin disorders that may result from a deficiency.

Patrick Holford says in his book "New Optimum Nutrition Bible", "Another important component of a good skin diet is the Omega 3 and 6 essential fats. Each cell membrane - in effect the skin of each cell - is composed partly of essential fats, and in turn your skin is made up of countless cells. So the fatty acid content of your cell membranes is vital. Not only do the essential fats keep cell membranes smooth and soft, but also they help the membranes to do a better job of controlling what goes in and out of the cells. Without enough fats in the cell membranes, they are not able to retain water and they lose their plumpness. So for soft skin, include plenty of essential fat rich foods in your diet such as fish, nuts and seeds and their oils. Have seeds in salads, as snacks or ground up, and on cereals, yogurt or soups" (Holford, P. "New Optimum Nutrition Bible")

Flax seed oil benefits acne as the fatty acids present in flax seed help to prevent the clogging of the pores of the skin and thin the sebum which causes these clogged pores.

Psoriasis is another skin disorder that is benefited by taking flax seed. Flax seed contains the omega 3 fatty acid ALA which is broken down by the body into EPA. EPA supplementation has been found to be beneficial for psoriasis sufferers when used with their normal medication.

You can take flax seed oil internally by sprinkling ground flax seed over cereals and salads or adding whole flax seeds to a glass of water and drinking immediately (if you leave it too long it will solidify the water).

Make a flax seed oil pack by grinding flax seed and adding about three times as much water. Leave it to stand for a while until it becomes a gel (due to the mucilage escaping the seeds). This oil pack may then be applied externally to the skin.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids such as are found in flax seed are essential for healthy skin and can benefit skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis and eczema. In order to get the full benefits of flax seed for your skin include flax seeds in your diet, take flax seed supplements and use external applications of flax seed oil packs.

By Rich Fuller

Oily Skin a Big Problem for Many Women

Oily skin is one of the biggest skincare problems that women mention. Practically all women have problems with excessive skin oiliness at some point in their lives. Here, you can learn about four causes and what you can do about it.

Cause #1: Hormonal Activity

As you may have read in one of my earlier articles, hormonal changes that occur during puberty stimulate the skin's glands causing them to produce more oil. As a woman, you will also have hormonal changes around your period, after childbirth and during menopause that can cause skin changes including excessive oiliness.

Cause #2: Diet

The skin's oil is called sebum. It is composed of fat. Eating a high fat diet increases your risk of oiliness, just as it increases your risk of heart disease.

Simple carbs such as white bread, potatoes and white rice can also play a role because they cause increased insulin production. Insulin can also stimulate the oil-producing glands.

Cause #3: Over-Cleansing

Excessive cleansing is one of the most common causes of oily skin. It may seem logical to wash your face three or four times a day using a strong cleanser. For a few minutes, your skin will feel less oily.

The problem is that excessive cleansing causes your glands to produce more oil. As the body becomes aware that the skin is dry, it wants to correct the problem. The oil serves a purpose. The goals should not be to get rid of the oil completely, but to balance the oil production.

Cause #4: Using the Wrong Skincare Products

This is the number one cause of oiliness. The ingredients commonly found in cosmetics and other skincare products can cause the skin to feel oily or greasy. Some of the ingredients to avoid include:

· Petrolatum-otherwise known as Vaseline-found in shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, sunscreens and moisturizers

· Mineral oil-the liquefied version of petrolatum-found in makeup, foundation, moisturizer, body lotion, body wash, sunscreens and many other skincare products

· Cocoa butter-not compatible with the skin's own oils-found in moisturizers, sunscreens, tanning lotion, etc.

Those ingredients do not have the same effect as excessive cleansing. They don't cause your body to product more oil. They simply make your skin feel oily.

The Solutions

You can't stop hormonal activity from happening, but a healthy diet and good dietary supplements can help to balance your hormones. You can make healthy dietary changes, avoid over-cleansing and avoid bad skincare products. Those solutions take time. What you probably want right now is an immediate solution.

The immediate solution for oily skin is a deep cleansing mask containing kaolin, bentone gel and other natural ingredients that dry up excessive skin oils while gently pulling dirt and grime out of the pores. The mask will solve the problem temporarily.

By Margaret Bell

Oily Skin Care Tips - Get Rid Of Those Pimples And Greasy Spots On Your Face Forever

Oily skin is not a disease, its just a skin texture that makes you uncomfortable from which you want to get rid of. Due to lack of proper guidance and information on oily skin care available, it has turned into one of the major skin problems resulting into pimples, acne, blackheads and many more.

Several factors are said to be responsible for the aggravation of an oily skin:

CAUSES OF AN OILY SKIN

1. Heredity is quite responsible for an oily skin, but so do hormones. Pregnant women sometimes notice an increase in skin oil with the changes in hormonal activity. So do women going for birth control pills.

2. Stress can also lead in the overdrive of the oil glands.

3. The wrong cosmetics can easily aggravate an otherwise mild case of oily skin.

Some of these causes are within your ability to control, but others you will have to learn to live with.

In most of the cases, oily skin can be treated at home. But sometimes, the situation demands more than just a home remedy. You need to call for a doctor if you develop sever acne or notice notice any sudden change in your skin. Otherwise, go for these tips and try them at home:

TIPS ON OILY SKIN CARE

1. Keep your skin absolutely clean - You might be quite aware of the fact, that oilier the skin, the dirtier it looks and feels. And to get rid of this, keep your skin clean by washing it at least twice a day.

Generally, some doctors recommend you to use detergent-type soaps on your face. As a substitute to it, you can add 1-2 drops of dish washing detergent to your regular soap.

While some doctors condemn the use of detergent-type soaps as they are too harsh for your oily facial skin. Instead they recommend glycerin soaps to be used to clean your face twice a day.

If using a detergent soap irritates your facial skin then try the glycerin soap,easily available over the counter.

2. Give Aloe-Vera a Try - This wonder plant of the household is the best at absorbing skin oils. Slice open a leaf and smear the gel on your face 3 times a day. Let it dry. Or you can also keep a small amount of gel in the refrigerator during the summers for a refreshing face-lift.

3. Wipe with Astringents - Wipe the oily spots on your face by rubbing alcohol or a combination of alcohol and acetone that helps degrease your oily skin. Many drugstores even sell pre-moistened, individually wrapped alcohol wipes that are really portable, you can carry them in your purse for quick touch-ups all day long.

4. Carry Tissue papers with you - Paper facial tissues are the best substitute of astringents as they help soak up excess oils in a pinch. Get those special oil-absorbing tissues from a cosmetic counter that are very in removing excessive oils between cleansings.

5. Rinse your face with cold water - Simply splashing your face with cold water and blotting it dry a couple of times a day is equivalent to applying chemicals to your skin. These cold water rinses remove excessive oils from your face.

6. Say NO to moisturizers - Do not ever go after those tempting advertisements compelling you to buy facial moisturizers for oily skin. These are the fatal temptations taking you to disastrous skin. Instead apply a sunscreen on your face before facing the sun or going outdoors. And yes, do not forget to check the labels for products especially designed for oily skin.

7. Make your own scrub - Make a paste of a small amount of ground almonds with honey and apply as a facial scrub for removing oils and dead skin cells. Now gently massage this paste on your face with a hot washcloth. Finally, rinse with cold water.

Another scrub from oatmeal mixed with aloe vera can prove to be very beneficial for you. Rub gently on your skin and leave on for 15 minutes, Then rinse thoroughly. And if suffering from acne on your face, then you should probably skip the scrub, as it can aggravate your already-irritated skin.

8. Apply Masques on your oily face - Masques prove to be very beneficial in reducing the oiliness. Either Clay masques or you can mix Fuller's Earth (easily available) with a little water and make a paste. Apply this paste to the face and leave on for about 20 minutes and then rinse off.

9. Go for water-based cosmetics only - Try to make your skin breathe by living without make-up, especially foundation. Using make-up or foundation that are oil-based blocks the pores of your skin thereby resulting in blemishes. And if necessary, then use water-based make-up only, especially spot concealers rather than coating your entire face. In general, prefer stick with powder or gel blushers, and avoid cream foundations as much as possible.

10. Tie up your hair properly - Keep your hair away from your face as oily hair accompanies an oily skin.

11. Do not touch your facial skin - Avoid touching your face throughout the day as your hands deliver excessive oils and dirt.

12. Choose a powder for you - For that extra shine-free protection, use simple products for your oily face such as Johnsons Baby Powder. This makes a superb face powder when fluffed lightly over your makeup.

13. Splash on the hot suds - Hot water is a great solvent. So, warm water should be used to wash an oily face and that with plenty of soap. Hot water plus soap dissolves skin oil better than cold water and soap.

By Navneet Brar 

Acne and Rose Hip Oil the 100% All Natural Therapy

Acne is the most common skin disease found around the world among teenagers. It is nothing but the pimples on the face, blackheads and etc. One suffers from acne due to oily skin, dead skin or bacteria. Acne and rose hip oil is not for the breakout period of acne, but for the treatment of acne scarring after the breakout is over.

Our skin is composed of three different layers known as the epidermis which is the outer layer of the skin. Dermis the middle layer of the skin and hypodermis which constitutes the inner layer of the skin. Acne can be considered as skin deep issue since it affects the epidermis only. Acne normally affects the face and the upper neck. The reason for this is that we constantly keep touching our faces and the neck on everyday life. Since our hands get oily and dirty, there are more chances that the bacteria could be transferred to that part of the body.

Acne could be formed in various types and the medication period would vary accordingly. Some type of acne could be cured in a day, some types could take 3 days to heal and there are still some kinds of acne which will require a long term medication. Acne will always leave a scar on your face or on the neck.

One of the age old remedies which had been and still in use is the usage of the rose hip oil to remove the acne scars left behind. This type of remedy has been used by the people of South America from hundreds of years. The usage of the rose hip oil is very good for various skin problems like acne, chicken pox even for the scars left by burns and wounds. It even shows a dramatic healing effect on the scars left by boils and face injuries. It has a re-hydrating effect on the skin which gives a more elastic texture to the skin. It gives a very nice moisturizing effect on your skin. It even reduces the wrinkles and the age marks. It rejuvenates the skin and makes your face look much healthier and younger. It reduces the pigmentation and removes the dark spots from your skin.

How to apply the rose hip oil on the scarred skin:

• Wash your hands with soap and dry it with a towel. Then take the rose hip oil on your finger tips and apply it on the scarred portion and keep massaging it till the skin absorbs the oil

• Repeat this application for 2 to 3 times a day for at least 3 months

• After 3 months you will see a dramatic improvement on your skin

Rose hip oil is a best solution for any kind of skin scar issues left by acne, skin burn, pigmentation, blackheads, chicken pox and even the scars left by the injury cuts. The best part about this therapy is that it is 100% organic and no synthetic chemicals are used. This reduces the risks of side effects caused by the treatments. You can first try the rose hip oil treatment instead of spending your money on expensive surgery. It is safe and it is very affordable. Most importantly it is very effective.

By: Steve A Madigan